Tal'darim

The Tal'darim are a faction that features in Starcraft.

History

The Tal'darim were a faction of Protoss that had separated from their Templars brethren of Aiur. Their origins were traced to millions of yeas ago where they departed alongside Amon alongside the Xel'Naga when they abandoned Aiur in the time before the Aeon of Strife. Thus, they began to develop a society separate from their Protoss kin as they evolved separate from the Khala and their Khalai brethren.

At some point, they established their homeworld on the planet Slayn that was rich in Terrazine.

During the Second Great War the Tal'darim Guardians based on a worldship, led by Executor Nyon, came into conflict with Raynor's Raiders on numerous occasions, mainly over pieces of the Keystone. Raynor's Raiders traveled to Bel'Shir seeking terrazine. Attempts to negotiate proved fruitless, and the Tal'darim Executor, Nyon, ordered his troops to 'execute' the Raiders. The Raiders made off with seven canisters of terrazine.

The Keystone became a point of conflict during the Second Great War. It consisted of five pieces scattered across the Koprulu sector. Four pieces were in Tal'darim custody—one in a shrine on Monlyth, one was in a xel'naga temple on the dead world of Xil, another one in a vault on the old world of Typhon XI and the last on a worldship in the Sigma Quadrant. The Tal'darim viewed the components as holy relics and appointed themselves guardians against all thieves. Unfortunately for them, the device was desired by other races. Commander Jim Raynor and Crown Prince Valerian Mengsk wanted to use the Keystone to attack the zerg and eventually make Sarah Kerrigan human again. Meanwhile, the zerg made numerous attempts to collect the pieces of the Keystone as well. A band of Tal'darim guarding an alien artifact on Monlyth came under the attack by both Raynor's Raiders and the Zerg Swarm. Both forces sought the artifact, and despite the Tal'darim forces' use of stone guardians, Raynor's Raiders were successful in stealing it. The Moebius Foundation attempted to acquire an alien artifact from a xel'naga temple on Xil. However, their forces were all wiped out by the Tal'darim. Some of their structures survived, however. The Raiders were dispatched to the scene to make their own attempt on the artifact. Nyon once again demanded the terrans leave, to no avail. Raynor's Raiders fought their way into the temple and stole the artifact. This prompted Nyon to threaten Raynor. The Tal'darim realized the Raiders would seek the remaining components, and were dug in when the terrans arrived on Typhon XI. The impending supernova did not deter the protoss from their self-assigned duty. However, the Raiders once more absconded with the component, leaving the Tal'darim to be consumed by the fire sweeping across the planet's surface. The Raiders attacked the Sigma Quadrant Worldship, a derelict xel'naga worldship, and its Tal'darim occupiers for the final component. The Tal'darim also kept Dark Templar prisoners on the ship; the prisoners claimed to be the victims of treachery. As the terrans closed on the component's vault, Executor Nyon arrived in a mothership.

With the aid of Hierarchy Artanis, Ascendant Alarak conducted the Rak'shir rite against Highlord Ma'lash. Ultimately, Alarak was successful and toppled Ma'lash from his position with the former Highlord dying as he fell into the Pit of Sacrifice. This secured Alarak as the new Highlord where he turned the Tal'darim against Amon and allied his forces with the Protoss led by Artanis.

In the aftermath, the Tal'darim declined to join the unified Protoss and instead sought to make their own homeworld elsewhere. Highlord Alarak did offer his people a single opportunity to join the Templar before departing.

Several years after the End War, a remote Tal'darim outpost came under attack from a Terran separatist faction known as the Defenders of Man. This group retreated before the Death Fleet could arrive in response and afterwards Highlord Alarak dispatched First Ascendant Ji'nara alongside the fleet to destroy the humans for their transgressions.

Overview

In appearance, the Tal'darim were a faction of Protoss that linked the nerve cords that linked them to the Khala as their Aiur based brethren. These warriors were noted for their more brutal outlook in the rule of the strong over the weak. Members of the Tal'darim prided themselves on strength above all else. They were fanatical warriors of the dark Xel'Naga Amon and served him devotedly. As such, they were said to be vastly different from those of the Aiur Protoss.

Within their society, Terrazine held a special place among their people with it being known as the Breath of Creation.

Ranks among the Tal'darim included:

• Highlord :
• Ascendant :
• Votary :
• Bloodhunter :

A key tenant of their people was the Chain of Ascension that had Amon at the top of this hierarchy. Each Tal'darim was linked to the chain and thus to Amon with it descending down the links. This philosophy promoted the strong to survive as each step in the chain needed someone stronger whilst weakness was eliminated. As such, the warrior at the highest in the chain was believed to be the strongest of the Tal'darim. A tradition among their people did allow for the use of ritual combat known as the Rak'Shir. This allowed a low ranking warrior to challenge a superior without repercussion allowing them to claim a higher station. During the duel, only the two challengers were able to fight one another but the rite did allow their supplicants to lend their psionic might to their champion.

Among their military might was a fleet of warships that were known as the death fleets.

Their technology was said to share many of the elements and design of those of the Khalai with little deviation. This was because the majority of their technology was stolen from the greater Protoss Empire.

Members

• Alarak : a former Ascendant that served Ma'lash who later sided with Artanis in an effort to replace the Highlord after he felt betrayed by Amon.
• Ma'lash : former Highlord who served Amon until he was deposed by Alarak who replaced him.
• Nyon : an Executor within the ranks of the Tal'darim.
• Ji'nara :
• Nuroka :
• Guraj :
• Zenish :

Notes

• The Tal'darim first appeared in The Dark Templar Saga novels before they were adapted for the games.

Appearances

• StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty:
• StarCraft II: Legacy of the Void:

External Links

• StarCraft Wiki Entry

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