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====BOOK 1====
The book begins with [[Tanis Half-Elven]] in [[Flotsam]]. [[Kitiara]] has recently left for [[Solamnia]] to lead the [[Dragonarmies]] in their failed attack against the [[High Clerist's Tower]], which was depicted in the previous novel and resulted in the death of [[Sturm Brightblade]]. Taking advantage of her absence, Tanis leaves to meet with the other companions again, unaware that he is followed by the [[draconian]] [[Gakhan]], Kitiara's personal assassin. Returning to his friends ([[Goldmoon]], [[Riverwind]], [[Tika Waylan]], [[Caramon Majere]] and [[Raistlin Majere]]), Tanis tells them the half-truth that he was mistaken for an officer by a Dragon Highlord and forced to continue the impersonation for his own safety. Ashamed of having spend the past several nights with Kitiara, Tanis does not tell them she is the Highlord in question. Only Raistlin realizes the [[half-elf ]] is lying at least in part and makes a point of telling him so when they are alone.
Later on, the companions arrive at the ship [[Perechon]], where the mysterious [[Berem]] (also called "the Everman" and "the Green Gemstone Man") works as a helmsman. The ship sails out to the forbidding [[Blood Sea of Istar]], a sea that was created by the destruction of the legendary city of [[Istar]] during the [[Cataclysm]]. At the center of the blood sea there is a perpetual storm over a whirlpool. This whirlpool continually churns up the rich red soil of [[Istar]] from the sea floor and gives the waters the appearance of blood.
While exploring [[Palanthas]], [[Tasslehoff Burrfoot]] and [[Flint Fireforge]] have a close encounter with the [[Tower of High Sorcery of Palanthas]]. Flint and Tasslehoff come across the tower while wandering the streets of Palanthas, and despite the feeling of terror that sweeps over them, they get closer than any human being has ever gotten. As soon as the pair come within sight of the Shoikan Grove that surrounds the tower and see the dark cloaked shape that drapes its gates, they flee in terror.
Soon, Astinus encounters [[Laurana Kanan]], Flint and Tasslehoff and relates to them the story of the Tower of High Sorcery of Panlanthas, telling the [[Canon:Elf (Dragonlance)|elf]]-maid that “its history is bound up in your destiny." He explains that the tower was one of the five original Towers of High Sorcery. During the [[Lost Wars]], it was abandoned due to the rising mistrust of magic. But after everyone had apparently left and contemporary politicians were about to take possession, a [[black robe]] mage revealed himself at the top of the tower and proclaimed “The gates shall remain closed and the halls empty until the day that the master of both the past and the present returns with power!” The mage then flung himself onto the gates, dying from impalement as he cursed the grounds and the grove with dark magic.
Not long afterwards, Laurana receives a message from [[Lord Gunthar Uth-Wistan]], leader of the [[Knights of Solamnia]], in which he names her as the new commander of the knights stationed in Palanthas (a political move on Lord Gunthar's part to limit political maneuvering within the knighthood). [[Lord Amothus]] of Palanthas then places her in command of the armies of Palanthas as well, since the city is full of peaceful people and the army has been deemed rather pointless for some time.
With Flint and Tasslehoff's help, Laurana sneaks Bakaris out of the city to the rendezvous point and finds Gakhan and a pair of wyverns waiting for them. Bakaris orders Gakhan to go, leaving him alone with Laurana, who he intends to rape as revenge for his injuries and imprisonment. After a struggle, Bakaris falls on his own knife and dies. The three companions are about to return to Palanthas when they are stopped by the [[death knight]] [[Lord Soth]], of Kitiara's most devoted servants. Soth's power is far too great for the companions and he takes Laurana.
Following their voyage into the whirlpool, Tanis and his companions, along with Berem the Everman (who reveals he only pretends to be mute) find themselves in the ancient city of [[Istar]], which is underwater and now inhabited by [[Canon:Elf (Dragonlance)#Sea elves|sea elves]] who saved them from death. The companions meet the sea elf [[Apoletta]] and her husband, a red robed human mage named [[Zebulah]]. At first Apoletta is reluctant to help the companions or allow them to return to the surface, believing that the war on the surface is none of her peoples' concern. But when Tanis tells her of the Dragonarmies and explains that the good dragons have not been seen, nor even remembered except in legends, she realizes how dire the situation is and relents.
The companions wash up just outside of [[Kalaman]] with only vague memories of the underwater city. They arrive in the city find Tasslehoff who tell them everything that has happened. Returning to Kalaman, Kitiara reveals that Laurana has been taken to the temple of Takhisis in [[Neraka]]. She demands unconditional surrender and that Berem the Everman must be delivered to her within three weeks. Grief-stricken, Tanis resolves to go to [[Neraka]] with Berem and attempt to rescue Laurana. Caramon, Tika, Flint and Tasslehoff agree to accompany him but Tanis refuses to allow Riverwind and Goldmoon to come along as they have a child on the way. Before Tanis leaves, he and Gilthanas come to understanding, as the elf now also understand the pain of love due to the fact that he feels he can't return Silvara's affections as she's really a dragon. Before they part, Gilthanas calls Tanis “brother” and agrees to take over the defense of the city.
