Textblock #1416

in game item_read_text 3 parts

part 0

When the light in the sky flies once again this shall be a sign of the Dark
One's return. The light is of such beauty that it appears with the grace of a
bird, and is given the name Phoenix. The light of such elegance that many a man
fell to his knees in awe of her.

For the Phoenix represents the rebirthing of the ages. The ages come and go but
the light remains. It is this bond that links all the events of this reality. 
It is the change and the growth of all beings. It is the power that challenges
us to change, and forces us to understand. For it is the universe's tool of
change, and is a tool of great power.

Towards the end of the last Great War, the great light vanished, gone from the
world of mortals, until the time when the darkness would rise again.

For the Dark One knew of the Phoenix and knew if he were to catch her that
this would be a testament to his power and a challenge to the other gods. The
Dark One had long been beguiled by the beauty of the Phoenix and became
obsessed with a desire to possess her.

The great Legends knew of the desires of the Dark One and requested of the 
Phoenix to assist them in their quest to defeat the Dark One's Armies. The
Phoenix, knowing of the danger that the Dark One represented, agreed in
assisting them in their battle against the Lord of Shadows.

For many months the Legends managed to distract the Dark One with the Phoenix,
until he became obsessed enough to divert his Avatar away from Silvermere and
towards the Phoenix's home, The Stronghold of the Templars of Golden Light, an
ancient society of warriors who gave themselves to the Phoenix as guardians of
her and her ultimate destiny in the realm.

There the Dark One's Avatar besieged the fortress in a futile attempt to
capture the Phoenix. While this occurred, it gave opportunity to the Legends to
bring their scattered forces to bear on the Dark One. Unfortunately, on the eve
of the Legendary Heroes' assault, The Dark One, who had grown furious at his

part 1

Avatar's failure, intervened and violated a sacred law of the realm, using
ancient technology long lost and forbidden in the realm. He succeeded, 
breaching the walls of the stronghold and overwhelming the Templars, who in the 
heat of the battle were unable to stop many of the dark one's heroes from
entering the Phoenix's lair. 

Many of the Legends, knowing that they had failed the Phoenix, retreated with
their forces back to Silvermere to await the final conflict with the Dark One's
Avatar. Orfeo Talespinner remained with a small band of his henchmen and
managed to fight his way into the catacombs where the Phoenix lair was located.
Orfeo to this day speaks not of this experience, only knowing the pain of his
failure in stopping the Dark One's army from taking the stronghold.

With the destruction of the Stronghold, the Dark One's Avatar turned his
attention to the great city of Silvermere, his last obstacle in conquering the
realm. Little did he know that the Legends had been given the time to bring
their fragmented armies together. Forces of Light from across the realm had
signed an alliance to either defeat the Dark One or be vanquished in the
attempt.

At this last battle the Legends defeated the Dark One's Avatar. The great mage
Morukai, using magics bestowed upon him by the gods to counterbalance the Dark
One's forbidden intervention, countered many of the Avatar's unholy protective
powers. Vulnerable and surprised by the combined forces of the Armies of Light,
the Dark One's Avatar was overrun and destroyed by Dorshar Lightblade and the
other legendary heroes who still survived. 

This resulted in the beginning of a new age, the Age of Tranquility. With the
Dark One's power temporarily broken, the hosts of shadow fell into disarray and
were scattered about the land like chaff on the wind. The armies of light, 
decimated by the terrible war, returned to their homelands to rebuild and begin

part 2

the process of healing the scars wrought during this time. Only time would
will tell the fate of the realm, as the forces of darkness slowly regathered
to fuel the Dark One's unrelenting hunger to control the realm.

References