written the 89th day past of the moon, the year of the owl
What succeeds is a compilation of the tales of Shadowgate, re-accounted by myself, Darius M'goldnar,
scribe of Dun'wald Arcan, Noble of the lands. M'lord Arcan wished these old tales to be
retold and inked to paper, so that all may know of the misfortune of this realm, and
that this may serve good to all that may be of the future. "It was once said that the
fourth day after the past of the moon, year of the foul, (about 170 years ago to date),
that that morning a famed adventurer came staggering back from the deep recesses of the
earth, agitated and deeply shaken, speaking frantic ally of a group of obscure and
cryptic figures that have attacked his party of great warriors. King Demethius of
Helthr, at that time ruler of the land, gathered a group of accomplished mercenaries to
search the for-mentioned caves for these figures and if indeed existant, assassinate all
those of stature described by the adventurer. As the group descended into the darkness,
searching for moons past, exhausted, and almost overcome with delirium, they came upon a
pit leading into what seemed as nothingness. A brave warrior dropped a rope, made sure
the anchor was fix, and descended with a torch. No later had he gone down about fifty
larks that his torch blew out and a terrifying scream, as well as a horrid stench, arose
from the pit. The group then decided to descend, one by one into the depths. They found
no body, but a passage with but a faint light ahead. Large iron gates stood majestically
in front of them, hindering their advance. They managed to open the gate, and beyond lay
the truth.
written the 76th day past of the moon, the year of the owl
These mercenaries were never again seen in the realm, and it was rumored that they
stumbled upon a room full of silver, gold, and diamonds. Overcome with greed, for this
treasure was worth tenfold what King Demethius had offered, they stole the treasures,
and went into hiding, fearing that their betrayal to the king would bring them death.
But it was also said that one mercenary did not agree, and having no part in the
treasure, he fled the group and managed to return to the surface four winters later,
retelling the king of the events that had come beneath the surface, (This I highly
doubt, but there is no other explanation for how this account came back to the surface,
unless the whole is fictional) The hired mercenary was quick to dismiss the shadows as
nothing more than simple folk lore.
written the 67th day of the rising of the second star, year of the shriek
At the present time, the truth has been revealed. Those Shadows were not a figment of
imagination, and they are not of anything we have seen before in this realm or its
neighboring lands. These "shadows" or "spectres" as some call them, have now come back
to the surface after living in seclusion during hundreds of moon cycles. They wreak
havok on any and all adventurers that cross their path, taking gold, and leaving nothing
but the empty hide of their victims. It is rumored that clan Shadowgate, as referred to by all and themselves, are a
cult. And that every rising of the third planet, (about every 235 moon cycles, and the
rising lasts 15 cycles) they come out of seclusion to carry out religious rituals (the
Risings have been named the "Cycle of the Shadows"). It is said that this is the last of
the risings, and that the rituals, once complete, will enable the rebirth of their god,
and the spawning of their kind, which will be the first step into a new Dawn of the
kind. Although this is the common belief, none have lived to confirm these rumors.
written the 86th day of the rising of the second star, year of the shriek
It is my master's hope, and my firm belief, that this can help all those of future, no
matter what good of kind, to expel these shadows from the surface and rid them of the
realms in order to heal nature and all that live above. But my tellings may be too late
for I have the feeling that the age of the Shadows has already risen, and, what fate may
be, we might not be able to overcome the curse."
Darius M'goldnar
Dun'wald Arcan
To enter the Shadowgate
you must:
- You must be willing to play a role, become your character.
- You must be able to defend yourself, as well as stick up for your clansmen.
- You must be a well designed character (good stats, skills, spells).
- You must attempt to maintain a neutral-evil alignment.
- You must gather treasures for the clan as often as possible.
- We will be VERY selective when it comes to accepting titans, and centaurs.
- You will be given a rank upon acceptance into the Shadowgate... Rogue, Lurker, Diablo, Angelcrusher,
Wraith,
Stalker, Malice, Assassin, Infernal, Mystik, Shadow.
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