| Dragon Quest IV (All) | |
|---|---|
| Weapon | Modifier(s) |
| Oaken club | Attack +7 |
| Copper sword | Attack +12 |
| Divine dagger | Attack +14 |
| Chain sickle | Attack +16 |
| Hunter's bow | Attack +18 |
| Iron lance | Attack +28 |
| Astraea's abacus | Attack +35 |
| Holy lance | Attack +33 |
| Cautery sword | Attack +45 |
| Miracle sword | Attack +100 |
| Flail of destruction | Attack +115 |
| Massacre sword | Attack +120 |
| Liquid metal sword | Attack +130 |
Torneko Taloon
| Torneko Taloon | |
| Dragon Quest IV, Torneko series | |
| Sprite(s) | |
| Japanese name | トルネコ |
| Romaji | Toruneko |
| Old localization | Taloon |
| Title | Arms Merchant |
| Class | Merchant |
| Race | Human |
| Age | 40s |
| Voice actor | Tesshō Genda (CD Theater) Chafurin (Heroes II, Japanese) Francis McGee (Heroes II, English) Kazumasa Koura (Live Spectacle Tour, Japanese) |
"Fer the love o' - what are y'at, stickin' that in me face!? 'Tis about as useful as a chocolate teapot. Now get up the yard with it!"
—Torneko, when he appraises horse manure.
Torneko Taloon is a character in the Dragon Quest series that appears as a playable party member in Dragon Quest IV and main character in Torneko: The Last Hope, Torneko no Daibōken: Fushigi no Dungeon, and Dragon Quest Characters: Torneko no Daibōken 3.
A merchant from Lakanaba on a quest to acquire a legendary weapon, he first appears in Chapter 3.
Appearance and personality[edit]
Torneko wears a blue and white djellaba with a short red chechia covering his head. He hefts a giant backpack of sorts at all times, which he uses to hold his wares, personal belongings and, presumably, some of the party's items. He has a mustache and huge belly, both of which help to bring out his general jolliness. He has blue hair and a blue mustache.
Torneko is a family man, happily married to Tessie and raising his son Tipper while he works as an employee to another merchant. Torneko wants better things for his family, and his desire to be an excellent provider is one of the main reasons he enters into venture capitalism to open his own shop. Wanderlust runs strong in Torneko's veins, and even far-fetched rumors of treasure will light a fire in his heart. He is very grateful to his wife for being understanding and keeping an eye on their son as he sets off an adventure.
Even though much of his time and effort goes toward accruing gold coins, he doesn't do this out of greed, but to make his wife happy and for altruistic endeavors. Overall, he is a very kind person. On multiple occasions Torneko goes out of his way to help others in need, regardless of whether it will benefit him for doing so or not (examples including delivering Prince Regan's love letter to Veronica, and smuggling a Chimaera wing to Finn so he can escape jail).
While not necessarily greedy, Torneko has the typical mindset of a merchant, always looking for opportunities to set up shop and make a profit, even at rather inopportune times and locations. While Torneko appears to be loyal to the Hero to the end, he jokes about leaving the party after having collected the Zenithian Equipment since that was his original goal to begin with. He does seem to have a rather cowardly side. As seen in the Party Chat, Torneko would sometimes volunteer to remain behind in the wagon right before facing a formidable adversary, only to claim he was kidding right afterwards. Torneko is often noted by his boss to be lazy. This is further seen when he meets the Hero, Meena and Maya at Pharos Beacon. Since he considered the monsters too tough for him to handle himself, he sticks the task of restoring light to the flames to the others before heading back to Porthtrunnel (although this action could be somewhat justified by the fact that Torneko had a bounty on his head for rebuilding the Trans-Montane Tunnel).
Although he can equip almost any weapon he likes, Torneko is pictured holding the Astraea's abacus in the official character art for Dragon Quest Heroes II: Twin Kings and the Prophecy's End.
Appearances[edit]
Dragon Quest IV: Chapters of the Chosen[edit]
Abilities[edit]
Torneko has elements of both a Merchant and a Gadabout. As a merchant, he can use his appraise ability to give basic information and loss/return estimates on items in the party's possession. However, he also has the gadabout tendency to not follow orders in battle, bellowing loudly, staring blankly into space, or telling naff gags when ordered to attack. He can equip most weapons and armour, and has respectable HP and level growth, and is otherwise a decent fighter; however, his defence leaves something to be desired. He also learns a few exploration skills, allowing the party to avoid encounters in dungeons and sniff out the remaining treasures in an area.
| Dragon Quest IV (PSX/DS) | |
|---|---|
| Spell | Level Learned |
| Padfoot | 4 |
| Eye for Distance | 7 |
| Nose for Treasure | 9 |
| Whistle | 12 |
Base stats[edit]
| Attribute | Starting Stats | Maximum Stats |
| Level | 1 | 99 |
| HP | 20 | 734 |
| MP | 0 | 0 |
| Strength | 4 | 196 |
| Agility | 5 | 94 |
| Resilience | 10 | 196 |
| Wisdom | 5 | 105 |
| Luck | 3 | 88 |
| Initial gear | Plain clothes | |
- PSX Version
Equipment[edit]
| Dragon Quest IV (All) | |
|---|---|
| Helmet | Modifier(s) |
| Leather hat | Defense +2 |
| Hardwood headwear | Defense +6 |
| Iron helmet | Defense +16 |
| Liquid metal helm | Defense +50 |
| Death mask | Defense +200 |
| Dragon Quest IV (All) | |
|---|---|
| Armor | Modifier(s) |
| Plain clothes | Defense+4 |
| Wayfarer's clothes | Defense+8 |
| Boxer shorts | Defense+10 |
| Leather armour | Defense+12 |
| Chain mail | Defense+18 |
| Fur coat | Defense+22 |
| Bronze armor | Defense+25 |
| Iron apron | Defense+32 |
| Robe of serenity | Defense+33 |
| Spiked armour | Defense+50 |
| Liquid metal armor | Defense+95 |
| Dragon Quest IV (All) | |
|---|---|
| Shields | Modifier(s) |
| Leather shield | Defense+4 |
| Scale shield | Defense+7 |
| Iron shield | Defense+12 |
| Power shield | Defense+40 |
| Dragon Quest IV (Remakes) | |
|---|---|
| Accessories | Modifier(s) |
| Strength ring | Strength+8 |
| Mighty armlet | Strength+25 |
| Mercury's bandana | Agility+15 |
| Meteorite bracer | Agilityx2 |
| Prayer ring | Defence+5 |
| Gold bracer | Defence+5 |
| Kamikazee bracer | Defence+15 |
| Kerplunk bracer | Defence+15 |
| Recovery ring | Defence+15 |
| Ruby of protection | Defence+15 |
| Lucida shard | Luck+5 |
| Bunny tail | Luck+8 |
| Gospel ring | Luck+50 |
| Elevating shoes | Luck+50 |
Random antics[edit]
As mentioned previously, Torneko will not always follow the order of the player, instead opting to try something else.
- NES Version
| Action | Effect |
| Trips | Critical hit on random foe |
| Lullaby | Puts all foes to sleep |
| Weird Dance | Lowers one foe's MP |
| Throw sand | Dazzles all foes |
| Yell | Poof on all foes |
| Leg sweep | Trips enemy for one turn |
| Twirls fingers | Fuddles one foe |
| Tell a naff gag/Shout | Tries to make all foes lose turn |
| Focuses strength | Double damage next turn |
| Take damage for an ally | Target is totally random and not dependent on ally's current HP |
| Steal | Swipes an item from one foe |
| Summon a Merchant army | Attacks three times, base on Torneko's Attack stat. If Miracle sword is equipped, each strike heals |
| Cover an enemy's mouth | Prevent foe from casting that turn. This action DOES NOT cost Torneko a turn (works in monster fights at the casino!) |
| Stare and do nothing | Wastes turn |
In the PSX, DS, and Cell phone versions Torneko will goof off a little less often and some actions are removed. However, this increases the probability that he will steal from an enemy when slacking around now.
| Action | Effect |
| Trips | May now trip himself in process. Also, the tripped enemy is more vulnerable to being crticial'd by other characters when down now, raising the base rate from 1⁄64 to 1⁄16. Alena's critical hit frequency stacks with this change. |
| Lullaby | Puts all enemies to sleep |
| Weird Dance | Lower's one foe's MP |
| Leg Sweep | Stuns a foe for one turn |
| Focus strength | Double damage next attack |
| Twirls fingers | Fuddles one foe |
| Tells a naff gag/Shout | Tries to stun all enemies for one turn |
| Yell | Poof on all enemies |
| Steal | Swipe a treasure chest from an enemy |
| Stare into space | Wastes turn |
Selected quotes[edit]
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Dragon Quest VI: Realms of Revelation[edit]
Torneko appears at the inn of Reaper's Peak in the near-future version of the town and is surprised by there being a town within the Fungeon. He is impressed by the fact that The Hero explored it, and gives a hint to the location of the hidden treasure in Aridea. Torneko also appeared the monster oriented variant of the town as shown in the Super Famicom version of the game.
Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King[edit]
In ''Dragon Quest VIII, in the Monster Arena Rank S series of fights, the first fight is fought against a character that is named, and bares a striking resemblance to Torneko Taloon. The announcer reinforces this by saying the character is from Lakanaba. He uses treasure based monsters; two Goodybag monsters and a Mimic king.
Dragon Quest IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies[edit]
On December 10, 2010, Torneko began appearing as a special guest at the Quester's Rest in Stornway. This could be downloaded through the DQVC using Nintendo's Wi-Fi channel when it was still available. When spoken to, he will give the hero different pieces of his outfit is certain conditions are fulfilled.
- Torneko's clothes - Recieved when talking to him.
- Torneko's cap - Recieved when it is the player's birthday.
- Torneko's trousers - Recieved when the Hero is a Ranger.
- Torneko's sandals - Recieved after the inn is fully expanded.
A special Accolade is earned if the Hero wears all of the parts of Torneko's costume.
Dragon Quest X[edit]
Torneko is one of the special characters who might appear in the Magic Maze if the player is lucky. The other three are Meena from Dragon Quest IV, Robbin' 'Ood from III and Terry from VI. He allows the player to purchase rare items and cosmetic accessories, but only one per encounter.
Upon the first meeting with the player, the merchant gifts the traveler with a copy of his beloved abacus. Torneko also offers a small quest, which ends with him rewarding the player with a feathered cap.
Dragon Quest & Final Fantasy in Itadaki Street Special[edit]
Along with Ragnar McRyan, Kiryl, and Alena, Torneko appears in Itadaki Street Special. Unlike the other characters, he is not playable, but makes a cameo as an NPC who sticks around a short while.
Mystery Dungeon series[edit]
Torneko has appeared as the main character in three of the Mystery Dungeon games, usually with his wife and son as secondary characters: Torneko no Daibōken: Fushigi no Dungeon, Torneko: The Last Hope, and Dragon Quest Characters: Torneko no Daibōken 3. He also appeared in Dragon Quest: Young Yangus and the Mysterious Dungeon, although in a supporting role.
Dragon Quest Heroes II[edit]
Torneko appears in Dragon Quest Heroes II as the first of the otherworldly characters that is recruited. He is brought to the world of Accordia while he is in search for legendary weapons, and is encountered by the party during their traversal to the Accordian Kingdom being chased down by a gang of Hoods. Realizing he is stranded in another world with no idea of how to return, the party offers Torneko to travel alongside them, thinking he will find the legendary weapon he is after alongside a way to return home. Befitting his title as The Rogue Trader, Torneko fights with an Abacus alongside an assortment of other various other powerful weapons or items he can pull out on a moment’s notice. His Coup de Grâce is Golden Oldies.
Stats[edit]
| Attribute | Minimum Stats | Maximum Stats |
| Level | 4 | 99 |
| HP | 43 | 540 |
| MP | 16 | 100 |
| Strength | 16 | 255 |
| Resilience | 9 | 150 |
| Wisdom | 8 | 190 |
| Deftness | 5 | 60 |
Skills[edit]
Torneko can learn the following abilities through skill points.
| Name | Points Required | MP | Details | Requirements |
| Sage's Stone | 14 | MP | Restores all allies’ HP using an ancient artifact. | None |
| Holy Water | 4 | 5 | Applies liberal amounts of a sacred substance that keeps enemies at bay for a while. | None |
| Wonderwand | 10 | 12 | Employs an incredible magic item to cure your allies off all afflictions. | None |
Torneko can learn the following attributes through skill points.
| Name | Points Required | Details | Requirements |
| Maximum HP + 10 (x5) | 3 / 3 / 6 / 7 / 8 | Increases maximum HP by ten. | Reach Lv. 12 / 20 / 28 / 36 |
| Maximum MP +3 (x5) | 3 / 3 / 6 / 7 / 8 | Increases maximum MP by three. | Reach Lv. 12 / 20 / 28 / 36 |
| Strength +5 (x5) | 3 / 3 / 6 / 7 / 8 | Increases strength by five points. | Reach Lv. 12 / 20 / 28 / 36 |
| Resilience +5 (x5) | 3 / 3 / 6 / 7 / 8 | Increases resilience by five points. | Reach Lv. 12 / 20 / 28 / 36 |
| Deftness +10 (x5) | 3 / 3 / 6 / 7 / 8 | Increases deftness by ten points. | Reach Lv. 12 / 20 / 28 / 36 |
| Sage’s Stone Strengthener | 20 | Increases the amount of HP healed by Sage's Stone. | Sage’s Sone Reach Lv. 20 |
| Sage’s Stone Supercharger | 20 | Further increases the amount of HP healed by Sage’s Stone. | Sage’s Stone Strengthener Reach Lv. 30 |
| Holy Water Enhancer | 10 | Increases the duration of Holy Water. | Holy Water Reach Lv. 20 |
| Charge Extender | 10 | Extends the distance covered when performing Charge. | Reach Lv. 12 |
| Charge Enlarger | 15 | Extends the area of effect of Charge. | Charge Extender |
| Charge Changer | 20 | Press △ while performing a Charge to bust out a Belly Barge. | Charge Enlarger. |
| Ace Evader | 15 | Greatly increases the period of invincibility after a successful evasion. | Reach Lv. 20 |
| Tension Extension Turbo | 7 | Extends high tension by four seconds. | Reach Lv. 20 |
| More Medicinal Herbs Dropped | 8 | Increases the chance of defeated enemies dropping medicinal herbs. | Reach Lv. 24 |
| More Magic Water Dropped | 15 | Increases the chance of defeated enemies dropping magic water. | Reach Lv. 32 |
| Artful Dodger | 5 | Slightly increases the period of invincibility after a successful evasion. | None |
| Best In Tension | 5 | Significantly increases the rate of tension gain. | Reach Lv. 20 |
| Tension Extension | 3 | Extends high tension by two seconds. | None |
| Gain More Tension When Fired Up | 5 | Increases the rate at which tension is gained while fired up. | None |
| Longer Attack and Defense Boosts | 10 | Increases the duration of effects that increase defence or attack power. | None |
Proficiency[edit]
| Rank | Name | MP | Description |
| 1 | Flail of Destruction | 13 | Swings a destructive sphere that smashes into everything around. |
| 1 | Hunter’s Bow | 7 | Produces a pair of powerful crossbows and lets loose repeatedly into the air. |
| 2 | Attack +5 with Abacuses | – | Increases attack power by five points when wielding abacuses. |
| 3 | Dream Dagger | 11 | A series of swift slashes with a slumber-inducing knife. |
| 4 | Max. HP+ 10 with Abacuses | – | Increases maximum HP by ten when wielding abacuses. |
| 5 | Chain Sickle | 8 | Swings a slicing device on a long chain in a lethal lacerating arc. |
| 6 | Attack +5 with Abacuses | – | Increases attack power by five points when wielding abacuses. |
| 7 | Assassin’s Dagger | 8 | Sends a flurry of knives flying forward, the odd one of which can cause instant death. |
| 8 | Max. HP+ 10 with Abacuses | – | Increases maximum HP by ten when wielding abacuses. |
| 9 | Super Chain Sickle | 13 | Swings a slicing device on a long chain in a large, lethal lacerating arc. |
| 10 | Max. HP+ 10 with Abacuses | – | Increases maximum HP by ten when wielding abacuses. |
| 11 | Attack +5 with Abacuses | – | Increases attack power by five points when wielding abacuses. |
| 12 | Über Chain Sickle | 19 | Swings a slicing device on a long chain in an enormous arc, causing carnage left and right.. |
| 13 | Deftness +10 with Abacuses | – | Increases deftness by ten points when wielding abacuses. |
| 14 | Max. HP+ 10 with Abacuses | – | Increases maximum HP by ten when wielding abacuses. |
| 15 | Attack +20 with Abacuses | – | Increases attack power by twenty points when wielding abacuses. |
| 16 | Increases Evasion with Abacuses | – | Slightly increases evasion when wielding abacuses. |
| 17 | Attack +5 with Abacuses | – | Increases attack power by five points when wielding abacuses. |
| 18 | Max. HP+ 10 with Abacuses | – | Increases maximum HP by ten when wielding abacuses. |
| 19 | Increases Evasion with Abacuses | – | Slightly increases evasion when wielding abacuses. |
| 20 | Attack +20 with Abacuses | – | Increases attack power by twenty points when wielding abacuses. |
Etymology[edit]
Torneko and Taloon are not actual names used in the real world, being nomenclature invented by the original development staff and Enix America Corporation. For the characters cameo appearance in Dragon Quest VIII, the localization team headed by Richard Honeywood opted to make Taloon his surname instead of abandoning it outright.
See also[edit]
- Torneko's shop
- Tessie, Torneko's wife
- Tipper, Torneko's son
- Torneko's costume
Gallery[edit]
Famicom art
More Famicom art
PlayStation art, wielding the astraea's abacus
PlayStation art, appraising the poison moth knife
Nintendo DS art
Torneko's packed lunch
Torneko's steel Strongbox
Torneko's weapon, astraea's abacus
Torneko in the Monster Arena in VIII (Cell phone)
Torneko using the Flail of destruction in Heroes II.
Torneko firing the Hunter's bow at some Cumaulus enemies in Heroes II
Torneko wielding the goodybag abacus
Appearance in Dragon Quest of the Stars
Torneko in Dragon Quest X, with an ogre player