KEAGAN THE GREAT’S EARLY LIFE
"The story of Keagan The Great cannot be told without mentioning the circumstances that led to such an extraordinary man. Keagan was born to King Ferran II Darnym, and Queen Yvina Ifona. He was born during the War for Duskholde, between Ferran II, and the pretender Rychard, Ferran’s cousin. After the Battle of Silverkept, Rychard was captured, and all his supporters dethroned, putting in place either a younger family member or, if none promised eternal loyalty to house Darnym, their family's lands were stripped from them. After the war, a supporter of Rychard placed poison in the wines of King Ferran and Queen Yvina.
Keagan the Young, as he was called then, was crowned King of Duskholde and the Dusklands at an age of four. The regency council assembled for him consisted of the Lords of the Bluefields, the Northmarches, Tessaway, and Keagan’s uncle, Wymar. Keagan took an interest in ruling since he was crowned, but, as a small child, he was not allowed into the meetings. The regency council had been slowly filled with yesmen to Wymar, and the lords of Duskholde grew tired of his mismanagement of the realm.
Keagan eventually grew into a young man of five-and-ten, and demanded to be included on the regency council, but his uncle had laughed him off. That night, after being refused, an assassin was sent to kill Keagan as he slept. However, unbeknownst to whoever hired the assassin, He had adopted a hound, and, against his uncle’s wishes, Keagan slept with the dog. Luckily for our modern world, the dog, named Lango, alerted the young Keagan, sacrificing his own life to save his owner. Keagan reached for his sword, which he would then name Fateslayer, and killed the assassin. Fearing for his life, Keagan managed to escape Duskholde’s Keep, riding to his childhood friend and new lord of Tessaway, Lord Avon Tess.
Thinking his nephew had died, Wymar crowned himself King of Duskholde and the Dusklands, without consulting the High Archon or checking to see that Keagan was truly dead. Keagan remained in exile from his home until he turned six-and-ten, gathering support for his rightful claim to Duskholde.
On the day he turned six-and-ten, with the troops of Tessaway, Scarredwood, and Woodedford. A small battle broke when he reached the city gates, but the troops of the rightful king overcame them. Keagan walked into the grand keep of Duskholde, and found his uncle dead, with a dagger in his back. Keagan disposed of the body, and invited the High Archon to Duskholde to crown him. It was a small private ceremony, and on the 5th Day of the 7th Moon 1629 AA, he was crowned King of Duskholde and the Dusklands, issuing in the just and honorable reign of Eridan’s Greatest Darnym king."
-Scholar Erkart, in his work "The Life of Keagan The Great"