History Characters / Elantris

* BlackBestFriend: Downplayed, but the Dulas are AmbiguouslyBrown (stated to be darker skinned without explicit description of how much darker they are than Arelish).

* HoistByTheirOwnPetard: [[spoiler:Killed by her own gang, when her infallibility is proven before their eyes and they defect to the evidently more capable "Lord Spirit".]]

* TheDeterminator: He has multiple serious wounds, but just ignores them because he's needed.

* GuileHero: More liable to use her brain than anything else, enough so that she quickly earns the respect of [[WorthyOpponent Hrathen]] and any others who see her intelligence.

* NiceJobBreakingItHero: Averted, twice. First her distribution of food nearly destroyed the fledging New Elantris and on the second occasion she wounds Spirit and almost blows his disguise ahead of time just because she didn't like how he acted. Both times only Raoden's quick wit was able to avert disaster.

* RealWomenNeverWearDresses: Played with. Sarene ''tries'' to be traditionally feminine sometimes - she's just not very good at it. She does seem quite fond of fancy dresses, though (to the degree that she quickly gives up on wearing mourning because she couldn't stand the mourning dresses she was given), and is specifically referred to as wearing make-up and heels at various times. It seems like she struggles with traditionally feminine ''activities'' more than feminine clothes.

* StrawFeminist: A ''very'' mild example, but it's there. Sarene is convinced that her brashness is deemed socially unacceptable [[DoubleStandard just because she's female.]] WordOfGod is that while that is certainly part of it, any man who was as opinionated and sharp-tongued as Sarene would rub a lot of people the wrong way also.

* BlueOni: He contrasts his logical support of Jaddeth with Dilaf's fanaticism several times.

* MoralSociopathy: [[spoiler:For instance, back when Hrathen was in his monastery, he sacrificed a monk's life to save a fifteen minute walk. He justifies it by saying that the demonstrations of fanatic faith by the sacrifice was meant to inspire others, but...yeah. That incident drove Hrathen to leave the monastery.]]

* AwesomeEgo: Sarene is not one for false modesty, which is one reason why she's considered unfeminine. On the other hand, she really ''is'' very smart and capable, as well as being compassionate and idealistic.

* TheAce: In her own immodest (though seemingly not unjustified) opinion, she's great at pretty much everything... except painting, for some reason.

* GuileHero: Although a capable fighter (learnt to fence mostly because it annoyed the hell out of his father, who considered fighting "an activity for peasants), Raoden is best when solving problems with his intelligence and insight.

%%* TheWisePrince

* {{Badass}}: As bodyguard to Raoden, and he takes extreme pride in his chosen job.

* {{Badass}}: A very good swordsman.

* {{Badass}}: Takes down [[spoiler:a Dahkor monk]] singlehandedly. [[spoiler:But he's still not strong enough to hold out against a lot of them, lacking some of the control of other users of [=ChayShan=].]]

%%* GuileHero

%%* LoveBeforeFirstSight: With Sarene.

%%* RoyalsWhoActuallyDoSomething

* SamusIsAGirl: [[spoiler:Nobody had seen her outside her gang, so it was believed that Shaor was a man until Raoden saw otherwise

%%* BladeOnAStick

* RealWomenNeverWearDresses: Played with. Sarene ''tries'' to be traditionally feminine sometimes- she's just not very good at it. She does seem quite fond of fancy dresses, though (to the degree that she quickly gives up on wearing mourning because she couldn't stand the mourning dresses she was given), and is specifically referred to as wearing make-up and heels at various times. It seems like she struggles with traditionally feminine ''activities'' more than feminine clothes.

* HappilyMarried: To Daora, and they have three children to show for it

%%* {{Pirate}}: [[spoiler:A legendary one]].

* MasterSwordsman: Extremely good with a sword in his hand, [[spoiler:as his final moments can attest.]]

* TheAtoner: Increasingly, after what happened in Duladen. It culminates in the finale when [[spoiler: he turns Wyrn and Dilaf out of a sense of justice, and in doing so helps save both Arelon and Teod.]]

* FatBastard: He's quite obest and very much a ManipulativeBastard.

* BigEater: it's suggested that the cooks who served Sarene in Teod were more respectful of her big appetite than anything else about her. When she effortlessly demolishes five whole plates of her uncle's cooking after [[spoiler:five few days of eating modest Elantrian portions]] her friends aren't even slightly surprised, commenting that someone her height has a lot of body to fuel.

* BigEater: it's suggested that the cooks who served Sarene in Teod were more respectful of her big appetite than anything else about it. When she effortlessly demolishes five whole plates of her uncle's cooking after [[spoiler:five few days of eating modest Elantrian portions]] her friends aren't even slightly surprised, commenting that someone her height has a lot of body to fuel.

* CompleteMonster: InvokedTrope. He once killed a man to save himself a fifteen minute walk [[spoiler:by using Dakhor BloodMagic]]. His evil is a standout among Brandon Sanderson's books, as he always works to make sure that people are never {{Card Carrying Villain}}s, and instead are believably the heroes of their own stories and have their own reasonable justifications. Even in that case, he still calls Dilaf "an evil man" in his [[WordOfGod annotation]] for Chapter 60.
-->'''Creator/BrandonSanderson:''' Here is a man who kills for pleasure. [[SubvertedTrope No matter]] [[FreudianExcuse how wronged he was in the past]], he has no justification for [[{{Sadist}} the cruelty and enjoyment he displays in anticipating]] [[spoiler:Sarene]]’s death. This is an evil man.

%%* TheConfidant
%%* TheCynic
%%* DeadpanSnarker
%%* HeterosexualLifePartners: With Raoden.
%%* KnightInSourArmor
%%* TheLancer

%%* ActionGirl

%%* VasquezAlwaysDies

%%* HoistByTheirOwnPetard: [[spoiler:Killed by her own gang.]]
%%* KidsAreCruel

%%* SamusIsAGirl
%%* SpoiledBrat: [[spoiler:Even Raoden thinks so.]]
%%* YoungAndInCharge: [[spoiler:Of her gang.]]

%%* {{Badass}}: As bodyguard to Raoden.

%%* UndyingLoyalty: To "Lord Spirit."

%%* ActionGirl

%%* TheChessmaster

%%* GuileHero
%%* HairOfGoldHeartOfGold

%%* LoveBeforeFirstSight: With Raoden.

%%* WorthyOpponent: To Hrathen.

%%* CoolUncle: To Sarene.
%%* HappilyMarried

%%* SupremeChef

%%* CoolOldGuy
%%* FriendlyRivalry: Mostly.
%%* ReasonableAuthorityFigure
%%* TheRival: To Ahan.

%%* BadassNormal: He has no access to the Dor.

%%* MasterSwordsman

%%* PostVictoryCollapse: [[spoiler:Of the dead kind.]]

%%* MrFanservice: InUniverse.

%%* FriendlyRivalry: For the most part.
* MyGodWhatHaveIDone: [[spoiler:His reaction to Roial's death.]]
%%* RebelliousRebel

%%* RivalTurnedEvil: Or, at the very least, extremely misguided. [[spoiler:He sides with the throne to have the rebels imprisoned... [[StupidEvil just so that he can one-up Roial for once]].]]

%%* AntiVillain: [[SlidingScaleOfAntiVillains Type III]].
%%* TheAtoner: Increasingly, culminating in the finale.
%%* BadassPreacher

%%* TheChessmaster
%%* ChurchMilitant

%%* TheSpock: In heavy contrast to [[TheMcCoy Dilaf]].

%%* WorthyOpponent: To Sarene.

%%* DrivenToSuicide: [[spoiler:Hangs himself.]]

%%* PoliticallyIncorrectVillain: Extremely sexist.
%%* SmugSnake

%%* CorruptCorporateExecutive
%%* FatBastard

%%* SmugSnake

* Complete Monster: InvokedTrope. He once killed a man to save himself a fifteen minute walk [[spoiler:by using Dakhor BloodMagic]]. His evil is a standout among Brandon Sanderson's books, as he always works to make sure that people are never {{Card Carrying Villain}}s, and instead are believably the heroes of their own stories and have their own reasonable justifications. Even in that case, he still calls Dilaf "an evil man" in his [[WordOfGod annotation]] for Chapter 60.

%%* TheFundamentalist

%%* SuperSoldier

%%* BigBad

%%* EvilOverlord

* TwentyFourHourArmor: Of a sort. His vestments include armor, since he's a priest in a ChurchMilitant, but he can take them off to sleep. Most Derethi priests use it for show. [[spoiler:Not Hrathen.]]

* MoralSociopathy: [[spoiler:For instance, back when Hrathen was in his monastery, he sacrificed a monk's life to save a fifteen minute walk. That drove Hrathen to leave the monastery.]]

* CompleteMonster: InvokedTrope. He once killed a man to save himself a fifteen minute walk [[spoiler:by using Dakhor BloodMagic]]. His evil is a standout among Brandon Sanderson's books, as he always works to make sure that people are never {{Card Carrying Villain}}s, and instead are believably the heroes of their own stories and have their own reasonable justifications. Even in that case, he still calls Dilaf "an evil man" in his [[WordOfGod annotation]] for Chapter 60.

* BadassMustache: Invoked, but subverted. His mustache is very obviously fake, according to Raoden's point of view.
* CrazySane: According to Galladon, his insanity was a conscious choice upon entering Elantris.

* KnightTemplar: To better contrast Hrathens WellIntentionedExtremist. Hrathen genuinely wants to save lives and souls, even if he resorts to ruthless and underhanded methods to do it; Dilaf just subscribes to the "murder the unbelievers and let Jaddeth sort them out" school of Shu-Dereth.

%%* RedOni: Hrathen's the blue.

* CompleteMonster: InvokedTrope. He once killed a man to save himself a fifteen minute walk [[spoiler:by using Dakhor BloodMagic]]. His evil is a standout among Brandon Sanderson's books, as he always works to make sure that people are never CardCarryingVillains, and instead are believably the heroes of their own stories and have their own reasonable justifications. Even in that case, he still calls Dilaf "an evil man" in his [[WordOfGod annotation]] for Chapter 60.

%%* AxCrazy

* RebelliousPrincess: He and his father... didn't get along.

* ActionSurvivor

* GuileHero

* HeterosexualLifePartners: With Galladon.

* LoveBeforeFirstSight: With Sarene.

* [[RebelliousPrincess Rebellious Prince]]: He and his father... didn't get along.

* RoyalsWhoActuallyDoSomething

* WideEyedIdealist
* TheWisePrince

* TheConfidant
* TheCynic
* DeadpanSnarker
* HeterosexualLifePartners: With Raoden.
* KnightInSourArmor
* TheLancer

* ActionGirl
** ActionMom: [[spoiler:It's why she wants to get into the palace so badly.]]

* VasquezAlwaysDies

** CrazySane: According to Galladon, his insanity was a conscious choice upon entering Elantris.

* HoistByTheirOwnPetard: [[spoiler:Killed by her own gang.]]
* KidsAreCruel:

* SamusIsAGirl
* SpoiledBrat: [[spoiler:Even Raoden thinks so.]]
* YoungAndInCharge: [[spoiler:Of her gang.]]

* {{Badass}}: As bodyguard to Raoden.
* BladeOnAStick

* UndyingLoyalty: To "Lord Spirit."

* ActionGirl

* BattleCouple: [[spoiler:With Raoden at the climax]]
* TheChessmaster

* [[GuileHero Guile Heroine]]
* HairOfGoldHeartOfGold

* LoveBeforeFirstSight: With Raoden.

* RealWomenNeverWearDresses: Played with. Sarene ''tries'' to be traditionally feminine sometimes- she's just not very good at it.
** She does seem quite fond of fancy dresses, though (to the degree that she quickly gives up on wearing mourning because she couldn't stand the mourning dresses she was given), and is specifically referred to as wearing make-up and heels at various times. It seems like she struggles with traditionally feminine ''activities'' more than feminine clothes.

* WorthyOpponent: To Hrathen.

* CoolUncle: To Sarene.
* HappilyMarried

* {{Pirate}}: [[spoiler:A legendary one]]

* SupremeChef

* CoolOldGuy
* ReasonableAuthorityFigure
* TheRival: To Ahan.
** FriendlyRivalry: Mostly.

** BadassInCharge: Of his legion.
** BadassNormal: He has no access to the Dor.

* MasterSwordsman

* PostVictoryCollapse: [[spoiler:Of the dead kind.]]

** UnwantedHarem: He doesn't want this at all... for the most part.
* MrFanservice: InUniverse.

* RebelliousRebel

** FriendlyRivalry: For the most part.
** RivalTurnedEvil: Or, at the very least, extremely misguided. [[spoiler:He sides with the throne to have the rebels imprisoned... [[StupidEvil just so that he can one-up Roial for once]].]]

* AntiVillain: [[SlidingScaleOfAntiVillains Type III]].
** AntiHero: [[spoiler:Type V in the Battle of Teod. He's still loyal to Jaddeth, but rebels against Wyrn and Dilaf.]]
* TheAtoner: Increasingly, culminating in the finale.
* BadassPreacher

* TheChessmaster
* ChurchMilitant

* MasterSwordsman: Even called as much.

* TheSpock: In heavy contrast to [[TheMcCoy Dilaf]].

* WorthyOpponent: To Sarene.

* DrivenToSuicide: [[spoiler:Hangs himself.]]

* PoliticallyIncorrectVillain: Extremely sexist.
* SmugSnake

* CorruptCorporateExecutive
* FatBastard

* SmugSnake

* AxCrazy

** DragonInChief: [[spoiler:To [[NonActionBigBad Wyrn]] by the end of the novel.]]
** DragonWithAnAgenda: Subverted. He spends most of the novel acting as though he rode Hrathen's coattails to power so he could then use said power to incite people against Elantris [[spoiler:but actually, he's acting on orders to do exactly that from his and Hrathen's mutual boss. Not that he didn't enjoy every minute, mind]].
* TheFundamentalist

* RedOni: Hrathen's the blue.

* SuperSoldier
** SuperSpeed
** SuperStrength
* WarriorMonk

* BigBad

* EvilOverlord
** SorcerousOverlord: It's hinted in the novel [[spoiler: and confirmed by WordOfGod]] that he's some kind of magic-user, but the details are as-yet unknown.

** She does seem quite fond of fancy dresses, though (to the degree that she quickly gives up on wearing mourning because she couldn't stand the mourning dresses she was given), and is specifically referred to as wearing make-up and heels at various times. It seems like she struggles with traditionally feminine activities more than feminine clothes.

* RealWomenNeverWearDresses: Played with. Sarene ''tries'' to be traditionally feminine sometimes- she's just not very good at it.

* StatuesqueStunner: At nearly 6ft, she towers over most men (Raoden excluded).