War of The Lance - War of The Lance - Temple of Neraka

Temple of Neraka

A war council is taking place in Neraka, and Tanis and Caramon disguise themselves as Dragonarmy officers, pretending to have captured the others, in order to reach the prison. Kitiara discovers Tanis while the others are arrested while trying to sneak into Neraka. Tanis offers to willingly serve Kitiara in the Dragonarmies if she will free Laurana. Kitiara promises to consider this but in fact has already decided to destroy Laurana and give her soul to Lord Soth. Kitiara also does not believe that Tanis came to Neraka alone and sends her personal aide, the bozak draconian Gakhan, to investigate.

Gakhan soon realizes that Caramon, Tika, and Tasslehoff are in Neraka as well and that the Everman is with them. He goes into the dungeons of the temple to retrieve the Everman, but then a battle breaks out where Berem kills him and breaks free. The other Companions are separated with Caramon following Berem while Tika and Tasslehoff stay behind to try and draw off Dragonarmy pursuers from Caramon and Berem. A door trap soon leaves Tasslehoff dying, and Tika is badly wounded after fighting the pursuers.

In the war council chamber the Dragonarmies have assembled and tensions are mounting between Kitiara and Ariakas. News is delivered to Ariakas that Lord Toede, the Dragon Highlord of the White Army, has been assassinated by the kender leader, Kronin Thistleknott, and that the kender have driven the Dragonarmies out of Kenderhome. Kitiara laughs at this news to the outrage of Ariakas and battle nearly breaks out between their forces until Takhisis arrives and forces both groups to stand down. Takhisis then praises Kitiara for having captured Laurana and tells her to bring the elfwoman before the Council to be judged.

Lord Soth enters the council chamber, carrying a body tightly wrapped up in winding cloth, and places the body at Kitiara's feet. Kitiara then cuts open the cocoon, revealing a nearly suffocated Laurana. Kitiara roughly handles Laurana and then offers up the elfwoman as her gift to Takhisis. Takhisis is well pleased and agrees to Kitiara's requests that Tanis be allowed to join the Dragonarmies and that Laurana will be sacrificed so that her soul can be given to Lord Soth.

Tanis is furious that Kitiara betrayed him but is in no position to stop her. Kitiara then instructs him to lay his sword at Ariakas' feet as a symbol of his joining the Dragonarmy. As Tanis goes to do so, he realizes the only way he can now save Laurana is to kill Ariakas and seize the Crown of Power himself. He can then trade the Crown for Laurana's life. However, as Tanis approaches Ariakas he realizes the Emperor is protected by a magic shield. Tanis is about to give up when a mysterious voice tells him to attack anyway. This unknown ally then nullifies the shield, and Tanis runs Ariakas through.

Tanis recovers the Crown of Power and tells Kitiara she must release Laurana in order to get it. Laurana, once freed, attacks Kitiara, stealing her sword away from her and knocking the Highlord to the ground. Laurana then attempts to flee the chamber. Tanis tries to stop the elfwoman from running off, but she knocks him down causing him to drop the Crown of Power. The Dragonarmies then begin fighting each other with all attempting to seize the Crown. Laurana escapes the chamber in the confusion, with Tanis chasing after her.

Meanwhile, Berem and Caramon find the Foundation Stone, which is being protected by Raistlin, now wearing black robes. However, Raistlin allows Berem to finish his task, to further his own schemes as he did when he helped Tanis to kill Ariakas. Berem dies, freeing both his sister's and his own soul. The gateway is closed, and Takhisis is sealed in the Abyss again. The temple, no longer supported by her evil, begins to crumble.

Tanis finally catches up to Laurana but before he can explain himself to her, Kitiara shows up. Kitiara offers Tanis the chance to rule along side her and warns him that Lord Soth is coming. Tanis rejects Kitiara's offer and vows to sacrifice himself to protect Laurana from the death knight. Surprisingly, Kitiara then allows Tanis and Laurana to escape the temple. Lord Soth delivers the Crown of Power to Kitiara, who becomes the supreme commander of the Dragonarmies. She retreats to Sanction with her Blue Dragonarmy.

Caramon and Raistlin find Tika and Tasslehoff, and Raistlin, who owed Caramon for all the times he helped him, heals them. They meet with Tanis and Laurana outside as the Temple of Neraka is destroyed.