The Takers are creatures from the Taker Realm. This realm acts is a barrier between the living worlds and the Underworld, and Takers act as "guard dogs" making sure no one escapes, and bring back anyone who tries to flee the afterlife.[1] Upon discovering them, the Dark King uses them to gain power and influence over the Fillorians.[1] Though known to mostly kidnap people, they are also attracted by anything shiny[1] or highly valued by a person.[2]
History[]
The Takers' arrival in Fillory coincides with the Dark King's (aka Rupert Sebastian "Seb" Chatwin) arrival. They create chaos in the land kidnapping and killing. The armies of Castle Whitespire and our magicians are unable to defeat the Takers; the Dark King, a magician, arrives and with the ability to kill these mysterious invaders single-handedly, but it leaves him drained and exhausted. Grateful, the Fillorians decide to make him their High King.[3]
For over 300 years, the Dark King reigns Fillory and battles the Takers to protect his kingdom, or so it seems. He is fixated with finding gold and as it aids in the fight against the relentless Takers.[3]
Bick Pickwick, the Dark King's Chief Advisor (who hates talking animals, non-human creatures, and is a royal misogynist), lies, saying he can take gold from the Fairies, who hoard it. Eliot, who has entered into Dark King's services as the court magician, joins the quest in hopes of finding a diplomatic solution. Through some shrewd detective work, Eliot ends up helping the Fairies. In return, they reveal that the Dark King is summoning the Takers from Taker Realm to Fillory[2] with the gold he has been collecting, which is a key ingredient in the conjuration. This is why the Dark King is the only one with the power to defeat them.[4]
Hades reveals that the Takers should not be able to enter into the realm of the living, and the dead would kill all of the living worlds if allowed to escape. So, killing the guard dogs of the dead would enable the dead to roam freely in the living worlds. Soon after, Josh finds that all of the Takers have been killed by the Dark King.[1]
Misc. Info[]
- In order to summon the Takers, one must sacrifice a large amount of Gold and do an incantation. [5]
- Living Stone is one of the things that harm them and they will stay away from it. [2]
- The blood of the Dark King can kill them. [1]