| “ | I'm sorry, it was just business. Until we meet again...
— Arkhan
|
” |
Arkhan the Cruel is a dragonborn and champion of Tiamat, serving as Highlord of the Scaled Tyrant.
A former hired killer, Arkhan was once imprisoned and tortured in an attempt to convert him by a religious cult. Aided by visions and granted great power by the goddess Tiamat, Arkhan was able to break his bonds and murder his captors. Breaking his oath, Arkhan from then on worshipped the draconic goddess. Having visions of a loop of golden thorns, Arkhan spent months researching the artifact until learning what he needed from a monk of the Cobalt Soul, hiring several mercenaries—of which included Keyleth and Percival de Rolo—to aid him in delving into the Vault of Shumas.
After fighting their way through the Vault, Arkhan controlled and ordered the undead caregiver to show him the artifact. Calling upon a manticore, the beast gave up the artifact, the Wreath of Prism, allowing Arkhan to take it. When Arkhan placed it on, the thorns jutted into his neck, changing the appearance of his eyes, his perception of color and others, and gave him command over the Manticore.
In the period following, Arkhan spent much time aiding other adventurers and lords, while receiving further visions of artifacts from Tiamat. He was left for dead after an encounter with Vecna's death knight, and Delilah Briarwood that saw his companion Vander killed, though he managed to kill the pair's white dragon Obatalá. Encountering the Vox Machina while wrestling a Gloomstalker, Arkhan took control of the beast with the Wreath of the Prism, and made a deal with the Vox Machina; if they were to look past each other's beliefs, then they could help each other. In exchange for helping Arkhan enact revenge against Vecna's death knight, he would join them. The two parties agreed, and Arkhan and Grog Strongjaw moved to destroy the outer sigil protecting Thar Amphala, Vecna's main base of operations.
Delilah, with Sylas Briarwood, returned with a resurrected Obatalá, however they were defeated by the combined efforts of the Vox Machina and Arkhan, Arkhan resurrecting the killed Delilah as an undead puppet out of revenge. Finding his dead companion within the tower of Entropis, Arkhan resurrected him, and continued to fight through the tower with the Vox Machina. With the death knight returning, Arkhan chose to stay behind with his two companions and sacrifice himself so that the Vox Machina could continue on.
Arkhan survived however, and joined back with the Vox Machina during their battle against Vecna, eventually managing to defeat the lich using a combination of the Divine Trammels and the Tome of Tome of Isolation. Opting to destroy the Hand of Vecna once and for all, Arkhan approached the Hand with his axe Fane-Eater, swinging down at his own hand to chop it off and quickly replacing it with the Hand of Vecna. In the wake of the Vox Machina's shock, Arkhan was able to escape and meet with his advisor Krull, plane shifting to Avernus, where he has remained since.
Battle vs. Darth Vader (Legends) (by GardenofSound)[]
TBW.
Expert's Opinion[]
TBD.