Mochan I, Count of Red Skull

**Mochan I of Red Skull**, also known as **Mochan the Serpent**, born **Mochan Cille**, was a Wyrsian nobleman who served as the Count of Red Skull and leader of the Red Skull people from 940 AW until his death in 964 AW at the Battle of Cnoc Cain. Mochan I was a violent and ambitious Warlord who, after assassinating his own father, spent his entire reign in an active rebellion against the Duchy of Redlyre and the larger Kingdom of Wyrsia. This unsuccessful uprising is known as the Red Skull Rebellion.

## Biography

Mochan Cille was born to Ulto Cille, then heir apparent to Red Skull County. His father became Count Ulto IV in 921 AW, making Mochan himself the heir to the county. He was educated at the Wyrsian capital of Woodhall, learning the intricacies of politics and power. It is likely he developed the lethal ambition that motivated him later in his life during this period.

Having completed his education, Mochan returned to Cnoc Cain in the late 930s, becoming an officer in the Army of the Red Skull. A popular yet ruthless leader of troops, Mochan managed to be appointed as the leading general of the army by his father. However, instead of using the force for its intended purpose, defending the Red Skull people, Mochan had a more devious plan.

In 940 AW, Mochan Cille had his father assassinated in broad daylight. He raised the Army of the Red Skull and marched on major settlements across Red Skull County, overthrowing local supporters of Ulto IV and crowning himself Count Mochan I. He had also planned to take out his younger brother, Cheron, due to him being a threat to succession, yet Cheron had managed to flee westwards, taking refuge in Redlyre.

In Redlyre, Cheron tried and failed to convince the local Duke, Dordos I, to intervene and march against Mochan I, yet Dordos was unusually lax about the affair, stating that he had no authority to intervene in local matters. Ultimately, Mochan I would force his hand when he crossed the border of his county into the rest of the Duchy, marking the start of the Red Skull Rebellion.

Dordos I raised the Army of Redlyre, yet failed to defeat Mochan I as a stalemate broke out. He did, however, prop up Cheron as the alternative Count of Red Skull, much to Mochan's annoyance. In time, the Red Skull Rebellion petered out into a quiet local affair with only the occasional skirmish breaking out between the forces of Mochan and the Duke of Redlyre. However, in time, the Red Skull Rebellion would soon take a drastic turn for the worse for Mochan.

Taking the Wyrsian throne relatively recently, the regent-turned-queen Maria I had taken a personal interest in the Red Skull Rebellion. The continued inactivity angered her, and she ultimately ordered her generals to put down the Red Skull Rebellion. Soon after, the Army of Redlyre was reinforced by the Armies of Woodhall, Wyrgate, Sunfort, and Whaler's Bay, completely overwhelming Mochan's forces by late 963 AW. Most of the Army of the Red Skull defected and came under the command of Cheron Cille, while those who remained under Mochan's control became known as the Loyalists of Mochan. Those who had remained under Mochan's command had chosen death, as the Loyalists were outnumbered as much as twenty to one.

Heading into 964 AW, Mochan had lost control over his county almost in its entirety, only clinging onto Cnoc Cain itself. Soon after, he was confronted by a much larger force that included most of the defected Army of the Red Skull. The Battle of Cnoc Cain marked the end of the Red Skull Rebellion and Mochan's life, with Cheron being installed as Count Cheron I. In the long term, Mochan's rule over the county had been disastrous. While he had sought total autonomy or even independence, Cheron was kept in check by both the Duke and the Queen as Red Skull County lost certain perks and privileges.

## Military Career

* Red Skull Rebellion
	+ Battle of Hanwoode - Stalemate
	+ Battle of Cnoc Iar - Defeat
	+ Ambush at Taragha - Defeat
	+ Battle of Taragha - Defeat
	+ Battle of Cnoc Cain - Defeat (KIA)

## Personality

Power-hungry, ambitious, and ruthless: these are the words often used to describe Mochan I. No deed was deemed too far by him, as people were expendable if they furthered his own goals. Mochan ruled by fear, yet when his subordinates began fearing the royal response to his rebellion more than the count himself, they defected en mass, leading to his inevitable downfall.

### Relationships

* **Family**
	+ Ulto IV, Count of Red Skull - Father
	+ Cheron I, Count of Red Skull - Brother
* **Enemies**
	+ Cheron I, Count of Red Skull
	+ Maria I of Wyrsia
	+ Dordos I, Duke of Redlyre