THORAN

"Long live the king."

Thoran is a durable strength-based tank hero of the Graveborn faction whose skills are focused on being damaged rather than making the most out of his attacks. He is more durable than most heroes, with an added resurrection skill which restores his life partially. Some of his skills have small Crowd control effects as well.

Thoran's ultimate skill "Retaliation" allows him to enter a focus state. In this state, he can convert the damage he receives into damage against his enemies. He also becomes immune to crowd control effects.

King Thoran was a beloved ruler. Wise and able, his kingdom prospered as it never had before. Taxes were kept light, which endeared him to the merchant and peasant classes alike. Using skilled diplomacy and negotiation, he kept the kingdom out of war. There were no towns of grieving widows or hungry orphans under his rule. The soldiers enjoyed long visits home to spend time with their families in safety and help tend to domestic matters.

There was, however, a small contingent who didn't appreciate Thoran's way of doing things. Foremost among these malcontents was no other than the monarch's younger brother, Edwin. He rankled at the pacifistic policies of Thoran, seeing them as a stain on the honor of the kingdom and their house. After all, what did it say of their strength if they failed to carry on the old ways, the ways of the sword and conquest and blood. The barbarians populating the savage lands beyond their borders had stopped fearing the might of the kingdom. Noble houses which had maintained their place through warfare sat dormant, their power and influence dwindling season after peaceful season.

It was from among these houses that Edwin found the support he sought. A handful of noblemen responded to a secret summons. Once gathered, a plan was revealed. The few who opposed it didn't survive the meeting. A coup was underway. Edwin bid his treacherous noblemen return to their estates to each gather a selection of their most ruthless and skilled men-at-arms. After doing so, they returned to the royal residence under the guise of making a social call. Their soldiers posed as cooks, heralds, and retainers, hiding their weapons among their lords' personal effects. At a dinner attended by the king as well as several of his top officials, the traitors made their attack. King Thoran was successfully dispatched, but at a far greater cost than they could've imagined.

One of Thoran's Praetorian Guard, after finally being overwhelmed by his attackers, rose inexplicably from his bloody heap. In the slaughter that followed, the traitors were slain to a man, including Edwin. The risen guard scooped up his fallen king's body in his arms and took him away, seeking yet another resurrection.

The Praetorian was successful in his task, and the monarch rose again. The kindness and goodwill for which he had been famous had drained from his heart, replaced with a cold rage.

Rumors eventually reached Thoran that his brother had also been brought back into the living world. At this news he found a new purpose. He began raising an army of the undead- an army that would give him the vengeance constituting his only remaining desire. He would find his brother and bring him the final death.

"The crown weighs heavy."