Tarnelm is an old svirfneblin slave you can meet in chapter 6a of Icewind Dale.
Location[]
In the Oubliette of Lower Dorn's Deep, near the entrance lift.
Background[]
Tarnelm is a scrawny bald deep gnome held prisoner by Marketh. Forced to mine the hard stone of Lower Dorn's Deep, his people are but playthings for a higher power.
Long years of abuse have fostered within him and his people a profound sense of futility and mistrust. Every word they breathe reeks of defeatism, but the persistent adventurer may eek from Tarnelm's soul a wisp of hope.
Interaction[]
He initiates conversation when he first sees you. Mistrustful of your kind words, he states that his kin are starving. This starts the optional quest:
- Food for Tarnelm (80,000 exp)
Completing Tarnelm's quest fills him with hope, inspiring him to state again that his kin are dying of persecution, which triggers the second half of the questline:
Pickpocketing Tarnelm reveals that he has nothing of value on his person. Killing Tarnelm confirms this, granting naught but a trivial amount of experience.