Toriel

Toriel is a fictional character from the role-playing video game Undertale, created by Toby Fox. She is a goat-like monster from the Dreemurr royal family, often referred to as Queen Toriel or the former queen of the Underground. She is the wife of King Asgore and the mother of Asriel Dreemurr, and she serves as a guardian figure within the game's world.

In the game's opening area, the Ruins, Toriel acts as the caretaker and guide for the protagonist after they fall into the Underground. She provides hospitality, explains basic game mechanics, and teaches themes of mercy, kindness, and nonviolence. Her role is to protect the player while emphasizing peaceful choices, and she attempts to deter them from leaving the Ruins to confront the dangers of the Underground.

Toriel is portrayed with a warm, maternal personality and a gentle demeanor, contrasting with the perilous environment of the Underground. She possesses magical abilities, including fire-based attacks used to defend her home and its inhabitants if she believes it is necessary. Her decisions and interactions vary according to the player's choices, reflecting Undertale’s emphasis on moral consequence and the pacifist route.

Toriel has become a notable figure in Undertale’s fan culture and reception, recognized for her nurturing archetype and as an early, memorable encounter that frames the game’s themes of empathy, restraint, and the costs of violence.