The Laughing king
High king Darkmane (a.k.a. Laughing Darkmane)
The Laughing King was Gnoll war chief and the fifth 'high king' of the Shifters, though was not granted this title by all clans. Waging war on the undead and fledging kingdoms of Frostmourn, the Laughing King would show the true power of even a slightly unified shifter nation.
History
Early life and call of the wild
Born to a small shifter tribe near the land bridge between the two continents, the Laughing king was originally called Darkmane. Growing up in such an inhospitable area, even by shifter standards, Darkmane grew up fast, fierce and hard, learning to hunt any food available, including in truly harsh times undead. In his early teens, he gained the moniker Laughing Darkmane, due to the fact he would often laugh during particularly brutal hunts. Unlike most shifters, who travel south for their call of the wild, Darkmane traveled west through the land bridge, into Frostmourn. It was here he first encountered the Paladins of Akoom, starting fights in several inns. Rumors spread through the region of a 'laughing demon', summoned by the new prophet to punish those of sin. Though little else is known of Darkmane's call, it is known that these rumors traveled south and at the outbreak of the Rivel rebellion, many shifters joined the cause, wreaking havoc on the paladins but records possibly show Darkmane joining both sides depending on pay and the battle.Becoming High king
Though mostly fighting in Frostmourn, a laughing demon is mentioned in fighting in the north of the blessed planes in the final year of the war. Apparently, Darkmane entered the Goregrinder tribe a year after the Demon Prophet's death with a glowing red sword and red horn. Being accepted into the tribe, for apparently killing the head of the major power of the planet, Darkmane quickly excelled in the warrior tribe, and within two years, at a council of the tribes, challenged the war chief due to cowardice, easily winning with the sword he claimed was Brimstone. Under his rule, the Gorgrinders turned, even more, battle-crazed, led by, in the words of the war chief of the Crystalline tribe, their mad laughing king. The tribe started leaving non-preditor-spirit borns out for exposure, as well as ancient, brutal, Gnoll training regimes. Starting a war of dominance, the Goregrinders 'subdued' the other tribes around the land bridge. At the council of the tribes in 143 blood, The Laughing king made his move, demanding to be declared high king and for all Shifter tribes to kneel to him. Though a majority voted yes, due to a lot of smaller tribes' fear, several big tribes refused even after the vote, inspired by a speech by the Crystalline war chief. Quickly rising to anger, The Laughing king went to kill the descendant of Saberfang only for 'Brimestone' to be blocked by Moon's Fang, Saberfang's legendary sword.Take your 'loyal' tribes and go, Her words echoed through the camp, banishing the Goregrinders from the council for over an age.
Invasion of Frostmourn
Taking those tribes that were too scared to refuse, The laughing king launched his attack to carve out a kingdom of his own, believing the north bred stronger men he went west once again instead of the more abundant south. By this point the north was in chaos from the fall of the Empire, leaving it easy pickings for the giant war host. The only place avoided was Drakai, as who would take on a great wyrm willingly? After three years of war, the tribes had conquered a large area of northern Frostmourn as their domain and continued to threaten the undead, several Lich banded together to confront the army. In the opening charge, One of the Lich used his magic to destroy the fake Brimstone, revealing it to be a normal flame-brand sword, seeing this the opening charge faltered leading to The laughing king being on his own, and his death.Aftemath
Faith in single warriors was lost, with high kings only being declared in times of need rather than if someone was powerful enough. The Goregrinders also suffered exile from the larger shifter community for several centuries, till the High king Dragniel waged war against the Dragon Queen.
Ethnicity
Date of Birth
110 Blood
Date of Death
13 Ikhael 147 Blood
Circumstances of Death
Killed by Lich
Birthplace
Shifter wastes
Place of Death
Frostmourn
Family
Children
Sex
Male
Eyes
Yellow
Hair
a black mohawk going down his back
Skin Tone/Pigmentation
Light brown fur with dark spots
Height
6' 8"
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