Wil Ohmsford
Encyclopedia
Wil Ohmsford is a fictional character
from the Shannara
series by Terry Brooks
, appearing in two novels: The Elfstones of Shannara
and The Wishsong of Shannara
. He is the grandson of Shea Ohmsford
and the grand-nephew of Flick Ohmsford
.
Wil spent several years in Storlock, learning the language and the art of Healing from the Stors. His life changed when Allanon
, the legendary Druid
who had been thought dead for fifty years, appeared in Storlock heavily wounded. After healing, Allanon asked for Wil's help; as the Ellcrys
, sacred tree of the Elven people, was dying--and so was the Forbidding, the alternate universe
that the Demons
of the old world had been sent to. In order to send the Demons back where they belonged, it was necessary for the Shannara Chosen girl Amberle
to carry the seed of the Ellcrys to the Bloodfire so the tree could be reborn.
However, the Demons were aware of Amberle, and she would need magical protection to survive. Allanon had to remain to aid the Elves, and so the only one who could help her was Wil, armed with the Elfstones given to his grandfather by Allanon. However, during his quest, Wil discovered resistance to the power of the Elfstones. After successfully using them once, Wil sensed an unpleasant change within himself. Unbeknownst to him, he created a psychological block that prevented him from using the Elfstones. He was later able to break through it, destroying the Demon known as the Reaper. Wil then suffered a terrible loss. Amberle, whom he had developed feelings for, had become the new Ellcrys
, losing her body and her individuality in the process. After recovering from the long journey, Wil eventually married Eretria, a Rover girl who had helped him on his quest and whom he also had developed feelings for.
Although Wil is only one-eighth Elf, his Elven features are prominent enough that he is mistaken for a full Elf multiple times in the book and can pass for Amberle's brother.
The effects of the Elfstones on Wil became known with the birth of his children, Brin Ohmsford
and Jair Ohmsford
. Part of the Elven magic was transferred to the two siblings, manifesting itself in the form of the wishsong.
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
from the Shannara
Shannara
Shannara is an epic fantasy series of novels written by Terry Brooks, beginning with The Sword of Shannara in 1977 and continuing through Bearers of the Black Staff which was released on August 24, 2010, as well as a prequel, First King of Shannara...
series by Terry Brooks
Terry Brooks
Terence Dean "Terry" Brooks is an American writer of fantasy fiction. He writes mainly epic fantasy, and has also written two movie novelizations. He has written 23 New York Times bestsellers during his writing career, and has over 21 million copies of his books in print...
, appearing in two novels: The Elfstones of Shannara
The Elfstones of Shannara
The Elfstones of Shannara is an epic fantasy novel by Terry Brooks. It is the first sequel to The Sword of Shannara and the second book in The Original Shannara Trilogy...
and The Wishsong of Shannara
The Wishsong of Shannara
The Wishsong of Shannara, an epic fantasy novel by Terry Brooks, is the third and final novel in the Original Shannara Trilogy, with the other two being The Sword of Shannara and The Elfstones of Shannara. The story revolves around Jair and Brin Ohmsford, the children of the main characters from...
. He is the grandson of Shea Ohmsford
Shea Ohmsford
Shea Ohmsford is a fictional character and the protagonist of Terry Brooks' epic fantasy novel The Sword of Shannara. In the universe, he is the last known person with the blood of Jerle Shannara, making him the only one who can wield the powerful Sword of Shannara to vanquish the Warlock Lord.-...
and the grand-nephew of Flick Ohmsford
Flick Ohmsford
Flick Ohmsford is a character in The Sword of Shannara, a novel by Terry Brooks....
.
Biography
Due to the loss of his parents at an early age to fever, Wil set out to become a Healer. Much to the dismay of his uncle Flick, Wil chose to study with the Stors, the legendary Gnome Healers who were the best in the Four Lands.Wil spent several years in Storlock, learning the language and the art of Healing from the Stors. His life changed when Allanon
Allanon
Allanon is a fictional character from the epic fantasy Original Shannara Trilogy and the trilogy's prequel, First King of Shannara; all four are by Terry Brooks. Described as Brooks' "most enigmatic character", Allanon is very secretive and appears only when needed...
, the legendary Druid
Shannara Druids
The Druids are an order of historians, philosophers, magic-users, teachers and researchers in the Shannara series of epic fantasy novels by Terry Brooks.-Druid magic:-Paranor:...
who had been thought dead for fifty years, appeared in Storlock heavily wounded. After healing, Allanon asked for Wil's help; as the Ellcrys
Ellcrys
The Ellcrys is a fictional sapient tree with silver bark and crimson leaves that was "created by the bonding of earth and life". She appears in two novels of the Shannara series. She is the magical linchpin of the barrier that keeps the Demons that once overran the Four Lands trapped in an...
, sacred tree of the Elven people, was dying--and so was the Forbidding, the alternate universe
Parallel universe (fiction)
A parallel universe or alternative reality is a hypothetical self-contained separate reality coexisting with one's own. A specific group of parallel universes is called a "multiverse", although this term can also be used to describe the possible parallel universes that constitute reality...
that the Demons
Demons (Shannara)
Demons is a common name for many different creatures in the Shannara series of epic fantasy novels by Terry Brooks. The 'true' demons were sealed long ago within an alternate universe, named the Forbidding; this prison is 'maintained' by the Ellcrys, a sacred Elven tree; if she dies, the Forbidding...
of the old world had been sent to. In order to send the Demons back where they belonged, it was necessary for the Shannara Chosen girl Amberle
Amberle Elessedil
Amberle Elessedil is a fictional character from the epic fantasy novel The Elfstones of Shannara by Terry Brooks. She was meant to be the "strong female lead" that was lacking in The Sword of Shannara....
to carry the seed of the Ellcrys to the Bloodfire so the tree could be reborn.
However, the Demons were aware of Amberle, and she would need magical protection to survive. Allanon had to remain to aid the Elves, and so the only one who could help her was Wil, armed with the Elfstones given to his grandfather by Allanon. However, during his quest, Wil discovered resistance to the power of the Elfstones. After successfully using them once, Wil sensed an unpleasant change within himself. Unbeknownst to him, he created a psychological block that prevented him from using the Elfstones. He was later able to break through it, destroying the Demon known as the Reaper. Wil then suffered a terrible loss. Amberle, whom he had developed feelings for, had become the new Ellcrys
Ellcrys
The Ellcrys is a fictional sapient tree with silver bark and crimson leaves that was "created by the bonding of earth and life". She appears in two novels of the Shannara series. She is the magical linchpin of the barrier that keeps the Demons that once overran the Four Lands trapped in an...
, losing her body and her individuality in the process. After recovering from the long journey, Wil eventually married Eretria, a Rover girl who had helped him on his quest and whom he also had developed feelings for.
Although Wil is only one-eighth Elf, his Elven features are prominent enough that he is mistaken for a full Elf multiple times in the book and can pass for Amberle's brother.
The effects of the Elfstones on Wil became known with the birth of his children, Brin Ohmsford
Brin Ohmsford
Brin Ohmsford is a fictional character from The Wishsong of Shannara, an epic fantasy novel by Terry Brooks.- Biography :She is the daughter of Wil Ohmsford, making her actually 1/16 Elf, and because of his use of the Elfstones gained magic she named the wishsong. She is described as looking like...
and Jair Ohmsford
Jair Ohmsford
Jair Ohmsford is a major character in three novels of the Shannara series by Terry Brooks: The Wishsong of Shannara, a full-length epic fantasy novel, Indomitable, a short story that appeared in Legends II, and Dark Wraith of Shannara, a graphic novel....
. Part of the Elven magic was transferred to the two siblings, manifesting itself in the form of the wishsong.