Opinion: The Villain Who Never Was

     Disclaimer: At this time of writing, Lord Darigan still exists in the legacy Gallery of Evil. Thanks to Queen Fyora’s compelling argument, he is no longer listed as a Villain on the new homepage.

     Today is Discovery of Meridell Day. As we reflect on Meridell’s past, we honour those who fought bravely in wars. It’s not lost upon me that some Faeries bravely stood up during the brutal war.

     However, it’s also not lost upon me that today is also Discovery of Darigan Day. While it was the Darigani who ultimately began attacking Meridell, we shouldn’t forget that they themselves suffered a terrible curse on their Land, the results of the darkest magic known even to my best Faerie scholars. The curse ultimately caused Lord Darigan to give in to the powerful voices of dark magic. Because he was under this spell at the time and unaware of his actions, I am compelled to argue that he does not belong in the Gallery of Evil. I realize that as one of his close friends, I may be biased, but a good friend must stand up for their friends. Therefore, I am not speaking in my capacity as the Faerie Queen, but rather as Fyora, Darigan’s friend. I will now lay out the evidence for all to see.

     Lord Darigan Cares for his People

     I’ve had ample time and privilege to know the true Lord Darigan after all these years. As Lord, he cares deeply for his people. As a result, he never had any desire to govern with an iron fist. No, the true Lord Darigan had ambitions to rule with moderation. He overhauled the justice system to ensure that it was fair for all people, regardless of background. He ensured that folks had a home to live in and wanted to rule with a gentle hand. Despite his Darigani appearance, he still loves his land and its people and still rules in a just manner.

     As intimidating as the Darigani may look, they are still quite hospitable and welcoming to new folks. For folks wishing to blend in Darigan Citadel though, I would like to remind everyone that the Darigan Paintbrush is for sale in The Hidden Tower.

     The True Evil Came from Predecessors Who Brought the Orb

     Perhaps Lord Darigan’s only mistake was his ignorance of the Orb. Since everything was peaceful at the time, he did not seem to be concerned about what his predecessors had done to keep the Land fertile and healthy. Unfortunately, this simple mistake would lead to a path resulting in the assumption that he was evil and brutal wars. Long before Lord Darigan’s rule, a predecessor brought an Orb of unknown origin to the Land. The magic from this Orb allowed the Land to be fruitful. The records about the Orb, unfortunately, appeared to be destroyed by this past ruler without any explanation.

     This Orb seemed inert, but upon its theft, it immediately began spreading a darkness that corrupted the minds of anyone near it. Lord Darigan could not have predicted this outcome and before he could have a chance to stop it, the darkness consumed his mind, and he became beholden to it while it suppressed his consciousness. His actions were not his own, but it did not seem to matter to the folks who created the Gallery of Evil or to others in Neopia. While I do not condone the actions of attacking Meridell, it was not Lord Darigan commanding the assault.

     Lord Darigan was Not Aware of his Actions

     While this should be obvious, it was quite apparent that Lord Darigan was not himself. In fact, while he was under control by The Three, there were quite a few things he said to me that were hurtful. First, he wanted Faerieland to actively assist in the war. When I told him I couldn’t do that, The Three directed him to end our friendship and threatened war against Faerieland. As I tried to calm him down, he pushed me away and left. However, I never lost hope that the true Lord Darigan was still in there somewhere. After Lord Kass took over, Sally, a courageous Usul took care of Lord Darigan, and I’m eternally grateful for her ability to bring him back.

     To this day, he still feels heavy with regret for his actions, despite not having any recollection of them while he was controlled. The true Lord Darigan would have never acted in such a way and thus, it would be a travesty to continue to consider him a villain.

     King Skarl was Mind-Controlled by the Darkest Faerie

     I would like to preface this section by saying that not all Dark Faeries are evil. However, the one that mind-controlled many Neopians was. The Darkest Faerie and the three Dark Faerie Sisters used their magic to compel King Skarl to send troops to stop Tormund and Roberta. Nobody has sought to hold Skarl responsible for his actions while he was influenced by dark magic, nor should anybody seek to do so. While mind-controlled King Skarl did not start a full-scale war, his actions would have contributed to the destruction of both Faerieland and Meridell had it not been for Tormund and Roberta’s bravery and courage.

     The Darigani Have Suffered Enough

     Darigan Citadel can no longer be fertile. The curse has afflicted their Land so no crops can grow. Now that Faerieland has recovered, we are once again able to export food to them. However, it does pain Lord Darigan to have to rely on aid. He was not willing to accept Faerieland's food aid, but he also did not want his people to continue suffering. This caused him to relent. However, I hope that one day, they can share the Land with Meridell for growing crops. However, it seems the nobles of Meridell have not allowed such a treaty to be drafted. Some still hold a grudge against the Darigani.

     Which goes back to further suffering. Some folks in Neopia still condemn Lord Darigan and his people for their actions. As a friend of his, this is still heartbreaking. I believe the Darigani have faced enough challenges, and the continued implication that they are somehow evil is one that I hope to dispel.

     I hope that the evidence compels folks to rethink whether Lord Darigan is truly a villain. And to the curators of the Gallery of Evil, my plea is that you’ll remove my dear friend from the Gallery. We shall not punish him for the mistakes of his predecessors. Nor should we cast him aside because of actions he undertook while he was beholden to some of the darkest magic. Instead, I hope that Neopia would treat Lord Darigan as Sally did… with kindness and without judgement. After all, the war is but a distant memory now. It was not a clear good vs evil situation. It is my desire that folks also include Darigan in their celebrations this day, or at least remember all their sacrifice and suffering as well, and remember the Villain who never was.