The Mor’dari, or Mor’drak as they are alternatively known, are among the most feared and tragic entities in Valthor’s history. These beings, born of corrupted ambition and Stygian magic, serve as a grim reminder of the consequences of tampering with forbidden powers. Twisted, parasitic, and destructive, the Mor’dari were once mortal beings who succumbed to the overwhelming energy of the Stygian realm, transforming into shadowed remnants of their former selves.
Biological Features
Physical Traits
The Mor’dari are visibly marked by their corruption. Their forms are twisted, resembling living shadows with spectral edges that flicker and shift. Their ashen or blackened skin is often cracked, revealing glowing veins of red, violet, or green energy, a manifestation of the Stygian magic coursing through them. Their limbs elongate unnaturally, ending in clawed hands, and their eyes glow with colours reflecting their corrupted energy. While terrifyingly inhuman, faint echoes of their former selves occasionally manifest in their posture, mannerisms, or broken speech, hinting at the beings they once were.
Degradation
Their forms are inherently unstable, requiring sustenance from external sources such as magical energy, life essence, or even the fear of others. This dependency drives their parasitic nature, as they drain vitality and magic from their environment to maintain their cohesion.
Abilities
The Mor’dari wield devastating powers, a fusion of their former magical abilities and the corruption that defines them:
- Corruption Aura: Their presence poisons the land, turning rivers acidic, withering vegetation, and mutating animals into monstrous forms.
- Shadow Manipulation: They can meld into shadows, becoming stealthy and nearly invisible for ambush attacks.
- Enhanced Physicality: Superhuman strength, speed, and reflexes make them deadly in combat.
- Twisted Magic: Mor’dari retain magical abilities corrupted by Stygian energy, enabling them to cast destructive spells, manipulate fear, and sap life force.
Weaknesses
Despite their power, the Mor’dari are not invincible. Light-based magic and purification rituals are particularly effective, severing their connection to Stygian energy. Dragon fire is one of the few forces capable of permanently purging their corruption. Additionally, their reliance on the Obelisks as a source of power means that destroying or sealing these ancient structures weakens or eradicates them.
Cultural and Historical Features
Origins
The Mor’dari trace their origins to the decline of the Tellurian civilisation, a period marked by hubris and the pursuit of ultimate knowledge. Around ±9,000 BS, Tellurian scholars used the Obelisks to open a portal to the Stygian realm. Their goal was enlightenment, but the unleashed energy corrupted them, transforming them into the first Mor’dari. As their ambition spiralled into catastrophe, the scholars attempted to merge their essence with the Obelisks, sealing their fate and spreading corruption across the land.
Role in the Fire Age
During the climactic events of the Fire Age, the Mor’dari reached their zenith of power. They unleashed catastrophic destruction during the Battle of Pyros and Bul’Derlihiem, corrupting dragon eggs and creating monstrous, shadowy dragons loyal to their cause. These Darkling Dragons, with blackened scales and toxic breath, were smaller but more agile than their untainted kin, making them formidable aerial combatants.
Brinadros and his dragon, Ambros, led the resistance against the Mor’dari. Though their efforts united the mortal races and dragons, Brinadros was ultimately slain in single combat with a Stygian creature. This tragedy marked a pivotal moment in the Fire Age and cemented the Mor’dari as symbols of fear and chaos.
Symbolism
The Mor’dari serve as a stark warning against unchecked ambition and the misuse of forbidden knowledge. Their association with the Obelisks transformed these once-revered structures into symbols of corruption and despair. The tales of their rise and fall are cautionary legends told across Valthor, reminding mortals of the fragile balance between power and destruction.
Legacy
The Mor’dari’s impact lingers in the scars they left on the world. Corrupted lands like the Fire Lands remain barren, unable to sustain life. Their shadowy legacy persists in myths and legends, and some scholars believe that dormant Mor’dari may still guard the ruins of ancient Obelisks, waiting for their time to rise again. While the mortal dragon riders are celebrated for their bravery, the Mor’dari and their corrupted dragons are remembered as harbingers of destruction, shrouded in fear and mystery.
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