Overview:
The Battle of the Scarred Wastes was the climactic battle where Vorthar Crimsonclaw was killed, and Zaroth the Shadowed was seemingly defeated. In the end, Zaroth’s essence was captured within his sword, Corruption’s Edge, while the Triple Crown was purified, marking the end of the Shadowed Age and the beginning of the Age of Restoration.
Date: 790 VT
Participants:
- Vorthar Crimsonclaw
- Zaroth the Shadowed
- Valoran soldiers
- Zaroth’s forces (corrupted creatures, dark sorcerers, shadow-infused warriors)
- Caelum Valorborn (after the battle)
Cause:
Zaroth’s corruption had reached its zenith, and Vorthar Crimsonclaw, though deeply corrupted, saw Zaroth as the only remaining obstacle in his quest for dominance. Determined to end Zaroth’s reign of chaos, Vorthar led every soldier Valora could muster in a final confrontation with Zaroth outside of Altheria.
Story:
The battle was nothing short of catastrophic. Zaroth’s dark forces, bolstered by years of corruption, wreaked havoc on Valora’s soldiers, while Vorthar pushed toward Zaroth, driven by his ambition. The two titans met in a brutal, violent clash, Zaroth wielding his cursed sword, Corruption’s Edge, against the might of Vorthar’s corrupted strength. Though Vorthar fought with unmatched ferocity, he eventually found himself on the brink of defeat.
As Zaroth moved to strike the final blow, Vorthar was enveloped by the blinding light of the Triple Crown. Time seemed to stand still as Vorthar was pulled into a vision—a final gift from Altharion.
In the vision, Vorthar lived out a life that could have been, one not ruled by greed and lust for power. He became the leader he was destined to be, a man of humility and justice, guiding the Crimsonclaw family to prosperity. Vorthar saw himself reunite the great families, ushering in an age of peace and wisdom. He ruled with compassion, his people thriving under his care. As the years passed in the vision, Vorthar learned that true strength lay not in domination but in guiding others with integrity and wisdom.
To Vorthar, the vision felt like a lifetime. But when it ended, only moments had passed in the real world. He awoke just as Zaroth’s blade came down upon him, severing his head. His body crumbled, but the Triple Crown—now purified by Altharion’s essence—radiated with divine energy. The crown’s jewels were replaced by a single white crystal, glowing with the light of Altharion.
Despite Vorthar’s death, Zaroth, blinded by his victory, reached for the Triple Crown. As the crown touched his head, the divine energy seared his flesh to the bone. With a scream of pain and rage, Zaroth’s body exploded outward, leaving nothing but his blade, Corruption’s Edge, now solidified, and the purified Triple Crown lying on the battlefield.
After the battle, Caelum Valorborn, mourning the loss of his father, arrived on the scene. He found both artifacts lying in the dirt—the Triple Crown glowing with purity, and Corruption’s Edge, now a cursed relic housing Zaroth’s dark essence. Caelum took both, knowing that they would shape Valora’s future and his own.
Outcome:
Though Vorthar Crimsonclaw died, his final moment of clarity purified the Triple Crown, ridding it of Zaroth’s influence. Zaroth’s physical form was seemingly destroyed, but his dark essence became trapped within Corruption’s Edge, transforming it into a powerful, cursed artifact. The battle left the land forever scarred, giving rise to the Scarred Wastes.
Artifacts #
- Corruption’s Edge: A spectral blade humming with Zaroth’s trapped essence, pulsing with dark energy. It now stands as both a symbol of his defeat and a dangerous reminder of his lingering presence.
- The Purified Triple Crown: The once-corrupted Triple Crown was purified by Vorthar’s final act of redemption. The crown, now adorned with a glowing white crystal, remains a powerful symbol of unity and divine protection in Valora.
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