Darklands

This article is about the geographical location. For the roleplaying guide that is based on this location, see The Darklands.

Darklands
Capital	Helgedad
Government	Dictatorship
Ruler	Archlord Vashna (MS 5103)
Formation	c. MS 3072
Population	3,000,000 (MS 5000)
Currency	Kika
Resources	Black iron ore, minerals, spawned horrors
Relations	Freelands (enemy) Hammerlands (passive enemy) Drakkarim nations Ghatan (vassal) Nyras (vassal) Nyvoz (vassal) Ogia (vassal) Skaror (vassal) Zaldir (vassal)

The Darklands (Dark Tongue: Zhingdarad) is the land of of Northwestern Magnamund that the Darklords and their minions inhabit. The Darklands is a vast wasteland, filled with poisonous air and a dark shadow, with only the Darklords, the Drakkarim, and Darkspawn able to live within. It is the source of most evil between the arrival of the Darklords in MS 3072 till present day. Fed by the power and corrupting touch of Naar, the Darklands produces deadly horrors, powerful Dark magicians, and lethal weaponry, all to conquer Magnamund on behalf of Naar. It is second only to the Agarashi Empire, centred in Naaros, as the most evil country ever to have existed in Magnamund.

The Darklands are fiercely-opposed by the Freelands of Magnamund, with each side being an existential threat to the other. For over two millennia, both sides have been in varying states of war, although the Freelands lack the means to conquer the Darklands, making it a defensive war for them. The biggest threat to the Darklords has been Sommerlund, particularly the Kai, with one Kai warrior, Lone Wolf, as their ultimate bane.

In MS 5070, just under two millennia after the arrival of the Darklords, Lone Wolf defeated Archlord Gnaag and the Transfusor, which powered the Tanoz-tukor, which allowed the Darklords to survive outside of the Darklands. With this defeat, the Darklords were defeated and destroyed. However, the Acolytes of Vashna, a cult devoted to the strongest Darklord, Vashna, continuously sought a way to revive him. In MS 5102, they were successful, with the Darklands being spurred into war activity once again.

History

Background

Since the beginning of time, the Dark God Naar had fought Ishir and Kai for control over the entire universe. One planet, Magnamund, was the decisive planet for both to conquer. Both sets of Gods poured their powers into this task, with Kai sending his son, Ailendar, which Naar tried to corrupt with the Scarling, and slew Ailendar. Kai and Ishir then sent the ancient Dragons, which Naar corrupted and turned against each other. Naar also sent a son of his own, Agarash the Mighty, to Magnamund, who slew the greatest of the Dragons, Nyxator, and almost succeeded in conquering the planet, only for the Elder Magi to defeat him in a desperate battle. However, it was only a matter of time before Naar devised a new plan.

The Darklords

Before the arrival of the Darklords, the region was a healthy, thriving land. In MS 3072, Naar made his move, sending the Darklords to Magnamund. They arrived in what is now known as the Darklands, and they corrupted the land. Naar gave the Darklords the powers of immortality, terror, wrath, and power, but they were bound to Helgedad, the capital of the Darklands, as the source of Naar's power. The Darklords were unconquerable in the Darklands, but Naar recognised that it was pointless to constrain them to there. He granted the Darklords the power to create Darkspawn — the ability to create foul creatures in the image of Naar himself. With this power, countless evil creatures began creation of fortresses, labyrinths, spawning pools and much more within the Darklands. With each cycle of Darkspawn, the Darklords mutated and experimented upon them, improving them over time. Powerful horrors from the Darklands could now be used to wage war on the rest of Magnamund, to conquer it in Naar's name.

The first humans they encountered were the Drakkarim, another one of Naar's gifts to Magnamund centuries ago. The Darklords proved to be far too powerful for the Drakkarim, who were mostly forced to swear fealty to the Darklords (barring a small number in the Hammerlands). With immense manpower, powerful beasts, and Dark magic, all the Darklords lacked was a leader. In MS 3192, Darklord Vashna, the most powerful Darklord, seized power, becoming the first Archlord. Under Vashna, the Darklands began to conquer the rest of Magnamund with far greater purpose, starting the War of Desecration. Many lives were lost, and many species exterminated, such as the Nebora.

Conflict with the Sommlending

Desperate not to lose Magnamund to the Darklords, Kai and Ishir sent the Sommlending from Tay Solobo to what is now known as Sommerlund, to combat them. The Sommlending were strong, righteous people, with blessed leaders and the power of the Sommerswerd, one of the few weapons able to damage a Darklord. As the Drakkarim began to conquer Sommerlund, they encountered the Sommlending at present-day Anskaven, who inflicted the first defeat on the Drakkarim. Subsequent attacks by the Darklands were repelled, and the Sommlending eventually forced the Darklands to retreat beyond the Durncrag Mountains.

For this humiliation, Vashna swore vengeance on Sommerlund, vowing to eliminate them for good. In MS 3520, he sent swarms of shape-shifting Helghast into Sommerlund, causing untold chaos, in what is now known as the Helghast Wars. He combined more powerful Helghast with armies of the undead, and nearly brought Sommerlund to its knees. However, the Darklands was once again defeated after the Brotherhood of the Crystal Star discovered the means to identify and destroy the Helghast.

Enraged, Vashna began to create the greatest host of Darkspawn and military forces ever created, called the (First) Black Muster. Vashna spent two hundred years creating this force, and when the time came to attack in MS 3785, Sommerlund and their allies were nearly overrun. Sommerlund endured many sieges, but these were finally broken by Baron Shaen Ruanor, who possessed latent powers from Kai. In MS 3799, Sommerlund, Durenor and Cloeasia fought the Darklands in Moytura Pass. In a decisive battle, Sommerlund and their allies were successful, and pursued the retreating Darklands forces to the Maakengorge. In a final battle, King Ulnar I of Sommerlund slew Archlord Vashna with the Sommerswerd, and the vast majority of the Darklands forces were cast alongside him into the Maakengorge. Although Ulnar lost his life in the process, he was hailed as a hero, with the Darklands completely routed.

Second Black Muster

For over four hundred years, civil war ensued in the Darklands, with the Darklords seeking to become the next Archlord. In the meantime, Shaen Ruanor undertook a quest, at the bidding of Kai, to recover the Lorestones of Nyxator. This granted Ruanor greater powers and knowledge than he ever thought possible, and using these, he created a monastic order to combat the Darklords, called the Order of the Kai, becoming its first member, renaming himself "Sun Eagle". He also recorded his knowledge in the Book of the Magnakai. In MS 4219, Darklord Zagarna became Archlord, and he launched a surprise attack on Sommerlund that year. However, his forces were repelled by Sommmerlund and the Kai Lords, driving Zagarna and his forces back to the Darklands.

Zagarna, facing dissent from his fellow Darklords, turned his attention elsewhere. He planted agents in the Stornlands, turning it into a state of perpetual conflict, causing the War of the Lorestone. He also initiated the First Vassa-Sommlending War by tempting Zakhan Halarsa of Vassagonia, promising him the power of the Nadziranim. Vassagonia also stole the Book of the Magnakai, slowing the progress of the Kai immensely. All in the meanwhile, he continued to amass his forces, called the Second Black Muster. This Black Muster lasted 800 years, four times as long as Vashna's First Black Muster. Zagarna was also driven by a prophecy given to Vashna on the eve of the Battle of the Maakengorge, forewarning of his defeat, and the rise of the Kai.

Zagarna eventually began to prepare for an invasion of Sommerlund, ordering the construction of the fortresses of V'taag, Anakgogak and Kurzanaar in the Durncrag Mountains. In MS 5050, he came across an unlikely source of information. Vonotar, a rogue magician from the Brotherhood of the Crystal Star, sought to combine the Right-Handed Magic of the Nadziranim with the Left-Handed Magic of the Brotherhood, creating a new Centre Path of Magic, far more powerful than both. However, his ideals were shunned by the Brotherhood, and so the ambitious Vonotar defected to Zagarna. In exchange for knowledge of the Nadziranim, Vonotar told Zagarna about the Feast of Fehmarn, a festival where the Kai renewed their vows towards the King, but also a period where the Kai were all gathered in one place, and in their least battle-ready state. During the events of Flight from the Dark, Zagarna took advantage of this, launching a deadly surprise attack on the Kai during Fehmarn, aiming to exterminate the Kai in one blow. This event subsequently became known as the Massacre of the Kai.

However, one Kai Lord, Silent Wolf, survived. Silent Wolf vowed to avenge his kind, renamed himself "Lone Wolf", and reached Holmgard to warn the King. The King ordered Lone Wolf to retrieve the Sommerswerd from Durenor, which had been sent there as a symbol of unity between the two countries. During the events of Fire on the Water, Lone Wolf managed to retrieve the Sommerswerd, despite the attempts of Zagarna's agents and Vonotar. When Lone Wolf returned to Holmgard, he found it besieged, and ready to fall. With one charged blast from the Sommerswerd, Lone Wolf destroyed Zagarna, once again sending the Darklands forces into retreat and disarray.

Haakon's plot

Once again, the Darklords began jostling for control. Darklord Haakon became Archlord in MS 5055, and discovered that Lone Wolf was headed towards Vassagonia to sign a peace treaty, but also that the Book of the Magnakai had been stored there, in the Tomb of the Majhan. During the events of Shadow on the Sand, Haakon travelled to Vassagonia, aiming to sway the next Zakhan, Kimah, to capture Lone Wolf, and to destroy the Book of the Magnakai. Lone Wolf was captured, but managed to escape, and both he and Haakon rushed to the Tomb of the Majhan. There, the two fought a fierce battle, which Lone Wolf was victorious in, slaying Haakon and recovering the Book of the Magnakai.

Gnaag and the Darklands War

Main article: Darklands War

Once again, the Darklands fell into civil war as they sought a new leader. This was won in MS 5060, when Darklord Gnaag became Archlord, having successfully plotted his way for years. Lone Wolf had spent time recovering the lost Lorestones, undertaking a similar quest to Sun Eagle centuries ago. Gnaag recognised the significance of this, and immediately ordered that the Lorestones were captured, and stored in Torgar, just outside of the Darklands (as their energies were too powerful to be stored in the Darklands), where the Nadziranim attempted to destroy them. But this was also a trap by Gnaag, who recognised that Lone Wolf would be drawn to Torgar as a result.

During the events of The Dungeons of Torgar, Lone Wolf indeed journeyed to Torgar. However, in secret, Gnaag and his Nadziranim had created the Tanoz-tukor, devices that allowed the Darklords to operate outside of the Darklands, breaking free of the chains that bound them to Helgedad. At Torgar, Lone Wolf found the Lorestones, but did not anticipate Gnaag himself being in Torgar. Gnaag blasted Lone Wolf and the Lorestones, casting them into a Shadow Gate to the Daziarn, a different plane of existence where nobody had been reported to return from. With the power of the Tanoz-tukor now revealed, and Lone Wolf lost in the Daziarn, the Darklands launched multiple assaults on the Freelands, but now empowered by the full power of the Darklords, in a period known as the Darklands War.

Between MS 5062 and MS 5070, the Darklands brought the Freelands to the brink of defeat, and isolated each nation from each another, preventing them from working together. Against all odds, however, Lone Wolf did return from the Daziarn, with the Lorestones, after defeating Vonotar once again in the Daziarn, and entering the Shadow Gate of the Sandai back to Magnamund. During the events of The Masters of Darkness, Lone Wolf travelled into the Darklands in secret, aiming not only to destroy the Transfusor powering the Tanoz-tukor, but also to kill Archlord Gnaag.

Initially, Lone Wolf attempted to travel to Aarnak to meet with the Slavemaster, a secret agent of the Elder Magi, but the ship he was on was attacked, and he was shipwrecked off the coast of Argazad. Forced to find another way to Aarnak, he encountered and slew Darklord Kraagenskûl in Argazad, and stole his Zlanbeast, putting it on course for Aarnak. At Aarnak, the Slavemaster gave Lone Wolf passage to Helgedad, a disguise, and advice. Lone Wolf finally entered Helgedad, and made his way to the Tower of the Damned, where Archlord Gnaag resided. Before meeting Gnaag, Lone Wolf slew his second-in-command, Darklord Taktaal, who had stayed behind to protect the Transfusor. He then confronted Gnaag, and unleashed the power of the Sommerswerd, obliterating him. He then used the Crystal Explosive, provided by Lord Rimoah, to destroy the Transfusor, destroying the remaining Darklords for good.

Unwittingly, however, the Nengud-kor-Adez, which surrounded Helgedad, consumed all that fell in this destruction, making it far more powerful, but also possibly giving it a degree of sentience, which would haunt the forces of Light later.

Power vacuum

For thirty years, the Darklands fell into civil war, but without the authority of the Darklords. Nevertheless, ambitious figures attempted to take control of parts of the Darklands to create their own fiefdoms. The fortresses themselves also remained active, with several powerful sorcerers using them for their plots.

In MS 5075, during the events of The Captives of Kaag, Archdruid Cadak of Mogaruith took control of Kaag, and kidnapped Banedon, forcing Lone Wolf to rescue him. Lone Wolf was successful, and for his failure, the Nadziranim considered Cadak expendable, and he was forced to flee Kaag.

In MS 5083, during the events of Rune War, Zorkaan the Soultaker was summoned to Magnamund by Lord Vandyan, using the Runes of Agarash. After Grand Master destroyed the Runes, Zorkaan was unable to return, and roamed Magnamund freely, until Naar gave Xaol the Necromancer a spell to bind and enslave him, which he did. Using his power, he attempted to kill Lone Wolf, but was unsuccessful, and was forced to kidnap and detain him in Gazad Helkona. During the events of Trail of the Wolf, Grand Master infiltrated Gazad Helkona, and successfully rescued Lone Wolf.

Revival of Vashna

After Vashna's death, his most devoted followers created a cult, lasting over a millennium, aiming to revive him. One attempt failed in MS 5054, during the events of The Chasm of Doom. In MS 5077, Naar created the Deathstaff, and aimed to send it to Magnamund with Demoness Shamath, who would use it to revive Vashna. The Acolytes, led by Cadak, opened a Shadow Gate, and began to summon her. During the events of The Legacy of Vashna, Lone Wolf, however infiltrated this ceremony, entered the Shadow Gate himself, and recovered the Deathstaff before Shamath could. He then used the Deathstaff to destroy the device powering the Shadow Gate, sealing it, although the Deathstaff was lost in the Plane of Darkness.

In MS 5102, evil began to stir once again. The Maakengorge lengthened itself, and the Nengud-kor-Adez migrated to it, using the various faults and tributaries underground. The Acolytes of Vashna began making pilgrimages to the Maakengorge, and began to construct a new fortress, Zekgazad, at its edge; their goal was not only to use its power to revive Vashna, but also to power the spawning pools and furnaces build a new army to conquer Magnamund. Lone Wolf, now Kai Supreme Master and leader of various New Order Kai Grand Masters, dispatched Steel Hand to investigate and thwart their plans; however, Steel Hand was captured. Lone Wolf, sensing he was still alive, dispatched Grand Master to rescue him and complete his quest. During the events of Dead in the Deep, Grand Master discovered their plot, but also that Steel Hand was a descendant of King Ulnar I, meaning his blood could be used in a ritual to revive Vashna. The Acolytes also managed to recover the other part of the ritual, the Dagger of Vashna. In a brutal struggle above the Maakengorge, Steel Hand fought Luthos Vorgada, empowered by Vashna's spirit. Vorgada managed to stab Steel Hand, but Grand Master had given their Nyxator Mail to him, which checked the power of the Dagger of Vashna. Taking advantage of Vorgada's shock, Steel Hand overpowered him and threw Vorgada and the Dagger into the Maakengorge.

However, the Dagger of Vashna contained a portion of Vashna's spirit, kept as a failsafe by Vashna just in case he died. The Dagger was unmade in the Nengud-kor-Adez, but this released this spirit, which merged itself with the Nengud-kor-Adez, creating an avatar of Vashna but also empowered by the supernatural Nengud-kor-Adez. With Vashna's return, the fortresses of the Darklands stopped their internal squabbling, and began preparing for war. In MS 5103, during the events of The Dusk of Eternal Night, Vashna made his triumphant return, in the Battle of the Ruanon Homelands, not only sending his undead army cast into the Maakengorge, but also expanding the Nengud-kor-Adez to the battlefield itself, tearing it asunder, and emerging from its depths. However, Vashna was driven back by the power of the Sommerswerd, but not before issuing a threat to Lone Wolf, to confront him in Zekgazad, deep underground where the Sommerswerd was ineffective, otherwise he would expand the Nengud-kor-Adez further. Lone Wolf, however, was forced to do so, as the Kai had no way to stop his threat. Lone Wolf, together with Steel Hand, managed to infiltrate Zekgazad, and confronted Vashna. Lone Wolf, despite having learnt how to master the Sommerswerd without the power of the Sun, slew Vashna; however, he had not comprehended the level of which the two had become one. After Vashna was slain, a new one was born from the Nengud-kor-Adez, again and again. Lone Wolf was forced to flee, but not before Vashna was able to brand Lone Wolf with a supernatural flame, which taunted him.

Geography

The Darklands

The Darklands cover most of Northern Magnamund, and border many nations, including Ixia and Sommerlund, with which they are separated by the Durcrag Mountains. Multiple mountain ranges and volcanoes exist in the Darklands, such as the Dajdokritzaga and Kagazitzaga, the latter of which produces an overwhelming stench that even Giaks struggle to tolerate.

The Darklands is largely a poisonous wasteland where nothing grows, and little survives, outside of the Darklords, their Darkspawn, and Drakkarim. The wasteland is not just from natural decay, however — it is Naar incarnate on Magnamund itself. The Darklords call this "vaktaga negethrak Naara" — the Black Will of Naar. The air poisons the lungs, the water withers the soul, and constant thunderstorms keep the light of Kai away; all instil a sense of terror within all that enter the Darklands. the land itself is also an enemy, with sharp rocks that can kill, and the laws of nature corrupted to an extent that pathfinding is impossible. Foul beasts and creatures roam the wastelands, attacking anything they meet; the Darklords leave them alone, as they also serve as guards that protect the Darklands from invasion.

The source of the corruption that created the Darklands is the Nengud-kor-Adez, travelling through the various underground tributaries of Magnamund. The corruption could only be held at bay by the power of nature, meaning the forces of Darkness had to spoil the land first, such as burning its forests, before the Nengud-kor-Adez could spread. The Herbalish had discovered this while investigating an enhanced Lajakeka, created by Darklord Shebnar and recklessly left unprotected during the Darklands War. With this knowledge, they created an elixir that could reverse this damage, although progress was incredibly slow.

Corruption

The Touch of Naar also afflicts the land and anything that enters the Darklands. Wounds rot easier, diseases spread faster, and broken bones refuse to be set. Those not serving Naar but entering the Darklands feel a sense of violation and corruption, dulling their senses. If such people stay long enough in the Darklands, the Touch of Naar will eventually corrupt and overcome that person, eventually either converting them to Evil, or causing them to succumb to trauma and/or physical mutation. In extreme cases, the power of Evil will transform them into Darkspawn-like mutants like the Egorgh.

The corruption can be reduced by meditation, with many Dark Cultists forced to perform this in order to survive in the Darklands, the price of their allegiance. Leaving the Darklands for at least will also cause the corruption to fade slightly. However, it is not possible to fully-expunge the corruption in its entirety without the direct intervention by Kai or Ishir.

Politics

The Darklands is ruled by an Archlord, and the current ruler is Archlord Vashna, revived in MS 5102, in his second rule as Archlord. The exact process upon which an Archlord is made is not clear, but a combination of politics and violence amongst Darklords has played a part in several Archlords' ascensions. All prior ascensions have come after the destruction of the current Archlord, leading to a power vacuum and civil war that can last hundreds of years. It is said that the path to becoming Archlord required "allies, resources [and] adequate political ability".

Becoming Archlord grants them immense power and authority from Naar himself. A dark shadow of pure evil called the Aegis of the Archlord covers them, as a sign of that authority. The Darklords are fully subservient to the Archlord, who possesses the ultimate authority over them. One notable exception is that each Darklord possesses a personal compound within Helgedad, and they have absolute authority within, even over the Archlord. This has led to tensions in the past, although ones that are quickly resolved, as the subservient Darklords do not wish to lose their compounds, and Archlords are aware that too many disgruntled Darklords are a threat to his authority. This did not stop Archlord Vashna from destroying Darklord Xog's compound (with Xog inside), after Xog disappointed him.

Prior to Vashna's second rule, a degree of decentralised control was given by the Archlord to their fellow Darklords. Several Darklords were politically-close to Helgedad, having the most opportunities to practice political intrigue, and greater access to the spawning pools and Nadziranim, concentrated in Helgedad. A number were politically-close to Kaag, the second city of the Darklands, and its greatest fortress, militarily. A number, however, were given domains on the borders of the Darklands. These domains were far away from the political power base of Helgedad, but had greater freedom in operating without the watchful eye of the Archlord. The Archlords after Vashna came from outside of the Helgedad circle: Zagarna (Kaag), Haakon (Aarnak) and Gnaag (Mozgôar).

Domains

The Darklands is divided up into multiple domains, some of which are ruled by a Darklord, some ruled by a Drakkar leader, and others simply abandoned wastelands of limited interest. Helgedad, the capital, is ruled by the Archlord.

• Helgedad (capital)
• Aargataag
• Argazad
• Barazoth
• Dajaraa
• Dajdorza
• Elgazaad
• Fethmyre
• Galhiak
• Ghargon
• Gourizaga
• Gournen
• Hourdast
• Jegdazok
• Kagorst
• Kagzizad
• Luurvad
• Maarkaag
• Orlo Taanak
• Ozdaraga
• Tar Ogashaar
• Yr-Naoga
• Zutzinozaga

List of Archlords

• Vashna (first reign) (MS 3192–3799)
• Zagarna (MS 4219–5050)
• Haakon (MS 5055)
• Gnaag (MS 5060–5070)
• Vashna (second reign) (MS 5102–present)

Foreign relations

The Darklands are allied with the Drakkarim nations, and occasionally with Vassagonia. Multiple smaller nobles have allied with the Darklands in the past, although outside of the Drakkarim nations, few nations formally do so.

Economy

As the Darklords' goal is to conquer Magnamund by force, it has limited use for an economy of currency. However, the Giaks and Drakkarim use the Kika, which has uses within the Darklands, as well as their own countries outside of the Darklands.

Demographics

In MS 5000, the Darklands had a population of 3,000,000, of which 1,000,000 were in Helgedad.

In the gamebooks

The Darklands are the predominant threat throughout the Kai and Magnakai series of gamebooks. The first gamebook, Flight from the Dark, begins with a new invasion by the Darklands in an incident known as the Massacre of the Kai. The protagonist of the book, Lone Wolf, is the sole survivor, and the Kai and Magnakai series of books details how Lone Wolf steadily builds himself up to become a Kai Grand Master, worthy to challenge the Darklands. Lone Wolf becomes the Darklands' greatest enemy, and in the final Magnakai series book, The Masters of Darkness, the player slays Archlord Gnaag, and destroys the Transfusor, destroying the remaining Darklords.

In the Grand Master series of books, the Darklands takes a back seat, with the player addressing non-Darklord threats throughout Magnamund, although individual groups of evil within the Darklands sometimes plotted attacks on the Freelands, such as in The Captives of Kaag, where Banedon is captured and imprisoned in Kaag, and Lone Wolf attempts to rescue him. The New Order series of books sees Lone Wolf, now Kai Supreme Master, take a back seat himself, with his protégé and new player character, Grand Master, as the protagonist. Like his master, Grand Master sees limited action in the Darklands, with the notable exception of Trail of the Wolf, where Lone Wolf is kidnapped and imprisoned in Gazad Helkona. Dead in the Deep sees the return of the Darklands, as Archlord Vashna is revived in Zekgazad.

The player characters explore the Darklands sparingly in the gamebooks, mostly-preoccupied with threats outside of it, and in Lone Wolf's case, not strong enough to infiltrate the Darklands himself until the latter parts of the adventure. The player, as Lone Wolf, first enters the Darklands in The Masters of Darkness, running the entire gamut of the northern coast (Argazad and Aarnak) and then Helgedad. In this quest, the player slays Darklords Kraagenskûl and Taktaal, and Archlord Gnaag with the Sommerswerd (or the Dagger of Vashna or Helshezag, if the player does not possess it).

The Darklands fortress of Kaag is next explored in The Captives of Kaag, where the player aims to rescue Banedon. Some lore about Zagarna and Slûtar, Lords of Kaag, can be found here.

The player, as Grand Master, enters the Darklands for the first time in Trail of the Wolf, as they aim to rescue Lone Wolf, imprisoned in Gazad Helkona.