Father Death is an entity that comes to take souls and cause death in Daventry's legends.
Background[]
When Graham had been weakened by his heart attack, Father Death hovered near his bed.[1]The physicans could do nothing to help him. Rosella worried that he would take Graham's life if she didn't save her father in time. It is believed that the Dark Forest is so thick, dark, and daunting that Death itself is said to have gotten lost inside of it.[2] He may be associated with Hades which lies underneath the Dark Forest and Serenia.
See also[]
Behind the scenes[]
The reference to Father Death hovering over Graham's bed, and the physicians not being able to cure the king is a reference to the fairy tale Godfather Death (or Father Death). In the story he was the classic personage of Death in Grimm's Fairy Tales.[3]
In the story the 13th son of a man becomes the godson of Death. Death took the boy into the woods when he became of age promising him he would become a famous physician. Whenever the physician went to a patient Death would come along, if Death hovered at the head of the bed, the physician would administer a special herb from the forest which would cure the sick person. If death hovered at the foot of the bed, any treatment would be useless and they would soon die. When the physician goes to see the King of all lands who was suffering from a grave illness that no other could cure, he noticed immediately that Death was standing at the foot of the bed. The physician felt pity for the king, and decides to trick Death. The physician then turns the King in his bed so that Death stands over the head. He then gives the King the herb to eat. This heals the King and speeds his recovery. This angered death but he was forgiven (but the second time the physician attempted it he died).
A traditional image of Death appears in KQ2 manual, in a section discussing King Edward's spirit returning to speak to King Graham. Charon in KQ is also modeled on the medieval image of Death as grim reaper. The version who appears in KQ2 is also been refered to as Death. Which may suggest that in KQ lore Father Death and Charon are intended to be the same character. When the first two editions of the companion came out only Charon and Arawn were specified mes given to personifications of death, but only Charon was focused on in his own article under the Boatman (which may suggest that when book speaks of death it is referring to Charon). Also of note when 2nd edition speaks of Death in the Dark Forest it also speaks of an opening to Hades in the forest as well which would seem to tie the details back to Charon.
In Greek mythology the personifications of Death, is not Pluto/Hades or Charon but rather a minor deity Thanatos (Charon's brother). The medieval concept of Death is based on Thanatos rather than Charon. Charon is often personified as a shrouded old man.
There have been several Death figures in KQ lore. Samhain a being also known as Death in Green Isles legends. Lord Azriel who is also known as and associated with Death in Daventry traditions. Even Charon's image is synonymous with Death.[4] Charon like mythological ideas of Death, the Grim Reaper, even has his own sickle to reap the dead.[5] The Boatman, a ghoul ferryman (who may be Charon himself) is likewise been associated with Death. It is possible that Charon, Father Death and the Boatman are one and the same as implied in KQC, 2nd Edition and the KQ7 Authorized guide.
In the files for KQ8, the files associated with The Boatman/Ferryman are known as Reaper/Grim Reaper which may also suggest that it is the same character as Charon mixed with Father Death.
Father Death may also be a personification of Azriel, Lord of the Dimension of Death who is Death in Daventry's traditions.