Lord Herard Bane

* The Feeble King (III)
* The Feeble King (I-II)

*"Word it how you please! Treason is treason! Attack!!" -* The Feeble King (III)

**Lord Herard Bane** was the head of the Bane Family during the late fifteenth century and a strong supporter of King John Koopa VI, being a supporting character in the *Wars of Frozen Flames* episode "The Feeble King". He makes minor appearances in the first two parts, before fighting for John VI in the Battle of Whomp City, where he is slain by Lord Richard Koopa, Duke of Sherbet Land. He had several children, including Lord Erik Bane, a knight infamous for his strength and brutality. He was based on Thomas Clifford, 8th Baron Clifford.

## History

### The Feeble King

#### Parts I and II

Herard's son Erik debuts before him, where he is shown battling a member of House Tyebolt in a tourney. Erik slays his opponent despite the opponent yielding. Herard himself appears at the Loveday Feast, where he pulls out his sword to defend John VI when an argument between Queen Cynder and Lord Richard breaks out.

Herard appears yet again in part II, where he is seen alongside Erik and his squire Rufus Blackfoot. He seems to be unbothered by his sons hot-headedness, allowing him to smash a barrel of water and insult Rufus. Lord Berwick Python tells Lord Richard that Erik was primarily knighted because Herard gifted John VI his weight in silver, and that Erik butchered his elder brother with a rock.

#### Part III

Herard's role in Part III is far more significant than the first two parts. He attends John VI's Grand War Council meeting to discuss Richard's alleged betrayal to the throne and how he is rallying up an army against King John. Herard suggests that King John fights in battle alongside his men, saying that people will know who to support once they see their king on the battlefield. He advises against executing Lord Richard Koopa when Sir Theodrick Solberg and Sir Harrin Sylver suggest doing so. During the Battle of Whomp City, Herard fights for the Kayenne forces, commanding an army featuring his Blackfoot relatives and his younger sons. Here he comes across Lord Richard and some of his allies. Herard acts aggressive towards Richard for trying to raise arms against King John, and while Richard tries to justify it by saying that is not against the king, but his corrupt advisors, Herard dismisses him, claiming that he still committed treason against a monarch, and proceeds to attack him. Herard manages to put up a good fight against Lord Richard, even exhausting him, however he is ultimately defeated by his opponent, due to Richard stabbing Herard, piercing his armor and fatally wounding him in the chest. Once Richard abandons the scene, Ronan Blackfoot tries to warn Herard about Richard escaping, only to realize that he is dead.

## Appearance

Herard was a large draconic Koopa with yellow skin, a pale yellow snout, black head and red hair that reached his shoulders. He wore a spiked black shell with an orange gold casing and orange gold rings around the spikes, to match his hands, and in "The Feeble King (III)", he has large horns on his head.

### Early design concepts

Herard's character design has undergone one change from his conception to his final appearance of *Wars of Frozen Flames*, though mostly minor modifications. His original design is effectively the same as the design used in "The Feeble King (I)" and "(II)", with the only major differences being that his arms lacked spiked cuffs, the necklace is a much more yellow shade of gold than orange, and that he wears a grey-red shell instead of the black one in the final release. When reappearing in "The Feeble King (III)", Herard was given a much bigger and stronger build, as well as a pair of horns on top of his head to match his son.

## Personality

Herard's personality was not heavily explored but it can be said that unlike his son Erik, he was less brutish and impulsive, stopping to think through and only getting aggressive when necessary. He is shown to be firmly loyal to King John Koopa VI, not hesitating to fight in his name in the Battle of Whomp City and refusing to excuse Richard's actions when the latter claims to have issues with the King's corrupt advisors and not the King himself, stating that treason is treason regardless. Despite this, he is shown to be more reasonable and less hostile than many of his Kayenne allies, such as advising John VI not to execute Lord Richard during his war council.

## Trivia

* As Herard Bane is based on Thomas Clifford, 8th Baron Clifford, his original name reflected this, as during the planning stages of *Wars of Frozen Flames*, was named Robert Klifford. This was changed in the final version to further distinguish him from his real life counterpart.