Minor Humans in Shannara

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This article is about minor humans that appear in one or more of Terry Brooks' epic fantasy[1] Shannara novels.

Contents

[edit] Minor Humans in The First King of Shannara

[edit] Urprox Screl

Urprox Screel
Shannara character
Race Human
Gender Male
Hair colour
Eye colour
Loyalty his family
First appearance First King of Shannara
Magic item or equipment None
Birth Unknown
Death Unknown

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 short time, the three eventually convinced Screl to use his furnace to forge, with Bremen's help, the Sword of Shannara[2] using the Elit 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.

[edit] Minor Humans in The Sword of Shannara

[edit] Acton

Acton
Shannara character
Race Human
Gender Male
Hair colour
Eye colour
Loyalty Callahorn and the Border Legion
First appearance The Sword of Shannara
Magic item or equipment None
Birth Unknown
Death during the siege on Tyrsis

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]

[edit] Menion Leah

Menion Leah
Shannara character
Race Human
Gender Male
Hair colour Dark brown
Eye colour Grey
Loyalty Shea and Flick Ohmsford
First appearance The Sword of Shannara
Magic item or equipment the Sword of Leah
Birth Unknown
Death Unknown

Menion Leah was born the crown prince of the small highland kingdom of Leah.[3] He was an extremely lazy youth, having absolutely no interest in the responsibility of ruling that he would one day inherit. Despite his lack of initiative, Menion was extremely talented outside of the protective walls. He was easily the best tracker in the highlands, as well as a skilled archer.[citation needed] Menion was close friends with Shea Ohmsford, although his brother, Flick, couldn't stand the Prince of Leah.

Nevertheless, as Shea noted, Menion had a strong sense of morality. When Shea and Flick came to him for help when they were chased from the Vale by Skull Bearers, Menion felt honor bound to become their guide and protector. He never relinquished this role. Like Flick, Menion felt somehow responsible when Shea appeared to have fallen to his death; both blamed themselves for letting their friend/brother down. Finding Shea became their drive through the remainder of the story, in the hope that he may have survived his plunge into the Rabb River. Menion's sense of honor also manifested itself earlier in the Eastland, as well as his sense of humor. The only way to escape the multitude of Gnomes trapping them in the Jannison Pass, Menion had to create a distraction so they could escape. The safest way to do this, they agreed upon, was killing a Gnome chieftain, which would cause disorder among the tribal people. However, Menion refused to kill a man whose back was turned; doing so in the heat of battle was one thing, but he could not live with murder. Instead, Menion fired an arrow straight to the chieftain's rear end. It was a greater risk, but Menion's character was demonstrated then.

Later on, as he was searching for Shea, he rescued a young woman who was kidnapped by Stenmin.[3] Despite his previous claim that he had no need for love, he fell for the woman, Shirl Ravenlock, who was revealed to be royalty and Palance Buckhannah's object of desire.[3] The two succeeded in saving her people from the advancing Northland army by evacuating the island's inhabitants down the Mermidon River to the temporary safety of Tyrsis, the capital of Callahorn. Menion fought valiantly in the ensuing battle for Tyrsis, a losing battle that he was prepared to die in, and surely would have if Shea did not destroy the Warlock Lord in time. After the war, Menion married Shirl.[3] Battle having forced him to mature, Menion became the greatest ruler in the history of Leah.[citation needed] His great-grandson Rone Leah would later accompany Brin Ohmsford and Allanon in the battle against the Mord Wraiths in The Wishsong of Shannara, and hundreds of years later, his descendant, Morgan Leah, embarked on a quest to destroy the Shadowen. Morgan also traveled with Walker Boh to try and find the Black Elfstone.

[edit] Panamon Creel

Panamon Creel
Shannara character
Race Human
Gender Male
Hair colour
Eye colour
Loyalty Shea
First appearance The Sword of Shannara
Magic item or equipment none
Birth Unknown
Death Unknown

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.

Panamon entered the Third War of the Races after encountering Shea Ohmsford, whom he rescued from a patrol of Gnomes.[3] However, Panamon also stole from the Gnomes the Elfstones belonging to Shea, and the Valeman was desperate to get them back. As such, he persuaded Panamon to take him to the borders of Paranor, so he could meet up with his friends.

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]

Panamon's role in the history of the Four Lands ended there, but his family's continued on. Unbeknownst to Panamon, he is the descendant of Urprox Screl, who was the finest smith in the Southland and the man who forged the Sword of Shannara, then changed his last name to Creel. Over 300 years later, Panamon's descendant Padishar Creel would participate in the war against The Federation and the Shadowen.

[edit] Ruhl Buckhannah

Ruhl Buckhannah
Shannara character
Race Human
Gender Male
Hair colour
Eye colour
Loyalty Callahorn
First appearance The Sword of Shannara
Magic item or equipment None
Birth Unknown
Death During the siege upon Tyrsis

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]

[edit] Sheelon

Sheelon
Shannara character
Race Human
Gender Male
Hair colour
Eye colour
Loyalty Callahorn and the [[{Border Legion (Shannara)|Border Legion]]
First appearance The Sword of Shannara
Magic item or equipment None
Birth Unknown
Death Unknown

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]

[edit] Stenmin

Stenmin
Shannara character
Race Human
Gender Male
Hair colour
Eye colour
Loyalty The Warlock Lord
First appearance The Sword of Shannara
Magic item or equipment None
Birth Unknown
Death During the sige upon Tyrsis

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] Both characters change otherwise wise and benevolent rulers into evil men and ultimately cause their deaths.

[edit] Minor Humans in The Elfstones of Shannara

 Please help improve this section by expanding it.
Further information might be found on the talk page or at requests for expansion.


[edit] Minor Humans in The Wishsong of Shannara

 Please help improve this section by expanding it.
Further information might be found on the talk page or at requests for expansion.


[edit] Minor Humans in The Heritage of Shannara

[edit] Damson Rhee

Damson Rhee
Shannara character
Race Human
Gender Female
Hair colour flame red
Eye colour green
Loyalty the Free-born
First appearance Heritage of Shannara
Magic item or equipment no "real magic--only slight of hand, illusion, etc.
Birth Unknown
Death Unknown

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.

Damson first appeared when Par Ohmsford and his companions came to Tyrsis to find the Sword of Shannara. Damson was briefly suspected by Par to be a traitor, but proved herself trustworthy. After Padishar and Morgan Leah disappeared, she sheltered Par and Coll Ohmsford in the city. She also helped them slip back into the pit with help from the Mole, whom Damson had met some years earlier. When Par emerged with the Sword, convinced that he had killed his own brother, Damson and he hid out in Tyrsis.

Damson was later abducted by the Federation, but saved by Padishar and Par, at the cost of Padishar's imprisonment. Fleeing the city, Damson and Par discovered the reappearance of Paranor. But before they could get a closer look, they ran into a horribly transformed Coll. Leaving Par to pursue his brother, Damson went to get help for Padishar. With the aid of Morgan Leah and several Free-born, they freed Padishar.

Damson, Morgan, and Free-born member Matty Roh teamed up to locate Par. Damson had given Par half of a street magic medallion, which she could locate with the other half. However, sometime later, they detected two readings, which should not be possible. Damson and Matty set off for the stronger one, and found it to be Coll Ohmsford, who had stolen Par's medallion half.

Reuniting with Morgan and the recently arrived Walker Boh, Damson went into Southwatch to save Par. When Par was consumed by the wishsong's power, it was his growing love for Damson that freed him long enough for him to be saved. Damson then accompanied her allies into the depths of Southwatch, where the Shadowen were finally defeated.

After the Shadowen conflict, Damson presumably married Par Ohmsford. According to Par's plans, they most likely set up an inn in Varfleet. Years later, the mixed Ohmsford-Creel bloodlines would produce the next champion of the house of Shannara: Bek Ohmsford.

[edit] Garth

Garth
Shannara character
Race Human
Gender Male
Hair colour Blonde
Eye colour Blue
Loyalty Wren Elessedil
First appearance The Heritage of Shannara
Magic item or equipment None
Birth Unknown
Death Poisoned by the Wisteron in Morrowindl

Garth is a deaf, mute Rover who was responsible for the training of Wren Elessedil; he was her constant companion and mentor.[5] He taught her everything she knew about fighting, tracking, and other such skills. Garth knew the secrets of Wren's past, but never divulged them to her until the end.

Garth accompanied Wren of the journey to the Hadeshorn [5] to meet Allanon, who gave Wren the charge of seeking out the Elves. Garth stayed with Wren the whole time, despite a dangerous battle with a Shadowen. Garth also helped Wren on Morrowindl, where he fought multiple battles to protect her and the Elven people.

Garth met his end during a confrontation with the Wisteron, the most powerful Shadowen on Morrowindl. Its venom entered his system, threatening to make Garth a Shadowen as well. Unwilling to become a monster, Garth asked Wren to help him end his life. Despite her protests, Wren complied, and Garth passed on. It is unknown if he had any relations, and it is therefore impossible to know if his bloodline survived.

[edit] Morgan Leah

Morgan Leah
Shannara character
Race Human
Gender Male
Hair colour Red
Eye colour grey
Loyalty Quickening, the House of Leah and Ohmsford Family
First appearance Scions of Shannara
Magic item or equipment Sword of Leah
Birth Unknown
Death Unknown

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.

In truth, Morgan is not really a prince. When the Federation took over Leah, the monarchy collapsed. Unwilling to let the occupation of his homeland go unavenged, Morgan tormented the officials ruling Leah with practical jokes, possibly including the destruction of the Leah ancestral palace.[citation needed] Morgan also made friends with members of the Dwarf Resistance, and helped them whenever he could. Like the Leahs before him, Morgan was also a friend to the Ohmsford family, his generation being Par Ohmsford, Coll Ohmsford, Walker Boh, and Wren Elessedil.

Morgan met up with Par and Coll while they were on their way to the Hadeshorn and took them east to find Walker Boh. Along the way, Morgan rediscovered the magic of the Sword of Leah and slowly developed the yearning for it that his ancestor Rone had possessed. After Par received his charge from Allanon, Morgan accompanied him and suggested gaining the aid of Padishar Creel. Morgan also accompanied the brothers to Tyrsis, where the Sword of Leah's blade was shattered [5] while escaping from a group of Shadowen. Morgan accompanied Padishar for a time, then set out to find the Ohmsford brothers.

Along the way, Morgan once again crossed paths with Walker Boh, this time joining him, the assassin Pe Ell, and the elemental Quickening in a quest to recover the Black Elfstone. During the journey, Morgan fell in love with Quickening, and her death at the hands of Pe Ell was hard on him. However, as a parting gift, Quickening restored the broken Sword of Leah.

Morgan resumed his quest to find the Ohmsford brothers, meeting up with the Free-born fighter Matty Roh, whom he began to grow close to. He later rescued Wren Elessedil from the Shadowen, and accompanied Walker, Coll, Par, Damson Rhee, Rumor the moor cat, and Matty into the depths of Southwatch to destroy the Shadowen. Afterwards, Morgan joined the Dwarf Resistance and helped repel the Federation from the Eastland, and presumably married Matty Roh. 130 years later, his great-great-grandson Quentin Leah would accompany Walker on a quest to the land of Parkasia.

[edit] Padishar Creel

Padishar Creel
Shannara character
Race Human
Gender Male
Hair colour
Eye colour sea green
Loyalty the Free-born
First appearance Heritage of Shannara
Magic item or equipment none
Birth Unknown
Death Unknown

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's family history came back to haunt him when he met Par Ohmsford. The two joined forces, planning to recover the Sword of Shannara. However, after several mishaps in Tyrsis, Padishar and Morgan Leah became separated from the rest of the group. Making their way back to the Free-born headquarters in the Jut, they battled the Federation. Padishar then set out for Tyrsis once more.

Padishar found Par, who had been in the care of his secret daughter, Damson Rhee. When Damson was captured by the Federation, Padishar and Par attempted to rescue her. In the process, Padishar was also captured. However, he was shortly freed thanks to the efforts of Damson, Morgan, and a number of Free-born.

Padishar then 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.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Speakman, Shawn (2008). Terry Brooks' official website. Retrieved on 2008-05-02.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Gong, Minnie (2007). First King of Shannara Character List. The Shannara Files. Retrieved on 2008-04-08.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa Gong, Minnie (2007). The Sword of Shannara Character List. The Shannara Files. Retrieved on 2008-04-08.
  4. ^ Fortey, Ian (2004). Review of The Sword of Shannara. Amazon. Retrieved on 2008-05-13.
  5. ^ a b c d Gong, Minnie (2007). Scions of Shannara Character List. The Shannara Files. Retrieved on 2008-04-10.