u/real_name_is_------

The ancient hearts of Pharloom are each a tragedy except for seemingly Khann, however dear reader I pose to you this. He is simply the tragedy of becoming what you seek to destroy.

The rulers all have tragic elements to their downfall,

Nyleth the heart of the woods was tamed by the citadel.

Karmalita’s singing is what empowered the skarr but once she grew old and no longer could sing the whispers of the pale thread lured the skarr away.

and the green prince is self explanatory.

So where is Khann’s tragedy?

Khann is said to have run his kingdom strictly and directly opposed the citadel for his life. So what if Khann in his hatred of the citadel in his preparation for war became the tyrant he saw the citadel as. He became tyrannical ruler focused on destroying the citadel to the point every member of his society was strictly focused on preparing for a war which they would of won had it not been for the citadel removing their water supply.

Khanns last line seems like a lament like he realized too late “...Our claws to crush... Our claws to rule... Our claws to save them all...” To save them all was his goal and yet his claws crushed all those.

his fight with hornet also feels off and awkward, how is this the full might of the ancient warlord Khann who controlled half of Pharloom. Because he is making sure hornet can, he’s not giving his all, just enough to ensure his kingdom fell for something and just enough to challenge her. The crust king throws his whole army at hornet as one last hurrah for them to have as one last victory for his nation but he intentionally looses so hornet can collect his heart and so hornet can defeat the tyrants he spent his life trying to quell, the grand mother. And himself.