Rise of the Pigmen

Map

Prologue:

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The land of Terradona has long known peace, unlike most of its kin. After a somewhat gory but brief conquest by the Teserald Empire, a somewhat uneasy calm had been felt in the land. Battlecries had disbanded into nursery rhymes. Swords had been mounted on the wall and found refuge from the grindstone. Even inside civil disputes, accounts of bloodshed had become almost mythological. In fact, Terradona might have been the first (and thus only) land to ever grasp the true concept of “peace”. It’s a lovely fact that the worst storms begin after the nicest weather. In year 638, nearly a century after Emperor Govenstead II united his realm, tragedy had found a way to catch up. Mages, free from slinging fire spells against their enemy, took time to voyage the metaverse beyond. Their minds went deeper, far deeper than which any man is used to. Secrets from before the archaic had been revealed, and powers beyond comprehension had been acquired. Some believe a young mage recruit Hamold Alphos who was the first to hear the voice. It’s hard to tell, because around a dozen or so all had made notes on it around the same time, winter of 638. Its exact wordage seemed to be dependent on each fellow, but the message seemed to be the same. The voice referred to a hidden realm, farther than even the most adept aetherwalkers had uncovered. As Alphos writes: The voice was sterner than anything I’ve ever heard, but somehow inviting. Ittold me that he is from a realm far, far away, and that he requires a physical linkage toours. Almost instantly, an image appeared before me. It was a gateway of sorts,modestly sized, made of pure obsidian. The exact dimensions seemed to be engrainedinto my head, even though I’d never spent a day learning about engineer or architecture. The last thing the voice mentioned was that the reward for binding our worlds wasbeyond what even he can grasp.Anyone would be at least intrigued at that offer…

And so a gate was erected, in complete secrecy, of course. The mages were high with anticipation, though entirely nervous due to the ambiguity of their task. With a deep breath, Alphos lit the gate.Might as well lit the pyre that burns all of existence....

A never before seen evil liberated itself from its dark, fire homeland. Deformed aberrations marched out in legions, carrying golden arms pointed at any mortal being. The land of the summoning had been lost and forgotten (or more accurately avoided at all costs) and have since been christened the “Deadlands”, for obvious reasons. A war finally found itself to the extremely privileged land of Terradona, though the type of conflict made the Teseraldians wish that they were spilling their own blood frivolously.

The bodies of the mages were never found. Many suggest that they were simply disposed of on the spot, but others think that they had at least received what they were promised.

And thus enters you, “magnificent stallion”. For whatever reason, the fates have smiled wryly upon you, and have given you the challenge to end this blight. More shall be known further into your quest, and that shall begin at the small hamlet of Riveraire.

Be brave, and remember that your failure equates to death or life as we know it .