Posted by TSM on February 19, 2000 at 14:14:47:
In Reply to: history of thera posted by erikoth on February 12, 2000 at 20:20:53:
Prophets and oracles predicted the end of the Second Age, with promises of destruction and chaos. The First Age had ended in an apocalyptic series of wars that brought death to all of civilization - what could the end of the Second Age bring? Predictions of division amongst the churches and a war among the Gods struck fear into the hearts of rulers and commoners alike. If the pillars of Heaven toppled, what effect would the wake have on Thera? As a prelude to the coming Age, natural disasters shook the world as unrest amongst the Gods grew. The Lords of Chaos ascended in power and fueled the fires between Light and Shadow. Jullias, Lord of the Underworld, gathered together the Gods of Darkness and laid seige to the Realms of Light. As the battle raged in the Heavens, lightning storms wracked the World and the skies turned a deep red. The cults of Darkness and the temples of Light continued to war in the mortal realms but with greater fervor. And the Gods of Chaos laughed. In the Heavens the battle raged at the Source of Mana, where Twist, Nepenthe and the godlings of Light met Jullias, Vassagon, and the godlings of Shadow. During the melee, Lloth crept unseen into the shadows. Having dominated the mind of the dark angel Dylan, the Demon Queen sent her puppet into the midst of the battle to cleave Jullias from behind. As Dylan raised her axe, Lloth assaulted Jullias' shields with her deadly taint and thus allowed the angel to strike a crippling blow. Roaring in fury, Jullias turned and lashed out at Dylan, turning her to dust. Having cast out Shokai, Raisa, and Nashyr, the devil Scarabaeus arrived at the conflict just as Lloth turned on Jullias and engaged her in a sorcerous battle, stripping her of the power of the Shadows. With the Light weakened and the Shadow divided the Chaos gods Nighthawk, Saher, and Pico (who had merely enjoyed the spectacle until then) descended upon Jullias who still faced Twist's magical wrath. Relentlessly they drove the Dark God back and faced him alone. Calling upon the strength of the Black Earth, Jullias lunged at Saher, encasing the Chromatic God in a tomb of stone and darkness. Twist rose up above the battle, sending arcs of searing lightning down upon Jullias, burning away his left hand. Nighthawk lunged at Jullias with his sword flashing, but fell short as Vassagon drove his blackened spear through his back. Soaring up from the battle, Vassagon cast Nighthawk's lifeless form into the seas where the greedy depths swallowed the dead god's remains. As Pico tore at him with his claws, Twist gathered the last of his strength to send a devastating psionic assault against the Lord of the Underworld. Penetrating his defenses, Twist toppled from the effort just as Jullias staggered and fell dead at Pico's feet. The skies of the world turned dark as the blood of Jullias spilled. Of the gods that gathered around his fallen form, the godling Nashyr stepped forward and beheaded Jullias and opened his chest. Consuming the heart of the Dark God, Nashyr grew mighty among the Gods and, turning to where Lloth battled Scarabaeus he cast them out of the Heavens. Where Nazmorghul feasted on the remains of Ishmael, he too was cast out. Battered and weary the Gods withdrew, regathering strength with a new sense of separation and mistrust. Diviners say the Gods have focused their power into what the prophets have called the Spheres, though mortal man may never know what they truly are. Minions of the gods have spoken of their places among the Spheres and through divine wisdom have been directed how to worship in the new Age. It is said that at the very moment that the battle ended, the Horn of Fate was sounded by the paladin Launfal at the gates of Asgaard. As a servant of the Light, Launfal's clarion call heralded the coming of the Third Age, where the Gods of Light knew victory over Darkness and the Spheres aligned themselves in the Heavens. Had no mortal hand sounded the Horn, all would have perished.