TV-Series
Description
Barda is a central protagonist in the anime Deltora Quest. He is a large, powerful man with black hair, a full beard, and purple eyes. His physical presence is imposing, a testament to his years of training and service as a palace guard. A skilled swordsman, Barda is a formidable fighter whose strength and combat experience are vital to the success of the quest.
Before the Shadow Lord's invasion, Barda was a loyal guard in the Palace of Del. His mother, Min, was a palace nurse who overheard whispers of the growing evil within the palace walls. After she was killed, Barda escaped the palace, believing his mother was silenced for what she knew. In the anime adaptation, his escape was the result of being knocked over the palace walls by an Ak-Baba, one of the Shadow Lord's creatures, during the initial attack. Following his escape, Barda went into hiding, taking on the disguise of a beggar outside the forge where Lief's parents, Jarred and Anna, lived. For sixteen years, he secretly acted as the young Lief's protector, watching over him from the shadows and saving him from danger without the boy's knowledge.
When Lief turns sixteen and is sent on the perilous quest to recover the seven lost gems of the Belt of Deltora, Barda is revealed to be his assigned companion. Initially reluctant, Barda views Lief as a reckless child who will attract trouble. Despite this, a deep sense of duty and loyalty to Lief's parents drives him forward. Throughout the journey, he takes his role as a guardian seriously, often clashing with the impulsive decisions of both Lief and Jasmine, the wild girl they meet in the Forests of Silence. Barda often serves as the voice of caution and experience within the group, his pragmatic nature balancing their youthful recklessness. However, he also possesses a subtle, dry sense of humor, frequently making jokes about being stuck with two hot-headed young people.
As the quest progresses, Barda’s motivations evolve from a simple sense of obligation into a genuine bond of friendship and respect for his companions. His primary motivation remains the restoration of the Belt and the liberation of Deltora from the Shadow Lord, but his personal connection to Lief deepens. He is a man of great heart and unwavering hope, never giving up even in the face of overwhelming odds. His key relationships are with Lief, whom he comes to see as a leader and a friend, and Jasmine. While he is initially skeptical of her abilities and her connection to nature, he grows to trust her completely after she proves her loyalty and courage in battle. He also shares a strong, unspoken bond with Lief's parents, whose request for him to protect their son gave his life purpose during the long years of hiding.
Throughout the story, Barda undergoes significant development. He begins as a solitary man, haunted by the loss of his mother and his past as a guard. He transforms into an integral member of a surrogate family, finding a new purpose in the quest and in protecting his young charges. In one of the later challenges, he is blinded by a bright flash of light while helping Lief. After the battle, the power of the opal gem helps restore his sight, a moment that highlights his resilience and the magical support the group finds on their journey. Following the successful conclusion of the quest to free Deltora, Barda marries Lindal of Broome. They eventually have six children, all of whom grow to be as large and strong as their father.
Before the Shadow Lord's invasion, Barda was a loyal guard in the Palace of Del. His mother, Min, was a palace nurse who overheard whispers of the growing evil within the palace walls. After she was killed, Barda escaped the palace, believing his mother was silenced for what she knew. In the anime adaptation, his escape was the result of being knocked over the palace walls by an Ak-Baba, one of the Shadow Lord's creatures, during the initial attack. Following his escape, Barda went into hiding, taking on the disguise of a beggar outside the forge where Lief's parents, Jarred and Anna, lived. For sixteen years, he secretly acted as the young Lief's protector, watching over him from the shadows and saving him from danger without the boy's knowledge.
When Lief turns sixteen and is sent on the perilous quest to recover the seven lost gems of the Belt of Deltora, Barda is revealed to be his assigned companion. Initially reluctant, Barda views Lief as a reckless child who will attract trouble. Despite this, a deep sense of duty and loyalty to Lief's parents drives him forward. Throughout the journey, he takes his role as a guardian seriously, often clashing with the impulsive decisions of both Lief and Jasmine, the wild girl they meet in the Forests of Silence. Barda often serves as the voice of caution and experience within the group, his pragmatic nature balancing their youthful recklessness. However, he also possesses a subtle, dry sense of humor, frequently making jokes about being stuck with two hot-headed young people.
As the quest progresses, Barda’s motivations evolve from a simple sense of obligation into a genuine bond of friendship and respect for his companions. His primary motivation remains the restoration of the Belt and the liberation of Deltora from the Shadow Lord, but his personal connection to Lief deepens. He is a man of great heart and unwavering hope, never giving up even in the face of overwhelming odds. His key relationships are with Lief, whom he comes to see as a leader and a friend, and Jasmine. While he is initially skeptical of her abilities and her connection to nature, he grows to trust her completely after she proves her loyalty and courage in battle. He also shares a strong, unspoken bond with Lief's parents, whose request for him to protect their son gave his life purpose during the long years of hiding.
Throughout the story, Barda undergoes significant development. He begins as a solitary man, haunted by the loss of his mother and his past as a guard. He transforms into an integral member of a surrogate family, finding a new purpose in the quest and in protecting his young charges. In one of the later challenges, he is blinded by a bright flash of light while helping Lief. After the battle, the power of the opal gem helps restore his sight, a moment that highlights his resilience and the magical support the group finds on their journey. Following the successful conclusion of the quest to free Deltora, Barda marries Lindal of Broome. They eventually have six children, all of whom grow to be as large and strong as their father.