Age Of Wonders Shadow Magic Campaign

[Juliane Bari]

Thefollowing page contains the transcripts of the intro and ending texts of all missions from campaign. The first paragraph in italics describes the area, the second is the scenario intro, and the last paragraph is the scenario ending.

The Peaceful lands around this hill are untouched by the events in the nearby Valley of Wonders. Guarded by fairies, this mystical hill is an ancient burial mound of the Halfling king, Smithan Proudfriend.

Symon, Julia has told me about you. I am Merlin. The apparition before you is named Teryn-a gifted, elusive spirit. Thanks to Teryn's talent, although I am suspended in shadow, my mind can escape this torturous prison. Like you, Symon, I have the gift of magic, and it has earned me many foes. As an outcast, you must feel great anger and fear, but forgive me if I do not coddle you. Phobius drives all people to madness. They allow their souls to weaken and decay, but you cannot afford the same mistake, no matter how justifiable.See the light in the people who fear you. Learn compassion, as Julia has shown to you. She believes you have more than magic within you. If you heed my words, you shall learn great power, but without the guidance of your soul, you will forever be an outcast. This whole war is about the strength of souls.

Well done. I sense that you already have made good friends amongst the Halflings. When I first learned the ways of the Wizard, my Master Gabriel sent me to aid these little fellows. Though my people were few and ragged, the Halflings were quick to accept us. They are kind-hearted, generous folk, despite their many hardships. You would do well to learn, as they have, to sing in the face of despair.

This crumbling tower is the only surviving monument of the Elves' great Empire in the Valley of Wonders, but a sad one, now lonely and forgotten. Recently, stranger shadows darken its broken walls.

Symon, let us now unlock your true powers. You will come to understand why others fear you. Their fears are not entirely unjustified. Behold a wizard's tower, or what is left of one. Using these structures, wizards can call down the powers of heaven, shred mountains, and drown legions. Teryn and I will instruct you, but it is up to you to decide how to expend your power. We trust you to choose wisely. This tower was destroyed by the very beings that hold me captive-the Shadow Demons. These creatures use magic to feed upon the weakness of souls. They have eaten countless worlds. Teryn is one of the last of her world. We did not know this when they first appeared. Some wizards thought they could control the demons, but they grew too fast. They spread like a plague. Now they appear unstoppable.

Excellent, lad! Now you know my captors. For a moment I sensed the echo of fear throughout the shadow world as you finished off the last of their scouts. I sense you have blinded these demon creatures to your part of the land. For the first time in a long while, they struggle to swallow our world. You have made them choke! They will try to punch their way back into your realm-to destroy the lands you have tamed. Be on your guard, young Symon. Your feats have made you enemies.

This small fishing community has little tolerance for strangers or 'eccentrics'. After Phobius claimed these lands as his own, shamans and mages fled the ensuing persecution. Their 'gift' turned against them.

You are ready to return to your homeland. Seek to bolster the people's confidence in you. You have learned of the Shadow demons' love of souls. Fear is their strength, but you have a greater power. Like the demons, Phobius rules by intimidation, pointing out differences and establishing strict rule over magic. Only those he deems worthy are allowed to use magic. He claims we abuse magic from birth, while he will waste cities if it suits his image. Those that criticize him disappear by the hand of the brutal Vorsar, his first commander. I have given you strength enough to inspire your people to throw off their lies. Purge Heimburg of Phobius and his lackey Vorsar.

The void wavers. Phobius's defeat has affected these creatures as well. Interesting. I will have to ponder the strange connection between the Phobian Empire and these demons. Somehow the Shadow Demons benefit from the hateful human empire. You will need to maintain these lands. I trust you to hold them until my rebel wizards can strike at them elsewhere. I strongly believe this empire of fear will fracture, unable to fight on every front. Beware the crippling powers of fear, hate and anger. I trust you to avoid such traps. Your courage has given me strength to endure my hellish torture. For that, I thank you. Julia was right. You have strength of spirit well beyond your years. Farewell, Symon. I look forward to the day I call upon your aid again.

Home of the woodelves, Norwood is the home of reclusive beings who savor the sacred tranquility of their ancient trees and their cousins the Treemen. This revered haven has always been their home, and they will protect it with their lives.

Lady Julia, your heart strengthens me to endure the torture of this void. Yes, I am in great pain, but I ask you not to worry about me. Instead, focus on the troubles facing all people. I sense the Shadow Demons gain great strength from chaos. That fool, Phobius, who rose so quickly to popularity among the humans, has plunged us all into battle. He must not be allowed more power. Now it appears Vorsar has secretly gathered a force to conquer the Elves of Norwood. He spins lies about the quiet friends of the forest, insisting that they must be in league with the demons or they would not hide so. You must not allow his mobs to desecrate these ancient treasures.

Well done, my friend. By razing the Shadow Demon's city, you have proven to his mob that Vorsar is a liar. They know the Elves are no friend to Demons. Now that the sylvan creatures are organized, they will hold Norwood secure from attack by greedy men or demons. It pains me that you and your people must once again pay a terrible price to teach men to trust the good caretakers of this world. I fear it is your fate to suffer the tantrums of hungry, short-lived mortals.In regards to your worries, I am not sure about the source of the Shadow Demons. Teryn says they are not from the world we call the Shadow World. Phobius justified banning magic in his empire, claiming he would starve the creatures, but they do not feed on magic. Phobius refuses to listen, so we must oppose him and hope that his people will not be fooled.

Men are not the only beings to mistrust the mystic arts. Deep in the earth hides an ex-wizard and friend of mine. Fangir abandoned the way of the wizard for fear that magic might attract more Shadow Demons. Even so, they materialize in the fissures of the earth. You must show Fangir that magic can defeat them. He must take up the power of the earth, expel the demons, and seal the breaches that plague his Dwarven kin.

Well done, Julia. The mountain wilderness of Abydor echoes with songs of Dwarven joy. No longer does the slither of larvae and the clack of demon claws chill the hearts of these defenders of the earth. Fangir's return to wizardry gives me great hope that this world may yet be healed.

South of Norwood lie the Sanctuary Woods, an even older forest, where the trees themselves have grown tired of the world and its inhabitant's squabbles. Also a refuge for many shady creatures and outcasts.

Tales of your victories race across the land. Rumors abound about the glorious return of Queen Julia. Your forests are sanctuary to those fleeing the tyranny of Phobius and the terror of the Shadow Demons. I fear that enmity between the races will flare. Phobius uses those differences to destroy. You are the only wizard qualified to juggle the sensitivities of so many different beings. Beware of Phobius. He will seek the opportunity to prove that any attempt to keep the peace is in vain. He will try to prove that you are weak, and will justify his brutality as truth. Expose him as a fraud.

You have humiliated Phobius! The forestlands remain a shelter for those flocking to freedom. Sure, the races of the land squabbled, but you have proven to them all that Phobius is not invincible, and his stony rhetoric cracks when challenged. I must now ask you to do something difficult. You must remain here for a time. Promise me you will not try to find me. I know you. Trust me in this. There is too much fear in the world. Already your deeds reverberate in all the minds of the people. I need you visible. You must gather in every outcast. The Shadow Demons must be weakened. I promise I shall seek your help again. Until then, Noble Queen, remain safe, not for your own sake, but for the sake of this world.

Ke-nan. It's Merlin. Sadly, while you journeyed to the Wizard's Council your father died. Sahira, your father's Shaman, has grown accustomed to your Royal Tent, and refuses to leave it. She plots your demise, for she will do anything to keep her place among the Nomads. Seduced by the Shadow Demons, she promises to restore your people to an age of power unmatched even by your ancestors of the ancient Azrac Empire. Sahira believes the demons will spare her people as they consume the world. With their aid, she has enslaved many of the surrounding peoples and is delivering them to the demons. Sadly, these races' hatred of the nomads is greater than ever and they don't care that you are not to blame for their losses.

Rest now, Ke-nan. Mourn your Father's passing as is your right and custom. The Nomads will bow to the funeral pyre, and swallow the sparks that fly from the blaze, and your Father will rest with honor in the skies.Though it brings little comfort, let me assure you that Sahira has not escaped in exile. She was snatched away by the Shadow Demons, only to learn what comes of one who bargains with these hungry creatures. She is in their debt now. In the end, your victory will consign her to the same grim fate that she forced upon her slaves.

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