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| “ | I have come to believe that there are two great forces at work in the Universe - creation and destruction - and I have dedicated myself to understanding one of them in the hope of learning the secrets of the Universe as well. Destruction is indiscriminate. It uses all of us for its purposes. There was a time when I thought only necromancers such as myself represented the force of destruction and death. Not true. All things must crumble. All things must die. This is the one truth in the Universe. And thus, even a nation commanded by a necromancer (the embodiment of death) must be destroyed. When others like the powerful necromancer, Sandro, sought to control the world, the force of destruction supported them temporarily. Then, for lack of a better description, it changed its mind. Destruction and death turned upon itself. That's why no single man has ever ruled the world for long. All things must die. As long as our fickle Universe doesn't notice what you're doing, you're safe! | „ |
| ~ Gauldoth Half-Dead |
Gauldoth or Gauldoth Half-dead is one of the main protagonists in Heroes of Might and Magic IV. He was a necromancer, demonologist and the King of Nekross, the third and youngest son of Nicolas Gryphonheart and Iduna.
Biography[]
Gauldoth spent part of his young age as a prisoner. As a child, he was abducted by a vampire named Loscan who bit and drank the boy’s blood daily. However, one day a lich named Kalibarr will save him. Kalibarr felt the boy had great magic power and offered Loscan ten children in exchange for the boy, but the vampire refused. In addition, Loscan was a member of the old necromancer order, so Kalibarr could not take the boy by force. The lich then showed a famous crusader knight Loscan's hideout and the knight killed the vampire, and Kalibarr took Gauldoth. Kalibarr started teaching the boy and as a young adult he spent a lot of time in a library. However, right at the Reckoning, a fire broke out in the library and the right half of Gauldoth's body burned. However, as he burned, he read a spell that turned the right half of his body into an undead. He then survived the burn and crossed the portal into the world of Axeoth. Kalibarr, on the other hand, disappeared, and Gauldoth thought his master was dead.
Gauldoth then lived almost as an animal in the wilderness. People looked at him like a monster and thought he was eating people, especially children. However, Gauldoth did not eat man but animals, and his undead half was never hungry. He ate bugs, rats and eggs. Once, however, he went too close to a farm. He wanted to take the eggs and the chickens, he twisted the necks of the birds, but the people surrounded him and caught him. He tried to escape, but a pitchfork pierced his right shoulder and then they started punching sticks and kicking him. The worst part came when a farmer ripped the chickens out of his hands. He was tied up and the people took him to Vitross, which belonged to the kingdom of Great Arcan and in the city the piled bundles of dry wood around his feet. Gauldoth was afraid, but not of the people, but of the fire because he remembered his past and the pain caused by the flames on the right side of his body. However, the fear only got stronger him.
Sir Mardor wants to burn Gauldoth.
Sir Mardor, Commander of Vitross, wanted to burn him, and Gauldoth was accused of false accusations. Then Gauldoth performed a successful spell that send an unearthly chill into everyone’s muscles and they slowed down completely. He then fled. He fled back to the wilderness and then to a graveyard. His anger at Vitross and his childhood gave him great strength, he specifically felt the dead asleep. He then used necromancy, raised skeletons, zombies, and some ghosts. The necromancer set off in the evening with his army, knowing that the undead were more efficient at night. However, bandits caught them. Gauldoth tried to convince the greedy leader to leave them alone in exchange for 100 gold. The leader refused, at which point Gauldoth broke his arm easily with his undead right side. He then broke his neck as well. The bandits attacked, but the undead killed them all. Gauldoth then occupied two barbaric cities and vampires join him. A druid named Halas saw the danger posed by Gauldoth's growing strength and army, so he wanted to stop him at all costs. However, the druid was defeated and Gauldoth marched with all his unded forces against Vitross. The undead burned the city, but Gauldoth wanted revenge. He wanted to humiliate those who humiliated him as well. He captured Sir Mardor and burned him at the stake, and he turning the farmers and woodsmen into zombies. After that, Gauldoth kept having dreams and visions. He saw Kalibarr suffering in flames. In the meantime, however, he wanted to found a kingdom.
Kalibarr was captured by the Kregan demons. Next to them was a crusading army which came from Palaedra to find a powerful relic, the Angel's Blade, to fight effectively against the undead and demons. Meanwhile, Gauldoth resurrected the spirit of Mardor, who had now become the commander of his armies. One night, Mardor went to the western borders of the kingdom of Great Arcan to explore the area and get news. The ghost told his master that Emilia Nighthaven, Queen of Great Arcan, had fought against barbarians and that the western territories were completely defenseless. He even drew a war plan. Gauldoth liked the plan, but rejected the attack. However, he keep the war plan because he had other plans. After that, Gaudoth was now known as the king of Nekross. His first action was to send Mardor's plans to Queen Emilia in a letter with his black seal on it. Mardor became quite nervous, but he couldn't kill Gauldoth, because the nercomancer cursed him. After burning him, Gauldoth crushed Mardor's skull and then mixed it with ink. He then wrote his name in ink on his living skin of his left arm. Gauldoth then explained to Mardor that he had sent his plans to the Queen because he had thus successfully deceived her and he avoided an unnecessary war. Galdoth's plan was that the neighboring kingdoms would fall against each other, and he would just watch. Gauldoth then successfully defeated the Kreegan demons and crusaders. He got the blade and moved to another world, a fiery, hot, hellish world where Kalibarr was captive. However, a demon was still standing in his way, a female demon called Rahjuu with a huge army. However, Gauldoth successfully defeated her and freed Kalibarr. His master was very weakened, but he was alive.
Gauldoth was happy to show Kalibarr how much success he had achieved in a short time. The kingdom of Nekross developed successfully, there were more and more young and volunteer necromancer apprentices and even more who wanted to join and learn to use the Death Magic and the army was strong. However, Kalibarr acted as if he didn’t even care about the whole thing and could only say that it was nowhere near the old necromantic order. However, Gauldoth realized that his master was still weak and barely freed from suffering. However, after Gauldoth handed over power to Kalibarr, the kingdom of Nekross began to falter quite a bit. A demonic rebellion broke out that almost destroyed half of Nekross, and Kalibarr could not crush the rebellion. Several complained that Gauldoth was a much better king, but the necromancer trusted his master, who entrusted him with a task. He had to activate five power points and so Kalibarr could regain his old, huge power. While trying to crush the rebellion and activate the power points, he reached a small village. The citizens were terrorized by imps, but Gauldoth quickly chased them away. However, then he heard screams. He hurried to one of the houses where he found the body of a middle-aged man with a bite on his neck. The man was killed by a vampire captain, Enric, and he also wanted to kill a beautiful girl in the house. Gauldoth shouted to him immediately, but the vampire didn't care, but the necromancer drained his power away. He slapped the vampire on the right side of the undead and then took him out of the house. Gauldoth hated him from the start because, as a human, he betrayed Mardor in exchange for the immortality of the vampires. Gauldoth sentenced him to death for treason. He pierced five spears through the vampire's body and left him, because if the sun rises he will perish. Gauldoth then wants to get to know the girl, but she’s quiet and doesn’t want to talk. Along the way, a group of ice demons attacked them. Gauldoth killed most of them with a single spell, but one scratched deep furrows in the living flesh of his left thigh. The last demon was killed by a soldier. The wound was severe as the demon cut through one of his arteries and blood was pouring from his legs. Then the woman named Alana went over there and healed the leg of the necromancer, who was surprised. Then they talked a lot. Alana felt that he saw the good in Gauldoth and that there was still hope for him. However, he knew this was not true and he felt that the woman just wanted to convert him. However, when Gauldoth talked about her own philosophy and the Universe, Alana always listened with interest. Once the uprising had been suppressed and some of the power points had been activated, Gauldoth wanted to release the girl. However, she did not want to leave because at all costs she wanted Gauldoth to find the good in himself. The necromancer was still skeptical, but he was very happy to finally have someone with whom he could talk more about things in the world and the Universe. Meanwhile, Gauldoth, however, received news that demon rebels had found themselves a leader, a strong warrior named Suraze. However, the uprising was very weakened, but Alana was worried. After activating the fourth power point, he felt a dark, cold, evil force and worried about Gauldoth. However, he felt power and magic in this force. After defeating the last major army of rebels, he found the fifth power point, where the power of the other four was accumulated. However, Alana was very scared and felt how evil this force was and asked Gauldoth not to activate the tower. She even tried to turn his own philosophy against it, but then Gauldoth challenged her. He asked her to show him that the good is stronger than the evil. Alan kissed Gauldoth's left cheek and wanted to touch the onyx crystal in which the evil force was. However, the dark energy flowed into her body and then back into crystals. Alana collapsed. Gauldoth knew this was going to happen, but after activating the last tower he felt guilty and regretted what he had done. He handed her corpse to a peasant woman and ordered her to bury the woman fairly and lay flowers on his grave. Gauldoth then returned to Nekross.
After two months and activating the power points, Kalibarr changed. He became embarrassed, very arrogant and extremely ruthless. His body was extremely distorted and appeared only very rarely. However, Gauldoth wanted to know what had happened to his master, so he turned into a shadow and followed one of his zombies, but did not enter the room. Kalibarr called someone his master and then went through a magical portal. Gauldoth was very surprised and met Kalibar after this. The lich gave an unpleasant command to him. The kingdom of Necross had a strong ally, a vampire lord called Malvich. He supported Gauldoth and even helped against the demon rebellion. He had a artifact, the Deadwood Staff, which he did not want give to Kalibarr. The lich ordered his apprentice to kill the vampire and bring him the artifact. Gauldoth, however, doubted his master's command here because he knew that a war against Malvich would weaken Nekross. Kalibarr then grabbed his throat and told him that this kingdom meant nothing to him at all and if Gauldoth did not comply with the order he would seek another apprentice. Gauldoth then accepted the order, but did not trust his master, so he ordered Mardor to watch his master when he was doing. He then set off against Malvich's forces. However, he did not want an open conflict for the first time. He wanted to send a messenger. He found a man with lung disease and Gauldoth cut off his throat and turned him into a zombie. He then sent it to Malvich and asked him to hand over the Deadwood Staff. Malvich cut off the left arm of the zombie messenger and signaled that Kalibarr would not receive the staff. He was nothing wrong with Gauldoth but demanded not to comply with the lich command. However, Gauldoth remained loyal to his master and prepared to attack Malvich's armies. However, in order to successfully fight he had to obtain a relic, it was Life Shield. The Shield was at the tomb of a knight named Sir Kolbert, however, the place was visited by fanatical priests. Disguised as a life priest, Gauldoth approached one of the priests near the tomb who said he had to prove his loyalty. The priest wanted the Armor of Death, in return he allowed him to see the tomb. Then, for a few weeks, Gauldoth fought Malvich's troops successfully. However, a ghost messenger arrived, sent by Mardor. The messenger announced that Kalibarr had ordered Mardor to gather all of Nekross's children. Gauldoth knew the lich wanted to take them to the portal, but he didn't know why. The necromancer told the messenger to return to Mardor and carry out the order. Gauldoth then, after several serious fights, finally found the Armor of Death and took it to the priest. The armor was destroyed and Gauldoth could finally see Sir Kolbert's tomb. However, he got tired of the fanatics. He crushed the priest’s skull at the nearest wall then he raising Sir Kolbert’s body ad a zombie knight. He ordered the zombie to kill all the fanatics, and then Gauldoth left the place with the Life Shield. He then continues to fight and eventually reaches Malvich's cave. The vampire was a very strong opponent, but Gauldoth eventually defeated him and obtained the Deadwood Staff. Gauldoth had to peel Deadwood Staff from Malvich's hand and the necromancer regretted somewhat that he had killed the person who had always supported him. When he grabbed the staff he felt its horrible and evil power, but he noticed that the artifact was not complete because the headpiece missing. He left a small garrison in Malvich's territories and wanted to return to Nekross, but now he wanted to know the truth.
Gauldoth was very disappointed because Kalibarr had ruined his kingdom. People suffered and looked at him with a pleading gaze, children were tortured or experimented experimented with them in mage guilds. Nekorrum became as dark, brutal, and horrible as the other necromancer cities. When Gauldoth handed over the Deadwood Staff to his master, Kalibarr immediately hurried to the portal without a word. However, Gauldoth followed his master. When he reached the hall, he could no longer find him there, but the portal was still activate. He arrived at a very empty, evil land that Gauldoth just called Plane of Death. The place was very cold and he could see other smaller footprints besides Kalibarr. These were the children's footprints. Kalibarr knelt in front of an unknown figure. A inhumanly tall figure masked in a black cloak that draped behind him like a shadowy wedding train with a life of its own. Then the dark figure handed him a dark skull, which was the missing headpiece of the Deathwood Staff. Gauldoth then learned that Kalibarr’s master was a a malicious god of death and he determined to destroy every living being on the world. His plan was for Kalibarr to unleash an extremely powerful and evil spell, the Unholy Breath. Gauldoth was determined to stop his fanatical, crazy master and the god of death. However, the lich learned that his apprentice was following him and chasing him for several days. Gauldoth began to liberate his kingdom. He killed Kalibarr's followers and guards, freed the abducted children and recaptured Nekorrum. The people rejoiced and Gauldoth became king again. But the danger did not pass, because Kalibarr wanted to carry out his master's plan with his own undead army.
Gauldoth face off Kalibarr.
However, Gauldoth did not allow this. Kalibar was hated many and the hiding demon rebels and their leader Suraze were openly ready to follow their new king. Gauldoth knew his master did not expect a counterattack, so he, Suraze, and the army crossed the portal. Kalibarr was surprised, but eventually took up the fight and fought against his apprentice. The evil lich was too arrogant and relied on the power of the Deadwood Staff, but in the end Gauldoth defeated Kalibarr, who was specifically destroyed. The Lich's army was also destroyed, but Gauldoth was not happy. He was sad that he had to kill the person who saved his life and from whom he learned everything.
Personality[]
| “ | I have struggled to understand a Universe that allows the destruction of an entire planet. Which will win this endless conflict - destruction or creation? The only thing I know for certain is never to place your faith entirely on one side. Play the middle if you want to survive. Everyone else is a fanatic. I am Gauldoth... Half-Dead. Your savior. | „ |
| ~ Gauldoth after he defeated Kalibarr. |
Gauldoth was an extremely neutral, rigid, self-serving, and objective person. He has always been interested in the workings of the universe and the subject of destruction and creation. He firmly argued that there is no absolute good or bad, destruction and creation are both good and bad. He despised those who thought there was clear good and bad in the world, and even called such people fanatics and said they didn't think. He expressed his relentless and neutral views not only on the users of the life magic, but also on the necromancers, and considered them as fanatical as those against whom Kalibarr tried to educate.
Gauldoth disliked the unnecessary cruelty and massacres, and openly despised the arrogance. He was cruel only when it was needed or when his opponent deserved it. He had mixed feelings for people. Revenge for his past lived there in him, yet he showed no open hatred to anyone.
Powers and abilities[]
It was no coincidence that Kalibarr wanted to get him at all costs, because at a young age he felt great magic in Gauldoth and the boy was a surprisingly intelligent and fast-learning person. He studied Nature magic and necromancy very much. By adulthood, he had become a very strong necromancer, easily defeating smaller armies with or without magic.
- Death Magic: Gauldoth was a natural prodigy in the use of Death Magic. When they wanted to kill him in Vitross for the first time, he successfully performed a mass exhaustion spell. He later successfully mastered most of the spells and became one of the greatest masters of Death Magic.
- Nature Magic: Gauldoth also read and learned a lot about the Nature Magic. At first he was only able to summon smaller fairies, but later he used the Nature Magic just as masterfully as the Death Magic.
- Physical strength: Despite his thin and skinny stature, Gauldoth was a strong, resilient person, but his undead part had much greater strength than an average man. He was able to easily break limbs or defeat a man. Later, even in close combat, he was able to easily defeat anyone.
- Intelligence: Gauldoth was a very intelligent, cunning and conscious person. He fully studied and analyzed anything, and he was constantly a skeptical, thinking, person. He always wanted to make a reasonable decision first, no matter what the situation, first listening to his own mind.
- Leadership: Gauldoth was a good king. He successfully founded a necromancer kingdom that was completely different from the others and many voluntarily joined. His small kingdom had a strong economy and army, and the people respected and loved him. This is also shown by the fact that there was no rebellion against the kingdom of Nekross until Kalibarr came to power.
Quotes[]
| “ | Can you go years without talking to another human being? What about untold months snatching your meals from the forest floor and sleeping in muddy pits? Sanity is a spider clinging to a fluttering thread of web unaware of the fingers reaching for it, catching it, plopping it in my mouth… | „ |
| ~ Gauldoth in the campaign prologue. |
| “ | In the scope of the Universe, we are but a single breath. To say we're insignificant is to give us too much credit. But when the Universe chooses you to be a part of its plan, you'd better hold on and take what you can get because your ride will surely be over before you know it! | „ |
| ~ Gauldoth about the Universe. |
| “ | Why can't everyone see the inherent goodness in destruction? Or the evil in creation? A forest cannot live without the nutrients provided by the destructive force of a forest fire. And if I am wrong, then why is the lifeblood of creation - water - the most destructive force on the planet? | „ |
| ~ Gauldoth about the good and evil. |
| “ | So, what is the point if I am but an insignificant pawn of the Universe? Knowledge! To know the Universe is to transcend it. Destruction, creation, good, and evil; the grand scheme of things they are just the masks we use to understand that which we cannot grasp. Well, here is my hand. Show me your secrets. I am not afraid! | „ |
| ~ Gauldoth about the Universe. |
| “ | A worm knows one thing with complete faith. Eat to live. Whether it's moldy dirt or rotten flesh, that worm digs and eats, eats and digs to fulfill its one truth. Eat to live. But I hold one now in my Undead fingers. It squirms, fighting to free itself. What is it thinking? When I pop it in my mouth and chew its pink flesh, does it realize that you should NEVER place all your faith in one ideal? | „ |
| ~ Gauldoth about the faith. |