Ildatch
From The World of Shannara
The Ildatch is a dark tome of magic that has a living presence and protected by dark spells. It was the driving force behind the subversion and creation of both the Warlock Lord in the First King of Shannara and The Sword of Shannara, as well as the Mord Wraiths from The Wishsong of Shannara.
| Ildatch | |
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Origin and Purpose
The origin of the Ildatch remains unknown. All that is known is that is is a tome from the time Faerie or even before. It is described as
| “ | ...a monstrous, deadly tome that had survived every cataclysm since the dawn of civilization, protected by dark spells, driven by secret needs. | „ |
| -- First King of Shannara (1996), pp. 8 | ||
In The Novels
First King of Shannara
The Ildatch is not directly involved in the First King of Shannara. It is mentioned early in the novel as being the force which subverted Brona and his followers, ultimately into the Warlock Lord and the Skull Bearers. It is described as being a lure so strong that ultimately Brona and his followers broke with the Druid Council to go off an study its arcane arts all they wished. Soon it subverted them and made them desire power for the sake of power, and for their own personal use. All other goals than that of the accumulation of still greater power where abandoned by the once Druids. The First War of the Races was the end result. [1]
Bremen said he saw the book with his own eyes, in the hands of Brona.
It is from the Ildatch that the Warlock Lord first learned of the Black Elfstone and began his quest for that artifact. Thus the Warlock Lord's forces where a step ahead for the first part of the journey of Tay Trefenwyd and Jerle Shannara when they went in search of the Elfstone.
The Wishsong of Shannara
The Ildatch took control of a number of men after Brona's death at the hands of Shea Ohmsford. These men became known as the Mord Wraiths. But to the Ildatch, the Mord Wraiths were nothing compared to Brin Ohmsford, a girl who had powerful innate magic. When Brin came to destroy the Ildatch, it instead took control of her. But Jair Ohmsford, Brin's brother, managed to break her free of the Ildatch's control. Free, Brin used the wishsong to destroy the Ildatch forever.
Indomitable
References
- ^ Brooks, Terry (1996). First King of Shannara pp. 8-9
| Major Artifacts with the Shannara world |
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Elfstones · Ildatch · Sword of Shannara · Weapons |
