|
|
| |
|
| ||
|
|
|
|
Introduction -- The First Atog War
Legend has it that thousands of years ago, there was fought a mighty war. Mysterious creatures roamed the land, devouring items of power, machineries long since lost. These creatures were known as Atogs.
Once numerous, these strange beings have been lost to time, but rumors
abound that they exist in isolated packets scattered around Dominia. Atogs
are purple creatures. They have gaping jaws that can devour the largest
artifact. The mouth of an Atog is lined with hundreds of teeth. Their
orange eyes are locked in a perpetual scowl.
Records recall that hidden, twisted experiments gave rise to a new breed
of Atogs. These beings, unlike their cousins, consumed entire forests. A
being known as Jake rose to power, claiming to be a god. The self-titled
Jake the Atog God provoked and led his own Jihad against these new
"Foratogs," vowing to destroy them all.
What in truth occured, none can say. The most prevalent memory is that
Zipht, friend of all Atogs, became Jake's adversary. The creatures of the
world rose up against Jake the Atog God. It is said that Jake the Atog
God's army was crushed by millions of Kobolds under the control of people
such as Kobold Overlord and Cup della Roccaforte di Kher. Jake the Atog
God mysteriously disappeared.
Taking the name of Elrohir, Jake the Atog God fled beyond Dominia, walking
the planes, gaining power, and biding his time until once again, he would
stand up for his beloved Atogs against all unbelievers.
THE SECOND ATOG WAR
Chapter 1: This means War!
"What good is using old junk when newer technology is readily available?
For Shards sake, Shark! You should be able to understand that!" a dark
shadow argued in the night.
His companion, a war veteran named The Shark, responded. "Have you seen
the workmanship the craftsmiths' ve been doing? It's crap! They' ve given
up quality for quantity, that's fer sure. Why, this old sword for
example," the Shark holds up a finely crafted weapon, "has been around for
years. It may be costly, but it is of finer quality than yer blade, fer
sure."
The two walked past a tavern called The Flaming Arrow. A figure seated
within heard this conversation and followed them outside and down the
street.
"Not even an Atog would eat such rubbish! Ye' ve got to be a fool fer
believin' otherwise," said Sharks companion.
Out of the darkness replied the figure from the Flaming Arrow. " 't seems
t' that ye dinna have respect fer the Atog!" His unexpected speech
frightened the two wayfarers, who were until then unaware of his presence.
"Elrohir! We thought you was out of town, travelin' wit dat caravan headed
fer Mountainhall. What're ye still doin' here?" Shark asked.
"It tairns oot that they dinna need me help after all. Ye dinna want to
be showin' the disrespect fer the Atogs, lest they destroy thee and thy
house."
Elrohir turned his gaze to Shark's companion, who then quaked in fear.
"Ah'm sorry, milord! 'T won't happen again!" replied the shadowed
companion.
"Bah! 'Tis too late fer that. Atogs! I invoke yer powers! Zipht, to me!
Ye'll rue the day ye claimed of the Atog's inadequacies! This means war!
I am Jake the Atog God! I have spoken!"
The Shark and his companion vanished, running off into the dark. Jake the
Atog God stood there, babbling in the dark about his new Jihad. News that
Jake the Atog God had returned spread quickly through the province, and
soon the country and then the world.
In the months that passed, Jake gathered an enormous army of Atogs,
including hundreds of mutations created by the wizard Gandalf. Amazingly,
Jake the Atog God and Gandalf were opposed by a rash being known only as
Anonumus. It was thought by Jake's enormous following that Anonumus was
foolish to oppose him. Anonumus became powerful in his own right,
obtaining a massive army of followers as well.
Jake and Gandalf preached their orations magnificently to their followers.
Use of awesomely powerful weapons was encouraged. Motivation was profound
for the recreation and use of the ancient relics and artifacts. Chronatog,
LED, Deity, Fishbert, Earendil, Waffles, and the Paladin joined what became
Gandalf's Jihad, determined to extinguish from Dominia the impure Anonumus.
Atogs consumed entire towns. Villages and cities wer overrun by mighty
homarids, griffins, chimerae, djinns, efreets, marids, merfolk, pegasi,
elves, vampires, gorilla berserkers, and knights. Their reign of terror
was unopposed until Anonumus, along with new allies Godbert, Zeebo, Dakkon,
Sisay, Wombat, Darman, and White Knight counterattacked with more griffns,
mist dragons, bears, elves, thallids, drakes, Scarwood Bandits, djinns,
marids, efreets, pegasi, falcons, knights, and the Autumn Willow.
Pitifully, Anonumus and his followers fought with current technology, and
stepped up production of this new technology. The war raged on, and both
sides were evenly matched. Slowly, the armies shrank in size, with battles
fought in the plains of Edramor, the towns of Hoans, Lishar, and Pleabmosi.
Followers on both sides bowed out of the war as their armies were slowly
annihilated. The war was going downhill, right into the mouths of hundreds
of hungry Atogs.
Chapter 2: There can be only one!
One night, Jake had a dream. There appeared before him a ghostly figure,
and it proceeded to speak to him.
"Jake, this war has cost millions of lives. It must come to an end. I am
Margrave. Tell me of your grievances, and the Council of Goardchi shall
determine the outcome."
By a most fascinating coincidence, Anonumus received a similar message.
By an even stranger coincidence, both of them agreed to have Margrave and
his council determine the outcome.
Jake left the war to look inside himself and contemplate things. Gandalf
and Anonumus continued their arguements. Soon Jake, as Elrohir, returned
with a document he titled the Player's Manifesto. He delivered it as a
mighty speech, but it failed to net him any more followers.
Elrohir's mind was shattered. His Manifesto was perfect, but it was a
failure, as no one else wished to be dragged into the war. In his mind, he
was losing, and losing the war was the last thing he wished to do. He
journeyed far seeking aid. He went to an enclave of wizards hailing of the
coast, but they were unable to help him. He wandered to a nearby bazaar,
hoping to find help.
He picked up a little trinket and was hit by a blast of power. The energy
severed his mind and body, instead forming them into two different beings.
One was Elrohir, and the other was the militant Jake the Atog God. Jake
the Atog God vanished at once, fleeing into the bazaar. Elrohir was left
to wander about, until he unexpectedly came across Anonumus. Anonumus,
devious being that he was, sensed something was wrong with his
arch-nemesis.
"Elrohir! Fancy meeting you here. Say would you like to join me in
destroying Gandalf?" Elrohir, turned his back and walked away. Anonumus
wandered on, and eventually met up with Jake the Atog God.
"Jake, fancy meeting you here. Would you help me in getting rid of
Gandalf and Elrohir?" Anonumus asked.
"Ach, would I! That goody goody two-shoes laives a bad taist in me mouth.
Ay, ah'll join with ye!"
With Jake as his ally and the war seemingly won, Anonumus proclaimed
himself the Lord Anonumus and claimed the bazaar and everything beyond
dominia as his realm. Jake took leave of Lord Anonumus to destroy Elrohir
once and for all.
Chapter 3: War's End
"Ach, ah' ve found ye at last!" Jake the Atog God entered Elrohir's abode.
"Ah' ve allied meself wit Laird Anonumus, and yer days're numbered now!
Taste this!" Fire erupted from Jake's splayed fingers, engulfing Elrohir
in flames, but the flames bounced off of Elrohir's skin and returned to
Jake, incinerating him instead.
"I am truly sorry it comes down to this, Jake. You' ve sided with the
wrong person. It is your days that are now at an end." Elrohir left his
abode, and Jake was consumed by flames along with the house.
A few days later, Elrohir was at the bazaar again, looking for spell
components, when he was again confronted by Lord Anonumus.
"Will ye join me in destroying Jake? He seems to have gotten a little out
of my control." Lord Anonumus's offer was enticing, and Elrohir almost
accepted.
"Well, he has become a problem, stalking me and such but I've already
destroyed him." Elrohir saw a wicked gleam in Lord Anonumus's eye. "I have
no need to associate myself with you."
"Very well, mortal. Jake, eliminate him for me." Lord Anonumus yelled.
"As ye wish, milord." Jake unveiled himself, being one of the nearby
onlookers of this spectacle.
"You are a bad memory, Jake," Elrohir said. "Why won't you stay dead?
Perhaps you should take up farming!" At this, Jake disappeared in a
blinding flash of white light.
"He'll be back, Elrohir, and he won't be happy!" Lord Anonumus said,
running off into the distance.
True to Anonumus's word, Jake reappeared within a matter of moments. He
removed a ring from his finger.
"I am Jake the Atog God! I am immortal and all-powerful! Mortals such as
thee canna hope to challenge me! Taste my wrath!"
Exiting a nearby shop, Gandalf witnessed this new confrontation.
"Jake? Elrohir? What is going on?" Gandalf was confused by seeing what
he considered his ally confronting itself. "I'll fix this." Blue sparks
erupted from Gandalf's fingers, and both Jake and Elrohir vanished.
In the nethervoid, Elrohir and Jake battled savagely. Jake the Atog God's
rashness and overbearing attitude were easily overcome by Elrohir's wisdom,
insight, and confidence in his abilities. Gandalf's psychic purge
destroyed the barrier wrought between the two, and they became one. This
new being was Elrohir, God of Wisdom, and he returned to Dominia.
Within days, his newly issued proclamation was heard throughout the land.
Margrave and the Council of Goardchi were to determine the outcome of the
war in a period of cease-fire. Anonumus, having lately dropped his "Lord"
title, concurred with this decision. The Second Atog War officially was
put on hold, as both the generals were tired of the fighting. The only way
was to have an official third party mediate the outcome. Peace returned to
a war-ravaged land.
To this day, the winner of the Second Atog War is a matter of dispute, as
Margrave and the Council of Goardchi disappeared, seemingly another victim
of the war.
Many thanks to Gandalf, Anonumus, and the many others who contributed
their sides and opinions to the war. Without you, the mountains of
material used for this story wouldn't be around for me to make this story
possible. This story couldn't be done in good conscience without this
acknowledgement.
Elrohir, God of Wisdom
General of the 1st and 2nd Atog Wars.