Allanon
Encyclopedia
Allanon is a fictional character
from the epic fantasy
Original Shannara Trilogy
and the trilogy's prequel, First King of Shannara
; all four are by Terry Brooks
. Described as Brooks' "most enigmatic character", Allanon is very secretive and appears only when needed. He is never completely honest, telling many white lies or half-truths, and informs others with information only if it includes possible risks, if the information is crucial to the task at hand or if the situation calls for it. Allanon considerably lengthened his lifespan through a form of suspended animation
called the "Druid Sleep".
Allanon often called on the aid of the Ohmsford family in the novels, as they are descendants of Jerle Shannara
and therefore the only ones who can use the Sword of Shannara. He called upon Shea Ohmsford
in The Sword of Shannara
, Wil Ohmsford
in The Elfstones of Shannara
and Brin
and Jair Ohmsford
in The Wishsong of Shannara
. In Wishsong, he was killed by a Jachrya.
of the Druid Order, and carries on his father's legacy as last of the Druids, preserving the knowledge of ancient times, despite the obvious dangers that threaten him. In The Wishsong of Shannara, Allanon's beard has become grey, hinting at his age.
, a central character of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's novel The Lost World.
to The Sword of Shannara
, The First King of Shannara. He meets Bremen as the aged Druid is wandering through the ruins of Varfleet, and the two become attached. Allanon seeks to become a Druid like Bremen, and the old man teaches him the Druid arts. Allanon participates in the Second War of the Races
, and afterwards studies in Paranor
for three years until Bremen's passing. In the final pages of the Sword of Shannara, Allanon tells Shea he is the son of Bremen, in contradiction of First King of Shannara, but in line with Allanon's habit of telling white lies. The reason he calls him his father, is because Bremen raised him since he was twelve, thus becoming a surrogate father.
he calls on Shea Ohmsford
to retrieve the lost Sword and use it to destroy the Warlock Lord
. By this time, Allanon represents all remaining knowledge in a living person from before the Great Wars
, as he is the last of the Druids. The Druids were a group based in Paranor
that advised and helped the Four Lands improve the quality of their lives through the teaching and application of technology and magic.
, the Four Lands came under attack from Demons
. Allanon appeared and sent Shea's grandson, Wil Ohmsford
, on a quest with the King's granddaughter, Amberle Elessedil
, to recreate the magic tree (the Ellcrys
) that had held the Demons
back. After journeying to Paranor
to find the location of where the two needed to go (a place named Safehold), Allanon escaped the Dagda Mor and a few of his minions. He later battled the Demon hordes at Halys Cut, Worl Run and Arborlon
along with the Elven army, a Troll army and the Free Corps in an attempt to slow the Demons down to give Wil and Amberle more time.
, to stop the Mord Wraiths
and destroy the Ildatch, a malevolent spellbook. He is mortally wounded in battle with an ancient creature called a Jachyra and dies soon after. At the time of his death, he was about 582 years old. Brin succeeds in giving Allanon his peace by destroying the Ildatch, the Druid's final task.
to him and charges them with saving the Four Lands from the threat of the Shadowen. He dispatches Par Ohmsford
and his brother Coll Ohmsford
to recover the Sword of Shannara, Wren Elessedil
to find the Elves, and Walker Boh
to bring back Paranor and the Druids. Walker also becomes Allanon's successor, absorbing his spirit through the power of the Black Elfstone.
Later still, Allanon serves as a guide to Walker in his duties as High Druid, and again to his successor Grianne Ohmsford
. Like Bremen
's had for him, Allanon's shade bears Walker Boh
to the afterlife.
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
from the epic fantasy
High fantasy
High fantasy or epic fantasy is a subgenre of fantasy that is set in invented or parallel worlds. High fantasy was brought to fruition through the work of authors such as J. R. R. Tolkien and C. S. Lewis, whose major fantasy works were published in the 1950s...
Original Shannara Trilogy
Original Shannara Trilogy
The Original Shannara Trilogy consists of the first three Shannara novels by Terry Brooks...
and the trilogy's prequel, First King of Shannara
First King of Shannara
The First King of Shannara is a 1996 epic fantasy novel by Terry Brooks. It is a prequel to Brooks' The Sword of Shannara and is set during the Second War of the Races...
; all four are by Terry Brooks
Terry Brooks
Terence Dean "Terry" Brooks is an American writer of fantasy fiction. He writes mainly epic fantasy, and has also written two movie novelizations. He has written 23 New York Times bestsellers during his writing career, and has over 21 million copies of his books in print...
. Described as Brooks' "most enigmatic character", Allanon is very secretive and appears only when needed. He is never completely honest, telling many white lies or half-truths, and informs others with information only if it includes possible risks, if the information is crucial to the task at hand or if the situation calls for it. Allanon considerably lengthened his lifespan through a form of suspended animation
Suspended animation
Suspended animation is the slowing of life processes by external means without termination. Breathing, heartbeat, and other involuntary functions may still occur, but they can only be detected by artificial means. Extreme cold can be used to precipitate the slowing of an individual's functions; use...
called the "Druid Sleep".
Allanon often called on the aid of the Ohmsford family in the novels, as they are descendants of Jerle Shannara
Jerle Shannara
Jerle Shannara is a fictional character from Terry Brooks' Shannara series of epic fantasy novels. Only mentioned as a long-deceased person in the Original Shannara Trilogy, he is one of the main characters of the prequel novel First King of Shannara.- Biography :Jerle begins the story as captain...
and therefore the only ones who can use the Sword of Shannara. He called upon Shea Ohmsford
Shea Ohmsford
Shea Ohmsford is a fictional character and the protagonist of Terry Brooks' epic fantasy novel The Sword of Shannara. In the universe, he is the last known person with the blood of Jerle Shannara, making him the only one who can wield the powerful Sword of Shannara to vanquish the Warlock Lord.-...
in The Sword of Shannara
The Sword of Shannara
The Sword of Shannara is a 1977 epic fantasy novel by Terry Brooks. The first book of the Original Shannara Trilogy, it was followed by The Elfstones of Shannara and The Wishsong of Shannara. Inspired by J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings and historical adventure fiction, Brooks began writing...
, Wil Ohmsford
Wil Ohmsford
Wil Ohmsford is a fictional character from the Shannara series by Terry Brooks, appearing in two novels: The Elfstones of Shannara and The Wishsong of Shannara. He is the grandson of Shea Ohmsford and the grand-nephew of Flick Ohmsford....
in The Elfstones of Shannara
The Elfstones of Shannara
The Elfstones of Shannara is an epic fantasy novel by Terry Brooks. It is the first sequel to The Sword of Shannara and the second book in The Original Shannara Trilogy...
and Brin
Brin Ohmsford
Brin Ohmsford is a fictional character from The Wishsong of Shannara, an epic fantasy novel by Terry Brooks.- Biography :She is the daughter of Wil Ohmsford, making her actually 1/16 Elf, and because of his use of the Elfstones gained magic she named the wishsong. She is described as looking like...
and Jair Ohmsford
Jair Ohmsford
Jair Ohmsford is a major character in three novels of the Shannara series by Terry Brooks: The Wishsong of Shannara, a full-length epic fantasy novel, Indomitable, a short story that appeared in Legends II, and Dark Wraith of Shannara, a graphic novel....
in The Wishsong of Shannara
The Wishsong of Shannara
The Wishsong of Shannara, an epic fantasy novel by Terry Brooks, is the third and final novel in the Original Shannara Trilogy, with the other two being The Sword of Shannara and The Elfstones of Shannara. The story revolves around Jair and Brin Ohmsford, the children of the main characters from...
. In Wishsong, he was killed by a Jachrya.
Appearance
As an adult, Allanon is described as seven feet tall and as having a formidable appearance consisting of shaggy eyebrows, a "long flat nose", and penetrating eyes. The impression of him as forbidding is often exacerbated by the long, hooded black robe he commonly wears. He is the adopted son of BremenBremen (Shannara)
Bremen is a fictional character from Terry Brooks' Shannara series of epic fantasy novels. He appears in the First King of Shannara, the prequel to The Sword of Shannara....
of the Druid Order, and carries on his father's legacy as last of the Druids, preserving the knowledge of ancient times, despite the obvious dangers that threaten him. In The Wishsong of Shannara, Allanon's beard has become grey, hinting at his age.
Personality
Allanon's personality as a child is somewhat innocent and ambitious, but he is also pragmatic and respectful of necessity as a priority superseding his own life. As an adult, the high estimation of necessity remains; however, his behavior is almost entirely different. As a rule, Allanon possesses a tremendous arrogance that is implied to co-operate with his massive figure and impressive physical presence. Despite this arrogance, he is not reluctant to acknowledge his own mistakes or to obey the counsel of others when it seems wiser or more necessary than his own, whereas his knowledge and power often appear to justify his immense pride. He is sometimes choleric, but may at other times be very calm, and is almost never mistaken in his judgments. He is exceedingly intelligent, can at times be ruthless, and occasionally displays great compassion and affection for his charges (the Ohmsfords and their friends). Overall, his black beard, his fierce personality, and his behavior toward his companions resemble those of Professor ChallengerProfessor Challenger
George Edward Challenger, better known as Professor Challenger, is a fictional character in a series of science fiction stories by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle...
, a central character of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's novel The Lost World.
First King of Shannara
Allanon first appears as a 12-year-old boy in the prequelPrequel
A prequel is a work that supplements a previously completed one, and has an earlier time setting.The widely recognized term was a 20th-century neologism, and a portmanteau from pre- and sequel...
to The Sword of Shannara
The Sword of Shannara
The Sword of Shannara is a 1977 epic fantasy novel by Terry Brooks. The first book of the Original Shannara Trilogy, it was followed by The Elfstones of Shannara and The Wishsong of Shannara. Inspired by J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings and historical adventure fiction, Brooks began writing...
, The First King of Shannara. He meets Bremen as the aged Druid is wandering through the ruins of Varfleet, and the two become attached. Allanon seeks to become a Druid like Bremen, and the old man teaches him the Druid arts. Allanon participates in the Second War of the Races
Second War of the Races
The Second War of the Races was a fictional war in the Shannara series of epic fantasy novels by Terry Brooks. This war is chronicled in the prequel to the Original Shannara Trilogy, First King of Shannara. The war caused the forging of the only weapon able to harm the Warlock Lord, The Sword of...
, and afterwards studies in Paranor
Paranor
Paranor is a fictional location in Terry Brooks' epic fantasy Shannara series. It is the home of the Druids, but it has fallen to enemies of the Druids several times since its initial construction...
for three years until Bremen's passing. In the final pages of the Sword of Shannara, Allanon tells Shea he is the son of Bremen, in contradiction of First King of Shannara, but in line with Allanon's habit of telling white lies. The reason he calls him his father, is because Bremen raised him since he was twelve, thus becoming a surrogate father.
The Sword of Shannara
In The Sword of ShannaraThe Sword of Shannara
The Sword of Shannara is a 1977 epic fantasy novel by Terry Brooks. The first book of the Original Shannara Trilogy, it was followed by The Elfstones of Shannara and The Wishsong of Shannara. Inspired by J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings and historical adventure fiction, Brooks began writing...
he calls on Shea Ohmsford
Shea Ohmsford
Shea Ohmsford is a fictional character and the protagonist of Terry Brooks' epic fantasy novel The Sword of Shannara. In the universe, he is the last known person with the blood of Jerle Shannara, making him the only one who can wield the powerful Sword of Shannara to vanquish the Warlock Lord.-...
to retrieve the lost Sword and use it to destroy the Warlock Lord
Warlock Lord
The Warlock Lord is the principal villain of Terry Brooks' novel The Sword of Shannara....
. By this time, Allanon represents all remaining knowledge in a living person from before the Great Wars
The Great Wars
The Great Wars are a fictional conflict from the Shannara series by Terry Brooks.According to legend, the Great Wars were a result of several things. These things were common to most societies: territorial dispute, political disagreement, and so on...
, as he is the last of the Druids. The Druids were a group based in Paranor
Paranor
Paranor is a fictional location in Terry Brooks' epic fantasy Shannara series. It is the home of the Druids, but it has fallen to enemies of the Druids several times since its initial construction...
that advised and helped the Four Lands improve the quality of their lives through the teaching and application of technology and magic.
The Elfstones of Shannara
In The Elfstones of ShannaraThe Elfstones of Shannara
The Elfstones of Shannara is an epic fantasy novel by Terry Brooks. It is the first sequel to The Sword of Shannara and the second book in The Original Shannara Trilogy...
, the Four Lands came under attack from Demons
Demons (Shannara)
Demons is a common name for many different creatures in the Shannara series of epic fantasy novels by Terry Brooks. The 'true' demons were sealed long ago within an alternate universe, named the Forbidding; this prison is 'maintained' by the Ellcrys, a sacred Elven tree; if she dies, the Forbidding...
. Allanon appeared and sent Shea's grandson, Wil Ohmsford
Wil Ohmsford
Wil Ohmsford is a fictional character from the Shannara series by Terry Brooks, appearing in two novels: The Elfstones of Shannara and The Wishsong of Shannara. He is the grandson of Shea Ohmsford and the grand-nephew of Flick Ohmsford....
, on a quest with the King's granddaughter, Amberle Elessedil
Amberle Elessedil
Amberle Elessedil is a fictional character from the epic fantasy novel The Elfstones of Shannara by Terry Brooks. She was meant to be the "strong female lead" that was lacking in The Sword of Shannara....
, to recreate the magic tree (the Ellcrys
Ellcrys
The Ellcrys is a fictional sapient tree with silver bark and crimson leaves that was "created by the bonding of earth and life". She appears in two novels of the Shannara series. She is the magical linchpin of the barrier that keeps the Demons that once overran the Four Lands trapped in an...
) that had held the Demons
Demons (Shannara)
Demons is a common name for many different creatures in the Shannara series of epic fantasy novels by Terry Brooks. The 'true' demons were sealed long ago within an alternate universe, named the Forbidding; this prison is 'maintained' by the Ellcrys, a sacred Elven tree; if she dies, the Forbidding...
back. After journeying to Paranor
Paranor
Paranor is a fictional location in Terry Brooks' epic fantasy Shannara series. It is the home of the Druids, but it has fallen to enemies of the Druids several times since its initial construction...
to find the location of where the two needed to go (a place named Safehold), Allanon escaped the Dagda Mor and a few of his minions. He later battled the Demon hordes at Halys Cut, Worl Run and Arborlon
Arborlon
Arborlon is the capital city of the Elves in the fictional Shannara series of novels by Terry Brooks. In the Original Shannara Trilogy, the first 3 books, Arborlon is located in the Westland of The Four Lands. In The Elfstones of Shannara, the defense of Arborlon is one of the central plot lines...
along with the Elven army, a Troll army and the Free Corps in an attempt to slow the Demons down to give Wil and Amberle more time.
The Wishsong of Shannara
Now aging despite his use of the Druid Sleep, Allanon goes on one last journey with Wil's daughter, Brin OhmsfordBrin Ohmsford
Brin Ohmsford is a fictional character from The Wishsong of Shannara, an epic fantasy novel by Terry Brooks.- Biography :She is the daughter of Wil Ohmsford, making her actually 1/16 Elf, and because of his use of the Elfstones gained magic she named the wishsong. She is described as looking like...
, to stop the Mord Wraiths
Mord Wraiths
The Mord Wraiths are a fictional organization from the Shannara series by Terry Brooks. They were human sorcerors in service to the Warlock Lord who recovered and were subverted by the Ildatch....
and destroy the Ildatch, a malevolent spellbook. He is mortally wounded in battle with an ancient creature called a Jachyra and dies soon after. At the time of his death, he was about 582 years old. Brin succeeds in giving Allanon his peace by destroying the Ildatch, the Druid's final task.
Post-Original Shannara Trilogy
Allanon's spirit comes to dwell in the Hadeshorn along with the spirits of his predecessors, the Druids of the past. He later summons the descendants of Brin and Jair OhmsfordJair Ohmsford
Jair Ohmsford is a major character in three novels of the Shannara series by Terry Brooks: The Wishsong of Shannara, a full-length epic fantasy novel, Indomitable, a short story that appeared in Legends II, and Dark Wraith of Shannara, a graphic novel....
to him and charges them with saving the Four Lands from the threat of the Shadowen. He dispatches Par Ohmsford
Par Ohmsford
Par Ohmsford is a fictional character....
and his brother Coll Ohmsford
Coll Ohmsford
Col Ohmsford is a fictional character from the Heritage of Shannara series by author Terry Brooks. He is the younger brother of Par Ohmsford....
to recover the Sword of Shannara, Wren Elessedil
Wren Elessedil
Wren Elessedil is a fictional character from The Heritage of Shannara by Terry Brooks....
to find the Elves, and Walker Boh
Walker Boh
Walker Boh is a fictional character from Terry Brooks' Heritage of Shannara and The Voyage of the Jerle Shannara series....
to bring back Paranor and the Druids. Walker also becomes Allanon's successor, absorbing his spirit through the power of the Black Elfstone.
Later still, Allanon serves as a guide to Walker in his duties as High Druid, and again to his successor Grianne Ohmsford
Grianne Ohmsford
Grianne Ohmsford was abducted from her burning home when she was a young child by a powerful and evil warlock called the Morgawr, who knew that the power of the Wishsong held by the Ohmsford family had the potential to destroy him. He brainwashed Grianne into believing that it was the Druids,...
. Like Bremen
Bremen (Shannara)
Bremen is a fictional character from Terry Brooks' Shannara series of epic fantasy novels. He appears in the First King of Shannara, the prequel to The Sword of Shannara....
's had for him, Allanon's shade bears Walker Boh
Walker Boh
Walker Boh is a fictional character from Terry Brooks' Heritage of Shannara and The Voyage of the Jerle Shannara series....
to the afterlife.