"Second"
"Second" was a gargoyle in ancient Scotland. He never had a true name, but "Second" is used to identify him.
History
"Second" was a member of the Wyvern Clan at one time, having hatched in the Wyvern rookery in 918. [1] He and his mate would produce one of the "Eggs" in the 988 Wyvern rookery that would later hatch on Avalon. He and his mate left Wyvern with a group of gargoyles sometime between 988 and 994 to found a new clan.
At some point after that, but before 997, this new clan was destroyed. "Second", however, managed to survive somehow along with his mate and a few others and shortly after they joined Demona's Clan as the Lunfanan Cell. [2] Demona appointed him her second-in-command. [3]
In 997, the Gargoyle of the Sword enlisted Demona's scattered clan to aid him at the Battle of Rathveramoen and "Second" felt this was a wise move, eager to fight a true battle. Unfortunately, he suffered a terrible loss against Constantine's forces. When Brother Valmont unleashed his rain of magical arrows, he was almost struck down but his mate shielded him with her own body, sacrificing her life to save his. ("Tyrants", "Phoenix")
For the next twenty-three years "Second" and the surviving members of his clan eked out a life hidden in Scotland. Survival was not always easy as they often battled hunger and lived in constant fear of discovery and destruction by humans, particularly a new menace calling himself "The Hunter", a gargoyle-slayer. They often raided human food stores and farms to survive, much to the dismay and frustration of "Second". It seems that this empty existence and the loss of his mate had taken its toll on "Second" and he had lost his desire for battle. In fact, he was one of the only gargoyles in the clan brave enough to mention making peace with some of the humans in Demona's presence. ("City of Stone" Part One)
In 1040, he survived an attack on the clan in their cave roost by Duncan and his men. The clan was forced to move to a new lair and a new territory even though, as "Second" pointed out, the hunting there had been good. He was also shocked that Demona remarked that the clan had no other capable leader. ("City of Stone" Part Three)
Shortly thereafter, the clan assisted Macbeth in his battle against Duncan and after they defeated him, Macbeth placed the clan under his protection, hoping for a new golden age between humans and gargoyles.
Unfortunately, only seventeen years later, in 1057, the clan was at war with humans again, this time with Canmore and his English allies. Despite being 139 years old, "Second" continued to fight alongside his clan, albeit somewhat reluctantly. Sadly, Demona betrayed Macbeth to Canmore, giving Canmore the opportunity to betray her. Canmore and his men destroyed "Second" and the rest of the clan, leaving Demona alone. ("City of Stone" Part Four)
Characteristics
"Second" was a large, powerful gargoyle. He had a ruddy-brownish skin coloring, but lacked hair. He had no brow horns, just standard ridges, but did possess two large horns coming from each side of his head. His wings were similar to Brooklyn's, but had only a single claw at the apex instead of three. He wore a breastplate across his chest and had armor around his forearms, but carried no weapons.
Appearances
- "City of Stone" Part One (First Appearance)
- "City of Stone" Part Two (No Lines)
- "City of Stone" Part Three
- "City of Stone" Part Four (No Lines)
- "Avalon" Part Two (No Lines)
- "Tyrants"
- "Phoenix"
- "The Reach" (No Lines)
- "The Draw"
- "The Oath" (No Lines)
- "The Dream" (No Lines)
- "The Pledge" (No Lines)
Production Background
Voice Actor: John Rhys-Davies
This character was referred to as "Second" in the scripts for the comics he appears in. Like "Othello", "Desdemona", and "Iago", it is a non-canon name which is never used in the TV show or the comics. Calling him "Second" was probably just simpler than calling him "Demona's Second" when his name had to be typed repeatedly.