The BloodLetting

1 to 30 PC

With the powers of Chaos triumphant, whole hordes of demons, shadowbeasts, and other chaos spawn poured into Aabahran through the rift near Caranduin. The land around it, once a lush forest, was now barren desert heavy with evil and tainted with Chaos. Led by an unimaginably powerful demon called Crypticant, the armies of Chaos surged forth like an unholy tide. Caranduin fell within a day. Not a single living soul survived. The taint of Chaos left the city a ghost town, its remaining citizens corrupted and twisted beyond redemption. Crypticant rallied its forces and the tide of Chaos began its march west toward Thalos and the heart of civilization.

During this time, a small group of Chaos scouts led by a commander named Virigoth stumbled upon a ruined mausoleum on the Isle of Souls. The whole force was lost. The commander returned alone atop his mount, his pale complexion and glazed eyes betraying that whatever remained of him was no longer alive. Virigoth returned to the Isle once more with more men, lured by promises of treasure. What happened next remains unknown. Soon after, Virigoth arose as an Immortal with power equal to Crypticant, his strength directly linked to The Nameless still trapped within the Pillar of Souls. He unleashed the power of The Nameless and consumed the great fortress of S'handor in a single night, turning it into a blighted place of Unlife and Death.

Plagues spread. Newborns and the elderly died in scores. Incurable diseases swept the backlands. Corpses clawed their way out of the earth. Vampires, wights, zombies, liches, and arch liches rose up to wage war against life. The combined forces of Death and Chaos pushed all opposition into a small territory around the city of Thalos. The air turned putrid. The sun did not shine for months at a time. The rivers ran red with blood. Those who dared speak of the time called it the BloodLetting.

The small stronghold held everything that remained pure and true. Among these survivors stood Raght and Palison. Together with the warrior Athaekeetha, these three heroes fought not for their beliefs in order, light, or war, but for the simple cause of Life. United in spirit, they inspired others and rose to Immortality to face their dark counterparts directly. God wars ensued, leaving ruins the size of valleys. The Prime of Balance swung back in favor of Life, and Order began to rise again. With Virigoth and Crypticant spending most of their time fighting Immortals, their armies grew weaker and disorganized. After a final battle in the heart of Thalos that left the town in ruins, the Demon Crypticant was locked away in another plane and the rift to the Nexus sealed. Virigoth sensed the powers of Death faltering and retreated into the darkness. His presence still loomed, and Rathe was appointed to maintain his following.