Commander Root

Lore & Background

Root commands the LEPrecon force from Haven City, an underground civilization located deep within the Earth's core. His tenure is marked by high-stakes operations involving the recovery of stolen artifacts and the containment of magical threats. In the specific events detailed in the source, Root sends Holly Short to retrieve the Book from Fowl Manor only after Artemis Fowl II contacts the LEP and demands a ransom, not immediately upon learning of the theft. When an unauthorized creature reaches the surface, Root assigns Holly Short to investigate as a routine assignment; her father's death in a cave-in is not a factor in this decision. During the operation, the captured troll is released into Fowl Manor by Lieutenant Briar Cudgeon as part of his mutiny plan to create chaos and seize command, not by Root. Cudgeon's mutiny is directly related to the troll incident. Magic interference during the conflict is caused by Artemis Fowl II's jamming technology, not by the Book or Cudgeon's command seizure.

In Their Own Story

The crisis begins when Mulch Diggums offers to prove magic's existence in exchange for information about Artemis Fowl I. Root responds by sending Holly Short to investigate the Hill of Tara, where she discovers an ID tag belonging to her father, Beechwood Short, before being captured by Artemis' bodyguard, Domovoi Butler. In a bold move, Root seals Fowl Manor in a time freeze with an army of LEP officers, but Artemis and Butler fight them off using Holly's equipment. To resolve the standoff, Root retrieves Mulch from prison, offering him a reduced sentence to infiltrate the manor and locate the Aculos. When Cudgeon seizes command and unleashes chaos, Root eventually returns to authority as the time freeze collapses. He directs Holly to investigate every name on a list of Koboi's accomplices provided by Artemis Fowl I after the artifact is returned safely.

Reader's Guide

Commander Root operates under strict fairy rules, which he invokes when Artemis forbids fairies from entering his home while he is alive; this binding forces Root to negotiate rather than storm the manor. He utilizes Mulch Diggums as an infiltrator due to Mulch's ability to tunnel, demonstrating a pragmatic approach to problem-solving that overrides standard protocol. His leadership style shifts from rigid command to strategic delegation when Cudgeon usurps his position, requiring him to work alongside former adversaries like Artemis and Holly. Root's role culminates in the restoration of order within Haven City, where he accepts the Aculos back and tasks Holly with dismantling Koboi's network, proving that while he values protocol, he prioritizes the survival of fairy society above all else.

Did You Know?

• Commander Julius Root is portrayed by Judi Dench in the 2020 film adaptation, though the character is female in that version.
• Root dispatches Holly Short to retrieve the Book from Fowl Manor only after Artemis Fowl II contacts the LEP and demands a ransom, not immediately upon learning of the theft.
• To infiltrate Fowl Manor, Mulch Diggums is recruited by Holly Short and Foaly; Root is initially unaware of the plan and does not arrange Mulch's involvement.
• Lieutenant Briar Cudgeon seizes command of the LEP by releasing a captured troll into Fowl Manor to create chaos; Root does not release the troll. Magic jamming is caused by Artemis Fowl II's jamming technology.
• After regaining command, Root directs Holly to investigate every name on a list of Opal Koboi's accomplices provided by Artemis Fowl II.