Taronis

Fanart of Taronis by SpyroForLife https://spyroforlife.tumblr.com/post/653035907659759616/if-it-assists-you-at-all-no-one-likes-me-when

## General details

### Aliases

Principal of Light; Sky God (Cult of Taronis)

### Roles or Vocation

Master Mage, Principal of the School of the Staff

## Physical description

### Hair color

Black

"*If it assists you at all, . . . no one likes me when they first meet me. And not many like me once they get to know me.*"
―Taronis[[The Court of Five Thrones, Chapter 29: Classless]]
**Taronis** is a Master Mage and Principal at the School of the Staff, as well as the 'god' of the Cult of Taronis.

## Appearance

Taronis has 'brown skin, with dark green eyes, [and wore] a motley of white, yellow and gold. His hair curled black and thickly around his ears and the base of his neck, giving him a boyish look, even as he radiated wisdom and power. His nose was narrow, and looked all the more imperious by the way he tilted his head back and looked down the bridge of it at Gwyn.' Gwyn also noted that Taronis is about a foot shorter than himself, but still manages to convey strength and imperiousness. Taronis also had 'something about his face that reminded [Gwyn] of Augus, in the arched cheekbones, and that knowing, almost cruel expression.' Mosk noted that he was beautiful, but in a cruel way.

When he met with Gwyn, Augus Each Uisge, Mosk Manytrees, Eran Iliakambar, Ash Glashtyn, and Julvia Dubna Vajat during *The Ice Plague*, he wore gold earrings. He has gold fingernails and wears heavy black eyeliner and 'gilt upon his eyelashes and eyebrows, highlighting the deep green of his eyes.' He has very pointed canines and jagged bottom teeth.

When angered, or perhaps offended, his eyes can, '[shift] to those of a cat – slit-pupilled and feral'.

## Personality

Taronis is arrogant and laconic, and considers many fae to be beneath him. He expects to be spoken to respectfully and has little patience for those who do not do so or who knowingly lie to him. He is aware that he is unlikable and seemingly has no interest in changing that aspect of himself. Despite his brusque personality, he is an effective teacher and has a strong sense of responsibility over the magic he and his fellow Mages wield, refusing to do anything with it that he would consider irresponsible. He also adores the title of 'sky god' given to him by the Cult of Taronis.

He also likes gold.

## Life

Taronis is one of the Principals at the School of the Staff, and once taught the Raven Prince. He may have been involved in locking away the Old Lore in the Bridge between the Courts, as he possesses a fragment of the Old Lore himself. He also has a dedicated following known as the Cult of Taronis, which is based out of Esgrettio.

After Gwyn became King of the Unseelie Court, Gwyn approached Taronis to ask if the School would consider lending its assistance in preventing the Seelie Court from destroying the Unseelie Court. Taronis refused to offer help, and pointed out that Gwyn already had Fenwrel the Mouse-Maiden. When Gwyn persisted, Taronis explained that the School considered itself to be above the matters of both Courts and did not answer to monarchs. As the Mages wield enough power to influence the world's fate too directly, they all swear a pledge to not take sides. He stressed that taking sides in such a matter would be irresponsible.

When Gwyn tried to convince him that restoring balance isn't about taking sides, Taronis bluntly responded that Gwyn's understanding of balance isn't one that the School answers to, and then permitted him to ask one more question. Gwyn asked about celestial fae. Taronis smiled as he explained that celestial fae are found in both alignments, and when Gwyn interrupted to confirm that they can be Unseelie, Taronis grew cold again and threatened to throw Gwyn off the platform if Gwyn interrupted again. He then explained that celestial fae are uncommon, but rarer as adult Unseelie because the destructiveness of their powers typically leads to death at a young age. Taronis explained that the School of the Staff originally noted Gwyn down as a Seelie celestial fae, not knowing he was Unseelie due to the aithwick, though they did find him anomalous as his light didn't behave in a Seelie manner. Taronis no longer believes Gwyn to be anomalous now that he knows he's Unseelie, aside from how he managed to survive to adulthood. He also explained that he could teach Gwyn about his light, but would not do so until Gwyn learned respect.

Taronis teleported them back to ground level, where Gwyn said that people might like him more if Taronis wasn't so elitist. Taronis replied that others *are* beneath him, and that he has more important things to do with his time and hoped they don't meet again too soon, before teleporting back to the School.

Taronis seemingly remained at the School during the ice plague, though he traveled briefly to Esgrettio.

The Raven Prince advised Gwyn to seek out Taronis as an ally against Olphix. Gwyn planned to head for the School of the Staff to see if Taronis was still in residence, or seek out the Cult of Taronis. After speaking with the Cult and confirming Taronis was still at the School, Gwyn's group headed for him (with a brief detour). When the group finally arrived at the School and met Taronis, Gwyn abased himself and noted that they'd brought gifts, in part to make up for Gwyn not doing that the last time he visited, which pleased Taronis. Taronis confirmed that only Olphix could still make a portal to the human realm. When Taronis turned to address Mosk, Mosk insulted the School and Taronis, and Taronis threatened Mosk, and prepared for a fight, which Gwyn stopped, reprimanding them both. Gwyn noted that Taronis should be above attacking Mosk, and that Taronis overstepped by threatening Mosk. Gwyn then turned back to his meeting with Taronis, and he and Taronis went through a portal to speak privately. When Gwyn returned alone, he was visibly shaken from whatever he'd learned, though he noted that Taronis was 'remarkably helpful', particularly by comparison to their previous meeting. They seem to have discussed Gwyn's new heartsong of sacrifice and/or some of Gwyn's plans for facing Olphix, which would involve Gwyn sacrificing himself somehow, but otherwise seemed to give Gwyn some hope for their success.

When Gwyn's party was traveling through Zhitovar, Taronis led the School of the Staff to join them, and pledged 'temporary allegiance to Gwyn ap Nudd, and the Unseelie Court.' He also announced that Fenwrel would be the 'new temporary member of the thirteen, until Oengus Og can be replaced'.

During the battle with Olphix, Taronis went with Fenwrel to offer Mosk their magic. When Taronis said Mosk would owe him a favor for it, Mosk said Taronis would how *him* a life debt. Mosk noted that 'Taronis was also giving him far more of his magic than Fenwrel, enough that Mosk was certain the Master Mage was draining himself.' When Fenwrel noticed it, Taronis said, ‘I am not well-suited to offensive attacks, it’s better spent this way'. He and Fenwrel later portalled away.

## Special Abilities

### Fae Abilities

**Teleportation:** Taronis uses his light to teleport.

### Magical Propensity

As a Principal of the School of the Staff, Taronis is a Master Mage. He specializes in light magic, but the full breadth of his powers is unknown. Taronis is especially gifted in quelling, the ability to nullify or mute the magic or abilities of others, along with the nullification of life itself.

Although Taronis is powerful, he, like other Mages besides Olphix, was affected by Olphix's travel spell, and cannot currently make portals to the human realm.

## Relationships

#### Augus Each Uisge

Augus hates him, and almost tried to attack him to obtain access to the human realm.

#### Gwyn ap Nudd

Taronis holds little regard for Gwyn, both as an individual and for his position as King of the Unseelie. He only permitted Gwyn to ask three questions when Gwyn visited the School of the Staff and even threatened to hurt him in response to one of Gwyn's interruptions. Gwyn thinks Taronis takes being fae a bit too seriously and also sees him as cold, though Gwyn is also a bit too surprised by their first conversation to be fully offended. Gwyn later noted that even though his status as King of the Seelie is unofficial, he can still punish Taronis for acting above his station.

#### Mosk Manytrees

Although Taronis was initially polite to Mosk, Mosk was hostile and somewhat patronizing to Taronis. Taronis was so enraged he prepared to attack Mosk to reprimand him. Mosk noted that Taronis reminds him of Stertes.

#### The Raven Prince

The Raven Prince considered him to be cruel. The Raven Prince also believes that Taronis is not Gwyn's friend, but rather his enemy, but Taronis would also be Gwyn's ally against Olphix.

#### Tamyka and Venorio

Tamyka and Venorio are members of a cult of worshipers who follow Taronis and worship him with adulation, adoration, and gold. They have a temple for him in Esgrettio, which has been looted since the ice plague.

## Quotations

* ‘I didn’t expect such a blunt instrument to play coy. A story then? A very short one. A long time ago, the Old Lore was determined to be too dangerous for Mages to have access to it, so it was locked away in a bridge between Kingdoms. Most of it, at least. But like sings to like, and the few fragments of Old Lore that were not locked in the bridge between Kingdoms could still speak of different wisdoms. And so I have a fragment of it myself, and know that you spoke to the Old Lore itself. So, here you are, wanting something from me while lying to me. How desperately, dreadfully Unseelie of you.’
* 'We are above the matters of the Unseelie and Seelie Kingdoms, and we do not answer to you. We are above Kings and Queens, and the Raven Prince himself was never more than a Principal here, and a student to his master forever more. We have mastered great power, and as a result, can influence the world’s fate too directly. We swear a pledge that we will not – hmm, let me put this in a way you might understand – we will not take sides. We answer to the magic only. In order to remain in the fae realms, we must act responsibly, and do not try and insinuate that taking sides – when we hold the power that we do – is acting responsibly.'
* Tamyka: 'We love Taronis, but calling him sky god is somewhat tongue in cheek. He adores it, and we adore him, and so we say it.'
* ‘Mosk Manytrees,’ Taronis said. ‘We haven’t met.’ ‘That’s because your school’s shit,’ Mosk said.
* To Mosk: ‘You would dare treat me in this fashion, on my land? I think you need to be taught a lesson, given you are nothing but a peon to us.’

## Trivia

* Taronis uses light to teleport, which Gwyn thinks looks very similar to his own and even feels familiar, describing it: 'It wasn’t his light, but he felt as though he’d just met a cousin to whatever lived inside of him.'
* Though Taronis does not confirm or deny it, Gwyn implies that with the similarity of their light powers, Taronis might also be celestial fae, but it's also possible that he's simply mastered elemental light magic.
* It is not yet known what kind of fae Taronis is, as Gwyn did not recognize him as a particular species, which Gwyn noted 'did not happen to him often anymore, with all his travels.'
* Taronis's home is known as the Tower of Light.
* According to the Cult of Taronis, the best way to increase favor with Taronis is to offer gold, along with treating him with the deepest, oldest etiquette.
* Davix implied that the Mage's Motley, something only Mages are allowed to wear, which they must make themselves, is actually clothing that his species wore (whichever now-extinct species of fae Davix and Olphix are a part of).

## Folklore/Mythology

'In Celtic mythology, Taranis is the god of thunder, who was worshiped primarily in Gaul, Gallaecia, Britain, and Ireland[,] but also in the Rhineland and Danube regions, amongst others. Taranis, along with Esus and Toutatis as part of a sacred triad, was mentioned by the Roman poet Lucan in his epic poem *Pharsalia* as a Celtic deity to whom human sacrificial offerings were made. Taranis was associated, as was the Cyclops Brontes ("thunder") in Greek mythology, with the wheel.

Many representations of a bearded god with a thunderbolt in one hand and a wheel in the other have been recovered from Gaul, where this deity apparently came to be syncretised with Jupiter.'

## Image Gallery

Fanart of Taronis by SpyroForLife https://spyroforlife.tumblr.com/post/653035907659759616/if-it-assists-you-at-all-no-one-likes-me-when
## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.9 not\_poignant. “The Ice Plague: Book 3 - The Ice Plague.” *The Fae Tales Verse. Archive of Our Own,* 8 October 2021. https://archiveofourown.org/works/26266345/chapters/65621236. Chapter 4: Esgrettio.
2. ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12 not\_poignant. “The Court of Five Thrones.” *The Fae Tales Verse. Archive of Our Own,* 6 February 2015. https://archiveofourown.org/works/1749290/chapters/7205945. Chapter 29: Classless.
3. ↑ 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 not\_poignant. “The Ice Plague: Book 3 - The Ice Plague.” *The Fae Tales Verse. Archive of Our Own,* 16 September 2021. https://archiveofourown.org/chapters/84324043. Chapter 15: The Enemy of My Enemy.
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 not\_poignant. “The Ice Plague: Book 2 - The Seething Seas.” *The Fae Tales Verse. Archive of Our Own,* 24 October 2019. https://archiveofourown.org/works/17959874/chapters/50374646. Chapter 17: Just Like You.
5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 not\_poignant. “The Ice Plague: Book 2 - The Seething Seas.” *The Fae Tales Verse. Archive of Our Own,* 19 March 2020. https://archiveofourown.org/works/17959874/chapters/55596259. Chapter 28: Farewell.
6. ↑ not\_poignant. “The Ice Plague: Book 3 - The Ice Plague.” *The Fae Tales Verse. Archive of Our Own,* 3 September 2020. https://archiveofourown.org/works/26266345/chapters/63940123. Chapter 1: The Ice and the Dryad.
7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 not\_poignant. “The Ice Plague: Book 3 - The Ice Plague.” *The Fae Tales Verse. Archive of Our Own,* 7 July 2022. https://archiveofourown.org/works/26266345/chapters/100527858. Chapter 36: The Light Fades.
8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 not\_poignant. “The Ice Plague: Book 3 - The Ice Plague.” *The Fae Tales Verse. Archive of Our Own,* 1 August 2022. https://archiveofourown.org/works/26266345/chapters/102025632. Chapter 38: Olphix, Alone.
9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 not\_poignant. “The Ice Plague: Book 2 - The Seething Seas.” *The Fae Tales Verse. Archive of Our Own,* 30 August 2019. https://archiveofourown.org/works/17959874/chapters/48516644. Chapter 13: The Glory of the House of Atros.
10. ↑ "Taranis". Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taranis. Accessed 12 June 2021.