Gnassag (DE)

***Language**: en, cns, id, th, uk, **de**, fr, es, pt, it, ru*

...

"Die Rückkehr der Titanen hat die Welt ins Chaos gestürzt. Der Tod hat sich im ganzen Land erhoben und eine Macht wartet nur darauf, von den aufstrebenden Göttern des Todes in Anspruch genommen zu werden."

Etappe 1 - Wer folgt dem tobenden Krieg

*"Die Stadt Schwarzhammer brennt lichterloh und Agrella, die Rebellin und Banditenkönigin, die von Ares ermächtigt wurde, ist über die stabilen Zwergenmauern hinweggefegt, um ihre blutige Rache zu nehmen. Während die Verteidiger sich in ihrer Verzweiflung zurückziehen, schreitet der Titan Ares gelassen durch das Gemetzel."*
**Hades**: War diese Eroberung wirklich der Gipfel Eures Ehrgeizes, Fürst Ares?
**Ares**: Hades. Ihr hättet mir ruhig von Eurer Ankunft berichten können. Dann gäbe es jetzt mehr Leichen... Diese Krieger sind lediglich die Ersten, die unsere Anmut erblickt und sich als würdig erwiesen haben.
**Hades**: Es scheinen mehr von Euren Streitkräften unter den Gefallenen zu sein als von den Verteidigern. Ihr werdet die Stadt nicht halten können, wenn sie einen Gegenangriff gegen Euch ausführen.
**Enyo**: Ihr wagt es, uns zu verspotten und unsere Stärke zu verleugnen? Aus welchem Grund seid Ihr hierher gekommen?
**Hades**: Ich bin hier, um Euch in die Knie zu zwingen.

*"Die Streitkräfte des Kriegsbringers sind dank Ares' Segen nicht leicht zu bezwingen. Sie kampfen wie besessen, doch Hades schlängelt sich geschickt zwischen ihnen hindurch, während seine Sense sich an ihrer Lebenskraft labt."*
**Ares**: Ihr kämpft gut. Ich hatte angenommen, dass die Jahrhunderte in Eurem Versteck im Untergrund und nur in der Gesellschaft der Toten Euch schwach gemacht hätten.
**Hades**: Die Toten lassen sich nicht so leicht fesseln.

Etappe 2 - Alles wird vergehen

*"The Warbringers reassemble their men to face Hades, the battle around them seems to dim as all sides watch these champions in their duel."*
**Ares**: You aren't here to steal a single city from us. Tell us, what are you really doing here?
**Hades**: You were to be the vanguard. But your failure alerted them to our arrival prematurely. I've come, boy, to see you punished.
**Ares**: Punished? I am not some spoiled child, Hades. You will learn to fear me, to respect the rightful god of war.
**Hades**: And you will learn to regret that hubris.

**Ares**: Is this your punishment, Hades? You aren't stronger than me.
**Hades**: No, I am not. But I am not the deliverer of your punishment.
*"In the distance, a warhorn sounds echoing through the mountains. Behind them, a stout army of Dwarves crashes into the rear of Ares' army. Hades smiles coldly as a portal opens behind him."*
**Ares**: Stay! Fight with us! With your help, we can crush these mortals, bring about our rule! The rule of the titans.
**Hades**: I intend to- just without you. Woe to the conquered, Lord Ares. Woe to the dead.

Etappe 3 - Gut bestelltes Land

*"Two armies have met on the fiery plains of the Ashlands. Another in the hundreds of clashes in the ever-warring land. The Prince of Amgorath waits to speak with the envoy of his enemy."*
**Xazathel**: I give you safe passage, general; state your terms; perhaps we may have peace.
**Vasholo**: I come with no terms. The Prince of Morrag has decreed you rabble be destroyed, and I am the instrument of his will. I think I shall start by taking your head.
**Gnassag**: You think him foolish enough to have come here alone?
**Vasholo**: Hah. No, I had counted on you being cowardly enough to bring more to the slaughter.
**Xazathel**: We won't go down without a fight.

*"As the victorious armies of Morag leave the bodies of their enemies behind, a portal opens, and two figures stride out among the dead and dying."*
**Persephone**: Are you certain about this place? It could use a touch of green.
**Hades**: It is in broken earth that seeds take root, my dear.
**Persephone**: Then there is much work to be done.
*"Hades reaches down to one of the slain demons, setting his palm on his head, and the demon suddenly jerks back to life."*
**Hades**: So it begins.

Etappe 4 - Das Jenseits

**Gnassag**: I'm alive... But you- you are one of them — the anathema. Why did you bring me back?
**Hades**: It is time to set aside the old grievances, demon. The titans have returned; you wish to remake the world. Let us do it together.
**Gnassag**: And why should I? Do you think I would so readily side with the ancient enemy? I cannot be bought with a cheap bit of magic.
**Persephone**: Then I will put you back down myself.

*"The slain demon falls at Hades feet as Persephone effortlessly swipes the blood from her sickle. Again, Hades reaches down and brings back the dying Princeling."*
**Hades**: Content? Or shall I force you out of this mortal shell again?
**Gnassag**: You don't leave me much choice.
**Persephone**: No. We don't. See to it that you remember that.

Etappe 5 - Gräuel

**Hades**: Would you really stand against us? Bind yourselves to our fate. Take a new God, worthy of your worship.
**Vasholo**: What god do you promise us? I see only an upsprung angel. You claim the power of a titan. Prove it to me.
**Persephone**: With your leave, my husband, let me show them.

*"The warrior-princess falls, and her armies are scattered, but as the demon's soul begins to pass from her body, Hades seizes it and forces it to return."*
**Veshana**: By what right do you have to raise me from my death? You won. Take my city, my land, and my people. But let my soul pass on.
**Hades**: Hm... Perhaps I shall. When destiny sees fit to pluck it from you once more. Until then, you are mine.
**Veshana**: You will regret attempting to bind a demon against her will.

Etappe 6 - Tyrann der Seelen

*"In short time, Hades consolidates an army from the dead. Beneath Gnassag's leadership. As they march to the next Princedom, the revived demon comes to his side."*
**Gnassag**: You've made something of a mistake, -er Lord Hades. Ours is far from the most powerful clan. You should have waited for a stronger Prince to fall.
**Persephone**: The fates unwind as they will. We will grow from your humble roots, like a weed unattended, that chokes the mighty oak.
**Gnassag**: I have no earthly idea what you mean- my Lady.
**Persephone**: Your kind truly are wretched to live in this ash-ridden place. Never mind; our next conquest lies ahead.

*"The Great Princes of the Ashlands have assembled as more and more of their holdings fall to the rising Soul Keepers."*
**Prince Gaimal**: You know why it is I've gathered you here.
**Naryxis**: Let me guess: is it that our rival Princedoms have fallen one by one to an invading army led by the Anathema?
**Prince Rekar**: He means to propose an alliance, don't you, Gaimal?
**Prince Gaimal**: We demons do not barter in trust. But our interests align — are we free or are we subjects?
**Naryxis**: I, for one, will never bow to a King, least of all one of the anathema.

Etappe 7 - Die heißen Tore

*"The armies of the makeshift coalition of Princes meet the army of Hades at a narrow pass. Persephone strides ahead of them, confidently seeking an audience."*
**Naryxis**: We stand assembled against you. We will not allow ourselves to be ruled by some rejected god.
**Persephone**: There is no rejection. Our worshippers will grow as rapidly as the vines through this land.
**Naryxis**: They will wither and die like your vines. This is not your garden, Queenie. These are the Ashlands.

**Naryxis**: We have them. You underestimated us, the Ashlanders are not so easily cowed.
**Hades**: Far from it. I know exactly what you are capable of-
*"The battle which had been leaning towards the Ashlander's side, is suddenly rocked as Prince Rekar's men turn on their allies."*

Etappe 8 - Gottwerdung

"Having lured the Demon Host into a trap, as Prince Rekar's men side with the Soul Keepers, it seems they now hold the balance of power."

**Naryxis**: Rekar! You traitor; you sold us out.
**Prince Rekar**: It's simply good sense — who am I to stand in the way of the return of the gods? At the very least, I get to keep my slice of darkness.
**Naryxis**: I don't care; traitors or no, we stand here, and today we make our decision whether to die as warriors or live as slaves.

*"Persephone delivers the killing blow to Naryxis, and the rest of the free demons scatter in retreat. But as Hades approaches to revive her, she is stopped by Vashana."*
**Veshana**: No. You will not bind her too — you've won. We submit. But you must choose now. Be the master of the living or the dead, not both; not even a god may have both.
**Hades**: Very well. Then I choose the living — I've served my time as Lord of the Dead.
**Persephone**: You have fought well. That much we are impressed with — if you wish for your freedom, you have earned it.
**Veshana**: I will take it. Be warned, gods or no, the Ashlands will resist you. This is not the end of your fight.
**Hades**: Yet it is the beginning of our ascension. That much will suffice.