The moon's rays glisten off of the frozen tundra surface, sending small
sparkles of light into the calm air. The landscape, barren for ages, lays
undisturbed in eerie silence. Along the northern horizon, built into the
jagged mountain peaks, is a sanctuary long forgotten by the adventurers of
present. Its walls, built from stone and steel and imbued with the power of
evil and hatred, stand to mutely witness the passage of endless time. What was
once the grand entryway is now nothing but a pile of blood-stained rubble
surrounded by petrified remains of charred trees. Its only purpose now is that
of a reminder...

Stories are all that now perpetuate the events of so long ago. The great war
between light and darkness has long been forgotten in these times of
prosperity. There are some, though, that still remember these historic events.
It was before many recorded events that the gods took their places upon the
Bat realm. They shaped the lands and guided the inhabitants into power. It was
the gods who first gave the gift of magic to the mortals of the world. They
taught them how to use it, to harness its powers for good, and for evil.

Draen-Dalar, head of the Dark gods, began forming, in secret, a legion of the
most ancient of evil races. He gathered shadows from the far reaches of the
Bat realm, teaching them the intricate, devout, art of evil arcane magicks.
Using Dalar's teachings, the shadows amassed numerous others into their
armies, taking the soul of all who joined their ranks. The ones who joined
them and formed alliances were turned to shadows themselves, being granted the
power to travel swiftly and unseen through darkness to any point within
control of the army.

Needless to say, the gods of Light began to notice this strange activity.
Mysterious shadow assassins roaming the land, amassing armies and spreading
terror were more than just rumors now. The gods of good, Tarmalen, Las, and
Aveallis, met in secret to formulate a way to end evil's reign over the new
lands. The three gods poured their strength into the mortal followers of good
and righteousness, giving them the power to turn the shadows from this plane.

The strike was fast and unexpected, causing a devastating blow to the armies
of Dalar. Though their numbers were far more, the forces of evil were no match
for the unchecked powers of good. The shadows were driven from the mortal
plane, forced to stay in the abyssal lands in exile. Only the wisest and most
powerful shadows were able to escape the reaches of the Nuns' divine light.
They would stay in their dark hiding regions until the time was right.

Aveallis and Las then drew their attention to Draen-Dalar. They could not
altogether banish the dark god, as doing so would cause a great imbalance of
power within the pantheon. Instead, they stripped him of but a few of his
godly powers. Leaving him a mere shell of what greatness he had been. Only
through many centuries would he be able to regain his proper strength. Dalar
left the other gods, taking himself down to the land of the mortals. It was
there that he would regain his strength and compel mortals into selling their
souls to evil.

Dalar, again, met with the few shadows that remained. He told them to gather
their numbers and head to the north. There, he told them, stood an ancient
shrine to evil. They were to go there and wait for when the time was right.
Hundreds of years would pass, and the shadows would wait. They were waiting
until the gods forgot, until the army of good would lower its guard, and then
they would strike. Like good had done so long ago. The balance of power will
shift once again. The time is drawing near.

Quarter 3-4 2004
Happy Hunting

-Hackop
Fate is whatever you decide to do next.


+/- Hackop