Garet Jax
Encyclopedia
Garet Jax is a fictional character
from Terry Brooks
' epic fantasy
novel The Wishsong of Shannara
. He is known as the "Weapons Master", and it is said that no matter what weapon you choose, even your hands and feet, Garet Jax is better with it. He claims to have never lost a fight, and all who have seen him fight stand by that statement. He is seeking the one opponent who can finally defeat him in a battle.
from a band of nine Gnome Hunters, defeating eight of them single-handedly--he killed six, knocked out their leader, and one fled. The ninth, Slanter
, doesn't even attempt to fight, saying that he was only working with them because he had to, and he has heard stories about the fighting prowess of Garet. When Jair asked Garet why he rescued him, Garet says that Jair interests him, something that "few things do anymore". The three travel together to the Eastland, to Culhaven.
Along the way Garet receives a vision of himself fighting a creature of flame, and he knew that this was the one creature who could give him a 'run for his money' in battle. This is the main reason that convinces him on to join Jair in his quest to journey to Heaven's Well to save his sister Brin
and to save the Silver River. Though he did agree to accompany Jair to Cullhaven before he received the aforementioned vision, this may have been from an influence from the King of the Silver River
.
At the Croagh leading to Heaven's Well, where Brin will be found, Garet, Jair and Slanter are stopped by a Jachyra, a lethal creature from the Old World. Garet realizes that this fiery-red monster is the battle promised him in his vision, and orders Jair and Slanter to go ahead and save Brin while he fights the Jachyra.
When Jair and Slanter return, having saved Brin, they find Garet Jax sitting against a wall, his sword still held in his hand and looking like he might even be sleeping, but on closer inspection they realize the Weapons Master is dead. Of the Jachyra there is no sign --the magic that brought it to the Four Lands has been destroyed--but Jair is convinced the Weapons Master slew his foe before succumbing to his wounds. When asked who it was that won, Terry Brooks responded with "What do you think?"
Because of the collapse of the Croagh, Garet Jax's body was never recovered. However, Jair thought that this seemed appropriate, that Garet Jax should be where no other mortal could go, that he should be no different in death than in life.
, but is still a main character. Jair Ohmsford
uses the Wishsong in the book in order to meld him and his memories of Garet Jax into one sentient being. Jair still thinks like himself, but moves and fights as though he were the weapons master.
First, Jair used the Wishsong to become Garet Jax when he is confronted by Mwellrets while attempting to steal the last page of the Ildatch. He uses the Wishsong to appear as though he is Garet Jax. But when his life is actually threatened, he succumbs to the power lust and truly combines his spirit with Garet Jax's.
The next time we see Jair use the Wishsong to become Garet Jax is when he is confronted by a Koden
while traversing the Charnal region. He doesn't want to use the Wishsong, because of the promise he made to his sister Brin. But once again succumbs and becomes Garet Jax once more.
The third and final time Jair uses the wishsong to become Garet Jax is near the end of his journey when he is locked in combat with numerous Mwellrets and the dreaded Croton Witch. Jair initially prevails, and talks about how easy it would have been for him to fully give in, and just become Garet Jax forever.
The appearance of Garet Jax in Dark Wraith of Shannara
is much different than it is described in The Wishsong of Shannara
--in that novel, he has almost white hair and flint gray eyes, but in Dark Wraith, he appears to have brown hair, and darker (possibly green) eyes.
Terry Brooks expressed his desire in the beginning of Dark Wraith to further explore the relationship between Jair and Garet Jax.
1 - 8 Gnome hunters (with his quarterstaff)
2 - A Log Dweller (with his quarterstaff and a shortsword)
3 - A Kraken (Using a spear)
4 - Gnome assailants (Using a sword)
5 - 3 armed men (unarmed)
6 - A platoon of gnome raiders
7 - The Jachyra
there is character named Jax, whose title is Grandmaster at arms, similar to Garet Jax's nickname. One of his quotes is 'Surprise, I'm back!' and could be a reference to Garet Jax's death.
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
from Terry Brooks
Terry Brooks
Terence Dean "Terry" Brooks is an American writer of fantasy fiction. He writes mainly epic fantasy, and has also written two movie novelizations. He has written 23 New York Times bestsellers during his writing career, and has over 21 million copies of his books in print...
' epic fantasy
High fantasy
High fantasy or epic fantasy is a subgenre of fantasy that is set in invented or parallel worlds. High fantasy was brought to fruition through the work of authors such as J. R. R. Tolkien and C. S. Lewis, whose major fantasy works were published in the 1950s...
novel The Wishsong of Shannara
The Wishsong of Shannara
The Wishsong of Shannara, an epic fantasy novel by Terry Brooks, is the third and final novel in the Original Shannara Trilogy, with the other two being The Sword of Shannara and The Elfstones of Shannara. The story revolves around Jair and Brin Ohmsford, the children of the main characters from...
. He is known as the "Weapons Master", and it is said that no matter what weapon you choose, even your hands and feet, Garet Jax is better with it. He claims to have never lost a fight, and all who have seen him fight stand by that statement. He is seeking the one opponent who can finally defeat him in a battle.
The Wishsong of Shannara
Garet first appears when he rescues Jair OhmsfordJair Ohmsford
Jair Ohmsford is a major character in three novels of the Shannara series by Terry Brooks: The Wishsong of Shannara, a full-length epic fantasy novel, Indomitable, a short story that appeared in Legends II, and Dark Wraith of Shannara, a graphic novel....
from a band of nine Gnome Hunters, defeating eight of them single-handedly--he killed six, knocked out their leader, and one fled. The ninth, Slanter
Slanter (Shannara)
Slanter is a fictional character from the Wishsong of Shannara by Terry Brooks. He is a Gnome tracker who looks out only for himself traditionally, and does what is needed to stay alive....
, doesn't even attempt to fight, saying that he was only working with them because he had to, and he has heard stories about the fighting prowess of Garet. When Jair asked Garet why he rescued him, Garet says that Jair interests him, something that "few things do anymore". The three travel together to the Eastland, to Culhaven.
Along the way Garet receives a vision of himself fighting a creature of flame, and he knew that this was the one creature who could give him a 'run for his money' in battle. This is the main reason that convinces him on to join Jair in his quest to journey to Heaven's Well to save his sister Brin
Brin Ohmsford
Brin Ohmsford is a fictional character from The Wishsong of Shannara, an epic fantasy novel by Terry Brooks.- Biography :She is the daughter of Wil Ohmsford, making her actually 1/16 Elf, and because of his use of the Elfstones gained magic she named the wishsong. She is described as looking like...
and to save the Silver River. Though he did agree to accompany Jair to Cullhaven before he received the aforementioned vision, this may have been from an influence from the King of the Silver River
King of the Silver River
The King of the Silver River is a fictional character from the Shannara series of epic fantasy novels by Terry Brooks. He has appeared in many of the novels in the series as a recurring character.- Biography :...
.
At the Croagh leading to Heaven's Well, where Brin will be found, Garet, Jair and Slanter are stopped by a Jachyra, a lethal creature from the Old World. Garet realizes that this fiery-red monster is the battle promised him in his vision, and orders Jair and Slanter to go ahead and save Brin while he fights the Jachyra.
When Jair and Slanter return, having saved Brin, they find Garet Jax sitting against a wall, his sword still held in his hand and looking like he might even be sleeping, but on closer inspection they realize the Weapons Master is dead. Of the Jachyra there is no sign --the magic that brought it to the Four Lands has been destroyed--but Jair is convinced the Weapons Master slew his foe before succumbing to his wounds. When asked who it was that won, Terry Brooks responded with "What do you think?"
Because of the collapse of the Croagh, Garet Jax's body was never recovered. However, Jair thought that this seemed appropriate, that Garet Jax should be where no other mortal could go, that he should be no different in death than in life.
Dark Wraith of Shannara
Garet Jax himself does not make a true appearance in Dark Wraith of ShannaraDark Wraith of Shannara
The Dark Wraith of Shannara is a graphic novel produced by Terry Brooks in his Shannara series. The story is set several years after the events of The Wishsong of Shannara and Indomitable.-Background:The novel was released on March 25, 2008...
, but is still a main character. Jair Ohmsford
Jair Ohmsford
Jair Ohmsford is a major character in three novels of the Shannara series by Terry Brooks: The Wishsong of Shannara, a full-length epic fantasy novel, Indomitable, a short story that appeared in Legends II, and Dark Wraith of Shannara, a graphic novel....
uses the Wishsong in the book in order to meld him and his memories of Garet Jax into one sentient being. Jair still thinks like himself, but moves and fights as though he were the weapons master.
First, Jair used the Wishsong to become Garet Jax when he is confronted by Mwellrets while attempting to steal the last page of the Ildatch. He uses the Wishsong to appear as though he is Garet Jax. But when his life is actually threatened, he succumbs to the power lust and truly combines his spirit with Garet Jax's.
The next time we see Jair use the Wishsong to become Garet Jax is when he is confronted by a Koden
Koden
Kodeń is a village and the site of a famous Marian shrine in eastern Poland, on the Bug River which forms the border between Poland and Belarus. Administratively, it belongs to Biała Podlaska County in Lublin Voivodeship. It is the seat of the gmina called Gmina Kodeń. It has about 1,900...
while traversing the Charnal region. He doesn't want to use the Wishsong, because of the promise he made to his sister Brin. But once again succumbs and becomes Garet Jax once more.
The third and final time Jair uses the wishsong to become Garet Jax is near the end of his journey when he is locked in combat with numerous Mwellrets and the dreaded Croton Witch. Jair initially prevails, and talks about how easy it would have been for him to fully give in, and just become Garet Jax forever.
The appearance of Garet Jax in Dark Wraith of Shannara
Dark Wraith of Shannara
The Dark Wraith of Shannara is a graphic novel produced by Terry Brooks in his Shannara series. The story is set several years after the events of The Wishsong of Shannara and Indomitable.-Background:The novel was released on March 25, 2008...
is much different than it is described in The Wishsong of Shannara
The Wishsong of Shannara
The Wishsong of Shannara, an epic fantasy novel by Terry Brooks, is the third and final novel in the Original Shannara Trilogy, with the other two being The Sword of Shannara and The Elfstones of Shannara. The story revolves around Jair and Brin Ohmsford, the children of the main characters from...
--in that novel, he has almost white hair and flint gray eyes, but in Dark Wraith, he appears to have brown hair, and darker (possibly green) eyes.
Terry Brooks expressed his desire in the beginning of Dark Wraith to further explore the relationship between Jair and Garet Jax.
Attributes
He is inhumanly fast, balanced, graceful, and strong. Jair Ohmsford cannot believe his eyes when he first sees him in action. We are not told how strong he is, but it is clear that he has the strength to effortlessly wield a variety of weapons. He is the strongest non magic wielding character in the book.Conquests
This is the list of the known enemies that the Weapons Master has defeated:1 - 8 Gnome hunters (with his quarterstaff)
2 - A Log Dweller (with his quarterstaff and a shortsword)
3 - A Kraken (Using a spear)
4 - Gnome assailants (Using a sword)
5 - 3 armed men (unarmed)
6 - A platoon of gnome raiders
7 - The Jachyra
In Popular Culture
In the video game League of LegendsLeague of Legends
The BetFred League of Legends was a darts tournament featuring some of the legends of the game of darts which commenced in May 2008. The tournament is broadcast on Setanta Sports in the United Kingdom....
there is character named Jax, whose title is Grandmaster at arms, similar to Garet Jax's nickname. One of his quotes is 'Surprise, I'm back!' and could be a reference to Garet Jax's death.