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The manga (and its anime derivative) Record of Lodoss War centers around the adventures of a youth by the name of Parn, the son of a dishonored knight. Part of his motivation for adventuring is to find out what happened to his father, and to restore his family's honor. Despite his inexperience, Parn is considered the leader, who is accompanied by his childhood best friend Etoh, his friend and sometimes advisor Slayn (and later on Slayn's lover Leylia), and his newfound mentor Ghim. They are accompanied by Parn's romantic interest, the high elf Deedlit, who comes from the Forest of No Return seeking an answer to her people's isolationism and an end to what she sees as a slow march to extinction. Throughout the series, Parn comes into contact with friends and foes alike. His allies include King Kashue, King Fahn, Shiris, and Orson; his enemies include Emperor Beld, Ashram, and the evil necromancer Wagnard.
The manga and its anime derivative Chronicles of the Heroic Knight continues the adventures of Parn for the first eight episodes, but then centers around Spark and his adventures to complete a quest tasked onto him to protect Neese, the daughter of Slayn and Leylia. He is accompanied by his own cast of friends in the form of Leaf, Garrack, Greevus, Aldo, and Ryna. The television series shares similarities with the plot of the OVA, such as Wagnard seeking to kidnap Neese in order to use her as a reagent for the resurrection of Naneel, a priestess and the avatar of Kardis who was slain by Leylia's mother, the high priestess Neese a short time after the battle with the demonic god. Leylia was the reincarnation of Naneel, but when she lost her virginity she was no longer capable of being the doorway or reagent needed to unseal Naneel.
The third series, Legend of Crystania, places the former villain Ashram into the seat of a would-be hero who is placed under a spell by a "god beast" of Crystania. The series then centers around Pirotess, his dark elven lover, as she tries to find a way to free him from the clutches of the spell and to restore him back to his living self.
MAIN CHARACTERS
Parn
In the OVA series, Parn begins as a simple village youth, but through extraordinary circumstances dons his father's armour and sword, and takes on the role of a fighter. This differs from his introduction in the manga series, where he is already a mercenary when discovered by the rest of his party. It is never disclosed in the OVA or Chronicles of the Heroic Knight as to what Parn's age is.
Parn specializes in the use of bastard sword. In the beginning of the OVA series, he wields his father's sword until it is destroyed. At this point, he is granted the Holy Sword of Falis to continue his journey. Parn's romantic interest comes in the form of Deedlit, a high elf shamanist who left her elven homelands in search for a way to help show her people to change their ways.
Parn grew up in a more or less peaceful village, with the only real concern being a nearby goblin tribe. As a child, he was ostracised by the others, because his father had a black mark against his name (although the details are never discussed), and was killed in a war with the country of Flaim before his name could be restored.
Growing up, Parn idolized his father, remembering him as a great man, despite what the others had to say about him and knowing him only as a man of honor. Never knowing the circumstances of his father's fall from grace, he knew his father only as a kind and gentle man with a warrior's spirit.
Parn had a best friend by the name of Etoh, who left the village to become a priest of Falis, the Supreme God, a couple of years before the story begins. He was also a good friend with the mayor's daughter, and may have even been childhood sweethearts with her, although this is only implied.
Deedlit
Deedlit originated as a role-playing game character of the same name, played by the Japanese science fiction novelist Hiroshi Yamamoto in the Forcelia campaign. Her character was further developed for the anime, particularly her relationship with Parn - in the D&D game sessions. Deedlit was more interested in Parn's magic sword than in Parn himself, she used this opportunity to embezzle his sword when Parn died. This is a famous and amusing episode for Japanese RPG fans. Deedlit and Parn's relationship was romanticized in the light novels and anime series.
Deedlit is a high elf who comes from the Forest of No Return, her peoples' homeland, where they reside in solitude. This solitude comes in part because typically a meeting between a high elf and another of the races results in conflict, due to the high elves having a tendency to treat the member of the other races other as children. This stems from the fact that high elves are considered immortal, yet other races have much shorter life spans, and even dark elves and mirror elves only live to be 1,000).
Deedlit is a special figure among her race because she is the last high elf to be born within the last 1,000 years, being just about 160 years old. She is considered, as a result of her rare status, to be the last hope for the high elven people to prosper and flourish once more. She received the best education from her mentors in her homeland, including how to wield a blade, as well as how to cast shaman magic to harness the power of spirits.
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