Tay Trefenwyd
From The World of Shannara
Tay Trefenwyd is an Elven Druid during the time of the Second War of the Races and only one of four Druids to survive the destruction of Paranor. Childhood friend and companion to Jerle Shannara, the two quest together in search of the Black Elfstone and Tay dies in the successful completion of the quest, defending his friends.
| Tay Trefenwyd | |
|---|---|
| Race: | Elf |
| Gender: | Male |
| Hair color: | blond |
| Eye color: | blue |
| Loyalty: | Bremen, Jerle Shannara |
| First appearance: | First King of Shannara |
| Birth: | Unknown |
| Death: | Suicide after using the Black Elfstone |
Contents |
Description
Origin and History
Tay was born and raised in Arborlon. He has two siblings, a brother he did not get along with very well, and a sister that he loved dearly, Kira. Childhood friends with Jerle Shannara and Preia Starle, they sent much time together growing up, with Jerle and Tay being the best of friends.
Becoming a Druid
As a Druid
Second War of the Races
Joining Bremen
Bremen was Tay's mentor when he joined the Druid Council. He believed in the use of magic and came to trust Bremen completely. At the Druid Council, Tay was one of the few to speak up to heed Bremen's warning, believing the man's warning to be true. When that warning fell on deaf ears, Tay was resolved, along with his friend Risca to go with Bremen and do what was necessary for the Four Lands.
After journeying to the Hadeshorn, one of the visions that Bremen received was of the location to the Black Elfstone. Bremen asked Tay to journey to the Westland, convince Courtann Ballindarroch to send the Elves to the aid of the Dwarves against the Warlock Lord and to seek out the Black Elfstone. He warned Tay to not ever, for any reason, to use the Black Elfstone, just to find it and keep it from the Warlock Lord.
Arborlon
Tay walked to the Westland, meeting his childhood friend Jerle Shannara on the road to Arborlon through the Valley of Rhenn. Tay related to Jerle of the threat of the Warlock Lord and the probably fall of Paranor. He asked Jerle to send someone trusted to confirm what has happened at Paranor. Then Tay waiting in Arborlon for word about Paranor before speaking with the King of the Elves.
Within a few days, Preia Starle returns with word of the fall of Paranor. That night Tay and Jerle meet with the Courtann Ballindarroch with word of all that has happened, the need to send support to the Dwarves, and the quest for the Black Elfstone. Later Tay gives his most eloquent speak to the Elven High Council, of the threat to the Four Lands and the need to search for the Black Elfstone. The High Council agrees to the quest for the Elfstone, and the need to send support to the Dwarves. Heady with the success of what they get from the Elven High Council, Tay and Jerle celebrate heading through the royal grounds to the guard house for ale. They discover something is amiss as they walk through the royal grounds. They discover minions of the Warlock Lord and a Skull Bearer assassinating the entire elven royal family. Tay manages to save the king(though in critical condition), and two small grandchildren.
Quest for the Black Elfstone
Tay and Jerle, impatient to wait out developments at the court, gather a group of Elves to begin the quest for the Black Elfstone. Jerle hand picks 10 Elven Hunters. Preia and Retten Kipp come as trackers. And the last is the locat Vree Erreden to help in located the Elfstone, whom Tay insists on bringing to help with locating the Elfstone. They travel on foot for the first three days, heading west to the Kensrowe Mountains. One the third day when they are reaching the outpost with horses, Retten and Preia disappear. Tay and Jerle find Retten nailed alive to the doors of the barn at the outpost. Tay uses magic to kill him and end his suffering. In their flight, Vree helps them find Preia with horses and they manage to outrun the Gnome Hunters. When entering the mountains they find the pass blocked by a party of Gnomes. They break through but not without losing half a dozen of the Elven Hunters.
It takes the party the better part of a week to find entrance to the mountain that holds the Black Elfstone. Once in they discover an ancient castle, called the Chew Magna. In the center Tay discovers a lush garden laces with magic and pulsating with life. Using caution, he has Jerle and another Elven Hunter hold his physical body, and he lets a spirit part of him leave his body. He walks into the garden, and as he reaches in to grab the Black Elfstone, the garden responds violently trying to rip apart the apparition that is Tay. Tay cries out in pain from the effects on his psyche.
He comes up with idea of doing what Bremen did turning himself into a thing of evil and darkness. To make himself no different than the garden that guards the Elfstone. As he changes the others around him are horrified by the completeness of the transformation. He walks into the garden, welcomed by the guardian of the garden. So welcomed, the magic allows him to gather up the Elfstone and leave the garden unhindered. When he comes out Jerle, comes towards him and speaks his name. Then the magic masking him reverts him back to the way he was.
After getting the Black Elfstone from the evil garden in the center of the Chew Magna, Tay and the rest of the company race for their lives as the Chew Magna began to crumble around them. During their flight Tay began to notice that something of the evil that he wrapped himself in was not gone. Something was not right. Once they escaped the fissure and they where back out at the lake, their way was blocked by 2 Skull Bearers and nearly 100 Gnomes. Knowing the futility and his weakness, Tay walked forward himself. Within a few yards of the enemy forces, Tay brought up the Black Elfstone and used it to destroy all those that opposed them. [1]
Epilogue
Tay immediately discovers the price that is paid for using the Black Elfstone. All the evil that the two Skull Bearers and Gnomes possessed now found a home within him. The Black Elfstone had absorbed all the power of those destroyed, and gave it to the user of the Elfstone, Tay. Feeling himself begin to change in a dark way, Tay would not have it. He used it magic to draw his own breath out from his body till he no longer lived. [2]
References
- ^ Brooks, Terry (1996). First King of Shannara pp. 243-244
- ^ Brooks, Terry (1996). First King of Shannara pp. 244-245
| Major Characters in First King of Shannara |
|---|
|
Bremen · Jerle · Kinson · Mareth · Risca · Tay · Minor Characters |
