8 Important Things:
8.0.1 The Ragged Rooks
The Ragged Rooks were formed in 1075 AoM by five powerful individuals: Gishigan, a master mage; Tovenaar, a sorcerer; Desinor, a mysterious druid; Lucan, a master thief; and Pandaras, a skilled ranger. In 1080 AoM, they raided Fort Orckrag, acquiring Mother Tree leaves, though Pandaras tragically lost his life during the mission.
The early days of the Ragged Rooks were filled with daring adventures. They navigated the treacherous Galen Forest to find the Lost Grove of Illiora, where Desinor chose to leave the powerful Heartstone behind to preserve the balance of nature. They battled a necromancer and his undead army at Mountainscar Keep, saving nearby settlements from ruin. In the deserts of the Sand Dominion, they uncovered Mornath's tomb. The group also thwarted a warlock uprising at Spine Castle, sealing a dark portal that threatened to unleash chaos upon the land.
By 1085 AoM, the dwarves had built Drell's Keep on Lonely Hill, but the curse of Xalamar and the red gold led the dwarves to turn on each other in madness and greed. Gishigan sealed the mines beneath the keep preventing the curse’s spread.
In 1100 AoM, Feall rose to power, declaring himself the Great King and ushering in an age of prosperity. However, by 1200 AoM, Feall’s mind was overtaken by Ixalor, who took control of the kingdom. Ixalor expanded his dark empire, leading to widespread corruption, chaos, and war.
In 1345 AoM, the Ragged Rooks reformed to oppose Ixalor’s tyranny. Lucan left the group, and two new allies joined their cause—Archmage Steven Amber and the mad artificer Halfhag. In 1347 AoM, Halfhag created the Soultrap, a powerful artifact capable of imprisoning even the darkest of souls. In 1350 AoM, the Ragged Rooks used the Soultrap to imprison Ixalor in the Void Beyond, ending his reign of terror and claiming the Black Shield.
In the aftermath, the Ragged Rooks disbanded in 1390 AoM, their mission fulfilled, but their legacy endured as the heroes who ended Ixalor's dark reign and reshaped the fate of the world. Steven Amber would claim the legendary Aetherblade and become Archon of Arcanum. He was tragically murdered in 1385 AoM. In 1397 AoM, Halfhag mysteriously disappeared. Gishigan, once the great wizard, now suffers from madness. Desinor has gone into hiding. Tovenaar resides in a keep in Lion's Roost, still quietly
8.0.2 The Prophecy of Lothron Lîn
In the annals of ancient lore among the races of OnceWas, there is a prophecy veiled in shadows and foreboding - the Lothron Lîn, known as the Final Conflict and the Hour of Twilight. It is whispered that from the Void Beyond, a realm beyond mortal ken, there shall emerge a being of vast and malevolent power. Born of a witch, this imprisoned entity will arise anew, signaling the onset of oblivion.
"When the sky ruptures and the fabric of reality tears, the Void Beyond shall be unveiled. From this rift, hordes of aberrations, led by an unchained prisoner, shall surge forth, unleashing chaos and desolation upon the world.
"The gods, unable to halt the invasion, will reluctantly take up arms, knowing the prophecy foretells their ultimate downfall. Elysium, the celestial realm, shall be destroyed, set ablaze by the inexorable forces.
"Yet, a glimmer of hope remains. Before the shattered gates swing wide, and ere the ancient prisoner completes his metamorphosis to unleash unspeakable terrors, mortals may intervene. Armed with the Aetherblade and the Black Shield, courageous souls can alter the course of destiny.
"But beware, for the key to salvation lies not only in releasing the prisoner but in returning him to his forsaken throne to face the justice long denied."
The Void Sunderer heralds the coming of oblivion, his presence unraveling the fabric of reality itself and plunging mortals into eternal darkness.
The Prophecy of Lothron Lîn
In ancient scrolls, the tale is told,
written words both dark and bold,
The Lothron Lîn, the elves did say,
will mark the end of light one day.
From a Void Beyond where monsters tread,
A dark lord returns, it is said.
Born of witchcraft, foul and arcane,
He rises now to break his chains.
When the sky rends and planes collide,
The Void Beyond shall tear open wide.
From that rift, a horde will pour,
Led by the prisoner, to wage war.
Yet still, a spark of hope remains,
Before the rift brings endless pain.
With Aetherblade and Black Shield in hand,
Mortals may yet take their stand.
Find Aetherblade and Shield of Black.
Release the dark sovereign with the Soultrap.
With Shield and Sword to face his wrath
And in the hour of twilight change the path!
"Lothron Lîn" is translated from Elvish as the Final Conflict.
Lothron – "conflict" or "battle" .
Lîn – "final," meaning ultimate or the last.
8.0.3 Mother Trees
Long ago, when the gods walked among mortals, there existed a rivalry between the goddess Yavanna, patron of life and nature, and Mairon, the god of death. Yavanna, renowned for her boundless creativity and love for all living things, grew weary of Mairon's relentless pursuit of souls. In a defiant act of defiance, Yavanna created something that would defy Mairon's grasp and bring eternal life to those touched by its essence.
Drawing upon the deepest reservoirs of her divine power, Yavanna brought forth the Mother Trees into existence. These mystical trees were unlike any other in the world, their bark imbued with silver hues that shimmered in the moonlight, and their leaves, the color of purest white, glowed softly with an inner radiance.
Yavanna planted the first Mother Tree in the heart of the Eldertree Forest, a place where the barriers between the mortal realm and the realm of magic were thin, allowing the tree to draw upon the latent energies that suffused the land. From its roots, a wellspring of life energy flowed, nurturing the tree. Some believe that it was the White tree that drew forth the elves, who came and built Silvandor around the tree.
As the ages passed, Yavanna created more Mother Trees, each placed in a different corner of OnceWas where the fabric of reality was suffused with potent magic. These trees became known as the Twelve Sisters, and their presence brought a sense of wonder and reverence wherever they grew. Their white leaves were believed to hold the power to extend life indefinitely, granting vitality to those who partook of their essence. The trees became sacred symbols among those who revered nature and magic, and their locations were carefully guarded secrets passed down through generations.
Ships and Kings stand tall
over time and all things fall
With the White Tree’s fantastic gift
man slips the fingers of Nergal’s grip
Mad Monarchs think they’re clever,
Eating Mother Tree leaf to steal back time,
but Man was not meant to live forever.
White Tree can heal the body, not the mind.
The Withered Sister
Long ago, Vutra Rax the Undying was given a Mother Tree by the goddess Xalara, goddess of greed and avarice. Xalara used dark magic to corrupt the Mother Tree. Once full of life and light, the tree became something twisted and wrong. Its silver bark turned black, and its glowing white leaves all turned to ash save one. This Mother Treeno longer gave life—it fed on it.
The tree became known as the Withered Sister. It did not grant eternal life, but eternal living death. The Withered Sister transformed Vutra Rax into a Lich—forever undead, never decaying, but no longer truly living.
The land around was transformed into dry, dusty scrubland. Spirits wandered near it, drawn to its dark pull. Though the Twelve Mother Trees were once a symbol of hope, this one became a symbol of sorrow. Now, only eleven are honored. The Withered Sister is feared and forgotten—left to rot in the shadows of a broken world.