The Federation (Shannara)

The Federation is a fictional organization from the Shannara series by Terry Brooks.

Shannara association


name=The Federation
headquarters=The Southland
intentions=To control all of the Four Lands
enemies=the Free-born and the Elves
appearance="The Scions of Shannara"

In the aftermath of the Second War of the Races, the cities of the deep Southland realized how close they had come to annihilation. Banding together out of fear, they formed an alliance whose goal was to unite the Southland and the race of Man under one government: the Federation. This led to tension between the Federation and the government of Callahorn, and neither truly participated in the War of the Forbidding. The Federation also had no role in the battle against the Mord Wraiths.

300 years later, the story was very different, as the Federation held everything but the Northland. Utilizing their magic hunting Seekers to enforce order, the Federation subjugated the Dwarves and took over the Westland, finding the Elves gone, and leaving the Trolls alone out of convenience. Unbeknownst to the Federation, their Seekers were in fact the Shadowen, a group of magic wielding fiends who stood as successors to the Skull Bearers and Mord Wraiths. Manipulating them was Rimmer Dall, First Seeker and most powerful of the Shadowen.

Despite the Federation's iron grip, there were those who resisted. Among these were the resistance groups of Dwarves and Trolls, as well as the Free-born led by Padishar Creel. Also, though to a lesser extent, the Federation was tormented by Morgan Leah, who pulled numerous jests upon Federation officials. It was only when the scions of Shannara began their quest that the Federation took action. Declaring open war on the Free-born, the Federation and their Shadowen allies unleashed their forces upon the Elves. However, the Federation was halted by the destruction of the Shadowen. In time, they abandoned the outlying lands.

130 years later, the Federation engaged the North, East, and Westlands and the Border country of Callahorn in their attempt to regain power. Leading them was Sen Dunsidan, the First Minister and ally to both the Ilse Witch and the Morgawr. For a long period of time, the war was at a stalemate. Then, a Federation engineer developed a dangerous new weapon. Manipulated by the shapeshifting Demon known as the Moric, Dunsidan unleashed the weapon upon the Free-born. Eventually the Moric assumed Dunsidan's body and took the weapon towards Arborlon on board a Federation airship. The Moric was stopped, however, and in doing so Dunsidan's body was destroyed. This event, coupled with several set backs on the Prekkendoran Front, the Federation quickly chose a less aggressive Minister and sued for peace.