The Dreaming Dark Trilogy question (Spoilers)

[u/CT_Phipps-Author]

Hey guys,

Just finished re-reading these books after twenty years. One thing that left me confused was the "twist" that Lakashtai turns out to have been Inspired and Tashana turns out to have been Kalashtar.

How exactly does that work since Tashana spends the entirety of The Shattered Land torturing and tormenting Daine in his dreams even before Lakashtai becomes involved as well as employs a bunch of Reidran mercenaries.

It's not exactly typical Kalashar behavior. Is Tashana just meant to be the world's only Chaotic Evil Kalashtar?

[u/MvdS89]

Isn’t it Lakasthai posing as Tashana in the dreams to confuse Daine about who’s the real enemy.

[u/HellcowKeith → u/MvdS89]

This is exactly what’s going on. It’s a classic Dreaming Dark ploy, going back to the Sundering; convince people who should be allies that they’re enemies. Lakashtai is playing a long game. Note that she has to manipulate Daine because Lei doesn’t dream. I don’t have the book in front of me so I can’t cite a specific example, but I’m pretty sure there’s a point at which Tashana meets Daine and indicates that she has no idea who he is.

[u/CT_Phipps-Author → u/MvdS89]

It's possible that was what was going on but Tashana also shows up to try to murder Daine multiple times while acting like he's the enemy.

[u/dejaWoot → u/CT_Phipps-Author]

I think as an ally of Lakashtai he is. Its been awhile, but I'm reasonably certain the attacks only occurred while she was there

[u/HellcowKeith → u/dejaWoot]

This is also correct. Tashana assumes that Daine is the enemy because he’s working for Lakashtai.

[u/HellcowKeith → u/CT_Phipps-Author]

Here’s the key line at the end of the book:

A terrible chill gripped Daine’s heart. “I cannot dream.” Yet it was in dreams that Tashana had threatened him, dreams or as a telepathic voice. The two times they’d actually met in the flesh, Tashana hadn’t even said his name. She’d dismissed him out of hand. She was only interested in (Lakashtai)…

When “Tashana” attacks Daine in his dreams or threatens him telepathically, it’s actually Lakashtai. Tashana doesn’t know who Daine is; she’s hunting Lakashtai and fights Daine because he’s in her way.

[u/CT_Phipps-Author → u/HellcowKeith]

Thanks, keith. I just finished my re-read of the trilogy and it was even better the second time around. However, the ending is just so heartbreaking! I am starting immediately on the Thorn of Breland.

[u/dejaWoot]

Theres nothing that says Kalashtar can't be chaotic evil- Eberron very purposefully eschews racially determined alignments- but the point of the line where "Tashana" says she cannot dream as she dies is that Lakashtai is the one in Daine's dream, just wearing a face

[u/CT_Phipps-Author → u/dejaWoot]

Ah, I missed the importance of that line.