Eldrinson Althor Valdoria

Infobox character
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colour text = #000
name = Eldrinson Althor Valdoria
series = Saga of the Skolian Empire


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creator = Catherine Asaro
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nickname = Eldri
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gender = Male
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occupation = Bard, Triad member
title = Dalvador Bard, Web Key
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family = cousin Garlin
spouse = Roca Skolia
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children = sons Eldrin, Althor, Del-Kurj, Havyrl, Denric, Shannon, Kelricson, daughters Chaniece, Sauscony, Aniece
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residence = Lyshriol
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Eldrinson Althor Valdoria is a fictional character in the Saga of the Skolian empire books by Catherine Asaro.

Originally Eldrinson was an illiterate farmer from the backward planet Lyshriol. He had the title of the Dalvador Bard, which made him sort of ruler in the Dalvador province. He was a brave, strong-willed and kind man who cared deeply for his people, and also a Rhon psion, a strong telepath able to read emotions and even thoughts. Even at a young age he was a respected leader, loved by his people and famous for his spectacular singing voice which he used to perform one of his duties – record history of his people in ballads. His rustic life changed rapidly when he met the beautiful Roca Skolia who by accident got stranded on his homeworld. His marriage to Roca introduced him to the imperial court of the Skolian Empire and its modern technology, a meeting he would rather prefer to avoid, if ever given a choice.

For a long time Eldrinson had seen himself as lacking. Mainly because of his epilepsy, which bothered him since childhood and nearly cost him his life when he became adult, as the seisures got worse and worse. Skolian doctors couldn't heal him completely but advanced medicine enabled him to live a nearly normal life.

The meeting with his wife's people also showed Eldrinson how backward and uneducated he and his fellows are in comparison with the majority of people in the Skolian Empire. The Lyshrioli, including himself, were genetically incapable of written language which made it impossible for them to learn how to read and write. Technical wonders Roca brought into Eldrinson's life both astounded and terrified him and he kept to avoid them when possible.

He had seven sons and three daughters with Roca and though the loved them all deeply, it was hard for him to understand those of his children who chose to live a modern life off-world, even joining the military. Problems with his children forced Eldrinson to re-think many opinions he took for granted (such as women cannot be warriors).

Despite his position as Roca's consort, most members of the imperial court looked at Eldrinson as at someone who is deep under their level. This changed a lot when during a hard crisis Eldrinson saved the Skolian Empire by joining the Triad and becoming the "Web Key". Eldrinson then served many decades as a Key to the psiberweb and became very popular among the common Skolians. Despite the life extending treatments, which didn't work for him as well as for most people, Eldrinson died of old age when he was 90, shortly after the end of Radiance War and reunion with his long lost son Kelric. He died peacefully on his homeworld Lyshriol, surrounded by his huge family.