Codex Alera

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Codex Alera is a fantasy book series by Jim Butcher. The series chronicles the coming-of-age of a young man named Tavi in the realm of Alera, an empire similar to Rome, on the world of Carna. Every Aleran has some degree of command over elemental forces or spirits called furies, save for Tavi, who is considered a freak. As the aging First Lord struggles to maintain his hold on a realm on the brink of civil war, Tavi must use all of his intelligence to save Alera.

Alera inhabits most of a large continent that is inhabited by the Icemen to the north. They are connected to another large continent held by the Marat via a land bridge, which is the location of the Calderon Valley. The Canim reside across the ocean to the west, staging regular, bloody raids on coastal settlements. A map of the realm, illustrated by fan Priscilla Spencer, was published in First Lord's Fury.

Contents

[edit] Books in the series

Codex Alera bibliography
No. Title Release date Hardcover ISBN Paperback ISBN Audiobook ISBN Audio Release
1 Furies of Calderon October 5, 2004 0-4410-1199-3 0-4410-1268-X 0-14314376-X November 20, 2008
2 Academ's Fury July 5, 2005 0-4410-1283-3 0-4410-1340-6 0-14314377-8 November 20, 2008
3 Cursor's Fury December 5, 2006 0-4410-1434-8 0-4410-1547-6 0-14314378-6 November 20, 2008
4 Captain's Fury December 4, 2007 0-4410-1527-1 0-4410-1655-6 0-14314338-7 March 27, 2008
5 Princeps' Fury December 2, 2008 0-4410-1638-3 0-4410-1796-7 0-14314375-1 November 25, 2008
6 First Lord's Fury November 24, 2009 0-4410-1769-X — — November 24, 2009

[edit] Furies

Furies are elemental spirits (earth, water, fire, wind, metal, and wood) that inhabit all aspects of Alera. Some are small and cannot be seen, and others are powerful enough to manifest when called upon by their wielders. There also exist "Great Furies," the most powerful and ancient of these spirits, by which Alerans swear and curse. They manifest as geographic formations of great elemental power, such as volcanoes and oceans, and are far more often restrained or provoked than explicitly commanded, and then only by furycrafters of exceptional strength. Many Alerans are unaware of the Great Furies' actual existence, imagining them to be more mythic than real, but this belief is incorrect.

While Proto-Aleran ruins show no sign of furycrafting ability amongst humans of the past, the Aleran people at the present day manifest personal furies in their early childhood or adolescent years, and control them with their minds. They are used to aid them in whatever task undertaken from housework to combat. This fury-based magic is accomplished in one of two forms. First, an Aleran may draw from the strength of their fury to increase their own. For example, earth crafters often draw physical might from the ground, through their furies, to allow them to lift loads far too heavy for normal people, while wind crafters can increase their speed and metalcrafters their endurance. The second form of furycrafting is to "manifest" a fury. This involves the fury taking a visible form, often the shape of an animal, though taking the shape of a human is not unheard of. Manifested furies are necessary for the most powerful forms of furycraft, including flight (windcrafting) and healing (watercrafting).

Most Alerans display rudimentary ability in all areas of furycrafting, but are highly skilled in only one or two types. High Lords and their offspring generally show considerable talent in all areas of furycrafting well beyond the capabilities of a typical person, indicating that genetics plays some role in furycrafting. Residents of large cities typically treat furies as generic entities while those in rural areas forge close personal bonds with specific furies usually tied closely to particular natural landmarks. All Alerans of sufficient talent and strength in furycrafting to be named to the Citizenry are obligated by law to marry someone with similar strength, in the interest of producing children with strong furycrafting ability.

During "Princeps' Fury", the First Lord appears to have a fury that he can commune with as if the fury was a human. It is implied that the fury is an amalgam of all the fury types. The fury takes the form of a woman, and her eyes constantly change color, from the color of steel (Metal fury) to the colors of gemstones, such as emerald (Earth) and sapphires (Water). Her clothing has been described of being made of thick, shimmering fog, and her face is youthful, while her hair is gray with streams of red (Fire). She appears to Tavi at the very end of "Princeps' Fury", and says that his grandfather called her Alera. She may be the source of much of the power always held by the First Lord above his fellow High Lords.

[edit] Types

Type Description Knight Title
Water Used in healing, communicating over large distances, reading emotions, shape shifting, keeping a youthful appearance, and manipulating water; disrupted by fire. Knight Aqua
Earth Used to gain strength, tracking and hunting, manipulate the earth, calm animals, and inspire lust. A manifest earth fury can attack directly and can carry a crafter across ground as if on a raft. Earthcraft is necessary to travel swiftly on furycrafted roads throughout Alera. Earthcraft is disrupted when contact with the ground is lost. Knight Terra
Wood Used in manipulating plants, tracking and for camouflage; used by archers to bend massive bows to allow arrows to fly further and faster, and to increase accuracy of arrows. Also used to instantly create wooden tools. Requires nearby wood or plant matter, living or dead, in order to use. Disrupted by surrounding the user with metal. Knight Flora
Fire Used to control firelight to subliminally manipulate passionate feelings such as joy, anger, and fear; used to create and manipulate flames for either constructive or massively destructive purposes; can be used to create cold by extracting heat from an object; manifested fire furies may attack directly; disrupted by water. Knight Ignus
Air Used to fly, control the wind, and to increase speed and agility; Also able to bend air into a lens to see farther or into an echo chamber to allow voice communication without the need for watercrafting, however the effective range is much shorter; strong crafters may be able to bend the air to make objects or people seem invisible or to create lenses of air to focus light into a damaging beam; can be used to manipulate the weather. Windcraft is disrupted by earth, particularly in the form of salt. Knight Aeris
Metal Used in sword play heavily as crafters can change the hardness of metal, allowing them to strike with diamond-hard blades. Combat can be totally in the dark as metalcrafters do not need light to sense nearby metal. Shields can also be made more flexible to absorb a greater amount of impact force than normal. Also used in forging weapons and other precise metal objects, and metalcrafters also have dramatically increased pain tolerance and physical endurance. Although they gain speed, accuracy and deadly ability in combat, metalcrafters do not become physically stronger, nor does metalcraft give them skills they have not learned, and they still require metal weapons/armor to make the most of their abilities. The most deadly swordmasters are those who augment their abilities with earth and wind also. Gaius Sextus, First Lord of Alera, and Araris Valerian are the only characters to display the ability to manifest a metal fury - the effect being that Sextus transformed into metal, in an effect reminiscent of Colossus. Knight Ferrous

[edit] Races of Carna

[edit] Alerans

Alerans, synonymous with "humans", are the most developed civilization on Carna, and they exert their influence over all other sentient races through their use of furies. Their far-flung empire spans most of an entire continent, but they are pressed on all sides by hostile enemies. Their government is set up similarly to the Roman Empire with a single patriarchal monarch, the First Lord, who controls the high lords and their territories. The Senate is the political body for the empire, establishing laws and government appropriations. All of the high lords and senators are part of an aristocracy called Citizens, as are lesser lords and nobles. To become a Citizen, an Aleran must either win a duel with a Citizen called the juris macto or be appointed by the First Lord.

Aleran culture is male dominated and allows for people to be bought and sold as slaves. Women's rights are lacking in many respects but a highly influential Dianic League is winning support for more rights. The outlying areas of the cities are inhabited by farms, called Steadholts. Each Steadholt is led by a steadholder who rules that area of Alera, under the authority of the local High Lord.

The Aleran military is organized into legions similar to those used by the Romans. Each High Lord is allowed three full legions (containing Knights and foot soldiers called legionnaires) and a contingent of bodyguards (singulaires). Each legion has sworn loyalties to their High Lord, which causes issues when a High Lord falls out of favour of the first Lord, and vice versa.

[edit] Canim

The Canim are large, anthropomorphic wolf-like creatures and fierce warriors. Little is known about them, except that they have a caste-like social hierarchy and are susceptible to political in-fighting. Most Aleran contact with the Canim is through Canim raids along the west coast of Alera. They are capable of some form of sorcery, as revealed in Academ's Fury when the Canim use their influence over the elements to batter the coast of Alera with violent storms and in Cursor's Fury when they shot bolts of concentrated red lightning to hit the officers of the First Aleran legion. The blood of living (or formerly living) intelligent beings is necessary in the use of Canim sorcery. Their current ambassador to Alera is Varg, who has been imprisoned after the events of Academ's Fury. In Cursor's Fury, a large contingent of Canim invade Alera with the intent of creating a permanent colony on the continent. In Captain's Fury, it is revealed that the Canim are invading Alera with such massive forces because their homeland has been invaded by the Vord.

There have been 4 classes in the Canim caste system shown so far.

  • The warrior caste is the elite warriors, the professional soldiers. The Canim version of Legions. They are taller than the other castes, stronger, and much more disciplined, and are issued military standard armor and weapons. Their numbers haven't been significantly lowered due to the fact that the Canim battlemaster (commander), refuses to risk his elite troops.
  • The Maker caste is the farmers, the crafters of the Canim population. They are known as Raiders to the Alerans. They form raiding parties to attack Aleran travelers. They are not very disciplined, and pose a threat through numbers and sheer Canim strength.
  • The Ritualist caste is the Canim's spellcasters. They gain their power from the blood of intelligent creatures. They have the power to summon red cloud like creatures with acidic tentacles to guard the sky from flying Alerans. They can also summon fire from the sky, and cause devastating damage to Aleran forces. They use their own race's blood for power as much as Aleran's and are only tolerated for their ability to grant luck, bless family lines, and grant a plentiful harvest.
  • The Hunters are the Canim version of Cursors. They are the spies, scouts, and assassins of the Canim. They use short black length of chain, small javelins, and iron bars for throwing. These light weapons allow the hunters to sneak up on people. They are only mentioned in passing in the books until Princeps' Fury, in which they make their first appearance.

[edit] Icemen

Very little is known about the Icemen except that they are a savage enemy of Alera, held at bay along the northern fringes of the empire by the Shieldwall. The expense of maintaining the northern defenses, as well as the slave trade, has caused a political rift between the cities of northern Alera and the cities of southern Alera. The Marat use the hair of female Icemen to make incredibly strong, lightweight ropes that will not freeze and break, even in the coldest of climates. In the Marat language, they are called the Gadrim-ha. Icemen first appear in the prologue of "Princeps' Fury" where they are described as being apelike creatures, the tallest the size of a legionnare but with broader shoulders and chest. They hurl icicles as javelins. In "Princeps' Fury", some light is shed upon their method of communication; they make use of considerable mental powers to share emotions. The use of this ability is also available to watercrafters, as Isana demonstrates during negotiations with the Icemen. It is also hinted that they wield some form of control over the weather; their military movements are almost always accompanied by snow storms.

It has been suggested that the adversarial nature of the relationship between Alerans and Icemen is due to an unfortunate incompatibility between the furycraft used by Alerans to keep themselves warm and the Icemen's empathic abilities. Since Alerans only encounter Icemen in the north, they may have unknowingly been amplifying their own anger and aggression in every meeting with the Icemen.

[edit] Marat

The Marat are a silver-haired, pale-skinned people who reside on a continent connected to Alera via a land bridge (where the Calderon Valley is located). The Marat appear in many ways to simply be barbaric humans, but their culture and physiology show several key differences, including night vision and exceptional physical abilities. They are an aggressive race who routinely fight one another in small scale conflicts. The Marat bind themselves to another creature (such as a Wolf, Herdbane, Gargant, Horse, Fox and even in one case an Aleran) and call this creature their Totem (chala), gaining many of the creature's strengths and abilities; for example, the members of the Gargant clan have exceptional strength, while those of the Horse clan are faster than other Marat. They are also known for "partaking" in their fallen enemies, where they eat their adversaries (sometimes alive) in combat to gain their strength. It has not been shown whether this actually improves the physical abilities of a Marat or is merely superstition. When their hordes attacked Alera before Tavi was born, they killed the Princeps Septimus' Legion at the First Battle of Calderon. However, after a series of complicated events, their most powerful clans, the Gargant and the Horse clans, became allies of the Aleran nation and often help them against the other hostile forces in Carna. Currently, the Marat are supplying the First Aleran legion with scout auxiliaries and are trading with the Alerans at the city of Garrison, with one of their headman offering to act as moderator in negotiations between the Icemen and Aleran representatives.

[edit] Vord

Little is known about the Vord. They are described repeatedly as an "alien" race, but no one knows where they come from. The Vord are originally found in Alera in the Wax forest, where their Queen slumbered. Events were set into motion by Tavi and Kitai which awakened the queen, and caused the Vord invasion. According to Marat tradition, they are shapeshifters. When they come, they possess members of a sentient race, consuming their souls and transforming them into the Taken. The normal vord scouts (called Keepers) have the appearance of large spiders and see in infrared vision. They feed on a translucent, waxy substance called croach, and resided in dormancy in the Wax Forest before they were awoken by Tavi and Kitai. After the Vord queen was awakened, she began producing members of the Vord warrior form; these vord warriors tend to take on the characteristics of the civilization that they are assaulting, and have colossal reserves of strength. When facing the Alerans, they take on humanoid forms, and emulate the Knights. For example, one type of Warrior Vord has a humanoid body, dragonfly-like wings, and two blade-like arms the same length as a legionnaire's Gladius (the Legion weapon of choice) and thus resemble a Knight Aeris. In another instance, they take on the characteristics of the Canim Warrior caste. While they can be killed by conventional methods, the most effective way to kill a vord warrior is to burst the large, croach filled bubble on its back. At the start of each vord uprising, there is a primary queen; this queen rapidly forms a nest, and spawns two additional queens who depart to form separate nests; each queen is capable of creating more queens. Although in "Princeps' Fury", it is discovered that the primary queen birthed sterile queens in the Canim lands. The Keepers, venomous, spider-like creatures the size of dogs, maintain the croach; without the croach the vord can not survive, for it acts as both air and food. Keepers take living creatures into the croach and they are slowly dissolved into it. The vord's main objective appears to be to make all things like itself; in pursuit of this goal, the three queens will each occupy different areas of the places (in Carna) they wish to "infect". After the events in the book "Cursor's Fury", the prologue states that the Vord had taken over the savage Canim's homeland. After events in "Princeps' Fury", the Vord queen is described as looking like Kitai but greenish; this probably has something to do with the events that happened between Kitai and Tavi when they sought the Blessing Of The Night in Calderon many years before and awoke the creature.

[edit] Extinct Races

In "Princeps' Fury", a few races are mentioned which were driven extinct by the Alerans. These are the Children of the Sun (formerly of the Feverthorn jungle), the Malorandim, the Avar, the Yrani and the Dekh.

[edit] Relation To Rome

As stated earlier, Codex Alera takes place during the reign of a Rome-like Empire. While the relationship between ancient Rome and the realm of Alera is only alluded to over the course of the series, having been lost to history, Butcher confirmed that the people of Alera are the descendants of the "lost Roman legion" (the Legio IX Hispana) and its camp followers, which had been transported to the continent of Carna--an effective "drop chute for the Bermuda triangle."[1]

In another online discussion, Butcher clarified, "Alera is set more or less in the present. It just isn't happening on Earth.

"There's plenty of Lost Roman Legion stories out there. Mostly, the stories are about where they went, and what they did when they got there. This one just happens to be about the world they got lost on, and the society that developed there over the next couple of thousand years."[2]

The realm's Roman ancestry endures in the hierarchical society; the military structure, fighting style, and weaponry; and the nomenclature of cities, geographical formations, people, and ranks. At least one book survived, as well. In the prologue to First Lord's Fury, the Canim Warmaster Varg is reading a book out of Alera's history, but comments that he does not believe 'Julius', likely Gaius Julius Caesar, could have taught Tavi anything; this implies he was likely reading Caesar's account of the Conquest of Gaul.[3]

Like the explorers of Earth, Alerans had a tendency to name the places they discovered and built after places in the world they left behind. The ruined city of Appia, one of the earliest Aleran settlements, most likely refers to the Appian Way, also known as Via Appia, which is one of the earliest and most strategic roads in Ancient Rome. It is in this city that Tavi and Maestro Magnus perform their research into Romanic technology at the beginning of Cursor's Fury. When questioned about the term "Romanic" by Max, Tavi responds, "The people were called Romans...you call something Romanic when it was built by Romans."

Other geographic features named for places in Rome include the River Gaul (the region approximating present day France and Belgium), the Tiber River (the main watercourse of the city of Rome), the city of Aquitaine (the province of Gaul compromising Novempopulania and Gascony), the city of Phrygia (a kingdom in the west central part of Anatolia, in what is now modern-day Turkey), and the city of Rhodes (a Greek island southwest of Turkey in eastern Aegean Sea).

Some of the names appropriated for Aleran geography are borrowed from Roman mythology, though the Gods themselves did not survive. The city of Ceres shares its name with the Roman goddess of agriculture, and Placida was a surname of the goddess Venus.

[edit] Characters

[edit] Major characters

Name Race Named Furies (Element, preferred shape)
Tavi (Gaius Octavian, Alias Captain Rufus Scipio) Aleran Alera (All, human)
The main protagonist of the series and, up until the end of Cursor's Fury, the only known adult Aleran without any furycrafting ability. He has currently revealed his identity as the son of Gaius Septimus. He was raised by his 'aunt' Isana (in actuality his mother) and his uncle Bernard in Bernardholt in the Calderon Valley. Often harassed due to his inability to control furies, Tavi learned to use his intelligence to figure out ways around this "disability." In Furies of Calderon, he was kidnapped by the Marat and forced to participate in a 'trial of wits'. Upon successfully completing the trial before "The One" in the Wax Forest, and thus declaring Atsurak mistaken, he splits the Marat horde in two when the Gargant and Horse clans withdraw from conflict against Alera. During the trial he also becomes 'bonded' to the Marat girl, Kitai. Doroga and Hashat agree to attack Atsurak's horde to save Tavi's family at Garrison, and Tavi is heralded as a hero for his actions. After gaining the patronage of the First Lord, he wins a scholarship to the Academy to begin Cursor Training. When Gaius falls into a coma due to extended furycrafting, Tavi must use his wits to prevent civil war and protect the First Lord from an attack by the Vord and the Canim Taken. After the events of Academ's Fury, Tavi became a logistics officer in a new legion, until an attack by Canim Ritualists incapacitates every other officer and made Tavi the new Captain. Shortly after becoming the new captain – and defeating the Canim in battle – Tavi developed the ability to internally use furies. This means he can draw upon the strength of furies (and finally turn out a furylamp), however, he cannot yet manifest an external fury. After two years in command of the First Aleran Legion, he was removed from command for defying the orders of the traitorous Senator Arnos, but escaped custody and managed to negotiate a Canim surrender, given directly to him, and as Gaius Sextus puts it "surrendering even though outnumbering five to one of your own troops, with arms, in a heavily-fortified city". As revealed in Cursor's Fury through conversations between Isana and Fade, he is also the son of Septimus and grandson of Gaius, making him the legitimate heir to the First Lord. Also during these conversations, Isana reveals that she has used her own watercrafting abilities to suppress Tavi's abilities. She does this for fear that if he's recognized as Septimus's son, he would consequently be challenged and most likely killed. Gaius is also aware of Tavi's identity, but the First Lord continues to maintain the secret for fear that Tavi's lack of skill with crafting will make him an easy target for assassination. However, at the end of Captain's Fury, having learned his parentage, Tavi openly reveals his identity and declares himself the Princeps of Alera. Following a meeting with his grandfather Gaius Sextus, he plans to travel with the Canim to their homeland to help them cross the seas. While gone Tavi will have time to continue to develop his furies, and most importantly, stay out of reach of those who would kill him.

In Princeps' Fury, he is called Tavar by the Cane; the tavar is a small, fierce species of animal in Canea, which is known for its cleverness and proficiency in fighting.
Amara Aleran Cirrus (wind fury, horse)
Amara is a (former) Cursor, Countess, strong windcrafter, and Count Bernard's wife. She is also a close friend to Tavi. She may be unable to bear children after being struck by the blight, which causes her a great deal of stress in her relationship to Bernard (who, as a noble and powerful crafter, has an obligation to bear children). When she was an academ, Fidelias served as her patriserus, but revealed himself as a traitor during her final exam exercise. She fled to Calderon, where she met Tavi during a vicious furystorm. Afterward, she sent Tavi ahead to attempt to warn Riva and Garrison, but when he is kidnapped by the Marat, she and Bernard must warn Garrison and lead the defenses there. In Academ's Fury, she and Bernard once again lead the troops of Garrison, this time on an attack against the Vord. During the events of Cursor's Fury, she leads a covert operation with Lady Aquitaine, Bernard, Aldrick, and Odiana to free Lady Placida, Rook's daughter, and the daughter of an Aleran Lord from the stronghold of Lord Kalare. During those events, Amara believes she is pregnant, until her menses returns near the end of the book. In Captain's Fury, Amara embarks on a dangerous mission with Bernard and Gaius Sextus to defeat Kalarus. At the conclusion of this mission Amara feels "betrayed" by the First Lord and resigns her post as a cursor. During the events in Princeps' Fury, Amara and Bernard are asked by the First Lord to sneak into Vord infested territory in hopes that they might discover the Source of the Vord's new power.
Bernard Aleran Brutus (earth fury, dog) and Cyprus (wood fury, "vaguely humanoid")
Bernard is Tavi's uncle and father figure. He, like his sister, is a strong furycrafter, and he has an earth fury and a wood fury. He was pivotal in the Second Battle of Calderon and took over command of the fort at Garrison afterward, leaving Bernardholt to the control of his sister. As a Count, he is a minor noble of Alera and a Citizen. While leading a desperate attack against the Vord nest near Garados in Calderon Valley in Academ's Fury, he married Amara. The two have kept their relationship quiet while they try to have children. In Cursor's Fury, Bernard works with Amara and Lady Aquitaine to free Lady Placida, Rook's daughter, and the daughter of High Lord Atticus from the stronghold of Lord Kalare. He also lead the First Lord and Amara through the woodlands and swamps of Kalare to quash the rebellion. In Princeps Fury, He and Amara begin to discuss the possibilities of adopting a child.
Araris Valerian; aka Fade Aleran (Powerful Metal)
Fade was a slave (and presumably a simpleton) at Bernardholt whose face has been branded with the Legion's mark of cowardice. He is often charged with the protection of Tavi, and was sent with him to Alera Imperia when Tavi began training to become a Cursor, where he serves as a common slave. He is secretly a skilled swordsman, possibly the best alive, revealed to be Araris Valerian, the former guard and close companion of the deceased Princeps, both the subject of debate as to whether Araris allowed the Princeps to be better than him, or whether the Princeps was truly more skilled. To protect the princeps' son and wife, he branded himself as a disguise and went into hiding as the slave Fade. He has a deep resentment of the First Lord, though, at the request of Tavi, fought to protect his life during the Vord attack on the Citadel in Academ's Fury. He nearly dies to save Isana in Cursor's Fury. After Isana risks her life in a prolonged watercrafting to save him, his hidden love for Isana is revealed. He shows up more in Captains Fury as Tavi's personal singulare, traveling with him to free Varg from the Grey Tower and teaching him more about swordfighting. He also proposes to Isana, who says yes, making him and Isana officially engaged. Araris plans to travel with Tavi to the homeland of the Canim; however, in Princeps' Fury he has stayed behind with Isana in Alera.
Gaius Sextus Aleran Alera (All, human)
Gaius is the First Lord (Emperor) of Alera. He is an incredibly strong furycrafter and cunning leader, but age and sickness are wearing away at his abilities. He is Tavi's patron, and after Tavi joins the Academy the two forge a close relationship. When he falls into a furycrafting-induced coma, Tavi must work to protect the realm from civil war and a Vord attack. Though often portrayed as fair and just, several characters, including Fade and Isana, have strong negative feeling towards Gaius due to events surrounding the First Battle of Calderon. In Cursor's Fury, he must outwit both Kalare and the Canim during an act of overt civil warfare. As shown in Captain's Fury, he decides to go to war against Kalare. Gaius later learns that Tavi is his grandson and legitimate heir to his throne. Gaius is forced to acknowledge Octavian, despite fears that Octavian will be targeted by assassins before his powers fully manifest. Gauis Sextus dies by the end of Princeps' Fury in an attempt to slow the Vord, taking the entire city of Alera Imperia with him.
Isana Aleran Rill (water fury, Young Isana's Face)
Isana raised Tavi as his aunt, and is also a powerful watercrafter. She also took over Bernardholt, which became Isanaholt under her control, when her brother was made a Count. As a steadholder, she is a full Citizen of Alera, and harbors an obvious dislike of the First Lord, though he made her a symbol of his power. During Academ's Fury, she attends Wintersend to warn Gaius about the Vord threat in the capital and in the Calderon Valley. Unable to gain an audience with the First Lord, who is secretly stuck in a coma, she turns to Lady Aquitaine to save her family, pledging her allegiance to Aquitaine as long as they protect her family. In Cursor's Fury, she manages a dangerous watercrafting to save Fade from death, which reveals to the reader that Tavi is actually her son with the Princeps, and thus heir to the throne. During the events of Captain's Fury she is revealed to be much stronger now than she was in previous books, healing with the skill of a High Lady. No explanation has been given for her increase in power, although it may have something to do with the Princeps willing her more power or with her letting go of the past or of her own fear. She also develops a strong friendship with Kitai, and through this friendship learns that Kitai is in a relationship with her son and that Kitai can furycraft through her bond with Tavi. Isana also falls in love with Araris, eventually becoming his fiancee. Isana is an extremely powerful crafter, being able to rival a High Lord (Antillus) in crafting strength (only water). It is speculated that this may be due to Septimus willing some of his furies to her prior to his death. It may also be that her limits were self-imposed, mentally; this seems to be confirmed in Princeps' Fury. When Attis Aquitaine assumes the title of First Lord, he asks Isana to help him unite the people indicating that she has come to be greatly respected. Isana agrees to help Attis for the good of the people, but only until Tavi returns, at which point she expects Aquitaine to relinquish the title of First Lord to her son, the rightful heir.
Kitai Marat (All; less powerful but more versatile then Tavi)
Kitai is the daughter of Doroga, the head of the Marat, and Tavi's love interest. Tavi saved Kitai's life during their trial before "The One" in the Wax Forest, and the two have been bound ever since. She is sent to the capital of Alera, Alera Imperia, to Watch Tavi and the humans, and also to track the Vord who followed Tavi's scent to the capital. Stealing for food and clothing, Kitai is known as the "Black Cat," a thief infamous for circumvention of furycrafting. Tavi tracks down the "Black Cat" to free Max from the Grey Tower. After their reunion, Kitai and Tavi work together to warn the Citadel of the Vord and protect Gaius from the Taken Canim. She is currently the ambassador of the Marat to Alera, a position created by Tavi to gain her entrance into the Citadel. During Cursor's Fury, the nature of her bond to Tavi is explored, giving Tavi greater resilience, reflexes, and strength (similar to a Marat). The final pages of Cursor's Fury also indicate that she has developed the ability to furycraft via her bond with Tavi. Due to the varied appearances of Alerans, Kitai was initially unsure of how to appear when in their presence. Eventually, she began wearing her hair in the long mane fashion of the Horse Clan. In Captain's Fury, she develops a friendship with Isana after learning she is Tavi's mother.
Fidelias (alias Valiar Marcus) Aleran Vamma (earth), Etan (wood, large squirell), A little Watercraft
Fidelias is a former Cursor and the former patriserus of Amara. He began the series as one of the main antagonists, having betrayed the Crown and joined Lord Aquitaine's forces. He does this believing it is the best way to avoid a civil war over the First Lord's throne. His treachery led to a Marat attack on the Calderon Valley during Furies of Calderon, though he would help save the valley steadholders from the Vord and Isana from assassins in Academ's Fury. In Cursor's Fury, Fidelias disguised himself with watercrafting as an old legionnaire named Valiar Marcus, in order to observe Tavi. It is revealing that he has had contact with the First Lord, and that Gaius suspects Tavi is the son of the deceased Princeps. Fidelias continues to 'serve' under Tavi in order to observe him. During the events of "Captain's Fury", as rumors of Tavi's parentage begin to spread, Fidelias is ordered by Lady Aquitaine to assassinate Tavi least he become a hindrance to their plans. Initially torn and conflicted, in the end Fidelias 'betrays' Lady Aquitaine and gives his loyalty to Tavi after the later is declared the new Princeps. He sees in Tavi the Hope for a better Future.
Antillar Maximus Aleran ALL; Specific references to Androcles (Water fury, lion) though he is a strong crafter in all other areas
Antillar, usually referred to as "Max," is the bastard son of Lord Antillus Raucous and one of the strongest young furycrafters in Alera. Like Tavi, he trained to be a Cursor, and uses his watercrafting to impersonate the First Lord after he falls ill in Academ's Fury. When Brencis attacks Tavi, Max is nearly killed and imprisoned in the Grey Tower. After he is rescued by Tavi and Kitai, he returns to the Citadel, where he impersonates Gaius during the Vord attack. Later, in Cursor's Fury, he assists Tavi in his disguise as a legionnaire officer, and in Princeps' Fury he goes with Tavi to Canea, along with his brother, Crassus.

[edit] Minor characters

Name Race Named Furies (Element, Preferred shape)
Aldrick ex Gladius Aleran powerful metalcrafter
Aldrick is one of the greatest swordsmen alive and a mercenary for Aquitaine. He is a wanted man and Odiana's lover. A major player in the events of Furies of Calderon, he fought against the legionnaires and Aleran steadholders at the Second Battle of Calderon. He also led Aquitaine's mercenaries against the Vord in Academ's Fury and participated in the rescue of hostages from Lord Kalare's stronghold in Cursor's Fury.
Antillus Crassus Aleran All (manifests a lion-shaped water fury)
Introduced in Cursor's Fury Crassus is Max's younger half-brother. Initially Crassus is at odds with Max and Tavi. We eventually learn that Max's scars are a result of beatings he took for things Crassus had actually done. Eventually the two brothers reconcile and we later discover that they actually both manifest similar Water Furies in the shape of lions. When Tavi ascends to Captain of the First Aleran Legion, he promotes Crassus to the rank of Knight Tribune. Later, when Tavi is arrested by Senator Arnos, he puts Crassus in command of the Legion.
Aric Aleran Air, eagle-shaped
Aric, the more compassionate of Kord's two sons, assisted in the escape of Odiana and Isana from Korthold in Furies of Calderon. After his father's death, he inherited his Steadhold, becoming Steadholder Aric. During Academ's Fury, he was possessed by the Vord, along with the majority of his steadholders, and died in battle against the legionnaires of Garrison.
Atsurak Marat None
Atsurak, leader of the Herdbane clan and former-headman of the Marat, led the Marat horde in the Second Battle of Calderon in a partnership with Lord Aquitaine. He was challenged and defeated by Doroga.
Lord Attis Aquitaine Aleran All including: Unnamed (Wind, Shark) Unnamed (Fire, willow tree) Unnamed (water, lizard) Unnamed (Earth, Snake) Unnamed (Wood, Bull)
Lord Aquitaine is one of the High Lords of Alera, and the largest political threat to Gaius Sextus. He engineered the Marat invasion of the Calderon Valley in Furies of Calderon, but was forced to assist Gaius in Academ's Fury by leading an attack on Kalare's bloodcrows on the docks of Alera Imperia. He also worked with Gaius during Cursor's Fury to prevent Kalare from assuming the throne. After leading the combined legions against the Vord in Princeps' Fury Attis assumes the role as First Lord of Alera following Gaius' death. It is revealed in a old letter that is given to Isana by the High Lord Antillus, that both he and Attis were close friends with Gauis Septimus. His hostility towards Sextus stems from the loss of Septimus
Bittan Aleran Fire (Snake)
Kord's younger son, Bittan was favored heavily over Aric, possibly because of his inherently cruel and petty nature. He was killed during an attack against Tavi and Fade by Aldrick ex Gladius, but not before setting the forests of the Calderon Valley on fire with his firecrafting, which led Isana to flood much of the valley to put them out and stop the battle.
Lord Kalarus Brencis Aleran All
Lord Kalare is manipulative and powerful High Lord. Kalare is a tyrant whose lands are impoverished and wartorn. Kalare commands powerful legions of warriors known as 'Immortals', slaves with powerful crafting abilities who have been tortured and twisted into fearless berserkers who feel no pain. During the events of Cursor's Fury, Kalare's forces attempt to stage a coup during the Vord invasion of the Aleran capital. His forces are defeated thanks to Tavi's interference and he is forced to withdraw to his own lands. He eventually allies himself with Sarl and the Canim forces. In Captain's Fury, it is revealed that Kalare is going insane and that he has provoked the wrath of one of the Great Furies and intents to use it to wipe out a large amount of Alera. Gaius, with the help of Amara and Bernard, infiltrate Kalare's lands and Gaius is able to release Kalare's hold on the fury thus annihilating Kalare and his forces.
Kalarus Brencis Minoris Aleran Earth, Fire, Metal, Water, wood, air
Brencis is the murderous son of Lord Kalare and an Academ at the Academy. In general, he is a bully to those he deems weaker than him, but is a coward when faced with a stronger adversary (such as Max). While high, and at this father's urging, he attacks Tavi in the street after his duel for Citizenship, and is nearly killed by Tavi in the struggle before Lord Kalare and Lady Placida intervene, which leads to Max's arrest. Kalarus Brencis Minoris is creating Immortal-like slaves for the Vord at the command of Invidia Aquitane. This results in his death at the hand of Countess Amara by the end of Princeps' Fury.
Doroga Marat None
Doroga is the current leader of the Marat and headman of the Gargant tribe. His wife, a member of the Fox clan, was killed by Atsurak's savage Herbane. He's Kitai's father, and an ally of Bernard and Tavi (and, by proxy, Gaius). During the Furies of Calderon, he used Tavi to call Atsurak "mistaken" before "The One" to keep the Gargant(Gargants are described in a later book as a giant relative of a burrow badger) and Horse clans from assisting the Marat horde. After Tavi saved Kitai's life in the Wax Forest, Doroga repayed his kindness by protecting the lives of Tavi's family—by leading his own horde of Marat into battle against Atsurak at the Second Battle of Calderon. During Academ's Fury, he led the Marat into battle against a Vord nest in Marat territory and went to Bernard to warn Alera about the Vord threat and assist them in combat against the Vord in Calderon Valley. Doroga returns in Princeps Fury as a neutral party for Isana and the Icemen.
Sir Ehren ex Cursori Aleran Wood, A small amount of Wind, not a very powerful furycrafter
Formerly an Academ and now a Cursor, Ehren, though incredibly intelligent and a competent fighter, lacks strong furycrafting. He is often teased by his fellow students, but is a close friend to Tavi and Max. He rescues Tavi and Kitai in Academ's Fury after they are kidnapped by Gaelle and Kalare's assassins in the Deeps. Interestingly, he used his weak fury to his advantage because weak furycrafting is harder to detect so no one noticed him breaking in using his wood fury. He also solicits the assistance of Lady Placida and Aquitaine during the Vord attack on the Citadel. In Cursor's Fury, he worked as a Cursor on an island to the west of Alera, returning to the mainland in time to warn Tavi and Max of the impending Canim invasion. In Captains Fury he helps Tavi rescue Varg from The Grey Tower. In Princeps fury Ehren warns Gaius Sextus of the impneding Vord invasion, and their use of furycraft. He serves as an advisor to the First Lord during the campaign against the Vord.
Gaelle, aka Rook Aleran Water
Gaelle was the only female Cursor trainee, and is a traitor to the crown in Academ's Fury. Tavi believes the real Gaelle was killed by Kalare, and is currently being impersonated by a strong watercrafter. His suspicions are confirmed in Cursor's Fury, when Amara discovers that Rook's child is being held hostage by Kalare. After Amara rescues Rook's daughter, the two are given a pardon and are allowed to live quietly on a steadholt. During the events of Princeps' Fury, Rook is revealed to have been enslaved by Kalarus Brencis Minoris, and is killed by the Vord Queen.
Lady Gaius Caria Aleran Assumed to have All, Powerful Watercrafter
Caria is the wife of Gaius Sextus, First Lord of Alera, and mistress of Lord Aquitaine. Out of "habit" she, as it is revealed in Princeps' Fury, has been poisoning Gaius Sextus's medicinal tonic.
Hashat Marat None
Hashat is Doroga's sister-in-law and ally. As the leader of the Horse clan, she usually sides with Doroga against the Herbane and Wolf. However, she is generally unwilling to deviate from tradition and custom, and is less accepting of Alerans than Doroga. She fought alongside him at the Second Battle of Calderon in Furies of Calderon and the Marat attack on the first nest of Vord in Academ's Fury.
Lady Invidia Aquitaine Aleran All
Lady Aquitaine is the cunning and manipulative wife of Lord Aquitaine. She played a prominent role in Academ's Fury, where she ordered Fidelias to protect Isana from assassins while in Alera Imperia and brokered a deal to protect Isana's family in exchange for her political support. She also entered the Citadel to kill the Vord and break through the lines of Taken Canim to save the First Lord. Her prominence continued in Cursor's Fury, where she assisted Amara in rescuing Lady Placida and Rook's daughter from Kalare. When she attempted to betray Amara and Lady Placida at the end of the novel, she was outwitted, stripped of her clothing, and left stranded with Aldrick and Odiana. She is assumed killed by Fidelias at the end of Captain's Fury when she is shot by a balest bolt poisoned with heartfire and rancid garic oil. However, she makes a re-appearance in Princeps' Fury as a servant of the Vord.
Kord Aleran Fire, Earth, unknown
Kord, a slaver and steadholder in the Calderon Valley, is a petty, gutless man with little respect or compassion for others. When his son, Bittan, was accused of rape, Kord tried repeatedly to kill Steadholder Warner, then Steadholder Bernard, and Tavi to protect his son from justice. When Bittan was killed, he kidnapped Isana and Odiana, attempting to enslave them. After they escaped, he pursued them to Garrison, where Odiana arranged his death at the hands of the Marat after he removed her slave collar.
Maestro Killian Aleran Wind
Blind Maestro Killian is Tavi's patriserus and leader of the Cursors. While Gaius was incapacitated due to illness, he dealt with most affairs of state. He died from poisoning during the Vord attack on the Citadel, but revealed to Tavi that he had partnered with Kalare to gain intelligence. To keep Kalare's trust, he had allowed an assassin to assume Gaelle's trust and train as a Cursor near the First Lord.
Sir Miles Aleran Unknown, strong metalcrafter
Sir Miles, the brother of Araris Valerian, is the head of the Royal Guard and close friend of Gaius Sextus. He and Maestro Killian control the Aleran state through the office of the First Lord when Gaius is struck ill from over-extertion during Academ's Fury. He's a capable of swordfighter, but possesses a slight limp due to a knee injury he suffered when his brother (presumably) pushed him in front of a cart to prevent him from dueling Aldrick ex Gladius.
Odiana Aleran Unknown; powerful watercrafter
Odiana is a powerful watercrafter, though her empathic abilities have driven her mad, making her a somewhat unknown variable in the struggle between the First Lord and Aquitaine. She is Aldrick's lover, and faithful only to him. She was made a slave when she was eleven after a steadholder sold her father's debt to slavers. How she escaped and came to be with Aldrick is so far unknown. Kort briefly enslaved her again during the events of Furies of Calderon, but she escaped with Isana's help. In return, she saved the lives of Bernard, Tavi, and Fade at the Second Battle of Calderon. She returned in Cursor's Fury, assisting Amara at Lady Aquitaine's behest in the rescue of Kalare's hostages.
Lady Placida Aleran ALL, Lithia (Earth, horse), unnamed falcon (fire), Unknown Wind, Unknown Water
Lady Placida is a member of the Dianic League, though she and her husband try to remain politically neutral. She prevents Kalare and his son, Brencis, from killing Max and Tavi in the streets of Alera Imperia, and assists Ehren in soliciting the aide of Lord and Lady Aquitaine during the Vord attack on the Citadel. During Cursor's Fury, she is kidnapped by Kalare and held to prevent her husband from joining forces with Gaius in the civil war. During the escape from Kalare, she calls upon an equine earth fury by the name of Lithia and defeats several guardian gargoyles. Upon their return to High Lord Cereus' stronghold, she compliments Amara and Bernard for going "beyond the call of duty".[4]
Serai Aleran Unknown, Water, Metal
Serai was a courtesan, slave, and Cursor of the Crown. She was enslaved as a "sex slave" to pay for the funeral of her husband and children after they died of blight. Due to a breakdown in communication amongst the Cursors, she personally took Isana to the capital during Wintersend so Amara could stay behind in the Calderon Valley to fight the Vord. When Isana is attacked by Kalare's bloodcrows, Serai was killed by an arrow through the heart.
Ambassador Varg Cane None
Varg is the former Canim ambassador to Alera. Varg is a large Cane, even by Canim standards, standing roughly ten feet tall and weighing over seven hundred pounds. His fur is jet black and is streaked with white from numerous scars. Like all Canim, Varg shows little love toward the Aleran people, but warns Tavi in Academy's Fury that his Canim guards are being taken by the Vord. During 'Cursor's Fury', Varg is kept prisoner in the Gray Tower, and is often visited by Tavi, where they play chess. It is during this time that Varg develops a begrudging respect for Tavi, but still reminds the young Aleran that they are enemies. In Captain's Fury, Tavi infiltrates the Gray Tower and frees Varg in order to return him to the invading Canim armies to secure an armastice. It is then revealed that Varg is the father of Nasaug, the leader of the Canim forces. In the end, he leaves Alera with Nasaug and the rest of the Canim forces in order to return to their homeland and remove the Vord. In Princeps Fury, it is revealed the most of people in his country were killed. However, his son's mate and pups survived. After the Vord War, First Lord Octavian gives Parcia to the last surviving Cane, and gives Varg the title of High Lord.
Sarl Cane None
Sarl was Varg's assigned secretary, and part of the sorcerers caste in Canim society. He is slightly deformed and he betrays Varg by setting a deal with the Vord Queen. In Cursor's Fury, Sarl is killed by Tavi in the midst of the war between The First Aleran and the Canim.
Nasaug Cane None
Nasaug is the Battlemaster or captain of the invading Canim army in Cursor's Fury and is found to be Varg's son in Captains Fury. He is highly intelligent and very well versed in military tactics, one of his more intelligent moves, freeing enslaved Alerans surrounding his conquered Aleran cities in exchange for their service in his military, was recognized as genius by Tavi. In Cursor's Fury, Nasaug's invading force was halted and pushed back by Tavi and his First Aleran Legion, causing him to rearrange his army to the south of Elinarch, the city controlled by the First Aleran. He has a mate, and several puppies.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Jim Butcher (2008-10-21), Jim-Butcher.com Forum
  2. ^ livejournal.com , Codex Alera Community, "Roman Empire"
  3. ^ http://www.jim-butcher.com/books/alera/6/fullpreview.php
  4. ^ "Cursor's Fury" page 508

[edit] External links

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Codex Alera by Jim Butcher
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