Additionally, she enters Elantris with food to show the rest of Arelon that the Elantrians are mostly harmless, not realising she is disrupting Raoden's plans for New Elantris in the process. In a change of previous plans, Sarene stabilizes Iadon's rule, fearing that Telrii would be an even more incompetent ruler. Sensing that Hrathen is a danger to Arelon, Sarene also attempts to disturb his schemes. However, Hrathen's plans are often stalled by Dilaf, his overzealous odiv, who seems to oppose him at every turn. Hrathen singles out Telrii, a greedy but influential noble, to try and place on the throne, thinking him to be a Derethi sympathiser. His propaganda involves speeches persuading the Arelenes to hate Elantris in the hope of turning them against Shu-Korath, as well as more discreet meetings with the nobility. Together they scheme to overthrow him.Īt the same time, Hrathen begins his campaign to convert the population of Arelon to the Derethi religion.

Sarene quickly allies herself to a group of nobles, including her uncle Kiin, who are dissatisfied with the king's leadership.

With no husband, Sarene throws herself into Arelene political life only to find King Iadon expects her to stay out of such matters. However she is suspicious of the circumstances surrounding his death. Under the conditions of their wedding contract, she must stay in Arelon. Meanwhile, Sarene arrives in Arelon to find the country in mourning for Prince Raoden. The third gang leader, Shaor, proves to be more difficult and his men's constant attacks are barely held off by the New Elantrians. In the process he converts Karata and Taan, two Elantrian gang leaders to his cause. He starts a new, more optimistic, society to help newcomers to Elantris. Galladon describes the terrible lives that Elantrians live but Raoden believes that there must be a better way. He is thrown into the city of Elantris where he befriends Galladon, a fellow Elantrian who is originally from Duladen. Raoden wakes up in the morning before Sarene's arrival to find that he has been taken by the Shaod. He is engaged to Princess Sarene of neighboring Teod with the hope that their marriage will strengthen ties between their countries in the face of external aggression from the Fjorden Empire from which Hrathen hails. Raoden is the crown prince of Arelon and is first in line to inherit the throne from his father, King Iadon. The events of Elantris take place predominantly in the country of Arelon from three separate points of view: Prince Raoden, Princess Sarene and Gyorn Hrathen. For a chapter by chapter summary, see Elantris/Summary.

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