Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Deleted line(s) 7 (click to see context) :
* Characters/TheVoyageOfTheJerleShannara
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 7 (click to see context) from:
* Characters/TheVoyageOfJerleShannara
to:
* Characters/TheVoyageOfJerleShannaraCharacters/TheVoyageOfTheJerleShannara
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 12 (click to see context) from:
* Characters/ThDefendersOfShannara
to:
* Characters/ThDefendersOfShannaraCharacters/TheDefendersOfShannara
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 12 (click to see context) from:
* Characters/TheHighDruidsBlade
to:
* Characters/TheHighDruidsBladeCharacters/ThDefendersOfShannara
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 12 (click to see context) from:
* Characters/TheDefendersOfShannara
to:
* Characters/TheDefendersOfShannaraCharacters/TheHighDruidsBlade
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 12 (click to see context) from:
* Characters/TheHighDruidsBlade
to:
* Characters/TheHighDruidsBladeCharacters/TheDefendersOfShannara
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 1,2 (click to see context) from:
A character sheet for the characters from TerryBrooks' long-running ''Literature/{{Shannara}}'' and ''Literature/TheWordAndTheVoid'' series. Each character is listed in the book he/she first appears in.
to:
A character sheet for the characters from TerryBrooks' long-running ''Literature/{{Shannara}}'' and ''Literature/TheWordAndTheVoid'' series. Each character is listed in the book book/series he/she first appears in.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
Splitting page because of size issues.
Changed line(s) 3,1944 (click to see context) from:
[[foldercontrol]]
[[folder:TheSwordOfShannaraTrilogy]]
!!Allanon
An enigmatic Druid, and the only character to appear in all three books. He both manipulates, and befriends the various members of the Ohmsford family, protecting them from their enemies, while at the same time using them for his own ends. Despite this, he's an unabashed good guy, and the closest thing the series has to both a BigGood and TheMentor. Appears in ''Sword'', ''Elfstones'', ''Wishsong'', the ''Heritage'' foursome, ''First King'', and the ''Voyage'' trilogy, as well as the short story ''Allanon's Quest''.
----
* AntiHero: Somewhere between Type II and Type III. He has good intentions, but is willing to be manipulative, enigmatic, and downright ''mean'' in order to achieve them.
* TheAtoner: Sees himself as having to make up for the failures of his adoptive father, Bremen.
* BadAss: So, very, very much. He's wrestled a Skull Bearer, fought two different Dragons, slain a Demon Lord and held entire villainous armies at bay. He even manages to [[spoiler:take down the [[CombatSadomasochist Jachyra]] before it kills him]].
** BadassBeard
** BadassLongRobe: A long black cloak and robe that all but conceals his body.
* BigGood: Somewhere between this and a more traditional [[TheMentor Mentor]].
* BlackCloak
* [[spoiler:CreepyChild: In ''First King''. His ability to see right through you is ''very'' unnerving on a twelve year old]].
* DarkIsNotEvil: He's a seven foot man in a BlackCloak and [[InTheHood hood]], with dark eyes, [[BeardOfEvil a black beard]], and [[GoodIsNotNice a mean streak]]. He's the BigGood.
* {{Determinator}} Shown off many times, but never more so than in his battle with the Jachyra. He shoves his ''hand down its throat and burns it alive''. While it ''bites him''.
* FigureItOutYourself: The master of this. Allanon frequently holds back vital information if he believes it will make the protagonists doubt themselves.
* FullContactMagic: It ain't [[KungFuWizard Kung Fu]] (or any other recognisable martial art) but Allanon can both burn you alive ''and'' beat you to a pulp, completely independently of one another.
* GeniusBruiser: A seven-foot LightningBruiser ''and'' Druid.
* [[spoiler:GhostlyAdvisor: To Cogline and all of the Ohmsfords in ''Talismans''; to Walker in ''Voyage'']].
* GoodIsNotNice: Hell, good is downright scary.
* GuileHero
* HappilyAdopted: By Bremen.
* HeroicSelfDeprecation: At times. A standout is towards the end of ''Elfstones'' when he says Wil should "Tell Flick he was right about me. He will like that, I think."
* InTheHood
* JediTruth: A master of this, note that as much as others may complain about him lying, he never actually tells any outright lies.
* [[spoiler:KilledOffForReal: In ''Wishsong'']]
* LightningBruiser: Seven feet tall. Fast. Strong. An evil magician's worst nightmare.
* MadeOfIron: Started the trend of Druids in this series being able to take unbelievable beatings and just keep right on ticking.
* TheMentor: Serves Shea, Brin, and [[spoiler:later Walker in this capacity]]. Wil is more of a comrade-in-arms.
* [[spoiler:MentorOccupationalHazard: Although it takes three books to catch up with him. In a way that just makes it worse]].
* MysteriousPast: What happened to Allanon between ''First King'' and ''Sword'' is still up in the air.
* OneManArmy: Especially in ''Elfstones''. The Elven archers hold two sides of Halys Cut and Baen Draw, the Free Corps has the back...and Allanon covers the third side all by himself. At meetings he's actually accorded the same status as if he was the leader of an army.
* ParentalAbandonment: In the BackStory.
* PlayingWithFire: His preferred attack involves blue, Druidic flames.
* PetTheDog: Generally Allanon will have one or two scenes with the main characters of each book wherein he explains everything, gives a SoProudOfYou speech, and then leaves. These are ''inevitably'' {{Tear Jerker}}y, and serve to remind the audience that yes, he is one of the good guys.
* TheProtagonist: Of the new short story ''Allanon's Quest''
* ReallySevenHundredYearsOld: At least five hundred.
* SoProudOfYou: Done with each main character.
* [[spoiler:TakeUpMySword: To Brin, or more accurately, her descendents.]]
''The Sword of Shannara''
!!Shea Ohmsford
The last scion of the Elven House of Shannara, half-human Shea Ohmsford didn't even know about his heritage until Allanon showed up and shafted him into saving the world. Used to living in sleepy Shady Vale, and working in his father's inn, he knows very little about the Sword he's supposed to find, and less about how to use it. A bit of a romantic, Shea has no idea what he's gotten himself into. He'll be the first Ohmsford to aid Allanon and save the Four Lands. He certainly won't be the last.
----
* ChangelingFantasy
* TheChosenOne: Not because of anything inherently special about Shea himself, but because he is the only person who can use the blasted Sword.
* FireForgedFriends: With Panamon Creel.
* HalfHumanHybrid: Part Man, part Elf.
* InTheBlood: As an heir of Shannara, only he can use the Sword.
* LastOfHisKind: At this point, Shea is the last surviving member of The House Of Shannara.
* OddFriendship: With Menion Leah and Panamon Creel.
* ParentalSubstitute: He and Flick to Wil.
* PinballProtagonist: Just about everything that happens to him is due to outside influences--Allanon telling him his destiny, the Skull Bearer coming to Shady Vale, the decision of the council in Culhaven, the fight with the proto-Creeper in the Wolfsktaag necessitating the trip to Storlock, his fall from the Dragon's Crease. It's not until he meets up with Panamon and Keltset, and decides to go after Orl Fane and the Sword, that he truly starts making decisions of his own that affect the plot (and not coincidentally, truly accepts his destiny).
* PointyEars: Which demonstrate his half-elven heritage.
* SiblingYinYang: With Flick.
* WideEyedIdealist: At least at the start of the book. By the end some of this has been lost.
!!Flick Ohmsford
Shea's foster brother, fully human Flick is suspicious, practical, and well-grounded. He has absolutely ''no'' desire to get involved with Allanon, but goes along to help his brother. Also appears in ''Elfstones''.
----
* CrazyPrepared: Brings the climbing gear when the visit the Black Oaks, in case they get lost again.
* TheCynic
* DressingAsTheEnemy: Allanon forces him to disguise himself as a Gnome and infiltrate Brona's army.
* FantasticRacism: Loathes Gnomes in ''Elfstones'', though not without reason. Too many of them tried to kill him over the course of ''Sword''.
* GrumpyBear: The most unabashadly cynical and pessimistic member of the cast.
* GrumpyOldMan: As Wil's great-uncle.
* ParentalSubstitute: For Wil's mom and dad.
* RefusalOfTheCall: Not for himself, but tries to convince first Shea and then Wil to refuse to heed Allanon's call.
* ReverseMole: Sent by Allanon to infiltrate the Warlock Lord's army.
* ScrewPolitenessImASenior: In ''Elfstones''.
* SiblingYinYang: Grumpy, practical, and heavily built, in contrast to the more positive, romantic, and slender Shea.
* TheSmartGuy: Flick's ability to plan ahead, and improvise on the fly (despite really hating to do so) come in handy several times.
* VitriolicBestBuds: With Menion Leah.
!!Menion Leah
Shea's oldest friend, and a Prince of the Highland Kingdom of Leah. Menion is hotheaded, impulsive, and on occasion, downright reckless. He's also loyal, brave, and will go miles for you if he considers you a friend. He's a Tracker, a hunter, the best bowman in the Southland (at least in his considered opinion), and an all around useful fellow.
----
* AncestralWeapon: Carries the Sword of Leah, his family's ancestral broadsword.
* BadAss: Menion starts out as a superb archer and a capable swordsman and only gets better with time. Whether it's making impossible shots, fighting Sirens and giant insects with a sword, or massacring kidnappers, Menion Leah has you covered.
** TookALevelInBadass: While Menion is already an excellent fighter at the start, his irreverent personality and lack of direction prevent him from being a true badass until he grows up partway through.
* BowAndSwordInAccord
* HeroesWantRedHeads: His relationship with Shirl.
* HotBlooded
* OddFriendship: With Shea and Flick, and then Hendel.
* RedOniBlueOni: The red to Hendel's blue.
* RichIdiotWithNoDayJob: Initially. By the end he's anything but.
* VitriolicBestBuds: He and Flick are this on a good day. On a bad day they just hate each other.
* WarriorPrince
* YouShallNotPass: He and Hendel pull this on Stenmin.
!!Hendel
A Dwarf Tracker and woodsman who serves as the group's guide through the Eastland. Perhaps the most experienced member of the group, he is hated by the Eastland Gnomes, who have a price on his head.
----
* BadAss
** BadassBeard: He is a Dwarf after all.
* CarryABigStick: His mace is undoubtedly his favourite weapon.
* [[spoiler:HeroicSacrifice: Twice. It sticks the second time.]]
* [[spoiler:KilledOffForReal]]
* OddFriendship: With Menion Leah.
* OlderAndWiser: Than anyone who isn't named Allanon.
* TheQuietOne: And not a screwed up example. He just doesn't talk that much, unless the situation calls for it. The word most used to describe him is "taciturn."
* RedOniBlueOni: The blue to Menion's red.
* YouShallNotPass: He and Menion pull this when Stenmin attempts to lead the enemy into the city through the basement.
!!Balinor Buckhannah
Prince of Callahorn, Border Legion Commander, and inspiring leader par excellence, currently away from home due to a disagreement with his brother Palance. Serves as the team leader when Allanon is not present.
----
* AFatherToHisMen: The reason the Border Legion loves him as much ss they do.
* BadAss: Not only is he a very capable fighter, he's also a solid commander, and AFatherToHisMen.
** FourStarBadass: A general in the Border Legion, in addition to being a physical badass.
* BFS: He is said to wield a sword that no ordinary man can wield.
* TheBigGuy: Toyed with. Balinor's an enormous man, brought along by Allanon for the express purpose of being the muscle. However, in the BigGood's absence, he takes over as TheLeader of the party from Cullhaven, is a competent strategist, and does far more then just act as Shea's protector. It might be fairest to say that while he looks like TheBigGuy, he's really...
** TheLancer: Serves as Allanon's NumberTwo throughout the journey, leading the party in his absence.
* CainAndAbel: With his brother, Palance. It stems largely from the latter's inferiority complex.
* MusclesAreMeaningless: Averted. Balinor is repeatedly described as very large, and very strong, and makes full use of it in combat.
* RoyalsWhoActuallyDoSomething
* SupportingLeader
* TwentyFourHourArmor: He is always described as wearing a full body suit of chain-mail.
* WarriorPrince
!!Durin and Dayel
A pair of Elven brothers who are along for the ride.
----
* FatalFamilyPhoto: Averted. We learn about one of the brother's beloved Lynliss back home in the Westland, which seems like a sure sign he's going to die in the final battle at Tyrsis--but he doesn't.
* FlatCharacter: Very little characterization is devoted to them, to the point they often seem like window dressing and rarely speak, acting only as extra fighters when the bad guys show up. Seem to be included only so that there could be Elves in the story.
* MauveShirt
!!Brona, The Warlock Lord
TheBigBad. The head honcho. The monster whose fault half this series is. Formerly one of the Druids, Brona was among the first to rediscover the books of magic. Growing obsessed with it, he rebelled against the Druids, plunging the world into a repeating cycle of war that can only be ended by his death. Leader of the armies of Man during the First War of the Races, TheManBehindTheMan to the Trolls in the Second, he's now out to instigate a Third, and bring all of the Four Lands squarely under his heel. Seemingly {{Immortal}}, he can only be slain by the touch of the Sword of Shannara. Appears in ''Sword'', ''First King'' [[spoiler:and ''High Druid'']].
----
* AGodAmI: He's convinced the Trolls, the Gnomes, and possibly himself, of this.
* AchillesHeel: The Sword Of Shannara, which [[spoiler:reveals his DeadAllAlong nature to him.]]
* BigBad: In both ''Sword'' and ''First King''.
* BlackCloak
* TheDarkSideWillMakeYouForget: Implied. Brona originally began studying the books of magic for the same reason Druids did anything, to gain the knowledge needed to help lead, guide, and protect the world. But after being corrupted by [[TomeOfEldritchLore the Ildatch]] and losing his soul, he became merely a vessel for its power and only cared about [[TakeOverTheWorld taking over the world]]. If any of his real self was left, it might pretend he was doing so in order to lead and guide it, but that's just sophistry at this point.
* [[spoiler:DeadAllAlong]]: [[spoiler:Brona is revealed to be a walking corpse, sustained only by the magic and his belief in his own immortality. The Sword Of Shannara reveals his lies to him, promptly killing him in truth]].
* [[spoiler:DeadpanSnarker: His characterisation in ''High Druid'' is surprisingly close to this. He seems to get a real kick out of mocking Grianne, and telling her she isn't asking the right questions. It's quite stunning (and funny) given his previous characterisation as a StockCharacter EvilOverlord]].
* [[spoiler:{{Determinator}}: In a way. Brona's will, combined with his magic and his belief that he cannot die is the only thing still keeping him, and his Skull Bearers, alive. It takes the power of the Sword to shatter his convictions]].
* DarkIsEvil
* [[spoiler:DragonInChief: To [[TomeOfEldritchLore The Ildatch]]. Brona doesn't necessarily even know it, but his ArtifactOfDoom has thoroughly manipulated him into becoming what he is, and is largely using him in order to unleash its magics upon the world. That said, the plan is Brona's, and without him, the Ildatch is just a book. There's a reason why it doesn't even put in an appearance in ''Sword'', and is of secondary concern in ''First King''. Without Brona to wield it, the Ildatch can't ''do'' much]].
* [[DubNameChange Dub Title Change]]: In the Italian version at least his title of "Warlock Lord" is changed to "Signore degli Inganni" (Lord of Deceptions).
* EvilSoundsDeep: He's described as having a deep, roiling voice, that echoes in your mind. It's also written [[CapitalLettersAreMagic entirely in capitals]] in ''Sword'' and ''First King''. In ''High Druid'' his mind-speech is more normal, but still very low.
* TheFaceless: He has no face, just a swirling green mist, and two [[RedEyesTakeWarning red eyes]].
* FakingTheDead: After the First War Of The Races. He isn't faking after the Second though: it legitimately took him that long to recover from the damage Bremen and Jerle Shannara inflicted on him.
* FisherKing: His presence alone is implied to have made the [[NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast Skull Kingdom]] the [[{{Mordor}} barren wasteland]] it is today.
* [[spoiler:GhostlyAdvisor]]: [[spoiler:In ''High Druid'' where he is this to Grianne. It's absurd enough that it just might count as a CrowningMomentOfFunny]].
* {{Immortality}}: [[spoiler:Or so he believes.]]
* ImmortalityImmorality: Obtained his lifespan through the abuse of BlackMagic.
* InTheHood
* [[spoiler:KilledOffForReal: Finally bites the dust in ''Sword'' after over a thousand years of menacing the world]].
* LargeHam: In ''Sword'', and to a lesser degree ''First King''. MORTAL CREATURE, I AM HERE!
* [[spoiler:LiteralGenie: His ghost goes out of its way to be this in ''High Druid'', being as unhelpful--and as [[DeadpanSnarker aggravating]]--as possible whenever Grianne asks a question.]]
* [[spoiler:LoadBearingBoss: Both Skull Mountain, and the entire Knife Edge collapse after he dies. All of the Skull Bearers go too]].
* TheManBehindTheMan: In the First and Second Wars Of The Races. He's a little more obvious about it in the Third.
* [[spoiler:OneSceneWonder: In ''Sword'' and ''High Druid''. He gets a little more screen time in ''First King'']].
* OrcusOnHisThrone: [[spoiler:Actually justified. Brona's less a character, and more a channel for eldritch forces. He can't do anything]].
* RedEyesTakeWarning
* SorcerousOverlord: Duh.
* TakeOverTheWorld: His plan since at least The Second War of The Races, and possibly the First.
* TheseAreThingsManWasNotMeantToKnow: He got hit by this trope when he discovered and read the Ildatch.
* TheUndead
* [[spoiler:UndeathAlwaysEnds]]
* WellIntentionedExtremist: In the BackStory
* WithGreatPowerComesGreatInsanity
!!The Skull Bearers
The Druids who rebelled alongside Brona, they now function as his generals, bodyguards, and top henchmen. No longer human, the magic has warped them into monstrous beings with leathery wings, red eyes, heavy, slouching bodies, and clawed fingers. Nearly unkillable, they exist only to serve the Warlock Lord's will.
----
* AsskickingEqualsAuthority: They serve as Brona's generals solely for this reason.
* BlackCloak
* CoDragons: The Skull Bearers as a group serves as Brona's PraetorianGuard, seconds-in-command, and chief enforcers.
* DarkIsEvil
* [[spoiler:DeadAllAlong: The only thing maintaining their existence is Brona's will. When he, and his belief that they are alive goes, so do they]].
* EvilSorceror: They're all former Druids.
* GoodWingsEvilWings: Rotten, leathery wings, on monsters that fly like a vulture.
* InTheHood: Thankfully. When we do see their faces, they're described as looking like pitted coal. The art in ''World of Shannara'' makes it even worse.
* OneManArmy: Any one of them can match Allanon blow for blow. The one that gets into the Elven palace in ''First King'' murders the royal family and half the guard before it is ''finally'' put down. If you don't have an Elfstone or Druidic powers of some sort, and you see one of these guys, start running.
* PlayingWithFire
* RedEyesTakeWarning
* SlouchOfVillainy: Are all possessed of massively hunched backs, and uniformly bad posture.
* TheUndead
* VaderBreath: They all have wheezing, ragged breath.
* WasOnceAMan
* WingedHumanoid: Barely. The humanoid part that is.
* WithGreatPowerComesGreatInsanity
!!Palance Buckhannah
Balinor's younger brother, Palance is not the man he once was thanks to his treacherous adviser, Stenmin. With his father ill, and Balinor driven from the city, Palance is the one running Callahorn--or so he thinks.
----
* CainAndAbel: He's the Cain to Balinor's Abel, though the hatred is entirely onesided.
* EvenEvilHasLovedOnes: Despite the utter mess that his mind and personal life are, Palance certainly cares about Shirl. He also refuses to have Balinor executed, despite his paranoid delusions and Stenmin's insistence that it is the only way he can protect himself.
* TheEvilPrince: Subverted. Palance looks like one at first, but it's his EvilChancellor who is the real problem.
* HopelessSuitor[=/=]StalkerWithACrush: Towards Shirl. It's played for tragedy.
* HorribleJudgeOfCharacter
* LoveTriangle: Of a sort with Menion and Shirl. Made worse by the fact he had befriended and trusted Menion before learning of his feelings for Shirl, though it is this friendship and trust that allows him to resist Stenmin's attempts to turn him against Menion; in the end [[spoiler:after Stemin fatally stabs him]] he even seems to have a moment of sanity so as to give them his blessing.
* TheMentallyIll: In the end, Palance's madness becomes horribly real.
* TheResenter: Horribly resents Balinor for being the firstborn.
* WeakWilled: The drugs that Stenmin feeds him only make it worse, causing him to vacilitate back and forth, usually making a decision based on the advice of the last person he talked to.
!!Stenmin
One of the Warlock Lord's spies, and a treacherous advisor to Balinor's brother, Palance. He plots to open the gates of Tyrsis to Brona's army.
----
* DirtyCoward: Spineless, sleazy, and pathetic, with a strong attachment to his own skin. Even Palance, who thinks that Stenmin is the smartest person in the world, describes him as a coward.
* EvilChancellor
* InformedAbility: He never demonstrates his "mystic" abilities. Of course, he could have been an astrologist, or an alchemist, or something else along those lines, in which case he may not have ''had'' any, or at least none that would be of viable use in combat.
* TheMole
* ObviouslyEvil: To everyone but the drug-addled Palance. Of course, Palance is the only one who ''needs'' to trust him.
* SmugSnake
* StupidEvil: Does he really expect Brona to reward him after the war is over? Than again, it's exactly these qualities of his that the SorcerousOverlord is playing on.
* TreacherousAdvisor: To Palance.
!!Panamon Creel
A thief, highwayman, and all around rogue whom Shea meets after being separated from the group. Quick-tempered, and prone to mood swings, he's nevertheless a useful (if shady) companion, and goes on to become Shea's protector on the trek to the [[{{Mordor}} Skull Kingdom]].
----
* AffablyEvil: Panamon is polite, courteous, and prefers to avoid killing people if he can. That said, he's no gentleman and can turn very ugly if the situation warrants it.
* BadAss
** BadassMoustache
** BadassNormal
** HandicappedBadass: He lost one of his hands, and replaced it with a steel pike head.
* BladeBelowTheShoulder: Has a pike for an arm.
* DualWielding: In a way. He has the pike on one arm, and carries his broadsword in the other.
* EvenEvilHasStandards: Panamon's a thief and a murderer, but he balks at what the Northland has become under Brona. He's also revolted by the deserter Orl Fane, who left all his friends to die.
* FireForgedFriends: With Shea
* GentlemanThief: Fakes it really well, but underneath he's a common highwayman, and he knows it.
* TheHighwayman: Though he's aware that the honourable facade is just that.
* HonourAmongThieves
* HookHand: Pike hand anyway.
* IGaveMyWord: Panamon's a slippery, lying SOB but if he actually promises to do something, he will damn well do it.
* IOweYouMyLife: Which is why he decides to help Shea.
* LoveableRogue
* OddFriendship: His relationships with both [[TheHero Shea]] and [[TheMessiah Keltset]] when you get right down to it.
* {{Pride}}: Perhaps his defining characteristic. Even his decision to help Shea is based at least in part because being outfoxed by Orl Fane and nearly killed by a Skull Bearer hurts his vanity.
* RedOniBlueOni: With Keltset.
!!Keltset
An immense Troll, Keltset is Panamon's closest friend, and partner in crime. Strangely gentle, he doesn't quite fit with Shea's [[AlwaysChaoticEvil view]] of [[ProudWarriorRaceGuy Trolls]].
----
* BadAss
* [[spoiler:BigGuyFatalitySyndrome]]
* CarryABigStick: He's almost as fond of his mace as Hendel is.
* GeniusBruiser
* GentleGiant: Although don't pick a fight with him.
* [[spoiler:KilledOffForReal]]
* [[spoiler:HeroicSacrifice]]
* [[spoiler:LoadBearingHero]]
* [[spoiler:TheMessiah: From a Troll perspective anyway, as the holder of the Black Irix, the highest award the Troll nation can give out]].
* OddFriendship: With Panamon Creel.
* ProudWarriorRaceGuy
* TheQuietOne: He's an [[TheSpeechless actual mute]], yes. He also however, rarely involves himself in the decision making process unless he has to, allowing him to still fit this trope.
* RedOniBlueOni: With Panamon.
* TheSpeechless: Had his vocal cords burned out by Skull Bearers.
!!Orl Fane
A Gnome deserter, captured by Panamon Creel who claims to know the location of the Sword of Shannara.
----
* AxeCrazy
* DangerousDeserter: A thief, tramp, and all around miserable excuse for a human being, Orl Fane alternates between snivelling sycophancy and violent insanity, making him dangerous to all those around him.
* DirtyCoward
* FullNameBasis
* TheMentallyIll: His mind utterly shatters by the time of his final confrontation with the group.
* NotSoHarmlessVillain: [[spoiler:He really did manage to get his hands on the Sword of Shannara, and is able to avoid Shea and Panamon Creel for a couple hundred pages before being captured by the Warlock Lord.]]
* ObfuscatingInsanity: Orl Fane is crazy, but not quite as crazy as he looks.
* PeoplePuppets: Used as one by Brona.
* TalkativeLoon
''The Elfstones of Shannara''
!!Wil Ohmsford
Shea's grandson, Wil was orphaned when his parents died in a fever. Raised by Shea and Flick, he's studying in Storlock to become a Healer, in the hopes of saving people like his parents. That's the plan anyway, until Allanon comes crashing into his life. A few years back, Shea had passed the Elfstones on to Wil. Now the Druid wants him to use them to protect an Elven Princess on her way to save the world from a Demonic invasion. Does Wil get a choice in this? Not on your life.
----
* BodyguardCrush: On Amberle.
* CombatMedic: Wil is a healer, trained by the Gnomes of Storlock. He's also carrying the demon-destroying Elfstones around with him. He's a pretty solid example of this.
* DeceasedParentsAreTheBest: His mother and father died of a fever, convincing Wil to become a Healer. He seems to have relatively decent memories of them. That said, his grandfather (Shea) and great-uncle (Flick) haven't given him much to complain about in the ParentalSubstitute department.
* TheHero
* HeroSecretService: To Amberle.
* LamarckWasRight: His use of the Elfstones physically damaged him, causing him to pass along magically altered genetics to his children. Cue the [[RealityWarper Wishsong]].
* LikeBrotherAndSister: What he and Amberle claim.
* LockedOutOfTheLoop: [[spoiler:No one tells him what will happen to Amberle if the quest is successful, as they fear he will try and screw it up]].
* NiceGuy
* TheProtagonist
* SecondLove: [[spoiler:With Eretria]].
* TookALevelInBadass: After spending most of the book frightened of the magic, and on the run from forces too powerful to combat, Wil turns around and burns [[TheJuggernaut The Reaper]] to ash.
!!Amberle Elessedil
The granddaughter of Elven King, Eventine Elessedil, Amberle was the first girl to be Chosen by the Ellcrys in years. It was a great honour. It was one she ran away from. When Allanon finds her, she's hiding out in an orphanage, helping look after the children. Next thing she knows she's on a quest to save the world, with only Wil for protection.
----
* TheChick
* TheChosenOne: Amberle was chosen by the Ellcrys to help repair the gap in the Forbidding. Surprisingly, she isn't the main character. She initially thought it was a cruel joke.
* DistressedDamsel: Frequently.
* HeroicSacrifice: [[spoiler:Gives up her life in order to become the new Ellcrys]].
* LikeBrotherAndSister: She and Wil claim to be this. If it's true or not is never confirmed.
* RebelliousPrincess: Though much girlier than most. She ran away from home because she couldn't face being a Chosen or enduring her family's disapproval.
* RefusalOfTheCall: She really doesn't want to be TheChosenOne, and tries to refuse until [[GoodIsNotNice Allanon]] bullies her into it.
* RoyalsWhoActuallyDoSomething
* TomboyAndGirlyGirl: Girly Girl to Eretria's {{Tomboy}}.
!!Eretria
The adopted daughter of Cephelo, leader of a Rover band that Wil and Amberle encounter. She quickly falls for Wil, and tries to help him when her father cheats him. She returns to help them again near the end.
----
* ArrangedMarriage: Is fleeing the one that her ParentalSubstitute, Cephelo, is trying to force her into.
* FemmeFatale: Beautiful, enigmatic, and willing to offer Wil just about anything if he'll take her away from Cephelo. While she's far less skanky than most, the trope still applies.
* [[spoiler:HappilyMarried: If everything Brin says in ''Wishsong'' is true, she and Wil genuinely love each other as adults, however rocky things may have started out.]]
* LoveAtFirstSight: Falls for Wil right off the bat.
* PluckyGirl
* SingleWomanSeeksGoodMan: The source of her interest in Wil.
* TomboyAndGirlyGirl: {{Tomboy}} to Amberle's Girly Girl.
* WomanScorned: Having been spurned by Wil twice in a row, Eretria vows that he will live to regret it, and does nothing when Cephelo [[spoiler:steals the Elfstones from him]]. Once she realises the stakes, she quickly drops her anger and tries to help make amends.
!!Eventine Elessedil
Often regarded as the greatest of the Elven Kings, Eventine was an exceedingly minor character in ''Sword''. When we meet him in ''Elfstones'' he's in his eighties, and trying very hard to train his son Arion to take his place. He's not too happy about having to trust Amberle (who he regards as the black sheep of the family), but goes along with it at Allanon's urging. Spends most of the book leading his troops, which results in his receiving several serious injuries.
----
* AscendedExtra: A minor character in the first book, he has to be rescued like a DamselInDistress by Flick. In ''Elfstones'' on the other hand, he is a clearly great, if aging king, a central character, and a total BadAss.
* BadassGrandpa: A more realistic version than many, given his limited stamina, aching bones, and failing strength. Still, the man's eighty-two, and not only leads his men from the front but [[spoiler:managed to kill the freaking [[CoDragons Changeling]], injured, and by himself]].
* CoolOldGuy: For the most part.
* {{Determinator}}: [[spoiler:Especially against the Changeling]].
* TheGoodKing: Not only a good king, but the best of them.
* [[spoiler:KilledOffForReal]]
* [[spoiler:MutualKill: Kills the Changeling, but suffers a mortal wound in the process.]]
* ParentalFavouritism: He favours his oldest son, Arion, over his younger son, Ander. This isn't from a lack of love for Ander; it's simply that Arion, as heir to the throne, is the one he needs to be able to depend upon.
* ReasonableAuthorityFigure
* RoyalsWhoActuallyDoSomething
!!Arion Elessedil
Eventine's oldest son, and Crown Prince of the Elves. Slain while leading the Elven army at Worl Run.
----
* HotBlooded
* {{Jerkass}}: To everyone, but especially Amberle and Ander.
* KilledOffForReal
* PrinceCharmless: He can lead an army, but has no patience for politics, which makes including him in diplomatic negotiations a risky process at best.
* SiblingYinYang: Hot-tempered, bitter, and undiplomatic (though a capable war-leader) to Ander's reasoned deliberateness.
!!Ander Elessedil
Eventine's second son, younger brother to Arion, and older brother to the deceased Aine. He takes on more and more responsibility as the book progresses, due to natural, self-effacing leadership skills, and the fact that he's one of the few people Allanon trusts.
----
* {{Ambadassador}}[=/=]BadassBureaucrat: Ander is equal parts negotiator and bureaucrat. He's still a more then capable fighter who singlehandedly keeps the battle going when all else is lost.
* BeleagueredBureaucrat: In the beginning. Arion and Eventine may be leaders of men, but it's Ander who handles all the paperwork, tries to track down the location of the Bloodfire, and goes through the army lists.
* TheGoodKing: Allanon prophesies he will be a good one, and ''Wishsong'' seems to bear him out.
* TheHeart: Eventine is the figurehead of the army, Stee Jans is its brains, and Allanon its power, but Ander is its soul. His mere presence is enough to rouse the troops to greater action, and he singlehandedly keeps them going in the face of hopeless odds.
* TheLeader: Takes his father's place as the leader of the Elven army.
* ReasonableAuthorityFigure
* RoyalsWhoActuallyDoSomething
* SiblingYinYang: With Arion.
* SupportingLeader
* TookALevelInBadass: From TheUnfavourite to war leader, king, and TheHeart of the Elven Army.
* TheUnfavourite: A non-malicious example. It's not that Eventine doesn't love Ander, it's just that he sees training his heir, Arion, to be much more pressing.
* WarriorPrince
* TheWisePrince: Right down to the aura of melancholy.
!!Crispin
The Captain of the Elven Home Guard, Crispin and six of his men are tasked with seeing Wil and Amberle safely to the Wilderun. Competent, brave, and dedicated to his job, Crispin ultimately sacrifices himself so that Wil and Amberle can escape [[SuperPersistentPredator The Reaper]].
----
* BadassBeard: In the cover art.
* BowAndSwordInAccord: Fires one shot after another at The Reaper before resorting to a direct confrontation, wherein he acquits himself relatively well.
* DyingMomentOfAwesome: With his team dead, and [[TheJuggernaut The Reaper]] approaching rapidly, Crispin holds the Pykon Bridge against the unstoppable monster, holding it off long enough that Wil and Amberle are able to destroy the bridge, thus ensuring their escape. He doesn't actually do any damage, but the simple fact that he was able to slow the Demon down cements him as an immense {{Badass}}.
* HeroSecretService
* MauveShirt
* PraetorianGuard
* YouShallNotPass: See Dying Moment Of Awesome above.
!!Stee Jans
The commander of the Border Legion Free Corps, Jans and his men are among the first to answer the [[GondorCallsForAid Elven call for assistance]]. A valuable ally, and walking BigDamnHeroes moment, his men will follow him just about anywhere.
----
* AFatherToHisMen
* AllThereInTheManual: His eventual disappearance and the suggestion that he might be Garet Jax.
* AsskickingEqualsAuthority: Leads the Legion Free Corps by reason of this.
* {{Badass}}
** BadassNormal: Kills more Demons than anyone excepting Allanon. And he does it ''without'' powers.
** CommandingCoolness
* BigDamnHeroes: Frequently. His job seems to be getting the Elven Army out of one jam after another.
* TheCavalry: Heads it.
* DarkAndTroubledPast: Implied. He leads what's essentially the Callahorn version of The French Foreign Legion. All his men, and Stee himself, are running away from something.
* RedBaron: The Iron Man.
* RedHeadedHero
* TheStrategist: Eventine and Ander are the leaders of the army, but Stee Jans is its brains.
!!The Dagda Mor
The leader of the Demons, The Dagda Mor is a powerful Demon Lord and sorcerer, with abilities that are a match for those of Allanon. He serves as the main antagonist of ''Elfstones'', arranging the collapse of the Forbidding and leading his army's assault on the Elves, with his ultimate objective being the destruction of all sentient life in the Four Lands. In appearance he is roughly humanoid, with a humped back that crooks his spine almost double, a catlike muzzle, scaled arms and legs, and patches of sawgrass-like green hair.
----
* AsskickingEqualsAuthority: The Dagda Mor is in charge because he has ''brutally'' crushed anyone who might have stood against him, using both his own power, and that of [[TheDragon The Reaper]]. Few Demons approach his level of strength, and no one wants to challenge him for his position.
* BatOutOfHell: Uses a gigantic one as his mode of transport.
* BigBad
* BoomStick: Channels red, Demonic flames through his staff.
* DarkIsEvil
* DemonLordsAndArchDevils: Lord of all the Demons, though not by virtue of title. It's by virtue of having killed anyone else who wanted the job.
* EvilGenius: It's repeatedly stated that while the Dagda Mor may not be the most powerful Demon (although he's close enough), he is the smartest.
* EvilSorcerer: Channels Druidic magic through his Staff Of Power as an addition to his own, innate abilities. As such, he is the only Demon to keep his magic when the Ellcrys staff renders his army mortal.
* IControlMyMinionsThrough: Fear, and the shared goal of eradicating all life.
* KillAllHumans: And Elves, and Dwarves, and Trolls, and Gnomes. If it isn't a Demon, The Dagda Mor wants it destroyed.
* [[spoiler:KilledOffForReal: By Allanon]]
* ThePowerOfHate: All the Demons are like this, but the Dagda Mor is unique in that he is aware of it. Hate is all that has kept him going for thousands of years, and he feeds it like a favourite pet.
* PrimalStance: Walks slouched and hunched, with his hands near the ground courtesy of a huge humpback.
* {{Revenge}}: Wants to payback the Elves, and then all of humanity, for his imprisonment.
** SinsOfOurFathers: Those who imprisoned the Dagda Mor are long since dead. He'll take it out on not only their descendents, but all of humanity, thanks all the same.
* WizardDuel: Against Allanon.
!!The Changeling
The Dagda Mor's spy, The Changeling is a spiteful Demon who looks down on all those who refuse to toy with lives the way that he does. He serves The Dagda Mor out of fear, and infiltrates Eventine's councils for him, [[spoiler:disguised as the King's wolfhound, Manx.]]
----
* TheDragon: One of the Dagda Mor's [[CoDragons two]].
* ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin: [[VoluntaryShapeshifting The Changeling]]. Couldn't get more obvious, could it?
* HellHound: [[spoiler:Its Evil!Manx form has this vibe]].
* IFightForTheStrongestSide: Serves The Dagda Mor because he has greater power than any of the other Demon Lords.
* [[spoiler:KilledOffForReal: By Eventine Elessedil]]
* TheMole
* [[spoiler:MutualKill: Eventine beheads The Changeling, but not before it mortally wounds him.]]
* [[spoiler:OffWithHisHead: How Eventine deals with it]].
* {{Shapeshifter}}
** ShapeshifterWeapon
** VoluntaryShapeshifting
* SocialDarwinist: Believes the strong should rule, and is contemptuous of anyone who is trapped by what they are. The only thing he respects is power superior to his own.
!!The Reaper
Created to be the ultimate hunter and tracker, The Reaper represents all the darker impulses of predation combined into one being and given human intelligence to balance animalistic instinct. Driven by instincts that demand it kill everything it comes into contact with, The Reaper is The Dagda Mor's most dangerous servant, and the one he uses to harry Wil and Amberle across the whole of the Westland.
----
* BlackCloak
* DarkIsEvil
* DisneyVillainDeath: Subverted. The Reaper is dropped off a cliff only to make its return chapters later having been nothing more than mildly inconvenienced.
* TheDragon: To The Dagda Mor, though it doesn't actually [[DragonWithAnAgenda share his goals]]. The Reaper's sole objective in life is to kill as many living beings as it can, and The Dagda Mor provides it with the opportunity to indulge those instincts again and again.
* TheFaceless
* GrimReaper: Invoked by its appearance and name.
* InTheHood
* TheJuggernaut: The Reaper is ImplacableMan TurnedUpToEleven and with shades of SuperPersistentPredator. Nothing hurts it: not fire, not weapons, not falling from a bridge; nothing deters it, and it can plow through literally ''anything'' that gets in its way.
* [[spoiler:KilledOffForReal: By Wil]]
* LastOfHisKind: Implied. Allanon talks about how there was a type of Demon a Reaper in the Old World of Faerie, yet The Dagda Mor's commentary (and indeed the ''The'' in The Reaper's title) imply that this one is the only one left.
* LightningBruiser
* NighInvulnerability: Nothing can stop The Reaper. One of the Elven Hunters hits it in the throat with his sword. The sword breaks, The Reaper doesn't.
* PsychoForHire: Designed to be one. The only reason it works for The Dagda Mor is the promise of an entire world of lesser beings that it can kill.
* ScarilyCompetentTracker: The Reaper follows Wil and Amberle all the way across the Westland and into the depths of the Wilderun, never losing track of them for more then a few days.
* SilentAntagonist
* SlasherMovie: Reads like something out of one.
* TheUnreveal: We're told that only The Reaper's victims see its face. Said face is never once shown, not even when Wil [[spoiler:burns it into ash]].
* TheVoiceless
!!Morag & Mallenroh, The Witch Sisters
A pair of psychotic witches, who make the Wilderun, home of the Bloodfire, their home. They hate one another, while viewing everything and everyone else as just something to toy with. Mallenroh captures Wil, Amberle, and Eretria, and takes the stones, hoping to alter the balance of power between her and her sister. Morag arrives and the two of them [[spoiler:proceed to kill one another]] as Wil, Amberle, and Eretria escape with The Reaper right behind them
----
* CainAndAbel: More like Cain & Cain.
* EvilIsDeathlyCold: Being in their presence is a little like walking into an icestorm.
* {{Evil Twin}}s: To one another.
* EvilVersusEvil: Mallenroh vs The Reaper, Morag vs Mallenroh.
* FearfulSymmetry
* HypocriticalHumour: Identical twins who call one another ugly? Think about it.
* InTheBlood: Both evil and magic seem to be in the genes, if they and [[Literature/TheVoyageOfTheJerleShannara The Morgawr]] (who claims to be their brother) are any proof.
* KilledOffForReal
* LastOfHisKind: The last members of their Coven.
* LivingDollCollector: Mallenroh captures people she finds "pretty" and either turns them into wooden figurines, or keeps them alive in her dungeons. Morag is implied to do the same.
* LoveTriangle: A human got caught between them. They killed him and blame one another.
* MutualKill
* NeverMyFault: Neither will accept any blame for the death of the human they killed.
* PlayingWithFire: It's green.
* ReallySevenHundredYearsOld: Older than the races, actually.
* SiblingTriangle: In the backstory. Given [[{{Yandere}} what they]] [[LivingDollCollector are]] it didn't end well for the poor bastard.
* StatuesqueStunner: Both are very beautiful (albeit in a cold kind of way) and are taller than Allanon, a seven-footer.
* {{Vain Sorceress}}es
* {{Wicked Witch}}es
* {{Yandere}}s
''The Wishsong of Shannara''
!!Brin Ohmsford
Wil's daughter, Brin inherited some of the ancient Elven magic in the form of the [[RealityWarper Wishsong]]. Allanon recruits her while Wil (who's never quite trusted him after the events of ''Elfstones'') is out, needing her ability to mimic and control all forms of life in order to enter the [[GardenOfEvil Maelmord]] and destroy [[ArtifactOfDoom The]] [[TomeOfEldritchLore Ildatch]]. She is mentioned in ''Indomitable'' and appears briefly in ''Dark Wraith''.
----
* [[spoiler:BrainwashedAndCrazy: Done to her by The Ildatch]]
* TheChosenOne: Although it's [[BigGood Allanon]] who did the chosing and not fate.
* GlassCannon[=/=]SquishyWizard: Brin has tremendous raw power, but it's in the body of an average teenage girl. If you can reach her, you can kill her.
* HappilyMarried: By ''Indomitable'' she is cheerfully married to Rone Leah.
* IJustWantToBeNormal: After ''Wishsong'' Brin wants to be a wife and a mother. She abandons her magic, and tries to get Jair to do the same.
* LamarckWasRight: Her abilities stem from her father's use of the Elfstones.
* {{Mutant}}: Pretty much. Wil's use of the Elfstones contaminated his bloodline, resulting in she and Jair being born with innate magic of their own.
* {{Protectorate}}: How Rone Leah and Whisper see her.
* RealityWarper: Can bend nature and life around her Wishsong.
* RetiredBadass: In the aftermath of ''Wishsong'' Brin marries Rone, retires to Leah, and never touches magic again.
* ShellShockedVeteran: Brin is never the same after the events of ''Wishsong''. She swears off magic, loses contact with many of her friends, and only begins to recover after the birth of her son.
* StoryBreakerPower: [[spoiler:Begins accessing this level of power under the Ildatch's control. It believes she would be even more powerful than Brona was, and without the AchillesHeel. Luckily, Jair gets there in time to head this off]].
* TakeUpMySword: Courtesy of [[spoiler:Allanon. Interestingly, it's one of her descendents, Walker Boh, who actually has to deal with the ramifications of this.]]
* WeAreNotGoingThroughThatAgain: The Ildatch's near subversion of Brin is enough to persuade her that not only is she never going to use her magic again, but she is never going to leave Leah again. She tries to persuade Jair to do the same.
!!Jair Ohmsford
Brin's younger brother, Jair has a milder version of the Wishsong, which allows him to create extremely detailed and realistic illusions. Attacked by Gnomes soon after Brin and Rone set out, he is rescued by Garet Jax and [[spoiler:given a mission by the King of the Silver River]]. He later appears in the short story ''Indomitable'' and the graphic novel, ''Dark Wraith of Shannara''.
----
* ActionSurvivor: In ''Wishsong'', which he only makes it through with help from others. He's more of an ActionHero during ''Indomitable'' and ''Dark Wraith''.
* [[spoiler:BecomingTheMask: Both ''Indomitable'' and ''Dark Wraith of Shannara'' have Jair channeling, and almost becoming, Garet Jax, much to his and his sister's concern]].
* [[spoiler:TheChosenOne: Courtesy of the [[DungeonMaster King of the Silver River]]. If he doesn't save Brin, that's it for the world.]] Allanon later recruits him in ''Indomitable'' and ''Dark Wraith''.
* GuileHero: At his best Jair gets by on trickery where others would use force. He seems to have passed some of this down to his descendents.
* HookedUpAfterwards: With Kimber Boh, who he has barely met by the end of ''Wishsong''. ''Indomitable'' and ''Dark Wraith'' go into more detail about their relationship and how they became first friends, and then lovers.
* LamarckWasRight
* MasterOfIllusion: The first of the Ohmsfords to have the power of illusion at his disposal, Jair pioneered the trickery that would later be used by Par Ohmsford, Walker Boh, and Bek Rowe.
* {{Mutant}}
* OneManArmy: In ''Indomitable'' and ''Dark Wraith'' when he uses Garet Jax's skills as his own.
* OvershadowedByAwesome: Jair's powers are actually pretty useful, but tend to get overlooked due to his sister's RealityWarper potential.
* ThePowerOfLove: [[spoiler:Saves Brin with it]].
* {{Protectorate}}: For Garet Jax, Slanter, and the rest of the company from Cullhaven.
* {{Shapeshifter}}: In ''Indomitable'' Jair discovers he has the power to draw his illusions around himself, changing into whatever image he creates. He typically uses it to transform into Garet Jax.
* SpannerInTheWorks: For [[spoiler:The Ildatch. ''Twice''.]]
* SquishyWizard: A MasterOfIllusion, but if you can reach him he's in trouble. At least until ''Indomitable''.
* TookALevelInBadass: In ''Indomitable''. The discovery of his shapeshifting abilities transforms Jair from a SquishyWizard into a someone who can transform into a OneManArmy with only a few notes of a song. The fact that he's older and more confident then he was in ''Wishsong'' also plays a role; even without morphing into Garet Jax, he's a lot more capable, and far less dependent on others, than he was back then, a trend that continues into ''Dark Wraith''.
* VoluntaryShapeshifting: Even if some of the side effects terrify him.
!!Rone Leah
Menion's great-grandson, he's an old friend of the family and has a fairly serious crush on Brin. Distrusting Allanon, he accompanies the Druid and the Valegirl so that he can protect her. Prone to challenging Allanon's authority, Rone eventually provokes the Druid to the point where he magically empowers Rone's sword by dipping it in the waters of the Hadeshorn, allowing Rone to fight alongside him as an equal.
----
* BodyguardCrush: Becomes Brin's defender solely to be close to her.
* CatchPhrase: [[UnusualEuphemism For cat's sake]]!
* CoolSword: The first person to wield the magically empowered Sword Of Leah.
** AmuletOfDependency: The Sword's magic is incredibly addictive, as Rone and his descendents, Morgan and Quentin learn to their dismay. Being without it tends to cause the user to act as though they are going through drug withdrawal.
** AncestralWeapon: The Sword of Leah was the sword of his House long before it was a magical talisman.
** {{Antimagic}}: The Sword of Leah cuts and parries magic, and destroys most magically created beings with a touch.
** BlackSwordsAreBetter: After being dipped in the Hadeshorn, the Sword of Leah takes on a black colouration, with pools of murky green swimming through it.
* EmpoweredBadassNormal: Begins as a capable warrior who is well-equipped to handle ordinary situations. Allanon's alterations to the Sword of Leah send him into this territory.
* FieryRedHead
* GRatedDrug: Becomes addicted to the magic of The Sword Of Leah. This is less than healthy to say the least.
* HappilyMarried: To Brin by the time of ''Indomitable''.
* TheLancer: Plays this role to Brin in the company from Darklin Reach, acting as her NumberTwo.
* RedHeadedHero
* TookALevelInBadass: Rone was already a skilled fighter, but was hampered by his lack of magic. The new Sword of Leah allows Rone to fight alongside Allanon as an equal, destroying Mord Wraiths and their creations in droves.
* TookALevelInJerkass: Getting the Sword (and its subsequent loss) make him less than pleasant to be around. He gets better though.
* WarriorPrince
!!Slanter
A Gnome from the band that captured Jair, he later becomes involved in the boy's quest to [[spoiler:save Brin.]] Suspicious, and a loner by nature he has no desire to be along on this quest, but somehow gets caught up in it anyway. Sometimes called "The Gnome who was not quite a Gnome" due to his dislike for his own people and their superstitions. He reappears in ''Dark Wraith of Shannara'', when Jair contracts him to be his guide through the Eastland.
----
* AntiHero: Evolves into a Type II. He's much like Garet Jax actually, in his cynicism and reluctance to get involved with Jair's quest, but comes through in the end.
* BadassBeard: ''Dark Wraith'' gives him one.
* BaldOfAwesome: Pictured this way in ''Dark Wraith''.
* DefectorFromDecadence: Slanter hates the Mord Wraiths, and finds his fellow Gnomes primitive, savage, and more than a [[StupidEvil little stupid]]. It ultimately leads to his defection to Jair and the Dwarves.
* HeelFaceTurn: Within the first few chapters.
* HiredGuns: Slanter works as a mercenary Tracker, hiring out his services to anyone who pays.
* KnifeNut: Slanter's reliant on his long knife in most combats, in no [[IncrediblyLamePun small part]] due to his size. Unlike with other Brooks' characters, who carry a knife as just a part of their arsenal, it seems to be his main weapon.
* TheLancer: To Jair in ''Wishsong'' and ''Dark Wraith'' alike.
* LonersAreFreaks: The opinion of many.
* PintsizedPowerhouse: Gnomes are hardly ''tiny'', but still very short compared to other races, and Slanter is no exception. He'll still slice you to ribbons if you screw with him or Jair.
* TheSmartGuy: Takes up this role in the FiveManBand from Cullhaven. Garet Jax is in charge, and Elb Foraker's his NumberTwo, but Slanter is the man with the plan.
* VitriolicBestBuds: With Jair Ohmsford. Slanter will always insist that Jair is more trouble than he's worth, and will complain the entire time they are together, yet he always comes through for Jair in the end.
!!Garet Jax
The Weapons' Master, Jax is a mysterious mercenary who saves Jair from a band of Gnomes. He accompanies the Valeman as his protector from that point on. Possibly the biggest BadAss in the entire franchise. Has gone onto star in ''The Weapons' Master's Choice'', a short story set early in his career.
----
* AllThereInTheManual: The suggestion that he might actually be Stee Jans, from ''Elfstones'' is made in ''World of Shannara'', though the idea seems to have been abandoned in ''The Weapon Master's Choice''.
* AntiHero: Type II. Cynical and standoffish, but still a hero.
* BadAss: Along with Allanon, Garet Jax is perhaps the single most badass character in the original series, and one of the biggest ones in the franchise as a whole.
** BadassNormal: Franchise/{{Batman}} with a sword. He takes on Mord Wraiths, The Kraken, and a Jachyra using only his own arsenal.
* BecauseDestinySaysSo: Or at least the King of the Silver River, who convinces him that he has to serve as Jair's protector.
* BloodKnight: He's looking for the one foe who can defeat him.
* DeathSeeker: Garet Jax follows Jair because he's looking for the chance to face his ultimate opponent, and die. A prophecy tells him that if he goes along with Jair he will find the opportunity to do this. Although it's not so much death itself he's looking for, he really just wants to face something that even has a chance of killing him so he can actually have a challenging fight for once.
* DidNotGetTheGirl: In ''The Weapon Master's Choice'', Jax develops an attraction to his employer, Lyriana. Unbeknownst to him, she is a [[spoiler:leper]], which means there can be no relationship. After finding this out, Jax moves on.
* {{Expy}}: It's not immediately obvious, given that they appear in the same novel, but Garet's role and relationship with Jair in ''Wishsong'' closely parallel Allanon's role, and relationship with Brin. Both are enigmatic men of indeterminate age, dressed all in black, with [[GoodIsNotNice standoffish personalities]] who do not suffer fools gladly. Both keep to themselves, are masters of their respective disciplines, mentor an inexperienced young Ohmsford, have their own agenda, and [[spoiler:give their lives in furtherance of the quest]]. They even [[spoiler:[[PlotParallel go out fighting the same monster]]]].
* FamedInStory: Infamous throughout the Southland and Eastland.
* GoodIsNotNice: Jax is bitter, sarcastic, and unfriendly even under the best of circumstances.
* GrayEyes: Garet's cold gray eyes are frequently remarked upon.
* HeroSecretService: To Jair.
* HiredGuns: A mercenary, Jax largely fights for the Southland city-states, and later the Dwarves.
* LightningBruiser: Of the hard-hitting FragileSpeedster variety.
* TheMentor: There are aspects of this in his relationship with Jair, as he teaches the boy how to survive. His lessons leave a strong impact on Jair, who later uses his powers to impersonate, and even try to become, Garet Jax.
* MultiMeleeMaster: Garet carries and is proficent with a wide range of close range weapons, including multiple knives, a short sword, a slender dueling sword, and a black quarterstaff. When the Kraken attacks Capaal he even manages to rummage up a harpoon.
* MysteriousPast: We know almost nothing about Garet's past. Even ''The Weapons' Master's Choice'' doesn't clear everything up.
* OneManArmy: Jax is worth a platoon or more of regular soldiers. He defeats an entire patrol of Gnomes in his first appearance, brings down the Kraken that was singlehandedly wrecking Capaal, and faces down a Jachyra. In ''The Weapon Master's Choice'', Jax takes things even further, slaughtering a small army of mercenaries, and their vampire overlord, with only minimal assistance from a healer.
* OnlyInItForTheMoney: Or so he claims in ''The Weapons' Master's Choice''.
* VampireHunter: Takes a turn as one of these when he's hired to kill Kronswiff, a [[OurVampiresAreDifferent dracul]] warlock.
* WalkingArmoury: Garet Jax is an arsenal.
* WeaponOfChoice: All of them. Jax can work as an archer, a BareFistedMonk, a SimpleStaff wielder, a KnifeNut, and a swordsman. He can use a BladeOnAStick, or simply [[CarryABigStick carry a big one]]. Name the weapon, he can do it. And yet, because he isn't TheHero, he comes off as a first rate BadAss, instead of a MartyStu. He does seem to favour a light, slim-bladed, single-handed sword for one-on-one combats.
!!Helt
A huge, oddly gentle Borderman and former Tracker, who accompanies Jair, Slanter, and Garret Jax on their journey to the Maelmord. Quiet, self-effacing, and nearly unstoppable in a charge, Helt's strength and night vision make him an invaluable addition to the company.
----
* {{Badass}}: Plows through Gnomes like they aren't even there. Only Garet Jax inflicts more damage.
** BadassBaritone
** BadassBeard
* TheBigGuy: Provides the muscle for the company from Cullhaven, acting as the raw power to Garret Jax's finesse.
* [[spoiler:BigGuyFatalitySyndrome]]
* BladeOnAStick: Favours an enormous pike.
* [[spoiler:TheCorruption[=/=]BodyHorror]]: The reason for his [[spoiler:HeroicSacrifice]], after he is [[spoiler:poisoned by the Skull Bearer-like creature in the cellars of Graymark]].
* DressingAsTheEnemy: Slanter stuffs him into a black robe and makes him pretend to be a Mord Wraith so that the two of them can sneak through enemy lines.
* [[spoiler:DrivenToSuicide]]
* [[spoiler:DyingMomentOfAwesome: Sacrifices himself to let Jair and the others escape. For just a moment, he manages to hold off an entire army of Gnomes.]]
* {{Expy}}: If you were to note some strong similarities between Helt and ''Sword'''s Keltset, you'd be within your rights as the reader.
* GentleGiant: Quiet and friendly (if rather withdrawn) when not in combat.
* TheGiant: Helt's size is frequently referenced, and is a large part of what makes him so fearsome in battle.
* [[spoiler:HeroicSacrifice: Poisoned by a magically created monster, Helt sacrifices himself to let Jair escape, destroying the drawbridge stopping the pursuing Gnomes dead in their tracks]].
* InnateNightVision: So long as there is even a glimmer of light, Helt can see nearly perfectly in the dark.
* [[spoiler:KilledOffForReal]]
* MightyGlacier: Toyed with. Helt's big, and slow moving, but once he gets up to speed, doesn't stop for anything.
* MysteriousPast: Like Garet Jax, little of Helt's past is revealed.
* TheQuietOne
* [[spoiler:WeHardlyKnewYe: Referenced in-universe and played for tragedy. Jair reflects on the fact that while the two of them hardly knew one another, the giant still sacrificed himself for Jair anyway.]]
* YouShallNotPass: Performs this at the gatehouse, holding back the Gnome Hunters [[spoiler:and [[HeroicSacrifice giving his life in the process]]]].
!!Elb Foraker
A Dwarven fighter and a long-time associate of Garet Jax, Elb joins Jax, Jair, and Slanter on their journey to Heaven's Well, acting as the unofficial second-in-command of the group.
----
* AnAxeToGrind
* BadassBeard
** BadassMoustache
* BaldOfAwesome
* BashBrothers: Depending on the fight, he can be this with Helt, Edain, or even Slanter, but in terms of longest history together, this describes him and Garet Jax to a tee.
* [[spoiler:HeroicSacrifice: He and Edain Elessedil hold the stairs to Heaven's Well, while Garet Jax, Slanter, and Jair Ohmsford go onward]].
* [[spoiler:KilledOffForReal]]
* TheLancer: To Garet Jax
* OlderAndWiser
* SubvertedSuspicionAesop: From the moment Jair, Garet, and Slanter arrive in Culhaven, Elb is suspicious of the Gnome's motives and loyalty--understandably, considering the war going on between their peoples, and rightfully so, since Slanter had only recently (and [[TeethClenchedTeamwork mostly against his will]]) performed a HeelFaceTurn. But despite this constant distrust, Slanter's caustic remarks and vitriolic relationship with the Dwarf, and how close he comes (twice!) to abandoning Jair or the company, in the end Slanter's heart is true and he stands by Jair all the way to Heaven's Well; in fact he might not have made it at all if not for the Gnome.
* [[spoiler:YouShallNotPass]]
!!Edain Elessedil
The son of Ander Elessedil, Edain came to the Eastland with a company of Elven Hunters, intending to repay the Dwarfs for their aid in the War of the Forbidding. Upon uncovering Jair's quest, Edain insists on accompanying him, citing the debt that he and his father owe to Wil Ohmsford. He and Jair become fast friends.
----
* BowAndSwordInAccord
* TheChick: As the youngest and least experienced member of the company from Culhaven, Edain's main role seems to be being Jair's friend.
* [[spoiler:HeroicSacrifice: He and Elb Foraker stay behind and hold the stairs to Heaven's Well against the oncoming Gnomes.]]
* HonorBeforeReason: As soon as he learns who Jair is, he becomes determined to join his company as a means of repaying his father's debt to Jair's father Wil. Considering he is the heir to the Elven throne (and was only supposed to be in Culhaven as a diplomat and advisor to the Dwarfs to repay Ander's debt to ''them''), his bodyguards understandably feel he has taken leave of his senses. [[spoiler:And [[HeroicSacrifice thanks to his ultimate fate]], they were right to worry.]]
* [[spoiler:KilledOffForReal]]
* NaiveNewcomer: Despite being a good warrior, and presumably chosen for his role by Ander by virtue of his knowledge of diplomacy and politics rather than simply because he was the heir, Edain seems to know little of the world at large, at times coming across as no more wise and informed than Jair. This is not necessarily a bad thing, as it gives the Valeman a kindred spirit in the company.
* RoyalsWhoActuallyDoSomething
* WarriorPrince: Runs in the family.
* [[spoiler:YouShallNotPass: He and Elb Foraker, both injured, do this to the pursuing Gnomes.]]
!!Cogline
A crazy old man who aids Brin in her search for the Maelmord and the Ildatch. Later revealed to be a lapsed Druid, and the last one left besides Allanon. Appears in ''Wishsong'', the ''Heritage'' foursome, and ''First King''.
----
* AnimalCompanion: Is always accompanied by a moor cat.
* BadassGrandpa
* BadassInDistress: In ''Dark Wraith'', when the Mwellrets and the Croton Witch capture him and try to force him to give them access to Paranor.
* [[spoiler:DyingMomentOfAwesome: His HeroicSacrifice, where he blows up Death and himself to Kingdom Come.]]
* [[spoiler:HeroicSacrifice: Dies blowing himself and [[TheFourHorsemenOfTheApocalypse Death]] up with gunpowder in order to save Walker]].
* TheMagicVersusTechnologyWar: Will cheerfully use gunpowder and other Old World sciences against the Mord Wraiths and their ilk. He's also a competent Druid, although he hides it well.
* TheMentor: To Walker Boh.
* PantheraAwesome: He's always accompanied by a moor cat.
* ParentalSubstitute: To Kimber Boh.
* ReallySevenHundredYearsOld: Try over a thousand. He was already old when ''Bremen'' was alive, and is one of the few characters who can remember what Brona was like before he was the Warlock Lord.
* RecurringCharacter: Appears in ''Wishsong'', ''First King'', and all of the ''Heritage'' books, despite not being a main character.
* ScrewPolitenessImASenior: In ''Wishsong''. His manners and sanity have improved three hundred years later.
* ThresholdGuardian[=/=]MentorArchetype: Acts as the first one for Brin, the second for Walker, although there is some overlap.
!!Kimber Boh
Cogline's adopted granddaughter, Kimber quickly befriends Brin Ohmsford and insists that she, Cogline, and Whisper aid Brin on her journey to the Maelmord. In the novella ''Indomitable'' and the graphic novel ''Dark Wraith of Shannara'', she reappears, and forms first a friendship, and then a romantic relationship, with Brin's brother Jair.
----
* BareYourMidriff: Rendered this way in ''Dark Wraith''.
* TheChick: Plays this role in the company from Darklin Reach. Her role seems to be being Brin's friend.
* DistressedDamsel: In ''Dark Wraith''. Though by the time Jair arrives to save her, she's already managed to free herself.
* HookedUpAfterwards: Her relationship with Jair was this until ''Indomitable'' and ''Dark Wraith'', which explores their developing friendship and eventual romance.
* KidWithTheRemoteControl: To Whisper.
* PluckyGirl: Kimber can take care of herself, but is clearly out of her depth when confronting the Mord Wraiths.
!!Whisper
An enormous moor cat who accompanies Cogline wherever he goes, Whisper forms an attachment to Brin Ohmsford, and follows her into the Maelmord.
----
* AnimalCompanion: To Cogline, Kimber Boh, and Brin.
* BadassNormal: If you think about it. There's nothing magical about Whisper. He's just a big cat with the same arsenal as a real life cougar or tiger. Yet despite this, he fights creatures like the werebeasts, Mord Wraiths and Mutens on a pretty even footing.
* TheBigGuy: Plays this role in Brin's group, serving as the force to Cogline's science.
* MeaningfulName: Whisper's mute, and totally silent.
* PantheraAwesome: So awesome he can fight dark magic creatures with just claws and teeth.
* UndyingLoyalty: To Cogline, Kimber, and Brin. Brin actually has to run away to stop Whisper from following her further into the Maelmord.
* TheVoiceless
!!The Jachyra(s)
A monster from the Faerie world that even the Demons thought too dangerous to loose. Two of them are released by the Mord Wraiths, and sent to face Allanon and Garret Jax.
----
* AxeCrazy
* {{Badass}}: Let's give these freaks their due: there's a reason the Mord Wraith's chose the Jachyras to do what they could not and face down both the greatest Druid who ever lived, and the Garret Jax, the Weapons Master.
* CombatSadomasochist: Hardwired into them by the dark magic. They actually feed on pain, both their own, and that of others. They'll tear themselves apart in order to kill their victim.
* EvilLaugh: A hyena-like cackle that just about freezes the blood.
* LawOfChromaticSuperiority: The Mord Wraiths and their servants are black in colouration. The Jachyras are bright red and much, much more dangerous.
* LightningBruiser
* MoreTeethThanTheOsmondFamily
* [[spoiler:MutualKill: The two Jachyras achieve this with Allanon and Garret Jax respectively]].
* OurDemonsAreDifferent: An ancient fairy creature that both the real Demons and the good Fae decided needed locking up.
* PoisonousPerson: Their claws and fangs deliver a poison that attacks both the physical body and the spirit.
* PsychoForHire: Along similar lines to The Reaper.
* SealedEvilInACan: Even the Demons thought they needed locking up, and the Mord Wraiths are only willing to summon two of them.
* SlasherSmile: A natural one.
!!The Mord Wraiths (Black Walkers)
Mortal followers of Brona, subverted by the magic of The Ildatch. They now resemble tall, skeletal figures, wrapped in black robes, and prone to worshipping the book.
----
* BlackCloak
* DarkIsEvil
* EliteMooks: At least if you're Allanon, Rone Leah, or Brin. For anyone without magic, they tend more towards the NighInvulnerable end of the scale.
* EvilSorceror: Once minor magic users and human followers of the Warlock Lord, they've been gifted with both magic and [[WithGreatPowerComesGreatInsanity madness]] by the Ildatch.
* TheFaceless
* ImplacableMan: To anyone without magical abilities. There's a scene where three of them take a few dozen arrows and get right back up, as though nothing had happened.
* InTheHood
* NormalFishInATinyPond: In terms of their overall power level. Compared to most other magic-using characters, they're not that tough- they have to rely on ambushes or ganging up to really stand a chance against the likes of Allanon. Against normal people, though, they're seriously lethal.
* ObviouslyEvil: But since they rule through fear, this can work for them.
* PlayingWithFire: Red, soot streaked flames, usually from their hands are their preferred form of attack.
* TakeOverTheWorld: Seems to be their objective, although it's never made quite clear.
* TheVoiceless: The only sound we hear from them is the occasional scream.
* WithGreatPowerComesGreatInsanity
!!The Ildatch
--> ''Dark child...
The book of eldritch magic responsible for subverting Brona, the Mord Wraiths, and countless others. Very old, The Ildatch dates back to the war between the Faeries and the Demons and has been corrupting people ever since. Its destruction serves as the main plot of the book. [[spoiler:Unbeknownst to all, including Allanon, the book is alive, sentient, and TheBigBad of the entire trilogy]]. A very nasty, ArtifactOfDoom indeed.
----
* ArtifactOfDoom
* [[spoiler:BigBad: Of the entire original trilogy no less. Making use of the Warlock Lord and Mord Wraiths, and with an origin linked to the Demons, it is one of the three major threads that ties the otherwise standalone novels of the first trilogy together, the others being Allanon and the Ohmsford bloodline]].
** [[spoiler: NonActionBigBad: For all its power, it ''is'' a book, and not a person, and is pretty helpless without a wielder. Brin's main struggle is snapping herself free of its thrall, which is ''extremely'' hard. Once that is done, the Ildatch itself is destroyed almost effortlessly]].
* TheCorrupter:Using it tends to drive the user more than a little insane, leaving them DrunkOnTheDarkSide.
* [[spoiler:TheManBehindTheMan: To Brona and the Mord Wraiths. This generally seems to have been its MO across its entire existence- find someone with magical aptitude, reveal its secrets to them, and slowly turn them into little more than a vessel for using its power]].
* [[spoiler:ManipulativeBastard: Nearly talks Brin into becoming the next Warlock Lord.]]
* [[spoiler:MoreThanMindControl]]
* [[spoiler:TheReveal: It's alive, and it wants you to use it]].
* TomeOfEldritchLore
* [[spoiler: VillainTakesAnInterest: In Brin, leading to WeCanRuleTogether below]].
* WalkingSpoiler: [[spoiler: Well, it doesn't ''walk'', but the fact that it's a character at all is a pretty big reveal that casts ''the whole trilogy'' in a new light]].
* [[spoiler:WeCanRuleTogether: Does this to Brin]]
[[/folder]]
[[folder:The Heritage of Shannara]]
!!Par Ohmsford
A descendant of Jair Ohmsford, and TheHero of the trilogy, he has inherited Jair's MasterOfIllusion powers. Initially a travelling storyteller, he and his brother Coll are summonded, along with Walker Boh and Wren to the Hadeshorn, and given a charge by Allanon. Par's is to retrieve The Sword of Shannara. Desperate to be a hero, he is the first Ohmsford to embrace his charge, involving himself not only in the quest for The Sword, but in the free-born effort to throw off the Federation.
----
* BlessedWithSuck: The Wishsong is an incredibly powerful, evolving weapon. It's also addictive, unpredictable, and prone to overriding Par's mind, and meddling with his psyche. Not to mention that it attracts Shadowen in the dozens.
* BreakTheCutie/ CorruptTheCutie: Rimmer Dall tries this on him, through a long series of MindScrew manipulations that nearly cause Par to snap.
* TheChosenOne: One of [[strike: three]] four.
* DistressedDude: Spends most of ''Talismans'' as Rimmer Dall's prisoner.
* DoomMagnet: Justified. Shadowen are drawn to magic, and few people have magic to match Par's.
* DrunkOnTheDarkSide: [[spoiler:His embracing the Wishsong's power in ''Talismans'' leads to this.]]
* {{Expy}}: Of Shea. For maybe half the first book. Then...crap happens.
* GlassCannon[=/=]SquishyWizard: Paar for the course with Wishsong users. Par is a not-particularly tough kid, with a tremendous amount of power at his disposal.
* GrandTheftMe: From the [[EvilOldFolks woodswoman]] to [[EnfanteTerrible the child on Toffer Ridge]] to [[BigBad Rimmer Dall]], one Shadowen after another tries this on him.
* TheHero: He's definitely the main character, though not by much, and the plot revolves around keeping him out of Rimmer Dall's hands.
* HeroicWannabe: Downplayed. Par is easily the most enthusiastic of the three Ohmsford heirs, but the least capable. Unlike Wren, who is a capable ActionGirl, and Walker who has been living by himself in the Eastland for years, Par has never been more than a storyteller. His MasterOfIllusion powers come in useful, but he needs a lot more help than he thinks he does, and frequently rushes into danger without thinking, something that Coll ends up pointing out to him near the end of ''Scions''.
* InTheBlood: Inherited his use of the Wishsong from Jair, though it eventually takes on a shape more akin to that used by Brin.
* JumpedAtTheCall: He absolutely belives that they need to fullfill Allanon's charges, and leaps at the opportunity.
* MasterOfIllusion: Like his ancestor, Jair, Par can use the Wishsong to create lifelike illusions. Initially this is all he can do with it.
* PersonOfMassDestruction: When out of control the Wishsong transforms him into this.
* PlayingWithFire: The Wishsong's preferred method of attack.
* TheProtagonist: In ''Scions''. After that the viewpoint shifts to Walker, then Wren, and ends in an even split in ''Talismans''.
* RealityWarper: His Wishsong eventually spins completely out of control, reaching levels of reality warping that even Brin never did.
* SiblingYinYang: With Coll.
* SuperPoweredEvilSide: The Wishsong comes very, very close to this. All it's lacking is a personality.
* TomatoInTheMirror: The Shadowen attempt to convince him that he is one of them. [[spoiler:In a way, it's even true.]]
* UnstoppableRage: Under the Wishsong's influence.
* WithGreatPowerComesGreatInsanity: The Wishsong can, and does, override Par's mind, driving him into paranoia, and gleeful, UnstoppableRage. Rimmer Dall's attempts at breaking him don't help of course.
!!Coll Ohmsford
Par's brother, and the only Ohmsford with no magic. He accompanies Par, having been given no charge himself. [[spoiler:Or so we are led to believe. In reality, he's the one destined to wield the Sword of Shannara after Par finds it.]]
----
* BrainwashedAndCrazy: Courtesy of the Mirrorshroud.
* [[spoiler:TheChosenOne: Chosen to bring Par back to normal. Hidden from himself and all others by Allanon.]]
* CoolSword: As it turns out Coll and not Par is the one who [[spoiler:has to use The Sword Of Shannara first.]]
** AncestralWeapon: [[spoiler:The Sword]] has been part of the family's legacy for centuries at this point.
* DeathFakedForYou: By Rimmer Dall, who fakes Coll's death to screw with Par, then lets Par discover him alive in order to mess with him even more.
* DistressedDude: Coll has no combat skills, and consequently gets into trouble a lot, regularly having to be rescued.
* {{Expy}}: Of Flick, initially.
* ThePowerOfLove: Uses it to save Par from Rimmer Dall.
* SiblingYinYang: With Par.
* TheTeamNormal: The only Shannara descendent with no magic whatsoever and no charge from Allanon. [[spoiler:Subverted in the end by his use of the Sword of Shannara]].
* UnwittingPawn: Of Rimmer Dall who uses him as part of his campaign to torment Par.
!!Walker Boh
A distant relative of Par and Coll's, who briefly lived with them in Shady Vale, where he was nicknamed "The Dark Uncle" due to his eerie nature and relationship with Par. Descended from Brin Ohmsford, Walker is tall, pale, and withdrawn, with limited innate magic, including the power to converse with nature and summon a version of the Druid fire. Charged by Allanon with reviving the Druids and Paranor, he is the most reluctant to accept his charge, and initially refuses outright. [[spoiler:He returns in ''Voyage of the Jerle Shannara'', where he undertakes the voyage in order to win support for a new Druid council]]
----
* {{Badass}}: One of the biggest ones in the series. Walker has fought faerie beings, Shadowen, and robotic hunter-killer drones. He's been poisoned, lost an arm, dodged laser fire, and fought Rimmer Dall mano-a-mano. It takes [[spoiler:Antrax, a being from another time to bring him down, and even then, Walker out lives Antrax by half a book, even with a fatal injury]].
** BadassBeard
** HandicappedBadass: Down an arm, but still a BadAss.
* BigGood: Assumes this role near the end of the ''Heritage'' tetralogy, and continues it into the ''Voyage'' trilogy, stepping into the space vacated by Allanon.
* BlackEyesOfEvil: Subverted as part of his DarkIsNotEvil motif.
* TheChosenOne: Selected to fullfill Brin's pledge to Allanon. And he [[ItSucksToBeTheChosenOne hates]] it.
* CoolUncle: To Par and Coll, though he's gruffer about it than most.
* DarkIsNotEvil: A [[LeanAndMean thin]], ghostly looking man, with black hair and eyes and a sinister countenance, Walker is nevertheless one of the heroes.
* DesperatelyLookingForAPurposeInLife: Following the loss of his arm and his magic.
* {{Determinator}}: He made it home after losing his arm, he crawls out of his home after Rimmer Dall's attack despite being near dying, he [[spoiler:survives half a book with a fatal injury in the sequel]]; there's not much you can hit Walker with that he hasn't been hit with.
* EeriePaleSkinnedBrunette: Walker can't actually tan. The sun just seems to be reflected away from him.
* TheEmpath: Can usually read the emotions of others, allowing him to avoid conflict and serve as a mediator when he cares to.
* EvilUncle: Invoked and subverted. The people of Shady Vale see him as one, but he's actually trying to be a mentor to Par.
* {{Expy}}: In-universe. After absorbing the memories of all the other Druids, Walker ends up channeling Allanon in particular for all he's worth.
* FriendlessBackground: There were no other children at Hearthstone or Darklin Reach where Walker grew up, and by the time he moved to Shady Vale, his chance to learn how to make friends was long gone.
* FullContactMagic: Walker Boh will mess you up with or without his magic.
* [[spoiler:GhostlyAdvisor: To Grianne during ''High Druid'']].
* [[spoiler:GoOutWithASmile: In ''Literature/TheVoyageOfTheJerleShannara'']].
* GuileHero: Though backed by physical and magical power when necessary.
* [[spoiler:HeroicSacrifice: In ''Literature/TheVoyageOfTheJerleShannara''. He electrocutes himself overloading [[DiscOneFinalBoss Antrax]]]]
* HonoraryUncle: Walker is actually Par and Coll's distant cousin. His relationship with Par, however, is much more uncle/nephew, and Par, Coll, and Wren usually refer to him as their Uncle Walker.
* IAmLegion: Possibly. He has bits and pieces of all the other Druids inside him after his use of the Black Elfstone on Paranor. It's never made clear how much of Walker is left.
* IneffectualLoner: In ''Scions'', when he's doing his best to convince himself that he doesn't want to be a part of society.
* {{Irony}}: The man who hates the Druids more than anybody else ends up becoming the first of their new order.
* TheLeader: Eventually assumes this position in any group he is a part of. Combination Type I and IV.
* LifeOrLimbDecision: Why he lost his right arm.
* LonersAreFreaks: How many viewed him.
* MadeOfIron: The amount of physical punishment Walker shrugs off is frankly astonishing.
* MasterOfIllusion: He got the idea from Jair, and uses it to defeat the Horsemen.
* TheMentor: To Par in the backstory; to Bek in ''Literature/TheVoyageOfTheJerleShannara''.
* MoralityPet: Par is one for him in ''Scions''; only Par being in trouble can persuade Walker to leave Hearthstone and meet with the shade of Allanon.
* ParentalAbandonment: His mother died when he was a child, his father when he was in his late teens, leaving Walker to spend seven miserable years in Shady Vale.
* PlayingWithFire: He can of course summon Druid fire.
* TheProtagonist: In ''Druid''. Morgan Leah and Pe Ell are also viewpoint characters, but this is Walker's quest and storyline that they are a part of. He shares the role of protagonist in ''Talismans'' with Wren and Par, acting as BigGood and mentor figure to the rest of the cast.
* ReallySevenHundredYearsOld: By the sequel he's pushing one hundred and fifty.
* RedBaron: Dark Uncle
* RefusalOfTheCall: Initially. Eventually he decides he has to do something about the Federation and takes up Allanon's charge.
* ReluctantHero: Walker does not want to help the Druids, and deeply resents his own magic. Yet in the end he can't turn away from what the Federation and the Shadowen are doing.
* TheSmartGuy: In most groups Walker will be the idea man.
* SpeaksFluentAnimal: Can talk to moor cats and other animals.
* SquishyWizard: Look at this trope list. To say that Walker averts this would be putting it lightly.
* TookALevelInBadass: After becoming the first of the new Druids.
!!Wren Ohmsford/[[spoiler:Elessedil]]
Par and Coll's cousin, and the [[spoiler:bearer of the Elfstones]], who lived with them in Shady Vale for a while when she was younger. Raised by the Rovers in the Westland, Wren is charged by Allanon with bringing the Elves back to the Westland. [[spoiler:Unbeknownst to her, she is secretly their queen, being the offspring of an Ohmsford and an Elessedil.]]
----
* ActionGirl: A very competent fighter, and a match for any of the men in series (and a fair sight more capable than Par or Coll).
* ActionSurvivor: Of the trek through Morrowindl.
* [[spoiler:BadassPrincess: Although she's totally unaware of it]].
* BlessedWithSuck: How she views the [[spoiler:use of the Elfstones.]]
* BoomStick: Averted. Wren could use the power of the Loden Staff to annihilate most of the Shadowen of Morrowindl. Unfortunately, doing so would rob it of the magic needed to restore Arborlon once they reach the Westland so she is forced to refrain.
* BoyishShortHair: Always pictured with short hair; it's helpful in combat.
* TheChainsOfCommanding: Feels them profoundly after she finds herself taking Ellenroh's place in the command roster.
* ChangelingFantasy: She's really [[spoiler:Wren Elessedil, granddaughter of Ellenroh Elessedil, Queen of the Elves]]. This leads to a serious identity crisis.
* TheChosenOne: Twice over. Allanon charges her to return the Elves to the Four Lands; at her birth [[spoiler:Eowen Cerise prophesied that she would be the one to save the Elves]].
* DoomMagnet: Not to quite the degree of Par, but the [[spoiler:magic of the Elfstones]] attracts Shadowen like nothing else. Luckily it also makes for an effective protection.
* FireForgedFriends: How she describes her friendship with [[PraetorianGuard Triss]] in ''Talismans''.
* GRatedDrug: Fears becoming addicted the Elfstones, a fact that frequently handicaps her in ''Elf Queen''.
* HeroicBSOD: In ''Elf Queen'' after one revelation too many causes her to shut down. She gets over it.
* HeroicSelfDeprecation: Has a very low opinion of herself during the latter part of ''Elf Queen''.
* [[spoiler:TheHighQueen]]: Eventually.
* HorribleJudgeOfCharacter: To some extent with [[spoiler:Gavilan]] but especially [[spoiler:Tib Arne]]. The latter was lampshaded and justified somewhat in-story by her being emotionally vulnerable thanks to losing [[spoiler:Garth]], but still...
* IJustWantToBeNormal: Has a lot of this in ''Elf Queen'', as one revelation after another shocks her to the core.
* KnifeNut: Like many of Brooks' characters, she seems to prefer long knives and short swords to larger weapons.
* MagneticHero: Wren attracts UndyingLoyalty like magnets attract paper clips.
* TheProtagonist: In ''Elf Queen'' where she is the only viewpoint character for the main storyline. She shares the role with Walker and Par in ''Talismans'', acting the SupportingLeader to Walker's BigGood and Par's [[TheHero Hero]].
* SupportingLeader: Takes on this role in ''Talismans'', joining forces with Padishar Creel's free-born and Axhind's Rock Trolls to confront the Federation military in the Westland while her cousins and uncle break into Southwatch to take down Rimmer Dall.
* [[spoiler:TomboyPrincess: Given that she was a Rover long before she knew she was a Princess this is to be expected]].
* TookALevelInBadass: Over the course of ''Elf Queen'' she shifts from competent ActionGirl to one of the most effective destroyers of Shadowen in the series.
* TheWomanWearingTheQueenlyMask:[[spoiler:Has shades of this in ''Talismans'']].
* YouAreInCommandNow: When Ellenroh Elessedil is killed during the trip through Morrowindle, Wren ends up in charge of the rapidly DwindlingParty [[spoiler:and then the entire Elven nation.]]
!!Morgan Leah
Par and Coll's oldest friend, Morgan has spent most of his life up until now, harrassing the Federation officials who occupy his homeland. He tries to protect Par and Coll, using contacts in the Dwarf Resistance and the Freeborn, as well as the battered Sword of Leah to aid them. Then, bad things start happening, and he goes on to become a character in his own right, and a major player in the series, all without really wanting to.
----
* BadAss: Goes through Shadowen as though they aren't even there, and is probably the most competent fighter in the main cast.
* BreakTheCutie: The torture Morgan goes through comes very close to this. He goes from comic relief to bitter adult very quickly.
* CoolSword: The Sword of Leah of course.
** AmuletOfDependency: Morgan, like Rone before him, swiftly becomes addicted to the Sword's magic, and nearly BSOD's upon losing it.
** AncestralWeapon: Still the Sword of his House.
** {{Antimagic}}: Making it deadly to Shadowen
** BlackSwordsAreBetter
** WreckedWeapon-->ReforgedBlade: The Sword of Leah is shattered during Morgan's escape from The Jut at the end of ''Scions''. His arc in ''Druid'' is based around trying to have it fixed, which he succeeds in doing by the end.
* DesperatelyLookingForAPurposeInLife: Initially.
* {{Expy}}: Starts out as one of Menion...then goes through Hell and comes out very, very diffrent.
* HeartbrokenBadass: Followings [[spoiler:the death of Quickening.]]
* HeroicBSOD: After losing the Sword Of Leah in ''Scions'', Morgan finds himself paralysed by fear and indecision. This will return to haunt him on several occasions.
* HotBlooded: Walker, Horner Dees, and Pe Ell all see him as such. It isn't really true as of partway through ''Druid''.
* ILetGwenStacyDie: [[spoiler:His take on being unable to save Quickening]].
* TheKirk: When partnered with Damson and Matty in ''Talismans''.
* MyGreatestFailure: Either letting Freeborn headquarters fall, or [[spoiler:failing to prevent Quickening's death]]. Both haunt him intensely.
* ReluctantWarrior: Morgan will kill Shadowen without batting an eye, but has serious issues with killing people. It makes for some tension with [[BrokenBird Matty Roh]].
* RoyalsWhoActuallyDoSomething: Transitions from a loafer who focuses on making life difficult for the Federation occupiers, to a resistance leader, strategist, and fighter.
* SecondLove: [[spoiler:With Matty.]]
* TheSmartGuy: Morgan is the go-to guy when the Free-born need a planner. He gets them in and out of Federation cities and prisons with seeming ease, figured out [[spoiler:Teel was TheMole]], and is second only to Padishar and Walker when it comes to going unnoticed.
* TookALevelInBadass: From practical joker to Shadowen-slayer par excellence.
* WarriorPrince: His family may not run Leah anymore, but he's close enough for farm use.
!!Padishar Creel
The leader of the free-born resistance, and a descendent of Panamon Creel, Padishar saves Par and Coll from Rimmer Dall early on. He is delighted to hear about the Ohmsfords' missions, and does everything in his power to aid both them and Morgan, in the hopes that by destroying the Shadowen, they will cripple the Federation. Probably the most implacable, if [[BunnyEarsLawyer odd]] enemy that The Federation has.
----
* AuthorityEqualsAsskicking: Although given the medieval style setting, it makes a certain amount of sense.
* BadassBeard
* BadassNormal
* BunnyEarsLawyer: Padishar is really, really weird. And equally effective.
* ConsummateLiar: A heroic example, Padishar puts his manipulative abilities to work for the Free-born, convincing people from all walks of life to follow him out of the belief that his [[MultipleChoicePast past]] mirrors their own.
* {{Expy}}: In-universe. He deliberately modelled himself on Panamon Creel.
* LaResistance: He's not the founder of the free-born, but he is the man responsible for uniting them into a competent fighting force.
* TheLeader: Of the free-born, having disposed of all the other contenders and gained control over The Movement. He's a Type IV, leading through his charismatic personality, and ruthless will.
* MultipleChoicePast: Tells many different stories about who he was before joining LaResistance, and why he hates the Federation.
* PapaWolf: Don't touch [[spoiler:Damson]]. Just don't.
* SupportingLeader: As the leader of the free-born, Padishar is responsible for battling the Federation military while the Ohmsfords try to deal with the Shadowen. In ''Scions'' he and his men hold the Federation at The Jut while Par descends into the Pit; in ''Talismans'' he and Wren split the role, taking on the Federation's army in the Westland, while Walker, Coll, Par, Morgan, Damson, and Matty break into Southwatch to free Par and confront Rimmer Dall.
!!Damson Rhee
A member of the Freeborn, street magician, and Par's LoveInterest. [[spoiler:She's also Padishar's daughter.]]
----
* AchillesHeel: Could be said to be this to [[spoiler:Padishar]] because [[spoiler:she's his daughter]], so he will do anything to save her, including staying behind to be captured and executed.
* ActionGirl: Maybe. It is clear she can fight, though, and there's no questioning her bravery in helping Par, particularly in the last book when she's the only BadassNormal in the group to go into Southwatch (aside from Matty Roh), and without any major weapons with her. Walker gave everyone "a bit of magic" to protect them, something she had no way of knowing how effective it would be or what form it would take, yet she went anyway.
* ChekhovsGun: The Skree. Just a bit of harmless street magic she gives to Par to help them reunite when he goes chasing after the BrainwashedAndCrazy Coll...but later it helps her and Matty [[spoiler:find and save Coll from slavers]], ''and'' still leads her and the others to Par at Southwatch for the FinalBattle, thanks to [[NewPowersAsThePlotDemands his magic]] having "imprinted" a reflection of it [[ThePowerOfLove on himself]].
* CoolDownHug: Performs one on Par.
* FlorenceNightingaleEffect: Much of her relationship with Par comes about due to nursing him back to health while hiding out from the Federation in the Tyrsis sewers.
* HeroesWantRedHeads: She and Par are more or less joined at the hip after ''Scions''.
* LaResistance: Is a prominent member, or at least associate, of the free-born.
* TheMcCoy: Takes this role when partnered up with Morgan and Matty.
* WeNeedADistraction: No, not for the [[ShowSomeLeg obvious reason]]--her street magic serves this purpose quite often, but she also forms one in the mundane sense when she [[RefugeInAudacity poses as Padishar's wife]] to get them into the People's Park, and again during their escape from the Pit the second time.
!!Garth
Wren's protector and guide, Garth has raised her since her early childhood. A Rover, he does his best to teach Wren how to survive in a very cruel world.
----
* BadassBeard
* BadassNormal: Garth has no magic, which doesn't slow him down much.
* BigBrotherMentor: To Wren.
* TheBigGuy
* HandicappedBadass: He's deaf.
* [[spoiler:HeroicSacrifice]]: [[spoiler:Forces Wren to MercyKill him after being poisoned by the Wisteron]].
* MightyGlacier: Compared to other people, he's probably a LightningBruiser, but when forced to face the Wisteron and other various Shadowen monsters, he's much closer to this.
* MusclesAreMeaningless: Averted. Garth's size and physical power are his primary assets in a fight.
* SecretKeeper: [[spoiler:For Wren's mother.]]
!!Rumor
Cogline's current moor cat, Rumor has a close relationship with Walker Boh, eventually transferring loyalties to him. Huge, silent, and unstoppable, Rumor faces down Shadowen with a ferocity that few humans can equal.
----
* AnimalCompanion: To Cogline and then Walker Boh.
* BadassNormal: Fights Shadowen without any magical aid.
* TheBigGuy: Plays this role in the group that storms Southwatch.
* {{Expy}}: Of Whisper before him.
* MeaningfulName: "It is said that wherever I go, Rumor often precedes me."
* PantheraAwesome: Like Whisper, Rumour can, and will, take on beings spawned from dark magic using just his natuarl weapons.
* ReallySevenHundredYearsOld: Is still around by the time of ''Isle Witch'', putting him somewhere around one hundred fifty years old.
* UndyingLoyalty: To Cogline and Walker
* TheVoiceless
!!Rimmer Dall
Head of the Seekers, the Federation SecretPolice, Rimmer Dall is also the leader of the Shadowen, TheBigBad of the series, and an all around bastard. He pursues and harasses the Ohmsfords at every turn, playing with their minds, in an attempt to break them all. He seems to be particularly obsessed with Par and the Wishsong.
----
* AnimalMotifs: All the Seekers where a silver wolf's head on their necklace of office. In Dall's case the metaphor is more pronounced then with most.
* BeardOfEvil
* BigBad: He's the leader of the Shadowen, the mastermind behind the Federation, and the [[FinalBoss most powerful opponent]] the protagonists face to boot.
* BitchInSheepsClothing: He can fake AffablyEvil with the best of them, but at the core of it he's a monster through and through.
* BodySnatcher[=/=]BodySurf
* TheChessmaster: A fairly competent one, though he's more dependant on [[ManipulativeBastard emotional manipulation]] than careful planning.
* ConsummateLiar: Nothing short of the Sword Of Shannara can pierce Rimmer Dall's carefully crafted falsehoods. And since he's aware that Par can't use the Sword, Rimmer Dall's more than willing to hand it over to him, using the Sword's lack of reaction to his stories in order to further Par's confusion.
** Even better, the reason Par couldn't use the Sword? [[spoiler:[[ManipulativeBastard Just prior to giving him the Sword Dall managed to talk Par into subconsciously believing he couldn't use it]].]]
* DarkIsEvil: Though he spends most of his page-time trying to convince Par that DarkIsNotEvil.
* DystopiaJustifiesTheMeans: He's already transformed TheFederation into a brutal PoliceState. His next objective is reducing the Four Lands to nothing more than a magical buffet for the Shadowen. The land will sicken and die, most species will go extinct, the Races will be left as slaves to his hunger, and he's pretty comfortable with all of that.
* EvilRedhead: Flaming red hair and beard.
* EvilSorceror
* FullContactMagic: His brawl with Walker in ''Talismans'' is both a physical and a magical one.
* FullNameBasis: He's always "Rimmer Dall" to the rest of the cast.
* GrandTheftMe: This is his final plan for Par.
* TheHeartless: Like all the Shadowen.
* HorrorHunger: The Shadowen are driven by the need to feed on magic. Rimmer Dall, as one of the most powerful, has a worse case of it than most.
* ImmortalityImmorality: Will live forever as long as he can keep on finding bodies to jack.
* {{Irony}}: The Seekers are supposed to hunt down practitioners of magic. He, and all the other members of the group, are Shadowen.
* LackOfEmpathy: Dall's desire to feed has overridden his capacity to feel for anyone.
* LargeAndInCharge: Big enough to make chairs creak when he seats himself.
* TheManBehindTheMan: To the entire Federation, though the Council is largely unaware of it.
* ManipulativeBastard: By the time he's done with Par and Coll, they can't tell reality from fiction. More than any other villain in series, Rimmer Dall relies on manipulating his victims' emotions for his plans to work.
* MindScrew: Loves it.
* NotSoDifferent: His forte. Used on Par, Pe Ell, Coll, and everyone else he wants to manipulate.
* PuppeteerParasite: The real Rimmer Dall isn't the man described here. He's the smokey wraith inside of him.
* RedEyesTakeWarning: His eyes turn into "pinpricks of blood" when he's angered or anticipatory.
* RedRightHand: Red Left Hand. It's the one he uses to project his power and is normally kept gloved to conceal the fact that it's both red, and more importantly ''made of fire''.
* ScarilyCompetentTracker: The Seekers are Federation trackers, and being Shadowen, are better than most. Rimmer Dall, as the leader of the Shadowen, is the best of all.
* SecretPolice[=/=]StateSec: It's hard to tell just which the Seekers are sometimes. Either way, he's in charge and proud of it.
* ShadowDictator: The Federation Council is under Dall's control.
* TomatoInTheMirror: Tries to pull this on Par.
* WithGreatPowerComesGreatInsanity: Dall, like most of the Shadowen, has become badly detatched from what other people would consider objective reality due to his need to feed, which he sees as paramount over all else.
!!Teel
A member of the Dwarf Resistance. Girlfriend of Steff, Morgan's contact. Tortured by the Federation, she has no face, and speaks very little. [[spoiler:Eventually outed as Shadowen, she betrays the group, murders Steff, and is slain by Morgan]].
----
* CoolMask
* [[spoiler:DarkActionGirl]]: [[spoiler:She doesn't really show her ActionGirl tendencies until taking on Morgan and Steff after her betrayal, so she definitely counts.]]
* EmotionlessGirl
* [[spoiler:TheMole]]: [[spoiler:A Shadowen spy.]]
* PetTheDog: The moment when Par is on watch at the camp, and she comes to him asking him to show her how the magic works. Possibly subverted in retrospect, as a clever {{Foreshadowing}} of [[spoiler:her being a Shadowen, since this was an example of her being drawn to Par's magic as all the others were]]. But since it isn't clear when exactly [[spoiler:she became a Shadowen--she may not have been TheMole to start with but got attacked and possessed sometime after this scene during the journey]], it still could count. Even if she was [[spoiler:a Shadowen]] at the time, that doesn't preclude her still having a humanizing side to her. Regardless, the moment certainly acted as a nice deflection [[spoiler:from her true loyalties]], making her a RedHerring for a while.
* TheQuietOne
* WaifFu: Far, far stronger than she looks, and every bit as fast.
!!Quickening
The daughter of The King of the Silver River, she leads Morgan, Walker, Pe Ell, and Horner Dees on a trek north to defeat the Stone King, and recover the Black Elfstone in ''Druid of Shannara''. She has the power to heal the land, and undo the poisons inflicted upon it.
----
* FriendToAllLivingThings
* GreenThumb
* [[spoiler:TheGwenStacy]]: [[spoiler:Morgan's.]]
* [[spoiler:HeroicSacrifice]]
* IJustWantToBeNormal: Has a moment of this when she considers living a happy life with Morgan instead of [[spoiler:sacrificing herself to stop Uhl Belk]].
* TheIngenue: Or is she...?
* TheMessiah
* [[spoiler:ThanatosGambit: Her death unleashes her magic, defeating Uhl Belk and The Maw Grint]].
* WideEyedIdealist: Appears at first to be one of these, but it turns out she was far more GenreSavvy than she let on, knowing from the very beginning what Pe Ell was and what he wanted but bringing him anyway, because she needed the Stiehl [[spoiler:to pierce her body's magical defenses, so she could become one with the land and undo the Stone King's poison]]. Very much an IDidWhatIHadToDo decision from one who seemed naive and far too trusting until TheReveal.
!!Pe Ell
An assassin for hire, and a favourite of Rimmer Dall's. He possesses the Stiehl, a knife that can cut through anything, including magical defences. He is sent on the journey with Quickening, with instructions from Rimmer Dall to kill her at the first opportunity, but like Walker, Morgan, and Horner Dees, falls under her spell--a fact which only serves to make him more unstable and dangerous. Calling him a sociopath is putting it mildly.
----
* AbsurdlySharpBlade: The first person to wield The Stiehl which can cut through anything, including armour, magic, and solid stone as though it weren't there.
* [[spoiler:AlasPoorVillain: By the time the Koden reaches him, he's aware of how thoroughly he was used, angry with himself and the world, and uncaring about whether he lives or dies. It's possible to feel a degree of empathy for him, terrible person that he may be.]]
* BreakTheHaughty: The book as a whole is a devestating one for him.
* TheDragon: "Rimmer Dall's favourite boy" as Horner Dees puts it.
* EvenEvilHasStandards: Believes in killing quickly and cleanly, and consequently, hates The Rake, which kills slowly and suffocatingly.
* [[spoiler:ExitPursuedByABear: Killed by the Koden as he tries to escape]].
* FreudianExcuse: His uncle beat him regularly when he was a child, until Pe Ell found the Stiehl and took him out.
* FullNameBasis: He's always Pe Ell, never "Pe" or "Ell".
* KnifeNut: With a magic knife (The Stiehl) to boot.
* ItsPersonal: When The Rake comes within milimetres of killing him, Pe Ell becomes determined to hunt the big insect down and kill it.
* LackOfEmpathy: The only way that he can do what he does.
* TheMole: In Quickening's group.
* NotSoDifferent: From the Shadowen, and particularly from Rimmer Dall.
* ProfessionalKiller
* PsychoForHire: Lives to look into his victim's eyes as they die; he views this as a way to glimpse the afterlife, and it is an act with a borderline religious significance for him.
* SanitySlippage: As ''Druid'' progresses he loses more and more of his calm, collected demeanor, finally resulting in [[spoiler:his VillainousBreakdown.]]
* TheSociopath
* StepfordSmiler: A deliberate one.
* TokenEvilTeammate: Even before they know he's a hitman, Quickening's party views him as this.
* UnwittingPawn: [[spoiler:Of Quickening and The King of the Silver River, who need his magic for her ThanatosGambit to work]].
* [[spoiler:VillainousBreakdown]]: [[spoiler:As he murders Quickening. It continues afterwards.]]
* {{Yandere}}: Becomes one to Quickening, seeing her as his possession. He's insanely jealous of anyone--Morgan, Walker--who gets too close to her.
!!Horner Dees
A retired Tracker, hunter, and woodsman, Horner Dees is the only man to have survived entering Eldwist, the city of the Stone King, and is recruited by Quickening to guide her company to Uhl Belk's home. A bearish old man who loves the mountains, Dees is eventually revealed to be a [[spoiler:former Federation Tracker]] with a history with Pe Ell.
----
* TheAlcoholic: Dees has a serious drinking problem. To his credit, it doesn't interfere with his job.
* AnimalMotifs: Counting the number of times he is compared to a bear would make a good drinking game.
* {{Badass Grandpa}}
* DefectorFromDecadence: In the backstory. Dees wanted no part of being a Seeker.
* FunctionalAddict
* GeniusBruiser: Dees is big, hulking, and quite bright. Even Pe Ell treats him with respect.
* IntergenerationalFriendship: With Morgan Leah, who he becomes quite close to.
* NatureHero: Has some definite aspects of this.
* RetiredBadass: Dees was once a Federation Tracker, and was among their best. He left once he realised that Rimmer Dall wanted to make him a Seeker.
* TheSmartGuy: To Quickening's company.
!!Uhl Belk, The Stone King
A creature of fairie, Uhl Belk is brother to the King of the Silver River, and Lord of Eldwist. Fearing change, he seeks to turn all the world to stone. Prior to the events of the series, he stole the Black Elfstone from the Druids; Walker, Quickening, Morgan, Pe Ell, and Horner Dees seek to retrieve it.
----
* AbusiveParents: To the Maw Grint. His repeated demands on it, and fusions of magic, have driven it insane.
* ArchnemesisDad: To his "son", the Maw Grint.
* DiscOneFinalBoss: In his role as BigBad for ''Druid''. He has powers that rival or exceed that of the combined Shadowen armies, but is defeated halfway through the series.
* EnemyCivilWar: With his son, the Maw Grint.
* EvilCounterpart: To The King of the Silver River.
* FaceHeelTurn: Somewhere in the BackStory.
* GracefulLoser: He takes his defeat and imprisonment at [[spoiler:Quickening]]'s hands rather well.
* ImmortalityImmorality: Everyone just seems temporary and insignificant to him.
* {{Irony}}: He's terrified by change and chaos, but his plan to convert the entire world to stone is more or less the definition of ChaoticEvil.
* NotSoDifferent: How he sees himself and the King of the Silver River.
* OmnicidalManiac: Though he doesn't necessarily see it that way. He wants to turn the world to stone, in order to keep it from changing. He believes that in doing so, he is fullfilling his pledge to the Word.
* PhysicalGod: Would be, were it not for his immobility, and dependence on the Black Elfstone.
* TakenForGranite: Resembles an immense, semi-mobile statue, and has the power to turn things to stone with a touch.
!!The Maw Grint
Uhl Belk's child, it is a formerly humanoid elemental with the appearance of a monstrous, fanged worm.
----
* TheDragon: Formerly to Uhl Belk.
** TheStarscream: Currently seeks to usurp its father's position quite openly.
* ElementalPowers: Over stone.
* EnemyCivilWar: With its father.
* EvilCounterpart: To Quickening. Like her, it had the power to carry its father's magic wherever it went, changing the land, and it was even described as Uhl Belk's son, i.e. the opposite gender.
* GracefulLoser: Pauses and allows [[spoiler:Quickening's magic to erase it instead of attacking. It almost seems to welcome it, perhaps in a moment of ICannotSelfTerminate.]]
* PoisonousPerson: Its very touch is deadly poison.
* SandWorm
* SelfMadeOrphan: Its life's goal.
* StoryBreakerPower: Forget the Shadowen. The Maw Grint's size alone makes it literally unkillable. It's so vast that it fills all of Eldwist during its rampage at the end, making it immune to anything the heroes might throw at it. And that's without getting into the fact that both its touch, and its magic, are deadly poison. In short there is no actual way to stop it, or even fight it. [[spoiler:Quickening's HeroicSacrifice]] is the only thing that prevents it from taking over the world; a direct confrontation would have resulted in everybody but it dying.
* TakenForGranite: Whatever it touches turns to stone.
* WasOnceAMan: Or at least a humanoid elemental.
* WithGreatPowerComesGreatInsanity: It's completely and utterly mad, with no sense of self left, beyond a desire to feed.
!!The Wisteron
The strongest and most dangerous of Morrowindl's "demons", it has the appearance of a nightmarish spider/monkey hybrid. It lays claim to the entire swamp of the In Ju, and dogs Wren Ohmsford's steps for much of ''Elf Queen of Shannara''.
----
* BigCreepyCrawlies: Meets ManiacMonkeys
** GiantSpider
* DarkIsEvil
* DiscOneFinalBoss: The final opponent confronted by Wren in ''Elf Queen'', the Wisteron tests the limits of her abilities more fully than anyone she faces afterwards. It's not connected to the series' BigBad, and yet it's still a near perfect match for this trope.
* TheHeartless: Like all of Morrowindl's Shadowen.
* LightningBruiser
* ManiacMonkeys
* NighInvulnerability: Shrugs off sword blows and hits from the Elfstones. They finally have to drown it in mud.
** And even then it's not clear if even THAT killed it, or just trapped it.
* SuperPersistentPredator: It doesn't give up, no matter what you do. The spidery equivalent of an ImplacableMan.
!!Tiger Ty & Spirit
A Wing Rider and his Roc whom Wren befriend on her journey to Morrowindl. Tiger Ty later becomes one of her staunchest supporters.
----
* ABoyAndHisX: An old man and his Roc.
* AlliterativeName
* AwesomeMcCoolName: Both of them.
* BeastOfBattle: Spirit.
* BigBadassBirdOfPrey: Spirit is incredibly badass, fighting Shadowen and Creepers on an even footing.
* CoolOldGuy: Tiger Ty's age is never established but he's clearly much older than most of the main characters.
* TheCynic: Tiger Ty has a deeply pessimistic outlook on life, the universe, and everything.
* GrumpyBear
* HighAltitudeBattle: Against [[spoiler:Tib Arne & Gloon]]
* IntergenerationalFriendship: Tiger Ty and Wren
* UndyingLoyalty: Tiger Ty to Wren and Spirit to Tiger Ty.
!!Stresa
A Splinterscat whom Wren and Garth save on their way to Arborlon. He accompanies them back to the Four Lands and serves as a wilderness guide and scout for the Elven Army.
----
* GrumpyBear
* IntellectualAnimal
* IOweYouMyLife
* MixAndMatchCritters: A mix of porcupine and cat, grown to giant size.
* SpikeShooter
* TalkingAnimal
* UndyingLoyalty: To Wren
!!Triss
Captain of the [[PraetorianGuard Elven Home Guard]], and one of Wren's closest friends following the events of ''Elf Queen''. He is [[spoiler:one of the only Elves to survive the trek from Arborlon to the beach]].
----
* ActionSurvivor: One of the few Elves to [[spoiler:survive the whole trip across Morrowindl]].
* {{Badass}}: Pretty much a requirement for the Home Guard, but Triss is especially {{badass}}, surviving Morrowindl with nothing worse than a broken arm.
* FireForgedFriends: With Wren. As she puts it, "after what they had shared on Morrowindl, Triss could tell her anything."
* HeroSecretService
* TheQuietOne: Triss doesn't talk much, but when he does, he's usually worth listening to.
* PraetorianGuard
* UndyingLoyalty: To Ellenroh and ''especially'' Wren. Noticing a trend here?
!!Gavilan Elessedil
Prince of the Elves and [[spoiler:Wren's cousin]]. Handsome, and with a reputation among the ladies.
----
* [[spoiler:DirtyCoward]]
* [[spoiler:TheEvilPrince: Though not initially, and with a FaceHeelTurn that's driven more by cowardice than anything else]].
* [[spoiler:FaceHeelTurn]]
* [[spoiler:KilledOffForReal: By the Wisteron]]
* KissingCousins: He kisses [[spoiler:Wren]] despite being her cousin.
* PrinceCharming:[[spoiler:Subverted. At first he seems like the real thing, but is revealed to be a coward by the end]].
!!Matty Roh
One of Padishar Creel's top agents, Matty is a very self-possessed and capable young woman. She runs a bar and safehouse for Padishar, and later accompanies Morgan Leah on his trek south in ''Talismans of Shannara''.
----
* ActionGirl
* [[ActuallyIAmHim Actually I Am Her]]: Morgan asked her (while she was disguised as a boy) where he could find Matty Roh. Several rounds of question dodging later, this gets said.
* BadassNormal: Has no magic, no special talismans, and no experience with fighting the Shadowen. Not only survives the raid on Southwatch, but more then pulls her own weight, taking out numerous soldiers and Shadowen alike.
* BattleCouple: [[spoiler:Forms one with Morgan. He handles the Shadowen, she handles the normal people]].
* {{Bifauxnen}}: Matty is repeatedly described as looking like an especially {{Bishonen}} male teenager, instead of the adult woman she is. This is an obvious help with her boy disguise.
* BoyishShortHair
* BrokenBird[=/=]{{Kuudere}}: Courtesy of a traumatic backstory that's both believable and very sad.
* FragileSpeedster
* IDidWhatIHadToDo: Convinced a Federation officer to give her some information she wanted, then cut his throat before he could...ahem...try and make a move on her. She's convinced that what she did was justified. Morgan's not so sure.
* ImprobableWeaponUser: Her broom. She uses a rapier in later fights.
* LaResistance: A very high-ranking member, somewhere just behind Padishar Creel and [[NumberTwo Chandos]].
* RoyalRapier: Brooks doesn't name the weapon she's carrying but it's a slim, light fencing weapon, used with one hand, meaning it's either this or a duelling sabre.
* SecondLove: [[spoiler:To Morgan]] They're definitely falling for one another by the time the book ends.
* SweetPollyOliver: When Morgan first meets her.
* SurvivorsGuilt: Her [[spoiler: entire family]] died of a disease that [[spoiler:she herself brought into the house. Somehow she got better. They didn't.]]
* WaifFu: Very slim, armed with a rapier, and dependent on trying to avoid getting hit. She's quite tall however, and capable of taking a reasonable amount of punishment against normal people. Against the Shadowen, she's absolutely dependent on this style.
!!The Four Horsemen
Four Shadowen, given the appearance of the legends, and sent to harass Walker Boh.
----
* AmbiguousGender: Famine is completely naked, yet genderless.
* CoolSword: Famine has one made of bone.
* DemBones: Famine is essentially a skeleton, albeit with a little bit of flesh attached.
* TheEvilGenius: The main reason that Death is the last one standing is because he was bright enough to hang back from the fight, realised what Walker was doing with the illusions, and traced the Druid's attack on War back to its source.
* EvilIsDeathlyCold: Death. His touch is freezing and saps his victims' strength while his scythe leaves frosty trails in the wounds it inflicts.
* TheFourHorsemenOfTheApocalypse: Or more accurately, four Shadowen who've taken on their form.
* HealingFactor: To the point where they're nearly unkillable.
* TheHeartless: Par for the course with the Shadowen.
* HellishHorse: They ride lizard-like creatures with fangs and claws but a distinctly equestrian gait.
* FourIsDeath: "Names and methods aside, they were all death in one form or another."
* TheGrimReaper: Death.
* HoistByHisOwnPetard: Or more accurately, by one another's. Unable to overcome their HealingFactor, Walker uses his MasterOfIllusion abilities to trick them into killing one another.
* PoisonousPerson: Famine and Pestilence both spread their respective namesakes through touch, weakening or even killing their targets.
** {{Plaguemaster}}: Pestilence.
** WalkingWasteland: Famine.
* QuirkyMinibossSquad: But extremely dangerous nevertheless.
* SinisterScythe: Death carries one as his WeaponOfChoice.
* SpikesOfVillainy: War
* WalkingArmoury: War is armed to the teeth with every concievable weapon.
** AnAxeToGrind: Seems to a personal favourite.
** CarryABigStick: Another favourite.
* TheWormThatWalks: Pestilence's body is made up of thousands of plague flies trapped within an amorphous yellow body.
!!Tib Arne and Gloon
A very young free-born agent, sent to bring Wren information about Padishar's movements. He later befriends Wren, who he seems to view with a certain amount of reverence. Gloon is his War Shrike and protector. [[spoiler:Both are eventually revealed to be Shadowen spies. They kill one of Wren's companions and abduct her, before being slain by the Elf Queen herself.]]
----
* ABoyAndHisX: A boy and his War Shrike.
* [[spoiler:AxeCrazy: Tib, even by Shadowen standards.]]
* BigBadassBirdOfPrey: Gloon is a War Shrike. See Cool Pet below, for all the details.
* [[spoiler:BlondGuysAreEvil: Tib]]
* CoolPet: Gloon is a War Shrike, a creature that can best be described as an airborne wolverine, complete with the attitude, badassery, and lack of regard for its own personal safety. About as cool a pet as you can get.
* [[spoiler:FeatheredFiend: Gloon. Jesus!]]
* [[spoiler:TheHeartless: Both of them.]]
* LoyalAnimalCompanion: Gloon follows Tib everywhere, and protects him as best he can. Tib says he's raised the Shrike since infancy, and Gloon seems to believe he owes him.
* [[spoiler:TheMole]]
* [[spoiler:PsychopathicManchild: Tib the Shadowen is still incredibly childish. It's as though his disguise has begun to effect his personality]].
* ReplacementGoldfish: Wren sees him as one for Garth.
* [[spoiler:{{Sizeshifter}}]]: [[spoiler:Gloon can grow from normal size to as big as a Roc]].
* [[spoiler:TeensAreMonsters]]: [[spoiler:At least when bodyjacked by Shadowen they are]].
[[/folder]]
[[folder:The Voyage of the Jerle Shannara]]
!!Bek Rowe/[[spoiler:Ohmsford]]
The cousin of Quentin Leah, Prince of Leah, Bek was orphaned at a young age and adopted by Quentin. Recruited by Walker for reasons unknown. [[spoiler:It's eventually revealed that he's an Ohmsford, has the powers of the Wishsong, and, by the by, is the Ilse Witch's brother.]]
----
* BlessedWithSuck: That damn Wishsong again.
* ChangelingFantasy: He's really [[spoiler:an Ohmsford]].
* DistressedDude: When captured by the Ilse Witch, who can defend against his magic.
* GlassCannon[=/=]SquishyWizard
* GuileHero: He's not quite at Jair or Walker's level, but Bek, like most of Brooks' illusion casters, gets by on his brains.
* TheHero
* JumpedAtTheCall: He regrets that almost as much as [[FailureKnight Quentin]] and Ahren.
* LoveMartyr: Towards Grianne. It pays off.
* MasterOfIllusion: In the tradition of Jair and Par.
* NonActionGuy: Before he figures out how to use his illusion powers to his advantage.
* OddFriendship: With Truls Rohk.
* RealityWarper: Not to Brin, Par, or Grianne's level, but Bek's Wishsong can clearly do more than just create illusions. He just doesn't have to use it that way with any great frequency.
* SpannerInTheWorks: During Grianne's battle with The Morgawr.
!!Quentin Leah
--> ''I thought this would be our great adventure, our right of passage into manhood, a story we would remember all our lives, that we would tell to our friends and family. Now I don't ever want to talk about it again.''
The current Prince of Leah, and Bek's best friend, cousin, and surrogate brother. Brought along by Walker so that they can have access to the Sword of Leah. Initially an enthusiastic, cheerful young man, the events of the series transform Quentin into shellshocked FailureKnight, obsessed with protecting those closest to him, no matter the cost.
----
* {{Badass}}: Quentin is a [[BigBadassWolf caull]]-butchering, [[EverythingsBetterWithDinosaurs Graak]]-slaying, [[LizardFolk Mwellret]]-fighting, [[HollywoodCyborg wronk]]-stomping {{badass}}. He's also a [[BreakTheCutie broken cutie]] and FailureKnight who hates himself and the mission, couldn't save anybody, suffers from a massive BigBrotherInstinct, and never, ever wants to do anything like this again.
* BigBrotherInstinct: Towards Bek; it gets worse as the trilogy progresses.
* BlessedWithSuck: He has the Sword of Leah. Its power is addictive and puts him at great risk from Antrax, and despite that, he still can't save most of the people he wants to protect.
* BreakTheCutie: From JumpedAtTheCall to FailureKnight. It's painful to watch.
* CoolSword: The--[[YouShouldKnowThisAlready wait for it]]--Sword of Leah.
** AmuletOfDependency: Quentin is less addicted to the Sword's magic then Rone or Morgan were, but he still can't do much without it.
** AncestralWeapon: The Sword belongs to the House of Leah, which is why Quentin is the one who has to carry it.
** {{Antimagic}}: Though he discovers that it works just as well on Antrax's superscience, and the Graak, being one of the few weapons that can penetrate the immense lizard's armour.
** BlackSwordsAreBetter: The hilt and sheath have been replaced dozens of times. That black blade with the liquid sheen, and the pools of murky green? Hasn't been altered in 450 years.
* FailureKnight: His inability to save [[spoiler:Tamis or Patrinell]] forms a huge part of his obsession with protecting Bek.
* HeroicSelfDeprecation: Lots of it.
* HeroicWannabe: Initially. That doesn't survive landing at Castledown.
* IJustWantToBeNormal: When this is over Quentin is going home, settling down, and ''never'' talking about the Voyage again.
* ILetGwenStacyDie: [[spoiler:Tamis]]
* JumpedAtTheCall: He thought going on this trip would be a big adventure. Now...
** WeAreNotGoingThroughThatAgain: Quentin is never leaving home again. Hell, if he can arrange it, he's going to forget everything that ever happened on the Voyage.
* TheLancer: Naturally falls into this role no matter who is partnered up with. He's been The Lancer to Bek, Tamis, and Panax.
* MadeOfIron: Quentin survives battles with wronks and Mwellrets, falling off a cliff in an avalanche, and finally, having the Graak land on him during its death throes. That last one nearly does kill him, but the fact that he survived at all, means his stamina is ridiculous.
* OlderSidekick: To Bek, whom he is obsessed with protecting.
* WarriorPrince: Quentin's father is not a king (though he does rule Leah as part of the city council) but the trappings of the trope are still in full effect.
* YouShallNotPass: Pulls this on the pursuing Mwellrets and caulls, luring them away from Panax, the Rindge, and the remaining Elven Hunters, and then halting them on a mountain pass where they can only approach a few at a time. He fully expects this to get him killed; an avalanche ends up saving his life.
!!Redden Alt Mer
A Rover mercenary serving on the Prekkadoran Hights, Walker hires him to captain the Jerle Shannara. Also known as Big Red, and "the man with the luck."
----
* BadAss
* BornLucky: Stated by many.
* TheCaptain
** TheGoodCaptain
* FaceYourFears: After his HeroicBSOD he decides he has to face the [[PrimalFear Graak]] to get his courage back.
* FieryRedhead
* HeroicBSOD: When facing the Graak. He realises that the only way he's going to get his courage back is to go down into the Crake and face it again.
* HiredGuns
* NoOneCouldSurviveThat: Gets hit with it on more than one occasion.
* RedBaron: Big Red.
* RedHeadedHero
!!Rue Meridian
The younger half-sister of Redden Alt Mer, Rue is an accomplished mercenary in her own right, and along with Spanner Frew, is her brother's second-in-command. Also known as Little Red.
----
* ActionGirl: She stole ''Black Moclips'' by herself and survives battles with Mwellrets. She definitely counts.
* FieryRedHead
* HeroesWantRedHeads
* HiredGuns
* LoveInterest: To Bek.
* NumberTwo: She and Spanner split this role with regards to Big Red.
* RedBaron: Little Red.
* SingleWomanSeeksGoodMan: After spending most of her life among Rovers and soldiers, this is the reason she's interested in Bek.
!!Ahren Elessedil
The younger son of the Elven King, he is sent on the Voyage by his older brother, Kylen. Goes through more trauma than the rest of the cast combined, especially after attracting the attention of [[BigBad The Morgawr]]'s [[TheDragon Dragon]], [[LovesTheSoundOfScreaming Cree Bega]]. He puts in another appearance in ''High Druid'' as a member of the Druid Order, and a mentor to his neice, Khyber.
----
* {{Antihero}}: Type I. Ahren's in way over his head and knows it.
** ClassicalAntihero: Plagued by self-doubts, unaware about what's really going on, and frequently victimised by those who are more powerful than he is, Ahren is really not cut out for this hero gig, but tries anyway.
* {{Archenemy}}: How he sees the relationship between himself and Cree Bega by the end.
--> "He hated all of the rets, but their leader most of all. Cree Bega was a weight about his neck that would drag him to his death if it wasn't cut off now."
* BreakTheCutie: No character goes through quite the level of torture that Ahren does. By the end he's a fundamentally broken person with no self-respect left.
* CainAndAbel: His brother wants him dead, or at least out of the way, for fear that when he dies, Ahren will take the throne from his children. Ahren wouldn't dream of it, but that doesn't do anything to allay his brother's paranoia.
* TheDogBitesBack: Just manages to man up and defeat Cree Bega, who's spent most of the third book psychologically torturing him. Probably his CrowningMomentOfAwesome.
* FaceYourFears[=/=]TiredOfRunning: With regards to Cree Bega. When the big lizard climbs onto the ship and kills one of the crew, Ahren's first instinct is to run. He has an injured Quentin Leah to defend however, and realises that if he runs now, he'll never retain a single shred of his own self-respect. An awesome KnifeFight ensues.
* ForcedToWatch: Cree Bega forces Ahren to watch The Morgawr feed on the minds of the entirety of ''Black Moclips'' crew.
* [[spoiler:HeroicSacrifice: In ''High Druid'']]
* HeroicSelfDeprecation: Did we mention that this kid hates himself?
* ILetGwenStacyDie: [[spoiler:Ryer Ord Star]]
* ItsPersonal: With Cree Bega, for [[WouldYouLikeToHearHowTheyDied a]] [[KickTheDog whole]] [[ILetGwenStacyDie host]] [[ColdBloodedTorture of]] [[JustBetweenYouAndMe reasons]].
* JumpedAtTheCall: Like Quentin and Bek, he thought travelling to Castledown would be a great adventure. It leaves him broken, dead inside, and wanting to die.
* [[spoiler:KilledOffForReal: In ''High Druid'']]
* KnifeFight: With Cree Bega.
* TheMentor: To his niece, Khyber, in ''High Druid''.
* TookALevelInBadass: Just in time for his fight with [[TheDragon Cree Bega]].
* WarriorPrince: He tries to be one, he really does.
* YouCantGoHomeAgain: His brother won't let him. Ahren doesn't think he can anyway.
!!Ryer Ord Star
The protege of the Addershag, Ryer is an empath and a seer recruited by Walker to help them on their journey. [[spoiler:She doubles as TheMole for the Ilse Witch, and is eventually captured and tortured by Cree Bega and The Morgawr, resulting in her suicide]]. Has a very complex relationship with Walker.
----
* BreakTheCutie: She was captured by [[TortureTechnician Cree Bega]]. What did you expect?
* ColdBloodedTorture: Subjected to it by the Mwellrets.
* [[spoiler:DrivenToSuicide]]
* TheEmpath: Which gets her psychically linked to [[HurtingHero Walker]].
* TheGwenStacy: [[spoiler:To Ahren.]]
* [[spoiler:HeelFaceRevolvingDoor]]: [[spoiler:How things look to Ahren. In reality she's pulled a HeelFaceTurn, but is trying to trick the Mogawr as part of her charge from Walker.]]
* [[spoiler:KilledOffForReal]]
* [[spoiler:TheMole]]: [[spoiler:The Ilse Witch's spy.]]
* [[spoiler:TogetherInDeath]]: [[spoiler:With her partner in love/hate Walker.]]
!!Truls Rohk
The son of a Borderman and a {{Shapeshifter}}, Truls Rohk is badly disfigured, and extremely bitter. He's known Walker for years, and is recruited by him to help the crew of ''The Jerle Shannara''. Along the way he strikes up a friendship with Bek. [[spoiler:Killed in battle with the Ilse Witch's caull, he is reborn as a true {{Shapeshifter}}.]]
----
* AntiHero
* BadAss
* BlackCloak
* BodyHorror
* DarkIsNotEvil
* GoodIsNotNice
* TheGrotesque
* HalfHumanHybrid: Half man, half ephemeral shapeshifter.
* HeroSecretService: For Bek, and later [[spoiler:Grianne.]]
* HumanMomNonHumanDad: Inverted. Truls' mother is a shapeshifter, his father a Borderman.
* InTheHood: There's a [[BodyHorror very good]] [[TheGrotesque reason]] for this.
* [[spoiler:KilledOffForReal]]: [[spoiler:The human side of him anyway.]]
* LonersAreFreaks
* OddFriendship: With Bek.
* {{Shapeshifting}}: Both the [[VoluntaryShapeshifting voluntary]], and {{involuntary| shapeshifting}} kinds.
** ShapeshifterWeapon: Forms blades and other weapons from his own ruined body.
!!Panax
A Dwarven Tracker recruited by Walker to help serve as their guide. He develops a close friendship with Quentin Leah, and Obat, the leader of the Rindge.
----
* {{Badass}}
** BadassBeard
* CoolOldGuy
* {{Expy}}: Of Hendel, from ''Sword''.
* GoingNative: Opts to stay with the Rindge because there's nothing new to discover at home.
!!Tamis
An Elven Hunter and protege of Ard Patrinell, upon whom she has a fairly serious crush. She teams up with Quentin in ''Antrax'' to [[spoiler:MercyKill the Patrinell wronk, and dies in the process.]]
----
* ActionGirl
* BoyishShortHair
* TheGwenStacy: [[spoiler:To Quentin.]]
* IneffectualLoner: Initially, due to lingering bitterness over being forced to become an Elven Hunter instead of a member of the vaunted Home Guard. She gets over it by partway through ''Antrax''.
* [[spoiler:KilledOffForReal]]
* LoveMartyr: Goes through Hell just to put the man she loved out of his misery.
* MentorShip: With Patrinell, who taught her how to fight.
* [[spoiler:TogetherInDeath]]: [[spoiler:With Ard Patrinell.]]
!!The Ilse Witch/[[spoiler:Grianne Ohmsford]]
A broken, deadly young woman who can kill with her voice, the Ilse Witch makes her home off the coast, where she plots revenge against Walker for imagined wrongs. Hearing of his quest to obtain the books of what she believes to be old magic, she gathers her own airship crew and sets off in pursuit of him. [[spoiler:She is eventually revealed to be Bek's sister, Grianne, and reforms, turning against her mentor, [[BigBad The Morgawr]]. She reappears in ''High Druid of Shannara'' as the High Druid of the new Druid Order and in ''Dark Legacy of Shannara'' as a Witch-Wraith.]]
----
* [[ArchEnemy Archenemies]]: She thinks she and Walker are. One could make a convincing case for her and [[spoiler:Tael Riverine reaching this status in reality]].
* [[spoiler:TheArchmage: In ''High Druid'']]
* [[spoiler:TheAtoner: Post-HeelFaceTurn]].
* BadBoss: Crushes any servant who questions her authority.
* BastardUnderstudy: To The Morgawr. They're both very aware of it too, and it's a major theme in their interactions with one another.
* BigBadDuumvirate: Forms one with The Morgawr, though as his former pupil, she is the junior partner, a fact she very much resents, despite all her bluster about them being equals.
** BigBadWannabe: She's effectively sidelined during ''Antrax'' and is just not evil enough to compete with The Morgawr on an even footing, a fact that both he and [[TheDragon Cree Bega]] have taken into account.
* BlackCloak
* [[spoiler:BrokenBird: Comes off like this post-HeelFaceTurn]].
* CameBackWrong: [[spoiler: In ''Dark Legacy'', thanks to the Tanequil pulling a JackassGenie. Railing demanded Grianne be restored to life. He got her... as the Ilse Witch. Oops]].
* DarkMagicalGirl: A rare Western example.
* [[spoiler:EasilyForgiven: Only by Bek]].
* [[spoiler:EmptyShell: Post VillainousBSOD]].
* EvenEvilHasStandards: She finds Cree Bega utterly repulsive and has similar opinions regarding The Morgawr's method of feeding.
* EvilVersusEvil: [[spoiler: As the reborn Ilse Witch in ''Dark Legacy'', she's the world's only hope against the even worse Tael Riverine. Lampshaded]].
* GlassCannon[=/=]SquishyWizard
* [[spoiler:HeelFaceTurn]]
* [[spoiler:HeelRealisation: Thanks to the Sword of Shannara]]
* TheHeavy: In ''Ilse Witch''
* InTheHood: Initially.
* JerkAss: Even after [[spoiler:her HeelFaceTurn.]]
* [[spoiler:LukeIAmYourFather]]: Inverted. [[spoiler:Bek spends most of book 2 trying to convince her that she is his sister]].
* MoralMyopia: Walker's supposedly killing her family? Unforgivable. Her own random murders, {{Bad Boss}}ings, and all around [[JerkAss bitchiness]]? [[SarcasmMode Totally justified]] by her own [[{{Wangst}} suffering]].
* OlderHeroVsYoungerVillain: She's about twenty. Walker's [[ReallySevenHundredYearsOld 150]].
* RaisedByOrcs: Raised by The Morgawr.
* [[spoiler:RedemptionEarnsLife]]
* {{Revenge}}: Wants it on Walker.
* {{Tykebomb}}: Though far more independent than most.
* VillainousBSOD: After [[spoiler:being shown the truth about her past and herself by the Sword of Shannara, Grianne pretty much shuts down, and goes into a [[EmptyShell waking coma]]]]. Snapping her out of it becomes a big part of the plot in ''Morgawr''.
* VillainProtagonist: Gets at least as much attention as the heroic part of the cast.
* {{Wangst}}: Deliberately invoked. That she's a selfish bitch blinded by her own perceived suffering is the entire ''point'' of her character.
* WickedWitch
* WizardDuel: Against [[spoiler:The Morgawr and Tael Riverine.]]
!!The Morgawr
--> "To feed on another's life. You cannot imagine the ecstasy!"
An ancient warlock who hides within the Wilderun, The Morgawr claims to have been the brother of The Witch Sisters,[[TheElfstonesOfShannara Morag and Mallenroh]]. A grotesque, disfigured monster who feeds on human lives and souls, The Morgawr is the Ilse Witch's mentor and the true BigBad of the ''Voyage'' trilogy. Appearing in the background throughout the first two books, he emerges in ''Morgawr'' to finish the main cast and take the books of magic for himself. [[spoiler:He is eventually slain by Bek, Grianne, and the spirit of Mephitic castle]]. Probably the single evilest character to appear in the entire franchise.
----
* BadPowersBadPeople: He devours peoples' souls and minds in order to extend his own life and power. Moreoever, all his other magics stem from this leeching of life. Unsurprisingly, he's one of Brooks' most evil villains.
* BigBad: There are several contenders for this title in the series, but The Morgawr is the one who ultimately wins out.
* BlackCloak
* BrainFood: Worse. He reaches through the back of your head, absorbs your brain (and soul), and leaves you a mindless puppet.
* DarkIsEvil
** DarkIsNotEvil: Invokes and then subverts this trope, assuring a younger Ilse Witch that despite his frightening appearance he is her friend. He's not. He's not ''anyone's'' friend.
* DealWithTheDevil: Offers one to Sen Dunsidan.
* {{Determinator}}: Shows some aspects of this in his WizardDuel against Grianne, when he temporarily holds off an attack by her ''and'' the spirit of Mephitic castle through sheer force of will. The Morgawr may be a monster, but he does ''not'' go out like a bitch.
* EnergyAbsorption: Feeds on the LifeEnergy of his victims, then channels that into magic. He's basically a magical leech.
* EvilMentor: To the Ilse Witch.
* EvilSorceror
* FullContactMagic: Typically uses his magic to shield himself before grappling with his adversaries.
* GreenEyes: Slitted and reptillian.
* HalfHumanHybrid: He may be part man, part Mwellret. He may also just be a human who has mutated to resemble one. Either way, he has some definite characteristics of this.
* TheHeavy: In ''Morgawr''
* HorrorHunger: Everything about his feeding, from what it is he feeds on to how he does it, is revolting.
* ImmortalityImmorality: Lengthens his lifespan by feeding on the souls of others.
* InTheBlood: If he really is [[WickedWitch Morag and Mallenroh]]'s brother, than raw evil is definitely in the blood.
* InTheHood: Usually. If you looked like that, you'd hide out too.
* [[spoiler:KilledOffForReal]]: [[spoiler:And good, freaking, riddance!]]
* LargeAndInCharge
* LifeEnergy: Feeds on it.
* LizardFolk
* TheManBehindTheMan: He's been manipulating the Ilse Witch (who thinks she's his equal partner) since she was five or six.
* MysteriousPast: Very little is ever made clear about The Morgawr's past, including what he is, what his real name is, if he really is Morag and Mallenroh's brother, and if not, how old he really is.
* NoNameGiven: Note that he's ''The'' Morgawr. Is that a title? The name of his species? His job description? Whatever the case may be, we're never told if he has a real name.
** It's both title and species. It means "Warlock."
* TheNondescript: One of the forms he takes in front of Sen Dunsidan. He implies that it might be his real face.
* NotSoDifferent: From The Ilse Witch, which he points out to her in their final confrontation. The Ilse Witch herself sees him as NotSoDifferent from [[TheMentor Walker]] prior to her [[spoiler:HeelFaceTurn.]]
* PuppetMaster: With a fondness for PeoplePuppets, who he creates after magically destroying their free will and devouring their minds.
* SlaveMooks: His victims are transformed into this after he drains their minds and souls. See PuppetMaster above.
* VampiricDraining: Of LifeEnergy, magic and mental stamina.
* VoluntaryShapeshifting: Can alter his features to resemble almost anyone, although he doesn't do it very often, preferring the shock value of his actual appearance.
* WizardDuel: Against Grianne and the spirit of Mephitic castle.
* YourSoulIsMine: Consumes it along with your mind.
!!Cree Bega
--> "She took ssso long to die, little Elvesss. So long it ssseemed that it would take forever."
The Morgawr's [[TheDragon right hand]] [[LizardFolk Mwellret]], and the commander of the 'rets among the Ilse Witch's crew. A slimy, obsequious psycho, and one of the few members of the cast who isn't afraid of the Witch. [[spoiler:Killed in a KnifeFight against Ahren Elessedil during the climax of ''Morgawr''.]]
----
* AllTrollsAreDifferent: The Mwellrets are a species of lizardlike Troll who survived the Great Wars by hiding out in swamplands and marshes.
* {{Archenemy}}: Ahren sees him as this by the end.
* ColdBloodedTorture: Very fond of it, as evidenced by his horrific torture of Ryer Ord Star, and his psychological torment of Ahren.
* CompellingVoice: Like most Mwellrets, Cree Bega can do this. His isn't as powerful as that of Stythys from ''Wishsong'', but it's still a very threatening ability.
* [[spoiler:TheDogBitesBack: Slain by Ahren, one of his favourite [[KickTheDog victims]]]].
* TheDragon: To [[BigBad The Morgawr]].
* FantasticRacism: Towards all non-Mwellrets.
* FullNameBasis: Always "Cree Bega", never just one or the other.
* HypnoticEyes: A Mwellret's eyes will freeze you if you look into them for too long.
* JustBetweenYouAndMe: Shares numerous gruesome details with Ahren, including how long it took his crush to die.
* [[spoiler:KarmicDeath]]: [[spoiler:Throughout ''Morgawr'', Ahren is undoubtedly Cree Bega's favourite victim. That it's Ahren who finally kills him, is very sweet.]]
* KickTheDog: Loves it. Notable examples include the above-mentioned JustBetweenYouAndMe, forcing Ahren to watch The Morgawr feed, and of course, his torture of Ryer Ord Star which [[DrivenToSuicide Drives Her To Suicide]]. A lot of what he does is basically [[KickTheDog Kick The]] {{Woobie}}.
* [[spoiler:KilledOffForReal: And it just about leaves you dancing for joy]].
* KnifeNut: Both the throwing and the stabbing variety. Unlike many of Brooks' other examples, he does play up the psychotic aspects of this weapon choice.
* KnifeFight: With Ahren.
* LickingTheBlade: Licks the blood off of his knife after killing one of the Elven Hunters with it.
* LizardFolk
* LovesTheSoundOfScreaming
* TheResenter: Towards the Ilse Witch, who he believes is less than worthy of The Morgawr's attention.
* SmugSnake: He's arrogant, vicious, and contemptuous of all the "Little peoplessss"; even his undeniable bravery (he's one of the few people in series who isn't scared of the Ilse Witch) stems more from arrogance than anything else. Just reading any of his conversations with the Ilse Witch or Ahren should make his inherent {{Smug Snake}}ness apparent.
* SssssnakeTalk: Little Elvessss...
* TheStarscream: To The Ilse Witch. He makes it very clear that he believes that he, rather than her, should be the one in charge of the Voyage. The only reason he doesn't try and stick a knife in her is because The Morgawr told him not to, unless she tries to betray him.
* WouldHitAGirl: Would torture and violate a girl in every way possible.
* WouldYouLikeToHearHowTheyDied: See the page quote.
!!Antrax
An Old World supercomputer, Antrax was created to protect the world's knowledge during the Great Wars. Told that it must survive at all costs, Antrax lures magic-users to its home in Castledown where it imprisons them and drains off their magic to fuel itself. The main cast's lack of knowledge about what it is makes it truly dangerous.
----
* AIIsACrapshoot: Subverted. Antrax is doing ''exactly'' what it was hardwired for.
* BoobyTrap: Its fortress is loaded with them.
* TheChessmaster: Antrax set the entire plot in motion in order to gather more victims with which to feed its hungry power cells.
* DiscOneFinalBoss: Serves as the BigBad of the book with its name, and is responsible for dozens of deaths, despite not being the main antagonist.
* EvilerThanThou: With the Ilse Witch, though it barely acknowledges her presence.
* FrickinLaserBeams: As part of its automated defence grid.
* GeniusLoci: Because of the main cast's unfamiliarity with Old World machinery, Antrax certainly looks like one to them, as it brings the entirety of Castledown to bear against them.
* TheHeavy: In ''Antrax''
* HumansAreBastards: The KnightTemplar dicks who programmed Antrax will hopefully burn in the deepest pit in Hell.
* KilledOffForReal
* KnightTemplar: Antrax will kill anyone who tries to access the books without the codes. Moreover, it has expanded its practises to luring in people with magical abilities and enslaving them. Why? So that it can drain their magics in order to fuel its own existence, and thus fullfill its ObstructiveCodeOfConduct of protecting said books. The best part: it doesn't even know what it's protecting.
* {{Magitek}}: Antrax has evolved past the point of using solar radiation; it now feeds on raw magic, drained from its victims.
* MasterComputer: Antrax's systems extend throughout the entire fortress.
* MechaMooks: Has a wide variety of them.
** HollywoodCyborg: Its wronks, half-human, half-machine abominations controlled by Antrax's will.
** KillerRobot: The proto-[[SpiderTank Creepers]] and the wronks are both hardwired to massacre any and all intruders.
** SlaveMooks: The wronks have no free will, their minds being utterly dominated by Antrax's programming.
* ObstructiveCodeOfConduct: Protect the books.
* RoboticPsychopath: Antrax is supposed to act the way it does.
!!Ard Patrinell
Ahren and Quentin's mentor, ex-Captain of the Home Guard, and the leader of the company of Elven Hunters aboard the ''Jerle Shannara''. He is [[spoiler:captured by Antrax, turned into a [[{{Cyborg}} wronk]] and sent to hunt his friends down. Quentin and Tamis spend most of ''Antrax'' trying to MercyKill him.]]
----
* {{Badass}}
* [[spoiler:TheDragon: To Antrax]]
* DualWielding: Hunting knife in one hand, broadsword in the other.
* [[spoiler:FaceHeelTurn]]: [[spoiler:Not that it was [[MoreThanMindControl his idea]]]].
* [[spoiler:FateWorseThanDeath]]: [[spoiler:He's transformed into a mechanical monster and sent to hunt down his friends, while still being fully conscious and trying to fight it.]]
* [[spoiler:HollywoodCyborg]]
* [[spoiler:ImplacableMan]]: [[spoiler:The Patrinell wronk is the most powerful of its kind, and all but unstoppable.]]
* [[spoiler:KilledOffForReal]]
* KnifeNut
* TheMentor: To Ahren, Quentin and Tamis.
* [[spoiler:MercyKill]]: [[spoiler:Via Quentin and Tamis.]]
* [[spoiler:SlaveMook]]
* [[spoiler:TogetherInDeath]]: [[spoiler:Implied with Tamis.]]
!!The Graak
A huge, saurian predator that inhabits the Crake rainforest, the Graak makes short work of the first patrols to enter its territory. After witnessing it's slaughter of his men, Redden Alt Mer develops a paranoid fear of the monster, which he realises he will have to overcome in order to retain his self-respect, leading a team in to slay it, and take the floatation crystals it is guarding.
----
* EverythingsBetterWithDinosaurs: The Graak's description implies it is some sort of lost dinosaur.
** DinosaursAreDragons: The story treats it like a dragon, even though it isn't one.
* GiantEqualsInvincible: Going off of the description, the Graak is one of the largest monsters featured in the series.
* MacGuffinGuardian: The crystals they need to power the ''Jerle Shannara'' are in the Graak's territory.
* MonsterIsAMommy: [[spoiler:Monster is part of a mated pair anyway.]]
* MutualKill: [[spoiler:The second Graak manages to mortally wound Quentin, crushing him, even as he kills it. Grianne saves his life with magic, but it was ''this'' close.]]
* PrimalFear
* TheReveal: [[spoiler:There are two Graaks in the Crake]]
* ThresholdGuardian: Serves as one for Redden Alt Mer, forcing him to confront fear for the first time in his life.
* SuperPersistentPredator
!!Sen Dunsidan
Minister of War for The Federation, Sen Dunsidan is a consumate politician who aspires to be his nation's leader. He as long maintained a mutually beneficial alliance with the Ilse Witch; later he begins to aid The Morgawr.
----
* CorruptPolitician
* DealWithTheDevil
* EvenEvilHasStandards: Played with. He's horrified by what The Morgawr has done, yet does nothing whatsoever to stop him.
* FullNameBasis: Always addressed by his full name (or his title).
* HonestJohnsDealership: He's willing to offer you anything...all while planning to stab you in the back.
* KarmaHoudini: Subverted. Sure he makes it out of the series with his possessions and power intact, but after witnessing what The Morgawr did to those sailors, he'll never sleep again. [[spoiler:And then The Moric eats him in the sequel.]]
* ObstructiveBureaucrat: Especially in ''High Druid''.
* PresidentEvil: After his promotion.
* SmugSnake
!!The Turnkey
--> "Everyone called him turnkey, as though that were more than name enough for a man who did what he did."
The keeper of the Federation prisons' keys, the turnkey serves as warden and torturer as well. He aids Sen Dunsidan when the Minister makes his deal with The Morgawr, and kills himself shortly afterwards.
----
* DrivenToSuicide
* EvenEvilHasStandards: Kills himself after witnessing what The Morgawr has done.
* EveryoneCallsHimBarkeep
* {{Foil}}: To Sen Dunsidan.
* GoodScarsEvilScars
* ShellShockedVeteran: A seven-term veteran, he's ruined inside and out.
* TortureTechnician
* TheVoiceless
[[/folder]]
[[folder:First King Of Shannara]]
!!Bremen
Allanon's father, and the man responsible for the creation of the Sword of Shannara in the first place, Bremen is an elderly Druid who becomes aware of Brona's threat before the other Druids. When the Druid Council [[IgnoredExpert will not listen to him]], Bremen leaves Paranor in disgust, deciding to take matters into his own hands.
----
* {{Archenemy}}: To the Warlock Lord.
* BadassBeard
* BadassGrandpa
* BigGood: Fills this role in ''First King'', where he's also the main character. One could contend that in ''Sword'', ''Elfstones'', and ''Wishsong'' he's the Bigger Good to Big Good Allanon.
* FailureKnight: Binds himself to the Hadeshorn after failing to kill Brona.
* GhostlyAdvisor: To Allanon after his death.
* IgnoredExpert
* JacobMarleyApparel: Always appears in his shroud.
* TheMentor: To Risca, Tay, Mareth, Jerle, and Allanon in turn. It's interesting if only because he's the main character.
* MyGreatestFailure: Not killing Brona.
* ParentalSubstitute: To Allanon.
* PosthumousCharacter: In the original trilogy.
* TakeUpMySword: Does this to Allanon, with or without meaning to.
* UnfinishedBusiness: Why he binds himself to the Hadeshorn.
!!Risca
A Dwarven Warrior Druid, and one of Bremen's closest friends. Bremen sends him to gather the Dwarves against Brona's threat.
----
* {{Badass}}
** BadassBeard: He's a Dwarf, so this is to be expected.
* [[spoiler:KilledOffForReal]]
* MagicKnight: One of the few Warrior Druids left, he channels his magic through his weapons.
* OneManArmy: It takes a veritable army, or a being of Brona's power to make Risca run.
* SensitiveGuyAndManlyMan: The Manly Man to Tay's Sensitive Guy (not that they spend a lot of time together).
* WalkingArmoury: He's got a CoolSword, AnAxeToGrind, and [[CarryABigStick Carries A Big Stick]]. Shades of Garet Jax.
!!Tay Trefenwyd
Bremen's other ally among the Dwarves of Paranor, Tay is an Elven Druid, whose studies focused mostly on the elements. A close friend of Jerle Shananra, Bremen sends him to warn the Elf King about Brona, and obtain the Black Elfstone.
----
* BecomingTheMask: Has to be very careful of this when he infiltrates the Chew Magna. Subsumed in his worst emotions in order to disguise himself, it would only take one false move to turn him into a genuine monster, instead of just looking like one.
* DangerousForbiddenTechnique: Using the [[ArtifactOfDoom Black Elfstone]].
* DidNotGetTheGirl
* [[spoiler:DrivenToSuicide: Kills himself rather than allow the Black Elfstone to subvert him]].
* [[spoiler:HeroicSacrifice]]
* [[spoiler:KilledOffForReal]]
* SadisticChoice: Use the Black Elfstone against the Skull Bearers and be consumed by evil, or die? [[spoiler:He chooses both.]]
* SensitiveGuyAndManlyMan: To Risca and Jerle's Manly Men.
* UnluckyChildhoodFriend: To Jerle's girlfriend, Preia Starle.
!!Mareth
A young Druid-in-training, she ends up traveling with Bremen, Risca, and Kinson Ravenlock after the fall of Paranor, aiding in rallying the Dwarves to the cause against Brona, as well as obtaining the aid of Urprox Screl in the forging of the Sword of Shannara and, though it isn't clear at the time, helping him locate his successor in the form of Allanon.
----
* ActionGirl: Not as much as other Brooks heroines thanks to her DarkAndTroubledPast, emo-ness, and the dangers of truly unleashing her magic, but she qualifies thanks to the battles she engages in--including the final one with Brona's forces, which nearly annihilates the Dwarves, kills [[{{Badass}} Risca]] of all people, and almost kills [[BadassNormal Kinson]]...but of which she's the only survivor other than Jerle and Bremen.
* {{Angst}}: Boatloads
* {{Badass}}: Mareth is one badass EmoTeen.
* BoomStick: Courtesy of Bremen. It lets her channel her magic without hurting herself.
* DarkAndTroubledPast
* DisappearedDad: Source of much angst...especially when she finds out who he might [[{{Squick}} actually be]].
* EmoTeen: At times; not that she doesn't have her reasons.
* HumanMomNonHumanDad: If that Skull Bearer was telling the truth...
* LukeIAmYourFather: Played with. During the course of the journey she is told by a man claiming to be her father that the innate, nearly out-of-control magic she possesses was inherited from him--''[[{{Squick}} a Skull Bearer]]''. [[KillItWithFire She has the appropriate reaction]], and almost succumbs to a HeroicBSOD until Kinson Ravenlock snaps her out of it. In the end, however, it is never revealed if this was actually the truth, or part of a trap by the GenreSavvy Warlock Lord to ensnare her powerful magic through her longing for her DisappearedDad.
* LukeYouAreMyFather: Initially she believes that Bremen is her dad.
* PowerIncontinence: Her main issue throughout the book, solved only when she is given a staff by Bremen to channel it and later when she deals with her issues regarding her parentage.
* TakeUpMySword: Averted when, after the final battle, rather than being the last of the Druids she throws away her staff and chooses to have a normal life with Kinson.
* WhiteMagicianGirl: Invokes this appearance wise, but that [[BoomStick staff]] is for a heck of a lot more than healing.
!!Jerle Shannara
The ultimate grandfather to the whole Shannara line, Jerle makes his first real appearance in this book. Promoted to the kingship when the rest of his relatives are slaughtered, he accompanies his friend Tay on the hunt for the [[ArtifactOfDoom Black Elfstone]] and is later chosen by Bremen to wield the Sword of Shannara against the Warlock Lord.
----
* CoolSword: The original wielder of the Sword of Shannara.
* HeroSecretService: Was the Captain of the Elven Home Guard before the royal family was wiped out.
* [[spoiler:NiceJobBreakingItHero]]: [[spoiler:His inability to accept his own failures allows Brona to escape, albeit severely weakened.]]
* PosthumousCharacter: In the original trilogy.
* RoyalsWhoActuallyDoSomething
* WarriorPrince
* WhatKindOfLamePowerIsHeartAnyway: Deliberately invoked. His inability to understand the Sword's power is [[spoiler:what ultimately allows Brona to escape.]]
!!Preia Starle
----
* ActionGirl: She tries. She really does.
* VictoriousChildhoodFriend: To Jerle
!!Kinson Ravenlock
Warrior, bodyguard, and Tracker who travels with Bremen, first to the Skull Kingdom, then to Paranor, and finally on a journey to rally the Dwarves and help forge the Sword of Shannara. Falls in love with Mareth and ends up founding the city of Kern. Ancestor of Shirl Ravenlock.
* {{Badass}}
** BadassNormal
* BodyguardCrush: May play into how he falls for Mareth in the end.
* {{Determinator}}: Doesn't come close to death until the final battle, and even then he clings to life despite some rather severe wounds.
* ScarilyCompetentTracker
* TallDarkAndHandsome: Almost word for word.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:High Druid of Shannara]]
!!Penderrin "Pen" Ohmsford
The son of Bek Ohmsford and Rue Meridan, and nephew to Grianne, Pen, like many Ohmsfords before him, finds himself shafted into saving the world. Told by The Kingi of the Silver River that he must free his aunt from The Forbidding, Pen, along with Khyber Elessedil and his LoveInterest Cinnaminson, goes on a journey to locate the legendary Tanequil tree, and using its powers, travel to The Forbidding and liberate Grianne.
----
* TheEmpath: Pen can sense and read others' emotions, enabling him to predict how they will behave.
* FriendToAllLivingThings: Of a sort--his powers also allow him to communicate with animals and plants, whether by literally speaking their language or merely feeling what they feel and influencing their emotions.
* GoodParents: His parents are alive, well, very fond of him, and appear in the story, something of a rarity for Ohmsford parents.
* MuggleBornOfMages: His father thought that he was this.
* NiceGuy: His powers practically force him into this role.
* TookALevelInBadass: The Tanequil allows him to access The Wishsong, considerably boosting his abilities.
* WhatKindOfLamePowerIsHeartAnyway: His father and his aunt have The Wishsong. What does Pen get? A heightened sense of empathy.
!!Khyber Elessedil
The daughter of the Elven King, Khyber Elessedil is closer to her uncle, Ahren, then she is to her father. Joining Ahren and Pen on their quest to save Grianne, Khyber wields the Blue Elfstones on Ahren's behalf. She reappears in ''Dark Legends of Shannara'', well over a century old, and in charge of both the Druids and the search for the rest of the Elfstones.
----
* ActionGirl: In ''High Druid''. By ''Dark Legends'' she's more of a LadyOfWar.
* TheArchmage: Holds the title of High Druid by the time of ''Dark Legends''. This doesn't necessarily make her the most powerful Druid around, though in practise she likely is.
* BadassPrincess: Princess of the Elves, wielder of the Blue Elfstones, High Druid of Paranor.
* TheLeader: Of the Druids and the search for the Elfstones in ''Dark Legends''.
* TheMentor: Ahren was hers, and she acts as one to Aphenglow Elessedil in ''Dark Legends''.
* RebelliousPrincess: Doesn't even really acknowledge her position as an Elessedil Princess, preferring to study with the Druids.
* TheRemnant: Leads the few remaining Druids after Shadea a'Ru's rebellion.
* RoyalsWhoActuallyDoSomething
* TookALevelInBadass: Both within ''High Druid'' and between the series, eventually graduating to High Druid.
!!Tael Riverine
A high-ranking Straken Lord (Demon Lord) and one of the leaders of Demonic society following the death of The Dagda Mor. He conceived the plot to trap Grianne Ohmsford within The Forbidding in exchange for unleashing The Moric into the world. He later captures Grianne and tries to force her into mating with him. [[spoiler:Escaping scott free, he returns as TheBigBad of ''Dark Legacy of Shannara'']].
----
* {{Archenemy}}: One could make a convincing case for his being Grianne's.
* AsskickingEqualsAuthority: Like The Dagda Mor and the rest of his fellow Straken, Tael holds his position by virtue of having killed anybody else who thought they could take it.
** [[spoiler: The wraith of the Ilse Witch]] uses this against him in ''Dark Legacy''. [[spoiler: By very publicly outwitting, humiliating, and finally killing him, she breaks any loyalty that his demon forces- who only value rule by strength- had for him]].
* BigBad: Directly or indirectly, all the problems that Pen and Grianne go through in this series can be traced back to Tael's manipulations. He plays the same role in ''Dark Legacy''.
** BigBadDuumvirate: Not directly addressed in-series, but with The Dagda Mor gone, Tael is just one of several Straken Lords who have stepped into his place. By ''Dark Legacy'', he appears to have become the ruler of most or all of the Forbidding, however.
* DarkIsEvil
* DemonLordsAndArchDevils: One of several Straken Lords who have ascended to leadership positions among the Demons following the death of The Dagda Mor in ''Elfstones''.
* EvilSorcerer: Like The Dagda Mor before him, Tael Riverine is a capable user of sorcerous magic, in addition to his innate Demonic abilities.
* FullNameBasis: He's either referred to by title or as "Tael Riverine", never just "Tael" or "Riverine".
* IHaveYouNowMyPretty: Tries it on Grianne, planning to use her to breed children for himself.
* IcyBlueEyes: Tael's bright, frosty eyes are a standout in his otherwise dark countenance.
* [[spoiler:KarmaHoudini: As of the end of ''High Druid'']].
** [[spoiler: ''Dark Legacy'' corrects the matter]].
* LargeAndInCharge: He towers over most of his minions and ''anyone'' from the Four Lands, even the Trolls.
* MagicKnight: A powerful sorcerer and terrifying warrior.
* TheManBehindTheMan: To the traitor Druids, who believe that they are equal partners with him. Also to The Federation, during the brief time period when The Moric was impersonating Sen Dunsidan. In ''Dark Legacy'' he's had enough of that [[spoiler:so he just invades directly]].
* ScaryBlackMan: Appears as a tall, muscular man with dark skin.
* SealedEvilInACan: Not Tael personally, but all Demons are trapped within The Forbidding.
* SpikesOfVillainy: Grows them from his entire body with the exception of his face.
* StalkerWithACrush: He's obsessed with making Grianne his mate, all the more after she escaped him, something no one else had ever done.
* VillainousBreakdown: He goes increasingly berserk across ''Dark Legacy'' when he can't find Grianne. [[spoiler:It gets even worse when he ''does'' find her, and she's an undead wraith who then duels him, kills him, and takes his place]].
!!The Moric
A relative of The Changeling from ''Elfstones'', The Moric is the right-hand of Tael Riverine. Capable of perfectly impersonating anybody that it devours, The Moric is loosed in the real world so that it might destroy The Ellcrys and bring down The Forbidding.
----
* BadPowersBadPeople: The Moric eats people in order to gain their appearance and memories. No way it was going to be a good guy under those circumstances.
* DemonicPossession: Possesses an even more perfect version of The Changeling's powers, activated by devouring a victim, and then wearing their skin, taking on that person's memory and personality.
* TheDragon: To Tael Riverine.
* ExitPursuedByABear: When we last see The Moric, it's lying on the ground, helpless, as a Dragon approaches it.
* ImAHumanitarian: Part of its power actually.
* OurDemonsAreDifferent
* PresidentEvil: While impersonating Sen Dunsidan.
* {{Shapeshifter}}
** VoluntaryShapeshifting
[[/folder]]
[[folder:The Genesis of Shannara]]
!!Logan Tom
----
* KnightInSourArmor
* SuperheroPackingHeat: Logan is just as comfortable with firearms as he is with his magic staff.
!!Angel Perez
----
!!Hawk Freemark
----
* TheChosenOne
* HalfHumanHybrid: He's a Gypsy Morph who was born to the human woman Nest Freemark.
!!Findo Gask
----
See ''The Word and the Void,'' below.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Legends of Shannara]]
!!Panterra Qu
A seventeen year old Tracker with an almost preternatural gift for finding the tracks of his prey, Panterra and his friend Prue Liss, are the first people after Sider Ament, to discover that the magic that protects the valley is failing. Tasked by Sider with warning the valley, Panterra makes an enemy of Skeal Elie, is captured by Taureq Siq while trying to warn the Elves, and is eventually chosen by Sider Ament to be his successor. Trapped by the events around him, Panterra is in way over his head, and knows it.
----
* [[spoiler:BoomStick: Inherits the black staff from Sider Ament]].
* TheChosenOne: Though in this case it was Sider Ament, rather than fate, that did the choosing.
* TheHero
* LikeBrotherAndSister: With his best friend, Prue.
* PlatonicLifePartners: With Prue Liss, who is equal parts friend and little sister.
* TheStoic: Panterra rarely displays any emotion, and never lets them interfere with his decisions, in a sharp contrast with Prue and Phryne.
* TeenGenius
* TheirFirstTime: With Phryne Amarantyne while they are on the run together.
* TookALevelInBadass: In ''The Measure of the Magic'' as he grows into his role as the next Bearer of the Black Staff.
!!Prue Liss
Panterra Qu's closest friend, fifteen year old Prue is an exceptionally capable Tracker, who can all but vanish at will. Like Panterra, she is tasked with warning the valley and preparing it's people for war, a task that sees her plunged into a great deal of hardship. She eventually meets the King of the Silver River, who grants her the power to help Panterra make a difference.
----
* BlessedWithSuck: The King of the Silver River's blessing gives her far greater abilities at the cost of her ability to see in colour.
* DistressedDamsel: Thrust into this role after she is captured by Taureq Siq and has to be rescued by Deladion Inch. In fairness to her, she pulls her weight after the escape, and doesn't slow down Deladion any.
* LikeBrotherAndSister: With Panterra
* PlatonicLifePartners: With Panterra, who is her best friend and brother figure.
* TeenGenius: Even more so then Panterra. Prue is an absolute prodigy as a Tracker.
* TookALevelInBadass: After being blessed by the King of the Silver River.
!!Skeal Elie
The leader of the Children of the Hawk, Skeal Elie brooks no challenges to the power of his sect. Upon discovering that the mist is coming down, he goes out of his way first to obscure the facts, and then to manipulate the situation to his advantage.
----
* BigBadWannabe: Skeal Elie is set up as a major villain, but quickly comes under the ragpicker's control in Book 2.
* CorruptPolitician
* DealWithTheDevil: Cuts one with the ragpicker, though his agency in doing so is questionable.
* {{Expy}}: As a crooked politician who comes under the influence of a being of dark magic, Skeal Elie bears a passing resemblance to Sen Dunsidan, albeit with the addition of religious trappings.
* TheFundamentalist: Cannot stand anything that goes against his dogma.
* [[spoiler:KilledOffForReal: Killed and replaced by the ragpicker partway through ''The Measure of the Magic'']].
* ManipulativeBastard
* SinisterMinister: Holds religious and political power.
* UnwittingPawn: Of the ragpicker
!!Sider Ament, the Gray Man
-->''"I'm not for hire and I don't get to choose my path."''
The last descendent of the Knights of the Word from the ''Word and the Void'', Sider Ament has made protecting the valley his life's work as the Bearer of the Black Staff. Realising that the magic that isolates the valley from the outside world is failing, and that his own time to find an apprentice is running out, Sider makes it his mission to ready the valley for contact with the rest of the world, and mold Panterra Qu into his successor.
----
* BoomStick: Carries the same black staff once wielded by John Ross.
* [[spoiler:KilledOffForReal]]
* LastOfHisKind: Last Knight of the Word.
* TheMentor: To Panterra Qu
* [[spoiler:MentorOccupationalHazard: Killed off at the end of the first book by one of Arik Siq's blowdarts.]]
* TakeUpMySword: His mentor did this to him, passing along the black staff and all the responsibility that accompanies it. [[spoiler:He does it to Panterra Qu at the end of ''Bearers of the Black Staff'']].
!!Deladion Inch
A traveller, engineer, and problem solver, Deladion is the first person that Sider Ament meets in the world outside the valley, and informs him of the changes in the world. One of the few people who still knows how to use and maintain firearms, Deladion strikes up a fast friendship with Sider, and assists him in freeing Prue from Tauriq Siq's Trolls.
----
* ArmourIsUseless: Averted. Deladion's bodyarmour stops almost all weapons.
* {{Badass}}
* [[spoiler:DyingMomentOfAwesome: Empties his guns into an approaching Troll army, killing dozens of them, then blows himself up with grenades when they finally get close enough to kill him.]]
* {{Foil}}: To Sider, as the last gunman and last Knight of the Word respectively.
* TheGunslinger
* [[spoiler:KilledOffForReal]]
* [[spoiler:HeroicSacrifice: Dies saving Prue from a whole army]]
* HiredGuns: Operates as a merc.
* LastOfHisKind: Last gunslinger
* MisterExposition: As a well travelled mercenary, Deladion is in a position to fill in a lot of the blanks for Sider.
* MoreDakka: With the spray on his automatic.
* OneManArmy
* ScienceHero: His engineering skills make him an [[OutsideContextVillain Outside Context Hero]] to the Trolls.
!!Phryne Amantyre
Daughter of the King of the Elves, Phryne is known for her wild disposition and disdain for her stepmother. Among the first Elves to hear of the failing of the mists, Phryne makes it her personal mission to have Panterra and Prue's information accepted by her father and the rest of the Elves.
----
* ActionGirl: Already capable; then she gets the Blue Elfstones.
* DragonRider
* [[spoiler:HeroicSacrifice: Dies destroying Taureq Siq's army]]
* RebelliousPrincess
* TheirFirstTime: With Panterra Qu when they're on the run.
!!Isoeld
-->''"I do want to be Queen..."''
A baker's daughter and an ambitious social climber, Isoelde is Phryne Amantyre's stepmother. Caring only about her own power and position, Isoelde conducts an affair with First Minster Teonnate behind her husband's back, and under the table negotiations with Skeal Elie, as the two of them plot to take control of the whole valley for themselves.
----
* AmbitionIsEvil
* BigBadDuumvirate: Forms one along with Skeal Elie.
* GodSaveUsFromTheQueen
* GoldDigger
* SmugSnake
* TheVamp
* WickedStepmother: Going so far as to try and frame Phryne for [[spoiler:her father's murder.]]
* YourCheatingHeart: Sleeps with both TheGoodKing and the EvilChancellor, as well as anybody else who can advance her position.
!!Taureq Siq
Mauturen of the Drouj Troll tribe, Taureq Siq believes it is his destiny to rule the known world. Discovering the location of the valley, Taureq immediately makes preperations to invade it.
----
* AmbitionIsEvil
* AsskickingEqualsAuthority: Leads his tribe and the Troll nations by virtue of being the greatest warrior.
* BigBad: Contends with the ragpicker for the title of series big bad.
* TheDreaded: Known and feared as a warlord and conqueror in the outside world.
* GoodScarsEvilScars: Covered in evil scars from battles for dominance.
* [[spoiler:KilledOffForReal: By Phryne's dragon]]
* TakeOverTheWorld
!!Arik Sarn/[[spoiler:Arik Siq]]
A Troll warrior in Grosha Siq's hunting party, Arik Sarn is one of the few Trolls to speak the languages of Men and Elves. Claiming descent from ''Genesis''' Panther, Arik aids Panterra release from Taureq Siq's army, and later accompanies the boy back to the valley, where he is introduced to the Men and Elves who live there. [[spoiler:He is acutally Taureq Siq's eldest son, Arik Siq, and is preparing the way for his father's army by scouting out the valley's defences.]]
----
* [[spoiler:BitchInSheepsClothing]]
* TheCharmer
* [[spoiler:DealWithTheDevil: Offered one by the ragpicker, who wants him to kill Panterra Qu and bring him the black staff; in exchange, Arik gets his freedom]].
* [[spoiler:EvilGenius: His father's idea man.]]
* GeniusBruiser: Arik is a Troll, which means he's at least seven feet tall and built like a pro-wrestler. He's also a storyteller, artist, strategist, and political machinator of the first degree.
* GentleGiant: Arik's a warrior, like most Trolls, but he also sketches birds, admires flowers, and has no desire to hurt anybody. [[spoiler:At least that's what he'd like you to think.]]
* [[spoiler:TheHeavy: For most of book one]]
* [[spoiler:KilledOffForReal: By the ragpicker when he tries to break their deal]]
* [[spoiler:ManipulativeBastard: Manipulate Panterra, Prue, and even Sider, easily.]]
* [[spoiler:TheMole]]
* PoisonedWeapons: Favours a blowgun loaded with poisoned darts, an odd choice for a Troll.
* SiblingYinYang: With his younger brother. [[spoiler:Grosha's an AxeCrazy psycho who gets off on feeding people to his Skaith Hounds. Arik's a calm, cold-blooded schemer who uses his brain to get what he wants.]]
* [[spoiler:SocialDarwinist: Informs Panterra that his people's weakness invites their destruction, and that those who cannot defend themselves do not deserve to exist.]]
* [[spoiler:TheStrategist: For Taureq's army.]]
!!Grosha Siq
Taureq Siq's younger son, Grosha is a vicious brute, obsessed with hunting and killing. He frequently runs down his enemies with his Skaith Hounds, before feeding them to them. Only Arik Sarn and his father seem able to exercise any level of control over him.
----
* AxeCrazy
* TheBrute: One of the few Trolls in the series to actually fall into this stereotype.
* BullyingADragon: [[spoiler:Died bullying, and then lying to, the ragpicker]]
* [[spoiler:KilledOffForReal]]
* PsychopathicManchild: Grosha is a spoiled, nasty little daddy's boy at heart.
* SiblingYinYang: With his EvilGenius older brother.
* TheUnfavourite: Grosha's knows he is not the favoured son, and deeply resents it.
!!The Ragpicker
One of the small "d" demons first introduced in ''The Word and the Void'', the ragpicker is one of the few of its kind to survive the Great Wars. Tracking the last Bearer of the Black Staff, the ragpicker arrives in the valley, and succeeds in making a bad situation that much worse.
----
* BigBad: Contends with Taureq Siq for the title; he manages to use almost everyone, hero and villain alike for his own ends.
* TheCollector: Takes one item of clothing from each person he kills in order to better remember them.
* TheChessmaster: The ragpicker believes in fashioning favourable conditions rather than awaiting them, and plans ahead.
* TheCorrupter
* DealWithTheDevil: Offers one to Skeal Elie and one to Arik.
* EvilOldFolks: Described as resembling an old, battered man.
* GrandTheftMe: Eventually does it to [[spoiler:Skeal Elie]]
* HeroKiller: Has slain other Knights of the Word in the past, and is looking to finish the job.
* LeanAndMean: Tall and lean, with the build of a stork.
* ManipulativeBastard: Can lie with the best of them when he has to, though normally he just frightens people into cooperating.
* OmnicidalManiac: All the demons are this, as part of the Void's agenda. With the world essentially ended after the Great Wars, the ragpicker is cleaning up the remnants of humanity who survived.
* TheSoulless
* WasOnceAMan
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Dark Legacy of Shannara]]
[[/folder]]
[[folder:The High Druid's Blade]]
!!Paxon Leah
A descendent of the House of Leah, Paxon is the current wielder of the Sword of Leah, and a candidate for the position of High Druid's Blade (a protector of Paranor and its Druids). Having been dragooned into the role, he isn't sure how he feels about it.
----
* CoolSword: The Sword of Leah is back, and this time, both it and its wielder are central to the story.
** AmuletOfDependency: Paxon, like all the Leahs before him, runs the risk of becoming hooked on the magic of the Sword.
** AncestralWeapon: The Leahs may not be kings anymore, but the Sword still belongs to them.
** {{Antimagic}}: Which is why Paxon's a candidate for the job in the first place.
** BlackSwordsAreBetter: The black blade is still intact.
* WarriorPrince: A descendent of kings, even if the Leahs do not officially hold the position anymore.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:The Word and the Void]]
!!Nest Freemark
----
* ActionGirl
* BadFuture: Is the cause of one in the timeline where the demon touched her. Goodbye CuteWitch, hello ChaoticEvil OmnicidalManiac.
* CuteWitch: Though darker than most.
* DarkMessiah: In the BadFuture where the demon possessed her.
* [[spoiler:HalfHumanHybrid]]: [[spoiler:Friggin' demon.]]
* HeroicBastard
* InTheBlood: The magic passes down the female line of the Freemark family.
* TheMessiah
* TookALevelInBadass: Between every book.
!!John Ross
----
* {{Badass}}
** HandicappedBadass: Gained his limp and his {{Badass}}ery at the same time.
* BadDreams: He dreams of a BadFuture that will come to pass if he fails. These dreams give him clues about his current mission.
* BadFuture: Wanders through it every time he dreams.
* BoomStick: His staff.
* ButNowIMustGo: At the end of every successful mission.
* HeroicBSOD: For most of ''A Knight Of The Word''.
* [[spoiler:HeroicSacrifice]]: [[spoiler:In ''Angel Fire East'']]
* HeroicSelfDeprecation: Easily his own worst critic.
* KnightInSourArmour
* OlderThanTheyLook: In the sequels Nest notes that years later he looks exactly the same.
* ShellShockedVeteran: He's fighting a different kind of war from most, but he definitely fits.
* TenMinuteRetirement: In ''Knight''
* WalkingTheEarth: Part of his job description. His BadDreams tell him where a disaster will happen, and he must go there to prevent it.
!!Two Bears/O'olish Amaneh
----
* {{Badass}}: Said to be one of the few people who could easily dispatch a rogue Knight of the Word. The fact that even [[BigBad Findo Gask]] doesn't want to fight him firmly cements his {{Badass}} credentials.
** BadassLongcoat: Always dressed in his army coat.
* HeroOfAnotherStory: Definitely gives this vibe off.
* MagicalNativeAmerican: Though better done than most.
* ShellShockedVeteran
* VietnamWar: A veteran of it.
!!The demon
----
* BigBad: Of ''[[Literature/TheWordAndTheVoid Running With The Demon]]''
* [[BitchInSheepsClothing Bastard In Sheep's Clothing]]: He fakes AffablyEvil really well, but underneath it, he's a monster to the core.
* BlondGuysAreEvil
* TheCorrupter: Seems to get off on this.
* CreepyBlueEyes: Pale and washed out.
* TheHeavy: Of ''[[Literature/TheWordAndTheVoid Running With The Demon]]''
* [[spoiler:LukeIAmYourFather]]: [[spoiler:He's Nest's dad.]]
* ManipulativeBastard: Part and parcel of his Corrupter persona.
* NoNameGiven
* OmnicidalManiac: Like all demons, this is his goal in the long run.
* TheNondescript: Is described as having an utterly bland appearance, save for the pale blue eyes. His powers help him out here too: when he's in the room with you, you're always sure you know him from somewhere and his name is just on the tip of your tongue; when he leaves people typically forget he was ever there at all.
* RevengeByProxy: Nest's grandmother, Evelyn spurned him. His response? Wait for years, seduce her emotionally fragile daughter, Catelyn, [[spoiler:get her pregnant]] and then reveal the truth about himself, [[DrivenToSuicide driving Catelyn to suicide]].
* SmugSnake: He's quite effective, but his own viciousness, and underestimation of Nest and her grandmother royally screw him over.
* TheSociopath
* TheSoulless: Lost it to the Void long, long ago.
!!Stefanie Winslow
----
* [[spoiler:BigBad]]: [[spoiler:Of ''A Knight of the Word''.]]
* [[spoiler:BitchInSheepsClothing]]
* [[spoiler:TheCorrupter]]: [[spoiler:Tries hard to do it to John.]]
* [[spoiler:{{Hellhound}}]]: [[spoiler:Her true form.]]
* LoveInterest: To John Ross.
* [[spoiler:ManipulativeBastard]]: [[spoiler:Uses nightmares and frightening dreams to try and force John into murdering an innocent man, an action from which he will not recover, and which would have triggered his fall to The Void.]]
* [[spoiler:{{Shapeshifter}}]]
* [[spoiler:TheSoulless]]
* [[spoiler:TheVamp]]: [[spoiler:To John.]]
* [[spoiler:VoluntaryShapeshifting]]
* WalkingSpoiler
!!Findo Gask
----
* {{Badass}}: Dominates both Nest and John Ross. Only the arrival of O'olish Amaneh saves the day.
* BigBad: Of ''Angel Fire East'' and ''Genesis''.
* DemonLordsAndArchDevils: Or as close as ''Literature/TheWordAndTheVoid'''s demons get to that title.
* TheDreaded: Especially by ''Genesis.'' And for good reason. [[spoiler:He's the one who finally took out John Ross.]]
* EvilSorcerer: His role in ''Genesis''. The text actually describes him as looking like an evil [[TheLordOfTheRings Gandalf]].
* ForTheEvulz: Kills and destroys out of sheer love of chaos rather than hatred for humanity.
* OmnicidalManiac: Like all the demons he wants the end of the world.
* SinisterMinister: The disguise he adopts in ''Angel Fire East''.
* TheSoulless
* TheStoic
!!The Void
----
* AllPowerfulBystander
* BiggerBad: The force behind the demon, [[spoiler:Stefanie]], and Findo Gask.
* NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast
* OmnicidalManiac: Seeks the destruction of all creation.
* {{Satan}}
* UltimateEvil: To the point where it's more a primal force than anything else.
* TheUnfought: Which is just as well.
!!The Word
----
* AllPowerfulBystander
* BigGood
* {{God}}
[[/folder]]
[[folder:TheSwordOfShannaraTrilogy]]
!!Allanon
An enigmatic Druid, and the only character to appear in all three books. He both manipulates, and befriends the various members of the Ohmsford family, protecting them from their enemies, while at the same time using them for his own ends. Despite this, he's an unabashed good guy, and the closest thing the series has to both a BigGood and TheMentor. Appears in ''Sword'', ''Elfstones'', ''Wishsong'', the ''Heritage'' foursome, ''First King'', and the ''Voyage'' trilogy, as well as the short story ''Allanon's Quest''.
----
* AntiHero: Somewhere between Type II and Type III. He has good intentions, but is willing to be manipulative, enigmatic, and downright ''mean'' in order to achieve them.
* TheAtoner: Sees himself as having to make up for the failures of his adoptive father, Bremen.
* BadAss: So, very, very much. He's wrestled a Skull Bearer, fought two different Dragons, slain a Demon Lord and held entire villainous armies at bay. He even manages to [[spoiler:take down the [[CombatSadomasochist Jachyra]] before it kills him]].
** BadassBeard
** BadassLongRobe: A long black cloak and robe that all but conceals his body.
* BigGood: Somewhere between this and a more traditional [[TheMentor Mentor]].
* BlackCloak
* [[spoiler:CreepyChild: In ''First King''. His ability to see right through you is ''very'' unnerving on a twelve year old]].
* DarkIsNotEvil: He's a seven foot man in a BlackCloak and [[InTheHood hood]], with dark eyes, [[BeardOfEvil a black beard]], and [[GoodIsNotNice a mean streak]]. He's the BigGood.
* {{Determinator}} Shown off many times, but never more so than in his battle with the Jachyra. He shoves his ''hand down its throat and burns it alive''. While it ''bites him''.
* FigureItOutYourself: The master of this. Allanon frequently holds back vital information if he believes it will make the protagonists doubt themselves.
* FullContactMagic: It ain't [[KungFuWizard Kung Fu]] (or any other recognisable martial art) but Allanon can both burn you alive ''and'' beat you to a pulp, completely independently of one another.
* GeniusBruiser: A seven-foot LightningBruiser ''and'' Druid.
* [[spoiler:GhostlyAdvisor: To Cogline and all of the Ohmsfords in ''Talismans''; to Walker in ''Voyage'']].
* GoodIsNotNice: Hell, good is downright scary.
* GuileHero
* HappilyAdopted: By Bremen.
* HeroicSelfDeprecation: At times. A standout is towards the end of ''Elfstones'' when he says Wil should "Tell Flick he was right about me. He will like that, I think."
* InTheHood
* JediTruth: A master of this, note that as much as others may complain about him lying, he never actually tells any outright lies.
* [[spoiler:KilledOffForReal: In ''Wishsong'']]
* LightningBruiser: Seven feet tall. Fast. Strong. An evil magician's worst nightmare.
* MadeOfIron: Started the trend of Druids in this series being able to take unbelievable beatings and just keep right on ticking.
* TheMentor: Serves Shea, Brin, and [[spoiler:later Walker in this capacity]]. Wil is more of a comrade-in-arms.
* [[spoiler:MentorOccupationalHazard: Although it takes three books to catch up with him. In a way that just makes it worse]].
* MysteriousPast: What happened to Allanon between ''First King'' and ''Sword'' is still up in the air.
* OneManArmy: Especially in ''Elfstones''. The Elven archers hold two sides of Halys Cut and Baen Draw, the Free Corps has the back...and Allanon covers the third side all by himself. At meetings he's actually accorded the same status as if he was the leader of an army.
* ParentalAbandonment: In the BackStory.
* PlayingWithFire: His preferred attack involves blue, Druidic flames.
* PetTheDog: Generally Allanon will have one or two scenes with the main characters of each book wherein he explains everything, gives a SoProudOfYou speech, and then leaves. These are ''inevitably'' {{Tear Jerker}}y, and serve to remind the audience that yes, he is one of the good guys.
* TheProtagonist: Of the new short story ''Allanon's Quest''
* ReallySevenHundredYearsOld: At least five hundred.
* SoProudOfYou: Done with each main character.
* [[spoiler:TakeUpMySword: To Brin, or more accurately, her descendents.]]
''The Sword of Shannara''
!!Shea Ohmsford
The last scion of the Elven House of Shannara, half-human Shea Ohmsford didn't even know about his heritage until Allanon showed up and shafted him into saving the world. Used to living in sleepy Shady Vale, and working in his father's inn, he knows very little about the Sword he's supposed to find, and less about how to use it. A bit of a romantic, Shea has no idea what he's gotten himself into. He'll be the first Ohmsford to aid Allanon and save the Four Lands. He certainly won't be the last.
----
* ChangelingFantasy
* TheChosenOne: Not because of anything inherently special about Shea himself, but because he is the only person who can use the blasted Sword.
* FireForgedFriends: With Panamon Creel.
* HalfHumanHybrid: Part Man, part Elf.
* InTheBlood: As an heir of Shannara, only he can use the Sword.
* LastOfHisKind: At this point, Shea is the last surviving member of The House Of Shannara.
* OddFriendship: With Menion Leah and Panamon Creel.
* ParentalSubstitute: He and Flick to Wil.
* PinballProtagonist: Just about everything that happens to him is due to outside influences--Allanon telling him his destiny, the Skull Bearer coming to Shady Vale, the decision of the council in Culhaven, the fight with the proto-Creeper in the Wolfsktaag necessitating the trip to Storlock, his fall from the Dragon's Crease. It's not until he meets up with Panamon and Keltset, and decides to go after Orl Fane and the Sword, that he truly starts making decisions of his own that affect the plot (and not coincidentally, truly accepts his destiny).
* PointyEars: Which demonstrate his half-elven heritage.
* SiblingYinYang: With Flick.
* WideEyedIdealist: At least at the start of the book. By the end some of this has been lost.
!!Flick Ohmsford
Shea's foster brother, fully human Flick is suspicious, practical, and well-grounded. He has absolutely ''no'' desire to get involved with Allanon, but goes along to help his brother. Also appears in ''Elfstones''.
----
* CrazyPrepared: Brings the climbing gear when the visit the Black Oaks, in case they get lost again.
* TheCynic
* DressingAsTheEnemy: Allanon forces him to disguise himself as a Gnome and infiltrate Brona's army.
* FantasticRacism: Loathes Gnomes in ''Elfstones'', though not without reason. Too many of them tried to kill him over the course of ''Sword''.
* GrumpyBear: The most unabashadly cynical and pessimistic member of the cast.
* GrumpyOldMan: As Wil's great-uncle.
* ParentalSubstitute: For Wil's mom and dad.
* RefusalOfTheCall: Not for himself, but tries to convince first Shea and then Wil to refuse to heed Allanon's call.
* ReverseMole: Sent by Allanon to infiltrate the Warlock Lord's army.
* ScrewPolitenessImASenior: In ''Elfstones''.
* SiblingYinYang: Grumpy, practical, and heavily built, in contrast to the more positive, romantic, and slender Shea.
* TheSmartGuy: Flick's ability to plan ahead, and improvise on the fly (despite really hating to do so) come in handy several times.
* VitriolicBestBuds: With Menion Leah.
!!Menion Leah
Shea's oldest friend, and a Prince of the Highland Kingdom of Leah. Menion is hotheaded, impulsive, and on occasion, downright reckless. He's also loyal, brave, and will go miles for you if he considers you a friend. He's a Tracker, a hunter, the best bowman in the Southland (at least in his considered opinion), and an all around useful fellow.
----
* AncestralWeapon: Carries the Sword of Leah, his family's ancestral broadsword.
* BadAss: Menion starts out as a superb archer and a capable swordsman and only gets better with time. Whether it's making impossible shots, fighting Sirens and giant insects with a sword, or massacring kidnappers, Menion Leah has you covered.
** TookALevelInBadass: While Menion is already an excellent fighter at the start, his irreverent personality and lack of direction prevent him from being a true badass until he grows up partway through.
* BowAndSwordInAccord
* HeroesWantRedHeads: His relationship with Shirl.
* HotBlooded
* OddFriendship: With Shea and Flick, and then Hendel.
* RedOniBlueOni: The red to Hendel's blue.
* RichIdiotWithNoDayJob: Initially. By the end he's anything but.
* VitriolicBestBuds: He and Flick are this on a good day. On a bad day they just hate each other.
* WarriorPrince
* YouShallNotPass: He and Hendel pull this on Stenmin.
!!Hendel
A Dwarf Tracker and woodsman who serves as the group's guide through the Eastland. Perhaps the most experienced member of the group, he is hated by the Eastland Gnomes, who have a price on his head.
----
* BadAss
** BadassBeard: He is a Dwarf after all.
* CarryABigStick: His mace is undoubtedly his favourite weapon.
* [[spoiler:HeroicSacrifice: Twice. It sticks the second time.]]
* [[spoiler:KilledOffForReal]]
* OddFriendship: With Menion Leah.
* OlderAndWiser: Than anyone who isn't named Allanon.
* TheQuietOne: And not a screwed up example. He just doesn't talk that much, unless the situation calls for it. The word most used to describe him is "taciturn."
* RedOniBlueOni: The blue to Menion's red.
* YouShallNotPass: He and Menion pull this when Stenmin attempts to lead the enemy into the city through the basement.
!!Balinor Buckhannah
Prince of Callahorn, Border Legion Commander, and inspiring leader par excellence, currently away from home due to a disagreement with his brother Palance. Serves as the team leader when Allanon is not present.
----
* AFatherToHisMen: The reason the Border Legion loves him as much ss they do.
* BadAss: Not only is he a very capable fighter, he's also a solid commander, and AFatherToHisMen.
** FourStarBadass: A general in the Border Legion, in addition to being a physical badass.
* BFS: He is said to wield a sword that no ordinary man can wield.
* TheBigGuy: Toyed with. Balinor's an enormous man, brought along by Allanon for the express purpose of being the muscle. However, in the BigGood's absence, he takes over as TheLeader of the party from Cullhaven, is a competent strategist, and does far more then just act as Shea's protector. It might be fairest to say that while he looks like TheBigGuy, he's really...
** TheLancer: Serves as Allanon's NumberTwo throughout the journey, leading the party in his absence.
* CainAndAbel: With his brother, Palance. It stems largely from the latter's inferiority complex.
* MusclesAreMeaningless: Averted. Balinor is repeatedly described as very large, and very strong, and makes full use of it in combat.
* RoyalsWhoActuallyDoSomething
* SupportingLeader
* TwentyFourHourArmor: He is always described as wearing a full body suit of chain-mail.
* WarriorPrince
!!Durin and Dayel
A pair of Elven brothers who are along for the ride.
----
* FatalFamilyPhoto: Averted. We learn about one of the brother's beloved Lynliss back home in the Westland, which seems like a sure sign he's going to die in the final battle at Tyrsis--but he doesn't.
* FlatCharacter: Very little characterization is devoted to them, to the point they often seem like window dressing and rarely speak, acting only as extra fighters when the bad guys show up. Seem to be included only so that there could be Elves in the story.
* MauveShirt
!!Brona, The Warlock Lord
TheBigBad. The head honcho. The monster whose fault half this series is. Formerly one of the Druids, Brona was among the first to rediscover the books of magic. Growing obsessed with it, he rebelled against the Druids, plunging the world into a repeating cycle of war that can only be ended by his death. Leader of the armies of Man during the First War of the Races, TheManBehindTheMan to the Trolls in the Second, he's now out to instigate a Third, and bring all of the Four Lands squarely under his heel. Seemingly {{Immortal}}, he can only be slain by the touch of the Sword of Shannara. Appears in ''Sword'', ''First King'' [[spoiler:and ''High Druid'']].
----
* AGodAmI: He's convinced the Trolls, the Gnomes, and possibly himself, of this.
* AchillesHeel: The Sword Of Shannara, which [[spoiler:reveals his DeadAllAlong nature to him.]]
* BigBad: In both ''Sword'' and ''First King''.
* BlackCloak
* TheDarkSideWillMakeYouForget: Implied. Brona originally began studying the books of magic for the same reason Druids did anything, to gain the knowledge needed to help lead, guide, and protect the world. But after being corrupted by [[TomeOfEldritchLore the Ildatch]] and losing his soul, he became merely a vessel for its power and only cared about [[TakeOverTheWorld taking over the world]]. If any of his real self was left, it might pretend he was doing so in order to lead and guide it, but that's just sophistry at this point.
* [[spoiler:DeadAllAlong]]: [[spoiler:Brona is revealed to be a walking corpse, sustained only by the magic and his belief in his own immortality. The Sword Of Shannara reveals his lies to him, promptly killing him in truth]].
* [[spoiler:DeadpanSnarker: His characterisation in ''High Druid'' is surprisingly close to this. He seems to get a real kick out of mocking Grianne, and telling her she isn't asking the right questions. It's quite stunning (and funny) given his previous characterisation as a StockCharacter EvilOverlord]].
* [[spoiler:{{Determinator}}: In a way. Brona's will, combined with his magic and his belief that he cannot die is the only thing still keeping him, and his Skull Bearers, alive. It takes the power of the Sword to shatter his convictions]].
* DarkIsEvil
* [[spoiler:DragonInChief: To [[TomeOfEldritchLore The Ildatch]]. Brona doesn't necessarily even know it, but his ArtifactOfDoom has thoroughly manipulated him into becoming what he is, and is largely using him in order to unleash its magics upon the world. That said, the plan is Brona's, and without him, the Ildatch is just a book. There's a reason why it doesn't even put in an appearance in ''Sword'', and is of secondary concern in ''First King''. Without Brona to wield it, the Ildatch can't ''do'' much]].
* [[DubNameChange Dub Title Change]]: In the Italian version at least his title of "Warlock Lord" is changed to "Signore degli Inganni" (Lord of Deceptions).
* EvilSoundsDeep: He's described as having a deep, roiling voice, that echoes in your mind. It's also written [[CapitalLettersAreMagic entirely in capitals]] in ''Sword'' and ''First King''. In ''High Druid'' his mind-speech is more normal, but still very low.
* TheFaceless: He has no face, just a swirling green mist, and two [[RedEyesTakeWarning red eyes]].
* FakingTheDead: After the First War Of The Races. He isn't faking after the Second though: it legitimately took him that long to recover from the damage Bremen and Jerle Shannara inflicted on him.
* FisherKing: His presence alone is implied to have made the [[NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast Skull Kingdom]] the [[{{Mordor}} barren wasteland]] it is today.
* [[spoiler:GhostlyAdvisor]]: [[spoiler:In ''High Druid'' where he is this to Grianne. It's absurd enough that it just might count as a CrowningMomentOfFunny]].
* {{Immortality}}: [[spoiler:Or so he believes.]]
* ImmortalityImmorality: Obtained his lifespan through the abuse of BlackMagic.
* InTheHood
* [[spoiler:KilledOffForReal: Finally bites the dust in ''Sword'' after over a thousand years of menacing the world]].
* LargeHam: In ''Sword'', and to a lesser degree ''First King''. MORTAL CREATURE, I AM HERE!
* [[spoiler:LiteralGenie: His ghost goes out of its way to be this in ''High Druid'', being as unhelpful--and as [[DeadpanSnarker aggravating]]--as possible whenever Grianne asks a question.]]
* [[spoiler:LoadBearingBoss: Both Skull Mountain, and the entire Knife Edge collapse after he dies. All of the Skull Bearers go too]].
* TheManBehindTheMan: In the First and Second Wars Of The Races. He's a little more obvious about it in the Third.
* [[spoiler:OneSceneWonder: In ''Sword'' and ''High Druid''. He gets a little more screen time in ''First King'']].
* OrcusOnHisThrone: [[spoiler:Actually justified. Brona's less a character, and more a channel for eldritch forces. He can't do anything]].
* RedEyesTakeWarning
* SorcerousOverlord: Duh.
* TakeOverTheWorld: His plan since at least The Second War of The Races, and possibly the First.
* TheseAreThingsManWasNotMeantToKnow: He got hit by this trope when he discovered and read the Ildatch.
* TheUndead
* [[spoiler:UndeathAlwaysEnds]]
* WellIntentionedExtremist: In the BackStory
* WithGreatPowerComesGreatInsanity
!!The Skull Bearers
The Druids who rebelled alongside Brona, they now function as his generals, bodyguards, and top henchmen. No longer human, the magic has warped them into monstrous beings with leathery wings, red eyes, heavy, slouching bodies, and clawed fingers. Nearly unkillable, they exist only to serve the Warlock Lord's will.
----
* AsskickingEqualsAuthority: They serve as Brona's generals solely for this reason.
* BlackCloak
* CoDragons: The Skull Bearers as a group serves as Brona's PraetorianGuard, seconds-in-command, and chief enforcers.
* DarkIsEvil
* [[spoiler:DeadAllAlong: The only thing maintaining their existence is Brona's will. When he, and his belief that they are alive goes, so do they]].
* EvilSorceror: They're all former Druids.
* GoodWingsEvilWings: Rotten, leathery wings, on monsters that fly like a vulture.
* InTheHood: Thankfully. When we do see their faces, they're described as looking like pitted coal. The art in ''World of Shannara'' makes it even worse.
* OneManArmy: Any one of them can match Allanon blow for blow. The one that gets into the Elven palace in ''First King'' murders the royal family and half the guard before it is ''finally'' put down. If you don't have an Elfstone or Druidic powers of some sort, and you see one of these guys, start running.
* PlayingWithFire
* RedEyesTakeWarning
* SlouchOfVillainy: Are all possessed of massively hunched backs, and uniformly bad posture.
* TheUndead
* VaderBreath: They all have wheezing, ragged breath.
* WasOnceAMan
* WingedHumanoid: Barely. The humanoid part that is.
* WithGreatPowerComesGreatInsanity
!!Palance Buckhannah
Balinor's younger brother, Palance is not the man he once was thanks to his treacherous adviser, Stenmin. With his father ill, and Balinor driven from the city, Palance is the one running Callahorn--or so he thinks.
----
* CainAndAbel: He's the Cain to Balinor's Abel, though the hatred is entirely onesided.
* EvenEvilHasLovedOnes: Despite the utter mess that his mind and personal life are, Palance certainly cares about Shirl. He also refuses to have Balinor executed, despite his paranoid delusions and Stenmin's insistence that it is the only way he can protect himself.
* TheEvilPrince: Subverted. Palance looks like one at first, but it's his EvilChancellor who is the real problem.
* HopelessSuitor[=/=]StalkerWithACrush: Towards Shirl. It's played for tragedy.
* HorribleJudgeOfCharacter
* LoveTriangle: Of a sort with Menion and Shirl. Made worse by the fact he had befriended and trusted Menion before learning of his feelings for Shirl, though it is this friendship and trust that allows him to resist Stenmin's attempts to turn him against Menion; in the end [[spoiler:after Stemin fatally stabs him]] he even seems to have a moment of sanity so as to give them his blessing.
* TheMentallyIll: In the end, Palance's madness becomes horribly real.
* TheResenter: Horribly resents Balinor for being the firstborn.
* WeakWilled: The drugs that Stenmin feeds him only make it worse, causing him to vacilitate back and forth, usually making a decision based on the advice of the last person he talked to.
!!Stenmin
One of the Warlock Lord's spies, and a treacherous advisor to Balinor's brother, Palance. He plots to open the gates of Tyrsis to Brona's army.
----
* DirtyCoward: Spineless, sleazy, and pathetic, with a strong attachment to his own skin. Even Palance, who thinks that Stenmin is the smartest person in the world, describes him as a coward.
* EvilChancellor
* InformedAbility: He never demonstrates his "mystic" abilities. Of course, he could have been an astrologist, or an alchemist, or something else along those lines, in which case he may not have ''had'' any, or at least none that would be of viable use in combat.
* TheMole
* ObviouslyEvil: To everyone but the drug-addled Palance. Of course, Palance is the only one who ''needs'' to trust him.
* SmugSnake
* StupidEvil: Does he really expect Brona to reward him after the war is over? Than again, it's exactly these qualities of his that the SorcerousOverlord is playing on.
* TreacherousAdvisor: To Palance.
!!Panamon Creel
A thief, highwayman, and all around rogue whom Shea meets after being separated from the group. Quick-tempered, and prone to mood swings, he's nevertheless a useful (if shady) companion, and goes on to become Shea's protector on the trek to the [[{{Mordor}} Skull Kingdom]].
----
* AffablyEvil: Panamon is polite, courteous, and prefers to avoid killing people if he can. That said, he's no gentleman and can turn very ugly if the situation warrants it.
* BadAss
** BadassMoustache
** BadassNormal
** HandicappedBadass: He lost one of his hands, and replaced it with a steel pike head.
* BladeBelowTheShoulder: Has a pike for an arm.
* DualWielding: In a way. He has the pike on one arm, and carries his broadsword in the other.
* EvenEvilHasStandards: Panamon's a thief and a murderer, but he balks at what the Northland has become under Brona. He's also revolted by the deserter Orl Fane, who left all his friends to die.
* FireForgedFriends: With Shea
* GentlemanThief: Fakes it really well, but underneath he's a common highwayman, and he knows it.
* TheHighwayman: Though he's aware that the honourable facade is just that.
* HonourAmongThieves
* HookHand: Pike hand anyway.
* IGaveMyWord: Panamon's a slippery, lying SOB but if he actually promises to do something, he will damn well do it.
* IOweYouMyLife: Which is why he decides to help Shea.
* LoveableRogue
* OddFriendship: His relationships with both [[TheHero Shea]] and [[TheMessiah Keltset]] when you get right down to it.
* {{Pride}}: Perhaps his defining characteristic. Even his decision to help Shea is based at least in part because being outfoxed by Orl Fane and nearly killed by a Skull Bearer hurts his vanity.
* RedOniBlueOni: With Keltset.
!!Keltset
An immense Troll, Keltset is Panamon's closest friend, and partner in crime. Strangely gentle, he doesn't quite fit with Shea's [[AlwaysChaoticEvil view]] of [[ProudWarriorRaceGuy Trolls]].
----
* BadAss
* [[spoiler:BigGuyFatalitySyndrome]]
* CarryABigStick: He's almost as fond of his mace as Hendel is.
* GeniusBruiser
* GentleGiant: Although don't pick a fight with him.
* [[spoiler:KilledOffForReal]]
* [[spoiler:HeroicSacrifice]]
* [[spoiler:LoadBearingHero]]
* [[spoiler:TheMessiah: From a Troll perspective anyway, as the holder of the Black Irix, the highest award the Troll nation can give out]].
* OddFriendship: With Panamon Creel.
* ProudWarriorRaceGuy
* TheQuietOne: He's an [[TheSpeechless actual mute]], yes. He also however, rarely involves himself in the decision making process unless he has to, allowing him to still fit this trope.
* RedOniBlueOni: With Panamon.
* TheSpeechless: Had his vocal cords burned out by Skull Bearers.
!!Orl Fane
A Gnome deserter, captured by Panamon Creel who claims to know the location of the Sword of Shannara.
----
* AxeCrazy
* DangerousDeserter: A thief, tramp, and all around miserable excuse for a human being, Orl Fane alternates between snivelling sycophancy and violent insanity, making him dangerous to all those around him.
* DirtyCoward
* FullNameBasis
* TheMentallyIll: His mind utterly shatters by the time of his final confrontation with the group.
* NotSoHarmlessVillain: [[spoiler:He really did manage to get his hands on the Sword of Shannara, and is able to avoid Shea and Panamon Creel for a couple hundred pages before being captured by the Warlock Lord.]]
* ObfuscatingInsanity: Orl Fane is crazy, but not quite as crazy as he looks.
* PeoplePuppets: Used as one by Brona.
* TalkativeLoon
''The Elfstones of Shannara''
!!Wil Ohmsford
Shea's grandson, Wil was orphaned when his parents died in a fever. Raised by Shea and Flick, he's studying in Storlock to become a Healer, in the hopes of saving people like his parents. That's the plan anyway, until Allanon comes crashing into his life. A few years back, Shea had passed the Elfstones on to Wil. Now the Druid wants him to use them to protect an Elven Princess on her way to save the world from a Demonic invasion. Does Wil get a choice in this? Not on your life.
----
* BodyguardCrush: On Amberle.
* CombatMedic: Wil is a healer, trained by the Gnomes of Storlock. He's also carrying the demon-destroying Elfstones around with him. He's a pretty solid example of this.
* DeceasedParentsAreTheBest: His mother and father died of a fever, convincing Wil to become a Healer. He seems to have relatively decent memories of them. That said, his grandfather (Shea) and great-uncle (Flick) haven't given him much to complain about in the ParentalSubstitute department.
* TheHero
* HeroSecretService: To Amberle.
* LamarckWasRight: His use of the Elfstones physically damaged him, causing him to pass along magically altered genetics to his children. Cue the [[RealityWarper Wishsong]].
* LikeBrotherAndSister: What he and Amberle claim.
* LockedOutOfTheLoop: [[spoiler:No one tells him what will happen to Amberle if the quest is successful, as they fear he will try and screw it up]].
* NiceGuy
* TheProtagonist
* SecondLove: [[spoiler:With Eretria]].
* TookALevelInBadass: After spending most of the book frightened of the magic, and on the run from forces too powerful to combat, Wil turns around and burns [[TheJuggernaut The Reaper]] to ash.
!!Amberle Elessedil
The granddaughter of Elven King, Eventine Elessedil, Amberle was the first girl to be Chosen by the Ellcrys in years. It was a great honour. It was one she ran away from. When Allanon finds her, she's hiding out in an orphanage, helping look after the children. Next thing she knows she's on a quest to save the world, with only Wil for protection.
----
* TheChick
* TheChosenOne: Amberle was chosen by the Ellcrys to help repair the gap in the Forbidding. Surprisingly, she isn't the main character. She initially thought it was a cruel joke.
* DistressedDamsel: Frequently.
* HeroicSacrifice: [[spoiler:Gives up her life in order to become the new Ellcrys]].
* LikeBrotherAndSister: She and Wil claim to be this. If it's true or not is never confirmed.
* RebelliousPrincess: Though much girlier than most. She ran away from home because she couldn't face being a Chosen or enduring her family's disapproval.
* RefusalOfTheCall: She really doesn't want to be TheChosenOne, and tries to refuse until [[GoodIsNotNice Allanon]] bullies her into it.
* RoyalsWhoActuallyDoSomething
* TomboyAndGirlyGirl: Girly Girl to Eretria's {{Tomboy}}.
!!Eretria
The adopted daughter of Cephelo, leader of a Rover band that Wil and Amberle encounter. She quickly falls for Wil, and tries to help him when her father cheats him. She returns to help them again near the end.
----
* ArrangedMarriage: Is fleeing the one that her ParentalSubstitute, Cephelo, is trying to force her into.
* FemmeFatale: Beautiful, enigmatic, and willing to offer Wil just about anything if he'll take her away from Cephelo. While she's far less skanky than most, the trope still applies.
* [[spoiler:HappilyMarried: If everything Brin says in ''Wishsong'' is true, she and Wil genuinely love each other as adults, however rocky things may have started out.]]
* LoveAtFirstSight: Falls for Wil right off the bat.
* PluckyGirl
* SingleWomanSeeksGoodMan: The source of her interest in Wil.
* TomboyAndGirlyGirl: {{Tomboy}} to Amberle's Girly Girl.
* WomanScorned: Having been spurned by Wil twice in a row, Eretria vows that he will live to regret it, and does nothing when Cephelo [[spoiler:steals the Elfstones from him]]. Once she realises the stakes, she quickly drops her anger and tries to help make amends.
!!Eventine Elessedil
Often regarded as the greatest of the Elven Kings, Eventine was an exceedingly minor character in ''Sword''. When we meet him in ''Elfstones'' he's in his eighties, and trying very hard to train his son Arion to take his place. He's not too happy about having to trust Amberle (who he regards as the black sheep of the family), but goes along with it at Allanon's urging. Spends most of the book leading his troops, which results in his receiving several serious injuries.
----
* AscendedExtra: A minor character in the first book, he has to be rescued like a DamselInDistress by Flick. In ''Elfstones'' on the other hand, he is a clearly great, if aging king, a central character, and a total BadAss.
* BadassGrandpa: A more realistic version than many, given his limited stamina, aching bones, and failing strength. Still, the man's eighty-two, and not only leads his men from the front but [[spoiler:managed to kill the freaking [[CoDragons Changeling]], injured, and by himself]].
* CoolOldGuy: For the most part.
* {{Determinator}}: [[spoiler:Especially against the Changeling]].
* TheGoodKing: Not only a good king, but the best of them.
* [[spoiler:KilledOffForReal]]
* [[spoiler:MutualKill: Kills the Changeling, but suffers a mortal wound in the process.]]
* ParentalFavouritism: He favours his oldest son, Arion, over his younger son, Ander. This isn't from a lack of love for Ander; it's simply that Arion, as heir to the throne, is the one he needs to be able to depend upon.
* ReasonableAuthorityFigure
* RoyalsWhoActuallyDoSomething
!!Arion Elessedil
Eventine's oldest son, and Crown Prince of the Elves. Slain while leading the Elven army at Worl Run.
----
* HotBlooded
* {{Jerkass}}: To everyone, but especially Amberle and Ander.
* KilledOffForReal
* PrinceCharmless: He can lead an army, but has no patience for politics, which makes including him in diplomatic negotiations a risky process at best.
* SiblingYinYang: Hot-tempered, bitter, and undiplomatic (though a capable war-leader) to Ander's reasoned deliberateness.
!!Ander Elessedil
Eventine's second son, younger brother to Arion, and older brother to the deceased Aine. He takes on more and more responsibility as the book progresses, due to natural, self-effacing leadership skills, and the fact that he's one of the few people Allanon trusts.
----
* {{Ambadassador}}[=/=]BadassBureaucrat: Ander is equal parts negotiator and bureaucrat. He's still a more then capable fighter who singlehandedly keeps the battle going when all else is lost.
* BeleagueredBureaucrat: In the beginning. Arion and Eventine may be leaders of men, but it's Ander who handles all the paperwork, tries to track down the location of the Bloodfire, and goes through the army lists.
* TheGoodKing: Allanon prophesies he will be a good one, and ''Wishsong'' seems to bear him out.
* TheHeart: Eventine is the figurehead of the army, Stee Jans is its brains, and Allanon its power, but Ander is its soul. His mere presence is enough to rouse the troops to greater action, and he singlehandedly keeps them going in the face of hopeless odds.
* TheLeader: Takes his father's place as the leader of the Elven army.
* ReasonableAuthorityFigure
* RoyalsWhoActuallyDoSomething
* SiblingYinYang: With Arion.
* SupportingLeader
* TookALevelInBadass: From TheUnfavourite to war leader, king, and TheHeart of the Elven Army.
* TheUnfavourite: A non-malicious example. It's not that Eventine doesn't love Ander, it's just that he sees training his heir, Arion, to be much more pressing.
* WarriorPrince
* TheWisePrince: Right down to the aura of melancholy.
!!Crispin
The Captain of the Elven Home Guard, Crispin and six of his men are tasked with seeing Wil and Amberle safely to the Wilderun. Competent, brave, and dedicated to his job, Crispin ultimately sacrifices himself so that Wil and Amberle can escape [[SuperPersistentPredator The Reaper]].
----
* BadassBeard: In the cover art.
* BowAndSwordInAccord: Fires one shot after another at The Reaper before resorting to a direct confrontation, wherein he acquits himself relatively well.
* DyingMomentOfAwesome: With his team dead, and [[TheJuggernaut The Reaper]] approaching rapidly, Crispin holds the Pykon Bridge against the unstoppable monster, holding it off long enough that Wil and Amberle are able to destroy the bridge, thus ensuring their escape. He doesn't actually do any damage, but the simple fact that he was able to slow the Demon down cements him as an immense {{Badass}}.
* HeroSecretService
* MauveShirt
* PraetorianGuard
* YouShallNotPass: See Dying Moment Of Awesome above.
!!Stee Jans
The commander of the Border Legion Free Corps, Jans and his men are among the first to answer the [[GondorCallsForAid Elven call for assistance]]. A valuable ally, and walking BigDamnHeroes moment, his men will follow him just about anywhere.
----
* AFatherToHisMen
* AllThereInTheManual: His eventual disappearance and the suggestion that he might be Garet Jax.
* AsskickingEqualsAuthority: Leads the Legion Free Corps by reason of this.
* {{Badass}}
** BadassNormal: Kills more Demons than anyone excepting Allanon. And he does it ''without'' powers.
** CommandingCoolness
* BigDamnHeroes: Frequently. His job seems to be getting the Elven Army out of one jam after another.
* TheCavalry: Heads it.
* DarkAndTroubledPast: Implied. He leads what's essentially the Callahorn version of The French Foreign Legion. All his men, and Stee himself, are running away from something.
* RedBaron: The Iron Man.
* RedHeadedHero
* TheStrategist: Eventine and Ander are the leaders of the army, but Stee Jans is its brains.
!!The Dagda Mor
The leader of the Demons, The Dagda Mor is a powerful Demon Lord and sorcerer, with abilities that are a match for those of Allanon. He serves as the main antagonist of ''Elfstones'', arranging the collapse of the Forbidding and leading his army's assault on the Elves, with his ultimate objective being the destruction of all sentient life in the Four Lands. In appearance he is roughly humanoid, with a humped back that crooks his spine almost double, a catlike muzzle, scaled arms and legs, and patches of sawgrass-like green hair.
----
* AsskickingEqualsAuthority: The Dagda Mor is in charge because he has ''brutally'' crushed anyone who might have stood against him, using both his own power, and that of [[TheDragon The Reaper]]. Few Demons approach his level of strength, and no one wants to challenge him for his position.
* BatOutOfHell: Uses a gigantic one as his mode of transport.
* BigBad
* BoomStick: Channels red, Demonic flames through his staff.
* DarkIsEvil
* DemonLordsAndArchDevils: Lord of all the Demons, though not by virtue of title. It's by virtue of having killed anyone else who wanted the job.
* EvilGenius: It's repeatedly stated that while the Dagda Mor may not be the most powerful Demon (although he's close enough), he is the smartest.
* EvilSorcerer: Channels Druidic magic through his Staff Of Power as an addition to his own, innate abilities. As such, he is the only Demon to keep his magic when the Ellcrys staff renders his army mortal.
* IControlMyMinionsThrough: Fear, and the shared goal of eradicating all life.
* KillAllHumans: And Elves, and Dwarves, and Trolls, and Gnomes. If it isn't a Demon, The Dagda Mor wants it destroyed.
* [[spoiler:KilledOffForReal: By Allanon]]
* ThePowerOfHate: All the Demons are like this, but the Dagda Mor is unique in that he is aware of it. Hate is all that has kept him going for thousands of years, and he feeds it like a favourite pet.
* PrimalStance: Walks slouched and hunched, with his hands near the ground courtesy of a huge humpback.
* {{Revenge}}: Wants to payback the Elves, and then all of humanity, for his imprisonment.
** SinsOfOurFathers: Those who imprisoned the Dagda Mor are long since dead. He'll take it out on not only their descendents, but all of humanity, thanks all the same.
* WizardDuel: Against Allanon.
!!The Changeling
The Dagda Mor's spy, The Changeling is a spiteful Demon who looks down on all those who refuse to toy with lives the way that he does. He serves The Dagda Mor out of fear, and infiltrates Eventine's councils for him, [[spoiler:disguised as the King's wolfhound, Manx.]]
----
* TheDragon: One of the Dagda Mor's [[CoDragons two]].
* ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin: [[VoluntaryShapeshifting The Changeling]]. Couldn't get more obvious, could it?
* HellHound: [[spoiler:Its Evil!Manx form has this vibe]].
* IFightForTheStrongestSide: Serves The Dagda Mor because he has greater power than any of the other Demon Lords.
* [[spoiler:KilledOffForReal: By Eventine Elessedil]]
* TheMole
* [[spoiler:MutualKill: Eventine beheads The Changeling, but not before it mortally wounds him.]]
* [[spoiler:OffWithHisHead: How Eventine deals with it]].
* {{Shapeshifter}}
** ShapeshifterWeapon
** VoluntaryShapeshifting
* SocialDarwinist: Believes the strong should rule, and is contemptuous of anyone who is trapped by what they are. The only thing he respects is power superior to his own.
!!The Reaper
Created to be the ultimate hunter and tracker, The Reaper represents all the darker impulses of predation combined into one being and given human intelligence to balance animalistic instinct. Driven by instincts that demand it kill everything it comes into contact with, The Reaper is The Dagda Mor's most dangerous servant, and the one he uses to harry Wil and Amberle across the whole of the Westland.
----
* BlackCloak
* DarkIsEvil
* DisneyVillainDeath: Subverted. The Reaper is dropped off a cliff only to make its return chapters later having been nothing more than mildly inconvenienced.
* TheDragon: To The Dagda Mor, though it doesn't actually [[DragonWithAnAgenda share his goals]]. The Reaper's sole objective in life is to kill as many living beings as it can, and The Dagda Mor provides it with the opportunity to indulge those instincts again and again.
* TheFaceless
* GrimReaper: Invoked by its appearance and name.
* InTheHood
* TheJuggernaut: The Reaper is ImplacableMan TurnedUpToEleven and with shades of SuperPersistentPredator. Nothing hurts it: not fire, not weapons, not falling from a bridge; nothing deters it, and it can plow through literally ''anything'' that gets in its way.
* [[spoiler:KilledOffForReal: By Wil]]
* LastOfHisKind: Implied. Allanon talks about how there was a type of Demon a Reaper in the Old World of Faerie, yet The Dagda Mor's commentary (and indeed the ''The'' in The Reaper's title) imply that this one is the only one left.
* LightningBruiser
* NighInvulnerability: Nothing can stop The Reaper. One of the Elven Hunters hits it in the throat with his sword. The sword breaks, The Reaper doesn't.
* PsychoForHire: Designed to be one. The only reason it works for The Dagda Mor is the promise of an entire world of lesser beings that it can kill.
* ScarilyCompetentTracker: The Reaper follows Wil and Amberle all the way across the Westland and into the depths of the Wilderun, never losing track of them for more then a few days.
* SilentAntagonist
* SlasherMovie: Reads like something out of one.
* TheUnreveal: We're told that only The Reaper's victims see its face. Said face is never once shown, not even when Wil [[spoiler:burns it into ash]].
* TheVoiceless
!!Morag & Mallenroh, The Witch Sisters
A pair of psychotic witches, who make the Wilderun, home of the Bloodfire, their home. They hate one another, while viewing everything and everyone else as just something to toy with. Mallenroh captures Wil, Amberle, and Eretria, and takes the stones, hoping to alter the balance of power between her and her sister. Morag arrives and the two of them [[spoiler:proceed to kill one another]] as Wil, Amberle, and Eretria escape with The Reaper right behind them
----
* CainAndAbel: More like Cain & Cain.
* EvilIsDeathlyCold: Being in their presence is a little like walking into an icestorm.
* {{Evil Twin}}s: To one another.
* EvilVersusEvil: Mallenroh vs The Reaper, Morag vs Mallenroh.
* FearfulSymmetry
* HypocriticalHumour: Identical twins who call one another ugly? Think about it.
* InTheBlood: Both evil and magic seem to be in the genes, if they and [[Literature/TheVoyageOfTheJerleShannara The Morgawr]] (who claims to be their brother) are any proof.
* KilledOffForReal
* LastOfHisKind: The last members of their Coven.
* LivingDollCollector: Mallenroh captures people she finds "pretty" and either turns them into wooden figurines, or keeps them alive in her dungeons. Morag is implied to do the same.
* LoveTriangle: A human got caught between them. They killed him and blame one another.
* MutualKill
* NeverMyFault: Neither will accept any blame for the death of the human they killed.
* PlayingWithFire: It's green.
* ReallySevenHundredYearsOld: Older than the races, actually.
* SiblingTriangle: In the backstory. Given [[{{Yandere}} what they]] [[LivingDollCollector are]] it didn't end well for the poor bastard.
* StatuesqueStunner: Both are very beautiful (albeit in a cold kind of way) and are taller than Allanon, a seven-footer.
* {{Vain Sorceress}}es
* {{Wicked Witch}}es
* {{Yandere}}s
''The Wishsong of Shannara''
!!Brin Ohmsford
Wil's daughter, Brin inherited some of the ancient Elven magic in the form of the [[RealityWarper Wishsong]]. Allanon recruits her while Wil (who's never quite trusted him after the events of ''Elfstones'') is out, needing her ability to mimic and control all forms of life in order to enter the [[GardenOfEvil Maelmord]] and destroy [[ArtifactOfDoom The]] [[TomeOfEldritchLore Ildatch]]. She is mentioned in ''Indomitable'' and appears briefly in ''Dark Wraith''.
----
* [[spoiler:BrainwashedAndCrazy: Done to her by The Ildatch]]
* TheChosenOne: Although it's [[BigGood Allanon]] who did the chosing and not fate.
* GlassCannon[=/=]SquishyWizard: Brin has tremendous raw power, but it's in the body of an average teenage girl. If you can reach her, you can kill her.
* HappilyMarried: By ''Indomitable'' she is cheerfully married to Rone Leah.
* IJustWantToBeNormal: After ''Wishsong'' Brin wants to be a wife and a mother. She abandons her magic, and tries to get Jair to do the same.
* LamarckWasRight: Her abilities stem from her father's use of the Elfstones.
* {{Mutant}}: Pretty much. Wil's use of the Elfstones contaminated his bloodline, resulting in she and Jair being born with innate magic of their own.
* {{Protectorate}}: How Rone Leah and Whisper see her.
* RealityWarper: Can bend nature and life around her Wishsong.
* RetiredBadass: In the aftermath of ''Wishsong'' Brin marries Rone, retires to Leah, and never touches magic again.
* ShellShockedVeteran: Brin is never the same after the events of ''Wishsong''. She swears off magic, loses contact with many of her friends, and only begins to recover after the birth of her son.
* StoryBreakerPower: [[spoiler:Begins accessing this level of power under the Ildatch's control. It believes she would be even more powerful than Brona was, and without the AchillesHeel. Luckily, Jair gets there in time to head this off]].
* TakeUpMySword: Courtesy of [[spoiler:Allanon. Interestingly, it's one of her descendents, Walker Boh, who actually has to deal with the ramifications of this.]]
* WeAreNotGoingThroughThatAgain: The Ildatch's near subversion of Brin is enough to persuade her that not only is she never going to use her magic again, but she is never going to leave Leah again. She tries to persuade Jair to do the same.
!!Jair Ohmsford
Brin's younger brother, Jair has a milder version of the Wishsong, which allows him to create extremely detailed and realistic illusions. Attacked by Gnomes soon after Brin and Rone set out, he is rescued by Garet Jax and [[spoiler:given a mission by the King of the Silver River]]. He later appears in the short story ''Indomitable'' and the graphic novel, ''Dark Wraith of Shannara''.
----
* ActionSurvivor: In ''Wishsong'', which he only makes it through with help from others. He's more of an ActionHero during ''Indomitable'' and ''Dark Wraith''.
* [[spoiler:BecomingTheMask: Both ''Indomitable'' and ''Dark Wraith of Shannara'' have Jair channeling, and almost becoming, Garet Jax, much to his and his sister's concern]].
* [[spoiler:TheChosenOne: Courtesy of the [[DungeonMaster King of the Silver River]]. If he doesn't save Brin, that's it for the world.]] Allanon later recruits him in ''Indomitable'' and ''Dark Wraith''.
* GuileHero: At his best Jair gets by on trickery where others would use force. He seems to have passed some of this down to his descendents.
* HookedUpAfterwards: With Kimber Boh, who he has barely met by the end of ''Wishsong''. ''Indomitable'' and ''Dark Wraith'' go into more detail about their relationship and how they became first friends, and then lovers.
* LamarckWasRight
* MasterOfIllusion: The first of the Ohmsfords to have the power of illusion at his disposal, Jair pioneered the trickery that would later be used by Par Ohmsford, Walker Boh, and Bek Rowe.
* {{Mutant}}
* OneManArmy: In ''Indomitable'' and ''Dark Wraith'' when he uses Garet Jax's skills as his own.
* OvershadowedByAwesome: Jair's powers are actually pretty useful, but tend to get overlooked due to his sister's RealityWarper potential.
* ThePowerOfLove: [[spoiler:Saves Brin with it]].
* {{Protectorate}}: For Garet Jax, Slanter, and the rest of the company from Cullhaven.
* {{Shapeshifter}}: In ''Indomitable'' Jair discovers he has the power to draw his illusions around himself, changing into whatever image he creates. He typically uses it to transform into Garet Jax.
* SpannerInTheWorks: For [[spoiler:The Ildatch. ''Twice''.]]
* SquishyWizard: A MasterOfIllusion, but if you can reach him he's in trouble. At least until ''Indomitable''.
* TookALevelInBadass: In ''Indomitable''. The discovery of his shapeshifting abilities transforms Jair from a SquishyWizard into a someone who can transform into a OneManArmy with only a few notes of a song. The fact that he's older and more confident then he was in ''Wishsong'' also plays a role; even without morphing into Garet Jax, he's a lot more capable, and far less dependent on others, than he was back then, a trend that continues into ''Dark Wraith''.
* VoluntaryShapeshifting: Even if some of the side effects terrify him.
!!Rone Leah
Menion's great-grandson, he's an old friend of the family and has a fairly serious crush on Brin. Distrusting Allanon, he accompanies the Druid and the Valegirl so that he can protect her. Prone to challenging Allanon's authority, Rone eventually provokes the Druid to the point where he magically empowers Rone's sword by dipping it in the waters of the Hadeshorn, allowing Rone to fight alongside him as an equal.
----
* BodyguardCrush: Becomes Brin's defender solely to be close to her.
* CatchPhrase: [[UnusualEuphemism For cat's sake]]!
* CoolSword: The first person to wield the magically empowered Sword Of Leah.
** AmuletOfDependency: The Sword's magic is incredibly addictive, as Rone and his descendents, Morgan and Quentin learn to their dismay. Being without it tends to cause the user to act as though they are going through drug withdrawal.
** AncestralWeapon: The Sword of Leah was the sword of his House long before it was a magical talisman.
** {{Antimagic}}: The Sword of Leah cuts and parries magic, and destroys most magically created beings with a touch.
** BlackSwordsAreBetter: After being dipped in the Hadeshorn, the Sword of Leah takes on a black colouration, with pools of murky green swimming through it.
* EmpoweredBadassNormal: Begins as a capable warrior who is well-equipped to handle ordinary situations. Allanon's alterations to the Sword of Leah send him into this territory.
* FieryRedHead
* GRatedDrug: Becomes addicted to the magic of The Sword Of Leah. This is less than healthy to say the least.
* HappilyMarried: To Brin by the time of ''Indomitable''.
* TheLancer: Plays this role to Brin in the company from Darklin Reach, acting as her NumberTwo.
* RedHeadedHero
* TookALevelInBadass: Rone was already a skilled fighter, but was hampered by his lack of magic. The new Sword of Leah allows Rone to fight alongside Allanon as an equal, destroying Mord Wraiths and their creations in droves.
* TookALevelInJerkass: Getting the Sword (and its subsequent loss) make him less than pleasant to be around. He gets better though.
* WarriorPrince
!!Slanter
A Gnome from the band that captured Jair, he later becomes involved in the boy's quest to [[spoiler:save Brin.]] Suspicious, and a loner by nature he has no desire to be along on this quest, but somehow gets caught up in it anyway. Sometimes called "The Gnome who was not quite a Gnome" due to his dislike for his own people and their superstitions. He reappears in ''Dark Wraith of Shannara'', when Jair contracts him to be his guide through the Eastland.
----
* AntiHero: Evolves into a Type II. He's much like Garet Jax actually, in his cynicism and reluctance to get involved with Jair's quest, but comes through in the end.
* BadassBeard: ''Dark Wraith'' gives him one.
* BaldOfAwesome: Pictured this way in ''Dark Wraith''.
* DefectorFromDecadence: Slanter hates the Mord Wraiths, and finds his fellow Gnomes primitive, savage, and more than a [[StupidEvil little stupid]]. It ultimately leads to his defection to Jair and the Dwarves.
* HeelFaceTurn: Within the first few chapters.
* HiredGuns: Slanter works as a mercenary Tracker, hiring out his services to anyone who pays.
* KnifeNut: Slanter's reliant on his long knife in most combats, in no [[IncrediblyLamePun small part]] due to his size. Unlike with other Brooks' characters, who carry a knife as just a part of their arsenal, it seems to be his main weapon.
* TheLancer: To Jair in ''Wishsong'' and ''Dark Wraith'' alike.
* LonersAreFreaks: The opinion of many.
* PintsizedPowerhouse: Gnomes are hardly ''tiny'', but still very short compared to other races, and Slanter is no exception. He'll still slice you to ribbons if you screw with him or Jair.
* TheSmartGuy: Takes up this role in the FiveManBand from Cullhaven. Garet Jax is in charge, and Elb Foraker's his NumberTwo, but Slanter is the man with the plan.
* VitriolicBestBuds: With Jair Ohmsford. Slanter will always insist that Jair is more trouble than he's worth, and will complain the entire time they are together, yet he always comes through for Jair in the end.
!!Garet Jax
The Weapons' Master, Jax is a mysterious mercenary who saves Jair from a band of Gnomes. He accompanies the Valeman as his protector from that point on. Possibly the biggest BadAss in the entire franchise. Has gone onto star in ''The Weapons' Master's Choice'', a short story set early in his career.
----
* AllThereInTheManual: The suggestion that he might actually be Stee Jans, from ''Elfstones'' is made in ''World of Shannara'', though the idea seems to have been abandoned in ''The Weapon Master's Choice''.
* AntiHero: Type II. Cynical and standoffish, but still a hero.
* BadAss: Along with Allanon, Garet Jax is perhaps the single most badass character in the original series, and one of the biggest ones in the franchise as a whole.
** BadassNormal: Franchise/{{Batman}} with a sword. He takes on Mord Wraiths, The Kraken, and a Jachyra using only his own arsenal.
* BecauseDestinySaysSo: Or at least the King of the Silver River, who convinces him that he has to serve as Jair's protector.
* BloodKnight: He's looking for the one foe who can defeat him.
* DeathSeeker: Garet Jax follows Jair because he's looking for the chance to face his ultimate opponent, and die. A prophecy tells him that if he goes along with Jair he will find the opportunity to do this. Although it's not so much death itself he's looking for, he really just wants to face something that even has a chance of killing him so he can actually have a challenging fight for once.
* DidNotGetTheGirl: In ''The Weapon Master's Choice'', Jax develops an attraction to his employer, Lyriana. Unbeknownst to him, she is a [[spoiler:leper]], which means there can be no relationship. After finding this out, Jax moves on.
* {{Expy}}: It's not immediately obvious, given that they appear in the same novel, but Garet's role and relationship with Jair in ''Wishsong'' closely parallel Allanon's role, and relationship with Brin. Both are enigmatic men of indeterminate age, dressed all in black, with [[GoodIsNotNice standoffish personalities]] who do not suffer fools gladly. Both keep to themselves, are masters of their respective disciplines, mentor an inexperienced young Ohmsford, have their own agenda, and [[spoiler:give their lives in furtherance of the quest]]. They even [[spoiler:[[PlotParallel go out fighting the same monster]]]].
* FamedInStory: Infamous throughout the Southland and Eastland.
* GoodIsNotNice: Jax is bitter, sarcastic, and unfriendly even under the best of circumstances.
* GrayEyes: Garet's cold gray eyes are frequently remarked upon.
* HeroSecretService: To Jair.
* HiredGuns: A mercenary, Jax largely fights for the Southland city-states, and later the Dwarves.
* LightningBruiser: Of the hard-hitting FragileSpeedster variety.
* TheMentor: There are aspects of this in his relationship with Jair, as he teaches the boy how to survive. His lessons leave a strong impact on Jair, who later uses his powers to impersonate, and even try to become, Garet Jax.
* MultiMeleeMaster: Garet carries and is proficent with a wide range of close range weapons, including multiple knives, a short sword, a slender dueling sword, and a black quarterstaff. When the Kraken attacks Capaal he even manages to rummage up a harpoon.
* MysteriousPast: We know almost nothing about Garet's past. Even ''The Weapons' Master's Choice'' doesn't clear everything up.
* OneManArmy: Jax is worth a platoon or more of regular soldiers. He defeats an entire patrol of Gnomes in his first appearance, brings down the Kraken that was singlehandedly wrecking Capaal, and faces down a Jachyra. In ''The Weapon Master's Choice'', Jax takes things even further, slaughtering a small army of mercenaries, and their vampire overlord, with only minimal assistance from a healer.
* OnlyInItForTheMoney: Or so he claims in ''The Weapons' Master's Choice''.
* VampireHunter: Takes a turn as one of these when he's hired to kill Kronswiff, a [[OurVampiresAreDifferent dracul]] warlock.
* WalkingArmoury: Garet Jax is an arsenal.
* WeaponOfChoice: All of them. Jax can work as an archer, a BareFistedMonk, a SimpleStaff wielder, a KnifeNut, and a swordsman. He can use a BladeOnAStick, or simply [[CarryABigStick carry a big one]]. Name the weapon, he can do it. And yet, because he isn't TheHero, he comes off as a first rate BadAss, instead of a MartyStu. He does seem to favour a light, slim-bladed, single-handed sword for one-on-one combats.
!!Helt
A huge, oddly gentle Borderman and former Tracker, who accompanies Jair, Slanter, and Garret Jax on their journey to the Maelmord. Quiet, self-effacing, and nearly unstoppable in a charge, Helt's strength and night vision make him an invaluable addition to the company.
----
* {{Badass}}: Plows through Gnomes like they aren't even there. Only Garet Jax inflicts more damage.
** BadassBaritone
** BadassBeard
* TheBigGuy: Provides the muscle for the company from Cullhaven, acting as the raw power to Garret Jax's finesse.
* [[spoiler:BigGuyFatalitySyndrome]]
* BladeOnAStick: Favours an enormous pike.
* [[spoiler:TheCorruption[=/=]BodyHorror]]: The reason for his [[spoiler:HeroicSacrifice]], after he is [[spoiler:poisoned by the Skull Bearer-like creature in the cellars of Graymark]].
* DressingAsTheEnemy: Slanter stuffs him into a black robe and makes him pretend to be a Mord Wraith so that the two of them can sneak through enemy lines.
* [[spoiler:DrivenToSuicide]]
* [[spoiler:DyingMomentOfAwesome: Sacrifices himself to let Jair and the others escape. For just a moment, he manages to hold off an entire army of Gnomes.]]
* {{Expy}}: If you were to note some strong similarities between Helt and ''Sword'''s Keltset, you'd be within your rights as the reader.
* GentleGiant: Quiet and friendly (if rather withdrawn) when not in combat.
* TheGiant: Helt's size is frequently referenced, and is a large part of what makes him so fearsome in battle.
* [[spoiler:HeroicSacrifice: Poisoned by a magically created monster, Helt sacrifices himself to let Jair escape, destroying the drawbridge stopping the pursuing Gnomes dead in their tracks]].
* InnateNightVision: So long as there is even a glimmer of light, Helt can see nearly perfectly in the dark.
* [[spoiler:KilledOffForReal]]
* MightyGlacier: Toyed with. Helt's big, and slow moving, but once he gets up to speed, doesn't stop for anything.
* MysteriousPast: Like Garet Jax, little of Helt's past is revealed.
* TheQuietOne
* [[spoiler:WeHardlyKnewYe: Referenced in-universe and played for tragedy. Jair reflects on the fact that while the two of them hardly knew one another, the giant still sacrificed himself for Jair anyway.]]
* YouShallNotPass: Performs this at the gatehouse, holding back the Gnome Hunters [[spoiler:and [[HeroicSacrifice giving his life in the process]]]].
!!Elb Foraker
A Dwarven fighter and a long-time associate of Garet Jax, Elb joins Jax, Jair, and Slanter on their journey to Heaven's Well, acting as the unofficial second-in-command of the group.
----
* AnAxeToGrind
* BadassBeard
** BadassMoustache
* BaldOfAwesome
* BashBrothers: Depending on the fight, he can be this with Helt, Edain, or even Slanter, but in terms of longest history together, this describes him and Garet Jax to a tee.
* [[spoiler:HeroicSacrifice: He and Edain Elessedil hold the stairs to Heaven's Well, while Garet Jax, Slanter, and Jair Ohmsford go onward]].
* [[spoiler:KilledOffForReal]]
* TheLancer: To Garet Jax
* OlderAndWiser
* SubvertedSuspicionAesop: From the moment Jair, Garet, and Slanter arrive in Culhaven, Elb is suspicious of the Gnome's motives and loyalty--understandably, considering the war going on between their peoples, and rightfully so, since Slanter had only recently (and [[TeethClenchedTeamwork mostly against his will]]) performed a HeelFaceTurn. But despite this constant distrust, Slanter's caustic remarks and vitriolic relationship with the Dwarf, and how close he comes (twice!) to abandoning Jair or the company, in the end Slanter's heart is true and he stands by Jair all the way to Heaven's Well; in fact he might not have made it at all if not for the Gnome.
* [[spoiler:YouShallNotPass]]
!!Edain Elessedil
The son of Ander Elessedil, Edain came to the Eastland with a company of Elven Hunters, intending to repay the Dwarfs for their aid in the War of the Forbidding. Upon uncovering Jair's quest, Edain insists on accompanying him, citing the debt that he and his father owe to Wil Ohmsford. He and Jair become fast friends.
----
* BowAndSwordInAccord
* TheChick: As the youngest and least experienced member of the company from Culhaven, Edain's main role seems to be being Jair's friend.
* [[spoiler:HeroicSacrifice: He and Elb Foraker stay behind and hold the stairs to Heaven's Well against the oncoming Gnomes.]]
* HonorBeforeReason: As soon as he learns who Jair is, he becomes determined to join his company as a means of repaying his father's debt to Jair's father Wil. Considering he is the heir to the Elven throne (and was only supposed to be in Culhaven as a diplomat and advisor to the Dwarfs to repay Ander's debt to ''them''), his bodyguards understandably feel he has taken leave of his senses. [[spoiler:And [[HeroicSacrifice thanks to his ultimate fate]], they were right to worry.]]
* [[spoiler:KilledOffForReal]]
* NaiveNewcomer: Despite being a good warrior, and presumably chosen for his role by Ander by virtue of his knowledge of diplomacy and politics rather than simply because he was the heir, Edain seems to know little of the world at large, at times coming across as no more wise and informed than Jair. This is not necessarily a bad thing, as it gives the Valeman a kindred spirit in the company.
* RoyalsWhoActuallyDoSomething
* WarriorPrince: Runs in the family.
* [[spoiler:YouShallNotPass: He and Elb Foraker, both injured, do this to the pursuing Gnomes.]]
!!Cogline
A crazy old man who aids Brin in her search for the Maelmord and the Ildatch. Later revealed to be a lapsed Druid, and the last one left besides Allanon. Appears in ''Wishsong'', the ''Heritage'' foursome, and ''First King''.
----
* AnimalCompanion: Is always accompanied by a moor cat.
* BadassGrandpa
* BadassInDistress: In ''Dark Wraith'', when the Mwellrets and the Croton Witch capture him and try to force him to give them access to Paranor.
* [[spoiler:DyingMomentOfAwesome: His HeroicSacrifice, where he blows up Death and himself to Kingdom Come.]]
* [[spoiler:HeroicSacrifice: Dies blowing himself and [[TheFourHorsemenOfTheApocalypse Death]] up with gunpowder in order to save Walker]].
* TheMagicVersusTechnologyWar: Will cheerfully use gunpowder and other Old World sciences against the Mord Wraiths and their ilk. He's also a competent Druid, although he hides it well.
* TheMentor: To Walker Boh.
* PantheraAwesome: He's always accompanied by a moor cat.
* ParentalSubstitute: To Kimber Boh.
* ReallySevenHundredYearsOld: Try over a thousand. He was already old when ''Bremen'' was alive, and is one of the few characters who can remember what Brona was like before he was the Warlock Lord.
* RecurringCharacter: Appears in ''Wishsong'', ''First King'', and all of the ''Heritage'' books, despite not being a main character.
* ScrewPolitenessImASenior: In ''Wishsong''. His manners and sanity have improved three hundred years later.
* ThresholdGuardian[=/=]MentorArchetype: Acts as the first one for Brin, the second for Walker, although there is some overlap.
!!Kimber Boh
Cogline's adopted granddaughter, Kimber quickly befriends Brin Ohmsford and insists that she, Cogline, and Whisper aid Brin on her journey to the Maelmord. In the novella ''Indomitable'' and the graphic novel ''Dark Wraith of Shannara'', she reappears, and forms first a friendship, and then a romantic relationship, with Brin's brother Jair.
----
* BareYourMidriff: Rendered this way in ''Dark Wraith''.
* TheChick: Plays this role in the company from Darklin Reach. Her role seems to be being Brin's friend.
* DistressedDamsel: In ''Dark Wraith''. Though by the time Jair arrives to save her, she's already managed to free herself.
* HookedUpAfterwards: Her relationship with Jair was this until ''Indomitable'' and ''Dark Wraith'', which explores their developing friendship and eventual romance.
* KidWithTheRemoteControl: To Whisper.
* PluckyGirl: Kimber can take care of herself, but is clearly out of her depth when confronting the Mord Wraiths.
!!Whisper
An enormous moor cat who accompanies Cogline wherever he goes, Whisper forms an attachment to Brin Ohmsford, and follows her into the Maelmord.
----
* AnimalCompanion: To Cogline, Kimber Boh, and Brin.
* BadassNormal: If you think about it. There's nothing magical about Whisper. He's just a big cat with the same arsenal as a real life cougar or tiger. Yet despite this, he fights creatures like the werebeasts, Mord Wraiths and Mutens on a pretty even footing.
* TheBigGuy: Plays this role in Brin's group, serving as the force to Cogline's science.
* MeaningfulName: Whisper's mute, and totally silent.
* PantheraAwesome: So awesome he can fight dark magic creatures with just claws and teeth.
* UndyingLoyalty: To Cogline, Kimber, and Brin. Brin actually has to run away to stop Whisper from following her further into the Maelmord.
* TheVoiceless
!!The Jachyra(s)
A monster from the Faerie world that even the Demons thought too dangerous to loose. Two of them are released by the Mord Wraiths, and sent to face Allanon and Garret Jax.
----
* AxeCrazy
* {{Badass}}: Let's give these freaks their due: there's a reason the Mord Wraith's chose the Jachyras to do what they could not and face down both the greatest Druid who ever lived, and the Garret Jax, the Weapons Master.
* CombatSadomasochist: Hardwired into them by the dark magic. They actually feed on pain, both their own, and that of others. They'll tear themselves apart in order to kill their victim.
* EvilLaugh: A hyena-like cackle that just about freezes the blood.
* LawOfChromaticSuperiority: The Mord Wraiths and their servants are black in colouration. The Jachyras are bright red and much, much more dangerous.
* LightningBruiser
* MoreTeethThanTheOsmondFamily
* [[spoiler:MutualKill: The two Jachyras achieve this with Allanon and Garret Jax respectively]].
* OurDemonsAreDifferent: An ancient fairy creature that both the real Demons and the good Fae decided needed locking up.
* PoisonousPerson: Their claws and fangs deliver a poison that attacks both the physical body and the spirit.
* PsychoForHire: Along similar lines to The Reaper.
* SealedEvilInACan: Even the Demons thought they needed locking up, and the Mord Wraiths are only willing to summon two of them.
* SlasherSmile: A natural one.
!!The Mord Wraiths (Black Walkers)
Mortal followers of Brona, subverted by the magic of The Ildatch. They now resemble tall, skeletal figures, wrapped in black robes, and prone to worshipping the book.
----
* BlackCloak
* DarkIsEvil
* EliteMooks: At least if you're Allanon, Rone Leah, or Brin. For anyone without magic, they tend more towards the NighInvulnerable end of the scale.
* EvilSorceror: Once minor magic users and human followers of the Warlock Lord, they've been gifted with both magic and [[WithGreatPowerComesGreatInsanity madness]] by the Ildatch.
* TheFaceless
* ImplacableMan: To anyone without magical abilities. There's a scene where three of them take a few dozen arrows and get right back up, as though nothing had happened.
* InTheHood
* NormalFishInATinyPond: In terms of their overall power level. Compared to most other magic-using characters, they're not that tough- they have to rely on ambushes or ganging up to really stand a chance against the likes of Allanon. Against normal people, though, they're seriously lethal.
* ObviouslyEvil: But since they rule through fear, this can work for them.
* PlayingWithFire: Red, soot streaked flames, usually from their hands are their preferred form of attack.
* TakeOverTheWorld: Seems to be their objective, although it's never made quite clear.
* TheVoiceless: The only sound we hear from them is the occasional scream.
* WithGreatPowerComesGreatInsanity
!!The Ildatch
--> ''Dark child...
The book of eldritch magic responsible for subverting Brona, the Mord Wraiths, and countless others. Very old, The Ildatch dates back to the war between the Faeries and the Demons and has been corrupting people ever since. Its destruction serves as the main plot of the book. [[spoiler:Unbeknownst to all, including Allanon, the book is alive, sentient, and TheBigBad of the entire trilogy]]. A very nasty, ArtifactOfDoom indeed.
----
* ArtifactOfDoom
* [[spoiler:BigBad: Of the entire original trilogy no less. Making use of the Warlock Lord and Mord Wraiths, and with an origin linked to the Demons, it is one of the three major threads that ties the otherwise standalone novels of the first trilogy together, the others being Allanon and the Ohmsford bloodline]].
** [[spoiler: NonActionBigBad: For all its power, it ''is'' a book, and not a person, and is pretty helpless without a wielder. Brin's main struggle is snapping herself free of its thrall, which is ''extremely'' hard. Once that is done, the Ildatch itself is destroyed almost effortlessly]].
* TheCorrupter:Using it tends to drive the user more than a little insane, leaving them DrunkOnTheDarkSide.
* [[spoiler:TheManBehindTheMan: To Brona and the Mord Wraiths. This generally seems to have been its MO across its entire existence- find someone with magical aptitude, reveal its secrets to them, and slowly turn them into little more than a vessel for using its power]].
* [[spoiler:ManipulativeBastard: Nearly talks Brin into becoming the next Warlock Lord.]]
* [[spoiler:MoreThanMindControl]]
* [[spoiler:TheReveal: It's alive, and it wants you to use it]].
* TomeOfEldritchLore
* [[spoiler: VillainTakesAnInterest: In Brin, leading to WeCanRuleTogether below]].
* WalkingSpoiler: [[spoiler: Well, it doesn't ''walk'', but the fact that it's a character at all is a pretty big reveal that casts ''the whole trilogy'' in a new light]].
* [[spoiler:WeCanRuleTogether: Does this to Brin]]
[[/folder]]
[[folder:The Heritage of Shannara]]
!!Par Ohmsford
A descendant of Jair Ohmsford, and TheHero of the trilogy, he has inherited Jair's MasterOfIllusion powers. Initially a travelling storyteller, he and his brother Coll are summonded, along with Walker Boh and Wren to the Hadeshorn, and given a charge by Allanon. Par's is to retrieve The Sword of Shannara. Desperate to be a hero, he is the first Ohmsford to embrace his charge, involving himself not only in the quest for The Sword, but in the free-born effort to throw off the Federation.
----
* BlessedWithSuck: The Wishsong is an incredibly powerful, evolving weapon. It's also addictive, unpredictable, and prone to overriding Par's mind, and meddling with his psyche. Not to mention that it attracts Shadowen in the dozens.
* BreakTheCutie/ CorruptTheCutie: Rimmer Dall tries this on him, through a long series of MindScrew manipulations that nearly cause Par to snap.
* TheChosenOne: One of [[strike: three]] four.
* DistressedDude: Spends most of ''Talismans'' as Rimmer Dall's prisoner.
* DoomMagnet: Justified. Shadowen are drawn to magic, and few people have magic to match Par's.
* DrunkOnTheDarkSide: [[spoiler:His embracing the Wishsong's power in ''Talismans'' leads to this.]]
* {{Expy}}: Of Shea. For maybe half the first book. Then...crap happens.
* GlassCannon[=/=]SquishyWizard: Paar for the course with Wishsong users. Par is a not-particularly tough kid, with a tremendous amount of power at his disposal.
* GrandTheftMe: From the [[EvilOldFolks woodswoman]] to [[EnfanteTerrible the child on Toffer Ridge]] to [[BigBad Rimmer Dall]], one Shadowen after another tries this on him.
* TheHero: He's definitely the main character, though not by much, and the plot revolves around keeping him out of Rimmer Dall's hands.
* HeroicWannabe: Downplayed. Par is easily the most enthusiastic of the three Ohmsford heirs, but the least capable. Unlike Wren, who is a capable ActionGirl, and Walker who has been living by himself in the Eastland for years, Par has never been more than a storyteller. His MasterOfIllusion powers come in useful, but he needs a lot more help than he thinks he does, and frequently rushes into danger without thinking, something that Coll ends up pointing out to him near the end of ''Scions''.
* InTheBlood: Inherited his use of the Wishsong from Jair, though it eventually takes on a shape more akin to that used by Brin.
* JumpedAtTheCall: He absolutely belives that they need to fullfill Allanon's charges, and leaps at the opportunity.
* MasterOfIllusion: Like his ancestor, Jair, Par can use the Wishsong to create lifelike illusions. Initially this is all he can do with it.
* PersonOfMassDestruction: When out of control the Wishsong transforms him into this.
* PlayingWithFire: The Wishsong's preferred method of attack.
* TheProtagonist: In ''Scions''. After that the viewpoint shifts to Walker, then Wren, and ends in an even split in ''Talismans''.
* RealityWarper: His Wishsong eventually spins completely out of control, reaching levels of reality warping that even Brin never did.
* SiblingYinYang: With Coll.
* SuperPoweredEvilSide: The Wishsong comes very, very close to this. All it's lacking is a personality.
* TomatoInTheMirror: The Shadowen attempt to convince him that he is one of them. [[spoiler:In a way, it's even true.]]
* UnstoppableRage: Under the Wishsong's influence.
* WithGreatPowerComesGreatInsanity: The Wishsong can, and does, override Par's mind, driving him into paranoia, and gleeful, UnstoppableRage. Rimmer Dall's attempts at breaking him don't help of course.
!!Coll Ohmsford
Par's brother, and the only Ohmsford with no magic. He accompanies Par, having been given no charge himself. [[spoiler:Or so we are led to believe. In reality, he's the one destined to wield the Sword of Shannara after Par finds it.]]
----
* BrainwashedAndCrazy: Courtesy of the Mirrorshroud.
* [[spoiler:TheChosenOne: Chosen to bring Par back to normal. Hidden from himself and all others by Allanon.]]
* CoolSword: As it turns out Coll and not Par is the one who [[spoiler:has to use The Sword Of Shannara first.]]
** AncestralWeapon: [[spoiler:The Sword]] has been part of the family's legacy for centuries at this point.
* DeathFakedForYou: By Rimmer Dall, who fakes Coll's death to screw with Par, then lets Par discover him alive in order to mess with him even more.
* DistressedDude: Coll has no combat skills, and consequently gets into trouble a lot, regularly having to be rescued.
* {{Expy}}: Of Flick, initially.
* ThePowerOfLove: Uses it to save Par from Rimmer Dall.
* SiblingYinYang: With Par.
* TheTeamNormal: The only Shannara descendent with no magic whatsoever and no charge from Allanon. [[spoiler:Subverted in the end by his use of the Sword of Shannara]].
* UnwittingPawn: Of Rimmer Dall who uses him as part of his campaign to torment Par.
!!Walker Boh
A distant relative of Par and Coll's, who briefly lived with them in Shady Vale, where he was nicknamed "The Dark Uncle" due to his eerie nature and relationship with Par. Descended from Brin Ohmsford, Walker is tall, pale, and withdrawn, with limited innate magic, including the power to converse with nature and summon a version of the Druid fire. Charged by Allanon with reviving the Druids and Paranor, he is the most reluctant to accept his charge, and initially refuses outright. [[spoiler:He returns in ''Voyage of the Jerle Shannara'', where he undertakes the voyage in order to win support for a new Druid council]]
----
* {{Badass}}: One of the biggest ones in the series. Walker has fought faerie beings, Shadowen, and robotic hunter-killer drones. He's been poisoned, lost an arm, dodged laser fire, and fought Rimmer Dall mano-a-mano. It takes [[spoiler:Antrax, a being from another time to bring him down, and even then, Walker out lives Antrax by half a book, even with a fatal injury]].
** BadassBeard
** HandicappedBadass: Down an arm, but still a BadAss.
* BigGood: Assumes this role near the end of the ''Heritage'' tetralogy, and continues it into the ''Voyage'' trilogy, stepping into the space vacated by Allanon.
* BlackEyesOfEvil: Subverted as part of his DarkIsNotEvil motif.
* TheChosenOne: Selected to fullfill Brin's pledge to Allanon. And he [[ItSucksToBeTheChosenOne hates]] it.
* CoolUncle: To Par and Coll, though he's gruffer about it than most.
* DarkIsNotEvil: A [[LeanAndMean thin]], ghostly looking man, with black hair and eyes and a sinister countenance, Walker is nevertheless one of the heroes.
* DesperatelyLookingForAPurposeInLife: Following the loss of his arm and his magic.
* {{Determinator}}: He made it home after losing his arm, he crawls out of his home after Rimmer Dall's attack despite being near dying, he [[spoiler:survives half a book with a fatal injury in the sequel]]; there's not much you can hit Walker with that he hasn't been hit with.
* EeriePaleSkinnedBrunette: Walker can't actually tan. The sun just seems to be reflected away from him.
* TheEmpath: Can usually read the emotions of others, allowing him to avoid conflict and serve as a mediator when he cares to.
* EvilUncle: Invoked and subverted. The people of Shady Vale see him as one, but he's actually trying to be a mentor to Par.
* {{Expy}}: In-universe. After absorbing the memories of all the other Druids, Walker ends up channeling Allanon in particular for all he's worth.
* FriendlessBackground: There were no other children at Hearthstone or Darklin Reach where Walker grew up, and by the time he moved to Shady Vale, his chance to learn how to make friends was long gone.
* FullContactMagic: Walker Boh will mess you up with or without his magic.
* [[spoiler:GhostlyAdvisor: To Grianne during ''High Druid'']].
* [[spoiler:GoOutWithASmile: In ''Literature/TheVoyageOfTheJerleShannara'']].
* GuileHero: Though backed by physical and magical power when necessary.
* [[spoiler:HeroicSacrifice: In ''Literature/TheVoyageOfTheJerleShannara''. He electrocutes himself overloading [[DiscOneFinalBoss Antrax]]]]
* HonoraryUncle: Walker is actually Par and Coll's distant cousin. His relationship with Par, however, is much more uncle/nephew, and Par, Coll, and Wren usually refer to him as their Uncle Walker.
* IAmLegion: Possibly. He has bits and pieces of all the other Druids inside him after his use of the Black Elfstone on Paranor. It's never made clear how much of Walker is left.
* IneffectualLoner: In ''Scions'', when he's doing his best to convince himself that he doesn't want to be a part of society.
* {{Irony}}: The man who hates the Druids more than anybody else ends up becoming the first of their new order.
* TheLeader: Eventually assumes this position in any group he is a part of. Combination Type I and IV.
* LifeOrLimbDecision: Why he lost his right arm.
* LonersAreFreaks: How many viewed him.
* MadeOfIron: The amount of physical punishment Walker shrugs off is frankly astonishing.
* MasterOfIllusion: He got the idea from Jair, and uses it to defeat the Horsemen.
* TheMentor: To Par in the backstory; to Bek in ''Literature/TheVoyageOfTheJerleShannara''.
* MoralityPet: Par is one for him in ''Scions''; only Par being in trouble can persuade Walker to leave Hearthstone and meet with the shade of Allanon.
* ParentalAbandonment: His mother died when he was a child, his father when he was in his late teens, leaving Walker to spend seven miserable years in Shady Vale.
* PlayingWithFire: He can of course summon Druid fire.
* TheProtagonist: In ''Druid''. Morgan Leah and Pe Ell are also viewpoint characters, but this is Walker's quest and storyline that they are a part of. He shares the role of protagonist in ''Talismans'' with Wren and Par, acting as BigGood and mentor figure to the rest of the cast.
* ReallySevenHundredYearsOld: By the sequel he's pushing one hundred and fifty.
* RedBaron: Dark Uncle
* RefusalOfTheCall: Initially. Eventually he decides he has to do something about the Federation and takes up Allanon's charge.
* ReluctantHero: Walker does not want to help the Druids, and deeply resents his own magic. Yet in the end he can't turn away from what the Federation and the Shadowen are doing.
* TheSmartGuy: In most groups Walker will be the idea man.
* SpeaksFluentAnimal: Can talk to moor cats and other animals.
* SquishyWizard: Look at this trope list. To say that Walker averts this would be putting it lightly.
* TookALevelInBadass: After becoming the first of the new Druids.
!!Wren Ohmsford/[[spoiler:Elessedil]]
Par and Coll's cousin, and the [[spoiler:bearer of the Elfstones]], who lived with them in Shady Vale for a while when she was younger. Raised by the Rovers in the Westland, Wren is charged by Allanon with bringing the Elves back to the Westland. [[spoiler:Unbeknownst to her, she is secretly their queen, being the offspring of an Ohmsford and an Elessedil.]]
----
* ActionGirl: A very competent fighter, and a match for any of the men in series (and a fair sight more capable than Par or Coll).
* ActionSurvivor: Of the trek through Morrowindl.
* [[spoiler:BadassPrincess: Although she's totally unaware of it]].
* BlessedWithSuck: How she views the [[spoiler:use of the Elfstones.]]
* BoomStick: Averted. Wren could use the power of the Loden Staff to annihilate most of the Shadowen of Morrowindl. Unfortunately, doing so would rob it of the magic needed to restore Arborlon once they reach the Westland so she is forced to refrain.
* BoyishShortHair: Always pictured with short hair; it's helpful in combat.
* TheChainsOfCommanding: Feels them profoundly after she finds herself taking Ellenroh's place in the command roster.
* ChangelingFantasy: She's really [[spoiler:Wren Elessedil, granddaughter of Ellenroh Elessedil, Queen of the Elves]]. This leads to a serious identity crisis.
* TheChosenOne: Twice over. Allanon charges her to return the Elves to the Four Lands; at her birth [[spoiler:Eowen Cerise prophesied that she would be the one to save the Elves]].
* DoomMagnet: Not to quite the degree of Par, but the [[spoiler:magic of the Elfstones]] attracts Shadowen like nothing else. Luckily it also makes for an effective protection.
* FireForgedFriends: How she describes her friendship with [[PraetorianGuard Triss]] in ''Talismans''.
* GRatedDrug: Fears becoming addicted the Elfstones, a fact that frequently handicaps her in ''Elf Queen''.
* HeroicBSOD: In ''Elf Queen'' after one revelation too many causes her to shut down. She gets over it.
* HeroicSelfDeprecation: Has a very low opinion of herself during the latter part of ''Elf Queen''.
* [[spoiler:TheHighQueen]]: Eventually.
* HorribleJudgeOfCharacter: To some extent with [[spoiler:Gavilan]] but especially [[spoiler:Tib Arne]]. The latter was lampshaded and justified somewhat in-story by her being emotionally vulnerable thanks to losing [[spoiler:Garth]], but still...
* IJustWantToBeNormal: Has a lot of this in ''Elf Queen'', as one revelation after another shocks her to the core.
* KnifeNut: Like many of Brooks' characters, she seems to prefer long knives and short swords to larger weapons.
* MagneticHero: Wren attracts UndyingLoyalty like magnets attract paper clips.
* TheProtagonist: In ''Elf Queen'' where she is the only viewpoint character for the main storyline. She shares the role with Walker and Par in ''Talismans'', acting the SupportingLeader to Walker's BigGood and Par's [[TheHero Hero]].
* SupportingLeader: Takes on this role in ''Talismans'', joining forces with Padishar Creel's free-born and Axhind's Rock Trolls to confront the Federation military in the Westland while her cousins and uncle break into Southwatch to take down Rimmer Dall.
* [[spoiler:TomboyPrincess: Given that she was a Rover long before she knew she was a Princess this is to be expected]].
* TookALevelInBadass: Over the course of ''Elf Queen'' she shifts from competent ActionGirl to one of the most effective destroyers of Shadowen in the series.
* TheWomanWearingTheQueenlyMask:[[spoiler:Has shades of this in ''Talismans'']].
* YouAreInCommandNow: When Ellenroh Elessedil is killed during the trip through Morrowindle, Wren ends up in charge of the rapidly DwindlingParty [[spoiler:and then the entire Elven nation.]]
!!Morgan Leah
Par and Coll's oldest friend, Morgan has spent most of his life up until now, harrassing the Federation officials who occupy his homeland. He tries to protect Par and Coll, using contacts in the Dwarf Resistance and the Freeborn, as well as the battered Sword of Leah to aid them. Then, bad things start happening, and he goes on to become a character in his own right, and a major player in the series, all without really wanting to.
----
* BadAss: Goes through Shadowen as though they aren't even there, and is probably the most competent fighter in the main cast.
* BreakTheCutie: The torture Morgan goes through comes very close to this. He goes from comic relief to bitter adult very quickly.
* CoolSword: The Sword of Leah of course.
** AmuletOfDependency: Morgan, like Rone before him, swiftly becomes addicted to the Sword's magic, and nearly BSOD's upon losing it.
** AncestralWeapon: Still the Sword of his House.
** {{Antimagic}}: Making it deadly to Shadowen
** BlackSwordsAreBetter
** WreckedWeapon-->ReforgedBlade: The Sword of Leah is shattered during Morgan's escape from The Jut at the end of ''Scions''. His arc in ''Druid'' is based around trying to have it fixed, which he succeeds in doing by the end.
* DesperatelyLookingForAPurposeInLife: Initially.
* {{Expy}}: Starts out as one of Menion...then goes through Hell and comes out very, very diffrent.
* HeartbrokenBadass: Followings [[spoiler:the death of Quickening.]]
* HeroicBSOD: After losing the Sword Of Leah in ''Scions'', Morgan finds himself paralysed by fear and indecision. This will return to haunt him on several occasions.
* HotBlooded: Walker, Horner Dees, and Pe Ell all see him as such. It isn't really true as of partway through ''Druid''.
* ILetGwenStacyDie: [[spoiler:His take on being unable to save Quickening]].
* TheKirk: When partnered with Damson and Matty in ''Talismans''.
* MyGreatestFailure: Either letting Freeborn headquarters fall, or [[spoiler:failing to prevent Quickening's death]]. Both haunt him intensely.
* ReluctantWarrior: Morgan will kill Shadowen without batting an eye, but has serious issues with killing people. It makes for some tension with [[BrokenBird Matty Roh]].
* RoyalsWhoActuallyDoSomething: Transitions from a loafer who focuses on making life difficult for the Federation occupiers, to a resistance leader, strategist, and fighter.
* SecondLove: [[spoiler:With Matty.]]
* TheSmartGuy: Morgan is the go-to guy when the Free-born need a planner. He gets them in and out of Federation cities and prisons with seeming ease, figured out [[spoiler:Teel was TheMole]], and is second only to Padishar and Walker when it comes to going unnoticed.
* TookALevelInBadass: From practical joker to Shadowen-slayer par excellence.
* WarriorPrince: His family may not run Leah anymore, but he's close enough for farm use.
!!Padishar Creel
The leader of the free-born resistance, and a descendent of Panamon Creel, Padishar saves Par and Coll from Rimmer Dall early on. He is delighted to hear about the Ohmsfords' missions, and does everything in his power to aid both them and Morgan, in the hopes that by destroying the Shadowen, they will cripple the Federation. Probably the most implacable, if [[BunnyEarsLawyer odd]] enemy that The Federation has.
----
* AuthorityEqualsAsskicking: Although given the medieval style setting, it makes a certain amount of sense.
* BadassBeard
* BadassNormal
* BunnyEarsLawyer: Padishar is really, really weird. And equally effective.
* ConsummateLiar: A heroic example, Padishar puts his manipulative abilities to work for the Free-born, convincing people from all walks of life to follow him out of the belief that his [[MultipleChoicePast past]] mirrors their own.
* {{Expy}}: In-universe. He deliberately modelled himself on Panamon Creel.
* LaResistance: He's not the founder of the free-born, but he is the man responsible for uniting them into a competent fighting force.
* TheLeader: Of the free-born, having disposed of all the other contenders and gained control over The Movement. He's a Type IV, leading through his charismatic personality, and ruthless will.
* MultipleChoicePast: Tells many different stories about who he was before joining LaResistance, and why he hates the Federation.
* PapaWolf: Don't touch [[spoiler:Damson]]. Just don't.
* SupportingLeader: As the leader of the free-born, Padishar is responsible for battling the Federation military while the Ohmsfords try to deal with the Shadowen. In ''Scions'' he and his men hold the Federation at The Jut while Par descends into the Pit; in ''Talismans'' he and Wren split the role, taking on the Federation's army in the Westland, while Walker, Coll, Par, Morgan, Damson, and Matty break into Southwatch to free Par and confront Rimmer Dall.
!!Damson Rhee
A member of the Freeborn, street magician, and Par's LoveInterest. [[spoiler:She's also Padishar's daughter.]]
----
* AchillesHeel: Could be said to be this to [[spoiler:Padishar]] because [[spoiler:she's his daughter]], so he will do anything to save her, including staying behind to be captured and executed.
* ActionGirl: Maybe. It is clear she can fight, though, and there's no questioning her bravery in helping Par, particularly in the last book when she's the only BadassNormal in the group to go into Southwatch (aside from Matty Roh), and without any major weapons with her. Walker gave everyone "a bit of magic" to protect them, something she had no way of knowing how effective it would be or what form it would take, yet she went anyway.
* ChekhovsGun: The Skree. Just a bit of harmless street magic she gives to Par to help them reunite when he goes chasing after the BrainwashedAndCrazy Coll...but later it helps her and Matty [[spoiler:find and save Coll from slavers]], ''and'' still leads her and the others to Par at Southwatch for the FinalBattle, thanks to [[NewPowersAsThePlotDemands his magic]] having "imprinted" a reflection of it [[ThePowerOfLove on himself]].
* CoolDownHug: Performs one on Par.
* FlorenceNightingaleEffect: Much of her relationship with Par comes about due to nursing him back to health while hiding out from the Federation in the Tyrsis sewers.
* HeroesWantRedHeads: She and Par are more or less joined at the hip after ''Scions''.
* LaResistance: Is a prominent member, or at least associate, of the free-born.
* TheMcCoy: Takes this role when partnered up with Morgan and Matty.
* WeNeedADistraction: No, not for the [[ShowSomeLeg obvious reason]]--her street magic serves this purpose quite often, but she also forms one in the mundane sense when she [[RefugeInAudacity poses as Padishar's wife]] to get them into the People's Park, and again during their escape from the Pit the second time.
!!Garth
Wren's protector and guide, Garth has raised her since her early childhood. A Rover, he does his best to teach Wren how to survive in a very cruel world.
----
* BadassBeard
* BadassNormal: Garth has no magic, which doesn't slow him down much.
* BigBrotherMentor: To Wren.
* TheBigGuy
* HandicappedBadass: He's deaf.
* [[spoiler:HeroicSacrifice]]: [[spoiler:Forces Wren to MercyKill him after being poisoned by the Wisteron]].
* MightyGlacier: Compared to other people, he's probably a LightningBruiser, but when forced to face the Wisteron and other various Shadowen monsters, he's much closer to this.
* MusclesAreMeaningless: Averted. Garth's size and physical power are his primary assets in a fight.
* SecretKeeper: [[spoiler:For Wren's mother.]]
!!Rumor
Cogline's current moor cat, Rumor has a close relationship with Walker Boh, eventually transferring loyalties to him. Huge, silent, and unstoppable, Rumor faces down Shadowen with a ferocity that few humans can equal.
----
* AnimalCompanion: To Cogline and then Walker Boh.
* BadassNormal: Fights Shadowen without any magical aid.
* TheBigGuy: Plays this role in the group that storms Southwatch.
* {{Expy}}: Of Whisper before him.
* MeaningfulName: "It is said that wherever I go, Rumor often precedes me."
* PantheraAwesome: Like Whisper, Rumour can, and will, take on beings spawned from dark magic using just his natuarl weapons.
* ReallySevenHundredYearsOld: Is still around by the time of ''Isle Witch'', putting him somewhere around one hundred fifty years old.
* UndyingLoyalty: To Cogline and Walker
* TheVoiceless
!!Rimmer Dall
Head of the Seekers, the Federation SecretPolice, Rimmer Dall is also the leader of the Shadowen, TheBigBad of the series, and an all around bastard. He pursues and harasses the Ohmsfords at every turn, playing with their minds, in an attempt to break them all. He seems to be particularly obsessed with Par and the Wishsong.
----
* AnimalMotifs: All the Seekers where a silver wolf's head on their necklace of office. In Dall's case the metaphor is more pronounced then with most.
* BeardOfEvil
* BigBad: He's the leader of the Shadowen, the mastermind behind the Federation, and the [[FinalBoss most powerful opponent]] the protagonists face to boot.
* BitchInSheepsClothing: He can fake AffablyEvil with the best of them, but at the core of it he's a monster through and through.
* BodySnatcher[=/=]BodySurf
* TheChessmaster: A fairly competent one, though he's more dependant on [[ManipulativeBastard emotional manipulation]] than careful planning.
* ConsummateLiar: Nothing short of the Sword Of Shannara can pierce Rimmer Dall's carefully crafted falsehoods. And since he's aware that Par can't use the Sword, Rimmer Dall's more than willing to hand it over to him, using the Sword's lack of reaction to his stories in order to further Par's confusion.
** Even better, the reason Par couldn't use the Sword? [[spoiler:[[ManipulativeBastard Just prior to giving him the Sword Dall managed to talk Par into subconsciously believing he couldn't use it]].]]
* DarkIsEvil: Though he spends most of his page-time trying to convince Par that DarkIsNotEvil.
* DystopiaJustifiesTheMeans: He's already transformed TheFederation into a brutal PoliceState. His next objective is reducing the Four Lands to nothing more than a magical buffet for the Shadowen. The land will sicken and die, most species will go extinct, the Races will be left as slaves to his hunger, and he's pretty comfortable with all of that.
* EvilRedhead: Flaming red hair and beard.
* EvilSorceror
* FullContactMagic: His brawl with Walker in ''Talismans'' is both a physical and a magical one.
* FullNameBasis: He's always "Rimmer Dall" to the rest of the cast.
* GrandTheftMe: This is his final plan for Par.
* TheHeartless: Like all the Shadowen.
* HorrorHunger: The Shadowen are driven by the need to feed on magic. Rimmer Dall, as one of the most powerful, has a worse case of it than most.
* ImmortalityImmorality: Will live forever as long as he can keep on finding bodies to jack.
* {{Irony}}: The Seekers are supposed to hunt down practitioners of magic. He, and all the other members of the group, are Shadowen.
* LackOfEmpathy: Dall's desire to feed has overridden his capacity to feel for anyone.
* LargeAndInCharge: Big enough to make chairs creak when he seats himself.
* TheManBehindTheMan: To the entire Federation, though the Council is largely unaware of it.
* ManipulativeBastard: By the time he's done with Par and Coll, they can't tell reality from fiction. More than any other villain in series, Rimmer Dall relies on manipulating his victims' emotions for his plans to work.
* MindScrew: Loves it.
* NotSoDifferent: His forte. Used on Par, Pe Ell, Coll, and everyone else he wants to manipulate.
* PuppeteerParasite: The real Rimmer Dall isn't the man described here. He's the smokey wraith inside of him.
* RedEyesTakeWarning: His eyes turn into "pinpricks of blood" when he's angered or anticipatory.
* RedRightHand: Red Left Hand. It's the one he uses to project his power and is normally kept gloved to conceal the fact that it's both red, and more importantly ''made of fire''.
* ScarilyCompetentTracker: The Seekers are Federation trackers, and being Shadowen, are better than most. Rimmer Dall, as the leader of the Shadowen, is the best of all.
* SecretPolice[=/=]StateSec: It's hard to tell just which the Seekers are sometimes. Either way, he's in charge and proud of it.
* ShadowDictator: The Federation Council is under Dall's control.
* TomatoInTheMirror: Tries to pull this on Par.
* WithGreatPowerComesGreatInsanity: Dall, like most of the Shadowen, has become badly detatched from what other people would consider objective reality due to his need to feed, which he sees as paramount over all else.
!!Teel
A member of the Dwarf Resistance. Girlfriend of Steff, Morgan's contact. Tortured by the Federation, she has no face, and speaks very little. [[spoiler:Eventually outed as Shadowen, she betrays the group, murders Steff, and is slain by Morgan]].
----
* CoolMask
* [[spoiler:DarkActionGirl]]: [[spoiler:She doesn't really show her ActionGirl tendencies until taking on Morgan and Steff after her betrayal, so she definitely counts.]]
* EmotionlessGirl
* [[spoiler:TheMole]]: [[spoiler:A Shadowen spy.]]
* PetTheDog: The moment when Par is on watch at the camp, and she comes to him asking him to show her how the magic works. Possibly subverted in retrospect, as a clever {{Foreshadowing}} of [[spoiler:her being a Shadowen, since this was an example of her being drawn to Par's magic as all the others were]]. But since it isn't clear when exactly [[spoiler:she became a Shadowen--she may not have been TheMole to start with but got attacked and possessed sometime after this scene during the journey]], it still could count. Even if she was [[spoiler:a Shadowen]] at the time, that doesn't preclude her still having a humanizing side to her. Regardless, the moment certainly acted as a nice deflection [[spoiler:from her true loyalties]], making her a RedHerring for a while.
* TheQuietOne
* WaifFu: Far, far stronger than she looks, and every bit as fast.
!!Quickening
The daughter of The King of the Silver River, she leads Morgan, Walker, Pe Ell, and Horner Dees on a trek north to defeat the Stone King, and recover the Black Elfstone in ''Druid of Shannara''. She has the power to heal the land, and undo the poisons inflicted upon it.
----
* FriendToAllLivingThings
* GreenThumb
* [[spoiler:TheGwenStacy]]: [[spoiler:Morgan's.]]
* [[spoiler:HeroicSacrifice]]
* IJustWantToBeNormal: Has a moment of this when she considers living a happy life with Morgan instead of [[spoiler:sacrificing herself to stop Uhl Belk]].
* TheIngenue: Or is she...?
* TheMessiah
* [[spoiler:ThanatosGambit: Her death unleashes her magic, defeating Uhl Belk and The Maw Grint]].
* WideEyedIdealist: Appears at first to be one of these, but it turns out she was far more GenreSavvy than she let on, knowing from the very beginning what Pe Ell was and what he wanted but bringing him anyway, because she needed the Stiehl [[spoiler:to pierce her body's magical defenses, so she could become one with the land and undo the Stone King's poison]]. Very much an IDidWhatIHadToDo decision from one who seemed naive and far too trusting until TheReveal.
!!Pe Ell
An assassin for hire, and a favourite of Rimmer Dall's. He possesses the Stiehl, a knife that can cut through anything, including magical defences. He is sent on the journey with Quickening, with instructions from Rimmer Dall to kill her at the first opportunity, but like Walker, Morgan, and Horner Dees, falls under her spell--a fact which only serves to make him more unstable and dangerous. Calling him a sociopath is putting it mildly.
----
* AbsurdlySharpBlade: The first person to wield The Stiehl which can cut through anything, including armour, magic, and solid stone as though it weren't there.
* [[spoiler:AlasPoorVillain: By the time the Koden reaches him, he's aware of how thoroughly he was used, angry with himself and the world, and uncaring about whether he lives or dies. It's possible to feel a degree of empathy for him, terrible person that he may be.]]
* BreakTheHaughty: The book as a whole is a devestating one for him.
* TheDragon: "Rimmer Dall's favourite boy" as Horner Dees puts it.
* EvenEvilHasStandards: Believes in killing quickly and cleanly, and consequently, hates The Rake, which kills slowly and suffocatingly.
* [[spoiler:ExitPursuedByABear: Killed by the Koden as he tries to escape]].
* FreudianExcuse: His uncle beat him regularly when he was a child, until Pe Ell found the Stiehl and took him out.
* FullNameBasis: He's always Pe Ell, never "Pe" or "Ell".
* KnifeNut: With a magic knife (The Stiehl) to boot.
* ItsPersonal: When The Rake comes within milimetres of killing him, Pe Ell becomes determined to hunt the big insect down and kill it.
* LackOfEmpathy: The only way that he can do what he does.
* TheMole: In Quickening's group.
* NotSoDifferent: From the Shadowen, and particularly from Rimmer Dall.
* ProfessionalKiller
* PsychoForHire: Lives to look into his victim's eyes as they die; he views this as a way to glimpse the afterlife, and it is an act with a borderline religious significance for him.
* SanitySlippage: As ''Druid'' progresses he loses more and more of his calm, collected demeanor, finally resulting in [[spoiler:his VillainousBreakdown.]]
* TheSociopath
* StepfordSmiler: A deliberate one.
* TokenEvilTeammate: Even before they know he's a hitman, Quickening's party views him as this.
* UnwittingPawn: [[spoiler:Of Quickening and The King of the Silver River, who need his magic for her ThanatosGambit to work]].
* [[spoiler:VillainousBreakdown]]: [[spoiler:As he murders Quickening. It continues afterwards.]]
* {{Yandere}}: Becomes one to Quickening, seeing her as his possession. He's insanely jealous of anyone--Morgan, Walker--who gets too close to her.
!!Horner Dees
A retired Tracker, hunter, and woodsman, Horner Dees is the only man to have survived entering Eldwist, the city of the Stone King, and is recruited by Quickening to guide her company to Uhl Belk's home. A bearish old man who loves the mountains, Dees is eventually revealed to be a [[spoiler:former Federation Tracker]] with a history with Pe Ell.
----
* TheAlcoholic: Dees has a serious drinking problem. To his credit, it doesn't interfere with his job.
* AnimalMotifs: Counting the number of times he is compared to a bear would make a good drinking game.
* {{Badass Grandpa}}
* DefectorFromDecadence: In the backstory. Dees wanted no part of being a Seeker.
* FunctionalAddict
* GeniusBruiser: Dees is big, hulking, and quite bright. Even Pe Ell treats him with respect.
* IntergenerationalFriendship: With Morgan Leah, who he becomes quite close to.
* NatureHero: Has some definite aspects of this.
* RetiredBadass: Dees was once a Federation Tracker, and was among their best. He left once he realised that Rimmer Dall wanted to make him a Seeker.
* TheSmartGuy: To Quickening's company.
!!Uhl Belk, The Stone King
A creature of fairie, Uhl Belk is brother to the King of the Silver River, and Lord of Eldwist. Fearing change, he seeks to turn all the world to stone. Prior to the events of the series, he stole the Black Elfstone from the Druids; Walker, Quickening, Morgan, Pe Ell, and Horner Dees seek to retrieve it.
----
* AbusiveParents: To the Maw Grint. His repeated demands on it, and fusions of magic, have driven it insane.
* ArchnemesisDad: To his "son", the Maw Grint.
* DiscOneFinalBoss: In his role as BigBad for ''Druid''. He has powers that rival or exceed that of the combined Shadowen armies, but is defeated halfway through the series.
* EnemyCivilWar: With his son, the Maw Grint.
* EvilCounterpart: To The King of the Silver River.
* FaceHeelTurn: Somewhere in the BackStory.
* GracefulLoser: He takes his defeat and imprisonment at [[spoiler:Quickening]]'s hands rather well.
* ImmortalityImmorality: Everyone just seems temporary and insignificant to him.
* {{Irony}}: He's terrified by change and chaos, but his plan to convert the entire world to stone is more or less the definition of ChaoticEvil.
* NotSoDifferent: How he sees himself and the King of the Silver River.
* OmnicidalManiac: Though he doesn't necessarily see it that way. He wants to turn the world to stone, in order to keep it from changing. He believes that in doing so, he is fullfilling his pledge to the Word.
* PhysicalGod: Would be, were it not for his immobility, and dependence on the Black Elfstone.
* TakenForGranite: Resembles an immense, semi-mobile statue, and has the power to turn things to stone with a touch.
!!The Maw Grint
Uhl Belk's child, it is a formerly humanoid elemental with the appearance of a monstrous, fanged worm.
----
* TheDragon: Formerly to Uhl Belk.
** TheStarscream: Currently seeks to usurp its father's position quite openly.
* ElementalPowers: Over stone.
* EnemyCivilWar: With its father.
* EvilCounterpart: To Quickening. Like her, it had the power to carry its father's magic wherever it went, changing the land, and it was even described as Uhl Belk's son, i.e. the opposite gender.
* GracefulLoser: Pauses and allows [[spoiler:Quickening's magic to erase it instead of attacking. It almost seems to welcome it, perhaps in a moment of ICannotSelfTerminate.]]
* PoisonousPerson: Its very touch is deadly poison.
* SandWorm
* SelfMadeOrphan: Its life's goal.
* StoryBreakerPower: Forget the Shadowen. The Maw Grint's size alone makes it literally unkillable. It's so vast that it fills all of Eldwist during its rampage at the end, making it immune to anything the heroes might throw at it. And that's without getting into the fact that both its touch, and its magic, are deadly poison. In short there is no actual way to stop it, or even fight it. [[spoiler:Quickening's HeroicSacrifice]] is the only thing that prevents it from taking over the world; a direct confrontation would have resulted in everybody but it dying.
* TakenForGranite: Whatever it touches turns to stone.
* WasOnceAMan: Or at least a humanoid elemental.
* WithGreatPowerComesGreatInsanity: It's completely and utterly mad, with no sense of self left, beyond a desire to feed.
!!The Wisteron
The strongest and most dangerous of Morrowindl's "demons", it has the appearance of a nightmarish spider/monkey hybrid. It lays claim to the entire swamp of the In Ju, and dogs Wren Ohmsford's steps for much of ''Elf Queen of Shannara''.
----
* BigCreepyCrawlies: Meets ManiacMonkeys
** GiantSpider
* DarkIsEvil
* DiscOneFinalBoss: The final opponent confronted by Wren in ''Elf Queen'', the Wisteron tests the limits of her abilities more fully than anyone she faces afterwards. It's not connected to the series' BigBad, and yet it's still a near perfect match for this trope.
* TheHeartless: Like all of Morrowindl's Shadowen.
* LightningBruiser
* ManiacMonkeys
* NighInvulnerability: Shrugs off sword blows and hits from the Elfstones. They finally have to drown it in mud.
** And even then it's not clear if even THAT killed it, or just trapped it.
* SuperPersistentPredator: It doesn't give up, no matter what you do. The spidery equivalent of an ImplacableMan.
!!Tiger Ty & Spirit
A Wing Rider and his Roc whom Wren befriend on her journey to Morrowindl. Tiger Ty later becomes one of her staunchest supporters.
----
* ABoyAndHisX: An old man and his Roc.
* AlliterativeName
* AwesomeMcCoolName: Both of them.
* BeastOfBattle: Spirit.
* BigBadassBirdOfPrey: Spirit is incredibly badass, fighting Shadowen and Creepers on an even footing.
* CoolOldGuy: Tiger Ty's age is never established but he's clearly much older than most of the main characters.
* TheCynic: Tiger Ty has a deeply pessimistic outlook on life, the universe, and everything.
* GrumpyBear
* HighAltitudeBattle: Against [[spoiler:Tib Arne & Gloon]]
* IntergenerationalFriendship: Tiger Ty and Wren
* UndyingLoyalty: Tiger Ty to Wren and Spirit to Tiger Ty.
!!Stresa
A Splinterscat whom Wren and Garth save on their way to Arborlon. He accompanies them back to the Four Lands and serves as a wilderness guide and scout for the Elven Army.
----
* GrumpyBear
* IntellectualAnimal
* IOweYouMyLife
* MixAndMatchCritters: A mix of porcupine and cat, grown to giant size.
* SpikeShooter
* TalkingAnimal
* UndyingLoyalty: To Wren
!!Triss
Captain of the [[PraetorianGuard Elven Home Guard]], and one of Wren's closest friends following the events of ''Elf Queen''. He is [[spoiler:one of the only Elves to survive the trek from Arborlon to the beach]].
----
* ActionSurvivor: One of the few Elves to [[spoiler:survive the whole trip across Morrowindl]].
* {{Badass}}: Pretty much a requirement for the Home Guard, but Triss is especially {{badass}}, surviving Morrowindl with nothing worse than a broken arm.
* FireForgedFriends: With Wren. As she puts it, "after what they had shared on Morrowindl, Triss could tell her anything."
* HeroSecretService
* TheQuietOne: Triss doesn't talk much, but when he does, he's usually worth listening to.
* PraetorianGuard
* UndyingLoyalty: To Ellenroh and ''especially'' Wren. Noticing a trend here?
!!Gavilan Elessedil
Prince of the Elves and [[spoiler:Wren's cousin]]. Handsome, and with a reputation among the ladies.
----
* [[spoiler:DirtyCoward]]
* [[spoiler:TheEvilPrince: Though not initially, and with a FaceHeelTurn that's driven more by cowardice than anything else]].
* [[spoiler:FaceHeelTurn]]
* [[spoiler:KilledOffForReal: By the Wisteron]]
* KissingCousins: He kisses [[spoiler:Wren]] despite being her cousin.
* PrinceCharming:[[spoiler:Subverted. At first he seems like the real thing, but is revealed to be a coward by the end]].
!!Matty Roh
One of Padishar Creel's top agents, Matty is a very self-possessed and capable young woman. She runs a bar and safehouse for Padishar, and later accompanies Morgan Leah on his trek south in ''Talismans of Shannara''.
----
* ActionGirl
* [[ActuallyIAmHim Actually I Am Her]]: Morgan asked her (while she was disguised as a boy) where he could find Matty Roh. Several rounds of question dodging later, this gets said.
* BadassNormal: Has no magic, no special talismans, and no experience with fighting the Shadowen. Not only survives the raid on Southwatch, but more then pulls her own weight, taking out numerous soldiers and Shadowen alike.
* BattleCouple: [[spoiler:Forms one with Morgan. He handles the Shadowen, she handles the normal people]].
* {{Bifauxnen}}: Matty is repeatedly described as looking like an especially {{Bishonen}} male teenager, instead of the adult woman she is. This is an obvious help with her boy disguise.
* BoyishShortHair
* BrokenBird[=/=]{{Kuudere}}: Courtesy of a traumatic backstory that's both believable and very sad.
* FragileSpeedster
* IDidWhatIHadToDo: Convinced a Federation officer to give her some information she wanted, then cut his throat before he could...ahem...try and make a move on her. She's convinced that what she did was justified. Morgan's not so sure.
* ImprobableWeaponUser: Her broom. She uses a rapier in later fights.
* LaResistance: A very high-ranking member, somewhere just behind Padishar Creel and [[NumberTwo Chandos]].
* RoyalRapier: Brooks doesn't name the weapon she's carrying but it's a slim, light fencing weapon, used with one hand, meaning it's either this or a duelling sabre.
* SecondLove: [[spoiler:To Morgan]] They're definitely falling for one another by the time the book ends.
* SweetPollyOliver: When Morgan first meets her.
* SurvivorsGuilt: Her [[spoiler: entire family]] died of a disease that [[spoiler:she herself brought into the house. Somehow she got better. They didn't.]]
* WaifFu: Very slim, armed with a rapier, and dependent on trying to avoid getting hit. She's quite tall however, and capable of taking a reasonable amount of punishment against normal people. Against the Shadowen, she's absolutely dependent on this style.
!!The Four Horsemen
Four Shadowen, given the appearance of the legends, and sent to harass Walker Boh.
----
* AmbiguousGender: Famine is completely naked, yet genderless.
* CoolSword: Famine has one made of bone.
* DemBones: Famine is essentially a skeleton, albeit with a little bit of flesh attached.
* TheEvilGenius: The main reason that Death is the last one standing is because he was bright enough to hang back from the fight, realised what Walker was doing with the illusions, and traced the Druid's attack on War back to its source.
* EvilIsDeathlyCold: Death. His touch is freezing and saps his victims' strength while his scythe leaves frosty trails in the wounds it inflicts.
* TheFourHorsemenOfTheApocalypse: Or more accurately, four Shadowen who've taken on their form.
* HealingFactor: To the point where they're nearly unkillable.
* TheHeartless: Par for the course with the Shadowen.
* HellishHorse: They ride lizard-like creatures with fangs and claws but a distinctly equestrian gait.
* FourIsDeath: "Names and methods aside, they were all death in one form or another."
* TheGrimReaper: Death.
* HoistByHisOwnPetard: Or more accurately, by one another's. Unable to overcome their HealingFactor, Walker uses his MasterOfIllusion abilities to trick them into killing one another.
* PoisonousPerson: Famine and Pestilence both spread their respective namesakes through touch, weakening or even killing their targets.
** {{Plaguemaster}}: Pestilence.
** WalkingWasteland: Famine.
* QuirkyMinibossSquad: But extremely dangerous nevertheless.
* SinisterScythe: Death carries one as his WeaponOfChoice.
* SpikesOfVillainy: War
* WalkingArmoury: War is armed to the teeth with every concievable weapon.
** AnAxeToGrind: Seems to a personal favourite.
** CarryABigStick: Another favourite.
* TheWormThatWalks: Pestilence's body is made up of thousands of plague flies trapped within an amorphous yellow body.
!!Tib Arne and Gloon
A very young free-born agent, sent to bring Wren information about Padishar's movements. He later befriends Wren, who he seems to view with a certain amount of reverence. Gloon is his War Shrike and protector. [[spoiler:Both are eventually revealed to be Shadowen spies. They kill one of Wren's companions and abduct her, before being slain by the Elf Queen herself.]]
----
* ABoyAndHisX: A boy and his War Shrike.
* [[spoiler:AxeCrazy: Tib, even by Shadowen standards.]]
* BigBadassBirdOfPrey: Gloon is a War Shrike. See Cool Pet below, for all the details.
* [[spoiler:BlondGuysAreEvil: Tib]]
* CoolPet: Gloon is a War Shrike, a creature that can best be described as an airborne wolverine, complete with the attitude, badassery, and lack of regard for its own personal safety. About as cool a pet as you can get.
* [[spoiler:FeatheredFiend: Gloon. Jesus!]]
* [[spoiler:TheHeartless: Both of them.]]
* LoyalAnimalCompanion: Gloon follows Tib everywhere, and protects him as best he can. Tib says he's raised the Shrike since infancy, and Gloon seems to believe he owes him.
* [[spoiler:TheMole]]
* [[spoiler:PsychopathicManchild: Tib the Shadowen is still incredibly childish. It's as though his disguise has begun to effect his personality]].
* ReplacementGoldfish: Wren sees him as one for Garth.
* [[spoiler:{{Sizeshifter}}]]: [[spoiler:Gloon can grow from normal size to as big as a Roc]].
* [[spoiler:TeensAreMonsters]]: [[spoiler:At least when bodyjacked by Shadowen they are]].
[[/folder]]
[[folder:The Voyage of the Jerle Shannara]]
!!Bek Rowe/[[spoiler:Ohmsford]]
The cousin of Quentin Leah, Prince of Leah, Bek was orphaned at a young age and adopted by Quentin. Recruited by Walker for reasons unknown. [[spoiler:It's eventually revealed that he's an Ohmsford, has the powers of the Wishsong, and, by the by, is the Ilse Witch's brother.]]
----
* BlessedWithSuck: That damn Wishsong again.
* ChangelingFantasy: He's really [[spoiler:an Ohmsford]].
* DistressedDude: When captured by the Ilse Witch, who can defend against his magic.
* GlassCannon[=/=]SquishyWizard
* GuileHero: He's not quite at Jair or Walker's level, but Bek, like most of Brooks' illusion casters, gets by on his brains.
* TheHero
* JumpedAtTheCall: He regrets that almost as much as [[FailureKnight Quentin]] and Ahren.
* LoveMartyr: Towards Grianne. It pays off.
* MasterOfIllusion: In the tradition of Jair and Par.
* NonActionGuy: Before he figures out how to use his illusion powers to his advantage.
* OddFriendship: With Truls Rohk.
* RealityWarper: Not to Brin, Par, or Grianne's level, but Bek's Wishsong can clearly do more than just create illusions. He just doesn't have to use it that way with any great frequency.
* SpannerInTheWorks: During Grianne's battle with The Morgawr.
!!Quentin Leah
--> ''I thought this would be our great adventure, our right of passage into manhood, a story we would remember all our lives, that we would tell to our friends and family. Now I don't ever want to talk about it again.''
The current Prince of Leah, and Bek's best friend, cousin, and surrogate brother. Brought along by Walker so that they can have access to the Sword of Leah. Initially an enthusiastic, cheerful young man, the events of the series transform Quentin into shellshocked FailureKnight, obsessed with protecting those closest to him, no matter the cost.
----
* {{Badass}}: Quentin is a [[BigBadassWolf caull]]-butchering, [[EverythingsBetterWithDinosaurs Graak]]-slaying, [[LizardFolk Mwellret]]-fighting, [[HollywoodCyborg wronk]]-stomping {{badass}}. He's also a [[BreakTheCutie broken cutie]] and FailureKnight who hates himself and the mission, couldn't save anybody, suffers from a massive BigBrotherInstinct, and never, ever wants to do anything like this again.
* BigBrotherInstinct: Towards Bek; it gets worse as the trilogy progresses.
* BlessedWithSuck: He has the Sword of Leah. Its power is addictive and puts him at great risk from Antrax, and despite that, he still can't save most of the people he wants to protect.
* BreakTheCutie: From JumpedAtTheCall to FailureKnight. It's painful to watch.
* CoolSword: The--[[YouShouldKnowThisAlready wait for it]]--Sword of Leah.
** AmuletOfDependency: Quentin is less addicted to the Sword's magic then Rone or Morgan were, but he still can't do much without it.
** AncestralWeapon: The Sword belongs to the House of Leah, which is why Quentin is the one who has to carry it.
** {{Antimagic}}: Though he discovers that it works just as well on Antrax's superscience, and the Graak, being one of the few weapons that can penetrate the immense lizard's armour.
** BlackSwordsAreBetter: The hilt and sheath have been replaced dozens of times. That black blade with the liquid sheen, and the pools of murky green? Hasn't been altered in 450 years.
* FailureKnight: His inability to save [[spoiler:Tamis or Patrinell]] forms a huge part of his obsession with protecting Bek.
* HeroicSelfDeprecation: Lots of it.
* HeroicWannabe: Initially. That doesn't survive landing at Castledown.
* IJustWantToBeNormal: When this is over Quentin is going home, settling down, and ''never'' talking about the Voyage again.
* ILetGwenStacyDie: [[spoiler:Tamis]]
* JumpedAtTheCall: He thought going on this trip would be a big adventure. Now...
** WeAreNotGoingThroughThatAgain: Quentin is never leaving home again. Hell, if he can arrange it, he's going to forget everything that ever happened on the Voyage.
* TheLancer: Naturally falls into this role no matter who is partnered up with. He's been The Lancer to Bek, Tamis, and Panax.
* MadeOfIron: Quentin survives battles with wronks and Mwellrets, falling off a cliff in an avalanche, and finally, having the Graak land on him during its death throes. That last one nearly does kill him, but the fact that he survived at all, means his stamina is ridiculous.
* OlderSidekick: To Bek, whom he is obsessed with protecting.
* WarriorPrince: Quentin's father is not a king (though he does rule Leah as part of the city council) but the trappings of the trope are still in full effect.
* YouShallNotPass: Pulls this on the pursuing Mwellrets and caulls, luring them away from Panax, the Rindge, and the remaining Elven Hunters, and then halting them on a mountain pass where they can only approach a few at a time. He fully expects this to get him killed; an avalanche ends up saving his life.
!!Redden Alt Mer
A Rover mercenary serving on the Prekkadoran Hights, Walker hires him to captain the Jerle Shannara. Also known as Big Red, and "the man with the luck."
----
* BadAss
* BornLucky: Stated by many.
* TheCaptain
** TheGoodCaptain
* FaceYourFears: After his HeroicBSOD he decides he has to face the [[PrimalFear Graak]] to get his courage back.
* FieryRedhead
* HeroicBSOD: When facing the Graak. He realises that the only way he's going to get his courage back is to go down into the Crake and face it again.
* HiredGuns
* NoOneCouldSurviveThat: Gets hit with it on more than one occasion.
* RedBaron: Big Red.
* RedHeadedHero
!!Rue Meridian
The younger half-sister of Redden Alt Mer, Rue is an accomplished mercenary in her own right, and along with Spanner Frew, is her brother's second-in-command. Also known as Little Red.
----
* ActionGirl: She stole ''Black Moclips'' by herself and survives battles with Mwellrets. She definitely counts.
* FieryRedHead
* HeroesWantRedHeads
* HiredGuns
* LoveInterest: To Bek.
* NumberTwo: She and Spanner split this role with regards to Big Red.
* RedBaron: Little Red.
* SingleWomanSeeksGoodMan: After spending most of her life among Rovers and soldiers, this is the reason she's interested in Bek.
!!Ahren Elessedil
The younger son of the Elven King, he is sent on the Voyage by his older brother, Kylen. Goes through more trauma than the rest of the cast combined, especially after attracting the attention of [[BigBad The Morgawr]]'s [[TheDragon Dragon]], [[LovesTheSoundOfScreaming Cree Bega]]. He puts in another appearance in ''High Druid'' as a member of the Druid Order, and a mentor to his neice, Khyber.
----
* {{Antihero}}: Type I. Ahren's in way over his head and knows it.
** ClassicalAntihero: Plagued by self-doubts, unaware about what's really going on, and frequently victimised by those who are more powerful than he is, Ahren is really not cut out for this hero gig, but tries anyway.
* {{Archenemy}}: How he sees the relationship between himself and Cree Bega by the end.
--> "He hated all of the rets, but their leader most of all. Cree Bega was a weight about his neck that would drag him to his death if it wasn't cut off now."
* BreakTheCutie: No character goes through quite the level of torture that Ahren does. By the end he's a fundamentally broken person with no self-respect left.
* CainAndAbel: His brother wants him dead, or at least out of the way, for fear that when he dies, Ahren will take the throne from his children. Ahren wouldn't dream of it, but that doesn't do anything to allay his brother's paranoia.
* TheDogBitesBack: Just manages to man up and defeat Cree Bega, who's spent most of the third book psychologically torturing him. Probably his CrowningMomentOfAwesome.
* FaceYourFears[=/=]TiredOfRunning: With regards to Cree Bega. When the big lizard climbs onto the ship and kills one of the crew, Ahren's first instinct is to run. He has an injured Quentin Leah to defend however, and realises that if he runs now, he'll never retain a single shred of his own self-respect. An awesome KnifeFight ensues.
* ForcedToWatch: Cree Bega forces Ahren to watch The Morgawr feed on the minds of the entirety of ''Black Moclips'' crew.
* [[spoiler:HeroicSacrifice: In ''High Druid'']]
* HeroicSelfDeprecation: Did we mention that this kid hates himself?
* ILetGwenStacyDie: [[spoiler:Ryer Ord Star]]
* ItsPersonal: With Cree Bega, for [[WouldYouLikeToHearHowTheyDied a]] [[KickTheDog whole]] [[ILetGwenStacyDie host]] [[ColdBloodedTorture of]] [[JustBetweenYouAndMe reasons]].
* JumpedAtTheCall: Like Quentin and Bek, he thought travelling to Castledown would be a great adventure. It leaves him broken, dead inside, and wanting to die.
* [[spoiler:KilledOffForReal: In ''High Druid'']]
* KnifeFight: With Cree Bega.
* TheMentor: To his niece, Khyber, in ''High Druid''.
* TookALevelInBadass: Just in time for his fight with [[TheDragon Cree Bega]].
* WarriorPrince: He tries to be one, he really does.
* YouCantGoHomeAgain: His brother won't let him. Ahren doesn't think he can anyway.
!!Ryer Ord Star
The protege of the Addershag, Ryer is an empath and a seer recruited by Walker to help them on their journey. [[spoiler:She doubles as TheMole for the Ilse Witch, and is eventually captured and tortured by Cree Bega and The Morgawr, resulting in her suicide]]. Has a very complex relationship with Walker.
----
* BreakTheCutie: She was captured by [[TortureTechnician Cree Bega]]. What did you expect?
* ColdBloodedTorture: Subjected to it by the Mwellrets.
* [[spoiler:DrivenToSuicide]]
* TheEmpath: Which gets her psychically linked to [[HurtingHero Walker]].
* TheGwenStacy: [[spoiler:To Ahren.]]
* [[spoiler:HeelFaceRevolvingDoor]]: [[spoiler:How things look to Ahren. In reality she's pulled a HeelFaceTurn, but is trying to trick the Mogawr as part of her charge from Walker.]]
* [[spoiler:KilledOffForReal]]
* [[spoiler:TheMole]]: [[spoiler:The Ilse Witch's spy.]]
* [[spoiler:TogetherInDeath]]: [[spoiler:With her partner in love/hate Walker.]]
!!Truls Rohk
The son of a Borderman and a {{Shapeshifter}}, Truls Rohk is badly disfigured, and extremely bitter. He's known Walker for years, and is recruited by him to help the crew of ''The Jerle Shannara''. Along the way he strikes up a friendship with Bek. [[spoiler:Killed in battle with the Ilse Witch's caull, he is reborn as a true {{Shapeshifter}}.]]
----
* AntiHero
* BadAss
* BlackCloak
* BodyHorror
* DarkIsNotEvil
* GoodIsNotNice
* TheGrotesque
* HalfHumanHybrid: Half man, half ephemeral shapeshifter.
* HeroSecretService: For Bek, and later [[spoiler:Grianne.]]
* HumanMomNonHumanDad: Inverted. Truls' mother is a shapeshifter, his father a Borderman.
* InTheHood: There's a [[BodyHorror very good]] [[TheGrotesque reason]] for this.
* [[spoiler:KilledOffForReal]]: [[spoiler:The human side of him anyway.]]
* LonersAreFreaks
* OddFriendship: With Bek.
* {{Shapeshifting}}: Both the [[VoluntaryShapeshifting voluntary]], and {{involuntary| shapeshifting}} kinds.
** ShapeshifterWeapon: Forms blades and other weapons from his own ruined body.
!!Panax
A Dwarven Tracker recruited by Walker to help serve as their guide. He develops a close friendship with Quentin Leah, and Obat, the leader of the Rindge.
----
* {{Badass}}
** BadassBeard
* CoolOldGuy
* {{Expy}}: Of Hendel, from ''Sword''.
* GoingNative: Opts to stay with the Rindge because there's nothing new to discover at home.
!!Tamis
An Elven Hunter and protege of Ard Patrinell, upon whom she has a fairly serious crush. She teams up with Quentin in ''Antrax'' to [[spoiler:MercyKill the Patrinell wronk, and dies in the process.]]
----
* ActionGirl
* BoyishShortHair
* TheGwenStacy: [[spoiler:To Quentin.]]
* IneffectualLoner: Initially, due to lingering bitterness over being forced to become an Elven Hunter instead of a member of the vaunted Home Guard. She gets over it by partway through ''Antrax''.
* [[spoiler:KilledOffForReal]]
* LoveMartyr: Goes through Hell just to put the man she loved out of his misery.
* MentorShip: With Patrinell, who taught her how to fight.
* [[spoiler:TogetherInDeath]]: [[spoiler:With Ard Patrinell.]]
!!The Ilse Witch/[[spoiler:Grianne Ohmsford]]
A broken, deadly young woman who can kill with her voice, the Ilse Witch makes her home off the coast, where she plots revenge against Walker for imagined wrongs. Hearing of his quest to obtain the books of what she believes to be old magic, she gathers her own airship crew and sets off in pursuit of him. [[spoiler:She is eventually revealed to be Bek's sister, Grianne, and reforms, turning against her mentor, [[BigBad The Morgawr]]. She reappears in ''High Druid of Shannara'' as the High Druid of the new Druid Order and in ''Dark Legacy of Shannara'' as a Witch-Wraith.]]
----
* [[ArchEnemy Archenemies]]: She thinks she and Walker are. One could make a convincing case for her and [[spoiler:Tael Riverine reaching this status in reality]].
* [[spoiler:TheArchmage: In ''High Druid'']]
* [[spoiler:TheAtoner: Post-HeelFaceTurn]].
* BadBoss: Crushes any servant who questions her authority.
* BastardUnderstudy: To The Morgawr. They're both very aware of it too, and it's a major theme in their interactions with one another.
* BigBadDuumvirate: Forms one with The Morgawr, though as his former pupil, she is the junior partner, a fact she very much resents, despite all her bluster about them being equals.
** BigBadWannabe: She's effectively sidelined during ''Antrax'' and is just not evil enough to compete with The Morgawr on an even footing, a fact that both he and [[TheDragon Cree Bega]] have taken into account.
* BlackCloak
* [[spoiler:BrokenBird: Comes off like this post-HeelFaceTurn]].
* CameBackWrong: [[spoiler: In ''Dark Legacy'', thanks to the Tanequil pulling a JackassGenie. Railing demanded Grianne be restored to life. He got her... as the Ilse Witch. Oops]].
* DarkMagicalGirl: A rare Western example.
* [[spoiler:EasilyForgiven: Only by Bek]].
* [[spoiler:EmptyShell: Post VillainousBSOD]].
* EvenEvilHasStandards: She finds Cree Bega utterly repulsive and has similar opinions regarding The Morgawr's method of feeding.
* EvilVersusEvil: [[spoiler: As the reborn Ilse Witch in ''Dark Legacy'', she's the world's only hope against the even worse Tael Riverine. Lampshaded]].
* GlassCannon[=/=]SquishyWizard
* [[spoiler:HeelFaceTurn]]
* [[spoiler:HeelRealisation: Thanks to the Sword of Shannara]]
* TheHeavy: In ''Ilse Witch''
* InTheHood: Initially.
* JerkAss: Even after [[spoiler:her HeelFaceTurn.]]
* [[spoiler:LukeIAmYourFather]]: Inverted. [[spoiler:Bek spends most of book 2 trying to convince her that she is his sister]].
* MoralMyopia: Walker's supposedly killing her family? Unforgivable. Her own random murders, {{Bad Boss}}ings, and all around [[JerkAss bitchiness]]? [[SarcasmMode Totally justified]] by her own [[{{Wangst}} suffering]].
* OlderHeroVsYoungerVillain: She's about twenty. Walker's [[ReallySevenHundredYearsOld 150]].
* RaisedByOrcs: Raised by The Morgawr.
* [[spoiler:RedemptionEarnsLife]]
* {{Revenge}}: Wants it on Walker.
* {{Tykebomb}}: Though far more independent than most.
* VillainousBSOD: After [[spoiler:being shown the truth about her past and herself by the Sword of Shannara, Grianne pretty much shuts down, and goes into a [[EmptyShell waking coma]]]]. Snapping her out of it becomes a big part of the plot in ''Morgawr''.
* VillainProtagonist: Gets at least as much attention as the heroic part of the cast.
* {{Wangst}}: Deliberately invoked. That she's a selfish bitch blinded by her own perceived suffering is the entire ''point'' of her character.
* WickedWitch
* WizardDuel: Against [[spoiler:The Morgawr and Tael Riverine.]]
!!The Morgawr
--> "To feed on another's life. You cannot imagine the ecstasy!"
An ancient warlock who hides within the Wilderun, The Morgawr claims to have been the brother of The Witch Sisters,[[TheElfstonesOfShannara Morag and Mallenroh]]. A grotesque, disfigured monster who feeds on human lives and souls, The Morgawr is the Ilse Witch's mentor and the true BigBad of the ''Voyage'' trilogy. Appearing in the background throughout the first two books, he emerges in ''Morgawr'' to finish the main cast and take the books of magic for himself. [[spoiler:He is eventually slain by Bek, Grianne, and the spirit of Mephitic castle]]. Probably the single evilest character to appear in the entire franchise.
----
* BadPowersBadPeople: He devours peoples' souls and minds in order to extend his own life and power. Moreoever, all his other magics stem from this leeching of life. Unsurprisingly, he's one of Brooks' most evil villains.
* BigBad: There are several contenders for this title in the series, but The Morgawr is the one who ultimately wins out.
* BlackCloak
* BrainFood: Worse. He reaches through the back of your head, absorbs your brain (and soul), and leaves you a mindless puppet.
* DarkIsEvil
** DarkIsNotEvil: Invokes and then subverts this trope, assuring a younger Ilse Witch that despite his frightening appearance he is her friend. He's not. He's not ''anyone's'' friend.
* DealWithTheDevil: Offers one to Sen Dunsidan.
* {{Determinator}}: Shows some aspects of this in his WizardDuel against Grianne, when he temporarily holds off an attack by her ''and'' the spirit of Mephitic castle through sheer force of will. The Morgawr may be a monster, but he does ''not'' go out like a bitch.
* EnergyAbsorption: Feeds on the LifeEnergy of his victims, then channels that into magic. He's basically a magical leech.
* EvilMentor: To the Ilse Witch.
* EvilSorceror
* FullContactMagic: Typically uses his magic to shield himself before grappling with his adversaries.
* GreenEyes: Slitted and reptillian.
* HalfHumanHybrid: He may be part man, part Mwellret. He may also just be a human who has mutated to resemble one. Either way, he has some definite characteristics of this.
* TheHeavy: In ''Morgawr''
* HorrorHunger: Everything about his feeding, from what it is he feeds on to how he does it, is revolting.
* ImmortalityImmorality: Lengthens his lifespan by feeding on the souls of others.
* InTheBlood: If he really is [[WickedWitch Morag and Mallenroh]]'s brother, than raw evil is definitely in the blood.
* InTheHood: Usually. If you looked like that, you'd hide out too.
* [[spoiler:KilledOffForReal]]: [[spoiler:And good, freaking, riddance!]]
* LargeAndInCharge
* LifeEnergy: Feeds on it.
* LizardFolk
* TheManBehindTheMan: He's been manipulating the Ilse Witch (who thinks she's his equal partner) since she was five or six.
* MysteriousPast: Very little is ever made clear about The Morgawr's past, including what he is, what his real name is, if he really is Morag and Mallenroh's brother, and if not, how old he really is.
* NoNameGiven: Note that he's ''The'' Morgawr. Is that a title? The name of his species? His job description? Whatever the case may be, we're never told if he has a real name.
** It's both title and species. It means "Warlock."
* TheNondescript: One of the forms he takes in front of Sen Dunsidan. He implies that it might be his real face.
* NotSoDifferent: From The Ilse Witch, which he points out to her in their final confrontation. The Ilse Witch herself sees him as NotSoDifferent from [[TheMentor Walker]] prior to her [[spoiler:HeelFaceTurn.]]
* PuppetMaster: With a fondness for PeoplePuppets, who he creates after magically destroying their free will and devouring their minds.
* SlaveMooks: His victims are transformed into this after he drains their minds and souls. See PuppetMaster above.
* VampiricDraining: Of LifeEnergy, magic and mental stamina.
* VoluntaryShapeshifting: Can alter his features to resemble almost anyone, although he doesn't do it very often, preferring the shock value of his actual appearance.
* WizardDuel: Against Grianne and the spirit of Mephitic castle.
* YourSoulIsMine: Consumes it along with your mind.
!!Cree Bega
--> "She took ssso long to die, little Elvesss. So long it ssseemed that it would take forever."
The Morgawr's [[TheDragon right hand]] [[LizardFolk Mwellret]], and the commander of the 'rets among the Ilse Witch's crew. A slimy, obsequious psycho, and one of the few members of the cast who isn't afraid of the Witch. [[spoiler:Killed in a KnifeFight against Ahren Elessedil during the climax of ''Morgawr''.]]
----
* AllTrollsAreDifferent: The Mwellrets are a species of lizardlike Troll who survived the Great Wars by hiding out in swamplands and marshes.
* {{Archenemy}}: Ahren sees him as this by the end.
* ColdBloodedTorture: Very fond of it, as evidenced by his horrific torture of Ryer Ord Star, and his psychological torment of Ahren.
* CompellingVoice: Like most Mwellrets, Cree Bega can do this. His isn't as powerful as that of Stythys from ''Wishsong'', but it's still a very threatening ability.
* [[spoiler:TheDogBitesBack: Slain by Ahren, one of his favourite [[KickTheDog victims]]]].
* TheDragon: To [[BigBad The Morgawr]].
* FantasticRacism: Towards all non-Mwellrets.
* FullNameBasis: Always "Cree Bega", never just one or the other.
* HypnoticEyes: A Mwellret's eyes will freeze you if you look into them for too long.
* JustBetweenYouAndMe: Shares numerous gruesome details with Ahren, including how long it took his crush to die.
* [[spoiler:KarmicDeath]]: [[spoiler:Throughout ''Morgawr'', Ahren is undoubtedly Cree Bega's favourite victim. That it's Ahren who finally kills him, is very sweet.]]
* KickTheDog: Loves it. Notable examples include the above-mentioned JustBetweenYouAndMe, forcing Ahren to watch The Morgawr feed, and of course, his torture of Ryer Ord Star which [[DrivenToSuicide Drives Her To Suicide]]. A lot of what he does is basically [[KickTheDog Kick The]] {{Woobie}}.
* [[spoiler:KilledOffForReal: And it just about leaves you dancing for joy]].
* KnifeNut: Both the throwing and the stabbing variety. Unlike many of Brooks' other examples, he does play up the psychotic aspects of this weapon choice.
* KnifeFight: With Ahren.
* LickingTheBlade: Licks the blood off of his knife after killing one of the Elven Hunters with it.
* LizardFolk
* LovesTheSoundOfScreaming
* TheResenter: Towards the Ilse Witch, who he believes is less than worthy of The Morgawr's attention.
* SmugSnake: He's arrogant, vicious, and contemptuous of all the "Little peoplessss"; even his undeniable bravery (he's one of the few people in series who isn't scared of the Ilse Witch) stems more from arrogance than anything else. Just reading any of his conversations with the Ilse Witch or Ahren should make his inherent {{Smug Snake}}ness apparent.
* SssssnakeTalk: Little Elvessss...
* TheStarscream: To The Ilse Witch. He makes it very clear that he believes that he, rather than her, should be the one in charge of the Voyage. The only reason he doesn't try and stick a knife in her is because The Morgawr told him not to, unless she tries to betray him.
* WouldHitAGirl: Would torture and violate a girl in every way possible.
* WouldYouLikeToHearHowTheyDied: See the page quote.
!!Antrax
An Old World supercomputer, Antrax was created to protect the world's knowledge during the Great Wars. Told that it must survive at all costs, Antrax lures magic-users to its home in Castledown where it imprisons them and drains off their magic to fuel itself. The main cast's lack of knowledge about what it is makes it truly dangerous.
----
* AIIsACrapshoot: Subverted. Antrax is doing ''exactly'' what it was hardwired for.
* BoobyTrap: Its fortress is loaded with them.
* TheChessmaster: Antrax set the entire plot in motion in order to gather more victims with which to feed its hungry power cells.
* DiscOneFinalBoss: Serves as the BigBad of the book with its name, and is responsible for dozens of deaths, despite not being the main antagonist.
* EvilerThanThou: With the Ilse Witch, though it barely acknowledges her presence.
* FrickinLaserBeams: As part of its automated defence grid.
* GeniusLoci: Because of the main cast's unfamiliarity with Old World machinery, Antrax certainly looks like one to them, as it brings the entirety of Castledown to bear against them.
* TheHeavy: In ''Antrax''
* HumansAreBastards: The KnightTemplar dicks who programmed Antrax will hopefully burn in the deepest pit in Hell.
* KilledOffForReal
* KnightTemplar: Antrax will kill anyone who tries to access the books without the codes. Moreover, it has expanded its practises to luring in people with magical abilities and enslaving them. Why? So that it can drain their magics in order to fuel its own existence, and thus fullfill its ObstructiveCodeOfConduct of protecting said books. The best part: it doesn't even know what it's protecting.
* {{Magitek}}: Antrax has evolved past the point of using solar radiation; it now feeds on raw magic, drained from its victims.
* MasterComputer: Antrax's systems extend throughout the entire fortress.
* MechaMooks: Has a wide variety of them.
** HollywoodCyborg: Its wronks, half-human, half-machine abominations controlled by Antrax's will.
** KillerRobot: The proto-[[SpiderTank Creepers]] and the wronks are both hardwired to massacre any and all intruders.
** SlaveMooks: The wronks have no free will, their minds being utterly dominated by Antrax's programming.
* ObstructiveCodeOfConduct: Protect the books.
* RoboticPsychopath: Antrax is supposed to act the way it does.
!!Ard Patrinell
Ahren and Quentin's mentor, ex-Captain of the Home Guard, and the leader of the company of Elven Hunters aboard the ''Jerle Shannara''. He is [[spoiler:captured by Antrax, turned into a [[{{Cyborg}} wronk]] and sent to hunt his friends down. Quentin and Tamis spend most of ''Antrax'' trying to MercyKill him.]]
----
* {{Badass}}
* [[spoiler:TheDragon: To Antrax]]
* DualWielding: Hunting knife in one hand, broadsword in the other.
* [[spoiler:FaceHeelTurn]]: [[spoiler:Not that it was [[MoreThanMindControl his idea]]]].
* [[spoiler:FateWorseThanDeath]]: [[spoiler:He's transformed into a mechanical monster and sent to hunt down his friends, while still being fully conscious and trying to fight it.]]
* [[spoiler:HollywoodCyborg]]
* [[spoiler:ImplacableMan]]: [[spoiler:The Patrinell wronk is the most powerful of its kind, and all but unstoppable.]]
* [[spoiler:KilledOffForReal]]
* KnifeNut
* TheMentor: To Ahren, Quentin and Tamis.
* [[spoiler:MercyKill]]: [[spoiler:Via Quentin and Tamis.]]
* [[spoiler:SlaveMook]]
* [[spoiler:TogetherInDeath]]: [[spoiler:Implied with Tamis.]]
!!The Graak
A huge, saurian predator that inhabits the Crake rainforest, the Graak makes short work of the first patrols to enter its territory. After witnessing it's slaughter of his men, Redden Alt Mer develops a paranoid fear of the monster, which he realises he will have to overcome in order to retain his self-respect, leading a team in to slay it, and take the floatation crystals it is guarding.
----
* EverythingsBetterWithDinosaurs: The Graak's description implies it is some sort of lost dinosaur.
** DinosaursAreDragons: The story treats it like a dragon, even though it isn't one.
* GiantEqualsInvincible: Going off of the description, the Graak is one of the largest monsters featured in the series.
* MacGuffinGuardian: The crystals they need to power the ''Jerle Shannara'' are in the Graak's territory.
* MonsterIsAMommy: [[spoiler:Monster is part of a mated pair anyway.]]
* MutualKill: [[spoiler:The second Graak manages to mortally wound Quentin, crushing him, even as he kills it. Grianne saves his life with magic, but it was ''this'' close.]]
* PrimalFear
* TheReveal: [[spoiler:There are two Graaks in the Crake]]
* ThresholdGuardian: Serves as one for Redden Alt Mer, forcing him to confront fear for the first time in his life.
* SuperPersistentPredator
!!Sen Dunsidan
Minister of War for The Federation, Sen Dunsidan is a consumate politician who aspires to be his nation's leader. He as long maintained a mutually beneficial alliance with the Ilse Witch; later he begins to aid The Morgawr.
----
* CorruptPolitician
* DealWithTheDevil
* EvenEvilHasStandards: Played with. He's horrified by what The Morgawr has done, yet does nothing whatsoever to stop him.
* FullNameBasis: Always addressed by his full name (or his title).
* HonestJohnsDealership: He's willing to offer you anything...all while planning to stab you in the back.
* KarmaHoudini: Subverted. Sure he makes it out of the series with his possessions and power intact, but after witnessing what The Morgawr did to those sailors, he'll never sleep again. [[spoiler:And then The Moric eats him in the sequel.]]
* ObstructiveBureaucrat: Especially in ''High Druid''.
* PresidentEvil: After his promotion.
* SmugSnake
!!The Turnkey
--> "Everyone called him turnkey, as though that were more than name enough for a man who did what he did."
The keeper of the Federation prisons' keys, the turnkey serves as warden and torturer as well. He aids Sen Dunsidan when the Minister makes his deal with The Morgawr, and kills himself shortly afterwards.
----
* DrivenToSuicide
* EvenEvilHasStandards: Kills himself after witnessing what The Morgawr has done.
* EveryoneCallsHimBarkeep
* {{Foil}}: To Sen Dunsidan.
* GoodScarsEvilScars
* ShellShockedVeteran: A seven-term veteran, he's ruined inside and out.
* TortureTechnician
* TheVoiceless
[[/folder]]
[[folder:First King Of Shannara]]
!!Bremen
Allanon's father, and the man responsible for the creation of the Sword of Shannara in the first place, Bremen is an elderly Druid who becomes aware of Brona's threat before the other Druids. When the Druid Council [[IgnoredExpert will not listen to him]], Bremen leaves Paranor in disgust, deciding to take matters into his own hands.
----
* {{Archenemy}}: To the Warlock Lord.
* BadassBeard
* BadassGrandpa
* BigGood: Fills this role in ''First King'', where he's also the main character. One could contend that in ''Sword'', ''Elfstones'', and ''Wishsong'' he's the Bigger Good to Big Good Allanon.
* FailureKnight: Binds himself to the Hadeshorn after failing to kill Brona.
* GhostlyAdvisor: To Allanon after his death.
* IgnoredExpert
* JacobMarleyApparel: Always appears in his shroud.
* TheMentor: To Risca, Tay, Mareth, Jerle, and Allanon in turn. It's interesting if only because he's the main character.
* MyGreatestFailure: Not killing Brona.
* ParentalSubstitute: To Allanon.
* PosthumousCharacter: In the original trilogy.
* TakeUpMySword: Does this to Allanon, with or without meaning to.
* UnfinishedBusiness: Why he binds himself to the Hadeshorn.
!!Risca
A Dwarven Warrior Druid, and one of Bremen's closest friends. Bremen sends him to gather the Dwarves against Brona's threat.
----
* {{Badass}}
** BadassBeard: He's a Dwarf, so this is to be expected.
* [[spoiler:KilledOffForReal]]
* MagicKnight: One of the few Warrior Druids left, he channels his magic through his weapons.
* OneManArmy: It takes a veritable army, or a being of Brona's power to make Risca run.
* SensitiveGuyAndManlyMan: The Manly Man to Tay's Sensitive Guy (not that they spend a lot of time together).
* WalkingArmoury: He's got a CoolSword, AnAxeToGrind, and [[CarryABigStick Carries A Big Stick]]. Shades of Garet Jax.
!!Tay Trefenwyd
Bremen's other ally among the Dwarves of Paranor, Tay is an Elven Druid, whose studies focused mostly on the elements. A close friend of Jerle Shananra, Bremen sends him to warn the Elf King about Brona, and obtain the Black Elfstone.
----
* BecomingTheMask: Has to be very careful of this when he infiltrates the Chew Magna. Subsumed in his worst emotions in order to disguise himself, it would only take one false move to turn him into a genuine monster, instead of just looking like one.
* DangerousForbiddenTechnique: Using the [[ArtifactOfDoom Black Elfstone]].
* DidNotGetTheGirl
* [[spoiler:DrivenToSuicide: Kills himself rather than allow the Black Elfstone to subvert him]].
* [[spoiler:HeroicSacrifice]]
* [[spoiler:KilledOffForReal]]
* SadisticChoice: Use the Black Elfstone against the Skull Bearers and be consumed by evil, or die? [[spoiler:He chooses both.]]
* SensitiveGuyAndManlyMan: To Risca and Jerle's Manly Men.
* UnluckyChildhoodFriend: To Jerle's girlfriend, Preia Starle.
!!Mareth
A young Druid-in-training, she ends up traveling with Bremen, Risca, and Kinson Ravenlock after the fall of Paranor, aiding in rallying the Dwarves to the cause against Brona, as well as obtaining the aid of Urprox Screl in the forging of the Sword of Shannara and, though it isn't clear at the time, helping him locate his successor in the form of Allanon.
----
* ActionGirl: Not as much as other Brooks heroines thanks to her DarkAndTroubledPast, emo-ness, and the dangers of truly unleashing her magic, but she qualifies thanks to the battles she engages in--including the final one with Brona's forces, which nearly annihilates the Dwarves, kills [[{{Badass}} Risca]] of all people, and almost kills [[BadassNormal Kinson]]...but of which she's the only survivor other than Jerle and Bremen.
* {{Angst}}: Boatloads
* {{Badass}}: Mareth is one badass EmoTeen.
* BoomStick: Courtesy of Bremen. It lets her channel her magic without hurting herself.
* DarkAndTroubledPast
* DisappearedDad: Source of much angst...especially when she finds out who he might [[{{Squick}} actually be]].
* EmoTeen: At times; not that she doesn't have her reasons.
* HumanMomNonHumanDad: If that Skull Bearer was telling the truth...
* LukeIAmYourFather: Played with. During the course of the journey she is told by a man claiming to be her father that the innate, nearly out-of-control magic she possesses was inherited from him--''[[{{Squick}} a Skull Bearer]]''. [[KillItWithFire She has the appropriate reaction]], and almost succumbs to a HeroicBSOD until Kinson Ravenlock snaps her out of it. In the end, however, it is never revealed if this was actually the truth, or part of a trap by the GenreSavvy Warlock Lord to ensnare her powerful magic through her longing for her DisappearedDad.
* LukeYouAreMyFather: Initially she believes that Bremen is her dad.
* PowerIncontinence: Her main issue throughout the book, solved only when she is given a staff by Bremen to channel it and later when she deals with her issues regarding her parentage.
* TakeUpMySword: Averted when, after the final battle, rather than being the last of the Druids she throws away her staff and chooses to have a normal life with Kinson.
* WhiteMagicianGirl: Invokes this appearance wise, but that [[BoomStick staff]] is for a heck of a lot more than healing.
!!Jerle Shannara
The ultimate grandfather to the whole Shannara line, Jerle makes his first real appearance in this book. Promoted to the kingship when the rest of his relatives are slaughtered, he accompanies his friend Tay on the hunt for the [[ArtifactOfDoom Black Elfstone]] and is later chosen by Bremen to wield the Sword of Shannara against the Warlock Lord.
----
* CoolSword: The original wielder of the Sword of Shannara.
* HeroSecretService: Was the Captain of the Elven Home Guard before the royal family was wiped out.
* [[spoiler:NiceJobBreakingItHero]]: [[spoiler:His inability to accept his own failures allows Brona to escape, albeit severely weakened.]]
* PosthumousCharacter: In the original trilogy.
* RoyalsWhoActuallyDoSomething
* WarriorPrince
* WhatKindOfLamePowerIsHeartAnyway: Deliberately invoked. His inability to understand the Sword's power is [[spoiler:what ultimately allows Brona to escape.]]
!!Preia Starle
----
* ActionGirl: She tries. She really does.
* VictoriousChildhoodFriend: To Jerle
!!Kinson Ravenlock
Warrior, bodyguard, and Tracker who travels with Bremen, first to the Skull Kingdom, then to Paranor, and finally on a journey to rally the Dwarves and help forge the Sword of Shannara. Falls in love with Mareth and ends up founding the city of Kern. Ancestor of Shirl Ravenlock.
* {{Badass}}
** BadassNormal
* BodyguardCrush: May play into how he falls for Mareth in the end.
* {{Determinator}}: Doesn't come close to death until the final battle, and even then he clings to life despite some rather severe wounds.
* ScarilyCompetentTracker
* TallDarkAndHandsome: Almost word for word.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:High Druid of Shannara]]
!!Penderrin "Pen" Ohmsford
The son of Bek Ohmsford and Rue Meridan, and nephew to Grianne, Pen, like many Ohmsfords before him, finds himself shafted into saving the world. Told by The Kingi of the Silver River that he must free his aunt from The Forbidding, Pen, along with Khyber Elessedil and his LoveInterest Cinnaminson, goes on a journey to locate the legendary Tanequil tree, and using its powers, travel to The Forbidding and liberate Grianne.
----
* TheEmpath: Pen can sense and read others' emotions, enabling him to predict how they will behave.
* FriendToAllLivingThings: Of a sort--his powers also allow him to communicate with animals and plants, whether by literally speaking their language or merely feeling what they feel and influencing their emotions.
* GoodParents: His parents are alive, well, very fond of him, and appear in the story, something of a rarity for Ohmsford parents.
* MuggleBornOfMages: His father thought that he was this.
* NiceGuy: His powers practically force him into this role.
* TookALevelInBadass: The Tanequil allows him to access The Wishsong, considerably boosting his abilities.
* WhatKindOfLamePowerIsHeartAnyway: His father and his aunt have The Wishsong. What does Pen get? A heightened sense of empathy.
!!Khyber Elessedil
The daughter of the Elven King, Khyber Elessedil is closer to her uncle, Ahren, then she is to her father. Joining Ahren and Pen on their quest to save Grianne, Khyber wields the Blue Elfstones on Ahren's behalf. She reappears in ''Dark Legends of Shannara'', well over a century old, and in charge of both the Druids and the search for the rest of the Elfstones.
----
* ActionGirl: In ''High Druid''. By ''Dark Legends'' she's more of a LadyOfWar.
* TheArchmage: Holds the title of High Druid by the time of ''Dark Legends''. This doesn't necessarily make her the most powerful Druid around, though in practise she likely is.
* BadassPrincess: Princess of the Elves, wielder of the Blue Elfstones, High Druid of Paranor.
* TheLeader: Of the Druids and the search for the Elfstones in ''Dark Legends''.
* TheMentor: Ahren was hers, and she acts as one to Aphenglow Elessedil in ''Dark Legends''.
* RebelliousPrincess: Doesn't even really acknowledge her position as an Elessedil Princess, preferring to study with the Druids.
* TheRemnant: Leads the few remaining Druids after Shadea a'Ru's rebellion.
* RoyalsWhoActuallyDoSomething
* TookALevelInBadass: Both within ''High Druid'' and between the series, eventually graduating to High Druid.
!!Tael Riverine
A high-ranking Straken Lord (Demon Lord) and one of the leaders of Demonic society following the death of The Dagda Mor. He conceived the plot to trap Grianne Ohmsford within The Forbidding in exchange for unleashing The Moric into the world. He later captures Grianne and tries to force her into mating with him. [[spoiler:Escaping scott free, he returns as TheBigBad of ''Dark Legacy of Shannara'']].
----
* {{Archenemy}}: One could make a convincing case for his being Grianne's.
* AsskickingEqualsAuthority: Like The Dagda Mor and the rest of his fellow Straken, Tael holds his position by virtue of having killed anybody else who thought they could take it.
** [[spoiler: The wraith of the Ilse Witch]] uses this against him in ''Dark Legacy''. [[spoiler: By very publicly outwitting, humiliating, and finally killing him, she breaks any loyalty that his demon forces- who only value rule by strength- had for him]].
* BigBad: Directly or indirectly, all the problems that Pen and Grianne go through in this series can be traced back to Tael's manipulations. He plays the same role in ''Dark Legacy''.
** BigBadDuumvirate: Not directly addressed in-series, but with The Dagda Mor gone, Tael is just one of several Straken Lords who have stepped into his place. By ''Dark Legacy'', he appears to have become the ruler of most or all of the Forbidding, however.
* DarkIsEvil
* DemonLordsAndArchDevils: One of several Straken Lords who have ascended to leadership positions among the Demons following the death of The Dagda Mor in ''Elfstones''.
* EvilSorcerer: Like The Dagda Mor before him, Tael Riverine is a capable user of sorcerous magic, in addition to his innate Demonic abilities.
* FullNameBasis: He's either referred to by title or as "Tael Riverine", never just "Tael" or "Riverine".
* IHaveYouNowMyPretty: Tries it on Grianne, planning to use her to breed children for himself.
* IcyBlueEyes: Tael's bright, frosty eyes are a standout in his otherwise dark countenance.
* [[spoiler:KarmaHoudini: As of the end of ''High Druid'']].
** [[spoiler: ''Dark Legacy'' corrects the matter]].
* LargeAndInCharge: He towers over most of his minions and ''anyone'' from the Four Lands, even the Trolls.
* MagicKnight: A powerful sorcerer and terrifying warrior.
* TheManBehindTheMan: To the traitor Druids, who believe that they are equal partners with him. Also to The Federation, during the brief time period when The Moric was impersonating Sen Dunsidan. In ''Dark Legacy'' he's had enough of that [[spoiler:so he just invades directly]].
* ScaryBlackMan: Appears as a tall, muscular man with dark skin.
* SealedEvilInACan: Not Tael personally, but all Demons are trapped within The Forbidding.
* SpikesOfVillainy: Grows them from his entire body with the exception of his face.
* StalkerWithACrush: He's obsessed with making Grianne his mate, all the more after she escaped him, something no one else had ever done.
* VillainousBreakdown: He goes increasingly berserk across ''Dark Legacy'' when he can't find Grianne. [[spoiler:It gets even worse when he ''does'' find her, and she's an undead wraith who then duels him, kills him, and takes his place]].
!!The Moric
A relative of The Changeling from ''Elfstones'', The Moric is the right-hand of Tael Riverine. Capable of perfectly impersonating anybody that it devours, The Moric is loosed in the real world so that it might destroy The Ellcrys and bring down The Forbidding.
----
* BadPowersBadPeople: The Moric eats people in order to gain their appearance and memories. No way it was going to be a good guy under those circumstances.
* DemonicPossession: Possesses an even more perfect version of The Changeling's powers, activated by devouring a victim, and then wearing their skin, taking on that person's memory and personality.
* TheDragon: To Tael Riverine.
* ExitPursuedByABear: When we last see The Moric, it's lying on the ground, helpless, as a Dragon approaches it.
* ImAHumanitarian: Part of its power actually.
* OurDemonsAreDifferent
* PresidentEvil: While impersonating Sen Dunsidan.
* {{Shapeshifter}}
** VoluntaryShapeshifting
[[/folder]]
[[folder:The Genesis of Shannara]]
!!Logan Tom
----
* KnightInSourArmor
* SuperheroPackingHeat: Logan is just as comfortable with firearms as he is with his magic staff.
!!Angel Perez
----
!!Hawk Freemark
----
* TheChosenOne
* HalfHumanHybrid: He's a Gypsy Morph who was born to the human woman Nest Freemark.
!!Findo Gask
----
See ''The Word and the Void,'' below.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Legends of Shannara]]
!!Panterra Qu
A seventeen year old Tracker with an almost preternatural gift for finding the tracks of his prey, Panterra and his friend Prue Liss, are the first people after Sider Ament, to discover that the magic that protects the valley is failing. Tasked by Sider with warning the valley, Panterra makes an enemy of Skeal Elie, is captured by Taureq Siq while trying to warn the Elves, and is eventually chosen by Sider Ament to be his successor. Trapped by the events around him, Panterra is in way over his head, and knows it.
----
* [[spoiler:BoomStick: Inherits the black staff from Sider Ament]].
* TheChosenOne: Though in this case it was Sider Ament, rather than fate, that did the choosing.
* TheHero
* LikeBrotherAndSister: With his best friend, Prue.
* PlatonicLifePartners: With Prue Liss, who is equal parts friend and little sister.
* TheStoic: Panterra rarely displays any emotion, and never lets them interfere with his decisions, in a sharp contrast with Prue and Phryne.
* TeenGenius
* TheirFirstTime: With Phryne Amarantyne while they are on the run together.
* TookALevelInBadass: In ''The Measure of the Magic'' as he grows into his role as the next Bearer of the Black Staff.
!!Prue Liss
Panterra Qu's closest friend, fifteen year old Prue is an exceptionally capable Tracker, who can all but vanish at will. Like Panterra, she is tasked with warning the valley and preparing it's people for war, a task that sees her plunged into a great deal of hardship. She eventually meets the King of the Silver River, who grants her the power to help Panterra make a difference.
----
* BlessedWithSuck: The King of the Silver River's blessing gives her far greater abilities at the cost of her ability to see in colour.
* DistressedDamsel: Thrust into this role after she is captured by Taureq Siq and has to be rescued by Deladion Inch. In fairness to her, she pulls her weight after the escape, and doesn't slow down Deladion any.
* LikeBrotherAndSister: With Panterra
* PlatonicLifePartners: With Panterra, who is her best friend and brother figure.
* TeenGenius: Even more so then Panterra. Prue is an absolute prodigy as a Tracker.
* TookALevelInBadass: After being blessed by the King of the Silver River.
!!Skeal Elie
The leader of the Children of the Hawk, Skeal Elie brooks no challenges to the power of his sect. Upon discovering that the mist is coming down, he goes out of his way first to obscure the facts, and then to manipulate the situation to his advantage.
----
* BigBadWannabe: Skeal Elie is set up as a major villain, but quickly comes under the ragpicker's control in Book 2.
* CorruptPolitician
* DealWithTheDevil: Cuts one with the ragpicker, though his agency in doing so is questionable.
* {{Expy}}: As a crooked politician who comes under the influence of a being of dark magic, Skeal Elie bears a passing resemblance to Sen Dunsidan, albeit with the addition of religious trappings.
* TheFundamentalist: Cannot stand anything that goes against his dogma.
* [[spoiler:KilledOffForReal: Killed and replaced by the ragpicker partway through ''The Measure of the Magic'']].
* ManipulativeBastard
* SinisterMinister: Holds religious and political power.
* UnwittingPawn: Of the ragpicker
!!Sider Ament, the Gray Man
-->''"I'm not for hire and I don't get to choose my path."''
The last descendent of the Knights of the Word from the ''Word and the Void'', Sider Ament has made protecting the valley his life's work as the Bearer of the Black Staff. Realising that the magic that isolates the valley from the outside world is failing, and that his own time to find an apprentice is running out, Sider makes it his mission to ready the valley for contact with the rest of the world, and mold Panterra Qu into his successor.
----
* BoomStick: Carries the same black staff once wielded by John Ross.
* [[spoiler:KilledOffForReal]]
* LastOfHisKind: Last Knight of the Word.
* TheMentor: To Panterra Qu
* [[spoiler:MentorOccupationalHazard: Killed off at the end of the first book by one of Arik Siq's blowdarts.]]
* TakeUpMySword: His mentor did this to him, passing along the black staff and all the responsibility that accompanies it. [[spoiler:He does it to Panterra Qu at the end of ''Bearers of the Black Staff'']].
!!Deladion Inch
A traveller, engineer, and problem solver, Deladion is the first person that Sider Ament meets in the world outside the valley, and informs him of the changes in the world. One of the few people who still knows how to use and maintain firearms, Deladion strikes up a fast friendship with Sider, and assists him in freeing Prue from Tauriq Siq's Trolls.
----
* ArmourIsUseless: Averted. Deladion's bodyarmour stops almost all weapons.
* {{Badass}}
* [[spoiler:DyingMomentOfAwesome: Empties his guns into an approaching Troll army, killing dozens of them, then blows himself up with grenades when they finally get close enough to kill him.]]
* {{Foil}}: To Sider, as the last gunman and last Knight of the Word respectively.
* TheGunslinger
* [[spoiler:KilledOffForReal]]
* [[spoiler:HeroicSacrifice: Dies saving Prue from a whole army]]
* HiredGuns: Operates as a merc.
* LastOfHisKind: Last gunslinger
* MisterExposition: As a well travelled mercenary, Deladion is in a position to fill in a lot of the blanks for Sider.
* MoreDakka: With the spray on his automatic.
* OneManArmy
* ScienceHero: His engineering skills make him an [[OutsideContextVillain Outside Context Hero]] to the Trolls.
!!Phryne Amantyre
Daughter of the King of the Elves, Phryne is known for her wild disposition and disdain for her stepmother. Among the first Elves to hear of the failing of the mists, Phryne makes it her personal mission to have Panterra and Prue's information accepted by her father and the rest of the Elves.
----
* ActionGirl: Already capable; then she gets the Blue Elfstones.
* DragonRider
* [[spoiler:HeroicSacrifice: Dies destroying Taureq Siq's army]]
* RebelliousPrincess
* TheirFirstTime: With Panterra Qu when they're on the run.
!!Isoeld
-->''"I do want to be Queen..."''
A baker's daughter and an ambitious social climber, Isoelde is Phryne Amantyre's stepmother. Caring only about her own power and position, Isoelde conducts an affair with First Minster Teonnate behind her husband's back, and under the table negotiations with Skeal Elie, as the two of them plot to take control of the whole valley for themselves.
----
* AmbitionIsEvil
* BigBadDuumvirate: Forms one along with Skeal Elie.
* GodSaveUsFromTheQueen
* GoldDigger
* SmugSnake
* TheVamp
* WickedStepmother: Going so far as to try and frame Phryne for [[spoiler:her father's murder.]]
* YourCheatingHeart: Sleeps with both TheGoodKing and the EvilChancellor, as well as anybody else who can advance her position.
!!Taureq Siq
Mauturen of the Drouj Troll tribe, Taureq Siq believes it is his destiny to rule the known world. Discovering the location of the valley, Taureq immediately makes preperations to invade it.
----
* AmbitionIsEvil
* AsskickingEqualsAuthority: Leads his tribe and the Troll nations by virtue of being the greatest warrior.
* BigBad: Contends with the ragpicker for the title of series big bad.
* TheDreaded: Known and feared as a warlord and conqueror in the outside world.
* GoodScarsEvilScars: Covered in evil scars from battles for dominance.
* [[spoiler:KilledOffForReal: By Phryne's dragon]]
* TakeOverTheWorld
!!Arik Sarn/[[spoiler:Arik Siq]]
A Troll warrior in Grosha Siq's hunting party, Arik Sarn is one of the few Trolls to speak the languages of Men and Elves. Claiming descent from ''Genesis''' Panther, Arik aids Panterra release from Taureq Siq's army, and later accompanies the boy back to the valley, where he is introduced to the Men and Elves who live there. [[spoiler:He is acutally Taureq Siq's eldest son, Arik Siq, and is preparing the way for his father's army by scouting out the valley's defences.]]
----
* [[spoiler:BitchInSheepsClothing]]
* TheCharmer
* [[spoiler:DealWithTheDevil: Offered one by the ragpicker, who wants him to kill Panterra Qu and bring him the black staff; in exchange, Arik gets his freedom]].
* [[spoiler:EvilGenius: His father's idea man.]]
* GeniusBruiser: Arik is a Troll, which means he's at least seven feet tall and built like a pro-wrestler. He's also a storyteller, artist, strategist, and political machinator of the first degree.
* GentleGiant: Arik's a warrior, like most Trolls, but he also sketches birds, admires flowers, and has no desire to hurt anybody. [[spoiler:At least that's what he'd like you to think.]]
* [[spoiler:TheHeavy: For most of book one]]
* [[spoiler:KilledOffForReal: By the ragpicker when he tries to break their deal]]
* [[spoiler:ManipulativeBastard: Manipulate Panterra, Prue, and even Sider, easily.]]
* [[spoiler:TheMole]]
* PoisonedWeapons: Favours a blowgun loaded with poisoned darts, an odd choice for a Troll.
* SiblingYinYang: With his younger brother. [[spoiler:Grosha's an AxeCrazy psycho who gets off on feeding people to his Skaith Hounds. Arik's a calm, cold-blooded schemer who uses his brain to get what he wants.]]
* [[spoiler:SocialDarwinist: Informs Panterra that his people's weakness invites their destruction, and that those who cannot defend themselves do not deserve to exist.]]
* [[spoiler:TheStrategist: For Taureq's army.]]
!!Grosha Siq
Taureq Siq's younger son, Grosha is a vicious brute, obsessed with hunting and killing. He frequently runs down his enemies with his Skaith Hounds, before feeding them to them. Only Arik Sarn and his father seem able to exercise any level of control over him.
----
* AxeCrazy
* TheBrute: One of the few Trolls in the series to actually fall into this stereotype.
* BullyingADragon: [[spoiler:Died bullying, and then lying to, the ragpicker]]
* [[spoiler:KilledOffForReal]]
* PsychopathicManchild: Grosha is a spoiled, nasty little daddy's boy at heart.
* SiblingYinYang: With his EvilGenius older brother.
* TheUnfavourite: Grosha's knows he is not the favoured son, and deeply resents it.
!!The Ragpicker
One of the small "d" demons first introduced in ''The Word and the Void'', the ragpicker is one of the few of its kind to survive the Great Wars. Tracking the last Bearer of the Black Staff, the ragpicker arrives in the valley, and succeeds in making a bad situation that much worse.
----
* BigBad: Contends with Taureq Siq for the title; he manages to use almost everyone, hero and villain alike for his own ends.
* TheCollector: Takes one item of clothing from each person he kills in order to better remember them.
* TheChessmaster: The ragpicker believes in fashioning favourable conditions rather than awaiting them, and plans ahead.
* TheCorrupter
* DealWithTheDevil: Offers one to Skeal Elie and one to Arik.
* EvilOldFolks: Described as resembling an old, battered man.
* GrandTheftMe: Eventually does it to [[spoiler:Skeal Elie]]
* HeroKiller: Has slain other Knights of the Word in the past, and is looking to finish the job.
* LeanAndMean: Tall and lean, with the build of a stork.
* ManipulativeBastard: Can lie with the best of them when he has to, though normally he just frightens people into cooperating.
* OmnicidalManiac: All the demons are this, as part of the Void's agenda. With the world essentially ended after the Great Wars, the ragpicker is cleaning up the remnants of humanity who survived.
* TheSoulless
* WasOnceAMan
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Dark Legacy of Shannara]]
[[/folder]]
[[folder:The High Druid's Blade]]
!!Paxon Leah
A descendent of the House of Leah, Paxon is the current wielder of the Sword of Leah, and a candidate for the position of High Druid's Blade (a protector of Paranor and its Druids). Having been dragooned into the role, he isn't sure how he feels about it.
----
* CoolSword: The Sword of Leah is back, and this time, both it and its wielder are central to the story.
** AmuletOfDependency: Paxon, like all the Leahs before him, runs the risk of becoming hooked on the magic of the Sword.
** AncestralWeapon: The Leahs may not be kings anymore, but the Sword still belongs to them.
** {{Antimagic}}: Which is why Paxon's a candidate for the job in the first place.
** BlackSwordsAreBetter: The black blade is still intact.
* WarriorPrince: A descendent of kings, even if the Leahs do not officially hold the position anymore.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:The Word and the Void]]
!!Nest Freemark
----
* ActionGirl
* BadFuture: Is the cause of one in the timeline where the demon touched her. Goodbye CuteWitch, hello ChaoticEvil OmnicidalManiac.
* CuteWitch: Though darker than most.
* DarkMessiah: In the BadFuture where the demon possessed her.
* [[spoiler:HalfHumanHybrid]]: [[spoiler:Friggin' demon.]]
* HeroicBastard
* InTheBlood: The magic passes down the female line of the Freemark family.
* TheMessiah
* TookALevelInBadass: Between every book.
!!John Ross
----
* {{Badass}}
** HandicappedBadass: Gained his limp and his {{Badass}}ery at the same time.
* BadDreams: He dreams of a BadFuture that will come to pass if he fails. These dreams give him clues about his current mission.
* BadFuture: Wanders through it every time he dreams.
* BoomStick: His staff.
* ButNowIMustGo: At the end of every successful mission.
* HeroicBSOD: For most of ''A Knight Of The Word''.
* [[spoiler:HeroicSacrifice]]: [[spoiler:In ''Angel Fire East'']]
* HeroicSelfDeprecation: Easily his own worst critic.
* KnightInSourArmour
* OlderThanTheyLook: In the sequels Nest notes that years later he looks exactly the same.
* ShellShockedVeteran: He's fighting a different kind of war from most, but he definitely fits.
* TenMinuteRetirement: In ''Knight''
* WalkingTheEarth: Part of his job description. His BadDreams tell him where a disaster will happen, and he must go there to prevent it.
!!Two Bears/O'olish Amaneh
----
* {{Badass}}: Said to be one of the few people who could easily dispatch a rogue Knight of the Word. The fact that even [[BigBad Findo Gask]] doesn't want to fight him firmly cements his {{Badass}} credentials.
** BadassLongcoat: Always dressed in his army coat.
* HeroOfAnotherStory: Definitely gives this vibe off.
* MagicalNativeAmerican: Though better done than most.
* ShellShockedVeteran
* VietnamWar: A veteran of it.
!!The demon
----
* BigBad: Of ''[[Literature/TheWordAndTheVoid Running With The Demon]]''
* [[BitchInSheepsClothing Bastard In Sheep's Clothing]]: He fakes AffablyEvil really well, but underneath it, he's a monster to the core.
* BlondGuysAreEvil
* TheCorrupter: Seems to get off on this.
* CreepyBlueEyes: Pale and washed out.
* TheHeavy: Of ''[[Literature/TheWordAndTheVoid Running With The Demon]]''
* [[spoiler:LukeIAmYourFather]]: [[spoiler:He's Nest's dad.]]
* ManipulativeBastard: Part and parcel of his Corrupter persona.
* NoNameGiven
* OmnicidalManiac: Like all demons, this is his goal in the long run.
* TheNondescript: Is described as having an utterly bland appearance, save for the pale blue eyes. His powers help him out here too: when he's in the room with you, you're always sure you know him from somewhere and his name is just on the tip of your tongue; when he leaves people typically forget he was ever there at all.
* RevengeByProxy: Nest's grandmother, Evelyn spurned him. His response? Wait for years, seduce her emotionally fragile daughter, Catelyn, [[spoiler:get her pregnant]] and then reveal the truth about himself, [[DrivenToSuicide driving Catelyn to suicide]].
* SmugSnake: He's quite effective, but his own viciousness, and underestimation of Nest and her grandmother royally screw him over.
* TheSociopath
* TheSoulless: Lost it to the Void long, long ago.
!!Stefanie Winslow
----
* [[spoiler:BigBad]]: [[spoiler:Of ''A Knight of the Word''.]]
* [[spoiler:BitchInSheepsClothing]]
* [[spoiler:TheCorrupter]]: [[spoiler:Tries hard to do it to John.]]
* [[spoiler:{{Hellhound}}]]: [[spoiler:Her true form.]]
* LoveInterest: To John Ross.
* [[spoiler:ManipulativeBastard]]: [[spoiler:Uses nightmares and frightening dreams to try and force John into murdering an innocent man, an action from which he will not recover, and which would have triggered his fall to The Void.]]
* [[spoiler:{{Shapeshifter}}]]
* [[spoiler:TheSoulless]]
* [[spoiler:TheVamp]]: [[spoiler:To John.]]
* [[spoiler:VoluntaryShapeshifting]]
* WalkingSpoiler
!!Findo Gask
----
* {{Badass}}: Dominates both Nest and John Ross. Only the arrival of O'olish Amaneh saves the day.
* BigBad: Of ''Angel Fire East'' and ''Genesis''.
* DemonLordsAndArchDevils: Or as close as ''Literature/TheWordAndTheVoid'''s demons get to that title.
* TheDreaded: Especially by ''Genesis.'' And for good reason. [[spoiler:He's the one who finally took out John Ross.]]
* EvilSorcerer: His role in ''Genesis''. The text actually describes him as looking like an evil [[TheLordOfTheRings Gandalf]].
* ForTheEvulz: Kills and destroys out of sheer love of chaos rather than hatred for humanity.
* OmnicidalManiac: Like all the demons he wants the end of the world.
* SinisterMinister: The disguise he adopts in ''Angel Fire East''.
* TheSoulless
* TheStoic
!!The Void
----
* AllPowerfulBystander
* BiggerBad: The force behind the demon, [[spoiler:Stefanie]], and Findo Gask.
* NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast
* OmnicidalManiac: Seeks the destruction of all creation.
* {{Satan}}
* UltimateEvil: To the point where it's more a primal force than anything else.
* TheUnfought: Which is just as well.
!!The Word
----
* AllPowerfulBystander
* BigGood
* {{God}}
[[/folder]]
to:
[[folder:TheSwordOfShannaraTrilogy]]
!!Allanon
An enigmatic Druid, and the only character to appear in all three books. He both manipulates, and befriends the various members of the Ohmsford family, protecting them from their enemies, while at the same time using them for his own ends. Despite this, he's an unabashed good guy, and the closest thing the series has to both a BigGood and TheMentor. Appears in ''Sword'', ''Elfstones'', ''Wishsong'', the ''Heritage'' foursome, ''First King'', and the ''Voyage'' trilogy, as well as the short story ''Allanon's Quest''.
----
[[index]]
*
*
*
** BadassBeard
** BadassLongRobe: A long black cloak and robe that all but conceals his body.
*
*
*
*
*
*
* FullContactMagic: It ain't [[KungFuWizard Kung Fu]] (or any other recognisable martial art) but Allanon can both burn you alive ''and'' beat you to a pulp, completely independently of one another.
* GeniusBruiser: A seven-foot LightningBruiser ''and'' Druid.
* [[spoiler:GhostlyAdvisor: To Cogline and all of the Ohmsfords in ''Talismans''; to Walker in ''Voyage'']].
* GoodIsNotNice: Hell, good is downright scary.
* GuileHero
* HappilyAdopted: By Bremen.
* HeroicSelfDeprecation: At times. A standout is towards the end of ''Elfstones'' when he says Wil should "Tell Flick he was right about me. He will like that, I think."
* InTheHood
* JediTruth: A master of this, note that as much as others may complain about him lying, he never actually tells any outright lies.
* [[spoiler:KilledOffForReal: In ''Wishsong'']]
* LightningBruiser: Seven feet tall. Fast. Strong. An evil magician's worst nightmare.
* MadeOfIron: Started the trend of Druids in this series being able to take unbelievable beatings and just keep right on ticking.
* TheMentor: Serves Shea, Brin, and [[spoiler:later Walker in this capacity]]. Wil is more of a comrade-in-arms.
* [[spoiler:MentorOccupationalHazard: Although it takes three books to catch up with him. In a way that just makes it worse]].
* MysteriousPast: What happened to Allanon between ''First King'' and ''Sword'' is still up in the air.
* OneManArmy: Especially in ''Elfstones''. The Elven archers hold two sides of Halys Cut and Baen Draw, the Free Corps has the back...and Allanon covers the third side all by himself. At meetings he's actually accorded the same status as if he was the leader of an army.
* ParentalAbandonment: In the BackStory.
* PlayingWithFire: His preferred attack involves blue, Druidic flames.
* PetTheDog: Generally Allanon will have one or two scenes with the main characters of each book wherein he explains everything, gives a SoProudOfYou speech, and then leaves. These are ''inevitably'' {{Tear Jerker}}y, and serve to remind the audience that yes, he is one of the good guys.
* TheProtagonist: Of the new short story ''Allanon's Quest''
* ReallySevenHundredYearsOld: At least five hundred.
* SoProudOfYou: Done with each main character.
* [[spoiler:TakeUpMySword: To Brin, or more accurately, her descendents.]]
''The Sword of Shannara''
!!Shea Ohmsford
The last scion of the Elven House of Shannara, half-human Shea Ohmsford didn't even know about his heritage until Allanon showed up and shafted him into saving the world. Used to living in sleepy Shady Vale, and working in his father's inn, he knows very little about the Sword he's supposed to find, and less about how to use it. A bit of a romantic, Shea has no idea what he's gotten himself into. He'll be the first Ohmsford to aid Allanon and save the Four Lands. He certainly won't be the last.
----
* ChangelingFantasy
* TheChosenOne: Not because of anything inherently special about Shea himself, but because he is the only person who can use the blasted Sword.
* FireForgedFriends: With Panamon Creel.
* HalfHumanHybrid: Part Man, part Elf.
* InTheBlood: As an heir of Shannara, only he can use the Sword.
* LastOfHisKind: At this point, Shea is the last surviving member of The House Of Shannara.
* OddFriendship: With Menion Leah and Panamon Creel.
* ParentalSubstitute: He and Flick to Wil.
* PinballProtagonist: Just about everything that happens to him is due to outside influences--Allanon telling him his destiny, the Skull Bearer coming to Shady Vale, the decision of the council in Culhaven, the fight with the proto-Creeper in the Wolfsktaag necessitating the trip to Storlock, his fall from the Dragon's Crease. It's not until he meets up with Panamon and Keltset, and decides to go after Orl Fane and the Sword, that he truly starts making decisions of his own that affect the plot (and not coincidentally, truly accepts his destiny).
* PointyEars: Which demonstrate his half-elven heritage.
* SiblingYinYang: With Flick.
* WideEyedIdealist: At least at the start of the book. By the end some of this has been lost.
!!Flick Ohmsford
Shea's foster brother, fully human Flick is suspicious, practical, and well-grounded. He has absolutely ''no'' desire to get involved with Allanon, but goes along to help his brother. Also appears in ''Elfstones''.
----
* CrazyPrepared: Brings the climbing gear when the visit the Black Oaks, in case they get lost again.
* TheCynic
* DressingAsTheEnemy: Allanon forces him to disguise himself as a Gnome and infiltrate Brona's army.
* FantasticRacism: Loathes Gnomes in ''Elfstones'', though not without reason. Too many of them tried to kill him over the course of ''Sword''.
* GrumpyBear: The most unabashadly cynical and pessimistic member of the cast.
* GrumpyOldMan: As Wil's great-uncle.
* ParentalSubstitute: For Wil's mom and dad.
* RefusalOfTheCall: Not for himself, but tries to convince first Shea and then Wil to refuse to heed Allanon's call.
* ReverseMole: Sent by Allanon to infiltrate the Warlock Lord's army.
* ScrewPolitenessImASenior: In ''Elfstones''.
* SiblingYinYang: Grumpy, practical, and heavily built, in contrast to the more positive, romantic, and slender Shea.
* TheSmartGuy: Flick's ability to plan ahead, and improvise on the fly (despite really hating to do so) come in handy several times.
* VitriolicBestBuds: With Menion Leah.
!!Menion Leah
Shea's oldest friend, and a Prince of the Highland Kingdom of Leah. Menion is hotheaded, impulsive, and on occasion, downright reckless. He's also loyal, brave, and will go miles for you if he considers you a friend. He's a Tracker, a hunter, the best bowman in the Southland (at least in his considered opinion), and an all around useful fellow.
----
* AncestralWeapon: Carries the Sword of Leah, his family's ancestral broadsword.
* BadAss: Menion starts out as a superb archer and a capable swordsman and only gets better with time. Whether it's making impossible shots, fighting Sirens and giant insects with a sword, or massacring kidnappers, Menion Leah has you covered.
** TookALevelInBadass: While Menion is already an excellent fighter at the start, his irreverent personality and lack of direction prevent him from being a true badass until he grows up partway through.
* BowAndSwordInAccord
* HeroesWantRedHeads: His relationship with Shirl.
* HotBlooded
* OddFriendship: With Shea and Flick, and then Hendel.
* RedOniBlueOni: The red to Hendel's blue.
* RichIdiotWithNoDayJob: Initially. By the end he's anything but.
* VitriolicBestBuds: He and Flick are this on a good day. On a bad day they just hate each other.
* WarriorPrince
* YouShallNotPass: He and Hendel pull this on Stenmin.
!!Hendel
A Dwarf Tracker and woodsman who serves as the group's guide through the Eastland. Perhaps the most experienced member of the group, he is hated by the Eastland Gnomes, who have a price on his head.
----
* BadAss
** BadassBeard: He is a Dwarf after all.
* CarryABigStick: His mace is undoubtedly his favourite weapon.
* [[spoiler:HeroicSacrifice: Twice. It sticks the second time.]]
* [[spoiler:KilledOffForReal]]
* OddFriendship: With Menion Leah.
* OlderAndWiser: Than anyone who isn't named Allanon.
* TheQuietOne: And not a screwed up example. He just doesn't talk that much, unless the situation calls for it. The word most used to describe him is "taciturn."
* RedOniBlueOni: The blue to Menion's red.
* YouShallNotPass: He and Menion pull this when Stenmin attempts to lead the enemy into the city through the basement.
!!Balinor Buckhannah
Prince of Callahorn, Border Legion Commander, and inspiring leader par excellence, currently away from home due to a disagreement with his brother Palance. Serves as the team leader when Allanon is not present.
----
* AFatherToHisMen: The reason the Border Legion loves him as much ss they do.
* BadAss: Not only is he a very capable fighter, he's also a solid commander, and AFatherToHisMen.
** FourStarBadass: A general in the Border Legion, in addition to being a physical badass.
* BFS: He is said to wield a sword that no ordinary man can wield.
* TheBigGuy: Toyed with. Balinor's an enormous man, brought along by Allanon for the express purpose of being the muscle. However, in the BigGood's absence, he takes over as TheLeader of the party from Cullhaven, is a competent strategist, and does far more then just act as Shea's protector. It might be fairest to say that while he looks like TheBigGuy, he's really...
** TheLancer: Serves as Allanon's NumberTwo throughout the journey, leading the party in his absence.
* CainAndAbel: With his brother, Palance. It stems largely from the latter's inferiority complex.
* MusclesAreMeaningless: Averted. Balinor is repeatedly described as very large, and very strong, and makes full use of it in combat.
* RoyalsWhoActuallyDoSomething
* SupportingLeader
* TwentyFourHourArmor: He is always described as wearing a full body suit of chain-mail.
* WarriorPrince
!!Durin and Dayel
A pair of Elven brothers who are along for the ride.
----
* FatalFamilyPhoto: Averted. We learn about one of the brother's beloved Lynliss back home in the Westland, which seems like a sure sign he's going to die in the final battle at Tyrsis--but he doesn't.
* FlatCharacter: Very little characterization is devoted to them, to the point they often seem like window dressing and rarely speak, acting only as extra fighters when the bad guys show up. Seem to be included only so that there could be Elves in the story.
* MauveShirt
!!Brona, The Warlock Lord
TheBigBad. The head honcho. The monster whose fault half this series is. Formerly one of the Druids, Brona was among the first to rediscover the books of magic. Growing obsessed with it, he rebelled against the Druids, plunging the world into a repeating cycle of war that can only be ended by his death. Leader of the armies of Man during the First War of the Races, TheManBehindTheMan to the Trolls in the Second, he's now out to instigate a Third, and bring all of the Four Lands squarely under his heel. Seemingly {{Immortal}}, he can only be slain by the touch of the Sword of Shannara. Appears in ''Sword'', ''First King'' [[spoiler:and ''High Druid'']].
----
* AGodAmI: He's convinced the Trolls, the Gnomes, and possibly himself, of this.
* AchillesHeel: The Sword Of Shannara, which [[spoiler:reveals his DeadAllAlong nature to him.]]
* BigBad: In both ''Sword'' and ''First King''.
* BlackCloak
* TheDarkSideWillMakeYouForget: Implied. Brona originally began studying the books of magic for the same reason Druids did anything, to gain the knowledge needed to help lead, guide, and protect the world. But after being corrupted by [[TomeOfEldritchLore the Ildatch]] and losing his soul, he became merely a vessel for its power and only cared about [[TakeOverTheWorld taking over the world]]. If any of his real self was left, it might pretend he was doing so in order to lead and guide it, but that's just sophistry at this point.
* [[spoiler:DeadAllAlong]]: [[spoiler:Brona is revealed to be a walking corpse, sustained only by the magic and his belief in his own immortality. The Sword Of Shannara reveals his lies to him, promptly killing him in truth]].
* [[spoiler:DeadpanSnarker: His characterisation in ''High Druid'' is surprisingly close to this. He seems to get a real kick out of mocking Grianne, and telling her she isn't asking the right questions. It's quite stunning (and funny) given his previous characterisation as a StockCharacter EvilOverlord]].
* [[spoiler:{{Determinator}}: In a way. Brona's will, combined with his magic and his belief that he cannot die is the only thing still keeping him, and his Skull Bearers, alive. It takes the power of the Sword to shatter his convictions]].
* DarkIsEvil
* [[spoiler:DragonInChief: To [[TomeOfEldritchLore The Ildatch]]. Brona doesn't necessarily even know it, but his ArtifactOfDoom has thoroughly manipulated him into becoming what he is, and is largely using him in order to unleash its magics upon the world. That said, the plan is Brona's, and without him, the Ildatch is just a book. There's a reason why it doesn't even put in an appearance in ''Sword'', and is of secondary concern in ''First King''. Without Brona to wield it, the Ildatch can't ''do'' much]].
* [[DubNameChange Dub Title Change]]: In the Italian version at least his title of "Warlock Lord" is changed to "Signore degli Inganni" (Lord of Deceptions).
* EvilSoundsDeep: He's described as having a deep, roiling voice, that echoes in your mind. It's also written [[CapitalLettersAreMagic entirely in capitals]] in ''Sword'' and ''First King''. In ''High Druid'' his mind-speech is more normal, but still very low.
* TheFaceless: He has no face, just a swirling green mist, and two [[RedEyesTakeWarning red eyes]].
* FakingTheDead: After the First War Of The Races. He isn't faking after the Second though: it legitimately took him that long to recover from the damage Bremen and Jerle Shannara inflicted on him.
* FisherKing: His presence alone is implied to have made the [[NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast Skull Kingdom]] the [[{{Mordor}} barren wasteland]] it is today.
* [[spoiler:GhostlyAdvisor]]: [[spoiler:In ''High Druid'' where he is this to Grianne. It's absurd enough that it just might count as a CrowningMomentOfFunny]].
* {{Immortality}}: [[spoiler:Or so he believes.]]
* ImmortalityImmorality: Obtained his lifespan through the abuse of BlackMagic.
* InTheHood
* [[spoiler:KilledOffForReal: Finally bites the dust in ''Sword'' after over a thousand years of menacing the world]].
* LargeHam: In ''Sword'', and to a lesser degree ''First King''. MORTAL CREATURE, I AM HERE!
* [[spoiler:LiteralGenie: His ghost goes out of its way to be this in ''High Druid'', being as unhelpful--and as [[DeadpanSnarker aggravating]]--as possible whenever Grianne asks a question.]]
* [[spoiler:LoadBearingBoss: Both Skull Mountain, and the entire Knife Edge collapse after he dies. All of the Skull Bearers go too]].
* TheManBehindTheMan: In the First and Second Wars Of The Races. He's a little more obvious about it in the Third.
* [[spoiler:OneSceneWonder: In ''Sword'' and ''High Druid''. He gets a little more screen time in ''First King'']].
* OrcusOnHisThrone: [[spoiler:Actually justified. Brona's less a character, and more a channel for eldritch forces. He can't do anything]].
* RedEyesTakeWarning
* SorcerousOverlord: Duh.
* TakeOverTheWorld: His plan since at least The Second War of The Races, and possibly the First.
* TheseAreThingsManWasNotMeantToKnow: He got hit by this trope when he discovered and read the Ildatch.
* TheUndead
* [[spoiler:UndeathAlwaysEnds]]
* WellIntentionedExtremist: In the BackStory
* WithGreatPowerComesGreatInsanity
!!The Skull Bearers
The Druids who rebelled alongside Brona, they now function as his generals, bodyguards, and top henchmen. No longer human, the magic has warped them into monstrous beings with leathery wings, red eyes, heavy, slouching bodies, and clawed fingers. Nearly unkillable, they exist only to serve the Warlock Lord's will.
----
* AsskickingEqualsAuthority: They serve as Brona's generals solely for this reason.
* BlackCloak
* CoDragons: The Skull Bearers as a group serves as Brona's PraetorianGuard, seconds-in-command, and chief enforcers.
* DarkIsEvil
* [[spoiler:DeadAllAlong: The only thing maintaining their existence is Brona's will. When he, and his belief that they are alive goes, so do they]].
* EvilSorceror: They're all former Druids.
* GoodWingsEvilWings: Rotten, leathery wings, on monsters that fly like a vulture.
* InTheHood: Thankfully. When we do see their faces, they're described as looking like pitted coal. The art in ''World of Shannara'' makes it even worse.
* OneManArmy: Any one of them can match Allanon blow for blow. The one that gets into the Elven palace in ''First King'' murders the royal family and half the guard before it is ''finally'' put down. If you don't have an Elfstone or Druidic powers of some sort, and you see one of these guys, start running.
* PlayingWithFire
* RedEyesTakeWarning
* SlouchOfVillainy: Are all possessed of massively hunched backs, and uniformly bad posture.
* TheUndead
* VaderBreath: They all have wheezing, ragged breath.
* WasOnceAMan
* WingedHumanoid: Barely. The humanoid part that is.
* WithGreatPowerComesGreatInsanity
!!Palance Buckhannah
Balinor's younger brother, Palance is not the man he once was thanks to his treacherous adviser, Stenmin. With his father ill, and Balinor driven from the city, Palance is the one running Callahorn--or so he thinks.
----
* CainAndAbel: He's the Cain to Balinor's Abel, though the hatred is entirely onesided.
* EvenEvilHasLovedOnes: Despite the utter mess that his mind and personal life are, Palance certainly cares about Shirl. He also refuses to have Balinor executed, despite his paranoid delusions and Stenmin's insistence that it is the only way he can protect himself.
* TheEvilPrince: Subverted. Palance looks like one at first, but it's his EvilChancellor who is the real problem.
* HopelessSuitor[=/=]StalkerWithACrush: Towards Shirl. It's played for tragedy.
* HorribleJudgeOfCharacter
* LoveTriangle: Of a sort with Menion and Shirl. Made worse by the fact he had befriended and trusted Menion before learning of his feelings for Shirl, though it is this friendship and trust that allows him to resist Stenmin's attempts to turn him against Menion; in the end [[spoiler:after Stemin fatally stabs him]] he even seems to have a moment of sanity so as to give them his blessing.
* TheMentallyIll: In the end, Palance's madness becomes horribly real.
* TheResenter: Horribly resents Balinor for being the firstborn.
* WeakWilled: The drugs that Stenmin feeds him only make it worse, causing him to vacilitate back and forth, usually making a decision based on the advice of the last person he talked to.
!!Stenmin
One of the Warlock Lord's spies, and a treacherous advisor to Balinor's brother, Palance. He plots to open the gates of Tyrsis to Brona's army.
----
* DirtyCoward: Spineless, sleazy, and pathetic, with a strong attachment to his own skin. Even Palance, who thinks that Stenmin is the smartest person in the world, describes him as a coward.
* EvilChancellor
* InformedAbility: He never demonstrates his "mystic" abilities. Of course, he could have been an astrologist, or an alchemist, or something else along those lines, in which case he may not have ''had'' any, or at least none that would be of viable use in combat.
* TheMole
* ObviouslyEvil: To everyone but the drug-addled Palance. Of course, Palance is the only one who ''needs'' to trust him.
* SmugSnake
* StupidEvil: Does he really expect Brona to reward him after the war is over? Than again, it's exactly these qualities of his that the SorcerousOverlord is playing on.
* TreacherousAdvisor: To Palance.
!!Panamon Creel
A thief, highwayman, and all around rogue whom Shea meets after being separated from the group. Quick-tempered, and prone to mood swings, he's nevertheless a useful (if shady) companion, and goes on to become Shea's protector on the trek to the [[{{Mordor}} Skull Kingdom]].
----
* AffablyEvil: Panamon is polite, courteous, and prefers to avoid killing people if he can. That said, he's no gentleman and can turn very ugly if the situation warrants it.
* BadAss
** BadassMoustache
** BadassNormal
** HandicappedBadass: He lost one of his hands, and replaced it with a steel pike head.
* BladeBelowTheShoulder: Has a pike for an arm.
* DualWielding: In a way. He has the pike on one arm, and carries his broadsword in the other.
* EvenEvilHasStandards: Panamon's a thief and a murderer, but he balks at what the Northland has become under Brona. He's also revolted by the deserter Orl Fane, who left all his friends to die.
* FireForgedFriends: With Shea
* GentlemanThief: Fakes it really well, but underneath he's a common highwayman, and he knows it.
* TheHighwayman: Though he's aware that the honourable facade is just that.
* HonourAmongThieves
* HookHand: Pike hand anyway.
* IGaveMyWord: Panamon's a slippery, lying SOB but if he actually promises to do something, he will damn well do it.
* IOweYouMyLife: Which is why he decides to help Shea.
* LoveableRogue
* OddFriendship: His relationships with both [[TheHero Shea]] and [[TheMessiah Keltset]] when you get right down to it.
* {{Pride}}: Perhaps his defining characteristic. Even his decision to help Shea is based at least in part because being outfoxed by Orl Fane and nearly killed by a Skull Bearer hurts his vanity.
* RedOniBlueOni: With Keltset.
!!Keltset
An immense Troll, Keltset is Panamon's closest friend, and partner in crime. Strangely gentle, he doesn't quite fit with Shea's [[AlwaysChaoticEvil view]] of [[ProudWarriorRaceGuy Trolls]].
----
* BadAss
* [[spoiler:BigGuyFatalitySyndrome]]
* CarryABigStick: He's almost as fond of his mace as Hendel is.
* GeniusBruiser
* GentleGiant: Although don't pick a fight with him.
* [[spoiler:KilledOffForReal]]
* [[spoiler:HeroicSacrifice]]
* [[spoiler:LoadBearingHero]]
* [[spoiler:TheMessiah: From a Troll perspective anyway, as the holder of the Black Irix, the highest award the Troll nation can give out]].
* OddFriendship: With Panamon Creel.
* ProudWarriorRaceGuy
* TheQuietOne: He's an [[TheSpeechless actual mute]], yes. He also however, rarely involves himself in the decision making process unless he has to, allowing him to still fit this trope.
* RedOniBlueOni: With Panamon.
* TheSpeechless: Had his vocal cords burned out by Skull Bearers.
!!Orl Fane
A Gnome deserter, captured by Panamon Creel who claims to know the location of the Sword of Shannara.
----
* AxeCrazy
* DangerousDeserter: A thief, tramp, and all around miserable excuse for a human being, Orl Fane alternates between snivelling sycophancy and violent insanity, making him dangerous to all those around him.
* DirtyCoward
* FullNameBasis
* TheMentallyIll: His mind utterly shatters by the time of his final confrontation with the group.
* NotSoHarmlessVillain: [[spoiler:He really did manage to get his hands on the Sword of Shannara, and is able to avoid Shea and Panamon Creel for a couple hundred pages before being captured by the Warlock Lord.]]
* ObfuscatingInsanity: Orl Fane is crazy, but not quite as crazy as he looks.
* PeoplePuppets: Used as one by Brona.
* TalkativeLoon
''The Elfstones of Shannara''
!!Wil Ohmsford
Shea's grandson, Wil was orphaned when his parents died in a fever. Raised by Shea and Flick, he's studying in Storlock to become a Healer, in the hopes of saving people like his parents. That's the plan anyway, until Allanon comes crashing into his life. A few years back, Shea had passed the Elfstones on to Wil. Now the Druid wants him to use them to protect an Elven Princess on her way to save the world from a Demonic invasion. Does Wil get a choice in this? Not on your life.
----
* BodyguardCrush: On Amberle.
* CombatMedic: Wil is a healer, trained by the Gnomes of Storlock. He's also carrying the demon-destroying Elfstones around with him. He's a pretty solid example of this.
* DeceasedParentsAreTheBest: His mother and father died of a fever, convincing Wil to become a Healer. He seems to have relatively decent memories of them. That said, his grandfather (Shea) and great-uncle (Flick) haven't given him much to complain about in the ParentalSubstitute department.
* TheHero
* HeroSecretService: To Amberle.
* LamarckWasRight: His use of the Elfstones physically damaged him, causing him to pass along magically altered genetics to his children. Cue the [[RealityWarper Wishsong]].
* LikeBrotherAndSister: What he and Amberle claim.
* LockedOutOfTheLoop: [[spoiler:No one tells him what will happen to Amberle if the quest is successful, as they fear he will try and screw it up]].
* NiceGuy
* TheProtagonist
* SecondLove: [[spoiler:With Eretria]].
* TookALevelInBadass: After spending most of the book frightened of the magic, and on the run from forces too powerful to combat, Wil turns around and burns [[TheJuggernaut The Reaper]] to ash.
!!Amberle Elessedil
The granddaughter of Elven King, Eventine Elessedil, Amberle was the first girl to be Chosen by the Ellcrys in years. It was a great honour. It was one she ran away from. When Allanon finds her, she's hiding out in an orphanage, helping look after the children. Next thing she knows she's on a quest to save the world, with only Wil for protection.
----
* TheChick
* TheChosenOne: Amberle was chosen by the Ellcrys to help repair the gap in the Forbidding. Surprisingly, she isn't the main character. She initially thought it was a cruel joke.
* DistressedDamsel: Frequently.
* HeroicSacrifice: [[spoiler:Gives up her life in order to become the new Ellcrys]].
* LikeBrotherAndSister: She and Wil claim to be this. If it's true or not is never confirmed.
* RebelliousPrincess: Though much girlier than most. She ran away from home because she couldn't face being a Chosen or enduring her family's disapproval.
* RefusalOfTheCall: She really doesn't want to be TheChosenOne, and tries to refuse until [[GoodIsNotNice Allanon]] bullies her into it.
* RoyalsWhoActuallyDoSomething
* TomboyAndGirlyGirl: Girly Girl to Eretria's {{Tomboy}}.
!!Eretria
The adopted daughter of Cephelo, leader of a Rover band that Wil and Amberle encounter. She quickly falls for Wil, and tries to help him when her father cheats him. She returns to help them again near the end.
----
* ArrangedMarriage: Is fleeing the one that her ParentalSubstitute, Cephelo, is trying to force her into.
* FemmeFatale: Beautiful, enigmatic, and willing to offer Wil just about anything if he'll take her away from Cephelo. While she's far less skanky than most, the trope still applies.
* [[spoiler:HappilyMarried: If everything Brin says in ''Wishsong'' is true, she and Wil genuinely love each other as adults, however rocky things may have started out.]]
* LoveAtFirstSight: Falls for Wil right off the bat.
* PluckyGirl
* SingleWomanSeeksGoodMan: The source of her interest in Wil.
* TomboyAndGirlyGirl: {{Tomboy}} to Amberle's Girly Girl.
* WomanScorned: Having been spurned by Wil twice in a row, Eretria vows that he will live to regret it, and does nothing when Cephelo [[spoiler:steals the Elfstones from him]]. Once she realises the stakes, she quickly drops her anger and tries to help make amends.
!!Eventine Elessedil
Often regarded as the greatest of the Elven Kings, Eventine was an exceedingly minor character in ''Sword''. When we meet him in ''Elfstones'' he's in his eighties, and trying very hard to train his son Arion to take his place. He's not too happy about having to trust Amberle (who he regards as the black sheep of the family), but goes along with it at Allanon's urging. Spends most of the book leading his troops, which results in his receiving several serious injuries.
----
* AscendedExtra: A minor character in the first book, he has to be rescued like a DamselInDistress by Flick. In ''Elfstones'' on the other hand, he is a clearly great, if aging king, a central character, and a total BadAss.
* BadassGrandpa: A more realistic version than many, given his limited stamina, aching bones, and failing strength. Still, the man's eighty-two, and not only leads his men from the front but [[spoiler:managed to kill the freaking [[CoDragons Changeling]], injured, and by himself]].
* CoolOldGuy: For the most part.
* {{Determinator}}: [[spoiler:Especially against the Changeling]].
* TheGoodKing: Not only a good king, but the best of them.
* [[spoiler:KilledOffForReal]]
* [[spoiler:MutualKill: Kills the Changeling, but suffers a mortal wound in the process.]]
* ParentalFavouritism: He favours his oldest son, Arion, over his younger son, Ander. This isn't from a lack of love for Ander; it's simply that Arion, as heir to the throne, is the one he needs to be able to depend upon.
* ReasonableAuthorityFigure
* RoyalsWhoActuallyDoSomething
!!Arion Elessedil
Eventine's oldest son, and Crown Prince of the Elves. Slain while leading the Elven army at Worl Run.
----
* HotBlooded
* {{Jerkass}}: To everyone, but especially Amberle and Ander.
* KilledOffForReal
* PrinceCharmless: He can lead an army, but has no patience for politics, which makes including him in diplomatic negotiations a risky process at best.
* SiblingYinYang: Hot-tempered, bitter, and undiplomatic (though a capable war-leader) to Ander's reasoned deliberateness.
!!Ander Elessedil
Eventine's second son, younger brother to Arion, and older brother to the deceased Aine. He takes on more and more responsibility as the book progresses, due to natural, self-effacing leadership skills, and the fact that he's one of the few people Allanon trusts.
----
* {{Ambadassador}}[=/=]BadassBureaucrat: Ander is equal parts negotiator and bureaucrat. He's still a more then capable fighter who singlehandedly keeps the battle going when all else is lost.
* BeleagueredBureaucrat: In the beginning. Arion and Eventine may be leaders of men, but it's Ander who handles all the paperwork, tries to track down the location of the Bloodfire, and goes through the army lists.
* TheGoodKing: Allanon prophesies he will be a good one, and ''Wishsong'' seems to bear him out.
* TheHeart: Eventine is the figurehead of the army, Stee Jans is its brains, and Allanon its power, but Ander is its soul. His mere presence is enough to rouse the troops to greater action, and he singlehandedly keeps them going in the face of hopeless odds.
* TheLeader: Takes his father's place as the leader of the Elven army.
* ReasonableAuthorityFigure
* RoyalsWhoActuallyDoSomething
* SiblingYinYang: With Arion.
* SupportingLeader
* TookALevelInBadass: From TheUnfavourite to war leader, king, and TheHeart of the Elven Army.
* TheUnfavourite: A non-malicious example. It's not that Eventine doesn't love Ander, it's just that he sees training his heir, Arion, to be much more pressing.
* WarriorPrince
* TheWisePrince: Right down to the aura of melancholy.
!!Crispin
The Captain of the Elven Home Guard, Crispin and six of his men are tasked with seeing Wil and Amberle safely to the Wilderun. Competent, brave, and dedicated to his job, Crispin ultimately sacrifices himself so that Wil and Amberle can escape [[SuperPersistentPredator The Reaper]].
----
* BadassBeard: In the cover art.
* BowAndSwordInAccord: Fires one shot after another at The Reaper before resorting to a direct confrontation, wherein he acquits himself relatively well.
* DyingMomentOfAwesome: With his team dead, and [[TheJuggernaut The Reaper]] approaching rapidly, Crispin holds the Pykon Bridge against the unstoppable monster, holding it off long enough that Wil and Amberle are able to destroy the bridge, thus ensuring their escape. He doesn't actually do any damage, but the simple fact that he was able to slow the Demon down cements him as an immense {{Badass}}.
* HeroSecretService
* MauveShirt
* PraetorianGuard
* YouShallNotPass: See Dying Moment Of Awesome above.
!!Stee Jans
The commander of the Border Legion Free Corps, Jans and his men are among the first to answer the [[GondorCallsForAid Elven call for assistance]]. A valuable ally, and walking BigDamnHeroes moment, his men will follow him just about anywhere.
----
* AFatherToHisMen
* AllThereInTheManual: His eventual disappearance and the suggestion that he might be Garet Jax.
* AsskickingEqualsAuthority: Leads the Legion Free Corps by reason of this.
* {{Badass}}
** BadassNormal: Kills more Demons than anyone excepting Allanon. And he does it ''without'' powers.
** CommandingCoolness
* BigDamnHeroes: Frequently. His job seems to be getting the Elven Army out of one jam after another.
* TheCavalry: Heads it.
* DarkAndTroubledPast: Implied. He leads what's essentially the Callahorn version of The French Foreign Legion. All his men, and Stee himself, are running away from something.
* RedBaron: The Iron Man.
* RedHeadedHero
* TheStrategist: Eventine and Ander are the leaders of the army, but Stee Jans is its brains.
!!The Dagda Mor
The leader of the Demons, The Dagda Mor is a powerful Demon Lord and sorcerer, with abilities that are a match for those of Allanon. He serves as the main antagonist of ''Elfstones'', arranging the collapse of the Forbidding and leading his army's assault on the Elves, with his ultimate objective being the destruction of all sentient life in the Four Lands. In appearance he is roughly humanoid, with a humped back that crooks his spine almost double, a catlike muzzle, scaled arms and legs, and patches of sawgrass-like green hair.
----
* AsskickingEqualsAuthority: The Dagda Mor is in charge because he has ''brutally'' crushed anyone who might have stood against him, using both his own power, and that of [[TheDragon The Reaper]]. Few Demons approach his level of strength, and no one wants to challenge him for his position.
* BatOutOfHell: Uses a gigantic one as his mode of transport.
* BigBad
* BoomStick: Channels red, Demonic flames through his staff.
* DarkIsEvil
* DemonLordsAndArchDevils: Lord of all the Demons, though not by virtue of title. It's by virtue of having killed anyone else who wanted the job.
* EvilGenius: It's repeatedly stated that while the Dagda Mor may not be the most powerful Demon (although he's close enough), he is the smartest.
* EvilSorcerer: Channels Druidic magic through his Staff Of Power as an addition to his own, innate abilities. As such, he is the only Demon to keep his magic when the Ellcrys staff renders his army mortal.
* IControlMyMinionsThrough: Fear, and the shared goal of eradicating all life.
* KillAllHumans: And Elves, and Dwarves, and Trolls, and Gnomes. If it isn't a Demon, The Dagda Mor wants it destroyed.
* [[spoiler:KilledOffForReal: By Allanon]]
* ThePowerOfHate: All the Demons are like this, but the Dagda Mor is unique in that he is aware of it. Hate is all that has kept him going for thousands of years, and he feeds it like a favourite pet.
* PrimalStance: Walks slouched and hunched, with his hands near the ground courtesy of a huge humpback.
* {{Revenge}}: Wants to payback the Elves, and then all of humanity, for his imprisonment.
** SinsOfOurFathers: Those who imprisoned the Dagda Mor are long since dead. He'll take it out on not only their descendents, but all of humanity, thanks all the same.
* WizardDuel: Against Allanon.
!!The Changeling
The Dagda Mor's spy, The Changeling is a spiteful Demon who looks down on all those who refuse to toy with lives the way that he does. He serves The Dagda Mor out of fear, and infiltrates Eventine's councils for him, [[spoiler:disguised as the King's wolfhound, Manx.]]
----
* TheDragon: One of the Dagda Mor's [[CoDragons two]].
* ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin: [[VoluntaryShapeshifting The Changeling]]. Couldn't get more obvious, could it?
* HellHound: [[spoiler:Its Evil!Manx form has this vibe]].
* IFightForTheStrongestSide: Serves The Dagda Mor because he has greater power than any of the other Demon Lords.
* [[spoiler:KilledOffForReal: By Eventine Elessedil]]
* TheMole
* [[spoiler:MutualKill: Eventine beheads The Changeling, but not before it mortally wounds him.]]
* [[spoiler:OffWithHisHead: How Eventine deals with it]].
* {{Shapeshifter}}
** ShapeshifterWeapon
** VoluntaryShapeshifting
* SocialDarwinist: Believes the strong should rule, and is contemptuous of anyone who is trapped by what they are. The only thing he respects is power superior to his own.
!!The Reaper
Created to be the ultimate hunter and tracker, The Reaper represents all the darker impulses of predation combined into one being and given human intelligence to balance animalistic instinct. Driven by instincts that demand it kill everything it comes into contact with, The Reaper is The Dagda Mor's most dangerous servant, and the one he uses to harry Wil and Amberle across the whole of the Westland.
----
* BlackCloak
* DarkIsEvil
* DisneyVillainDeath: Subverted. The Reaper is dropped off a cliff only to make its return chapters later having been nothing more than mildly inconvenienced.
* TheDragon: To The Dagda Mor, though it doesn't actually [[DragonWithAnAgenda share his goals]]. The Reaper's sole objective in life is to kill as many living beings as it can, and The Dagda Mor provides it with the opportunity to indulge those instincts again and again.
* TheFaceless
* GrimReaper: Invoked by its appearance and name.
* InTheHood
* TheJuggernaut: The Reaper is ImplacableMan TurnedUpToEleven and with shades of SuperPersistentPredator. Nothing hurts it: not fire, not weapons, not falling from a bridge; nothing deters it, and it can plow through literally ''anything'' that gets in its way.
* [[spoiler:KilledOffForReal: By Wil]]
* LastOfHisKind: Implied. Allanon talks about how there was a type of Demon a Reaper in the Old World of Faerie, yet The Dagda Mor's commentary (and indeed the ''The'' in The Reaper's title) imply that this one is the only one left.
* LightningBruiser
* NighInvulnerability: Nothing can stop The Reaper. One of the Elven Hunters hits it in the throat with his sword. The sword breaks, The Reaper doesn't.
* PsychoForHire: Designed to be one. The only reason it works for The Dagda Mor is the promise of an entire world of lesser beings that it can kill.
* ScarilyCompetentTracker: The Reaper follows Wil and Amberle all the way across the Westland and into the depths of the Wilderun, never losing track of them for more then a few days.
* SilentAntagonist
* SlasherMovie: Reads like something out of one.
* TheUnreveal: We're told that only The Reaper's victims see its face. Said face is never once shown, not even when Wil [[spoiler:burns it into ash]].
* TheVoiceless
!!Morag & Mallenroh, The Witch Sisters
A pair of psychotic witches, who make the Wilderun, home of the Bloodfire, their home. They hate one another, while viewing everything and everyone else as just something to toy with. Mallenroh captures Wil, Amberle, and Eretria, and takes the stones, hoping to alter the balance of power between her and her sister. Morag arrives and the two of them [[spoiler:proceed to kill one another]] as Wil, Amberle, and Eretria escape with The Reaper right behind them
----
* CainAndAbel: More like Cain & Cain.
* EvilIsDeathlyCold: Being in their presence is a little like walking into an icestorm.
* {{Evil Twin}}s: To one another.
* EvilVersusEvil: Mallenroh vs The Reaper, Morag vs Mallenroh.
* FearfulSymmetry
* HypocriticalHumour: Identical twins who call one another ugly? Think about it.
* InTheBlood: Both evil and magic seem to be in the genes, if they and [[Literature/TheVoyageOfTheJerleShannara The Morgawr]] (who claims to be their brother) are any proof.
* KilledOffForReal
* LastOfHisKind: The last members of their Coven.
* LivingDollCollector: Mallenroh captures people she finds "pretty" and either turns them into wooden figurines, or keeps them alive in her dungeons. Morag is implied to do the same.
* LoveTriangle: A human got caught between them. They killed him and blame one another.
* MutualKill
* NeverMyFault: Neither will accept any blame for the death of the human they killed.
* PlayingWithFire: It's green.
* ReallySevenHundredYearsOld: Older than the races, actually.
* SiblingTriangle: In the backstory. Given [[{{Yandere}} what they]] [[LivingDollCollector are]] it didn't end well for the poor bastard.
* StatuesqueStunner: Both are very beautiful (albeit in a cold kind of way) and are taller than Allanon, a seven-footer.
* {{Vain Sorceress}}es
* {{Wicked Witch}}es
* {{Yandere}}s
''The Wishsong of Shannara''
!!Brin Ohmsford
Wil's daughter, Brin inherited some of the ancient Elven magic in the form of the [[RealityWarper Wishsong]]. Allanon recruits her while Wil (who's never quite trusted him after the events of ''Elfstones'') is out, needing her ability to mimic and control all forms of life in order to enter the [[GardenOfEvil Maelmord]] and destroy [[ArtifactOfDoom The]] [[TomeOfEldritchLore Ildatch]]. She is mentioned in ''Indomitable'' and appears briefly in ''Dark Wraith''.
----
* [[spoiler:BrainwashedAndCrazy: Done to her by The Ildatch]]
* TheChosenOne: Although it's [[BigGood Allanon]] who did the chosing and not fate.
* GlassCannon[=/=]SquishyWizard: Brin has tremendous raw power, but it's in the body of an average teenage girl. If you can reach her, you can kill her.
* HappilyMarried: By ''Indomitable'' she is cheerfully married to Rone Leah.
* IJustWantToBeNormal: After ''Wishsong'' Brin wants to be a wife and a mother. She abandons her magic, and tries to get Jair to do the same.
* LamarckWasRight: Her abilities stem from her father's use of the Elfstones.
* {{Mutant}}: Pretty much. Wil's use of the Elfstones contaminated his bloodline, resulting in she and Jair being born with innate magic of their own.
* {{Protectorate}}: How Rone Leah and Whisper see her.
* RealityWarper: Can bend nature and life around her Wishsong.
* RetiredBadass: In the aftermath of ''Wishsong'' Brin marries Rone, retires to Leah, and never touches magic again.
* ShellShockedVeteran: Brin is never the same after the events of ''Wishsong''. She swears off magic, loses contact with many of her friends, and only begins to recover after the birth of her son.
* StoryBreakerPower: [[spoiler:Begins accessing this level of power under the Ildatch's control. It believes she would be even more powerful than Brona was, and without the AchillesHeel. Luckily, Jair gets there in time to head this off]].
* TakeUpMySword: Courtesy of [[spoiler:Allanon. Interestingly, it's one of her descendents, Walker Boh, who actually has to deal with the ramifications of this.]]
* WeAreNotGoingThroughThatAgain: The Ildatch's near subversion of Brin is enough to persuade her that not only is she never going to use her magic again, but she is never going to leave Leah again. She tries to persuade Jair to do the same.
!!Jair Ohmsford
Brin's younger brother, Jair has a milder version of the Wishsong, which allows him to create extremely detailed and realistic illusions. Attacked by Gnomes soon after Brin and Rone set out, he is rescued by Garet Jax and [[spoiler:given a mission by the King of the Silver River]]. He later appears in the short story ''Indomitable'' and the graphic novel, ''Dark Wraith of Shannara''.
----
* ActionSurvivor: In ''Wishsong'', which he only makes it through with help from others. He's more of an ActionHero during ''Indomitable'' and ''Dark Wraith''.
* [[spoiler:BecomingTheMask: Both ''Indomitable'' and ''Dark Wraith of Shannara'' have Jair channeling, and almost becoming, Garet Jax, much to his and his sister's concern]].
* [[spoiler:TheChosenOne: Courtesy of the [[DungeonMaster King of the Silver River]]. If he doesn't save Brin, that's it for the world.]] Allanon later recruits him in ''Indomitable'' and ''Dark Wraith''.
* GuileHero: At his best Jair gets by on trickery where others would use force. He seems to have passed some of this down to his descendents.
* HookedUpAfterwards: With Kimber Boh, who he has barely met by the end of ''Wishsong''. ''Indomitable'' and ''Dark Wraith'' go into more detail about their relationship and how they became first friends, and then lovers.
* LamarckWasRight
* MasterOfIllusion: The first of the Ohmsfords to have the power of illusion at his disposal, Jair pioneered the trickery that would later be used by Par Ohmsford, Walker Boh, and Bek Rowe.
* {{Mutant}}
* OneManArmy: In ''Indomitable'' and ''Dark Wraith'' when he uses Garet Jax's skills as his own.
* OvershadowedByAwesome: Jair's powers are actually pretty useful, but tend to get overlooked due to his sister's RealityWarper potential.
* ThePowerOfLove: [[spoiler:Saves Brin with it]].
* {{Protectorate}}: For Garet Jax, Slanter, and the rest of the company from Cullhaven.
* {{Shapeshifter}}: In ''Indomitable'' Jair discovers he has the power to draw his illusions around himself, changing into whatever image he creates. He typically uses it to transform into Garet Jax.
* SpannerInTheWorks: For [[spoiler:The Ildatch. ''Twice''.]]
* SquishyWizard: A MasterOfIllusion, but if you can reach him he's in trouble. At least until ''Indomitable''.
* TookALevelInBadass: In ''Indomitable''. The discovery of his shapeshifting abilities transforms Jair from a SquishyWizard into a someone who can transform into a OneManArmy with only a few notes of a song. The fact that he's older and more confident then he was in ''Wishsong'' also plays a role; even without morphing into Garet Jax, he's a lot more capable, and far less dependent on others, than he was back then, a trend that continues into ''Dark Wraith''.
* VoluntaryShapeshifting: Even if some of the side effects terrify him.
!!Rone Leah
Menion's great-grandson, he's an old friend of the family and has a fairly serious crush on Brin. Distrusting Allanon, he accompanies the Druid and the Valegirl so that he can protect her. Prone to challenging Allanon's authority, Rone eventually provokes the Druid to the point where he magically empowers Rone's sword by dipping it in the waters of the Hadeshorn, allowing Rone to fight alongside him as an equal.
----
* BodyguardCrush: Becomes Brin's defender solely to be close to her.
* CatchPhrase: [[UnusualEuphemism For cat's sake]]!
* CoolSword: The first person to wield the magically empowered Sword Of Leah.
** AmuletOfDependency: The Sword's magic is incredibly addictive, as Rone and his descendents, Morgan and Quentin learn to their dismay. Being without it tends to cause the user to act as though they are going through drug withdrawal.
** AncestralWeapon: The Sword of Leah was the sword of his House long before it was a magical talisman.
** {{Antimagic}}: The Sword of Leah cuts and parries magic, and destroys most magically created beings with a touch.
** BlackSwordsAreBetter: After being dipped in the Hadeshorn, the Sword of Leah takes on a black colouration, with pools of murky green swimming through it.
* EmpoweredBadassNormal: Begins as a capable warrior who is well-equipped to handle ordinary situations. Allanon's alterations to the Sword of Leah send him into this territory.
* FieryRedHead
* GRatedDrug: Becomes addicted to the magic of The Sword Of Leah. This is less than healthy to say the least.
* HappilyMarried: To Brin by the time of ''Indomitable''.
* TheLancer: Plays this role to Brin in the company from Darklin Reach, acting as her NumberTwo.
* RedHeadedHero
* TookALevelInBadass: Rone was already a skilled fighter, but was hampered by his lack of magic. The new Sword of Leah allows Rone to fight alongside Allanon as an equal, destroying Mord Wraiths and their creations in droves.
* TookALevelInJerkass: Getting the Sword (and its subsequent loss) make him less than pleasant to be around. He gets better though.
* WarriorPrince
!!Slanter
A Gnome from the band that captured Jair, he later becomes involved in the boy's quest to [[spoiler:save Brin.]] Suspicious, and a loner by nature he has no desire to be along on this quest, but somehow gets caught up in it anyway. Sometimes called "The Gnome who was not quite a Gnome" due to his dislike for his own people and their superstitions. He reappears in ''Dark Wraith of Shannara'', when Jair contracts him to be his guide through the Eastland.
----
* AntiHero: Evolves into a Type II. He's much like Garet Jax actually, in his cynicism and reluctance to get involved with Jair's quest, but comes through in the end.
* BadassBeard: ''Dark Wraith'' gives him one.
* BaldOfAwesome: Pictured this way in ''Dark Wraith''.
* DefectorFromDecadence: Slanter hates the Mord Wraiths, and finds his fellow Gnomes primitive, savage, and more than a [[StupidEvil little stupid]]. It ultimately leads to his defection to Jair and the Dwarves.
* HeelFaceTurn: Within the first few chapters.
* HiredGuns: Slanter works as a mercenary Tracker, hiring out his services to anyone who pays.
* KnifeNut: Slanter's reliant on his long knife in most combats, in no [[IncrediblyLamePun small part]] due to his size. Unlike with other Brooks' characters, who carry a knife as just a part of their arsenal, it seems to be his main weapon.
* TheLancer: To Jair in ''Wishsong'' and ''Dark Wraith'' alike.
* LonersAreFreaks: The opinion of many.
* PintsizedPowerhouse: Gnomes are hardly ''tiny'', but still very short compared to other races, and Slanter is no exception. He'll still slice you to ribbons if you screw with him or Jair.
* TheSmartGuy: Takes up this role in the FiveManBand from Cullhaven. Garet Jax is in charge, and Elb Foraker's his NumberTwo, but Slanter is the man with the plan.
* VitriolicBestBuds: With Jair Ohmsford. Slanter will always insist that Jair is more trouble than he's worth, and will complain the entire time they are together, yet he always comes through for Jair in the end.
!!Garet Jax
The Weapons' Master, Jax is a mysterious mercenary who saves Jair from a band of Gnomes. He accompanies the Valeman as his protector from that point on. Possibly the biggest BadAss in the entire franchise. Has gone onto star in ''The Weapons' Master's Choice'', a short story set early in his career.
----
* AllThereInTheManual: The suggestion that he might actually be Stee Jans, from ''Elfstones'' is made in ''World of Shannara'', though the idea seems to have been abandoned in ''The Weapon Master's Choice''.
* AntiHero: Type II. Cynical and standoffish, but still a hero.
* BadAss: Along with Allanon, Garet Jax is perhaps the single most badass character in the original series, and one of the biggest ones in the franchise as a whole.
** BadassNormal: Franchise/{{Batman}} with a sword. He takes on Mord Wraiths, The Kraken, and a Jachyra using only his own arsenal.
* BecauseDestinySaysSo: Or at least the King of the Silver River, who convinces him that he has to serve as Jair's protector.
* BloodKnight: He's looking for the one foe who can defeat him.
* DeathSeeker: Garet Jax follows Jair because he's looking for the chance to face his ultimate opponent, and die. A prophecy tells him that if he goes along with Jair he will find the opportunity to do this. Although it's not so much death itself he's looking for, he really just wants to face something that even has a chance of killing him so he can actually have a challenging fight for once.
* DidNotGetTheGirl: In ''The Weapon Master's Choice'', Jax develops an attraction to his employer, Lyriana. Unbeknownst to him, she is a [[spoiler:leper]], which means there can be no relationship. After finding this out, Jax moves on.
* {{Expy}}: It's not immediately obvious, given that they appear in the same novel, but Garet's role and relationship with Jair in ''Wishsong'' closely parallel Allanon's role, and relationship with Brin. Both are enigmatic men of indeterminate age, dressed all in black, with [[GoodIsNotNice standoffish personalities]] who do not suffer fools gladly. Both keep to themselves, are masters of their respective disciplines, mentor an inexperienced young Ohmsford, have their own agenda, and [[spoiler:give their lives in furtherance of the quest]]. They even [[spoiler:[[PlotParallel go out fighting the same monster]]]].
* FamedInStory: Infamous throughout the Southland and Eastland.
* GoodIsNotNice: Jax is bitter, sarcastic, and unfriendly even under the best of circumstances.
* GrayEyes: Garet's cold gray eyes are frequently remarked upon.
* HeroSecretService: To Jair.
* HiredGuns: A mercenary, Jax largely fights for the Southland city-states, and later the Dwarves.
* LightningBruiser: Of the hard-hitting FragileSpeedster variety.
* TheMentor: There are aspects of this in his relationship with Jair, as he teaches the boy how to survive. His lessons leave a strong impact on Jair, who later uses his powers to impersonate, and even try to become, Garet Jax.
* MultiMeleeMaster: Garet carries and is proficent with a wide range of close range weapons, including multiple knives, a short sword, a slender dueling sword, and a black quarterstaff. When the Kraken attacks Capaal he even manages to rummage up a harpoon.
* MysteriousPast: We know almost nothing about Garet's past. Even ''The Weapons' Master's Choice'' doesn't clear everything up.
* OneManArmy: Jax is worth a platoon or more of regular soldiers. He defeats an entire patrol of Gnomes in his first appearance, brings down the Kraken that was singlehandedly wrecking Capaal, and faces down a Jachyra. In ''The Weapon Master's Choice'', Jax takes things even further, slaughtering a small army of mercenaries, and their vampire overlord, with only minimal assistance from a healer.
* OnlyInItForTheMoney: Or so he claims in ''The Weapons' Master's Choice''.
* VampireHunter: Takes a turn as one of these when he's hired to kill Kronswiff, a [[OurVampiresAreDifferent dracul]] warlock.
* WalkingArmoury: Garet Jax is an arsenal.
* WeaponOfChoice: All of them. Jax can work as an archer, a BareFistedMonk, a SimpleStaff wielder, a KnifeNut, and a swordsman. He can use a BladeOnAStick, or simply [[CarryABigStick carry a big one]]. Name the weapon, he can do it. And yet, because he isn't TheHero, he comes off as a first rate BadAss, instead of a MartyStu. He does seem to favour a light, slim-bladed, single-handed sword for one-on-one combats.
!!Helt
A huge, oddly gentle Borderman and former Tracker, who accompanies Jair, Slanter, and Garret Jax on their journey to the Maelmord. Quiet, self-effacing, and nearly unstoppable in a charge, Helt's strength and night vision make him an invaluable addition to the company.
----
* {{Badass}}: Plows through Gnomes like they aren't even there. Only Garet Jax inflicts more damage.
** BadassBaritone
** BadassBeard
* TheBigGuy: Provides the muscle for the company from Cullhaven, acting as the raw power to Garret Jax's finesse.
* [[spoiler:BigGuyFatalitySyndrome]]
* BladeOnAStick: Favours an enormous pike.
* [[spoiler:TheCorruption[=/=]BodyHorror]]: The reason for his [[spoiler:HeroicSacrifice]], after he is [[spoiler:poisoned by the Skull Bearer-like creature in the cellars of Graymark]].
* DressingAsTheEnemy: Slanter stuffs him into a black robe and makes him pretend to be a Mord Wraith so that the two of them can sneak through enemy lines.
* [[spoiler:DrivenToSuicide]]
* [[spoiler:DyingMomentOfAwesome: Sacrifices himself to let Jair and the others escape. For just a moment, he manages to hold off an entire army of Gnomes.]]
* {{Expy}}: If you were to note some strong similarities between Helt and ''Sword'''s Keltset, you'd be within your rights as the reader.
* GentleGiant: Quiet and friendly (if rather withdrawn) when not in combat.
* TheGiant: Helt's size is frequently referenced, and is a large part of what makes him so fearsome in battle.
* [[spoiler:HeroicSacrifice: Poisoned by a magically created monster, Helt sacrifices himself to let Jair escape, destroying the drawbridge stopping the pursuing Gnomes dead in their tracks]].
* InnateNightVision: So long as there is even a glimmer of light, Helt can see nearly perfectly in the dark.
* [[spoiler:KilledOffForReal]]
* MightyGlacier: Toyed with. Helt's big, and slow moving, but once he gets up to speed, doesn't stop for anything.
* MysteriousPast: Like Garet Jax, little of Helt's past is revealed.
* TheQuietOne
* [[spoiler:WeHardlyKnewYe: Referenced in-universe and played for tragedy. Jair reflects on the fact that while the two of them hardly knew one another, the giant still sacrificed himself for Jair anyway.]]
* YouShallNotPass: Performs this at the gatehouse, holding back the Gnome Hunters [[spoiler:and [[HeroicSacrifice giving his life in the process]]]].
!!Elb Foraker
A Dwarven fighter and a long-time associate of Garet Jax, Elb joins Jax, Jair, and Slanter on their journey to Heaven's Well, acting as the unofficial second-in-command of the group.
----
* AnAxeToGrind
* BadassBeard
** BadassMoustache
* BaldOfAwesome
* BashBrothers: Depending on the fight, he can be this with Helt, Edain, or even Slanter, but in terms of longest history together, this describes him and Garet Jax to a tee.
* [[spoiler:HeroicSacrifice: He and Edain Elessedil hold the stairs to Heaven's Well, while Garet Jax, Slanter, and Jair Ohmsford go onward]].
* [[spoiler:KilledOffForReal]]
* TheLancer: To Garet Jax
* OlderAndWiser
* SubvertedSuspicionAesop: From the moment Jair, Garet, and Slanter arrive in Culhaven, Elb is suspicious of the Gnome's motives and loyalty--understandably, considering the war going on between their peoples, and rightfully so, since Slanter had only recently (and [[TeethClenchedTeamwork mostly against his will]]) performed a HeelFaceTurn. But despite this constant distrust, Slanter's caustic remarks and vitriolic relationship with the Dwarf, and how close he comes (twice!) to abandoning Jair or the company, in the end Slanter's heart is true and he stands by Jair all the way to Heaven's Well; in fact he might not have made it at all if not for the Gnome.
* [[spoiler:YouShallNotPass]]
!!Edain Elessedil
The son of Ander Elessedil, Edain came to the Eastland with a company of Elven Hunters, intending to repay the Dwarfs for their aid in the War of the Forbidding. Upon uncovering Jair's quest, Edain insists on accompanying him, citing the debt that he and his father owe to Wil Ohmsford. He and Jair become fast friends.
----
* BowAndSwordInAccord
* TheChick: As the youngest and least experienced member of the company from Culhaven, Edain's main role seems to be being Jair's friend.
* [[spoiler:HeroicSacrifice: He and Elb Foraker stay behind and hold the stairs to Heaven's Well against the oncoming Gnomes.]]
* HonorBeforeReason: As soon as he learns who Jair is, he becomes determined to join his company as a means of repaying his father's debt to Jair's father Wil. Considering he is the heir to the Elven throne (and was only supposed to be in Culhaven as a diplomat and advisor to the Dwarfs to repay Ander's debt to ''them''), his bodyguards understandably feel he has taken leave of his senses. [[spoiler:And [[HeroicSacrifice thanks to his ultimate fate]], they were right to worry.]]
* [[spoiler:KilledOffForReal]]
* NaiveNewcomer: Despite being a good warrior, and presumably chosen for his role by Ander by virtue of his knowledge of diplomacy and politics rather than simply because he was the heir, Edain seems to know little of the world at large, at times coming across as no more wise and informed than Jair. This is not necessarily a bad thing, as it gives the Valeman a kindred spirit in the company.
* RoyalsWhoActuallyDoSomething
* WarriorPrince: Runs in the family.
* [[spoiler:YouShallNotPass: He and Elb Foraker, both injured, do this to the pursuing Gnomes.]]
!!Cogline
A crazy old man who aids Brin in her search for the Maelmord and the Ildatch. Later revealed to be a lapsed Druid, and the last one left besides Allanon. Appears in ''Wishsong'', the ''Heritage'' foursome, and ''First King''.
----
* AnimalCompanion: Is always accompanied by a moor cat.
* BadassGrandpa
* BadassInDistress: In ''Dark Wraith'', when the Mwellrets and the Croton Witch capture him and try to force him to give them access to Paranor.
* [[spoiler:DyingMomentOfAwesome: His HeroicSacrifice, where he blows up Death and himself to Kingdom Come.]]
* [[spoiler:HeroicSacrifice: Dies blowing himself and [[TheFourHorsemenOfTheApocalypse Death]] up with gunpowder in order to save Walker]].
* TheMagicVersusTechnologyWar: Will cheerfully use gunpowder and other Old World sciences against the Mord Wraiths and their ilk. He's also a competent Druid, although he hides it well.
* TheMentor: To Walker Boh.
* PantheraAwesome: He's always accompanied by a moor cat.
* ParentalSubstitute: To Kimber Boh.
* ReallySevenHundredYearsOld: Try over a thousand. He was already old when ''Bremen'' was alive, and is one of the few characters who can remember what Brona was like before he was the Warlock Lord.
* RecurringCharacter: Appears in ''Wishsong'', ''First King'', and all of the ''Heritage'' books, despite not being a main character.
* ScrewPolitenessImASenior: In ''Wishsong''. His manners and sanity have improved three hundred years later.
* ThresholdGuardian[=/=]MentorArchetype: Acts as the first one for Brin, the second for Walker, although there is some overlap.
!!Kimber Boh
Cogline's adopted granddaughter, Kimber quickly befriends Brin Ohmsford and insists that she, Cogline, and Whisper aid Brin on her journey to the Maelmord. In the novella ''Indomitable'' and the graphic novel ''Dark Wraith of Shannara'', she reappears, and forms first a friendship, and then a romantic relationship, with Brin's brother Jair.
----
* BareYourMidriff: Rendered this way in ''Dark Wraith''.
* TheChick: Plays this role in the company from Darklin Reach. Her role seems to be being Brin's friend.
* DistressedDamsel: In ''Dark Wraith''. Though by the time Jair arrives to save her, she's already managed to free herself.
* HookedUpAfterwards: Her relationship with Jair was this until ''Indomitable'' and ''Dark Wraith'', which explores their developing friendship and eventual romance.
* KidWithTheRemoteControl: To Whisper.
* PluckyGirl: Kimber can take care of herself, but is clearly out of her depth when confronting the Mord Wraiths.
!!Whisper
An enormous moor cat who accompanies Cogline wherever he goes, Whisper forms an attachment to Brin Ohmsford, and follows her into the Maelmord.
----
* AnimalCompanion: To Cogline, Kimber Boh, and Brin.
* BadassNormal: If you think about it. There's nothing magical about Whisper. He's just a big cat with the same arsenal as a real life cougar or tiger. Yet despite this, he fights creatures like the werebeasts, Mord Wraiths and Mutens on a pretty even footing.
* TheBigGuy: Plays this role in Brin's group, serving as the force to Cogline's science.
* MeaningfulName: Whisper's mute, and totally silent.
* PantheraAwesome: So awesome he can fight dark magic creatures with just claws and teeth.
* UndyingLoyalty: To Cogline, Kimber, and Brin. Brin actually has to run away to stop Whisper from following her further into the Maelmord.
* TheVoiceless
!!The Jachyra(s)
A monster from the Faerie world that even the Demons thought too dangerous to loose. Two of them are released by the Mord Wraiths, and sent to face Allanon and Garret Jax.
----
* AxeCrazy
* {{Badass}}: Let's give these freaks their due: there's a reason the Mord Wraith's chose the Jachyras to do what they could not and face down both the greatest Druid who ever lived, and the Garret Jax, the Weapons Master.
* CombatSadomasochist: Hardwired into them by the dark magic. They actually feed on pain, both their own, and that of others. They'll tear themselves apart in order to kill their victim.
* EvilLaugh: A hyena-like cackle that just about freezes the blood.
* LawOfChromaticSuperiority: The Mord Wraiths and their servants are black in colouration. The Jachyras are bright red and much, much more dangerous.
* LightningBruiser
* MoreTeethThanTheOsmondFamily
* [[spoiler:MutualKill: The two Jachyras achieve this with Allanon and Garret Jax respectively]].
* OurDemonsAreDifferent: An ancient fairy creature that both the real Demons and the good Fae decided needed locking up.
* PoisonousPerson: Their claws and fangs deliver a poison that attacks both the physical body and the spirit.
* PsychoForHire: Along similar lines to The Reaper.
* SealedEvilInACan: Even the Demons thought they needed locking up, and the Mord Wraiths are only willing to summon two of them.
* SlasherSmile: A natural one.
!!The Mord Wraiths (Black Walkers)
Mortal followers of Brona, subverted by the magic of The Ildatch. They now resemble tall, skeletal figures, wrapped in black robes, and prone to worshipping the book.
----
* BlackCloak
* DarkIsEvil
* EliteMooks: At least if you're Allanon, Rone Leah, or Brin. For anyone without magic, they tend more towards the NighInvulnerable end of the scale.
* EvilSorceror: Once minor magic users and human followers of the Warlock Lord, they've been gifted with both magic and [[WithGreatPowerComesGreatInsanity madness]] by the Ildatch.
* TheFaceless
* ImplacableMan: To anyone without magical abilities. There's a scene where three of them take a few dozen arrows and get right back up, as though nothing had happened.
* InTheHood
* NormalFishInATinyPond: In terms of their overall power level. Compared to most other magic-using characters, they're not that tough- they have to rely on ambushes or ganging up to really stand a chance against the likes of Allanon. Against normal people, though, they're seriously lethal.
* ObviouslyEvil: But since they rule through fear, this can work for them.
* PlayingWithFire: Red, soot streaked flames, usually from their hands are their preferred form of attack.
* TakeOverTheWorld: Seems to be their objective, although it's never made quite clear.
* TheVoiceless: The only sound we hear from them is the occasional scream.
* WithGreatPowerComesGreatInsanity
!!The Ildatch
--> ''Dark child...
The book of eldritch magic responsible for subverting Brona, the Mord Wraiths, and countless others. Very old, The Ildatch dates back to the war between the Faeries and the Demons and has been corrupting people ever since. Its destruction serves as the main plot of the book. [[spoiler:Unbeknownst to all, including Allanon, the book is alive, sentient, and TheBigBad of the entire trilogy]]. A very nasty, ArtifactOfDoom indeed.
----
* ArtifactOfDoom
* [[spoiler:BigBad: Of the entire original trilogy no less. Making use of the Warlock Lord and Mord Wraiths, and with an origin linked to the Demons, it is one of the three major threads that ties the otherwise standalone novels of the first trilogy together, the others being Allanon and the Ohmsford bloodline]].
** [[spoiler: NonActionBigBad: For all its power, it ''is'' a book, and not a person, and is pretty helpless without a wielder. Brin's main struggle is snapping herself free of its thrall, which is ''extremely'' hard. Once that is done, the Ildatch itself is destroyed almost effortlessly]].
* TheCorrupter:Using it tends to drive the user more than a little insane, leaving them DrunkOnTheDarkSide.
* [[spoiler:TheManBehindTheMan: To Brona and the Mord Wraiths. This generally seems to have been its MO across its entire existence- find someone with magical aptitude, reveal its secrets to them, and slowly turn them into little more than a vessel for using its power]].
* [[spoiler:ManipulativeBastard: Nearly talks Brin into becoming the next Warlock Lord.]]
* [[spoiler:MoreThanMindControl]]
* [[spoiler:TheReveal: It's alive, and it wants you to use it]].
* TomeOfEldritchLore
* [[spoiler: VillainTakesAnInterest: In Brin, leading to WeCanRuleTogether below]].
* WalkingSpoiler: [[spoiler: Well, it doesn't ''walk'', but the fact that it's a character at all is a pretty big reveal that casts ''the whole trilogy'' in a new light]].
* [[spoiler:WeCanRuleTogether: Does this to Brin]]
[[/folder]]
[[folder:The Heritage of Shannara]]
!!Par Ohmsford
A descendant of Jair Ohmsford, and TheHero of the trilogy, he has inherited Jair's MasterOfIllusion powers. Initially a travelling storyteller, he and his brother Coll are summonded, along with Walker Boh and Wren to the Hadeshorn, and given a charge by Allanon. Par's is to retrieve The Sword of Shannara. Desperate to be a hero, he is the first Ohmsford to embrace his charge, involving himself not only in the quest for The Sword, but in the free-born effort to throw off the Federation.
----
* BlessedWithSuck: The Wishsong is an incredibly powerful, evolving weapon. It's also addictive, unpredictable, and prone to overriding Par's mind, and meddling with his psyche. Not to mention that it attracts Shadowen in the dozens.
* BreakTheCutie/ CorruptTheCutie: Rimmer Dall tries this on him, through a long series of MindScrew manipulations that nearly cause Par to snap.
* TheChosenOne: One of [[strike: three]] four.
* DistressedDude: Spends most of ''Talismans'' as Rimmer Dall's prisoner.
* DoomMagnet: Justified. Shadowen are drawn to magic, and few people have magic to match Par's.
* DrunkOnTheDarkSide: [[spoiler:His embracing the Wishsong's power in ''Talismans'' leads to this.]]
* {{Expy}}: Of Shea. For maybe half the first book. Then...crap happens.
* GlassCannon[=/=]SquishyWizard: Paar for the course with Wishsong users. Par is a not-particularly tough kid, with a tremendous amount of power at his disposal.
* GrandTheftMe: From the [[EvilOldFolks woodswoman]] to [[EnfanteTerrible the child on Toffer Ridge]] to [[BigBad Rimmer Dall]], one Shadowen after another tries this on him.
* TheHero: He's definitely the main character, though not by much, and the plot revolves around keeping him out of Rimmer Dall's hands.
* HeroicWannabe: Downplayed. Par is easily the most enthusiastic of the three Ohmsford heirs, but the least capable. Unlike Wren, who is a capable ActionGirl, and Walker who has been living by himself in the Eastland for years, Par has never been more than a storyteller. His MasterOfIllusion powers come in useful, but he needs a lot more help than he thinks he does, and frequently rushes into danger without thinking, something that Coll ends up pointing out to him near the end of ''Scions''.
* InTheBlood: Inherited his use of the Wishsong from Jair, though it eventually takes on a shape more akin to that used by Brin.
* JumpedAtTheCall: He absolutely belives that they need to fullfill Allanon's charges, and leaps at the opportunity.
* MasterOfIllusion: Like his ancestor, Jair, Par can use the Wishsong to create lifelike illusions. Initially this is all he can do with it.
* PersonOfMassDestruction: When out of control the Wishsong transforms him into this.
* PlayingWithFire: The Wishsong's preferred method of attack.
* TheProtagonist: In ''Scions''. After that the viewpoint shifts to Walker, then Wren, and ends in an even split in ''Talismans''.
* RealityWarper: His Wishsong eventually spins completely out of control, reaching levels of reality warping that even Brin never did.
* SiblingYinYang: With Coll.
* SuperPoweredEvilSide: The Wishsong comes very, very close to this. All it's lacking is a personality.
* TomatoInTheMirror: The Shadowen attempt to convince him that he is one of them. [[spoiler:In a way, it's even true.]]
* UnstoppableRage: Under the Wishsong's influence.
* WithGreatPowerComesGreatInsanity: The Wishsong can, and does, override Par's mind, driving him into paranoia, and gleeful, UnstoppableRage. Rimmer Dall's attempts at breaking him don't help of course.
!!Coll Ohmsford
Par's brother, and the only Ohmsford with no magic. He accompanies Par, having been given no charge himself. [[spoiler:Or so we are led to believe. In reality, he's the one destined to wield the Sword of Shannara after Par finds it.]]
----
* BrainwashedAndCrazy: Courtesy of the Mirrorshroud.
* [[spoiler:TheChosenOne: Chosen to bring Par back to normal. Hidden from himself and all others by Allanon.]]
* CoolSword: As it turns out Coll and not Par is the one who [[spoiler:has to use The Sword Of Shannara first.]]
** AncestralWeapon: [[spoiler:The Sword]] has been part of the family's legacy for centuries at this point.
* DeathFakedForYou: By Rimmer Dall, who fakes Coll's death to screw with Par, then lets Par discover him alive in order to mess with him even more.
* DistressedDude: Coll has no combat skills, and consequently gets into trouble a lot, regularly having to be rescued.
* {{Expy}}: Of Flick, initially.
* ThePowerOfLove: Uses it to save Par from Rimmer Dall.
* SiblingYinYang: With Par.
* TheTeamNormal: The only Shannara descendent with no magic whatsoever and no charge from Allanon. [[spoiler:Subverted in the end by his use of the Sword of Shannara]].
* UnwittingPawn: Of Rimmer Dall who uses him as part of his campaign to torment Par.
!!Walker Boh
A distant relative of Par and Coll's, who briefly lived with them in Shady Vale, where he was nicknamed "The Dark Uncle" due to his eerie nature and relationship with Par. Descended from Brin Ohmsford, Walker is tall, pale, and withdrawn, with limited innate magic, including the power to converse with nature and summon a version of the Druid fire. Charged by Allanon with reviving the Druids and Paranor, he is the most reluctant to accept his charge, and initially refuses outright. [[spoiler:He returns in ''Voyage of the Jerle Shannara'', where he undertakes the voyage in order to win support for a new Druid council]]
----
* {{Badass}}: One of the biggest ones in the series. Walker has fought faerie beings, Shadowen, and robotic hunter-killer drones. He's been poisoned, lost an arm, dodged laser fire, and fought Rimmer Dall mano-a-mano. It takes [[spoiler:Antrax, a being from another time to bring him down, and even then, Walker out lives Antrax by half a book, even with a fatal injury]].
** BadassBeard
** HandicappedBadass: Down an arm, but still a BadAss.
* BigGood: Assumes this role near the end of the ''Heritage'' tetralogy, and continues it into the ''Voyage'' trilogy, stepping into the space vacated by Allanon.
* BlackEyesOfEvil: Subverted as part of his DarkIsNotEvil motif.
* TheChosenOne: Selected to fullfill Brin's pledge to Allanon. And he [[ItSucksToBeTheChosenOne hates]] it.
* CoolUncle: To Par and Coll, though he's gruffer about it than most.
* DarkIsNotEvil: A [[LeanAndMean thin]], ghostly looking man, with black hair and eyes and a sinister countenance, Walker is nevertheless one of the heroes.
* DesperatelyLookingForAPurposeInLife: Following the loss of his arm and his magic.
* {{Determinator}}: He made it home after losing his arm, he crawls out of his home after Rimmer Dall's attack despite being near dying, he [[spoiler:survives half a book with a fatal injury in the sequel]]; there's not much you can hit Walker with that he hasn't been hit with.
* EeriePaleSkinnedBrunette: Walker can't actually tan. The sun just seems to be reflected away from him.
* TheEmpath: Can usually read the emotions of others, allowing him to avoid conflict and serve as a mediator when he cares to.
* EvilUncle: Invoked and subverted. The people of Shady Vale see him as one, but he's actually trying to be a mentor to Par.
* {{Expy}}: In-universe. After absorbing the memories of all the other Druids, Walker ends up channeling Allanon in particular for all he's worth.
* FriendlessBackground: There were no other children at Hearthstone or Darklin Reach where Walker grew up, and by the time he moved to Shady Vale, his chance to learn how to make friends was long gone.
* FullContactMagic: Walker Boh will mess you up with or without his magic.
* [[spoiler:GhostlyAdvisor: To Grianne during ''High Druid'']].
* [[spoiler:GoOutWithASmile: In ''Literature/TheVoyageOfTheJerleShannara'']].
* GuileHero: Though backed by physical and magical power when necessary.
* [[spoiler:HeroicSacrifice: In ''Literature/TheVoyageOfTheJerleShannara''. He electrocutes himself overloading [[DiscOneFinalBoss Antrax]]]]
* HonoraryUncle: Walker is actually Par and Coll's distant cousin. His relationship with Par, however, is much more uncle/nephew, and Par, Coll, and Wren usually refer to him as their Uncle Walker.
* IAmLegion: Possibly. He has bits and pieces of all the other Druids inside him after his use of the Black Elfstone on Paranor. It's never made clear how much of Walker is left.
* IneffectualLoner: In ''Scions'', when he's doing his best to convince himself that he doesn't want to be a part of society.
* {{Irony}}: The man who hates the Druids more than anybody else ends up becoming the first of their new order.
* TheLeader: Eventually assumes this position in any group he is a part of. Combination Type I and IV.
* LifeOrLimbDecision: Why he lost his right arm.
* LonersAreFreaks: How many viewed him.
* MadeOfIron: The amount of physical punishment Walker shrugs off is frankly astonishing.
* MasterOfIllusion: He got the idea from Jair, and uses it to defeat the Horsemen.
* TheMentor: To Par in the backstory; to Bek in ''Literature/TheVoyageOfTheJerleShannara''.
* MoralityPet: Par is one for him in ''Scions''; only Par being in trouble can persuade Walker to leave Hearthstone and meet with the shade of Allanon.
* ParentalAbandonment: His mother died when he was a child, his father when he was in his late teens, leaving Walker to spend seven miserable years in Shady Vale.
* PlayingWithFire: He can of course summon Druid fire.
* TheProtagonist: In ''Druid''. Morgan Leah and Pe Ell are also viewpoint characters, but this is Walker's quest and storyline that they are a part of. He shares the role of protagonist in ''Talismans'' with Wren and Par, acting as BigGood and mentor figure to the rest of the cast.
* ReallySevenHundredYearsOld: By the sequel he's pushing one hundred and fifty.
* RedBaron: Dark Uncle
* RefusalOfTheCall: Initially. Eventually he decides he has to do something about the Federation and takes up Allanon's charge.
* ReluctantHero: Walker does not want to help the Druids, and deeply resents his own magic. Yet in the end he can't turn away from what the Federation and the Shadowen are doing.
* TheSmartGuy: In most groups Walker will be the idea man.
* SpeaksFluentAnimal: Can talk to moor cats and other animals.
* SquishyWizard: Look at this trope list. To say that Walker averts this would be putting it lightly.
* TookALevelInBadass: After becoming the first of the new Druids.
!!Wren Ohmsford/[[spoiler:Elessedil]]
Par and Coll's cousin, and the [[spoiler:bearer of the Elfstones]], who lived with them in Shady Vale for a while when she was younger. Raised by the Rovers in the Westland, Wren is charged by Allanon with bringing the Elves back to the Westland. [[spoiler:Unbeknownst to her, she is secretly their queen, being the offspring of an Ohmsford and an Elessedil.]]
----
* ActionGirl: A very competent fighter, and a match for any of the men in series (and a fair sight more capable than Par or Coll).
* ActionSurvivor: Of the trek through Morrowindl.
* [[spoiler:BadassPrincess: Although she's totally unaware of it]].
* BlessedWithSuck: How she views the [[spoiler:use of the Elfstones.]]
* BoomStick: Averted. Wren could use the power of the Loden Staff to annihilate most of the Shadowen of Morrowindl. Unfortunately, doing so would rob it of the magic needed to restore Arborlon once they reach the Westland so she is forced to refrain.
* BoyishShortHair: Always pictured with short hair; it's helpful in combat.
* TheChainsOfCommanding: Feels them profoundly after she finds herself taking Ellenroh's place in the command roster.
* ChangelingFantasy: She's really [[spoiler:Wren Elessedil, granddaughter of Ellenroh Elessedil, Queen of the Elves]]. This leads to a serious identity crisis.
* TheChosenOne: Twice over. Allanon charges her to return the Elves to the Four Lands; at her birth [[spoiler:Eowen Cerise prophesied that she would be the one to save the Elves]].
* DoomMagnet: Not to quite the degree of Par, but the [[spoiler:magic of the Elfstones]] attracts Shadowen like nothing else. Luckily it also makes for an effective protection.
* FireForgedFriends: How she describes her friendship with [[PraetorianGuard Triss]] in ''Talismans''.
* GRatedDrug: Fears becoming addicted the Elfstones, a fact that frequently handicaps her in ''Elf Queen''.
* HeroicBSOD: In ''Elf Queen'' after one revelation too many causes her to shut down. She gets over it.
* HeroicSelfDeprecation: Has a very low opinion of herself during the latter part of ''Elf Queen''.
* [[spoiler:TheHighQueen]]: Eventually.
* HorribleJudgeOfCharacter: To some extent with [[spoiler:Gavilan]] but especially [[spoiler:Tib Arne]]. The latter was lampshaded and justified somewhat in-story by her being emotionally vulnerable thanks to losing [[spoiler:Garth]], but still...
* IJustWantToBeNormal: Has a lot of this in ''Elf Queen'', as one revelation after another shocks her to the core.
* KnifeNut: Like many of Brooks' characters, she seems to prefer long knives and short swords to larger weapons.
* MagneticHero: Wren attracts UndyingLoyalty like magnets attract paper clips.
* TheProtagonist: In ''Elf Queen'' where she is the only viewpoint character for the main storyline. She shares the role with Walker and Par in ''Talismans'', acting the SupportingLeader to Walker's BigGood and Par's [[TheHero Hero]].
* SupportingLeader: Takes on this role in ''Talismans'', joining forces with Padishar Creel's free-born and Axhind's Rock Trolls to confront the Federation military in the Westland while her cousins and uncle break into Southwatch to take down Rimmer Dall.
* [[spoiler:TomboyPrincess: Given that she was a Rover long before she knew she was a Princess this is to be expected]].
* TookALevelInBadass: Over the course of ''Elf Queen'' she shifts from competent ActionGirl to one of the most effective destroyers of Shadowen in the series.
* TheWomanWearingTheQueenlyMask:[[spoiler:Has shades of this in ''Talismans'']].
* YouAreInCommandNow: When Ellenroh Elessedil is killed during the trip through Morrowindle, Wren ends up in charge of the rapidly DwindlingParty [[spoiler:and then the entire Elven nation.]]
!!Morgan Leah
Par and Coll's oldest friend, Morgan has spent most of his life up until now, harrassing the Federation officials who occupy his homeland. He tries to protect Par and Coll, using contacts in the Dwarf Resistance and the Freeborn, as well as the battered Sword of Leah to aid them. Then, bad things start happening, and he goes on to become a character in his own right, and a major player in the series, all without really wanting to.
----
* BadAss: Goes through Shadowen as though they aren't even there, and is probably the most competent fighter in the main cast.
* BreakTheCutie: The torture Morgan goes through comes very close to this. He goes from comic relief to bitter adult very quickly.
* CoolSword: The Sword of Leah of course.
** AmuletOfDependency: Morgan, like Rone before him, swiftly becomes addicted to the Sword's magic, and nearly BSOD's upon losing it.
** AncestralWeapon: Still the Sword of his House.
** {{Antimagic}}: Making it deadly to Shadowen
** BlackSwordsAreBetter
** WreckedWeapon-->ReforgedBlade: The Sword of Leah is shattered during Morgan's escape from The Jut at the end of ''Scions''. His arc in ''Druid'' is based around trying to have it fixed, which he succeeds in doing by the end.
* DesperatelyLookingForAPurposeInLife: Initially.
* {{Expy}}: Starts out as one of Menion...then goes through Hell and comes out very, very diffrent.
* HeartbrokenBadass: Followings [[spoiler:the death of Quickening.]]
* HeroicBSOD: After losing the Sword Of Leah in ''Scions'', Morgan finds himself paralysed by fear and indecision. This will return to haunt him on several occasions.
* HotBlooded: Walker, Horner Dees, and Pe Ell all see him as such. It isn't really true as of partway through ''Druid''.
* ILetGwenStacyDie: [[spoiler:His take on being unable to save Quickening]].
* TheKirk: When partnered with Damson and Matty in ''Talismans''.
* MyGreatestFailure: Either letting Freeborn headquarters fall, or [[spoiler:failing to prevent Quickening's death]]. Both haunt him intensely.
* ReluctantWarrior: Morgan will kill Shadowen without batting an eye, but has serious issues with killing people. It makes for some tension with [[BrokenBird Matty Roh]].
* RoyalsWhoActuallyDoSomething: Transitions from a loafer who focuses on making life difficult for the Federation occupiers, to a resistance leader, strategist, and fighter.
* SecondLove: [[spoiler:With Matty.]]
* TheSmartGuy: Morgan is the go-to guy when the Free-born need a planner. He gets them in and out of Federation cities and prisons with seeming ease, figured out [[spoiler:Teel was TheMole]], and is second only to Padishar and Walker when it comes to going unnoticed.
* TookALevelInBadass: From practical joker to Shadowen-slayer par excellence.
* WarriorPrince: His family may not run Leah anymore, but he's close enough for farm use.
!!Padishar Creel
The leader of the free-born resistance, and a descendent of Panamon Creel, Padishar saves Par and Coll from Rimmer Dall early on. He is delighted to hear about the Ohmsfords' missions, and does everything in his power to aid both them and Morgan, in the hopes that by destroying the Shadowen, they will cripple the Federation. Probably the most implacable, if [[BunnyEarsLawyer odd]] enemy that The Federation has.
----
* AuthorityEqualsAsskicking: Although given the medieval style setting, it makes a certain amount of sense.
* BadassBeard
* BadassNormal
* BunnyEarsLawyer: Padishar is really, really weird. And equally effective.
* ConsummateLiar: A heroic example, Padishar puts his manipulative abilities to work for the Free-born, convincing people from all walks of life to follow him out of the belief that his [[MultipleChoicePast past]] mirrors their own.
* {{Expy}}: In-universe. He deliberately modelled himself on Panamon Creel.
* LaResistance: He's not the founder of the free-born, but he is the man responsible for uniting them into a competent fighting force.
* TheLeader: Of the free-born, having disposed of all the other contenders and gained control over The Movement. He's a Type IV, leading through his charismatic personality, and ruthless will.
* MultipleChoicePast: Tells many different stories about who he was before joining LaResistance, and why he hates the Federation.
* PapaWolf: Don't touch [[spoiler:Damson]]. Just don't.
* SupportingLeader: As the leader of the free-born, Padishar is responsible for battling the Federation military while the Ohmsfords try to deal with the Shadowen. In ''Scions'' he and his men hold the Federation at The Jut while Par descends into the Pit; in ''Talismans'' he and Wren split the role, taking on the Federation's army in the Westland, while Walker, Coll, Par, Morgan, Damson, and Matty break into Southwatch to free Par and confront Rimmer Dall.
!!Damson Rhee
A member of the Freeborn, street magician, and Par's LoveInterest. [[spoiler:She's also Padishar's daughter.]]
----
* AchillesHeel: Could be said to be this to [[spoiler:Padishar]] because [[spoiler:she's his daughter]], so he will do anything to save her, including staying behind to be captured and executed.
* ActionGirl: Maybe. It is clear she can fight, though, and there's no questioning her bravery in helping Par, particularly in the last book when she's the only BadassNormal in the group to go into Southwatch (aside from Matty Roh), and without any major weapons with her. Walker gave everyone "a bit of magic" to protect them, something she had no way of knowing how effective it would be or what form it would take, yet she went anyway.
* ChekhovsGun: The Skree. Just a bit of harmless street magic she gives to Par to help them reunite when he goes chasing after the BrainwashedAndCrazy Coll...but later it helps her and Matty [[spoiler:find and save Coll from slavers]], ''and'' still leads her and the others to Par at Southwatch for the FinalBattle, thanks to [[NewPowersAsThePlotDemands his magic]] having "imprinted" a reflection of it [[ThePowerOfLove on himself]].
* CoolDownHug: Performs one on Par.
* FlorenceNightingaleEffect: Much of her relationship with Par comes about due to nursing him back to health while hiding out from the Federation in the Tyrsis sewers.
* HeroesWantRedHeads: She and Par are more or less joined at the hip after ''Scions''.
* LaResistance: Is a prominent member, or at least associate, of the free-born.
* TheMcCoy: Takes this role when partnered up with Morgan and Matty.
* WeNeedADistraction: No, not for the [[ShowSomeLeg obvious reason]]--her street magic serves this purpose quite often, but she also forms one in the mundane sense when she [[RefugeInAudacity poses as Padishar's wife]] to get them into the People's Park, and again during their escape from the Pit the second time.
!!Garth
Wren's protector and guide, Garth has raised her since her early childhood. A Rover, he does his best to teach Wren how to survive in a very cruel world.
----
* BadassBeard
* BadassNormal: Garth has no magic, which doesn't slow him down much.
* BigBrotherMentor: To Wren.
* TheBigGuy
* HandicappedBadass: He's deaf.
* [[spoiler:HeroicSacrifice]]: [[spoiler:Forces Wren to MercyKill him after being poisoned by the Wisteron]].
* MightyGlacier: Compared to other people, he's probably a LightningBruiser, but when forced to face the Wisteron and other various Shadowen monsters, he's much closer to this.
* MusclesAreMeaningless: Averted. Garth's size and physical power are his primary assets in a fight.
* SecretKeeper: [[spoiler:For Wren's mother.]]
!!Rumor
Cogline's current moor cat, Rumor has a close relationship with Walker Boh, eventually transferring loyalties to him. Huge, silent, and unstoppable, Rumor faces down Shadowen with a ferocity that few humans can equal.
----
* AnimalCompanion: To Cogline and then Walker Boh.
* BadassNormal: Fights Shadowen without any magical aid.
* TheBigGuy: Plays this role in the group that storms Southwatch.
* {{Expy}}: Of Whisper before him.
* MeaningfulName: "It is said that wherever I go, Rumor often precedes me."
* PantheraAwesome: Like Whisper, Rumour can, and will, take on beings spawned from dark magic using just his natuarl weapons.
* ReallySevenHundredYearsOld: Is still around by the time of ''Isle Witch'', putting him somewhere around one hundred fifty years old.
* UndyingLoyalty: To Cogline and Walker
* TheVoiceless
!!Rimmer Dall
Head of the Seekers, the Federation SecretPolice, Rimmer Dall is also the leader of the Shadowen, TheBigBad of the series, and an all around bastard. He pursues and harasses the Ohmsfords at every turn, playing with their minds, in an attempt to break them all. He seems to be particularly obsessed with Par and the Wishsong.
----
* AnimalMotifs: All the Seekers where a silver wolf's head on their necklace of office. In Dall's case the metaphor is more pronounced then with most.
* BeardOfEvil
* BigBad: He's the leader of the Shadowen, the mastermind behind the Federation, and the [[FinalBoss most powerful opponent]] the protagonists face to boot.
* BitchInSheepsClothing: He can fake AffablyEvil with the best of them, but at the core of it he's a monster through and through.
* BodySnatcher[=/=]BodySurf
* TheChessmaster: A fairly competent one, though he's more dependant on [[ManipulativeBastard emotional manipulation]] than careful planning.
* ConsummateLiar: Nothing short of the Sword Of Shannara can pierce Rimmer Dall's carefully crafted falsehoods. And since he's aware that Par can't use the Sword, Rimmer Dall's more than willing to hand it over to him, using the Sword's lack of reaction to his stories in order to further Par's confusion.
** Even better, the reason Par couldn't use the Sword? [[spoiler:[[ManipulativeBastard Just prior to giving him the Sword Dall managed to talk Par into subconsciously believing he couldn't use it]].]]
* DarkIsEvil: Though he spends most of his page-time trying to convince Par that DarkIsNotEvil.
* DystopiaJustifiesTheMeans: He's already transformed TheFederation into a brutal PoliceState. His next objective is reducing the Four Lands to nothing more than a magical buffet for the Shadowen. The land will sicken and die, most species will go extinct, the Races will be left as slaves to his hunger, and he's pretty comfortable with all of that.
* EvilRedhead: Flaming red hair and beard.
* EvilSorceror
* FullContactMagic: His brawl with Walker in ''Talismans'' is both a physical and a magical one.
* FullNameBasis: He's always "Rimmer Dall" to the rest of the cast.
* GrandTheftMe: This is his final plan for Par.
* TheHeartless: Like all the Shadowen.
* HorrorHunger: The Shadowen are driven by the need to feed on magic. Rimmer Dall, as one of the most powerful, has a worse case of it than most.
* ImmortalityImmorality: Will live forever as long as he can keep on finding bodies to jack.
* {{Irony}}: The Seekers are supposed to hunt down practitioners of magic. He, and all the other members of the group, are Shadowen.
* LackOfEmpathy: Dall's desire to feed has overridden his capacity to feel for anyone.
* LargeAndInCharge: Big enough to make chairs creak when he seats himself.
* TheManBehindTheMan: To the entire Federation, though the Council is largely unaware of it.
* ManipulativeBastard: By the time he's done with Par and Coll, they can't tell reality from fiction. More than any other villain in series, Rimmer Dall relies on manipulating his victims' emotions for his plans to work.
* MindScrew: Loves it.
* NotSoDifferent: His forte. Used on Par, Pe Ell, Coll, and everyone else he wants to manipulate.
* PuppeteerParasite: The real Rimmer Dall isn't the man described here. He's the smokey wraith inside of him.
* RedEyesTakeWarning: His eyes turn into "pinpricks of blood" when he's angered or anticipatory.
* RedRightHand: Red Left Hand. It's the one he uses to project his power and is normally kept gloved to conceal the fact that it's both red, and more importantly ''made of fire''.
* ScarilyCompetentTracker: The Seekers are Federation trackers, and being Shadowen, are better than most. Rimmer Dall, as the leader of the Shadowen, is the best of all.
* SecretPolice[=/=]StateSec: It's hard to tell just which the Seekers are sometimes. Either way, he's in charge and proud of it.
* ShadowDictator: The Federation Council is under Dall's control.
* TomatoInTheMirror: Tries to pull this on Par.
* WithGreatPowerComesGreatInsanity: Dall, like most of the Shadowen, has become badly detatched from what other people would consider objective reality due to his need to feed, which he sees as paramount over all else.
!!Teel
A member of the Dwarf Resistance. Girlfriend of Steff, Morgan's contact. Tortured by the Federation, she has no face, and speaks very little. [[spoiler:Eventually outed as Shadowen, she betrays the group, murders Steff, and is slain by Morgan]].
----
* CoolMask
* [[spoiler:DarkActionGirl]]: [[spoiler:She doesn't really show her ActionGirl tendencies until taking on Morgan and Steff after her betrayal, so she definitely counts.]]
* EmotionlessGirl
* [[spoiler:TheMole]]: [[spoiler:A Shadowen spy.]]
* PetTheDog: The moment when Par is on watch at the camp, and she comes to him asking him to show her how the magic works. Possibly subverted in retrospect, as a clever {{Foreshadowing}} of [[spoiler:her being a Shadowen, since this was an example of her being drawn to Par's magic as all the others were]]. But since it isn't clear when exactly [[spoiler:she became a Shadowen--she may not have been TheMole to start with but got attacked and possessed sometime after this scene during the journey]], it still could count. Even if she was [[spoiler:a Shadowen]] at the time, that doesn't preclude her still having a humanizing side to her. Regardless, the moment certainly acted as a nice deflection [[spoiler:from her true loyalties]], making her a RedHerring for a while.
* TheQuietOne
* WaifFu: Far, far stronger than she looks, and every bit as fast.
!!Quickening
The daughter of The King of the Silver River, she leads Morgan, Walker, Pe Ell, and Horner Dees on a trek north to defeat the Stone King, and recover the Black Elfstone in ''Druid of Shannara''. She has the power to heal the land, and undo the poisons inflicted upon it.
----
* FriendToAllLivingThings
* GreenThumb
* [[spoiler:TheGwenStacy]]: [[spoiler:Morgan's.]]
* [[spoiler:HeroicSacrifice]]
* IJustWantToBeNormal: Has a moment of this when she considers living a happy life with Morgan instead of [[spoiler:sacrificing herself to stop Uhl Belk]].
* TheIngenue: Or is she...?
* TheMessiah
* [[spoiler:ThanatosGambit: Her death unleashes her magic, defeating Uhl Belk and The Maw Grint]].
* WideEyedIdealist: Appears at first to be one of these, but it turns out she was far more GenreSavvy than she let on, knowing from the very beginning what Pe Ell was and what he wanted but bringing him anyway, because she needed the Stiehl [[spoiler:to pierce her body's magical defenses, so she could become one with the land and undo the Stone King's poison]]. Very much an IDidWhatIHadToDo decision from one who seemed naive and far too trusting until TheReveal.
!!Pe Ell
An assassin for hire, and a favourite of Rimmer Dall's. He possesses the Stiehl, a knife that can cut through anything, including magical defences. He is sent on the journey with Quickening, with instructions from Rimmer Dall to kill her at the first opportunity, but like Walker, Morgan, and Horner Dees, falls under her spell--a fact which only serves to make him more unstable and dangerous. Calling him a sociopath is putting it mildly.
----
* AbsurdlySharpBlade: The first person to wield The Stiehl which can cut through anything, including armour, magic, and solid stone as though it weren't there.
* [[spoiler:AlasPoorVillain: By the time the Koden reaches him, he's aware of how thoroughly he was used, angry with himself and the world, and uncaring about whether he lives or dies. It's possible to feel a degree of empathy for him, terrible person that he may be.]]
* BreakTheHaughty: The book as a whole is a devestating one for him.
* TheDragon: "Rimmer Dall's favourite boy" as Horner Dees puts it.
* EvenEvilHasStandards: Believes in killing quickly and cleanly, and consequently, hates The Rake, which kills slowly and suffocatingly.
* [[spoiler:ExitPursuedByABear: Killed by the Koden as he tries to escape]].
* FreudianExcuse: His uncle beat him regularly when he was a child, until Pe Ell found the Stiehl and took him out.
* FullNameBasis: He's always Pe Ell, never "Pe" or "Ell".
* KnifeNut: With a magic knife (The Stiehl) to boot.
* ItsPersonal: When The Rake comes within milimetres of killing him, Pe Ell becomes determined to hunt the big insect down and kill it.
* LackOfEmpathy: The only way that he can do what he does.
* TheMole: In Quickening's group.
* NotSoDifferent: From the Shadowen, and particularly from Rimmer Dall.
* ProfessionalKiller
* PsychoForHire: Lives to look into his victim's eyes as they die; he views this as a way to glimpse the afterlife, and it is an act with a borderline religious significance for him.
* SanitySlippage: As ''Druid'' progresses he loses more and more of his calm, collected demeanor, finally resulting in [[spoiler:his VillainousBreakdown.]]
* TheSociopath
* StepfordSmiler: A deliberate one.
* TokenEvilTeammate: Even before they know he's a hitman, Quickening's party views him as this.
* UnwittingPawn: [[spoiler:Of Quickening and The King of the Silver River, who need his magic for her ThanatosGambit to work]].
* [[spoiler:VillainousBreakdown]]: [[spoiler:As he murders Quickening. It continues afterwards.]]
* {{Yandere}}: Becomes one to Quickening, seeing her as his possession. He's insanely jealous of anyone--Morgan, Walker--who gets too close to her.
!!Horner Dees
A retired Tracker, hunter, and woodsman, Horner Dees is the only man to have survived entering Eldwist, the city of the Stone King, and is recruited by Quickening to guide her company to Uhl Belk's home. A bearish old man who loves the mountains, Dees is eventually revealed to be a [[spoiler:former Federation Tracker]] with a history with Pe Ell.
----
* TheAlcoholic: Dees has a serious drinking problem. To his credit, it doesn't interfere with his job.
* AnimalMotifs: Counting the number of times he is compared to a bear would make a good drinking game.
* {{Badass Grandpa}}
* DefectorFromDecadence: In the backstory. Dees wanted no part of being a Seeker.
* FunctionalAddict
* GeniusBruiser: Dees is big, hulking, and quite bright. Even Pe Ell treats him with respect.
* IntergenerationalFriendship: With Morgan Leah, who he becomes quite close to.
* NatureHero: Has some definite aspects of this.
* RetiredBadass: Dees was once a Federation Tracker, and was among their best. He left once he realised that Rimmer Dall wanted to make him a Seeker.
* TheSmartGuy: To Quickening's company.
!!Uhl Belk, The Stone King
A creature of fairie, Uhl Belk is brother to the King of the Silver River, and Lord of Eldwist. Fearing change, he seeks to turn all the world to stone. Prior to the events of the series, he stole the Black Elfstone from the Druids; Walker, Quickening, Morgan, Pe Ell, and Horner Dees seek to retrieve it.
----
* AbusiveParents: To the Maw Grint. His repeated demands on it, and fusions of magic, have driven it insane.
* ArchnemesisDad: To his "son", the Maw Grint.
* DiscOneFinalBoss: In his role as BigBad for ''Druid''. He has powers that rival or exceed that of the combined Shadowen armies, but is defeated halfway through the series.
* EnemyCivilWar: With his son, the Maw Grint.
* EvilCounterpart: To The King of the Silver River.
* FaceHeelTurn: Somewhere in the BackStory.
* GracefulLoser: He takes his defeat and imprisonment at [[spoiler:Quickening]]'s hands rather well.
* ImmortalityImmorality: Everyone just seems temporary and insignificant to him.
* {{Irony}}: He's terrified by change and chaos, but his plan to convert the entire world to stone is more or less the definition of ChaoticEvil.
* NotSoDifferent: How he sees himself and the King of the Silver River.
* OmnicidalManiac: Though he doesn't necessarily see it that way. He wants to turn the world to stone, in order to keep it from changing. He believes that in doing so, he is fullfilling his pledge to the Word.
* PhysicalGod: Would be, were it not for his immobility, and dependence on the Black Elfstone.
* TakenForGranite: Resembles an immense, semi-mobile statue, and has the power to turn things to stone with a touch.
!!The Maw Grint
Uhl Belk's child, it is a formerly humanoid elemental with the appearance of a monstrous, fanged worm.
----
* TheDragon: Formerly to Uhl Belk.
** TheStarscream: Currently seeks to usurp its father's position quite openly.
* ElementalPowers: Over stone.
* EnemyCivilWar: With its father.
* EvilCounterpart: To Quickening. Like her, it had the power to carry its father's magic wherever it went, changing the land, and it was even described as Uhl Belk's son, i.e. the opposite gender.
* GracefulLoser: Pauses and allows [[spoiler:Quickening's magic to erase it instead of attacking. It almost seems to welcome it, perhaps in a moment of ICannotSelfTerminate.]]
* PoisonousPerson: Its very touch is deadly poison.
* SandWorm
* SelfMadeOrphan: Its life's goal.
* StoryBreakerPower: Forget the Shadowen. The Maw Grint's size alone makes it literally unkillable. It's so vast that it fills all of Eldwist during its rampage at the end, making it immune to anything the heroes might throw at it. And that's without getting into the fact that both its touch, and its magic, are deadly poison. In short there is no actual way to stop it, or even fight it. [[spoiler:Quickening's HeroicSacrifice]] is the only thing that prevents it from taking over the world; a direct confrontation would have resulted in everybody but it dying.
* TakenForGranite: Whatever it touches turns to stone.
* WasOnceAMan: Or at least a humanoid elemental.
* WithGreatPowerComesGreatInsanity: It's completely and utterly mad, with no sense of self left, beyond a desire to feed.
!!The Wisteron
The strongest and most dangerous of Morrowindl's "demons", it has the appearance of a nightmarish spider/monkey hybrid. It lays claim to the entire swamp of the In Ju, and dogs Wren Ohmsford's steps for much of ''Elf Queen of Shannara''.
----
* BigCreepyCrawlies: Meets ManiacMonkeys
** GiantSpider
* DarkIsEvil
* DiscOneFinalBoss: The final opponent confronted by Wren in ''Elf Queen'', the Wisteron tests the limits of her abilities more fully than anyone she faces afterwards. It's not connected to the series' BigBad, and yet it's still a near perfect match for this trope.
* TheHeartless: Like all of Morrowindl's Shadowen.
* LightningBruiser
* ManiacMonkeys
* NighInvulnerability: Shrugs off sword blows and hits from the Elfstones. They finally have to drown it in mud.
** And even then it's not clear if even THAT killed it, or just trapped it.
* SuperPersistentPredator: It doesn't give up, no matter what you do. The spidery equivalent of an ImplacableMan.
!!Tiger Ty & Spirit
A Wing Rider and his Roc whom Wren befriend on her journey to Morrowindl. Tiger Ty later becomes one of her staunchest supporters.
----
* ABoyAndHisX: An old man and his Roc.
* AlliterativeName
* AwesomeMcCoolName: Both of them.
* BeastOfBattle: Spirit.
* BigBadassBirdOfPrey: Spirit is incredibly badass, fighting Shadowen and Creepers on an even footing.
* CoolOldGuy: Tiger Ty's age is never established but he's clearly much older than most of the main characters.
* TheCynic: Tiger Ty has a deeply pessimistic outlook on life, the universe, and everything.
* GrumpyBear
* HighAltitudeBattle: Against [[spoiler:Tib Arne & Gloon]]
* IntergenerationalFriendship: Tiger Ty and Wren
* UndyingLoyalty: Tiger Ty to Wren and Spirit to Tiger Ty.
!!Stresa
A Splinterscat whom Wren and Garth save on their way to Arborlon. He accompanies them back to the Four Lands and serves as a wilderness guide and scout for the Elven Army.
----
* GrumpyBear
* IntellectualAnimal
* IOweYouMyLife
* MixAndMatchCritters: A mix of porcupine and cat, grown to giant size.
* SpikeShooter
* TalkingAnimal
* UndyingLoyalty: To Wren
!!Triss
Captain of the [[PraetorianGuard Elven Home Guard]], and one of Wren's closest friends following the events of ''Elf Queen''. He is [[spoiler:one of the only Elves to survive the trek from Arborlon to the beach]].
----
* ActionSurvivor: One of the few Elves to [[spoiler:survive the whole trip across Morrowindl]].
* {{Badass}}: Pretty much a requirement for the Home Guard, but Triss is especially {{badass}}, surviving Morrowindl with nothing worse than a broken arm.
* FireForgedFriends: With Wren. As she puts it, "after what they had shared on Morrowindl, Triss could tell her anything."
* HeroSecretService
* TheQuietOne: Triss doesn't talk much, but when he does, he's usually worth listening to.
* PraetorianGuard
* UndyingLoyalty: To Ellenroh and ''especially'' Wren. Noticing a trend here?
!!Gavilan Elessedil
Prince of the Elves and [[spoiler:Wren's cousin]]. Handsome, and with a reputation among the ladies.
----
* [[spoiler:DirtyCoward]]
* [[spoiler:TheEvilPrince: Though not initially, and with a FaceHeelTurn that's driven more by cowardice than anything else]].
* [[spoiler:FaceHeelTurn]]
* [[spoiler:KilledOffForReal: By the Wisteron]]
* KissingCousins: He kisses [[spoiler:Wren]] despite being her cousin.
* PrinceCharming:[[spoiler:Subverted. At first he seems like the real thing, but is revealed to be a coward by the end]].
!!Matty Roh
One of Padishar Creel's top agents, Matty is a very self-possessed and capable young woman. She runs a bar and safehouse for Padishar, and later accompanies Morgan Leah on his trek south in ''Talismans of Shannara''.
----
* ActionGirl
* [[ActuallyIAmHim Actually I Am Her]]: Morgan asked her (while she was disguised as a boy) where he could find Matty Roh. Several rounds of question dodging later, this gets said.
* BadassNormal: Has no magic, no special talismans, and no experience with fighting the Shadowen. Not only survives the raid on Southwatch, but more then pulls her own weight, taking out numerous soldiers and Shadowen alike.
* BattleCouple: [[spoiler:Forms one with Morgan. He handles the Shadowen, she handles the normal people]].
* {{Bifauxnen}}: Matty is repeatedly described as looking like an especially {{Bishonen}} male teenager, instead of the adult woman she is. This is an obvious help with her boy disguise.
* BoyishShortHair
* BrokenBird[=/=]{{Kuudere}}: Courtesy of a traumatic backstory that's both believable and very sad.
* FragileSpeedster
* IDidWhatIHadToDo: Convinced a Federation officer to give her some information she wanted, then cut his throat before he could...ahem...try and make a move on her. She's convinced that what she did was justified. Morgan's not so sure.
* ImprobableWeaponUser: Her broom. She uses a rapier in later fights.
* LaResistance: A very high-ranking member, somewhere just behind Padishar Creel and [[NumberTwo Chandos]].
* RoyalRapier: Brooks doesn't name the weapon she's carrying but it's a slim, light fencing weapon, used with one hand, meaning it's either this or a duelling sabre.
* SecondLove: [[spoiler:To Morgan]] They're definitely falling for one another by the time the book ends.
* SweetPollyOliver: When Morgan first meets her.
* SurvivorsGuilt: Her [[spoiler: entire family]] died of a disease that [[spoiler:she herself brought into the house. Somehow she got better. They didn't.]]
* WaifFu: Very slim, armed with a rapier, and dependent on trying to avoid getting hit. She's quite tall however, and capable of taking a reasonable amount of punishment against normal people. Against the Shadowen, she's absolutely dependent on this style.
!!The Four Horsemen
Four Shadowen, given the appearance of the legends, and sent to harass Walker Boh.
----
* AmbiguousGender: Famine is completely naked, yet genderless.
* CoolSword: Famine has one made of bone.
* DemBones: Famine is essentially a skeleton, albeit with a little bit of flesh attached.
* TheEvilGenius: The main reason that Death is the last one standing is because he was bright enough to hang back from the fight, realised what Walker was doing with the illusions, and traced the Druid's attack on War back to its source.
* EvilIsDeathlyCold: Death. His touch is freezing and saps his victims' strength while his scythe leaves frosty trails in the wounds it inflicts.
* TheFourHorsemenOfTheApocalypse: Or more accurately, four Shadowen who've taken on their form.
* HealingFactor: To the point where they're nearly unkillable.
* TheHeartless: Par for the course with the Shadowen.
* HellishHorse: They ride lizard-like creatures with fangs and claws but a distinctly equestrian gait.
* FourIsDeath: "Names and methods aside, they were all death in one form or another."
* TheGrimReaper: Death.
* HoistByHisOwnPetard: Or more accurately, by one another's. Unable to overcome their HealingFactor, Walker uses his MasterOfIllusion abilities to trick them into killing one another.
* PoisonousPerson: Famine and Pestilence both spread their respective namesakes through touch, weakening or even killing their targets.
** {{Plaguemaster}}: Pestilence.
** WalkingWasteland: Famine.
* QuirkyMinibossSquad: But extremely dangerous nevertheless.
* SinisterScythe: Death carries one as his WeaponOfChoice.
* SpikesOfVillainy: War
* WalkingArmoury: War is armed to the teeth with every concievable weapon.
** AnAxeToGrind: Seems to a personal favourite.
** CarryABigStick: Another favourite.
* TheWormThatWalks: Pestilence's body is made up of thousands of plague flies trapped within an amorphous yellow body.
!!Tib Arne and Gloon
A very young free-born agent, sent to bring Wren information about Padishar's movements. He later befriends Wren, who he seems to view with a certain amount of reverence. Gloon is his War Shrike and protector. [[spoiler:Both are eventually revealed to be Shadowen spies. They kill one of Wren's companions and abduct her, before being slain by the Elf Queen herself.]]
----
* ABoyAndHisX: A boy and his War Shrike.
* [[spoiler:AxeCrazy: Tib, even by Shadowen standards.]]
* BigBadassBirdOfPrey: Gloon is a War Shrike. See Cool Pet below, for all the details.
* [[spoiler:BlondGuysAreEvil: Tib]]
* CoolPet: Gloon is a War Shrike, a creature that can best be described as an airborne wolverine, complete with the attitude, badassery, and lack of regard for its own personal safety. About as cool a pet as you can get.
* [[spoiler:FeatheredFiend: Gloon. Jesus!]]
* [[spoiler:TheHeartless: Both of them.]]
* LoyalAnimalCompanion: Gloon follows Tib everywhere, and protects him as best he can. Tib says he's raised the Shrike since infancy, and Gloon seems to believe he owes him.
* [[spoiler:TheMole]]
* [[spoiler:PsychopathicManchild: Tib the Shadowen is still incredibly childish. It's as though his disguise has begun to effect his personality]].
* ReplacementGoldfish: Wren sees him as one for Garth.
* [[spoiler:{{Sizeshifter}}]]: [[spoiler:Gloon can grow from normal size to as big as a Roc]].
* [[spoiler:TeensAreMonsters]]: [[spoiler:At least when bodyjacked by Shadowen they are]].
[[/folder]]
[[folder:The Voyage of the Jerle Shannara]]
!!Bek Rowe/[[spoiler:Ohmsford]]
The cousin of Quentin Leah, Prince of Leah, Bek was orphaned at a young age and adopted by Quentin. Recruited by Walker for reasons unknown. [[spoiler:It's eventually revealed that he's an Ohmsford, has the powers of the Wishsong, and, by the by, is the Ilse Witch's brother.]]
----
* BlessedWithSuck: That damn Wishsong again.
* ChangelingFantasy: He's really [[spoiler:an Ohmsford]].
* DistressedDude: When captured by the Ilse Witch, who can defend against his magic.
* GlassCannon[=/=]SquishyWizard
* GuileHero: He's not quite at Jair or Walker's level, but Bek, like most of Brooks' illusion casters, gets by on his brains.
* TheHero
* JumpedAtTheCall: He regrets that almost as much as [[FailureKnight Quentin]] and Ahren.
* LoveMartyr: Towards Grianne. It pays off.
* MasterOfIllusion: In the tradition of Jair and Par.
* NonActionGuy: Before he figures out how to use his illusion powers to his advantage.
* OddFriendship: With Truls Rohk.
* RealityWarper: Not to Brin, Par, or Grianne's level, but Bek's Wishsong can clearly do more than just create illusions. He just doesn't have to use it that way with any great frequency.
* SpannerInTheWorks: During Grianne's battle with The Morgawr.
!!Quentin Leah
--> ''I thought this would be our great adventure, our right of passage into manhood, a story we would remember all our lives, that we would tell to our friends and family. Now I don't ever want to talk about it again.''
The current Prince of Leah, and Bek's best friend, cousin, and surrogate brother. Brought along by Walker so that they can have access to the Sword of Leah. Initially an enthusiastic, cheerful young man, the events of the series transform Quentin into shellshocked FailureKnight, obsessed with protecting those closest to him, no matter the cost.
----
* {{Badass}}: Quentin is a [[BigBadassWolf caull]]-butchering, [[EverythingsBetterWithDinosaurs Graak]]-slaying, [[LizardFolk Mwellret]]-fighting, [[HollywoodCyborg wronk]]-stomping {{badass}}. He's also a [[BreakTheCutie broken cutie]] and FailureKnight who hates himself and the mission, couldn't save anybody, suffers from a massive BigBrotherInstinct, and never, ever wants to do anything like this again.
* BigBrotherInstinct: Towards Bek; it gets worse as the trilogy progresses.
* BlessedWithSuck: He has the Sword of Leah. Its power is addictive and puts him at great risk from Antrax, and despite that, he still can't save most of the people he wants to protect.
* BreakTheCutie: From JumpedAtTheCall to FailureKnight. It's painful to watch.
* CoolSword: The--[[YouShouldKnowThisAlready wait for it]]--Sword of Leah.
** AmuletOfDependency: Quentin is less addicted to the Sword's magic then Rone or Morgan were, but he still can't do much without it.
** AncestralWeapon: The Sword belongs to the House of Leah, which is why Quentin is the one who has to carry it.
** {{Antimagic}}: Though he discovers that it works just as well on Antrax's superscience, and the Graak, being one of the few weapons that can penetrate the immense lizard's armour.
** BlackSwordsAreBetter: The hilt and sheath have been replaced dozens of times. That black blade with the liquid sheen, and the pools of murky green? Hasn't been altered in 450 years.
* FailureKnight: His inability to save [[spoiler:Tamis or Patrinell]] forms a huge part of his obsession with protecting Bek.
* HeroicSelfDeprecation: Lots of it.
* HeroicWannabe: Initially. That doesn't survive landing at Castledown.
* IJustWantToBeNormal: When this is over Quentin is going home, settling down, and ''never'' talking about the Voyage again.
* ILetGwenStacyDie: [[spoiler:Tamis]]
* JumpedAtTheCall: He thought going on this trip would be a big adventure. Now...
** WeAreNotGoingThroughThatAgain: Quentin is never leaving home again. Hell, if he can arrange it, he's going to forget everything that ever happened on the Voyage.
* TheLancer: Naturally falls into this role no matter who is partnered up with. He's been The Lancer to Bek, Tamis, and Panax.
* MadeOfIron: Quentin survives battles with wronks and Mwellrets, falling off a cliff in an avalanche, and finally, having the Graak land on him during its death throes. That last one nearly does kill him, but the fact that he survived at all, means his stamina is ridiculous.
* OlderSidekick: To Bek, whom he is obsessed with protecting.
* WarriorPrince: Quentin's father is not a king (though he does rule Leah as part of the city council) but the trappings of the trope are still in full effect.
* YouShallNotPass: Pulls this on the pursuing Mwellrets and caulls, luring them away from Panax, the Rindge, and the remaining Elven Hunters, and then halting them on a mountain pass where they can only approach a few at a time. He fully expects this to get him killed; an avalanche ends up saving his life.
!!Redden Alt Mer
A Rover mercenary serving on the Prekkadoran Hights, Walker hires him to captain the Jerle Shannara. Also known as Big Red, and "the man with the luck."
----
* BadAss
* BornLucky: Stated by many.
* TheCaptain
** TheGoodCaptain
* FaceYourFears: After his HeroicBSOD he decides he has to face the [[PrimalFear Graak]] to get his courage back.
* FieryRedhead
* HeroicBSOD: When facing the Graak. He realises that the only way he's going to get his courage back is to go down into the Crake and face it again.
* HiredGuns
* NoOneCouldSurviveThat: Gets hit with it on more than one occasion.
* RedBaron: Big Red.
* RedHeadedHero
!!Rue Meridian
The younger half-sister of Redden Alt Mer, Rue is an accomplished mercenary in her own right, and along with Spanner Frew, is her brother's second-in-command. Also known as Little Red.
----
* ActionGirl: She stole ''Black Moclips'' by herself and survives battles with Mwellrets. She definitely counts.
* FieryRedHead
* HeroesWantRedHeads
* HiredGuns
* LoveInterest: To Bek.
* NumberTwo: She and Spanner split this role with regards to Big Red.
* RedBaron: Little Red.
* SingleWomanSeeksGoodMan: After spending most of her life among Rovers and soldiers, this is the reason she's interested in Bek.
!!Ahren Elessedil
The younger son of the Elven King, he is sent on the Voyage by his older brother, Kylen. Goes through more trauma than the rest of the cast combined, especially after attracting the attention of [[BigBad The Morgawr]]'s [[TheDragon Dragon]], [[LovesTheSoundOfScreaming Cree Bega]]. He puts in another appearance in ''High Druid'' as a member of the Druid Order, and a mentor to his neice, Khyber.
----
* {{Antihero}}: Type I. Ahren's in way over his head and knows it.
** ClassicalAntihero: Plagued by self-doubts, unaware about what's really going on, and frequently victimised by those who are more powerful than he is, Ahren is really not cut out for this hero gig, but tries anyway.
* {{Archenemy}}: How he sees the relationship between himself and Cree Bega by the end.
--> "He hated all of the rets, but their leader most of all. Cree Bega was a weight about his neck that would drag him to his death if it wasn't cut off now."
* BreakTheCutie: No character goes through quite the level of torture that Ahren does. By the end he's a fundamentally broken person with no self-respect left.
* CainAndAbel: His brother wants him dead, or at least out of the way, for fear that when he dies, Ahren will take the throne from his children. Ahren wouldn't dream of it, but that doesn't do anything to allay his brother's paranoia.
* TheDogBitesBack: Just manages to man up and defeat Cree Bega, who's spent most of the third book psychologically torturing him. Probably his CrowningMomentOfAwesome.
* FaceYourFears[=/=]TiredOfRunning: With regards to Cree Bega. When the big lizard climbs onto the ship and kills one of the crew, Ahren's first instinct is to run. He has an injured Quentin Leah to defend however, and realises that if he runs now, he'll never retain a single shred of his own self-respect. An awesome KnifeFight ensues.
* ForcedToWatch: Cree Bega forces Ahren to watch The Morgawr feed on the minds of the entirety of ''Black Moclips'' crew.
* [[spoiler:HeroicSacrifice: In ''High Druid'']]
* HeroicSelfDeprecation: Did we mention that this kid hates himself?
* ILetGwenStacyDie: [[spoiler:Ryer Ord Star]]
* ItsPersonal: With Cree Bega, for [[WouldYouLikeToHearHowTheyDied a]] [[KickTheDog whole]] [[ILetGwenStacyDie host]] [[ColdBloodedTorture of]] [[JustBetweenYouAndMe reasons]].
* JumpedAtTheCall: Like Quentin and Bek, he thought travelling to Castledown would be a great adventure. It leaves him broken, dead inside, and wanting to die.
* [[spoiler:KilledOffForReal: In ''High Druid'']]
* KnifeFight: With Cree Bega.
* TheMentor: To his niece, Khyber, in ''High Druid''.
* TookALevelInBadass: Just in time for his fight with [[TheDragon Cree Bega]].
* WarriorPrince: He tries to be one, he really does.
* YouCantGoHomeAgain: His brother won't let him. Ahren doesn't think he can anyway.
!!Ryer Ord Star
The protege of the Addershag, Ryer is an empath and a seer recruited by Walker to help them on their journey. [[spoiler:She doubles as TheMole for the Ilse Witch, and is eventually captured and tortured by Cree Bega and The Morgawr, resulting in her suicide]]. Has a very complex relationship with Walker.
----
* BreakTheCutie: She was captured by [[TortureTechnician Cree Bega]]. What did you expect?
* ColdBloodedTorture: Subjected to it by the Mwellrets.
* [[spoiler:DrivenToSuicide]]
* TheEmpath: Which gets her psychically linked to [[HurtingHero Walker]].
* TheGwenStacy: [[spoiler:To Ahren.]]
* [[spoiler:HeelFaceRevolvingDoor]]: [[spoiler:How things look to Ahren. In reality she's pulled a HeelFaceTurn, but is trying to trick the Mogawr as part of her charge from Walker.]]
* [[spoiler:KilledOffForReal]]
* [[spoiler:TheMole]]: [[spoiler:The Ilse Witch's spy.]]
* [[spoiler:TogetherInDeath]]: [[spoiler:With her partner in love/hate Walker.]]
!!Truls Rohk
The son of a Borderman and a {{Shapeshifter}}, Truls Rohk is badly disfigured, and extremely bitter. He's known Walker for years, and is recruited by him to help the crew of ''The Jerle Shannara''. Along the way he strikes up a friendship with Bek. [[spoiler:Killed in battle with the Ilse Witch's caull, he is reborn as a true {{Shapeshifter}}.]]
----
* AntiHero
* BadAss
* BlackCloak
* BodyHorror
* DarkIsNotEvil
* GoodIsNotNice
* TheGrotesque
* HalfHumanHybrid: Half man, half ephemeral shapeshifter.
* HeroSecretService: For Bek, and later [[spoiler:Grianne.]]
* HumanMomNonHumanDad: Inverted. Truls' mother is a shapeshifter, his father a Borderman.
* InTheHood: There's a [[BodyHorror very good]] [[TheGrotesque reason]] for this.
* [[spoiler:KilledOffForReal]]: [[spoiler:The human side of him anyway.]]
* LonersAreFreaks
* OddFriendship: With Bek.
* {{Shapeshifting}}: Both the [[VoluntaryShapeshifting voluntary]], and {{involuntary| shapeshifting}} kinds.
** ShapeshifterWeapon: Forms blades and other weapons from his own ruined body.
!!Panax
A Dwarven Tracker recruited by Walker to help serve as their guide. He develops a close friendship with Quentin Leah, and Obat, the leader of the Rindge.
----
* {{Badass}}
** BadassBeard
* CoolOldGuy
* {{Expy}}: Of Hendel, from ''Sword''.
* GoingNative: Opts to stay with the Rindge because there's nothing new to discover at home.
!!Tamis
An Elven Hunter and protege of Ard Patrinell, upon whom she has a fairly serious crush. She teams up with Quentin in ''Antrax'' to [[spoiler:MercyKill the Patrinell wronk, and dies in the process.]]
----
* ActionGirl
* BoyishShortHair
* TheGwenStacy: [[spoiler:To Quentin.]]
* IneffectualLoner: Initially, due to lingering bitterness over being forced to become an Elven Hunter instead of a member of the vaunted Home Guard. She gets over it by partway through ''Antrax''.
* [[spoiler:KilledOffForReal]]
* LoveMartyr: Goes through Hell just to put the man she loved out of his misery.
* MentorShip: With Patrinell, who taught her how to fight.
* [[spoiler:TogetherInDeath]]: [[spoiler:With Ard Patrinell.]]
!!The Ilse Witch/[[spoiler:Grianne Ohmsford]]
A broken, deadly young woman who can kill with her voice, the Ilse Witch makes her home off the coast, where she plots revenge against Walker for imagined wrongs. Hearing of his quest to obtain the books of what she believes to be old magic, she gathers her own airship crew and sets off in pursuit of him. [[spoiler:She is eventually revealed to be Bek's sister, Grianne, and reforms, turning against her mentor, [[BigBad The Morgawr]]. She reappears in ''High Druid of Shannara'' as the High Druid of the new Druid Order and in ''Dark Legacy of Shannara'' as a Witch-Wraith.]]
----
* [[ArchEnemy Archenemies]]: She thinks she and Walker are. One could make a convincing case for her and [[spoiler:Tael Riverine reaching this status in reality]].
* [[spoiler:TheArchmage: In ''High Druid'']]
* [[spoiler:TheAtoner: Post-HeelFaceTurn]].
* BadBoss: Crushes any servant who questions her authority.
* BastardUnderstudy: To The Morgawr. They're both very aware of it too, and it's a major theme in their interactions with one another.
* BigBadDuumvirate: Forms one with The Morgawr, though as his former pupil, she is the junior partner, a fact she very much resents, despite all her bluster about them being equals.
** BigBadWannabe: She's effectively sidelined during ''Antrax'' and is just not evil enough to compete with The Morgawr on an even footing, a fact that both he and [[TheDragon Cree Bega]] have taken into account.
* BlackCloak
* [[spoiler:BrokenBird: Comes off like this post-HeelFaceTurn]].
* CameBackWrong: [[spoiler: In ''Dark Legacy'', thanks to the Tanequil pulling a JackassGenie. Railing demanded Grianne be restored to life. He got her... as the Ilse Witch. Oops]].
* DarkMagicalGirl: A rare Western example.
* [[spoiler:EasilyForgiven: Only by Bek]].
* [[spoiler:EmptyShell: Post VillainousBSOD]].
* EvenEvilHasStandards: She finds Cree Bega utterly repulsive and has similar opinions regarding The Morgawr's method of feeding.
* EvilVersusEvil: [[spoiler: As the reborn Ilse Witch in ''Dark Legacy'', she's the world's only hope against the even worse Tael Riverine. Lampshaded]].
* GlassCannon[=/=]SquishyWizard
* [[spoiler:HeelFaceTurn]]
* [[spoiler:HeelRealisation: Thanks to the Sword of Shannara]]
* TheHeavy: In ''Ilse Witch''
* InTheHood: Initially.
* JerkAss: Even after [[spoiler:her HeelFaceTurn.]]
* [[spoiler:LukeIAmYourFather]]: Inverted. [[spoiler:Bek spends most of book 2 trying to convince her that she is his sister]].
* MoralMyopia: Walker's supposedly killing her family? Unforgivable. Her own random murders, {{Bad Boss}}ings, and all around [[JerkAss bitchiness]]? [[SarcasmMode Totally justified]] by her own [[{{Wangst}} suffering]].
* OlderHeroVsYoungerVillain: She's about twenty. Walker's [[ReallySevenHundredYearsOld 150]].
* RaisedByOrcs: Raised by The Morgawr.
* [[spoiler:RedemptionEarnsLife]]
* {{Revenge}}: Wants it on Walker.
* {{Tykebomb}}: Though far more independent than most.
* VillainousBSOD: After [[spoiler:being shown the truth about her past and herself by the Sword of Shannara, Grianne pretty much shuts down, and goes into a [[EmptyShell waking coma]]]]. Snapping her out of it becomes a big part of the plot in ''Morgawr''.
* VillainProtagonist: Gets at least as much attention as the heroic part of the cast.
* {{Wangst}}: Deliberately invoked. That she's a selfish bitch blinded by her own perceived suffering is the entire ''point'' of her character.
* WickedWitch
* WizardDuel: Against [[spoiler:The Morgawr and Tael Riverine.]]
!!The Morgawr
--> "To feed on another's life. You cannot imagine the ecstasy!"
An ancient warlock who hides within the Wilderun, The Morgawr claims to have been the brother of The Witch Sisters,[[TheElfstonesOfShannara Morag and Mallenroh]]. A grotesque, disfigured monster who feeds on human lives and souls, The Morgawr is the Ilse Witch's mentor and the true BigBad of the ''Voyage'' trilogy. Appearing in the background throughout the first two books, he emerges in ''Morgawr'' to finish the main cast and take the books of magic for himself. [[spoiler:He is eventually slain by Bek, Grianne, and the spirit of Mephitic castle]]. Probably the single evilest character to appear in the entire franchise.
----
* BadPowersBadPeople: He devours peoples' souls and minds in order to extend his own life and power. Moreoever, all his other magics stem from this leeching of life. Unsurprisingly, he's one of Brooks' most evil villains.
* BigBad: There are several contenders for this title in the series, but The Morgawr is the one who ultimately wins out.
* BlackCloak
* BrainFood: Worse. He reaches through the back of your head, absorbs your brain (and soul), and leaves you a mindless puppet.
* DarkIsEvil
** DarkIsNotEvil: Invokes and then subverts this trope, assuring a younger Ilse Witch that despite his frightening appearance he is her friend. He's not. He's not ''anyone's'' friend.
* DealWithTheDevil: Offers one to Sen Dunsidan.
* {{Determinator}}: Shows some aspects of this in his WizardDuel against Grianne, when he temporarily holds off an attack by her ''and'' the spirit of Mephitic castle through sheer force of will. The Morgawr may be a monster, but he does ''not'' go out like a bitch.
* EnergyAbsorption: Feeds on the LifeEnergy of his victims, then channels that into magic. He's basically a magical leech.
* EvilMentor: To the Ilse Witch.
* EvilSorceror
* FullContactMagic: Typically uses his magic to shield himself before grappling with his adversaries.
* GreenEyes: Slitted and reptillian.
* HalfHumanHybrid: He may be part man, part Mwellret. He may also just be a human who has mutated to resemble one. Either way, he has some definite characteristics of this.
* TheHeavy: In ''Morgawr''
* HorrorHunger: Everything about his feeding, from what it is he feeds on to how he does it, is revolting.
* ImmortalityImmorality: Lengthens his lifespan by feeding on the souls of others.
* InTheBlood: If he really is [[WickedWitch Morag and Mallenroh]]'s brother, than raw evil is definitely in the blood.
* InTheHood: Usually. If you looked like that, you'd hide out too.
* [[spoiler:KilledOffForReal]]: [[spoiler:And good, freaking, riddance!]]
* LargeAndInCharge
* LifeEnergy: Feeds on it.
* LizardFolk
* TheManBehindTheMan: He's been manipulating the Ilse Witch (who thinks she's his equal partner) since she was five or six.
* MysteriousPast: Very little is ever made clear about The Morgawr's past, including what he is, what his real name is, if he really is Morag and Mallenroh's brother, and if not, how old he really is.
* NoNameGiven: Note that he's ''The'' Morgawr. Is that a title? The name of his species? His job description? Whatever the case may be, we're never told if he has a real name.
** It's both title and species. It means "Warlock."
* TheNondescript: One of the forms he takes in front of Sen Dunsidan. He implies that it might be his real face.
* NotSoDifferent: From The Ilse Witch, which he points out to her in their final confrontation. The Ilse Witch herself sees him as NotSoDifferent from [[TheMentor Walker]] prior to her [[spoiler:HeelFaceTurn.]]
* PuppetMaster: With a fondness for PeoplePuppets, who he creates after magically destroying their free will and devouring their minds.
* SlaveMooks: His victims are transformed into this after he drains their minds and souls. See PuppetMaster above.
* VampiricDraining: Of LifeEnergy, magic and mental stamina.
* VoluntaryShapeshifting: Can alter his features to resemble almost anyone, although he doesn't do it very often, preferring the shock value of his actual appearance.
* WizardDuel: Against Grianne and the spirit of Mephitic castle.
* YourSoulIsMine: Consumes it along with your mind.
!!Cree Bega
--> "She took ssso long to die, little Elvesss. So long it ssseemed that it would take forever."
The Morgawr's [[TheDragon right hand]] [[LizardFolk Mwellret]], and the commander of the 'rets among the Ilse Witch's crew. A slimy, obsequious psycho, and one of the few members of the cast who isn't afraid of the Witch. [[spoiler:Killed in a KnifeFight against Ahren Elessedil during the climax of ''Morgawr''.]]
----
* AllTrollsAreDifferent: The Mwellrets are a species of lizardlike Troll who survived the Great Wars by hiding out in swamplands and marshes.
* {{Archenemy}}: Ahren sees him as this by the end.
* ColdBloodedTorture: Very fond of it, as evidenced by his horrific torture of Ryer Ord Star, and his psychological torment of Ahren.
* CompellingVoice: Like most Mwellrets, Cree Bega can do this. His isn't as powerful as that of Stythys from ''Wishsong'', but it's still a very threatening ability.
* [[spoiler:TheDogBitesBack: Slain by Ahren, one of his favourite [[KickTheDog victims]]]].
* TheDragon: To [[BigBad The Morgawr]].
* FantasticRacism: Towards all non-Mwellrets.
* FullNameBasis: Always "Cree Bega", never just one or the other.
* HypnoticEyes: A Mwellret's eyes will freeze you if you look into them for too long.
* JustBetweenYouAndMe: Shares numerous gruesome details with Ahren, including how long it took his crush to die.
* [[spoiler:KarmicDeath]]: [[spoiler:Throughout ''Morgawr'', Ahren is undoubtedly Cree Bega's favourite victim. That it's Ahren who finally kills him, is very sweet.]]
* KickTheDog: Loves it. Notable examples include the above-mentioned JustBetweenYouAndMe, forcing Ahren to watch The Morgawr feed, and of course, his torture of Ryer Ord Star which [[DrivenToSuicide Drives Her To Suicide]]. A lot of what he does is basically [[KickTheDog Kick The]] {{Woobie}}.
* [[spoiler:KilledOffForReal: And it just about leaves you dancing for joy]].
* KnifeNut: Both the throwing and the stabbing variety. Unlike many of Brooks' other examples, he does play up the psychotic aspects of this weapon choice.
* KnifeFight: With Ahren.
* LickingTheBlade: Licks the blood off of his knife after killing one of the Elven Hunters with it.
* LizardFolk
* LovesTheSoundOfScreaming
* TheResenter: Towards the Ilse Witch, who he believes is less than worthy of The Morgawr's attention.
* SmugSnake: He's arrogant, vicious, and contemptuous of all the "Little peoplessss"; even his undeniable bravery (he's one of the few people in series who isn't scared of the Ilse Witch) stems more from arrogance than anything else. Just reading any of his conversations with the Ilse Witch or Ahren should make his inherent {{Smug Snake}}ness apparent.
* SssssnakeTalk: Little Elvessss...
* TheStarscream: To The Ilse Witch. He makes it very clear that he believes that he, rather than her, should be the one in charge of the Voyage. The only reason he doesn't try and stick a knife in her is because The Morgawr told him not to, unless she tries to betray him.
* WouldHitAGirl: Would torture and violate a girl in every way possible.
* WouldYouLikeToHearHowTheyDied: See the page quote.
!!Antrax
An Old World supercomputer, Antrax was created to protect the world's knowledge during the Great Wars. Told that it must survive at all costs, Antrax lures magic-users to its home in Castledown where it imprisons them and drains off their magic to fuel itself. The main cast's lack of knowledge about what it is makes it truly dangerous.
----
* AIIsACrapshoot: Subverted. Antrax is doing ''exactly'' what it was hardwired for.
* BoobyTrap: Its fortress is loaded with them.
* TheChessmaster: Antrax set the entire plot in motion in order to gather more victims with which to feed its hungry power cells.
* DiscOneFinalBoss: Serves as the BigBad of the book with its name, and is responsible for dozens of deaths, despite not being the main antagonist.
* EvilerThanThou: With the Ilse Witch, though it barely acknowledges her presence.
* FrickinLaserBeams: As part of its automated defence grid.
* GeniusLoci: Because of the main cast's unfamiliarity with Old World machinery, Antrax certainly looks like one to them, as it brings the entirety of Castledown to bear against them.
* TheHeavy: In ''Antrax''
* HumansAreBastards: The KnightTemplar dicks who programmed Antrax will hopefully burn in the deepest pit in Hell.
* KilledOffForReal
* KnightTemplar: Antrax will kill anyone who tries to access the books without the codes. Moreover, it has expanded its practises to luring in people with magical abilities and enslaving them. Why? So that it can drain their magics in order to fuel its own existence, and thus fullfill its ObstructiveCodeOfConduct of protecting said books. The best part: it doesn't even know what it's protecting.
* {{Magitek}}: Antrax has evolved past the point of using solar radiation; it now feeds on raw magic, drained from its victims.
* MasterComputer: Antrax's systems extend throughout the entire fortress.
* MechaMooks: Has a wide variety of them.
** HollywoodCyborg: Its wronks, half-human, half-machine abominations controlled by Antrax's will.
** KillerRobot: The proto-[[SpiderTank Creepers]] and the wronks are both hardwired to massacre any and all intruders.
** SlaveMooks: The wronks have no free will, their minds being utterly dominated by Antrax's programming.
* ObstructiveCodeOfConduct: Protect the books.
* RoboticPsychopath: Antrax is supposed to act the way it does.
!!Ard Patrinell
Ahren and Quentin's mentor, ex-Captain of the Home Guard, and the leader of the company of Elven Hunters aboard the ''Jerle Shannara''. He is [[spoiler:captured by Antrax, turned into a [[{{Cyborg}} wronk]] and sent to hunt his friends down. Quentin and Tamis spend most of ''Antrax'' trying to MercyKill him.]]
----
* {{Badass}}
* [[spoiler:TheDragon: To Antrax]]
* DualWielding: Hunting knife in one hand, broadsword in the other.
* [[spoiler:FaceHeelTurn]]: [[spoiler:Not that it was [[MoreThanMindControl his idea]]]].
* [[spoiler:FateWorseThanDeath]]: [[spoiler:He's transformed into a mechanical monster and sent to hunt down his friends, while still being fully conscious and trying to fight it.]]
* [[spoiler:HollywoodCyborg]]
* [[spoiler:ImplacableMan]]: [[spoiler:The Patrinell wronk is the most powerful of its kind, and all but unstoppable.]]
* [[spoiler:KilledOffForReal]]
* KnifeNut
* TheMentor: To Ahren, Quentin and Tamis.
* [[spoiler:MercyKill]]: [[spoiler:Via Quentin and Tamis.]]
* [[spoiler:SlaveMook]]
* [[spoiler:TogetherInDeath]]: [[spoiler:Implied with Tamis.]]
!!The Graak
A huge, saurian predator that inhabits the Crake rainforest, the Graak makes short work of the first patrols to enter its territory. After witnessing it's slaughter of his men, Redden Alt Mer develops a paranoid fear of the monster, which he realises he will have to overcome in order to retain his self-respect, leading a team in to slay it, and take the floatation crystals it is guarding.
----
* EverythingsBetterWithDinosaurs: The Graak's description implies it is some sort of lost dinosaur.
** DinosaursAreDragons: The story treats it like a dragon, even though it isn't one.
* GiantEqualsInvincible: Going off of the description, the Graak is one of the largest monsters featured in the series.
* MacGuffinGuardian: The crystals they need to power the ''Jerle Shannara'' are in the Graak's territory.
* MonsterIsAMommy: [[spoiler:Monster is part of a mated pair anyway.]]
* MutualKill: [[spoiler:The second Graak manages to mortally wound Quentin, crushing him, even as he kills it. Grianne saves his life with magic, but it was ''this'' close.]]
* PrimalFear
* TheReveal: [[spoiler:There are two Graaks in the Crake]]
* ThresholdGuardian: Serves as one for Redden Alt Mer, forcing him to confront fear for the first time in his life.
* SuperPersistentPredator
!!Sen Dunsidan
Minister of War for The Federation, Sen Dunsidan is a consumate politician who aspires to be his nation's leader. He as long maintained a mutually beneficial alliance with the Ilse Witch; later he begins to aid The Morgawr.
----
* CorruptPolitician
* DealWithTheDevil
* EvenEvilHasStandards: Played with. He's horrified by what The Morgawr has done, yet does nothing whatsoever to stop him.
* FullNameBasis: Always addressed by his full name (or his title).
* HonestJohnsDealership: He's willing to offer you anything...all while planning to stab you in the back.
* KarmaHoudini: Subverted. Sure he makes it out of the series with his possessions and power intact, but after witnessing what The Morgawr did to those sailors, he'll never sleep again. [[spoiler:And then The Moric eats him in the sequel.]]
* ObstructiveBureaucrat: Especially in ''High Druid''.
* PresidentEvil: After his promotion.
* SmugSnake
!!The Turnkey
--> "Everyone called him turnkey, as though that were more than name enough for a man who did what he did."
The keeper of the Federation prisons' keys, the turnkey serves as warden and torturer as well. He aids Sen Dunsidan when the Minister makes his deal with The Morgawr, and kills himself shortly afterwards.
----
* DrivenToSuicide
* EvenEvilHasStandards: Kills himself after witnessing what The Morgawr has done.
* EveryoneCallsHimBarkeep
* {{Foil}}: To Sen Dunsidan.
* GoodScarsEvilScars
* ShellShockedVeteran: A seven-term veteran, he's ruined inside and out.
* TortureTechnician
* TheVoiceless
[[/folder]]
[[folder:First King Of Shannara]]
!!Bremen
Allanon's father, and the man responsible for the creation of the Sword of Shannara in the first place, Bremen is an elderly Druid who becomes aware of Brona's threat before the other Druids. When the Druid Council [[IgnoredExpert will not listen to him]], Bremen leaves Paranor in disgust, deciding to take matters into his own hands.
----
* {{Archenemy}}: To the Warlock Lord.
* BadassBeard
* BadassGrandpa
* BigGood: Fills this role in ''First King'', where he's also the main character. One could contend that in ''Sword'', ''Elfstones'', and ''Wishsong'' he's the Bigger Good to Big Good Allanon.
* FailureKnight: Binds himself to the Hadeshorn after failing to kill Brona.
* GhostlyAdvisor: To Allanon after his death.
* IgnoredExpert
* JacobMarleyApparel: Always appears in his shroud.
* TheMentor: To Risca, Tay, Mareth, Jerle, and Allanon in turn. It's interesting if only because he's the main character.
* MyGreatestFailure: Not killing Brona.
* ParentalSubstitute: To Allanon.
* PosthumousCharacter: In the original trilogy.
* TakeUpMySword: Does this to Allanon, with or without meaning to.
* UnfinishedBusiness: Why he binds himself to the Hadeshorn.
!!Risca
A Dwarven Warrior Druid, and one of Bremen's closest friends. Bremen sends him to gather the Dwarves against Brona's threat.
----
* {{Badass}}
** BadassBeard: He's a Dwarf, so this is to be expected.
* [[spoiler:KilledOffForReal]]
* MagicKnight: One of the few Warrior Druids left, he channels his magic through his weapons.
* OneManArmy: It takes a veritable army, or a being of Brona's power to make Risca run.
* SensitiveGuyAndManlyMan: The Manly Man to Tay's Sensitive Guy (not that they spend a lot of time together).
* WalkingArmoury: He's got a CoolSword, AnAxeToGrind, and [[CarryABigStick Carries A Big Stick]]. Shades of Garet Jax.
!!Tay Trefenwyd
Bremen's other ally among the Dwarves of Paranor, Tay is an Elven Druid, whose studies focused mostly on the elements. A close friend of Jerle Shananra, Bremen sends him to warn the Elf King about Brona, and obtain the Black Elfstone.
----
* BecomingTheMask: Has to be very careful of this when he infiltrates the Chew Magna. Subsumed in his worst emotions in order to disguise himself, it would only take one false move to turn him into a genuine monster, instead of just looking like one.
* DangerousForbiddenTechnique: Using the [[ArtifactOfDoom Black Elfstone]].
* DidNotGetTheGirl
* [[spoiler:DrivenToSuicide: Kills himself rather than allow the Black Elfstone to subvert him]].
* [[spoiler:HeroicSacrifice]]
* [[spoiler:KilledOffForReal]]
* SadisticChoice: Use the Black Elfstone against the Skull Bearers and be consumed by evil, or die? [[spoiler:He chooses both.]]
* SensitiveGuyAndManlyMan: To Risca and Jerle's Manly Men.
* UnluckyChildhoodFriend: To Jerle's girlfriend, Preia Starle.
!!Mareth
A young Druid-in-training, she ends up traveling with Bremen, Risca, and Kinson Ravenlock after the fall of Paranor, aiding in rallying the Dwarves to the cause against Brona, as well as obtaining the aid of Urprox Screl in the forging of the Sword of Shannara and, though it isn't clear at the time, helping him locate his successor in the form of Allanon.
----
* ActionGirl: Not as much as other Brooks heroines thanks to her DarkAndTroubledPast, emo-ness, and the dangers of truly unleashing her magic, but she qualifies thanks to the battles she engages in--including the final one with Brona's forces, which nearly annihilates the Dwarves, kills [[{{Badass}} Risca]] of all people, and almost kills [[BadassNormal Kinson]]...but of which she's the only survivor other than Jerle and Bremen.
* {{Angst}}: Boatloads
* {{Badass}}: Mareth is one badass EmoTeen.
* BoomStick: Courtesy of Bremen. It lets her channel her magic without hurting herself.
* DarkAndTroubledPast
* DisappearedDad: Source of much angst...especially when she finds out who he might [[{{Squick}} actually be]].
* EmoTeen: At times; not that she doesn't have her reasons.
* HumanMomNonHumanDad: If that Skull Bearer was telling the truth...
* LukeIAmYourFather: Played with. During the course of the journey she is told by a man claiming to be her father that the innate, nearly out-of-control magic she possesses was inherited from him--''[[{{Squick}} a Skull Bearer]]''. [[KillItWithFire She has the appropriate reaction]], and almost succumbs to a HeroicBSOD until Kinson Ravenlock snaps her out of it. In the end, however, it is never revealed if this was actually the truth, or part of a trap by the GenreSavvy Warlock Lord to ensnare her powerful magic through her longing for her DisappearedDad.
* LukeYouAreMyFather: Initially she believes that Bremen is her dad.
* PowerIncontinence: Her main issue throughout the book, solved only when she is given a staff by Bremen to channel it and later when she deals with her issues regarding her parentage.
* TakeUpMySword: Averted when, after the final battle, rather than being the last of the Druids she throws away her staff and chooses to have a normal life with Kinson.
* WhiteMagicianGirl: Invokes this appearance wise, but that [[BoomStick staff]] is for a heck of a lot more than healing.
!!Jerle Shannara
The ultimate grandfather to the whole Shannara line, Jerle makes his first real appearance in this book. Promoted to the kingship when the rest of his relatives are slaughtered, he accompanies his friend Tay on the hunt for the [[ArtifactOfDoom Black Elfstone]] and is later chosen by Bremen to wield the Sword of Shannara against the Warlock Lord.
----
* CoolSword: The original wielder of the Sword of Shannara.
* HeroSecretService: Was the Captain of the Elven Home Guard before the royal family was wiped out.
* [[spoiler:NiceJobBreakingItHero]]: [[spoiler:His inability to accept his own failures allows Brona to escape, albeit severely weakened.]]
* PosthumousCharacter: In the original trilogy.
* RoyalsWhoActuallyDoSomething
* WarriorPrince
* WhatKindOfLamePowerIsHeartAnyway: Deliberately invoked. His inability to understand the Sword's power is [[spoiler:what ultimately allows Brona to escape.]]
!!Preia Starle
----
* ActionGirl: She tries. She really does.
* VictoriousChildhoodFriend: To Jerle
!!Kinson Ravenlock
Warrior, bodyguard, and Tracker who travels with Bremen, first to the Skull Kingdom, then to Paranor, and finally on a journey to rally the Dwarves and help forge the Sword of Shannara. Falls in love with Mareth and ends up founding the city of Kern. Ancestor of Shirl Ravenlock.
* {{Badass}}
** BadassNormal
* BodyguardCrush: May play into how he falls for Mareth in the end.
* {{Determinator}}: Doesn't come close to death until the final battle, and even then he clings to life despite some rather severe wounds.
* ScarilyCompetentTracker
* TallDarkAndHandsome: Almost word for word.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:High Druid of Shannara]]
!!Penderrin "Pen" Ohmsford
The son of Bek Ohmsford and Rue Meridan, and nephew to Grianne, Pen, like many Ohmsfords before him, finds himself shafted into saving the world. Told by The Kingi of the Silver River that he must free his aunt from The Forbidding, Pen, along with Khyber Elessedil and his LoveInterest Cinnaminson, goes on a journey to locate the legendary Tanequil tree, and using its powers, travel to The Forbidding and liberate Grianne.
----
* TheEmpath: Pen can sense and read others' emotions, enabling him to predict how they will behave.
* FriendToAllLivingThings: Of a sort--his powers also allow him to communicate with animals and plants, whether by literally speaking their language or merely feeling what they feel and influencing their emotions.
* GoodParents: His parents are alive, well, very fond of him, and appear in the story, something of a rarity for Ohmsford parents.
* MuggleBornOfMages: His father thought that he was this.
* NiceGuy: His powers practically force him into this role.
* TookALevelInBadass: The Tanequil allows him to access The Wishsong, considerably boosting his abilities.
* WhatKindOfLamePowerIsHeartAnyway: His father and his aunt have The Wishsong. What does Pen get? A heightened sense of empathy.
!!Khyber Elessedil
The daughter of the Elven King, Khyber Elessedil is closer to her uncle, Ahren, then she is to her father. Joining Ahren and Pen on their quest to save Grianne, Khyber wields the Blue Elfstones on Ahren's behalf. She reappears in ''Dark Legends of Shannara'', well over a century old, and in charge of both the Druids and the search for the rest of the Elfstones.
----
* ActionGirl: In ''High Druid''. By ''Dark Legends'' she's more of a LadyOfWar.
* TheArchmage: Holds the title of High Druid by the time of ''Dark Legends''. This doesn't necessarily make her the most powerful Druid around, though in practise she likely is.
* BadassPrincess: Princess of the Elves, wielder of the Blue Elfstones, High Druid of Paranor.
* TheLeader: Of the Druids and the search for the Elfstones in ''Dark Legends''.
* TheMentor: Ahren was hers, and she acts as one to Aphenglow Elessedil in ''Dark Legends''.
* RebelliousPrincess: Doesn't even really acknowledge her position as an Elessedil Princess, preferring to study with the Druids.
* TheRemnant: Leads the few remaining Druids after Shadea a'Ru's rebellion.
* RoyalsWhoActuallyDoSomething
* TookALevelInBadass: Both within ''High Druid'' and between the series, eventually graduating to High Druid.
!!Tael Riverine
A high-ranking Straken Lord (Demon Lord) and one of the leaders of Demonic society following the death of The Dagda Mor. He conceived the plot to trap Grianne Ohmsford within The Forbidding in exchange for unleashing The Moric into the world. He later captures Grianne and tries to force her into mating with him. [[spoiler:Escaping scott free, he returns as TheBigBad of ''Dark Legacy of Shannara'']].
----
* {{Archenemy}}: One could make a convincing case for his being Grianne's.
* AsskickingEqualsAuthority: Like The Dagda Mor and the rest of his fellow Straken, Tael holds his position by virtue of having killed anybody else who thought they could take it.
** [[spoiler: The wraith of the Ilse Witch]] uses this against him in ''Dark Legacy''. [[spoiler: By very publicly outwitting, humiliating, and finally killing him, she breaks any loyalty that his demon forces- who only value rule by strength- had for him]].
* BigBad: Directly or indirectly, all the problems that Pen and Grianne go through in this series can be traced back to Tael's manipulations. He plays the same role in ''Dark Legacy''.
** BigBadDuumvirate: Not directly addressed in-series, but with The Dagda Mor gone, Tael is just one of several Straken Lords who have stepped into his place. By ''Dark Legacy'', he appears to have become the ruler of most or all of the Forbidding, however.
* DarkIsEvil
* DemonLordsAndArchDevils: One of several Straken Lords who have ascended to leadership positions among the Demons following the death of The Dagda Mor in ''Elfstones''.
* EvilSorcerer: Like The Dagda Mor before him, Tael Riverine is a capable user of sorcerous magic, in addition to his innate Demonic abilities.
* FullNameBasis: He's either referred to by title or as "Tael Riverine", never just "Tael" or "Riverine".
* IHaveYouNowMyPretty: Tries it on Grianne, planning to use her to breed children for himself.
* IcyBlueEyes: Tael's bright, frosty eyes are a standout in his otherwise dark countenance.
* [[spoiler:KarmaHoudini: As of the end of ''High Druid'']].
** [[spoiler: ''Dark Legacy'' corrects the matter]].
* LargeAndInCharge: He towers over most of his minions and ''anyone'' from the Four Lands, even the Trolls.
* MagicKnight: A powerful sorcerer and terrifying warrior.
* TheManBehindTheMan: To the traitor Druids, who believe that they are equal partners with him. Also to The Federation, during the brief time period when The Moric was impersonating Sen Dunsidan. In ''Dark Legacy'' he's had enough of that [[spoiler:so he just invades directly]].
* ScaryBlackMan: Appears as a tall, muscular man with dark skin.
* SealedEvilInACan: Not Tael personally, but all Demons are trapped within The Forbidding.
* SpikesOfVillainy: Grows them from his entire body with the exception of his face.
* StalkerWithACrush: He's obsessed with making Grianne his mate, all the more after she escaped him, something no one else had ever done.
* VillainousBreakdown: He goes increasingly berserk across ''Dark Legacy'' when he can't find Grianne. [[spoiler:It gets even worse when he ''does'' find her, and she's an undead wraith who then duels him, kills him, and takes his place]].
!!The Moric
A relative of The Changeling from ''Elfstones'', The Moric is the right-hand of Tael Riverine. Capable of perfectly impersonating anybody that it devours, The Moric is loosed in the real world so that it might destroy The Ellcrys and bring down The Forbidding.
----
* BadPowersBadPeople: The Moric eats people in order to gain their appearance and memories. No way it was going to be a good guy under those circumstances.
* DemonicPossession: Possesses an even more perfect version of The Changeling's powers, activated by devouring a victim, and then wearing their skin, taking on that person's memory and personality.
* TheDragon: To Tael Riverine.
* ExitPursuedByABear: When we last see The Moric, it's lying on the ground, helpless, as a Dragon approaches it.
* ImAHumanitarian: Part of its power actually.
* OurDemonsAreDifferent
* PresidentEvil: While impersonating Sen Dunsidan.
* {{Shapeshifter}}
** VoluntaryShapeshifting
[[/folder]]
[[folder:The Genesis of Shannara]]
!!Logan Tom
----
* KnightInSourArmor
* SuperheroPackingHeat: Logan is just as comfortable with firearms as he is with his magic staff.
!!Angel Perez
----
!!Hawk Freemark
----
* TheChosenOne
* HalfHumanHybrid: He's a Gypsy Morph who was born to the human woman Nest Freemark.
!!Findo Gask
----
See ''The Word and the Void,'' below.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Legends of Shannara]]
!!Panterra Qu
A seventeen year old Tracker with an almost preternatural gift for finding the tracks of his prey, Panterra and his friend Prue Liss, are the first people after Sider Ament, to discover that the magic that protects the valley is failing. Tasked by Sider with warning the valley, Panterra makes an enemy of Skeal Elie, is captured by Taureq Siq while trying to warn the Elves, and is eventually chosen by Sider Ament to be his successor. Trapped by the events around him, Panterra is in way over his head, and knows it.
----
* [[spoiler:BoomStick: Inherits the black staff from Sider Ament]].
* TheChosenOne: Though in this case it was Sider Ament, rather than fate, that did the choosing.
* TheHero
* LikeBrotherAndSister: With his best friend, Prue.
* PlatonicLifePartners: With Prue Liss, who is equal parts friend and little sister.
* TheStoic: Panterra rarely displays any emotion, and never lets them interfere with his decisions, in a sharp contrast with Prue and Phryne.
* TeenGenius
* TheirFirstTime: With Phryne Amarantyne while they are on the run together.
* TookALevelInBadass: In ''The Measure of the Magic'' as he grows into his role as the next Bearer of the Black Staff.
!!Prue Liss
Panterra Qu's closest friend, fifteen year old Prue is an exceptionally capable Tracker, who can all but vanish at will. Like Panterra, she is tasked with warning the valley and preparing it's people for war, a task that sees her plunged into a great deal of hardship. She eventually meets the King of the Silver River, who grants her the power to help Panterra make a difference.
----
* BlessedWithSuck: The King of the Silver River's blessing gives her far greater abilities at the cost of her ability to see in colour.
* DistressedDamsel: Thrust into this role after she is captured by Taureq Siq and has to be rescued by Deladion Inch. In fairness to her, she pulls her weight after the escape, and doesn't slow down Deladion any.
* LikeBrotherAndSister: With Panterra
* PlatonicLifePartners: With Panterra, who is her best friend and brother figure.
* TeenGenius: Even more so then Panterra. Prue is an absolute prodigy as a Tracker.
* TookALevelInBadass: After being blessed by the King of the Silver River.
!!Skeal Elie
The leader of the Children of the Hawk, Skeal Elie brooks no challenges to the power of his sect. Upon discovering that the mist is coming down, he goes out of his way first to obscure the facts, and then to manipulate the situation to his advantage.
----
* BigBadWannabe: Skeal Elie is set up as a major villain, but quickly comes under the ragpicker's control in Book 2.
* CorruptPolitician
* DealWithTheDevil: Cuts one with the ragpicker, though his agency in doing so is questionable.
* {{Expy}}: As a crooked politician who comes under the influence of a being of dark magic, Skeal Elie bears a passing resemblance to Sen Dunsidan, albeit with the addition of religious trappings.
* TheFundamentalist: Cannot stand anything that goes against his dogma.
* [[spoiler:KilledOffForReal: Killed and replaced by the ragpicker partway through ''The Measure of the Magic'']].
* ManipulativeBastard
* SinisterMinister: Holds religious and political power.
* UnwittingPawn: Of the ragpicker
!!Sider Ament, the Gray Man
-->''"I'm not for hire and I don't get to choose my path."''
The last descendent of the Knights of the Word from the ''Word and the Void'', Sider Ament has made protecting the valley his life's work as the Bearer of the Black Staff. Realising that the magic that isolates the valley from the outside world is failing, and that his own time to find an apprentice is running out, Sider makes it his mission to ready the valley for contact with the rest of the world, and mold Panterra Qu into his successor.
----
* BoomStick: Carries the same black staff once wielded by John Ross.
* [[spoiler:KilledOffForReal]]
* LastOfHisKind: Last Knight of the Word.
* TheMentor: To Panterra Qu
* [[spoiler:MentorOccupationalHazard: Killed off at the end of the first book by one of Arik Siq's blowdarts.]]
* TakeUpMySword: His mentor did this to him, passing along the black staff and all the responsibility that accompanies it. [[spoiler:He does it to Panterra Qu at the end of ''Bearers of the Black Staff'']].
!!Deladion Inch
A traveller, engineer, and problem solver, Deladion is the first person that Sider Ament meets in the world outside the valley, and informs him of the changes in the world. One of the few people who still knows how to use and maintain firearms, Deladion strikes up a fast friendship with Sider, and assists him in freeing Prue from Tauriq Siq's Trolls.
----
* ArmourIsUseless: Averted. Deladion's bodyarmour stops almost all weapons.
* {{Badass}}
* [[spoiler:DyingMomentOfAwesome: Empties his guns into an approaching Troll army, killing dozens of them, then blows himself up with grenades when they finally get close enough to kill him.]]
* {{Foil}}: To Sider, as the last gunman and last Knight of the Word respectively.
* TheGunslinger
* [[spoiler:KilledOffForReal]]
* [[spoiler:HeroicSacrifice: Dies saving Prue from a whole army]]
* HiredGuns: Operates as a merc.
* LastOfHisKind: Last gunslinger
* MisterExposition: As a well travelled mercenary, Deladion is in a position to fill in a lot of the blanks for Sider.
* MoreDakka: With the spray on his automatic.
* OneManArmy
* ScienceHero: His engineering skills make him an [[OutsideContextVillain Outside Context Hero]] to the Trolls.
!!Phryne Amantyre
Daughter of the King of the Elves, Phryne is known for her wild disposition and disdain for her stepmother. Among the first Elves to hear of the failing of the mists, Phryne makes it her personal mission to have Panterra and Prue's information accepted by her father and the rest of the Elves.
----
* ActionGirl: Already capable; then she gets the Blue Elfstones.
* DragonRider
* [[spoiler:HeroicSacrifice: Dies destroying Taureq Siq's army]]
* RebelliousPrincess
* TheirFirstTime: With Panterra Qu when they're on the run.
!!Isoeld
-->''"I do want to be Queen..."''
A baker's daughter and an ambitious social climber, Isoelde is Phryne Amantyre's stepmother. Caring only about her own power and position, Isoelde conducts an affair with First Minster Teonnate behind her husband's back, and under the table negotiations with Skeal Elie, as the two of them plot to take control of the whole valley for themselves.
----
* AmbitionIsEvil
* BigBadDuumvirate: Forms one along with Skeal Elie.
* GodSaveUsFromTheQueen
* GoldDigger
* SmugSnake
* TheVamp
* WickedStepmother: Going so far as to try and frame Phryne for [[spoiler:her father's murder.]]
* YourCheatingHeart: Sleeps with both TheGoodKing and the EvilChancellor, as well as anybody else who can advance her position.
!!Taureq Siq
Mauturen of the Drouj Troll tribe, Taureq Siq believes it is his destiny to rule the known world. Discovering the location of the valley, Taureq immediately makes preperations to invade it.
----
* AmbitionIsEvil
* AsskickingEqualsAuthority: Leads his tribe and the Troll nations by virtue of being the greatest warrior.
* BigBad: Contends with the ragpicker for the title of series big bad.
* TheDreaded: Known and feared as a warlord and conqueror in the outside world.
* GoodScarsEvilScars: Covered in evil scars from battles for dominance.
* [[spoiler:KilledOffForReal: By Phryne's dragon]]
* TakeOverTheWorld
!!Arik Sarn/[[spoiler:Arik Siq]]
A Troll warrior in Grosha Siq's hunting party, Arik Sarn is one of the few Trolls to speak the languages of Men and Elves. Claiming descent from ''Genesis''' Panther, Arik aids Panterra release from Taureq Siq's army, and later accompanies the boy back to the valley, where he is introduced to the Men and Elves who live there. [[spoiler:He is acutally Taureq Siq's eldest son, Arik Siq, and is preparing the way for his father's army by scouting out the valley's defences.]]
----
* [[spoiler:BitchInSheepsClothing]]
* TheCharmer
* [[spoiler:DealWithTheDevil: Offered one by the ragpicker, who wants him to kill Panterra Qu and bring him the black staff; in exchange, Arik gets his freedom]].
* [[spoiler:EvilGenius: His father's idea man.]]
* GeniusBruiser: Arik is a Troll, which means he's at least seven feet tall and built like a pro-wrestler. He's also a storyteller, artist, strategist, and political machinator of the first degree.
* GentleGiant: Arik's a warrior, like most Trolls, but he also sketches birds, admires flowers, and has no desire to hurt anybody. [[spoiler:At least that's what he'd like you to think.]]
* [[spoiler:TheHeavy: For most of book one]]
* [[spoiler:KilledOffForReal: By the ragpicker when he tries to break their deal]]
* [[spoiler:ManipulativeBastard: Manipulate Panterra, Prue, and even Sider, easily.]]
* [[spoiler:TheMole]]
* PoisonedWeapons: Favours a blowgun loaded with poisoned darts, an odd choice for a Troll.
* SiblingYinYang: With his younger brother. [[spoiler:Grosha's an AxeCrazy psycho who gets off on feeding people to his Skaith Hounds. Arik's a calm, cold-blooded schemer who uses his brain to get what he wants.]]
* [[spoiler:SocialDarwinist: Informs Panterra that his people's weakness invites their destruction, and that those who cannot defend themselves do not deserve to exist.]]
* [[spoiler:TheStrategist: For Taureq's army.]]
!!Grosha Siq
Taureq Siq's younger son, Grosha is a vicious brute, obsessed with hunting and killing. He frequently runs down his enemies with his Skaith Hounds, before feeding them to them. Only Arik Sarn and his father seem able to exercise any level of control over him.
----
* AxeCrazy
* TheBrute: One of the few Trolls in the series to actually fall into this stereotype.
* BullyingADragon: [[spoiler:Died bullying, and then lying to, the ragpicker]]
* [[spoiler:KilledOffForReal]]
* PsychopathicManchild: Grosha is a spoiled, nasty little daddy's boy at heart.
* SiblingYinYang: With his EvilGenius older brother.
* TheUnfavourite: Grosha's knows he is not the favoured son, and deeply resents it.
!!The Ragpicker
One of the small "d" demons first introduced in ''The Word and the Void'', the ragpicker is one of the few of its kind to survive the Great Wars. Tracking the last Bearer of the Black Staff, the ragpicker arrives in the valley, and succeeds in making a bad situation that much worse.
----
* BigBad: Contends with Taureq Siq for the title; he manages to use almost everyone, hero and villain alike for his own ends.
* TheCollector: Takes one item of clothing from each person he kills in order to better remember them.
* TheChessmaster: The ragpicker believes in fashioning favourable conditions rather than awaiting them, and plans ahead.
* TheCorrupter
* DealWithTheDevil: Offers one to Skeal Elie and one to Arik.
* EvilOldFolks: Described as resembling an old, battered man.
* GrandTheftMe: Eventually does it to [[spoiler:Skeal Elie]]
* HeroKiller: Has slain other Knights of the Word in the past, and is looking to finish the job.
* LeanAndMean: Tall and lean, with the build of a stork.
* ManipulativeBastard: Can lie with the best of them when he has to, though normally he just frightens people into cooperating.
* OmnicidalManiac: All the demons are this, as part of the Void's agenda. With the world essentially ended after the Great Wars, the ragpicker is cleaning up the remnants of humanity who survived.
* TheSoulless
* WasOnceAMan
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Dark Legacy of Shannara]]
[[/folder]]
[[folder:The High Druid's Blade]]
!!Paxon Leah
A descendent of the House of Leah, Paxon is the current wielder of the Sword of Leah, and a candidate for the position of High Druid's Blade (a protector of Paranor and its Druids). Having been dragooned into the role, he isn't sure how he feels about it.
----
* CoolSword: The Sword of Leah is back, and this time, both it and its wielder are central to the story.
** AmuletOfDependency: Paxon, like all the Leahs before him, runs the risk of becoming hooked on the magic of the Sword.
** AncestralWeapon: The Leahs may not be kings anymore, but the Sword still belongs to them.
** {{Antimagic}}: Which is why Paxon's a candidate for the job in the first place.
** BlackSwordsAreBetter: The black blade is still intact.
* WarriorPrince: A descendent of kings, even if the Leahs do not officially hold the position anymore.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:The Word and the Void]]
!!Nest Freemark
----
* ActionGirl
* BadFuture: Is the cause of one in the timeline where the demon touched her. Goodbye CuteWitch, hello ChaoticEvil OmnicidalManiac.
* CuteWitch: Though darker than most.
* DarkMessiah: In the BadFuture where the demon possessed her.
* [[spoiler:HalfHumanHybrid]]: [[spoiler:Friggin' demon.]]
* HeroicBastard
* InTheBlood: The magic passes down the female line of the Freemark family.
* TheMessiah
* TookALevelInBadass: Between every book.
!!John Ross
----
* {{Badass}}
** HandicappedBadass: Gained his limp and his {{Badass}}ery at the same time.
* BadDreams: He dreams of a BadFuture that will come to pass if he fails. These dreams give him clues about his current mission.
* BadFuture: Wanders through it every time he dreams.
* BoomStick: His staff.
* ButNowIMustGo: At the end of every successful mission.
* HeroicBSOD: For most of ''A Knight Of The Word''.
* [[spoiler:HeroicSacrifice]]: [[spoiler:In ''Angel Fire East'']]
* HeroicSelfDeprecation: Easily his own worst critic.
* KnightInSourArmour
* OlderThanTheyLook: In the sequels Nest notes that years later he looks exactly the same.
* ShellShockedVeteran: He's fighting a different kind of war from most, but he definitely fits.
* TenMinuteRetirement: In ''Knight''
* WalkingTheEarth: Part of his job description. His BadDreams tell him where a disaster will happen, and he must go there to prevent it.
!!Two Bears/O'olish Amaneh
----
* {{Badass}}: Said to be one of the few people who could easily dispatch a rogue Knight of the Word. The fact that even [[BigBad Findo Gask]] doesn't want to fight him firmly cements his {{Badass}} credentials.
** BadassLongcoat: Always dressed in his army coat.
* HeroOfAnotherStory: Definitely gives this vibe off.
* MagicalNativeAmerican: Though better done than most.
* ShellShockedVeteran
* VietnamWar: A veteran of it.
!!The demon
----
* BigBad: Of ''[[Literature/TheWordAndTheVoid Running With The Demon]]''
* [[BitchInSheepsClothing Bastard In Sheep's Clothing]]: He fakes AffablyEvil really well, but underneath it, he's a monster to the core.
* BlondGuysAreEvil
* TheCorrupter: Seems to get off on this.
* CreepyBlueEyes: Pale and washed out.
* TheHeavy: Of ''[[Literature/TheWordAndTheVoid Running With The Demon]]''
* [[spoiler:LukeIAmYourFather]]: [[spoiler:He's Nest's dad.]]
* ManipulativeBastard: Part and parcel of his Corrupter persona.
* NoNameGiven
* OmnicidalManiac: Like all demons, this is his goal in the long run.
* TheNondescript: Is described as having an utterly bland appearance, save for the pale blue eyes. His powers help him out here too: when he's in the room with you, you're always sure you know him from somewhere and his name is just on the tip of your tongue; when he leaves people typically forget he was ever there at all.
* RevengeByProxy: Nest's grandmother, Evelyn spurned him. His response? Wait for years, seduce her emotionally fragile daughter, Catelyn, [[spoiler:get her pregnant]] and then reveal the truth about himself, [[DrivenToSuicide driving Catelyn to suicide]].
* SmugSnake: He's quite effective, but his own viciousness, and underestimation of Nest and her grandmother royally screw him over.
* TheSociopath
* TheSoulless: Lost it to the Void long, long ago.
!!Stefanie Winslow
----
* [[spoiler:BigBad]]: [[spoiler:Of ''A Knight of the Word''.]]
* [[spoiler:BitchInSheepsClothing]]
* [[spoiler:TheCorrupter]]: [[spoiler:Tries hard to do it to John.]]
* [[spoiler:{{Hellhound}}]]: [[spoiler:Her true form.]]
* LoveInterest: To John Ross.
* [[spoiler:ManipulativeBastard]]: [[spoiler:Uses nightmares and frightening dreams to try and force John into murdering an innocent man, an action from which he will not recover, and which would have triggered his fall to The Void.]]
* [[spoiler:{{Shapeshifter}}]]
* [[spoiler:TheSoulless]]
* [[spoiler:TheVamp]]: [[spoiler:To John.]]
* [[spoiler:VoluntaryShapeshifting]]
* WalkingSpoiler
!!Findo Gask
----
* {{Badass}}: Dominates both Nest and John Ross. Only the arrival of O'olish Amaneh saves the day.
* BigBad: Of ''Angel Fire East'' and ''Genesis''.
* DemonLordsAndArchDevils: Or as close as ''Literature/TheWordAndTheVoid'''s demons get to that title.
* TheDreaded: Especially by ''Genesis.'' And for good reason. [[spoiler:He's the one who finally took out John Ross.]]
* EvilSorcerer: His role in ''Genesis''. The text actually describes him as looking like an evil [[TheLordOfTheRings Gandalf]].
* ForTheEvulz: Kills and destroys out of sheer love of chaos rather than hatred for humanity.
* OmnicidalManiac: Like all the demons he wants the end of the world.
* SinisterMinister: The disguise he adopts in ''Angel Fire East''.
* TheSoulless
* TheStoic
!!The Void
----
* AllPowerfulBystander
* BiggerBad: The force behind the demon, [[spoiler:Stefanie]], and Findo Gask.
* NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast
* OmnicidalManiac: Seeks the destruction of all creation.
* {{Satan}}
* UltimateEvil: To the point where it's more a primal force than anything else.
* TheUnfought: Which is just as well.
!!The Word
----
* AllPowerfulBystander
* BigGood
* {{God}}
[[/folder]]
[[/index]]
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
* DragonRider
* [[spoiler:HeroicSacrifice: Dies destroying Taureq Siq's army]]
* [[spoiler:HeroicSacrifice: Dies destroying Taureq Siq's army]]
Added DiffLines:
* [[spoiler:KilledOffForReal: By Phryne's dragon]]
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
* [[spoiler:TheHeavy: For most of book one]]
* [[spoiler:KilledOffForReal: By the ragpicker when he tries to break their deal]]
* [[spoiler:KilledOffForReal: By the ragpicker when he tries to break their deal]]
Added DiffLines:
* [[spoiler:KilledOffForReal]]
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
* TheirFirstTime: With Phryne Amarantyne while they are on the run together.
* [[spoiler:KilledOffForReal: Killed and replaced by the ragpicker partway through ''The Measure of the Magic'']].
Changed line(s) 1714 (click to see context) from:
to:
* UnwittingPawn: Of the ragpicker
Changed line(s) 1749 (click to see context) from:
to:
* TheirFirstTime: With Panterra Qu when they're on the run.
Added DiffLines:
* GrandTheftMe: Eventually does it to [[spoiler:Skeal Elie]]
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 1686 (click to see context) from:
* TheChosenOne: Though in this case it was Sider Ament, rather then fate, that did the choosing.
to:
* TheChosenOne: Though in this case it was Sider Ament, rather then than fate, that did the choosing.
* PlatonicLifePartners: With Prue Liss, who is equal parts friend and little sister.
* PlatonicLifePartners: With Panterra, who is her best friend and brother figure.
* [[spoiler:DealWithTheDevil: Offered one by the ragpicker, who wants him to kill Panterra Qu and bring him the black staff; in exchange, Arik gets his freedom]].
Changed line(s) 1799 (click to see context) from:
* BigBad: Contends with Taureq Siq for the title.
to:
* BigBad: Contends with Taureq Siq for the title.title; he manages to use almost everyone, hero and villain alike for his own ends.
* TheChessmaster: The ragpicker believes in fashioning favourable conditions rather than awaiting them, and plans ahead.
Changed line(s) 1802 (click to see context) from:
* DealWithTheDevil: Offers one to Skeal Elie.
to:
* DealWithTheDevil: Offers one to Skeal Elie.Elie and one to Arik.
Added DiffLines:
* ManipulativeBastard: Can lie with the best of them when he has to, though normally he just frightens people into cooperating.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 1705,1706 (click to see context) from:
* TheBigBad: Vies with Taureq Siq and the ragpicker for this title.
* TheFundamentalist
* TheFundamentalist
to:
* TheBigBad: Vies BigBadWannabe: Skeal Elie is set up as a major villain, but quickly comes under the ragpicker's control in Book 2.
* CorruptPolitician
* DealWithTheDevil: Cuts one withTaureq Siq and the ragpicker for this title.
ragpicker, though his agency in doing so is questionable.
*TheFundamentalist{{Expy}}: As a crooked politician who comes under the influence of a being of dark magic, Skeal Elie bears a passing resemblance to Sen Dunsidan, albeit with the addition of religious trappings.
* TheFundamentalist: Cannot stand anything that goes against his dogma.
* CorruptPolitician
* DealWithTheDevil: Cuts one with
*
* TheFundamentalist: Cannot stand anything that goes against his dogma.
Changed line(s) 1708,1709 (click to see context) from:
* SinisterMinister
to:
* SinisterMinister
SinisterMinister: Holds religious and political power.
Changed line(s) 1763 (click to see context) from:
* BigBad: Contends with Skeal Elie and the ragpicker for the title of series big bad.
to:
* BigBad: Contends with Skeal Elie and the ragpicker for the title of series big bad.
Changed line(s) 1796 (click to see context) from:
* BigBad: One of the contenders for the title, along with Taureq Siq and Skeal Elie.
to:
* BigBad: One of the contenders for the title, along Contends with Taureq Siq and Skeal Elie.for the title.
Added DiffLines:
* TheCorrupter
* DealWithTheDevil: Offers one to Skeal Elie.
* DealWithTheDevil: Offers one to Skeal Elie.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
* BullyingADragon: [[spoiler:Died bullying, and then lying to, the ragpicker]]
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
just watched Terry Brooks read some of High Druid\'s blade. Creating a folder for it.
Changed line(s) 1209 (click to see context) from:
* WarriorPrince
to:
* WarriorPrinceWarriorPrince: Quentin's father is not a king (though he does rule Leah as part of the city council) but the trappings of the trope are still in full effect.
Changed line(s) 1805,1807 (click to see context) from:
[[folder:The Word and the Void]]
!!Nest Freemark
!!Nest Freemark
to:
[[folder:Dark Legacy of Shannara]]
[[/folder]]
[[folder:TheWord High Druid's Blade]]
!!Paxon Leah
A descendent of the House of Leah, Paxon is the current wielder of the Sword of Leah, and a candidate for theVoid]]
!!Nest Freemarkposition of High Druid's Blade (a protector of Paranor and its Druids). Having been dragooned into the role, he isn't sure how he feels about it.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:The
!!Paxon Leah
A descendent of the House of Leah, Paxon is the current wielder of the Sword of Leah, and a candidate for the
!!Nest Freemark
Added DiffLines:
* CoolSword: The Sword of Leah is back, and this time, both it and its wielder are central to the story.
** AmuletOfDependency: Paxon, like all the Leahs before him, runs the risk of becoming hooked on the magic of the Sword.
** AncestralWeapon: The Leahs may not be kings anymore, but the Sword still belongs to them.
** {{Antimagic}}: Which is why Paxon's a candidate for the job in the first place.
** BlackSwordsAreBetter: The black blade is still intact.
* WarriorPrince: A descendent of kings, even if the Leahs do not officially hold the position anymore.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:The Word and the Void]]
!!Nest Freemark
----
** AmuletOfDependency: Paxon, like all the Leahs before him, runs the risk of becoming hooked on the magic of the Sword.
** AncestralWeapon: The Leahs may not be kings anymore, but the Sword still belongs to them.
** {{Antimagic}}: Which is why Paxon's a candidate for the job in the first place.
** BlackSwordsAreBetter: The black blade is still intact.
* WarriorPrince: A descendent of kings, even if the Leahs do not officially hold the position anymore.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:The Word and the Void]]
!!Nest Freemark
----
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
* AncestralWeapon: Carries the Sword of Leah, his family's ancestral broadsword.
Changed line(s) 462 (click to see context) from:
Wil's daughter, Brin inherited some of the ancient Elven magic in the form of the [[RealityWarper Wishsong]]. Allanon recruits her while Wil (who's never quite trusted him after the events of ''Elfstones'') is out, needing her ability to mimic and control all forms of life in order to enter the [[GardenOfEvil Maelmord]] and destroy [[ArtifactOfDoom The]] [[TomeOfEldritchLore Ildatch]].
to:
Wil's daughter, Brin inherited some of the ancient Elven magic in the form of the [[RealityWarper Wishsong]]. Allanon recruits her while Wil (who's never quite trusted him after the events of ''Elfstones'') is out, needing her ability to mimic and control all forms of life in order to enter the [[GardenOfEvil Maelmord]] and destroy [[ArtifactOfDoom The]] [[TomeOfEldritchLore Ildatch]]. She is mentioned in ''Indomitable'' and appears briefly in ''Dark Wraith''.
Changed line(s) 467 (click to see context) from:
* IJustWantToBeNormal: After ''Wishsong''.
to:
* HappilyMarried: By ''Indomitable'' she is cheerfully married to Rone Leah.
* IJustWantToBeNormal: After''Wishsong''.''Wishsong'' Brin wants to be a wife and a mother. She abandons her magic, and tries to get Jair to do the same.
* IJustWantToBeNormal: After
* {{Protectorate}}: How Rone Leah and Whisper see her.
* RetiredBadass: In the aftermath of ''Wishsong'' Brin marries Rone, retires to Leah, and never touches magic again.
Changed line(s) 474 (click to see context) from:
to:
* WeAreNotGoingThroughThatAgain: The Ildatch's near subversion of Brin is enough to persuade her that not only is she never going to use her magic again, but she is never going to leave Leah again. She tries to persuade Jair to do the same.
Added DiffLines:
* OneManArmy: In ''Indomitable'' and ''Dark Wraith'' when he uses Garet Jax's skills as his own.
Added DiffLines:
** AncestralWeapon: The Sword of Leah was the sword of his House long before it was a magical talisman.
Added DiffLines:
* HappilyMarried: To Brin by the time of ''Indomitable''.
Added DiffLines:
* BadassInDistress: In ''Dark Wraith'', when the Mwellrets and the Croton Witch capture him and try to force him to give them access to Paranor.
Added DiffLines:
* DistressedDamsel: In ''Dark Wraith''. Though by the time Jair arrives to save her, she's already managed to free herself.
Added DiffLines:
* KidWithTheRemoteControl: To Whisper.
Added DiffLines:
** AncestralWeapon: Still the Sword of his House.
Added DiffLines:
** AncestralWeapon: The Sword belongs to the House of Leah, which is why Quentin is the one who has to carry it.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
* IJustWantToBeNormal: After ''Wishsong''.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
* ShellShockedVeteran: Brin is never the same after the events of ''Wishsong''. She swears off magic, loses contact with many of her friends, and only begins to recover after the birth of her son.
Changed line(s) 476,478 (click to see context) from:
* ActionSurvivor
* [[spoiler:BecomingTheMask: Both ''Indomitable'' and ''Dark Wraith of Shannara'' have Jair channeling, and almost becoming, Garet Jax]].
* [[spoiler:TheChosenOne: Courtesy of the [[DungeonMaster King of the Silver River]]. If he doesn't save Brin, that's it for the world.]] Allanon later recruits him in ''Dark Wraith''.
* [[spoiler:BecomingTheMask: Both ''Indomitable'' and ''Dark Wraith of Shannara'' have Jair channeling, and almost becoming, Garet Jax]].
* [[spoiler:TheChosenOne: Courtesy of the [[DungeonMaster King of the Silver River]]. If he doesn't save Brin, that's it for the world.]] Allanon later recruits him in ''Dark Wraith''.
to:
* ActionSurvivor
ActionSurvivor: In ''Wishsong'', which he only makes it through with help from others. He's more of an ActionHero during ''Indomitable'' and ''Dark Wraith''.
* [[spoiler:BecomingTheMask: Both ''Indomitable'' and ''Dark Wraith of Shannara'' have Jair channeling, and almost becoming, GaretJax]].
Jax, much to his and his sister's concern]].
* [[spoiler:TheChosenOne: Courtesy of the [[DungeonMaster King of the Silver River]]. If he doesn't save Brin, that's it for the world.]] Allanon later recruits him in ''Indomitable'' and ''Dark Wraith''.
* [[spoiler:BecomingTheMask: Both ''Indomitable'' and ''Dark Wraith of Shannara'' have Jair channeling, and almost becoming, Garet
* [[spoiler:TheChosenOne: Courtesy of the [[DungeonMaster King of the Silver River]]. If he doesn't save Brin, that's it for the world.]] Allanon later recruits him in ''Indomitable'' and ''Dark Wraith''.
Changed line(s) 482,483 (click to see context) from:
* MasterOfIllusion
* {{Mutant}}.
* {{Mutant}}.
to:
* MasterOfIllusion
MasterOfIllusion: The first of the Ohmsfords to have the power of illusion at his disposal, Jair pioneered the trickery that would later be used by Par Ohmsford, Walker Boh, and Bek Rowe.
*{{Mutant}}.{{Mutant}}
*
* {{Shapeshifter}}: In ''Indomitable'' Jair discovers he has the power to draw his illusions around himself, changing into whatever image he creates. He typically uses it to transform into Garet Jax.
Changed line(s) 488,489 (click to see context) from:
* SquishyWizard: A MasterOfIllusion, but if you can reach him he's in trouble.
to:
* SquishyWizard: A MasterOfIllusion, but if you can reach him he's in trouble.
trouble. At least until ''Indomitable''.
* TookALevelInBadass: In ''Indomitable''. The discovery of his shapeshifting abilities transforms Jair from a SquishyWizard into a someone who can transform into a OneManArmy with only a few notes of a song. The fact that he's older and more confident then he was in ''Wishsong'' also plays a role; even without morphing into Garet Jax, he's a lot more capable, and far less dependent on others, than he was back then, a trend that continues into ''Dark Wraith''.
* VoluntaryShapeshifting: Even if some of the side effects terrify him.
* TookALevelInBadass: In ''Indomitable''. The discovery of his shapeshifting abilities transforms Jair from a SquishyWizard into a someone who can transform into a OneManArmy with only a few notes of a song. The fact that he's older and more confident then he was in ''Wishsong'' also plays a role; even without morphing into Garet Jax, he's a lot more capable, and far less dependent on others, than he was back then, a trend that continues into ''Dark Wraith''.
* VoluntaryShapeshifting: Even if some of the side effects terrify him.
Changed line(s) 509 (click to see context) from:
A Gnome from the band that captured Jair, he later becomes involved in the boy's quest to [[spoiler:save Brin.]] Suspicious, and a loner by nature he has no desire to be along on this quest, but somehow gets caught up in it anyway. Sometimes called "The Gnome who was not quite a Gnome" due to his dislike for his own people and their superstitions.
to:
A Gnome from the band that captured Jair, he later becomes involved in the boy's quest to [[spoiler:save Brin.]] Suspicious, and a loner by nature he has no desire to be along on this quest, but somehow gets caught up in it anyway. Sometimes called "The Gnome who was not quite a Gnome" due to his dislike for his own people and their superstitions. He reappears in ''Dark Wraith of Shannara'', when Jair contracts him to be his guide through the Eastland.
* BadassBeard: ''Dark Wraith'' gives him one.
* BaldOfAwesome: Pictured this way in ''Dark Wraith''.
* BaldOfAwesome: Pictured this way in ''Dark Wraith''.
Changed line(s) 516,517 (click to see context) from:
* TheLancer: To Jair.
* LonersAreFreaks
* LonersAreFreaks
to:
* TheLancer: To Jair.
Jair in ''Wishsong'' and ''Dark Wraith'' alike.
*LonersAreFreaksLonersAreFreaks: The opinion of many.
*
Changed line(s) 520,521 (click to see context) from:
* VitriolicBestBuds: With Jair Ohmsford.
to:
* VitriolicBestBuds: With Jair Ohmsford.
Ohmsford. Slanter will always insist that Jair is more trouble than he's worth, and will complain the entire time they are together, yet he always comes through for Jair in the end.
* DidNotGetTheGirl: In ''The Weapon Master's Choice'', Jax develops an attraction to his employer, Lyriana. Unbeknownst to him, she is a [[spoiler:leper]], which means there can be no relationship. After finding this out, Jax moves on.
* OneManArmy: Jax is worth a platoon or more of regular soldiers. He defeats an entire patrol of Gnomes in his first appearance, brings down the Kraken that was singlehandedly wrecking Capaal, and faces down a Jachyra. In ''The Weapon Master's Choice'', Jax takes things even further, slaughtering a small army of mercenaries, and their vampire overlord, with only minimal assistance from a healer.
* VampireHunter: Takes a turn as one of these when he's hired to kill Kronswiff, a [[OurVampiresAreDifferent dracul]] warlock.
Changed line(s) 616 (click to see context) from:
Cogline's adopted granddaughter, Kimber quickly befriends Brin Ohmsford and insists that she, Cogline, and Whisper aid Brin on her journey to the Maelmord. In ''Indomitable'' and ''Dark Wraith of Shannara'', she reappears, and forms first a friendship, and then a romantic relationship, with Brin's brother Jair.
to:
Cogline's adopted granddaughter, Kimber quickly befriends Brin Ohmsford and insists that she, Cogline, and Whisper aid Brin on her journey to the Maelmord. In the novella ''Indomitable'' and the graphic novel ''Dark Wraith of Shannara'', she reappears, and forms first a friendship, and then a romantic relationship, with Brin's brother Jair.
* BareYourMidriff: Rendered this way in ''Dark Wraith''.
Changed line(s) 619 (click to see context) from:
* HookedUpAfterwards: Her relationship with Jair was this until ''Indomitable'' and ''Dark Wraith''.
to:
* HookedUpAfterwards: Her relationship with Jair was this until ''Indomitable'' and ''Dark Wraith''.Wraith'', which explores their developing friendship and eventual romance.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 945 (click to see context) from:
An assassin for hire, and a favourite of Rimmer Dall's. He possesses a knife that can cut through anything, including magical defences. He is sent on the journey with Quickening, with instructions from Rimmer Dall to kill her at the first opportunity, but like Walker, Morgan, and Horner Dees, falls under her spell--a fact which only serves to make him more unstable and dangerous. Calling him a sociopath is putting it mildly.
to:
An assassin for hire, and a favourite of Rimmer Dall's. He possesses the Stiehl, a knife that can cut through anything, including magical defences. He is sent on the journey with Quickening, with instructions from Rimmer Dall to kill her at the first opportunity, but like Walker, Morgan, and Horner Dees, falls under her spell--a fact which only serves to make him more unstable and dangerous. Calling him a sociopath is putting it mildly.
Added DiffLines:
* [[spoiler:AlasPoorVillain: By the time the Koden reaches him, he's aware of how thoroughly he was used, angry with himself and the world, and uncaring about whether he lives or dies. It's possible to feel a degree of empathy for him, terrible person that he may be.]]
Added DiffLines:
* EvenEvilHasStandards: Believes in killing quickly and cleanly, and consequently, hates The Rake, which kills slowly and suffocatingly.
Added DiffLines:
* ItsPersonal: When The Rake comes within milimetres of killing him, Pe Ell becomes determined to hunt the big insect down and kill it.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 699 (click to see context) from:
* TheHero: He's definitely the main character, though not by much.
to:
* TheHero: He's definitely the main character, though not by much.much, and the plot revolves around keeping him out of Rimmer Dall's hands.
* HeroicWannabe: Downplayed. Par is easily the most enthusiastic of the three Ohmsford heirs, but the least capable. Unlike Wren, who is a capable ActionGirl, and Walker who has been living by himself in the Eastland for years, Par has never been more than a storyteller. His MasterOfIllusion powers come in useful, but he needs a lot more help than he thinks he does, and frequently rushes into danger without thinking, something that Coll ends up pointing out to him near the end of ''Scions''.
* HeroicWannabe: Downplayed. Par is easily the most enthusiastic of the three Ohmsford heirs, but the least capable. Unlike Wren, who is a capable ActionGirl, and Walker who has been living by himself in the Eastland for years, Par has never been more than a storyteller. His MasterOfIllusion powers come in useful, but he needs a lot more help than he thinks he does, and frequently rushes into danger without thinking, something that Coll ends up pointing out to him near the end of ''Scions''.
Changed line(s) 705 (click to see context) from:
* TheProtagonist: In ''Scions''
to:
* TheProtagonist: In ''Scions''''Scions''. After that the viewpoint shifts to Walker, then Wren, and ends in an even split in ''Talismans''.
Changed line(s) 764 (click to see context) from:
* TheProtagonist: In ''Druid''
to:
* TheProtagonist: In ''Druid''''Druid''. Morgan Leah and Pe Ell are also viewpoint characters, but this is Walker's quest and storyline that they are a part of. He shares the role of protagonist in ''Talismans'' with Wren and Par, acting as BigGood and mentor figure to the rest of the cast.
Changed line(s) 796 (click to see context) from:
* TheProtagonist: In ''Elf Queen''
to:
* TheProtagonist: In ''Elf Queen''Queen'' where she is the only viewpoint character for the main storyline. She shares the role with Walker and Par in ''Talismans'', acting the SupportingLeader to Walker's BigGood and Par's [[TheHero Hero]].
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 775 (click to see context) from:
Par and Coll's cousin, and the [[spoiler:bearer of the Elfstones]], who lived with them in Shady Vale for a while. Raised by the Rovers in the Westland, Wren is charged by Allanon with bringing the Elves back to the Westland. [[spoiler:Unbeknownst to her, she is secretly their queen, being the offspring of an Ohmsford and an Elessedil.]]
to:
Par and Coll's cousin, and the [[spoiler:bearer of the Elfstones]], who lived with them in Shady Vale for a while.while when she was younger. Raised by the Rovers in the Westland, Wren is charged by Allanon with bringing the Elves back to the Westland. [[spoiler:Unbeknownst to her, she is secretly their queen, being the offspring of an Ohmsford and an Elessedil.]]
Changed line(s) 777 (click to see context) from:
* ActionGirl: A very competent fighter, and a match for any of the men in series.
to:
* ActionGirl: A very competent fighter, and a match for any of the men in series.series (and a fair sight more capable than Par or Coll).
* BoomStick: Averted. Wren could use the power of the Loden Staff to annihilate most of the Shadowen of Morrowindl. Unfortunately, doing so would rob it of the magic needed to restore Arborlon once they reach the Westland so she is forced to refrain.
* TheChainsOfCommanding: Feels them profoundly after she finds herself taking Ellenroh's place in the command roster.
Changed line(s) 784 (click to see context) from:
* FireForgedFriends: How she describes her friendship with Triss in ''Talismans''.
to:
* DoomMagnet: Not to quite the degree of Par, but the [[spoiler:magic of the Elfstones]] attracts Shadowen like nothing else. Luckily it also makes for an effective protection.
* FireForgedFriends: How she describes her friendship withTriss [[PraetorianGuard Triss]] in ''Talismans''.
* FireForgedFriends: How she describes her friendship with
Changed line(s) 786 (click to see context) from:
* HeroicBSOD: In ''Elf Queen''.
to:
* HeroicBSOD: In ''Elf Queen''.Queen'' after one revelation too many causes her to shut down. She gets over it.
* SupportingLeader: Takes on this role in ''Talismans'', joining forces with Padishar Creel's free-born and Axhind's Rock Trolls to confront the Federation military in the Westland while her cousins and uncle break into Southwatch to take down Rimmer Dall.
* [[spoiler:TomboyPrincess: Given that she was a Rover long before she knew she was a Princess this is to be expected]].
* TookALevelInBadass: Over the course of ''Elf Queen'' she shifts from competent ActionGirl to one of the most effective destroyers of Shadowen in the series.
* [[spoiler:TomboyPrincess: Given that she was a Rover long before she knew she was a Princess this is to be expected]].
* TookALevelInBadass: Over the course of ''Elf Queen'' she shifts from competent ActionGirl to one of the most effective destroyers of Shadowen in the series.
Changed line(s) 795 (click to see context) from:
to:
* YouAreInCommandNow: When Ellenroh Elessedil is killed during the trip through Morrowindle, Wren ends up in charge of the rapidly DwindlingParty [[spoiler:and then the entire Elven nation.]]
Changed line(s) 834 (click to see context) from:
to:
* SupportingLeader: As the leader of the free-born, Padishar is responsible for battling the Federation military while the Ohmsfords try to deal with the Shadowen. In ''Scions'' he and his men hold the Federation at The Jut while Par descends into the Pit; in ''Talismans'' he and Wren split the role, taking on the Federation's army in the Westland, while Walker, Coll, Par, Morgan, Damson, and Matty break into Southwatch to free Par and confront Rimmer Dall.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
* TheProtagonist: In ''Scions''
Added DiffLines:
* TheProtagonist: In ''Druid''
Added DiffLines:
* TheProtagonist: In ''Elf Queen''
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 688 (click to see context) from:
A descendant of Jair Ohmsford, and TheHero of the trilogy, he has inherited Jair's MasterOfIllusion powers. Initially a travelling storyteller, he and his brother Coll are summonded, along with Walker Boh and Wren to the Hadeshorn, and given a charge by Allanon. Par's is to retrieve The Sword of Shannara. Desperate to be a hero, he is the first Ohmsford to embrace his charge.
to:
A descendant of Jair Ohmsford, and TheHero of the trilogy, he has inherited Jair's MasterOfIllusion powers. Initially a travelling storyteller, he and his brother Coll are summonded, along with Walker Boh and Wren to the Hadeshorn, and given a charge by Allanon. Par's is to retrieve The Sword of Shannara. Desperate to be a hero, he is the first Ohmsford to embrace his charge.charge, involving himself not only in the quest for The Sword, but in the free-born effort to throw off the Federation.
** AncestralWeapon: [[spoiler:The Sword]] has been part of the family's legacy for centuries at this point.
Changed line(s) 727 (click to see context) from:
A distant relative of Par and Coll's, who briefly lived with them in Shady Vale, where he was nicknamed "The Dark Uncle." Descended from Brin Ohmsford, Walker is tall, pale, and withdrawn, with limited innate magic, including the power to converse with nature and summon a version of the Druid fire. Charged by Allanon with reviving the Druids and Paranor, he is the most reluctant to accept his charge, and initially refuses outright. [[spoiler:He returns in ''Voyage of the Jerle Shannara'', where he undertakes the voyage in order to win support for a new Druid council]]
to:
A distant relative of Par and Coll's, who briefly lived with them in Shady Vale, where he was nicknamed "The Dark Uncle." Uncle" due to his eerie nature and relationship with Par. Descended from Brin Ohmsford, Walker is tall, pale, and withdrawn, with limited innate magic, including the power to converse with nature and summon a version of the Druid fire. Charged by Allanon with reviving the Druids and Paranor, he is the most reluctant to accept his charge, and initially refuses outright. [[spoiler:He returns in ''Voyage of the Jerle Shannara'', where he undertakes the voyage in order to win support for a new Druid council]]
Changed line(s) 736 (click to see context) from:
* DarkIsNotEvil: A ghostly looking man, with black hair and eyes and a sinister countenance, Walker is nevertheless one of the heroes.
to:
* DarkIsNotEvil: A [[LeanAndMean thin]], ghostly looking man, with black hair and eyes and a sinister countenance, Walker is nevertheless one of the heroes.
Changed line(s) 742 (click to see context) from:
* FullContactMagic: Walker Boh will mess you up.
to:
* {{Expy}}: In-universe. After absorbing the memories of all the other Druids, Walker ends up channeling Allanon in particular for all he's worth.
* FriendlessBackground: There were no other children at Hearthstone or Darklin Reach where Walker grew up, and by the time he moved to Shady Vale, his chance to learn how to make friends was long gone.
* FullContactMagic: Walker Boh will mess youup.up with or without his magic.
* FriendlessBackground: There were no other children at Hearthstone or Darklin Reach where Walker grew up, and by the time he moved to Shady Vale, his chance to learn how to make friends was long gone.
* FullContactMagic: Walker Boh will mess you
* HonoraryUncle: Walker is actually Par and Coll's distant cousin. His relationship with Par, however, is much more uncle/nephew, and Par, Coll, and Wren usually refer to him as their Uncle Walker.
* {{Irony}}: The man who hates the Druids more than anybody else ends up becoming the first of their new order.
* MoralityPet: Par is one for him in ''Scions''; only Par being in trouble can persuade Walker to leave Hearthstone and meet with the shade of Allanon.
* ParentalAbandonment: His mother died when he was a child, his father when he was in his late teens, leaving Walker to spend seven miserable years in Shady Vale.
* ParentalAbandonment: His mother died when he was a child, his father when he was in his late teens, leaving Walker to spend seven miserable years in Shady Vale.
Changed line(s) 766 (click to see context) from:
Par and Coll's cousin, and the [[spoiler:bearer of the Elfstones]]. Raised by the Rovers in the Westland, Wren is charged by Allanon with bringing the Elves back to the Westland. [[spoiler:Unbeknownst to her, she is secretly their queen.]]
to:
Par and Coll's cousin, and the [[spoiler:bearer of the Elfstones]].Elfstones]], who lived with them in Shady Vale for a while. Raised by the Rovers in the Westland, Wren is charged by Allanon with bringing the Elves back to the Westland. [[spoiler:Unbeknownst to her, she is secretly their queen.queen, being the offspring of an Ohmsford and an Elessedil.]]
Changed line(s) 812 (click to see context) from:
The leader of the Freeborn resistance, and a descendent of Panamon Creel. He is delighted to hear about the Ohmsfords' missions, and does everything in his power to aid both them and Morgan. Probably the most implacable, if [[BunnyEarsLawyer odd]] enemy that The Federation has.
to:
The leader of the Freeborn free-born resistance, and a descendent of Panamon Creel. Creel, Padishar saves Par and Coll from Rimmer Dall early on. He is delighted to hear about the Ohmsfords' missions, and does everything in his power to aid both them and Morgan.Morgan, in the hopes that by destroying the Shadowen, they will cripple the Federation. Probably the most implacable, if [[BunnyEarsLawyer odd]] enemy that The Federation has.
Added DiffLines:
* TheLeader: Of the free-born, having disposed of all the other contenders and gained control over The Movement. He's a Type IV, leading through his charismatic personality, and ruthless will.
Added DiffLines:
* FullNameBasis: He's always Pe Ell, never "Pe" or "Ell".
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
* DistressedDude: Spends most of ''Talismans'' as Rimmer Dall's prisoner.
* DoomMagnet: Justified. Shadowen are drawn to magic, and few people have magic to match Par's.
* DoomMagnet: Justified. Shadowen are drawn to magic, and few people have magic to match Par's.
Changed line(s) 695 (click to see context) from:
* GlassCannon[=/=]SquishyWizard: Par for the course with Wishsong users. Par is a not-particularly tough kid, with a tremendous amount of power at his disposal.
to:
* GlassCannon[=/=]SquishyWizard: Par Paar for the course with Wishsong users. Par is a not-particularly tough kid, with a tremendous amount of power at his disposal.
* InTheBlood: Inherited his use of the Wishsong from Jair, though it eventually takes on a shape more akin to that used by Brin.
* MasterOfIllusion: Like his ancestor, Jair, Par can use the Wishsong to create lifelike illusions. Initially this is all he can do with it.
Changed line(s) 701 (click to see context) from:
* RealityWarper
to:
* RealityWarperRealityWarper: His Wishsong eventually spins completely out of control, reaching levels of reality warping that even Brin never did.
* DeathFakedForYou: By Rimmer Dall, who fakes Coll's death to screw with Par, then lets Par discover him alive in order to mess with him even more.
* DistressedDude: Coll has no combat skills, and consequently gets into trouble a lot, regularly having to be rescued.
* DistressedDude: Coll has no combat skills, and consequently gets into trouble a lot, regularly having to be rescued.
Changed line(s) 717,719 (click to see context) from:
* TheTeamNormal: The only Shannara descendent with no magic whatsoever.
* UnwittingPawn: Of Rimmer Dall.
* UnwittingPawn: Of Rimmer Dall.
to:
* TheTeamNormal: The only Shannara descendent with no magic whatsoever.whatsoever and no charge from Allanon. [[spoiler:Subverted in the end by his use of the Sword of Shannara]].
* UnwittingPawn: Of RimmerDall.
Dall who uses him as part of his campaign to torment Par.
* UnwittingPawn: Of Rimmer
Changed line(s) 721 (click to see context) from:
A distant relative of Par and Coll's, who briefly lived with them in Shady Vale, where he was nicknamed "The Dark Uncle." Descended from Brin Ohmsford, Walker is tall, pale, and withdrawn, with limited innate magic, including the power to converse with nature. Charged by Allanon with reviving the Druids and Paranor, he is the most reluctant to accept his charge, and initially refuses outright. [[spoiler:He returns in ''Voyage of the Jerle Shannara'', where he undertakes the voyage in order to win support for a new Druid council]]
to:
A distant relative of Par and Coll's, who briefly lived with them in Shady Vale, where he was nicknamed "The Dark Uncle." Descended from Brin Ohmsford, Walker is tall, pale, and withdrawn, with limited innate magic, including the power to converse with nature.nature and summon a version of the Druid fire. Charged by Allanon with reviving the Druids and Paranor, he is the most reluctant to accept his charge, and initially refuses outright. [[spoiler:He returns in ''Voyage of the Jerle Shannara'', where he undertakes the voyage in order to win support for a new Druid council]]
Changed line(s) 726 (click to see context) from:
* BlackEyesOfEvil: Subverted.
to:
* BigGood: Assumes this role near the end of the ''Heritage'' tetralogy, and continues it into the ''Voyage'' trilogy, stepping into the space vacated by Allanon.
* BlackEyesOfEvil:Subverted.Subverted as part of his DarkIsNotEvil motif.
* BlackEyesOfEvil:
Changed line(s) 729 (click to see context) from:
* DarkIsNotEvil
to:
* DarkIsNotEvilDarkIsNotEvil: A ghostly looking man, with black hair and eyes and a sinister countenance, Walker is nevertheless one of the heroes.
Changed line(s) 736 (click to see context) from:
* [[spoiler:GhostlyAdvisor: To Grianne]].
to:
* [[spoiler:GhostlyAdvisor: To Grianne]].Grianne during ''High Druid'']].
* TheLeader: Eventually assumes this position in any group he is a part of. Combination Type I and IV.
Changed line(s) 750,751 (click to see context) from:
* RefusalOfTheCall: Initially. Eventually he decides he has to do something about the Federation.
* TheSmartGuy: Much of the time.
* TheSmartGuy: Much of the time.
to:
* RefusalOfTheCall: Initially. Eventually he decides he has to do something about the Federation.
Federation and takes up Allanon's charge.
* ReluctantHero: Walker does not want to help the Druids, and deeply resents his own magic. Yet in the end he can't turn away from what the Federation and the Shadowen are doing.
* TheSmartGuy:Much of In most groups Walker will be the time.idea man.
* ReluctantHero: Walker does not want to help the Druids, and deeply resents his own magic. Yet in the end he can't turn away from what the Federation and the Shadowen are doing.
* TheSmartGuy:
Changed line(s) 753 (click to see context) from:
* SquishyWizard: Look at this trope list. To say that Walker averts this without ever becoming a MagicKnight or a KungFuWizard would be putting it lightly.
to:
* SquishyWizard: Look at this trope list. To say that Walker averts this without ever becoming a MagicKnight or a KungFuWizard would be putting it lightly.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 721 (click to see context) from:
A distant relative of Par and Coll's, who briefly lived with them in Shady Vale, where he was nicknamed "The Dark Uncle." Descended from Brin Ohmsford, Walker is tall, pale, and withdrawn, with limited innate magic, including the power to converse with nature. Charged by Allanon with reviving the Druids and Paranor, he is the most reluctant to accept his charge, and initially refuses outright.
to:
A distant relative of Par and Coll's, who briefly lived with them in Shady Vale, where he was nicknamed "The Dark Uncle." Descended from Brin Ohmsford, Walker is tall, pale, and withdrawn, with limited innate magic, including the power to converse with nature. Charged by Allanon with reviving the Druids and Paranor, he is the most reluctant to accept his charge, and initially refuses outright. [[spoiler:He returns in ''Voyage of the Jerle Shannara'', where he undertakes the voyage in order to win support for a new Druid council]]
Changed line(s) 723 (click to see context) from:
* {{Badass}}: One of the biggest ones in the series.
to:
* {{Badass}}: One of the biggest ones in the series. Walker has fought faerie beings, Shadowen, and robotic hunter-killer drones. He's been poisoned, lost an arm, dodged laser fire, and fought Rimmer Dall mano-a-mano. It takes [[spoiler:Antrax, a being from another time to bring him down, and even then, Walker out lives Antrax by half a book, even with a fatal injury]].
* BlackEyesOfEvil: Subverted.
* EeriePaleSkinnedBrunette: Walker can't actually tan. The sun just seems to be reflected away from him.
* IneffectualLoner: In ''Scions'', when he's doing his best to convince himself that he doesn't want to be a part of society.
Changed line(s) 747 (click to see context) from:
* RefusalOfTheCall: Initially.
to:
* RefusalOfTheCall: Initially. Eventually he decides he has to do something about the Federation.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 631 (click to see context) from:
to:
* TheVoiceless
Changed line(s) 729,730 (click to see context) from:
* {{Determinator}}: He made it home after losing his arm, he crawls after Rimmer Dall's attack despite being near dying, he [[spoiler:survives half a book with a fatal injury in the sequel]]; there's not much you can hit Walker with that he hasn't been hit with.
* SpeaksFluentAnimal: Can talk to least moor cats and other animals.
* SpeaksFluentAnimal: Can talk to least moor cats and other animals.
to:
* {{Determinator}}: He made it home after losing his arm, he crawls out of his home after Rimmer Dall's attack despite being near dying, he [[spoiler:survives half a book with a fatal injury in the sequel]]; there's not much you can hit Walker with that he hasn't been hit with.
*SpeaksFluentAnimal: TheEmpath: Can talk usually read the emotions of others, allowing him to least moor cats avoid conflict and other animals.serve as a mediator when he cares to.
* EvilUncle: Invoked and subverted. The people of Shady Vale see him as one, but he's actually trying to be a mentor to Par.
*
* EvilUncle: Invoked and subverted. The people of Shady Vale see him as one, but he's actually trying to be a mentor to Par.
* SpeaksFluentAnimal: Can talk to moor cats and other animals.
Changed line(s) 774 (click to see context) from:
* BadAss: By the end he's going through Shadowen as if they weren't even there, despite being broken as heck over what happened to Quickening.
to:
* BadAss: By the end he's going Goes through Shadowen as if though they weren't aren't even there, despite being broken as heck over what happened to Quickening.and is probably the most competent fighter in the main cast.
* RoyalsWhoActuallyDoSomething: Transitions from a loafer who focuses on making life difficult for the Federation occupiers, to a resistance leader, strategist, and fighter.
* TheBigGuy: Plays this role in the group that storms Southwatch.
* {{Expy}}: Of Whisper before him.
* {{Expy}}: Of Whisper before him.
Changed line(s) 840 (click to see context) from:
* PantheraAwesome
to:
* PantheraAwesomePantheraAwesome: Like Whisper, Rumour can, and will, take on beings spawned from dark magic using just his natuarl weapons.
Changed line(s) 843 (click to see context) from:
to:
* TheVoiceless
Changed line(s) 882 (click to see context) from:
A member of the Dwarf Resistance. Girlfriend of Steff, Morgan's contact. Tortured by the Shadowen, she has no face, and speaks very little. [[spoiler:Eventually outed as Shadowen, she betrays the group, murders Steff, and is slain by Morgan]].
to:
A member of the Dwarf Resistance. Girlfriend of Steff, Morgan's contact. Tortured by the Shadowen, Federation, she has no face, and speaks very little. [[spoiler:Eventually outed as Shadowen, she betrays the group, murders Steff, and is slain by Morgan]].
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
* FullNameBasis: Always "Cree Bega", never just one or the other.
Added DiffLines:
* FullNameBasis: Always addressed by his full name (or his title).
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
* ActionSurvivor: Of the trek through Morrowindl.
Added DiffLines:
* HeroicSelfDeprecation: Has a very low opinion of herself during the latter part of ''Elf Queen''.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 1249 (click to see context) from:
A broken, deadly young woman who can kill with her voice, the Ilse Witch makes her home off the coast, where she plots revenge against Walker for imagined wrongs. Hearing of his quest to obtain the books of what she believes to be old magic, she gathers her own airship crew and sets off in pursuit of him. [[spoiler:She is eventually revealed to be Bek's sister, Grianne, and reforms, turning against her mentor, [[BigBad The Morgawr]]. She reappears in ''High Druid of Shannara'' as the High Druid of the new Druid Order.]]
to:
A broken, deadly young woman who can kill with her voice, the Ilse Witch makes her home off the coast, where she plots revenge against Walker for imagined wrongs. Hearing of his quest to obtain the books of what she believes to be old magic, she gathers her own airship crew and sets off in pursuit of him. [[spoiler:She is eventually revealed to be Bek's sister, Grianne, and reforms, turning against her mentor, [[BigBad The Morgawr]]. She reappears in ''High Druid of Shannara'' as the High Druid of the new Druid Order.Order and in ''Dark Legacy of Shannara'' as a Witch-Wraith.]]
Changed line(s) 1251 (click to see context) from:
* [[ArchEnemy Archenemies]]: She thinks she and Walker are.
to:
* [[ArchEnemy Archenemies]]: She thinks she and Walker are. One could make a convincing case for her and [[spoiler:Tael Riverine reaching this status in reality]].
Changed line(s) 1283,1284 (click to see context) from:
* WizardDuel: Against [[spoiler:The Morgawr.]]
to:
* WizardDuel: Against [[spoiler:The Morgawr.Morgawr and Tael Riverine.]]
Changed line(s) 1551 (click to see context) from:
A high-ranking Straken Lord (Demon Lord) and one of the leaders of Demonic society following the death of The Dagda Mor. He conceived the plot to trap Grianne Ohmsford within The Forbidding in exchange for unleashing The Moric into the world. He later captures Grianne and tries to force her into mating with him.
to:
A high-ranking Straken Lord (Demon Lord) and one of the leaders of Demonic society following the death of The Dagda Mor. He conceived the plot to trap Grianne Ohmsford within The Forbidding in exchange for unleashing The Moric into the world. He later captures Grianne and tries to force her into mating with him. [[spoiler:Escaping scott free, he returns as TheBigBad of ''Dark Legacy of Shannara'']].
* {{Archenemy}}: One could make a convincing case for his being Grianne's.
Changed line(s) 1554,1555 (click to see context) from:
** [[spoiler: The wraith of the Ilse Witch]] uses this against him in ''Dark Legacy''. [[spoiler: By very publicly outwitting, humiliating, and final killing him, she breaks any loyalty that his demon forces- who only value rule by strength- had for him]].
* BigBad: Directly or indirectly, all the problems that Pen and Grianne go through in this series can be traced back to Tael's manipulations. He pulls the same role in ''Dark Legacy''.
* BigBad: Directly or indirectly, all the problems that Pen and Grianne go through in this series can be traced back to Tael's manipulations. He pulls the same role in ''Dark Legacy''.
to:
** [[spoiler: The wraith of the Ilse Witch]] uses this against him in ''Dark Legacy''. [[spoiler: By very publicly outwitting, humiliating, and final finally killing him, she breaks any loyalty that his demon forces- who only value rule by strength- had for him]].
* BigBad: Directly or indirectly, all the problems that Pen and Grianne go through in this series can be traced back to Tael's manipulations. Hepulls plays the same role in ''Dark Legacy''.
* BigBad: Directly or indirectly, all the problems that Pen and Grianne go through in this series can be traced back to Tael's manipulations. He
Changed line(s) 1567 (click to see context) from:
* TheManBehindTheMan: To the traitor Druids, who believe that they are equal partners with him. Also to The Federation, during the brief time period when The Moric was impersonating Sen Dunsidan. In ''Dark Legacy'' he's had enough of that [[spoiler: so he just invades directly]].
to:
* TheManBehindTheMan: To the traitor Druids, who believe that they are equal partners with him. Also to The Federation, during the brief time period when The Moric was impersonating Sen Dunsidan. In ''Dark Legacy'' he's had enough of that [[spoiler: so [[spoiler:so he just invades directly]].
Changed line(s) 1572,1573 (click to see context) from:
* VillainousBreakdown: He goes increasingly berserk across ''Dark Legacy'' when he can't find Grianne. [[spoiler: Goes even worse when he ''does'' find her, and she's an undead wraith who then duels him, kills him, and takes his place]].
to:
* VillainousBreakdown: He goes increasingly berserk across ''Dark Legacy'' when he can't find Grianne. [[spoiler: Goes [[spoiler:It gets even worse when he ''does'' find her, and she's an undead wraith who then duels him, kills him, and takes his place]].
