Tarnum
Tarnum is the main hero throughout the eight campaigns of the Heroes Chronicles. He remains a male human throughout, but goes through several different classes.
| Class | Barbarian | Knight | Wizard | Ranger | Beastmaster | Overlord |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Aliases | King Tarnum Barbarian King Barbarian Tyrant |
Sir Tarnum | Lord Tarnum | Tarnum Dragonfriend | Tarnum Hopewielder | Overlord Tarnum |
| Special Ability |  |
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| Secondary Skills |  Advanced Offense |
 Basic Leadership Basic Artillery |
 Advanced Wisdom |
 Basic Archery Basic Leadership |
 Basic Armorer Basic Resistance |
 Basic Tactics Basic Estates
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| Equivalent Hero |  Crag Hack |
 Christian |
 Dracon |
 Gelu |
  Bron |
 Mutare
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| Notes | Starts with  Ballista |
Starts without a spell book! | ||||
| Campaigns | • Warlords of the Wasteland • The World Tree • The Fiery Moon |
• Conquest of the Underworld | • Masters of the Elements | • Clash of the Dragons | • Revolt of the Beastmasters | • The Sword of Frost |
Biography[edit | hide | hide all]
Before his death: Tarnum is a young Barbarian who has spent his entire life under the oppression of the Wizard-Kings of Bracaduun, but he has always dreamed that life could be better - should be better.
After his death: Judged by the Ancestors as unworthy of entering Paradise, Tarnum wanders the land seeking redemption for the crimes of his past. He is the Immortal Hero, a timeless protector, but personally troubled by the doubt that he can ever make up for the tremendous wrongs that he performed in his youth.
Relationships[edit | hide]
- Sisters: Tarnum had two sisters (Anada and an unnamed sister) which were taken away from his family by Bracaduun, as they forbade Barbarian families from having more than one child. When Tarnum discovered another nation of Barbarians who refused to join his war against the Wizards, he ordered the extermination of these "traitors", unaware that his sisters had been sent there and were among his newest enemies. One of them was killed by his own troops, but the other was rescued just in time by Rion Gryphonheart, the founder of Erathia, and the man who defeated Tarnum in single combat. He would later marry her, and they would have Allison as their only child. Tarnum did not discover before his death and resurrection as an Immortal Hero that he was slain by his brother-in-law.
- Brother-in-law: Rion Gryphonheart
- Niece: Allison
- Lovers: Yalla, Adrienne, Valita
Story[edit | hide]
Warlords of the Wasteland[edit | hide]
Before Tarnum became the Immortal Hero, he was a Barbarian who threw off the shackles of his Wizard masters and returned his people to their former greatness. His actions as a barbarian tyrant caused the Ancestors to bar him entry to Paradise upon his death. They sent him back to Enroth as the immortal hero to atone for his crimes.
Conquest of the Underworld[edit | hide]
The Ancestors send Tarnum to help his niece, Queen Allison, rescue the soul of her father, Rion Gryphonheart, from the depths of the Underworld.
- Associates: Queen Allison, Mensor, Rion Gryphonheart, Trynn, Norvan
- Enemies: Duke Deezelisk, Jorm
Revolt of the Beastmasters[edit | hide]
To atone for dragging the Mudlanders into slavery as the Barbarian Tyrant, Tarnum was tasked with freeing them from the oppression of the Erathians. Through his efforts, the kingdom of Tatalia was created.
- Associates: Droglo, Brellick, Adamina, Prince Niven
- Enemies: Baron Paglon, Earl Rambert, Mad King Gryphonheart
Masters of the Elements[edit | hide]
Tarnum must face down his own prejudice against magic and become a Wizard if he has any chance of saving the world from the destructive Elemental Lords.
- Associates: Barsolar, Hemoross, Gavin Magnus, Ponific, Reamus
- Enemies: Elemental Lords
The World Tree[edit | hide]
Tarnum is drawn to a distant region to save the World Tree from the Necromancers. He ends up facing the insane Ancestor, Vorr, who has kidnapped the other Ancestors and plans to destroy the world.
The Fiery Moon[edit | hide]
Tarnum pursues Vorr to the fiery moon. He frees the other ancestors and uses the sap of the World Tree to cure Vorr of his madness.
- Associates: Grumba, Wern, Skizzik
- Enemies: Vorr, King Targor
Clash of the Dragons[edit | hide]
When the good dragons disappear, Tarnum is drawn into an epic battle with Mutare, the Dragon Queen.
- Associates: Adrienne, Gold Dragon Mothers, Dragontalker, Aspen, Valita
- Enemies: Mutare Drake, Kurbon
The Sword of Frost[edit | hide]
The Elven Hero, Gelu, sets out to find the arcane Sword of Frost despite an apocalyptic prophecy. Now, the fate of the world depends on Tarnum's ability to rekindle his darkest talents and lead the devious creatures of Nighon against his former friend. Tarnum fails in this quest as the Sword of Frost is stolen by Kija and given to her husband Kilgor, thus setting Gelu and Kilgor on a collision course that would end with The Reckoning.
- Associates: Zallisa, Trongar, Zarm, Neez, Kilkik, Ufretin
- Enemies: Gelu, Kija, Vol, Larn, Numas, Jinara
Heroes of Might and Magic IV[edit | hide]
During the Reckoning, Tarnum makes his way to Axeoth, where he continues watching over his foster son, Waerjak, who aspires to unite his scattered people and become the new Barbarian King. During Waerjak's adventures, Tarnum is actually slain by a rogue warlord named Vogel Backbreaker. He does not return to Axeoth immediately, as he enters Paradise to be judged by the Ancestors for the second and final time.
In the midst of his mentor and foster father's apparent death, Waerjak continues to unite the tribes into one community, following Tarnum's advice. Eventually, he reaches Vogel's lair and slays the warlord in revenge. Waerjak then realizes that Vogel's death will not bring Tarnum back - until Tarnum emerges from the depths of the cavern. He finally reveals his immortality and the nature of his return to the stunned Waerjak, proceeding to tell his foster son the 'Chronicles' of his long life. It turns out that the Ancestors had decided to allow him to enter Paradise at last, but Tarnum refused their offer, preferring to remain as a protector of the mortals he had lived among for so long.
Letters from Tarnum[edit | hide]
These letters appeared in the game manuals for several of the Heroes Chronicles games.
Letter to the Historian[edit | hide]
From the Warlords of the Wasteland manual.
- Sir,
- You say you are a historian - a noble pursuit.
- I must admit I was surprised when I received your message. I was even more stunned that you know my secret. Although some details are missing, your account of my long life is quite thorough. Perhaps some day we can meet and you can explain how you accomplished such a task?
- And yes, there is a hole in your records. My first reaction was to tear up your letter. That is a period of my life I would rather not conjure up again, but a few days later I realised if there is ever a lesson, or moral to be learned from my existence, it can be found in that dark time before I became the Immortal Hero.
- Too often, beginnings are filled with pain and sorrow. My story is no exception. So, I've agreed to help you on one condition - leave nothing out, and change nothing, especially if it makes me look better. My story should be told as is, or not at all.
- Tarnum
- The Immortal Hero
Letter to Allison Gryphonheart[edit | hide]
From the Conquest of the Underworld manual.
- To Her Majesty Queen Allison Gryphonheart,
- When I heard your request for a Knight to lead your troops into the Underworld, I assumed all of Erathia would have jumped for the opportunity to rescue the soul of the late King Gryphonheart, your father. Perhaps they were frightened off by the stories.
- Know this - I will not rest until I find your father's soul and return it to Paradise!
- I have heard that you demand to accompany your troops to the Underworld, but this is not a wise decision. Who knows what kind of resistance I will meet at the gates to the Underworld? So, please leave the fighting to soldiers like myself, for Erathia needs you.
- Your Humble Servant,
- Sir Tarnum
Letter to Gavin Magnus[edit | hide]
From the Masters of the Elements manual.
- To His Majesty King Magnus of Bracada,
- Allow me to be blunt. The world needs your help. If the situation were not so serious I would not ask for your help, but it is, and I am.
- For ten thousand years, the Elemental Lords have been bound in their own realms by a truce that was forced upon them long ago. Now, they are free to do as they wish. Unfortunately, they plan to segregate the elements that were forced together during the creation of the world. I do not need to explain to you that this will bring about the destruction of the world.
- I ask you to give me one of your Towers so I can lead a force into the Elemental Planes themselves to strike at the Elemental Lords before they bring their chaos to this world. The Golems, Nagas, and other creatures under your command are creatures of magic, and thus the only such beings capable of surviving in the Elemental Planes. With your help, perhaps I can stop this madness.
- Sincerely,
- Lord Tarnum
- The Immortal Hero
Letter to the Elf King[edit | hide]
From the Clash of the Dragons manual.
- I agree the Spring Festival was marred by the absence of the Green and Gold Dragons. I have never known a good Dragon to break its word, so when you wrote that they promised to participate this year, I immediately knew something was wrong. Although I have spent most of my recent years among dragons, I must admit I do not know where they have gone.
- I am grateful you realized the graveness of this situation by lending me your forces. Dragons only break their promises if there is powerful evil loose upon the world. I thought I would begin my journey by finding the old Elven woman known as the Dragontalker. She has lived with the Dragons for longer than anyone. I will let you know what I learn.
- Sincerely,
- Tarnum Dragonfriend
Letter to Erathia[edit | hide]
From the Revolt of the Beastmasters manual.
- To the Kingdom of Erathia,
- No longer will we wear your chains, work in your fields, and die in your mines. No longer will we bear the painful bite of your whips. No longer will we cower in fear!
- We, the Mudlanders, recognize our freedom, and that all creatures are born with this right. Not even you, who have thrown shackles around the necks of thousands, deserve the disheartening murder of hope that is the life of a slave. Fear not our vengeance, Erathia, but do not underestimate us either. We are ready to fight for our freedom. Every last one of us is prepared to spill our blood. Are you prepared to do the same simply to recapture us?
- We are the Mudlanders. We are free!
- Tarnum
Letter to Gelu[edit | hide]
From the The Sword of Frost maunal.
- "Look with ultimate dread on the day when Armageddon's Blade and the Sword of Frost do meet..."
- You know the words of this prophecy as well as I, Gelu. Can you not see that your quest to find the Sword of Frost endangers us all? Leave that mysterious blade lost as it has been for countless centuries. You already possess the most powerful sword in the world. What more do you need?
- You must think your quest is for the benefit of us all, but you are misguided. Turn back now before you open a hornet's nest. Listen to me! I will not allow you to succeed, no matter the cost. Do not assume our friendship will restrain me.
- If my pleading hasn't made an impact, perhaps this will.
- "...for it will mean the end of the world and all who live on it!"
- A Warning,
- Tarnum Dragonfriend
