History TearJerker / Shannara

* If you look at Grianne Ohmsford's character development throughout ''The Voyage of the Jerle Shannara'' and ''High Druid'', her ultimate fate [[spoiler: as the eponymous ''Witch Wraith'' is just heartbreaking.]] Even after atoning and trying to heal from her servitude to both the Morgawr and the Straken Lord, even after finding freedom as an aeriad spirit, she is [[spoiler: snapped back into the physical world by Railing Ohmsford, a century later, who is convinced she is needed to combat Tael Riverine. She is reborn as the Ilse Witch, with all semblances of her good self gone.]] That she [[spoiler: kills Riverine and takes his place as the Straken Lord, only to be permanently banished to the Forbidding for eternity]] is both ironic and incredibly tragic, given her past.

* Surprisingly, the death of Iridia to the Moric in ''High Druid of Shannara'' is rather distressing thanks to her also being something of TheWoobie simply suffering from LoveHurts, GreenEyedMonster, and IfICantHaveYou. Grianne's ultimate fate is equal parts this and TearsOfJoy. Also [[spoiler: Ahren]]'s sacrifice in "Jarka Ruus", especially considering how [[spoiler: Ryer]] had sacrificed [[spoiler: her]] own life for him in the previous trilogy.

* Surprisingly, the death of Iridia to the Moric in ''High Druid of Shannara'' is rather distressing thanks to her also being something of TheWoobie simply suffering from LoveHurts, GreenEyedMonster, and IfICantHaveYou. Grianne's ultimate fate is equal parts this and TearsOfJoy. Also [[spoiler: Ahren]]'s sacrifice in Jarka Ruus, especially considering how [[spoiler: Ryer]] had sacrificed [[spoiler: her]] own life for him in the previous trilogy.

* Surprisingly, the death of Iridia to the Moric in ''High Druid of Shannara'' is rather distressing thanks to her also being something of TheWoobie simply suffering from LoveHurts, GreenEyedMonster, and IfICantHaveYou. Grianne's ultimate fate is equal parts this and TearsOfJoy.

* And then there's ''TheVoyageOfTheJerleShannara''. [[spoiler: Walker's death]], the MutualKill[=/=]TogetherInDeath of [[spoiler: Ard Patrinell and Tamis]], the Woobie-fication of Ahren and Quentin, even Antrax's AlasPoorVillain, and the death of TheMole, [[spoiler: Ryer Ord Star]] can get to you. It's just depressing to read.

* There are so many deaths in the [[Literature/TheHeritageOfShannara Heritage series]] that it could almost embody this trope. While [[spoiler: Quickening, Cogline, and especially Faun]]'s deaths are heart-wrenching, it was the entire slew of losses in Elf Queen of Shannara that rips everyone's heart out. Naturally the loss of Ellenroh and Eowen Cerise was quite a blow, and [[spoiler: Garth]] can easily have one bawling, but even [[spoiler: Gavilan]] can bring a few tears. One of the best and most well-written books in the series, but utterly depressing, too.
* And then there's ''TheVoyageOfTheJerleShannara''. [[spoiler: Walker's death]], the MutualKill[=/=]TogetherInDeath of [[spoiler: Ard Patrinell and Tamis]], the Woobie-fication of Ahren and Quentin, even Antrax's AlasPoorVillain, and the death of TheMole, [[spoiler: Ryer Ord Star]] got to me. It's just depressing to read.

* This troper openly wept at [[spoiler: Cymrian's sacrifice and death]] towards the climax of ''Witch Wraith.'' What really caught me was the aftermath of his penultimate showdown with [[spoiler: Edinja Orle.]] As he lays dying he and [[spoiler: Aphen whisper back and forth that she'll come find him when this is done and "he'll be waiting."]] Starkly, tragically beautiful.

* The climax of ''TheElfstonesOfShannara''. If it isn't bad enough that after declaring his love for her, Wil Ohmsford is forced to witness and accept the fact that [[spoiler: Amberle Elessedil]] must transform into the new Ellcrys, there is the scene later in the Gardens of Life after everything is over. The moment with the little Elf girl and her mother can lead to weeping openly, especially the lines: "Will she keep the demons far away from us?" "Far away." "And protect us always?" "And protect us always." And a few paragraphs before that: "Something of the self must be given back to the land. In the end, she had given up everything. But she had not lost everything. In becoming the Ellcrys, she had gained an entire world."

* There are so many deaths in the [[TheHeritageOfShannara Heritage series]] that it could almost embody this trope. While [[spoiler: Quickening, Cogline, and especially Faun]]'s deaths are heart-wrenching, it was the entire slew of losses in Elf Queen of Shannara that rips everyone's heart out. Naturally the loss of Ellenroh and Eowen Cerise was quite a blow, and [[spoiler: Garth]] can easily have one bawling, but even [[spoiler: Gavilan]] can bring a few tears. One of the best and most well-written books in the series, but utterly depressing, too.

* The climax of ''TheElfstonesOfShannara''. If it isn't bad enough that after declaring his love for her, Wil Ohmsford is forced to witness and accept the fact that [[spoiler: Amberle Elessedil]] must transform into the new Ellcrys, there is the scene later in the Gardens of Life after everything is over. The moment with the little Elf girl and her mother without weeping openly, especially the lines: "Will she keep the demons far away from us?" "Far away." "And protect us always?" "And protect us always." And a few paragraphs before that: "Something of the self must be given back to the land. In the end, she had given up everything. But she had not lost everything. In becoming the Ellcrys, she had gained an entire world."

* Surprisingly, the death of Iridia to the Moric in ''HighDruidOfShannara'' is rather distressing thanks to her also being something of TheWoobie simply suffering from LoveHurts, GreenEyedMonster, and IfICantHaveYou. Grianne's ultimate fate is equal parts this and TearsOfJoy.

* And then there's ''TheVoyageOfTheJerleShannara''. [[spoiler: Walker's death]], the mutual kill of [[spoiler: Ard Patrinell and Tamis]], the Woobie-fication of Ahren and Quentin, even Antrax's AlasPoorVillain, and the death of The Mole, [[spoiler: Ryer Ord Star]] got to me. It's just depressing to read.

* There are so many deaths in the [[TheHeritageOfShannara Heritage series]] that it could almost embody this trope. While [[spoiler: Quickening, Cogline, and especially Faun]]'s deaths are heart-wrenching, it was the entire slew of losses in Elf Queen of Shannara that rips everyone's heart out. Naturally the loss of Ellenroh and Eowen Cerise was quite a blow, and [[spoiler: Garth]] had me bawling, but even [[spoiler: Gavilan]] brought a few tears. One of the best and most well-written books in the series, but utterly depressing, too.
* And then there's ''TheVoyageOfTheJerleShannara''. [[spoiler: Walker's death]], the mutual kill of [[spoiler: Ard Patrinell and Tamis]], the Woobie-fication of Ahren and Quentin, even Antrax's Alas Poor Villain, and the death of The Mole, [[spoiler: Ryer Ord Star]] got to me. It's just depressing to read.

* There are so many deaths in the [[TheHeritageOfShannara Heritage series]] that it could almost embody this trope. While [[spoiler: Quickening, Cogline, and especially Faun]]'s deaths are heart-wrenching, it was the entire slew of losses in Elf Queen of Shannara that rippes everyone's heart out. Naturally the loss of Ellenroh and Eowen Cerise was quite a blow, and [[spoiler: Garth]] had him bawling, but even [[spoiler: Gavilan]] brought a few tears. One of the best and most well-written books in the series, but utterly depressing, too.

* The climax of ''TheElfstonesOfShannara''. If it isn't bad enough that after declaring his love for her, Wil Ohmsford is forced to witness and accept the fact that [[spoiler: Amberle Elessedil]] must transform into the new Ellcrys, there is the scene later in the Gardens of Life after everything is over. This editor cannot read the moment with the little Elf girl and her mother without weeping openly, especially the lines: "Will she keep the demons far away from us?" "Far away." "And protect us always?" "And protect us always." And a few paragraphs before that: "Something of the self must be given back to the land. In the end, she had given up everything. But she had not lost everything. In becoming the Ellcrys, she had gained an entire world."

* Wishsong counts too, for the Magnificent Seven-worthy, OK Corral-ish finale at Graymark, wherein [[spoiler: Jair's entire party except himself and Slanter sacrifice themselves so he can reach Heaven's Well. The death of Helt is particularly poignant. No question of course for Allanon]].
** This Troper mourned [[spoiler: Garet Jax]] most of all.
* There are so many deaths in the [[TheHeritageOfShannara Heritage series]] that for this editor, it could almost embody this trope. While [[spoiler: Quickening, Cogline, and especially Faun]]'s deaths are heart-wrenching, it was the entire slew of losses in Elf Queen of Shannara that ripped this editor's heart out. Naturally the loss of Ellenroh and Eowen Cerise was quite a blow, and [[spoiler: Garth]] had him bawling, but even [[spoiler: Gavilan]] brought a few tears. One of the best and most well-written books in the series, but utterly depressing, too.

* The climax of Elfstones of Shannara. If it isn't bad enough that after declaring his love for her, Wil Ohmsford is forced to witness and accept the fact that [[spoiler: Amberle Elessedil]] must transform into the new Ellcrys, there is the scene later in the Gardens of Life after everything is over. This editor cannot read the moment with the little Elf girl and her mother without weeping openly, especially the lines: "Will she keep the demons far away from us?" "Far away." "And protect us always?" "And protect us always." And a few paragraphs before that: "Something of the self must be given back to the land. In the end, she had given up everything. But she had not lost everything. In becoming the Ellcrys, she had gained an entire world."

* There are so many deaths in the Heritage series that for this editor, it could almost embody this trope. While [[spoiler: Quickening, Cogline, and especially Faun]]'s deaths are heart-wrenching, it was the entire slew of losses in Elf Queen of Shannara that ripped this editor's heart out. Naturally the loss of Ellenroh and Eowen Cerise was quite a blow, and [[spoiler: Garth]] had him bawling, but even [[spoiler: Gavilan]] brought a few tears. One of the best and most well-written books in the series, but utterly depressing, too.
* And then there's The Voyage Of The Jerle Shannara. [[spoiler: Walker's death]], the mutual kill of [[spoiler: Ard Patrinell and Tamis]], the Woobie-fication of Ahren and Quentin, even Antrax's Alas Poor Villain, and the death of The Mole, [[spoiler: Ryer Ord Star]] got to me. It's just depressing to read.

* ''Shannara''. Two words: [[spoiler:Shella's death]] Anyone, who has played, will understand. For a full explanation, see my edit on the Player Punch page. It gets worse in the end when in the sword sequence, she asks you that one question: [[spoiler:Why did you kill me, Jak?]] Soulcrushing. If you didn't feel for her, you have no heart.

The climax of Elfstones of Shannara. If it isn't bad enough that after declaring his love for her, Wil Ohmsford is forced to witness and accept the fact that [[spoiler: Amberle Elessedil]] must transform into the new Ellcrys, there is the scene later in the Gardens of Life after everything is over. This editor cannot read the moment with the little Elf girl and her mother without weeping openly, especially the lines: "Will she keep the demons far away from us?" "Far away." "And protect us always?" "And protect us always." And a few paragraphs before that: "Something of the self must be given back to the land. In the end, she had given up everything. But she had not lost everything. In becoming the Ellcrys, she had gained an entire world."