Second Scourge

The **Second Scourge** began in Netheren with the corruption of Patemis, the Dragon-God of Freedom, in **1A05**, and lasted 90 years.

## History

### Beginning of the Scourge

Organized under Patemis, the fiendish hordes poured out of mountains north of Netheren. The city of Lougrick was hit first, with its defenders slaughtered down to nearly one man before the Rangers of the Grey managed to get word out.

The fiendish hordes also emerged on the eastern ranges and moved west, eventually overrunning the entirety of Morgaea. As a result, the Adamantium abandoned Netheren in order to better protect their core territories.

### Battle of Umberland

Learning about the Scourge, Maudesian emperor Volantus enlisted the help of mages, permitting them to use their full power against the fiendish hordes, and leading to the signing of the Anderan Accord with the Vigilants of Sibylla in **1A20**, and the founding of the Institiute of Magic, the Templar Order, and the Inquisition.

The mages proved to be essential allies in battle, and the Maudesian army under Volantus' brilliant command won a series of significant victories culminated in **1A16** in the destruction of a massive horde during the Battle of Umberland.

Volantus' armies stood at the forefront of every major battle against the fiendish hordes, and always spread the Holy Tome with them.

Throughout the conflict, the elves of the Sylvandale remained neutral and unhelpful. Tensions between humans and elves became especially high when the Maudesian city of Montelleu was nearly destroyed by a fiendish horde in **1A25** while the elven army watched nearby.

In **1A31**, a fiendish horde besieged the City of Adamantium, but were defeated.

### Siege of Greyhold

The Maudesian armies marched southwards and relieved the Siege of Greyhold when the fortress was about to fall. The Rangers were so impressed with Volantus that they converted to the Ministry. The united forces moved further south to salvage what was left of Netheren, leading to its conversion to the Ministry and annexation by the Maudesian Empire later that year. Volantus initially wanted to conquer the weakened Adamantium, but ultimately decided to aid the Grey Order instead.

In **1A45** Emperor Volantus died of old age, and was succeeded by his son Caecilius II. Unlike his father, Caecilius II did little to strengthen anyone's position in the face of the Scourge, and by the time it came to an end, entire villages had been destroyed, and many lives lost. He didn't possess his father's political savvy either, and in **1A65** Netheren declared its independence.

### Unification of Drahanim

In **1A40** the Drahanim warrior Heford united the tribes in the Nordish Valley against a fiendish horde. He first defeated the fiendish armies, and in 1A50, the combined forces of Welserine and Cleve who were hoping to use the Scourge for their advantage. Heford was named the first jarl of the Drahanim.

### Battles in the Eastern Approach

The Eastern Approach was the site of several major battles during the Second Scourge, and the Rangers of the Grey built many fortresses in the area to face the fiendish hordes. The hordes swarmed out of the great chasm to the north named the Abyssal Rift. Steadfast Fortress, built by dwarves and used as a Grey Order outpost, soon became a symbol of their courage and skill.

### Battle of Alepool

In **1A95**, the last battle of the Second Scourge was fought at Alepool with a human army led by the Grey Order. The Rangers had planned a trap for Patemis in Alepool, but found out that the Archfiend had somehow been aware of the assault. They found themselves surrounded by fiends instead. Both sides suffered heavy losses, but Patemis was finally slain by the Ranger Korryn. His mage lover, and fellow Ranger, Naria sacrificed herself, using her own body to shield Korryn from an emissary's bolt. She died instantly, but allowed Korryn to cut his way through the fiendish horde and plunge his blade into the Archfiend, killing both himself and the beast, and ending the Second Scourge.

## Aftermath

With the slaying of the Archfiend, the fiendish hordes were forced underground. The following period became known as the Rebuilding. Trade, culture and religion flourished. Many believed the Second Scourge would be the last.

While the newly formed Ministry was overshadowed by the Scourge, it continued to spread rapidly throughout the next hundred years. Despite the glorious triumph of the Maudesians in many battles, the Maudesian Empire began its slow decline. Netheren remained independent.

Since the Second Scourge, the land in the Eastern Approach has been corrupted beyond recovery, and the Veil is exceptionally thin in the region.

## Notable participants

* Korryn, Ranger of the Grey
* Naria, Ranger of the Grey
* Caecilius Volantus, first Emperor of Maudet
* Caecilius II, second Emperor of Maudet
* Heford, Jarl of the Drahanim