Sabriel

Death and what came after death was no great
mystery to Sabriel. She just wished it was.

Sabriel by Garth Nix. Book 1 of the Abhorsen trilogy

Description

Sabriel attends a school in Ancelstierre where she learns various skills, including magic. Magic is weakened in that land, but to the north lies the Old Kingdom where Free Magic thrives. Because she is a necromancer, she sees and brings the spirits of the dead to rest. When her father disappears, she goes into the land of the dangerous Free Magic, the Old Kingdom, to discover whether he waits in the land beyond.

 

Quests

Defeat the undead spirit.

Something is loose in the Old Kingdom, deliberately raising the dead. Sabriel must find it, and defeat it.

Explore the Old Kingdom

A wall exists between the lands of her school and the lands of magic, where there hasn't been a king there in over 200 years.

Find her father, the Abhorsen.

Her father has disappeared and Sabriel seeks to find him in the lands of both the living and the Dead

Learn about her bloodline.

Living cloistered in her boarding school, Sabriel doesn't understand the meaning of what an Abhorsen does, or what an Abhorsen is. As she travels, more and more become revealed.

Learn the history of Charter Magic.

Part of her bloodline is the creation of the Charter, magic that binds the Free Magic in the world and provides beneficial effects. Knowing this will help her discover her true enemy and her father.

 

Character class

Abhorsen

As an Abhorsen, Sabriel has an affinity for the Dead, and the Undead. Though her father is Abhorsen, she learns that this is more a title than his actual given name.

Charter Mage

Sabriel can manipulate the symbols that bind the power of Free Magic.

Necromancer

Necromancers in the Old Kingdom revive the dead to haunt the living. Sabriel and her father, however, restore the undead back to rest.

Abilities

Charter Magic

Sabriel manipulates symbols that bind free magics and channels it to her will.

Fighting Arts

At Ancelstierre, Sabriel is second in her class in the fighting arts.

Return the Dead

Her primary duty as a Necromancer is to put restless spirits to rest.

Summon

She can summon spirits to serve her, or to send messages.

Walk in Death

In order to explore Death and use some of her abilities, Sabriel actually visits Death and sees all its gates and currents.

 

Equipment

Book of the Dead

An instructional manual of sorts, The Book of the Dead describes paths to safely walk in Death. The book also prophesies in cryptic phrases.

Charter Sword

Her father's sword, the blade has charter symbols, an inscription, and will cut through any risen dead.

Necromantic Bells

The bells across her bandolier are her true magic tools. Each one has a name, and each one has a purpose in dealing with the dead. The bells almost seem alive with their own personalities and quirks.

They are called Ranna (Sleeper), Mosrael (Walker), Kibeth (Walker), Dyrim (Dyrim), Belgaer (Thinker), Saraneth (Binder), and Astarael (Weeper).

Paperboat

When Sabriel sends this paperboat into the rivers of Death, it can bring back a spirit to aid her.s

Paperwing

A plane made of thin material, Sabriel uses magic to fly it to safety.

 

Allies

Moggett

A guide in the form of a cat with a binding collar, Moggett is sarcastic, almost insubordinate.

Touchstone

A warrior Sabriel rescues from a 200 year sleep, Touchstone is both a powerful warrior and magic user.

 

Enemies

Gore Crows

Ordinary crows infused with a raised spirit by necromancers.

Kerrigor

An Undead Adept, powerful in magics dealing with raising the dead.

Mordant

Mordants hide within a living spirit like a parasite. If they don't feed too much they can be almost undetectable

Mordicant

An Undead spirit that chases Sabriel.

 

Exploration

Death

The lands of the Dead have rivers, currents, and Gates.

Old Kingdom

The Old Kingdom hasn't had a ruler for about 200 years. Free Magic abounds, and the Charter Stones that bind the magic and the dead are weakening.

 

Credits

Illustration is from the book cover by Leo and Diane Dillon.

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