Etarlam was one of the Riders of Mannan who served the Unseelie King.
Biography[]
History[]
Etarlam was a powerful faerie seemingly born to Mannan and lived almost since the beginning of time. In the old days, he hunted giants and monsters with his siblings.[1] Eventually, they became sworn to the King of the Unseelie Court and started serving him as his personal hunters and assassins. At one point, the Hunters were dispatched by the King to hunt down and kill his daughter, Auraline the First Heir, and her eventual offsprings.
Black Volume[]
In September 2012, Etarlam and his siblings were sent after the Blackthorn family to retrieve the Black Volume of the Dead for the Unseelie King. Etarlam, Karn, and Eochaid went after Kit Herondale and the twins Ty and Livvy Blackthorn in London.
The Hunter Gwyn ap Nudd and Shadowhunter Diana Wrayburn joined the ensuing fight with the children. The battle was interrupted when Eochaid suddenly proclaimed the death of their brother Fal, which Etarlam later cried out in anguish and confirmed for Karn as he felt his brother's passing. They then left to reunite with their siblings.
Etarlam later attacked the London Institute with all the remaining Riders. He fought against Cristina Rosales and was about to kill her when Annabel Blackthorn appeared and threatened to reveal the Unseelie King's name. Etarlam tried to attack her but was thrown into a nearby wall by Magnus Bane, their arrival prompting the Riders' retreat[1]
When they returned to the Unseelie Lands, Etarlam and his siblings were assigned to guard the Unseelie Tower and the King's prisoner, Ash Morgenstern. At some point, they caught Clary Fairchild and Jace Herondale investigating the Lands and imprisoned them.
Hunting Kit[]
Shortly after, Etarlam and the Riders went after Kit Herondale during the Cohort's parley at the Imperishable Fields, intending to murder him for being a descendant of the First Heir—information he revealed to the boy and Emma Carstairs. When they told him that they had killed his mother, Kit uncontrollably attacked them with magic, making the Riders' horses disappear in the air when they tried to flee.
They fell onto the battlefield where they engaged in the fight against the Shadowhunters and Downworlders, determined to complete the mission their late King had given them—murder the Blackthorns and their allies—before they were temporarily dispatched by Hypatia Vex.
When Emma and Julian's parabatai curse was activated during the battle and they turned into true Nephilim, Emma challenged the Riders. Even after Ethna and Delan were murdered, Etarlam did not run and was killed on the battlefield while trying to fight them.[2]
Personality[]
Like all the Riders of Mannan, Etarlam was arrogant and confident in his abilities. He was also very loyal to the Unseelie King, the oath they swore to him, and to his siblings and passionate about his duties.
Physical description[]
Etarlam was tall with long bronze hair. He wore a bronze half mask, as well as bronze cloak and armor etched all over with designs of waves and the sea.[1]
Abilities[]
- Longevity: As a Rider of Mannan, Etarlam was very old and had been alive for thousands of years.
- Enhanced Strength/Speed: Etarlam was able to move incredibly fast and deal heavy blows.
- Deceit: As a Rider of Mannan, Etarlam was wild magic and could lie despite being a faerie.[1]
Possessions[]
- Etarlam had the bronze armor, mask, gear, and weapons, including a longsword, that all the Riders possessed, as well as a steed that coalesced from the air when summoned.
Appearances[]
- The Land I Lost (alluded to)
- Lord of Shadows (first appearance)
- Queen of Air and Darkness
Etymology[]
In Celtic mythology, Etarlam was a druid of the Tuatha Dé Danann, a race of supernatural beings.