Saolin
A burly soldier who once pledged his sword to Raoden in the early days of New Elantris. After taking too many wounds in the Shaor's men attack at the cart, he surrendered to the pain that does not stop for Elantrians and joined the Hoed — staring upward in the Hall of the Fallen, repeating only that he has failed his lord Spirit. EL:EL:Ch 28
A burly, hook-nosed soldier and Elantris newcomer — formerly of Count Eondel's personal legion — who pledges his sword (which the Shaod no longer lets him carry) to Raoden the moment he hears the man speak well of his old commander. EL:EL:Ch 10 superseded at EL:EL:Ch 28
Known facts
- becomes-hoedCut down at the mouth of the ambush alley by Shaor's men, Saolin surrenders to the pain and joins the Hoed — staring upward and repeating that he has failed his lord Spirit.EL:EL:Ch 28
- dissolved-in-poolCarried by Raoden and Galladon to the pool when his Hoed mantra of failure cannot be borne; the blue water dissolves him quietly into rest.EL:EL:Ch 31
- empty-graveGiven a barrow at the Kae memorial site beside Iadon, Roial, Eondel, and Karata — empty of a body, but raised at Raoden's insistence with the others.EL:EL:Epilogue
Events
- EL:EL:Ch 10 Pledges himself as Raoden's sword in the chapel — by Domi, swordless or not.
- EL:EL:Ch 13 Patrols the chapel with a half-rotten makeshift spear and faces down Karata's twelve armed men until Raoden waves him off.
- EL:EL:Ch 13 Receives the stolen palace-guard sword from Raoden and recognises it instantly by the engraved mark of Iadon's personal guard.
- EL:EL:Ch 16 Calls down from his makeshift watchtower that a messenger is coming.
- EL:EL:Ch 19 Standing as Raoden's self-appointed honour guard outside his chamber. Cuts down the first raider with two blows, parries a second wave alongside Dashe and three other soldiers, and afterwards downplays the slash he takes through his robe as a wound worn with pride. Reports the planting and the rebuilt stone path to Raoden on the way to the gardens.
- EL:EL:Ch 25 Wounded sword arm laid bare, he reports that his thinned guard is now facing wildmen who have begun taking swords from fallen soldiers, and that without him their line at the courtyard cannot hold much longer.
- EL:EL:Ch 28 Reports that his line cannot hold another day and lays out his ambush plan, refusing to let Raoden or Galladon take a place in it.
- EL:EL:Ch 28 Falls at the mouth of his ambush alley under four attackers; Raoden later finds him on his back, staring upward, repeating that he has failed his lord Spirit — a newly-made Hoed.
- EL:EL:Ch 31 Carried to the pool still murmuring his failed-my-lord mantra; sinks beneath the blue water and is gone.
Backreferences
- summaryEL:EL:Ch 10
- factRiil
- factEondel
- summaryEL:EL:Ch 13
- summaryEL:EL:Ch 16
- summaryEL:EL:Ch 19
- summaryEL:EL:Ch 22
- factRaoden
- factNew Elantris
- factDion
- summaryEL:EL:Ch 25
- summaryEL:EL:Ch 28
- factSaolin
- summaryEL:EL:Ch 31
- summaryEL:EL:Ch 34
- summaryEL:EL:Ch 63
- summaryEL:EL:Epilogue
- factHrathen