Dakarro Darkwood

### Title

War Chief of the Black Swamp Mercenaries, 1st Ranger of the Night Watch, Lord Commander of Castle Black

### Status

Alive/Missing

Dakarro was a blunt and honest man. He was not a man of many words but when he did speak it was with a gruff forcefull voice. He lived by a code of honor and brotherhood.

## Biography

### **Childhood**

Dakarro Darkwood was born and raised in Kings Landing. His father was a merchant and he had his own shop where he sold a variety of goods. Dakarro remembers that there was a back room which his father kept certain items and would often do secret business in there. His father would sail around the world collecting all sorts of black market items and sell them in his shop. When his father realized Kings Landing would soon be over ran by Robert Baratheons army he decided to pack everything he could and flee with his family to Essos where he had a few contacts who could help. He was a black market dealer and smuggler after all, he couldn't risk being sent to prison or worse. Shortly after arriving in Essos they were attacked by a Dothraki horde. They killed his father and took him and his mother as slaves. Dakarro was only 8 years old when he became a slave. His main job was tending to the animals and the horses the Dothraki loved so dearly. The Dothraki kids would use Dakarro as a training dummy. They would wack at him with wooden weapons and hit him with rocks from slingshots. They would also beat him senseless. The Dothraki elders allowed him to defend himself just enough to teach the kids how to fight harder but he was forbidden to hit back. After a few years of servitude he became the closest thing these savages had to a stable hand. One day the Dothraki encampment came under attack. Dakarro's one and only job was to keep the pregnant horses and foal (Baby Horse) alive. He knew that if one of the animals died he would share the same fate, However it was forbidden for slaves to have a weapon. this was punishable by death. As the battle waged on he gathered the animals together and watched over them as he was instructed to do. He watched the intensity as the Dothraki slaughters and destroyed their enemy. It was all happening so fast he couldn't even see who the enemy was. Then he saw the Khals oldest son take a sword through the back, He fell over with a pool of blood surrounding him. Standing next to him was the khals youngest son who was younger than 10. Without hesitation Dakarro picked up a bow and quiver laying on the ground and fired a shot at the man about to strike down the boy. The arrow pierced his armor but not enough to stop him. The Knight turned and looked at Dakarro. He lined up another shot and it sunk right into the weak spot on the mans breast plate. The Knight toppled over like a sack of potatoes. The boy told his father what Dakarro did for him, as a reward the Khal allowed him to train with the other Dothraki warriors. As his training progessed he became skilled with blades but preferred bows. The Dothraki would often use him as a scout/spy. With his pale westerosi complexion he could travel into towns without question and report back to the commanders. He would spy, steal and even kill for the Dothraki, for this he was given the name "zanisshi" Which meant shadow. After years of serving the Dothraki he was finally granted his freedom after his mother died.

 Dakarro then traveled Essos finding work as a thief, assassin and sell sword. On his last job he was hired by a merchant in braavos who wanted to sail to westeros to sell his goods. Dakarro always dreamed of returning to his home land. On the voyage to westeros the ship was attacked by marauders bearing the flag of a kraken. They had much better armor then pirates and were way more organized. Dakarro and the other sell swords were able to defend the boat from the attackers. However they hit a reef in the skirmish and the ship went down. Dakarro awoke on a beach covered in sand. He looked around, He looked out at the horizon. There was no sign of the ship and no sign of any survivors. All he could see was the crates of the merchant that washed up on the shore. He traveled to the the redwoods where he built a small home. He lived in solidarity, learning about the people around him. One day a Hunter named Zeebo stumbled across his home, They became friends and he moved to Kings Landing with him.

### **The Drop Zone**

While living in Kings Landing Dakarro and Zeebo (Future High King of the Iron Island) open up a shop known as the Drop Zone. It was the largest most successful shop in the town. They used the shop as a front as the started making connections they then used to start up their mercenary group known as the Black Swamp Mercenaries. During this time he worked as stable hand and eventually took on an apprentice.

### **The Black Swamp Mercenaries (Season 3)**

The Black Swamp Mercenaries was formed by Dakarro, Zeebo, Dakarros apprentice Nymeria and 3 other mercenaries. Dakarro was elected as the War Chief. They built an encampent overlooking the swamps just south of the redwoods. They were known for wearing orange and black and riding Kaprosuchus's. They had a close relationship with Kings Landing and the Baratheons themselves. They took many high risks jobs and were often hired by the lords and ladies of the land. The group eventually developed internally conflict and split up when some decided to abandon the company and follow Zeebo to the Iron Islands. This betrayal formed a rivalry between Dakarro and Zeebo that would last years. Dakarro and Nymeria (Who were expecting their first child) decided to return to Kings Landing, However Dakarro wasn't able to stay because High King Orcas made it clear he would wage war on anyone who let me into their kingdom. Dakarro didn't want to risk the life of the one he loved, his unborn child or anyone in Kings Landing so he disappeared into the woods. He spent a few months hiding from the Iron Islands then he decided to head to Castle Black where he knew he would be safe and could do some good for the realm.

### **Castle Black (Season 4 and 5)**

When Dakarro arrived to Castle Black it was a ghost town being ran by a skeleton crew. The current Lord Commander Raygor was no whre to be found. There were only 4 members of the watch when they elected Dakarro's good friend Christor as the new Lord Commander. Christor immideitly promoted Dakarro to 1st Ranger for he was the only one with real combat experience. Christor, Dakarro and 1st steward Grael were the only members of the watch. The three of them did what they could to keep Castle Black standing. Everyday was a fight for their lives, constantly being attacked by wildings and white walkers. Castle Black was not receiving the aid they needed from the Seven Kingdoms. In a desperate attempt at survival Chistor made a deal with the wildlings that would cost him his life. After Christor was stabbed in the back by the wilding Drexar, Dakaro was made Lord Commander of the Night's Watch. After losing his best friend to a wildling and nearly dying with the lack of support from the south he vowed to never let Castle Black be taking for granted again. Shortly after he became Lord Commander, Castle Black started to grow in numbers. Together, Dakarro, 1st Ranger Grael and 1st Steward Rosetta rebuilt Castle Black to its former glory. Dakarro was hated by most lords for his famous line "If you dont give Castle Black what it needs ill be sure to point the wildlings in your direction when my castle falls". Dakarro felt that the Seven Kingdoms had a duty to help Castle Black, a duty the Kingdoms seem to have forgotten. All except one. The Vale, led by Lord Haymend Tully was Castle Blacks biggest supporter and Dakarro's closest friend. The worst day as Lord Commander for Dakarro was when a young wildling girl was caught south of the wall. She was held in Kings Landing they found her guilty then dropped her off on Castle Blacks door steps leaving Dakarro with an impossible decision, Kill the girl or let her return north with the information she gathered. Dakarro was angry that the King and Queen were protecting this wilding and put him in such a situation. He wanted them to think he killed her and that it was their fault. He made it appear like he killed the girl when he actually gave her plenty of supplies and sent her on her way north of the wall. He lost a lot of support in the south for this but gained an outrageous amount of respect from his people. One of the few times Dakarro showed his sensitive side was when a young thief was sent to the wall. Her name was Nalia and she was working with Drexar the wildling. Dakarro did everything in his power to get her out of the control of the wildlings and give her the best life possible at Castle Black. He sent her to school to get a proper education, gave her nice clothes and toys. He trained her to be his personal steward with the hopes that one day she would lead Castle Black.

Years later a rumor surfaced that Dakarro wanted to wage war on the Iron Islands and Storms End. Dakarro was the neutral Lord Commander of the neutral Castle Black and never imagined declaring such an act. However the Iron Islands was being led by Zeebo and his former fiance Nymeria was the lady of Storms End. To this day he believes it was a set up. Because of these rumors Castle Black started to recieve even less aid from the south. Dakarro knew as long as he was the Lord Commander, as long as he was alive, Zeebo wouldnt stop. He couldn't let his people go without because of him. He left instructions for his people and went north of the wall on a mission he knew could cost him his life.

### **The North (Season 5.5-7)**

Contrary to popular belief Dakarro is still alive. He knew as long as he was in Castle Black they would not receive the aid they needed from the south, However he was not an oath breaker and he cared more for his people then he did himself. After traveling north on a scouting mission for white walkers he developed his plan. He stayed north of the wall long enough for the stewards to call a vote for a new Lord Commander, He then returned, placed his vote for the new Lord Commander and during the following storm he returned north of the wall. Dakarro now lives north of the wall, putting his spy skills to use. He feeds information to Castle Black, sabotages the wildling villages and kills traveling wildlings. Dakarro always had a sign above the inside of his office that said "Death waits in the dark". He truly is the sword in the darkness, the shield that guards the realm of men.

**Season 7 Return and Present Day**

(In the process of being written)

## Appearance

Dakarro was very tall man, borne with blonde hair and blue eyes however after getting trapped north of the wall for a few weeks and slipping into a short coma his hair turned grey.(He was given the nickname Silver Fox by Jasper) He had a mohawk and large beard. The mohawk was usually hidden under his black cloth hat. He had three large scars across his chest from the battle with the traitor Rexar.

## Trivia

* His favorite color was orange.
* He never got to meet his daughter Gwendolyn.
* He had two other children he did not know about.
* He was only truly in love once and that was with Jasper Degrey.
* He hated Castle Blacks house mount the Megalosaurus.
* He had a soft spot for children.
* He created the saying "Solidarity" among the Night's Watch.

## Opinions of Dakarro

* "The watch is a disorganized bunch and even with my full support would fall apart if not for Dakarro" -Lord Haymend Tully.
* "Stalwart and strong, Dakarro pledged his life to protecting those of Westeros, and for that time...the south felt safe. He was honorable,loved...and a dear friend of mine" -Jasper Degrey
* "I hated him for what he stood for but respected him for his intelligence." -Drexar the Wildling
* "Dakarro is abrasive, unorthodox, and sometimes a bit of an asshole, but I think SOLIDARITY says it all" - Avery Pyre
* "Of all the Lord Commanders I have served under, Dakarro was the most steadfast to his duty and oath. Though he is VERY rough around the edges, if you brake through his tough exterior and gain his trust. He would die fighting to protect you." -Rosetta Gorne"

## Quotes from Dakarro

* "Honor, Respect and Brotherhood"
* "Death Waits in the dark"
* "Solidarity"