Krotar Shadowthane

The tale of Krotar Shadowthane serves as a constant reminder to all those tempted into searching for forbidden knowledge.

— Tivon Ressler, Human historian & author of the book 'The Dark Council'

Young Scholar

Krotar is well documented as being a curious young boy, always with his head in a book. The Shadowthane family as a whole were, and indeed still are, regarded amongst the top families for research and learning. Many of the family members are the top or near the top of their respective research fields. The majority live up to their family name and research into ways of defeating the potential evils of the world.
Krotar himself though, particularly enjoyed learning about the unknown and was drawn the mysteries of the Primal Age. However, such knowledge was deemed forbidden by the Scholar's Guild due to its inherently dangerous nature. The beings of that time literally were capable of ripping apart landmasses and reforming them to their own desires.
However, Krotar pursued this line of intrigue in secret, until one day he was witnessed performing a ritual from what appeared to be an ancient manuscript. The result was a tremor that shook the entirety of Khul Boldir not powerful enough to cause any real damage, but noticeable throughout the capital and deep into the mountain itself. The manuscript was gone and Krotar, following a trial, was banished for his actions.

Joining the Council

Free from the rules and restrictions set upon him by the Scholar's Guild, Krotar accepted the invitation to join the Dark Council. Krotar became the sixth member. It is unclear when Krotar discovered his new connection to a much more powerful entity, but it is assumed that it was the ritual that caused his dismissal that forged the connection in the first place. Astrona Emberwild's notes recovered following The Siege of Arkran, speak mostly of her own actions. As such, there is a gap of knowledge following Astrona's references to bringing in Krotar and when Lothaire's notes (the eighth member) begin following the vampire's own recruitment months later. Lothaire's early notes do confirm that Krotar had already managed to become a competent, at least, Warlock by that time and refer to the arcane training the sorcerer in the Council was providing. Orsa Algrun, as she would later be identified - for she was still working within The Dawn's Guard as a mole until a year later. However, as Astrona's adeptness in magic was divine, and then necromancy and the last addition of the council, Thanoth 'Nightcarver' Gathakanaki's being druidic, Orsa was the de facto mentor to Krotar.

Even though Krotar is older, at least I think he is - Orsa has an ageless quality to her, it is very hard to tell - he remains a dutiful student. He listens and he practices her teachings. Orsa does not display quite the same set of magical abilities, but the techniques seem be transferrable, judging by Krotar's progress.

— Lothaire, from Lothaire's Journal.

Under her guidance, Krotar became a more formidable opponent each time he faced off against the forces of Light. He, like Astrona, was not seen on the frontlines very often, only ever seen in major conflicts like the corruption of the Ancestral Tree. It was as if the Council were protecting a valuable asset. The reason why revealed itself late on in the war, when an unimaginably destructive force was unleashed upon Aldenia.

Mohzall

It is unclear whether or not Mohzall himself was Krotar's patron. However, Mohzall was the fearsome Earthquake Dragon brought forth through the portal to the Earth plane that Krotar created during the final year of the Cataclysm Wars. According to Astrona journal, a rudimentary agreement was formed between Mohzall and the Council. Mohzall could destroy whatever he wanted, as long as Arkran and the surrounding area was left untouched - in order for Astrona to complete her goal, whatever that may have been. Whoever Krotar's patron actually was, their apparent end goal was this escape.

Death

Krotar died following Krotar & Orsa's face off against the combined magical forces of the Light's Army. They gave a good account of themselves until the sheer volume of magical attacks became too much to defend against and left the pair nothing but charred remains.

Legacy

The Shadowthane family's reputation took a minor hit, but being part of a learned institution as they are, the community understood that one rogue member should not affect the relevance of the family as a whole.
However, the larger implications of Krotar's actions would change the landscape of the magical arts and how society viewed the Primal Age. The Earthquake Dragon and its fellow Primal kin were regarded as myths until one showed up and obliterated sections of the continent. Elemental Warlocks are regarded with even deeper suspicion ever since Krotar, purely because of the association to this singular individual. Ironically though, due to Mohzall's appearance confirming the existence of Primal Dragons, at least, careful and controlled research into the Primal Age has begun amongst the Scholar's Guild - the very thing that Krotar wanted in the first place.

Species

Dwarf

Ethnicity

Mountain Dwarf

Life

74 BCE 1 BCE 73 years old

Circumstances of Death

Killed during the Battle of Arkran

Height

4'5"

Aligned Organization

The Council of Nine