A thread for the Old Kingdom series (Sabriel/Lirael/Abhorsen/Clariel) by Garth Nix, also one of my favorite series ever. Come talk music magic and the ethics of necromancy, y'all!
Literally the only thing I remember about the books is that there was a dog. I'm pretty sure she was a really cool dog but idk.
She's Disreputable. Okay but: I was telling @Wiwaxia this before but I really think the Abhorsens could stand to take a leaf out of the Clayr book and have emergency Saraneth whistles on their collars. We know anything with the right magic will work, it doesn't have to be the bell - the panpipes work, after all, and it's possible to whistle the notes yourself if you're skilled enough at whistling. So I think it would just be a good move all around.
Ooh yes that is a good idea. Just need enough Abhorsens to survive in a row to keep the tradition going, haha.
team "I Love You, Garth Nix, But Would It Kill You To Figure Out Your Worldbuilding Before You Start Writing," alias team "What The Fuck IS Mogget, Really," reporting for duty
But did anyone read the Keys to the Kingdom series? That was the first thing by Garth Nix that I read.
I've always kind of figured that Sabriel was supposed to be stand-alone and then got turned into a trilogy. As for Mogget, what he is is pretty straightforward after the first books.
True, but the first book confuses it. Spoiler: spoilers through Abhorsen How can he be the "Wallmaker relict" if he's Yrael? Sam is the one carrying the Wallmaker blood at the final binding! EDIT: A fan wiki says that his collar is the Wallmaker relic, which makes a lot of sense.
Yeah, that wiki interp is how I always took it. (Also, on that note, note how all through Lirael/Abhorsen, Mogget is basically Sam's buddy. True, Lirael has the Dog, but Mogget only just barely pays her any due. It's the Wallmaker his attention is on.)
Spoiler: not sure if spoilers I always interpreted that comment as Sabriel's father not knowing what the fuck Mogget was, and passing on speculation or speculation that had been passed on to him. I imagine a lot of the non-Book of the Dead knowledge that the Abhorsens once had has been lost, and I don't think that he's known as anything other than "a Free Magic being" in the time of Clariel.
Thought: Which shiner had to give their life in the original orannis binding? Was it Saraneth, hence the binder title?
Spoiler I always thought Astarael, given that she only survives as a torn-apart remnant and wasn't incorporated into any of the charter bloodlines
Spoiler: Reply to spoiler Lirael is referred to as "Astarael's Get", which complicates that a little. I think Saraneth is a good guess.
Spoiler And it would make sense, too, because the Abhorsens are the only bloodline that uses Free Magic.
Not sure if this is known already, but I think I just found out where he got the Nine Bright Shiners. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_Grow_the_Rushes,_O
