======= === === ====== === === ======== ======= =======\ ====== ====== Ý Ý Ý Ý Ý Ý Ý Ý Ý Ý Ý Ý Ý Ý Ý Ý Ý \ Ý Ý Ý Ý == == Ý Ý Ý Ý Ý === Ý Ý Ý Ý Ý ==== Ý Ý Ý Ý ==== Ý Ý === Ý === Ý Ý Ý ==== Ý Ý Ý Ý ==== Ý Ý Ý Ý Ý Ý Ý Ý Ý Ý Ý Ý Ý Ý Ý Ý Ý Ý Ý Ý == Ý Ý Ý Ý Ý Ý Ý ==== Ý Ý Ý Ý Ý == Ý == Ý Ý Ý ==== Ý Ý Ý Ý ==== Ý Ý Ý Ý Ý Ý \ Ý Ý Ý Ý Ý Ý Ý Ý Ý Ý Ý Ý Ý Ý Ý == Ý Ý Ý Ý Ý Ý Ý Ý Ý \ Ý Ý Ý Ý Ý == === Ý Ý Ý Ý Ý Ý Ý Ý Ý Ý Ý Ý Ý Ý Ý Ý Ý Ý \ Ý Ý Ý Ý Ý Ý Ý Ý Ý Ý Ý Ý Ý Ý Ý == Ý Ý Ý Ý Ý ==== Ý Ý Ý\ \ Ý ==== Ý Ý == == Ý Ý Ý Ý Ý Ý Ý Ý Ý Ý Ý Ý Ý Ý Ý Ý Ý \ \ Ý / Ý Ý Ý Ý === === === ===== === === ======== === === =======/ ====== ====== (Dedicated to Matthew, ma vie) THE UNDEAD HORDES SAGA WALKTHROUGH ============================================================================== Ý This walkthrough is copyrighted to Mister Sinister (2004) Ý Ý I don't mind it being lifted in its entirity, but if you do so, Ý Ý please make sure you give credit to the author (me) and DON'T pass it Ý Ý off as your own. Thanks ! Ý ============================================================================== THE SEVEN MISSIONS OF THE UNDEAD HORDES SAGA :- 1) The Search for Timmoria 2) Uther's Blood 3) The Council 4) Retaliation 5) The Accursed Armour 6) Phantom Beasts 7) Taladrielle the Sorceress ============================================================================== BRIEF NOTES BEFORE WE GET STARTED This is a very quick key to some of the terms I'll use in this FAQ :- In areas where I am talking about troops in cities, any troops mentioned in [squared brackets] are within the city proper (an obvious example would be Ashgan, who would be shown as [Ashgan] as he is IN the city and, in his case, cannot leave - all troops NOT in squared brackets are just waiting in the city (as in, healing there, etc.) Map directions are as follows. North on the map is up and right. South is down and left. West is up and left, and East is down and right. Obviously the very nature of this game makes doing an FAQ quite a tricky task, as you can go anywhere, do anything (within reason) and your opponents will pretty much respond to the way you play ... so this is an account of what I would suggest and expect, pointers I have learned, things I would pick up - basically anything and everything which I could think of which might help you play as the Undead Hordes in their Saga ... I have tried to keep this FAQ both light-hearted, and informative. Similarly, with troops garrisoned in cities, whilst my FAQ is accurate as at MY playing the game, these may change - ESPECIALLY in cities owned by other players (as you are doubtless aware if you've ever played this game, your computer opponents are FOREVER changing the troops that they garrison in their cities). Comments are always welcome - you can reach me at shadowpath@hotmail.com. Thanks for reading this !! ============================================================================== 1) The Search for Timmoria BRIEFING AND COMMENTS Mortis patiently awaits the rebirth of her consort Gallean. Hundreds of years ago, Gallean was murdered by Wotan, the God of the Mountain Clans, and his body was so horribly mutilated that his regeneration would take an eternity. WELL unhappy about this, Mortis turns her attention to the living ... she focuses in on a creature named Uther, who's body is presently serving as a receptacle for the soul of Bethrezen - the God of the Legions of the Damned - and is trapped at present in the ancient Mountain Clan mine of Timmoria. Mortis believes that Uther's Blood can bring Gallean back to life and, to that end, sends her minions to harvest his blood. UNfortunately, nobody knows where Timmoria is ! So in a-typical undead fashion, Mortis sends her hordes in search of a library, to find the directions (AS you do). The level proper begins with a conversation between Wraith Prusheen (a recurring character in the Hordes Saga) and a Lich Queen. Prusheen tells you that Mortis is calling to you, with a request that you locate the Timmoria mines ... he tells you that you have begun what is to be the rebirth of a God ... The level is quite basic and comparatively easy, as there is no real timeframe within which you must look to complete it - your goal is a structure, and that ain't goin' anywhere ;) If you take the City of Frenien, a Peasant will tell you that they were prosperous before YOU arrived and ruined everything (ever watched an episode of Scooby Doo ?? And I'd have gotten away with it too if it wasn't for you DAMNED kiiiiiiiids !!) ... yeah right, who cares !! We are the UNDEAD Hordes you little maggot - BEGONE !! If you move around to the back of Frenien you will have an encounter with the Shadow Wolves - a gang of thieves under the control of Hubert de Layle. One of their members approaches you and proposes an arrangement. You kill Athron the Black and his band of thieves, and the Shadow Wolves will give you something in return. If you want to undertake this quest then to find Athron the Black you will need to travel west from Hollar's Shop until you reach Perthin, and then take a turn to the south (Athron the Black is just south of Perthin). As you approach Hollar's Shop a Merchant angrily pops up to tell you that he will not trade with your kind, and you should leave the lands of the living. One of your Death Knights puts him in his place by threatening to make a daisy chain out of his nose-hair, and he gets the SUBTLE message and accepts your invitation to trade. Athron the Black is QUITE well guarded (he has a band of Thugs, Master Thugs, Archers and others around so you'd best stock up on potions and scrolls before you tackle him methinks). Once Athron has been slain, a Nosferat confirms this and reminds you that you now need to head back to the Shadow Wolves to receive your reward. If you take the City of Alderin en route back to the Shadow Wolves, one of your Lich Queens pops up to tell you that you are nearing the Empire's Capital, and she advises MUCH haste in order to locate the Library before they become aware of your presence. Technically she's right - the mine is nearby - it's north-east of your present location (Alderin), but WHICHEVER way you go to get to it (north from Alderin or north-east from Frenien) the Empire WILL be made aware of your presence. The LOGICAL route to take would be north-east from Frenien, because you can go past the Shadow Wolves en route to the Library, and you will go as far away from the Empire's CAPITAL City as possible, and that can't be a bad thing, non ?? If you decide to go north from Alderin instead, you will walk right into a trap. See the unit represented by a spearman on the map to the north of Alderin, who is guarding the passage to the Empire's Capital ? He is ready to set off a trap ... if you get too close to him, an Archmage pops up to sound the alarm, and casts a Chain Lightning spell on you and tells you that he is off to tell Demosthene of your presence in Nevendaar ... to which a Death Knight admonishes you, telling you that they are sure to double their efforts against you now, so you'd better get your skates on and FIND THAT LIBRARY !! I would suggest that IF you really Really REALLY wanna go north, that you summon a creature and let HIM approach the Spearman ... that way your PROPER troops won't take the damage ;) If you instead opt to go the SENSIBLE route (as in, pop back to the Shadow Wolves and from there head east and then north), then you should end your turn near the Shadow Wolves, as on THEIR turn one of their members (Ronon) will grab some treasure and run across to you. He says "Ynngrel sent me to thank you ... The Empire is about to fall. Throughout the realm, corruption has replaced justice. Even the Emperor Demosthene is too weak to prevent this. Many say that he will not live long ..." (to which your Death Knight tells him to put a sock in it, as you really don't GIVE a sh!t about the Empire - Mortis just wants you to find the Timmoria Mines ...) He gesticulates and a section of the map to the north-west is revealed. He tells you that you will find the information you seek in the Library there, but that you must be careful, as the Library is guarded by a powerful Magi named Zunther. He also tells you that you will be aided by the Shadow Wolves when the time comes ... ... BUT HE DOESN'T ACTUALLY GIVE YOU ANYTHING !!!!! In case you want to kill him, he is carrying a Potion of Restoration, which I assume is what he was going to bring you.) [HINT : DO NOT SLAY ALL THE SHADOW WOLVES !!] IF you slay all the Shadow Wolves (including Ynngrel the Swift), one of your Nosferats pops up to tell you that as you have just KILLED your backup, you shouldn't expect to be bailed out by the Shadow Wolves when you face Zunther. As you move from the City of Frenien and head to the north-east, a Nosferat tells you that you are entering the Empire's territory, and that you must be cautious. Furthermore, he says that he can see smoke from a small town up ahead ... A little further in, one of your Death Knight will advise you that peasants are in your way (one has just run screaming from you in fact !!), and that he would suggest razing the village before they are able to warn others of your presence). IF ONLY !! =) Once you have taken the City of Cuneria, a Peasant pops out to tell you that you must leave them be, or Zunther will kick your BUTT. We'll see shall we ? (Makes sure everybody is watching him and then SLAPS the peasant). BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAR :"> As you continue onwards and round the corner to the west of Cuneria to travel south on your final push towards the Library, a unit charges you, trying to prevent you going any further. This unit comprises 2 Squires, 2 Archers and a Spearman. Your Nosferat urges you to press forward, as Mortis DEMANDS you find the plans for the Timmoria mines :"> JUST as you are about to lay your bony fingers on the Library, Zunther charges you from the south ... that little BUGGER has been lying in wait all this time !! IF you helped out the Shadow Wolves earlier in the level, a unit of Shadow Wolf troops will appear from a clearing the mountains to the east to help you battle Zunther, and awaits your further instructions. For your information, the Shadow Wolves Unit comprises :- 2 Thugs, 3 Archers ... and Zunther's Unit comprises :- 2 Knights, Zunther, Priest, Mage Zunther is an Archmage, and quite powerful ;) I would strongly suggest that you weaken him with spells and scrolls before you enter battle with him ... it'll make it easier :"> Once you have defeated him you can concentrate your attacks on the Library. MAKE SURE that you fully heal all your troops and use whatever positive enchantments you can on them before you enter the Library - it's not just for books you know ;) Once the Library has been conquered, your mission is complete ... and (again, IF you helped them before) a Shadow Wolf Thug pledges the allegiance of his band of thieves to your cause. You depart, telling him that you will meet them again some day ... OPPONENTS The Empire CITIES NEUTRAL CITIES Name Inhabitants Alderin 2 Goblin Archers, 2 Goblins, Orc Frenien 3 Thugs, Peasant EMPIRE CITIES Name Inhabitants Cuneria Squire, Acolyte BUILDINGS Name Inhabitants Gain anything from taking it ? Lost Mastaba Master Thug, Thug, Peasant 150 Gp, Pestilence Scroll Perthin Titan, Archer 250 Gp, Talisman of Vigor Crumbled Outpost 4 Goblin Archers, Wolf 200 Gp, Banner of Striking Library Knight, 2 Witch Hunters, Cleric, Apprentice, Mage 100 Gp EVENTS Event Notes OPERATION SHADOW The Shadow Wolves need a hand ridding the lands of Athron the Black and his troop of worthless scumbags ... fancy helping them out ?? G'waaaaaan ;) BAD BUSINESS Hollar's Shop doesn't want to trade with you 'coz you're dead !! That's UNFAIR discrimination that is !! IT'S A TWAP !! If you approach the Empire's Capital from the south, you'll be zapped !! THE CAVALRY !! If you have helped the Shadow Wolves, they will bail you out in your fight with Zunther (and, if they survive long enough, the Library !!) ITEMS LYING ON THE GROUND Emerald, 3 x Potion of Healing, Potion of Protection, Orb of Healing, Bronze Ring, 2 x Life Potion, Menta Minoris Scroll, Orb of Earth, 2 x Silver Ring, Gold Ring, Potion of Swiftness, Weakness Scroll, Potion of Restoration, Dwarven Bracer (Artifact - just west of the Library), Summon I: Skeleton Scroll, Potion of Strength, Potion of Striking. ITEMS RETRIEVED FROM ENEMIES (COULD HAVE BEEN ON THE GROUND ORIGINALLY) 2 x Potion of Restoration, 3 x Life Potion, Potion of Swiftness, Boots of Speed. SHOPS Name Sells Hollar's Shop (Merchant) Life Potion x 5, Potion of Healing x 10, Potion of Restoration x 10, Elven Boots x 1 Werric's Shop (Merchant) Life Potion x 5, Treebark Potion x 2, Potion of Healing x 10, Potion of Restoration x 10 ENDING Along with the plans for the Timmoria Mines, the Hordes find confirmation that a ritual is to be performed in 3 DAYS which will seal Bethrezen's Infernal Gate, and imprison the child Uther there for a Century ... HOW WILL YOU GET TO HIM THEN !?!?!?! ============================================================================== 2) Uther's Blood BRIEFING AND COMMENTS With the maps in her possession, Mortis raises her Undead Army, and has them march on Timmoria. The Hordes would have to time their attack very carefully, leaving the Legions just enough time to free Uther, before they mopped up the remaining Cohorts and took the boy for their own dark purposes. Timing their strike to perfection, the Undead descended like a plague upon the Legions JUST as they had freed Uther from his imprisonment. AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAND ACTION !! =) You're objective on this level is to kill Uther (oh THAT'S an easy one - kill a GODLING on the second level ... THANKS !!) so that you can harvest his blood to enable Mortis to resurrect her consort Gallean. Wraith Prusheen is back to give you Mortis' new orders ... which I've already given you !! =) Basically Mortis wants you to destroy Uther before he flees, and bring her some of his blood. Just as he finishes giving you your instructions the camera pans in on the Infernal Gate, from which Uther emerges ... your forces make their attack, and the fun begins ... You are given control over a comparatively quite large army on this level ... at the outset you are given the following units with which to attack Uther :- [Nb. UNfortunately for you, before you can actually CONTROL these units, Uther lashes out with 2 Ignis Potens Spells in strategic positions so as to hit as many of your units as he can - damage has been taken into account when I describe what units you have] 1) Zombie, Fighter 2) Gangren (a Nosferat), 2 Zombies, Dead Initiate 3) Zombie, 2 Dead Ghosts 4) Zombie, Dead Initiate 5) Gozlen'Ha (a Death Knight), 2 Zombies, Dead Initiate 6) Zombie, Fighter Of all these units, the ONLY one that has taken NO damage is 6). Now ... obviously you can do this one of several ways ... Uther KNOWS he is surrounded, so he is going to try and make his escape as quickly as possible ... so you DEFINITELY don't wanna withdraw your Undead troops and heal them before hunting him down ... So here's the dilemma. Uther's Unit looks like this :- BACK LINE FRONT LINE D E M O N UTHER WITCH Berzerker (Hope that makes sense - BASICALLY what I'm telling you is that your units will have to get through the Demon AND the Berzerker before they will be able to hit Uther. The REASON for this is simple ... he has a MASSIVELY powerful ranged attack and, whilst it only hits one unit at a time, he will attack whatever ranged unit is in your team first, so the Nosferat will die almost straight away, and all the Ghosts and Initiates are ALREADY dead from his Ignis Potens spells !!) You have three real ways of dealing with this in my humble opinion :- 1) Charge Uther with all your units. 2) Try and block off his escape to gain time (but in all likelihood he will just smash through the weakest of your units and run away) 3) GET OUT OF HIS WAY !! Save your troops and heal them and then kick his ass ... If you choose 1) then be VERY careful about how you approach him, as he has two Demons - one on either side of him, so to avoid wasting your troops in battles that do not involve Uther at all, you will need to perhaps move them away from him a square or two to line up with him correctly, and then charge him in a straight line. You should be able to kill the Berzerker and all but kill the Demon (but don't forget that units not killed will gradually heal). If you choose 2) then I would send your best units out of the Capital to try and hunt down scrolls etc., that can be fired off against Uther whilst he is being slowed by your units. Whichever you choose it is a CERTAINTY that you will not be able to kill Uther using THESE units alone ... so I would concentrate on the war effort closer to home ... conquer as many cities as you can and use them to house troops to spring on Uther as he draws near ... also try and research as many summoning spells (Nightmare is a GREAT example) as you can ... even though Uther is warded against most types of attacks you can at LEAST destroy the units he is travelling with ;) This would be a GOOD time to point out that you also have the City of Thaaxull gifted to you at the beginning of this level. If you went for option 3) above then you could always withdraw your troops back to Thaaxull to heal them ... you'll have to fight to get there, but as you will see when he runs, Uther will rush back to the Legions' Capital to strengthen his troops before he pushes northwards to what is effectively his finish line ... [HINT: ENSURE that the passage to the south of Thaaxull is heavily protected, as Bethrezen MUST come through here to get to the end of the level ...] As you enter the humans territory to the south of Thaaxull, you will be chastised by a Spearman who tells you that this is THEIR land and you cannot stay there ... ignore him and move onward with your slaughter ;) [NOTE: Lupenzo has advised me that if you wait long enough, the humans in this area will try and make a break for their own freedom and leave the area ... a STUPID move on their part which should provide you with plenty of chance to hone your fighting skills by annihilating them as they run ... screaming .............. like a bunch of sissies ... lol ... apparently they are lead by a Titan in their flight] If you take the City of Inthuric, a Spearman asks why you have returned, saying that their race has barely recovered since the First Great Wars, and your presence here threatens to vanquish them completely ... HE'S RIGHT !! CRUSH THESE SCUMS !! =D As you conquer the City of Oghock, a thief emerges from the shadows [NOTE: This MIGHT not happen if you didn't help the Shadow Wolves in Mission One - I'm not 100% on that tho ...] to give you some useful advice ... he says that Uther can only escape one way, and that is to the North. He tells you that he will be on the move soon, but that they will alert you once he begins to move. It's good to have mates, innit !! ;) Once you have taken Tsullen'Hish, one of your Initiates goes to a Lich Queen and asks her how it is possible that there are Undead Creatures on these lands that are not under Mortis' control ... the Lich Queen says she will confer with Mortis to ascertain what is going on ... If you take the City of Dunera, a Cultist comes out to tell you that Bethrezen will not allow your victory, and that you will perish ... ... erm ... what ?? You are the representative of a fallen God whos army is in hiding ... even NOW, with his return to you, you flee from our MIGHT (bangs fist on table). GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO AWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY !! Paying a visit to (and 'liberating') the City of Luycyx will cause one of your Death Knights to pop up and tell you that it looks like the Dwarves are travelling about Nevendaar once again ... and he QUITE RIGHTLY states that you should have snuffed them out during the First Great Wars ... If you travel to the south-easternmost corner of the map you will encounter a Lizard Man who asks you for your help ... basically he wants you to take the totem in the chest beside him to his tribe in the south-western corner of the map ... and with that, he disappears !! ... leeeeeeeeeeeeet me get this right ... this guy can seemingly TELEPORT ... and he wants me to CARRY his totem ? "Oh ... I've got these tickets for me to fly by Concorde from Paris to New York ... but I need somebody to take my overnight bag BY BOAT. Is that ok with you sweety ??" You WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT ????? ... oh allllllllllright ... In order to reach this Lizard Man's tribe you need to go back to Luycyx, then west to the Hideout, and then south-west to Krazius. From here, head due west and you will encounter his tribe. As you approach what is a reasonably large gathering of Lizard Men just past the Antique Temple in the south-western section of the map, a Lizard Man unit comes out to tell you that you cannot go any further, and that you are now in Shirlllessh Tribe Territory. A Medusa then comes hurtling out of the Lizard Man Encampment, recognising the Totem you are carrying as the Agshlisga Totem - a sacred totem to these people ... and takes it from you, telling you you are nice (bless), and giving you a Runestone for your troubles. Now ... this MIGHT just be me being a *little* bit unappreciative ... but isn't that kinda like offering me a bag of PEANUTS after I've carried the overnight bag ON THE BOAT from Paris to New York ???????????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!?????????????? In a fit of what can only be described as IMMENSE dissatisfaction, I extinguished the WHOLE of the Shirlllessh Tribe (and why not - we ARE the Undead after all !! Compassion is NOT a part of our Charter) ;) If you take the fight to Uther and bear down on the Legions' Capital, the Thug that said he would warn you of Uther's moves earlier on in the level pops up again to tell you that he has received (as in, Uther has received) more reinforcements from the East, and that he will soon begin his march ... you must prepare yourselves ... To the east of the Legions Capital (as in, on the edge of the map), the following units then appear :- 1) 2 Fiends, Demonologist 2) Marble Gargoyle, Duke (Zaorish in my Saga), Demonologist 3) 2 Fiends, Demonologist From the next turn, Uther (who is (in MY saga at least) travelling with 2 Cultists and 2 Possesseds now) makes a move to the east to unite with his other units, so that they can begin their big push towards the finish line. DO NOT FORGET what I said ... remember that narrow stretch just to the south of Thaaxull ? Uther MUST come through there to reach his goal, so THAT is where I would have all my troops waiting. Bombard him with spells whilst he is en route, as you will be able to take out the units he is travelling with ... but Uther is warded against almost everything you can throw at him, so save your troops for him. Also try and take out as many of the OTHER units with which Uther is travelling (i.e. the Fiends, Demonologists and Gargoyle, etc., which have just appeared from the East). I would SUGGEST that you save your summons until only Uther remains in his party and then use those against him ... Uther should take more damage that way :"> Once you have slain Uther, a Sorcerer cries out that he has fallen, and the legions flee for their lives ... you have won a MIGHTY victory this day. Well done !! :) OPPONENTS Uther, Legions of the Damned, Human Resistance CITIES NEUTRAL CITIES Name Inhabitants Dunera Hill Giant, Crossbowman Luycyx Hill Giant, Rock Giant [Polar Bear] Krazius 2 Goblins, Ogre Kuelluran [Spearman, 2 Man at Arms] Inthuric [2 Spearmen, Knight, Cleric] Oghock [2 Orcs, 2 Goblin Archers] Tsullen'hish [Ghouls, Zombie] UNDEAD CITIES Name Inhabitants Thaaxull (WHOEVER YOU PUT IN IT !!) BUILDINGS Name Inhabitants Gain anything from taking it ? Perthin 2 Master Thugs, Archer 150 Gp, Potion of Strength Crumbled Fortress Goblin, Goblin Archer 30 Gp Hideout 2 Goblin Archers, Ogre 500 Gp, Summon Living Armour Scroll Antique Temple Deathdragon, Ghost 600 Gp, Banner of Protection (the above is the Antique Temple near Krazius) Antique Temple Imperial Knight, Mage, 2 Imperial Assassins 400 Gp, Call Decay Dragon Scroll (the above is the Antique Temple near Kuelluran) Crumbled Keep 2 Goblin Archers 35 Gp, Goblin Orb Lost Mastaba 2 Wyverns 200 Gp, Sapphire Ruined Tower Deathdragon, 2 Specters, Initiate 1,000 Gp, Tome of Water EVENTS Event Notes Undead Raid !!! You surround and assault Uther ... YEY !! :"> Human insults The PITIFUL Humans tell you not to enter their lands. BAH !! Help the Lizards Act as errand boy for the Lizard Man and his totem ... if you wanna ... ITEMS LYING ON THE GROUND 2 x Life Potion, Quicksilver Potion (at the eastern end of the valley on the northern border of the map (just right of the middle)), 3 x Potion of Healing, Treebark Potion, Silver Ring, Lightning Scroll, 2 x Potion of Restoration, Staff of Thunder, Bronze Ring, 2 x Potion of Vigor, Potion of Speed, Ice Storm Scroll, Zombie Orb, Pestilence Scroll, Call to Arms Scroll, 2 x Emerald, Bronze Ring, Orb of Earth, Potion of Swiftness, Agshlisga Totem, Healing Ointment, Orb of Vigor, Potion of Accuracy, Ruby, Lizard Man Orb, Sanctuera Scroll, Weakness Scroll. ITEMS RETRIEVED FROM ENEMIES (COULD HAVE BEEN ON THE GROUND ORIGINALLY) Sapphire, Gold Ring, Potion of Fire Warding, Potion of Healing, 2 x Life Potion, Potion of Restoration, Potion of Protection. SHOPS Name Sells Jolan's Tower (Magic Shop) Blizzard (200 Gp), Hymn of the Clans (400 Gp), Stone Rain (400 Gp) Werric's Shop (Merchant) Life Potion x 5, Potion of Healing x 10, Potion of Restoration x 10, Healing Ointment x 3, Treebark Potion x 1, Potion of Protection x 2, Potion of Striking x 1, Potion of Speed x 1 Sallat's Shop (Merchant) Orb of Healing x 1, Orb of Restoration x 1, Orb of Life x 1, Orb of Vigor x 1 Under's Shop (Merchant) Life Potion x 5, Treebark Potion x 5, Potion of Healing x 10, Potion of Restoration x 10, Banner of Speed x 1 ENDING With Uther's fall, you harvest his blood so that you can present it to Mortis to enable her to revive her long-dead husband Gallean. Preparations for the ritual can now begin !! ============================================================================== 3) The Council BRIEFING AND COMMENTS Whilst you and your cronies were busy kicking Uther's BUTT across Nevendaar, the Empire was FAR from resting ... they despatched an emissary to the Mountain Clans, requesting an audience. The Clans responded by asking Slookarijj Blackstone - a member of the High Council and the Leader of the Blackstone Clan, to meet with representatives from the Empire. SINCE such a meeting is sure to result in a long-term alliance between these two Powers in such trying times, Mortis - assessing such an alliance as a threat to her long-term plans, for the combined forces of the Empire AND the Mountain Clans would surely be too much for even the Undead Hordes to oppose - decides that Slookarijj Blackstone must be slain. Your objective on this level is quite simply to slay Slookarijj Blackstone before he can hook up with the representatives from the Empire. The level begins with Wraith Prusheen giving you yet more instructions from Mortis. He tells you that Mortis wants Slookarijj DEAD (haven't I just said that ... like ... THREE TIMES ?? Come on Prusheen - tell us something we DON'T already know !!) ... and then it's over to you !! For your information, your Capital is located in the south-eastern corner of the map, and Slookarijj Blackstone begins the level in the north-eastern corner of the map (just outside the Mountain Clans' Capital City). If you move westwards from your Capital City, one of your Nosferats pops up to tell you that the lands are LITTERED with Greenskins, and you should be prudent as you advance ... If you take the City of Khaana, a Templar comes to you to confirm that the City has been cleared of Orcs, but you should still remain vigilent, as others in the outskirts may retaliate. (This is quite possible as just to the west of Khaana is an Orc King !!) From his starting position, Slookarijj moves out of the walled city encompassing the Clans Stronghold and proceeds westwards to the Dwarven City of Burick. A couple of turns into the level, a Shadow Wolf Thug comes to your Capital to tell you that the lands surrounding you are infested with Greenskins (as if you NEEDED him to tell you that !!). A Nosferat tells him of your mission to slay Slookarijj Blackstone, and he responds by telling you that Slookarijj is already on his way to Fhindar ... but that you do not need to worry unduly, as they will attempt to delay Slookarijj any way they can ... he intimates that his master (whom, if you have forgotten, is the LECHEROUS Hubert De Layle) has delayed this meeting many times already. He tells you that they will keep you advised as to Slookarijj's progress, and urges you to hasten to their city of Hillgrin, where they have more information for you. Then he departs. Hillgrin, for your information, is the only city controlled by the Shadow Wolves on this level. It is located just south of Fhindar, so head to the western edge of the map and then work your way north, and you will find Hillgrin. I should point out that the only way to get OUT of the south-eastern corner of the map (once you have pacified the area) is a via a small channel leading to the west along the southern edge of the map ;) As you are about to enter the dead looking forest to the west of the City of Khaana, your Nosferat comes back (again) to forewarn you of the presence of dangerous creatures in the forests. We ARE dangerous creatures ourselves !! We are inVINcible ... ONWARDS !!!!! =) (The forests are a haven for Werewolves, and Werewolves are immune to physical attacks, so a modicum of caution wouldn't go amiss ... I just didn't say it out loud 'coz I didn't want to jeopardise the butch image of the Hordes) ;) If you move in and take the City of Genran, a Thug pleads for his life, offering to exchange treasure which he has buried in the Cemetery if he is released ... one of your Fighters then goes to the Cemetery on your behalf, finds the items the (presumably now DEAD) thug was speaking about, and deposits them in the City for you ... they are :- an Emerald and a Silver Ring. Genran is a very handy City to hold on this map as, even though it is on the western edge of the map, it is quite centralised from the perspective that you can go in practically any direction and reach a major point of interest on the map. North of Genran is Hillgrin, and thereafter Fhindar. North-east of Genran is the Clans Capital, and south-east of Genran is your Capital City. If you move north from Genran to Hillgrin, a Shadow Wolf Master Thug comes out to bid you welcome, and confirms that you may enter their city (one of the two units standing guard at the entrance to the city moves to the side to allow you to access it). The Master Thug goes on to say that they have the means to wreak havoc on the Empire, and the camera then pans to the north-east of Hillgrin to reveal a Manticore trapped within a mountain prison. One of your Nosferats asks what you must do with the beast, to whict the Master Thug responds by saying that the Manticore is kept drugged by the guards, who feed it poisoned food. He says if you slay the guards, the Manticore will awaken and slay everything in its path ........................... ... sounds like a plan Stan !! =) The Nosferat thanks the Master Thug, who then whizzes back into the walled confines of the City of Hillgrin, zipping around to the furthest point, so as to allow you full access to the city (and to Under's Shop, which is located there). If you decide to be a COMPLETE b@stard and take the City of Hillgrin, one of the Shadow Wolves accuses you of betraying them (fair comment), and tells you that his Master will hear of this treachery ... [Note : Since this will invariably jeopardise future assists from the Shadow Wolves I would strongly suggest NOT taking the City of Hillgrin OR attacking any Shadow Wolf Units unless you are provoked] ;) I would suggest that from here you proceed directly north-east to the Empire's Capital, in a bid to free the Manticore from its slumber (in the hopes that it will head due west to Fhindar and mop up some of the Empire's luvvies who are waiting there). DO NOT GO NEAR FHINDAR. Fhindar is surrounded by the following Empire units :- 1) Elementalist, Cleric, Ranger, Imperial Assassin 2) Archmage, Imperial Priest, Imperial Knight, Grand Inquisitor 3) Archmage, Hierophant, Inquisitor, Grand Inquisitor 4) Archmage, Hierophant, Inquisitor, Grand Inquisitor 5) Ranger, Elementalist, Paladin, Inquisitor 6) 2 Hierophants, Holy Avenger, Imperial Assassin, Defender of Faith 7) 2 Hierophants, Holy Avenger, Imperial Assassin, Defender of Faith 8) 2 Hierophants, Holy Avenger, White Wizard, Defender of Faith 9) Ranger, Elementalist, Paladin, Inquisitor With more Empire troops just milling around looking pretty ... and MORE in wait of your arrival. If you APPROACH Fhindar, Wraith Prusheen HIMSELF will show up to tell you that you MUST NOT GO THERE ... the Empire is aware of your presence and has bolstered its armies in preparation of your arrival. He judges it certain death for you, and tells you not to venture there. If you disregard his advice, you will AUTOMATICALLY fail the mission after you pass the lone Titan who is standing guard outside Fhindar ... one of the Empire's troops (Unit (1) on my list above) spots you and calls for reinforcements - BILLIONS more units teleport onto the map to bolster Fhindar, Wraith Prusheen tells you Mortis is displeased that you did not carry out her orders, and you FAIL.) ... SO ... onto the Manticore =) The Manticore is being kept just to the south of the Empire's Capital City, under the watchful eye of 3 units of guards :- 1) 2 Man at Arms, 2 Archers, Beastkeeper 2) 2 Archers, Spearman, Beastkeeper 3) 2 Archers, Spearman, Beastkeeper Once the Guardians have been slain, your Nosferat comes back to confirm this, and to say that that Manticore should awaken soon. [NOTE: Lupenzo has again kindly provided insight into this bit, to confirm that if you use summoned units to kill the guards for the manticore, you don't have to flee from it ...] If *I* were you ? I would let it do its business ;) You COULD of course try and slay it to gain some tasty XP ... but I thiiiiiiink it will attack Fhindar, and that would be EQUALLY cool :"> ... did I mean that it has over 1,000 Hit Points and is immune to paralysis ??? Juuuuuuust thought you might like to know that ;) As you flee (did I say flee ? I meant tactfully withdraw :">) towards Unhira's Tower, a unit comprising a Rock Giant, Tempest Giant and Druidess approaches you, saying "What's that smell ? An animal probably died in the forest ..." NOT A CHANCE MATE !! That's US !! =D BOO !!! Bwahahahahahahaaaaaaaaar (sounds of swords hitting stone as we kick their BUTTS) (they do actually twig that it's us making the smell BEFORE we kill them - unfortunately they don't have the time to get away and tell anybody) :"> ... right ... so I've released the Manticore ... I've got my popcorn and my super-sized coke and I'm ready to watch the mayhem unfold. ... turns pass, and the Manticore goes straight past the Empire's Capital City ... cool ... now on to Fhindar right ? GOOD BOY !! ... um ... nope ... what's ... he ... doing ? He's going ... across the waves ... to ... Hillgrin ?? Oh well ... if he kills the Shadow Wolf Clan I won't have to do it later ... nope ... he's ... going ... on ... he's ... coming down to ... oh no ... NO !! He's attacking Genran !! That SONOFABIATCH !!!!! =O [Note : Since the STUPID Manticore has a weapon-based attack and, as we've already seen on this level, Werewolves are IMMUNE to physical attacks and, as the Manticore only has an adjacent striking range of 1, if you front line of troops comprises 3 Werewolves ? You will be 100% invincible to the Manticore !! Suddenly this whole "DESTRUCTION OF FHINDAR" bit has taken a TOTAL turnaround ... but it's cool, 'coz at least you can drain this FREAK of its XP] ;) Insofar as Slookarijj Blackstone is concerned ? If you are quick AND strong, you can take him whilst he is still in the city of Burick ... this is how I took him ... I am quite confident, however, that if you DON'T take him there, he WILL make a final march to Fhindar, so be prepared ... if I were going to strike him en route to Fhindar, I would at Unhira's Tower, as Slookarijj will have to pass by this Tower to get to Fhindar, and if you did your strike any closer to Fhindar, there is always the chance Empire troops would see your ambush, and come to Blackstone's aid ... Slookarijj is travelling with the following :- 1) Slookarijj Blackstone, Tempest Giant, Venerable Warrior, Flame Caster, Alchemist 2) Ice Giant, Druidess, Crossbowman, Axe Thrower 3) Novice, 2 Veterans, Crossbowman, Axe Thrower Since his unit itself is quite strong, I would suggest that you soften it up with some summons (Nightmares are GREAT) before you go in ... he is carrying a Holy Chalice (Artifact), Orb of Regeneration and Banner of Battle which you can take after he has fallen. With Slookarijj Blackstone's head adorning the bonnet of your car, you may proceed to the next level - well done !! =) OPPONENTS The Empire, Slookarijj Blackstone and the Mountain Clans. ALLIES The Shadow Wolves CITIES NEUTRAL CITIES Name Inhabitants Khaana 2 Goblin Archers, Orc, Orc Champion Genran 2 Thugs, 2 Archers, Apprentice Bhagu's City [Goblin, Orc] SHADOW WOLF BAND CITIES Name Inhabitants Hillgerin 2 Thugs, 2 Marksmen, Imperial Assassin, Master Thug MOUNTAIN CLANS CITIES Name Inhabitants Burick [2 Flame Casters, Warrior] EMPIRE CITIES Name Inhabitants Fhindar [2 Imperial Knights, Cleric, Priest, Wizard] BUILDINGS Name Inhabitants Gain anything from it ? Crumbled Outpost Rock Giant 200 Gp, Orb of Thunder Abandoned Chapel 3 Werewolves, Vampire, Initiate 550 Gp, Summon Nightmare Scroll Crumbled Tower Goblin Archer 45 Gp, Goblin Talisman Old Manoir 2 Orcs, Goblin, 3 Goblin Archers 300 Gp, Touch of Mortis Scroll Abandoned Fort 2 Wyverns, Ghouls 100 Gp, Zombie Orb Ancient Library Ice Giant, Yeti, Druidess, Spirit of Fenrir 300 Gp, Highfather's Potion Haunted Keep 2 Imperial Knights, Wizard, 2 Imperial Assassins 340 Gp, Staff of Light EVENTS Event Notes GREEEEEEENSKINS You are told of the presence of Greenskins all over the place - beware ;) Shadow Wolf Aid The Shadow Wolves tell you to go to Hillgrin (which he has mis-spelled), where they are awaiting you. Free the 'Core You are sub-quested to free the Manticore that is being kept prisoner just to the south of the Empire Capital. Slay the Envoy Take out Slookarijj Blackstone and his envoy to complete the level. ITEMS LYING ON THE GROUND 2 x Potion of Healing, Orb of Fire, 2 x Silver Ring, 2 x Potion of Strength, Orb of Water, Ignis Carn Scroll, Potion of Swiftness, Gold Ring, 2 x Life Potion, Hymn of the Clans Scroll, Orb of Poison, Potion of Vigor, Incantare Belliarh Scroll, 3 x Potion of Protection, Chronos Scroll, Potion of Striking, Unholy Chalice (Artifact - just south of the Abandoned Chapel), Lightning Scroll, Emerald, Ruby, Silver Ring, Seafaring Scroll, Diamond, Potion of Restoration, Squire Orb, Strength Scroll, Haste Scroll, Potion of Speed. ITEMS RETRIEVED FROM ENEMIES (COULD HAVE BEEN ON THE GROUND ORIGINALLY) Potion of Restoration, 6 x Life Potion, 2 x Potion of Healing, Ruby, Potion of Striking, Orb of Healing. SHOPS Name Sells Ebhon's Shop (Merchant) Life Potion x 4, Potion of Healing x 6, Potion of Restoration x 6, Potion of Strength x 1 Thurin's Shop (Merchant) Life Potion x 5, Potion of Healing x 10, Potion of Restoration x 10, Potion of Strength x 3 Unhira's Tower (Magic Shop) Vithar's Might (200 Gp), Healing (400 Gp), Chant of Arms (600 Gp), Ymir's Blessing (900 Gp) Under's Shop (Merchant) Air Ward Scroll x 1, Water Ward Scroll x 2, Mind Ward Scroll x 1, Death Ward Scroll x 1 Furren's Shop (Merchant) Life Potion x 5, Potion of Healing x 5, Potion of Restoration x 10, Healing Ointment x 4 ENDING With Slookarijj and his team dead, and their rotting corpses having been resurrected to join Mortis' cause, the alliance between the Empire and the Mountain Clans looks ... well ... shagged, basically !! =) ============================================================================== 4) Retaliation BRIEFING AND COMMENTS Mortis' murdering Slookarijj Blackstone had BAD consequences, as when the Empire learned of this, they launched an all-out attack on the Hordes ... Mortis quickly decides that she needs to take control of the City of Hunneria if she is to thwart this attack ... When the level begins Wraith Prusheen (bless his cotton socks) pops up to give you your instructions, as per usual ... he says that Mortis has ordered you to capture the City of Hunneria, to break the morale of the allies, and disrupt their communications ... He also alerts you to the presence of a Knight named Dasannar who is on these lands, and who is VERY powerful, and quite possibly able to throw a spanner in the works. Slaying him would be a BIG bonus ;) Hokay ... it's the start of the level ... are you ready !! =) First off, your Capital City is just south of the north-western corner of the map ... and both Knight Dasannar AND the City of Hunneria are in a walled enclosure in the south-eastern corner of the map. The Empire's Capital is in the same walled enclosure, and the Mountain Clans Capital is located in the north-eastern corner of the map. So to MY beady little eye it looks like the south-western corner of the map is ENTIRELY up for you to take !! This is because not only are Hunneria and the Empire's Capital walled in, but there is a huge mountain range preventing them from travelling west without first going east and then north :) ... so I'm going to conquer the entire western wing of the map and then move across like a wave of terror =) [SPOILER: The Shadow Wolves are going to betray you on this level ... BE PREPARED] ;) A couple of other things of interest geographically that I should point out before I get cracking ... 1) There is a LARGE expanse of water sweeping from the north of your Capital City down to the south-east, and this is HEAVILY patrolled by the Clans, who have at least SIX ships' worth of units waiting for you on the high seas. Also, there is a training camp RIGHT BESIDE the Empire's Capital ... so you should expect the troops within the walled enclosure I keep referring to to be QUITE well trained ;) Right. Enough of my babbling. WE RIDE !! =D If you travel due north from your Capital City you will encounter a rather PANTS unit of Peasants on the open seas, who are TERRIFIED of everything !! First they see you ... then they flee. THEN they see a sea serpent and they CACK themselves ... then one of your Nosferats tells you that this section of water is inhabited by merfolk ... ... which it is ... but only sparsely so compared to the Dwarven presence on these waters ;) In the crumbled outpost you will find a pair of Boots of the Elements - which are INVALUABLE when you are travelling on the seas, as they allow you to move WITHOUT penalty ... i.e. no more 6 points per square on water - WOOHOO !! =D If you take the City of Venaril, a Speamen calls after you to tell you that you are treacherous creatures (why THANK you little man - tell me more !!), and that the combined forces of the Empire and the Mountain Clans Fleet (which I referred to above) will crush you. FAT CHANCE. We're already dead - what the HELL have we got to worry about ??? Hmmm ???? Get a grip you little sodbucket !! (Slaps the Spearman and moves on) A little later one of your Nosferats pops up to tell you BASICALLY what I already have - that the Mountain Clans have a great fleet upon the high seas, and you should be VERY careful if you travel across the waters. For your information, the "fleet" comprises :- 1) Archdruidess, Engineer, Veteran, Crossbowman 2) Engineer, Rock Giant, Flame Caster 3) Dwarf Champion, Dwarf 4) Rock Giant, Druidess, King's Guard 5) 2 Mountaineers, King's Guard, Alchemist 6) Wolf Lord, Ice Giant, Loremaster ... so AS you can see, it's quite a robust little flotilla of units they have there ... If, after leaving the City of Venaril, you head due south, you will bump into a Shadow Wolf Thug who tells you that they have found an almighty artifact which you can use to smite your foes, and offers to lead you to it .............. sound too good to be true ? It is. He is TOTALLY leading you into a trap where little nasty pigmys will be waiting with short sharp pointy thingies to poke and prod you until you go EEK ! at which point they will attach electrodes to your bits and (wait till electricity is invented and then) fry 'em off !! =O ... so following him is not necessary. If you are going to explore the whole of the map like I am, you'll find him anyway - and he leads you a LONG way off, which (if you're only using one unit to move around like I am), can really slow down the level ;) [NOTE: Lupenzo has offered this tidbit for this situation :- Use thief to follow thug and you can spring the trap without having to fight your way out. Instead you fight your way in at your own leisure. THANKS Lupenzo :) So now you have THREE different approaches to take ... spoiled for choice aren't ya !! ;)] I am not going to follow the Shadow Wolf Thug, but if you DO, you can just skip down a bit, and I will describe what happens for you (only difference is I will do it from the perspective of NOT following him, and just coming upon him later, by chance) =) If you head south-west from Venaril, a Ghost will pop up to warn you that you are about to enter Empire Territory, and that they have planned an ambush for you ... she's right !! If you move onwards, 2 Titans jump you ... those BIATCHES !! =O Due WEST of where you are attacked is a Cemetery ... if you approach it, Mortis will raise two units to help you on this level (bless her - she's such a CUTIE !!). They are :- 1) 2 Zombies 2) 2 Zombies ... wow ... HOW generous ... ... I'm the Goddess of Death, and I give you ? ............. earthworms ... ... ooh ! And a spade as well ... ... sigh ... Well it's better than nothing I guess ... you could always use them to protect the City of Beruria once it has fallen to your military might ;) If you take Beruria, then there is a brief dialogue between a Witch Hunter and one of your Death Knights which goes a little bit like this :- (ahem) WITCH HUNTER : "My kind and I will search out the likes of you and extinguish you AND your evil which plagues our land like a virulent ... um ... viral thing ... in the rainy season ..." DEATH KNIGHT : (whips out his sword and cuts the Witch Hunter's head off in one deft move) AUDIENCE : "Oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooh" A little while later a Wizard pops up tell you that your attempt to thwart the alliance between the Empire and the Mountain Clans from forming has failed, as Slookarijj Blackstone was just one of the MANY emissaries sent to meet up with the Empire ... to which your Death Knight (who has just finished wiping the blade of his unholy sword clean from the blood of the Witch Hunter) smiles and says "KILLER ! That means we'll have more of you to kill !! You KNOW you're going to die trying little man ... play on !!" =) If you chose to follow the Thug from the Shadow Wolves, or you are just bumping into him now (if you move south from Sallat's Shop you will find him), he tells you that Hubert has designs on the Empire, and you are no longer of any use to the Shadow Wolves ... (cough cough splutter) We are no longer of use to THEM ??? WHAT A JOKE !!!!! A unit of Greenskins closes the gap behind you and traps you in the valley, to which the Shadow Wolf Thug laughs at you and then sails off the end of the map ... ... I just trashed the joint - I slew EVERY SINGLE UNIT in the area ... AND made a mental note to kick the SH!T out of the Shadow Wolves the next time I saw them ... duplicitous little MAGGOTS ... If you take the City of Allanar, an Imperial Knight pops up to tell you that Demosthene AND the Mountain Clans are BOTH aware of your plans, and that you will be crushed. TALK TO THE HAND BUDDY ... I ain't interested ... :"> If you take the Dwarven City of Ludevic a Forge Guardian there is GOBSMACKED that you were able to make it past their "almighty" fleet. BE amazed little one ... for we are the undead !! Watch ! We can even juggle our own heads ! Ready boys ?? (much hilarity ensues) If you take the City of Wunerioc, one of your Fighters confirms that you have stopped the supply lines that were being provided by the Barbarians ... which KINDA makes sense to me, but not entirely - I get the impression I stumbled upon these barbarians before I should have ... ... but nay matter - now they can no longer supply OR defend Hunneria, so it's gonna fall easier I would hope :"> If you press on towards the north-eastern corner of the map, you will be advised that you are now entering Empire Lands (again - they only seem to occupy pockets of land on this map), and that they are once again prepared to face you ... to which Knight Dasannar pops up and tells you that he fought against your kind in the First Great Wars, and that he will once again help to send you back to the shadows. ... so it's on to kick his @ss basically !! Please take note that the Pegasus Knight immediately to the south-east of where you are when Dasannar makes his speech is NOT Dassanar. Knight Dassanar is awaiting your arrival just inside the city walls ... ... and he's (shock, horror) NOT alone ... He is hiding (the COWARD) behind the following units :- 1) 2 Archers, 2 Man at Arms, Apprentice, Spearman 2) 2 Archers, 2 Man at Arms, Acolyte, Spearman ... and here is the breakdown for Knight Dassanar's Unit :- Knight Dasannar (Defender of Faith), Matriarch, Imperial Priest, Imperial Assassin Once Knight Dassanar has been vanquished he runs away blubbering about how he feels really let down by the Highfather ................. BOTHERED ?? BUZZ OFF you CREEP !! =O Then it's off to take Hunneria !! I would suggest doing this in 3 stages ... 1) Clear all the troops from the walled city so that you can lay siege to Hunneria. 2) Clear out the troops that are resting there, but not garrisoned there. 3) WIPE OUT EVERYBODY INSIDE THE CITY !! =) FORTUNATELY there are 2 shops right smack bang up next to Hunneria, so you shouldn't have a problem buying supplies ... Ooh ! And one more thing ... you might like to spend all your remaining gold on buying XP for your best leader ;) Juuuuuuuuuuuuust a thought =) Once Hunneria has fallen, Mortis' victory against the Empire is complete =D OPPONENTS Knight Dasannar and the Empire, The Mountain Clans, The Shadow Wolves CITIES NEUTRAL CITIES Name Inhabitants Methral 3 Lizard Men, Medusa Wunerioc [2 Barbarian Warriors, Barbarian Chieftain] Venaril 3 Man at Arms, Spearman MOUNTAIN CLAN CITIES Name Inhabitants Ludevic [2 Dwarves, Warrior, Druidess] EMPIRE CITIES Name Inhabitants Allanar [Knight, Archer, Acolyte] Hunneria Son of Ymir, Archmage, Marksman, Squire, Paladin [2 Squires, 2 Archers, Apprentice] Beruria [Squire, Acolyte] BUILDINGS Name Inhabitants Gain anything from it ? Crumbled Outpost 2 Mermen, Mermaid 200 Gp, Boots of the Elements Kerthin Rock Giant, Dwarf, Crossbowman, Druidess 250 Gp, Elven Boots Antique Temple 2 Crossbowmen, Alchemist, Dwarf, Spirit of Fenrir, Wolf Lord 1,000 Gp Watch Tower Warrior, Forge Guardian, Dwarf, Druidess 300 Gp, Staff of Celerity Kassel 2 Orcs, Goblin, 2 Goblin Archers 300 Gp, Potion of Fire Warding (the Kassel above is just south-west of the City of Venaril) Kassel Defender of Faith, 2 Angels, Priest 400 Gp, Ice Spirits Scroll (the Kassel above is just south-west of the Empire's Capital City) Old Keep Beast, Fiend, Devil 500 Gp, Tome of War EVENTS Event Notes Scaredy-Cats Peasants running (well, sailing) away from EVERYTHING !! Nellies :"> Clan Fleet !! The Mountain Clans have amassed a fleet in the waters near your Capital ! IT'S A TWAP !! The Shadow Wolves betray you and set you up for a fall with the Greenskins. KILL DASANNAR Slay the VILE Knight Dasannar who threatens to do something GOOD to you. SACK HUNNERIA !! Take the City of Hunneria from RIGHT under the Empire's noses =D ITEMS LYING ON THE GROUND 4 x Potion of Restoration, Life Potion, Talisman of Icefall, Plague Scroll, Potion of Protection, Bronze Ring, Orb of Poison, Incantare Hellhound Scroll, 2 x Silver Ring, Summon Living Armour Scroll, Banner of Strength, 6 x Potion of Healing, Summon Roc Scroll, Potion of Striking, Blizzard Scroll, Orb of Thunder, Potion of Might, Sapphire, Bronze Ring, Spirit Staff, Potion of Speed, Potion of Vigor, Stone Rain Scroll, Orb of Healing, Potion of Vigor, Orb of Vigor, Potion of Strength, 2 x Gold Ring, Ring of Strength (Artifact - just east of the City of Wunerioc), Tempest Scroll, Ruby, Chant of Arms Scroll, Summon Skeleton Scroll ITEMS RETRIEVED FROM ENEMIES (COULD HAVE BEEN ON THE GROUND ORIGINALLY) 8 x Potion of Restoration, 3 x Life Potion, Death Storm Scroll, Healing Ointment, Treebark Potion, Potion of Swiftness SHOPS Name Sells Malavien's Tower (Magic Shop) Vithar's Might (200 Gp), Hymn of the Clans (400 Gp), Chant of Arms (600 Gp), Ymir's Blessing (900 Gp) Turion's Camp (Mercenary) Lizard Man (850 Gp), Medusa (1,310 Gp) Sallat's Shop (Merchant) Life Potion x 5, Potion of Healing x 10, Potion of Restoration x 10, Titan's Might Potion x 1 Nibor's Tower (Magic Shop) Haste (400 Gp), Call to Arms (800 Gp), Celerity (200 Gp) Kilgen's Shop (Merchant) Life Potion x 5, Potion of Healing x 10, Potion of Restoration x 10, Potion of Invulnerability x 2 Forcecus's Camp (Trainer) Train your units here !! Turion's Camp (Mercenary) Master Thug (240 Gp), Thug (40 Gp) Thurin's Shop (Merchant) Orb of Healing x 2, Orb of Restoration x 3, Orb of Regeneration x 2, Orb of Life x 4 ENDING With Hunneria's Fall, the threat posed by the Empire to Mortis' plans wanes. Mortis orders her troops to find a location where Gallean can be revived ... in Nevendaar, only holy ground could be used to revive a God, and the Hordes soon learned that the Elven lands contained such a magnificient garden. ============================================================================== 5) The Accursed Armour BRIEFING AND COMMENTS During the Search for the Elvish Garden, one of Mortis' Undead Warriors broke free of her control and, transfixed by an enchanted suit of armour, headed off on his own. The Bone Armour that now possessed him demanded a fresh blood sacrifice each day and, in return for being so satiated, it granted its wearer - the rebel Bone Lord - great powers AND eternal life. The Armour was forged by a Powerful Necromancer during the First Great Wars, but was lost during an assault on Sturmir Thunderhammer's Keep. The Power of the Armour had grown since then, to the point where it now possessed a will of its own, and Mortis decided to put a rapid stop to developments on this front, as the armour was still growing, and had begun to gain the Power to subvert other Undead units to its service as well ... Your objective on this level is to destroy the Bone Lord's Tower. At the start of the level one of your Nosferat's confirms that he has found the location of the Bone Lord's Manor, and says that it is on an island to the west of your Capital. Wraith Prusheen tells you that Mortis has advised him that the Bone Lord is NOT to be underestimated, as he has great powers AND control over the Undead Hordes ... AND WE'RE OFF !! Right ... as soon as you come out of the area where your Capital City is located (i.e. as soon as you approach the shoreline to the south-west of your Capital City), one of your Nosferats pops up to tell you that there is a great island to the west (being the Bone Lord's Island), but VERY few people have ever ventured that far, as their flesh is devoured by the sea-witches that live in the area. ....... I WANNA MEET THESE SEA-WITCHES ... they can't ALL be that nasty surely !! =) As you draw closer to the shoreline, a Merman darts across to you from the south and tells you to halt, saying that he has a message for you from his Queen, Tilligillash. (what a silly name) The camera then pans to the location where Tilligillash (who I'm going to call Chicken Tikka from now on 'coz it's easier) will be waiting for you ... Then he departs, saying that he hopes you decide NOT to meet up with her, for he hates your race ... ... if he hated us THAT much, why didn't he just forget to deliver the message ?? =./ Nevermind ... you'll be pleased to hear that this one ISN'T a trap ... in fact I would VERY strongly suggest that you meet Queen Chicken Tikka and hear what she has to say =) If you fell the City of Mundian, a Nosferat pops up to tell you that there are rumours flying around of a sacred artifact called the DEATH STAR (sorry - just having a Star Wars moment) - actually it's called Doragon's Eye ... and it was purportedly once owned by an ancient and accursed God ... sounds PRETTY nifty eh ;) (I'm going to stop exploring for a second to zip off and have a meeting with Queen Chicken Tikka). When you approach Queen Chicken Tikka and her envoy of drumsticks, she comes to the front to greet you, and says that (and this bit is IMPORTANT for the plot) she needs the help of their former Goddess, Mortis ... [Pause it] Basically Chicken Tikka has just confirmed that Mortis used to be the God of the Seadwellers, but then she changed (somehow - we don't know how ... yet), and turned into the Goddess of the Dead ............................... VERY INTERESING !! =D A Nosferat responds saying "What do you want from us ?" Queen Chicken Tikka goes on to say that Mortis used to be called Solonielle, and during this time she ruled the Elves with her Consort, Gallean. The Elves went to war with the Dwarves though and, in a great war, Gallean's body was thrown into the Sun by the Dwarven God Wotan. THAT B@STARD !! =O She goes on to say that Solonielle tried to save him from his fate, and her eternally beautiful face was burnt beyond measure by the intense heat of the Sun ... all she could save of her Consort was his heart, and this tragedy caused her soul to darken, and soon after she lost her followers (and I think we can guess where she went from there, right ?). Pass me a tissue - that really is just so sad !! :'( Queen Chicken Tikka tells you that her race is aware of your Quest to revive Gallean and, to that end, she can direct you to a powerful item that will help you against the Bone Lord's Powers (and no, it's not Doragon's Eye) ... all you have to do is escort her daughter Unttilliggullish, who I shall from this point refer to as MINI Chicken Tikka because it took me about FIVE MINUTES just to type the Queen's name, let alone her bleedin' daughter's ... ... ahem ... Where was I ? Oh yeah ... sorry ... all you have to do is escort Mini Chicken Tikka through Mountain Clans Territory and the item is yours. Wraith Prusheen intercedes to confirm that Mortis has accepted Queen Chicken Tikka's proposal, and that her Undead Hordes will escort Mini Chicken Tikka as requested. Queen Chicken Tikka voices her approval, and advises you that Mini Chicken Tikka must make it to her destination to participate in a ritual with a group of priests, and ALSO tells you that the Mountain Clans actively hunt down and slay her kind to make weapons from their scales, so you should be VERY careful. The camera then pans to where you need to escort Mini Chicken Tikka ... basically you need to lead her right up to Underik's Tower to earn this precious artifact. With that, Queen Chicken Tikka returns to her original starting position, and you gain control of Mini Chicken Tikka. ... I would strongly suggest that you scout ahead to clear a path ... you REALLY do not want to let Mini Chicken Tikka get cold (hee hee - I mean die) ... you want to keep her safe until she gets to the end, 'coz the item you gain for this little sub-quest is REALLY useful ;) If you manage to escort Mini Chicken Tikka to west-side of Underik's Tower then Queen Chicken Tikka pops up to thank you for your assistance, and to confirm that she has teleported a magic item called "Ocean's Charm" to your Capital ... she says that if you take it to the Bone Lord's Tower you will negate his powers ... WOOHOO !! =D Queen Chicken Tikka ALSO gives you control over the two Sea Serpents that were standing guard whilst she was having her meeting with you ... and then she pegs it off the side of the map, leaving a piece of treasure floating on the southern edge of the map as she goes !! HOW COOL WAS THAT BY THE WAY !?!?! (For your information, they aren't JUST Sea Serpents in the units you have been given - each unit comprises a Sea Serpent and 2 Mermen) ;) Going back to the Underik's Tower area, if you take the City of Sumeric then a King's Guard comes out and tells you that they will avenge their Lost King, and Yataa'Halli will drive us back into oblivion. ... don't these people ever get tired of talking such UTTER rubbish ? YOU, little man, are about to learn what steel TASTES like ... C'MERE !! =O DO NOT FORGET TO HEAD BACK TO THE CAPITAL TO PICK UP THE OCEAN'S CHARM OR YOU'LL WASTE IT !! If you take the City of Eucmere, one of your Nosferats advises you that the Peasants there speak of a great treasure beyond a hidden passage in the mountains to the south of Eucmere ... they SAY it is guarded by our old friends, the Shadow Wolves. P-A-Y-B-A-C-K T-I-M-E If you want to find this secret item, you will need to travel southwards BY WATER, and stage an assault on the City of Asgaaril. Do this decisively and brutally, and with as MANY casualties as you can manage, remembering that these are the WASTERS who tried to sell you up the river on the last level (BIG time angry face for them). Once you have taken the city, a Master Thug of the Shadow Wolves pleads with you to spare his life, saying that he will tell you everything he knows ... your Nosferat QUITE RIGHTLY tells him that it had better be good or you might change your mind ... =./ He tells you that they were FORCED to fight you, as their Master is desirous of taking over the Empire ... he says that de Layle has allied with the Bone Lord, whom YOU are tracking, in the hopes that it would strengthen his position ... The Nosferat grills him further, asking him why de Layle allied with the Bone Lord, and for what REAL purpose. He confirms that he allied with the Bone Lord because he has a Necromancer in his army called Erhog (a name which will be familiar to you if you have played as the Empire), who is the leader of the "Occultists", and that Erhog is in leagues with the Bone Lord, and that Erhog will be waiting for you before you attack the Bone Lord. He even intimates that (shock, horror) the Bone Lord can possess YOUR troops !! You let him live, but tell him that if he EVER crosses your path again you will spank him until his eyes pop out. MOVING ON !! =) Once you have killed the units just to the east of the City of Asgaaril the "secret" passage through the Mountains to reveal ? DORAGON'S EYE !! Yeah bayBEE =D This item is SO cool even Wraith Prusheen comments on it ... he says (basically) "You have found the biggest conker in the playground. Mortis orders you to keep it, 'coz it just needs a little varnish and it'll be TOTALLY killer dude !!" (This is no joke. Doragon's Eye has a great power that can be used later on in the game, and I would STRONGLY suggest taking it with you into the next level ... for THIS level you can just drop it back at the Capital IF you've not already gone that way to pick up the Ocean's Charm (otherwise you can just carry it with you).) If you take the Legions' City of Kanaran, a Duke threatens you by saying that Bethrezen will make you PAY for what you have done ... yadda yadda yadda yeah yeah yeah ... There are strange etchings carved into the inner walls of the City of Iilsta ... Wraith Prusheen confirms that the images were carved into the walls by the merfolk many years ago, and depict a Great City that was destroyed by a Dwarven Army ... he feels that this information could be used against the Mountain Clans ... After you have finished pottering about the map, and are finally ready to begin your assault on the Bone Lord (and, we presume, Erhog the Necromancer), you need to move your troops to the large island to the south of the Dwarven Capital City, to the south-west of YOUR Capital City, and to the north of the Legions' Capital City. Once you are here, MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE THE OCEAN'S CHARM WITH YOU, and prepare your troops for the assault. The only way to gain access to the Bone Lord's Tower is through a valley at the TOP of the Island (i.e. on the western end of the island). As you approach, one of your Death Knights confirms that this is the Bone Lord's Lair, and that you need to prepare yourselves. I would suggest that you amass your troops along the westernmost edge of the map, and then send your weakest unit in first. This is because as soon as you start to enter the Valley, the Bone Lord spots you and sends Erhog after you ... and Erhog immediately casts a Call Red Dragon spell on the first unit to enter the Valley (inflicting 75 points of fire damage to all units who are not immune to fire). Sending a weak unit to bear the brunt of this attack means that the other units will be fine. Once the weak unit has been toasted, remove it from harm's way and let the battle begin !! For your information, the units in the Bone Lord's Island (at least, the INNER section of which, which is where you are right now) are as follows :- 1) Deathdragon, Wight, Wraith, Specter 2) 2 Skeleton Warriors, Erhog, Wizard, Shade 3) Doomdrake, Phantom Warrior, Elder Vampire, Necromancer 4) 2 Wights, Skeleton Champion, Death 5) Dark Lord, Templar, Skeleton Champion, 2 Specters (The Bone Lord is residing in the Bone Lord's Tower) Really speaking, owing to the layout of this area, you need to take out all the units in the order I have stipulated. Once Unit 1 has fallen, you may attack Erhog the Necromancer and her Unit. Erhog the Necromancer is powerful, but has one FATAL weakness. She can only attack using death magic and, as you are the Undead and most of your units are IMMUNE to Death Magic, she really shouldn't give you too much hassle. Once Erhog has fallen, you can proceed to take out Unit 3. ONCE UNIT 3 HAS FALLEN YOU MUST MAKE SURE THAT THE UNIT WHICH MOVES TO TAKE ON UNIT 4 IS CARRYING THE OCEAN'S CHARM. If this attacking unit does NOT have Ocean's Charm, the Bone Lord will take control over it !! This can obviously make for an EXTREMELY more difficult level if you sent your best unit in without Ocean's Charm, so BE CAREFUL. If the attacking unit has Ocean's Charm, all is well ;) Assuming you have Ocean's Charm, once you move to attack Unit 4, you will receive confirmation that the Bone Lord is not powerful enough to take your troops, and then Unit 5 will move to attack your lead Unit. Once you have despatched Units 1-5, I would suggest you heal yourself and then assault the Bone Lord's Tower !! In the Tower are the following Units :- 2 Phantom Warriors, 2 Imperial Assassins, Shade, Bone Lord The Bone Lord is a fighter unit, who attacks on the front line. He is REASONABLY powerful, but nothing spectacular - 400 HP, immune to mind and death, does 65 points of damage, bla bla bla ... he DOES however, use a Drain Life Overflow attack (which, for those of you who have ever had the joy of commanding an Elder Vampire will know, is an attack which drains life from your opponent and gives it to whoever in your TEAM needs it (not just the attacking unit). This is obviously quite a natty power, so I would hit him hard and fast ;) ALSO remember that the Phantom Warriors can paralyse ... so it should be quite an interesting little battle all things considered :"> Once the Bone Lord has fallen, Wraith Prusheen praises you, saying that Mortis is pleased with your progress, and that you must keep Doragon's Eye for the next level ... one of your Death Knights confirms that he will arrange for the Bone Armour to be transported back to the Capital City, which pleases Wraith Prusheen as well ... Congratulations - another level down !! =) OPPONENTS The Legions of the Damned, the Mountain Clans, Bone Lord & Erhog the Necromancer CITIES NEUTRAL CITIES Name Inhabitants Eucmere 2 Spearmen, Man at Arms, 2 Archers Asgaaril Master Thug, 2 Spearmen, 2 Archers, Marksman Iilsta [3 Merman, Mermaid] Mundian 2 Spearmen, Marksman, Archer, Neutral Male (Master Thug) Iikst 3 Lizard Men, Medusa LEGIONS OF THE DAMNED CITIES Name Inhabitants Kanaran Duke (Baalhu in my Saga), Anti-Paladin, Sorcerer MOUNTAIN CLANS CITIES Name Inhabitants Sumeric 2 Warriors, Engineer (Goderic in my Saga), Alchemist BUILDINGS Name Inhabitants Gain anything from taking it ? Old Tower Paladin 100 Gp Ancient Monastry 2 Onyx Gargoyles, Demonologist 450 Gp, Infernal Knight Orb Rigel Ruins Master Thug, 2 Thugs, Archer 200 Gp, Potion of Strength Ancient Fort Rock Giant, Forge Guardian 200 Gp, Orb of Restoration Crumbled Farm Skeleton Warrior, 2 Wyverns 400 Gp, Tome of Arcanum Lost Temple Blue Dragon, 2 Orc Champions 800 Gp, Staff of Dragon Mastering Bone Lord's Tower 2 Phantom Warriors, Bone Lord, 2 Imperial Assassins, Shade 100 Gp Abandoned Keep Ice Giant, 2 Wolves 650 Gp, Potion of Fortune EVENTS Event Notes MERFOLK =) A merman directs you to an audience with the Chicken Tikkas. THIS WAY, MA'AM Escort Mini Chicken Tikka to her meeting, and get the Ocean's Charm. WHO'S GOT THE EYE The Shadow Wolves are looking for Doragon's Eye ... take it from them !! TAKIN' IT TO 'EM With the Ocean's Charm in tow, attack the Bone Lord's Island Fortress. ITEMS LYING ON THE GROUND Weakness Scroll, 6 x Potion of Healing, 5 x Life Potion, 5 x Potion of Restoration, Incantare Beliarh Scroll, True Sight Scroll, Sapphire, Bronze Ring, Staff of Protection, 2 x Potion of Striking, 2 x Potion of Vigor, Orb of Freezing, Goblin Orb, Silver Ring, Potion of Invulnerability, Potion of Celerity, Healing Ointment, Lizard Man Orb, Death Storm Scroll, Potion of Protection, Bronze Ring, Talisman of Inferno, Ruby, Orc Orb, Seafaring Scroll, Gold Ring, Potion of Water Warding, Potion of Air Warding, Orb of Earth, Wrath of God Scroll, Treebark Potion, Summon Roc Scroll, Healing Ointment, Silver Ring, Zombie Orb, Ignis Carn Scroll, Orb of Lightning, Potion of Swiftness, Emerald, Orb of Frost, Plague Scroll, Tortio Menta Scroll, Orb of Vampire, Call Decay Dragon Scroll, Hag's Ring (Artifact - in the Bone Lord's Island just south of his Tower), Royal Scepter, Bronze Ring, Sapphire. ITEMS RETRIEVED FROM ENEMIES (COULD HAVE BEEN ON THE GROUND ORIGINALLY) 3 x Life Potion, 2 x Potion of Restoration. SHOPS Name Sells Furren's Shop (Merchant) Has no items for sale, but is willing to buy ;) Fraggin's Shop (Merchant) Life Potion x 5, Potion of Restoration x 10, Potion of Speed x 4, Potion of Celerity x 2 Dennar's Camp (Mercenary) Master Thug (240 Gp), Thug (40 Gp) Notralar's Shop (Merchant) Imp Orb x 1, Goblin Orb x 1, Orc Orb x 1, Orc Talisman x 1 Underik's Tower (Magic Shop) Tormentio (200 Gp), Cursa Demoneus (400 Gp), Menta Potens (600 Gp) ENDING With the Bone Lord vanquished, the Bone Armour once again becomes faithful to Mortis. She selects another from her ranks to wear it, and thus strengthens her already powerful army. She orders the search for the sacred Elven Lands to continue ... [NOTE: I WOULD STRONGLY SUGGEST THAT YOU TAKE DORAGON'S EYE WITH YOU TO THE NEXT LEVEL. I can foresee no further use for the Ocean's Charm, however ...] ============================================================================== 6) Phantom Beasts BRIEFING AND COMMENTS With Uther's Blood in her possession, the ritual to revive Gallean could begin. In order for the rite to succeed, it had to be enacted on sacred land in Elven Territory. Unfortunately the only way to reach this land was to go directly through the Mountain Clans territory ... namely, the Devil Mountains ... Stories abound of man-eating beasts and terrible things that lurk in the Devil Mountains. The Clan Elders had long since forbidden their people from venturing near the Mountains, but the soulless, fearless Undead Hordes just marched on regardless. Your objective on this level is to take Uther's Blood to the Elven Lands so that the ritual can begin. If you brought Doragon's Eye from the previous level like I had suggested, Wraith Prusheen will commend your decision ... even though he is unwilling to tell you at THIS point what can be done with it ... he reiterates that your mission on this level is to take Uther's Blood to the Elven Lands, and confirms that to help you DO this, Mortis is giving you control over the Bone Lord !! WOOHOO !! =D Finally, Wraith Prusheen confirms that the road ahead WILL BE guarded by ancient beasties ... but tells you that regardless, Mortis NEEDS you to get this Blood to the Elven Lands. SO BE IT. [NOTE: If you DIDN'T bring Doragon's Eye with you, Wraith Prusheen's conversation is exactly as above, MINUS the first bit ... however, whilst HE won't be shouting at you for not bringing Doragon's Eye with you, I will be giving you some VERY piercing looks] ;) First off ... the Bone Lord ... you are given control of a Unit including the following :- Bone Lord, Fighter, Warlock, Ghost. The Bone Lord is EXACTLY the same as the one you just fought (i.e. no weaker, no less HP, bla bla bla). The ONLY difference is that his leadership value has been reduced from 5 to 3. Your Capital City is in the south-western corner of the map, and your objective (the Elven Lands Marker) is in the south-eastern corner of the map. HOWEVER, in order to get there, you must travel due north of your Capital City to the northernmost edge of the map (Clans territory), then east (through the Legions Lands), and only THEN can you travel south to reach the marker. If you have brought Doragon's Eye from the previous level, MAKE SURE you have yous strongest unit carry it forth, as you will need it on this level ... If you take the City of Henzador, then a Mountaineer gloats over you, telling you that you will never reach the Elven Lands, as the passage that leads to it is HEAVILY protected ... ... this is level 6 of 7 ... we KNEW it wouldn't be cake-walk little one (pats him on the head and knifes him in the back) ... sighs and moves on ... If you venture to the north-east of Nvidal's Tower, a Nosferat tells you of a town occupied by Barbarian Forces ahead, and urges caution when "dealing" with it ;) He is referring to Instar - a Barbarian Stronghold just up ahead. Once Instar has fallen, you are treated to a sob-story by one of the Peasants there. He tells you that his kiddies were eaten alive by beasts in the mountains (which IS sad, no questions asked), and that he and his wife have had to live off jellybeans ever since, because they cannot afford the money for the trek to civilisation ... (ok so I made that up, but dammit !!) Your Death Knight, in his a-typical sympathetic tone, says that Mortis will succeed in her quest to revive Gallean, and that no mere "beasts" can stop them ... If you follow the river upstream from your Capital, then just as you are drawing level with both the Crumbled Manoir and the Keletha Ruins, a Dwarven Loremaster named Dagaric calls out for you to stop ... The conversation goes a liiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii'l bit like dis :- Dagaric : "Halt !" (Dagaric's Unit moves to intercept you) Dagaric : "I have been sent to slay you by da Big Boss Lady. Pweepare to DIE !!" Death Knight : (assumes the position and motions for the music to start playing) (slip my Mortal Kombat Soundtrack into the CD-player) Dagaric : "I will pluck out your eyebrow hairs one by one and weave a fine mesh of armour from them" (LET'S GET IT ON !!) Dagaric travels with 2 Ice Giants ... but you should be able to take him ;) Dagaric is an 8th level Loremaster ;) In Penuric your Nosferat will discover a parchment detailing Queen Yataa'Halli's orders to her Mountain Clan Troops ... it appears they are on a specific mission to disrupt your intended course of action ... ... good job they're so small !! (OMIGOD I can't believe I just said that) ANYHOW ... the Parchment speaks of a proposed alliance between the Dwarven Mountain Clans and the Barbarian Peoples ... the Nosferat urges haste to reach your goal. If you head all the way across the northern edge of the map to the north-easternmost corner and then head due south you will find the city of Ssemmar, in which is hidden a book worthy of note - your Lich Queen will comment on it, saying that it speaks of an ancient half-human, half-dragon being named ?? You guessed it ... Doragon. Doragon ruled the Dragon Race for a thousand years before he was slain. Since his death, the Dragons have caused much pain and suffering to the other races, and warred with each other over the thorny subject of finding a replacement ruler for their kind. Have you guessed what Doragon's Eye does yet ? Let me give you three guesses :- 1) It makes GREAT souffl‚ 2) It controls Dragons 3) It's a funky-@ss bowling ball !! Let's HOPE it's 2 ... 'coz if you come out of the City of Ssemmar and go north, then west and then south, you will encounter a SH!TLOAD of dragons ... and I do mean, Dragons :"> The following units are milling about in the area to the south of your present location :- 1) Green Dragon 2) Blue Dragon 3) Black Dragon 4) White Dragon 5) Blue Dragon 6) Red Dragon As you are approaching the Valley of the Dragons, Unit 2 comes screaming out to attack you. You can attack Unit 1 as per normal, but as you are milling back around to attack Unit 3, you are advised that you should put Doragon's Eye on the Dragon Statue to make it work ... The camera pans back to your Capital where a spell is cast, and then to the Dragons again, and ... WOOHOO !! ... Units 3, 4 and 5 switch their allegiance to your cause !! This is GREAT news ... even though Wraith Prusheen warns you that you will not have control over them forever (and he's right) ... I would suggest that you throw them into battle with each other, and try to weaken them as much as possible so that when they revert to computer control, you can polish them off and earn XP the EASY way ;) As you take the City of Xundell, the Oracle Elf that resided there cries out that they will not let you take Uther's Blood through their lands, and that you WILL be STOPPED !! (Nice words from somebody who's entire City has just been razed by the might of our armies.) [NOTE: You CAN actually attack the Dragons whilst they are still under your banner, but a few turns before they revert to computer control] ;) After your little Dragon Soir‚e is over, you may proceed south. As you move through the Valley your path is blocked by an Elf who proudly declares that their Queen Taladrielle will not allow you to accomplish your goal ... dispose of his unit and move on. Just to the south of Lisallat's shop you will be advised that the Mountain Clans are attacking over the mountains ... and a section of the mountain range to your west will disappear. You may now attack the Mountain Clans (should you wish). Failing that, you could always make a mad rush for the finish line, BUT you should be aware that, guarding the entrance to the Elven Lands PROPER are the following units :- 1) Green Dragon, 2 Centaurs, Elf Lord, Oracle Elf 2) 2 Centaurs, 2 Elf Rangers, Centaur Lancer 3) 3 Centaur Lancers, 2 Elf Rangers Once these units are despatched, your route to the Elven Lands Marker is clear !! OPPONENTS The Mountain Clans, The Legions of the Damned, The Barbarian Peoples CITIES NEUTRAL CITIES Name Inhabitants Henzador 2 Barbarian Warriors, Barbarian Chieftain, 2 Axe Throwers Instar Barbarian Warrior, Barbarian Chieftain, Polar Bear Xundell [2 Green Dragons, Oracle Elf] Ssemmar [2 Spearmen, Imperial Assassin] MOUNTAIN CLANS CITIES Name Inhabitants Penurik Warrior, Engineer (Charulf in my Saga) [2 Rock Giants] Grumsch [2 Barbarian Warriors] BUILDINGS Name Inhabitants Gain anything from taking it ? Ruined Church 3 Archers, Thug 200 Gp, Strength Scroll Ancient Temple 3 Goblins 35 Gp, Bronze Ring Crumbled Manoir 2 Polar Bears, Veteran 600 Gp, Venerable Warrior Talisman Keletha Ruins Devil, Fiend, 2 Imps 400 Gp, Boots of Travelling Abandoned Keep Abyssal Devil, 2 Imps, Demonologist 400 Gp, Iron Skin Potion Kassel White Dragon, Green Dragon, Elf Lord 800 Gp, Ring of the Ages Ruined Farm Elder One, Rune Master, Warrior, Druidess 100 Gp EVENTS Event Notes Dagaric The Mountain Clans Loremaster Dagaric thinks he can take you out !! HAHA !! Doragon's Eye You learn what Doragon's Eye can do, and take control over the Dragons =D Ambush The Mountain Clans attack from over the Mountains behind you. ITEMS LYING ON THE GROUND Life Potion, Potion of Swiftness, Orb of Nosferat, Chain Lightning Scroll, 3 x Potion of Healing, 2 x Potion of Vigor, 2 x Emerald, Blizzard Scroll, Summon Roc Scroll, Stone Rain Scroll, 2 x Potion of Restoration, Orb of Water, Orb of Icefall, Skeleton Champion Orb, Ignis Carn Scroll, Potion of Protection, Orb of Healing, Potion of Accuracy, Orc Orb, Treebark Potion, Potion of Strength, Vithar's Might Scroll, Talisman of Bane, Orb of Vigor, Summon II: Valkyrie Scroll, 2 x Silver Ring, 2 x Bronze Ring, Potion of Speed, Orb of Life, Lightning Scroll, Ignis Mare Scroll, Potion of Water Warding, Air Ward Scroll, Talisman of Stone Rain, Potion of Might, Healing Ointment, Orb of Lycanthropy, Curse of Nygrael Scroll, Ancient Relic, Diamond, 2 x Gold Ring, 2 x Ruby, Royal Scepter, Imperial Crown, Etched Circlet (Artifact - being guarded by the Red Dragon near Xundell), Orb of Regeneration, Potion of Striking. ITEMS RETRIEVED FROM ENEMIES (COULD HAVE BEEN ON THE GROUND ORIGINALLY) 7 x Potion of Restoration, Treebark Potion, 2 x Potion of Speed, Potion of Accuracy, 6 x Life Potion, Infernal Knight Orb, Incubus Orb, Healing Ointment, Potion of Celerity. SHOPS Name Sells Nvidal's Tower (Magic Shop) Water Ward (200 Gp), Earth Ward (400 Gp), Holy Strength (600 Gp) Sallat's Shop (Merchant) Life Potion x 5, Potion of Healing x 10, Potion of Restoration x 10, Potion of Vigor x 3 Thurin's Shop (Merchant) Has no items for sale, but will buy them ;) Furren's Shop (Merchant) Life Potion x 5, Potion of Healing x 10, Potion of Restoration x 10, Healing Ointment x 3 Lisallat's Shop (Merchant) Vampire Talisman x 1, Lich Talisman x 1, Skeleton Champion Talisman x 1, Zombie Talisman x 1 ENDING The Hordes finally manage to set foot on Elven Lands ... the forest are lush and the lands verdant ... obviously they have never been forced to endure the ravages of war ... until NOW ! The Elves are, however, aware that you are coming ... =./ ============================================================================== 7) Taladrielle the Sorceress BRIEFING AND COMMENTS The entire Elven army awaited the Undead Hordes upon their arrival to the Elven Lands. Queen Taladrielle had been forewarned of the arrival of the Hordes by her High Elf Prophets, and the Elves were resolute that nothing would enter the Sacred Burial Grounds without a fight. Although not renowned for their ability to wage war, the Elves are revered for their high levels of agility and skill in the Magic Arts. This will surely be a battle worth remembering. Your objective on this final level is to slay Taladrielle the Sorceress, and to protect Uther's Blood. The level begins with Wraith Prusheen praising you for your efforts, and telling you that Mortis is pleased with you. A Death Knight asks Prusheen what Mortis' latest instructions are ... Prusheen responds by saying that Mortis commands you to reach the Elven Sacred Burial Grounds and there enact the ritual to revive Gallean. In order to secure these lands, Taladrielle the Elven Sorceress must be slain. At the start of the level the Bone Lord pops out of your Capital and OPENLY questions Mortis' orders ... he says that you should be waging out and out war and slaying the Elves. He is pulled back into line by Wraith Prusheen, who tells him that he is to obey Mortis, and her orders are NOT to be questioned. He begrudgingly accepts this. The Bone Lord starts this level with a Ghost, Warlock and Initiate as his followers. [IMPORTANT NOTE : I have been reminded by DMPatrickF that, if you play this level up until about turn 35, the Bone Lord actually betrays Mortis and runs to the "neutral" undead units near the center of the map and converts them to follow him. This being the case I would strongly recomment that you just use him as cannon fodder really ;) It's easier to deal with him whilst he's on YOUR side, non ??] Your Capital City is in the north-eastern section of the map (not in the corner - just east of the center of the map), and Queen Taladrielle is in the south-westernmost corner of the map. Your objective, as has been stated above, is to SLAY Queen Taladrielle AND to protect Uther's Blood. I would therefore leave the blood in the Capital City - there's no safer place for it ! Ashgan won't die ;) Also ... bear in mind ? THIS LEVEL IS ABSOLUTELY HUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUGE !! =O So ... off we go ... If you take the City of Hagken, a Lich confirms that some of the relics of Gallean are located inside ... the Lich maintains that Gallean cannot be far ... If you venture just south of the Rigel Ruins, a Nosferat shouts that there are Elves just ahead of you, and that their presence signifies that you are nearing your goal. If you take the City of Lennora, an Elven Lord comes out to tell you that Queen Taladrielle will put an end to your evil plans (altogether ? OH NO SHE BL**DY WELL WON'T !!) ="> An Archlich responds by saying that the Elves should be HELPING us to resurrect Gallean, and puts forth that Gallean was an Elven God in times gone by. The Elf Lord is shocked, exclaiming "How do you know about our God Gallean ?" The Archlich responds by saying that Mortis has sent you on a quest to revive Gallean's flesh ... for after his battle with Wotan he was slain, and now his revival is the will of Mortis ... The Elf stands by his original statement, saying that even WITHOUT the help of their Gods, Queen Taladrielle will be your downfall. (He may well be right - Taladrielle is VERY VERY VERY powerful.) If you take the Dwarven City of Lumeric, an Alchemist screams that this is the beginning of the Ragnarok, and Doom for their race is near (nearer than you THINK little one !!) Your Lich Queen confirms that Gallean's rebirth is at hand, and with it, Mortis will rule ALL. If you take the Empire's City of Begguni, one of your Warlocks confirms that the well of the City contains Elven Water, and advocates caution, as he believes they are TOTALLY expecting you ... If you sack the City of Sollonia, an OH-so-virtuous Oracle Elf appears to tell you that you had better pray that your evil forces never encounter Solonielle - the Elven Goddess of Life and Light ! The Lich Queen is only TOO happy to set her straight, telling her that, perhaps she hasn't heard, but Solonielle is DEAD - she BECAME Mortis, the Goddess of the Death, and does she REALLY believe that the Undead's own Goddess will try to stop them ??!!?? HMMMM !!!!?????!!!! The Oracle Elf has no retort to that, and the Lich Queen presses her further, saying that she KNOWS the score, and has obviously neither seen nor heard from her Goddess in a looooong time. The Oracle Elf responds by saying that if what the Lich Queen says is true, the the Elves MUST destroy the Undead, for Solonielle would never have permitted such a thing to transpire. .............. don't you just HATE these do-gooders ????? A little while on a Venerable Warrior pops up to tell you that, by Wotan's Beard, he and his people will destroy you. His words are sadly echoed by a Paladin who confirms that the Empire will stand by the Mountain Clans to help rid Nevendaar of our kind. I shoulda stood up and clapped when the Death Knight responded, simply by saying that they have both proven MANY times that they are cowards. WOOHOO !! =D (had the desired effect too, 'coz) The Paladin responds by saying that his blade craves WHATEVER it is that flows through our veins, and that he will fight us ANYTIME. What a KNOB. The Death Knight is on form, saying that Mortis NEEDS no allies to achieve her goals, and that only FEEBLE races like the Empire and the Clans need to ally with each other and hide behind their paTHETIC treaties. If you take control of the City of Timoric a Rock Giant calls for his troops to flee, and that the Ragnarok is nigh ... an Initiate turns to Wraith Prusheen to ask him what this "Ragnarok" they speak of is, to which Prusheen responds by saying that the Mountain Clans are a superstitious race, and they believe that the end of time will come soon ... he confirms that Mortis has used this fear against them masterfully. There is a Spider's Nest to the north of the City of Effrezem, which I would suggest you clear out as it is a good source of XP - the following Spiders are in the nest :- 1) Giant Black Spider, 2 Goblin Archers 2) Giant Spider, Giant Black Spider, Goblin Archer 3) 2 Giant Black Spiders 4) Giant Black Spider, 2 Goblin Archers If you sack the City of Regunil, an Acolyte PLEADS with you not to proceed with your quest, to which a Death Knight just brushes her out of the way, and on you go =) As you approach Ebhon's Shop, your Nosferat pops up to tell you that he has spotted an Elven Outpost, and that is SURE to signify that you are nearing an Elven City (he's right, of course ...) Just to the south-west of Ebhon's Shop (across the waters) Wraith Prusheen tells you that before you lie the Elven Lands, and that Taladrielle, the Elven Queen and Sorceress, MUST be slain. Let slip the dogs of war !! =D In order to get to the Gates of the Elven City you will have to destroy the following Units :- 1) 3 Forest Elves, 3 Elf Rangers 2) 3 Wolves 3) 2 Wolves 4) Centaur Lancer, Forest Elf, 3 Centaurs After you have defeated this last unit, Taladrielle herself makes her introduction. When challenged by one of your Arch-Lichs' as to HOW she plans on defeating you, when you have the support of a God and they have NOTHING, she responds by saying that she needs to God to destroy the likes of you - her magic will prove more than sufficient ... The conversation is then interrupted by an Elf Lord, who decides HE is going to try and take you out, and then charges into combat with you ... ... fat chance ... bomb this FREAK BISCUIT back to the Stone Age =) His unit comprises :- Elf Lord, Oracle Elf, Elf Ranger, 3 Forest Elves Moving on - STILL guarding the Gate we have :- 5) Forest Elf, Skylord 6) Centaur Lancer, Skylord, Centaur So ... after you've destroyed all 7 of THOSE units, you can advance through the outermost wall of the Elven City ... there is still an inner wall that must be breached, however ... ... the troops in THIS area are as follows (you don't have to kill ALL of these if you are really REALLY quick !!) :- 7) Forest Elf, Centaur Lancer, Elf Ranger, Griffin 8) Forest Elf, Elf Ranger, 2 Griffins 9) 2 Forest Elves, Elf Lord, Oracle Elf, Griffin 10) Forest Elf, Griffin, Centaur The following units are guarding the gate leading to the inner section of the Elven City :- 11) Centaur Lancer, 2 Skylords 12) Centaur Lancer, 2 Skylords As you approach the inner sanctum, Queen Taladrielle rips into your first unit with a Wrath of God spell, followed by which that Paladin from earlier pops up again to chivvy her on, and offer the assistance of the Empire (to which Taladrielle and 1 of her 2 aid units switch their allegiance and become units of the Empire) in the destruction of the Hordes. Queen Taladrielle then calls forth three units of DRAGONS to assist her in destroying you as well !! This is looking REALLY bad dude =( SO ! You now have the following units to dispose of (all in the innermost sanctum of the Elven City) :- 13) Green Dragon, Oracle Elf, Centaur 14) Green Dragon, 2 Centaurs 15) Blue Dragon, 2 Centaurs, Oracle Elf 16) Centaur Lancer, 2 Centaurs 17) 2 Wolves 18) 3 Centaur Lancers, 3 Centaurs 19) 2 Forest Elves, Elf Lord, Griffin 20) Forest Elf, Elf Lord, Oracle Elf, Sky Lord 21) Forest Elf, Centaur Lancer, Elf Lord, Skylord AND FINALLY ... INTRODUCING THE ORIGINAL BIATCH HERSELF ... 22) Elf Lord, Oracle Elf, Taladrielle the Sorceress, Blue Dragon 2 pieces of advice :- 1) DO NOT GET HEMMED INTO THE ELVEN CITY OR YOU WILL DIE 2) DO NOT GET HEMMED INTO THE ELVEN CITY OR YOU WILL DIE It's very simple really ... use the map to your advantage ... Queen Taladrielle has some SERIOUS range with her 2-headed dragon, so make SURE that she cannot pin you in or you will die like THAT (snaps fingers). Once you have either lured her out into the open or defeated the other units in the Elven Inner Sanctum, BOMBARD that BIATCH with spells to weaken and HOPEFULLY destroy the units she is travelling with, and then go in for the kill. This is one instance where I would SERIOUSLY suggest that you study your prey before you move in for the kill or you'll be VERY unpleasantly surprised ... Here are her stats :- HP = Hit Points AR = Armour Rating IMM = Immunities WARD = Warded Against ATT = Attacks (methods of attacking % HIT = Percentage Chance to Hit DAM = Damage inflicted SRC = Source of the Attack(s) INIT = Initiative REA = Reach TAR = Targets HP AR IMM WARD ATT % HIT DAM SRC INIT REA TAR TALADRIELLE THE SORCERESS 800 30+20 Mind - Dragon Breath 95 125 Life 60 Any 6 So as you can see, with her high Armour Rating and immunity to Mind Spells, she is QUITE ze tough cookie ... wear her down with spells and then commence the final assault ... once she has fallen, your Saga is Completed !! =) CONGRATULATIONS, HORDES !! =D OPPONENTS The Empire, The Legions of the Damned, The Mountain Clans, the Elves. CITIES NEUTRAL CITIES Name Inhabitants Hagken [2 Orcs, Goblin Archer] Lennora Centaur, Centaur Lancer, Elf Ranger Silveria Sollonia [2 Forest Elves, Skylord, Elf Lord] EMPIRE CITIES Name Inhabitants Begguni [Defender of Faith, Imperial Priest, Knight, Grand Inquisitor, White Wizard] Regunil [Paladin, Witch Hunter, Cleric] MOUNTAIN CLANS CITIES Name Inhabitants Timoric [2 Flame Casters, Forge Guardian, Venerable Warrior] Lemuric [2 Warriors, Veteran, Alchemist, Forge Guardian] LEGIONS OF THE DAMNED CITIES Name Inhabitants Pollzien [Marble Gargoyle, Doppleganger, Sorcerer] Effrezem [2 Berzerkers, Demon, Hag] BUILDINGS Name Inhabitants Gain anything from it ? Rigel Ruin 3 Goblins, Goblin Archer 200 Gp, Emerald Tanheras Keep 2 Yetis, Novice 300 Gp, Talisman of Vigor Lair Rune Master, Warrior, Hermit, 2 Crossbowmen, Druidess 500 Gp, Tome of Air Ancient Fort 2 Marksmen, 2 Master Thugs, Thug 600 Gp, Gold Ring Abandoned Temple Wyvern, 2 Skeleton Warriors 500 Gp, Zombie Orb Antique Temple Ice Giant, Yeti, Dwarf, Alchemist 600 Gp, Ancestor's Call Scroll (the Antique Temple above is north-west of Timoric) Antique Temple 2 Master Thugs, 3 Thugs 200 Gp, Death Storm Scroll (the Antique Temple above is north-west of Gunner's Tower) Lost Mastaba Beast, 2 Imps, 2 Cultists 1,000 Gp Destroyed Halls 2 Blue Dragons, Elf Lord, Centaur 1,000 Gp, Banner of War EVENTS Event Notes TO WAR !! Find Taladrielle and Kill Her !! =D ITEMS LYING ON THE GROUND 5 x Potion of Protection, 2 x Seafaring Scroll, Talisman of Restoration, 3 x Emerald, 2 x Potion of Strength, Ice Shield Scroll, Lightning Scroll, Orc Orb, Orb of Life, Orb of Earth, Water Ward Scroll, Sanctuera Scroll, 2 x Potion of Air Warding, Orb of Vigor, Diamond, 3 x Silver Ring, Orb of Stone Rain, Summon I: Roc Scroll, Menta Minoris Scroll, Venerable Warrior Orb, Talisman of Regeneration, Orb of Healing, Death Storm Scroll, Orb of Icefall, Potion of Speed, Talisman of Fire, 2 x Healing Ointment, Incantare Beliarh Scroll, Runestone (Artifact - just south of the City of Begguni), Potion of Fire Warding, 5 x Potion of Restoration, 2 x Potion of Vigor, Orb of Restoration, Talisman of Nosferat, 2 x Bronze Ring, 3 x Potion of Healing, 2 x Potion of Striking, Ice Storm Scroll, 3 x Life Potion, Cursa Demoneus Scroll, Chronos Scroll, Orb of Fire, Imp Orb, 2 x Treebark Potion, Potion of Accuracy, Ruby, Potion of Water Warding, Blizzard Scroll, Orb of Icefall, Imp Talisman, Tempest Scroll, Ancient Relic, Potion of Fortune (in the Spiders' Nest to the north of Effrezem), Wotan's Blessing Scroll, Strength Scroll, Highfather's Blessing Scroll, Sinestra Ignis Scroll. ITEMS RETRIEVED FROM ENEMIES (COULD HAVE BEEN ON THE GROUND ORIGINALLY) 16 x Potion of Restoration, 5 x Healing Ointment, 20 x Life Potion, Potion of Healing, 3 x Treebark Potion, Elven Boots, Angel Talisman, Talisman of Regeneration, 2 x Horn of Awareness (Artifact), Banner of Celerity, Infernal Knight Talisman, Incubus Talisman, Thanatos Blade (Artifact), Water Ward Scroll, Potion of Accuracy, Sapphire, Banner of Fortitude, Tiara of Purity (Artifact), Elf Lord Talisman, Boots of the Elements. SHOPS Name Sells Underik's Tower (Magic Shop) Holy Armour (600 Gp), Call to Arms (800 Gp), Summon II: Golem (800 Gp) Thurin's Shop (Merchant) Life Potion x 5, Potion of Restoration x 10, Potion of Might x 1, Healing Ointment x 1 Furren's Shop (Merchant) Life Potion x 5, Potion of Healing x 10, Healing Ointment x 5, Treebark Potion x 4 Gunner's Tower (Magic Shop) Lightning (200 Gp), Chain Lightning (900 Gp), Holy Strength (600 Gp) Tralar's Shop (Merchant) Life Potion x 5, Potion of Healing x 10, Potion of Restoration x 10, Healing Ointment x 4 Werric's Shop (Merchant) Orb of Healing x 1, Orb of Restoration x 1, Orb of Regeneration x 1, Orb of Life x 1 Ejella's Shop (Merchant) Life Potion x 5, Potion of Healing x 10, Potion of Restoration x 10, Healing Ointment x 5 Malavien's Camp (Mercenary) Barbarian Chieftain (1,800 Gp), Barbarian Warrior (850 Gp) Ebhon's Shop (Merchant) Blizzard Scroll x 2, Ice Pillar Scroll x 2, Tempest Scroll x 2, Vengeance of Ymir Scroll x 1, Potion of Restoration x 1 ENDING With Taladrielle dead, the Elves could offer no further resistance to the Hordes who promptly set about reviving Gallean. The sun rose that night, and from it Gallean was reborn. But when he saw the death, destruction and mayhem that Mortis had caused in her quest to revive him, he disappeared, refusing to accept that this was his once beautiful bride ... In unspeakable rage and sorrow at having been spurned by her long lost love after all she had done for him, Mortis' rage grew beyond measure. She could not see what she had done to bring him back. She could not see what SHE had become. ============================================================================== ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Thanks and credit go to DMPatrickF for his insight into Taladrielle the Sorceress level ... Credit and thanks go to Lupenzo for his encouragement and insight into several points of the Undead Hordes saga missions ... and thanks also to everybody at gamefaqs.com who has posted on the messageboards and encouraged me to keep going !! =) ============================================================================== Copyright David Booth, 2003-4 ==============================================================================