Post by Knight-Captain Nathanos on Dec 1, 2007 17:05:15 GMT -5
In the beginnings of Nirn ruled a cruel and powerful man. Corrupted by the power that darkness brought, he wreaked havoc upon the young world, turning it to a planet of eternal night and bringing a constant storm upon the towns. The inhabitants turned their faces to the dark skies, seeking any help that would come. An ancient race, proud and powerful, heard their cries. On wings of crimson and gold they came: dragons. The nine masters battled for two months against the dark lord, and in the end they triumphed. Combining their magical powers, the nine dragon lords imprisoned the soul and essence of the dark one in a tomb. The evil altar was named Twilight’s Hammer, and they forever condemned the shrine to an island off the coast of Rayne. However, weakened by the immense power it took to control the evil, the dragons could not reverse the changes upon the world. Angered, the inhabitants attacked them, driving them away. Incensed by the ungratefulness, the dragons disappeared, perhaps never to return again.
One thousand years later, the world is at war. The capital city, Rayne, is beset on all sides by tribes of those who worship the evil island. The citizens of Rayne lie in apathy, not daring to leave their walls, unaware of the imminent evil that lies miles from them. There are few who know of the ancient battle, for the world has forgotten the old magic. Those that do know are ridiculed as lunatics. But there are two who dare to question. Rugra and Keiran became suspicious of the constant attacks. The two brave men mount an expedition after interrogating the captured tribe members. They tell of a strange island shrouded in storms. Suspecting treasure or other riches, three ships embark from Rayne. Under the darkness of the black skies, the raging seas destroy the ships as they approach the island. Five live: Rugra, Keiran, and three soldiers. Praising the gods, they begin to explore the island. After some time, an unseen force draws them to the crater that delves into the middle of the island. Breaching the rim, they gape at the mystical sight. A stone alter lies there, inscribed with ancient symbols and glowing with a dark purple aura. The three soldiers, Rugra, and Keiran skid down the cliff at breakneck speeds, imagining untold wealth and power if only they can bring the altar back to Rayne.
Upon touching the altar, the three soldiers drop to the ground, their lifeless eyes staring at the roiling clouds above. Rugra and Keiran are shocked to witness their souls, no more than an iridescent mist of light, lift from the bodies and dissolve into the altar. The purple glow throbs, growing brighter until it escalates into a column of light and energy, piercing through the storms above. “Who is it that awakens the powerful Gaelic?” snakes a hissing voice through the corridors of their minds. Stepping forward, Keiran stammers their mission. “FOOLS!” echoes the voice, “you have released the most powerful force on this world! It was I that brought eternal rain, I that darkened the skies to night! And it is I who will rise now and crush the world under my rule!” Rugra and other cower in fear, falling to the ground as the voice rolls through their minds. “Bring me souls!” the voice commands, “human souls to build my eternal power! Do this and you shall rule beside me! Ultimate powers shall be yours! Hordes will submit to your control!” Rugra, finding his feet, flees in stumbling fear. But Keiran stays. A greedy light shines in his eyes as he approaches the altar. “I will do as you wish, my lord,” he accepts, bowing his head. A beam of purple light shoots out, enveloping him in an aura of pure evil. “Power shall be yours!” booms the voice, “Power to raise the dead and capture souls for me! Now go, my servant, and do as I command! Destroy the city of Rayne: prepare it for my rule!”
As he drops to the barren ground, the three formerly dead rise again. But they are no longer humans. They are the scourges, the animated dead. Soulless, they are under rule of the evil one. With skin the shade of ash and eyes blacker than the skies, they join Keiran, Champion of the Scourge. The four embark to the mainland to begin the wipe of humanity. In the meantime Rugra has also escaped, barely surviving the two-mile swim to shore. Upon arriving, the scourge and their new ruler set up camp. Settling in the nearby mountains, Keiran places his hands upon the ground, sucking the life from the earth. The dirt turns to gray dust, void of life, and stone monuments rise from the barren depths. The mission to overthrow the city has begun. The scourges multiply by raiding graveyards, raising the dead to join them in their assault.
Meanwhile the city of Rayne is unaware of the impending disaster. By now the beam has faded to a different frequency, making it invisible to human eyes. But there is one who is wary. His name is Nathanos, noble knight of Rayne. In charge of the city’s defenses, he is also one of the few who knows about the deep magic. And, unlike the others, he knows that there are more than humans in the world. Nathanos is a shade, harnessing the powers of the shadows to do his bidding. Though some are suspicious of his fighting, for the bodies of his enemies have never been found, they turn a blind eye so long as he protects the city. But now his job and his life are at stake as the scourge army prepares to lay siege to the town of Rayne.
Who's side will you Join?
One thousand years later, the world is at war. The capital city, Rayne, is beset on all sides by tribes of those who worship the evil island. The citizens of Rayne lie in apathy, not daring to leave their walls, unaware of the imminent evil that lies miles from them. There are few who know of the ancient battle, for the world has forgotten the old magic. Those that do know are ridiculed as lunatics. But there are two who dare to question. Rugra and Keiran became suspicious of the constant attacks. The two brave men mount an expedition after interrogating the captured tribe members. They tell of a strange island shrouded in storms. Suspecting treasure or other riches, three ships embark from Rayne. Under the darkness of the black skies, the raging seas destroy the ships as they approach the island. Five live: Rugra, Keiran, and three soldiers. Praising the gods, they begin to explore the island. After some time, an unseen force draws them to the crater that delves into the middle of the island. Breaching the rim, they gape at the mystical sight. A stone alter lies there, inscribed with ancient symbols and glowing with a dark purple aura. The three soldiers, Rugra, and Keiran skid down the cliff at breakneck speeds, imagining untold wealth and power if only they can bring the altar back to Rayne.
Upon touching the altar, the three soldiers drop to the ground, their lifeless eyes staring at the roiling clouds above. Rugra and Keiran are shocked to witness their souls, no more than an iridescent mist of light, lift from the bodies and dissolve into the altar. The purple glow throbs, growing brighter until it escalates into a column of light and energy, piercing through the storms above. “Who is it that awakens the powerful Gaelic?” snakes a hissing voice through the corridors of their minds. Stepping forward, Keiran stammers their mission. “FOOLS!” echoes the voice, “you have released the most powerful force on this world! It was I that brought eternal rain, I that darkened the skies to night! And it is I who will rise now and crush the world under my rule!” Rugra and other cower in fear, falling to the ground as the voice rolls through their minds. “Bring me souls!” the voice commands, “human souls to build my eternal power! Do this and you shall rule beside me! Ultimate powers shall be yours! Hordes will submit to your control!” Rugra, finding his feet, flees in stumbling fear. But Keiran stays. A greedy light shines in his eyes as he approaches the altar. “I will do as you wish, my lord,” he accepts, bowing his head. A beam of purple light shoots out, enveloping him in an aura of pure evil. “Power shall be yours!” booms the voice, “Power to raise the dead and capture souls for me! Now go, my servant, and do as I command! Destroy the city of Rayne: prepare it for my rule!”
As he drops to the barren ground, the three formerly dead rise again. But they are no longer humans. They are the scourges, the animated dead. Soulless, they are under rule of the evil one. With skin the shade of ash and eyes blacker than the skies, they join Keiran, Champion of the Scourge. The four embark to the mainland to begin the wipe of humanity. In the meantime Rugra has also escaped, barely surviving the two-mile swim to shore. Upon arriving, the scourge and their new ruler set up camp. Settling in the nearby mountains, Keiran places his hands upon the ground, sucking the life from the earth. The dirt turns to gray dust, void of life, and stone monuments rise from the barren depths. The mission to overthrow the city has begun. The scourges multiply by raiding graveyards, raising the dead to join them in their assault.
Meanwhile the city of Rayne is unaware of the impending disaster. By now the beam has faded to a different frequency, making it invisible to human eyes. But there is one who is wary. His name is Nathanos, noble knight of Rayne. In charge of the city’s defenses, he is also one of the few who knows about the deep magic. And, unlike the others, he knows that there are more than humans in the world. Nathanos is a shade, harnessing the powers of the shadows to do his bidding. Though some are suspicious of his fighting, for the bodies of his enemies have never been found, they turn a blind eye so long as he protects the city. But now his job and his life are at stake as the scourge army prepares to lay siege to the town of Rayne.
Who's side will you Join?