Songs of War

Prologue

Our world, Ardonia, is a vast land, home to many diverse people, strange creatures, and dangerous monsters. Hidden among the shadows of dense forests, beneath the sands of treacherous deserts, and frozen within the ancient mountains of the North are secrets and mysteries which have eluded our comprehension throughout the ages. Few of these mysteries, however, have attracted such fascination as the Ardoni species, for which the land shares its name.

The Ardoni possess the unique ability to wield great powers known as Songs. The strongest of these powers were referred to as Prime Songs, and were deemed too powerful for the Ardoni to wield freely. Thus, they were given to the masters of the four Ardoni clans as a sign of peace and unity. Because of this, the clans were blinded to a great danger.

From within the fires of the Nether realm, an army set out to conquer the Overworld. They vanquished the kingdoms and people of Ardonia as the spread across the land. But they were not to remain unchallenged.

The Enderknights returned during these dark times, long having been guardians of the Overworld. The two opposing realms clashed with a fury of inconceivable power. Yet the Nether had prepared well for this invasion--and not even the legendary Enderknights could stop them. With no other hope of victory, the kingdoms called upon the Ardoni to wield the Prime Songs.

Reluctantly, the clans agreed, and held a tournament to determine which Ardoni would become their champion and wield all four Prime Songs. One rose above the rest--persistent, cunning, and powerful. The champion had been found.

When presented with the Prime Songs however, he revealed himself as Ingressus--leader of the long-forgotten and dreaded Voltaris clan. Outraged, the masters refused to give Ingressus the Prime Songs, for it was due to their misuse of such power that the Voltaris had been banished long ago.

That night, while the clans debated their next course of action, Ingressus set out alone to reclaim the Prime Songs. One by one he slayed the masters of the Kaltaris, Sendaris, and Mendoris clans. Through these dark deeds, he became known as the Deathsinger. The fourth and final master, Aegus Nestoris, survived the massacre, thus protecting the last and most powerful Prime Song. The Ardoni mourned the tragedy. They vowed to hunt down the Deathsinger and prevent him from obtaining the final Prime Song.

It was at this time that the Voltaris clan returned from exile and joined the Deathsinger in his revenge. However, even with their support he knew that he was outmatched. With all of Ardonia now his enemy, there was only one place to turn.

The Deathsinger met with King Chronos of the Nether and formed the most powerful alliance ever known. Thus began the Great War.

The Enderknights rallied under King Rendor and fought the Nether head on. The Ardoni clans wielded their Songs of old. The humans assembled their armies, the Magnorites came from the South, and the Felinas from the West. Some even say that the legendary Hero himself was there. But despite everything, the Deathsinger and the Nether armies could not be stopped.

The tides of this conflict turned after a young Ardoni joined the fight. Skilled with the Songs, Achillean Nestoris was able to unite and lead the armies to victory, which earned him the name Tidesinger. With his leadership and the Enderknight forces, the nether army was forced to retreat back to the Nether.

With no allies, the remaining Voltaris fell back to Mount Velgrin. Here the Tidesinger fought the Deathsinger alone, and both were defeated, leaving only the Deathsinger's three Prime Songs and the Tidesinger's four Songs as evidence of their existence. The Prime Songs were recovered and distributed amongst the clans once more, signaling an end to the Great War.

Peace was restored to Ardonia, and a time for rebuilding and healing began. The wounds caused by the Deathsinger, however, will be felt forever.

The Great War, 11th Wall of Time