Prince Celestine Mallory, "the Red Lion"

In 1185, Morgan was sent to Erren's Grave, Lothain's capital. At Gregard's insistence, he was offered to Saint Martel's Cathedral, so he might join the Order of Astrologers, but by 1187, he would be stripped of his robes by Magister Robere de Rait, Lothain's chief prelate. The Magister pinned several crimes on his charge, from communing with demons to leading his novice brothers into sin, none of which Morgan has explicitly denied. Common bullies were unlikely to risk a hexing to harass him, leaving him to deal with those of uncommon bravery. Even in company more sympathetic to his plight, Morgan has been bashful in divulging the "real" reason for his disbarment, but many have noted he left his time at Saint Martel's with a deep fear of clergymen, growing uncommonly meek in their presence. Nevertheless, he lived the next years with covered in half-healed bruises, but learned to face his tormentors with stubborn resolve, making them earn their fun. Fortunately, this strategy paid off in 1189 when he first caught the attention of Prince Celestine Mallory, the only child of King Allistor IV. Impressed by the Gaunt after witnessing him resisting an assault from three older boys, the Prince offered to protect him in exchange for his aid in a boyish plot. But it was not long before a genuine friendship blossomed between the two. Celestine was haughty but good company, keeping the belligerent Gaunt in check, and by the 1190s, they were inseparable, with Morgan becoming Celestine's squire in 1191, and later swearing an oath of eternal brotherhood in 1195. Over the years, Morgan would frequently present his plan to leave Lothain to his friend, asking the Prince to accompany him, and while Celestine was mildly interested in the proposition, he was also eager to pursue his own ends—the restoration of the House of Mallory. Allistor IV was a man controlled by his gluttony and pride, proving unable to rein in his powerful vassals, such as the de Gores, Bellamys, and even the Gaunts. To facilitate a Mallory renaissance, Celestine believed he needed a crown, lest his hated uncle, Prince Artus, ascend the throne in his stead. Celestine countered Morgan's ambitions with offers of a place in the Lionmane Guard, the Mallorys' royal bodyguards, and Morgan promised to have an answer by the time he was knighted.

Celestine's plans involved marrying well, and with King Allistor occupied by his feasts and mistresses, his son was allowed to take his own pick of brides. Ultimately, he selected Anfrie de Gore, the eldest daughter and heiress of Bernar II, 5th Earl of Kildonnen, and while she was one of Lothain's most eligible bachelorettes, Morgan strongly opposed the match. In the lead-up to the royal wedding in late 1195, he decried Lady Anfrie as a "vicious whore" to anyone who would listen, and is credited with spreading rumours that the future queen was engaged in a sordid affair with her father's squire. Of course, counter-rumours spread about Morgan, likely at Anfrie's direction, and many had nought to do with his skin burning through the stained glass in Saint Martel's. Far and away the most popular posited that Morgan was oft seen in the company of a young farrier named Tavish, the two enjoying a romantic relationship that lasted close to a year. But while some described this farrier as Morgan's first love, in truth there was another in his life who could boast that title. His devotion to Celestine had evolved over the years, from gratitude to admiration to romantic love, and at night he dreamed of their future together. But he also felt trepidation, wondering if the heir to the throne could ever truly love a revenant. But with the royal wedding fast approaching, Morgan would spend an entire day drinking before inviting himself into Celestine's apartments. The two spent hours reminiscing on their youth, before Celestine placed a hand on Morgan's shoulder. "I'm going to miss you, Gaunt," the Prince sighed, which a drunken Morgan took as an invitation, leaning in to kiss his blood brother. But he was stopped with a brusque "What are you doing?" Morgan apologised profusely and made a hasty exit, electing in that moment to pursue the life of an adventurer, far from Lothain. He stayed in Erren's Grave long enough to see Celestine and Anfrie wed, and to compete in the tourney held to honour the occasion. He acquitted himself well in the squires' melee, earning a knighthood courtesy of Celestine, but was moody during the wedding itself, storming off when it was time for the bedding. Mercifully, he was distracted by the gossip passed around the wedding feast, as those present offered theories about strange happenings in the capital. Several had gone missing between 1194 and 1195—mostly commoners, but days before the wedding, Rolf de Saye, 2nd Thane of Greenbarr and Lord High Steward, had also vanished without a trace. Mayhaps he simply had a lot on his mind, but Morgan was generally dismissive about the whole afair. A few missing commoners were nothing unusual, and some suggested Lord Rolf was an embezzler who fled to escape the King's wrath. Whatever the case, it wouldn't be Morgan's problem for much longer. Two days after the wedding, he packed his bags, said his farewells, and left Erren's Grave, journeying first to Loch Ana. He claims the purpose of this was to say goodbye to Edmont before heading south to begin his adventures, though some who knew him claim he boasted of a plan to steal Mercy, the Gaunts' ancestral moonstone steel claymore.

The Ravenswood, Umberland

As the new Earl, Edmont took charge of the defences, though while he was a competent warrior, the Gaunts' guards were severely outnumbered and ill-prepared. Within months, the royal army had broken through the walls and began slaughtering everyone inside, from commoners to highborn nobles to priests. Edmont himself was badly wounded and elected to fall with his home, but seeing no reason for the Gaunt line to die with him, he told his brothers to run, to find allies in the north and keep House Gaunt alive. He also gave Morgan, as Lockland was of little use in a fight, the Gaunts' ancestral blade, Mercy, to represent their clan in the war to come. And so, Morgan and Lockland made their escape through Loch Ana's sewers and into the Ravenswood beyond, but they did not run fast enough, and before long, Toyne had caught up with them. Curiously, the knight was alone, but Morgan drew Mercy nevertheless, refusing to die without a fight. His prospects turned grim, however, when Toyne revealed his true form—before Morgan's eyes, his nails curled into long claws and fangs protruded from his lips. He was a vampire, whose kind had not been seen in Lothain for a thousand years. For two long minutes, Morgan fought for his life—it was clear from the first tilt that he was hopelessly outmatched, and in seconds was bleeding from a dozen wounds and aching with broken bones. Toyne turned to mocking Morgan, laughing at how tasty Earl Gregard had been, and thanking his dark god for the opportunity to feast on three men of such ancient stock, all while licking Morgan's blood from his claws. But in his arrogance, the vampire let his guard down one too many times, boasting of his newfound strength as Morgan, his vision fading, prepared one last strike. From his knees, as Toyne approached, Morgan let sail a desperate swing with Mercy, relying purely on animalistic desperation—when the blade touched the ground once more, Morgan's strength abandoned him, and he collapsed. But the forest was quiet save for Lockland's sobbing—rolling over, he found Toyne dead, Mercy having all but severed his head. It came as some cold comfort, however, as it suggested the vampires of the Crimson Court had spread their infection into Lothain.

Though he'd survived his first encounter with a vampire, Morgan was forced to limp through the woods, leaning on Lockland, desperate to reach anyone who might offer aid. It felt like hours before he noticed shadows moving in the Ravenswood, but by then, he was already on his last legs and collapsed due to blood loss. When he next opened his eyes, he found himself in a frozen forest, next to a small fire being stoked by an old man in a red cloak—a man he did not immediately recognise, despite feeling drawn to him. Morgan asked who the man was, and he replied, "A friend, if you would have me," bidding the Gaunt warm himself by the fire. "The forest is dark, Morgan Gaunt," the old man sighed, though Morgan had yet to introduce himself. "She devours the faint of heart, and while I've do doubts you're brave, I can help you, if you wish." Morgan wanted to be suspicious, but something about the man calmed his nerves. That, and he figured he needed help, and so he accepted the man's offer. But before he could ask what that help might entail, he awoke in a more familiar world in agonising pain. Much of this pain was centred on his left arm, burning white hot, but when he attempted to examine it, he found he couldn't move. As his vision focused, he found he and Lockland had been restrained by the roots of a yew tree, with Fael Bhana commandos staring down at them. The elven commander, Ultan Dalaray, informed Morgan that they had recognised him by his sword and hoped he might shed light on what had happened at Loch Ana. Lockland had been reduced to a sobbing wreck, but Morgan did his best to illuminate the matter. The Gaunts were old allies of the Mallorys, and under normal circumstances, the attack would have been unexplainable. But in this instance, a vampire had been involved. Celestine would have fought tooth and nail to protect him, but with a vampire whispering in Allistor's ear, the King might have been seduced by the night. The elves did not believe in the Gaunt's admittedly tall tale, but were satisfied he'd no more information to give. Thus, they would kill him. At this, Morgan frantically begged for mercy, offering anything in exchange for his life. To humour him, Ultan Dalaray asked what "anything" might entail, and Morgan offered lands, titles, and an end to the wars between men and elves. Morgan and Lockland were, by rights, the most powerful men in Umberland, and support for their cause could only be rewarded. Ultan was sceptical, and with good reason—these were but words, meant to buy Morgan a few more days, rather than a genuine proposal for an alliance. Still, Ultan conceded that having two of Lothain's high lords on his side could be politically beneficial, and so Morgan and Lockland joined the Fael Bhana. But when he finally had a moment to himself, Morgan took a look at his arm, from which pain still radiated. Carved in his left forearm was a twisting mess of runes he did not recognise, and while the pain ultimately subsided, the wound remained raw. Initially, he assumed the elves had marked him, but upon noticing Lockland remained unmarred, he thought of the old man and wondered what offer he had accepted.

Lockland "Lock" Gaunt, 17th Earl of Umberland

Quickly, news of Erryle Grimm's murder reached the court of Allistor IV, who easily convinced Magister Robere of the act's sacrilegious nature. Morgan was excommunicated for killing a man on holy ground, which Allistor used to excuse merciless attacks on Gaunt allies, such as Clans Moody, Darcy, and de Mar. Allistor also began deriding Morgan and Lockland as "Beggar Lords" as they travelled from castle to castle seeking support. Some in the Fael Bhana suggested the Gaunts had outlived their usefulness, but again, Morgan protested. Though many border clansmen were hesitant to support them, either due to Erryle Grimm's murder or out of fear of the king's wroth, the Gaunt insisted they could still be won over with a decisive victory. His betrothed, Tamsin de Mar, was besieged in Castlegar, and her retinue could be a valuable asset. Ultan agreed to humour him, and so the Fael Bhana meandered their way west, bolstering their forces with peasant levies and the Strays, a band of outlaws whose support Morgan won by besting their commander, Kennett, in single combat. On the 21st Day of the Pearl Moon, 1196, Morgan's forces attacked the crown troops near Castlegar, but were quickly repelled and pursued into a nearby snowy clearing by the bulk of the besieging force. But Morgan had a trick up his sleeve, pinning the royalists in the clearing with his longbowmen before the elven mages loosed a torrent of arcane energy at the ground, revealing the clearing as a frozen lake. 2,000 royalists drowned, before the Beggars returned to Castlegar and subdued those who remained. Lady Tamsin de Mar, grateful for the aid, pledged her support, while Edmont Darcy of Melcolm and Lockland Moody of the Isles soon arrived, growing the rebel army to 7,000 foot and 500 horse. There was some dispute as to who would command this force, but Lockland Gaunt quickly interceded. A Gaunt leading them into battle would increase their legitimacy, as they were better known in the south, and Morgan's winning strategy at Castlegar made him the only real choice. Thus, to his horror, Morgan was, just after his 19th birthday, named Lord Marshal of the Bann, the second-highest-ranking military figure in the Marches behind the Earl of Umberland, while the rebels turned to retake Loch Ana.

On the march to Loch Ana, Morgan won a more personal victory, repairing his relationship with Lockland. The elder Gaunt had proven his use—both brothers studied magic under the elves, though all agreed Lockland had the makings of an era-defining mage. Admittedly, Morgan was jealous at first, but working together, the two were able to put aside their childhood enmity. They were suspicious that vampires had infiltrated their camp, and then, being proven right when "deserters" were found dead in the woods outside of their camps, Morgan and Lockland worked to fortify their position, ultimately forming a group of their most trusted warriors, armed with magically blessed weapons, to keep order in their camp. Kennett proved useful in this, the cutthroat being used to going unnoticed, and he emerged as a valued member of Morgan's inner circle. Of course, Kennett had other uses. Morgan frequently invited Kennett to share his tent at days' end, at least until an incident where Morgan called the outlaw "Mallory" as they enjoyed each other's company. But Morgan and Lockland's guards, popularly dubbed "the Crows", also came to include Nessa Dalaray, Chieftain Ultan's daughter, someone Morgan had begun to warm to. Her twin brother, Oshen, had been murdered by a vampiric infiltrator, leading the spearwife to isolate herself, spending days at time tending a small fire outside the Beggars' camp. Morgan told himself he needed her mace—Nessa being one of their best warriors—but also could not help but think how he'd not been given the time to grieve Edmont's death, and how he so desperately needed someone to talk to. So, one night, he came to her with a bottle of wine stolen from another captain, and offered her the ear of someone who "can't possibly think any less of you," if she so desired it. She hesitated a moment before quietly thanking Morgan and taking the wine. But before Morgan could leave, she stopped him. "If people think we're talking, they'll leave me alone," she said, and Morgan obliged by taking a seat beside her. The first night, only the crackling fire dared speak, Morgan not wanting to disturb Nessa's grief, but in time, she would stifle tears as she spoke of her youth with Oshen. When he thought it appropriate, Morgan would counter with tales of his time in the capital, and invariably blushed when Nessa copied his voice and swooned at the mention of the Prince. The two also came to discuss the possible identities and vampires hiding in their army, uncovering and dispatching Oshen's killer together, before Nessa truly evolved from Morgan's captor to a member of his guard. Despite constantly purging their ranks, the Beggar Lords had reached Loch Ana by 1197, and after a brief siege, reclaimed their home. Subsequently searching the castle, the Gaunts discovered a treasure trove of information hidden under the floorboards of their father's study—letters revealed that Gregard had been investigating a plot by the Crimson Court to conquer Lothain, with Eldric van Rechtern, King of the Vampires, offering corrupt lords immortality in exchange for the blood of their people. Gregard's last notes suggested he was about to inform Allistor of his findings, and knowing that the Lionmane Guard would not have killed their father without the King's approval, the brothers concluded that Allistor had betrayed Lothain. The notes made mention of Celestine, stating it was uncertain if the ambitious prince was aware of the plot, and while Lockland worried he may have joined the legions of the night alongside his father, Morgan insisted his friend would never debase himself as such. He held out hope that his friend had not been killed, but was rightfully certain the Prince was in grave danger. Privately, and mayhaps selfishly, Morgan wondered if this was his chance at happiness. Should he save the Prince, he could be considered a worthy suitor, and could find a lover where a friend had been. He hoped beyond hope Celestine would see his saviour in a new light, but it would be for nought if the Prince was killed. So the Beggar Lords moved south with haste.

Gaunt outriders near Old Barrow

Regardless, Morgan was harried along the Kingsroad by vampire lords and thralls, until by late 1197, it was clear to the King that he would have to deal with the Beggar Lords himself, leaving Erren's Grave with 25,000 vampire thralls and a hundred Vampire Lords. Learning of this from his scouts, Morgan marched to meet him, only taking a brief respite on the 21st of the Alabaster Moon to celebrate the wedding of Lockland Gaunt and Tamsin de Mar. Though Lady Tamsin was betrothed to Morgan, she and Lockland had fallen in love, and Morgan offered no objections to the union. In spite of the circumstances, it was a joyous affair; with the snows gently falling and the cider flowing freely, Morgan took it upon himself to approach Nessa, offering a hand and beckoning her to follow him to the patch of grass cleared for dancing. "You've lost your mind," the elven princess snorted, though her lips curled into an ever-so-slight smile. "You ought lose yours—mine's brought me grief after grief," Morgan replied. Nessa rolled her eyes but took the Gaunt's hand, and before long their impending doom was but an afterthought. Five days later, with scouts reporting Allistor not far south, the Beggar Lords dug in near the small hamlet of Old Barrow. To prepare against the King's heavy cavalry, pit traps were dug in defence of the rebel lines, while Morgan organised his forces into schiltrons, formidable pike formations, with streams protecting his flanks. As the King arrived, he was forced into a bottleneck, allowing the outnumbered Beggar Lords to wittle his forces down, while Morgan's light cavalry launched sorties against the royalist archers. But fighting was intese, the snows quicly painted red with blood. In this melee, Morgan was almost killed when a Vampire Lord took him by surprise, shredding Morgan's helm and knocking him from his feet. But before she could send him to the world tree, Lockland stepped in, blasting her aside with a torrent of pure moonlight. Morgan was relieved as Lockland helped him to his feet, but both were oblivious to the Vampire Lord recovering until she had driven her claws through Lockland's back. Morgan quickly dispatched her, though it was clear Lockland was beyond saving. "You can't," Morgan stammered. "I can't do this without you." Though tears welled in his eyes, Lockland wore a defiant smile. "I'll be with you, brother," were his last words.

But Morgan had little time to grieve, as he still had a battle to win. So, with tears burning his frozen cheeks, he sought out King Allistor and engaged him in single combat. The fat vampire put up an impressive fight, but in his arrogance made a fatal mistake, and Morgan found a window to drive Mercy through his chest. As Allistor lay dying, Morgan demanded to know where he could find Prince Celestine; the King laughed before expiring. Old Barrow was the rebels' costliest engagement at the time, with Morgan losing some 5,000 souls. But the King's host had been annihilated, leaving few defences standing between the surviving Beggar Lord and Erren's Grave. It took days for the rebels to break through the capital's gates, and when they did, they fought furiously to avenge their comrades. As the bulk of their army engaged the parasites, Morgan and Nessa led a commando force to breach the Sunset Halls, Lothain's royal palace, in order to search for his old friend. But what he found in the throne room nearly broke him. Lounging on the throne was the creature that had once been Celestine Mallory—a creature with two prominent fangs protruding from its lips. He thanked Morgan for dispatching his father and reminisced on their shared youth, proclaiming the Lothish cause to be futile. That was, unless they changed their ways, ruling under the vampires until the end of days. "We can do what we want, Black Bird," the Prince rejoiced, "be who we want." Morgan still loved Celestine, but to throw in with the parasites who had killed his brothers would be the worst form of betrayal, and he expressed as much, though his voice shook. But he offered a desperate alternative, pleading for the Prince to run east to the vampiric Kingdom under the Mountain, promising not to pursue him. "It would be a joy enough to know you still drew breath," he insisted, though the pain in his arm returned, burning ever hotter with each protest. Celestine laughed, asking how he could trust the Gaunt's word, though it took Morgan a moment to answer. "Because I love you," he finally offered as tears welled in his eyes and the mark came close to crippling him through pain, "I always have." Celestine pointed out that he did not love him enough to see him crowned, and asked if Morgan's refusal was final. As the pain grew, Morgan's grief was replaced with blinding anger, raging at his love. "They killed Lock," Morgan's trembling voice could have betrayed any number of emotions. "So?" was the Prince's only response. First, Morgan noticed how the pain abandoned him—second, he noticed himself charging the throne, but he did not relent as Celestine descended the steps to meet him. Their duel lasted almost 15 minutes as the two battered each other about the throne room, Celestine raging at Morgan's attempt to deny him his crown, and Morgan raging at Celestine's betrayal. But with a well-placed strike to Celestine's armpit, Morgan pierced the Prince's black heart and brought him to his knees. A popular folk tale insists that Celestine Mallory's last word was "monster," whispered as Morgan stood over his dying body. With a heavy heart, he buried Celestine just outside Erren's Grave, with a stake through his heart in a coffin covered in runes to ensure he could never come back. The mark throbbed as Morgan wept over the closed ground.

The Sunset Halls, Erren's Grave

Damned as he was to admit it, Morgan had come to value the elves as allies. When the vampires came for Lothain, they had butchered its people regardless of race, and if that were to be the case, Morgan would defend a united realm. The Earl of Belmore had proven a vampiric traitor and been killed at the Battle of Old Barrow, and so his line was attainted while his lands and incomes were granted to Ultan Dalaray. With the vampires rallying in the east, Morgan appointed Edmont Darcy as Lord Marshal and ordered him to depart the city with one thousand riders, harassing the vampires and their thralls as they attempted to regroup in the eastern Earldom of Kildonnen, while the new King tarried in the capital to consolidate the rest of his forces. The mood in Erren's Grave was tense—though released from their thralldom, many of the city's inhabitants wandered the streets aimlessly, while the army grew restless. Publicly, Morgan attempted to portray an image of strength, but behind closed doors was utterly despondent. He drank heavily late into the night and spoke of nought but bloody vengeance. A popular folk tale insists that Artus Mallory, not yet having abandoned his ambitions for the throne, sent his most beautiful daughter to sneak into the King's chambers at night, only to find him sleeping next to a mountain of empty wine bottles. But there was one he allowed himself to speak plainly to—no woman, but the elf Nessa Dalaray. The elven Princess was no stranger to grief, having spent much of the war mourning the loss of her twin brother, and did what she could to counsel Morgan through his pain, grateful that the young king had done the same for her. Melancholia still plagued him, but Morgan did treasure the time he spent alone with Nessa, drinking, smoking, or simply talking. It was a strange feeling to value the friendship of one who had once been his enemy, but he trusted few else with the intimate details of his relationship with Prince Celestine and his mixed feelings about their duel. He wondered aloud who had betrayed the other, and if this was his revenant blood finally revealing itself by breaking of a sacred oath of brotherhood. But the she-elf offered what comfort she could. "It matters little who betrayed who," she insisted, "millions may yet live because of the choice you made."

But there was a spectre looming over Morgan's friendship with Nessa—the spectre of Ultan Dalaray. Artus Mallory wished to make one of his daughters a queen, much as Morgan was uninterested, while Harold Bellamy also hoped to have one of his granddaughters catch the King's eye. Morgan was, for his part, fully aware of the schemes of his courtiers, and even those of Ultan, who hoped to solidify the pact between men and elves. Morgan had proven that he was a friend to the elves, but Ultan wondered if his sons or grandsons would follow in his example. Over a bottle of wine, Morgan confronted Nessa about her father's ambitions, and one of her rare smiles quickly faded. "I will do my duty," she offered after a long pause, "if you promise to do yours." Frankly, Morgan had not often imagined himself married, and if he had thought of the matter, it was to wonder what might have happened if he were born a girl and been offered to the Prince. Mayhaps he could have guided him off his dark path, mayhaps they could have been happy, mayhaps—he banished the thought from his mind. The situation had changed; to make a queen was required of him. He also saw the sense in Ultan's plans. Lothish men were not like to accept the elves as their equals without a firmer display of allegiance, while many elves would be hesitant to fight for a mannish king without deeper ties to their cause. And so, vowing to uphold his end of the bargain, Morgan raised his cup with as much of a smile as he could manage. "To marital bliss," he sighed. "To marital bliss," Nessa replied, downing the rest of her wine in a single draught. Their wedding was a sombre, muted affair, but both bride and groom faced it with grim resolve. The following morning, the King and Queen of the Loths and Ellans mustered their forces—25,000 heads when all was said and done—and marched east against the rising sun, to seek out and destroy Eldric van Rechtern, the vampiric Lord of the Crimson Court.

The Wayfarer, Lord of the Gallows

The war from that point became a bloody slog, as thousands died to contain the Vampire Lords in Kildonnen, and Morgan descended into melancholia. Around him were burned villages and fields so rich with the dead he could walk across them without getting mud on his boots. His own camp was no refuge either, as Artus Mallory openly spoke of his rights to the throne while damning The Gaunt as a revenant. To distract himself, Morgan spent days at a time scrutinising maps with the help of flagons of wine, though all could see his behaviour becoming erratic. He was colder, more brutal, delighting only in licking vampiric blood from his lips, living only for the next battle, and the brand on his arm burned if he spent too much time away from the bloodshed. He remained chaste throughout 1198 and 1199—most nights, he dreamed of Prince Celestine, who taunted him for how close he'd come to happiness, and how he'd thrown it away for the sake of a kingdom that despised him. But he also dreamed of the Wayfarer, who offered to make him ever stronger if he continued delivering vampires to Hell, which Morgan promised to oblige. In truth, little else mattered to him, as he believed that without his war, he was friendless and without allies. Though in brighter moods, he could acknowledge that in truth he had one—Nessa Dalaray. The Queen of Loths remained outwardly stoic, but in private, proved capable of wit and kindness, helping Morgan crack a smile with a wry pun during his dark moods. Though he feared he'd betray the Prince's memory by doing so, he and Nessa lay together for the first time after the Second Battle of Moonbright in 1199, caked in mud and sweat, delicately dancing around half-healed wounds and muscles sore from the march. It was also the first time another saw the mark on Morgan's arm—Nessa expressed concern, but Morgan promised it would help them win the war. "Just don't lose yourself to win," was all Nessa could muster.

The Wayfarer would soon appear before Morgan once more, warning him of Nessa's treachery, insisting she would make peace with the Crimson Court if able. But at the same time, their affair—such as it was for man and wife—kindled Morgan's tired heart, supplanting their cold union with a meagre, but steady flame. He did not confront her as to her treacheries, but listened intently as she spoke of the purpose she'd found, not solely in killing vampires, but in protecting the innocent. "They hate you," Morgan often challenged. "And I lost a brother, and an eye, and a finger hating them back," she'd reply. "These things have to die, but what's the point of living if you spend every second as a soldier? If I can't be a person from time to time?" Morgan did not continue prodding, but thought long on the matter. He had been a person once—he'd drunk and sang and made merry. But he could not say with confidence that he was more than a soldier now, nor that he could ever be a soldier again. He was offered a chance not much later, as he slept next to Nessa. The Wayfarer appeared in his dreams that night, instructing him to weed out the snakes in his camp, those not committed to the war. The god of the dead would not let him fall should he do so, nor would he let another stand in his path. In time, Morgan would stand amidst the ruins of the Crimson Court and drink from Eldric's skull. When Morgan next opened his eyes, he found Mercy in his hand, her point not an inch from Nessa's throat. The Queen still sat in bed, her eyes wide, while the Wayfarer whispered in his ear. She stood in his way; she would deny him his purpose. Mercy sat uneasy in Morgan's sweaty palms before he braced himself. "She'll deny you your victory," the Wayfarer whispered. "Not mine," Morgan replied, "but yours." He turned the mammoth weapon in his hands, grappling it as much as he was able, before driving it in through the mark on his arm. The pain was white hot, and a scream filled his ears. Ripping the sword free, his vision faded and he collapsed to his knees, before something cool and refreshing splashed across his face. When he could see clearly again, he found Nessa standing over him with an empty bottle of holy water in her hands. "I'm so sorry," was all Morgan managed to say before the ground carried him off to sleep.

Aftermath of Warthford

Such a cunning plan would come to Morgan during the Battle of Duncross, in the Spring of 1200, when Morgan confronted an attempt by the Court to flank his position by the River Barr. Leading the charge was the vampiress called Reinhild van Rechtern, known to the mortals as the sire of Eldric—battle was given and in the melee, with the vampires encircled, Morgan found himself duelling the Lady of the House of Rechtern. His healers had proclaimed he may never gain full use of his left hand again, and so Morgan found himself truly outmatched for the first time in a long time, doing all he could to stay on the defensive. But fate would smile on him that day. A bottle of holy water was knocked from his person, its contents seeping into the mud. But when Reinhild stepped upon the place it had landed, she recoiled in pain. Hot white smoke wafted from her foot, and Morgan had just enough time to turn the tides of battle, forcing the parasite onto her back, stopping at the last moment before finishing her, reckoning that she'd be of more use to him alive. Reinhild was sharply questioned over the coming days, but Morgan could not get the sight of her burning foot out of his mind, before finally, the cunning plan he'd long sought occurred to him. Lothain was a land of lakes, rivers, and mud. Mud that, with a little effort, could be used to great effect. His captains, for the most part, supported the proposed course of action, and so, they set about luring Eldric van Rechtern to his end.

Eldric and his host were harried for weeks before he committed to battle—Morgan committed the bulk of his own forces on the 29th Day of the Emerald Moon, 1200, marching forth with Reinhild van Rechtern strapped to a pole, tortured, gagged, and bloodied, as his battle standard, hoping to draw Eldric's ire. When Eldric launched a mindless assault in response, Morgan sounded the retreat, leading his soldiers and Reinhild west towards the abandoned hamlet of Warthford, situated at the confluence of several smaller rivers flowing into the Barr. This would have appeared a grave mistake to Eldric at first, who would have watched as the mortals floundered in the muddy fields, but Morgan's trick was soon revealed. For days prior to the battle, his druids had worked tirelessly to bless the waterlogged plains, creating acres of holy water-infused mud. What would have seemed like a sure victory for Eldric, his 40,000 tralls and 100 Vampire Lords, turned into a living Hell, as their ranks quickly erupted in holy fire and their thralls were released from their control. In the ensuing melee, Morgan finally met Eldric in single combat, with the vampire king desperately trying to end the war before his army was utterly destroyed. Even with holy burns across his body, the vampire king fought with a fury, and his duel with Morgan was said to be awe-inspiring, both employing all their skills and abilities in an attempt to end the war. But in the end, amidst a field of burning corpses, Morgan finally drove Mercy through Eldric's belly, eviscerating him as he pulled it free. With a desperate strike, Eldric countered by knocking Mercy from Morgan's hands. "You can't kill me!" roared the vampire king, though it sounded as though he was attempting to reassure himself, "I am a god!" Disarmed, Morgan sought to disprove the notion by tackling Eldric, beating him deeper and deeper into the mud, as holy flames consumed him, and holy water filled his lungs. According to Morgan, Eldric's last word was "please," gurgled seconds before the fire ended his reign of terror. The surviving vampires were captured, and a peace was negotiated. Reinhild van Rechtern unconditionally surrendered on the 9th Day of the Bloodstone Moon, 1200, and Morgan began the march back to Erren's Grave. The body of Eldric was dragged naked behind his horse, through the fields and hills of Lothain, and then through the dirty streets of the capital, where it was subject to all manner of abuses by the smallfolk. Finally, Morgan had the body burned before a jeering crowd, signifying the end of what had come to be known as the Bloodletting. Around 500,000 Loths were dead, and much of the country had been scoured, but the war was won.

The Sunset Throne

The King's efforts to make peace with the elves are, like his religious conversions, a project that has suffered some growing pains. Under his rule, the House of Dalaray has gained considerable power and prominent postings, while Morgan has also made efforts to draw elves currently fighting guerrilla campaigns in the southern Kingdom of the Avernmen and the New Empire north, offering them lands and refuge from persecution, to replace the Lothish peasant farmers killed in the war. In this, he has attempted to play off southern attitudes towards elves, where many have come to view Lothain as a dumping ground for their enemies. But relations with Lothain's southern neighbour, Avern, remain tense, as Morgan attempts to secure pilgrim roads to holy sites of the Hanged Gods south of the Barr with the young and ambitious King Bohemond III de Trie. To bring other Lothish lords around on his plan for the elves, he arranged a series of marriages between young mannish lords and heirs and elf-maids, while promising a future marriage pact with Donal XVI, King of Soder, to secure foreign support for his projects. But many resent the King's efforts to award land, titles, and positions of power to the elves. Morgan's children are also a controversy. His sons by Queen Nessa are all half-elves, and there are many in Lothain who do not wish to see any sort of elf on the throne. But King Morgan is adamant that his eldest son by Queen Nessa, Prince Lockland-Donn Gaunt, will inherit the throne when he dies, and he has been largely dismissive of the alternatives. That is not to say resistance to the Alliance of Loths and Ellans is unique to men. Among some fanatic elven circles, Queen Nessa and Duke Ultan have been called "the Great Betrayers", as they insist the Clan Dalaray sold out the elven cause for some semblance of personal power. Pockets of elven resistance continue in the south, as extreme factions of the Fael Bhana continue their bid for a truly elven kingdom north of the Barr.

To further unify his nobles against the threats to his rule, Morgan enacted two bold reforms—the Charter of Freedoms and the Great Council. Through the former, he ensured the rights of the nobility were encoded in legal doctrine rather than simple tradition, protecting crown vassals from the unreasonable seizure of their lands and arbitrary arrests. The Great Council further granted lords a more active role in the governance of the realm. All tenants-in-chief within the realm's borders were afforded a seat and the ability to, collectively, approve or disapprove new taxes levied by the crown, in the hopes that lords would be less like to throw in with scheming vampires if they felt they held some say in the realm's affairs. Additionally, efforts have been made to alleviate the suffering of the smallfolk. With the wealth brought into the crown's coffers via the closure of Celestial monasteries and the ransoming of vampiric prisoners, new wells were dug within and without Erren's Grave to provide the commonfolk with cleaner water, while peasants were granted the right to appear before the royal court, when previously they'd only the chance to present petitions to local lords. Commoners' rights to crown forests were additionally protected, and limits were placed on the rents lords could levy on their peasants. These plans were formulated with the help of Kennett Hardy, Edmont Darcy, and Harold Bellamy, three of Morgan's closest allies, but though he is known to defer to his Privy Council on matters he considers himself ill-informed, the King is generally obstinate and set in his ways. He believes all he has done is for the good of Lothain, whether his vassals agree or not. Though he has attempted to distance himself from the label "tyrant", he is incredibly stubborn and not easily swayed on matters he deems important, such as his support for the elves and his conversion to Northern paganism. Morgan's Lothain after the Bloodletting is a kingdom on edge, with the tensions between men and elves and followers of the Celestial Church and Hanged Gods threatening to tear the realm asunder. Morgan's skill as a war leader is unquestionable—he is a cunning commander, as well as one of the greatest swordsmen of his generation, if not of all time. But his skill as a peacetime ruler is untested and subject to much debate, as he struggles to rein in his rebellious vassals. Morgan has lamented that the worst thing to happen to his reign was his defeat of the Vampires, as he fears he has now outlived his usefulness in the eyes of Lothain's nobility. He has many allies in the North, where the Gaunts have for centuries enjoyed fanatic support, though in the South he is decidedly less popular.

Nessa Gaunt (née Dalaray), the Ninefingers

Indeed, Morgan has long been mocked for his more perverse appetites, as he enjoyed the company of men just as often as women prior to his marriage. The King was noted as being unusually close to Kennett Hardy, the 1st Earl of Drumond, and it is an open secret that the two were lovers. But many more have joked that Morgan first laid Kennett due to the knight bearing a resemblance to his childhood friend, Celestine Mallory. Morgan met Celestine during his fostership in the capital in 1189, when they were 11 and 13 respectively, and became fast friends. The boys were similar in terms of personality, and according to Morgan, the two first partnered to enact their revenge on mutual enemies, though it was not long before they grew to properly care for one another. In 1195, Morgan and Celestine swore an oath of eternal brotherhood before a Celestial priest, vowing to the gods to never cross their swords in anger, lest they be damned as oathbreakers. But many speculated that in truth, Morgan was in love with his friend, whom he often called "my lion". Whether Morgan's feelings were reciprocated or not is a matter for some debate, though it is noted that while the Prince had many female lovers, he was never known to keep romantic male companions except for Morgan. Though their separate ambitions caused them to part, Morgan frequently expressed his aim of crowning Celestine king during the first years of the Bloodletting. Regardless, Morgan did kill Celestine in a climactic duel in the Sunset Hall's throne room in 1198. Watching as his friend's coffin was lowered into the ground, Morgan claimed, "my soul lies with him" through tears. As of 1205, the King rarely speaks of Celestine except to curse him as a traitor.

• Morgan's most widely used sobriquet, "Black Bird", has both been used to mock him and been cheered by his soldiers. It is claimed that during a night of heavy drinking in Erren's Grave, Morgan engaged in a long rant over how, despite his appearance, he embodied Gaunt principles better than his brothers, insisting that in his heart he was "the blackest bird you'll find". After this episode, many squires and pages in Erren's Grave began derisively calling him "Black Bird".

• Morgan has a pet, a common raven he affectionately calls "the Bastard". She is well trained, being able to say around a dozen short words and phrases, such as "Gaunt", "bread", "pretty bird", and some curses. The Bastard has also been known to circle over the King during battle and peck at the exposed eyes of his enemies. During Morgan's time as a page in Erren's Grave, certain ladies-in-waiting accused the Bastard of stealing their jewellery, which Morgan denied. He also likes dogs, his favourite hunting dog being an Umberish buckhound named Jester, whom he is said to care for deeply.

• He fought his first duel at 15 over the issue of who was the fairest maid in Erren's Grave, Margerie de Felius or Anfrei Grey. He won despite being heavily intoxicated, but to this day, he cannot remember which side he was on.

• Men with conditions similar to Morgan's have often possessed vision problems, and Morgan is no exception. He can see well enough to fight in close quarters, but when commanding troops from afar, he requires aides to dictate positions to him. While functionally literate, his print has been described as unusually large, and he typically has attendants read for him.

• He often plays chess with Ultan Dalaray, though initially, Ultan was undeniably a better player. Morgan ascribes his winning strategy at Castlegar to an inspiration he received during one of their games—backed into a corner by his future good father, he felt a strong desire to smash the board to pieces.

• Morgan's public image often associates him with his sword, Mercy. She is a claymore, almost as long as Morgan is tall, with a yew wood hilt and a blade of moonstone steel. According to legend, Mercy was forged alongside her nine sisters by Lugh, a half-elven smith, from ore he found inside moonstones that fell to earth during the Hanged Gods campaign against the Outer Gods. Spellforged with ancient sorceries and blood magic, Mercy remains a potent magic weapon, capable of inflicting wounds upon vampires that normal steel could not. Despite being a weapon of war, Mercy additionally desires to be wielded by one who understands the value of a mortal soul, and indeed, early in the Bloodletting, Morgan admitted to struggling to use her, though he has since found he's "grown on her."

• Morgan is in the process of writing what he calls "The Art of Defence against Creatures of the Night" or "The Morganine Codex", a martial arts treatise dealing with weapons, techniques, and abilities he found particularly effective in fighting vampires. He hopes this book will ensure his experiences during the Bloodletting live on after his death and prove useful to younger generations of vampire hunters. He has also written several collections of poetry, and is rumoured to be the author of "The Key of Morgan", a grimoire of dark magicks and darker theosophies.