Raistlin saved Caramon

[Talanthandros]

To begin I would like to say I'm a hypocrite. I've complained about Raistlin threads before but this isn't going to be questioning how cool everyone thinks he is or if he loved Crysania, so I feel a little better about myself. My main reason is I'm reading the Annotated Legends and a thought came to my head that I thought I'd share.

Now I know most of us know of the final sacrifice that Raistlin made that ultimately saved Caramon, Crysania, and all of Krynn. What I'm trying to convey is a little different and completely inadvertant on the part of Raistlin. Inadvertantly Raistlin saved Caramon from himself and his love of his brother. When the War of the Lance ended and no one needed Caramon he fell into the bottle like many who have fallen from high standing.

Tika comments on the pathetic letter that Caramon wrote his brother begging Raistlin to turn from his dark ways. Latter on page 50 of the Annotated Legends Tika tries to blame herself until Tanis says "Not you fault, Tika. I think we know who's fault this is". Now I argue that, while Raistlin is undoubtably evil and cares nothing for Caramon, it is in fact Caramon's fault. Caramon tried to live a single life combind with that of his brother's. Caramon tried to be the physical while Raistlin is the mental. One cannot blame Raistlin for living his own life. It can also be deduced that it was Caramon's weakness, not Raistlin evil, sarcasm, or lack of caring, that made the once great warrior a drunken shell of a man. One man cannot be blamed for the weakness of another.

Now I do believe that Raistlin played a part in Caramon's fall but i still put the blame on the warrior. Did Raistlin read the letter that his brother sent? No. But did he really have to? No, Raistlin knew his brother like the back of his hand. The letter didn't have to be read because he already knew the contents. Should Raistlin have left the seal unbroken, and reply "I have no brother! I know no one named Caramon" (pardon no source quote I can't find the page.). This does not excuse the fact that Caramon let himself be completely reliant on his brother's need of him.

Those are just some thoughts I had, comment if you like.

Merry Yule to all

Talan

[Nasiir]

Yea, so the opposite is true, Raistlin didnt turn Caramon to what happend to him, Raistlin actually saved him eventually from himself, by this quest he had made. Though it was intentional.

[Knight Elf]

I have not read the Annotated Legends but I have read the original though.I remember Tanis saying that but whose to say he wasn't refering to Caramon?Surely Raistlin was cold and conceited and that led to Caramon's sadness,but it was Caramon's fault not Raistlin's and I believe that is what was meant.Just a thought mind you,I have an everworking mind but mostly it ponders what to eat next.

[Talanthandros]

I don't think he was referring to Caramon because Tanis regarded the warrior with pity and not disgust. Tanis never really liked Raistlin and held him responsible for many of Caramon's character problems.

That's my take
Talan

[JulianCaesar]

Raistlin may have saved Caramon, but I have to say he did it by mistake. Raistlin cared about Raistlin, and didn't really care if Caramon saved himself or not.

[OldschoolDL]

It seemed almost as though Raistlin had a epiphanic moment when he was hanging on still to the thread of victory with Takhisis closing in, and Raistlin was in line to pull his duel with her into the mortal plane where he would strike her down, he only had enough energy to cast a spell or two left to draw her out then finish her out. With Caramon barring the way that would have completely enraged and berserked the Power crazed Raistlin. When he looked back and Saw Caramon holding the broken Crysania, he didn't even see Crysania...he saw of all things..Bupu, Dead thats one of those lines where you see the flipside to Raist's dark coin. He then saw his actions did have a consequence that normally he would have ignored or feigned not caring....But in that instant he saw in Caramon, if he wasted energy enough to kill or attempted to Kill Caramon, he knew that he would have nothing left to Defeat Takhisis. If his concentration wavered enough he could ultimately trap him his brother and the fallen Crysania in the Abyss and the wrath of Takhisis... So he did what is normally would be unthinkable to the reader, but in the end it is probably something typical of Raistlin. Raistlin saved his brother...once again, with almost a typical Sigh of frustration of having to do it. He saves him he hands him his staff and he gave him his life back.

I don't think Raistlin should ever renounce his evil ways, because he was far more honest as a whole Black Robe who isn't dependant on or anchored to Fistantalantus, or dependant on a Brother who probably in his own way prevented him through lovinly smothering him to have his life. but once he was independant of those influences throughout the Legends, and fall as he did, he would find the regret and realization through his afterlife and even know still be evil, can still ask forgiveness from his brother, and or in a small measure lead Palin on his way through the test granting him the Staff of Magius.

[OldschoolDL]

I don't think he was referring to Caramon because Tanis regarded the warrior with pity and not disgust. Tanis never really liked Raistlin and held him responsible for many of Caramon's character problems.

That's my take
Talan

Tanis seemingly was thinking too much in the black n white spectrum that by the end of the legends he did see that evil can in fact work with Good and or neutral depending on personality. And in the end can understand someone the likes of Raistlin. And as a byproduct, Tanis and Dalamar's continual relationship through the books afterwards.

[Eben Lakemoore]

I feel that Raistlin did try to help Caramon. He tried, at the end of DoSD, to get Caramon to understand that they were two seperate people. Caramon failed to understand this. Raistlin did not cause Caramon's problems. He stopped enabling Caramon and Caramon failed himself.

[Darth Fistandantilus]

I feel that Raistlin did try to help Caramon. He tried, at the end of DoSD, to get Caramon to understand that they were two seperate people. Caramon failed to understand this. Raistlin did not cause Caramon's problems. He stopped enabling Caramon and Caramon failed himself.

I completely agree.

When Tanis said what he said I thought he was referring to it Caramon's fault. One can still have pity towards someone and know that it was that person's own fault. If anything Raistlin was doing Caramon a favor by sending him that letter. Even though that letter was a little harsh, Caramon decided to drink his way past it. That's the wrong way to handle this dispute.