A Hrule is a very rare and powerful Free Magic creature that feeds on the blood of Charter Mages. It cannot be killed in any way currently known.
Appearance[]
- Crosshatched, violet-hued rough hide
- Legs jointed backwards (with three joints), ending in hooked hooves
- Long arms, stretching almost to the floor
- Club-like hands, covered in inch-long barbs
- Thin and cylindrical torso
- Neck twice as long as a human’s
- Narrow slits instead of ears
- Black eyes with violet pupils
- Mouth twice the width of a human’s, with shiny black teeth
Attributes[]
- Communicates telepathically
- Emits high pitched, hissing shrieks
- Runs very fast
- Extremely strong
- Invulnerable to bullets
- Flesh cannot be pierced by stone or metal
- Disables Ancelstierran technology due to Free Magic
Weaknesses[]
- Daisies: Braided daises may allow Hrules to be negotiated with
- Silver, lead, and daisies: Three chains of silver, lead, and braided daises may render it immobile
- Thistle: Piercing the hide with thistle can bind it to the earth for a year and a day
Appearances in Books[]
There have been two Hrule encounters so far in the Old Kingdom series:
The first was in "Nicholas Sayre and the Creature in the Case." It was kept in a glass case inside Department Thirteen’s headquarters at Dorrance Hall, but later escaped. Alastor Dorrance, the leader of Department Thirteen, had been in telepathic communication with the Hrule since childhood; he served his "goddess" by feeding it the blood of people who bore a Charter Mark. Dorrance fed Nicholas's blood to the Hrule, but his blood was tainted with too much Free Magic from his possession by The Destroyer, causing the Hrule to seek other blood to dilute it.
The Hrule attacked at the Perimeter near the Crossing Point in Ancelstierre. Nick overfed it his blood in an attempt to stop it, which worked, but left Nick dangerously wounded.
The second appearance was in Goldenhand, in a continuation of this story. Lirael appeared and was able to bind the Hrule, but needed to take Nick to Clayr's Glacier to properly heal him and learn whether he was dangerous after being Orannis's avatar for so long.