Minor Humans in Shannara
This article is about minor humans that appear in one or more of Terry Brooks' epic fantasy[1] Shannara novels.
Minor Humans in The First King of Shannara
Urprox Screl
Urprox Screl lived in Dechtera[2] and was known as the best blacksmith of the race of Men. He had given up this craft, turning instead to woodcarving,[2] but during the Second War of the Races he was visited by Bremen, Kinson Ravenlock, and Mareth. After a few days, the three convinced Screl to use his furnace to forge, with Bremen's help, the Sword of Shannara[2] using the Eilt Druin[2] and a formula from Cogline.[2]
Afterwards, he went north to the Borderlands and was never heard from again. One man said that he met him but he was now using the name Creel.[2] It is believed that he is the ancestor of both Panamon Creel, who went into the Skull Kingdom with Shea Ohmsford to kill the Warlock Lord, as well as Padishar Creel, who was the leader of the Free-born during the time of the Shadowen. As Par Ohmsford married Padishar's daughter Damson Rhee, Urprox Screl is also presumably an ancestor of Grianne, Bek, and Pen Ohmsford.
Minor Humans in The Sword of Shannara
Acton
Acton was the cavalry commander of the Border Legion.[3] He was locked up by Palance Buckhannah for protesting the disbandment of the Legion;[3] he was then freed by Balinor Buckhannah in time to help with the defense of Tyrsis. He died at dusk when a stray Gnome arrow caught him in the throat.[3]
Menion Leah
Messaline
Messaline was a commander in the Border Legion. He was locked up in the dungeons by Palance Buckhannah after attempting to protest the Legion's sudden disbandment.[3] Freed by Balinor Buckhannah after he was sprung from prison, he was one of four major commanders of the quickly reformed Legion; he was also the only one of the four to survive.[3]
Palance Buckhannah
Panamon Creel
Panamon Creel's early life is shrouded in mystery, other than the fact that he is a Southlander. Sometime in his early life, he lost his left hand, and replaced it with an iron pike.[3] Dressed in an outlandish red outfit, Panamon became a thief, and along the way made friends with a Rock Troll named Keltset. Panamon is known for his quick tongue, always making up wild stories about his past.
Along the way, Panamon came upon a battlefield littered with the bodies of Elves and Gnomes, where Panamon found the war standard of Eventine Elessedil. Before they could act on this, the group was confronted by one of the Skull Bearers of the Warlock Lord.[3] Panamon and Keltset fought the beast, but only managed to defeat it after Panamon gave Shea the Elfstones.[3]
Shortly after, the group came upon Orl Fane, an insane Gnome who secretly possessed the Sword of Shannara.[3] Panamon saw through the Gnome's deceptions, and had him tied up and brought along to find the Sword. Fane managed to escape, and Panamon led the group north after him in rage. Along the way, they encountered a group of Trolls, and Keltset's origins were revealed.[3] Determined to help his giant friend and Shea, Panamon accompanied them to Skull Mountain.
Inside the Mountain, Panamon and Keltset tried in vain to defend Shea from the Warlock Lord. However, they were thrown aside while Shea destroyed Brona. In fleeing the collapsing mountain, Keltset perished, and Panamon drove Shea on.[3] Panamon, with a broken limb,[3] stayed to face a pursuing Muten. Some time after the whole incident, Panamon appeared alive and well in Shady Vale, carrying the Elfstones that Shea had lost in his flight.[3]
Ruhl Buckhannah
Ruhl Buckhannah was the king of Callahorn and the father of Balinor and Palance.[3] He is locked in a tower by Stenmin for the entire novel and he eventually dies of poisoning.[3]
Sheelon
Sheelon was a captain in the Border Legion.[3] He was locked up by Palance Buckhannah after he was seen with Balinor.[3] He was released immediately upon Balinor becoming King,[3] and participated in the battle for Tyrsis. He was slain by traitors while guarding the main gatehouse.[3]
Stenmin
Stenmin is the advisor to the current ruler of the city of Tyrsis, Prince Palance Buckhannah. In an attempt to gain power, he is poisoning Palance's mind and body by feeding him drugs.[3] He is also responsible for the illness of the king, Ruhl Buckhannah. Stenmin encourages Palance to imprison his brother Balinor Buckhannah and his companions upon their arrival in Tyrsis.[3]
Stenmin attempts to kidnap Shirl Ravenlock and stab Menion Leah in different parts of the book.[3] He manages to kill Palance when it is proven that he is a traitor, but he then immediately hides somewhere in the fortress.[3] Stenmin is eventually caught and slain by Menion Leah just before he is able to betray Tyrsis to his "master," the Warlock Lord.[3]
Stenmin can be easily compared to Gríma Wormtongue of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings tale.[4]
Minor humans in The Heritage of Shannara
Damson Rhee
Damson Rhee is a street magician, skilled in the arts of sleight of hand and illusion. She is also (secretly) the daughter of Free-born leader Padishar Creel, and thus a descendant of the legendary Panamon Creel. She lost all her family except her father to a fire after her father was betrayed while selling weapons to the Free-born. To protect her from danger, Padishar concocted numerous stories about her origin.
Garth
Morgan Leah
Morgan Leah is the descendant of Rone Leah, and as such carries the magical Sword of Leah; he is most likely related to Walker Boh as well, as the short story "Indomitable" names Rone Leah as Brin's husband.
Padishar Creel
Padishar Creel, the several generations removed grandson of Panamon Creel, is the leader of the Free-born rebellion against The Federation in the time of the Shadowen.[5] Like his ancestor, Padishar makes up multiple stories about his past, during most of which he makes his family out to be land owners with the title of 'Baron Creel'. In reality, he was a smith who provided weapons to the Free-born, and lost all of his family except his daughter in a Federation-caused fire. After that, he joined the Free-born, uniting most of them under the banner of the hawk.
Padishar led the Free-born in battle alongside the Elves. After the Federation defeat, he organized a revolt that toppled Federation authority in Callahorn. When Damson married Par Ohmsford, the Creel and Ohmsford lines mingled, and in 130 years would produce Bek Ohmsford.
Bek Ohmsford
| Bek Ohmsford |
| Shannara character |
| First appearance |
Ilse Witch |
| Information |
| Nickname(s) |
Bek Ohmsford |
| Species |
Human |
| Gender |
Male |
Bek Ohmsford is a fictional character from The Voyage of the Jerle Shannara and the High Druid of Shannara series by Terry Brooks.
Biography
Bek's past is filled with tragedy. When he was two, his parents and home were destroyed and his older sister, Grianne Ohmsford, was kidnapped by the Morgawr shortly after hiding him. Saved by the shape-shifter Truls Rohk, Bek was taken to the Druid Walker Boh, a distant relative who in turn took Bek to live with the Leah family. Walker concealed Bek's heritage, claiming that he was the child of a distant relative of the Highlanders. And so, from that point until his late teens, Bek Ohmsford was Bek Rowe. He became good friends with his "cousin" Quentin Leah, and the two were hunting together when they were approached by Walker.
The Voyage of the Jerle Shannara
He revealed Bek's origins, his sister's existence, and one of the reasons he had been brought aboard: to wield the Sword of Shannara so they could bypass the obstacle of the Squirm. Having done so, Bek accompanied the others into Parkasia. He ran into Grianne, who captured him and took him aboard her airship. However, he was freed by Truls Rohk, and the two set about evading the menaces of Parkasia. They witnessed Walker's death, and vowed to protect Grianne from harm.
High Druid of Shannara
Twenty years later, Bek's life was greatly changed. He and Rue were married, he was in the business of airships, his relationship with his sister was strained, and he had a son named Pen Ohmsford. Bek and his wife were away when Tagwen came, and then were brought to Paranor by the Druids. Bek vainly tried to oppose the treacherous Druids, but was imprisoned. Working together with allies of his sister, Trefen Morys and Bellizen, Bek was able to hep Pen bring her home and defeat the renegade Druids.
Quentin Leah
| Quentin Leah |
| Shannara character |
| First appearance |
Ilse Witch |
| Last appearance |
After the events of The Voyage of the Jerle Shannara |
| Information |
| Species |
Human |
| Gender |
Male |
Quentin Leah is a descendant of Morgan Leah and also wields the magical Sword of Leah. He claims as his cousin Bek Ohmsford, who grew up with him in the Highlands. The two did many things together, talking of adventures in faraway places. Their chance to live that dream came in the form of Walker Boh, who recruited them for his expedition to Parkasia. Glad to be a part of it, Quentin and his cousin traveled to deliver a message to Walker's associate, Truls Rohk.
References