Callahorn

Shannara location


name=Callahorn
nickname=The Borderlands
capital=Tyrsis
inhabitants=Many races; the country is a "melting pot"
location=The northern end of the Southland
appearance="The Sword of Shannara"

Callahorn is a autonomous country in most of the "Shannara" series of books by Terry Brooks. It first appeared in the opening novel, "The Sword of Shannara".

Location

Callahorn is located north of the Rainbow Lake and between the Irrybis Mountains and the Mountains of Runne. It is known as the 'Borderland' because of its position between the countries of the Northland and the Federation. The country contains several major cities: Tyrsis, the capital, largest city in the Southland and home of the Border Legion; Varfleet; and Kern, an island city with citizens made up of a "melting pot" of races.

Role in the Series

"The First King of Shannara"

Callahorn was referred to numerous times in this book, but nothing takes place directly in the country.

Original " Shannara" Trilogy

"The Sword of Shannara"

Callahorn, in particular Tyrisis, played a major role in this novel. Callahorn was the first thing the Warlock Lord and his armies had to go through to get to the Southland. Kern was razed, though not before its citizens were evacuated, and Tyrsis was next on the list. They managed to hold out for quite a time, but they were betrayed by gatekeepers loyal to the Warlock Lord who jammed the gears of the crossbar into the "open" position, severely weakening the gates. Tyrsis was saved only by the convenient timing of Shea Ohmsford, who finally got to and destroyed the Warlock Lord.

"The Elfstones of Shannara"

Callahorn did not play any role in this novel, but units of the Border Legion (Callahorn's army) did. The Free Corps, sort of a French Foreign Legion, played a major role; another part of the Border Legion, the "Old Guard", had a minor role. Under the leadership of Stee Jans, these units were instrumentalFact|date=May 2008 in helping the Elven army to slow the Demons down before Wil Ohmsford and Amberle Elessedil can make it back to the dying Ellcrys.

"The Wishsong of Shannara"

Callahorn was not mentioned in this novel, as it was set mainly in the Eastland.

"The Heritage of Shannara"

The Federation invaded and took control of Callahorn after a series of weak kings;Fact|date=May 2008 so during all of the books in this series, Callahorn ceased to exist as a separate entity.

"The Voyage of the Jerle Shannara"

By the time of this series, Callahorn has managed to break free of the Federation and protected by the Free-born. A very long war between the Free-born and the Federation has ensued from this with the Elves jumping in on the Free-born's side; both armies have also constructed semi-permanent fortifications on the Prekkendorran Heights with battles breaking out periodically.

The High Druid of Shannara

Jarka Ruus

"Tanequil"

Callahorn plays a central role during in one of the two separate plots in this novel after the Federation uncages a crystal-powered fire-launching weapon prototype against the Free-born and their Elven allies.

"Straken"

Callahorn also has a considerable role in this novel, as the Federation finaaly broke through the 50-year-old fortifications and into Callahorn. On the Prekkendoran Plains, Pied Sanderling, Captain of the Elven Home Guard, managed to rally the remaining troops of the Elven army to repel the advancing Federation forces; he then proceeded to break through a Federation siege to take refuge in a besieged Free-born fortress. Sanderling also lead a daringFact|date=May 2008 raid on the Federation base to destroy the Dechtera, the airship that bears a "super"-weapon prototype.

References