Shannara Druids
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The Druids are an order of historians, philosophers, magic-users, teachers and researchers in the Shannara series of fantasy novels by Terry Brooks.
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[edit] The Order of the Druids
[edit] The Druids' Mission
When the world was ravaged by nuclear holocaust (implied from the first book), a small group of human beings were determined to keep the knowledge of the Old World safe. The result was the First Council at Paranor, and thus were the Druids born. However, the Druids found that, over the millenium after the holocaust, crucial pieces of knowledge of the old sciences had been lost, and without the pieces crucial to their understanding, the Druids were unable to restore science to benefit the Races as they had wished. Nonetheless, many continued to study science, convinced that one day it would be used again. Other Druids began searching for new ways to benefit the Races, and in doing so discovered magic, a venue unexplored by any before. Unfortunately, of the few who discovered magic, The Warlock Lord (an ex druid) was one of the first, and he set into motion events that might well have precipitated a second holocaust. It was then the charge of the sole remaining druid (first Bremen, then Allanon, then Walker Boh) to preserve the lore of both magic and science, and ward it from ever being misused again.
After the events of the "Voyage of the Jerle Shannara" series, the druid order was restored, with its new mandate, to gather all knowledge, and keep safe the four lands from strife.
[edit] Druid teachings
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[edit] Druid magic
[edit] Druid Fire
Druid fire is the most common offensive form of Druid magic, used in battle against opposing magics. The fire can be any one of several colors; for example, Allanon's is blue while Walker Boh's is white. Druid fire has multiple other uses, including awakening the magic that seals Paranor.
[edit] Druid sleep
Druids can place themselves in a form of suspended animation known as the Druid Sleep. During this time they are rejuvenated and their lives prolonged. The Druid Sleep cannot sustain one forever, and towards the end of a Druid's life, the sleep becomes less effective. In the twilight of a Druid's life, they will have become too old for the Sleep to have any effect on them, and they pass away soon after. There has been no limit stated as to the length of time one can stay in the Druid Sleep. However, reckless use of the Druid Sleep can cause complications. Overuse led to senility in the ex-Druid Cogline. Also, overuse when one has been mortally wounded can be catastrophic, as witnessed with the rebel Druid Brona after the First War of the Races.
[edit] Invisibility
Druid magic allows the Druids to leave their bodies, in invisible spirit form. This technique is used most often for espionage, and also for sneaking in and out of places undetected.
[edit] Paranor
Paranor is the fortress that has been used by the Druids since they first created the Druid Council. It is described as having a keep and a surrounding wall. Geothermal energy powers and heats the keep. It is riddled with secret passages that interconnect the entire fortress; these have been used by friend and foe alike. The fortress also contains the hidden library that houses the Druid Histories, in addition, it contains vaults that have held a variety of artifacts including the Sword of Shannara and the Stiehl. But the keep's most important feature is the Druid Well. It is the source of the Druids' potent magical powers, and a last defence against invaders. If the fortress is taken, it removes Paranor from the Four Lands, killing all inside despite any magic or lack thereof. This can only be undone using the power of the Black Elfstone, and even then at tremendous cost to the resurrector.
[edit] History of the Druids
[edit] The First Druid Council
After the Great Wars, an Elf named Galaphile gathered learned men and women from all the races, those who preserved the skills and knowledge of the Old World. Galaphile called them together to The Druid Keep in the lower Northlands to form the First Druid Council, to establish peace and bring order to the land. They sought out all the information they could on the arts and sciences and history of the Old World, attempting to understand what had brought about such a terrible apocalypse, so that they might learn from those mistakes. As time progressed, the Order flourished and Galaphile's plan seemed to be working. However, several of the more powerful Druids among the Council became convinced that it was their destiny to shape the future of the races, and left Paranor to form their own group. They were led by a very powerful Druid called Brona, an archaic Gnome term for "Master". He took with him the Ildatch, a book of unparalleled evil. He and his followers disappeared for some time afterwards, and were forgotten.
Note that Brona was a man from the southland and not a Gnome of the Eastland
[edit] The First War of the Races
One hundred and fifty years later, a sector of the race of Men rose up and rebelled against the teachings of the Council, proclaiming that their leader's teachings would lead to a betterment of Mankind, furthering their pride and making them the dominant race of the Four Lands. They were led by the ex-Druid Brona. The rebellion soon widened into what became known as the First War of the Races. Eventually the combined power of the Druids and the other allied races crushed the revolt, and the surviving Men fled to the Southland to lick their wounds and rebuild their shattered lives.
[edit] The Second Druid Council
For unknown reasons, a new Druid Council was formed, the Second. The majority of these Druids felt a policy of non-interference in the affairs of the races was best, and decided to pursue their own interests, studying their histories and the old sciences. Several hundred years later, the Druid Bremen, an outcast druid who chose to study magic instead of science, returned from decades of travel warning that Brona was about to return, that he was assembling an army, and that his first target would be Paranor. The Druid Council scoffed at his claims, and many of the Druids laughed at him. A small handful of them believed him though, and left Paranor with him to alert the Elves and Dwarves, and seek a way to destroy Brona, who was now calling himself the Warlock Lord.
[edit] The Fall of Paranor
Soon after Bremen left, a huge army of Trolls emerged from the Charnal Mountains and took control of the entire Northland, and Brona's creatures laid siege to Paranor. The Druids were betrayed from within by three of their number who were won over by Brona's promises of power. They opened one of the side doors to the keep and Brona's forces swarmed in, and set about slaying the Druids, despite the valiant efforts of Caerid Locke and his Druid Guard. The three traitors met with their master, and he indeed rewarded them for their service, by twisting them into monsters. Brona immediately began searching for the Druid Histories, the books that contained the knowledge of the Old World, that were hidden within the vault situated inside the library. However, Kahle Rese, the librarian and friend of Bremen, had used a magic powder to hide the Histories before being killed, and Brona was unable to find them. He had the Druids walled away alive, but abandoned the Keep because of the Druid Well's protective magic.
[edit] The Second War of the Races
The surviving Druids, led by Bremen, began a war effort, helping the races fight the Warlock Lord and his army of Trolls and Gnomes. Bremen himself crept back into Paranor and recovered the Eilt Druin, the talisman that would become part of the Sword of Shannara. Later, passing through the destroyed city of Varfleet, he came across the fifteen year old Allanon, and befriended him, believing he had found his successor. When the Sword was forged, Bremen took it to the newly-crowned Elven King Jerle Shannara. He and the other Druids joined with Jerle Shannara's army at the Valley of Rhenn to face the Warlock Lord's army. He and Allanon saved each others lives several times in the battle that followed. Bremen watched as Jerle Shannara destroyed the Warlock Lord's physical body, but failed to destroy his spirit, which fled to recover itself.
[edit] The Last of the Druids
Three years later, Bremen died, leaving Allanon as his successor and last of the Druids. Risca and Tay Trefenwyd had both died during the War, and Mareth had sworn to never again use her powers. Allanon returned to Paranor and vanished from history.
Surviving Druids of Brona's Attack:
Bremen — Human, banished by Druid Council for practicing use of magic, returned several days before fall of Paranor, left before attack, helped forge the Sword of Shannara, chose Allanon as his successor, died three years after Second War of the Races
Tay Trefenwyd — Elf, follower of Bremen, elementalist, went with Bremen before fall of Paranor, went to Arborlon to ask for help in finding the Black Elfstone, led the company along with Jerle Shannara to recover the stone, died after using the Black Elfstone to save surviving members of his company, and was buried somewhere in Arborlon
Risca — Dwarf, follower of Bremen, last warrior Druid, away from Paranor during attack, helped lead Dwarf defense of the Eastland along with Geften and Raybur, led surviving Dwarves to help the Elves at the Battle of the Rhenn, died during end of battle because of wounds, buried in Meade Gardens in Culhaven
Mareth — Human, Druid Apprentice/Healer, empathic, daughter of a Skull Bearer, away from Paranor during its fall, traveled with Bremen, went with Kinson Ravenlock to search for Dwarves, married Kinson after the Battle of the Rhenn, vowed to never used powers again except to heal, lived at trading post that later became the city of Kern
Cogline — Human, outcast Druid, survivor of First War of the Races, lived in Darkin Reach, gave Bremen alloy mix for Sword of Shannara, survived for another 800 years
[edit] The Third War of the Races
500 years later, Brona and his minions returned, and with them came Allanon. Seeking to finish what Bremen started, he sought out the aid of Shea Ohmsford, the only one who could wield the Sword of Shannara. Allanon joined the quest for the Sword, conversing with the Shade of Bremen at the Hadeshorn. After numerous battles, including fighting a Skull Bearer at Paranor, Allanon aided Shea as he confronted Brona. After one last conversation with Shea, Allanon disappears to sleep.
[edit] The War of the Forbidding
When the Demons escaped the Forbidding, Allanon reappeared to aid in the battle against them. Offering his services to the Ellcrys, he set about organizing the defeat of the enemy. First, he recruited Wil Ohmsford and Amberle Elessedil to seek out the Bloodfire so the Ellcrys could be restored. Then, he gave his aid against the Demon forces, particularly by obtaining a staff of Ellcrys wood to weaken the Demons. Allanon battled the Demons throughout the conflict, and brought down the Dagda Mor. However, he gave more of himself than he intended, and aged rapidly from his use of magic. After saying his goodbyes to Wil Ohmsford and Ander Elessedil, he disappeared once more to recover.
[edit] The Passing of an Age
When Allanon once again returned, he came this time to Wil Ohmsford's daughter, Brin. He told her the Ildatch, the book of dark magic that had given the Warlock Lord his power, had been found, and that she must destroy it. He, Brin and Rone Leah travelled to the Hadeshorn where the spirit of Bremen revealed to Allanon several horrible truths, which he of course kept secret from his companions. Allanon then imbued the Sword of Leah with the powers of the Hadeshorn, to allow Rone to cut through or deflect any magic that would harm Brin. Almost immediately after doing so they were ambushed by a Mord Wraith, a servant of the Ildatch, and Allanon was saved only by his instincts and the new powers of the Sword of Leah. The Druid destroyed the Wraith. They then travelled to Paranor to drive the Mord Wraiths from the Druid's Keep. To do so, Allanon was forced to activate a magic placed on Paranor before it was even built, and he sent the Keep into the spiritual world where it and the Druid Histories would remain hidden and beyond reach until a future Druid could bring them back. When they reached the Chard Rush, they were stopped by a Jachyra, a fearsome creature from before the time of the Ellcrys. Allanon faced the monster and eventually destroyed it, but he himself was mortally wounded doing so. After naming Brin the bearer of his charge, he was carried into the waters by the shade of Bremen, telling her to return here when her task was done. When Brin returned, Allanon's shade told her that Bremen had foretold his death at the Hadeshorn, and although Allanon had tried to avoid it, when he saw the Jachyra he knew his time had indeed come. He told Brin that the magic would not be needed for many generations to come, but one day the magic would be needed once more, and that the Ohmsfords would have to be ready. With that, he disappeared and came to rest in the Hadeshorn.
[edit] List of Druids
[edit] Ahren Elessedil
Ahren was a Prince of the Elves in the time that Walker Boh set out for Parkasia. At the insistence of his brother, Ahren was sent along on the expedition as a representative of the Elessedil family. However, he was really sent along to prevent him from taking the throne from his brother's children in the event of his brother's death. On the journey, Ahren trained with his longtime mentor, Ard Patrinell, and befriended Bek Ohmsford.
Upon arriving in Parkasia, Ahren was left with only the company of the seer Ryer Ord Star. Together, the two managed to free Walker from Antrax (A.I.) and recover the lost Elfstones belonging to Ahren's family. However, upon their escape from the catacombs of Antrax's lair, they were captured by Mwellrets under the Morgawr. Ahren, who had begun to feel close to Ryer, was shocked by her seeming alliance with the warlock. He was shocked further when Ryer helped him to escape, resulting in her death. During his time in Parkasia, Ahren changed from the boy he had been to the man he was at that point. He proved a valuable ally, even killing the Mwellret Cree Bega. Upon returning, he surrendered the Elfstones to his brother, then left for Paranor.
For some years after that, Ahren lived and studied at Paranor as a Druid, becoming a powerful ally to Grianne Ohmsford. However, after ending his relationship with a female Elf Druid, Iridia Eleri, he departed from Paranor's intrigues and lived as a hermit in a Westland village called Emberen. However, he was found by his niece Khyber, who wanted to become a Druid. Reluctantly, he trained her in the use of magic.
Ahren joined forces with Grianne's servant Tagwen and Pen Ohmsford in their efforts to save Grianne from the Forbidding. He proved invaluable against the evil pursuing Druids, using his considerable magic to counter their own. However, he was no match for Terek Molt, and sacrificed himself to destroy the Dwarf Druid. It is unknown whether or not Ahren might have replaced Walker as the Druid spirit to rise from the Hadeshorn, though it is unlikely since all previous occupants have willingly surrendered themselves to the spirit of the lake which Ahren does not.
[edit] Allanon
See main article
[edit] Athabasca
Athabasca was the High Druid during Bremen's time, and like most of the Druids felt that Bremen's claims that the Warlock Lord was coming to destroy the Druids were ridiculous. He was a staunch in the Druid policy of not interfering with the affairs of the other races of the Four Lands. When Brona attacked Paranor, he demanded than Athabasca kneel before him, and when the High Druid refused, Brona had one of his serving Skull Bearers burn his eyes out and tear his heart out from his still-living body.
| Preceded by Unknown |
High Druid of Shannara ??? - c. 1500 |
Succeeded by Allanon |
[edit] Bremen
| Bremen Shannara character |
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|---|---|
| Race | Human |
| Gender | Male |
| Hair colour | Grey |
| Eye colour | Unknown |
| Loyalty | The races of The Four Lands |
| First appearance | First King of Shannara |
| Birth | Unknown |
| Death | Three years after the Second War of the Races |
Bremen was the man who had the Sword of Shannara forged for the use of Jerle Shannara in the Second War of the Races. He is also the Druid who adopted the young Allanon and taught him the ways of the Druids. Throughout the Sword of Shannara trilogy, he is the spirit that rises from the Hadeshorn to tell Allanon what must be done, and it is his spirit that takes Allanon away when it is his time to die.
Bremen was bound by his pledge to aid the races of the Four Lands, and as such could not find rest after his death until that oath had been fulfilled with the destruction of the Ildatch by Brin Ohmsford.
See main article
[edit] Brona
See main article
[edit] Cogline
| Cogline Shannara character |
|
|---|---|
| Race | Human |
| Gender | Male |
| Hair colour | Grey |
| Eye colour | Unknown |
| Loyalty | Himself, Walker Boh |
| First appearance | First King of Shannara |
| Birth | Unknown, older than Bremen. |
| Death | Fatally wounded saving Walker from Death in The Talismans of Shannara |
Cogline is the longest-living Druid in the Shannara series, from First King of Shannara to The Talismans of Shannara. Cogline was once one of the Druids, but by the beginning of First King he had left the Order. He still studied the old sciences vigorously though, and was a master of them. Cogline knew how to create "black powder", what is essentially gunpowder, and Cogline was the one who gave Bremen the recipe to create a metal stronger than iron, which was used for forging the Sword of Shannara. He later joined Brin Ohmsford and Rone Leah in the battle against the Mord Wraiths. He also instructed Walker Boh in the use of magic and his own science, and served as Allanon's messenger in the conflict with the Shadowen. He had lived in Hearthstone for the great majority of his life, although he spent the last months of his life in hidden Paranor as a wraith to escape Rimmer Dall until Walker Boh restored him along with the Druid Keep. Cogline was killed when he used his gunpowder at point-blank range to greatly weaken the Shadowen that was posing as Death, one of the Horsemen of the Apocalypse, saving Walker's life in the process. He was mortally wounded doing so, and after a few words to Walker, he died.
[edit] Galaphile
The Elf who founded the Druid Order after the Great Wars, as well as showing Bremen four visions of what was to come during First King of Shannara. He was the Druid shade who rose from the Hadeshorn before Bremen's death, and took Bremen to the afterlife when it was time. Galaphile also recorded the history of the Old World Elves in the Druid Histories, including the secret of the Ellcrys.
[edit] Grianne Ohmsford
See main article
[edit] Iridia Eleri
A female Elf Druid, Iridia was at one time romantically involved with Ahren Elessedil. However, he rejected her, and she set her sights on bringing down Grianne Ohmsford. She helped to banish Grianne to the Forbidding, knowing that the Moric would come in her place. However, the Moric tricked her into thinking it was Ahren, and assumed her identity for some time before assuming that of Sen Dunsidan.
[edit] Kahle Rese
Kahle was the librarian of Paranor and friend of Bremen during First King of Shannara. He believed his old friend's claims that the Warlock Lord would strike at the Druids, but he refused to abandon his duties as librarian. Bremen gave him a pounch containing magic dust and told him that when the Warlock Lord attacked, he sprinkle the dust on the walls that led to the Druid Histories chamber. The dust would make the door to the room invisible, and only one who knew where the Histories were would be able to find the door again. Kahle did as he was asked when Brona attacked, and shortly after a Skull Bearer skewered him through the heart with a spear.
[edit] Khyber Elessedil
The niece of Ahren Elessedil, Khyber is, technically, an Elven Princess. However, she cared little for her dominating family, and tried to run away from home several times. Later, she took up Druid studies under her uncle, who taught her the use of various magics. She joined him on his mission to aid Pen Ohmsford, wielding her family's Elfstones. After the defeat of the renegade Druids, Khyber was one of the few remaining members of the Druid Order entrusted with guarding Paranor until the time was right for reestablishment.
[edit] Mareth
A Druid apprentice in the time of the Second War of the Races, Mareth had an unusual history. Her mother had died giving birth to her, and she had never known her father. The people of her town said that he had been an evil sorcerer who had seduced her mother, and then wandered on. Their descriptions convinced Mareth that Bremen was her father.
Mareth was born with a dangerous ability: she had innate magic, not seen since the time of Faerie. Her magic was extremely powerful, and at times exploded out of control to destroy anything in its path. However, it also served to make Mareth an empath, allowing her to take the pain of others into herself and heal them.
Seeking to control her powers, Mareth asked to be accepted into the Stors. However, she was refused. With the help of former Druid Cogline, she got into Paranor. However, she was not allowed to study magic. She therefore jumped at the chance to go with Bremen and his companions as they prepared to battle the Warlock Lord.
Along the way, Mareth told Bremen of her story and suspicions. Much to her dismay, Bremen was not her father, and his theory indicated that she was the child of one of the Warlock Lord's servants. However, Bremen treated Mareth as though she were his daughter, giving her a staff with which she might channel her magic. In addition, Mareth became close with Bremen's friend Kinson Ravenlock, particularly when the two traveled in search of the Dwarves. Along the way, a Skull Bearer tried to convince Mareth that it was her father, but she destroyed it.
Mareth fought in the final battle against the Warlock Lord. However, after Jerle Shannara banished the evil creatures, she renounced her life as a Druid. She later married Kinson, and the two made a home on an island that would become the city of Kern. Years later, their descendant Shirl Ravenlock would help in the final war against the Warlock Lord.
[edit] Risca
| Risca Shannara character |
|
|---|---|
| Race | Dwarf |
| Gender | Male |
| Hair colour | Unknown |
| Eye colour | Unknown |
| Loyalty | the Druid Order |
| First appearance | The First King of Shannara |
| Birth | Unknown |
| Death | the battle at the Valley of Rhenn |
A Dwarf who specialised in martial arts. He left with Bremen before the fall of Paranor, and soon journeyed to the Eastland to warn his kin that the Warlock Lord would attack them first. He later convinced his people to go to the aid of the Elves in spite of the fact the Elves never came to their aid because most of the Elven royal family had been assassinated by Brona's forces. Risca fought at the Valley of Rhenn, and eventually succumbed to the multitude of wounds he had taken.
[edit] Shadea a'Ru
| Shadea a'Ru Shannara character |
|
|---|---|
| Race | Human |
| Gender | Female |
| Hair colour | Blond |
| Eye colour | Blue |
| Loyalty | Herself |
| First appearance | Jarka Ruus |
| Birth | Unknown |
| Death | Died in combat with Grianne Ohmsford & Kermadec in halls of Paranor. |
Shadea was a soldier for the Federation forces along the Prekkendorran, until she was raped and beaten by several soldiers and left to drown in a river. She was saved by an old man who taught her magic in exchange for her love, and when he died she left to join the newly-reformed Druid Order. After spending some time in Paranor, she staged a coup against Grianne Ohmsford, the Ard Rhys (High Druid). Using "liquid night" obtained by Iridia Eleri, she sent Grianne into the Forbidding one night, and took her place as "acting Ard Rhys". She then ordered Grianne's brother Bek and his family be found and brought to Paranor where he could be convinced that Grianne had indeed vanished, or failing that, disposed of. Things never went quite to plan though, and Bek's young son Pen Ohmsford escaped along with Grianne's assistant Tagwen, soon joining with Ahren Ellessedil, a former Druid friendly to the Ard Rhys despite her former life as the Ilse Witch, and Ahren's young niece Khyber, a Druid-in-training. She sent her deadly assassin comrade Aphasia Wye to hunt down and kill Pen and his companions.
[edit] Tay Trefenwyd
| Tay Trefendwyd Shannara character |
|
|---|---|
| Race | Elf |
| Gender | Male |
| Hair colour | Blond |
| Eye colour | Unknown |
| Loyalty | the Druid Order |
| First appearance | First King of Shannara |
| Birth | Unknown |
| Death | Destroyed himself after using the Black Elfstone during First King of Shannara |
An Elf who studied the elements. He was the best friend of Jerle Shannara, and one of the few Druids to heed Bremen’s warning, leaving with him before the fall of Paranor. He travelled home to the Westland to persuade the Elves to send their army to the Eastland and aid the Dwarves against the Warlock Lord. He also asked for aid in seeking out the Black Elfstone. However, after King Ballindarroch had granted him permission to search for the Black Elfstone, and said he would consider sending relief for the Dwarves, agents of the Warlock Lord assassinated almost the entire royal family. Tay could only save two of the King's grandchildren. While most of the Elves were reeling from the shock of their royal family being decimated, Tay left for the Breakline with Jerle Shannara and a party of Hunters, eventually discovering the Chew Magna, an ancient fortress where the Black Elfstone was located. He had to disguise himself as one of the subverted using ancient druid magic to enter the garden in which the Elfstone was hidden, and when he took the Elfstone the fortress began collapsing around them. On the way out they encountered a party of Gnomes led by two Skull Bearers. Tay was too weak to call upon his own magic, and had to resort to using the Black Elfstone, which Bremen had strictly warned him not to do. Using the elfstone subverted Tay Trefendwyd, as the evil of those that he destroyed merged with his soul, subverting him in the process. After saving the lives of his companions, he chose to destroy himself as a sacrifice rather than allow the evil to manifest in him.
[edit] Terek Molt
| Terek Molt Shannara character |
|
|---|---|
| Race | Dwarf |
| Gender | Male |
| Hair colour | Unknown |
| Eye colour | Unknown |
| Loyalty | Himself, Shadea a'Ru |
| First appearance | Jarka Ruus |
| Birth | Unknown |
| Death | Killed by Ahren Elessedil during Jarka Ruus |
A Dwarf who conspired with Shadea a'Ru to overthrow Grianne Ohmsford. He was sent to bring Bek Ohmsford and his family to Paranor, but allowed Bek's son Pen to escape. He was then sent along with Aphasia Wye to hunt down and kill Pen and his companions. Terek was killed when Ahren Elessedil destroyed his airship.
[edit] Walker Boh
See main article.
