Kevin's Watch

You know what I'm talking about...noble characters that have bit the bullet, died with class, dropped on the grenade (so to speak). Examples would be better:
Fantasy:
Hamako-TCTC
Boromir-LOTR
Dukkha-TCTC
Qhourin Halfhand-ASOIAF
Ned Stark-ASOIAF

get it?

The first one that comes to mind is Judah from China Mieville's Iron Council.
Second? Warden Dios. He's tragi-cool in style, and now that I think about it, he reminds me of King Joyse.

danlo wrote: Qhourin Halfhand-ASOIAF

''Sharp''

Verity- Farseer Trilogy

King Theoden would qualify

who else can we find in Donaldson?
Hile Troy
Elena...I don't know...
Hergorm? Yes definately!
Lord Verement...if so then Thomin would have to qualify too...
Atiaran

How about Mordant?
The Perdon
The Tor
who else?

Gap?
Holt Fasner's mom? (I'm joking...sort of )

Warmark wrote:''Sharp''

are you confused ??? I know I mis-spelt his name...

Eddard Stark and Verity are good choices. I would also add Eric of Amber to this list.

danlo wrote:Gap?

Spoiler

Sib Mackern springs to mind.

Spoiler

Although his death was a result of his companion being a nutter, Sib did consciously put his life on the line when he went out there, particularly since he knew he'd be alone with Nick. And he died courageously trying to do something way out of his league.

Oh, and we can't forget Aslan. Although of course he doesn't really "die"...

danlo wrote:

Warmark wrote:''Sharp''

are you confused ??? I know I mis-spelt his name...

Heh, i might be confueds, been a while since i read them. Wasn't ''Sharp'' his last words?

If they were i liked them.

Stephen Erikson Deadhouse Gates spoiler

Spoiler

Coltane

Bora Horza Gobuchul - from Iain Banks' Consider Phlebas

Mycroft in Moon is a Harsh Mistress.

danlo wrote:King Theoden would qualify
who else can we find in Donaldson?

Well, I'm not sure she qualifies as "cool," but there's also Lena. And maybe the old unfettered lady that cured TC after he ate the horse-grass in TPtP.

You're referring to Elena, I presume? Yes and wasn't there a Stonedowner who bit it during the storm, with Triock in TPTP, as well? (and of course Ceer defending Jay's favorite character )

danlo wrote:You're referring to Elena, I presume? Yes and wasn't there a Stonedowner who bit it during the storm, with Triock in TPTP, as well? (and of course Ceer defending Jay's favorite character )

No, I mean Lena. She died so that TC could get away from Pietten in TPtP. But she was more crazy than cool.

What about Durnik in the Belgariad......

But seriously though!

I reckon most of David Gemmel's heroes would qualify.

I can't remember their names, but there the were two dolphins that bit it big time to the giant killer-whale/dolphin hybrid (K'tha Jon, I think) in Startide Rising.

-Clavain in the Revelation Space series.
-Crake in Oryx and Crake. He doesn't really fit, but I felt bad for him.
-King Arthur. Various, but I'm thinking of the one in The Once and Future King. It ends shortly before the battle with mordred, so it's pretty clear how it's gonna end. WWII propoganda aside (or maybe including it), TH White's version of Arthur is excellent.
-Gwalchmai/Gawain in the Hawk of May series.
EDIT-That girl rider in the 2d chronicles who dies in Wounded Land.

Myrddin Emrys, from Stephen Lawhead's Pendragon Cycle. He's effectively immortal, but he did suffer greatly in his attempt to defeat Morgian; not least of these woes was his sudden blindness.

Stonemaybe wrote:But seriously though!

I reckon most of David Gemmel's heroes would qualify.

Elderly Druss, yes. Also, that mincey one from Knights of Dark Renown who gets nailed to a tree. Possibly even Waylander, if you allow that he did actually die while seeking the Armour of Bronze.