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It was only a matter of time before the Selentine Merchants ventured too far from their trade
routes, over the South Seas, searching for the rich lands that
might lay beyond. But they were unprepared for the terrors they would
awaken, and the devastation they would unleash upon the face of Etheria. The lands they discovered
were rich in gold and silver. Their inhabitants, the snake-like
Ssrathi, called this land Keshan,and it was not long before the Selentines
began to slay these peaceful creatures and take their treasure for themselves. Soon all
manner of freebooters, profiteers, and adventurers began flocking
to the shores of Keshan. And it was on one such journey, as a huge Selentine
vessel sailed past Mordanion the Sundered Isle that a frightening, almost unnatural
storm was seen in the distance. Fortunately, the crew was curious and put
to shore to take a look, for although Mordanion was guarded by the High
Elves and forbidden to the mortal races,something about the storm seemed terribly wrong.
Mordanion was like a scene from some warped and twisted nightmare. A huge dark portal
hung in the air - evidence of the fact that some new and terrible presence
had entered the world. All of the High Elven guardians had been slain
by this unknown creature, and the only clue as to what might have transpired was in the
body of a single Ssrathi -a snakeman from Keshan - who lay dead at the
very base of the portal. The Seers of Kalpaxotl already knew of your
quest. One of their number had traveled north seeking aid against the
human invaders. They had found the High Elves on the Sundered Isle of Mordanion, but the
Elves were loathe to interfere in the affairs of men and told the
Ssrathi to seek help elsewhere. The Seer was angry, and sensing the nearby
rift in the planes, called forth a Demon to attack the Elven Guardians. A creature had
been waiting on the other side of the rift for centuries, perhaps even millennia,
and it answered the summons, slaying them all. As for where this
creature was now, the Seers believed that it had fled to the Wastes in the northwest...
This demon lord had indeed fled into the Wastes, and using strange magic, it had already fashioned
a huge fortress from solid iron, with a door barred by 3 massive
locks. Its name was Gorgon, Lord of Destruction, and there was
little doubt that it was kin to Bane, Sartek, Antharg and Melkorthe four Horsemen who had
entered Etheria 3000 years ago during the Sundering. It was
indeed, the fifth horseman... but how to stop it?It would need careful
thought, and it was not a battle that would be fought today. The Dark Dwarves were nearby
in Khazdhul. They were cunning, and would be glad to know of this
new threat - perhaps they could help. Runelord Brax, Siegemaster of Khazdhul, was
very old and very wise. These demon lords were not simple to
defeat, not simple at all. Just as Bane, Lord of Death could not be slain; and Sartek the
Lord of War, could not be defeated in battle,so it was that Gorgon,
Lord of Destruction, could not be destroyed. Brax suggested that an attempt
be made to trap the creature within its fortress instead. Firstly the three keys to its door
would need to be found to lock Gorgon inside, and secondly the castle
would need to be buried deep beneath the Wastes. To that end, Brax knew an
Arcane Earthquake spell, that could open the ground and swallow it up. But where were the
three keys? Most likely the servants of Gorgon had them, but they
could be anywhere within Etheria... One of the keys to the Iron Fortress lay on
the body of the creature besieging Melkor, the Lord of Famine.
Perhaps the first task of Gorgon, Lord of Destruction, was to destroy his biggest rivals
in Etheria - the other Demon Lords: Bane, Sartek and Melkor.
One of the keys to the Iron Fortress lay on the body of the creature besieging Lord Bane,
the Lord of Death. These strange skull-like creatures seemed
to be the servants of Gorgon perhaps his lieutenants. One of the keys to the Iron Fortress lay on
the body of the creature besieging Lord Antharg, the Lord of Plague.
It seemed that not even the most dreadful diseases held any fear for Gorgon, Lord of
Destruction. When the full set of three keys was complete, it would be time
to take to the war to Gorgon directly. The Door to the Iron Fortress was at last
locked and bolted. Gorgon, the Lord of Destruction, was trapped
inside. As if on cue, Runelord Brax rode out to meet you and began chanting his spell.
The ground shook and ever so slowly, the Iron Fortress began to sink down
into the Wastes. From inside the sinking citadel, terrible unearthly
screams rang out. But gradually, as the fortress sank lower and lower, they softened until
only the groaning of the earth could be heard,and then after a time
only silence. But take heed to this day do not set foot upon the Wastes.
For it said that at night the echoes of Gorgons last scream can still be heard and can drive
a man to madness!