<P> Taliesin (portrayed by Karl Johnson) was a seer over three centuries before the events of the show . Using the mysteries of the Crystal Cave, he was able to see the future in great depth . Although he died years ago, he appeared to Merlin - it was unspecified whether Taliesin had left a magical' recording' of himself to pass on his message, had come forward in time from the past, or if this was merely his ghost - when Arthur was badly injured by an arrow, healing Arthur's wound and subsequently taking Merlin--whom he referred to as' Emrys'--to the Crystal Cave, where he showed Merlin the crystals, explaining that only a few rare individuals are able to use the crystals to see the future . He claimed to have seen visions of Merlin during his lifetime, hinting at Merlin's great destiny in the future . </P> <P> Tauren (portrayed by Cal Macaninch) was a sorcerer who led a gang of renegade wizards with the aim of bringing down Uther Pendragon . He enlisted the help of Gwen's father, Tom, to perform alchemy with the use of a magical stone but escaped when Tom was caught by the royal guards . He later conspired with Morgana to bring Uther to her father's grave where he could be killed by Tauren, Morgana angered at Uther's recent order to execute Tom simply for participating in alchemy when he had no way of knowing what he was involved in . Morgana, however, had a change of heart as Uther apologised to her for ordering Tom's execution . Tauren then attacked Uther and was fatally wounded by Morgana . </P> <P> Tom (portrayed by David Durham) was the father of Guinevere and Elyan . He worked as a blacksmith in Camelot . When Nimueh poisoned the city's water supply, he fell victim to the magical plague which had killed many others . Merlin cured him using magic, resulting in Gwen being blamed for causing the plague . She was arrested for witchcraft but later released, and joyfully reunited with her father . Tom made the sword which became Excalibur when the Great Dragon gave it magical powers for Arthur's use . He later became involved in a plot by a sorcerer, Tauren, to perform alchemy using the legendary Philosopher's Stone (referred to in dialogue as the "Mage Stone"). Tom was arrested and put on trial for treason in unwittingly assisting a known enemy of Camelot, because Uther believed that Tom was supplying weapons to Tauren . Morgana suspected that the trial was a formality and Uther planned to have Tom executed anyway just to make an example of him . He was then killed by soldiers after she helped him to escape from the dungeons . </P> <P> Tristan De Bois (portrayed by Rick English and voiced by Christopher Fairbank) was Uther Pendragon's brother - in - law and Arthur's uncle . He blamed Uther for his sister's death in childbirth and was killed by Uther in a duel to the death . His final words swore vengeance on Uther . Nimueh later used necromancy to bring him back as an undead wraith, harnessing the power of De Bois's suffering while he was alive . This form of De Bois was also killed by Uther, using the sword Excalibur, which had been blessed by the Great Dragon and was intended for Arthur's use only (Uther had Gaius drug Arthur and took his place, forcing Merlin to dispose of the sword until the time came for Arthur to wield it himself). </P>

Minor characters in the soul of the great bell