Dragonlance: Dragons of Autumn Twilight Page #5

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in the land of your birth?

A human killed my mother's husband

and then raped her.

She died in childbirth. A human father

makes me only halfDelven.

The elves could never accept me,

so I left.

I understand what it's like

to be an outcast,

but no matter what,

you have to believe in yourself.

Of course,

my village stoned me for my beliefs.

Rest here while I report to the Speaker.

Food! Finally!

Tanthalas!

Laurana, someone might see us.

I can't believe you're back. I guess you

heard the elves are leaving Qualinesti.

DThey are? Why?

DLaurana!

I've got a lot to do. I'll see you later.

I bid you welcome, Tanthalas,

son of my brother's wife.

Greetings, Speaker.

I'm called Tanis now.

You deny your elven heritage

by taking a human name?

Your mother would be appalled.

It is you, woman of the plains,

who concerns me most.

You claim to have healed this man,

Theros Ironfeld?

Your son Gilthanas saw me heal him.

He was overwrought and may

have mistaken witchcraft for healing.

She is a healer,

a true cleric of the Gods of Light.

DWhy should I believe you?

DLook on this.

Blasphemy!

Stop this nonsense!

Who are you?

DWhat was that name?

DFizban.

DBut like I said, it's not really a name.

DSolostaran, call off your guard.

If the Gods of Light have truly returned,

then perhaps there is hope

some of us will survive.

DWhat are you talking about?

DSee for yourselves.

There's Solace!

DWhat are those?

DArmies of dragons and draconians

brought to this world

by the evil goddess, Takhisis.

Even now, there at Pax Tharkas,

High Dragonlord Verminaard

gathers his forces

to invade our homeland.

Verminaard.

He murdered everyone in our village.

He has declared his intention

to wipe out the elves, as well.

But surely this city is easily defended?

Without the dragonlances,

we cannot withstand armies of dragons.

We must abandon our lands and flee.

Even so, the dragon horde

moves far more swiftly

than we can

with our women and children.

DWe may still be overtaken.

DSo we're too late.

Takhisis has already won.

No, there is a chance.

If you and your companions

can delay Verminaard's forces,

we can reach the sea before they arrive.

How can we stop an entire army?

Infiltrate the mines at Pax Tharkas

and incite a rebellion among the slaves.

That should divert

Verminaard's attention.

Why haven't you already

sent elves on this mission?

The slaves are humans.

They will not listen to an elf,

but they may listen to you.

Besides, this will give you a chance

to rescue more of your human brethren.

But Pax Tharkas is a fortified citadel.

We'd never even make it

through the gates.

Gilthanas knows a secret way

into the fortress. He will guide you.

I don't know.

We're on a quest to find a leader who

will unite the world against Takhisis.

Please... Tanis,

my people will be destroyed.

Help me save them.

I know your choice is difficult,

but you must decide quickly.

Almighty Paladine,

if you're listening, I need guidance.

I want to be the hero you wish me to be,

but I'm afraid.

As the world falls underneath

the shadow of Takhisis,

I find myself filled with doubt.

I know what I have to do.

I just don't know if my faith

is strong enough.

Tanthalas,

please don't throw your life away.

Come away with us,

where you'll be safe.

There comes a time when you have to

risk your life for what you believe in.

Leave with me,

and we can finally be married.

I'm sure my father would perform the...

Your father once said I was

half of one thing and all of nothing.

DHe'll never agree to our marriage.

DOf course he will.

Gilthanas was my best friend

and even he turned against me

when he found out about us.

The elves have no love for me.

They'll learn to love you

as much as I do.

You're still so naive.

DBut, Tanthalas, I...

DDon't call me that!

And stop trying to convince me

of something that'll never be true.

It's over.

I've fallen in love

with a human woman, Kitiara.

With her, I'm accepted for who I am.

We have just received word that

Onyx was defeated at Xak Tsaroth.

DAnd the Disks?

DTaken.

Then we must finish this

before the Gods of Light can interfere.

By nightfall,

I want the elven stronghold destroyed.

Yes, my lord.

The elves are my kin, no matter

how much they try to deny me.

I'm going to Pax Tharkas alone.

Take the Disks and leave with the elves.

The human slaves are

in as much danger as the elves.

It is my duty to rescue them.

I believe the one I seek

may also be among the slaves.

Your quest is mine. I go where you go.

Hey, there's no way you're leaving me

with all these elves!

Accept the inevitable, Tanis. For good

or ill, we face this mission together.

DDon't forget me.

DNo. You're going with the elves.

I go where I choose, and I choose

to go with you, Tanis HalfDEIven.

Then we leave within the hour.

This is gonna be fun!

I've never fought a whole army before.

The SlaDMori. The Secret Way.

All right, everyone know the plan?

Find the slaves and send the women

and children back out this way,

while we and the men

keep the draconians busy.

That should give the elves

enough time to escape.

What in the name of the Abyss

are you doing here?

You said you were risking your life for

something you believe in, and so am I.

You're going back to the elves.

You can't let her go alone.

If she's captured, she might alert

the draconians to our plan.

All right, but stay out of the way.

It's dark in there.

I can take care of that. Into the tunnel.

I mean it. Get inside that tunnel now.

Don't make me get your father.

Everyone remember how to get

back here. It's our only way out.

The gate's open.

Why don't they escape?

We're here to rescue you.

Hurry, before the draconians...

You!

You're the witch

that caused the attack on Solace!

It's because of you that we're all here!

This is your fault!

My wife is dead because of you!

Verminaard is the one

who took your wife from you,

as he took my family from me.

I'm not a witch. I'm a cleric of Mishakal.

DWhy should we believe you?

DThis man is dying.

If you're really a cleric,

you can save him.

Mishakal, if it be your will, cleanse

the disease from this man's body.

Thank you.

I'm Elistan, the leader of these people.

We need to get all of you out of here.

No. Verminaard's placed our children

under the guard of a dragon.

If we try to leave, they'll be killed.

That's why they don't try to escape

even though the cell is unlocked.

Then we'll have to rescue the children

from the dragon.

No, we can't face a dragon.

You saw what they did to Solace.

Don't worry, Tika. We've faced

a dragon before. We can handle it.

The way to the dragon's lair

is guarded by draconians.

If we have to fight the draconians,

the dragon will surely hear us

and slay the children

before we can free them.

There must be a way to get past

the draconians without a fight.

I have an idea,

but you're not gonna like it.

I want to make one thing clear.

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