The Belgariad
Encyclopedia
The Belgariad is a five-book
fantasy
epic written by David Eddings
.
The series tells the story of the recovery of the Orb of Aldur and coming of age
of Garion
, an orphaned farmboy. Garion is accompanied by his aunt Polgara
and grandfather Belgarath
as they try to fulfill an ancient prophecy that will decide the fate of the universe. Along the way, various "instruments", or helpers, of the prophecy join their quest to recover the orb, and Garion discovers his true identity and destiny.
The title of each book combines a chess
term with a fantasy term. The concept of a Game of Destiny is a significant motif in the story. The series has been reprinted as a two-volume set, titled The Belgariad Volume One, containing the first three books of the series, and The Belgariad Volume Two, which contains the last two books. This does not include the original map in Pawn of Prophecy by Chris Barbieri, but only Shelly Shapiro's map.
The Malloreon
is a five-book sequel
that continues the story started in the Belgariad. Belgarath the Sorcerer
(1995) and Polgara the Sorceress
(1997) are prequel
s that share the setting and most characters. The Rivan Codex
(1998) features annotated background material.
concerning past events, beginning with the creation of the world by seven god
s. One of the seven, Aldur, fashions an orb from stone and creates within it a living soul. This orb becomes known as the Orb of Aldur. One of the other gods, Torak, forcibly takes the Orb from Aldur and tries to make the magical stone submit to his will. The Orb retaliates, burning and maiming Torak throughout the left side of his body, and burning out his left eye. The Orb of Aldur is later recovered by Belgarath the Sorcerer, King Cherek, and his children. Cherek's youngest son Riva, the only one without ill intent in soul,(although Belgarath later tells people in his own story that it was just anyone who could pick up the orb, but the family line of whoever picked it up would have to protect the orb forever, the ill-intent was thrown in for some embelishment) is able to hold the Orb without being consumed by its fire; thus all of his descendants are responsible for guarding the Orb, during which time Torak will not prevail and have dominion over the world.
The story then begins in earnest with descriptions of the experiences of a boy named Garion, who is being raised on a large, prosperous farm. It tells of his earliest memories in the kitchen of his Aunt Pol; and describes how he meets Durnik the blacksmith, Garion's early games and friends, and something of the romance between himself and local girl Zubrette. It also introduces his contact with "the Story-teller" who, unknown to Garion, happens to be Belgarath himself; Garion's vision of a man robed in black who casts no shadow, later known as Asharak; Chamdar; and a "dry voice" that speaks in his mind which appear to be separate from his own consciousness. The reader later discovers that this is the Voice
of Prophecy
, or "Necessity" which occasionally talks to Garion, and even takes action through him.
When the storyteller, also known as "Mister Wolf" (a name given early on by Garion), arrives with news of the theft
of a mysterious object by a thief whom no-one will name, Mister Wolf and Aunt Pol leave Faldor's farm to chase him down, reluctantly allowing Durnik to accompany them. Garion, Aunt Pol, Durnik, and Mister Wolf are joined later by Silk/Kheldar, a Drasnian prince
, spy
, and thief
, and by Barak, a Cherek warrior and Earl
of Trellheim famous for his immense size
, love of ale
, and unmatched prowess in battle. Garion finds himself in the company of these diverse and mysterious companions, visiting several cities as Mister Wolf follows an invisible trail of the thing that was taken. Eventually he and his companions are arrested and taken to a meeting of monarchs.
After being introduced to the kings, Aunt Pol and Belgarath spend most of their time in council with the kings, leaving Garion more or less on his own. Garion begins to have doubts about his actual relation to Aunt Pol, whom he ultimately discovers is the 4000-year-old sorceress Polgara, and that Mister Wolf is her father, the 7000-year-old sorcerer Belgarath. This causes some tension between Garion and Pol until it is resolved at the end of the book.
While roaming in the palace at Val Alorn, Garion sees a green-cloaked man act suspiciously, but does not tell anyone of this. A few days pass and Barak decides to go wild boar hunting in the nearby forests. Against Aunt Pol's advice, Garion also goes. While in the forest Garion chances on a meeting between the green cloaked man mentioned earlier and another man about trying to spy on the current meeting between the kings of Aloria. Before Garion can tell anyone he is attacked by a wild boar, luckily killing it but becoming injured and unconscious in the process.
Garion proves himself uniquely useful through all of this and shows his great potential
by revealing to the Monarchs the presence of the green-cloaked spy, who is shown to be connected to a traitorous noble. Moments later, this noble and his men attack the castle from within, but are defeated. Garion himself is almost captured, but escapes. Later, he and the other protagonists leave again in search of the Orb, taking an Algarian prince named Hettar with them. As they leave, Garion learns that Polgara is the sister of his most distant female ancestor (identified in the prologue as Queen Beldaran, wife of Riva), justifying her claim to be his aunt. Having learned this, Garion embraces Belgarath as his grandfather and addresses him as such throughout later books.
and his companions chase after the stolen Orb of Aldur. Along the way, they are joined by three more companions while traveling through Arendia: these are Hettar, an Algar warrior who has telepathic contact with horse
s; the Mimbrate Knight
Mandorallen; and the Asturian archer
Lelldorin. Garion develops a strong friendship with Lelldorin after traveling with him.
During the travel
s through Arendia, Lelldorin is badly injured in battle
and is forced to leave the group of companions. There, Garion exposes a plot to kill King Korodullin that the perpetrator of it was a Murgo Ambassador named Nachak, while he keeps Lelldorin's involvement to the plot. After Arendia the companions travel to Tolnedra, seeking audience with the Emperor
Ran Borune XXIII. Whilst in the imperial palace, Garion meets the imperial Princess Ce'Nedra, who is seen throwing a tantrum at her father for limiting her freedom to leave the palace
due to fear
s for her safety
. Upon leaving the capital, the group once again encounter an ineffectually disguised Princess Ce'Nedra, who has tricked her tutor into helping her escape the Imperial Palace. When first met by the companions Ce'Nedra is selfish, difficult, and almost intolerable because she demands to be treated "like a princess". Eventually she learns to grow out of this behavior
and joins the companions on their quest
.
In an encounter in the Wood of the Dryad
s, Ce'Nedra reveals that she is part Dryad through her mother's heritage. It is here that Garion discovers his connection with the power
of the Will and the Word; an ability to focus his intention
, releasing it by the utterance of word
s, to the extent that he affects physical reality
. This is done in an encounter with Chamdar, a Grolim high priest who has been posing as a Murgo merchant named Asharak. He slaps Polgara, causing Garion to instinctively use his power for the first time, reacting in rage and killing Asharak by unexpectedly burning him to death
, having learned that Chamdar is the man who killed his parents by setting fire
to their home and imprisoning them inside. We discover that he is also the man with no shadow mentioned in the previous books. Now that Garion has unleashed the hidden power within him, Polgara reveals that his true name is Belgarion, and that once used, the power will never leave him. Garion, afraid he is no longer the same person he always thought he was, rejects the power and vows never to use it again.
Garion, still feeling rebellious, is later kidnapped when traveling through Nyissa by the Nyissan Queen Salmissra, who drugs him and tries to seduce him; the "dry voice" in his head holds off the queen's attempts until he is rescued by Polgara the Sorceress
and Barak, who has assumed the form of a large bear
. As retribution Polgara transforms Salmissra into an immortal snake
. Barak's transformation is not explained until the Epilogue to Enchanters' End Game, during which it is revealed that Barak is Garion's hereditary protector, the Dreadful Bear.
Angarak sorcerer Ctuchik has stolen the Orb from the Apostate Zedar, Belgarion
and friends go after him. They first take a detour to the Vale of Aldur. In a cave
on the way, Garion brings a dead colt (whose birth
he had helped assist with minutes before) back to life
. This event is of great significance as both Polgara
and Belgarath maintain that before this, it was dangerous to use the Will and the Word to restore life to the dead, for this risked the life force of the one attempting it. To save time the group passes through the haunted land of Maragor, home of the Marags. Belgarath tells the company of how Maragor became haunted; because it is full of gold
, the Tolnedran merchants had urged their Emperor to attempt forcing the self-sufficient Marags to participate in trade
. When the Marags refused, the merchants started spreading (partly true) stories of the Marags being cannibals
. The Tolnedrans invaded Maragor a short time later, slaughtered most of the peace-loving race, sold the survivors to the Murgos as slaves, and planned to take the abandoned gold for themselves. When the gold hunters invaded, Mara (the God of the Marags) unleashed ghost
s of the lost people onto them, driving them and anyone who entered thereafter insane. In an effort to appease Mara's vengeful spirit, the Tolnedran Emperor set up a monastery at Mar Terrin, where Tolnedran monks carry out eternal penance for the slaughtered Marag race. As the protagonists move into the haunted plains, Mara can be heard weeping over the death
of his people. Belgarath and Polgara therefore join their Wills to blanket the group into a waking slumber in an effort to protect their minds against the horrors of Maragor's ghost attacks. When they reach the center of the ruins Mara appears and senses Ce'Nedra, a Tolnedran and one of the race that destroyed his people, and in outrage he attempts to wake her up and drive her insane. The 'other awareness' in Garion's mind steps in and prevents Mara from harming Ce'Nedra, whereupon Mara recognizes it as the Voice of the Prophecy and relents, fleeing from its command. Afterwards Garion informs Belgarath and Polgara of his awareness of the other Voice in his mind.
While in the Vale of Aldur, Garion learns more about his powers. The group enters Ulgoland, and, after some dispute, recruits an Ulgo zealot named Relg to serve as a guide to Cthol Murgos, as they find out Relg has the ability to move his body
through solid rock
. Ce'Nedra is reluctantly left behind as a guest of Ulgo and the Gorim, because the Ulgo god UL warns that if she enters the city of the Murgos, she will die. Ce'Nedra obeys the will of UL, yet is shocked to realize that her initial refusal to remain behind was the knowledge that she would miss Garion.
Belgarion
and friends enter the city of the Murgos and infiltrate Ctuchik's headquarters. Belgarath and Ctuchik fight an epic battle that ends with Ctuchik's destruction as he attempts to will the Orb out of existence. The group escapes, taking the now unconscious Belgarath, a boy later nicknamed Errand, who carries the Orb unharmed, and an escaped slave named Taiba, a beautiful woman who reveals that she is a descendant of the original Marag prisoners whom the Tolnedran warriors had sold into slavery
.
At Riva, on his sixteenth birthday, which falls during the Erastide (the winter solstice festival
), Belgarion
is led by Belgarath, Polgara, and the Voice of the Prophecy to accept the Orb of Aldur from Errand in the Hall of the Rivan King, where the ancient Sword rests above the Rivan Throne. In Garion's hands, the Orb glows with bright blue fire; placing it on the pommel, he is able to grasp the fiery Sword, revealing to all that he is the long-lost heir to the throne. This revelation infuriates Ce'Nedra, because the Accords of Vo Mimbre state that she must submit to the Rivan King on her sixteenth birthday to be betrothed. It is also here that Garion, aided by the Voice of the Prophecy, is able to see each member of the quest for the Orb as the Instruments of Prophecy each had been destined to become.
Shortly after the betrothal, Garion learns from the Mrin and Darine Codex Prophecies that the Rivan King must slay the god
Torak or be slain himself. Belgarion
, Belgarath and Silk set out on their own to fight Torak, leaving only a note to Polgara and Ce'Nedra with instructions not to pursue them. They sneak off in the night, Garion taking the Sword of the Rivan King with him. Ce'Nedra irrationally assumes she has been jilted by Garion, while Polgara knows what the actual reason for the departure is, and goes into a rage, destroying her apartment and causing a titanic thunderstorm overhead.
After much sulking, Ce'Nedra finally learns that Garion has left to meet Torak in a fight to the death. Frightened that she has lost the chance to tell Garion of her true affection for him, Ce'Nedra overhears a conference of the Alorn kings and decides to assist them with their plan to raise an army to distract the Angaraks from Garion's quest so that he may reach Cthol Mishrak safely and destroy Torak.
Ce'Nedra proves herself and lives up to her role in the Prophecy by donning armor and traveling through the cities of Arendia, where she begins giving rousing speeches to the Arends, convincing them to lend their support to the Army of the Overlord of the West. By the time she crosses into Tolnedra, every able-bodied Arend has been inspired to join her army. The book ends with Ce'Nedra and her army marching east, knowing full well that her invasion is only a diversion to help Garion, Silk, and Belgarath sneak into Cthol Mishrak and serves no other purpose.
, Silk and Belgarath sneaking through Gar og Nadrak, and despite a few incidents (such as being captured into the Nadrak army at one point), finally reaches the land-bridge and crosses into Mallorea. Garion is tempted by Torak to accept him as a father and Polgara as his mother, but he loudly rejects Torak and manages to reach Cthol Mishrak unchallenged.
Ce'Nedra's plan is less successful. Despite a victory at Thull Mardu, she, Polgara
, Durnik, and Errand are captured by Mallorean forces and taken to Kal Zakath, who gives them to Zedar. This is particularly disastrous because Torak wishes for Polgara to be his bride; with the self-confidence
her love would give Torak, his strength would become such that the Rivan King would be unable to stop him. Polgara reveals that the Mallorean Prophecies name her as Torak's destined Bride, and that her strength in resisting Torak's call may decide Belgarion's outcome. With Kal Zakath's private armed escort, Polgara, Ce'Nedra, Durnik, Errand, and Zedar reach Cthol Mishrak before Garion, Silk, and Belgarath arrive.
Inside Cthol Mishrak, Zedar takes his prisoners to Torak's tomb. Garion, Silk, and Belgarath sneak into the iron tower and down a flight of steps, arriving at the crypt door, where they hear the voices of Zedar and Polgara inside. The three listening outside hear Zedar insult Polgara, then the sounds of Durnik charging Zedar. Belgarath blasts the door open as Zedar kills Durnik. Belgarath, enraged, battles Zedar, sealing him alive inside the stone deep underground. Torak revives, and attempts to sway Polgara to join him, but Garion sends images of Durnik into her mind, thereby helping her to withstand Torak's call. He then turns to Garion in anger. A titanic final battle ensues, during which Garion and Torak swell into immensity. Garion again rejects the God of Angarak, slaying his corporeal form with the Sword of the Rivan King and thereby vanquishing him forever. Torak, in his final—and most ultimately human—act, cries out "Mother!" as he dies. Belgarath explains that Torak cried out to the universe
itself, thereby reaching for the one thing that may have truly loved him.
The gods arrive and take away Torak's body. UL, the father of the gods, agrees to allow Garion to revive Durnik, with the help of the Orb; Mara objects, but relents when Belgarath reveals that there is one Marag left alive. Aldur questions whether Polgara could be so unequally attached to a mortal while she was a Sorceress. Polgara affirms that she loves Durnik and would agree to have no power greater than he has. The gods and Belgarion use the Orb to bring Durnik back to life, but succeed only when Errand places his hand on the Orb.
Upon the company's return to Riva, Garion and Ce'Nedra plan their wedding. Polgara and Durnik are married in a private chapel in the Citadel prior to Belgarion and Ce'Nedra's ceremony in the Hall of the Rivan King. Here, Durnik reveals that he was gifted with the Will and the Word when he was brought back to life, and that Belgarath had been training him to be Aldur's newest Disciple, thereby fulfilling Polgara's wish that she have no power greater than his own. Ce'Nedra and Garion are married, dance with everyone, and then retire to their chambers.
The story ends with a half-drunk Belgarath, having finally accomplished his eons-old mission, sitting in the darkened Hall of the Rivan King later that night with a tankard of ale, as the glowing blue Orb mysteriously seems to blush pink as Garion and Ce'Nedra enter the royal bed chamber.
epic fantasy, The Belgariad. Its context includes major events from the creation of the world to the battle of Vo Mimbre, and has been used as background material for many of the Belgariad and Malloreon novels. Apparently all Alorns can recite the book, even those who have never read it, because, according to Belgarath, it is in their blood. Although Eddings bases many of his novels' prologues on the Book, he also mentions throughout his works that the Book is not completely accurate (e.g., it credits Aldur with the creation of the Orb of Aldur, whereas it predated him).
In Belgarath the Sorcerer, Belgarath hints that the Book of Alorn was written by priests (of Belar?) and that there are a number of versions (page 203, Apostate chapter of Belgarath the Sorcerer).
himself, in first person narrative. The prologue to Enchanter's End Game was based on this particular fictional book. Like the Book of Alorn, the book of Torak narrates the major world events, but tells it from a different perspective. According to the book, it was Torak who led the gods to create the world, protagonists (such as Belgarath) are recast as villains, and the reason for Riva Iron-Grip being able to touch the Orb of Aldur (Or 'Cthrag Yaska' as it is called by Torak) is different. The book also claims that the Angaraks are in fact the good race, and that Torak is good as well.
The first several pages of the Book of Torak are printed in The Rivan Codex, David and Leigh Eddings' collection of unpublished background material and commentary on the Belgariad and Malloreon.
feats. There is only one thing that is absolutely forbidden by the nature of the universe itself, and that is unmaking. You can destroy (incinerate), but you cannot undo the creation of something. Uncreation cannot be achieved by any means, not even by the gods or the Necessities.
. Senji is the only alchemist introduced by name, though there are others.
, witches employ potion
s and spells to achieve certain effects. Magic can be used to prolong the lifespan, but not indefinitely like sorcerers. The only example given of a witch is Vordai. However, Belgarath uses magic to shape an illusion around the demons in Morind to control them. Beldin accuses him of being a mediocre magician as opposed to the Will and the Word.
s of Aldur, Torak, and the most senior Grolims. Disciple sorcerers are immune to aging, with other sorcerers living extended lives.
Essentially, a sorcerer concentrates their own strength through willpower, then releases it with a word. The word itself is not important, but how the completed effect is envisioned by the sorcerer is. (Much of the training and education of sorcerers is toward expanding the power of imagination.) Sorcery requires concentration, and channeling that much power can be physically tiring, with Belgarath saying that sorcery takes just as much effort as the equivalent physical task. The uses of the Will and the Word are almost limitless. However, Garion almost kills himself by using too much power, when trying to resurrect a stillborn horse.
Sorcerers can "hear" when sorcery is used. This depends on the type of action being done (translocation is very loud), how quickly it is done (you can reduce the "volume" by prolonging the action), and proximity/skill of other Will-talented people. This sense manifests in a way very similar to real hearing, so loud noises can be used to mask the "sound" of using one's Will. Other types of supernatural power are not detectable in this way.
Book
A book is a set or collection of written, printed, illustrated, or blank sheets, made of hot lava, paper, parchment, or other materials, usually fastened together to hinge at one side. A single sheet within a book is called a leaf or leaflet, and each side of a leaf is called a page...
fantasy
Fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic is common...
epic written by David Eddings
David Eddings
David Eddings was an American author who wrote several best-selling series of epic fantasy novels.-Biography:...
.
The series tells the story of the recovery of the Orb of Aldur and coming of age
Coming of age
Coming of age is a young person's transition from childhood to adulthood. The age at which this transition takes place varies in society, as does the nature of the transition. It can be a simple legal convention or can be part of a ritual, as practiced by many societies...
of Garion
Belgarion
Belgarion is a fictional character and the chief protagonist in The Belgariad and The Malloreon, two fantasy epics written by David Eddings....
, an orphaned farmboy. Garion is accompanied by his aunt Polgara
Polgara the Sorceress
Polgara the Sorceress is a fantasy novel by David and Leigh Eddings, and the twelfth in the setting of The Belgariad, The Malloreon and Belgarath the Sorcerer...
and grandfather Belgarath
Belgarath the Sorcerer
Belgarath the Sorcerer is a book by David Eddings and Leigh Eddings.Set in the same universe as the Eddings' The Belgariad and The Malloreon, it is effectively one big flashback to the other series, although the framework story is set after the events of The Malloreon.The book opens shortly after...
as they try to fulfill an ancient prophecy that will decide the fate of the universe. Along the way, various "instruments", or helpers, of the prophecy join their quest to recover the orb, and Garion discovers his true identity and destiny.
Works in the series
Volumes include:- Pawn of Prophecy (1982)
- Queen of Sorcery (1982)
- Magician's Gambit (1983)
- Castle of Wizardry (1984)
- Enchanters' End Game (1984)
The title of each book combines a chess
Chess
Chess is a two-player board game played on a chessboard, a square-checkered board with 64 squares arranged in an eight-by-eight grid. It is one of the world's most popular games, played by millions of people worldwide at home, in clubs, online, by correspondence, and in tournaments.Each player...
term with a fantasy term. The concept of a Game of Destiny is a significant motif in the story. The series has been reprinted as a two-volume set, titled The Belgariad Volume One, containing the first three books of the series, and The Belgariad Volume Two, which contains the last two books. This does not include the original map in Pawn of Prophecy by Chris Barbieri, but only Shelly Shapiro's map.
The Malloreon
The Malloreon
The Malloreon is a five part fantasy book series written by David Eddings, which follows The Belgariad. The Malloreon is set in the same world as The Belgariad, but expands on several aspects of the setting, especially the eastern continent of Mallorea....
is a five-book sequel
Sequel
A sequel is a narrative, documental, or other work of literature, film, theatre, or music that continues the story of or expands upon issues presented in some previous work...
that continues the story started in the Belgariad. Belgarath the Sorcerer
Belgarath the Sorcerer
Belgarath the Sorcerer is a book by David Eddings and Leigh Eddings.Set in the same universe as the Eddings' The Belgariad and The Malloreon, it is effectively one big flashback to the other series, although the framework story is set after the events of The Malloreon.The book opens shortly after...
(1995) and Polgara the Sorceress
Polgara the Sorceress
Polgara the Sorceress is a fantasy novel by David and Leigh Eddings, and the twelfth in the setting of The Belgariad, The Malloreon and Belgarath the Sorcerer...
(1997) are prequel
Prequel
A prequel is a work that supplements a previously completed one, and has an earlier time setting.The widely recognized term was a 20th-century neologism, and a portmanteau from pre- and sequel...
s that share the setting and most characters. The Rivan Codex
The Rivan Codex
The Rivan Codex is a collection of background material to the Belgariad and Malloreon fantasy saga by David and Leigh Eddings. It consists of two bodies of material used in writing the novels, one for each series, with three informal essays by David Eddings...
(1998) features annotated background material.
Pawn of Prophecy
The book opens with a brief prologuePrologue
A prologue is an opening to a story that establishes the setting and gives background details, often some earlier story that ties into the main one, and other miscellaneous information. The Greek prologos included the modern meaning of prologue, but was of wider significance...
concerning past events, beginning with the creation of the world by seven god
God
God is the English name given to a singular being in theistic and deistic religions who is either the sole deity in monotheism, or a single deity in polytheism....
s. One of the seven, Aldur, fashions an orb from stone and creates within it a living soul. This orb becomes known as the Orb of Aldur. One of the other gods, Torak, forcibly takes the Orb from Aldur and tries to make the magical stone submit to his will. The Orb retaliates, burning and maiming Torak throughout the left side of his body, and burning out his left eye. The Orb of Aldur is later recovered by Belgarath the Sorcerer, King Cherek, and his children. Cherek's youngest son Riva, the only one without ill intent in soul,(although Belgarath later tells people in his own story that it was just anyone who could pick up the orb, but the family line of whoever picked it up would have to protect the orb forever, the ill-intent was thrown in for some embelishment) is able to hold the Orb without being consumed by its fire; thus all of his descendants are responsible for guarding the Orb, during which time Torak will not prevail and have dominion over the world.
The story then begins in earnest with descriptions of the experiences of a boy named Garion, who is being raised on a large, prosperous farm. It tells of his earliest memories in the kitchen of his Aunt Pol; and describes how he meets Durnik the blacksmith, Garion's early games and friends, and something of the romance between himself and local girl Zubrette. It also introduces his contact with "the Story-teller" who, unknown to Garion, happens to be Belgarath himself; Garion's vision of a man robed in black who casts no shadow, later known as Asharak; Chamdar; and a "dry voice" that speaks in his mind which appear to be separate from his own consciousness. The reader later discovers that this is the Voice
Human voice
The human voice consists of sound made by a human being using the vocal folds for talking, singing, laughing, crying, screaming, etc. Its frequency ranges from about 60 to 7000 Hz. The human voice is specifically that part of human sound production in which the vocal folds are the primary...
of Prophecy
Prophecy
Prophecy is a process in which one or more messages that have been communicated to a prophet are then communicated to others. Such messages typically involve divine inspiration, interpretation, or revelation of conditioned events to come as well as testimonies or repeated revelations that the...
, or "Necessity" which occasionally talks to Garion, and even takes action through him.
When the storyteller, also known as "Mister Wolf" (a name given early on by Garion), arrives with news of the theft
Theft
In common usage, theft is the illegal taking of another person's property without that person's permission or consent. The word is also used as an informal shorthand term for some crimes against property, such as burglary, embezzlement, larceny, looting, robbery, shoplifting and fraud...
of a mysterious object by a thief whom no-one will name, Mister Wolf and Aunt Pol leave Faldor's farm to chase him down, reluctantly allowing Durnik to accompany them. Garion, Aunt Pol, Durnik, and Mister Wolf are joined later by Silk/Kheldar, a Drasnian prince
Prince
Prince is a general term for a ruler, monarch or member of a monarch's or former monarch's family, and is a hereditary title in the nobility of some European states. The feminine equivalent is a princess...
, spy
Espionage
Espionage or spying involves an individual obtaining information that is considered secret or confidential without the permission of the holder of the information. Espionage is inherently clandestine, lest the legitimate holder of the information change plans or take other countermeasures once it...
, and thief
Theft
In common usage, theft is the illegal taking of another person's property without that person's permission or consent. The word is also used as an informal shorthand term for some crimes against property, such as burglary, embezzlement, larceny, looting, robbery, shoplifting and fraud...
, and by Barak, a Cherek warrior and Earl
Earl
An earl is a member of the nobility. The title is Anglo-Saxon, akin to the Scandinavian form jarl, and meant "chieftain", particularly a chieftain set to rule a territory in a king's stead. In Scandinavia, it became obsolete in the Middle Ages and was replaced with duke...
of Trellheim famous for his immense size
Anthropometry
Anthropometry refers to the measurement of the human individual...
, love of ale
Ale
Ale is a type of beer brewed from malted barley using a warm fermentation with a strain of brewers' yeast. The yeast will ferment the beer quickly, giving it a sweet, full bodied and fruity taste...
, and unmatched prowess in battle. Garion finds himself in the company of these diverse and mysterious companions, visiting several cities as Mister Wolf follows an invisible trail of the thing that was taken. Eventually he and his companions are arrested and taken to a meeting of monarchs.
After being introduced to the kings, Aunt Pol and Belgarath spend most of their time in council with the kings, leaving Garion more or less on his own. Garion begins to have doubts about his actual relation to Aunt Pol, whom he ultimately discovers is the 4000-year-old sorceress Polgara, and that Mister Wolf is her father, the 7000-year-old sorcerer Belgarath. This causes some tension between Garion and Pol until it is resolved at the end of the book.
While roaming in the palace at Val Alorn, Garion sees a green-cloaked man act suspiciously, but does not tell anyone of this. A few days pass and Barak decides to go wild boar hunting in the nearby forests. Against Aunt Pol's advice, Garion also goes. While in the forest Garion chances on a meeting between the green cloaked man mentioned earlier and another man about trying to spy on the current meeting between the kings of Aloria. Before Garion can tell anyone he is attacked by a wild boar, luckily killing it but becoming injured and unconscious in the process.
Garion proves himself uniquely useful through all of this and shows his great potential
Potential
*In linguistics, the potential mood*The mathematical study of potentials is known as potential theory; it is the study of harmonic functions on manifolds...
by revealing to the Monarchs the presence of the green-cloaked spy, who is shown to be connected to a traitorous noble. Moments later, this noble and his men attack the castle from within, but are defeated. Garion himself is almost captured, but escapes. Later, he and the other protagonists leave again in search of the Orb, taking an Algarian prince named Hettar with them. As they leave, Garion learns that Polgara is the sister of his most distant female ancestor (identified in the prologue as Queen Beldaran, wife of Riva), justifying her claim to be his aunt. Having learned this, Garion embraces Belgarath as his grandfather and addresses him as such throughout later books.
Queen of Sorcery
The story continues as BelgarionBelgarion
Belgarion is a fictional character and the chief protagonist in The Belgariad and The Malloreon, two fantasy epics written by David Eddings....
and his companions chase after the stolen Orb of Aldur. Along the way, they are joined by three more companions while traveling through Arendia: these are Hettar, an Algar warrior who has telepathic contact with horse
Horse
The horse is one of two extant subspecies of Equus ferus, or the wild horse. It is a single-hooved mammal belonging to the taxonomic family Equidae. The horse has evolved over the past 45 to 55 million years from a small multi-toed creature into the large, single-toed animal of today...
s; the Mimbrate Knight
Knight
A knight was a member of a class of lower nobility in the High Middle Ages.By the Late Middle Ages, the rank had become associated with the ideals of chivalry, a code of conduct for the perfect courtly Christian warrior....
Mandorallen; and the Asturian archer
Archery
Archery is the art, practice, or skill of propelling arrows with the use of a bow, from Latin arcus. Archery has historically been used for hunting and combat; in modern times, however, its main use is that of a recreational activity...
Lelldorin. Garion develops a strong friendship with Lelldorin after traveling with him.
During the travel
Travel
Travel is the movement of people or objects between relatively distant geographical locations. 'Travel' can also include relatively short stays between successive movements.-Etymology:...
s through Arendia, Lelldorin is badly injured in battle
Battle
Generally, a battle is a conceptual component in the hierarchy of combat in warfare between two or more armed forces, or combatants. In a battle, each combatant will seek to defeat the others, with defeat determined by the conditions of a military campaign...
and is forced to leave the group of companions. There, Garion exposes a plot to kill King Korodullin that the perpetrator of it was a Murgo Ambassador named Nachak, while he keeps Lelldorin's involvement to the plot. After Arendia the companions travel to Tolnedra, seeking audience with the Emperor
Emperor
An emperor is a monarch, usually the sovereign ruler of an empire or another type of imperial realm. Empress, the female equivalent, may indicate an emperor's wife or a woman who rules in her own right...
Ran Borune XXIII. Whilst in the imperial palace, Garion meets the imperial Princess Ce'Nedra, who is seen throwing a tantrum at her father for limiting her freedom to leave the palace
Palace
A palace is a grand residence, especially a royal residence or the home of a head of state or some other high-ranking dignitary, such as a bishop or archbishop. The word itself is derived from the Latin name Palātium, for Palatine Hill, one of the seven hills in Rome. In many parts of Europe, the...
due to fear
Fear
Fear is a distressing negative sensation induced by a perceived threat. It is a basic survival mechanism occurring in response to a specific stimulus, such as pain or the threat of danger...
s for her safety
Safety
Safety is the state of being "safe" , the condition of being protected against physical, social, spiritual, financial, political, emotional, occupational, psychological, educational or other types or consequences of failure, damage, error, accidents, harm or any other event which could be...
. Upon leaving the capital, the group once again encounter an ineffectually disguised Princess Ce'Nedra, who has tricked her tutor into helping her escape the Imperial Palace. When first met by the companions Ce'Nedra is selfish, difficult, and almost intolerable because she demands to be treated "like a princess". Eventually she learns to grow out of this behavior
Behavior
Behavior or behaviour refers to the actions and mannerisms made by organisms, systems, or artificial entities in conjunction with its environment, which includes the other systems or organisms around as well as the physical environment...
and joins the companions on their quest
Quest
In mythology and literature, a quest, a journey towards a goal, serves as a plot device and as a symbol. Quests appear in the folklore of every nation and also figure prominently in non-national cultures. In literature, the objects of quests require great exertion on the part of the hero, and...
.
In an encounter in the Wood of the Dryad
Dryad
Dryads are tree nymphs in Greek mythology. In Greek drys signifies 'oak,' from an Indo-European root *derew- 'tree' or 'wood'. Thus Dryads are specifically the nymphs of oak trees, though the term has come to be used for all tree nymphs in general...
s, Ce'Nedra reveals that she is part Dryad through her mother's heritage. It is here that Garion discovers his connection with the power
Power (sociology)
Power is a measurement of an entity's ability to control its environment, including the behavior of other entities. The term authority is often used for power perceived as legitimate by the social structure. Power can be seen as evil or unjust, but the exercise of power is accepted as endemic to...
of the Will and the Word; an ability to focus his intention
Intention
Intention is an agent's specific purpose in performing an action or series of actions, the end or goal that is aimed at. Outcomes that are unanticipated or unforeseen are known as unintended consequences....
, releasing it by the utterance of word
Word
In language, a word is the smallest free form that may be uttered in isolation with semantic or pragmatic content . This contrasts with a morpheme, which is the smallest unit of meaning but will not necessarily stand on its own...
s, to the extent that he affects physical reality
Reality
In philosophy, reality is the state of things as they actually exist, rather than as they may appear or might be imagined. In a wider definition, reality includes everything that is and has been, whether or not it is observable or comprehensible...
. This is done in an encounter with Chamdar, a Grolim high priest who has been posing as a Murgo merchant named Asharak. He slaps Polgara, causing Garion to instinctively use his power for the first time, reacting in rage and killing Asharak by unexpectedly burning him to death
Death
Death is the permanent termination of the biological functions that sustain a living organism. Phenomena which commonly bring about death include old age, predation, malnutrition, disease, and accidents or trauma resulting in terminal injury....
, having learned that Chamdar is the man who killed his parents by setting fire
Fire
Fire is the rapid oxidation of a material in the chemical process of combustion, releasing heat, light, and various reaction products. Slower oxidative processes like rusting or digestion are not included by this definition....
to their home and imprisoning them inside. We discover that he is also the man with no shadow mentioned in the previous books. Now that Garion has unleashed the hidden power within him, Polgara reveals that his true name is Belgarion, and that once used, the power will never leave him. Garion, afraid he is no longer the same person he always thought he was, rejects the power and vows never to use it again.
Garion, still feeling rebellious, is later kidnapped when traveling through Nyissa by the Nyissan Queen Salmissra, who drugs him and tries to seduce him; the "dry voice" in his head holds off the queen's attempts until he is rescued by Polgara the Sorceress
Polgara the Sorceress
Polgara the Sorceress is a fantasy novel by David and Leigh Eddings, and the twelfth in the setting of The Belgariad, The Malloreon and Belgarath the Sorcerer...
and Barak, who has assumed the form of a large bear
Bear
Bears are mammals of the family Ursidae. Bears are classified as caniforms, or doglike carnivorans, with the pinnipeds being their closest living relatives. Although there are only eight living species of bear, they are widespread, appearing in a wide variety of habitats throughout the Northern...
. As retribution Polgara transforms Salmissra into an immortal snake
Snake
Snakes are elongate, legless, carnivorous reptiles of the suborder Serpentes that can be distinguished from legless lizards by their lack of eyelids and external ears. Like all squamates, snakes are ectothermic, amniote vertebrates covered in overlapping scales...
. Barak's transformation is not explained until the Epilogue to Enchanters' End Game, during which it is revealed that Barak is Garion's hereditary protector, the Dreadful Bear.
Magician's Gambit
In the third book of the series, after learning that the evilEvil
Evil is the violation of, or intent to violate, some moral code. Evil is usually seen as the dualistic opposite of good. Definitions of evil vary along with analysis of its root motive causes, however general actions commonly considered evil include: conscious and deliberate wrongdoing,...
Angarak sorcerer Ctuchik has stolen the Orb from the Apostate Zedar, Belgarion
Belgarion
Belgarion is a fictional character and the chief protagonist in The Belgariad and The Malloreon, two fantasy epics written by David Eddings....
and friends go after him. They first take a detour to the Vale of Aldur. In a cave
Cave
A cave or cavern is a natural underground space large enough for a human to enter. The term applies to natural cavities some part of which is in total darkness. The word cave also includes smaller spaces like rock shelters, sea caves, and grottos.Speleology is the science of exploration and study...
on the way, Garion brings a dead colt (whose birth
Birth
Birth is the act or process of bearing or bringing forth offspring. The offspring is brought forth from the mother. The time of human birth is defined as the time at which the fetus comes out of the mother's womb into the world...
he had helped assist with minutes before) back to life
Life
Life is a characteristic that distinguishes objects that have signaling and self-sustaining processes from those that do not, either because such functions have ceased , or else because they lack such functions and are classified as inanimate...
. This event is of great significance as both Polgara
Polgara the Sorceress
Polgara the Sorceress is a fantasy novel by David and Leigh Eddings, and the twelfth in the setting of The Belgariad, The Malloreon and Belgarath the Sorcerer...
and Belgarath maintain that before this, it was dangerous to use the Will and the Word to restore life to the dead, for this risked the life force of the one attempting it. To save time the group passes through the haunted land of Maragor, home of the Marags. Belgarath tells the company of how Maragor became haunted; because it is full of gold
Gold
Gold is a chemical element with the symbol Au and an atomic number of 79. Gold is a dense, soft, shiny, malleable and ductile metal. Pure gold has a bright yellow color and luster traditionally considered attractive, which it maintains without oxidizing in air or water. Chemically, gold is a...
, the Tolnedran merchants had urged their Emperor to attempt forcing the self-sufficient Marags to participate in trade
Trade
Trade is the transfer of ownership of goods and services from one person or entity to another. Trade is sometimes loosely called commerce or financial transaction or barter. A network that allows trade is called a market. The original form of trade was barter, the direct exchange of goods and...
. When the Marags refused, the merchants started spreading (partly true) stories of the Marags being cannibals
Cannibalism
Cannibalism is the act or practice of humans eating the flesh of other human beings. It is also called anthropophagy...
. The Tolnedrans invaded Maragor a short time later, slaughtered most of the peace-loving race, sold the survivors to the Murgos as slaves, and planned to take the abandoned gold for themselves. When the gold hunters invaded, Mara (the God of the Marags) unleashed ghost
Ghost
In traditional belief and fiction, a ghost is the soul or spirit of a deceased person or animal that can appear, in visible form or other manifestation, to the living. Descriptions of the apparition of ghosts vary widely from an invisible presence to translucent or barely visible wispy shapes, to...
s of the lost people onto them, driving them and anyone who entered thereafter insane. In an effort to appease Mara's vengeful spirit, the Tolnedran Emperor set up a monastery at Mar Terrin, where Tolnedran monks carry out eternal penance for the slaughtered Marag race. As the protagonists move into the haunted plains, Mara can be heard weeping over the death
Death
Death is the permanent termination of the biological functions that sustain a living organism. Phenomena which commonly bring about death include old age, predation, malnutrition, disease, and accidents or trauma resulting in terminal injury....
of his people. Belgarath and Polgara therefore join their Wills to blanket the group into a waking slumber in an effort to protect their minds against the horrors of Maragor's ghost attacks. When they reach the center of the ruins Mara appears and senses Ce'Nedra, a Tolnedran and one of the race that destroyed his people, and in outrage he attempts to wake her up and drive her insane. The 'other awareness' in Garion's mind steps in and prevents Mara from harming Ce'Nedra, whereupon Mara recognizes it as the Voice of the Prophecy and relents, fleeing from its command. Afterwards Garion informs Belgarath and Polgara of his awareness of the other Voice in his mind.
While in the Vale of Aldur, Garion learns more about his powers. The group enters Ulgoland, and, after some dispute, recruits an Ulgo zealot named Relg to serve as a guide to Cthol Murgos, as they find out Relg has the ability to move his body
Body
With regard to living things, a body is the physical body of an individual. "Body" often is used in connection with appearance, health issues and death...
through solid rock
Rock (geology)
In geology, rock or stone is a naturally occurring solid aggregate of minerals and/or mineraloids.The Earth's outer solid layer, the lithosphere, is made of rock. In general rocks are of three types, namely, igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic...
. Ce'Nedra is reluctantly left behind as a guest of Ulgo and the Gorim, because the Ulgo god UL warns that if she enters the city of the Murgos, she will die. Ce'Nedra obeys the will of UL, yet is shocked to realize that her initial refusal to remain behind was the knowledge that she would miss Garion.
Belgarion
Belgarion
Belgarion is a fictional character and the chief protagonist in The Belgariad and The Malloreon, two fantasy epics written by David Eddings....
and friends enter the city of the Murgos and infiltrate Ctuchik's headquarters. Belgarath and Ctuchik fight an epic battle that ends with Ctuchik's destruction as he attempts to will the Orb out of existence. The group escapes, taking the now unconscious Belgarath, a boy later nicknamed Errand, who carries the Orb unharmed, and an escaped slave named Taiba, a beautiful woman who reveals that she is a descendant of the original Marag prisoners whom the Tolnedran warriors had sold into slavery
Slavery
Slavery is a system under which people are treated as property to be bought and sold, and are forced to work. Slaves can be held against their will from the time of their capture, purchase or birth, and deprived of the right to leave, to refuse to work, or to demand compensation...
.
Castle of Wizardry
The fourth book of the series starts when the role of leader is thrust upon Garion for the first time when Belgarath and Polgara are incapacitated, the former by his battle with Ctuchik and the latter by maintaining a shield to protect the innocent boy Errand, as they escape. Garion destroys the focal point of the power of the Hierarchs of Rak Cthol in retaliation for an attack upon Durnik. With Errand continuously trying to give the Orb of Aldur to everyone in the company (its donation being the source of his name), they return to Ulgo for Ce'Nedra and eventually reach the Isle of the Winds.At Riva, on his sixteenth birthday, which falls during the Erastide (the winter solstice festival
Winter solstice
Winter solstice may refer to:* Winter solstice, astronomical event* Winter Solstice , former band* Winter Solstice: North , seasonal songs* Winter Solstice , 2005 American film...
), Belgarion
Belgarion
Belgarion is a fictional character and the chief protagonist in The Belgariad and The Malloreon, two fantasy epics written by David Eddings....
is led by Belgarath, Polgara, and the Voice of the Prophecy to accept the Orb of Aldur from Errand in the Hall of the Rivan King, where the ancient Sword rests above the Rivan Throne. In Garion's hands, the Orb glows with bright blue fire; placing it on the pommel, he is able to grasp the fiery Sword, revealing to all that he is the long-lost heir to the throne. This revelation infuriates Ce'Nedra, because the Accords of Vo Mimbre state that she must submit to the Rivan King on her sixteenth birthday to be betrothed. It is also here that Garion, aided by the Voice of the Prophecy, is able to see each member of the quest for the Orb as the Instruments of Prophecy each had been destined to become.
Shortly after the betrothal, Garion learns from the Mrin and Darine Codex Prophecies that the Rivan King must slay the god
God
God is the English name given to a singular being in theistic and deistic religions who is either the sole deity in monotheism, or a single deity in polytheism....
Torak or be slain himself. Belgarion
Belgarion
Belgarion is a fictional character and the chief protagonist in The Belgariad and The Malloreon, two fantasy epics written by David Eddings....
, Belgarath and Silk set out on their own to fight Torak, leaving only a note to Polgara and Ce'Nedra with instructions not to pursue them. They sneak off in the night, Garion taking the Sword of the Rivan King with him. Ce'Nedra irrationally assumes she has been jilted by Garion, while Polgara knows what the actual reason for the departure is, and goes into a rage, destroying her apartment and causing a titanic thunderstorm overhead.
After much sulking, Ce'Nedra finally learns that Garion has left to meet Torak in a fight to the death. Frightened that she has lost the chance to tell Garion of her true affection for him, Ce'Nedra overhears a conference of the Alorn kings and decides to assist them with their plan to raise an army to distract the Angaraks from Garion's quest so that he may reach Cthol Mishrak safely and destroy Torak.
Ce'Nedra proves herself and lives up to her role in the Prophecy by donning armor and traveling through the cities of Arendia, where she begins giving rousing speeches to the Arends, convincing them to lend their support to the Army of the Overlord of the West. By the time she crosses into Tolnedra, every able-bodied Arend has been inspired to join her army. The book ends with Ce'Nedra and her army marching east, knowing full well that her invasion is only a diversion to help Garion, Silk, and Belgarath sneak into Cthol Mishrak and serves no other purpose.
Enchanters' End Game
The final book of the series starts with BelgarionBelgarion
Belgarion is a fictional character and the chief protagonist in The Belgariad and The Malloreon, two fantasy epics written by David Eddings....
, Silk and Belgarath sneaking through Gar og Nadrak, and despite a few incidents (such as being captured into the Nadrak army at one point), finally reaches the land-bridge and crosses into Mallorea. Garion is tempted by Torak to accept him as a father and Polgara as his mother, but he loudly rejects Torak and manages to reach Cthol Mishrak unchallenged.
Ce'Nedra's plan is less successful. Despite a victory at Thull Mardu, she, Polgara
Polgara the Sorceress
Polgara the Sorceress is a fantasy novel by David and Leigh Eddings, and the twelfth in the setting of The Belgariad, The Malloreon and Belgarath the Sorcerer...
, Durnik, and Errand are captured by Mallorean forces and taken to Kal Zakath, who gives them to Zedar. This is particularly disastrous because Torak wishes for Polgara to be his bride; with the self-confidence
Confidence
Confidence is generally described as a state of being certain either that a hypothesis or prediction is correct or that a chosen course of action is the best or most effective. Self-confidence is having confidence in oneself. Arrogance or hubris in this comparison, is having unmerited...
her love would give Torak, his strength would become such that the Rivan King would be unable to stop him. Polgara reveals that the Mallorean Prophecies name her as Torak's destined Bride, and that her strength in resisting Torak's call may decide Belgarion's outcome. With Kal Zakath's private armed escort, Polgara, Ce'Nedra, Durnik, Errand, and Zedar reach Cthol Mishrak before Garion, Silk, and Belgarath arrive.
Inside Cthol Mishrak, Zedar takes his prisoners to Torak's tomb. Garion, Silk, and Belgarath sneak into the iron tower and down a flight of steps, arriving at the crypt door, where they hear the voices of Zedar and Polgara inside. The three listening outside hear Zedar insult Polgara, then the sounds of Durnik charging Zedar. Belgarath blasts the door open as Zedar kills Durnik. Belgarath, enraged, battles Zedar, sealing him alive inside the stone deep underground. Torak revives, and attempts to sway Polgara to join him, but Garion sends images of Durnik into her mind, thereby helping her to withstand Torak's call. He then turns to Garion in anger. A titanic final battle ensues, during which Garion and Torak swell into immensity. Garion again rejects the God of Angarak, slaying his corporeal form with the Sword of the Rivan King and thereby vanquishing him forever. Torak, in his final—and most ultimately human—act, cries out "Mother!" as he dies. Belgarath explains that Torak cried out to the universe
Universe
The Universe is commonly defined as the totality of everything that exists, including all matter and energy, the planets, stars, galaxies, and the contents of intergalactic space. Definitions and usage vary and similar terms include the cosmos, the world and nature...
itself, thereby reaching for the one thing that may have truly loved him.
The gods arrive and take away Torak's body. UL, the father of the gods, agrees to allow Garion to revive Durnik, with the help of the Orb; Mara objects, but relents when Belgarath reveals that there is one Marag left alive. Aldur questions whether Polgara could be so unequally attached to a mortal while she was a Sorceress. Polgara affirms that she loves Durnik and would agree to have no power greater than he has. The gods and Belgarion use the Orb to bring Durnik back to life, but succeed only when Errand places his hand on the Orb.
Upon the company's return to Riva, Garion and Ce'Nedra plan their wedding. Polgara and Durnik are married in a private chapel in the Citadel prior to Belgarion and Ce'Nedra's ceremony in the Hall of the Rivan King. Here, Durnik reveals that he was gifted with the Will and the Word when he was brought back to life, and that Belgarath had been training him to be Aldur's newest Disciple, thereby fulfilling Polgara's wish that she have no power greater than his own. Ce'Nedra and Garion are married, dance with everyone, and then retire to their chambers.
The story ends with a half-drunk Belgarath, having finally accomplished his eons-old mission, sitting in the darkened Hall of the Rivan King later that night with a tankard of ale, as the glowing blue Orb mysteriously seems to blush pink as Garion and Ce'Nedra enter the royal bed chamber.
Book of Alorn
The Book of Alorn is an historical and semi-religious book belonging to the Alorn people in David Eddings'sDavid Eddings
David Eddings was an American author who wrote several best-selling series of epic fantasy novels.-Biography:...
epic fantasy, The Belgariad. Its context includes major events from the creation of the world to the battle of Vo Mimbre, and has been used as background material for many of the Belgariad and Malloreon novels. Apparently all Alorns can recite the book, even those who have never read it, because, according to Belgarath, it is in their blood. Although Eddings bases many of his novels' prologues on the Book, he also mentions throughout his works that the Book is not completely accurate (e.g., it credits Aldur with the creation of the Orb of Aldur, whereas it predated him).
In Belgarath the Sorcerer, Belgarath hints that the Book of Alorn was written by priests (of Belar?) and that there are a number of versions (page 203, Apostate chapter of Belgarath the Sorcerer).
Book of Torak
The Book of Torak is the Angarak holy book in The Belgariad. It was apparently written by TorakTorak
Torak may refer to:* Torak , a village in Serbia* Torak, a deity in The Belgariad* Torak, the protagonist of the Chronicles of Ancient Darkness series...
himself, in first person narrative. The prologue to Enchanter's End Game was based on this particular fictional book. Like the Book of Alorn, the book of Torak narrates the major world events, but tells it from a different perspective. According to the book, it was Torak who led the gods to create the world, protagonists (such as Belgarath) are recast as villains, and the reason for Riva Iron-Grip being able to touch the Orb of Aldur (Or 'Cthrag Yaska' as it is called by Torak) is different. The book also claims that the Angaraks are in fact the good race, and that Torak is good as well.
The first several pages of the Book of Torak are printed in The Rivan Codex, David and Leigh Eddings' collection of unpublished background material and commentary on the Belgariad and Malloreon.
Supernaturalism
In the fictional world of The Belgariad and The Malloreon, there are several means to achieve supernaturalSupernatural
The supernatural or is that which is not subject to the laws of nature, or more figuratively, that which is said to exist above and beyond nature...
feats. There is only one thing that is absolutely forbidden by the nature of the universe itself, and that is unmaking. You can destroy (incinerate), but you cannot undo the creation of something. Uncreation cannot be achieved by any means, not even by the gods or the Necessities.
Alchemy
The Melcenes, who discount the supernatural, take a scientific approach and developed alchemyAlchemy
Alchemy is an influential philosophical tradition whose early practitioners’ claims to profound powers were known from antiquity. The defining objectives of alchemy are varied; these include the creation of the fabled philosopher's stone possessing powers including the capability of turning base...
. Senji is the only alchemist introduced by name, though there are others.
Demons
Demons seem to have supernatural powers, and hence are called upon by wizards to do their bidding. Their power is less than that of the gods, however, as UL bound them to Hell. Their chief aim seems to be to escape this prison. they fear the orb intensely, as is demonstrated in the mountains of Karanda when Eriond and Garion light the sky up. They all defer to "The king of Hell" a major demon. Some of them are "demon lords' so when summoned, they bring vast hordes of lesser demons.Divination
There are two distinct types. Ulgo diviners have the ability to pass their bodies (and anything they touch) through solid rock. This is helpful in discovering caves, which is useful as they are a subterranean people. Dalasian diviners have the ability to acquire special information.Gods
The power of gods is almost limitless. The gods in the stories are UL (Ulgos), Belar (Alorns), Torak (Angaraks), Aldur (disciples), Issa (Nyissans), Nedra (Tolnedrans), Mara (Marags[extinct, except for Taiba]) and Chaldan (Arends). Oldest is UL, the father god, then his sons Aldur, Nedra, Torak, Issa, and so on to Belar, the youngest.Magic
Very similar to traditional fantasy magicMagic (fantasy)
Magic in fiction is the endowing of fictional characters or objects with magical powers.Such magic often serves as a plot device, the source of magical artifacts and their quests...
, witches employ potion
Potion
A potion is a consumable medicine or poison.In mythology and literature, a potion is usually made by a magician, sorcerer, dragon, fairy or witch and has magical properties. It might be used to heal, bewitch or poison people...
s and spells to achieve certain effects. Magic can be used to prolong the lifespan, but not indefinitely like sorcerers. The only example given of a witch is Vordai. However, Belgarath uses magic to shape an illusion around the demons in Morind to control them. Beldin accuses him of being a mediocre magician as opposed to the Will and the Word.
The Necessities
The power of the two Necessities is such that if they were to meet directly, the universe would likely be destroyed. Hence they work through agents, the Child of Light and the Child of Dark, and channel some of their power through the Orb of Aldur and the Sardion to be used by them.Necromancy
Some Dals have the ability to communicate with spirits of the dead.Sorcery
Sorcery is the common term for the Will and the Word, which is used by the discipleApprenticeship
Apprenticeship is a system of training a new generation of practitioners of a skill. Apprentices or protégés build their careers from apprenticeships...
s of Aldur, Torak, and the most senior Grolims. Disciple sorcerers are immune to aging, with other sorcerers living extended lives.
Essentially, a sorcerer concentrates their own strength through willpower, then releases it with a word. The word itself is not important, but how the completed effect is envisioned by the sorcerer is. (Much of the training and education of sorcerers is toward expanding the power of imagination.) Sorcery requires concentration, and channeling that much power can be physically tiring, with Belgarath saying that sorcery takes just as much effort as the equivalent physical task. The uses of the Will and the Word are almost limitless. However, Garion almost kills himself by using too much power, when trying to resurrect a stillborn horse.
Sorcerers can "hear" when sorcery is used. This depends on the type of action being done (translocation is very loud), how quickly it is done (you can reduce the "volume" by prolonging the action), and proximity/skill of other Will-talented people. This sense manifests in a way very similar to real hearing, so loud noises can be used to mask the "sound" of using one's Will. Other types of supernatural power are not detectable in this way.
Wizardry
One of the least-detailed supernatural practices in the series, the wizards of the Dals, like the Seers, have a place in the Mountain of Kell, and are known to have placed an enchantment that curses Grolims who come near the city.Witches
Oft-maligned, usually unfairly, a single witch appears in the series, though the Dals practice witchcraft as well to some degree. They appear to work by convincing spirits to do their bidding.See also
- List of The Belgariad and The Malloreon characters
- Races in The Belgariad and The Malloreon
- Deities in The Belgariad and The Malloreon