Valley of Wonders Map Submission Form For Age of Wonders, 1.2

Map Name:The Rebellion of the Free Races
Map Author:David Corbett
Author's E-Mail:theonionking@hotmail.com
Playable Races:All
Unplayable Races:None
Map Size: X-Large
Levels: Surface/Undeground
Difficulty: Easy/Normal/Difficult
Spheres: 7
Leaders:Yes (though not recommended
Starting Level:1

Map Description:The continent of Raznunin occupies most of the playing
map.  It is famed throughout the realms for its vast number of rich
gold mines found in two long mountain chains, and for its rich mana
deposits, found underground.

Background Story:

 Under the leadership of Wail Widowmaker, General of
the Eastern Army of the Dark Elf nation of Luthunial, the dark elves
have captured most of the continent of Raznunin, located three hundred
imperial measures southwest of the main continent of Concuse. The other
races suffered greatly at the hands of their dark elven masters, who
particpated in blood orgies and mass slaughters as part of their religious
festivities.  Then the goblin master-assasin CeNol Sixpoison managed
to infiltrate the dark elven main camp and kill Wail in a viscous duel. Without
the tactical genius of General Widowmaker, the stranglehold of Luthunial
weakened, and all the races began to muster to fight for their freedom.
Even the former allies of the dark elves suffered under their tyrannical
oppression, and are now eager to profit from the demise of their former
friends.



	Human Leader: Lord Kelsdragon (L1)

Lord Kelsdragon was once ruler of the duchy of Nissinia in the Dealian Kingdom, but
relinquished his rule so he could assume field command. Still rather young, Kelsdragon
made a name for himself at the battle of Three Valley Lake, where his troops held off
a force of goblins five times their size.  He pesonally has no vendetta against the dark
elves, but is determined that the humans assume their natural position as superior race.

		Human Hero: Lugraine the Chaste (L3)

The second daughter of Sir Cheslen, Lugraine achieved notoriety first for her great skill
in hand to hand combat, and later for her refusal of the advances of the rather handsome
Duke Cauldron, which gave rise to her nickname 'the chaste'.  She is a capable leader, and
loathes the dark elves and all things that live in the dark.

	Azrac Leader: Sultar Esskerin (L1)

Sultar Esskerin was a merchant lord who was wrecked upon the shores of Raznunin. From what
he scavenged of his fleet's cargo he managed to build up an enormous fortune.  After the
horrors of the dark elf reign, Sultar found himself literally one of the richest men around.
He quickly assumed control of the Azrac consulate, and began to muster troops to carve himself
a piece of the ripe Raznunin continent.

		Azrac Hero: Kel'Dustin the Anguished (L3)

Kel'Dustin was born to nomadic parents who travelled the fringes of the great Gewollen Desert,
following the migration of the vast herds of Skuxxen. He survived an attack on the tribe by the Choffi, the
strange beetle people that lived in the Gewollen Desert, mainly by his being unaffected from
the waves of panic the Choffi warriors projected as they attacked.  Kel'Dustin was taken in 
by peddlars, who honed his fighting prowess, so that Kel'Dustin moved faster than seemed possible,
often getting a first strike in on opponents. The peddlars favored the tube-weapon, which fired
finger long darts coated in venom acquired from a Cassala, a small intelligent spider.  Due to
his hatred of the the Choffi, he has transferred his dislike onto the dark elves, the similarity
between the two being their black skin.

	Lizardman Leader: Lord Sklektth (L1)

Sklektth was first noticed shortly after his entrance into the great univerisity of
Xalandria, where he spoke out against the current politcal landscape of the Lizard people, 
which is ruled by tradional and xenophobic elders.  Sklektth realized the great advantages
to increased trade and relations with all the other inteligent races. A great debate raged, with
the final result of Sklektth being elevated to the rank of Lord, and given command of an 
expedition to the island of Raznunin, where the dark elves have just lost power, leaving it ripe
for just such a course of action as Sklektth had advocated.

		Lizardman Hero: Tlacquatic the Green (L3)

The title of Tlac refers to more than just his coloring, which is slightly more yellow really.
It actually refers to his real field experience.  Tlac was a an expert student at the Emerald
Pool Academy, learning the skills of archery, and enhancing his own personal attributes as he
followed a strict training regime.  He met Sklektth at a political demonstration, where Tlac was
actually working as a guard.  He has followed the newly appointed lord to the island, and with
and elite guard looks to further the sphere of Lizard people influence.

	Frostling Leader: Ogden Chillfist (L1)

Ogden was born in Raznunin in a Frostling mining community.  He spent his childhood learning
the ways of the clergy, but after the brutal oppression of the dark elves turned to the sword.
He has now taken command of the few remaining frostlings and seeks to rebuild them to their
former status.

		Frostling Hero:  Lord Bluestone the Winter Knight (L3)

Lord Bluestone has done what few others have.  He has succesfully conquered the peaks of the
forbidding and mind-boggingly deadly peaks of the mountain Koshtra Belorn, results of which
have endowed knight with the abilities of cold immunity as well as cold strike.  Lord Bluestone
has been in command of troops for the Frostling nation of Geistussein for eight years, and
has recently been assigned to Raznunin with the orders of aiding the popular Ogden Chillfist.

	Elf Leader: Prince Locdunne (L1)

The elven kingdom of Gilatea thrived in the rich coastal lands of Raznunin, until Wail Widowmaker
and a maelstrom of dark elves pushed the elves from all their claimed lands.  Prince Locdunne
survived the massacre of his people and remains one of the last royal elves of the Naeain lineage.
He has been acclaimed leader of the remaining elves and seeks to pursue his bitter hatred of all
things evil until there is nothing left to pursue.

		Elf Hero: Path Autumnleaf the Oathmaker (L3)

Path first gained fame in the Fyorun Games, where he placed third in the archery contest at
the unheralded age of twelve.  Since then he has refined his abilities to a point where he 
once struck fourty nine out of fifty in a fist sized target at a hundred paces. He has travelled
to Raznunin as he is of the Naeain line and aims to help his cousin back to a throne. His 
title Path earned by first being with King Callor at the disaster of Venn ford, where Callor and
his bodyguard were knocked out by potent magic, and then tortured.  Callor cursed his captors, 
who laughed at him, but were then promptly lit up by bright blue flickering light as a chain
lightning spell reduced them to cinder.  Callor then went on to fulfill his curse which was 
something to the effect of reducing a certain city to cinders, as well as killing a number
of quite well-defended and reluctant personages along the way.

	Halfling Leader: Sir Merryglade (L1)

The leadership of Sir Merryglade is hotly disputed in the sleepy halfling villages. After
all he collaborated with the loathed dark elves, a result of which left some halflings alive,
instead of the mass genocide planned by certain dark elf leaders (Wail in particular, who
despised halflings).  Sir Merryglade has only begun to pursue a more aggressive stance due
to the influence of his new mistress, a certain hafling beauty name Eliza Day, known as the 
'Wild Rose', who dreams of greater of things for halfling-kind.

		Halfling Hero:  Barbara the Gourmet (L3)

There is not a halfling alive, who if forced to join up with the army, would not choose to be
in the ranks of the halfling master-chef Barbara, who has so rightly and many times earned her
appelation 'the gourmet'.  Wounded halfling, their legs and arms dangling by tendons, have been
actually known to self-heal in order to get to some of the delicious grub tantalizing them as
they lay recumbant in the first-aid tents.  Barbara roams the world looking for new recipes,
and has realized that there is no finer audience for her talents than a batallion of bloody, 
hungry and dirty halflings, each of whom would die for her.

	Dwarf Leader:  King Wyrmslayer(L1)

Only the great cunning of the dwarf King has kept the kingdom of Karinthia from being obliterated,
as happened to so many others during the mad reign of Wail Widowmaker.  Wyrmslayer, who killed
two black dragons during the Pastel wars, had retreated deep underground to escape the fist of Wail,
but with the dark elf's passing, is now looking to regain all lost dwarven territory under his
own leadership, as well as perhaps just a bit more, like all those amazingly juicy gold mines
on the surface.
		
		Dwarf Hero: Kor Daskdusky the Demonslayer (L3)

As any dwarf well tell you, daskdusky means crazy.  Well perhaps not, dwarves don't really
like talking to anyone who can't grow a good two foot beard, and that rule applies to women
as well.  Kor grew up the mines of Gazudd-Baag, and spent his youth fighting goblins, dark elves
and orcs as a tunnel fighter.  He rose through the ranks of the Karinthian army and was
instrumental in the survival of so many of dwarf kind.  During the seige of Halloween, a truly
nightmarish time, Kor killed a demon prince that had just ripped apart eight dwarves.  Kor has
since had the demon rib-cage made into armor, but had it stolen by goblin thieves.

	High Men Leader: The High Inquisitor (L1)

The high inquisitor is a firm believer in the belief that High men are born to rule all other
races, due to their inherent superiority.  His drive and purpose have led him to be assigned
leadership of a High Men outpost near the continent of Raznunin, with the orders to establish
a foothold for the coming holy wars.

		High Men Hero:  Lord Othurlik the Enlightened (L3)

Orthurlik used to be an unbeliever, considered quite heretical in High Men society, as can be
easily imagined.  This didn't stop his growing prestige on the politcal scene, where he rose to
great prominence.  However he suffered a personal crisis for unknown reasons, and has since
devoted his life to the religious.  This, per High Men dogma, includes the continual showing
to the other intelligent races of the High Men's superiority.

	Dark Elf Leader:  Eluevin Akkarrt (L1)

Left holding the remains of the dark elf empire together is the extremely unlucky Eluevin.
Due to the excesses of his predecesor Wail Widowmaker, the dark elves find themselves ganged up
on by all the other races.  Eluevin knows to survive he must rebuild the kingdom of Wail.

		Dark Elf Hero: Wail Widowmaker the Nighthand (L3)

Rather oddly, and quite to his detriment, the Nighthand bears the same name as the hated and
deceased dark elf general.  This Wail went to assassin school, but graduated near the bottom.
Bearing the same name as a reviled figure has made the Nighthand paranoid, as numerous mistaken
attempts have been made on his life.  Well, perhaps not all mistaken.  As a result of some many
close encounters the Nighthand has gained an immunity to poison, and is now careful to liberally
all sorts to his own weapons.

	Orc Leader: King Swampcrag (L1)

The orcs up until just recently were considered staunch allies of the dark elves throughtout most
of the conflicts going on around the world.  But on Raznunin, Wail Widowmaker slaughtered fourty
thousand orc civilians in a surprise and treacherous attack.  King Swampcrag advised a policy of
pacification and defence, which has let him outlive Wail.  Swampcrag now sees that there is a 
vacant seat of power that bears his name in gold letters.
		
		Orc Hero: Trok Ogre-Bane Clan Chieftan (L3)

Of all his impressive list of deeds, Trok is most proud of having been elected Clan Chief
of his tribe the Gouged Skulls.  A warrior almost without parallel, Trok has held off small
armies almost by himself, as his skill and speed allow him to not only strike before his
opponent, but usually right after them as well.  Trok is somewhat obsessed by magic items
and will ignore the wishes of his superiors to seek out odd trinkets of dubious power.

	Goblin Leader: Zukk Eyebiter (L1)

Zukk Eyebiter is a direct descendant of the legendary goblin hero, Gleep-wurp.  Gleep-wurp,
as any goblin historian will well remember was one of eight members of a party of adventurers
that were responsible for the displacement and eventual extinction of a race of ice giants,
brought about by a volcanic eruption during a pitched magic battle between the eight and a number
ice giant shamen.  The eruption destroyed most of the ice giant civilization.  The party survived
due to their reliance on fire magic spells, which were able to shield them from the fiery
flow of lava.  Zukk is quite aggresive, hardly surprising given goblin nature, and is known
for both his cunning and his quick deductive reasoning.  For lack of a better leader he has
assumed command of the remainder of the goblin kind.  Wail Widowmake didn't feel particularly
agitated at the goblins, so they are in a good position to show everyone that goblins rule.

		Goblin Hero: Ezgut Blackhand the Dubios (L3)

Ezgut was the hero of an assault by puppeteers on his goblin village, due mainly to 
his disbelief of the illusions the puppeteers send in advance of their 'cleanin' crew.  Faced
with an actual standing person, the puppeteers lost heart and fled.  Don't forget they only stand
one pace high, and are as a strong as a child.  Ezgut was then apprenticed to the orc Battle-Mage
Hawuk Skullgleam, where he learned the rudiments of spell-casting.  He is a great friend of
zukk Eyebiter, and the two of them have spent many a night dreaming of glory for goblin-kind, and
for themselves of course.

	Undead Leader: Gravestone (L1)

Gravestone was once a High Men philosopher who was improperly consecrated upon his death and
his soul was seized and ravaged by the between demons.  What remained fled back to this plane
and Gravestone was born, as he animated a corpse with his life power.  Gravestone seeks to follow
a High Men belief, that the there is still a way for one with no soul to reach the promised land.
Sadly this will happen only when there are no more souls left, which Gravestone has taken to 
mean he must annihilate every living intelligent creature before he can reach his paradise.

		Undead Hero: Mystic XY the Wary (L3)

Mystic had very few friends growing up.  This was due to possessing the evil eye, which
Mystic used with great frequency to get whatever it wanted.  Mystic was slain, but not properly
sanctified, and rose up from the dead, still infused with whatever power had given it the evil
eye ability in the first place.  But now it was much much stronger, in fact now considered the
very gaze of Doom.  Mystic has no real hopes and desires, as most of the undead seem to, besides
the obliteration of the living, which perhaps eases the pain of their very existance.

		




Author Comments:
The game, and the background tend for me to play with these settings:

{ } Leaders on Map (That is NO leaders on map.  Quite unfulfilling to kill one hero and reduce
and empire to independant status, as well as instantly losing the game.

{ } Customize Leaders (This one is personal preference. I actually prefer to create my own leaders
which is why I don't recommend you create your own (so you can play mine....)they are level 1
anyways. Without leaders on the Map you basically only choose your spheres, which I'm sure for
most include the mandatory level 1 of Air magic.  To somewhat encourage the use of Earth Magic
I've put double the amount of Earth Nodes on the map, as well as 8 wizard tower locations that
specifically only sell Chain Lightning.

( ) Allied Victory  (Whatever)

{ } Exploration ( For this map I recommend Exploration not checked. I am of the belief that
you only need to explore when your forces are where they have never been before.  In this
particular scenario, there is a skeleton background, which means there is a history, which
means that there are maps available to all. I wish there was an option to keep the underground
seperate with this option.


Author Hints:

Although there's a lot to grab off the beginning, I suggest keeping all your forces together.
There are still a large number of disgruntled dark elves roaming the country-side, and while
they do not possess the tools necessary to conquer your home town, they will easily kill any
unguarded hero, or even weakly defended.  For those of you who are interested here are some stats:

NODES: 4 of each except earth which has 8

ALTARS: One of each type

ARENAS: Two

Unique Magic Items: Many

Possible Upgrades if there is any interest:  More small caves to defeat guardian creature and
gain magic items:  more wandering heroes:  more wandering monsters

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