Lord Foul’s Bane
Chapter 24: Twenty Four: The Calling of Lions
by Donaldson, Stephen R.The chapter opens with the company under attack by Cavewights, their red eyes glowing with mindless determination as they advance through Lord Foul’s mocking laughter. Quaan and the Bloodguard form a defensive ring around Lords Mhoram and Prothall, while Covenant struggles to lift the body of the fallen First Mark, Tuvor. Manethrall Lithe identifies an escape route, but Covenant resists leaving Tuvor behind, arguing that his death must be honored. Despite his protests, Bannor forces Covenant to retreat with the group as the Lords prepare to fight their way to Lithe’s chosen tunnel.
As Prothall and Mhoram lead the charge, their fiery staffs intimidate the Cavewights, but a wedge of ur-viles, led by a powerful loremaster, intercepts them. The Lords barely hold their ground, their strength waning under the loremaster’s relentless attacks. A brave warrior attempts to distract the ur-viles but is brutally struck down, his screams echoing as dark power consumes him. The Lords, exhausted and outmatched, are forced backward into the tunnel, their blue flames flickering weakly against the ur-viles’ savage assault.
In a desperate move, Mhoram commands Covenant to raise his white gold ring, which momentarily stuns the ur-viles. Seizing the opportunity, the Lords create a fiery barrier to block the tunnel, buying the company precious time to flee. Mhoram warns that the barrier won’t last, urging the group to run before the ur-viles break through. Lithe confidently guides them through the labyrinthine catacombs, her instincts leading them toward daylight. The company finds brief respite in the silence, relieved to escape Lord Foul’s laughter and the immediate threat of slaughter.
However, as they delve deeper into the tunnels, the atmosphere grows increasingly ominous. The darkness seems to conceal unseen dangers, and the silence takes on a menacing quality. Despite Lithe’s unwavering confidence, the company senses they are not yet safe. The chapter ends on a tense note, with the group’s hope for escape tempered by the lurking perils of the catacombs, leaving their fate uncertain as they press onward.
FAQs
1. How does Covenant’s physical limitation (his missing fingers) impact the events in this chapter, and what does this reveal about his character?
Answer:
Covenant’s inability to lift Tuvor’s body due to his missing fingers (he “could not get a grip with his right hand; two fingers were not enough”) serves as a poignant moment that highlights both his physical vulnerability and his emotional turmoil. This limitation forces him to rely on others (Bannor) in a crisis, reinforcing his sense of helplessness in the Land. It also underscores his guilt and unresolved grief, as he protests leaving Tuvor behind, showing a deeper moral conflict beneath his Unbeliever facade. The scene emphasizes Covenant’s struggle to reconcile his perceived powerlessness with his growing sense of responsibility.2. Analyze the tactical significance of the Lords’ “forbidding” spell against the ur-viles. What does this reveal about their magic system and its limitations?
Answer:
The Lords’ creation of a fiery barrier (“forbidding”) using the phrase “Minas mill khabaal” and Prothall’s staff demonstrates a magic system reliant on ritual language, physical conduits (the staff), and collaborative effort. The spell’s temporary nature (“it will not endure”) and Mhoram’s admission that they “are not strong enough” reveal key limitations: their power is exhaustible and dependent on tools. The ur-viles’ resistance—particularly the loremaster’s ability to weaken the barrier—also shows that their magic isn’t absolute against sufficiently potent foes, especially those enhanced by external forces like the Illearth Stone.3. Compare Lithe’s role as a guide with the leadership of Prothall and Mhoram. How do their approaches to survival differ, and what might this suggest about their cultures?
Answer:
Lithe operates on instinct (“I know grass and sky”) and agility, dodging Cavewights and making swift decisions without hesitation. In contrast, Prothall and Mhoram rely on structured power (staff magic) and strategic sacrifice (the warrior’s diversion). Lithe’s confidence in her intuitive path reflects the Ramen’s connection to nature, while the Lords’ methodical efforts—even when exhausted—highlight their duty-bound, hierarchical culture. The tension between Lithe’s urgency (“Come!”) and the Lords’ need to hold the line illustrates a clash between nomadic intuition and institutionalized leadership.4. What thematic role does Lord Foul’s laughter play in this chapter, particularly in relation to the Cavewights’ behavior?
Answer:
Foul’s laughter initially slows the Cavewights, making them “wade through it as if it were a quagmire,” which paradoxically aids the company by buying time. This juxtaposition of mockery and utility underscores Foul’s chaotic influence: even his disdain has unintended consequences. The laughter’s fading effect as the group escapes (“passing… out of the range”) mirrors their temporary reprieve from his malevolence, but the lingering “hush of ambush” suggests his presence permeates the Land. This reinforces the theme that evil in the Land is both omnipresent and capricious.5. Evaluate the warrior’s decision to attack the ur-vile wedge alone. Was this act heroic, foolish, or both? Justify your answer with textual evidence.
Answer:
The warrior’s act is both heroic and futile. His fervor (“whirling his sword fervidly”) reflects courage, but Mhoram’s attempt to save him and the loremaster’s effortless counterstrike (“brushed the warrior aside”) reveal the tactical folly of individual defiance against organized evil. The gruesome outcome—his screams as dark moisture melts him—emphasizes the cost of uncoordinated sacrifice. While his intent to protect comrades is noble, the scene critiques reckless valor; in Drool’s realm, survival requires collective discipline (the Lords’ barrier) over lone heroism.
Quotes
1. “They came in a mass of red eyes dull with empty determination. But Lord Foul’s bodiless laughter seemed to slow them. They waded through it as if it were a quagmire, and their difficult approach gave the company time to react.”
This opening quote vividly sets the scene of the desperate battle against Lord Foul’s forces, capturing both the mindless menace of the attackers and the eerie power of the enemy’s laughter. It establishes the chapter’s tone of peril and supernatural opposition.
2. “We must leave him. We must. All our work will go for nothing if we do not take both Staff and Ward to safety.”
Spoken by Mhoram, this quote represents the painful but necessary sacrifices the company must make to fulfill their quest. It highlights the central tension between personal attachments and higher mission that runs through the chapter.
3. “Barking in strident fear, the whole wedge recoiled. In that instant, the Lords acted.”
This pivotal moment shows Covenant’s unexpected power (via his ring) creating a crucial opening for the company. The quote captures a key turning point where the tide of battle momentarily shifts in their favor.
4. “Now we must run. We must escape- must! All our work will go for nothing if we do not take both Staff and Ward to safety.”
Mhoram’s urgent declaration encapsulates the chapter’s driving motivation - the desperate race to preserve their hard-won gains against overwhelming opposition. It underscores the high stakes of their mission.
5. “Gradually, the silence changed- lost the hue of relief, and became the hush of ambush.”
This beautifully crafted line marks the chapter’s transition from temporary respite back into danger, using poetic language to convey the shifting atmosphere of the catacombs and foreshadowing coming threats.