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 t the west of the barren land, at the foot of the high peaks within the Morraddi
mountains, lies a land found in the shadows of a dark and misty forest.
Once, this land was referred to as the Holy Land and it was blessed
by the grace of fertile soil and a giving Sun.
There came a time long ago when the skies in this area became perpetually obscured
by a shroud of dark clouds. The Holy Land was deserted. The people of this Land,
known as the Forest Folk, built an underground city and they have lived there ever since.
Knowledge of this once great land has faded amongst the remaining kingdoms. Even now,
only a few of the wise men remember tales of the Holy Land. The place is now referred
to as simply "The Land of Disaster."
One day, a ceremonial idol representing the highest ideal of peace was presented to the
King of the small country Heladin. Moved by the gesture of the gift, the King, Lucien IV,
decreed that the idol would have a permanent home in his throne room.
At once, the kingdom of Heladin began a quickening spiral of decay. The King's sages were
asked if they could discover the source of the curse that had befallen the kingdom.
The sages uncovered the legend of an "Idol of Sorrow" that was said to originate from the
mysterious Forest Folk from the Land of Disaster. The sages attributed the fall of the Land
of Disaster to the cursed Idol of Sorrow and believe that the idol received by King Lucien
was indeed this item. The people of Heladin organized an expedition to return the wretched
idol to the Land of Disaster in the hopes of breaking its curse. With the highest hopes, the
team of adventurers, led by the famous Sword Master, set out on their expedition and,
tragically, were never seen again.
On a storm-swept night, Prince Devian of Azalin was visited by a strange wanderer. The person
presented the Prince with an idol and informed him to, "Return this idol to the Land of Disaster
so that other kingdoms do not succumb to its wicked curse."
Because of his friendship with the Sword Master, Prince Devian knew of the expedition sent from
Heladin to return a cursed idol but had not heard the outcome. Feeling the burden of the quest
to rid the land of the wicked idol, the prince set out for the Land of Disaster and the Ancient
City that lies within its dark forest. Prince Devian was also aware of the dangers inherent in
traveling to a realm that has been reclaimed by nature's fury.
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