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Difference between revisions of "Hammer of the Gods (event)"
Hammer of the Gods (event) (view source)
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''This article is about the event known as the Hammer of the Gods. For other uses, see [[Hammer of the Gods (disambiguation)]].'' | |||
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In the year 675 AD, [[Tomas]], architect and historian who had lived in the ruins of [[Caanae]] for centuries, informed a group of [[Kinsarmar|Kinsarmarians]] that he had recently learned of a long lost temple in the [[Shaahri Desert]], which held an item of great power - the [[Hammer of the Gods]]. According to Tomas' research, the weapon could be used to wipe out the threat of the Horde for all of eternity. | |||
When the entrance to the temple was discovered and unearthed by [[dwarf|dwarves]] from [[Kaark'krazul]], undead horde creatures emerged from within it and attacked the dwarven miners and those mortals standing guard over the excavation site. This puzzled everyone, as Tomas believed the temple was built in the [[First Age]] and should have never been discovered by the Horde, who did not exist in Aetherius until the [[The Awakening|Awakening]]. Shortly thereafter, people at the excavation site began falling victim to a curse that turned them into [[wraiths]], and the assistance of [[Yanosyno]], a mountain priest, was requested. He fashioned a spear out of wraithwood from the trees of [[Khandava]] and, hoping that his plan would work and not further damage the people behind the wraiths, impaled Ferriter, one of those affected by the curse. Fortunately, Ferriter was returned to his physical form and the cure was administered to all others affected. | When the entrance to the temple was discovered and unearthed by [[dwarf|dwarves]] from [[Kaark'krazul]], undead horde creatures emerged from within it and attacked the dwarven miners and those mortals standing guard over the excavation site. This puzzled everyone, as Tomas believed the temple was built in the [[First Age]] and should have never been discovered by the Horde, who did not exist in Aetherius until the [[The Awakening|Awakening]]. Shortly thereafter, people at the excavation site began falling victim to a curse that turned them into [[wraiths]], and the assistance of [[Yanosyno]], a mountain priest, was requested. He fashioned a spear out of wraithwood from the trees of [[Khandava]] and, hoping that his plan would work and not further damage the people behind the wraiths, impaled Ferriter, one of those affected by the curse. Fortunately, Ferriter was returned to his physical form and the cure was administered to all others affected. | ||
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As progress towards discovering the Hammer continued, a meeting was organized with representatives from each city-state of Aetherius and some neutral elders, including Tomas, [[Mathardan]], and [[Cerise]]. The debate was heated and centered primarily around the question of whether it was right to use a weapon of such great power to cause a genocide of an entire species. Many also questioned that the legendary Horde empire even existed, and believed that Aetherius had grown to the point where they could easily repel any attack from the Horde's forces. The meeting was cut short when a strike force of Horde creatures arrived at the meeting and attacked everyone. In the battle, Mathardan and Tomas were both killed, but only Tomas returned from the [[Underworld]]. When confronted, [[Charon]] was adamant that Mathardan had reached the end of his life and his purpose, inexplicably, was to die a violent death to the Horde at that very point in history. | As progress towards discovering the Hammer continued, a meeting was organized with representatives from each city-state of Aetherius and some neutral elders, including Tomas, [[Mathardan]], and [[Cerise]]. The debate was heated and centered primarily around the question of whether it was right to use a weapon of such great power to cause a genocide of an entire species. Many also questioned that the legendary Horde empire even existed, and believed that Aetherius had grown to the point where they could easily repel any attack from the Horde's forces. The meeting was cut short when a strike force of Horde creatures arrived at the meeting and attacked everyone. In the battle, Mathardan and Tomas were both killed, but only Tomas returned from the [[Underworld]]. When confronted, [[Charon]] was adamant that Mathardan had reached the end of his life and his purpose, inexplicably, was to die a violent death to the Horde at that very point in history. | ||
The effects of Mathardan's death were immediate - the city-states were now deeply divided over the issue of the Hammer. Khandava decided it was necessary to reach the Hammer before all others, and so Lionas met with [[Lyria]] and concocted a plan to plant a [[Leech Tree]] north of the desert. The roots of the tree, once fully empowered, reached out to break through the walls of the tunnels leading into the desert temple. Conflict ensued between those who wished to protect the miners and those who wanted to protect the roots of the Leech Tree, and much blood was shed throughout the end of the year. | The effects of Mathardan's death were immediate - the city-states were now deeply divided over the issue of the Hammer. Khandava decided it was necessary to reach the Hammer before all others, and so [[Lionas]] met with [[Lyria]] and concocted a plan to plant a [[Leech Tree]] north of the desert. The roots of the tree, once fully empowered, reached out to break through the walls of the tunnels leading into the desert temple. Conflict ensued between those who wished to protect the miners and those who wanted to protect the roots of the Leech Tree, and much blood was shed throughout the end of the year. | ||
At last, the miners succeeded in breaking through to the inner chambers of the temple, ahead of the Khandavans. Inside the temple, explorers found a room of four walls covered with runes, a broken altar, and something called the [[Stele]]. Before the temple and its hidden artifacts could be examined any further, Juganothion revealed that he had been plotting with the Horde for months and he opened a portal, allowing the Horde General [[Onkassus]] and his army to enter the temple and engage the adventurers within. | At last, the miners succeeded in breaking through to the inner chambers of the temple, ahead of the Khandavans. Inside the temple, explorers found a room of four walls covered with runes, a broken altar, and something called the [[Stele]]. Before the temple and its hidden artifacts could be examined any further, Juganothion revealed that he had been plotting with the Horde for months and he opened a portal, allowing the Horde General [[Onkassus]] and his army to enter the temple and engage the adventurers within. | ||
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==The Search for the Hidden Tablets== | ==The Search for the Hidden Tablets== | ||
As Tomas worked on deciphering the runes, he tasked his allies with venturing out to [[Karakas Beach]] to follow up on a lead that he had uncovered. There, Galt discovered an ancient ziggurat and inside was an undead hydra called [[Nakshatra]]. As one can imagine, the hydra protected the only item that Tomas needed to finish deciphering the runes, so his allies worked to defeat the creature, which only kept devouring those who engaged it. At the same time, Lionas and members of Khandava decided they did not want Tomas to retrieve the tablet, so they fortified the area and tried to disrupt the attacks of the others. Eventually, Gurn and [[Risca Arivan]] managed to slay the hydra and retrieve the tablet. It was decided that the tablet would stay within [[Celidon]] and would be protected by councilors there, though they did allow Tomas to examine it. | |||
Another tablet was rumored to be hidden away in [[Sodiuar Lake]], so an expedition set out to search the area. Another ancient temple was discovered, but the entrance had long ago collapsed, and so the dwarves of Kaark'krazul were commissioned yet again to dig out the rubble. Before they could finish, a battle broke out between the magickers from [[Kinsarmar]] and Celidon, and demonic warriors of Khandava and [[Stavenn]]. Demonic forces prevailed and eventually entered the temple, discovering the undead troll called [[Hrutchik]]. The troll was dispatched after a grueling battle, and the second tablet made its way back to Khandava. | Another tablet was rumored to be hidden away in [[Sodiuar Lake]], so an expedition set out to search the area. Another ancient temple was discovered, but the entrance had long ago collapsed, and so the dwarves of Kaark'krazul were commissioned yet again to dig out the rubble. Before they could finish, a battle broke out between the magickers from [[Kinsarmar]] and Celidon, and demonic warriors of Khandava and [[Stavenn]]. Demonic forces prevailed and eventually entered the temple, discovering the undead troll called [[Hrutchik]]. The troll was dispatched after a grueling battle, and the second tablet made its way back to Khandava. | ||
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==The Rise of the Champions== | ==The Rise of the Champions== | ||
After close examination of the tablets, Tomas realized that repairing the broken altar in the desert temple was the next step. His allies held close vigil over the altar and prayed for days before it, eventually restoring it to its former power. Once rebuilt, the altar allowed mere mortals to become [[Champions]], capable of driving back the forces of the Horde, the undead, or demons. Obviously, no one responsible for repairing the altar wanted their adversaries, the demonic forces of Khandava or Stavenn, to benefit from this power, and so they were prohibited from getting near it. The Leech Tree outside of the desert was still growing, though, and the Khandavans directed its growth towards the altar once again, draining some of its power away and giving the Leech Tree a similar purpose, to create a Champion from a tainted source of power. | |||
Meanwhile, in the year 677 AD, the Horde and the [[Undead]] continued to wage war on each other, their mortal allies being drawn into the conflict as well. As if Aetherius wasn't facing enough, strange creatures began appearing all throughout the lands spreading a disgusting bile that contained vile larva that would infect anyone it spread to. This plague ravaged Aetherius, and both [[Nicoletto]], the alchemist, and [[Rythanis]], the herbalist, were contacted to create a cure. The [[bitterbrew purgative]] was concocted and quickly administered to all those who had been infected. | Meanwhile, in the year 677 AD, the Horde and the [[Undead]] continued to wage war on each other, their mortal allies being drawn into the conflict as well. As if Aetherius wasn't facing enough, strange creatures began appearing all throughout the lands spreading a disgusting bile that contained vile larva that would infect anyone it spread to. This plague ravaged Aetherius, and both [[Nicoletto]], the alchemist, and [[Rythanis]], the herbalist, were contacted to create a cure. The [[bitterbrew purgative]] was concocted and quickly administered to all those who had been infected. | ||
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==Demons Arrive== | ==Demons Arrive== | ||
As predicted by the slavers, a third army soon joined the Horde and the undead in their vicious battle - demons, which would soon be revealed to have come from a massive rift that had opened in the northern mountains. Kinsarmar was the first to find their way to the site of a demonic stronghold guarded by [[Utoxor]], who told them that the gates leading deep into the stronghold could be activated only with soulgems held by each of the demon guardians. He sealed his own fate, of course, because the expedition quickly killed Utoxor, with Alvetta scoring the final blow, and took his soulgem, opening the first of the series of four gates. | |||
Next to fall was [[Iaos]], a succubus, to Aeorden, and then [[Photh]], a demon of shadow, was killed by Bathan. Kinsarmar had control of three of the four soulgems. The third soulgem, however, was not as easy to hold on to as the others, and for days, the magickers had to fend off attacks from the rest of the world in order to maintain control over them. | Next to fall was [[Iaos]], a succubus, to Aeorden, and then [[Photh]], a demon of shadow, was killed by Bathan. Kinsarmar had control of three of the four soulgems. The third soulgem, however, was not as easy to hold on to as the others, and for days, the magickers had to fend off attacks from the rest of the world in order to maintain control over them. | ||