| name: | Fortress of the Ily'kras | |
| difficulty: | Deadly | |
| pk type: | npk/cpk/cg | |
| life span: | 120 | |
| rooms: | 299 | |
| designer(s): | Grond , Nympath | |
| story: |
|
A long time ago in the age of the Blackfire Lords, there lived a titan named
Durnac, who lived atop a cold, lifeless mountain far to the northeast. Durnac
was a lonely titan and prone to take mortal guise and wander among the human
tribes, seeking what joy he could in their companionship. One day while working
at a small smithy in the bustling city of Talorien, Durnac was approached by a
noble lord and his young daughter, who were in search of smiths to help prepare
his army for a deadly war against a race of barbaric giants.
Durnac was loath to craft weapons of war, but one look from his daughter and Durnac's heart was smitten, and he knew he would travel to the ends of the Empire for her. Traveling to an island in the far reaches of the north, the noble lead Durnac to his mountain stronghold, the fortress of Ily'kras. For many years, the giants in the northern mountains had been barbaric, if not peaceful, creatures, prone to nothing more than an occasional raid to steal a few cows. A few months ago, something had stirred the giants into frenzy and they had come howling out of the mountains. Burning villages and taking large numbers of the villagers back as slaves or worse. The guards of Ily'kras were hard pressed just to drive the giants back to their mountain stronghold. This led the lord to raise an army and prepare them to strike back at the fiendish giants in their lair, the black, volcanic mountain known as Frostholt. Durnac and the other smiths worked long and hard forging weapons and armor for the newly raised army. Durnac was by far the greatest of the smiths, crafting weapons and armor that glowed with their lethality. Soon, the lord's army was equipped and ready for the long trip to the north. They ventured into the cold wastes, across frozen tundra and to the very gates of the mountain. The hordes of giants flew out of the cave entrance meeting the army on the plain before Frostholt. Bloody and vicious was the battle of Frostholt, but the forces of Ily'kras were victorious, crushing the giants and sending them fleeing into the mountain. Strange reports were heard from the battle of grey giants that resembled the villagers taken in the raids. Tales were also told of strange lizard creatures hurling enchantments and killing with deadly efficiency. Durnac stayed in Ily'kras and married Karelina the noble's daughter, and they had two strong sons, Jurnac and Brule. The babies were the delight of Ily'kras. Till one night, a strange creature that seemed to blend with the shadows carried off Brule. The armies were raised and marched to Frostholt, but the giants had sealed off the mountain and not even the most ferocious attack could penetrate those defenses. The noble lord died in the attack and was returned to Ily'kras for burial. Karelina ascended to the throne. Durnac was wrought with grief and spent many days forging in his private smith. After a month, he emerged from the smithy with a gleaming set of armor. He went to his beloved Karelina hugged her, strapped on his armor, and strode north to the black mountain. Word was never heard from Durnac again. Though Queen Karelina sent numerous patrols against the giants, all that was ever recovered was his armor. Which has been passed from generation to generation down the line of kings. Jurnac grew to be a strong and able man, infused with the blood of his father. He has lived and guided the Ily'kras for countless generations. It was he who lead the charge that saved Talorien from Brule, his own brother, when he lead the frost giants out of the north. Now, the giants are massing again. Raids have become more frequent and closer to the fortress, and tales of a thief in the night, that kills and steals, have been reported lately. Ily'kras is preparing for war, but can their might alone hold back the wave of giants? |
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