Demons (Shannara)
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In the Shannara series by Terry Brooks, there are several creatures known as Demons. They call themselves Jarka Ruus, which means 'banished peoples'. These creatures were long ago sealed within the Forbidding, a realm of darkness where only the cursed dwell. This Forbidding is maintained by the Ellcrys, a sacred Elven tree. The Demons first threatened the Four Lands when the Ellcrys began to die in The Elfstones of Shannara, but were defeated by the united efforts of the Elves, Trolls, Dwarves, and the Bordermen of Callahorn, aided by the magic of Allanon and the Elfstones of Wil Ohmsford. They later played a role in the High Druid of Shannara series, in which they attempt to escape once more.
In addition, the prequel novels of the Word/Void and Great Wars series contain demons (uncapitalized in the texts) of an apparently different origin. They are humans that have sold their souls in service to the Void.
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[edit] Dagda Mor
When the Ellcrys begins to fail, the Dagda Mor, then leader of the Demons, used his awesome sorcery to escape with two of his subjects. Seeking to gain revenge on those who imprisoned him, he set out to ensure his victory by slaying the Chosen. He also set his sights on Allanon, for only Allanon could match his power. Sending his Demon brethren after the Druid, the Dagda Mor prepared for his assault on the Elves. When the Ellcrys' rebirth was close at hand and the Demons were halted, the Dagda Mor mounted a giant Northland bat to do battle with a Roc-mounted Allanon. Both mounts perished, and the two matched their sorcerous powers. Despite the Dagda Mor's strength, he was bested by the Druid, and his body was disintegrated by Druid Fire.
The Dagda Mor had a humanoid appearance, but had a massive hump on his back, green fur and scales on his lower legs and forearms, a catlike muzzle, and dark eyes. He channeled his magic through his Staff of Power, an object that he used for several purposes. Though the term was unknown before his destruction, it can be assumed that the Dagda Mor was a Straken.
[edit] Changeling
When the Dagda Mor broke out of the Forbidding, he brought two Demons with him. One was the Changeling, a Demon that could mimic any living thing in appearance. The Changeling infiltrated Arborlon, eventually taking the form of Eventine Elessedil's wolfhound Manx. For a long time afterward, it fed information to the Dagda Mor regarding Allanon's plans. However, the Changeling eventually decided to get rid of Eventine, but was killed by Elven rescuers after being struck a mortal blow by the aged king. King Eventine later died of injuries inflicted by the Changeling
The Changeling, as its name suggests, could take the form of any living thing. Its true form, if it ever revealed it, was most likely the form in which it battled Eventine: that of a lean, black Demon of incredible speed.
[edit] The Reaper
The second of the Demons freed by the Dagda Mor, the Reaper is also the most feared. Ten times more dangerous than the Changeling, the Reaper served the Dagda Mor out of whim rather than fear or respect. The Reaper was known for killing: it enjoyed it, and did it purely out of instinct. The Reaper was dispatched by the Dagda Mor for several missions, among them killing the Chosen. In the process, the Reaper killed 6 of them, a patrol of Elven Hunters, a band of Rovers, and the mutant Elf Wisp along with all the elves that were at the outpost in Dreywood. However, it was finally overcome when Wil Ohmsford used the blue Elfstones to seek out its face, destroying it.
The Reaper's appearance was that of a tall, dangerous figure clad in a cloak and hood the color of damp ash. It had clawed hands, and despite its appearance moved with the speed and grace of the best Elven Hunter. The only part of the Reaper never seen by anyone alive is its face, which it only reveals to its victims just before their death.
[edit] The Moric
When Grianne Ohmsford was sent to the Forbidding, the Moric took her place in the Four Lands. Setting out to end the Forbidding once and for all, the Moric assimilated an Elven Druid and set out to manipulate the Federation into destroying Arborlon. However, despite it's possession of Sen Dunsidan, the Moric was defeated and returned to the Forbidding, where it seems to have met its end in the jaws of a hungry dragon.
The Moric is a vartiation of the Changeling, capable of assuming not only the form but the personality of those it imitates. Its true appearance is thus far unknown.
[edit] Tael Riverine
With the death of the Dagda Mor, Tael Riverine, Straken Lord, is the most powerful Demon within the Forbidding. Riverine is responsible for Grianne's capture and for the release of the Moric. Riverine also has incredibly sinister designs: he plans to mate with Grianne.
[edit] Demon Species
Aside from powerful demons such as the Straken Lords, there are also Demons that are far more common, and exist in larger numbers. These various species include:
- Furies
- Demonwolves
- Dragons
- Harpies
- Ogres
- Goblins
- Imps
[edit] Demons of the Word/Void and Great Wars series
In the prequel novels of the Word/Void and Great Wars series, an apparently different version of demons seek to destroy the world. These demons are humans who accepted an offer of service to the Void, and are described in the novel Armageddon's Children as being a "new demonkind, one born of the human race", and distinctly separate from the "demonkind of Faerie". In the Word/Void series, set in the late 20th century, demons covertly work to cause discord among humans, striving to set into motion the events that will cause the Great Wars which will eliminate most of humanity. Eighty years later, demons dominate the planet, enslaving and experimenting upon the remaining humans. These demons command legions of once-men, humans who choose to join the demon's army, and breed new demons by experimenting upon human children. Most demons retain their human appearance and have the power subliminally influence the minds of those around them in addition to a greatly extended lifespan. Some demons prefer to cast away their human appearance, assuming a more lethal demonic form but forgoing the ability to blend in amongst the populace.
The most notable of the demons of this era is Findo Gask, who is unlike his contemporaries in that he kills and triggers chaos out of pure curiosity, not hatred. He is the primary antagonist of the novels Angel Fire East and Armageddon's Children. Other notable demons in these series include Delloreen (Armageddon's Children); Penny Dreadful, Twitch, and the Ur'droch (Angel Fire East); Stefanie Winslow (A Knight of the Word); and the otherwise nameless titular demon of Running with the Demon.
| Novels of Terry Brooks’ Shannara universe | ||||
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| Book I | Book II | Book III | Book IV | |
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| Word/Void: | Running with the Demon | A Knight of the Word | Angel Fire East | |
| The Genesis of Shannara: | Armageddon's Children | The Elves of Cintra | Untitled | |
| Prequel to Shannara: | First King of Shannara | |||
| The Original Shannara Trilogy: | The Sword of Shannara | The Elfstones of Shannara | The Wishsong of Shannara | |
| The Heritage of Shannara: | The Scions of Shannara | The Druid of Shannara | The Elf Queen of Shannara | The Talismans of Shannara |
| The Voyage of the Jerle Shannara: | Ilse Witch | Antrax | Morgawr | |
| High Druid of Shannara: | Jarka Ruus | Tanequil | Straken | |
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| Other Shannara products | ||||
| The World of Shannara | Shannara PC Game | |||
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| Shannara on Wikipedia | ||||
| WikiProject — Characters — Creatures — Places — Objects — Related articles | ||||
