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Tehlu

character · importance 72 · 8 theories

“Chief of Aleph's angels, judge of men in the Tehlin faith”

also known as Lord Tehlu, Menda, Tehlu

Appearance§

In Trapis's tale, Tehlu's incarnation Menda appears as a youth, roughly seventeen years old, with eyes black as iron. As an angel, Tehlu was wreathed in white fire when Aleph spoke his long name, the fire dancing along his wings and lending him swiftness. In the wheel narrative his body burns and his flesh returns to ash, consumed together with Encanis in the pit at Atur.

Description§

Tehlu is the central figure of the Tehlin church, Temerant's dominant religion, and the source of common oaths such as 'Tehlu anyway' and 'Tehlu's watchful eye.' In Skarpi's account he is not a god but the chief and best-known of the angels Aleph created after the sacking of Myr Tariniel. When Aleph spoke the angels' long names, they were wreathed in white fire that ran along their wings and made them swift; they gained wings, the power to see into deep places, and were burned from mortal sight to hunt the Chandrian. Tehlu and his fellow angels stand opposed to Haliax and the Chandrian, in contrast to Selitos, who refused Aleph's offer and founded the Amyr. In Trapis's telling, Tehlu takes corporeal form, born of the virgin Perial under the name Menda before declaring himself Tehlu, lord above all. He pursues the demon Encanis across nine days through fallen cities, catches him, forges a great iron wheel, and binds himself together with Encanis upon it, destroying them both in fire at Atur. The Tehlin church preserves a doctrinal schism over the role of Menda, the 'Mender heresies,' the sect to which Trapis belonged having lost.

Relationships§

  • Hunts The Chandrian — burned from mortal sight to hunt the Chandrian
  • Opposes Haliax — stands opposed to Haliax and the Chandrian as Aleph's servant
  • Contrasted With Selitos — Selitos refused Aleph's offer while Tehlu became his servant
  • Central Figure Of The Tehlin Church — central figure of the Tehlin church, the dominant religion
  • Subject Of Tale Skarpi — Skarpi tells of Tehlu as an angel made by Aleph
  • Servant Of Aleph — chief angel Aleph created and named after the fall of Myr Tariniel
  • Enemy Encanis — pursues the demon Encanis nine days, binds himself to him on a burning wheel
  • Subject Of Tale Trapis — Trapis tells the tale of Tehlu and Encanis and belonged to the losing sect
  • Born Of Perial — born of the virgin Perial as Menda in Trapis's tale
  • Destroyed At Atur — burned to ash with Encanis in the pit at Atur

Established facts§

  • In Skarpi's telling, Tehlu is not a god but the chief and most well-known of the angels Aleph created after the fall of Myr Tariniel.
  • When Aleph spoke the angels' long names they were wreathed in white fire that danced along their wings, gaining wings, swiftness, the power to see into deep places, and being burned from mortal sight to hunt the Chandrian.
  • Selitos One-Eye refused Aleph's offer and formed the Amyr, while Tehlu and the other angels became Aleph's servants opposed to Haliax and the Chandrian.
  • Tehlu is central to the Tehlin church, the dominant religion; 'Tehlu anyway' and 'Tehlu's watchful eye' are common oaths used throughout the Four Corners.
  • In Trapis's tale, Tehlu takes human form, born of the virgin Perial under the name Menda, before declaring himself Tehlu, lord above all, son of himself.
  • As Menda, Tehlu has eyes black as iron and appears as a youth of about seventeen.
  • Tehlu pursues the demon Encanis across nine days, passing through fallen cities, saving one, and catching the demon before reaching Atur on the ninth morning.
  • Tehlu forges a great iron wheel and binds himself together with Encanis upon it, destroying them both in fire; the wheel wounds the demon whenever it lies.
  • Tehlu and Encanis are burned to ash together in the pit at Atur.
  • The Tehlin church preserves a doctrinal schism over the role of Menda, the 'Mender heresies'; Trapis belonged to the sect that lost.
  • Menda is identified as Tehlu's incarnation, and he declares that all lives end in death excepting one.
  • In Trapis's story, Menda promises to return and set things right if he is called in the proper manner.
  • Marten prays aloud to Tehlu and his angels by name during the confrontation in the Eld.
  • Tehlu is described as a powerful namer who sings songs of power, alongside the other angels named by Aleph.
  • Tehlu leads the angels named by Aleph to stand in judgement of mankind.
  • In the story of Tehlu, those freed of the demons hiding inside them dance for the joy of being rid of such things.
  • The names Andan, Perial, Ordal, and Menda are listed among those who answered Aleph's call alongside Tehlu.

Theories§

Appears in theories§

Top contributors§

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