Races in the Elenium

Below is a list of major races in "The Elenium", a series of fantasy novels by David Eddings. The same races also appear in the sequel to "The Elenium", "The Tamuli".

Elenes

Primary occupants of the Eosian continent (the setting for most of "The Elenium"), Elenes are also found in Daresia, the eastern continent which serves as the location for "The Tamuli". The principal protagonist of the two series, Sparhawk, is an Elene. All Elenes worship the same god, represented by a single monolithic church (similar to Catholicism). Elenes bear a resemblance to the medieval English in their culture and technological level. The Styrics often refer to the way Elenes act and behave as barbaric; ironically, they see Styrics the same way. The Elene god is immensely powerful because of all his worshippers, and he is described by Aphrael as being "no fun" at the gods' parties.

Peloi

The Peloi are a group of nomadic horse-people who roam the eastern frontier of Pelosia. Strictly speaking, they are Elenes and worship the Elene god. Their customs are very different from those of other Elenes, being more in common with Elenes from several hundred years before the novels are set than with 'modern' Elenes. The Peloi are strong and wild warriors whose reputation was so feared that when the Zemochs invaded Eosia, they avoided sending their troops through Pelosia because of the Peloi's presence there. The Peloi believe that fighting and stealing are the most honourable ways of earning money. The nation of Pelosia was named after the Peloi.

tyrics

The principal magic users in the world, Styrics can be found scattered across both of the continents explored in the novels. They are governed by the Ageraluon or 'the thousand', a body comprising the High Priests and Priestesses of the thousand Younger Gods. They are frequently the subject of prejudice, bigotry, and occasional violence. Their persecution is so intense on the Eosian continent that Styrics live a simple, rustic existence. Styrics are more accepted in Daresia (the Tamul Empire), where their capital, Sarsos, is an architectural masterpiece. Because they are an oppressed people, many Styrics to tend toward self-pity and assumptions of moral superiority when dealing with other races (particularly Elenes).

Zemochs

A mixed race, the offshoot of Styric and Elene forefathers. Held under the dominion of the evil Elder God Azash and the Emperor Otha for centuries, they were freed thanks to the efforts of Sparhawk and Bhelliom at the end of "The Sapphire Rose".

Tamuls

The ruling race of Daresia. Many do not take their Gods seriously -- or even believe in them -- and, as a result, their deities are little more than divine infants who irk the Elene God to no end at parties. The Tamuls were virtually forced into ruling Daresia after the Atans offered themselves as slaves to them. The ruler of Tamul is the Emperor; however, he is little more than a figurehead, and the different departments of the government run the country.

The government tries to ensure its continual power by arranging royal marriages that would result in stupid heirs to the throne, and intelligent Emperors often have fatal accidents. To prevent the meddling of the Emperor (who technically has absolute power in Tamul), most members of the government refrain from giving the Emperor bad news or often any news at all, and Emperor Sarabian (the current ruler) once said that he would need to look out of a window if he ever wanted an accurate report on the weather.

The Emperor has nine wives, one for each nation subject to the Tamuls. His first wife is always a Tamul and it is always her child that will become the heir to the throne. The Tamuls are an incredible polite people, so much so that a Tamul criminal will not attempt to escape if caught as it is impolite. Most Tamuls are described as having gold-coloured skin.

Atans

Tall, warlike inhabitants of a country of the same name on the Daresian continent, they form the Tamul Empire's strongest (and only effective) army. Queen Ehlana's formidable bodyguard Mirtai is an Atan. Their relationship with their god is intimate, yet formal: it will lend its power to them in the form of magic, but they only call on it on very special occasions, as they do not believe they should bother their god with things they can do themselves. The Atans offered themselves as slaves to the Tamuls, as they feared that without someone to control them, they would destroy themselves (before becoming subject to the Tamuls, fights to the death between the Atans could break out over such topics as the weather). Despite being slaves, they are not treated poorly; instead the Tamul government uses their indentured slavery as a means to maintain peace and stability in the empire. The Tamuls, however, have to be careful about the orders they give. In one case, a very broad command was given to avenge the enslavement of many Atan youths by Arjuni slavers. The Atans took their orders to their logical conclusion, which resulted in the army marching through Arjuni, conquering its capital, and creating an economic disaster.

Valesians

Nominally Tamul peoples, hailing from the Isle of Valesia off the southern coast of the Daresian continent. The Valesians are described as sunny, open, and friendly people, owing to the naturally great climate of their homeland and the lack of any real desire for lordship and dominion. Empress Elysoun, a wife of the Emporer is the archtypical Valesian.

Arjuni

The Arjuni people are also a subset of the Tamuls, but again, seem to be a product of their environment. They are described as smaller and darker than their Tamul cousins. The Arjuni populate the jungles and swamplands of southern Daresia, and are the primary operators of the slave trade on the Daresian continent (much to the disgust of most races, especially the Atans).

Cynesgans and Cyrgai

The Cyrgai were the warrior race of the God Cyrgon. They were a race completely obsessed with racial purity and martial dominance. They dominated the Daresian lands until such time as they ran up against the combined forces of Delphae and Styric magics. Upon being sealed in their desert lands, the Cyrgai apparently bred themselves out of existence (or so it was believed). Their God ordered them to breed with their "mongrel" servants, the Cynesgans, to form a new army. However, the single-minded Cyrgai took the order literally, and forgot to breed with their OWN women. Upon realizing the error, the Cyrgai women were beyond child-bearing age, however their God made them once again fertile to perpetrate their race. Most of the women died in childbirth, and the Cyrgai hid away in their mountain valley for the next few eons, until the time of the Tamuli series.

Trolls and Ogres

Confined to the Thalesian peninsula, the ogres and trolls of the Elenium are sentient sub-human creatures. Notable among the trolls is Gwherig, the disfigured dwarf troll who shaped the Bhelliom into the rose it is in throughout the novels. The Trolls have five Gods: the god of fire, the god of ice, the god of kill, the god of eat and the god of mating. Trolls have incredibly thick hides that protect them from most weapons and as well as their cold native climate. However, the insulation their hides provide is so great that they cannot live long in any warm climate, which restricts them to the colder areas of the world. Trolls are carnivores - their favoured prey are humans, though they do not eat the heads. Ogres, on the other hand, are omnivores by nature, but would smash down a whole house just to get their favourite type of tree. Ogres are significantly larger than trolls. Their relations are not good; trolls harbor racist attitudes towards ogres, something Tynian reacts to with shock. Ulath states that implying to a Troll that it is in fact an Ogre is the worst kind of insult to them and a very unwise thing to do.