The Rise of Wurgar and the Disciples of Chaos
In the annals of Herja, the story of Wurgar’s founding is a tale cloaked in uncertainty and despair. The arrival of The Disciples of Chaos, now synonymous with the Godless Lands, disrupted the fragile peace of this once-thriving region. Their rise is a testament to the intoxicating allure and destructive power of Chaos, which reshaped the land, its people, and its destiny.
The Portal in Gandoa
The history of Wurgar begins with the enigmatic opening of a portal within the Kingdom of Gandoa, a moment that marked the year 690 AR in Deuslair’s calendar. This phenomenon, whether by the Disciples’ design, experimental folly, or pure chance, forever altered Herja. From the portal emerged emissaries—scarred figures bearing the gospel of a Chaos god unknown to the land. Their bodies, twisted and burned in ways unnatural, stood as grim testimonies to their allegiance.
At first, the emissaries were treated as curiosities. They entered the royal court of Gandoa not as conquerors but as mysterious visitors, their disfigurements mistaken for divine marks of favour. For months, they indulged in the kingdom’s hospitality, learning its myths, geography, and weaknesses. Yet their devotion to Chaos unnerved even the most tolerant of Gandoa’s clergy. Efforts to heal their wounds were met with refusal, for these scars were sacred, symbols of their god’s blessing.
Treachery and the Fall of Gandoa
The peace shattered when one emissary began babbling of “finding the world of the first fight” and “the bones of the gods.” Their fanaticism grew more erratic, culminating in an incident that changed everything: the theft of a magical artifact from Gandoa’s royal treasury. King Gandoa’s command was swift and uncharacteristically harsh—kill the emissaries and seal the portal. This decision, steeped in fear of what he had witnessed, came too late.
Despite the kingdom’s efforts, two emissaries escaped back through the portal, taking the artifact with them. Weeks of frantic labour by Gandoa’s mages failed to close the gateway. When the time ran out, armies of Chaos spilled forth, bearing weapons and tactics that overwhelmed the defenders. In two short weeks, Gandoa’s capital fell, and within a month, the entire kingdom lay in ruins.
The Construction of Wurgar
Following their conquest, the Disciples turned their enslaved captives toward building a bastion worthy of their god. Wurgar’s foundation was laid upon the ashes of Gandoa’s capital, its black stones quarried from the nearby mountains. Orcish slaves from the realms beyond the portal provided the labour, their name for the fortress—“Wur’Gar”—evolving into the moniker we know today.
The stronghold’s completion marked a turning point in Herja’s history. From this seat of power, the Disciples began their relentless expansion, subjugating nearby kingdoms with an efficiency that defied resistance. Wurgar became both the symbol and the instrument of Chaos’ domination, a citadel whose shadow stretches across the Godless Lands.
The Spread of Chaos Across Herja
In the decades following Wurgar’s completion, the Disciples of Chaos transformed the eastern continent of Herja into a desolate wasteland. Kingdoms fell, their survivors enslaved or assimilated. The Godless Lands took shape, their geography scarred by the fires of war and the influence of Chaos magic.
Each conquest brought new horrors. Forests burned to ash; rivers ran black with blood. The Disciples’ armies, bolstered by Betrayers and demonic allies, faced little opposition that could match their ferocity. Yet the origins of their power remained shrouded in mystery. Whispers of the stolen artifact persist, suggesting it may hold the key to understanding Chaos’ sudden and overwhelming influence.
The Legacy of Wurgar’s Founding
Today, Wurgar stands as a grim monument to the power of Chaos. Its rise heralded an age of suffering for Herja, one that persists with no clear end in sight. Yet amid the despair, hope lingers in whispered tales of resistance and hidden sanctuaries. The story of Wurgar’s founding, though steeped in tragedy, serves as a stark reminder of the resilience of those who dare to stand against the tide of Chaos.
Though the flames of Chaos consume, their embers yet illuminate paths to defiance.
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