Garet Jax
| Garet Jax | |
|---|---|
| Shannara character | |
| First appearance | The Wishsong of Shannara |
| Last appearance | Presumably, he was killed during a fight with a Jachyra at the Croagh.[1] |
| Information | |
| Nickname(s) | "Weapons Master"[1] |
| Species | Human |
| Gender | Male |
| Loyalty | Himself, Jair Ohmsford |
Garet Jax is a fictional character from Terry Brooks' epic fantasy[2] novel The Wishsong of Shannara. He is known as the "Weapons Master",[1] and it is said that no matter what weapon you choose, even your hands and feet, Garet Jax is better with it. He claims to have never lost a fight, and all who have seen him fight stand by that statement. He is seeking the one opponent who can finally defeat him in a battle.
Contents |
[edit] Biography
[edit] The Wishsong of Shannara
Garet first appears when he rescues Jair Ohmsford from a band of nine Gnome Hunters, defeating eight of them single-handedly--he killed six, knocked out their leader, and one fled. The ninth, Slanter, doesn't even attempt to fight, saying that he was only working with them because he had to, and he has heard stories about the fighting prowess of Garet. When Jair asked Garet why he rescued him, Garet says that Jair interests him, something that "few things do anymore".[3] The three travel together to the Eastland, to Culhaven.
Along the way Garet receives a vision of himself fighting a creature of flame, and he knew that this was the one creature who could give him a 'run for his money' in battle. This is the main reason that convinces him on to join Jair in his quest to journey to Heaven's Well[1] to save his sister Brin and to save the Silver River. Though he did agree to accompany Jair to Cullhaven before he received the aforementioned vision, this may have been from an influence from the King of the Silver River.[4]
Garet Jax led the charge, darting through the Gnomes that rushed to bar his passage, swift, and fluid as he killed them. He was like a black-clad dancer, all grace, power, and seemingly effortless motion. Gnome hunters, gnarled and worn from countless battles, threw themselves in front of him with frenzied determination, their weapons hacking and cutting with lethal force. They might as well have been trying to contain quicksilver. None could touch the Weapons Master, and those who came close enough to try found in him the black shadow of death come to claim their lives.[5]
At the Croagh leading to Heaven's Well, where Brin will be found, Garet, Jair and Slanter are stopped by a Jachyra, a lethal creature from the Old World. Garet realizes that this fiery-red monster is the battle promised him in his vision, and orders Jair and Slanter to go ahead and save Brin while he fights the Jachyra.
When Jair and Slanter return, having saved Brin, they find Garet Jax sitting against a wall, his sword still held in his hand and looking like he might even be sleeping, but on closer inspection they realize the Weapons Master is dead.[1] Of the Jachyra there is no sign[1] --the magic that brought it to the Four Lands has been destroyed--but Jair is convinced the Weapons Master slew his foe before succumbing to his wounds. When asked who it was that won, Terry Brooks responded with "What do you think?"[6] Because of the collapse of the Croagh, Garet Jax's body was never recovered. However, Jair thought that this seemed appropriate, that Garet Jax should be where no other mortal could go, that he should be no different in death than in life.
[edit] Dark Wraith of Shannara
Garet Jax himself does not make a true appearance in Dark Wraith of Shannara, but is still a main character. Jair Ohmsford uses the Wishsong in the book in order to meld him and his memories of Garet Jax into one sentient being. Jair still thinks like himself, but moves and fights as though he were the weapons master.
First, Jair used the Wishsong to become Garet Jax when he is confronted by Mwellrets while attempting to steal the last page of the Ildatch. He uses the Wishsong to appear as though he is Garet Jax. But when his life is actually threatened, he succumbs to the power lust and truly combines his spirit with Garet Jax's.
The next time we see Jair use the Wishsong to become Garet Jax is when he is confronted by a Koden while traversing the Charnal region. He doesn't want to use the Wishsong, because of the promise he made to his sister Brin. But once again succumbs and becomes Garet Jax once more.
The third and final time Jair uses the wishsong to become Garet Jax is near the end of his journey when he is locked in combat with numerous Mwellrets and the dreaded Croton Witch. Jair initially prevails, and talks about how easy it would have been for him to fully give in, and just become Garet Jax forever.
The appearance of Garet Jax in Dark Wraith of Shannara is much different than it is described in The Wishsong of Shannara--in that novel, he has almost white hair and flint gray eyes, but in Dark Wraith, he appears to have brown hair, and darker (possibly green) eyes.[citation needed]
Terry Brooks expressed his desire in the beginning of Dark Wraith to further explore the relationship between Jair and Garet Jax.[7]
[edit] Attributes
He is inhumanly fast, balanced, graceful, and strong. Jair Ohmsford cannot believe his eyes when he first sees him in action. We are not told how strong he is, but it is clear that he has the strength to effortlessly wield a variety of weapons. He is the strongest non magic wielding character in the book.
[edit] Conquests
This is the list of the known enemies that the Weapons Master has defeated:
1 - 8 Gnome hunters (with his quarterstaff)
2 - A Log Dweller (with his quarterstaff and a shortsword)
3 - A Kraken (Using a spear)
4 - Gnome assailants (Using a sword)
5 - 3 armed men (unarmed)
6 - A platoon of gnome raiders
7 - The Jachyra
[edit] In Popular Culture
In the video game League of Legends there is character named Jax[8], whose title is Grandmaster at arms, similar to Garet Jax's nickname. One of his quotes is 'Surprise, I'm back!' and could be a reference to Garet Jax's death.
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d e f Gong, Minnie (2007). "The Wishsong of Shannara Character List". The Shannara Files. http://www.alitheia.org/shannarafiles/Wishsong_ABC.php. Retrieved 2008-06-24.[dead link]
- ^ Speakman, Shawn (2008). "Terry Brooks' official website". Archived from the original on 2008-04-23. http://web.archive.org/web/20080423001005/http://www.terrybrooks.net/novels/index.html. Retrieved 2008-05-13.
- ^ Brooks, Terry (1984) The Wishsong of Shannara, p. 110.
- ^ Wishsong, p. 118.
- ^ excerpt fromWishsong pp. 436-437
- ^ Brooks, Terry (2000). "2000 Ask Terry Q&A". http://www.terrybrooks.net/askterry/2000.html. Retrieved 2008-06-24.
- ^ Brooks, Terry (2008) Dark Wraith of Shannara
- ^ "League of Legends' official website". 2011. http://na.leagueoflegends.com/champions/24/jax_grandmaster_at_arms. Retrieved 2011-010-17.
