The title of The Damned is given to Skilgannon after the massacre he led at the city of Perapolis, butchering the entire population in the name of his love, Jianna, the Witch Queen. Skilgannon cannot stay loyal to Jianna after this, and leaves her and all the riches and power he had as a General of the Naashanite army. He also leaves because he loves her, and she him, but he knows she could never form an open relationship with him because she uses her beauty, and her body to create allies. Jianna could not accept Skilgannon's leaving her especially with the swords of Night and Day, even if she loved him deeply, and so she sends one of her lovers to reclaim the swords and whether under Jianna's instructions or not he then attempts to kill Skilgannon. The assassination attempt fails and he and his men are slaughtered single-handedly by The Damned.