Tao has been Dar’s companion from the moment they met, when Dar saved Tao from the Terrons and certain death. Tao has none of Dar’s grace, physical agility, or practical knowledge of the animal kingdom. Instead, he has an inquisitive, deductive, and educated mind. Born into a tribe of intellectuals, Tao has been sent by his people to wander the world, educating the people he encounters. His skills in reason and deduction, combined with his extensive learning, compliment Dar’s natural intuition and animal instincts.

Tao believes in the natural process of things, and finds the dark world of the "supernatural" both unnatural and abhorrent. Throughout his travels with Dar, Tao provides a running commentary on his beliefs - theorizing, concluding, and proffering critical assessments mixed with humor and wit.