Vol. 5 Turmanar and its Aftermath

Turmanar and its Aftermath
For those unfamilar with the life and works of Emperor Zaramoth, called the Unmaker, I recommend the work of Essilina the Watchful, she is far more familiar with the life of the last Star Emperor than I. This work will deal with the events immediately following the moment when Zaramoth's Sword struck the Shield of Azunai the Defender; that is, the moment the Second Age began.
One thing that those who study Turmanar must keep in mind is that the weapons of the two warriors were much more than merely a sword and shield -- each was the final masterwork of a great race, Zaramoth's Sword was the last weapon forged by the Utgards, the great race of the Northern Giants.
The Shield of Azunai, on the other hand, was the last known work of the fabled Agallan smiths, and the most powerful artifact known to have come from their hands. Forging it was their last act before they fled to the eastern mountains and put down their smithing tools forever.
It is impossible to comprehend the power that was contained in these two objects. Each was forged to be the greatest artifact ever constructed, and though the Shield broke under the Sword, it is not knonw which was truly the more powerful. The measureless power of the energies released with the breaking of the Shield implies that they were evenly matched.
When Zaramoth brough his Sword down on Azunai's SHield, a wave of power was released. The very mana of the earth flowed through the breaking Shield, and struck down both armies where they stood.
The wave of power flowed outward across the land, leaving Aranna scorched and wasted. Only the forests of Vai'lutra survived the devastation, for the Edhel seers had forewarding of the wave's approach and were able to stregthen the shield over their lands.
In the months following Turmanar, many of Aranna's inhabitants died, for there were little food to be fouund. The few Humans that survived fled to the north or west. Some took shelter in Aman'lu, and lived for a while on the charity of the Edhel. The Humans have forgotten this, but we have not.
Much changed when the Sword and Shield met, but the most important of these changes was that Zaramoth and all his armies were utterly destroyed, and the people of Aranna were once again free.
Category:Dungeon Siege II
Category:Books