Post by Agent Dick Johnson on Oct 13, 2009 7:42:49 GMT -5
OOC: This was written about 10 years ago by Maphic. Keep that in mind with the time references.
As written by Lord Maphic
Well this is how it all began...
About two years ago, Margul, the Demon King, found a scroll that had been written in ancient runes. He, himself, could nottranslate it and spent a long while searching for someone to unlock the mistrey behind the scroll. Having a black heart he new that the scroll was of darkness. His search brought him to a monistary and deep inside himself he knew that the answer awaited him beyond the monistary gates. Once inside, he was told to should leave such things be. Angered greatly at the monks response, he massacered all life there, except one man. He was a monk of sorts but had an evil heart as well. Margul spared his life in return for the translation of the scroll. The monk complied and translated the scroll but in the long run costed him his life and soul.
The scroll read: 500 years ago, two beings, not of this plane, arrived and ruled the lands in darkness. Their names being Nathrac and Maphic. Nathrac seemed to be Maphic's mentor. Being immortal and with the ability to control the undead, they ruled with an ebon hand. No life could survive and no light could shine through the darkness that they emmited.
On the verge of domination of this plane, one man stood against them. He was a holy man named Erik. He knew he could never destroy them though. He drew all his life force out and used that pure power to cast the two immortals to an alternate plane. The local monastery saw this as a most brave act and guarded his remains. They knew that the only way Nathrac and Maphic could get back to this plane was through Erik's bones. They alone were the key to opening a portal to this realm.
Margul, now knowing what the scroll was, intended to bring the two beings back to this realm. The monk that translated the scroll pleaded to come along with Margul. Margul agreed and let him travel with him. They gathered the bones from the monastery and traveled back to Darkmoor.
Once in Darkmoor, Margul assembled the bones and called out the names of Nathrac and Maphic. The sky turned black and a blue light appeared before the Demon King. The blue light grew and opened up, a portal now stood at Margul's feet. As he stepped back a world on the other side came into view. The world was totally decimated and no signs of life remained.
The Demon King grinned and said, "Nathrac, Maphic, I call you forth to this plane." In an instant he heard marching of hollow bones. Out of the portal one Legion of Skeletons marched before him. Last but not least two dark figures stood before him. Both sides could feel the evil of the other.
Margul's hunger for power grew. Now he had an evil force strong enough to take Darkmoor. The army marched onward to the outskirts of the Barony. A scout name Antillies noticed the massive army and was able to warn the populace of its approach. As the army positioned itself the inhabitants of Darkmoor took shelter. A band of heroic warriors banded together to form a resistance to the invasion. The odds were against Darkmoor, for the superior warriors of the Barony went to witness the coronation cerimony of the new king. As the odds stacked against the people of Darkmoor they stood and fought bravely. The forces of Darkmoor were all but demolished when they figured out how to weaken the immortal necromantic wizards.
With the information from The Oracle of Darkmoor, they found that Nathrac and Maphic where Gods in this world as long as the portal remained opened. The heroes were now exhausted and were greatly outnumbered. They were taken off guard by a band of skeleton warriors. The fight was short and the outcome was brutal. One of the members of the Darkmoor party was Jade Barritus, a respected member of Darkmoor and Lady of House Barritus. Knowing this Maphic used his ability to talk to dead on her.
He said, "If I raise you will you do my every bidding." She answered yes. Maphic grinned and gave her life back. He told her to tell the party the only way to close the portal is to break the skull of Erik. Maphic knew this would make the portal stay open.
Jade agreed and left the evil ones to find the rest of the Darkmoor forces. The first person she ran across was her apprentice Talacor. She told him exactly what Maphic wanted her to say. Talacor, without hesitation, ran to find the others and spread the word. As Nathrac and Maphic listened on from afar they grinned in delight, for they would soon be Gods forever on this plane.
The word was spread and everyone knew how to close the portal. The search for Erik's skull had begun. As the brave defenders trudged through the hordes of darkness, they were whittled down in number. Finally, the skull was in sight and the portal was on the verge of being closed, or they thought. As Nathrac and Maphic watched from a distance and grinned with anticipation, an arrow took Maphic by surprise. Maphic looked down at the protrusion and laughed loudly.
"This can't stop me, death can't stop me, we are death!!! This is only a delay in time." Maphic dematerialized and his particles flowed back to the portal to rematerialize in whole. Nathrac grinned with the thought of ruling yet another plane. As he saw one man approach the skull his grin disappeared.
"NOOOO!!!!!" was all that he could say or do. As the mighty blow stuck the skull, it exploded. All Nathrac could do was look in disbelief for the skull had been smashed unexpectedly with a magical sword. At the moment of the explosion, the skeletons dropped and the portal closed... With Maphic in it..... Nathrac swore revenge and teleported out of the area and secluded himself on The Isle de la Morte. The heroes rejoiced for the battle was over, or they thought....
One year later...
Nathrac swore revenge for the loss of Maphic to the portal, and he meant to keep his promise of revenge. And what a sweeter way, than to let the populace of Darkmoor re-summon Maphic to this plane. Nathrac had to work fast for the time was almost right for the portal to be able to be reopened. Nathrac, disguised as a merchant, hired a group of adventurers to hunt down the missing pieces of the skull. Rumor had it that the remaining heroes of the first battle had hid the pieces in the legendary Lost Woods of Darkmoor. Not knowing exactly where to look, Nathrac had a hunch that they were being guarded by the Elven Nation, for their strong hold was rumored to be deep within the woods.
For four weeks the adventurers made their way through the wooded terrain. It finally paid off when they encountered a lone elf. He posed no threat to the party and offered to guide them through the lost woods. After learning what the adventurers wanted, the elf said he knew where the bones where kept. For thirty pieces of silver, the elf agreed to show the questers where to find them.
The adventurers where lead to an underground cave where the bones where layed to rest. They gathered the bones and started to leave when the ghost of Erik showed up to warn them of there intentions. Out of fear the questers attacked the ghost. The ghost disappeared and the party ran out of the cave. Once on the outside of the cave they agreed that their quest was over. The long trek back to Darkmoor was now a foot.
After a week of travel they found themselves amongst familiar and unfamiliar faces. Back in Darkmoor, they awaited their reward for the recovery of the bones. Nathrac, still disguised as a merchant, complimented the adventurers for a job well done. As they began to ask for their payment, Nathrac said that he would double thier reward if they would escort him to a sacred area to pay respect to the great Erik. With greed in their eyes, they were happy to take the job. A few other people over heard the offer and also applied for the task. Among them was the Paladin Fiongghal. The group gathered their equipment and resupplied.
On their journey towards Nathrac's choosen grounds they were ambushed by orcs. After Nathrac zapped the War Chief with a lightning bolt, the rest of the orcs ran back into the woods. The party was shocked to see a merchant throw a lightning bolt. Why would a powerful mage need an escort? That question was asked but soon forgotten when the they remembered double the reward value. Once at the place of Nathrac's chosen site, he laid out the bone pieces of the skull. One by one he put each piece into a burlap bag. He waved his hands over the bag and shook it up. He then dumped the contents of the bag into his hand, behold a whole skull was in his palm.
Amazed by the magic, the questers marveled at what they had seen so far. Nathrac placed the skull on a stone and raised his hands toward the sky. In a magical language he began to chant. The sky began to blacken and the wind began to blow. Deep inside the adventurers they knew something was wrong. Before their very eyes a flash of Lightning blinded them. When their vision cleared before them stood a different man, but he was the same. It was Nathrac in true form.
"You fools did my dirty work for me and now you are going to die." was what Nathrac said as a blue light lit up in front of him. A portal opened and in it stood a dark figure. An evil aura emitted from the portal, evil enough to make Nathrac wonder what had happened. Fiongghal, showing bravery stepped up to slay the evil shadow. The blade sliced right through it and had no effect. Knowing time was running out she tried to reach in the portal and pull the evil one out, only to have a sphere of annihilation strike her down. With an evil laugh the dark one stepped through the portal. Amazed at the power and evilness that emitted from him, Nathrac stood by and watched Maphic step forward onto this plane once again.
"Hello again Nathrac, it is good to see you again, we have much to discuss", Maphic said. The force that had followed Nathrac fell quickly to Maphic. Nathrac could not believe that Maphic was now more powerful than him. How was the only question Nathrac could ask.
As the attacks came Maphic seemed to have just waved his hands and all opposition fell before him. Maphic steadly rambling on how the dead souls combined with his body in the rift of the portal and made him this powerful all the while slaying anyone that opposed him. Of all the questers only a handful managed to crawl away. As Nathrac and Maphic marched on a loud cry caught their attention. The sound was unmistakable. It was the sound of the skull being smashed. The two wizards looked at each other and darted off toward the site of the skull. Once there they saw that a female elf by the name of Nyla Darkleaf with the shattered pieces in her hands. The portal was growing smaller and with a flick of her wrist she threw the fragments into the portal. "You will die for this you miserable little wench." Nathrac said to her. She then quickly ran into the forest and never looked back.
The day had been saved but had been costly. All the corpses of the battle were turned into undead by the powers of Nathrac and Maphic.
"We shall now complete what we came here to do" Maphic said. The two along with there new soldiers of darkness continued to march. They returned to Nathrac's home The Cemetery on The Isle de la Morte. Once there the undead gathered at the tomb in the center. The power drew them to the unholy place. The mindless corpses complied to every command that they were given. Now with a larger force Darkmoor would soon fall.
Maphic began to wander if he need a general of some sort. In his years of destroying all life and devouring souls on other planes, he remembered one worthy opponent named Meadar. His heart was black as well but he opposed Maphic and fell after a long battle. Maphic, owning Meadar's soul, decided that he would be one of his generals. The only problem was that he needed a living individual to be the host of Meadar. Once again Maphic and Nathrac set off toward Darkmoor along with their undead forces. A scouting party spotted them and made it back to the city to warn the populace once again. This time not as many adventurers volunteered to stand against the army, for the last time not many returned.
A small force, brave and outnumbered, set off toward the army. They knew that they really had no chance to survive the attack of the undead forces. With the spirit of heroes and the thought of their family, they marched boldly into death's army. As expected, all was cut down, all but one man, Cedric Larson. Maphic held him anchored to the ground with some sort of spell and then his weapon grew so hot that he dropped it. Maphic walked up to him slowly and looked him straight into his eyes and Cedric fainted.
Word of the war party being crushed without remorse reached the city. It sparked anger everywhere. Bands of people armed with whatever they could find set out to stop the army and get revenge for their fallen heroes. When they arrived to the spot of battle, no corpses remained. Confused, they headed down a well worn trail. At an opening they saw Nathrac and Maphic standing inside a triangle with a candle in each corner. In the middle was Cedric Larson. Outraged, the citizens ran toward the triangle and repeatedly struck out at the two evil beings. With no effect for their weapons bounced off with orange flashes. The two wizards raised their hands to the air and Cedric began to levitate and his arms stretched out. As the two evil beings in the triangle muttered magic words, Cedric began to spin. Lightning zapped Cedric and he fell to the ground. The populace on the outside of the triangle looked in with horror. Cedric arose and now his body was full of markings. He spoke and his voice was different.
Maphic said, "What is your name?..."
Cedric looked out to the people watching on. "I am Meadar, and I pledge my life you Maphic." "Then you are now my general over my legions of darkness."
Maphic said to him, "Go and gather our armies." Nathrac and Maphic vanished and Meadar stepped through the triangle. Meadar stepped through the triangle and three men ran at him. With his two swords he cut them down without trouble.
"Come my legion, come and destroy or enemies", Cedric shouted. At that moment the forest seemed to move. The tree line was replaced with his Legion.The crowd looked on in terror. Now they knew why the battlefield had no corpses, they were now all part of the undead army.
"Attack!", Meadar shouted.
The skeletons and zombies marched toward the center where the Darkmoor militia stood huddled together in the center. The fight was over in seconds. Their was no survivors of the attack. Meadar killed without remorse and enjoyed it. Now he started his trek towards The Isle de la Morte.
With the population low and the threat of undead invasions growing, pleas for help where sent out to other provinces surrounding Darkmoor. Only a few ever made it out of Darkmoor alive. One messenger headed east and one headed west. The one that made it to the east found a small town called Crimson Moon. They were eager to show their talents in battle, so they agreed to lend aid not knowing the true power that awaited them. The one that made it to the west found Granyte Spyre. The people their were skeptical about the whole thing and only a few offered to lend a hand. Among them was also the Paladin Fiongghal. She knowing what had happened before didn't think twice about the undead army. She tried to rally the forces of Granyte Spyre but most ignored her pleas. She sent a messenger to the Mushroom Shrine to tell of the undead forces. The Mushroom Shrine took more caution than Granyte Spire and formed a scouting party to accompany Fiongghal on her travels to Darkmoor.
Fortunately the groups all meet in Darkmoor at the same time. It was not long though before the attacks began. Meadar was leading his legion of the army to destroy the new comers. He hit them hard and most of the forces fell within and hour. Only a few managed to evade all the force that Meadar commanded. The visitor from the west were bent on killing what was already dead and could not be killed. The visitors from the east moved on to find an oracle. It was a statue in a grove with it's hands held outward. The people of Crimson Moon examined the statue and found out that if you place a gold piece in its hands it would answer one question. At this time the remnants of the forces from the west had retreated and gathered at the statue too. They found out that an elven undead slayer was put to rest in that area, and he had a magical sword named Bone Saw. They searched the area and found a shrine that resembled an elf holding a sword at the cross piece. They investigated the shrine and found a spot on his chest that looked like the indention where a cross may go.
One man spoke up and said that he saw a cross on a necklace hanging around the man that called himself Meadar. Now all they had to do was acquire the cross and maybe they would get the sword. They let out an all out fight against Meadar. Many of what was left of the foreign forces fell but they did manage to defeat Meadar. Meadar knew that he was on his last leg and was teleported back to The Isle de la Morte. When he teleported away the cross had dropped to the ground. But, still the forces of undead kept coming. With the cross they bolted back to the shrine and inserted the it in the indention. The statue shook and the sword fell free.
Galron Silvermoon of the Crimson Moon in one way or another ended up with the sword. Through telepathy the ancient undead slayer said to Galron, "This is Bone Saw, use it wisely. It has the power to destroy undead."
Galron now knew what had to be done. All the remaining corpses were put to their final rest. With rejoice the remaining forces thought that they had liberated Darkmoor. Thats when they heard the marching of hallow bones. Outnumbered and tired the party retreated back to where they came to warn their cites.
Maphic and Nathrac had now taken all of Darkmoor. Their next target is Crimson Moon. Maphic was now ready for a full scale invasion over anything that stood in his way. Maphic had made the corpses of the fallen outlanders into undead foot soldiers as well. Maphic now more determined than ever to win the fight summoned a dark mist of evil stench and decay. The mist made any dead creature return as undead. The mist would fallow Maphic were ever he marched. Now his first target was Crimson Moon.
On the way the army recruited some villagers. As the army marched through the area none were spared. With the numbers of the army growing rapidly with each life they took, the army seemed invincible. Once at the chosen destination, Maphic ordered Meadar to take his legion of the forces to the other side of the city. Once the city was surrounded the undead closed in. The battle took longer than expected but the Shire did fall. Only a few survivors made it out and to Granyte Spyre.
Now the army was larger than ever and continued to grow. The long march to Granyte Spyre had begun. As the army marched it was named the Army of Darkness. And everywhere it went darkness followed. Over the horizon Granyte Spyre now sees the mist and can feel the evil emitting from it.
What happens next will soon be decided....
As written by Lord Maphic
Well this is how it all began...
About two years ago, Margul, the Demon King, found a scroll that had been written in ancient runes. He, himself, could nottranslate it and spent a long while searching for someone to unlock the mistrey behind the scroll. Having a black heart he new that the scroll was of darkness. His search brought him to a monistary and deep inside himself he knew that the answer awaited him beyond the monistary gates. Once inside, he was told to should leave such things be. Angered greatly at the monks response, he massacered all life there, except one man. He was a monk of sorts but had an evil heart as well. Margul spared his life in return for the translation of the scroll. The monk complied and translated the scroll but in the long run costed him his life and soul.
The scroll read: 500 years ago, two beings, not of this plane, arrived and ruled the lands in darkness. Their names being Nathrac and Maphic. Nathrac seemed to be Maphic's mentor. Being immortal and with the ability to control the undead, they ruled with an ebon hand. No life could survive and no light could shine through the darkness that they emmited.
On the verge of domination of this plane, one man stood against them. He was a holy man named Erik. He knew he could never destroy them though. He drew all his life force out and used that pure power to cast the two immortals to an alternate plane. The local monastery saw this as a most brave act and guarded his remains. They knew that the only way Nathrac and Maphic could get back to this plane was through Erik's bones. They alone were the key to opening a portal to this realm.
Margul, now knowing what the scroll was, intended to bring the two beings back to this realm. The monk that translated the scroll pleaded to come along with Margul. Margul agreed and let him travel with him. They gathered the bones from the monastery and traveled back to Darkmoor.
Once in Darkmoor, Margul assembled the bones and called out the names of Nathrac and Maphic. The sky turned black and a blue light appeared before the Demon King. The blue light grew and opened up, a portal now stood at Margul's feet. As he stepped back a world on the other side came into view. The world was totally decimated and no signs of life remained.
The Demon King grinned and said, "Nathrac, Maphic, I call you forth to this plane." In an instant he heard marching of hollow bones. Out of the portal one Legion of Skeletons marched before him. Last but not least two dark figures stood before him. Both sides could feel the evil of the other.
Margul's hunger for power grew. Now he had an evil force strong enough to take Darkmoor. The army marched onward to the outskirts of the Barony. A scout name Antillies noticed the massive army and was able to warn the populace of its approach. As the army positioned itself the inhabitants of Darkmoor took shelter. A band of heroic warriors banded together to form a resistance to the invasion. The odds were against Darkmoor, for the superior warriors of the Barony went to witness the coronation cerimony of the new king. As the odds stacked against the people of Darkmoor they stood and fought bravely. The forces of Darkmoor were all but demolished when they figured out how to weaken the immortal necromantic wizards.
With the information from The Oracle of Darkmoor, they found that Nathrac and Maphic where Gods in this world as long as the portal remained opened. The heroes were now exhausted and were greatly outnumbered. They were taken off guard by a band of skeleton warriors. The fight was short and the outcome was brutal. One of the members of the Darkmoor party was Jade Barritus, a respected member of Darkmoor and Lady of House Barritus. Knowing this Maphic used his ability to talk to dead on her.
He said, "If I raise you will you do my every bidding." She answered yes. Maphic grinned and gave her life back. He told her to tell the party the only way to close the portal is to break the skull of Erik. Maphic knew this would make the portal stay open.
Jade agreed and left the evil ones to find the rest of the Darkmoor forces. The first person she ran across was her apprentice Talacor. She told him exactly what Maphic wanted her to say. Talacor, without hesitation, ran to find the others and spread the word. As Nathrac and Maphic listened on from afar they grinned in delight, for they would soon be Gods forever on this plane.
The word was spread and everyone knew how to close the portal. The search for Erik's skull had begun. As the brave defenders trudged through the hordes of darkness, they were whittled down in number. Finally, the skull was in sight and the portal was on the verge of being closed, or they thought. As Nathrac and Maphic watched from a distance and grinned with anticipation, an arrow took Maphic by surprise. Maphic looked down at the protrusion and laughed loudly.
"This can't stop me, death can't stop me, we are death!!! This is only a delay in time." Maphic dematerialized and his particles flowed back to the portal to rematerialize in whole. Nathrac grinned with the thought of ruling yet another plane. As he saw one man approach the skull his grin disappeared.
"NOOOO!!!!!" was all that he could say or do. As the mighty blow stuck the skull, it exploded. All Nathrac could do was look in disbelief for the skull had been smashed unexpectedly with a magical sword. At the moment of the explosion, the skeletons dropped and the portal closed... With Maphic in it..... Nathrac swore revenge and teleported out of the area and secluded himself on The Isle de la Morte. The heroes rejoiced for the battle was over, or they thought....
One year later...
Nathrac swore revenge for the loss of Maphic to the portal, and he meant to keep his promise of revenge. And what a sweeter way, than to let the populace of Darkmoor re-summon Maphic to this plane. Nathrac had to work fast for the time was almost right for the portal to be able to be reopened. Nathrac, disguised as a merchant, hired a group of adventurers to hunt down the missing pieces of the skull. Rumor had it that the remaining heroes of the first battle had hid the pieces in the legendary Lost Woods of Darkmoor. Not knowing exactly where to look, Nathrac had a hunch that they were being guarded by the Elven Nation, for their strong hold was rumored to be deep within the woods.
For four weeks the adventurers made their way through the wooded terrain. It finally paid off when they encountered a lone elf. He posed no threat to the party and offered to guide them through the lost woods. After learning what the adventurers wanted, the elf said he knew where the bones where kept. For thirty pieces of silver, the elf agreed to show the questers where to find them.
The adventurers where lead to an underground cave where the bones where layed to rest. They gathered the bones and started to leave when the ghost of Erik showed up to warn them of there intentions. Out of fear the questers attacked the ghost. The ghost disappeared and the party ran out of the cave. Once on the outside of the cave they agreed that their quest was over. The long trek back to Darkmoor was now a foot.
After a week of travel they found themselves amongst familiar and unfamiliar faces. Back in Darkmoor, they awaited their reward for the recovery of the bones. Nathrac, still disguised as a merchant, complimented the adventurers for a job well done. As they began to ask for their payment, Nathrac said that he would double thier reward if they would escort him to a sacred area to pay respect to the great Erik. With greed in their eyes, they were happy to take the job. A few other people over heard the offer and also applied for the task. Among them was the Paladin Fiongghal. The group gathered their equipment and resupplied.
On their journey towards Nathrac's choosen grounds they were ambushed by orcs. After Nathrac zapped the War Chief with a lightning bolt, the rest of the orcs ran back into the woods. The party was shocked to see a merchant throw a lightning bolt. Why would a powerful mage need an escort? That question was asked but soon forgotten when the they remembered double the reward value. Once at the place of Nathrac's chosen site, he laid out the bone pieces of the skull. One by one he put each piece into a burlap bag. He waved his hands over the bag and shook it up. He then dumped the contents of the bag into his hand, behold a whole skull was in his palm.
Amazed by the magic, the questers marveled at what they had seen so far. Nathrac placed the skull on a stone and raised his hands toward the sky. In a magical language he began to chant. The sky began to blacken and the wind began to blow. Deep inside the adventurers they knew something was wrong. Before their very eyes a flash of Lightning blinded them. When their vision cleared before them stood a different man, but he was the same. It was Nathrac in true form.
"You fools did my dirty work for me and now you are going to die." was what Nathrac said as a blue light lit up in front of him. A portal opened and in it stood a dark figure. An evil aura emitted from the portal, evil enough to make Nathrac wonder what had happened. Fiongghal, showing bravery stepped up to slay the evil shadow. The blade sliced right through it and had no effect. Knowing time was running out she tried to reach in the portal and pull the evil one out, only to have a sphere of annihilation strike her down. With an evil laugh the dark one stepped through the portal. Amazed at the power and evilness that emitted from him, Nathrac stood by and watched Maphic step forward onto this plane once again.
"Hello again Nathrac, it is good to see you again, we have much to discuss", Maphic said. The force that had followed Nathrac fell quickly to Maphic. Nathrac could not believe that Maphic was now more powerful than him. How was the only question Nathrac could ask.
As the attacks came Maphic seemed to have just waved his hands and all opposition fell before him. Maphic steadly rambling on how the dead souls combined with his body in the rift of the portal and made him this powerful all the while slaying anyone that opposed him. Of all the questers only a handful managed to crawl away. As Nathrac and Maphic marched on a loud cry caught their attention. The sound was unmistakable. It was the sound of the skull being smashed. The two wizards looked at each other and darted off toward the site of the skull. Once there they saw that a female elf by the name of Nyla Darkleaf with the shattered pieces in her hands. The portal was growing smaller and with a flick of her wrist she threw the fragments into the portal. "You will die for this you miserable little wench." Nathrac said to her. She then quickly ran into the forest and never looked back.
The day had been saved but had been costly. All the corpses of the battle were turned into undead by the powers of Nathrac and Maphic.
"We shall now complete what we came here to do" Maphic said. The two along with there new soldiers of darkness continued to march. They returned to Nathrac's home The Cemetery on The Isle de la Morte. Once there the undead gathered at the tomb in the center. The power drew them to the unholy place. The mindless corpses complied to every command that they were given. Now with a larger force Darkmoor would soon fall.
Maphic began to wander if he need a general of some sort. In his years of destroying all life and devouring souls on other planes, he remembered one worthy opponent named Meadar. His heart was black as well but he opposed Maphic and fell after a long battle. Maphic, owning Meadar's soul, decided that he would be one of his generals. The only problem was that he needed a living individual to be the host of Meadar. Once again Maphic and Nathrac set off toward Darkmoor along with their undead forces. A scouting party spotted them and made it back to the city to warn the populace once again. This time not as many adventurers volunteered to stand against the army, for the last time not many returned.
A small force, brave and outnumbered, set off toward the army. They knew that they really had no chance to survive the attack of the undead forces. With the spirit of heroes and the thought of their family, they marched boldly into death's army. As expected, all was cut down, all but one man, Cedric Larson. Maphic held him anchored to the ground with some sort of spell and then his weapon grew so hot that he dropped it. Maphic walked up to him slowly and looked him straight into his eyes and Cedric fainted.
Word of the war party being crushed without remorse reached the city. It sparked anger everywhere. Bands of people armed with whatever they could find set out to stop the army and get revenge for their fallen heroes. When they arrived to the spot of battle, no corpses remained. Confused, they headed down a well worn trail. At an opening they saw Nathrac and Maphic standing inside a triangle with a candle in each corner. In the middle was Cedric Larson. Outraged, the citizens ran toward the triangle and repeatedly struck out at the two evil beings. With no effect for their weapons bounced off with orange flashes. The two wizards raised their hands to the air and Cedric began to levitate and his arms stretched out. As the two evil beings in the triangle muttered magic words, Cedric began to spin. Lightning zapped Cedric and he fell to the ground. The populace on the outside of the triangle looked in with horror. Cedric arose and now his body was full of markings. He spoke and his voice was different.
Maphic said, "What is your name?..."
Cedric looked out to the people watching on. "I am Meadar, and I pledge my life you Maphic." "Then you are now my general over my legions of darkness."
Maphic said to him, "Go and gather our armies." Nathrac and Maphic vanished and Meadar stepped through the triangle. Meadar stepped through the triangle and three men ran at him. With his two swords he cut them down without trouble.
"Come my legion, come and destroy or enemies", Cedric shouted. At that moment the forest seemed to move. The tree line was replaced with his Legion.The crowd looked on in terror. Now they knew why the battlefield had no corpses, they were now all part of the undead army.
"Attack!", Meadar shouted.
The skeletons and zombies marched toward the center where the Darkmoor militia stood huddled together in the center. The fight was over in seconds. Their was no survivors of the attack. Meadar killed without remorse and enjoyed it. Now he started his trek towards The Isle de la Morte.
With the population low and the threat of undead invasions growing, pleas for help where sent out to other provinces surrounding Darkmoor. Only a few ever made it out of Darkmoor alive. One messenger headed east and one headed west. The one that made it to the east found a small town called Crimson Moon. They were eager to show their talents in battle, so they agreed to lend aid not knowing the true power that awaited them. The one that made it to the west found Granyte Spyre. The people their were skeptical about the whole thing and only a few offered to lend a hand. Among them was also the Paladin Fiongghal. She knowing what had happened before didn't think twice about the undead army. She tried to rally the forces of Granyte Spyre but most ignored her pleas. She sent a messenger to the Mushroom Shrine to tell of the undead forces. The Mushroom Shrine took more caution than Granyte Spire and formed a scouting party to accompany Fiongghal on her travels to Darkmoor.
Fortunately the groups all meet in Darkmoor at the same time. It was not long though before the attacks began. Meadar was leading his legion of the army to destroy the new comers. He hit them hard and most of the forces fell within and hour. Only a few managed to evade all the force that Meadar commanded. The visitor from the west were bent on killing what was already dead and could not be killed. The visitors from the east moved on to find an oracle. It was a statue in a grove with it's hands held outward. The people of Crimson Moon examined the statue and found out that if you place a gold piece in its hands it would answer one question. At this time the remnants of the forces from the west had retreated and gathered at the statue too. They found out that an elven undead slayer was put to rest in that area, and he had a magical sword named Bone Saw. They searched the area and found a shrine that resembled an elf holding a sword at the cross piece. They investigated the shrine and found a spot on his chest that looked like the indention where a cross may go.
One man spoke up and said that he saw a cross on a necklace hanging around the man that called himself Meadar. Now all they had to do was acquire the cross and maybe they would get the sword. They let out an all out fight against Meadar. Many of what was left of the foreign forces fell but they did manage to defeat Meadar. Meadar knew that he was on his last leg and was teleported back to The Isle de la Morte. When he teleported away the cross had dropped to the ground. But, still the forces of undead kept coming. With the cross they bolted back to the shrine and inserted the it in the indention. The statue shook and the sword fell free.
Galron Silvermoon of the Crimson Moon in one way or another ended up with the sword. Through telepathy the ancient undead slayer said to Galron, "This is Bone Saw, use it wisely. It has the power to destroy undead."
Galron now knew what had to be done. All the remaining corpses were put to their final rest. With rejoice the remaining forces thought that they had liberated Darkmoor. Thats when they heard the marching of hallow bones. Outnumbered and tired the party retreated back to where they came to warn their cites.
Maphic and Nathrac had now taken all of Darkmoor. Their next target is Crimson Moon. Maphic was now ready for a full scale invasion over anything that stood in his way. Maphic had made the corpses of the fallen outlanders into undead foot soldiers as well. Maphic now more determined than ever to win the fight summoned a dark mist of evil stench and decay. The mist made any dead creature return as undead. The mist would fallow Maphic were ever he marched. Now his first target was Crimson Moon.
On the way the army recruited some villagers. As the army marched through the area none were spared. With the numbers of the army growing rapidly with each life they took, the army seemed invincible. Once at the chosen destination, Maphic ordered Meadar to take his legion of the forces to the other side of the city. Once the city was surrounded the undead closed in. The battle took longer than expected but the Shire did fall. Only a few survivors made it out and to Granyte Spyre.
Now the army was larger than ever and continued to grow. The long march to Granyte Spyre had begun. As the army marched it was named the Army of Darkness. And everywhere it went darkness followed. Over the horizon Granyte Spyre now sees the mist and can feel the evil emitting from it.
What happens next will soon be decided....