Disreputable Dog
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[edit] The Dog
The Disreputable Dog is a fictional character from the Garth Nix Old Kingdom young adult fantasy series. She is a mysterious dog-shaped magical being from the Lirael and Abhorsen novels, who befriends Lirael.
[edit] Creation
The Disreputable Dog was intended to have been a simple dog sending comprised of Charter Marks that Lirael had tried to construct. Using a frame of silver wire and a braided tail of dog hair, Lirael attempted to summon the sending. Her summoning spell unintentionally awoke the Free Magic and Charter marks within a soapstone dog statuette that she had found, and an avatar of the Third Bright Shiner, Kibeth, invoked itself within her sending as the Dog. Kibeth channeled itself through her using the Charter. It took the shape of a mixed-breed dog with pointy ears, a shape that Lirael had not intended but did not dislike.
[edit] Attributes
The Disreputable Dog, a bitch, is a heartwarming and lovable character, although she occasionally likes to joke around. She wears a collar that feels to a Charter Mage like a Charter stone, but she also uses Free Magic. The Dog can use Charter Magic, change shape at will, go into Death bodily, and use her characteristic force of making those who she wishes to walk wherever she chooses. She holds a fierce shape when the leather collar around her neck is broken, much like Mogget, but without switching temperament or train of thought. The Dog accompanies Lirael through Lirael and Abhorsen, and both Lirael and the Disreputable Dog grow an indestructible attachment to each other. Unfortunately, when Lirael defeats the Ninth Bright Shiner, Orannis, the Dog sacrifices her life to save Lirael from total destruction, by biting off her hand. Theoretically, the dog could not have been "killed" since she is part of the Charter, but she instead decides to walk off into Death for some time. It can be assumed that Lirael sees the dog sometime after that happens.
[edit] See also
[edit] External link
| Garth Nix's Old Kingdom series | |
|---|---|
| Novels | Sabriel • Lirael • Abhorsen • Across the Wall: A Tale of the Abhorsen and Other Stories |
| Characters | Chlorr of the Mask • Disreputable Dog • Kerrigor • Lirael • Mogget • Orannis • Sabriel • Terciel • Touchstone |
| Magic | The Charter • Five Great Charters • Free Magic • Nine Bright Shiners |
| Places | Ancelstierre • Death • Old Kingdom |
| Magical objects | Necromantic bells • Nehima • Paperwing |
