Dave Wood's

Campaign

Kern Blackmoor, Human Blackguard

Status: KIA

Illustration © by Sam Wood

Kern Blackmoor was not always known by such a somber name, rather he was once a servant or Pelor; a paladin of the light. Kern of the Greenfen was known as a just man who served his church and ruled his lands with equal parts justice and kindness. He was beloved by all, save those with dark intentions. Despite this adoration, he had no life's companion except for his faithful mount, Argeron. Argeron was a horse of unsurpassed speed, strength, intelligence and beauty, and Kern adored his horse more than any other.

So it was a horrible blow to him the morning he woke to find the stable door open, and Argeron gone.

Quick investigation determined that Argeron had not wandered off, but had in fact been stolen. There were few clues, but Kern was quick to set off in search of his beloved steed. Sadly it was to the detriment of his paladinhood that his search for Argeron and the thief consumed him. His duties at the church went untended, justice was not meted out, and ironically, crime in his small duchy increased.

Finally Kern tracked the thief to a city by the name of Loch'Merdon, but there the trail went cold. Every clue lead him to believe the thief, and his horse, were there, but there were so many houses and shops, so many farms, and fields. After days of fruitless search he fell down on his knees, threw up his arms and called out to his patron, Pelor, "O' father of light and life, I beg of thee to help me find my one true friend, my Argeron!". Pelor answered him, and he was not happy. He scolded Kern for leaving his place at home where his people and his church needed him. He chastised him for his inability to accept tragedy in life and learn from it; to become stronger. He refused to help Kern, and demanded that he return to his home at once and beg forgiveness while doing penance.

Kern dropped his arms to his sides and stared sullenly at the ground. His faithful companion of many years was near, he knew it, but his god had forsaken him. He rose slowly from the ground, and continued his search through the city. And when it seemed as if all was truly lost, he heard a sound. It was a horse crying out in fear and anger, and it was a sound he knew; Argeron!

Kern charged through the streets and alleys and broke through a throng of people into a crude arena of wood and stone. There he witnessed the death of his lifelong equine companion at the hands of men in the arena. As the horse fell the crowd cheered in exaltation. Kern was aghast, and in shock. His… his friend slain before his eyes by a crowd of philistines!

Kern threw up his arms, but this time he did not call out to Pelor, for he knew Pelor would not answer this call. All he wanted was revenge, and with a rage and sorrow he bellowed to the powers of darkness to grant it, and sold his soul in the process. His armour instantly tarnished, and a sword appeared in his hands, its blade bathed in hellfire.

All around him the crowd had gone quiet; all eyes on the fallen paladin. "In the name of all that is unholy", he seethed, "you all shall die." When it was done, no one was left alive. The arena and the alleys around it were choked with bodies, while the sewers ran with blood. Kern was no longer Kern of the Greenfen, he was Kern of Blackmoor, and now a servant of Bane, and the forces of darkness. It is said that before he comes to kill you, the sound of a horse shrieking in agony can be heard on he wind. Such is the fate of all who fall!

Kern Blackmoor is played by Michael Schmidt