Cragon

"Witchbane" Cragon
In-Character Information
Country	The Damned
Other Name(s)
Class	Ranger
Gender	Male
Alignment	True Neutral
Race	Human
Religion	Malum's Blood Price
Out-of-Character Information
Date Joined	2 DY (April 22nd, 2012)
Affiliated with	Disciples of Malum

{{#if:Human|}} {{#if:Ranger|}} {{#if:The Damned|}}

Witchbane Cragon was the Black King of The Damned, the Will of The Disciples of Malum, and an oathbroken ex-member of the Explorers Guild. He is of Gulzarian descent and foreign to the realm of Dargarth. His shades' attacks against mortals had been growing stronger and more frequent as more Relics of Malum have been turning up. Recent rumours had claimed that The Witchbane becomes invigorated at the sight of blood and can withstand blows that would cut down any mortal man. His malice and hatred was so vast his strikes have been rumoured to sap the strength or his foes and inflict a deadly disease upon his victims. He had proven himself to be a mighty foe to the living of the realm. He was slain before the Face of Malum by Earl Arminius.

Dargarth History

2 DY

Cragon arrived in Dargarth in the spring of 1 DY, as a consequence of his departure from his homeland, The Gulzarian Wastes, spending tumultuous months at sea. His voyage ended in the Bay of Langer in the midst of the Day of Two Sieges. Starved and confused, the nomad listlessly stumbled across the beach towards the rallying blasts of warhorns and the clanging of battle. By chance, he and shipmate Nox were hastily hired by the Knights of Solaris, thrust Solaris arms and holed up in the castle. Unsure of the intent nor merits of the foreign groups at war, the two did all they could to survive the onslaught of violent attackers. The efforts proved potent, and the attacking forces were driven off, leaving Cragon and Nox still under contract to the Knights. Having no property, coin, nor arms, the company embarked on a quest to destroy the Mask of Corruption in hopes of learning about this strange new land and its inhabitants as well as any sort of reward. None was to be paid to the recruits, and the Knights of Solaris's methods and ideals did not sit well with the two. Cragon and Nox moved onward to join more like-minded, strong-willed, and grounded adventurers.

Cragon began to do mercenary work for the Explorers Guild, adding what meager manpower and arms the nomad could to the Guild's adventuring parties. Growing steadily in knowledge and skill in battle with the Guild, Cragon and Nox were eventually inducted as official members of the Explorers Guild.

In the late summer, Cragon accompanied the realm's warband, answering the trumpets of The Chaos Wars. The party's numbers included:: Baron Bran, Sir Rasheab, Kestrel, Puck, Mowgli, and fellow guildmates Nox, Kendric and Ulfgore. The troupe returned to the realm battle-hardened by the wars and a newfound alliance had been forged between the Explorers and Legion. Upon their return, Cragon and Nox formed The Disciples of Malum to add their services to Arch Magus Kendric's efforts to root out despicable dark witches and warlocks in the realm.

Aside from offering the fruits of his battle studies to Dil and becoming his primary contributor to the scholar's work on the Codex of Myriad Beasts, Cragon's activity was minor and without note through the cold gray of winter.

3 DY

Joining along side Kendric Flamehands and his Accords of the Natural Law of Magic Cragon led the first Dargarthian Inquisition hunting the witches and other fel-users of the realm. The Nomad now championing the title of Witchbane was seen captaining the Explorers' ship at The Battle of the Wicked Delta. Again, the appearances of Cragon were spotty, his reports as a Battle Scholar for Dil had dwindled and the old man had summoned for Kendric to aid him in his search. Reports show that Witchbane Cragon was present during The Lay of Eliananna and Tanith Lorn though his motives indiscernible. It is rumored that Cragon is being compelled north by a mysterious influence, others say the weight of Malum's Blood Price has dwindled his humanity. It is only certain that the Witchbane is not well. He appeared last during Halloween 2k13 Adventure hunting the Witch of Middledale, claiming her/his soul and others who would oppose him, Cragon afterwards publicly held the Witch Trial of False Arachnia.

Word spread that Cragon had rebuked his vows to The Explorers Guild and began to cast a curse upon his former leader, Earl Arminus, before he was struck down by onlookers of the oath-breaking. Shades of Cragon had been sighted holding mysterious councils deep in the unexplored wilds, accompanied by hosts of undead. A new nation comprised of all manners of blight bringers now desecrates the realm of Dargarth, with Witchbane Cragon, championing his Goddess Malum, leading the way.

4 DY

No good news had come from the Witchbane, continuous methods had been attempted to contact the ranger, but they ended all in failure. It appears he had truly fallen to darkness. His shades were seen accompanying droves and droves of undead and unliving, all encountered attacking the living! The spouting of the The Army of Damned marching under one banner has filled the tavern of every corner of the realm. Even men whom haven't seen land in a year know of The Damned.

Cragon was seen assisting the Cult of the Blood Moon in an attempt to enlist a Demon to their ranks, their attempts were foiled by waves upon waves of Goblin. Once the Fist of Malum had been recovered by ???, Cragon led an army of undead against a resistance of mortals to reclaim his Blood Goddess's gift. His march was successful, despite the last minute arrival of The League of Chaos, his masses trampled the living earth and tireless mauraded and plundered until the Witchbane reclaimed the Fist. Malum had never been more content with her champion, she smiled upon him and imbued his Gorgtech bastard sword with life-stealing and disease inflicting abilities and his shield with maleficent unbreakable might.

Not long afterwards, a renowned Alchemist had claimed he knew Cragon's weakness and summoned the mortal realm to a secret entrance of Dryad's Rest. Heroes present were presented with the Alchemical Solution for the Undead Problem and fought essences to once and for all bury the Witchbane. Just as the Alchemist was mixing his Potion of Super Saiyan, Cragon came from the woods and slaughtered him, corrupting his soul with Bloodhex and utterly eliminated his apprentice, The Word of the Forest, causing a fel-blast unseen before. The Blood Goddess compelled him to drink the potion himself. His strength surged, his agility amplified, he had become the Chaos. He led those brave enough to face him to the Face of Malum, where he cut down hero after hero after hero. Witchbane Cragon's bloodlust had become unstoppable, until finally Arminius summoned the Essence of the Field to aid him, and slew the Witchbane Cragon. His corpse lay riddled with wounded and searing with fel and holy energies: Arminius took the title of Baneslayer and the Waxed Skull of Scary while Caoimhe took something else...