Necromantic bells

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Necromantic bells are the bells wielded by a necromancer in Garth Nix's fantasy series, the Old Kingdom trilogy. There are seven bells, each named after one of the Seven who created the Charter. It can be inferred that ringing each invokes the power of the associated Seven, but this is not directly mentioned in the series. The bells generally grow more difficult to wield properly as their size and power increase, and they usually have a negative effect to the wielder if used without proper care. The bells are described as typically being worn and stored in a bandolier.

The cover of Sabriel shows Sabriel holding what is presumably Ranna. She has a leather bandolier across her chest to hold the bells.

[edit] Appearance

The bells are described as ranging in size from that of a pillbox to that of a jar. While the bells of Free Magic necromancers contain only Free Magic power, the bells of an Abhorsen feature engraved Charter marks, as Magistrix Greenwood observes in the book Sabriel. In the book Lirael: Daughter of the Clayr, we are also introduced to the concept of necromancer "bells" as pipes, rather than bells. Pipes such as these carry the same basic properties as the bells, although they have less power, and are traditionally the possessions and tools of an Abhorsen-In-Waiting.

These bells are used by a necromancer to summon and control the dead. Those used by the Abhorsen family are used to return the dead to Death, and as a result Charter Marks appear on both the bells and their handles. Bells may vary in materials, but silver and bronze are common bell materials, and mahogany and ebony are common types of wood used for the handles. Bone is also sometimes used.

[edit] Characteristics

[edit] Ranna

The "Sleepbringer" or "Sleeper", Ranna is the smallest of the bells, with the highest tone. Its tone induces sleep, quiescence, and/or relaxation in humans and Dead alike. It may send the weakest of the Dead back into Death. Throughout the majority of the series, Ranna is the bell that binds the creature Mogget, or Yrael, to the service of the Abhorsen. During the second binding of Orannis, Ranna was rung by King Touchstone.

[edit] Mosrael

The "Waker", Mosrael is used to bring the Dead into Life, but also throws the necromancer further into Death. At the second binding of Orannis, Mosrael was rung by Sanar and Ryelle, a pair of twins of the Clayr bloodline.

[edit] Kibeth

Kibeth, or the "Walker", is a bell that controls movement. It is able to give and take away the freedom of movement from its target, or in careless hands its user. An avatar of Kibeth is encountered in Lirael: Daughter of the Clayr, and continues as a main character — the Disreputable Dog — through Abhorsen. Kibeth stands for herself — as the Disreputable Dog — at the second binding of Orannis.

[edit] Dyrim

Dyrim, or the "Speaker", is a musical bell that controls sound and voice. It is able to give a voice to those without one (including the Dead), or render one mute. Dyrim can also be used to improve mood, for its peal, when rung properly, can seem to those alive as a sweet, uplifting tune. Dyrim was rung by Princess Ellimere at the second binding of Orannis.

[edit] Belgaer

The "Thinker", Belgaer is a bell that manipulates memory. It can bring back forgotten memories erased from a spirit who has spent too long in Death, or erase memories altogether. If not used carefully, it may splinter the mind of the one who wields it. Necromancers will almost never use the former function, preferring to use the latter for offensive purposes. At the second binding of Orannis, Belgaer was rung by Prince Sameth.

[edit] Saraneth

The deepest bell, the "Binder" Saraneth is used by necromancers to bind the Dead to their will, and is the favored bell of the Abhorsens. It can be used to command spirits back into Death, and beyond the Ninth Gate. It is one of the most commonly used bells of the Abhorsens, along with Ranna and Kibeth. Rung discordantly, it can also make the wielder's mind wander (as demonstrated in Abhorsen.) Saraneth was rung by Queen and Abhorsen Sabriel, at the second binding of Orannis.

[edit] Astarael

"The Sorrowful" or "Weeper", Astarael's tone is described as being high pitched and peaceful. Astarael is the most powerful and largest bell which will throw everyone who hears it, including the ringer, deep into Death. If rung properly with another bell, however, Astarael may not be deadly. At the second binding of Orannis, it was rung by Abhorsen-in-Waiting and Remembrancer Lirael.

[edit] Multiple Bell Techniques

In Sabriel, it is stated that it is possible for a skilled necromancer, Abhorsen, or group of any combination of the former, to ring two or more bells at once, and achieve an effect different from that of any one rung singly. This has only been touched upon lightly in the book, and it is only stated that simultaneously ringing Mosrael and Kibeth allowed Sabriel to free her father, the Abhorsen Terciel, from his confines in Death. This combination of Walker and Waker does not negate the see-saw effect of Mosrael's wielder being cast further into Death as a result of its use. For example, in Sabriel when Sabriel frees her father, she is walked toward the gate as her father is freed. All that is stated in the books, however, is that this combination was necessary for Sabriel to free her father from his captivity. Another example is found in Abhorsen: Saraneth and Ranna are rung by Lirael in chorus with the Disreputable Dog's bark (effectively Kibeth) to bind the sliver of Orannis inside Nicholas Sayre. The ultimate combination is used in Abhorsen — all seven bells being rung simultaneously to bind the complete Orannis.

[edit] Creation of the bells

The text An Extract of the Journal of Idrach the Lesser Necromancer^[1] reveals more about the nature of and especially the manner of creation of the bells. Many pages of this extract are missing, as is mentioned by the Clayr First Assistant Librarian. It is hinted that one must procure a normal bell of silver or bronze, and venture into each of the nine Precincts of Death (excluding the Third), each standing for one Bright Shiner, from which the name of each bell is derived. According to the text, the creation of a necromancer's Ranna involves a special ritual preparation of an ordinary bell, which must then be made red-hot and plunged into the water nearby the First Gate. Although this suggests that the preparation of the other bells is similar, minimal information about the creation of the other bells, including the Abhorsen's bells with Charter marks, is given. It is only specified that each progressively larger bell must be made further in Death. No bell is created in the Third Precinct of Death, because the dangerous waves there do not allow enough time to create a bell.

[edit] See also

• The Nine Bright Shiners
• Sabriel
• Lirael: Daughter of the Clayr
• Abhorsen
• Garth Nix

[edit] References

1. ^ An Extract of the Journal of Idrach the Lesser Necromancer. Retrieved on 2006-11-26.