Raistlin Majere

Raistlin Majere (326 - 356 AC) is a fictional character from the Dragonlance series of books. He is one of the most memorable characters in the series.

Early Life

As a young boy, Raistlin was picked on for being thin and weak. He was a twin—his brother was the robust Caramon Majere—and also has a half sister, Kitiara, with whom their friend Tanis Half-Elven (otherwise named Tanthalas) was in love.

Raistlin was for a time a street performer doing coin tricks and the like. Also as a "youngling" he was enrolled in the apprenticeship of older wizards by his half sister. He excelled and was tested at the Towers of High Sorcery in the form of a fight to the death with a banshee (in the world of Dragonlance banshees are dead dark elven women that are doomed to protect treasure until their second death), passing and becoming a mage or wizard.

Raistlin wields the staff of Magius and the dagger of Magius. After the test of the towers he bought the dagger and was gifted with the staff as well as with the recipe for an foul-smelling herbal mixture to help heal his wounds.

Originally he wore red robes symbolising neutrality or the indecisive but as time and events wore on he swapped them for the black robes of evil mages worn by his apprentice Dalamar the Dark Elf, and the wizard Fistandantilus, with whom he made a nefarious pact in order to pass his test.

The staff of Magius belonged originally to Magius, a friend of Huma. Magius was killed and Huma being a king of sorts enacted laws that Mages be alowed one bladed implement for their safety due to the unique ways of magic in the world of Krynn.

Raistlin during the War of the Lance

It was not long after Raistlin passed his test that the world was engulfed in the conflict that would be known as the War of the Lance.

During this time Raistlin helped to fight the darkness threatening to consume all of Krynn and played a critical role with his fellow companions who would collectively be known as the Heroes of the Lance. Raistlin's magic powers increased at a dramatic rate as the war progressed and he gained control of a potent artefact known as the Dragon Orb of Silvanesti which he took from the dying elven King Lorac.

More importantly however, the full nature of the bargain he had made with Fistandantilus became apparent to him and he used it to further prolong his life when he lay dying at the library of Palanthas. He turned away from the Red Robes of Lunitari and donned the Black Robes of Nuitari and pledged his loyalty to Takhisis.

Fistandantilus was able to petition the Dark Queen for a mysterious item known as the key of knowledge which Raistlin was able to use to unlock a number of ancient tomes gaining vast power in the process. His ambition however was such that he betrayed the Dark Queen ultimately bringing the War of the Lance to an end and leaving him as the most powerful force on Krynn.

He then took up residence in the Tower of Palanthas fulfilling an ancient prophecy that had foreseen his appearance as the master of past and present.

There he remained for five years whilst the world held its breath waiting to see what his next action would be.

Attempt at Godhood

Although the conclave thought that Raistlin harboured plans to conquer the world, Raistlin's ambition stretched much further than this.

He researched Fistandantilus's works on crossing the threshold between god and man and decided to embark on ultimately usurping Takhisis the Dark Queen. Much of Fistandantilus's work however had been lost in the global ravages that Krynn had endured during the cataclysm and so he embarked on an ambitious plan that took him back in time during the rein of the Kingpriest.

Once there he confronted Fistandantilus and the two fought for supremacy. Raistlin apparently won, stealing not only the archmage's identity but also the vast knowledge that Fistandantilus had accumulated over the course of his 1000 year lifespan.

In a drastic attempt to stop him the conclave sent Raistlin's twin Caramon back in time along with the cleric Crysania and the kender Tasselhoff Burrfoot. Raistlin however beguiled Crysania needing her help at a later time to further his plans as only with a true cleric of Paladine could he hope to open the great portal to the Abyss where Takhisis dwealt..

Escaping the Cataclysm he travelled forward in time where he initiated under the guise of Fistandantilus the Dwarfgate Wars in attempt to reach the magical citadel of Zhaman where the Portal lay.

Caring nothing for the war itself or those around him he relentlessly pursued his objective. To him everyone was simply a pawn to be used as he saw fit in the greater game he played with the Dark Queen, everyone including his brother could be sacrificed if it furthered his aim. His plans however were almost foiled when his brother activated a time travel device whilst Raistlin was attempting to open the great portal.

The result was a spectacular explosion that ended the Dwarfgate War and catapulted Caramon and Tasslehoff into the future. Raistlin though entered the Abyss with Crysania where he prepared to face his greatest challenge yet, the Dark Queen herself.

Leaving Crysania for dead after she had protected him to the best of her abilities from the Dark Queens assaults he confronted the Dark Queen before defeating her vast armies of minions. He then retreated to the portal, hoping to draw the Dark Queen back to the prime plane where he reasoned he would be the stronger of the two.

It was here however that he encountered his brother who through travelling to the future had seen the end result of Raistlin's bid for godhood showing him a world which he ruled alone, a world populated by bloated corpses and shattered lands and a world ultimately where he was doomed to dwindle to nothingness.

Realising the folly of his actions Raistlin made the greatest possible sacrifice he could and gave up his life to allow his brother the time needed to close the portal and prevent the Dark Queen from entering the world.

Although Raistlin's doomed attempt for godhood perhaps indicated the flawed nature of his personality it was his final sacrifice that in many ways redeemed him because for all of his accomplishments , both intellectual and material, it was the victory over the darker side of his own nature that probably was his greatest achievement in his short yet eventful life and it is perhaps for this reason that he was granted peace in death by Paladine, or so the legends said...

Raistlin's Return

to be completed

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