Nimbalo the Slayer

Gender: male

Species: harvest mouse

Appears In: The Taggerung




Nimbalo is a small resident of Mossflower's flatlands who wears a yellow tunic and enjoys playing instruments, specifically the flute. He gets angry whenever another creature mentions the word "family" to him and first meets Deyna/Tagg when the otter saves him from a snake attack. They become best friends and, while sleeping one night, starts talking and accidentally reveals that he was beaten by a cruel father; he later tells Deyna/Tagg that he doesn't know where his mother is or if she is even still alive, and that after running away from home numerous times he finally decided to leave permanently. They eventually pass by his family home only to discover it in ruins, and his father killed by his own battle-axe. Nimbalo cleans up the area and puts the elder in his favourite chair, stating that although he was a wicked beast he did not deserve such a horrible death and that he vows to kill the murderer. He and Deyna/Tagg later arrive at Redwall at the same time as Gruven's band, and as the two friends split up he is caught by Eefera and Vallug. While in captivity he spots Dagrab carrying the axe and, biting through his ropes, attacks and kills her with the weapon. In the ensuing fight Deyna falls unconscious after being seriously wounded, and a faithful Nimbalo refuses to leave his side until he is told that Rukky will not perform any healing if others are present. After this incident he moves to Redwall, though he initially struggles to accept being part of a family, and later becomes the Master of Music.