Prologue
The world has changed much, since the Warmarshal Varesh Ossa was successful in bringing Abaddon from the Realm of Torment, into this world. A inky blackness covers the sky across all the continents of Tyria, Cantha and Elona. Returning with Abaddon from the Realm of Torment, the Lich Lord, who brought the Titans back to the land of Tyria. And Shiro Tagachi, a former Envoy of Grenth, leads an army of Afflicted across Cantha. While Varesh Ossa, and a mysterious Ritualist that appeared from nowhere, controls the Kournan Army and Margonites in Elona.
Many tried and failed to bring down one of Abaddon's Generals, and in the end, they began to bow down before Abaddon. All except a few pockets of resistance, who have swore an oath to the Five Gods: Balthazar, Melandru, Lyssa, Dwayna and Grenth. That they would do whatever it took to destroy Abaddon and his Generals, and return the world to the way it was before Varesh brought Abaddon forth.
Their command post lies within the Eye of the North. Where with help from the smartest minds the Asura's had, is being shielded by the followers of Abaddon. And a path was built into the Eye of the North, leading to the Battledepths. Gates were created within the Battledepths, leading to various points throughout each of the lands, allowing safe passage to each of the lands.
Many great fighters gave their lives in battle, as they fought against the relentless forces Abaddon had at his disposal, In hope of finding a weakness in his armor. Everybody had a weakness, the problem was, Abaddon had hidden his well. But a question did begin to emerge as many tried and failed to destroy Abaddon - does a God have a truly have a weakness?
Admist the destruction caused by Abaddon and his followers, unlikely and new allies have been found. One of them is fighting against Abaddon for his own reasons, a creature by the name of Palawa Joko. Who was defeated by one of Varesh's ancestors many years ago. He would love to get his hands on an Ossa, and get his long awaited revenge. Even within the Kournan Army, new allies could be found. General Morghan, a long time friend and ally of Warmarshal Varesh, switched sides when he found out the truth of what Varesh was planning. But by then it was too late for him to do anything to stop Varesh, and he had no choice but to run. A few members of the Kournan Army who were still loyal to him, followed Morghan wherever he went.
Within the ranks of the Charr, who rejoiced when the Titans returned, a small warband of them have joined forces with the humans. The warband being led by Pyre Fierceshot, do not see the Titans as Gods, like the rest of the Charr. They want to free their race from the oppression of the Charr Shamans. Who have led the Charr for many years. For Pyre and his warband, the Charr have no Gods.
Even alliances which at first seemed they would never happen again, have been reformed. In the land of Cantha, the Kurzicks and Luxons have but aside their differences once again, in an attempt to stop Shiro one final time, and bring about the end of the Afflicted. Both sides do still battle against each other in the field of Alliance Battles, but only for training purposes. Leading them was a man who had crossed the divide once, a ranger by the name of I Evil Arrow I. He had saw the devestation Varesh caused bringing her God back into this world, and fought against the Afflicted and Shiro before. So when the Kurzicks and Luxons joined forces, I Evil Arrow I was there to watch, and was made their leader.
What remains of the Sunspears, who haven't been found and killed in Elona, hide out in a cave on the mainland. The cave is very well hidden, and only anyone who knows about it, will know where to look to find it. Varesh and the Ritualist, have sent many forces to find it, but they have always failed to find it.
Word soon began to spread about the small pockets of resistance, scattered throughout the world. Some began to fight back, joining up with whoever they could and helping them in the battle against Abaddon. With a small beacon of hope that one day, all the destruction that was caused by Abaddon, would be reversed.
But there was also a small worrying fact during Abaddon's conquest of the lands. That nobody wanted to mention, but also couldn't help wonder. Where were the five Gods who imprisoned Abaddon all those years ago? They showed no problems with Abaddon taking over the lands, and by what they could see, the five weren't doing anything to stop Abaddon. Where were they? What had happened to them. Various rumours began to spread about the five Gods. Some are saying that they no longer care about the land they looked after many moons ago. While others believe that before he left the Realm of Torment, Abaddon destroyed them. Leaving him with a free ticket to total domination.
Chapter One
"Remind me, why all these gates are necessary again?" asked Gwen as she saw at least another two gates being made. The last time she was in the Battledepths, there were only a few gates. Now the Asuras and any helpers they could get, were busy making more and more gates. They even set up a room just for gates.
"If we want to ensure safe passage from here to lets say the Bone Palace. But someone else is wanting to return ere, we need all these gates up," said Vekk.
"But what about Abaddon and his forces, wont they be able to use the gates?"
Vekk held something in his hand and showed it to Gwen. "Not without one of these crystals. We have modified the gates to ensure that they no longer work without one of these in them. There is enough power for one trip. They put the crystal in the gate, let it power up, take the crystal out and walk through."
Gwen couldn't argue it was a good way of ensuring that Abaddon's forces couldn't use the gate. It also meant safe passage to certain points around the world. One of the gates made a few noises, before activating. A Necromancer came through the active gate, looking around their surroundings as they entered the Battledepths.
"Where did you come from?" Gwen asked the Necromancer.
They were a bit confused by the question, and pointed at the gate. "That thing," they replied.
"I forgot to mention," said Vekk. Our new upgrade gives everyone who uses it the first time some short term memory loss. They'll recover soon enough, the effects are temporary. I give them a few seconds before they remember everything."
"Yea I can feel my memory coming back," said the Necromancer. "We've set the gate up in Majesty's Rest. Rotscale didn't seem keen on the idea at first, but agreed to it in the end." The Necromancer saluted before taking their leave.
"If only Nightmare wasn't busy helping out Palawa Joko, he could have convinced Rotscale it was for the best," said Gwen. "Still, having two sets of allies, with troops that never seem to tire out can only be good for our cause."
"We received word that Nightmare may be returning at the end of the week," said Vekk. "Joko just wants to make sure that no one else within the Desolation tries to usurp him from his throne. And so long as Varesh Ossa still breathes, he says that we can be sure of Palawa Joko's total cooperation. After that? Even he doesn't know."
"I don't know how Nightmare is meant to help out with that, but he seems happy enough doing it." Gwen couldn't help but worry about Nightmare. After the Lich Lord offering him the chance to see his family again, if he joined Abaddon. But Nightmare had made it clear that he had made his choice, by fighting alongside her and everyone else in the resistance. But she would always have this nagging feeling in the back of her mind that he could turn at any moment.
Another gate activated and this time, 7 people and 1 Charr walked through the portal. Gwen was about to ask how their mission went, but remembered what Vekk said. So she waited a few seconds longer than normal. From the way that they looked, they had been through hell during their mission.
"So how did the mission go?" Gwen asked.
The leader of the group, took a few deep breaths. "The Great Destroyer, is destroyed," he said.
Gwen nodded. "Go and get some rest, you deserve it after what you have done." She walked the group go past, and felt a familiar hatred rise in her as the Charr walked past. "Commander, tell everyone within the Eye of the North to take the rest of the day off."
"Ma'am?" the Commander asked.
"That eight who just walked past you, just defeated the Great Destroyer. I think that deserves a bit of time off dont you? Not everyday we deal a blow to Abaddon, even if it is just a small one." The Commander nodded and left Vekk and Gwen alone again.
"Your worrying about him aren't you?" asked Vekk.
"About who?" asked Gwen, trying to pretend she didn't know what Vekk meant.
"I Evil Arrow I," said Vekk. "Everyone here nows you have a soft spot for him. We will find him, Gwen." Vekk tried to comfort Gwen.
Gwen couldn't hide her feelings anymore. "I just hope that he is okay. We haven't heard from him since he set of to the Harvest Temple to find the dragon Kuunavang."
"Go and get some rest," said Vekk. "You have been up for the past two days. Even the greatest warrior, needs to get some sleep."
"You promise to wake me if we hear word from him?" she asked Vekk.
"If he comes through one of these gates, I'll take him to you personally," he assured her.
She knelt down and gave the Asura a hug. "Thank you." She left Vekk alone in the Battledepths. All the while she wondered just where I Evil Arrow I was, and what he was doing. She heard the familiar noise of G.O.L.E.M.s activating, but didn't turn around to see what Vekk was doing with them.
As soon as she entered her room, she could feel all the energy being drained from her. She fell onto her bed, and was asleep within seconds of her head hitting the pillow. For a moment, all her cares in the world, were gone. How she wished that this moment would last forever. But that day wouldn't come until Abaddon was gone.
"Warmarshal, we have just recieved word that the Great Destroyer is no more," said the guard kneeling before Warmarshal Varesh. "It is unclear if this was the work of the Dwarves, or one of the pockets of resistance."
Varesh thanked the guard, and let the guard continue on his duties. Within the fortress of Gandara, lay one of her means of talking to her master, Lord Abaddon. She knelt before the shrine, and awaited the appearance of him. Flames shot up from the shrine, Varesh could feel the heat coming from the flames, until they calmed a little, and within them, a portrait of Abaddon appeared before her.
"My Lord Abaddon," she said rising from her kneeling position. "As I am sure you are aware, the Great Destroyer has been killed."
"I know, Varesh," she could feel his voice enter her mind. "I could sense it's death. Who was it that killed it?"
"That is unknown my Lord. All that we can tell is it was either the resistance fighting against you, or the work of the Dwarves," said Varesh. "If I might suggest: send some Margonites, find out what transpired in it's lair."
"A good suggestion, but no. I'll order the Lich Lord to take care of it, his way."
"Understood my Lord," the flames on the shrine soon died out.