Harkon Lukas

Harkon Lukas, Darklord of Kartakass, is a charming deceiver—a maestro of manipulation who wears many masks, but none more dangerous than the one that sings. He is not the most feared creature in his domain, but perhaps the most insidious, for he does not rule by terror—he rules by adoration.

Harkon Lukas uses attention like a sword—and those who adore him often find themselves its sheath. Whether as a bard, tavernkeeper, lover, or confidante, he plays roles to perfection, saying precisely what others long to hear. When he no longer needs them, he discards his followers—or devours them.

• He owns the Old Kartakan Inn and Taverna in Skald, where locals and travelers gather nightly to sing and gossip beneath enchanted rafters.
• His silver tongue can rouse mobs or quell dissent, and his enemies often find themselves defending him without knowing why.
• Though adored by many, his fame is hollow, based on deceit and clever cruelty.

When Lukas closes Kartakass’s borders, the Mists sing a haunting, wordless lullaby. The melody seduces travelers into lingering, until the fog surrounds them like a noose. This music, like Lukas himself, is beautiful but dangerous—each note a lie, each harmony a prison.

• Kartakass itself reflects its Darklord: a land of charming facades, artistic pretensions, and social masks.
• Its people, wary and theatrical, respect Lukas’s skill but often fail to see his true nature—until it’s far too late.

Among all the pawns Harkon plays, two stand apart: his children, Akriel and Casimir. They are the only individuals he refuses to manipulate, and the only ones he might love in any true sense.

• Akriel, ambitious and bold, often schemes in his shadow.
• Casimir, more withdrawn, watches the world with a wolf's eyes and a silent understanding of their father’s nature.
• Lukas sees them as extensions of his legacy, but also as reminders of what he cannot fully control.

The Dark Powers torment Harkon Lukas not with fear or hatred, but with emptiness. He is applauded but not trusted, followed but never loved, and immortal but never fulfilled. No matter how many audiences he captivates, the curtain always falls, and he is left alone with his hunger and lies.

Harkon Lukas is the silver-tongued wolf of Kartakass, a seductive predator whose stagecraft hides a monstrous heart that no amount of applause can fill.