"What is your report?" The Grandal General asked the soldier standing in front of him, they were stationed on the border to the Halteese Republic, the soldier was a scout, sent to investigate rumors of a large monster army moving toward the Halteese Capitol. "Sir, the rumors are correct, a huge battalion of monsters has sacked Hersalli, they wiped the city out, the took no prisoners, it is unknown who is leading this army."

The General stroked his beard, he replied," What information can you give about their forces?" The soldier thought for a moment," There were no signs of artillery, but for a large battering ram they used to knock the gates open, they don't have any visible archers, they've got class D warriors,tens of thousands of infantry and they've got what looks like incredible air power."

The General became uneasy about this, he turned to another soldier who was staring out an open window." Go to the Emperor, inform him of this attack on the Halteese, we could use this to our advantage, go immediately!" The soldier ran down and mounted a horse and rode into the distance toward the Grandal Capitol." What do you think the Emperor will do?" A weird looking man asked. " I don't know." The General felt good about these new events, to long he hadn't had a battle, the Emperor would definitely want to be involved in this new war, undoubtedly the Halteese would retaliate for their lost city, giving the Grandal endless opportunity. "Send an emissary to Saraman, he must be informed."

Miles away, to the north, a great giant slept beneath a great mountain, slumbering for millions of years, it had seen the fall of the ancient reptilian beasts, now it was being awaken, its form like a giant ball of lava and fire, it slowly began to form. Standing and watching over its rebirth, Zasalamel had beckoned it back to life, to serve and to conquer, he told the Balrog of Morgoth that endless battles await, across the lands many enemys have risen, to experience this new age full of warriors the Balrog would be compelled to go forth and crush them all, for a price.

"Serve me, great Balrog, I can give you your power back, I can tell you were these warriors await!" Zasalamel commanded, air and fire whooshed past him, his robes fluttering, the cave in which he stood began to shake, rocks began to fall from the ceiling, the huge lava ball in front of him was taking on the shape of a devil, as if Satan himself had awoke in the fires of the lava. With a booming monstrous voice the Balrog spoke," I shall do as you wish..."

Zasalamel smiled, his plans were coming together, miles away in the cavernous walkways of the dwarf mines, they heard the voice of the Balrog, they quickly armed themselves, fearing what had come from the deep bowels of the mountain, the dwarves knew not that the voice was of their doom.