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Tristan Staghorn (pronounced TRIHS-stahn), born Tristan Denane[1] was a powerful mage who worked for Ozorne Tasikhe, the Emperor Mage of Carthak. He specialized in war magic.

Biography

Early life

Tristan studied at the University of Carthak with Numair Salmalín, Emperor Ozorne, Gissa of Rachne, and Alamid Mokhlos. Like Numair, he was a magical prodigy, and specialized in war magic. He was good friends with Numair before the other man was declared a traitor and an enemy of Carthak by Emperor Ozorne.

Dunlath

Emperor Ozorne sent Tristan to the Tortallan fief of Dunlath to work in concert with Lady Yolane and Lord Belden to overthrow the King and Queen of Tortall. Tristan brought two of his former classmates with him to work for him and the cause: Gissa of Rachne, an accomplished potion maker and poisoner, and Alamid Mokhlos. While working at Dunlath, Tristan became sexually involved with Lady Yolane.

Tristan was responsible for the disappearances of several members of Tortall's armed forces, regular army and Queen's Riders alike. He blew up one of the camps of the Queen's Riders. Numair and Veralidaine Sarrasri were sent to Dunlath in order to investigate the disappearances. Daine was also alerted to the environmental changes by the Long Lake wolf pack.

When Tristan and Numair saw each other at Lady Yolane and Lord Belden's castle, Tristan feigned gladness at seeing the other man. Numair recognized him as the man responsible for the destruction of the camp used by the Queen's Riders, as he knew him to be a very powerful war mage. Numair did not let that knowledge show, however.

Tristan and Gissa of Rachne brewed a dangerous poison called Bloodrain, which they meant for the people who opposed them. In a final magic battle, Tristan was turned into an apple tree with a word of power from Numair, thus ending the magical backing that Lady Yolane and Lord Belden had in their quest for power.

Physical description

He is described as being broad-shouldered and handsome. He dressed neatly in expensive clothes that were not gaudy or full of pomp.

Personality and traits

Tristan was the real brains behind the plot to order King Jonathan and Queen Thayet, and had a different motive. While Lady Yolane's and Lord Belden's motive was greed, Tristan's motive was to complete the task for Emperor Ozorne. In reality, he was using Dunlath's wealth and power for something completely different than what the owners intended.

He was a mocking man, and was rude and mean to Maura of Dunlath. When Daine tried to warn the nobles and mages of the dangers to the environment, Tristan mocked her as well. He did not have much regard for human life, and was snobbish and superior. He did not think twice of killing people or poisoning the land.

Appearances

Trivia

When Numair turns Tristan into a tree, this triggers an equal but opposite reaction; that is, a tree becomes a man. Tamora Pierce later used this as the premise for a story named Elder Brother which can be found in Half Human, Bruce Coville's collection of short stories. Elder Brother can also be found Tortall and Other Lands: A Collection of Tales, a compilation of short stories by Pierce.

Notes and references

  1. 1.0 1.1 Tempests and Slaughter, Ch. 11 (pg. 202-3; RH hardcover)
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