- Tiggum
- Oct 24, 2007
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Your life and your quest end here.
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The Dusk of Eternal Night
Written by Vincent Lazzari & Ben Dever
Cover by Alberto Dal Largo
Map by Francesco Mattioli
Illustrations by Richard Sampson (NerdGore)
The Dusk of Eternal Night posted:Timeline of notable events in Magnamund
MS 5100 (Spring) - MS 5103 (Spring)
MS 5100
The Isle ofLorn
The Kai Monastery of Lorn was completed on the fifth day of the New Year. At the inaugural ceremony, the God Kai appeared to Supreme Master Lone Wolf. He gave his praises his blessings, and a sombre warning that Magnamund would soon suffer assault by the forces of Naar.
Sommerlund
Lone Wolf returned to Sommerlund to prepare the Kai Order for a new dawn of darkness. He also sent Kai Master Red Bear and three Kai Aspirants to Talestria.
Kalte
All Sommlending and Durenese trading links with Ljuk were severed without warning by the lce Barbarians. Sommlending traders had their cargoes seized before they were run out of the Kalte trading post. Two Northlands Trading Company ships were commandeered at anchor off the Ljuk lce Shelf by Ice Barbarian war parties. Their cargoes were seized, and the crews were brutally murdered. The Kalte barbarian warlord, Tvor'tana, united all of the disparate tribes of the northern wastes for the first time. With their unanimous consent, he claimed for himself the title of 'Grand Brumalmarc of the Icelands'.
Lencia
King Telnac was warned by the Telchoi of an impending Agarashi uprising at the Kraknalorg Chasm, and he called off his crusade against the Drakkarim. The Drakkarim perceived this as a sign of weakness and launched a swift invasion of Lencia. After Vadera and Westhaven were razed to the ground and King Telnac was killed on the battlefield, Warmarshal Ranghor claimed the throne of Lencia. Prince Sarnac, the heir to the crown of Lencia, was able to flee from Helmstorm and went into exile.
Telchos
While the Council of Thirty in Avan-Telchos focused on the impending rise of the Agarashi of the Kraknalorg, several tribes were slaughtered with impunity in the far north of the Telchos desert by mysterious dune stalkers. The creatures gathered the corpses in the accursed Charnel City to fuel a ritual that summoned Karthogg the Doombringer, one of the most powerful Children of Agarash, from his prison.
The Darklands
The Lake of Blood surrounding the ruins of Helgedad self extinguished.
MS 5101
Dessi
Shortly after the Feast of Fehmarn, the Chasm of Gorgoron was rocked by violent earthquakes. When finally the quakes subsided, swarms of Agarashi arose from the chasm and infiltrated the jungle realm of Dessi.
Kalte, Sommerlund and Durenor
The newly declared 'Grand Brumalmarc of the Icelands', Tvor'tana, with Nadziranim aid, unlocked the Vagadyn Gate - a Shadow Gate located beneath the lce Fortress of Ikaya. lce Demons, which for thousands of years had not managed to pass through this ethereal corridor, were released. These powerful creatures of evil brought an early and unnatural winter to Sommerlund and Durenor. The Kaltersee froze over, and the lce Barbarians swept down and invaded northern Sommerlund and northern Durenor. Supreme Master Lone Wolf, King Tor IV of Sommerlund, and King Danan I of Durenor led the armies that destroyed most of the lce Demons, and then defeated the lce Barbarians, sending them fleeing back to their frigid wilderness. The victory was won at the cost of the heroic self-sacrifice of King Tor IV. The unnatural winter ended as swiftly as it had begun. Sommerlund endured three months of flooding before all of the meltwaters declined and the natural cycle of the seasons resumed once more. King Haigh V acceded to the throne of Sommerlund and married Princess Emyla of Talestria.
Lencia
Prince Sarnac, at the head of a united Freelands force, attacked Helmstorm and liberated it from the Drakkarim. Sarnac was crowned King Sarnac IV of Lencia before he led his troops from Helmstorm to face the Drakkarim who had rallied to the north of the capital. Lencian and Drakkarim armies fought at the Battle of Grimstone Valley. Ranghor was vanquished when troops from Kasland arrived to reinforce the Lencians late on the second day of the battle.
Eru
An Eruan Pathfinder reported that Warlord Ghangrim's Nadziranim had constructed the Gazadjeza in Kagorst and that this war machine would devastate the Freelands.
Westerm Tentarias
The Invasion of Darke began. The city fell to the united forces of Eru, Lencia, Kasland, Boden and Bor. King Sarnac IV renamed the city Gamir, its ancient Lencian title. Sarnac pressed on through Nyras and Nyvoz, intent on taking Kagorst and wiping out the remaining Drakkarim threat. Sarnac rode to victory and razed Kagorst.
Skaror
Frequent and violent earthquakes tore open the borderland between the Darklands and Skaror in the southern foothills of the Ogshezar Mountains. A deep gorge, two hundred miles long and of unknown depth, appeared and destroyed the ancient Darklord city of Cragmantle. It stretched from the ruins of Cragmantle on the Skaror border, all the way to the abandoned Darklands city of Nadgazad.
Bhanar
The remote Bhanarian city of Bakhasa was seized by a Nadziranim sorcerer named Zashnor.
Maakengorge
The Maakengorge opened further, extending the vast chasm by twenty-five miles to the east. The ruins of Maaken were levelled entirely by the violent aftershocks, and very few buildings in the Free State of Casiorn were left standing.
Stornlands
Thousands of Acolytes of Vashna began to make the pilgrimage to the Maakengorge.
Telchos
Karthogg laid waste to northern Telchos but was finally defeated by an unnatural alliance of Telchoi heroes and Agarashi serving a rival of the Doombringer. After Karthogg's defeat, the Telchoi prepared for betrayal but the leader of the Agarashi, a monster in human shape called 'Raven', disbanded his forces and left the field in peace.
MS 5102 FEHANGOR
Chai
Khea-khan Zha-zhing died (aged 58) on the Feast of Fehmarn. His son, Lao Tin (aged 16), became the new Khea-khan of Chai. Soon after, his Empire was invaded by a horde of Agarashi and other Darkspawn led by Zashnor. The Nadziranim's forces laid siege to Pensei. They devastated the country until they were stopped and ultimately destroyed at the border city of Dwala, where a Kai Grand Master slew the Black Sorcerer. Zashnor's forces disbanded.
Dessi
The Gorgoron Horde displayed unexpected strategic acumen, devastating the region and laying siege to Elzian. Kai Grand Master Star Lynx was able to save the city after a fierce battle against Aagnor the Darkweaver, one of the children of Agarash, and a general of the Age of War. He controlled the creatures under his command with devilish skill.
Ruel, Palmyrion and Slovia
The army of the Dark Realm of Ruel crossed the Ghardoz Bridge for the first time in centuries, assaulting the nation of Slovia. The city of Litari was besieged by a host of mutant abominations and Agarashi bred in the bowels of Mogaruith by the wicked Cener Druids of Ruel. A plague spread over Palmyrion - the Herbwardens of Bautar marched to the aid of Palmyrion and Slovia.
The Danarg and Talestria
Another Agarashi force emerged from the depths of the Danarg Swamp to assault the border forts of Talestria. The army was hard-pressed and unable to rely upon Palmyrion's support.
Cincoria
An Agarashi horde, by far the greatest in number, emerged from the Kraknalorg Chasm to attack Cincoría. Kai Grand Master Blazer led a force of Telchoi warriors in an attempt to contain the threat as the Freelands armies returned from Lencia and Nyvoz. Thanks to his actions, the Kraknalorg Horde was never united as an organized army under a new champion of darkness. Diminished and disorganized, the Agarashi force temporarily withdrew.
Shadaki, Lara and Korli
An army of Sadi warriors and undead creatures crossed the Morn Pass from the city of Shadaki to attack the newly founded Kundi villages of Lara. The Kundi were forced to take refuge in Korli, which was attacked soon after. Wizard Regent Grey Star led the Freedom Guild in a daring surprise assault on Shadaki City. This brought the downfall of the Kitaezi Shamans and repelled the Sadians from the city, back into the Great Sadi Desert.
Kalte
Kaltese trappers reported that surviving Ice Demons and their Nadziranim allies were mustering a new army in Ljuk. Ice Barbarian forces gathered for a second assault on the Lastlands. Grand Master Swift Sword was sent to end the conflict before it began but never returned. Lone Wolf felt sure he had fallen, and sent Grand Master Blazer, victorious at the Kraknalorg, in retaliation. Blazer later reported how the lce Demons had constructed an elemental explosive device using ancient Shianti artefacts retrieved from the Caverns of Kalte. They charged it with ice power and planned to use it to destroy Hammerdal. Forced to leave Kalte, Blazer succeeded in destroying the device, along with the Greater Ice Demon that carried it across the Kaltersee.
Skaror
The Drakkarim of Zaldir, Ghatan, Skaror, the Hammerlands and the Western Darklands united under the banner of a new warlord, Golzaarn, in the ruins of Cragmantle, now located at the edge of the new Great Ogshezar Chasm. The opening of the gorge awoke the Skarorian Horde, a legendary army of Agarashi, reportedly destroyed during the Age of War. Grand Master Black Hawk was dispatched to prevent the Drakkar warlord from enslaving the Agarashi. Supreme Master Lone Wolf sensed that he too was killed on his mission. Grand Master Star Lynx was dispatched to avenge his Kai brother and complete the task. Warlord Golzaarn and the evil device created by Darklord Kraagenskûl to enslave the Skarorian Agarashi were ultimately destroyed after a savage battle.
Maakengorge
The Acolytes of Vashna settled in the ruins of the northern Lyrisian city of Emolyria in their thousands, joining with other Darklands forces. Two Kai Grand Masters, including Steel Hand, were able to infiltrate their ranks, discovering a gigantic underground fortress beneath Emolyria - Zekgazad. In this secret stronghold, overlooking the Maakengorge, the elusive Acolyte Great Elders and their Nadziranim allies were breeding and arming a new Darklands army. They harnessed the immense power of the fiery Lake of Blood - the Nengud-kor-Adez -- which surrounded Helgedad and was believed to be extinguished. The Kai Grand Masters thwarted these attempts but failed to prevent them from summoning the lost Dagger of Vashna to Magnamund. The Acolyte Great Elders, led by Marshal Luthos Vorgada of Magador, intended to use this artefact to resurrect their master by sacrificing a member of the House of Ulnar on the brink of the Chasm of Doom. Steel Hand, a distant scion of Ulnar, was destined to become this sacrifice, but he defeated Vorgada and cast him into the Maakengorge. The Dagger of Vashna was destroyed, but the Spirit of Vashna was released deep within the Nengud-kor-Adez, which grew, filling the chasm and Zekgazad. The Kai Grand Masters escaped in the skyships of the Magicians' Guild, who had waged a costly assault to aid the infiltration of Emolyria. The city collapsed - consumed by the Chasm of Doom.
MS 5102 SOLANGOR
Maakengorge
The lands surrounding the Maakengorge were wracked by violent earthquakes, fissures splitting the earth north and south of the great chasm, filled with the lava of the Nengud-kor-Adez. A great flood of fire obstructed the Old Zautarl Vale, making the Zaut wasteland inaccessible from Lyris. Freelands scouts reported that the Darklands forces, far from being destroyed, had begun constructing furnaces and breeding pits freely and openly above the ground.
Casiorn
Casiorn was evacuated before being consumed by the Maakengorge. The High-Mayor took refuge in Varetta, along with the rest of the Casiornian peoples. The village of Selua became the administrative centre of the remnants of the Free State. The two great roads linking Casiorn to the Lastlands were severed by the Chasm of Doom, interrupting most overland trade between Sommerlund, Durenor, Cloeasia and the nations of the Stornlands and the Galdonlands. Merchants in Northern Magnamund were forced to divert across the Dry Main desert of Vassagonia.
Vassagonia
In Oudzaar, an old Shianti necropolis in the foothills of the Dahir Mountains, the Vassagonian Acolytes of Vashna performed a ritual using an ancient Majhan artefact. This hastened the expansion of the Chasm of Doom, isolating the Lastlands. Their attempts threatened to tear up the Dry Main and join it to the Maakengorge. However, thanks to information gathered by the Kai Grand Masters in Emolyria, an unnatural alliance of Kai and Sharnazim warriors sent by Zakhan Jaraza interrupted the ritual. However, a new great chasm expanded from Oudzaar to the volcanic region of the Koos, cutting the Dahir Pass. Many buildings were destroyed in Barrakeesh, and the Baga-darooz sewer released a plague of frenzied Kwaraz upon the streets of the Vassagonian capital.
Shadaki
After the fall of the Kitaezi Shamans, the state of Shadak returned to the Free Alliance of Southern Magnamund. However, the cities of Tiklu, Zharloum and Nhang refused and seceded from Shadaki. Ruled by supporters of the Kitaezi Shamans, they allied themselves with the city-state of Ghol-Tabras led by Lord Sesketera. These four renegade cities founded the Imperial Shadakine Confederation, sworn enemies of the Free Alliance of Southern Magnamund. The city of Kitaezi was seized by the Confederation after a brutal naval assault led by the Triasus, Sesketera's flagship.
Stornlands
Rumours abounded that Darklord Vashna had returned in Emolyria, offering immortality to his followers. The Acolytes of Vashna continued to send willing converts to the Zaut. These rumours were eclipsed by the shock of Marshal Luthos Vorgada's return to his capital of Helgor. He claimed to have survived a Kai assassination attempt in the Principality of Helin and sent a warning to the Freelands Alliance, claiming the New Order Kai was attempting to carve out an empire for itself. Few countries took this man calling himself Vorgada seriously, suspecting him to be an impostor.
Darklands, Ghatan and Zaldir
Kai scouts reported the cessation of skirmishes in the Darklord city-fortresses of Kaag, Aarnak, Gazad Helkona, Morgóar, Gournen, Gourzaa, Akagazad and Torgar. It appeared that all of the combined forces of the Darklands were mustering again, preparing for war.
Sommerlund
Supreme Master Lone Wolf urged King Haigh V to reinforce his defences in the event of an assault launched from the Maakengorge or the Darklands. The New Order Kai and the Brotherhood of the Crystal Star prepared themselves for Total War. After the rise to Grand Mastership of Autumn Snow, one cassel of 350 Kai Lords arrived from the Monastery of Lorn. Supreme Master Lone Wolf hastened the training of the Order's most worthy Archmasters, Winter Oak and Mountain Sun, to replace the fallen. By allowing them to absorb the power of the Lorestones of Nyxator, he felt they were ready to be awarded with the title of Kai Grand Master. He equipped them and Grand Mistress Autumn Snow accordingly. At the same time, the Brotherhood repaired its skyship fleet using the resources of the Kai Monastery. It also taught its magicians the new destructive spellcraft wielded for the first time at the Battle of Emolyria.
Vaduzhan and Bhanar
Vaduzhan took advantage of the war in Chai in Fehangor to invade Eastern Bhanar, conquering Yua Klio and deposing Overseer Klutan. With the province of Bakhasa still controlled by the minions of Zashnor and ostensibly ruled from the Doomlands of Naaros, Bhanar ceased to exist as a political entity.
Telchos
Inexplicably, Ishir's Light dimmed over the Furies Reach in the heart of the Telchos desert. The seal on the caves of this accursed range was weakened and the Agarashi minions of Karthogg the Doombringer, driven mad by the psychic death throes of their master, were released into the dune, millennia since their imprisonment. Uncontrolled, they scattered in savage packs and threatened all the villages of the Western and Eastern Scorchlands. Most villages were annihilated, with the few survivors fleeing northwards to the Kugen Range. The weakening of the link with Ishir prevented the Sand Speakers of Avan-Telchos from hearing of the slaughter. It was too late to save many of the nomadic Telchoi tribes.
MS 5102 HESTANGOR
Chai
As reconstruction followed Zashnor's invasion, the waters of the Tkukoma slowly grew toxic, and famine spread throughout the settlements bordering the river north of the town of Hi'joi. The Watchers, the agents of the Elder Magi in the New Kingdoms, reported terrifying mutations affecting the aquatic fauna of the river. In the Hyunsei Mountains, they also reported the frequent assaults of frenzied Agarashi who had survived Zashnor's defeat.
Palmyrion
The blessed Thalis Altar, which had held at bay Cenerese contamination in eastern Palmyrion for millennia, was destroyed by Eldenoran mercenaries hired by Arch Druid Kadrian of Mogaruith. The Plague Lords of Ruel were able to cast an ancient ritual of evil herbcraft. This awoke corrupted spores that had lain dormant in the soils of the Cursed Plain south of Vanamor. Too busy fighting the plagues released in the Republic by their arch-foes, the Herbwardens were powerless to stop the ritual. In just a few weeks, the Cursed Plain was covered by poisonous vegetation controlled by the Cenerese and adjoining the Forest of Ruel.
Talestria
Without the support of the Palnyrion army, Talestría was unable to contain the Agarashi horde from the Danarg. The swamp creatures destroyed Fort Kazlo and wreaked havoc upon the vast farming region enclosed between the rivers Tardo, Siyad, and Trusk. The horde reached the River Kinam, cutting the kingdom in two. Pressed by Queen Emyla, King Haigh V of Sommerlund sent three infantry Cassels, supervised by Kai Captains, to support her homeland. They hoped to reclaim the bridges of the Great North Road linking Phoena and Garthen.
Stornlands
An outbreak of violent clashes between the princelings plagued this vast area of kingdoms and cities. The Sages of Varetta discovered that many Helghast had infiltrated the courts, and entire companies of mercenaries had been stirring up this turmoil. Their number was so great that the Freelands were forced to admit that new Helghast must have been created stoking the rumours of Archlord Vashna's return. When the Sages of Varetta summoned the help of the Kai, Marshal Vorgada of Magador claimed that the Helghast were no more than a lie - a pretext for the Order to gain more power in the Stornlands. A series of assassinations occurred among the nobles, the killers displaying Kai-like abilities. Salony and Delden abandoned the Freelands Alliance soon after.
Nyvoz
A major eruption of the Nengud-kor-Adez in the ruins of Kagorst forced the Lencian army to withdraw from Western Nyvoz. This region was recaptured by the remnants of the Drakkarim Orgar Dej (Eastern Army) based in Tanoz, which became the de facto capital of Nyvoz.
Kaum, Halia and Ilion
After their defeat at the Kraknalorg Chasm, the Kaum Giants and their elusive Cenerese masters waged war upon Halia. The Sword Knights of Ilion could not remain neutral and intervened to defend the Halian capital of Saldor after the destruction of the town of Horkan by an invasion of strange, giant constrictive vines. The League of the Sword feared the Cenerese would not stop until the allied forces of Kaum and Ruel had destroyed Ilion and Palmyrion. After which, their forces could be deployed in the Tentarias strait - a lifeline of the Freelands Alliance.
Anari
The last remnants of the Crocaryx contacted the Republic of Anari to ask for its help. They reported an Agarashi invasion of their home the subterranean city of Zaaryx beneath Tahou, the Anarian capital. The new horde was reported to have come from the 'Suzerainty of Shomazgaar', a realm supposedly located deep in the Underworld of Magnamund, and led by 'Imperial Agarashi', the supposedly extinct ruling caste of the Agarashi Empire during the Age of Eternal Night. The Elder Magi pressed the Republic, and her allies of Firalond and Kakush, to send troops via the Tahou Cauldron to help the Crocaryx before the Shomazgaar Horde could establish a bridgehead in the heart of the Freelands' territories.
MS 5102 KALTANGOR
Lastlands
Important figures were assassinated, their identities stolen by Helghast infiltrators. They provoked outbreaks of violence in Sommerlund and Durenor. The Kai and the Brotherhood of the Crystal Star hunted down the undead shape-changers. However, their efforts were hindered by the Heldajdok-taagim - Vashna's Order of Black Moon Assassins. Like in the Helghast Wars, manipulated Guild Cassels from Toran fought against the Army of the North in the Anskaven Plain, while misguided squadrons of the Durenese fleet engaged the Kirlundin Fleet in the Gulf of Durenor. In response, Supreme Master Lone Wolf was hurriedly appointed Marshal of the Realm, supreme commander of the Sommlending armies, by King Haigh V. Lone Wolf's first act was to reposition the Sommlending Army of the South away from Moytura to Ruanon, to observe the Maakengorge. He sent two-thirds of the Kai forces in Sommerlund in support, whilst the remainder continued to hunt down the Helghast saboteurs.
Shadaki
The army of the Free Alliance of Southern Magnamund besieged Tiklu. The Freedom Guild fleet also blockaded the Kitaezi Strait but suffered a sound defeat at Ghol-Tabras. Despite the war with the rebel cities, Wizard-Regent Grey Star departed Free Alliance territory, bound for some mysterious yet urgent quest.
Kelderwastes and Vaduzhan
Earthquakes shook the Great Forest of Kelderwood, forcing hordes of frenzied Agarashi to emerge and attack the western borders of Vaduzhan and the Isle of Sheasu. In Vaduzhan, the fleeing monsters were reported to carry an unknown wasting disease - capable of spreading to humans.
Lencia and the Hellswamp
Eruan Pathfinders reported that a horde of Agarashi was mustering in the Hellswamp under the command of Swamplord Vag'kroag to attack Northern Lencia (formerly Nyras). Unexpectedly, while the Lencian army was mustering at Lozonzee, the Swamplord mysteriously vanished, and his monstrous army disbanded before the assault.
Siyen, Lunarlia and Klarnos
The border province of Cavalia attempted to secede from Siyen. Baron Mezimax - suspected to be a former follower of the infamous renegade Baron Sadanzo - took advantage of the destruction of Varedo and declared allegiance to the King of Klarnos. Mezimax claimed he sought to recreate the great Nael kingdom which once extended 'from the Suranic Ocean to the Tentarias'. King Karvas deployed his army to besiege Cavalia, but this move stirred a troubled King of Lunarlia to prepare for war - his realm being adjacent to both Klarnos and Siyen.
Boden
In the Boden Range, Mount Gurlan erupted unexpectedly, followed by Mount Murdan, which was not known to be volcanic. The Dwarven mountain castle of Claedun was utterly destroyed, and rivers of magma flowed down the fertile valley it once commanded. According to the Droda elders, this was the Boden Range's worst eruption in a century, and tremors had yet to cease in Western Boden.
Vassagonia
Helghast infiltrations destabilised the Empire. Supported by Acolytes of Vashna, the undead shape-changers stirred up disputes between traditionalists seeking to prevent merchants of the Lastlands from crossing the Dry Main and Zakhan Jaraza who beseeched them to maintain customary trade relations and not provoke conflict with their neighbours.
MS 5103 FEHANGOR
Lissan and the Great Sadi Desert
More earthquakes disturbed the foothills of the Great Siyen Range. Two centuries after the city of Zanaza was broken by earthquakes, the ruins were finally swallowed. Fort VIau was also destroyed. The gorges of Genmah, Yosho, Q'dah, Oza and S'zhan were torn wider, extending and threatening to coalesce into one gigantic chasm. The gorge of S'zhan cut across the Great Siyen Range, converging with a new abyss that opened simultaneously in the south-western Sadi Desert, engulfing the Zeksa Oasis.
Sommerlund
The south-eastern sector of the Maaken Mines at Maura was flooded by a resurgence of the Nengud-kor-Adez, sealing off the recently discovered gold seams. Soon after, the Legion of the Restless Dead - undead remnants of the soldiery that fought for Archlord Vashna in the Age of the Black Moon, arose from the Maakengorge. It marches upon Ruanon Town defended by the army of Supreme Master Lone Wolf.
And that's where I'm going to leave that today because The Story So Far¹ and the Prologue² are another 18 pages³, so I'll post those tomorrow. Autumn Snow confirmed canon though.
¹ Did you think that's what this bit was? No, this is extra.
² Which is the bit between the Story So Far and the actual start of the book.
³ The timeline of notable events was 16 pages.
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