| “ | So these are the champions you've gathered to try and stop me? They're nothing but pathetic children. The whining child king. In over his head and he knows it. The Moonshadow assassin who...Can this be right? Isn't capable of killing. The failed son, whose father wishes he had never been born. And my favorite, the human mage, already tainted by darkness and destined to play right into my hands. Oh, my time has come. My return to this world is inevitable! | „ |
| ~ Aaravos taunts the heroes while possessing Callum |
Aaravos is the main antagonist of Netflix's The Dragon Prince franchise. In the past, Aaravos was "one of the Great Ones", a Startouch Elf from the heavens of Xadia, the instigator of the wars between most conflicts including the Sunfire Elves and the Dragons, and a master manipulator of mages and others with strong hearts and minds. He was also the creator of dark magic, sharing magic with humanity for they were unable to form a connection to a primal source on their own. This instantly led to the banishment of humans to the west.
Eventually imprisoned because of the actions of the Jailer and the Orphan Queen, Aaravos seeks to break free from his prison, using several pawns to achieve his freedom. He starts an alliance with Viren and seeks to kill Azymondias by any means necessary. However, when that doesn't work he starts using Viren's daughter, Claudia to ensure his return.
He was voiced by Erik Dellums, who also voiced Koh from the Nickelodeon series Avatar: The Last Airbender.
History[]
Background[]
Aaravos' history is mostly shrouded in mystery. He was one of the original Startouch Elves who was cast out of heaven and banished to the Earth. After the death of his beloved daughter, Leola, Aaravos cries for 100 years and created Sea of the Castout. This led to the destruction of mountains and the creation of a new sea. He later turned his attention to humans, hoping to use them to destroy the arrogance of the other Startouch Elves. He killed the Queen of the Dragons, Luna Tenebris, and later the Elven Queen Aditi so he could prevent peace, starting the conflict between elves, humans, and dragons.
Aaravos later started manipulating the world's most powerful people with strong minds and giving them the key to the mysteries of the universe. He eventually mastered all six Primal Sources and became an Archmage and came across a cube that could tell the Primal Source just by pointing at it in the right direction. However, the elf's treachery was exposed by The Orphan Queen, a young human girl who revealed this to the elves and Dragons. He was eventually imprisoned in a small pearl by the High Mage, Akiyu, and The Jailer, and the secret of Aaravos' prison was known only by the two Elves. Due to his cruelty and unpredictable nature, any text mentioning Aaravos was immediately erased and anyone who tried reading about him would blur the pages out. Avizandum, the leader of the dragons, kept a looking glass in his lair, going to keep watch over Aaravos for decades until his looking glass was stolen by Lord Viren the day he took Zym's egg.
Book 1: Moon[]
Aaravos narrated the beginning of the season's opening. A younger version of him is seen watching as the Elves babies the humans from Xadia and to the East, where the future human kingdoms came to be.[1]
Book 2: Sky[]
Book 3: Sun[]
Book 4: Earth[]
Aaravos in Book Four: Earth
Aaravos's scheme to break out from his prison was discovered by Ibis, who sent a message about it to Zubeia before he succumbed to the wound inflicted on him by Terry. Zubeia created an artificial storm to look into the looking glass, allowing Aaravos to possess Callum and call out the flaws of Team Zym before declaring his inevitable return. Aaravos then proceeded to release Callum from his hold before shattering the looking glass.
Book 5: Ocean[]
Aaravos received Viren warmly while Claudia combed through the Sea of the Castout in search of the prison. When Viren decided to turn down Aaravos, the Startouch Elf informed him that the Being was their child and the necessary sacrifice to guarantee the dark mage's revival would be everlasting. Despite Aaravos' warning that he had only a few hours left, Viren refused to end the Being's life and departed. Subsequently, the Startouch Elf announced to Viren that his life would cease when the sun rose the following day.
Book 6: Stars[]
Book 7: Dark[]
Aaravos gets a human disguise and offers Callum an apple. However, Corvus immediately stops him from doing so.
Aaravos will return in the next 7 years once his stars are aligned.
Personality[]
Aaravos is the dark counterpart and arch-nemesis to Callum. He is manipulative and cunning, knowing when to cover his tracks. For years he was able to orchestrate the conflict between the humans and Xadians by giving the humans dark magic. According to Claudia Aaravos was the first to see humans' true potential, hence why she believes it is right to free him. It is also highly speculated that he had something to do with Queen Luna Tenebris' mysterious death and Queen Aditi's demise, causing the conflict between the Elves, the dragons, and the humans. This left to people sharing a split view of Aaravos, as either a gift or a deceiver. He deceived elves, Dragons, and humans for centuries before he was imprisoned in a pearl and hidden at the bottom of the ocean. However, his betrayal was exposed by a young human girl, the Orphan Queen. She later took his Key, which was passed down in her family for generations. It eventually fell into the hands of The Orphan Queen's descendant Harrow, who entrusted it to his Adoptive son, Callum.
Due to his actions, Aaravos was expelled from heaven and conspired to usurp the other Startouch Elves for his banishment from Xadia. He serves as the enigmatic narrator at the outset of seasons 1 and 3, asserting that humans unearthed dark magic and annihilated the Dragon Prince, thereby deceiving the audience. Eventually, it is disclosed that Lord Viren stole the Prince's egg to exploit it for his dark magical endeavors. Aaravos is both secretive and elusive, yet possesses a seductive and charismatic demeanor that enables him to gain Viren's allegiance.
He also takes his time insulting all of the members of Team Zym when he possesses Prince Callum and taunts the heroes from the inside. He calls Ezran "a winey child King" in over his head and he already knows it, sees Rayla as the Moonshadow Assassin who is incapable of killing, refers to Soren as Viren's failed son whose father wished was never born, and calls Callum the human mage already tainted by darkness. He also implies that Callum is destined to "play by his hand" in the future as well as seeing the boy as merely a tool if he ever succumbed to dark magic. A reason for Aaravos choosing to possess Callum is unknown but according to Aaravos, the prince and he are intertwined. This moment was so terrifying for Callum, even driven to the point where he asked Rayla to kill him if Aaravos ever controlled him again. He feared that Aaravos wouldn't hurt him but may make him break his friends and family.
Aaravos was very charismatic. He had manipulated Claudia into helping him escape so he could make his resurrection permanent. He tried to get Lord Viren to kill their son, the Being, and make his resurrection spell permanent.
Aaravos has been identified as the narrator of the introductory sequences in both "Book One: Sky" and "Book Three: Sun." Nevertheless, he demonstrates the characteristics of an unreliable narrator on two notable occasions. For instance, Aaravos erroneously asserted that the Egg of the Dragon Prince had been destroyed by humans, a claim that was later contradicted when it was revealed in episode 2 of "Book One" that the egg was, in fact, alive and concealed within Viren's vault after being stolen. Additionally, Aaravos inaccurately stated that humans had driven unicorns to extinction. This assertion was challenged by Viren, who noted in episode six of "Book Three" that Claudia had captured a unicorn. Furthermore, it is suggested on a webpage dedicated to the Art of the Dragon Prince that unicorns are nearly impossible to hunt due to their formidable strength and intelligence.
According to auxiliary material, Aaravos may have held a soft spot for humanity, with others such as Claudia implying he taught them Dark Magic so they could hold their own against, if not exceed the elves. Whether he still does or not remains to be seen.
So far, Aaravos's true personal goals are due to him being mainly motivated by his daughter's death and having used it to make sure that she didn't die in vain. The series' creators have stated he is a complex character, and that he was erased from history because he was disliked, not necessarily because he was evil. He has exhibited signs of arrogance, sadism, and cruelty. For example, he states that individuals who cannot be reasoned are simple animals who deserve to be motivated by fear, and encourages Viren to use such to against those who reject him. He also urges Viren to drain the essence of an innocent dragonling and whispers to Khessa about how her grandmother Aditi died before killing her too. Aaravos is also capable of holding a grudge, as shown by his hatred of Avizandum for imprisoning him, a hatred that remains even after almost 300 years. His reasons for teaching humans dark magic was due to how humans were never allowed to use it in the first place and Leola gifting Humans magic was what led to her execution.
Physical appearance[]
Aaravos is an elegant Startouch elf, with long white hair and eyebrows, and violet-blue skin and yellow eyes. Before he was "fallen," Aaravos' eyes were pink and the star on his chest wasonce white. But now, as a fallen Startouch Elf, his eyes turned as pale yellow as the eclipse and the white star turned black to symbolize his inner darkness and signfiying himself as a fallen Startouch Elf. Though the sources claim that Aaravos is 6'6" without the horns, Season 6 reveals that Aaravos is actually the size of a Titan, at least 10 feet tall. He has diamond white freckles below his eyes and starry pattern on his arms, which are a darker navy blue compared to his upper body.
Powers and abilities[]
Powers[]
- Startouch Elf Physiology
- Connection to the Star Primal/Star Magic: The natural ability Aaravos has as a Startouch Elf. He draws on the vast and timeless power of the cosmos. Its spells usually involves the manipulation of space and time, divination, cosmic vision, and seeing into the "beyond. However, due to being cast out of the heavens, Aaravos only has access to a fraction of his powers.
- Telepathy: Aaravos can psychically link his mind with another person and comminute with them. The telepathic bond is two-sided, meaning the person he is speaking with can talk with him. This is seen in "Season 7" when he and Claudia had a conversation with each other through their link.
- Superhuman strength
- Immortality
- Self-Resurrection/Regeneration: Aaravos may materialize a mortal vessel for his essence to inhabit, and walk among the mortals. However, Aaravos' essence is returned to the heavens for another seven years and 19 days until he can reform a new body.
- Astral Projection/Avatar Creation: Due to his large size, Aaravos created an Avatar or astral project that allowed him to move freely and undetected. In the first three seasons, he took the form a ghost-like creature that only Viren could see. After being freed from Claudia, Aaravos created a human Avatar so he could easily travel with Claudia and Terry. Unlike his astral projection previous time, the two could interact with them and people such as Callum and Corvus could see him.
- Primal Magic: Aaravos is an arch-mage, meaning he has mastered all of the other arcanums. However, is currently unclear how he acquired these powers but like Callum, it is likely that Aaravos' learned the true meaning of each arcanum and was successful in accessing them. The level of his mastery of magic is proven by the fact that he can perform spells without speaking the required incantations.
- Sky Magic: The ability to draw power from the draws on the vast sky, the energy and movement of the winds, and the power of thunderstorms. The user must understand that the sky is everywhere and that he takes it within him with every breathhe takes. Its understanding that the sky is everywhere and that you take it within you with every breath. His sky powers are atmokinetic or aerokinetic.
- Ocean Magic: The ability to draws on the depths of the oceans and tides, and its power connects through rivers and lakes. He gained a connection to the Ocean after understanding that one is not in control, that there are things that can never be controlled, and finding calm amongst constant change, understanding the innate qualities of water—transformation, fluidity, and adaptability. This revolves around water and ice-based spells and abilities.
- Earth Magic: The ability to connect to the Earth Arcanum and draw on the power and energy within the land itself, embodying the enduring strength of stone and the vibrant energy of new life. It is centered around resilience, fortitude, patience, and harmony with nature.
- Sun Magic: The ability to draw from the heat and energy of the sun. His spells are fire-related. The arcanum of the Sun comes with a furious, positive energy, though also manifests through strong emotions. Through the use of a Sun staff that he corrupted, he was later able to assist Viren in transforming a human army into powerful sun monsters immune even to dragon fire by copying and applying the heat-being mode of the Sunfire Elves onto the soldiers.
- Sand Manipulation
- Corrupted Sun Primal Magic: Aaravos corrupted the Sun Forge, corrupting its Sun magic. During the formation of Eternal Night, the corrupted Sun Orb was used by Aaravos as a spectral staff.
- Moon Magic: The ability to draws on the spirit and energy of the moon after understanding the true nature of the relationship between appearances and reality. Moon magic grants Aaravos the ability to creating illusions, concealment spells, and connections with spirits and the veil between life and death, its strongest on the night of a full moon.
- Glamouring: The ability to magically alter one's appearance. He turned himself into a island.
- Dark magic: Aaravos can cast dark magical spells due to being is creator. He created his own dark spells such as his and Viren's blood ritual to create the former's familiar.
- Possession: Aaravos can possess anyone who has been tainted by dark magic, like he possessed Callum and Viren. He also used to be magically linked to Callum but lost it after after he was purified of dark magic during the Star truth seeking ritual. In "Nova," however Aaravos gloate d that Callum would become his vessel once the boy completed a dark magic spell again. However, with the
- Telepathic Link (formerly): Due to being able to possess Callum, Aaravos were telepathically linked together through magic. As such, Aaravos was able to manipulate their telepathic bond to his advantage by controlling Callum. Aaravos and Callum seemingly lost it after after he was purified of dark magic during the Star truth seeking ritual.
- Primal Stone Creation
- Possession: Aaravos can possess anyone who has been tainted by dark magic, like he possessed Callum and Viren. He also used to be magically linked to Callum but lost it after after he was purified of dark magic during the Star truth seeking ritual. In "Nova," however Aaravos gloate d that Callum would become his vessel once the boy completed a dark magic spell again. However, with the
- Deep Magic
- Necromancy
Abilities[]
- Familiar
- Manipulation and Persuasion
Weaknesses[]
- Nova Blade: As the Nova Blade is a sword made out of the tooth of an archdragon, Aaravos' mortal form can be destroyed by the Nova Blade until his stars align in seven years and nineteen days.
- Bite of an Archdragon: The bite of an archdragon can destroy Aaravos' mortal form until his stars align in seven years and nineteen days. This is evident by; Avizandum biting Aaravos' neck and resulted in a supernova that killed all the Archdragons.
- Soul Trapping Spell: Callum was going to perform a soul trapping spell in order to imprison Aaravos and ensure that the Startouch Elf could never manipulate anyone ever again but Callum would be doing so at the cost of his life.
Equipment[]
- Relic Staff: The Staff was stolen from the Star scraper by Aaravos. He gave the staff to Ziard, and it eventually found it's way to the High Mage of Katolis. He took the corrupted sun Primal Stone from Claudia's staff in order to replace it with the quasar diamond that Claudia destroyed in order to free Aaravos. However Claudia lost it in her duel with Callum, who was going to use the staff and Viren's cursed coin to trap Aaravos until the Archdragons' intervention.
- Moon Primal Stone: Aaravos and Claudia created a Moon Primal Stone by visiting the Garden of Innocence and crushed the bones of a unicorn. He used the feathers of a shimmercrow to make the Moon Primal Stone fly around the world within a night in his plan to invert the Moon Nexus on itself.
Former equipment[]
- Quasar Diamond: Aaravos stole a quasar diamond from the starscraper and replaced it with a fake one, storing it in Ziard's staff.
- Book of Aaravos: When the Key of Aaravos is inserted in the book the primal symbol is facing up, it unlocks information of this primal. The book supposedly reveals everything there is to know about primal magic.
- Key of Aaravos: When placed in his book, the key unlocks it depending on the primal side is facing front and center. Currently in the possession of Prince Callum of Katolis. The key and book supposedly reveals everything there is to know about primal magic.
Evil Moments[]
- Orchestrated the conflict between the humans and Xadians by giving the humans dark magic. It is also highly speculated that he had something to do with Queen Luna Tenebris' mysterious death and Queen Aditi's demise, causing the conflict between the Elves, the dragons, and the humans. This left to people sharing a split view of Aaravos, as either a gifter or deceiver.
- Plotting to overthrow the other Startouch Elves for banishing him from Xadia (apparently).
- He is also the ambiguous narrator at the beginning of seasons 1 and 3, who claims humans discovered dark magic and destroyed the Dragon Prince in order to mislead the viewers.
- In due time it would be revealed that the Prince's egg was actually stolen by Lord Viren so he can use it for his own dark magic purposes.
- In Season 4, it would later be revealed that it was actually Aaravos who gave humanity dark magic.
- Deceived elves, Dragons, and humans for centuries before he was imprisoned in a pearl and hidden at the bottom of the ocean. However, his treachery was exposed by a young human girl, the Orphan Queen. She later took his Key, which was passed down in her family for generations. It eventually fell into the hands of The Orphan Queen's descendant Harrow, who entrusted it to his adoptive son, Callum.
- He "consumed" the previous Queen of the Sunfire Elves.
- Aided Lord Viren in his plans to conquer Xadia.
- Possessed Prince Callum and taunted the heroes from inside.
- He called Ezran "a winey child King" in over his head and he already knows it.
- Sees Rayla as the Moonshadow Assassin who is incapable of killing.
- Referred to Soren as Viren's failed son whose father wished was never born.
- Calls Callum the human mage already tainted by darkness.
- He also implies that Callum is destined to "play by his hand" in the future. This moment was so terrifying for Callum, even driven to the point where he asked Rayla to kill him if Aaravos ever controlled him again. He was mostly afraid that Aaravos wouldn't hurt him but may make him hurt his loved ones.
- Manipulated Claudia into helping him escape so he could make his resurrection spell on her father permanent.
- He tried to get Lord Viren to kill their son the Being, and make his resurrection spell permanent.
- Manipulated both Callum and Claudia into freeing him and restoring him to his full power. He temporarily possessed Callum and had him switch the real prison with a decoy so Claudia could retrieve it. He also told her the story of the loss of his daughter Leola to Claudia, who used love to fuel the spell that would free him.
- Had Sol Regem attack Katolis, likely out of spite against Ezran, for his ancestor, the Orphan Queen was the reason that Aaravos' was imprisoned.
- Mocked Callum and his allies about his inevitable return
- Despite everything, Aaravos truly cares for Claudia, seeing her as a second daughter and calling her the only light in his life. However most people point out that Aaravos is just seeing Claudia as a replacement to Leola.
Gallery[]
Quotes[]
- “Ahhh, how long I have waited to hear the sound of another voice.”
- ―Aaravos to Viren after their ritual
- “You tried to win over the other humans with loyalty and friendship, but they ignored you. Those who fail tests of love are simple animals. They deserve to be motivated by fear.”
- ―Aaravos to Viren convincing him to use dark magic
- “You won’t. You are too curious. Hungry for knowledge and power. Both things I can provide. Allow me to earn your trust.”
- ―Aaravos offering power to Viren
- “Search your heart. There’s something that you want very badly. But something or someone stands in your way.”
- ―Aaravos to Viren
- “Oh, what a crowd I've gathered. Now, this is familiar, isn't it? Hasn't this all happened before? Arrogant fools. Again and again you make the same mistakes. You know how this goes. Go on! kill me! You'll be destroying yourselves, and everyone you love. And as for me, you will merely send me back to the heavens. You know it is futile. In seven years and nineteen days, my stars will align, and I shall return. You cannot win!”
- ―Aaravos to the heroes as he degrades their efforts
- “Callum: We can win. There is a way.
Aaravos: There you are. I wondered when you'd show your face. And what could you possibly hope to do against me, little mage?
Callum: I'm gonna end this. I'm gonna imprison you, once and for all.” - ―Aaravos and Callum
- “I do not fall for the same tricks twice. Claudia made certain the old sea witch could not interfere this time.”
- ―{{{2}}}
- “Oh, no! Dark magic? Whatever shall I do? This is your plan? It is futile and you know it. The moment you cast the spell, you are mine. Your body will become my vessel, and I shall have my vengeance on this world by your hands.”
- ―Aaravos to Callum
- “Your window is closing, dark mage. Act quickly, or the brave king and the Dragon Prince will seal my fate... and light the world on fire!”
- ―Aaravos goading Callum to cast the soul trapping spell before his brother uses the Nova Blade
- “Too late, Callum. If you cast the spell now, you will belong to me! There is no path to victory. It's over. ”
- ―Aaravos to Callum
Relationships[]
Family[]
- Leola † - Daughter
- The Being † - Son
Allies[]
- Viard †
- Claudia - Surrogate Daughter
Enemies[]
- The Stern One
- The Merciful One
- Archdragons - Former Allies, Captors and Enemies
- Zubeia †
- Avizandum † - Killer
- Luna Tenebris † - Victim
- Rex Igneous † - Victim
- Domina Profundis † - Indirect Victim
- The Orphan Queen
- Aditi
- Khessa
- Karim
- Janai
- Sol Regem † - Victim
- Startouch Elves - Targets
- Tidebound Elves
- Akiyu
- Celestial Elves
- Team Zym - Enemies
- Callum - Former Vessel and Arch-enemy
- Rayla
- Ezran
- Soren
- Azymondias
- Terry - Former Ally
- Lord Viren - Former Ally
Victims[]
- Luna Tenebris
- Aditi
- Khessa
- Viren (indirectly)
- Akiyu (indirectly)
- Sol Regem
- Zubeia (indirectly)
- Domina Profundis † (indirectly)
Trivia[]
- There was a popular theory that Aaravos was Callum's biological father or at least a distant ancestors.
- However, it was debunked in an interview because Callum's father was human and further confirmation that Callum's father was identified as a human poet named Damien in Book Six: Stars.
- According to Aaran Eshaz, Aaravos is "disliked" not hated and that everything is going according to Aaravos' plans. He also states that Aaravos never lies, but the narration proves otherwise.
- It is heavily possible that Aaravos is the one who is instigating the war in Lux Aurea and influencing Pharos for several reasons.
- This was later proven when Aaravos reveals himself possessing Pharos' body to Sol Regem and all party of his plan to get the Sun Dragon to attack Katolis instead.
- Leola is named after the mother of Erik Todd Dellums, the voice actor of Aaravos.
Similar Characters[]
- Just like Prometheus stealing fire from Mount Olympus and gifting it to humanity, Aaravos granted humanity the gift and knowledge of dark magic.
- However, to the citizens of Xadia, Aaravos is a "Fallen" Startouched Elf from the Heavens, like Lucifer is the fallen angel. In a preview for Season 7, he (in human form) tempts Callum an apple but Corvus purposefully rejects it for him. This is similar to the biblical story, Paradise Lost, where Lucifer offers an apple to Eve from the Garden of Eden and further solidifies Lucifer as an inspiration for Aaravos.
- Like Sauron is a Fallen Maiar, Aaravos is a Fallen Startouched Elf. Both were a deceiver of the people (such as the dragons for Aaravos and the free people of Middle-earth) and master manipulator before being exposed.
References[]
- ↑ "Echoes of Thunder." The Dragon Prince. Season 1 (Book 1: Moon), Episode 1.
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