# Gorice XII — The Worm Ouroboros character guide

> Gorice XII in The Worm Ouroboros by E. R. Eddison.

**Role:** major

**Also known as:** King Gorice XII, Gorice, the King, our Lord the King

**First appearance:** 0005-ii-the-wrastling-for-demonland

## Snapshot

Witchland's terrible King, iron-limbed and kingly even naked in his bath, who conjures by forbidden art to take what his armies cannot.

## Who they are

Gorice XII rules from Carcë, a lean, iron-built king who receives news of disaster with the same appetite as news of victory, and who practices the artificial magic that once served Gorice VII. He listens to Gro's report in his serpentine bath chamber, weighing truth and flattery with a wolf's patience, and demands nothing be kept back. When arms fail him he turns to sending and sorcery, and it is his conjuring that snatches Goldry Bluszco away and sets the Demons on their long, desperate road.

## Relationships

### [Corinius](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_worm_ouroboros_se/characters/corinius)

_professional_

Corinius serves as a general under King Gorice XII, but their relationship is fraught with tension and mutual distrust.

### [Corinius](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_worm_ouroboros_se/characters/corinius)

_professional_

Corinius serves as a general under King Gorice XII, but their relationship is fraught with tension and mutual distrust.

### [Corinius](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_worm_ouroboros_se/characters/corinius)

_professional_

Corinius serves as a general under King Gorice XII, but their relationship is fraught with tension and mutual distrust.

## In the story

### [The Worm Ouroboros](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_worm_ouroboros_se/chapters/the-worm-ouroboros)

New king of Witchland, crowned after Gorice XI's death.

### [Conjuring in the Iron Tower](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_worm_ouroboros_se/chapters/iv-conjuring-in-the-iron-tower)

The King of Witchland, skilled in grammarie, prepares a dangerous conjuration to destroy the Demons and tests Lord Gro's courage.

### [VI: The Claws of Witchland](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_worm_ouroboros_se/chapters/vi-the-claws-of-witchland)

Observes the battle from the walls; orders the Demons to be netted; gloats over their capture.

### [VII: Guests of the King in Carcë](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_worm_ouroboros_se/chapters/vii-guests-of-the-king-in-carc)

King Gorice XII hosts the banquet, orders the capture and humiliation of Lord Juss and Lord Brandoch Daha, and commands secrecy about the Demons' presence.

### [Koshtra Pivrarcha](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_worm_ouroboros_se/chapters/xii-koshtra-pivrarcha)

Referenced as the King of Witchland who sent a magical sending to take Goldry Bluszco.

### [XVI: The Lady Sriva’s Embassage](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_worm_ouroboros_se/chapters/xvi-the-lady-sriva-s-embassage)

Receives Sriva's late-night visit with suspicion and authority, ultimately seeing through her father's scheme and rebuking her.

### [The King Flies His Haggard](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_worm_ouroboros_se/chapters/xvii-the-king-flies-his-haggard)

The King decides to send Corsus to Demonland, rejecting Gro's advice and Corinius's candidacy.

### [The Murther of Gallandus by Corsus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_worm_ouroboros_se/chapters/xviii-the-murther-of-gallandus-by-corsus)

King Gorice XII reads Corsus's letters and listens to Gro's report of the disaster in Demonland, remaining inscrutable and attending a banquet.

### [XX: King Corinius](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_worm_ouroboros_se/chapters/xx-king-corinius)

Referenced as the king who appointed Corinius as viceroy of Demonland.

### [Tidings of Melikaphkhaz](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_worm_ouroboros_se/chapters/xxx-tidings-of-melikaphkhaz)

Receives tidings of the fleet's destruction and appoints Corund captain general.

### [XXXI: The Demons Before Carcë](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_worm_ouroboros_se/chapters/xxxi-the-demons-before-carc)

Sits in his chamber reviewing army schedules, then watches the battle from the tower above the water-gate; his face terrifies Heming.

### [The Latter End of All the Lords of Witchland](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_worm_ouroboros_se/chapters/xxxii-the-latter-end-of-all-the-lords-of-witchland)

Holds a council of war, dismisses Corsus, and retires to the Iron Tower for conjuring.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_worm_ouroboros_se/characters/gorice_xii
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_worm_ouroboros_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_worm_ouroboros_se/characters