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| “ | Believe me, I know about redemption! | „ |
| ~ Tarnum |
| “ | As long as I live, I will not allow any creature to be slave to another! | „ |
| ~ Tarnum |
| “ | Until now, I thought all I wanted was the opportunity to enter Paradise and rest, but I feel these people have become my community. And I don't just mean Barbarians, but Palaedrans and Elves and all the others. I've been protecting them for so long, I feel like I'll be letting them down if I leave. This new world still needs heroes. | „ |
| ~ Tarnum on why he chooses to be immortal. |
Tarnum is the main protagonist from Heroes Chronicles and a minor protagonist in the Heroes of Might and Magic IV Glory of Days Past campaign. He was a legendary Barbarian warlord and tyrant who became an immortal hero.
Personality[]
At the time of his rebellion, Tarnum was a very stubborn, proud, conceited and willful freedom fighter. He hated the wizards because his people were oppressed for so many years, they were treated cruelly and inhumanely, he wanted to destroy Bracaduuns empire with all his might. He had great patriotism, the desire for glory for the past and that his people deserved a much better future, not slavery. At the same time, in the later stages of the rebellion, he began to cross a line and his personality began to change. He became more and more selfish, arrogant, cruel and tyrannical, but at the same time he was still a sympathetic leader to most of his people. Many loved him, many hated him, and even though he became a real bloody tyrant before his death, there was some truth in his actions.
After the Ancestors denied him entry to Paradise and sent him back among mortals to perform heroic deeds, Tarnum slowly but steadily began to change. In the beginning, he thought his punishment was completely unfair, but at the same time, he learned more and more things and became more decent, although he never threw away a part of his barbaric nature. With the passage of time, seeing the continuous nightmares and the cruelty of his enemies, he realized his mistakes more and more and was tormented by great repentance, he really wanted to achieve the change. As the years passed, his personality began to change, but he kept some of his habits. Tarnum had a great sense of justice and extreme hatred of slavery. Although he himself kept slaves as a barbarian tyrant, he was not as cruel as his later enemies, but in the path of his redemption he absolutely hated doing so. In combat, he was wild, angry, loose and terrifying, but he gradually learned to fight more tactically and using other strategies. In the beginning, he hated magic as a barbarian, but after he became a wizard himself and he became a barbarian again, he realized that the means are completely unimportant and only the achievement of the goal is important.
Before the Reckoning and in Axeoth, Tarnum was given the opportunity to enter Paradise because he really managed to change, get on the right path, and completely defeat his dark side. However, he rejected it, as he partly took revenge on the Ancestors for the excessively unjust punishment, but at the same time, he never again wanted to see his people as only bloodthirsty, destructive, evil animals, but indeed capable of changing just like him. After Waerjak united the barbarian clans into a single community and country, Tarnum finally found his own peace, because he was proud of how close his relationship with the Gryphonheart family, which he hated, had become and what excellent representatives he had met, and that his people had really survived and were on the right path. After that, he became a happy, proud, peaceful and relieved person, finally enjoying his own freedom after thousands of years of punishment and being able to defeat himself and his dark side once and for all.
Powers and abilities[]
- Magical power: It was gradually proven that Tarnum had such great magical power that he surpassed even most wizards. Even as a barbarian, even though he hated magic, he could demonstrate great magic power when he used it.
- Strategy: Tarnum was an excellent and talented strategist. He was able to make a victory out of completely impossible situations on countless occasions, very often surprised his enemies and thoroughly prepared for most of his battles.
- Strength: Tarnum was amazingly strong. In addition to his tall and broad stature, he had enormous physical strength. He was able to lift others easily, even two people with one arm, but when he was in prison he was also able to tear the chain from the wall. His enemies and friends alike marveled and acknowledged how great his physical strength was and how strong he was.
Quotes[]
Heroes Chronicles
Warlords of the Wasteland
| “ | Assassin! Rabak has learned the ways of the Wizard-Kings too well. Now, I know I'm on the right path! | „ |
| ~ Tarnum after defeating an assassin of the Wizard-Kings. |
| “ | I welcome the chance to be so close to these Wizards. Then they will find out that the weak don't live long in my hands! | „ |
| ~ Tarnum |
| “ | Join me! I have all the clans behind me. Join my army and you'll have your revenge, I promise. | „ |
| ~ Tarnum to Yalla. |
| “ | I want to give our people strength so that one day every man, woman, and child would rather die than bow their head in shame. | „ |
| ~ Tarnum |
| “ | He died with glory. You should be proud. | „ |
| ~ Tarnum to Hardac about Tordac. |
| “ | Castle Steelhorn, that which can not be broken, will fall before us! For all eternity, the glory of what we do here will be remembered. Your grandchildren and your grandchildren's grandchildren will say your name with pride. What we do here is our immortality - assuring us all a place among the Ancestors! | „ |
| ~ Tarnum to his army. |
Conquest of the Underworld
| “ | Tell a single soul and you'll kill us all. My actions speak for themselves. I've gotten us this far, but now is not the time for everything to fall apart. You know as well as I that we are committed to this quest. No turning back now. I am here because I want to help Queen Allison. If you don't want to hear my story, fine. But if you try to expose my secret, you'll learn what a tyrant I can truly be. I won't let these men die because of one man who enjoys poking his nose where it doesn't belong! | „ |
| ~ Tarnum to Mensor when the latter found out his identity. |
| “ | Mensor: Tarnum, why did you save me? Tarnum: Because you were in trouble. It's what friends do for each other. Mensor: Your secret could've been safe with me dead? Tarnum: Uh, huh. |
„ |
| ~ Mensor and Tarnum. |
| “ | Rion Gryphonheart: I recognize that tone, Tarnum. When you want to be, you can be quite vindictive, can't you? Tarnum: Yes. Deezelisk has no idea how dangerous my anger can be, but he'll soon learn! |
„ |
| ~ Rion Gryphonheart and Tarnum. |
Revolt of the Beastmasters
| “ | Adamina: Do you think destroying our enemy will save us? Tarnum: It's not the only way. If we don't find a home and bind together as a community, we'll forever be weak. If not the Erathians, then someone else will walk in and enslave us. Adamina: A wise choice, but I seem to recall from the ancient stories a great and horrible leader of the Barbarians who made another choice. Tarnum: He was wrong! If we can't learn from history, then we are doomed to repeat it, aren't we? |
„ |
| ~ Adamina and Tarnum. |
| “ | We're the Mudlanders - freemen! Not slaves, not rebels. | „ |
| ~ Tarnum to an Erathian nobleman. |
| “ | What we do is for the best of our people. As long as we keep that in mind, then whatever we do is honourable. | „ |
| ~ Tarnum to Droglo. |
| “ | We didn't show him that for his own good, Droglo. We did it for us, for the Mudlanders! His own people say they would follow him if he just raised his sword against his father. Imagine what we can do with Prince Niven, heir to the Kingdom of Erathia, on our side! I'm just trying to turn Niven into a weapon! | „ |
| ~ Tarnum to Droglo about Niven Gryphonheart. |
| “ | Niven Gryphonheart: All these years, I have been wrong. Everything I have done, every battle I have fought, was wrong! Tarnum: Yes. But that doesn't mean it's too late. Believe me, I know about redemption! |
„ |
| ~ Niven and Tarnum. |
| “ | Niven Gryphonheart: Is my blood cursed? Tarnum: Don't ever think that! Haven't you ever heard the name of Rion Gryphonheart, first of your line? Or how about his daughter, Allison? They were two of the fairest, greatest leaders I have ever...heard of! If anything, your bloodline is blessed with heroes brave enough to do whatever it takes to protect their people. You could be that kind of king, Niven. |
„ |
| ~ Niven and Tarnum. |
| “ | Tarnum: If a man - a King - made many terrible mistakes, do you think he should have the chance to redeem himself? Droglo: Depends on the man, I think. Take Mad King Gryphonheart, for instance. His crimes are too great! He deserves only to rot in a pit for all eternity! Tarnum: Well, if that man got the chance to make things right, he would probably look for someone who was nothing like he used to be - someone fair and good - to take over when he was gone. |
„ |
| ~ Tarnum and Droglo about Mad King Gryphonheart. |
Masters of the Elements
| “ | Mage: Sir, in the Elemental Planes, the rules of our world do not apply. In the Elemental Planes, you can walk on clouds, and entire landscapes can be made only of fire. That's why no one has dared take an army into these lands! Tarnum: Well, possible or not, I will be the first. There is no reason to sit around and wait for these Elemental Lords to come to me. I'll take the battle to them and end it before they get a chance to harm this world! |
„ |
| ~ Tarnum about his mission. |
| “ | If you have a problem, come to me! Next time you go behind my back, you'll be sorry! And you might want to think about finding another job, one that takes you far away from me. | „ |
| ~ Tarnum to Barsolar. |
| “ | Ha! I'll make Barbarians out of you yet! | „ |
| ~ Tarnum to his mages after challenging them to wrestle him. |
| “ | Hemoross: I know you're a Barbarian. Tarnum: Yes, but does that really matter? Was it worth this? Hemoross: Barbarians despise Wizards! Why would one try to help us? Tarnum: As punishment, Hemoross. |
„ |
| ~ Hemoross and Tarnum. |
The World Tree
| “ | Surrender! There's no need to spill the blood of your own kind. | „ |
| ~ Tarnum to the Followers of Vorr. |
| “ | I have spent centuries trying to redeem myself for these crimes. Don't follow my example! | „ |
| ~ Tarnum to King Targor. |
The Fiery Moon
| “ | This is what you've been afraid of! Now, go back and tell the others - our enemy is weak! | „ |
| ~ Tarnum to an enemy imp. |
| “ | Well, it was brave of you. I know you're not used to the way Barbarians do things, but if you follow our rules, Skizzik, I swear that you will always have a place among us. | „ |
| ~ Tarnum thanking Skizzik for saving his life. |
| “ | As long as blood pumps through my body, I swear my world will not become like this one! | „ |
| ~ Tarnum on the Fiery Moon. |
Clash of the Dragons
| “ | You're an advisor, Aspen. Not a teacher! I don't care about your spying and treachery. In fact, it disgusts me! Show me the enemy and let me defeat them! | „ |
| ~ Tarnum to Aspen |
| “ | Aspen: Have you finally realized that I am always right? Tarnum: No. The only thing I've realized is I wish I had a wise advisor and not an arrogant one! |
„ |
| ~ Aspen and Tarnum. |
| “ | Kurbon: If you're doin' all this work to get on my good side, well it isn't going to work. Tarnum: At first, that's exactly what I was doing, but I found I liked sweating. It reminds me of the days when I used to work from sunrise to dark. Kurbon: When did you do that? Tarnum: Long time ago, before you were born. Kurbon: So, you are blessed with immortality, as they say? Tarnum: More like a curse. |
„ |
| ~ Kurbon and Tarnum. |
| “ | No soldier under my command goes hungry as long as I can help it. | „ |
| ~ Tarnum to Valita. |
| “ | Everybody makes mistakes, but it's how you deal with them, how you make up for them that counts. | „ |
| ~ Tarnum to Valita. |
| “ | Valita: Do you think I am the spy? Tarnum: No, I wouldn't kiss a spy. I think I've been watching the queen while my enemy sneaks his bishop in for checkmate. |
„ |
| ~ Valita and Tarnum after they kiss. |
| “ | Haven't I suffered enough? I understand now! I know what I did was wrong, but how can I make up for it? I can't go back and undo what I did! At least give me the power to correct my mistakes because this hurts too much! | „ |
| ~ Tarnum begging the Ancestors to end his punishment. |
The Sword of Frost
| “ | I say when and who you can kill! If anyone doesn't understand, step forward now. | „ |
| ~ Tarnum to his Nighon army. |
| “ | I was a fool once, a cruel one, and I've been paying for my brutality ever since. I will probably pay for it until the end of time. That's why I am here! That's why I must stop Gelu! Gelu is about to destroy the entire world, and no matter what disgusting things I have to do I will not let him do it! | „ |
| ~ Tarnum to Ufretin. |
| “ | Search your heart, and ask yourself why I haven't allowed anyone to torture you. Maybe then you'll see I am telling you the truth. | „ |
| ~ Tarnum to Ufretin. |
| “ | Ancestors, please don't let my compassion destroy the world! | „ |
| ~ Tarnum praying to the Ancestors after failing his quest. |
Heroes of Might and Magic IV
| “ | I know you don't understand it now, Waerjak, but someday you will. Yes, we are Barbarians. Yes, we are born warriors. But a warrior is not just a killer. He's a protector! You must have respect for life, and an even greater respect for your ability to take it. Otherwise, you're just a murderer. | „ |
| ~ Tarnum |
| “ | Death is best avoided, Waerjak. This man may have died well, but there are thirty-three Barbarian corpses lying here. At least another eight were dragged away by the other side. That's more than forty lives. Add those to the thousands who were killed by the Reckoning. Our people can't take this for long! | „ |
| ~ Tarnum to Waerjak. |
| “ | No, our strength is not our muscle, or an iron blade! Muscles grow weak with age and disease. Iron rusts in the rain and melts under flame. Our strength is the community! Together, we can provide food for our children, create great works of art, and defeat our enemies. Community is forever! | „ |
| ~ Tarnum |
| “ | Tarnum: Why so surprised? Look at the effort we put into wars! Despite inferior weaponry and the lack of magic, we have still defeated many of the "civilized" armies of the world. Waerjak: But that's battle! These are domestic, mundane activities. Tarnum: We Barbarians are active people. Why do you think lazy people are forced into banishment? If we can't bash in another man's skull, why not pound some nails into wood? |
„ |
| ~ Tarnum and Waerjak. |
| “ | Have patience. Don't give that army the advantage just to get the battle over with - that will get a lot of people killed! Remember, as leader, you are responsible for the lives of your people. They matter above all else! You do not have the luxury to get angry, or impatient. | „ |
| ~ Tarnum to Waerjak before pursuing Vogel Backbreaker. |
| “ | See there, Waerjak, that pack of mountain dogs moving through the valley? See how the injured one limps off from the rest? He knows he's dragging down the pack. As long as he's with them, they keep his pace. They won't force him out because they love him, so he stays behind. He will die so that they remain strong. It's not always easy, but the pack comes first. | „ |
| ~ Tarnum |
| “ | Wait 'til you meet the Ancestors. | „ |
| ~ Tarnum to Vogel before being killed by him. |
| “ | I have a lesson for you, Waerjak. See here, a pair of mating spiders, and a scorpion - equally poisonous creatures. Watch how the scorpion easily kills the male spider because he is so small. Now, the female, enraged by the loss of her mate, attacks the scorpion with everything she's got. You see, she kills the scorpion, but at what cost? Her own life. Such blind hate is dangerous, and pointless! | „ |
| ~ Tarnum |
| “ | Just be satisfied that I am here now. For the first time in a thousand years, the Barbarian people have a real chance at a good life! You've achieved something quite remarkable here. They are in good hands with you as King. I am proud of you, son. | „ |
| ~ Tarnum to Waerjak, after revealing his immortality and story. |
External Links[]
- Tarnum on the Villains Wiki