| Callahorn | |
|---|---|
| Shannara location | |
| Also known as | The Borderlands |
| Capital | Tyrsis |
| Inhabitants | Many races; the country is a "melting pot" |
| Location | The northern end of the Southland |
| First appearance | The Sword of Shannara |
Callahorn is a fictitious autonomous country in most of the Shannara series of books by Terry Brooks. It first appeared in the opening novel, The Sword of Shannara.
Contents |
Callahorn is located north of the Rainbow Lake and between the Irrybis Mountains and the Mountains of Runne. It is known as the 'Borderland' because of its position between the countries of the Northland and the Federation. The country contains several major cities: Tyrsis, the capital, largest city in the Southland and home of the Border Legion; Varfleet; and Kern, an island city with citizens made up of a "melting pot" of races.
Kern is an island city on Mermidon River northwest of Tyrsis. It was constructed so that it would be protected naturally by river and plateau. It was a widely diverse commercial center and perhaps the only place in Southland where people all the major races resided. Kern was burned by the armies of the Warlock Lord during the events of The Sword of Shannara, but its entire population was evacuated to Tyrsis before the attack. Kern was rebuilt by the time of The Elfstones of Shannara.
The border city of Tyrsis is the largest city in the Southland and the capital of Callahorn for the original three books. It is home to the legendary Border Legion, the army protecting Southland from frequent Gnome raids, and the People's Park in front of the palace of kings of Callahorn. The Sword of Shannara was placed in the Park after Shea Ohmsford used it.
Much of The Sword of Shannara is set in and around Tyrsis. During the time of The Heritage of Shannara Tyrsis is occupied by the federation and the Sword of Shannara is kept under Peoples Park. The Federation took control of Tyrsis at the same time when Callahorn became a "protectorate". During the time of The Heritage of Shannara, Par Ohmsford and his brother Coll took the Sword of Shannara from the Park with the aid of Padishar Creel and Damson Rhee. In The Voyage of the Jerle Shannara, Tyrsis and Callahorn are free from the Federation and protected by the Free-born, but are fighting to keep it with the aid of the Elves on the Prekkendorran Heights.
Much comparison can be made between Tyrsis and the city of Minas Tirith in The Lord of the Rings in terms of use in the plot and description.
Varfleet is a city in the northern part of the Southland. It was one of the few places in the Southland that the Federation did not keep under strict control.
Callahorn was referred to numerous times in this book, but nothing takes place directly in the country.
Callahorn, in particular Tyrisis, played a major role in this novel. Callahorn was the first thing the Warlock Lord and his armies had to go through to get to the Southland. Kern was razed, though not before its citizens were evacuated, and Tyrsis was next on the list. They managed to hold out for quite a time, but they were betrayed by gatekeepers loyal to the Warlock Lord who jammed the gears of the crossbar into the "open" position, severely weakening the gates. Tyrsis was saved only by the convenient timing of Shea Ohmsford, who finally got to and destroyed the Warlock Lord.
Callahorn did not play any role in this novel, but units of the Border Legion (Callahorn's army) did. The Free Corps, a sort of French Foreign Legion, played a major role; another part of the Border Legion, the "Old Guard", had a minor role. Under the leadership of Stee Jans, these units were instrumental in helping the Elven army to slow the Demons down before Wil Ohmsford and Amberle Elessedil can make it back to the dying Ellcrys.
Callahorn was not mentioned in this novel, as the events within the story were set mainly in the Eastland.
The Federation invaded and took control of Callahorn after a series of weak kings; so during all of the books in this series, Callahorn ceased to exist as a separate entity.
By the time of this series, Callahorn has managed to break free of the Federation and protected by the Free-born. By this time, the Borderlands are no longer considered part of the Southland, but a separate land all its own. A very long war between the Free-born and the Federation has ensued from this with the Elves jumping in on the Free-born's side; both armies have also constructed semi-permanent fortifications on the Prekkendorran Heights with battles breaking out periodically.
Callahorn plays a central role during in one of the two separate plots in this novel after the Federation uncages a crystal-powered fire-launching weapon prototype against the Free-born and their Elven allies.
Callahorn also has a considerable role in this novel, as the Federation finally broke through the fortifications and into Callahorn. On the Prekkendoran Plains, Pied Sanderling, Captain of the Elven Home Guard, managed to rally the remaining troops of the Elven army to repel the advancing Federation forces; he then proceeded to break through a Federation siege to take refuge in a besieged Free-born fortress. Sanderling also lead a raid on the Federation base to destroy the Dechtera, the airship that bears a "super"-weapon prototype.