The Undead Menace
After the destruction of Benethrezim and the war between Soltyira and Shezmon... oops, Shaemar raging
rolleyes
, the scene was set for yet another drama. The undeads of the south and those of the east were marching steadily for the Grey Isle. This meant that the plains of Benethrezim and the lands of Shaemar were to be visited by the vast hordes of undead. This was all fine and dandy for the Soltyrians, who had pulled out of Benethrezim after the destruction of Kazad-dûm. Except the undeads were far too many, and it became obvious that they would have to be dealt with sooner or later. Later was not an option, since the war with Shaemar would surely not end until one of them was defeated. Ultimately, the war was ceased by mutual interest to fight the undeads. Thuse the Western League was formed out of the two warring nations and a few remaining Benethim.
In addition to the two undead contingents, there was the horde of Nagash further east, which was also moving westwards. Just as Shaba reached former Rollux, Nagash had overrun Ramon and gone north past the Western Wall, close to the ruins of Drach'nyen. Meanwhile, the Southern and Eastern undeads had plowed their way through Shaemar, facing little or no resistance. As long as they were only passing through, the living seemed content to flee and make way for their passage. This suited them well, and meant they were at full strength when they arrived. Then, chaos.
It was later revealed that an undead Artifact was hidden in former Kulta, in the middle of the Grey Isle. This was like a beacon to all undead, and when the Grey Isle tore apart Kulta in a tremendous explotion at its re-activation (the reason for this remains a mystery. It is rumored to be something of a periodical cataclysm clock, which causes massive "disruption" and geologic/climatic upheavals. Indeed, some scholars believe the tolling of this "armageddon clock" was what initiated the brief period called The Fall of Wu'di itself...) and raised even forgotten lich kings from their oblivious slumber.
When the two undead hordes, each led by a Lich King of immense power, met on the Grey Isle... They did nothing - at first. Both Liches began asserting control over the renegade undeads that had risen and gathered to the Beacon. Then they became aware of the other, and the sudden race was on for the Artifact. The two Liches met in a duel that darkened the skies and caused shock waves that could be felt fifty miles away and heard from twice as far. The duel was inconclusive, proving futile for both parts. Then they split, and sent the hordes against eachother -while they themselves began serching the depths of the earth for the Beacon.
Meanwhile, Nagash was closing in. He was moving slower than the two other hordes, because he had a special baggage. It was a tremendous black obelisk, paired with a similar, but much smaller rod. This was in fact Nagash's masterpiece: the Rod of Power. It granted him the ability to raise corpses from a field in mere minutes, and also allowed him to command and control the undeads. This power later proved to work against the undeads belonging to the two other hordes - and this proved to be the deciding factor in the struggle that followed.
The Beacon itself was a perfect black skull, socketed with the larges twin of faceted rubies for eyes. The thing reeked of evil, and was the perfect symbol of Death and all of his companions. As it was, the Lich King of the South was the one to reach the Beacon first. He was, prior to his involuntary transformation, just an average mortal. This drove him, after his progressing lack of memory, to seek out the Beacon in an attempt to find answers. He reached his goal, and found none. While he stood there, beholding the most precious and most powerful of all magic Artifacts, he was attacked by the Eastern Lich King. The battle was no battle at all, since the former had lost his will to live, or rather, unlive. Thus, the Lich King of the East became the first Dreadskull in ages. His reign was not going to last for long.
After the First Dreadskull (erroneous title, but nobody knows that by now.
) emerge from the caverns, he reacghed out his new senses. He could feel every living soul on the Southern Continent. He could also sense where there were corpses and skeletons in the ground. He then mustered his powers, and prepared to command his new and larger horde to swipe the face of the earth and extinguish all life. He could feel his undeads strengthening - but they were beyond his command. Astonished, he reached out again, but again he was repulsed. This could not be!
Indeed, it could not be. The only reason the undeads were not obeying him was that the nature of Rod of Power was a suppressing one. By rendering the ability to control the undeads in the area exclusive to the bearer of the Rod, Nagash had accidentally - and most fortunately - hindered the Dreadskull to unleash his power onto the world. As Nagash advanced onto the now hapless and helpless Dreadskull, he could not fathom how this horrified and sorry little creature could have commanded the horde which now only answered to him. He raised his Rod, and while his opponent was still rolling on the ground in pure terror, struck down with all his might - and destroyed the Dreadskull.
At once, Nagash could sense that the Beacon was gone. How had he not seen that the Skull was the Artifact that had called him to this place? Confused and enraged, he swore to kill every living creature in this realm, just like he had done to another world, in a different dimension. Thus, the Undead Menace was made concrete, and the new chapter begins... The Zombies Attack...
You took Sapphiron with you? CLERIIIIIC! That monster has nothing to do outside this NES! Put it back where you found it IMMEDIATELY!
The thing is, it's a torment for me whenever I come home on Fridays because I know I have an update to do, and I know it will suck bad because I take no joy, pride or anything in doing it. It is on the contrary boring, tedious and a constant reminder of things I'd rather not have introduced rules-wise. I really know some of you will be pissed at me, and possibly flame not a little, but I have made up my mind, and will not be persuaded.
), but it's the mod's responsibility to keep it running.
Nah, I don't mind, really. Killing a NES this suddenly (albeit the small crisis I had earlier) is a grave thing to do for a MOD. Still, I'd like to make up for those of you who do not join as well, and I'd like to know exactly what would be appreciated.
And welcome back!
