Black Scourge

In the beginning, hailing from the far north of the lands of Anthos, strange dark beings appeared. At the beginning, they seemed but corrupted beings, but soon their powers would be discovered to be far more greater than expected. They took their time, but soon shown themselves as servants of their dark lord, the Drakaar Setherien, and once called themselves the Black Scourge.

History

The ‘Black Scourge’, as dubbed by the mortal races, originated beyond the ice wall in the far north of Anthos. Their first victims were the Bohra, boar-like humanoids living north of the wall. They fell into the hands of the powers of the Black Drake, and many were coerced into joining with this new threat to their home. Their skin turned rotten and black and they were made to fight for their new master. Before they were just a native tribe, which fought against the new ‘conquering’ descendants who arrived in Anthos, but they were decimated and destroyed by the Scourge from the north, and the descendants from the south.

In the early 1400s, during the greatest Orenian civil war reportedly to have ever been fought, the Black Scourge first began to seep past the wall containing it. Reports from northern settlements close to the wall indicate mid-war encounters with ghostly, almost angelic beings which would seek to lure children toward the wall. At the time, these were seem as saints coming to aid the needy in wartime. However, In hindsight, it would appear these could have been harbingers using their illusory prowess for malefic purposes. It was in the chaos and weakness after the Teutonic-Blackmont War that the Scourge began to strike more openly, as the nations of the world were incredibly weak. The Elves and Dwarves had been decimated by the Humans, while the humans bled eachother white.

Their first coordinated attack was targeted at Malinor; the Elven nation, where many civilians were taken. The fate and names of most of the kidnapped were never known, except for one human knight who returned decades later. From the Malinor attack, the Scourge’s power grew and grew. Eventually, after testing its defences, they even Sieged the castle of Greywynn, fort of the Teutonic Order’s remnant. Yet even throughout this time, not much was known about this new foe. The Siege of the Wall Castle at Greywynn finally caught the attention of the races of Anthos, and the forces of the mortals united to confront them. The Black Scourge could not hold against such a large invasion, and they were pushed back into the North once more. The Scourge then conjured a tower in the middle of Malinor, causing the Elves to retreat and start a neighboring camp known as New Malinor. Several months after it arose from the ground, however, the elves counterattacked and levelled the tower.

From that point onward, the Black Scourge began acting more carefully. Their attacks were meticulously planned and they became more successful. Many began to die at their hand, and the humans in particular were hit by the brunt. Soon they started to spread their name, leaving survivors and notes. Outside the gates of Luminaire, they performed deals, showing their robed selves. Planned attacks in force were done to Guilds and Cities, the Arcane Delvers having to fight them off more than once. Abresi, the human city, was almost fully destroyed more than once, and Malinor suffered from continuous attacks.

Despite the descendants attempting to escape Setherien to another realm, the attacks carried on even into the Fringe. Finally, after a cohort of brave adventurers gathered all the fragments of the Golden Lance, Setherien was defeated on the 24th of The Deep Cold, 1457. With Setherien defeated, the majority of the Scourge’s remnant quickly disappeared.

Ranks

The true names of the various hierarchical positions of the Black Scourge command structure are unknown. However, the mortal races dubbed them names in their own tongues through which to understand this especially foreign foe.

* The Black Drake, Setherien

Setherien was the deific dragon-god of the Black Scourge. As a Drakaar, an immensely powerful and intelligent Drake, Setherien craved power and and the subjugation of all the mortal races who dwelled in Anthos. Apparently more powerful than others of his kin, Setherien demonstrated remarkable dark magic abilities, including the ability to create demi-god like servants, call forth the skeletal souls of his slain foes from the void and implant a fragment of his corrupting power in malevolent red crystals known as blood shards. There were numerous reports of Setherien being able to manifest himself in humanoid form, appearing as a tall figure with medium length black hair, red eyes and pointed teeth, with his black scales appearing as bony armor plates.

According to the accounts of the Order of the Golden Lance, Setherien has been hunted for nearly a century by that mysterious sect of paladins. Unlike other Drakes and Drakaar they had slain, Setherien has proven to be the most powerful and difficult to kill of them all. The source of Setherien's corruption and his unusual powers are a subject of some debate, with some drawing a daemonic or even Iblanic connection.

* Harbingers

As the brutal demigod-like servants of Setherien, the Harbingers were the only beings in Anthos, aside from birds, capable of flight. They possessed powerful magic which included almost impenetrable visual illusions, and bone freezing fire, known as frostfire, which was even capable of breaking gates and walls. While they can be defeated in battle and forced to retreat, they appear to be immortal, unable to be killed while their master was alive. Their stereotypical appearance in the worst years of the scourge was of a heavily armored icy shadow clutching an ornate metal staff. These were the most commonly seen variants, however few actually preferred to use corrupted melee weapons to a deadly effect. While they were initially enthralled to Setherien, each Harbinger had its own personality which only strengthened as their master’s domination over them weakened. Some actually survived the end of the Black Scourge, but it is believed they are all destroyed in the modern day.

* Followers/Cultists

Those who believed and followed the will of the Black drake but that do not receive its magical powers, are fully dependent on their own physical strength and mental aptitude. While some do have other magics, they are not the magics which the Dark Lord provides. Those mortals who served Setherien’s cause are generally said to have been psychopaths and hungry for power. Others seemed to relish in pain and misery. Interestingly, some reports in the Orenian archives mentioned cultists attempting to justify their actions as being for some greater good - whether this is a simple delusion or otherwise remains to be seen.

There were numerous accounts of apparent defections from the ranks of the cultists, the most notable of which being the assassination of the Harbinger Kav'zoras by the prominent cult leader known as The Judge. Following a series of desertions and defections from first generation of cultists, the Scourge have apparently made blood-shard corruption mandatory. This bound the worshippers of Setherien to his will and removed their free will almost completely. While most former cultists, the Judge included, choose to fade into hiding and obscurity following their defection - others take a more active role in the fight against Setherien. Rumors persisted of at least one former cultist making up part of the Scions of the Third Era command structure.

* Minions and Servants

Withered skeletons of fallen soldiers and corrupted Bohra. They serve as the army of Setherien, able to be brought to battle by the Harbingers through rifts. Most have no minds, yet some chosen ones do.

Scourge Creatures

* The Skeleton Commander

Of the minions brought forth by the magic of the Black Scourge, the Skeleton commander is one of their leaders. Wearing armor made out of Gold and using a sword made of the same material, he moves throughout the battlefield shouting orders.

* The Gorloth

A towering construct of stone. Its master is unknown, but clearly a member of the Black Scourge. Its power is great, wrecking all that comes in its way. A creature that never disobeys any orders, and that has to power to destroy even those in the best of armors.

* Spectre of Souls

A frightening existence, created when over 100 souls of the deceased came together in torment and grief to create a powerful spectre creature. Released in the world of Anthos, it was summoned by a twisted ritual in the Northern lands. A battle of power was created between a Harbinger and the apparition, the result being the corruption of the creature. It was then tasked to defend the northern lands and is called upon to wreak havoc upon mortals.

* Mimir

A ghost like being seemed to join the Scourge at one point. It appeared indestructible and immortal, with black cloths floating and without a body. Yet it was soon captured and uncorrupted, it appeared to have been Heial, the sentient enderpearl.

* Vithquar

Vithquar is a being that appeared to be a creature of the Nether. Woman, wearing black armor over light blue skin, possessing black wings, a tail, and horns. While incredibly corrupted, the being appeared to have the mind of a child, yet angry and demonic. It didn't appear to have any particular strengths, perhaps a bit stronger physically than other elves, but easily as killable as any other. A being created by some of the the Judge and other followers of Setherien, now works under her creators. She was then expelled from the Scourge for horrible work.

* Malghourn

The Stone Serpent, a great force that flies through the northern lands. A powerful dragon he once was, until the Dark Lord Setherien tainted him, and made him become what he is today. A slave to Setherien's will, this Drake is a great power in the Scourge disposal.

Events and Attacks

Siege of Greywynn

The Hochmiester of the Teutonic Order, Jonathan Black, was filled with dread and despair. An abyss of darkened clouds had hovered over The North for days, and he knew his lands were in the calm before the storm; and it came. In a final reckoning of lose of hope, the Hockmiester burned down the supports inside Castle Greywynn, rendering the structure unstable and forced it to collapse, all in effort of ruining the prize of the inevitable invasion. With the destruction of their late keep in self-sabotage, the hardened Teutonic Order were overwhelmed with they expected - a descent of The North. In a sudden crackling roar of lightning and shattering quakes, deep maroon tendrils of rigid and horned flesh erupted all about the gate to The North. Lava bubbled out from large crevices opened in the skin of the great structure, ebbing forth a smokescreen of crippling chill. Fire borne of frost leaked out into the land, the massive tentacles springing up all about the plate, rupturing into walls and even within the keep's ruins. Helpless, the defenders receded from their beloved stronghold, and the enemy were at Anthos doorstep.

The Taking of Kal’Azgoth

How they came inside the city, no one knows. Their attack started in the fort of Storms Crossing but they moved and entered Kal’Azgoth. It was a surprise to the Dwarves, they did not foresee that the Black Scourge could pass the gates. They were defeated, and their king, Thorik, was encased in ice on his throne. The remaining dwarves united and decided to fight back and retake their capital. The battle started on the great gates, and followed up for many hours. The powers of the Black Scourge keeping them away with Wither Skeletons and Cold Blue fireballs. The attacks took long, but with help of humans and orcs, the dwarves were capable of retaking their capital and save their king.

The Deal with the Elves of Malinor

An evil deal tried to be done with the Elves of Malinor. The deal was simple, the elves would have to give the Black Scourge an elf every elven week, or a head would be given to Malinor every elven day. The elves did not care about such deal, and carried on with their lives. The Dark Scourge did not forget, and the heads started appearing each elven day. When one did not appear, two others would appear the next elven day. And when a week passed without any head being found, then a collections of heads would be found soon enough. The elves tried for a while to accept the deal, by offering criminals. But the criminals fought back and died before they could be taken to the north. And so the deal continued, with many elves having been killed because of it. The Black Scourge had enough and invited the elven council for a last negotiation to reach peace, yet the elven council brought attackers. The result was the death of all attackers and the promise that the end of Malinor would come. In the following elven week it so happened, with a powerful corruption coming onto the city of Luminaire, destroying and killing every plant life around.

The Burning of Lenniel

A planned attack of the town of Lenniel. While some kept a close eye on the Delver base, the others started the destruction on the town. The houses were all wood, and the magic that those that attacked had helped greatly. A creature that appeared to be a Golem was seen performing the commands of others, and to burn the houses. Besides the magic of the Black Scourge, books, plants and farmed goods were used to start the fires inside the houses by torches. Many innocent bystanders were around, and all but perished in the attack. The town of Luminaire started to hear of the attack and some were sent to investigate. Of those, High Princess Titania Hawksong went, and there was testimony of her death, yet her body never found. The attack ended with a charge at the Delver’s fort, but the fort was far too defended and the charge did nothing.

The Attack on Haelun’or

The Mali’Aheral of Haelun’or were caught off guard by noises from the main gate. Some went to investigate, and what they found was an army. The gate was quickly destroyed by the strongest of the Black Scourge, and their army entered the Town. The High elves escaped into their library, and most of the attackers followed inside. The library was a maze, that even the Mali’Aheral did not know how to navigate in. While most were lost inside it, others stayed out of the library and started the corruption of town. Many towers were destroyed, their lake frozen solid with a bloodshard left hovering above, and most of the flowers throughout their town destroyed. Why this last deed was done, no one knows, perhaps one of the members of the Black Scourge had a great anger for flowers. The maze was the salvation of the Elves, as they were able to exit the library with the attackers lost inside still. They went and seeked help from Malinor, where they prepared a force to drive the corrupted creatures out of their city. When they returned in force, many of the Black Scourge had already left, and only a few remained. Even with just a few, the battle took some time, and the city left mostly frozen.

The Destruction of Abresi

A grand scale attack at the human capital of Abresi. The city being quite huge, meant that the Black Scourge was able to infiltrate it quite easily, and their first target was the palace. Weaker minions were made to attack the gates, and draw the guarding forces there, all this while the palace was attacked. The Humans noticed the attack too late, and the palace taken over and frozen solid. Their princess was taken and left to live after tortured for weeks. While many other small attacks were made on Abresi, the next full scale was done at the docks. In this attack the Black Scourge froze the sea and destroyed most of the naval capabilities of Abresi. While some humans simple talked about it as help, because they wished to demolish the docks, it was proof that the Black Scourge had immense power.

The Raid of Gronkkston.

It was the time of the grand tournament of Anthos, to find the stronger fighters of the Realm. In the Orcish town of Gronkkston, the tournament progressed, until the attention of all those present was turned to a few members of the Black Scourge that appeared. With almost no fighter left in the arena, a great ice tomb was created around the Orc Rex, Gronkk. A shadowed figure appeared inside it as well. The ice turned black, and what happened inside the tomb was not known, but shouts of the Rex could be heard coming from inside. Only after the small number of the Black Scourge were defeated did the warriors returned to the arena, so see the tomb. Not much longer and the tomb was destroyed, and inside it, was no one. A rift opened in the arena, and many Wither Skeletons started pouring out to fight those there. The battle took many hours and created many injured until the forces of the Black Scourge stopped.

The Freezing of Brom'ka

A surprise attack at the Adunian town of Brom'ka, just south of the Temple. The Black Scourge members gathered at night time, preparing themselves for the fights to come. At dawn, they advanced into town, an ice bridge created throught the river leading inside, they were not expected. The Adunians could do nothing to stop their advance, most still asleep in their houses. Their bridge was destroyed, part of the farms frozen, and many were falling to the dark forces. Some were taken alive, others were killed without mercy, and the fight lasted throughout the day. At least three of the Dark Lieutenents were seen in town, their powers creating large amount of destruction, and any who would dare face them head on, find themselves with their lives lost. A creature of death, which had been seen on attacks before, the Skeleton Commander, walked through town with the other warriors, attacking all that came in front of it. When finaly the Black Scourge forces left,the town was found mostly frozen, houses and towers covered in ice, and most of the river. Once more had the forces of the Dark Lord shown their power.

The Assault at the Equinox Grove

A large group of the now empowered Black Scourge travelled through Malinor until they reached the shores of Malinor, looking to the island that is the Equinox Grove. The powerful Dark Lieutenents froze the water allowing the armored forces to make their way onto the island. No sentient beings were on the island, many animals made their escape as the island was assaulted. Trees were frozen, chests destroyed, information collected. The Scourge prepared to defend the Grove as their presence gathered great dark cloud around the island. The armies to retake the island came, but the dark followers were prepared, they defended with success. After the armies were frozen and defeated, and after all that was needed was performed on the island, the Black Scourge returned to the North, with a prize, the leader of the Delvers, Nienna Calm, had been captured. The island stayed without the Black Scourge present, yet their dark magic prevailed in it. Many spiders started to appear, and soon the island was covered in many cobwebs. When the Elves changed their living locations due to the corruption of Malinor, did they finally notice the large Bloodshard floating above the island. First they tried to advance but were stopped by an army of spiders. Negotiations between a Dark Lieutenent and the druids were performed but the druids or the elves ignored them. The elves stormed the island once more, this time prepared and with mages present. They defended for 3 days, and on the fourth the Wizard Blundermore prepared to remove the Bloodshard. Yet unknown to them, was that a traitor was within the ranks of the attacking army. As Blundermore was concentrating on the magic, the traitor struck, and killed the wizard. The traitor was quickly killed as well, but the harm was done. Without the Wizard, the Tree Lord Healphon took charge on removing the Bloodshard, but he was not with knowledge of how to. He attempted to destroy it with powerful magic blows, and he succeeded, with great consequences. The shard's corrupting energy was no longer contained, and with a great explosion, it destroyed most of the island. Was it a success or a defeat of the elven side, each has its own thoughts on it.

The Attacks Towards Herendul

Being so close to the northern wall has made the lives of the people of Herendul quite hard, as they sometimes sent scouts to look in the far north leaving only a few to survive the bitter cold or to defend its nation. Attacks and raids by the Black Scourge are great in number. The Herendul army tries to fight back, but would only face a few victories yet the more they faced the Northen beasts they had their defeats. Throughout the attacks, the Black Scourge was able to two great feats, the destruction of the Herendul's church, and the capturing of the Wintermont keep.

The Snowfall of Lenfarthing

In a cold night, in the city of Lenfarthing, home of the halflings, the black mist came. This day, to go against the weak forces of the halflings, five Harbingers appeared. The halflings could do nothing. They entered their boats and moved away from their home, as a big bloodshard started to freeze the lake. A fast attack, with no hope of defense. But the mortals were only caught off-guard. They united and created an army to take the lands back from the Scourge. Like the Scourge did before, they attacked fast, and were able to push the Harbingers away from that land and back to the North.

The Fall of the Cloud Temple

A devastating attack at the Cloud Temple by the Harbingers resulted in it's fall. Read more about the fall of the Cloud Temple of Anthos. Afterwards in the lands of the former cloud temple, all trees withered. The once river of clear water turned to lava, and a gigantic floating fort moved over the land, chained down. A mine was constructed, weird farms made. The library was protected and slightly changed, but the temple building was turned into a prison. Those that got into it, could not leave. What the Black Scourge does in that area is unknown. In the mines the Servants of Setherien worked day after day, removing stone and minerals from it. The minerals thought, were thrown away into the lava that now flowed through the rivers. They were not after stone or minerals in those mines.

The Aid to the Dwarves

A battle between the two races of humans and dwarves started. The first battle was in Thoringuard, a fort near the new Cloud Temple. The dwarves knew they were outnumbered, and the Harbingers took their chance. They came to the dwarves and offered assistance, the dwarves somewhat agreed to it. Yet the help of the Harbingers was also their falling, as the information of dwarves allying themselves with the Northen beasts was leaked. The information reached the Elves, the orcs, and many guilds which were made to combat the scourge also heard of it. They all united to fight the dwarves in that grand battle. The fight lasted hours, the powers of the Harbingers killing many attackers while protected by the walls of the Dwarves. Once the walls fell, the Harbinger's defenses were removed, and it was the end of the battle with the defeat of the dwarves. Even with a defeat, it took almost all the warriors of the lands, with exception of the dwarven ones, to enter a temporary fort. Many men of all races lost their lives in that battle, but the question remains... why did the Harbingers aid the dwarves?

The Alliance of the Cold

There was a time where the Black Scourge and the forces under Ondnarch, an Aengul enemy of the dwarves, started aiding eachother. The attacks of the combined forces were devastating, making those of the Conclave of Malin have extreme dificulties in fighting off the group, and Lenniel to be removed of all residents for a short amount of time. In Lenniel the central building was corrupting for a while, turned into a temple to Setherien. It didn't last long, soon the building was removed of corruption and returned to normal. The allience between the two forces also did not last long for reasons unknown. If they had fully combined their powers, they would possibly be unstoppable, even to the combined forces of all others.

The Retaking of the Lost Sanctuary

From the old lands of the Cloud Temple, the Scourge started expanding it's territory. A town was fully burnt to the ground, and most buildings around destroyed. The people of Anthos finally started to fight back in force. The Scions of the third age, a group created specially to fight off the Scourge, started planning an assault to retake the lands of the old Temple. While this happened the Scourge continued to corrupt land and change the former Temple grounds to their liking. The mine was built, servants placed to work there. It became the meeting place of the cultists as well. The groups continued to prepare for the battle to come. After constant attacks on Oren, it too came to aid the group, and an army created fast. The battle was to start. A small camp created, and near the Temple there was a town which was used to contruct siege equipment. The battle happened for many hours, the Scourge falling back, but taking many mortal lives with them. In the end, the Scourge were defeated, the floating fortress moving away from those lands. The groups could finally check what was inside the mine. The Servants digged down, before creating a tunnel which lead to some old ruins. Inside them, there was the Door or Eternity.

The Pursuit of the Lost Throne

A small party of Cultists led by three Harbingers led an attack on the Azog Fort in hopes of finding the lost Setherien throne. They felt an immense power from inside the fort, the throne’s bloodshards calling for their seekers. Upon reaching the Azog gate the Harbingers were shot at on sight by scouts on the walls and quickly retaliated against them. The Harbingers made quick work of the weak guards and blasted through gates and doors blocking their paths with their powerful frostfire magic. Upon reaching the Fort’s center, they heard scuffling beneath the ground around them and could feel the power of the throne’s aura below. But before they could reach the cellar of the fort, a feeling of distress and failure washed over them as they realized something went terribly wrong. The remaining Azog’s lifted the throne and tossed it into a large pool of molten lava, incinerating it before the Harbingers could reach them. Humans surrounded the outside of the Azog fort and prepared to attack the Harbingers. Many of the cultists stood guard and protected the Harbingers as they fled from the fort, still in disbelief of the destruction of the throne.

Conquest of the Northern Arch

With the victory over the Old Sanctuary Grounds, the mortals felt far more confidant. The alliance of the mortal races took their eyes onto the North now, more precisely the entrance to the northern mountains, protected by Scourge walls. They prepared their armies, and their siege engineers, and marched north. A battle was started, once more the battle between mortals and Servants happened for hours as the Trebuchets launched their rocks onto the walls, trying to open a path. While some attacked the walls directly through the front, another group of mortals went to flank, finding a way around the tall mountain walls or through them. From behind and from the front the Harbingners were attacked. Slowly the mortals fell, yet with little losses, they had learnt from the battle before. This is until he came. A massive dark dragon flew over the mountains, and went down towards the army of mortals. Setherien had come to destroy and kill many of the mortals. While Setherien stayed in the battlefield, the losses of the mortals were great, and none of their attacks would seem to even damage him. Finally a stone of the Siege weapons crashed into the gates, opening a way for the mortals to pass, now surrounding the Harbingers who were unprotected. Setherien flew to destroy the Siege equipment, but it was too late, most of the Harbingers had been defeated. Setherien, after killing more and more mortals, finally decided to leave, his reasons as to why he left unknown, as he appeared unhurt. Without their leader and their forces down, soon the remaining Harbingers fell as well. The mortal forces had removed the Scourge from the entrance of the north.

The Solace Spire

A gigantic Spire appeared in the lands of the Snow elves in old Kastoria. The Snow elves had no idea what it was, but soon it became apparent that is belonged to one of the Harbingers. The battle of Shi's spire was the culminating battle of the war against the snow elves of the Dwarven lands. Having lived under the oppressive eye of Loche "Orokana" Shi for such a long while, the snow elves decided to launch a final assault to determine, once and for all, who owned their lands. The Snow Elves, Humans, Dwarves, and Orcs gathered together at a keep opposite of Shi's tower, and began their assault. The fight was going evenly for about half the battle, until the Harbinger Vak'thuul unleashed the newest weapon of the Scourge... the Prophet. This new weapon weakened the lines of the attacking forces, and the Harbingers (Kahzo's name evades me) and Shae'tan launched a counterattack, fully destroying the opposing forces. Within hours, the land of the snow elves was completely corrupted, and the snow elven people had retreated to a bunker beneath the earth.

The Mining Manor

The Scourge had set it's eyes on the town of Leanniel for quite some time. Constant attacks were made until the Scourge decided to take something permanently. The manor on top of hill in that town. It belonged to those that fought with holy powers and against the scourge. Their attack was relentless, the defenders destroyed. For a few seeds the Harbingers changed the manor, to turn it into a mining facility. There, they brought slaves to mine and gather minerals for their wars to come. From atop of the town, they started their attacks on Leanniel, and started corrupting the lands. The Druids that resided in the town were the main force that tried to stop the Scourge, able to do so in a large battle, with the aid of other guilds and groups. The town and manor had been retaken after a long time of fighting.

The Escape from Anthos

A new land would be discovered by the descendants, known to most as the Fringe, a peculiar land seeming near ancient as Anthos itself, with a sprawling temple of marble with a peculiar obsidian portal, seeming much like the ones once used in Aegis by the Undead around roughly a century ago. The descendants were quick to flee to the new land, their Black Sourge aggressors pushing them into fright to escape free from the seemingly curse ridden Anthos in an attempt to find peace; only to have been followed once more by the antagonizing scourge. As wars plunged the descendant races into conflict in the new lands, Anthos began to have increased weather changes, to a near constant pouring of rain, and many floods. Until finally, another conflict broke out between the descendants: The battle of the old cloud temple mines, and the land surrounding it, where a great flood would finally engulf Anthos, ending the extended stay on the continent, and forcing many Elves, men, Orcs, Dwarves, and even Kharajyr to flee back to the Fringe in fright.