The Land's true heroes - who are they and why?

Post by **hamako** » Fri Mar 21, 2003 7:38 am

If you think that a true hero is one that makes an unselfish self sacrifice, then for me, (and this will now reveal my obvious smugness), the biggest hero of the whole series has got to be Hamako.

What a guy, he loses his family and community to the Sunbane and in response saves the bloodline of the waynhim and builds the Land's version of Noah's ark.

I thought the portrayal of how he integrated with the waynhim was really touching and reflected the deeply spiritual nature of the race. He took on and exemplified their dedication to Law and nature.

The scenes where the Quest return to the north of the Land and are beset by Arghuleh (fantastic bad guys) to me where some of the best in the books as they contained the unbelievably poignant moment of Hamako's death. I thought it was at once terribly sad but also wonderfully awesome and beautiful.

Think on this - his life's work (the zoo and gardens) and his family (who it is obvious that he is deeply attached to) are destroyed by urviles, taking with it the Land's last natural animals and plants. All this happens because he saved and sheltered Covenant and Vain. Then when the Quest returns, he's so convinced of their ability to defeat Foul that he sacrificed himself to save them. And the way he goes - talk about a blaze of glory!

Hamako, we salute you!

KaosArcana · Post by **KaosArcana** » Fri Mar 21, 2003 1:02 pm

What a guy, he loses his family and community to the Sunbane and in response saves the bloodline of the waynhim and builds the Land's version of Noah's ark.

To be fair, the Waynhim were preserving animals and plants long
before Hamako was ever born.

Think on this - his life's work (the zoo and gardens) and his family (who it is obvious that he is deeply attached to) are destroyed by urviles, taking with it the Land's last natural animals and plants. All this happens because he saved and sheltered Covenant and Vain. Then when the Quest returns, he's so convinced of their ability to defeat Foul that he sacrificed himself to save them. And the way he goes - talk about a blaze of glory!

Truthfully, I'm not sure about that. Was Hamaok's self-destruction an
act of courage or an act of desperation? I mean, truthfully, what harm
could those ice-things have done to the Land? Wouldn't they have
melted under the Desert Sun?

Don't get me wrong. Hamako was a cool guy, but I always felt like
his death was unnecessary.

*Scratches head*

I wonder why the Waynhim never told the people of the Land the
true story of the Sunbane? Some of them had fought in the last
battle against the Despiser, so they knew the truth.

Heh.

That would have been neat. The last defenders of the Land being
Demondim kind.

Post by **Ryzel** » Fri Mar 21, 2003 2:27 pm

If I remember correctly it was Covenant who said that Hamako chose to die, but he chose this way to give his death meaning.

Post by **hamako** » Fri Mar 21, 2003 7:39 pm

It wasn't about the harm that the Arguleh could have done to the Land, it was the fact that they could have stopped the Quest

And yes the Waynhim had dedicated themselves to preserving Law etc, but Hamako had become the leader of the last (as far as we know) rhysh and as such had built up the zoo etc.

KaosArcana · Post by **KaosArcana** » Fri Mar 21, 2003 11:07 pm

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

It wasn't about the harm that the Arguleh could have done to the Land, it was the fact that they could have stopped the Quest

And yes the Waynhim had dedicated themselves to preserving Law etc, but Hamako had become the leader of the last (as far as we know) rhysh and as such had built up the zoo etc.

I don't recall Hamako being a leader in the Wounded Land. He had to
argue the point with the Waynhim to get them to help Covenant.

Post by **kevinswatch** » Sun Mar 23, 2003 6:55 am

Oh yeah, I remember Hamako. He was awesome. I also thought that Sunder had an awesome part in the Second Chronicles. But I think one of the biggest (literally) unsung heros of the Chronicles is Pitchwife. Very moving character.-jay

Post by **Forestal** » Mon Mar 24, 2003 7:37 pm

i have a few that deserve a mention... but i'm too tired to explain y, so here's a small list:

seadreamer, mhoram, quirrel and yeurquin(sp), hrymm, caer-caveral and caerroil wildwood, verement!, the bloodguard - just all of them - and the haruchai in general.

but in the end, its gotta b berek, coz none of the choronicles could ahve happened without him.

Post by **Revan** » Wed Apr 02, 2003 1:17 pm

Mhoram

Post by **Damelon** » Thu Apr 03, 2003 1:14 am

Triock. He was required to set aside so much.

Post by **Reisheiruhime** » Thu Apr 03, 2003 1:33 am

All Haruchai!

Post by **duchess of malfi** » Thu Apr 03, 2003 3:43 am

I've always thought Lord Hyrim is a rather cool unsung hero as well. To get a fuller story of him, you have to read both the Illearth War and Gilden Fire.

Post by **Worm of Despite** » Thu Apr 03, 2003 3:49 am

The Haruchai were great and all, but I wouldn't be one of 'em for a billion dollars. Those guys had no sleep, no women, most likely no feelings . . . Their service isn't exactly the kind of job that an average Joe would undertake, and more importantly, leave unscathed. How many times did we hear SRD write, "said Bannor with dispassion"? For me, TC's the hero, and the most unsung one. He had the worst character flaws/problems of anybody in the book, the greatest responsibility/saving the Land. It's easy to say Mhoram, etc. were heroes, but I don't see them as undergoing the same inner turmoil that TC conquered. Compared to TC, everybody else had it easy. Not to say that we should overlook their accomplishments, though . . . Even SRD said as much in his introduction to Gilden Fire. But, TC died--knew he would die--and did it for the greater good of the world entire. What could be more sacrificial, if heroism is indeed based on sacrifice?

Post by **Dag son of Dag** » Fri Apr 18, 2003 1:41 pm

All the members of the Warward in TIW were heroes. They marched, they fought and they died, all without questioning. And with their deaths, they earned they Land a break, and saved people that otherwise would have been attacked by the Raver`s army.

Post by **caamora** » Fri Apr 18, 2003 11:00 pm

Virtually all the good people of the Land in the first chrons were heros. They went above and beyond the call of duty to do the right thing.

Post by **Reisheiruhime** » Sat Apr 19, 2003 5:39 am

Indeed..... Lord Foul, I'd gladly be one of the Haruchai. A Haruchai girl mind you. The fact I know how to fight helps that matter a lot.

I think the Warward is one of the Land's greatest heros too. Lord Hyrim is a very cool hero too. Amatin is my favorite female Lord. She's cool on so many levels I don't know where to begin. So I won't. My fingers just aren't up to it yet. (I fell out of a tree and broke several bones. Then, I fell into a big hole and nearly broke my ankle.)

There are too many heros in the Land to describe.

the people of the Land!

Post by **Prince of Amber** » Tue Apr 22, 2003 1:42 pm

We had a topic ages ago, I think Bannor started it - 'Lack of a hero in the Land', I remember saying that one of my real heroes was Melma, as well as Sunder and Hollian, I just can't imagine how difficult it would be to live beneath the Sunbane, and Melma gave her life for the Quest.
I don't think the Haruchai are heroes as a race, they could not behave any different could they? I love those wonderful Giants so much that to me they are all heroes, but the definition would probably count them out as well. It is a very interesting topic and in spite of his many faults I would vote for TC as a big hero, but just to put the cat amongst the pidgeons I think Linden is braver.

Post by **dukkha** » Tue Apr 22, 2003 4:32 pm

If a hero is someone who does something good, then there are lots of heros.

If a hero is someone who overcomes fear and weakness to act beyond themselves, then there are fewer. I remember Lena saying something like "if I was as big as a Giant I wouldn't need help."

I vote for the Jeherrin. Are we allowed to vote for TC, or is that too obvious?

Post by **hamako** » Tue Apr 22, 2003 6:31 pm

I agree with you Duk (

) in that a hero is someone who goes beyond themselves, but also I'd throw into the mix a degree of self sacrifice, or certainly personal detriment. In this vein, of course TC is the ultimate hero, but there are quite a few others too, not least my namesake.

Looking around, the people you always admire are often those who do something not for themselves, but for a greater good. I suppose the greater the stature of the heo/heroine is reflected by the degree of sacrifice.

the Jheherrin are up there for me, along with Foamfollower, Atiaran, Hamako, Sunder, Hile Troy -

yes I think he's a dude too, nothwithstanding his massive uptightness, if that's a word. He did wage one hell of a war and got himself turned into a tree to appease Caerroil Wildwood.

Must be off, I have a child to bathe!

that would make a good signature, don't you think?

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Apr 24, 2003 11:19 pm

I must defend haruchai´s honour, one of my favorite pasages of the One Tree and all the books (free translation)

and the passion in this desapasionated eyes mekes him

Haruchai people are not free of emotions, they are not cold and rigid, they are the most apasionated people of the Land. At this levels the only way to control emotions is to be like haruchai, but that does not mean they were free form it.

The true heroes of the Land, Haruchai, "new" lawmasters like Mhoram and Prothall. and.... all the people of the Land. All in Land have a "glory"´s parfum that makes it simply irresistible (another time my deficient english sorry), all people can be seen as heroes, and the haruchai, Lawmasters, etc, etc, are the best of them, in this context is dificult to find one only hero.

Maybe one of the books virtue?.

Kevin's Watch

Kevin's Watch

The Land's true heroes - who are they and why?

The Land's true heroes - who are they and why?