His long fingers were curled around a wine glass.
- — The Magicians' Guild
Akkarin | |
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Character Information | |
Title(s) | High Lord Akkarin of the Magicians' Guild of Kyralia |
Nickname | Akkarin |
Gender | Male |
Age | 33 |
Species | Human - Magician |
Nationality | Kyralian |
Current Location | Imardin |
Book Origin | The Black Magician Trilogy |
High Lord Akkarin, family Delvon, House Velan, is the High Lord of the Magician's Guild of Kyralia. After graduating as a Warrior, Akkarin travelled throughout the Allied Lands to write a book on ancient magic. When he returned five years later, he became High Lord.
Biography[]
Born into the typical upper class, in Kyralia and trained at the Magicians' Guild, Akkarin demonstrated unusual strength for a novice, with his only close peer being his closest friend, Lorlen. He attributes his unusual strength to frequent bouts between them in practice, and trying to outdo one another. After specialising in Warrior Skills and graduating as a magician, he embarked on a multi-year voyage throughout the Allied Lands, seeking to research ancient magic, during which he read the Dorgon Scrolls of the Mahga religion, and rediscovered the Chamber of Ultimate Punishment. In this time he visited the Great Library of Capia, and met Tayend of Tremmelin who was then a young library assistant.
Spoilers from "The High Lord" |
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During his tenure as High Lord, Akkarin was renowned for his immense magical strength - some of which reflected his unusual native potential, and some of which reflected his clandestine use of Black Magic - easily defeating twenty of the Guild's most skilled magicians in a test of power. Akkarin also possessed an unusual range of magical abilities, including some unexplained by his use of Black Magic, such as the ability to read the surface thoughts of others. Akkarin lost his status as High Lord at his Hearing for the use of Black Magic, where he was subsequently exiled to Sachaka with Sonea. |
Spoilers from "The Ambassador's Mission" |
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Akkarin was taught the secret of Black Magic by the Traitor Queen Zarala in exchange for the unfulfilled promise that he would teach the Traitors healing. Leaving Queen Zarala with a blood ring of his, he returned and killed Dakova's other slaves for strength before executing Dakova himself. He spared one, Takan, who had helped him during his time with Dakova and accompanied him back to Kyralia. It can be assumed that Akkarin could read surface thoughts before he learnt Black Magic and that it was more than just a rumour, as his son Lorkin later develops this ability. |
Powers and Abilities[]
Spoilers from " The High Lord" |
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Akkarin is said to have been the strongest in his class in his year of intake along with Administrator Lorlen. However, his powers were only boosted by his learning of Black Magic and drawing energy from his 'source servant' Takan, who is said to have had great magical potential. Akkarin would have been the strongest in the Guild even without Black Magic but the use of this allowed him to beat twenty of the Guild's strongest warriors. He is also said to be able to shift the direction of an argument with a few words, showing that he is well reasoned and intelligent with a good sense of evaluation. |
Personal Trivia[]
He has long dark hair which is tied at the nape - a style usually adopted by older people. Akkarin is very fond of wine, especially Anuren Dark - wine made from Vare berries.
Throughout the Series[]
Spoilers from "The Magicians' Guild" |
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Sonea, whilst snooping around the Guild with Cery accidentally sees Akkarin taking strength from Takan. She didn't understand it at first, but during the Truth Read by Lorlen, she shows him what she had seen, and he tells her Akkarin was practising Black Magic. Lorlen knew the Guild couldn't face Akkarin as it wasn't strong enough, so he kept this secret, though let Sonea tell Lord Rothen as it would be difficult to conceal from him while he trained her. |
Spoilers from "The Novice" |
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Akkarin found out from Lorlen that he, Sonea, and Rothen knew he used Black Magic. To ensure their silence, he made a Blood Gem for Lorlen, then confronted Sonea and Rothen and read their minds to confirm the truth. Subsequently took over Sonea's guardianship so that Rothen and Sonea would co-operate and keep silent. At the end of the book, Sonea sees Akkarin in his underground room with a dead Sachakan man which he had just killed, he reveals that the man is the murderer that has been plaguing city throughout the book. |
Spoilers from "The High Lord" |
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Akkarin started showing Sonea old books to help her studies, one of which was by Lord Coren who by learning Black Magic, was able to learn how to fuse stone together. He later took her into the city to read the mind of a slave who had come to kill him, so she would learn the truth, however she learnt more than he wanted. To help clear her mind, Sonea went to the spring shown to her by Dorrien and Akkarin told her his story about becoming a slave. During Akkarin's travels, his research took him to Sachaka. He entered straight into the wasteland and encountered the Ichani Dakova. Dakova then attacked and drained him then kept him as a slave. During this time, he fell in love with a woman who was Dakova's bed slave. He managed to escape one day when Dakova heard a rival Ichani was resting in a cave after a battle. He then explored it and almost fell down a hole which was set as a trap. The rival Ichani saved him and taught him Black Magic after agreeing to kill Dakova. They set a trap by lacing the wine which they said they found in the cave. After Dakova drank it, he wasn't able to function properly and Akkarin took his energy and killed him. After this he fled fearing Kariko would avenge his brother's death once he learnt of it. Takan followed Akkarin, who hadn't taken any supplies, with food and Akkarin made him his servant once they reached the Guild believing he had freed his friend as best as he could. When Akkarin returned he accidentally let Lord Balkan see his strength and Balkan suggested he take the position of High Lord, as the past one had died. Seeing the advantages of a position, Akkarin took up the role and never told anyone about learning Black Magic, as it was forbidden. Two years after his election, rumours of ritual murders started in the city. Upon investigating, Akkarin found that Kariko had started sending freed slaves which knew black magic to gauge the strength of the Guild and assassinate Akkarin, if given the chance. Then one day after going into the city to fight a slave, he came back bloody as she was stronger than he anticipated. Sonea realises that he needs an ally as this lady could be an Ichani. Both Sonea and Takan wear him down on the subject and after much persuasion he taught her Black Magic, and they went into the city to kill the woman who had attacked him before. Sonea managed to kill her by hiding and slipping under her shield, and at this point Akkarin starts to fall in love with her. While they were fighting with the Ichani, Lord Jolen was found dead (killed by the now dead Ichani) and there was evidence that Akkarin had killed him and his family with Black Magic. Balkan ordered the High Lord's Residence searched at once. They found only Takan inside, and found books on Black Magic in Sonea's room, and the items in the underground room where he was teaching Sonea Black Magic. When they returned Takan went to The Thieves. He had a Blood Gem hidden so he could communicate to Akkarin. Akkarin and Sonea were then arrested for the use of Black Magic. The next day a Hearing was held in which he was found innocent of killing Lord Jolen and his family, but guilty of learning and using Black Magic (because he told his story to them). He tried to get Sonea a lighter sentence so that she could remain in the Guild and be there if the Ichani attacked. Once Sonea realised that he would need her help, she disobeyed him and only agreed to be exiled with him so that she could try and keep him alive until they were called back. Once in Sachaka they travelled quick and quietly over the mountains and came across Parika. Parika met up with Avala and they snuck up on them and sent the conversation to Lorlen via the ring. From here they headed to the South Pass to try and beat Parika there. During this time Sonea realises Akkarin's feelings for her and kisses him. Once they reach the South Pass they pass the border into Kyralia, and in the morning Dorrien finds them and escorts them back. Sonea tries to persuade him to let them stay and they are attacked by Parika, and Dorrien believes their story and helps them get back to Imardin as the Ichani have started invading. Once in Imardin they go to Cery, the Thief Takan has hid with, and meet with all the Thieves to talk about the invasion. When the Ichani reach Imardin, Akkarin and Sonea search out single Ichani with the help of the Thieves and kill them via different means. The Guild kill one Ichani and the Thieves kill two, and Sonea and Akkarin kill the rest except three. Kariko attacks Lorlen and Osen and Lorlen is buried under the front wall of a house. Lorlen then reaches for the ring and calls Akkarin. Osen finds Dannyl and Farand and they dig Lorlen out with their hands as they have used all their magic. Akkarin then appears and finishes moving the debris, Lorlen tells him he cannot survive and asks if Sonea is ok, after Akkarin answers Lorlen dies. After a few more tricks they decide to kill the remaining Ichani head on and go to the Guild. Akkarin tells Sonea he loves her. They then close the University doors and meet Kariko and his two allies at the front of the Guild. Whilst fighting, Kariko dropped his knife in the dirt and when Akkarin and Sonea move he brings up the knife, slicing Sonea's calf, and burying into Akkarin's chest. He falls down and tells Sonea to kill the Ichani first then help him. Akkarin gives Sonea his strength through skin contact and she blasts the Ichani. Akkarin gives her all of it and she kills all three. When she turns around Akkarin is dead, he had given her everything. Later on Sonea realises she is pregnant with his child. |
Spoilers from "The Ambassador's Mission" |
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In The Ambassador's Mission we find out that there is a statue that is dedicated to Akkarin and the Houses only praise him for his sacrifice during the Invasion. Akkarin also has a grave, however, his family will not allow Sonea's name on it, but they eventually put Lorkin's name on it. Lorkin finds out from the Traitors that when enslaved by Dakova, it was a Traitor not an Ichani, who he met in the cave who taught him Black Magic in return for his help healing the Traitor princess. Akkarin did not help them and so some of the Traitors want revenge. |