The Abhorsen - Accreditation to Garth Nix (The Abhorsen Trilogy)The Abhorsens are those of the hereditary bloodline whose charge is maintaining the border between life and death, though inheritance is not always direct –the next Abhorsen could be a niece or cousin or sibling, rather than the current Abhorsen's child. The Abhorsen combines Charter Magic and Free Magic in his/her bells to compel and control the dead, righting the wrongs created by Necromancers or others who pervert the nature of Life and Dead. The Abhorsen stronghold, called Abhorsen's House, is located on an island in the Ratterlin near the Long Cliffs. The House lies in close proximity to a great waterfall; the associated rapids complement the magical wards of the House in keeping the Dead and other dangerous things from accessing it. In Nicholas Sayre and the Creature in the Case, the Hrule implies that they are the bloodline created when Astarael bound herself in the Charter, calling them "Astarael's get". The origin of the name "Abhorsen" in the book's world is unknown, but Nix may have chosen the name referencing "Abhorson," the executioner in Shakespeare's Measure for Measure.
The bells, smallest to largest, are
Ranna, Mosrael, Kibeth, Dyrim, Belgaer, Saraneth, and Astarael.
Saraneth, the "binder", is thought to be the original Abhorsen, and the bright shiner who invested her powers in this bloodline. Her gift is "binding", just as the Abhorsens job is to "bind" the dead to Death.
Ranna is the "sleeper", causing listeners to fall asleep; she is the least tricksome. Mosrael, "waker", wakes the dead, bringing them into life as it throws the necromancer farther into death.
Kibeth, "walker", forces the dead to march back into death, or wherever the ringer desires, although if the ringer is not careful it may end up "walking" her.
Dyrim is the "speaker", granting the ability of speech to the dead, or taking it away.
Belgaer is the "thinker" and can restore independent thought to the dead and resurrect old memories, but can also erase unwanted memories.
Astarael is the "weeper". Last and final of the bells, she sends all who hear her, including the ringer, deep into death. It is almost impossible to return after hearing Astarael
