The recent rediscovery of Paineel, and the emergence of wanton practitioners of its forbidden arts, casts much light upon heretofore mysterious happenings in our distant past. I have pieced together several of the writings and teachings of Tower archivists and other scholars, in an attempt to provide the first coherent narrative concerning the fabled hero Wargoth. Until now, sages have been dumbfounded by tales of the Dark Age of Intellect, but the examination of certain Erudite documents provides a viable theoretical basis for events once believed to be apocryphal.
If the documents retrieved from the Hole are to be taken as valid, the Dark Age of Intellect was a reality--one triggered by the pall cast upon Norrath in the wake of Miragul's demise. Hotheaded types among all the civilized peoples of Norrath began to cast a suspicious eye upon outsiders, according to records kept by trade caravans of the time, and the backward condition of isolation slowly began to mutate into the threat of hostility. Fragile alliances that had formed between disparate races eventually disintegrated, and, in time, mutual distrust gave birth to more insidious feelings.
The most profound effect of these conditions upon world events was undoubtedly the rise of Chaos.
With the races of Norrath already frightened and defensive, and with the recent resurgence of necromancy to blame, the inevitable came to pass--the widespread suppression of magical knowledge. Regardless of discipline, sorcerers of every stripe found themselves forced to pursue their studies in secret. Rumours circulated concerning hidden academies that operated under cover of darkness, and societies that taught the magic-wielding elite to recognize each other when in the company of the uninitiated. The bitterness, and quite frequently, evasiveness, with which known sorcerers responded to these allegations did little to assuage the fears of the common citizen.
As paranoia grew, many ruling factions began to escalate their efforts to eradicate the magical arts by extreme means. Executions were not uncommon, even among the high elves. One elven noble, sentenced to death for selling some sort of enchanted item, is reported to have used mystical powers to escape. Although the connection was not made at the time, modern scholars believe that this fellow may well have played a role in the tragic events that came soon after.
History records that the near-destruction of Felwithe was caused by a black, fetid lightning cloud. Descriptions of the phenomenon vary, but the consensus of the few wisemen who dared confess magical knowledge was that the effect was more like an elemental than any other known form of sorcery. However, it was sufficiently different to have defied classification for millenia.
Worse, the breaking of Felwithe was not an isolated incident, but rather, the beginning of a series of disasters. Qeynos, Ak'Anon, Kaladim, and Neriak were all struck with similar nightmares, resulting in the deaths of tens of thousands of people. Panic ensued, and many individuals were captured and tortured. None, however, were conclusively proven to be responsible for the incidents. It soon became a widespread belief that Norrath was being punished by the gods. Other people believed that Norrath was undergoing a punishment of sorts, but that heaven had little to do with it.
The turning point came several months later, when barbarian hunters in the Everfrost Peaks spotted a strange, angry-looking storm on the horizon, which seemed to be growing nearer to their homeland. Upon their return to Halas, the hunters tore through the streets, alerting everyone within earshot. Although there are some discrepancies in the various texts, most of the surviving records indicate that the city was actually saved by a blacksmith called Wargoth. How this feat was accomplished is hotly debated among scholars in the Tower, but most archivists believe that Wargoth was, in all likelihood, one of the original barbarians transformed by divine intervention. These creatures were reported to have given rise to the human race, and to have been in possession of great knowledge--knowledge that has only survived into the modern era in vestigal form, as the art of the shaman. In any case, Wargoth and a ragtag band of followers are credited with overcoming the elemental attack and preserving the peace in Halas.
Wargoth, an enigmatic and mysterious figure, turns up in much of the highland literature produced in that era. There are other references to fantastic creatures that are believed to indirectly refer to the barbarian hero. One prominent bedtime story speaks of the "Great Bear", a fairytale figure that stands watch over the world. Another bit of verse, which may still be heard sung around the campfires of bandits in the mountainous Karanas, refers to the ghost of a highland warrior who only appears at dusk or dawn.
"The Fifth Journal of Rakhesh" within the Library of Erudin tells the story of a "stranger of great stature" who approached the leaders of the city of Qeynos, claiming that, hiding somewhere within its walls, an insidious force was gaining in power. He spun a tale of cosmic scope, claiming that long before the existence of the gods, and the concepts of good and evil, the more primal forces of Order and Chaos were already locked in eternal struggle. As if this were not enough, he also claimed to have knowledge of a clan of dark artisans who were bent on shifting the world out of balance. City officials believed the man to be deranged, and turned him away. Several disruptive incidents occurred shortly thereafter, and warrants were issued for the stranger's arrest. He was never apprehended.
During this period, there are several references to other mysterious happenings, often involving dark sorcery, and occasionally featuring the intervention of forces of unknown origin. Widely dismissed at the time, they are regarded by modern scholars as supporting evidence for the Dark Age of Intellect and the legend of Wargoth.
The most thoroughly documented event of the Dark Age of Intellect is outlined in writings kept by the Hall of Truth in Freeport, though that document is closely guarded. In fact, the information is no longer accessible by outsiders, but there are copies of most of the pertinent facts kept in Freeport's wizard guild. The following account of this climactic encounter comes from that source, which I personally believe to be as accurate as the original.
Tales of strange happenings in the Oasis of Marr found their way to the Hall of Truth, and the leader of the knights commissioned a special force to investigate. As the riders approached their destination, they were amazed to see what appeared to be a storm brewing over the desert. Alarmed, the knights began to invoke their holy gifts and healing protections, only to find their powers had become erratic, and their effects unpredictable. Deprived of everything but courage, they rode forth as little more than well-armored warriors. At this point, the name Wargoth appears once again in the history of Norrath.
Revulsion washed over the paladins as they traversed a landscape crawling with undead horrors, strange elementals, and other abominations. A few of the more zealous knights paused their journey to smite a few of these creatures, but little time was wasted in getting to the Oasis. As they neared the waters, they caught their first glimpse of the army of Wargoth. Thousands of soldiers, comprised of all the races of Norrath, stood on the sands, gazing fearfully at the storm which seemed to rip a hole in the sky itself. The leader of the knights leapt from his mount and charged at the soldiers, signalling his men to follow him into battle, but was met by Wargoth himself. Spotting dark elves, trolls, ogres, and other evil races in the horde, the knight cursed Wargoth for his evil works, but Wargoth ordered his forces not to interfere. The two men battled alone for a time, until at last the knight's two-handed sword was sent flying into murky water. Enraged, but bound by honor, the knight's lieutenants stood firm as the great barbarian lifted his warhammer to deliver the killing blow. To the amazement of all present, the warhammer dropped to the wind-whipped sand, and Wargoth knelt before his beaten opponent.
"I, once a father of man, am now a servant of mankind. We fight for balance in this world, and I beg you to join me."
Before the stunned templar could form a response, the air was pierced with an unholy shriek. Looking toward the heavens, the soldiers could make out hordes of winged creatures pouring out of the rift in the sky, bearing riders clad in flowing robes and wielding staves. Reality itself began to shift as the dark brotherhood of Chaos worked its magic upon the land. Crocodiles near the water's edge, now shifting in shape and standing on two legs, rose up and made their way toward the army. The drowned victims of centuries past rose from the bowels of the lake, hissing like angry vipers. The sun turned to crimson, and the ocean began to boil.
The Knights of Truth, in the finest tradition of their holy order, made a leap of faith. The particulars of the battle that ensued are so fantastic as to defy belief, and I will not belabour their feasability here. It shall suffice to say that after the last blow was dealt, and the sky returned to the form given it by the Nameless, the joined army of Wargoth and the forces of Marr lay dead or dying on the battlefield. Only a few of the hardiest champions remained to count the dead, and among them was the leader of the paladins. Weary and bloodied, he stumbled to where the great Wargoth lay, mortally wounded. The two heroes clasped hands, and the barbarian released his final breath.
On that very evening, the knight who heard Wargoth's dying whisper convened a meeting of all those who weathered the battle. Over the objections of the Hall, a new order was formed to carry on the barbarian's legacy. The surviving heroes stood guard around the funeral pyre of Wargoth, and pledged their lives toward a sacred trust. They would stand as guardians of Order and Balance, ever vigilant for the return of the forces of Chaos, and would turn away no worthy soul who would join the cause, be him good or evil in disposition.
This tale, once thought to be nothing more than fantasy, should be re-examined due to the new evidence that has been brought to light. There are many unanswered questions, particularly as to what led to the rise of Chaos. Was the fugitive high elf of Felwithe its agent, playing upon the sympathy of scores of persecuted sorcerers? I find myself with much speculation and little fact. Should anyone read these words and learn more of the truth, I would be grateful for its sharing.
Blessed be.
Marius Auxtherian
60th Circle of the Arcane
Watcher of High Keep
