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Description
Ancient Evil threatens the Elves, for the Ellcrys--the tree created by long-lost Elven magic--is dying, loosing the Spell of Forbidding that bars the hordes of vengeful Demons from the Races of Man.
Allanon, the legendary guardian of the Earth, summons Wil Ohmsford to guard the Elven... read more
Cast of Characters
- Wil Ohmsford: Due to the loss of his parents at an early age to fever, Wil set out to become a Healer. Much to the dismay of his uncle Flick, Wil chose to study with the Stors, the legendary Gnome Healers who were the best in the Four Lands. Wil spent several years in Storlock, learning the language and the art of Healing from the Stors. His life changed when Allanon, the legendary Druid who had been thought dead for fifty years, appeared in Storlock heavily wounded. After healing, Allanon asked for Wil's help; as the Ellcrys, sacred tree of the Elven people, was dying--and so was the Forbidding, the alternate universe that the Demons of the old world had been sent to. In order to send the Demons back where they belonged, it was necessary for the Shannara Chosen girl Amberle to carry the seed of the Ellcrys to the Bloodfire so the tree could be reborn. However, the Demons were aware of Amberle, and she would need magical protection to survive. Allanon had to remain to aid the Elves, and so the only one who could help her was Wil, armed with the Elfstones given to his grandfather by Allanon. Although Wil is only one-eighth Elf, his Elven features are prominent enough that he is mistaken for a full Elf multiple times in the book and can pass for Amberle's brother.
- Amberle Elessedil: the daughter of Aine Elessedil and the granddaughter of Eventine Elessedil. She was one of the Chosen selected by the Ellcrys to tend to her needs. She was the first female Chosen that had been selected in 500 years. Her selection as a Chosen was quite controversial at that time, as the Ellcrys rarely selected any female Chosen. It was revealed later in the novel that the Ellcrys only selected female Chosen when she thought that she might be dying, as a female was needed if a rebirth of the Ellcrys to take place. Thus, when the Ellcrys felt that she was beginning to die, she chose Amberle to help "give birth" to a new Ellcrys. However, in their conversations, Amberle became quite frightened by the Ellcrys, as she felt that she was losing her identity to the tree. As a result, she fled from her duties as a Chosen. When the demons started breaking through the Forbidding, they slew all the Chosen except for Amberle. Allanon sent Wil Ohmsford to protect Amberle while she traveled to the Bloodfire to renew the seed of the Ellcrys. In addition, they were aided by Crispin and half a dozen Elven Hunters. During their journey, a Demon named the Reaper stalked them in an attempt to kill Amberle and therefore stop any attempt to renew the Ellcrys and restore the Forbidding.
- Allanon: Sent Shea's grandson, Wil Ohmsford, on a quest with the King's granddaughter, Amberle Elessedil, to recreate the magic tree (the Ellcrys) that had held the Demons back. After journeying to Paranor to find the location of where the two needed to go (a place named Safehold), Allanon escaped the Dagda Mor and a few of his minions. He later battled the Demon hordes at Halys Cut, Worl Run and Arborlon along with the Elven army, a Troll army and the Free Corps in an attempt to slow the Demons down to give Wil and Amberle more time.
- Ander Elessedil: He is the second son of King Eventine Elessedil, being the younger brother of Arion Elessedil and the older brother of now-deceased Aine, who was the father of Amberle Elessedill. When the Ellcrys began to die, Ander was the first one alerted; he guided the messenger to Eventine. He was also the first to discover the deaths of the Chosen, and he also was the first to meet the Druid Allanon.
- Changeling: As its name suggests, the Changeling could mimic the appearance of any living thing. Though he "had been denied the full use of his powers <while in the Forbidding>", he was one of two Demons Dagda Mor brought out of the Forbidding to help him; this was due to how "the possibilities were endless. All things, whether human or animal, fish or fowl, no matter their size, shape, color or abilities — he could be any of them." His true appearance is entirely unknown.
- Dagda Mor: He is the most powerful Demon that is locked inside the Forbidding. As such, he is their leader—most of the others obey him out of fear, with a few notable exceptions, such as the Reaper. He channels his magic through his "Staff of Power" When the Ellcrys began to fail, the Dagda Mor, the leader of the Demons, used his sorcery to escape the Forbidding with two of his subjects (a Changeling and the Reaper). Seeking to gain revenge on those who imprisoned him, he set out to ensure his victory by sending the Reaper to murder the Chosen.
- Ellcrys: A sapient tree with silver bark and crimson leaves that was "created by the bonding of earth and life". She is the magical linchpin of the barrier that keeps the Demons that once overran the Four Lands trapped in an alternate world; this world and the barrier are both known as the Forbidding. She is tended to by a group of young Elves known as the "Chosen", who are selected by the tree itself.
- Eretria: The adopted daughter of Cephelo, a Rover. Eretria is involved in almost every key moment of Wil Ohmsford's journey.
- Eventine Elessedil: King of the Elves, and has had three sons: Arion Elessedil, Ander Elessedil, and Aine Elessedil. Grandfather to Amberle Elessedil.
- The Reaper: Demon that was known for its killing. Unlike almost all of the Demons that were trapped behind the Forbidding, the Reaper served Dagda Mor "out of whim and not out of fear or respect." The Reaper's appearance was that of a tall ("almost seven feet tall when it rose to its full height") figure clad in a cloak and hood the "color of damp ashes." It had clawed hands, and despite its appearance moved with the "ease and grace of the best Elven Hunter." The only part of the Reaper never seen by anyone alive is its face, as it only reveals to its victims just before their death.
- Stee Jans (aka Iron Man): The commander of the Free Corps.
- Amantar: The Maturen of the Kershalt territory Rock Troll army. He comes to Arborlon to pledge his services to Eventine Elessedil, putting an end to centuries of conflict between Trolls and Elves. His army stood alongside the Elves, Dwarves, and Bordermen in the final battles of the War.
- Arion Elessedil: the crown prince of the Elves. He was his father's oldest<3> and favorite<citation needed> son. He was very close to his brother Aine Elessedil, but after Aine died he became angry and bitter towards his younger brother, Ander Elessedil, for being a source of comfort to Amberle Elessedil. Arion voted against Amberle being re-instated as a Chosen, as he was in favor of relying upon the Elven army. When the Elves came under attack by the demons, he was given command of the detachment preparing to defend Worl Run.
- Artaq: Add a description of this character.
- Browork
- Cephelo
- Cormac
- Crispin: The Captain of the Home Guard. He was sent by Ander Elessedil to accompany Wil Ohmsford and Amberle Elessedil on their quest to find the Bloodfire and reincarnate the dying Ellcrys. He also selected half a dozen Elven Hunters to go along with them. He was the leader of the expedition.
- Dancer
- Dardan: One of King Eventine Elessedil's personal guards.
- Dayn
- Dilph
- Drifter
- Ehlron Tay: The second-in-command of the Elven army.
- Emer Chios
- Flick Ohmsford: Wil's Great-Uncle. Advised Wil against going with Allanon when Allanon visited in Storlock.
- Flyn
- Gael: The personal aid to King Eventine Elessedil.
- Genewen
- Hebel
- Herrol
- Jase
- Kael Pindanon: The commander of the Elven army.
- Katsin: One of the Elven Hunters assigned to protect Wil Ohmsford and Amberle Elessedil on their quest to restore the Ellcrys through a rebirth.
- Kerrin: The Captain of the Home Guard in Crispin's absence.
- Kian: An Elven Hunter who was assigned to protect Wil Ohmsford and Amberle Elessedil on their quest to restore the Ellcrys through a rebirth.
- King of the Silver River: The oldest surviving living being in the Four Lands, having been in the world even before the Age of Faerie. He was one of the first creatures created by the Word, the force that all things came from. He was made caretaker of the gardens that he protects, the last remnants of the Old World that survive in the new. He was one of the few beings to survive the Great Wars, and set about seeding the new world with that contained in his gardens. As time went on, the people of the lands gave him the name of the country he claimed, calling him the King of the Silver River. The King of the Silver River has the ability to change his form, usually appearing either as a boy or an old man.
- Kobold: Kobold is the Captain of the Black Watch during the War of the Forbidding. He was described as being "tall and immaculately dressed" in the novel.
- Lauren: A member of the Chosen; he was the first to notice the wilt on the Ellcrys. He was also the first Chosen that the Ellcrys spoke to when she attempted to warn them of her imminent death.
- Manx
- Mallenroh
- Morag
- Ped
- Perk
- Rhoe
- Rin
- Spitter
- Went: Was the old groundskeeper of Arborlon's royal family at the time of The Elfstones of Shannara. He was complaining about back problems, but refused to let that keep him from his work.
- Wisp
First Sentence
The night sky brightened faintly in the east with the approach of dawn as the Chosen entered the Gardens of Life.
Table of Contents
Series
This is book 2 in the Original Shannara Trilogy series.
This is book 2 in the Shannara (Recommended Reading Order By Author) series.
This is book 9 in the Shannara series.
Authors & Contributors
- Terry Brooks (Author)
Other Contributors:
- Darrell K. Sweet (Illustrator)
- Darrell K. Sweet (Cover Artist)
- Steve Stone (Cover Artist)
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