Taedal

### Relationship(s)

Skippydoo (pet), Illidan (drinking buddy), Maiev (drinking buddy), Velen (exorcise-at-sight), various flirt affairs

> *"Suddenly that Draenei prophet seems as such a kind and welcoming person…"*
>
>

Taedal is the leader of the Golden Torch. He and his people were welcomed (more or less) by the leaders of Azeroth as they all fight a common enemy - The Burning Legion. Under Taedal's leadership several expeditions to distant broken worlds have been made.

His people, the members of the Golden Torch, seem to accept his leadership for the simple reason they gain from it more than if he wasn't leading them.

Taedal possess the ability to see thorough walls. In his case he is aware of the 4th wall and everything behind it. He for example knows he is only a character in a video game as well as everyone else he knows. When speaking to Adventurers, he often makes a small nod or a comment to the players, resulting in everyone else confusion. He is also known to curse Blizzard quite often for various reasons. To it might be also related his ability to hear soundtracks.

## Biography

Not much is known about his past or motives. He claims he is a son of two other Nathrzeim and for a long time he served in the Burning Legion along with his sister. It seems he enjoyed conquering various worlds, so it is probably safe to assume he was a member of the offensive forces.

### Golden Torch

At some point of his life, not exactly specified when, he started a rebellion against the Burning Legion. He personally gives many reasons to it, from seeing the error of his ways to hating being bossed around to getting revenge on Archimonde for killing Amorggus. His unofficial statement given in an interview was "Look, in a game where players kill things, you don’t want to be a
 member of the All Evil Organization. Especially not one of the people
in charge of something." indicating that he held a leading position of some sort. Whatever his true reasons were, he started the rebellion together with Cheret and soon they gained followers.

The battles of the rebellion, named the Golden Torch, are completely unknown in place, count, and length as well. The Golden Torch gained few netherships and separated from the Burning Legion, not necessarily in this order. How long it was from the separation to Golden Torch arriving to Azeroth is unknown, neither is known what was Taedal up to at that time. It is assumed he organized the Golden Torch as we know it nowadays and choose his five advisors.

### Arrival on Azeroth

Shortly after the start of the Legion invasion on Azeroth, Golden Torch netherships appeared near the planet. Nethership Starclaw, steered by Taedal, was shot down by the Legion forces. Despite the nethership being nearly uncontrollable, Taedal navigated it to Azeroth's orbit and partly landed, partly crashed at Descension Point. Rest of the fleet followed them.

When Taedal introduced himself, his goals, and his demons to Azeroth leaders, the Golden Torch was, after some disputes, allowed to stay at the Forgotten Isle, which was until then considered a land of no one.

On the Forgotten Isle the Golden Torch built their city and named it Torchkeep. From there Taedal commands his forces both in Azeroth and the Broken and Distant Worlds. He personally oversees the actions in the Sapphire Nightmare, often present in flesh.

### Present

After the arrival of his sister Luxien on Azeroth, specifically on the Forgotten Isle, Taedal was also assigned to destroy her forces in her newly built base Voidforge and also in Luxien's Landing. So far it is a work in progress, often slowed down by Velen's attempt to exorcise the Traitor.

He has also met with Illidan Stormrage when the Demon Hunter returned to Azeroth, awakening doubts and confusion within him and the other Illidari because the meeting happened during the annual Golden Torch Volleyball tournament on Hellfire Nights.

## Locations

He is seen in Torchkeep sitting on his throne in the Lifespire. During the Sapphire Nightmare questline he appears at several places. He is also present at the entrance to the Voidforge raid and encounters the heroes during or after every boss battle within the said raid.

Lower level players might also see him during Hellfire Nights at the shore of Krasarang Wilds, where he seen participating in the Volleyball Tournament.

## Quests

While he is known to give quests and starts the Sapphire Nightmare questline, none of the quests are so far known by name.

He is subject of the quests Holy Bucket Challenge (started by Velen in Stormwind) and Trial By Fire (started by Lor'themar Theron in Undercity)

## Trivia

* His first appearance was in 50th WoWHQ list which was requested by an anonymous.
	+ In the list the racial Azeroth leaders were reacting to a friendly demon faction moving in on Azeroth. From then on Taedal began adding his reactions to each list, first as a joke character and later as aseriously taken racial leader.
* His tail, forehead bone-shields and head appendages make him less similar to Nathrezim and make him look more like a Draenei. Interestingly the same applies to his sister Luxien, implying it is a family feature rather than just design flavor. It is possible the siblings are not pure Nathrezim.
	+ More likely than not being purely Dreadlords it was probably caused by Taedal and Luxien's creator having confused the terms Nathrezim and Ma'nari.
	+ Taedal can do minor shapeshifting to his appereance. Sometimes he is seen with only two appendages, sometimes with all four. When seen indoors or in small and cramped places, he doesn't show his wings.
* Taedal expressed his wish to be voiced by Chriss Metzen, shall he ever become canon. He also hinted he'd prefer Freddie Mercury if it was possible.
* Taedal used to serve in the same squadron as Lothraxion back in the Burning Legion. However, he is clueless of Lothraxion presence on Azeroth.
* The name of his Felhunter, Skippydoo, was suggested by an anonymous, probably as a joke.
* He wanted to open a Relaxing Spa House or something like that in Torchkeep with demon version of geishas, but it was considered showing the Demons in a bad light and not suitable for players.
* He has fished out every marble out of the fountain in the Lightspire and gained the achievment for it.
* Taedal being exorcised, banished or dumped into holy water while he is minding his own business, like giving a speech, is a running joke.
* His name is delivered from Latin *taeda,* meaning Torch.
* Taedal and the Golden Torch are mirroring and even slightly parodying Illidan Stormrage and the Illidari. While also having vengeful motives to destroy the Legion and having fel in their blood, the Golden Torch has very welcoming and optimistic attitude, and while not really being trusted, they get along with other factions just fine.
	+ Taedal reaches even a higher level at this, since his title The Traitor is in fact a wink to Illidan being the Betrayer. There is a speculation whether Taedal is supposed to be a parallel to Illidan.
* According to the flavor text on his coin, he has never been to Dalaran.

## List of references

1. ↑ https://wowheadquarters.tumblr.com/post/159062261572/interview-with-taedal
2. ↑ https://taedalthetraitor.tumblr.com/post/162864225253/why-did-you-betray-the-legion-in-the-first-place
3. ↑ https://wowheadquarters.tumblr.com/post/159062261572/interview-with-taedal
4. ↑ https://taedalthetraitor.tumblr.com/post/161894167003/there-are-moments-in-your-life-you-can-control-and
5. ↑ https://taedalthetraitor.tumblr.com/post/163631090428/in-addition-to-my-latest-post-i-would-really
6. ↑ https://taedalthetraitor.tumblr.com/post/162015053158/for-a-lot-of-demons-form-and-appearance-is-just-a
7. ↑ https://taedalthetraitor.tumblr.com/post/162314032933/if-i-am-ever-to-become-canonical-part-of-world-of
8. ↑ https://taedalthetraitor.tumblr.com/post/162363033793/how-comes-illidan-in-the-black-temple-gets-to-have
9. ↑ https://taedalthetraitor.tumblr.com/post/161924459963/the-cutest-things-seen-this-week-in-torchkeep
10. ↑ https://wowheadquarters.tumblr.com/post/159062261572/interview-with-taedal