Deryni: Difference between revisions

** (mixed Type 1& 3) Bishop (later Archbishop) Thomas Cardiel is a charismatic leader with an honest curiosity and a scrupulous conscience that will not let him condemn Deryni out of hand. He rises within the ranks to be the (traditionally neutral) Bishop of Dhassa, then [[Sudden Principled Stand|takes a stand on conscience by leading a schism over the Corwyn Interdict]]. As a result, he becomes Archbishop of Rhemuth (second only to the Primate, the Archbishop of Valoret), and he goes back to working within the system. After Duncan outs himself, Cardiel orders him to disappear for a while; when Duncan asks "For how long?" Cardiel replies, "Until I can get the bloody law changed, goddammit, man!"

** (Type 3) Monsignor (later Bishop) Duncan McLain is first introduced as King's Confessor, and he later rises to Auxiliary Bishop of Rhemuth under Cardiel. The Laws of Ramos force him to begin his career in secrecy, but events help blow his cover. His relationship to his infamous cousin Morgan and his own ducal inheritance push him into the limelight, and he eventually embraces the Icon role to live as an open example of an upright Deryni priest. As he tells Arilan: "And just how long was I supposed to have waited? Twenty-odd years, like you? Is that how long you've been a priest? And you ''still'' haven't owned up to what you are! ''Someone's'' got to be first, if there's ever going to be a change."

* [[Intrinsic Vow]] - Subverted in ''High Deryni'', when Wencit of Torenth has [[Mind Rape|physically and mentally tortured]] Derry, he tells Derry that he'll make him do anything he wants, then proceeds to demonstrate this by making Derry stab himself nearly to death. Wencit also assures Derry that he can make him betray his liege lord and friend Alaric Morgan. Wencit even leaves the dagger with Derry, asserting that his control is so complete that Derry cannot kill himself unless he Wencit wills it. After Wencit leaves his cell, Derry does try to kill himself to avoid betraying Morgan, but finds he cannot do so and weeps in despair.

* [[Irrational Hatred]] - Quite a bit.

* [[Language of Magic]] - Frequently Latin, with occasional additions of Greek and Hebrew.

** Wards Major are named and [[Invocation|triggered]] with Latin: ''"Primus, Secondus, Tertius, Quartus, fiat lux!"'' <ref>"First, Second, Third, Fourth, let there be light!".</ref>

** After Richenda marries Alaric Morgan, she provides him with further magical training. She invokes the quarters at Nigel's partial empowering in ''The King's Justice'' by Eastern (possibly Greek) names and adds the Hebrew word ''Selah'' to ritual use.

** Some magic formulae are in the common tongue (effectively English in the books), but intoned or chanted, not uttered conversationally:

* [[The Last DJ]] - Morgan and Duncan vis-à-vis the Camberian Council.

* [[Light Is Good]] - Use of the Deryni powers can involve the appearance of light, but "Light" is also frequently used to refer to the forces of goodness. Even the human Bishop Cardiel refers to Morgan as a "servant of Light". On the other hand...

** Nigel Haldane, in ''The King's Justice'':

{{quote|"He did not often feel the need for a physical expression of his religious feeling. Like Brion, he preferred to witness for his faith through the example of an upright life, rather than spend overmuch time on his knees, in a building that took the place of belief for many folk."}}

* [[Sexy Priest]] - Bishop Denis Arilan's face is described as "handsome", and then-Monsignor (later Bishop) Duncan McLain prompts this exchange between two ladies at his cousin's ducal court:

{{quote|"...I do hope he gets back in time for dinner. You've seen him, haven't you?"