# Lurulu — The King of Elfland’s Daughter character guide

> Lurulu in The King of Elfland’s Daughter by Lord Dunsany.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** XXIV Lurulu

**First appearance:** 0009-vii-the-coming-of-the-troll

## Snapshot

A troll of Elfland whose watchful, sidelong view of Earth's restlessness gives the tale its strangest, clearest eyes.

## Who they are

Lurulu belongs to Elfland's older, stranger order, a creature at home among its timeless lawns and singing towers. Where the elves and the King move by ancient law, Lurulu observes the doings of mortal folk with a curiosity that is part mockery, part wonder. His presence keeps the reader aware that Elfland is not merely a romantic backdrop but a place with its own inhabitants, moods, and opinions about us.

## Relationships

### [Orion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_king_of_elfland_s_daughter_se/characters/orion)

_friendship_

Lurulu, a troll from Elfland, becomes a mischievous but loyal friend to Orion, sharing adventures and magical insights.

### [Orion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_king_of_elfland_s_daughter_se/characters/orion)

_friendship_

Lurulu, a troll from Elfland, becomes a mischievous but loyal friend to Orion, sharing adventures and magical insights.

### [Orion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_king_of_elfland_s_daughter_se/characters/orion)

_friendship_

Lurulu, a troll from Elfland, becomes a mischievous but loyal friend to Orion, sharing adventures and magical insights.

## In the story

### [VII: The Coming of the Troll](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_king_of_elfland_s_daughter_se/chapters/vii-the-coming-of-the-troll)

The troll sent by the Elf King to deliver the rune to Lirazel; he travels through the fields of Earth, interacts with a hare and a fox, and reaches Erl.

### [XV: The Retreat of the Elf King](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_king_of_elfland_s_daughter_se/chapters/xv-the-retreat-of-the-elf-king)

The troll sits on a lily leaf in Elfland, gazing at his reflection in the calm.

### [XXII: Orion Appoints a Whip](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_king_of_elfland_s_daughter_se/chapters/xxii-orion-appoints-a-whip)

The troll reappears from Elfland, plays with a fox, and is appointed by Orion to carry the whip and help with the hounds.

### [XXIII: Lurulu Watches the Restlessness of Earth](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_king_of_elfland_s_daughter_se/chapters/xxiii-lurulu-watches-the-restlessness-of-earth)

Feels lonely in the hayloft, jumps to the pigeon-loft, observes Earth's restlessness, tries to befriend pigeons, and reflects on the contrast with Elfland's calm.

### [XXIV: Lurulu Speaks of Earth and the Ways of Men](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_king_of_elfland_s_daughter_se/chapters/xxiv-lurulu-speaks-of-earth-and-the-ways-of-men)

Recruits trolls for Orion by telling tales of Earth and the plan to hunt unicorns.

### [The Return of Lurulu](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_king_of_elfland_s_daughter_se/chapters/xxvii-the-return-of-lurulu)

Leads the band of trolls from Elfland to Erl, teaches them to sleep, and brings them to the kennels.

### [A Chapter on Unicorn-Hunting](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_king_of_elfland_s_daughter_se/chapters/xxviii-a-chapter-on-unicorn-hunting)

Commands the trolls, uses his whip to enforce respect for Orion, and later ponders the problem of hunting unicorns in darkness.

### [XXIX: The Luring of the People of the Marshes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_king_of_elfland_s_daughter_se/chapters/xxix-the-luring-of-the-people-of-the-marshes)

Disguised as a solemn traveller, Lurulu tricks the will-o'-the-wisps into following him to dry land and enlists their aid in hunting unicorns.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_king_of_elfland_s_daughter_se/characters/lurulu
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_king_of_elfland_s_daughter_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_king_of_elfland_s_daughter_se/characters