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{{character
|image=
|family=[[Arelene Royal Family]]
|spouse=[[Sarene]]
|aliases=Spirit, Kaloo
|abilities={{
|bonded=[[Ien]]
|titles=King of [[Elantris_(city)|Elantris]],
|world=Sel|nation=Arelon▼
|ethnicity=Aonic
▲|parents=[[Iadon]]|spouse=[[Sarene]]
|
|world=Sel
|universe=[[Cosmere]]
|first appeared=[[Elantris (book)|Elantris]]
}}
'''Raoden''' is the only son of King [[Iadon]] and is the current king of [[Arelon]].{{book ref|Elantris|1}}{{book ref|Elantris|56}}
== Appearance and Personality ==
{{image|Raoden by Gar leyva.jpeg|side=left|width=300px}}
{{for|/Gallery|more images}}
Before the Shaod, Raoden had brown hair, blue eyes, and a handsome face. When the Shaod took him, his hair fell out and his skin became wrinkled and grey with dark splotches, like all other Elantrians.{{book ref|elantris|1}} Once Elantris was restored, he gained silver skin and pure white hair.{{book ref|elantris|61}}
Raoden has an optimistic attitude and a strong desire to improve the lives of the people around him. He is well-educated and skilled in debate and public speaking. He has a keen ability to determine how any one person can be useful in promoting the benefit of the whole. In Elantris he clearly shows his leadership abilities. He has a skillful hand and is able to proficiently learn and draw Aons. This in turn means that he is quite adept with [[AonDor]].
== Attributes and Abilities ==
As an Elantrian Raoden has enhanced speed, strength, insight and extreme regeneration. Not even decapitation would kill him.{{wob ref|13084}} Raoden shows proficiency in drawing Aons. Both Galladon and Sarene comment on the grace and speed Raoden shows when drawing the symbols in the air.{{book ref|elantris|43}} When he connects to the Dor, he shows skills in crafting illusions and combat Aons. Raoden has been mentioned as being "closer to the Dor than others" making his Aons more powerful.{{book ref|elantris|37}}
While sparring with Sarene under the guise of a noble named Kaloo, he shows that he is close in skill to Sarene and can fend off most of her attacks.{{book ref|Elantris|50}} He later reveals that he was taught by [[Eondel]]{{book ref|elantris|51}}. As a prince, Raoden proves himself to be a capable leader by uniting the separate factions of Elantris{{book ref|elantris|34}} and restoring the city to its glory.{{book ref|elantris|61}} Raoden is Bonded to the Seon [[Ien]]. He can use him to communicate with other Seons.
As an Elantrian, Raoden and his Dor related abilities are tied to Elantris. The further Raoden is away from the city the more his power decreases. This goes for both the advantages of his Elantrian body and the effects of his Aons. The decrease is quite drastic; in Elantris, Raoden was able to travel all the way to Teod with a powerful Aon, while in Teod the same Aon only took him about 60 feet. For this reason Raoden would be unable to use AonDor if he ever were to leave Sel.
== History ==
{{image|Raoden - Living by Hayley Olivia.jpg|side=right|width=200px}}
=== Pre-Reod ===
For the majority of his life, Raoden lived in the city of [[Kae]], just outside of [[Elantris (city)|Elantris]]. When he was younger, Raoden suffered from an infection after breaking his leg and was taken to Elantris to receive treatment. There, he witnessed the allure of the AonDor for the first time as a glowing character in the air caused the pain and wound to vanish. He felt a deep gratitude for the Elantrian woman who healed him and became angry when his father railed against the Elantrians on the way home. This led to the first of many arguments between Raoden and Iadon.{{book ref|elantris|19}} At some point his mother died.
=== Prince ===
{{image|Raoden mirror by Elisgardor.jpg|side=left|width=250px|Seeing himself in the mirror the morning the [[Shaod]] struck him.}}
=== Post Shaod ===
==== Arrival to Elantris ====▼
Ten years after the [[Reod]], Raoden underwent the Shaod transformation into an [[Elantrian]], a transformation that was, at the time, incomplete.{{book ref|Elantris|1}} He was immediately cast into the rotting city of Elantris, as was tradition, while his father claimed that he had died to the [[Coughing shivers]]. When he was thrown into the city, he took the first step to the right and thus became the prey of [[Shaor]]'s gang. Raoden was soon attacked by Shaor's men and attempted to run away. Raoden escaped from his pursuers by throwing them his basket with offerings. The mad Elantrians pounced on the basket and fought over it, paying no further attention to Raoden. Afterward he was approached by a [[Dula]] named [[Galladon]] and learned that he had become like a corpse, with no heartbeat and an inability to heal his own wounds.{{book ref|elantris|1}} Raoden hired Galladon as a guide for the next thirty days with the last of his offerings. Galladon told him of Elantris and the fate that awaited modern Elantrians. He eventually showed Raoden that Elantrians retained the ability to draw [[Aon]]s,{{book ref|elantris|4}} but that they were unable to access the [[Dor]], making the glowing lines useless to the Elantrians. This led to Raoden's investigation of the connection between the failure of AonDor and the Reod.{{book ref|elantris|5}}
==== Restoring Elantris to its Glory ====
As an Elantrian,
{{image|Elantris Shuravf.jpg|side=right|width=200px|Walking through the ruined city}}
==== Reunion with Sarene ====
In an attempt to better the lives of the Elantrians, Sarene
==== Connecting to the Dor ====▼
As Raoden and Galladon
==== Infiltrating Arelon ====
Under the guise of exiled Dulas, Raoden and Galladon entered Arelon and met with Sarene and her allies. Suspecting the newcomer to be a spy, Sarene sparred with Raoden and accidentally wounded him, adding to the many pains he already suffered.{{book ref|elantris|50}} He eventually revealed his identity as Spirit to Sarene and shared his reconnection to the Dor. During a meeting at [[Kiin]]'s house, Count [[Ahan]] betrayed them to King [[Telrii]], who had Duke [[Roial]] killed and ordered the execution of the others.
{{image|Saving Elantris by Shuravf.jpeg|side=left|height=300px|Fighting to save Elantris}}
▲For the majority of his life, Raoden lived in the city of [[Kae]], just outside of [[Elantris]]. He had a rather stringent upbringing, being taught a variety of skills that were meant to tailor him into a successful king. However as he got older and more confident he was known to frequently disagree with his father, King [[Iadon]], on a variety of political points. Raoden even obtained fencing lessons from Count [[Eondel]] to spite his father.{{book ref|Elantris|52}} He also had a close friendship with [[Lukel]]. When he was younger, Raoden suffered from an infected wound on his leg and was taken to Elantris to receive treatment. There, he witnessed the allure of the AonDor for the first time and the pain and wound vanished. His differing opinions with an almost unanimously disliked king promoted a large following with the young prince. {{book ref|Elantris|8}} Before succumbing to the [[Shaod]], he was engaged to the [[Teoish]] princess, [[Sarene]].
▲=== Arrival to Elantris ===
====
▲As an Elantrian, he worked to bring peace and civilization to the people living in Elantris, who had devolved into a primitive, bestial society.{{book ref|Elantris|16}}{{book ref|Elantris|41}} First, he adopts the identity Spirit and rounds up new arrivals and convinces them to join him and work in rebuilding the city. After rumors spread that those surrounding Raoden no longer felt much pain and hunger, many are attracted to the Elantrian. He later brings some semblance of order to the city did by bringing together the two separate factions led by [[Karata]] and [[Aanden]] and allocating resources to the Elantrians. Despite his own suffering, Raoden manages to restore a sense of purpose and hope to the Elantrians by assigning them individual jobs and assignments so they could better their once glorious city.
===
▲In an attempt to better the lives of the Elantrians, Sarene brings food to the Elantris. There Raoden meets Sarene under the guise of Spirit but only he recognizes the Teoish princess while she believes him to be just a common Elantrian. Karata and Mareshe, posing as the leading Elantrians, agree to allow Sarene and the other nobles to distribute food to the people in exchange for goods they would later use to make clothing and some repairs to the city. Sarene suspects that Raoden as Spirit is the ruler of the Elantris and later gains trust in him.
== Relationships ==
▲=== Connecting to the Dor ===
▲As Raoden and Galladon discuss AonDor, Galladon suggests that the land has changed, causing Raoden to conclude that the chasm in Elantris caused the Reod, rather than the other way around as speculated. Raoden draws a modified Ehe Aon includng the chasm line, and it works, causing a fireball to incinerate part of the library. They realize that the AonDor is still somewhat inhibited and the strong burst of power was a result of a large reserve of energy being releaesed at once. Their Aons don't produce as powerful effects as the books describe or affect people at all, and they still have not completed their transformations to pre-Reod Elantrians. However, they are able to use a bit of the AonDor. Raoden does find a practical aon, Shao, that allows him to create an illusion around him of a healthy human, to make it possible for them to leave Elantris.
===
Raoden first is engaged to [[Sarene]] for political reasons, but he believes he knows her and loves her because of her letters and the talks they had through [[Seon]]. Raoden is thrown into Elantris just before Sarene arrives in [[Arelon]]. He first meets her when she performs her widow’s trial in Elantris, and although he believes she is trying to help those there, he believes she is doing the worst thing possible for them. He later revises his opinion after she finishes her trial and his band’s numbers increase significantly. Raoden later meets Sarene when she is poisoned by [[Hrathen]] and thrown into Elantris. He spends almost all of his time with her while she is there, but when the poison’s effects stop, he tells her to leave Elantris and help [[Kae]], even though he desperately wants more time with her. Although he knows her for only a short time, his love for her is so great that he is willing to risk his life and try to rescue her from [[Dilaf]]. After he travels to [[Teod]] via [[Aon]] Tia, he fights to rescue her, and with the help of the other Elantrians and Hrathen, he is successful. Eventually, Sarene becomes pregnant with his child.
▲Under the guise of exiled Dulas, Raoden and Galladen enter Arelon and meets with Sarene. Suspecting the newcomer to be a spy, Sarene spars with Raoden and accidentally wounds him, adding to the many pains he already suffers. He eventually reveals his identity as Spirit to Sarene and shares his reconnection to the Dor. While attending a meeting at [[Kiin]]'s house, [[Telrii]] betrays them and kills [[Roial]] and attempts to do so to the rest of the nobles. In a spur of the moment, Raoden drops one illusion and reveals another, one of his appearance before being taken by the Shaod. Telrii flees and Sarene and the other nobles are shocked by the revelation. Raoden attempts to heal Roial but fails to do so due to his lack of knowledge of the healing Aons as well as the lack of power. With news of his return, his coronation is scheduled;but while giving his speech, his illusion drops and his status as an Elantrian is revealed to the citizens. Sarene manages to calm the crowd and they accept Raoden as an Elantrian despite his appearance.
===
[[Iadon]] is Raoden’s father. Before the [[Shaod]] took him, Raoden often opposes his father in public, and is responsible for leading the group of nobles that are attempting to change Arelon’s government. When Raoden led them, this group was composed of around half the nobles in Iadon’s court, however this shrinks to just five nobles when Sarene begins to take control. After being taken by the Shaod, when Sarene informs him about his father’s suicide, although he had wished for his father’s demise before, he is still pained by his death.{{book ref|Elantris|46}}
▲When Elantris is under attack by Wyrn's army, Raoden eventually discovers the key to restoring Elantris after realizing that Elantris and its surrounding cities are just one big Aon. He then draws a giant line to represent the fissure that caused the interruption in the Shaod and manages to complete the Shaod of all the Elantrians. He later succeeds in repelling the efforts of [[Wyrn]] in conquering both [[Arelon]] and [[Teod]].{{book ref|Elantris|61}}{{book ref|Elantris|62}} The book ends with Raoden finally restoring Elantris and becoming the ruler of both the restored city and Arelon.
===
Originally from [[Duladel]], [[Galladon]] is Raoden’s friend. They meet first in Elantris, after Raoden escapes from Shaor’s men. Although Raoden first buys Galladon’s loyalty with a piece of dried meat, they quickly become good friends. Galladon, although often pessimistic, is often supportive of Raoden’s plans, even if he must sometimes be the voice of reason. Galladon is the one who rallies the Elantrians to save Raoden from [[Dilaf]] and the other [[Dakhor]] monks in [[Teod]], proving the extent of their friendship.
▲It is revealed that Sarene is pregnant with Raoden's child and Seons are returning.
===
*[[Roial]]
Raoden has immense respect for Roial, which leads to Roial being a father figure in his life. When Roial is stabbed by Telrii’s guard, Raoden is desperate to save him, but fails. That night, Raoden forces himself to begin learning the modifiers for Aon Ien so he can save someone else if he needs to.{{book ref|Elantris|53}}
*[[Eondel]]
Eondel teaches Raoden swordplay, which is later instrumental in his fight with Sarene.{{book ref|Elantris|50}}{{book ref|Elantris|52}} Raoden respects Eondel, and believes that he is brave, if foolhardy sometimes, especially in regards to his attack on Telrii. {{book ref|Elantris|56}}
*[[Shuden]]
Raoden considers Shuden a good friend and an honest person. They have been friends for a long time, and when Shuden doesn’t recognize him during Sarene’s Trial, Raoden is upset, but doesn’t blame Shuden.
*[[Lukel]]
Lukel is Raoden’s best friend, and has been since they were both children. They used to meet in the secret tunnels of Iadon’s palace and play for hours together. {{book ref|Elantris|13}} After being taken by the Shaod, Raoden laments not being able to know Lukel’s wife or children. In the aftermath of the Dakhor invasion of Arelon, Raoden uses Aon Ien to save Lukel’s life from a sword wound.{{book ref|Elantris|62}}
== Trivia ==
* Raoden was the first Elantrian after the
* Brandon thinks Raoden is possibly the only character he has written that "from day one, actually deserved to be king."{{wob ref|2057}}
== Notes ==
{{holder
|title=King of [[Arelon]]
|prev=[[Telrii]]
|this= with [[Sarene]]
|next=Incumbent
}}
<references />
{{Elantris}}
[[category: viewpoint characters]]
[[es:Raoden]]
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