Raoden

Lore & Background

The Shaod is a magical curse that turns humans into Elantrians, beings with glowing silver lines on their skin and altered physiology. Before this event, Raoden was defined by his obsession with appearance and nobility. After the transformation, he loses his status and physical beauty, forcing him to live among the beggars in the fallen city of Elantris. This exile strips away his ego and teaches him compassion for those society discards. Throughout his time as an Elantrian, Raoden discovers that his people are not cursed but were once holy protectors of Arelon; the Shaod stopped working due to a broken chasm line, not a sacrifice. The magic he wields, AonDor, allows him to manipulate reality through glowing symbols drawn in the air—symbols he learned from the library and practiced extensively. His journey becomes one of uncovering historical truths and challenging the political corruption that has festered during his people's absence. The climax involves Raoden entering the central pool to restore AonDor, which heals both the land and his people, restoring them to their full Elantrian state with glowing skin and hair.

In Their Own Story

The mirror reflected a stranger. Raoden touched the raised skin along his jawline, feeling the warmth radiating from the glowing blue lines that pulsed beneath his flesh. He was no longer Prince Raoden of Arelon; he was a monster to his own family. The wedding feast had been interrupted by this light, turning celebration into horror. Now, standing in the shadows of Kaelebrar's slums, he watched the rain wash over the cobblestones. He could feel the city breathing beneath him, waiting for someone to wake it up again.

Reader's Guide

Raoden begins as a spoiled Prince of Arelon, obsessed with status and lineage above all else. His life shatters when he is transformed into an Elantrin during his wedding ceremony. This affliction marks him with glowing tattoos and deformed features, casting him out from society as a cursed beggar. Stripped of wealth and power, Raoden lives among the poor in Kaelebrar. Here, guided by the mysterious Sazed, he learns empathy and discovers that his condition grants magical abilities known as AonDor. He realizes the Elantrians are not monsters but holy figures misunderstood by history. His arc culminates in a spiritual and political revolution. Raoden leads the afflicted back to the capital city of Elantris to confront the corruption plaguing their land. Through sacrifice and truth, he helps restore the AonDor magic and heals his people, returning them to humanity while saving his kingdom from ruin. His journey defines the cost of redemption.

Did You Know?

• Raoden was afflicted by the Shaod on the same night he was supposed to marry his intended bride.
• He is accompanied throughout much of his exile by Galladon, a man who secretly possesses unique knowledge of Arelon's history.
• While an Elantrian, Raoden could use powerful magic by drawing glowing symbols in the air, which he learned through formal training from the library and extensive practice.
• At the conclusion of his story, he and other Elantrians are restored to their full Elantrian state, with glowing skin and hair, not turned into ordinary humans.