Difference between revisions of "Summary:Elantris"

[[Hrathen]], Fjordell gyorn, arrives by ship in Arelon to convert the people to [[Shu-Dereth]]. He has a three month deadline to finish the conversion, or else his god [[Jaddeth]] will destroy the ArelishArelene people. He surveys Elantris and the surrounding areas with a military eye, judging it to be too poorly organized to be defensible. Hrathen's presence and appearance, with the imposing plate armor of a Derethi high priest, causes a stir as he walks to the Derethi chapel. En route, he is met by [[Fjon]], Kae's Derethi head [[arteth]]. Hrathen is displeased with Fjon, and with the lack of order he encounters at the chapel, and orders all the Derethi priests to be gathered. Hrathen orders Fjon to return to Fjordell to be remediated in his religious faith, stating that Fjon has been corrupted by being in Arelon for too long.

Hrathen meets with Fjon's former underlings and realizes how disordered and corrupted by Arelon the chapel's staff had become. He only encounters one arteth with the proper potential, [[Dilaf]], who explained how while he was ArelishArelene, he had learned to follow the Derethi faith. Dilaf states he went to [[Rain]] and gained a Derethi following, then returned to Kae when the chapel was built. Fjon raised Dilaf to arteth, though he didn't have the authority to do so. Hrathen is impressed with Dilaf's teaching ability, though he also feels caution at his ardor, and appoints him arteth and [[odiv]], to both reward him and control him.

After Hrathen dismisses Dilaf by sending him to make sure that Fjon is boarding a ship for Fjordell, Hrathen rereads the scroll with his orders. The scroll states that all of the ArelishArelene and Teo people who fail to convert to Shu-Derethi within three months will be slain, and that Jaddeth will end his slumber within his tomb of rock, and ascend to rule. Hrathen wishes for the more peaceful resolution of conversion over annihilation.

After Hrathen departs, Sarene and Ashe discuss Iadon's ignorance of the current state of affairs and Fjorden's growing power. Sarene decides that Hrathen will be a more worthy recipient of her scorn than the ArelishArelene nobility. She realizes the danger that the gyorn poses and worries that he will successfully convert the citizens of Kae, and frets about how that would affect the alliance with Teod.

At Kiin's castle-like home, they are greeted by Kiin's wife [[Daora]], their children [[Kaise]] and [[Daorn]], and Daora's children [[Lukel]] and [[Adien]], and Lukel's wife [[Jalla]]. Over dinner, they discuss the Reod, the fall of the ArelishArelene government, and the changes to Elantris, and how the servants revolted against the Elantrians. Sarene talks of her seon, Ashe, and how Ashe had been passed down to her from her mother.

Hrathen and Dilaf visit the boundary wall of Elantris, then return to the Derethi chapel where Hrathen explains his strategy of using the fallen Elantrians as scapegoats by denouncing them as the evil [[Svrakiss]], the souls of the dead who hate Jaddeth, and then unifying the ArelishArelene in hatred of Elantris.

Lukel also discusses the past rivalry between the Merchant's Guild and the Elantrians who had provided free food and services to the population. Sarene speculates that the ArelishArelene population will revolt over this poor treatment since they still remember freedom from not too long before, unlike the Fjordell who have been living under harsh conditions for centuries. Lukel compares Sarene to Raoden, and reminisces about the former prince, who was kind and outspoken, and stood up to the king's harsh laws, creating friction between father and son. Lukel also discusses Kiin's undermining of the king's authority by refusing to accept a noble title, and the line of succession which is endangered due to Raoden's 'passing' though the king may try to have another child. Lukel states that Raoden's friends will stop their subvertive meetings since the prince is not there anymore to provide protection, and Sarene asks to be invited to their last gathering.

Hrathen and Dilaf go to a meeting at an inn to form an alliance with some ArelishArelene aristocrats, mostly minor nobles but also including the powerful Duke [[Telrii]], talking of recent conquests of the Fjordell Empire, and promising power in exchange for the nobles converting to Shu-Dereth. Hrathen explains that many ArelishArelene believe that the Elantrians will return to power and that this belief undermines Iadon's and the nobles' authority. Hrathen speaks vaguely so that he can maintain plausible deniability in the event that one of the nobles accuses Hrathen of insurgence against the government. [[Waren]] muses that it will be a lengthy process to establish Shu-Dereth in Arelon, but Hrathen counters that the Jesker Mysteries were banished from the Duladel Republic in a very short time span and that the Elantrians fell from power suddenly as well, and that Shu-Korath has been in great decline and is now followed in only two nations, Arelon and Teod.

Sarene learns of a traditional ritual called the [[Widow's Trial]], which is performed by newly widowed ArelishArelene ladies, and involves charitable work.

Sarene accompanies Shuden to a lavish party at Duke Telrii's residence. Sarene's noble rank allows them access to an exclusive gathering attended by King Iadon, which also includes high ranking ArelishArelene along with Hrathen. Shuden talks of the history of [[Shu-Keseg]], the parent religion of Shu-Korath and Shu-Dereth, and of how the original intended concept of Unity became complicated over the passage of time. Shuden expresses concern about Hrathen and Lord Walen, and this concern is echoed by Lord Roial. Sarene tells the king about fencing at the queen's request, and Iadon acquiesces to their desire to exercise. A messenger delivers bad news to the king. Sarene tries to eavesdrop but is outed by Hrathen, as payback for her earlier interference with his preaching. Sarene meets as many people as possible to become acquainted with the political and social scenes to avoid being disadvantaged by Hrathen in this regard.

Hrathen strolls along the Elantrian wall and ponders about Elantris and feels pity for the Elantrians even as he plans to exploit them to unite the ArelishArelene and convert them with as little bloodshed as possible. Hrathen wishes to avoid a repeat of the revolution in the Duladel Republic, which weighs heavily upon his conscience.

Sarene explains the circumstances around Iadon's death, including details of his involvement in the Jeskeri Mysteries. She also talks of how Telrii is in line to sieze the ArelishArelene throne with Derethi assistance. She then goes into extreme detail on the political situation, though some of the information is already understood by Spirit.

Hoid stands beside the[[Devotion's shardpoolPerpendicularity]] and unwraps bandages from his face. He is surprised that his face and hands appear the same and that he did not transform to an Elantrian. He is accompanied by a dark hovering sphere who trades witty banter with him and who accuses Hoid of failure at his attempt to transform. Hoid says that he is not disappointed, and says he sees beauty that there are still secrets to investigate, and that he loves puzzles. Hoid steps into the shardpoolPerpendicularity and vanishes.

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