Wagnard (バグナード, Bagunādo), in the manga translated as Vagnado, is a powerful wizard of dark magic, often referred to as the “dark wizard” (魔導士のき闇, madō-shi no ki yami). He is the main villain of the sixth and seventh novels, The Holy Knight of Lodoss I and The Holy Knight of Lodoss II. He also appears as a villain in both anime adaptations and the Chronicles of the Heroic Knight manga.
Appearance[]
Wagnard is a tall, pale, middle-aged man with short dark hair in a bowl cut and a dark beard. His ears are slightly pointed, and after he resurrects Kardis, he has visible fangs. He wears dark purple robes.
History[]
Wagnard was a promising student at the Academy of Sages in Alan, but due to his interest in forbidden dark magic, he was punished by Headmaster Larcus. A curse, known as a "geas," was placed on his body, forcing him to endure intense pain whenever he casted magic. Wagnard retreated to the dark island of Marmo where he became the court wizard and began scheming for his revenge. During the events of The Grey Witch, he returned to Alan after Larcus' death and destroyed the Academy of Sages and killed several faculty members and high-ranking mages, fulfilling his revenge.
As part of his personal ambitions, Wagnard planned to resurrect Kardis, Goddess of Destruction, using "two keys" and "one door." The two keys were two of the Governor’s Treasures, the Staff of Life and the Soul Crystal Ball. The door was the "Doorway," referring to a virgin woman with the soul of Kardis, Naneel, within her who could be used as a sacrifice.
Around the time that Ashram was searching for the Scepter of Domination, a sorcerer named Groder who accompanied him was secretly working under Wagnard as well. Groder was in search of the Soul Crystal Ball, one of two "keys" needed for the ceremony to resurrect Kardis. When Ashram went to Blue Dragon Island, Groder was able to trick the group into fighting Abram and escaped with the Soul Crystal Ball, but ultimately did not retain possession of it, as it was stolen by Maar and taken to Flaim.
At the beginning of Spark's adventure, dark elves broke into the treasury in Flaim and stole the Soul Crystal Ball needed for the resurrection ceremony. The Staff of Life was subsequently stolen from the treasury in Valis, and eventually, Wagnard kidnapped Little Neese, the Doorway, in order to use her to resurrect Kardis. As Spark and his group arrived on Marmo, Wagnard was able to begin the resurrection ceremony, becoming the King of the Undead in the process. However, Little Neese was able to fight against the soul of Naneel contained within her and prevent the resurrection of Kardis.
Wagnard continued to live on Marmo in the Next Generation novel series.
In the OVA[]
In the 1990 OVA anime, as well as in Record of Lodoss War II for PC Engine, Wagnard targets Deedlit instead of Little Neese, using the eternal life of a high elf as a means to resurrect Kardis, and also seeks the Scepter of Domination to help him achieve this purpose. Therefore, rather than Groder being interested in the Soul Crystal Ball, he is after the Scepter of Domination. Wagnard also sends Pirotess first to attempt to kidnap Deedlit, and eventually kidnaps her himself.
Underground in Marmo, Wagnard attempts to revive Kardis using Deedlit's eternal life, but is thwarted when Ashram attempts to stop the resurrection from happening. Ashram cleaves him in half, thinking he has killed him, but Wagnard is able to survive long enough to strangle Ashram. Ashram kills him, but dies himself soon after due to suffocation.
Notes[]
- It is rumoured that Wagnard's robes are black because he dyed them with the blood of a dark elf.[1]
In the novels...
- ...Wagnard did not obtain the Scepter of Domination and Deedlit for the resurrection of Kardis. He used the Soul Crystal Ball, the Staff of Life and Little Neese.
- ...Wagnard wasn't slain by Ashram, nor did Ashram die from the wounds inflicted on him in his fight with Wagnard.
- ...Wagnard was not definitively killed by Spark. Wagnard completed his ceremony and became King of the Undead.
Gallery[]
.jpg "Wagnard at Kardis' altar (Holy Knights of Lodoss I).jpg (401 KB)") The Holy Knight of Lodoss I artwork by Yutaka Izubuchi .jpg "Wagnard and Little Neese (Yutaka Izubuchi).jpg (329 KB)") The Holy Knight of Lodoss II artwork by Yutaka Izubuchi .jpg "Wagnard (Yutaka Izubuchi).jpg (995 KB)") The Holy Knight of Lodoss II artwork by Yutaka Izubuchi .jpg "Wagnard (Inheritors of the Flame).jpg (485 KB)") Inheritors of the Flame artwork by Yutaka Izubuchi .jpg "Wagnard (Haruhiko Mikimoto).jpg (491 KB)") Inheritors of the Flame artwork by Haruhiko Mikimoto .jpg "Wagnard (RoLW RPG Replay 3).jpg (657 KB)") RPG Replay III artwork by Yutaka Izubuchi .jpg "Little Neese and Wagnard (RoLW RPG Replay 3).jpg (222 KB)") RPG Replay III artwork by Yutaka Izubuchi |
References[]
- ↑ The Grey Witch novel, pp. 158