Villains' Lorebook.pdf - Department of Political Science

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tant as that of the Earthmother herself. Over the
centuries, Kazgaroth has arisen many times to upset
the Balance and wreak havoc across the Isles.
In 1345 DR, the Beast made his last recorded appearance.
Born again into the Realms from the
Bhaal-corrupted Moonwell (now called the Darkwell),
Kazgaroth set his plans into motion. Calling
upon the firbolgs to begin depredations of their own,
Kazgaroth became wise in the ways of the Ffolk,
using his shape-shifting ability to pass unnoticed
amongst them.
Making his way to Myrloch Vale, the Beast corrupted
the druid Trahern of Oakvale, making the
hapless mortal a minion of Bhaal. Through the
druid, Kazgaroth was able to learn the druids’ plan to
counteract the Beast’s own plans to destroy the Balance.
The Beast first killed and took the form of a
woman named Meredith, then used this attractive
shape to seduce and infect the guardsman Erian with
lycanthropy. The werewolf that Erian would now become
also would serve Kazgaroth and Bhaal.
Next, the Beast viciously killed and began impersonating
Thelgaar Ironhand, the mightiest king of
the Northmen that lived on the Isles. Now in the
role of this leader, Kazgaroth revoked Ironhand’s
previous peace-loving policies and built the assembled
Northmen into a conquering army bent on ravaging
the island of Gywnneth, home of the Kendrick
line of kings. Kazgaroth also used its corrupting mass
charm ability to transform the Northmen’s only cavalry
unit, the Blood Riders, into his pawns. Meanwhile,
the Beast’s firbolgs fed tons of coal into the
Darkwell, further polluting it. The giants also captured
Kamerynn, one of the Earthmother’s Children.
Kazgaroth, as Ironhand, sailed forth with its
Northman army in specially modified longships.
Each vessel now carried a heavy, piercing ram on its
bow, for the Beast knew another of the Earthmother’s
Children, the Leviathan, would sense its
presence and seek to end the blight Kazgaroth’s presence
brought. Indeed, the great aquatic mammal
sunk a full third of Kazgaroth’s duped Northmen
fleet, but eventually succumbed to the rams and a
huge harpoon hurled by Ironhand/the Beast itself.
Power flowed into Kazgaroth from the destruction of
the Leviathan, and the Beast now fought to control
the human form which was barely capable of holding
such potency.
Kazgaroth/Ironhand sailed on while part of the
Northman fleet sailed a different route, landing on
Gwynneth and looting and pillaging, driving a great
mass of refugees before them. Part of the Beast’s plan
was for a portion of the Northman army to use
mountain passes (guided by Trahern) to get ahead of
the refugees and slaughter them all between the two
Northman groups.
Meanwhile, Erian the werewolf fought and defeated
the leader of the Earthmother’s Pack, a gathering
of all the wolves of the Isles. Erian then used
this collective Child of the Earthmother against her.
Soon, Kazgaroth landed his fleet at Corwell, laying
siege to both the town and Caer Corwell that over-
looked it.
Kazgaroth could sense the presence of the heroes
within the Caer, especially Robyn, the young
woman who was discovering her considerable
druidic powers. The Beast attacked, but the young
druid, a cleric named Friar Nolan, and Prince Tristan
Kendrick forced Kazgaroth to flee. Tristan Kendrick’s
moorhound, Canthus, blessed by the Earthmother,
managed to defeat and kill Erian and he led the Pack
on a long trek to Corwell.
Now, the Northmen, the firbolgs, the Blood Riders,
and Kazgaroth worked to bring Corwell to its
knees. The heroes of the Moonshaes, however, stood
firm. The heroes turned back the firbolgs at the
Caer’s gatehouse and, enraged at the sight, Kazgaroth’s
control snapped. Resuming his true form,
the Beast slew the fleeing giant-kin with a blast of
magic, then managed to regain Thelgaar Ironhand’s
form. As the Pack led by Canthus fiercely attacked
the Northmen army, Tristan Kendrick and Kazgaroth/Ironhand
met in battle. The Beast could not
stand the touch of the sword of Cymrych Hugh and
fled the field while one of the Blood Riders made off
with the young druid, Robyn, whom he intended to
sacrifice to his dread lord, Bhaal.
The heroes pursued the Blood Riders and managed
to prevent the sacrifice, defeating them in the
process. Reunited, the heroes tracked the Beast
back to the Darkwell where they engaged him in
battle. Strengthened by the Darkwell, Kazgaroth
killed most of the heroes before Tristan, wielding
the sword of Cymrych Hugh, destroyed the Beast.
The Earthmother returned all but one of her heroes
to life after the battle, but the Beast too lived
on, after a fashion. The heart of Kazgaroth, a black,
stonelike object of potent magical powers was recovered
by Trahern and eventually found its way into
the hands of HOBARTH, a powerful cleric of Bhaal.