- Maruman
unreferenced|date=October 2008?
Maruman (
Obernewtyn Chronicles Character)Maruman is a primary character within the
Obernewtyn Chronicles , set in a post-apocalyptic world, written by Australian authorIsobelle Carmody . He is feline in origin.Possible Etymology
Possibly from the Japanese "maru" means "circle, full (month)", referring to his status within the series as "Moonwatcher".
Character
Maruman, a "fey, battered cat", first appears in the first book, "
Obernewtyn ". He encounteredElspeth Gordie at the Kinraide Orphan Home, in which she resided for most of her early life, after she alerted a bird to his presence. This was also her first experience with her mind powers, after she realised she could hear Maruman cursing, he is the first being Elspeth communicates with mentally.Maruman is the Moonwatcher, and travels with Elspeth on most of her dreamtrail wanderings and adventures, protecting and guarding her from forces unknown. He is known as the Yelloweyes to his fellow beasts, and is held in high regard by them.The Agyllians, or flamebirds, are in constant communication with Maruman, resulting in schizophrenic tendencies. He is prone to fits of madness, and even at his most balanced moments he is apt to make cryptic predictions about Elspeth's fate.It is from Maruman that Elspeth learns most about her roles as the Seeker and Innle, the Innle being destined to free the animals from their human oppressors.He is a contrary being, and his temperament can shift, without warning, from wise to sullen and difficult. Maruman's age is never specified, it is only know that he is ancient, and possibly Beforetime, or pre-apocalypse, in his origin. This makes his quite old, far older than the ordinary feline, at over a century old.As ofThe Keeping Place , he has only one eye, courtesy of his solitary adventures in the radioactive Blacklands.The last we see of Maruman in print is his return to Obernewtyn with Elspeth and Gahltha at the end ofThe Stone Key . However he can be seen being cradled, unconscious, by Elspeth in the cover for the as of yet unreleased sixth book, The Sending. They are alone and walking the deathroad.His role as Moonwatcher
Moonwatcher, a figure of legend, destined to help the "Seeker" complete her quest for the destruction of the weaponmachines.According to prophecy, Maruman is the Moonwatcher, one of Elspeth's guardians in her quest. Maruman is the Moonwatcher, the dramatic foil to Gahltha, the horse also known as the Daywatcher, and is Elspeth's companion on the Dreamtrails. He is fated to be Elspeth's companion to his end.
Bibliography
1. http://obernewtyn.net/e107/e107_plugins/encyclopedia/encyclopedia.php?125.cat.2
2. Obernewtyn (2007 edition), written by Isobelle Carmody 1987, published by Penguin.
3. The Keeping Place (2007 edition), written by Isobelle Carmody 1999, published by Penguin.
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