Rakkety Tam MacBurl
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Rakkety Tam MacBurl is an anthropomorphic squirrel from the Redwall series.
Born in the Borderlands north of Mossflower Wood, Rakkety Tam met and became friends with Wild Doogy Plumm, a fellow squirrel from the northern highlands. Traveling south, the two squirrel mercenaries pledged their services to a pair of squirrel monarchs, whom they soon grew to detest for their lazy, selfish manner. Eventually, the two rebelled, and were imprisoned. However, they were released when Gulo the Savage stole a royal banner. In order to be released from the monarchs' service, Tam and Doogy went after it. Along the way, they joined forces with the Long Patrol, who helped them pursue the vermin band.
Tam and his comrades fought long and hard against Gulo's forces, eventually coming to Redwall Abbey. Along the way, Tam met and fell in love with Redwall's Sister Armel, and came to wield the sword of Martin the Warrior. Taking half the Long Patrol out of the Abbey, he set off in pursuit of Gulo.
After many confrontations, Tam met Gulo on the field of battle in one-on-one combat. The massive wolverine was too much for Tam, but the squirrel launched the cannibal onto his shield. The edge, sharpened by Tam at the behest of Martin the Warrior, beheaded Gulo. Tam returned to Redwall, becoming the Abbey Warrior. Some time later, he and Armel became wedded, and had a daughter named Malanda, who became as skilled with weapons as her father and was eventually made the abbey recorder. Despite pleas from both Tam and Doogy, Sister Armel made the family travel back to the two monarchs and return the banner, ending Tam's service to the monarchs forever. Upon doing this, the King and Queen's former supporters (they had rebelled immediately upon Tam's return) asked Sister Armel and Tam to be the new king and queen. They refused, casting the former monarchs' crowns out to sea.
Rakkety Tam was a master of blades. He carried a claymore, a dirk, a sgian dubh, and of course later acquired the Sword of Martin. In the full-cast audiobook, he was voiced by Paul Braithwaite.