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| This article is about Matthew Mercer's character from Escape from the Bloodkeep, Leiland. |
| For the article about the son of Maggie from Escape from the Bloodkeep, see Leiland Jr.. |
"You are loved, you are important, you are loved, you are important, you will be listened to, you will be fine." ― Leiland to himself
Kraz-Thun, also known as Leiland, is a lieutenant of the forces of darkness. He serves as leader of the Vinguri and trusted advisor and knight to Zaul'Nazh, Lord of Shadows. He is played by Matthew Mercer.
Description[]
"As the majestic, enshadowed wyvern lands atop the obsidian shelf that sits atop the high peak of the Bloodkeep, you watch as Kraz-Thun, upper chest and torso emblazoned with dark black iron armour that comes to a series of dozens of hooks and sharp edges. You can see the blackened robes flowing as the wind pushes back. This singular helmet, itself crowned with about eight or nine sharpened spires that kind of hook backward, from within you can see this very, very faint slit of metallic armour that leaves these vacuous spaces of dull blue glow where the eyes should be." ― Matthew Mercer
With Helmet Off
"And as he pulls his helmet off, you can see the like, long silvery hair strands kind of gently, they don't quite hit the top of the armor, they kind of drift a few inches off of the edge and kind of lift in their incorporeal way." ― Matthew Mercer
Background[]
Before being raised to undeath by Zaul'Nazh, Leiland was 6th in line for the throne of his family. When he joined the Lord of Shadows, he ended up killing all of his family, and dismantling the kingdom he once knew.
Zaul'Nazh was the one to name him Kraz-Thun, as this was a name more becoming of the leader of the Vinguri.
During his time as the King of the Vinguri and the right hand of Zaul'Nazh, Leiland had a deep and obessive relationship with his Lord. He confides in Maggie later that he "may have loved Zaul'Nazh", but both of them, after seeing the Lord's true nature, know that they're better off without him.
History[]
Welcome to the Dark Side[]
Leiland and The Vinguri return from another search for the one true crown of Zaul'Nazh, unsuccessful. Leiland takes it hard, but the others take turns comforting him and each other. He hands off his wyvern to Sokhbarr, and a bit of contention between them shows they don't have the best relationship of yet.
Later, the two of them set out together after drums sound throughout the Bloodkeep, calling the advisors to a council in the throne room.
Leiland updates his Lord that they after traveling "the length and breadth of the land, slaying many of the men and the creations that reside at their sides, left much blood and sorrow" in their wake, they are very close to finding the crown, and Efink supports his claim having had a vision of a delegate of Zaul'Nazh finding the crown, and soon.
It is right after this conversation that the fiery mouth explodes, and the advisors are left with nothing but an ember and ash. Leiland gathers up what he can, visibly distraught, and puts it in a leather pouch for safekeeping, given to him by Markus. Leiland blames himself for not putting enough effort into finding the crown.
When singing his fingers on his crown of chains, the magic circlet that keeps him here in his unalive state, he realizes a part of Zaul'Nazh continues to survive within him.
Volcano of Violence[]
During the Battle of Scary Volcano, Leiland's enemy is the halfling Galfast Hamhead, who surprisingly holds her own against Leiland while using a pan as a weapon and shield. Leiland is certain he can make short work of Galfast and go to help the others. However, the battle with Galfast continues even after the other Lieutenants finish their own. Oblivious to this, Leiland continues fighting until Markus St. Vincent intervenes, jumping from a recently contracted eagle, in the process blinding Leiland by rotating his helmet, and defeats Galfast. Out of pity, the rest of the Lieutenants claim that the final blow was dealt by Leiland, who stabs Galfast twice more out of frustration. Percival however arrives, heals Galfast from death's door and restrains her.
Relationships[]
Sokhbarr[]
Sokhbar initially does not like Leiland because he treats his wyvern like a thing, refusing to feed it as that is "not his job".
Efink Murderdeath[]
Leiland calls her a "dear friend" in the first episode, indicating something of a friendship between them.
Maggie[]
The relationship between Maggie and Leiland is initially contentious, each vying for Zaul'Nazh' attention. By the end of the season, they have buried this hatchet, both realizing they deserved better than Zaul'Nazh, and Leiland swearing to protect Leiland Jr..
Galfast Hamhead[]
While Leiland was tasked to track down Drova Longfoot to reclaim the Crown, Galfast quickly replaced Drova as Leiland's nemesis after her impressive resistances to his powerful moves in the Battle of Scary Volcano, damaging his ego and irking him with her halfling kindness through the blows. Her consistent evasions greatly frustrated Leiland to no end, seeing as it continuously humiliates him.
Trivia[]
- Leiland, along with Efink, is the player character most clearly inspired by Lord of the Rings. His character and the other Vinguri are similar to the Nazgûl.
- Aesthetically and in his position as Zaul’Nazh’s lieutenant, Kraz-Thun/Leiland is also similar to the Witch-King of Angmar (thus including all of the Vinguri as Ringwraith/Nazgûl analogues).
- Matthew Mercer actually voiced the Witch-King of Angmar in the game Middle-Earth: Shadow of War (2017)[2]
- Leiland's backstory as a Prince turned into a creature of Shadow forced to kill his family and kingdom is reminiscent of Arthas Menethil and his Death Knights.
References[]
- ↑ Brennan Lee Mulligan (@BrennanLM) on Twitter: "Hey Kyle! Thanks so much! Hollow One is a racial template Matt Mercer designed and will be featured in his upcoming book I believe! He used it for Leiland on the last season of Dimension 20, and was kind enough to loan it to me for use in NADDPOD with Murph's permission!" (June 9, 2019).
- ↑ https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6579422/fullcredits?ref_=tt_cl_sm
| Escape from the Bloodkeep Characters | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Player Characters | Efink Murderdeath | Sokhbarr | Leiland Lilith | Maggie | Markus St. Vincent | ||
| Non-Player Characters |
PC Families | Jason | Jessa | Russell | Kyle | Telmeir the Calm | Gogmoth | Leiland Jr. | Tavian St. Vincent | |
| The Forces of Darkness | Zaul'Nazh | The Vinguri | Keldriel | Olag | Hobbert and Frod | Master Ipskix | Master Privo | The Norns | Beezo | Sistra | Avanash | Hork | John Feathers | Matthias Feathers | J'er'em'ih | Lava Mog | ||
| The Forgotten Fleet | Anne of Kilkathery | Bad Henry | Ol' Pickering | ||
| The Nightmare Realm | Gogmoth | The Boatman | The Nameless Evils | ||
| The Forces of Light | Stalker | Bulric Bellbarrel | Kasara the Beige | Drova Longfoot | Galfast Hamhead | Goroomrara | ||