Cargást

* Portrait
* In Game

"But his rest was not eternal. Less than five-hundred years after his lofty barrow was solemnly sealed shut, an evil presence took up residence in southern Greenwood, near to the ancestral barrow-lands of Marhwini's line. Soon, the corruption flowing forth from this necromancer's dark fortress found its way into Marhwini's barrow. Since then, the dead king has been known to wander the forested hills, calling to his family and their servants, all buried nearby, setting them upon a path of terror against the innocent folk that still dare to inhabit those forlorn lands. "
—The Age of the Ring Lore Compendium

Marhwini was a royal descendant of the Kingdom of Rhovanion. When The Necromancer took up residence in the abandoned fortress upon Amon Lanc, he sent evil spirits to inhabit the bodies resting within the Rhovanion barrows. Marhwini's husk was among the first to rise; stripped of his identity and free will, Cargást now serves his master and fights alongside his undead army.

In Age of the Ring, Cargást is a hero for Dol Guldur recruitable from the Fortress. He is also recruitable in the Adventure: Angmar subfaction.

## Age of the Ring Lore

Cargást is an AotR Canon creation. Click **Expand** to read his entry in the AotR Lore Compendium
**Lord of Bones** by Valkyrie

*Slumbered once a valiant Man;
Kingly breed and pride undone.
Wide was known his name afield,
From the scorching, to the chilled.*

*Long the heathen Ruler slept,
Loss of whom all minstrels wept.
Yeomen laid their Liege with gold
Into sepulchre of old.*

*Neath the wheeling stars occurred
That his lore by time was blurred;
Winters happed to carry frost,
Till had mortals legend lost.*

*Then, at night, a Devil flew
Unto barrow, tomb of rue,
Willing dead to wake astir,
Such that corpse could not demur.*

*Fiendish calls resounded deep
Through despair and rotten heap;
Wights arose at fell behest!
Demons ambulate abreast!*

*Eastern forestland is prey
To the Witch whom ghouls obey;
‘Tis a Sorcerer! A wraith!
“Necromancer”, peasant saith.*

*There is bondage to be found.
Thither restless serfs are bound.
Gaol and dungeon await,
Yon across the ruinous Gate.*

*Sorry crown! O flesh accursed!
Thus without have remnants burst.
Roy thou wast, deserving thrones;
None thou art, but Lord of Bones.*

East of the Greenwood, in the north-east of Middle-earth, once lay a small realm known as the Kingdom of Rhovanion. It first enters the annals of history in the thirteenth century of the Third Age, when a man named Viduvagia, the most powerful of the princes of the Northmen, proclaims himself the first King of Rhovanion. Allying himself with the forces of the Gondorian regent Minalcar, Viduvagia vanquished the Easterling threat that always loomed upon his borders.

A further strengthening of the bond between these two kingdoms came when Valacar, son of Minalcar, was sent to Rhovanion as an ambassador, but ended up marrying Viduvagia's daughter, Vidumavi. Minalcar eventually became King of Gondor as Rómendacil II, which meant the heir to the throne of Gondor would be of mixed heritage. This controversial mingling of Númenorean and Northmen blood would become a turning point in Gondorian history, resulting in the bloody conflict known as the Kin-strife in 1437. Eldacar, grandson to the Kings of Gondor and Rhovanion fled north and eventually reclaimed the Gondorian throne with an army from Rhovanion.

Two-hundred years later, the Kingdom of Rhovanion was invaded by a host of Easterlings known as the Wainriders - a confederacy of peoples traveling in great wagons and riding chariots into battle. They were sent by Sauron himself, at this time hiding in the East. The Wainriders succeeded in their mission: the lush and wealthy Kingdom of Rhovanion was overrun and looted, its people enslaved. The remnant of the ruling royal house were sent to wander: Marhari, descendant of Viduvagia and his son Marhwini both survived and settled in the untamed lands between the eastern bank of the Anduin and the edge of Greenwood the Great.

Decades later, after the Wainriders had consolidated their power and plotted to take Gondor, it was Marhwini that warned Calimehtar, his distant relative and King of Gondor. Together they outmaneuvred the Easterlings, and finally crushed their army in a vice, driving them back into the East. Afterwards, Marhwini did not rebuild the Kingdom of Rhovanion. Rather he became a Lord of the Éothéod, the ancestors of the Rohirrim. Although the Kingdom of Rhovanion never returned, this warrior-culture would remember their storied past.

Marhwini lived out a long and honorable life. When he died, he was buried with great honor. The procession following his body, crowned and clad in shining armor, was said to be near endless. His hoard was magnificent, and there was no doubt amongst his people that he would go on to see his father, his father's father, and feast even with the great Viduvagia, the King of Old Rhovanion. White simbelmynë covered his barrow, and for many years his people would feast in his name.

But his rest was not eternal. Less than five-hundred years after his lofty barrow was solemnly sealed shut, an evil presence took up residence in southern Greenwood, near to the ancestral barrow-lands of Marhwini's line. Soon, the corruption flowing forth from this necromancer's dark fortress found its way into Marhwini's barrow. Since then, the dead king has been known to wander the forested hills, calling to his family and their servants, all buried nearby, setting them upon a path of terror against the innocent folk that still dare to inhabit those forlorn lands.
In life, Marhwini was a noble warrior, leading his people to glory and freedom. In death, he has forgotten his name and legacy, seeking nothing but to serve his dark master.

## Abilities

**Barrow-lord (W)** - Nearby enemies are slowed passively by 15%. The radius of this effect increases with each level. Passive ability. Can be activated to deal a heavy strike against a targeted enemy, draining some life and knocking them over. Left click icon then left click on target.

**Level 3: March of the Dead** - Modifier Type: Leadership. Cargást permanently gains +15% movement speed. Nearby friendly units and heroes gain +15% movement speed and +50% experience gain. Passive ability.

**Level 5: Cursed Treasure (T)** - Target Slave Mill earns +100% more resources but all nearby units lose -15% armour for 30 seconds. Left click icon then left click on target.

**Level 7:** **Spell of the Barrows (C)** - Target enemies are stunned in fear. Any Risen Dead near Cargást deal +50% more damage for 20 seconds. Left click icon then left click on target area.

**Level 10:** **Dark Awakening (V)** - Cargást slowly but continually summons temporary single Restless Warriors from the earth but cannot move or attack himself. Left click to activate and deactivate.

## Strategy

Cargást acts as a support hero for Dol Guldur's and Adventure: Angmar's units as well as a source of slows and stuns for the enemy's army. As its radius widens, **Barrow-lord's** passive slow makes retreats increasingly difficult for the enemy whilst **March of the Dead** allows Dol Guldur's units to move between Dark Presence sources and pursue retreating units. It is especially effective when combined with **Spell of the Barrows**, which stuns enemies entirely and leaves them particularly susceptible to the buffed Risen Dead in the area. **Dark Awakening** leaves Cargást vulnerable as he cannot move or attack without canceling the ability, but if he is sufficiently protected, Dol Guldur has a continuous swarm of temporary individual Risen Dead units which are difficult to target with archers due to being single units.