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* ItSucksToBeTheChosenOne: Morgon, full-stop
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* StandardRoyalCourt: Inverted, subverted and every other verted. Only An, Ymris and Herun have anything resembling such. Morgon's 'court' includes his pig keeper and is basically just a large farm household.
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* ZeroApprovalGambit
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* ZeroApprovalGambitZeroApprovalGambit [[spoiler: Deth aka The High One]]. Also Mathom of An who outrages his lords and his heir by leaving An to search - or so he says - for Morgon leaving his kingdom to be overwhelmed by the ancient and hostile ghosts he holds in check.
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* PhysicalGod: The High One and the Earth-masters.
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* PhysicalGod: The High One and the Earth-masters.Earth-masters.
* PunnyName: Deth. It's actually short for Tirunedeth, but he uses the abbreviation because he claims it amuses his master the High One.
* PunnyName: Deth. It's actually short for Tirunedeth, but he uses the abbreviation because he claims it amuses his master the High One.
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Additional background
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The series takes place in a world where all wisdom is couched in the form of riddles to be solved. The land is divided into kingdoms whose rulers are magically linked to their realms. This "land-rule" is governed by a mysterious figure known as the High One.
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** The author is on record that one of the direct inspirations for the series is the "Paths of the Dead" sequence from Return of the King, which influence can be seen in the binding of the dead kings of An in the third book.
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-->[[spoiler:"I am Ghisteslwchlohm, the Founder of Lungold, and--as you have guessed--it's destroyer. I am the High One."]]
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-->[[spoiler:"I am Ghisteslwchlohm, the Founder of Lungold, and--as you have guessed--it's guessed--its destroyer. I am the High One."]]
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* MakeMeWannaShout
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* MakeMeWannaShoutMakeMeWannaShout: When people are emotional, they can give Great Shouts capable of shattering stone. It doesn't seem like something they can weaponize so much as a type of PowerIncontinence, since nobody is ever shown doing it deliberately.
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* WhamLine: At least one per book, but the most obvious is at the very end of the first book:
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* WhamLine: At least one per book, but the most obvious is at the very end of the first book:book, when [[spoiler:Morgan's mentor, Ohm, reveals that he's simultaneously the BigBad, Ghisteslwchlohm, and what people thought was the BigGood, the High One]]:
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* AbusivePrecursors: [[spoiler: The Earth-Masters]].
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* AerithAndBob: While most names are a bit strange, they still range from the relatively-normal Tristan and Morgon to ''Ghisteslwchlohm''.
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* AerithAndBob: While most names are a bit strange, they still range from the relatively-normal Tristan and Morgon to ''Ghisteslwchlohm''. Of course, there's some cultural differences at work here; Tristan and Morgon are both from Hed, which has the most "normal" names, and while Ghisteslwchlohm's origins are never explained, it's speculated that he's from Herun, where OverlyLongNames are the norm.
* AGodAmI: [[spoiler: Ghisteslwchlohm impersonating the High One. He knows he's not the real deal, but as the most powerful being in the realm, he figures he can make a better go at it than anyone. His ultimate plan was to use Morgon to acquire the land-law of all the realm's kingdoms, becoming the High One in truth]].
* BigGood: The High One. [[spoiler: That's the real one, mind, not Ghisteslwchlohm]]. It turns out that the whole plot was actually [[spoiler: him grooming Morgon to take his place]].
** BigBadEnsemble: For most of the trilogy, the shape-changers and Ghisteslwchlohm represent entirely separate threats, sometimes working at cross-purposes.
* TheChessmaster: Ghisteslwchlohm is good. The shape-changers are better. [[spoiler: The true High One tops them all]].
* EverythingsBetterWithPrincesses: Though the word "princess" is never actually used, Raederle, Lyra, and Tristan are all young women of royal extraction who happen to be main characters.
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* OurGhostsAreDifferent
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* OurGhostsAreDifferentOurGhostsAreDifferent: The numerous wraiths in An, most obviously.
* OutOfFocus: Morgon is the main character of the first book; in the second, he barely appears, and Raederle is the focus character instead. The third book splits the focus between them.
* OutOfFocus: Morgon is the main character of the first book; in the second, he barely appears, and Raederle is the focus character instead. The third book splits the focus between them.
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* WizardsLiveLonger:
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* WizardsLiveLonger:WizardsLiveLonger: All the wizards are centuries old at least; it's implied that they do die of old age eventually, but exactly how long they last isn't specified. This also holds true for some other magic-users who aren't wizards, like the more powerful land rulers; Har is roughly two thousand years old, and Danan Isig may be even older.
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* EvilMentor: Ghisteslwchlohm's standard operating procedure. He does it at least twice, once in the backstory [[spoiler:when he founded Lungold to control the other wizards, then destroyed it when they started to catch on;]] and once [[spoiler:in the modern day to Morgon, while posing as Ohm.]]
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* EvilMentor: Ghisteslwchlohm's standard operating procedure. He does it at least twice, repeatedly, once in the backstory [[spoiler:when he founded Lungold to control the other wizards, then destroyed it when they started to catch on;]] and on]], once [[spoiler:in the modern day to Morgon, while posing as Ohm.Ohm]], and once in a more overarching sense [[spoiler:by posing as the High One.]]
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* EvilSorcerer: Ghisteslwchlohm
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* EvilMentor: Ghisteslwchlohm's standard operating procedure. He does it at least twice, once in the backstory [[spoiler:when he founded Lungold to control the other wizards, then destroyed it when they started to catch on;]] and once [[spoiler:in the modern day to Morgon, while posing as Ohm.]]
* EvilSorcerer:Ghisteslwchlohm Ghisteslwchlohm
* EvilSorcerer:
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* MakeMeWannaShout
* MakeMeWannaShout
* NobleFugitive: The High One is nearly murdered by his heir.
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* NobleFugitive: The High One is nearly murdered by his heir.
* OmniscientMoralityLicense: [[spoiler: Deth]] only does what he must and he's willing to take any punishment for doing what's necessary.
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* OmniscientMoralityLicense: [[spoiler: Deth]] only does what he must and he's willing to take any punishment for doing what's necessary.
* PursuedProtagonist: Deth and Morgon.
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* PursuedProtagonist: Deth and Morgon.
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* WorldsMostBeautifulWoman: Played with, in that Raederle is officially the ''second'' most beautiful woman "in all the Three Portions of An."
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* WorldsMostBeautifulWoman: Played with, in that Raederle is officially the ''second'' most beautiful woman "in all the Three Portions of An."
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YMMV
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* {{Expy}}: The author is an explicit fan of ''Literature/TheLordOfTheRings'', and while this series is considerably different as a whole, there is one example of this- Ghisteslwchlohm bears a striking resemblence in many respects to Saruman.
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* {{Expy}}: The author is an explicit fan of ''Literature/TheLordOfTheRings'', and while this series is considerably different as a whole, there is one example of this- Ghisteslwchlohm bears a striking resemblence resemblance in many respects to Saruman.
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* OneSceneWonder: Rood and the Mathom and Duac Show.
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* OverlyLongName: A Herun tradition, apparently, which is why they all go by shortened versiona of their names - e.g. Elrhiarhodan and her daughter Lyraluthuin are El and Lyra to their friends
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* OverlyLongName: A Herun tradition, apparently, which is why they all go by shortened versiona versions of their names - e.g. Elrhiarhodan and her daughter Lyraluthuin are El and Lyra to their friends
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* [[LeftJustifiedFantasyMap Right Justified Fantasy Map]]: It seems that human colonisation of the High One's realm came from over the Eastern sea, and never extended into the harsh Bad Lands further West.
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* [[LeftJustifiedFantasyMap Right Justified Fantasy Map]]: It seems that human colonisation colonization of the High One's realm came from over the Eastern sea, and never extended into the harsh Bad Lands further West.
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* SacredHospitality: Har once cursed a man for failure.
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* AfterActionHealingDrama: When Morgan is wounded on the plain.
* AfterActionPatchup: When Astrin is attacked on the plain.
* AfterActionPatchup: When Astrin is attacked on the plain.
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* AnxietyDreams: Raederle has them before they learn who won the crown.
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* FearlessFool: Morgan thinks he may be this.
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typo
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* [[LeftJustifiedFantasyMap Rignt Justified Fantasy Map]]: It seems that human colonisation of the High One's realm came from over the Eastern sea, and never extended into the harsh Bad Lands further West.
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* [[LeftJustifiedFantasyMap Rignt Right Justified Fantasy Map]]: It seems that human colonisation of the High One's realm came from over the Eastern sea, and never extended into the harsh Bad Lands further West.
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It doesn\'t really meet most of the requirements on the standard fantasy setting page.
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''The Riddle-Master Trilogy'' is a HighFantasy trilogy by Creator/PatriciaAMcKillip which takes place in a more-or-less StandardFantasySetting with a MoralityKitchenSink. The novels in the trilogy are:
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''The Riddle-Master Trilogy'' is a HighFantasy trilogy by Creator/PatriciaAMcKillip which takes place in a more-or-less StandardFantasySetting with a MoralityKitchenSink. The novels in the trilogy are:
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* [[ArmorPiercingQuestion Armor-Piercing Statement]]: [[spoiler: "They were promised a man of peace."]]
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the book never suggested that they were in love to start with
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* StandardHeroReward: Lampshaded. When Morgan finds out that a king swore his daughter to anyone who could win a contest he'd just won, he asks how anyone could be so ''stupid'' as to make such a promise. Luckily, they were already in love (and it's implied that the king had some ability to see the future and foresee this outcome.)
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* StandardHeroReward: Lampshaded. When Morgan finds out that a king swore his daughter to anyone who could win a contest he'd just won, he asks how anyone could be so ''stupid'' as to make such a promise. Luckily, they were there was already in love some attraction between the two (and it's implied that the king had some ability to see the future and foresee this outcome.)
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It\'s really not a standard fantasy setting (there are no normal magical creatures or standard fantasy races, everything is governed by a unique system of supernatural land-heirs, etc.)
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* StandardFantasySetting
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* StandardFantasySettingStandardHeroReward: Lampshaded. When Morgan finds out that a king swore his daughter to anyone who could win a contest he'd just won, he asks how anyone could be so ''stupid'' as to make such a promise. Luckily, they were already in love (and it's implied that the king had some ability to see the future and foresee this outcome.)
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* AerithAndBob: While most names are a bit strange, they still range from the relatively-normal Lyra and Morgon to ''Ghisteslwchlohm''.
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* AerithAndBob: While most names are a bit strange, they still range from the relatively-normal Lyra Tristan and Morgon to ''Ghisteslwchlohm''.
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* WhamLine: At least one per book, but the most obvious is at the very end of the first book:
-->[[spoiler:"I am Ghisteslwchlohm, the Founder of Lungold, and--as you have guessed--it's destroyer. I am the High One."]]
-->[[spoiler:"I am Ghisteslwchlohm, the Founder of Lungold, and--as you have guessed--it's destroyer. I am the High One."]]
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* AerithAndBob: While most names are a bit strange, they still range from the relatively-normal Lyra and Morgon to ''Ghisteslwchlohm''.
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* HiddenDepths
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* HiddenDepthsHiddenDepths: Several characters, including Morgon, the peaceful farmer-Prince of a remote island, who is the last one anyone (including himself) expects to get caught up in prophecies that will affect all the lands; Raederle, who has inherited more than she knows or wants to know from the mysterious shapeshifters beneath the sea; and the pig-woman of An who Raederle befriends.
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ok, maybe that bit actually was redundant
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* '''Raederle of An''': the "second most beautiful woman in the three portions of An", and daughter of the land-ruler of An. She was promised by her father Mathom to the man who would defeat Peven and win his crown (as Morgon has just done when the story starts). She is the RebelliousPrincess protagonist of the second book, ''Heir of Sea and Fire''.
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* '''Raederle of An''': the "second most beautiful woman in the three portions of An", and daughter of the land-ruler of An. She was promised by her father Mathom to the man who would defeat Peven and win his crown (as Morgon has just done when the story starts).crown. She is the RebelliousPrincess protagonist of the second book, ''Heir of Sea and Fire''.
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* '''Raederle of An''': the "second most beautiful woman in the three portions of An", and daughter of the land-ruler of An. She was promised by her father Mathom to the man who would defeat Peven and, she is the RebelliousPrincess protagonist of the second book, ''Heir of Sea and Fire''.
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* '''Raederle of An''': the "second most beautiful woman in the three portions of An", and daughter of the land-ruler of An. She was promised by her father Mathom to the man who would defeat Peven and, she and win his crown (as Morgon has just done when the story starts). She is the RebelliousPrincess protagonist of the second book, ''Heir of Sea and Fire''.
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The third novel, ''Harpist in the Wind'', was nominated for the HugoAward and the WorldFantasyAward, and the series remains one of [=McKillip=]'s most popular works. Several {{Omnibus}} editions have been produced under various names, including ''Riddle of Stars'', ''Quest of Riddlemasters'', and ''The Riddlemaster's Game''.
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* '''Raederle of An''': Princess of An, promised by her father Mathom to the man who would defeat Peven and [[RebelliousPrincess protagonist]] of the second book.
The third novel, ''Harpist in the Wind'', was nominated for the HugoAward and the WorldFantasyAward. Several {{Omnibus}} editions have been produced under various names, including ''Riddle of Stars'', ''Quest of Riddlemasters'', and ''The Riddlemaster's Game''.
The third novel, ''Harpist in the Wind'', was nominated for the HugoAward and the WorldFantasyAward. Several {{Omnibus}} editions have been produced under various names, including ''Riddle of Stars'', ''Quest of Riddlemasters'', and ''The Riddlemaster's Game''.
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* '''Raederle of An''': Princess the "second most beautiful woman in the three portions of An, An", and daughter of the land-ruler of An. She was promised by her father Mathom to the man who would defeat Peven and [[RebelliousPrincess protagonist]] and, she is the RebelliousPrincess protagonist of the second book.
The third novel, ''Harpist in the Wind'', was nominated for the HugoAwardbook, ''Heir of Sea and the WorldFantasyAward. Several {{Omnibus}} editions have been produced under various names, including ''Riddle of Stars'', ''Quest of Riddlemasters'', and ''The Riddlemaster's Game''.Fire''.
The third novel, ''Harpist in the Wind'', was nominated for the HugoAward
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fix trope name
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* MagicalAssassin: A shapeshifter nearly suffocates Morgon with a song.
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* MusicalAssassin: A shapeshifter nearly suffocates Morgon with a song.
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moved to namespace and renamed to match the name used by most other sites (like The Other Wiki)
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''The Riddle-Master Trilogy'' is a HighFantasy trilogy by Creator/PatriciaAMcKillip which takes place in a more-or-less StandardFantasySetting with a MoralityKitchenSink. The novels in the trilogy are:
* ''The Riddle-Master of Hed''
* ''Heir of Sea and Fire''
* ''Harpist in the Wind''
Morgon was a student before his parents died and he became the land-ruler of Hed. He was born with a birth mark of three stars on his forehead which are the subject of prophecy, although he tries to ignore that. When the High One's harpist, Deth, comes to visit during his travels, he informs Morgon that Raederle of An's hand in marriage [[EngagementChallenge was promised to whomever could defeat Peven of Aum in a riddle game]] and that An has been in an uproar ever since Peven told the last person to challenge him that he was too late. Morgon admits that he won Peven's crown in a riddle game and resolves to go with Deth to visit Raederle and offer himself in marriage.
Before they can get very far, their ship is attacked by [[ShapeShifter shape-changers]] who are determined to kill [[TheChosenOne The Starbearer]] aka Morgon. For his very life, Morgon travels with Deth to the High One on Erlenstar Mountain in search of an answer to the riddle of three stars.
The second book follows Raederle of An, Lyra of Herun, and Morgon's sister Tristan as they search for Morgon, Deth, and the High One, who are all now considered missing ever since Morgon reached the High One and fell out of all contact. The third book deals with the growing war against the [[ShapeShifter shape-changers]] and the continuing search for the truth about the High One.
The main characters:
* '''Morgon of Hed''': aka [[TheChosenOne The Star-Bearer]]. He is the Prince of Hed and least important of land-rulers. He was born with three stars on his forehead which are the subject of some of the oldest unsolved riddles. Before [[ParentalAbandonment his parents died]] Morgan attended [[WizardingSchool Caithnard]] where he studied riddle mastery. Shortly before the first book he secretly bet his life in a riddle game that hundreds of men have died attempting. He keeps the crown he won [[ModestRoyalty under his bed]] and [[IJustWantToBeNormal just wants]] [[CallToAgriculture to farm]].
* '''Deth''': The High One's harpist and Morgon's closest friend and [[TheObiWan mentor]]. He guides Morgon to Erlenstar Mountain.
* '''Raederle of An''': Princess of An, promised by her father Mathom to the man who would defeat Peven and [[RebelliousPrincess protagonist]] of the second book.
The third novel, ''Harpist in the Wind'', was nominated for the HugoAward and the WorldFantasyAward. Several {{Omnibus}} editions have been produced under various names, including ''Riddle of Stars'', ''Quest of Riddlemasters'', and ''The Riddlemaster's Game''.
----
!!Tropes Used:
* ActionGirl: Lyra of Herun, who is herself the leader of the Morgol's all-female guard.
* ActualPacifist: Morgon until he is betrayed. He is brought back to himself, brutally and then broken in half all over again out of necessity.
* TheAloner: Astrin, Deth, Morgon and Har.
* AmazonBrigade: The Morgol's guard.
* AmplifierArtifact: The twelve-sided crystal Raederle finds that more than does the job for a simple reflection spell.
* AnguishedDeclarationOfLove: [[spoiler: Deth]] to Morgon. (Unusually for this trope, a familial rather than romantic love.)
* {{Arcadia}}: Hed.
* BadDreams: Morgon dreams about Deth's harping.
* BecomingTheMask: [[spoiler: Deth]].
* BellyOfTheWhale: Morgon, [[spoiler: during the year in which Ghisteslwchlohm imprisons him. Since the land-rule passes to Eliard, everyone assumes Morgan is dead.]]
* BigBad: The shape-changers; the one impersonating Eriel is heavily implied to be the mastermind.
** BigBadWannabe: [[spoiler: Ghisteslwchlohm thinks he's got everything under control- and then he runs into the Earth-masters and ends up their mind-controlled puppet]].
* BigNo: Morgon's Great Shout at the end of the first book.
* BlowYouAway
* BrokenPedestal: Master Ohm/Ghisteslwchlohm and [[spoiler: Deth, for most of the last two books until the whole scope of his plan is revealed]].
* CallToAgriculture: Morgon wants to be a peaceful farmer, not the ChosenOne.
* TheChosenOne: Morgon.
* DeadpanSnarker: Deth.
* DeadpersonImpersonation: Multiple times throughout the series.
* TheDragon: [[spoiler: Ghisteslwchlohm]] ends up forced to play this role to [[spoiler: "Eriel" and the Earth-masters]].
* TheDrifter: Deth
* DysfunctionalFamily: Morgon's family - Morgon, Eliard and Tristan - and Raederle's - currently Mathom, Raederle, Duac and Rood.
** And let's not forget the ruling family of Ymris - Astrin, Heureu, and [[spoiler: Heureu's shape-changer wife]] Eriel.
** The remaining ruling families seem surprisingly well-adjusted, for people who can [[spoiler: live a thousand years, see through walls and turn themselves into trees.]]
* ElementalPowers: Hereditary in humans and highly developed in the Shape-changers. Magic doesn't seem to be limited to one particular element, but some characters specialize.
* ElementsOfNature: Earth, Fire, Water and Wind.
* EngagementChallenge: Raederle has been offered by her father to the man who can defeat Peven in a riddle game. It's been considered unwinnable for centuries before Morgon comes along.
* EvilSorcerer: Ghisteslwchlohm
* {{Expy}}: The author is an explicit fan of ''Literature/TheLordOfTheRings'', and while this series is considerably different as a whole, there is one example of this- Ghisteslwchlohm bears a striking resemblence in many respects to Saruman.
* EyesOfGold: All the Morgols of Herun have them; it's a side-effect of the power that lets them see through solid objects.
* FakeKing: [[spoiler: Ghisteslwchlohm]].
* FallenHero: [[spoiler: Morgon in the second book]].
* FieryRedhead: Raederle and her brother Rood.
* {{Fingore}}: Deth is a foremost a harpist even after his hands are destroyed as punishment by [[spoiler: Ghisteslwchilohm]].
* FisherKing: The land-rulers are all benevolent examples.
* ForcedToWatch: [[spoiler: Deth]], if not by [[spoiler: Ghisteslwchlohm]] then by his own conscience and because there's nothing he can do to save Morgon.
* FunctionalMagic: Inherent Gift is pretty common, particularly among land-rulers and their families; the whole world is filled with Wild Magic; Rule Magic has largely disappeared with the wizards [[spoiler: but returns with them]].
* GeometricMagic: Dodecahedrons.
* GhostAmnesia: After winning their riddle game with his life, Morgon reminds Peven of the names of his children.
* [[spoiler: GodWasMyCoPilot: You know the one.]]
* HalfHumanHybrid: [[spoiler: Raederle]]; her family's [[spoiler: Earth-master]] heritage is very pronounced in her.
* HaveYouSeenMyGod: The High One
* HeroicAlbino: Astrin
* HiddenDepths
* HighFantasy
* ItsNotYouItsMyEnemies: Morgon attempts to tell Raederle this. Fortunately for everyone, she convinces him otherwise.
* KillMeNowOrForeverStayYourHand: [[spoiler: Morgan]] has a literal SwordOverHead scene with [[spoiler: Deth]] at the end of ''Heir of Sea and Fire.''
* KillTheOnesYouLove: It's always been part of the plan that Morgon has to kill [[spoiler: Deth]].
* LanguageOfMagic: Magic is a unique hodgepodge of functional music, language, sympathetic geometry and elemental.
* LoadsAndLoadsOfCharacters: So many there's an index at the end of the book.
* MakeMeWannaShout
* MagicalAssassin: A shapeshifter nearly suffocates Morgon with a song.
* MagicalLand
* MagicMusic: Very much so, the highest example being Morgon's harp, which he can barely play.
* MeaningfulName: Deth and Rood, who is willing to strip to make a point. Also Yrth [[spoiler: 'earth']] and Raederle [[spoiler: 'riddle', referring to her ancestry]].
* MilkyWhiteEyes: Astrin
* MindRape: For a long time this is Morgon's life under [[spoiler: Erlenstar Mountain]].
* ModestRoyalty: Many of them, but especially Morgon.
* MoralityKitchenSink
* MyMasterRightOrWrong: Played straight and subverted with [[spoiler: Deth, the High One's harpist]].
* {{Mythopoeia}}
* NatureSpirit: The shape-changers.
* NoPronunciationGuide: Raederle. Ghisteslwchlohm. Many other people in Herun, who tend to go by nicknames to work around this.
* NobleFugitive: The High One is nearly murdered by his heir.
* NothingIsScarier: A riddle about a King of Hed who was pursued into his home by a monster and when he finally opened the door nothing was there.
* TheObiWan: Deth
* OffingTheOffspring: The shape-changers's children.
* OffscreenMomentOfAwesome: We hear a lot about Morgon finally managing to [[spoiler: turn Ghisteslwchlohm's power against him and escape]]; unfortunately, it's all either secondhand or long after the fact.
* OneSceneWonder: Rood and the Mathom and Duac Show.
* OnlyOneName
* OmniscientMoralityLicense: [[spoiler: Deth]] only does what he must and he's willing to take any punishment for doing what's necessary.
* OurGhostsAreDifferent
* OverlyLongName: A Herun tradition, apparently, which is why they all go by shortened versiona of their names - e.g. Elrhiarhodan and her daughter Lyraluthuin are El and Lyra to their friends
* PhysicalGod: The High One and the Earth-masters.
* RageAgainstTheMentor
* ReallySevenHundredYearsOld: The wizards, shape-changers, and a few of the land-rulers live an indefinitely long time.
* RebelliousPrincess: Raederle of An, Tristan of Hed and Lyra of Herun.
* ResignedToTheCall: It takes a few near-death experiences for Morgon to even consider going to the High One and asking ''him'' to figure things out.
* [[LeftJustifiedFantasyMap Rignt Justified Fantasy Map]]: It seems that human colonisation of the High One's realm came from over the Eastern sea, and never extended into the harsh Bad Lands further West.
* RoyalBlood
* RoyalsWhoActuallyDoSomething: Due to the small size of their kingdoms and each land-ruler's psychic connection to his or her own land.
* PursuedProtagonist: Deth and Morgon.
* TheQuietOne: Deth.
* SealedEvilInACan: The shape-changers. SealedAmoralityInACan?
* ShootTheDog: So many times.
* SilentScapegoat: [[spoiler: Deth]].
* SoundtrackDissonance: Because it's all he can do, [[spoiler: Deth]] plays Morgon his harp while Morgon's being [[MindRape mind raped]].
* SpellBook: Of the most obscure and impractical kind. Opening them is the first challenge.
* StandardFantasySetting
* SternChase: [[spoiler: Morgon and Deth in the final book]]
* SympatheticMagic
* TakeUpMySword: [[spoiler: Deth]] to Morgon
* ThanatosGambit: [[spoiler: The High One]].
* ThousandYearReign: The High One's succession.
* TreacherousAdvisor: Sort of. Played straight and then subverted.
* UnexpectedSuccessor: Yrth had absolutely no clue.
* TheUnpronounceable: One of the wizards is actually called "Iff of the Unpronouncable Name"; it turns out his full name has to be ''sung'', not spoken, and even then it took a while to work out the tune.
* WizardingSchool: Lungold had one, before Ghisteslwchlohm destroyed it.
* WizardsLiveLonger:
* TheWisePrince: Deth and Morgon.
* WorldsMostBeautifulWoman: Played with, in that Raederle is officially the ''second'' most beautiful woman "in all the Three Portions of An."
* WordsCanBreakMyBones: "The Great Shout" is a variation on this - psychic shouting that can do a remarkable amount of damage.
** Or harvest quite a lot of tree nuts.
* VoluntaryShapeshifting: The shape-changers themselves and anyone with enough natural talent and willpower.
* YouAreInCommandNow: Morgon. Twice.
* ZeroApprovalGambit
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* ''The Riddle-Master of Hed''
* ''Heir of Sea and Fire''
* ''Harpist in the Wind''
Morgon was a student before his parents died and he became the land-ruler of Hed. He was born with a birth mark of three stars on his forehead which are the subject of prophecy, although he tries to ignore that. When the High One's harpist, Deth, comes to visit during his travels, he informs Morgon that Raederle of An's hand in marriage [[EngagementChallenge was promised to whomever could defeat Peven of Aum in a riddle game]] and that An has been in an uproar ever since Peven told the last person to challenge him that he was too late. Morgon admits that he won Peven's crown in a riddle game and resolves to go with Deth to visit Raederle and offer himself in marriage.
Before they can get very far, their ship is attacked by [[ShapeShifter shape-changers]] who are determined to kill [[TheChosenOne The Starbearer]] aka Morgon. For his very life, Morgon travels with Deth to the High One on Erlenstar Mountain in search of an answer to the riddle of three stars.
The second book follows Raederle of An, Lyra of Herun, and Morgon's sister Tristan as they search for Morgon, Deth, and the High One, who are all now considered missing ever since Morgon reached the High One and fell out of all contact. The third book deals with the growing war against the [[ShapeShifter shape-changers]] and the continuing search for the truth about the High One.
The main characters:
* '''Morgon of Hed''': aka [[TheChosenOne The Star-Bearer]]. He is the Prince of Hed and least important of land-rulers. He was born with three stars on his forehead which are the subject of some of the oldest unsolved riddles. Before [[ParentalAbandonment his parents died]] Morgan attended [[WizardingSchool Caithnard]] where he studied riddle mastery. Shortly before the first book he secretly bet his life in a riddle game that hundreds of men have died attempting. He keeps the crown he won [[ModestRoyalty under his bed]] and [[IJustWantToBeNormal just wants]] [[CallToAgriculture to farm]].
* '''Deth''': The High One's harpist and Morgon's closest friend and [[TheObiWan mentor]]. He guides Morgon to Erlenstar Mountain.
* '''Raederle of An''': Princess of An, promised by her father Mathom to the man who would defeat Peven and [[RebelliousPrincess protagonist]] of the second book.
The third novel, ''Harpist in the Wind'', was nominated for the HugoAward and the WorldFantasyAward. Several {{Omnibus}} editions have been produced under various names, including ''Riddle of Stars'', ''Quest of Riddlemasters'', and ''The Riddlemaster's Game''.
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!!Tropes Used:
* ActionGirl: Lyra of Herun, who is herself the leader of the Morgol's all-female guard.
* ActualPacifist: Morgon until he is betrayed. He is brought back to himself, brutally and then broken in half all over again out of necessity.
* TheAloner: Astrin, Deth, Morgon and Har.
* AmazonBrigade: The Morgol's guard.
* AmplifierArtifact: The twelve-sided crystal Raederle finds that more than does the job for a simple reflection spell.
* AnguishedDeclarationOfLove: [[spoiler: Deth]] to Morgon. (Unusually for this trope, a familial rather than romantic love.)
* {{Arcadia}}: Hed.
* BadDreams: Morgon dreams about Deth's harping.
* BecomingTheMask: [[spoiler: Deth]].
* BellyOfTheWhale: Morgon, [[spoiler: during the year in which Ghisteslwchlohm imprisons him. Since the land-rule passes to Eliard, everyone assumes Morgan is dead.]]
* BigBad: The shape-changers; the one impersonating Eriel is heavily implied to be the mastermind.
** BigBadWannabe: [[spoiler: Ghisteslwchlohm thinks he's got everything under control- and then he runs into the Earth-masters and ends up their mind-controlled puppet]].
* BigNo: Morgon's Great Shout at the end of the first book.
* BlowYouAway
* BrokenPedestal: Master Ohm/Ghisteslwchlohm and [[spoiler: Deth, for most of the last two books until the whole scope of his plan is revealed]].
* CallToAgriculture: Morgon wants to be a peaceful farmer, not the ChosenOne.
* TheChosenOne: Morgon.
* DeadpanSnarker: Deth.
* DeadpersonImpersonation: Multiple times throughout the series.
* TheDragon: [[spoiler: Ghisteslwchlohm]] ends up forced to play this role to [[spoiler: "Eriel" and the Earth-masters]].
* TheDrifter: Deth
* DysfunctionalFamily: Morgon's family - Morgon, Eliard and Tristan - and Raederle's - currently Mathom, Raederle, Duac and Rood.
** And let's not forget the ruling family of Ymris - Astrin, Heureu, and [[spoiler: Heureu's shape-changer wife]] Eriel.
** The remaining ruling families seem surprisingly well-adjusted, for people who can [[spoiler: live a thousand years, see through walls and turn themselves into trees.]]
* ElementalPowers: Hereditary in humans and highly developed in the Shape-changers. Magic doesn't seem to be limited to one particular element, but some characters specialize.
* ElementsOfNature: Earth, Fire, Water and Wind.
* EngagementChallenge: Raederle has been offered by her father to the man who can defeat Peven in a riddle game. It's been considered unwinnable for centuries before Morgon comes along.
* EvilSorcerer: Ghisteslwchlohm
* {{Expy}}: The author is an explicit fan of ''Literature/TheLordOfTheRings'', and while this series is considerably different as a whole, there is one example of this- Ghisteslwchlohm bears a striking resemblence in many respects to Saruman.
* EyesOfGold: All the Morgols of Herun have them; it's a side-effect of the power that lets them see through solid objects.
* FakeKing: [[spoiler: Ghisteslwchlohm]].
* FallenHero: [[spoiler: Morgon in the second book]].
* FieryRedhead: Raederle and her brother Rood.
* {{Fingore}}: Deth is a foremost a harpist even after his hands are destroyed as punishment by [[spoiler: Ghisteslwchilohm]].
* FisherKing: The land-rulers are all benevolent examples.
* ForcedToWatch: [[spoiler: Deth]], if not by [[spoiler: Ghisteslwchlohm]] then by his own conscience and because there's nothing he can do to save Morgon.
* FunctionalMagic: Inherent Gift is pretty common, particularly among land-rulers and their families; the whole world is filled with Wild Magic; Rule Magic has largely disappeared with the wizards [[spoiler: but returns with them]].
* GeometricMagic: Dodecahedrons.
* GhostAmnesia: After winning their riddle game with his life, Morgon reminds Peven of the names of his children.
* [[spoiler: GodWasMyCoPilot: You know the one.]]
* HalfHumanHybrid: [[spoiler: Raederle]]; her family's [[spoiler: Earth-master]] heritage is very pronounced in her.
* HaveYouSeenMyGod: The High One
* HeroicAlbino: Astrin
* HiddenDepths
* HighFantasy
* ItsNotYouItsMyEnemies: Morgon attempts to tell Raederle this. Fortunately for everyone, she convinces him otherwise.
* KillMeNowOrForeverStayYourHand: [[spoiler: Morgan]] has a literal SwordOverHead scene with [[spoiler: Deth]] at the end of ''Heir of Sea and Fire.''
* KillTheOnesYouLove: It's always been part of the plan that Morgon has to kill [[spoiler: Deth]].
* LanguageOfMagic: Magic is a unique hodgepodge of functional music, language, sympathetic geometry and elemental.
* LoadsAndLoadsOfCharacters: So many there's an index at the end of the book.
* MakeMeWannaShout
* MagicalAssassin: A shapeshifter nearly suffocates Morgon with a song.
* MagicalLand
* MagicMusic: Very much so, the highest example being Morgon's harp, which he can barely play.
* MeaningfulName: Deth and Rood, who is willing to strip to make a point. Also Yrth [[spoiler: 'earth']] and Raederle [[spoiler: 'riddle', referring to her ancestry]].
* MilkyWhiteEyes: Astrin
* MindRape: For a long time this is Morgon's life under [[spoiler: Erlenstar Mountain]].
* ModestRoyalty: Many of them, but especially Morgon.
* MoralityKitchenSink
* MyMasterRightOrWrong: Played straight and subverted with [[spoiler: Deth, the High One's harpist]].
* {{Mythopoeia}}
* NatureSpirit: The shape-changers.
* NoPronunciationGuide: Raederle. Ghisteslwchlohm. Many other people in Herun, who tend to go by nicknames to work around this.
* NobleFugitive: The High One is nearly murdered by his heir.
* NothingIsScarier: A riddle about a King of Hed who was pursued into his home by a monster and when he finally opened the door nothing was there.
* TheObiWan: Deth
* OffingTheOffspring: The shape-changers's children.
* OffscreenMomentOfAwesome: We hear a lot about Morgon finally managing to [[spoiler: turn Ghisteslwchlohm's power against him and escape]]; unfortunately, it's all either secondhand or long after the fact.
* OneSceneWonder: Rood and the Mathom and Duac Show.
* OnlyOneName
* OmniscientMoralityLicense: [[spoiler: Deth]] only does what he must and he's willing to take any punishment for doing what's necessary.
* OurGhostsAreDifferent
* OverlyLongName: A Herun tradition, apparently, which is why they all go by shortened versiona of their names - e.g. Elrhiarhodan and her daughter Lyraluthuin are El and Lyra to their friends
* PhysicalGod: The High One and the Earth-masters.
* RageAgainstTheMentor
* ReallySevenHundredYearsOld: The wizards, shape-changers, and a few of the land-rulers live an indefinitely long time.
* RebelliousPrincess: Raederle of An, Tristan of Hed and Lyra of Herun.
* ResignedToTheCall: It takes a few near-death experiences for Morgon to even consider going to the High One and asking ''him'' to figure things out.
* [[LeftJustifiedFantasyMap Rignt Justified Fantasy Map]]: It seems that human colonisation of the High One's realm came from over the Eastern sea, and never extended into the harsh Bad Lands further West.
* RoyalBlood
* RoyalsWhoActuallyDoSomething: Due to the small size of their kingdoms and each land-ruler's psychic connection to his or her own land.
* PursuedProtagonist: Deth and Morgon.
* TheQuietOne: Deth.
* SealedEvilInACan: The shape-changers. SealedAmoralityInACan?
* ShootTheDog: So many times.
* SilentScapegoat: [[spoiler: Deth]].
* SoundtrackDissonance: Because it's all he can do, [[spoiler: Deth]] plays Morgon his harp while Morgon's being [[MindRape mind raped]].
* SpellBook: Of the most obscure and impractical kind. Opening them is the first challenge.
* StandardFantasySetting
* SternChase: [[spoiler: Morgon and Deth in the final book]]
* SympatheticMagic
* TakeUpMySword: [[spoiler: Deth]] to Morgon
* ThanatosGambit: [[spoiler: The High One]].
* ThousandYearReign: The High One's succession.
* TreacherousAdvisor: Sort of. Played straight and then subverted.
* UnexpectedSuccessor: Yrth had absolutely no clue.
* TheUnpronounceable: One of the wizards is actually called "Iff of the Unpronouncable Name"; it turns out his full name has to be ''sung'', not spoken, and even then it took a while to work out the tune.
* WizardingSchool: Lungold had one, before Ghisteslwchlohm destroyed it.
* WizardsLiveLonger:
* TheWisePrince: Deth and Morgon.
* WorldsMostBeautifulWoman: Played with, in that Raederle is officially the ''second'' most beautiful woman "in all the Three Portions of An."
* WordsCanBreakMyBones: "The Great Shout" is a variation on this - psychic shouting that can do a remarkable amount of damage.
** Or harvest quite a lot of tree nuts.
* VoluntaryShapeshifting: The shape-changers themselves and anyone with enough natural talent and willpower.
* YouAreInCommandNow: Morgon. Twice.
* ZeroApprovalGambit
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