Tarathiel

In-universe
subject =
described_object = a fictional character
category =

D&D character
name=Tarathiel
home=Moonwood
gender=Male
race=Moon Elf
age= ~320
class=Warrior
alignment=Neutral Good
universe=Forgotten Realms

Tarathiel is a fictional character in the "Dungeons & Dragons"-based "Forgotten Realms" setting. He first appears in the 1993 novel, "Starless Night" by R. A. Salvatore as a moon elf from the forest known as Moonwood in the Silver Marches of Faerûn. The character reappears in the 2002 novel, "The Thousand Orcs", and in the 2003 novel, "The Lone Drow", from the "The Hunter's Blades Trilogy".

In "Starless Night", Tarathiel meets the famous dark elf Drizzt Do'Urden when the drow travels through the Moonwood on his journey back to the Underdark in order to see if he poses any threat to the surface elves' home. Tarathiel has a conversation with Drizzt, in which he learns that Drizzt had accompanied a drow raiding party that killed the family of Ellifain Tuuserail, one of his Moonwood clan. However, Tarathiel comes to understand that Drizzt took no part in the raid and is able to trust Drizzt even more when they travel to Mooshie's Grove and come across a unicorn, who allows Drizzt to stroke his glistening coat. After witnessing that event, Tarathiel held no more doubts about Drizzt's nature.

In "The Hunter's Blades Trilogy", Tarathiel reappears with his partner Innovindil when they notice a pair of dwarves around a campfire in their home, Moonwood. The two take the dwarves, Ivan and Pikel Bouldershoulder, prisoner until discovering that their intentions are not to harm their woodland home. After realizing that the two dwarves plan on representing the priest Cadderly Bonaduce at the coronation of Bruenor Battlehammer in Mithral Hall, Innovindil and Tarathiel realize that the dark elf Drizzt Do'Urden will be returning to the area. This knowledge is of great importance to them because one of their clan, Ellifain Tuuserail, left the Moonwood to find and kill Drizzt due to the misconceived notion that Drizzt was responsible for the slaughter of her family years ago. Before they are able to meet with the dark elf, Innovindil and Tarathiel find the lands around Mithral Hall are ridden with thousands of orcs and scores of frost giants.

After investigating more closely, Innovindil and Tarathiel begin watching over Drizzt Do'Urden as he recklessly slaughters countless orcs on his own out of rage and anger for the loss of his friends at the orc assault on the town of Shallows. After Drizzt finally gets himself into a situation with no escape, the moon elf pair come to the rescue. When they confront Drizzt and ask him to join them, he refuses, as he is still unable to cope with the apparent loss of his friends. After some time, he finally decides to meet the elves, but when he arrives at their cave, he finds two drow holding Innovindil and Tarathiel prisoner. Drizzt dispatches of the dark elves, Ad'non Kareese and Donnia Soldou, and frees the moon elves. In the conversation that ensues, Innovindil and Tarathiel learn of Ellifain's fate and how she attempted to kill both Drizzt and herself but failed in killing Drizzt. Despite hearing the sad news, they don't blame Drizzt for defending himself.

Innovindil, Tarathiel, and Drizzt become a trio to be feared as they soon take it upon themselves to prevent the orc king Obould Many-Arrows from gaining any reinforcements by turning orc tribes emerging from the Spine of the World back into their holes. Unfortunately, Obould sets up a trap for Tarathiel and his pegasus, Sunrise, and in the fight to follow Obould kills Tarathiel while Innovindil and Drizzt, unable to help, witness the fight.

References