Sir Istvan Toth is the main antagonist of the 2018 Historical Action RPG Kingdom Come: Deliverance. He is a Hungarian nobleman, working under his King Sigismund of Luxembourg to weaken the Bohemian lords loyal to King Wenceslas IV and facilitate Sigismund's conquest, who promised him rule over the lands along with a large monetary reward.
History[]
Background[]
An orphan, Toth's parents were killed by the Turks during one of the many wars raging on around Eastern Europe. He was taken into service by King Sigismund, eventually being made a nobleman by him and joining his court. At an unspecified time, he killed Erik's parents and took their son as a servant. Toth and Erik became increasingly close, to the point where they considered each other family and were, possibly, even lovers.
Under Sigismund's pay and orders, Toth moved to Bohemia and began planning his domination of the region, raising a large army made mostly of brigands, mercenaries and thieves. His main force, led by Erik, was based at Vranik, a forgotten fort south of Sasau. A smaller force, led by Runt, was based at Pribyslavitz, an abandoned village north of Talmberg. He also established a large money counterfeiting operation, coordinated by Sir Jezhek of Ronow and based at an abandoned mineshaft near Skalitz.
Kingdom Come: Deliverance[]
Toth talking to Sir Radzig at Skalitz.
In 1403, Toth visited Sir Radzig Kobyla at Skalitz, where he witnessed protagonist Henry and his father forging a mighty blade for their lord, commenting on the fine quality of the weapon. He left the town shortly after, just before Sigismund launched an attack and ransacked it, killing many of it's residents and sending Sir Radzig and the survivors running to Rattay. Toth knew that the attack was coming, but intentionally did not warn Radzig. Following the attack, Toth sent Runt and his men to scavenge whatever valuables were left at the town's ruins, where they stumbled upon Henry trying to bury his parents. Runt easily subdued Henry and stole the sword his father crafted for Radzig, though he had to retreat after Sir Robard and his men arrived to rescue Henry. Runt later gave the sword to Toth, who took it as his new personal blade. However, Henry survived, and swore to retrieve the sword.
After Runt's men raided Neuhof, Henry (now formally under Sir Radzig's and Sir Hanush's service) followed the bandits' trail and eventually found the location of their camp at Pribyslavitz. Sir Radzig and Sir Robard then led an assault on the camp and took it, killing most of the bandits present, including Runt, who was slain by Henry. Toth watched his defeat from a distance, swearing revenge and ordering one of his underlings to begin the next stage of the plan. Shortly after the assault on Pribyslavitz, Toth's men raided Merhojed as a show of force, though the villagers managed to fend them off, even capturing one of the cutthroats. Through interrogation, Henry learned from the captive of the counterfeiting operation. The knight Ulrich of Passau also investigated the racket, with Henry possibly enlisting his aid in dismantling the operation.
Toth talking to Henry at Vranik.
Sir Jezhek was eventually captured after the counterfeiting was discovered, revealing that there was an active unofficial military recruitment happening at Sasau. Although he knew and revealed Erik's name, Jezhek was unaware of Toth's identity or role in the plan. Henry managed to infiltrate the bandits at Vranik after passing through their recruitment, but he was soon exposed when he walked into Erik's office and saw Toth. Toth then showed Henry his sword, while also telling him that Radzig was his real father, mocking that he would say such a secret to him, but not to his son. He had Henry imprisoned and tortured, but he managed to escape with Zbyshek's help and inform the lords of Toth's involvement and the camp at Vranik.
Sir Hanush, Sir Radzig and Sir Divish then joined forces to attack Vranik, hoping to purge the region of it's bandit problem once and for all. They managed to take the fort without too much difficulty, but did not find Toth nor Erik at the camp. Unbeknownst to them, Toth had left Vranik with most of his men and marched to Talmberg, which was left defenseless since Divish had taken the vast majority of his men with him. There, he cunningly deceived Lady Stephanie by pretending to be a survivor of a raid, begging for them to take them into their castle and provide medical assistance. Stephanie kindly accepted his request, but as soon as they were inside Talmberg, Toth's men killed the guards and took Stephanie hostage, with Toth grinning evilly. He leaves a large amount of his men with Erik, who marches to get further reinforcements from Havel Medek.
Toth's evil grin.
The next morning, the Lords arrive with their soldiers and immediately storm Talmberg, but Toth manages to make them retreat out of the castle by threatening to kill Stephanie and Sir Radzig, who was captured in the middle of the initial attack. Talmberg is then besieged for several days, with a trebuchet being built to bomb the castle. Erik returns with reinforcements and attacks the Lords from the rear, but the besiegers manage to outsmart him and strike his army from various directions, capturing him. Sir Hanush then pleads with Toth to make a hostage exchange, but Toth firmly refuses, also telling them that should anything happen to Erik, Stephanie and Radzig would be immediately killed.
Toth with Lady Stephanie and Sir Radzig hostage.
Nevertheless, the trebuchet begins to bomb Talmberg, eventually getting a direct hit on the gate. Sir Hanush, Divish and Henry then lead an attack on the castle, where they kill most of Toth's men and corner him at the garrison tower. Toth still doesn't given in, claiming that he has abundant supplies up there and the hostages in captivity. Sir Hanush then promises, on the word of a Nobleman, that he will let Toth go unscathed with Erik, as long as Radzig and Stephanie are returned safely. Toth, seeing that he has no other option and trusting the word of a Nobleman, agrees. However, before leaving, he taunts Henry one last time by pretending to give him his sword, but "changing his mind" suddenly and riding away.
Hans Capon tries to capture Toth after he leaves the fief, but the cunning nobleman manages to evade him. The game then ends, with Henry and Capon still bent on chasing him, but realizing that there is more to live life for than vengeance.
Equipment and skills[]
- Master Tactician: Toth is notably more tactically skilled than the Bohemian lords, managing to trick them several times over the course of the game's story, including easily taking an entire castle, though this did come at the cost of Vranik. His gamble at victory failed when Erik's reinforcements were defeated, however he still managed to escape punishment through a hostage exchange, giving him another possible chance in conquering Bohemia.
- Leadership skills: Toth was able to effectively coordinate a large unofficial operation through Bohemia, including two large bandit camps and a money counterfeiting racket. His men seemed to trust and regard him well, and other than Zbyshek and a few deserters from the Neuhof raid, it seems none of them willingly betray him or refuse his orders, unless captured and interrogated.
- Cunning: Toth managed to remain anonymous for a long time, even being on supposedly friendly terms with Sir Radzig before he was revealed as the mastermind of the brigand army. He continuously manipulates everyone around him and is able to make the best of most situations. A notable example was his no-casualties conquest of Talmberg, where he easily deceived Lady Stephanie.
- Swordsmanship: Although he is never shown fighting in the game, Toth is confident enough in his combat skills to supposedly offer Henry a chance to best him in a duel, but this never happens due to Zbyshek's betrayal and Henry's subsequent escape from Vranik.
Trivia[]
- It is possible that Toth and Erik actually ordered Zbyshek to free Henry, in order to make him warn the lords of Vranik and allow for the taking of Talmberg. This would make him an even more cunning villain than he already is.