User:Ecstasy Amphetamine/sandbox

= Dezun Order = The Dezun Order is a faction in the world of Dota 2.

Description
The Dezun Order is a congregation of faithful people dedicated to the Nothl Realm and its unnamed deities. Little is known about the order's purpose and goals due to their obscure and secretive nature, but much can be said about their customs and beliefs.

Traditions
Devoted to a culture that revolves entirely around the Nothl Realm with its inverted versions of dark and light, members of the order are known to take shady vows, for they believed that there is good in darkness instead of the light.

All members of the order have a deep respect for their late members. Almost none of their material possessions seem to be made but rather passed down from long-dead fellows. The Shadow Priests honor their hallowed predecessors by equipping their sacred fetishes to preserve them, while the warriors of the Order hold dearly the remains of their sacrificed warriors who came before them crafting their bones into weapons and armor to carry their remains into the fields of battle once more.

The Shadow Priest congregation is the gateway into the Dezun Order's arcane and esoteric culture. Once a chosen person is admitted into the ranks of these priests, they will become an acolyte who must now complete a series of rites to qualify as a true Shadow Priest. The number, names, and purposes of these rites are unknown, but only one of them is known by name and purpose: the Rite of Shades. This final rite of passage involves a spiritual journey into the Nothl Realm for the purpose of gaining the strange powers that would make them a Shadow Priest. However, this result is not always realized, because there is a chance for the visitor to never return to the lands of the living. Of those who do, they may return mad or return with Nothlic power that marks the success of their dark initiation. As the holy people of the Order, they practice sacraments and may be canonized to become even holier.

Sacrifice is a very common ritual in the Dezun Order. Conducted by the Shadow Priests, the Order sacrifices the spirits of their warriors (usually with their consent and enthusiasm) or enemies (whether they like it or not) into the Nothl Realm to please the gods that dwell in the Nothl. Regardless of whoever gets sacrificed, their deaths will grant them great honors in the Nothl and are always ennobling to the order.

Rites and Enchantments
These rites and enchantments (note how they are not called "spells" but still work like them) are often used among the ranks of the Dezun Order, whether they're a Shadow Priest or a Sacred Warrior.

is just one among the few Dezun rituals meant for offensive purposes. The ritual releases a poison that paralyzes anyone unfortunate enough to catch it.

A minor enchantment known to the Dezun priests and anyone they impart it to, unlocks the innate regenerative powers of its recipient through their most prominent trait: strength,  agility,  or intelligence. As the magic draws upon only one of these three attributes to work its regeneration, the patient is technically being healed by themselves.
 * Dazzle and the Dezun priests taught this enchantment to Huskar, who now reserves its use in times of great injury only.

Fetishes
Clothes that are woven in complete darkness can channel the essence of the Nothl Realm into its weave. Because of this magic, it's believed that the garments' enchantments will grow stronger as it ages. These holy garments are revered for their hallowed creators and catalysts of heightened Nothlic power.

Troll teeth are used as vessels for the souls of their former owners, carefully assembled into a tooth necklace.

The Father Spirit may dwell in the sacred clothing of the Dezun Order such as their sleeves. The inner spirit grants the inanimate object its status as a dazzling fetish.

Ranks
The Dezun Order is led by a council of elders who make all of the decisions, give sanctions, and honor its most outstanding members. They once sought to expand the Order's influence on a campaign that involved exploiting Huskar's newfound power as their tool, but their upset sacred warrior left the Order and his ancestral home before they could even implement their plans.

Lower echelons of the Order consists of its Shadow Priests and holy warriors. The Priests may sacrifice the holy warriors in Nothlic rituals.

Heroes
is but one of the many Shadow Priests of Dezun, but what makes him so strikingly different is his powers over the dualities of light and dark, mending and destruction. Not only that, but he gained his power as a young acolyte despite being too young for the Rite of Shades, a testimony to his prodigal skill.

is a sacred warrior who was about to be sacrificed to the Nothl Realm, but was reprieved against the ancient rites of Dezun when his cousin Dazzle withdrew him from the Nothl with a deep incantation. Like all who return from the Nothl, he was gifted with inverted powers—in his case it was the ability to grow exponentially stronger every time he lost his infinite lifeforce.

Relationships
Testimony to his godly knowledge and comprehension, knows and is unimpressed by the closely kept secrets of the Dezun Order.

Description
In the Nothl Realm, the properties of all things in the earthly world are inverted. But the most notable inversion of this realm lies within its version of light and dark. Its darkness emits a blinding glow that illuminates the blackest reaches of the light that permeates the realm. Anything that encumbers in the Nothl Realm will manifest as a source of strength on the material plane. Because of its paradoxical elements and inherent dangers, a spiritual journey to this realm can be very harrowing and dangerous. There is a chance that its visitors may never return their spirit to their home world, and some of its visitants may return mad or return with powers sourced from the realm itself.

The Nothl Realm is an afterlife for those who are deeply connected to it or sacrificed to it and a place of rebirth (for those who are deeply connected to it) into the lands of the living.

Magics
According to Aghanim, Dazzle's powers are a mixture of chakra and chaos magic, possibly referring to the of Light and the chaotic energies of Dark. Since Dazzle's powers are from the Nothl Realm, it's possible that and  may have some connection to this place.

Uses
All acolytes to the Order must undergo the Rite of Shades, their final rite of passage which involves a spiritual trip to the Nothl, to be promoted into the ranks of the Shadow Priests. If they complete the dark initiation safely, they will become Shadow Priests, vectors of the Nothl's power into the earthly plane.

Seasoned acolytes of the Order can perform the rite, preventing the death of its recipient no matter how close they are to their death. The ritual works by preserving the faintest spark of life that remains in a dying person's heart to restart it. It seems that the darkness of the Nothl is behind the spell's power.

The is the most common ritual among the ranks of the Shadow Priests, thanks to its effectiveness which stems from its simplicity. Dazzle's version of this ritual casts a healing light that is actually a hidden sinister evil.

is the side effect of any Nothl rituals. Any invocation of the Nothl's power causes the realm to leak into our world, inflicting unknown dangers to those already afflicted by its magic ritual.

Appurtenances
Clothes that are woven in complete darkness can channel the essence of the Nothl Realm into its weave. Because of this magic, it's believed that the garments' enchantments will grow stronger as it ages. These holy garments are revered for their hallowed creators and catalysts of heightened Nothlic power.

Access to the Nothl Realm is known only to the Dezun Order, who guards the secrets to the entry into the ethereal shade. It involves many methods, one of which involves drinking a sacred potion made of secret ingredients. Another way in includes doses from the Great Pipe.

Heroes
is the youngest Hero to access the Nothl Realm. His time spent in the Nothl Realm has granted him a strong connection to that world, blessing him with the power to wield its inverted elements. Exploiting his deep connection to this realm, he often visits the Nothl for his experiments such as turning his deficiencies into a source of strength.

almost reached his apotheosis when he was willingly sacrificed to the Nothl Realm but was painfully reprieved by a deep incantation cast upon him by Dazzle. He returned with nigh-immortality and the ability to draw strength from his injuries.

knows and understands the Nothl Realm. He likens it to a latrine, likely because of how (possibly unwanted) people are dumped into it as sacrifice.

As an usher to all kinds of afterlife, 's purview extends to the Nothl Realm.

The omniscience of the encompasses even the Nothl Realm.

Characters
Siltbreaker has seen the Nothl Realm and is unimpressed by what he saw.

Factions
The Dezun Order is the sole mortal faction to have a thorough knowledge of the Nothl Realm and its secrets.

Species
The violet shryll is a species of bird with a liminal existence between this world and the Nothl. Only its wingtips cross the boundary into the Nothl from this world, causing the tips of their feathers to be darkened while the rest of its white body remains in the Terrene Plane.

A one winged draconic creature was captured by Huskar, employing it towards his own ends. It's possible that this creature came from this realm or has some form of connection to it.

In the jungles of Fellstrath, there is a species of butterfly that can draw energies from the Nothl Realm with their proboscis. They are inefficient with their feeding, and each puncture that they make to tap into the Nothl allows its influence to leak into the Terrene Plane. Dazzle was the first person to discover these creatures.

Items
The was said to be stolen from an inverse dimension, possibly referring to the Nothl Realm.

Biography
Zeus is the king and father of the gods, who also treats all Heroes as if they were his unruly children. Despite this title, he has taken an unhealthy liking to mortal women and he has been caught cheating on his divine wife for an uncountable amount of trysts with mortal women. Growing weary of his two-timing impulses, Hera finally came up with an ultimatum: "If you love mortals so much, go and become one. If you can prove yourself faithful, then return to me as my immortal husband. Otherwise, go and die among your creatures." Zeus found her logic and her magic irrefutable, and agreed to her plan.

Most of his divine power was stripped away from him and he was ultimately rendered mortal to walk among them on the mundane world. Ever since he was demoted, he has been on his best behavior for the first time in his life—controlling his impulses and being somewhat fonder of his old immortality than he is of mortals. But to truly prove himself worthy of his wife Hera and ascend back into the heavens, he must continue to pursue victory on the field of battle.

The Sundered Moon
Zeus was one of the many Heroes gathered in the Sundered Moon bar. He was on the bar's counter flirting with Medusa by telling her the tale (for the fifth time) where he entertained a den of the most enchanting creatures, which led to his divorce and depowerment.

Tired of talking about himself over and over again, Zeus encouraged Medusa to open up to him about any questions that she might have in mind for him and compliments her scarlet eyes, while rubbing the snakes on her hair. She accepts the compliment and asks if he has any children, to which Zeus replies with curiosity and pain from one of her snakes biting his finger. Medusa retracts the question, which assures Zeus that she has heard of the entire story. He also fakes being childless despite his potency and his many scandalous affairs.

With that being said, Zeus concludes their date with an invitation to his mountain cloister. But before his unenthusiastic lady could even reply, he gets interrupted by someone else calling him a talkative half-god from the back of the bar. Zeus confronts the mysterious figure, who is revealed to be the Arc Warden wearing a large cloak. Zet taunts the half-god with its superior origins, claiming that the Self came before the gods themselves. "Also before pronouns, by the sound of it." retorted Zeus, he interpreted Zet's words as an invitation to fight. The Self declares the half-god correct, stating that its purpose is to destroy the Ancients.

Zeus has had enough of this meaningless ebb and flow of talk. He points out Zet's ignorance to the bards' tales, saying that anyone it picks a fight with in this bar will be ready to tear down an Ancient tomorrow. Undaunted by his boldness, Zet corrects the half-god, saying that the Self will not destroy one Ancient, but both of them. Zet conjures a lore projection detailing the story of the Self and the Others.

In the world before the present world, there was only the Self, and there were the Others. The Others, Radinthul and Diruulth, were at strife with their dissonance to each other. They grew too powerful, compelling Zet to end the war, imprisoning them both in its lunar prison. But the Ancients have escaped, and with their power ever increasing, they have been accumulating an army of lesser creatures to battle their conflict for them. Should either Ancient win, their terrible power will end Zet's world and the current world. The Self gave him a scroll and told him to fulfill whatever mystery was inside it.

The story left Zeus with nothing but doubts on his story and an impression that Zet was loquacious. But Zeus mused on the story, and asked Zet if he had any stake in the fight against the "Dirthole" and "Radish" entities. Zet reassured him that if both of his "Ancients" are destroyed, the Self will make him whole again. Zeus still was not convinced plus it did not help that Zet still lived up to Zeus' impressions of Zet, so he told Zet to let him have a taste of this "wholeness" that he was talking about. Zet agrees, and the Self returns to him a very small fragment of his true power—a golden helm forged by the Hammers of Celestarr and imbued with the energies of the Ancients themselves.

As Zeus relished on a morsel of his long-lost power, he truthfully told Zet that he doesn't actually believe in his nonsensical story. But if it does have the prospects of regaining his old power back, then he'd gladly count himself in. He then tries to flirt with Zet by offering him an ambrosia while he tells him the story about his divorce. Zet rejects his advances, telling him that the Self has much work to do tonight, revealing six other scrolls like the one he gave to Zeus.

Artifact
Hardly concerned with any mortal affairs (including the 3-way battle between the Bronze Legion, the Vhoul, and the Red Mist), Zeus found his own battle to fight when he heard of the Storm Spirit's mastery over storms. Not wanting to share the title and authority over his element, he travels to Roseleaf (on foot) to deal with him and show the world that Zeus is the one and only god of lightning.

Every time he and Storm Spirit have to meet, they always end up dealing with each others' posturing before having a serious conversation. Zeus also had a competition of power against Storm Spirit, with Zeus earning the first point by destroying a building. In response to Zeus' feat, Storm Spirit destroyed an entire army to settle the matter. Frustrated, the mortal god had a temper tantrum and reduced an entire city to a crater.

Personality and Mannerisms

 * Even in his mortal form, Zeus still retains his godly personality and mannerisms.
 * Much like his real-life counterpart, Zeus is a very lecherous man with a preference for mortal women. His attraction to mortals is his most basest impulse which he struggles to control in accordance to his oath to Hera.
 * With regards to his impulse, he has a very poor control over it, causing him to make bad decisions and have tantrums.

Family
Zeus' divine family remains mostly the same in the lore of Dota 2. His father is an unnamed Titan whom he overthrew alongside the other titans during his rise to power as the king of the gods. Before his father died, he may have warned him to slay his own son, for he too will repeat the cycle of patricide and overthrow him and his kin in time. Long after his father's death, Zeus has been looking for him.

He has been very unfaithful to his wife Hera after cheating on her with his many trysts with mortal women. Because of this, she may gloat on her husband when he finds himself in an unfortunate event. Over time, he has been slowly regaining his wife's trust and relationship.

and Zeus have a very complicated relationship. Having disowned his divine family (and the name his father gave him ) Mars' goal is to destroy Zeus and his godly kin who judged him despicable in a deadly cycle of patricide so that he can finally punish them for reviling him, their selfishness, and poor authority as gods. He doesn't want to reconcile with his father and he hates the stuff that he represents. He feels ashamed to know that he didn't outlive his father and gets angry if he is slain by his father. On the other hand, Zeus has a variety of feelings towards him, from reciprocated hostility to fatherly affection. Zeus may feel a bit proud of Mars, warn him of the inevitable cycle of patricide or forgive him for simply following the cycle of patricide   if he dies by his hand. Sometimes, Zeus will feel sad and mourn his son if he kills him.

Poseidon and Hades are his only brothers.

The forge god Vulcan might be his son if the real-life family tree of the Greek pantheon is to be used.

Acquaintances
The Omniscience knows Zeus and has something to say to him, and Zeus tells the All-knowing One's agent to send his regards to it.

When meeting, he is curious about her faith to Selemene. He also wishes to meet her personally.

Allies
is one of Zeus' favorite drinking partners.

Zeus seems to be fond of 's brand of wisdom and he likes the taste of her baked cookies. When pitted against her, he tries not to fight with Beatrix and gets sad if he kills her.

has enlisted Zeus in its army against both Ancients. He even tried flirting with the Self with his divorce story and some ambrosia, but Zet kindly rejected his advances, because it was busy for the night.

Interests
While he was at the Sundered Moon, Zeus flirted with. Even when she isn't around, he sometimes wishes that she saw his feats and accomplishments.

Zeus tried to flirt with by turning into a variety of animals, but she didn't care and rejected him anyways.

Rivalry
His main rival is the, because Zeus didn't want to share the title and authority of a thunder deity. On the other hand, the rebellious Raijin refused to bow to any sort of divinity nor did he wish to acknowledge him as the "God of Thunder" for he embodied every element of the tempest itself–and Raijin doesn't share what he believes is rightfully his.

It's interesting to note that, during the times they fought, both of them have some aspect of mortality. Raijin is a Celestial trapped in the body of a mortal, while Zeus is a deity turned mortal.

once waged a war against the gods of Heaven in their domain. Even after his redemption, he still dislikes the gods and he joined the war of the Ancients so that he can gain dominion over the elder gods that hold him in check.

Divinity
Just like his real-life counterpart, Zeus' power over the lightning bolt did not come to him naturally nor was it an intrinsic quality that he was born with. In the lore of Dota 2, Zeus and an unnamed race of beings worked together to help him capture the thunderbolt. As a god, he might have shared several other abilities with other gods just like him, such as the power to forge order from chaos, the ability to twist the forms of others, true sight, etc. Zeus claims that the gods can drive people insane if they attract their attention. It's implied that Zeus represents magic as well.

Half of Zeus' powers, which included his divinity and immortality, were taken away from him by his wife Hera in accordance to his oath to be more faithful towards her. According to Zeus, he only gave away the ones that he didn't use. Besides his signature lightning powers, he retained the ability to turn into a swan, which he usually uses to seduce any mortal women that he sees fit for his erotic escapades.

He would gain back a fragment of his old powers when Arc Warden restored them for him. The power came in the form of a golden helm that was forged by the Hammers of Celestarr and charged with the energies of the Ancients themselves. It's unknown what kind of abilities did Zeus recover, but he did regain his cloud chariot that grants him flight and his skin became stony which coursed with lightning. Although he was still diminished of his full power, he realized that he was not cut off from their source. If he could really resolve to be better, he might be able to draw the tendrils of divinity—infused into the endowments of Celestarr—back to his own hands once again.

Immortality
Long before his fall from the Heavens to the mortal realm, Zeus was an immortal god. Much like his boy Mars, he was ageless and immune to the Death Prophet's abilities over the deathly veil, likely because the gods possess a much more powerful version of immortality beyond resurrection and they may transcend the Underscape itself. It is also implied that gods like Zeus and Mars possibly existed before the spirit to some extent, which might support the previous statements.

Powers
The following powers are all based on Zeus' affinity to the sky and lightning element.

is Zeus' favorite magical spell to use against puny mortals, likely because of the way it dispatches them so quickly with its leaping lightning.

The is his signature weapon and the symbol of his power. First captured by himself with the help of an unnamed race in a daring task to capture the thunderbolt, he now wields it to smite any faithless rebels against him. When he isn't holding it, his thunderbolt wanders the skies and clouds, always ready to answer his call.

His mere presence can create a that permeates the surrounding air, shocking anyone unfortunate enough to be near him.

Gameplay-wise, simply summons a ward-like object that shoots lightning bolts. But in its lore, it describes how easily storm clouds can gather when Zeus simply gets angry.

The full brunt of his power, allows Zeus to smite anyone who opposes him regardless of their distance.

Friendships and rivalries
Allies meeting Zeus
 * vo_dark_willow_sylph_ally_227.mp3  Don't you go getting morals on me, Zeus.
 * vo_dark_willow_sylph_ally_228.mp3  Trust me, you're better off without the wife.
 * vo_dawnbreaker_valora_ally_243.mp3  I can relate to your story, half-god. I was once mighty, too.
 * vo_disruptor_dis_ally_03.mp3  Zeus, the great weatherman himself.
 * vo_disruptor_dis_ally_04.mp3  Zeus, you bring the lightning, I'll bring the thunder.
 * vo_grimstroke_grimstroke_ally_107.mp3  Were your transgressions worth so steep a price, Zeus?
 * vo_grimstroke_grimstroke_ally_108.mp3  Love leads only to suffering, Zeus.
 * vo_hoodwink_hoodwink_ally_237.mp3  I don't care what you can turn into. The answer's always gonna be no.
 * vo_legion_commander_legcom_ally_11.mp3 vo_legion_commander_legcom_dem_ally_11.mp3   Nice mustache.
 * vo_luna_luna_ally_05.mp3  Ah, Zeus! The heavens are with us.
 * vo_mars_mars_ally_128.mp3  Keep that thunder to yourself. I don't wanna hear it, Zeus.
 * vo_mars_mars_ally_129.mp3  No, this isn't a chance to re-forge a broken bond. I'm not interested.
 * vo_mars_mars_ally_130.mp3  Just shut up already! I know what I'm doing.
 * vo_mars_mars_ally_131.mp3  It's been too long since you overthrew the titans, Zeus. Perhaps it's time for a new godly order.
 * vo_mars_mars_ally_132.mp3  I don't answer to that name anymore, you old fool.
 * vo_mars_mars_wheel_deny_02.mp3  Get out of my sight!
 * vo_medusa_medus_ally_11.mp3  You're here too, Zeus?
 * vo_medusa_medus_ally_12.mp3  Zeus on the loose!
 * vo_medusa_medus_ally_13.mp3  Zeus! You're here already.
 * vo_medusa_medus_ally_14.mp3  I should have known you'd be here, Zeus.
 * vo_monkey_king_monkey_ally_219.mp3 vo_monkey_king_monkey_crown_ally_219.mp3   It's no secret I don't like you, Zeus. Well, it isn't a secret now. That didn't go as planned.
 * vo_monkey_king_monkey_ally_220.mp3 vo_monkey_king_monkey_crown_ally_220.mp3   It's okay, Zeus. You're one of the good ones. Today.
 * vo_pangolin_pangolin_ally_225.mp3  I've heard of your exploits, Zeus. Together we can do better.
 * vo_pangolin_pangolin_ally_226.mp3  Look, I understand all but one thing: Why a swan?
 * vo_snapfire_snapfire_ally_242.mp3  Are your godly standards really low, or are we moving up in the world?
 * vo_snapfire_snapfire_ally_243.mp3  I saw your boy. He looks a lot better.
 * vo_void_spirit_voidspir_ally_53.mp3  Zeus, I must say your attraction to mortals is...puzzling.

Enemies killing Zeus
 * vo_antimage_anti_magicuser_06.mp3 Thy sorcery fails thee.
 * vo_axe_axe_killspecial_03.mp3 Catch some Z's!
 * vo_axe_axe_rival_17.mp3 You might have been a fancyman in Heaven, but down here you are nothing next to Axe.
 * vo_beastmaster_beas_killspecial_zuus_01.mp3 Calm your beard, Zeus.
 * vo_beastmaster_beas_killspecial_zuus_02.mp3 Zeus, calm your beard.
 * vo_bounty_hunter_bount_rival_05.mp3 The price on a god's head is immeasurable.
 * vo_dark_willow_sylph_rival_227.mp3  That's the best a god can do?
 * vo_dark_willow_sylph_rival_228.mp3  I always wanted to defeat a god.
 * vo_disruptor_dis_rival_18.mp3 Thunderous applause! For me.
 * vo_disruptor_dis_rival_19.mp3 Your skill with lightning was impressive, I admit.
 * vo_grimstroke_grimstroke_rival_139.mp3  A god turned mortal is more helpless than a child.
 * vo_gyrocopter_gyro_rival_15.mp3 Ah keep your sparks to yourself!
 * vo_hoodwink_hoodwink_rival_237.mp3  Since you're not a god anymore, I feel like I can ask you: why are you so messed up?
 * vo_jakiro_jak_rival_10.mp3 The clouds are no longer your domain, Zeus! You should be more down to earth!
 * vo_mars_mars_rival_151.mp3  This isn't your pantheon anymore, old man.
 * vo_mars_mars_rival_152.mp3  I've been waiting a long time for this!
 * vo_mars_mars_rival_153.mp3  I thought that would be much more satisfying...
 * vo_mars_mars_rival_154.mp3  You're just as pathetic a mortal as you were a god...
 * vo_mars_mars_rival_155.mp3  Mother will be pleased!
 * vo_mars_mars_rival_156.mp3  I didn't come here to exchange pleasantries. It's time for you to die!
 * vo_mars_mars_wheel_deny_01.mp3  You call yourself a god?
 * vo_mars_mars_wheel_all_05_02.mp3  There's something beautiful to all of this.
 * vo_mars_mars_wheel_all_06.mp3  My father? Let me tell you about my father...
 * vo_mars_mars_wheel_all_07_02.mp3  You whine like a mortal fool.
 * vo_medusa_medus_rival_19.mp3 Mortality suits you, Zeus.
 * vo_medusa_medus_rival_20.mp3 What a failure of a god.
 * vo_medusa_medus_rival_21.mp3 Tell your brothers I said hello.
 * vo_medusa_medus_rival_22.mp3 Oh, Zeus.
 * vo_monkey_king_monkey_rival_220.mp3 vo_monkey_king_monkey_crown_rival_220.mp3   You should have turned yourself into swan and hid, you bastard.
 * vo_monkey_king_monkey_rival_221.mp3 vo_monkey_king_monkey_crown_rival_221.mp3   As a god, Zeus, you were lacking, but this?!
 * vo_monkey_king_monkey_rival_222.mp3 vo_monkey_king_monkey_crown_rival_222.mp3   Zeus? Huh, never heard of him.
 * vo_omniknight_omni_rival_10.mp3 The Omniscience would like a word with you, Zeus.
 * vo_pangolin_pangolin_rival_227.mp3  Is that what they call a god where you come from?
 * vo_pangolin_pangolin_rival_228.mp3  From all the stories I'd heard, I expected something more…
 * vo_razor_raz_rival_03.mp3 Zeus, you handle lightning like a rank amateur.
 * vo_razor_raz_rival_04.mp3 Cheap lightning. He buys it by the bolt!
 * vo_silencer_silen_rival_04.mp3 Zeus, I'll steal your thunder.
 * vo_snapfire_snapfire_rival_243.mp3  The old ways are gone, geezer!
 * vo_snapfire_snapfire_rival_244.mp3  Looks like us mortals got the upper hand.
 * vo_sven_sven_rival_05.mp3 Gods were meant to be defied.
 * vo_terrorblade_terr_rival_23.mp3 vo_terrorblade_terr_morph_rival_23.mp3  vo_terrorblade_terr_shards_rival_23.mp3  Stole your thunder.
 * vo_vengefulspirit_vng_rival_11.mp3 I've heard enough from gods for two lifetimes.
 * vo_visage_visa_rival_13.mp3 Not even gods may interfere.
 * vo_void_spirit_voidspir_wheel_all_05.mp3  Even a god is nothing set against the void.
 * vo_void_spirit_voidspir_rival_129.mp3  It would have been unlike you to start making good choices now.

Enemies dying to Zeus
 * vo_mars_mars_ability5_10.mp3  Impossible!
 * vo_mars_mars_death_17.mp3  No! Anyone but you!
 * vo_mars_mars_lose_01.mp3  Noooooooo!
 * vo_mars_mars_no_03_02.mp3  Noooooooo!
 * vo_mars_mars_lose_04.mp3  My empire is crumbling!
 * vo_mars_mars_wheel_all_04_02.mp3  This is what the fates give me?!
 * vo_mars_mars_anger_06.mp3  Arugh!
 * vo_mars_mars_anger_07.mp3  Grrr. Raah Grrrhuhg.
 * vo_mars_mars_anger_08.mp3  Urgh urgh!
 * vo_mars_mars_anger_09.mp3  Graagh!
 * vo_mars_mars_anger_10.mp3  Aaar!
 * vo_mars_mars_anger_11.mp3  Ruh grzg grgz gnk!
 * vo_mars_mars_anger_12.mp3  Grrrgghhh! Gaaah! Graaagh!

Others
 * vo_legion_commander_legcom_duelhero_15.mp3 vo_legion_commander_legcom_dem_duelhero_15.mp3  I do not fear gods.
 * vo_legion_commander_legcom_duelhero_16.mp3 vo_legion_commander_legcom_dem_duelhero_16.mp3  Thunderdome!
 * vo_legion_commander_legcom_duelhero_23.mp3 vo_legion_commander_legcom_dem_duelhero_23.mp3  Defend your mustache!
 * vo_monkey_king_mk_arcana_cloud_05.mp3  The difference, Zeus, is that I make this look good.
 * vo_oracle_orac_prophecies_113.mp3  A god descends from lofty peaks with but one aim in mind: to strike you down.

Description
Found only in the depths of all nature and accessible only with the haunted Chronoptic Crystals, this plane of existence is known only to the lone mind of a dark entity. In this hidden plane, nature has become a lurid and vile place. Lurid in this context may have two meanings: it is lurid because it is said to be horrifying and hideous to those who see it, or it may be lurid because it is too brightly and vividly colored, which could possibly be reflected in Leshrac's bright and dissonant color scheme.

There is Chronoptic energy in this plane, which will flow from this plane to Leshrac's current plane (at his vile will) to evaporate anything it touches. Based on the sole elemental who embodies this place's aspects, unnatural fungi grows in this place, sustained by its tainted waters. Wicked vines exist here as well, which feeds off of black thoughts and foul deeds rather than light, air, and water.

According to Leshrac, every being's physical form springs from this place, which may explain why it is called the heart of nature. Here, nature has become a blasted place because it is composed of the Impurities.

The Impurities
The Impurities are the impure powers of the heart of nature. Despite being impure, they can be distilled to their essence for some reason. These Impurities include: All of these elements compose the vile and blasted nature that exists within its own depths. The Impurities are in a constant state of torment and they are described as "witless" for unknown reasons.
 * Evil winds
 * Tainted water
 * Sinister energies
 * Brittle earth
 * Pink-purple electricity

Notable Inhabitants
No one lives in this foul place but, who describes this world as a cloister and a place of solitude. Leshrac is the guardian of the Impurities that compose this place and he is its sole agent. As an elemental who is at one with this vile nature, he is composed of the Impurities that constitute this place. Those who are killed, impurified, and broken down to their fundamental elements by his hand and will  are sent to this place to merge with the Impurities.

Biography
Sven is the bastard son of a Vigil Knight, born from the flesh of a Pallid Meranth, raised in the Shadeshore Ruins. With his father executed for violating the Vigil Codex, and his mother ostracized by the Mer, Sven firmly believes that honor is not to be found in any society, but only in himself. After tending his mother through a lingering death, Sven swore vengeance against the Vigil Knights, recruiting himself into their ranks as a novice while never revealing his identity.

For thirteen years he studied in his father's school, mastering the rigid code that declared his existence an abomination. Then, on the day that should have been his In-Swearing, he seized the Outcast Blade, shattered the Sacred Helm, and burned the Codex in the Vigil's Holy Flame. He strode from Vigil Keep, forever solitary, following his private code to the last strict rune. Still a knight, yes...but a Rogue Knight. He answers only to himself.

Artifact
In this strange timeline, the story of Sven has reached the point where he has infiltrated the ranks of the Vigil Knights, but their destruction from within is a future that cannot be avoided, at least to the will of the Rogue Knight. To assure that this possibility comes to fruition, Sven must train among his enemies, rise above their ranks, and ultimately: destroy them from within.

Although he has not enacted his rogue code yet, he manifests a bit of the code in his actions by aligning against any kind of army like any true rogue to society would. He has declared war against the Radiant and the Dire, Venomancer and his expanding garden of s, the Bronze Legion, the reformed Red Mist Horde, and even the Vhoul rebellion.

Equipment
Sven's equipment mostly consists of the Vigil Knight's arsenal, possibly stolen from them as retribution or mockery. The most notable apparatus taken from the Knights is the Outcast Blade, which he stole on the day that should've been his In-Swearing. The Vigil Knights still seek to retrieve the Outcast Blade from Sven, who has now claimed it for himself. He also stole an iron gauntlet from his father's school and wears it now on his left hand.

There is also the shield-crest of the Vigil Knights, also worn on his left hand. The shield has extendable "wings" that likely increases its protective area. It is said to be so durable that it still appears to be in pristine condition even after being used in battles in a dozen wars.

Fitting for a brute of his size and from his training with the Vigil Knights, he prefers large two-handed blades with heavy tips and unorthodox shapes with some of them being very dangerous to the wielder and the target. Sven has collected a variety of swords in his lifetime (besides the ones that are stolen from the Vigil Knights) although it's possible that he only acquires them in a separate timeline. Only a few of them are notable enough to be listed below: None of these blades are as prized as the relic that he found in the debris of a sunken galley that once sailed under the Vigil Knights banner. The sword was worthy enough for Sven to replace the Outcast Blade with it.
 * A greatsword whose blade is made of Radiant Ore. While extremely sharp, not many blades made from this ore can survive their first use.
 * An obsidian sword said to contain the fragmented souls of tormented gods.
 * A two pronged sword that doubles as a tuning fork. When struck against another blade, it will produce a different sound that depends on the blade that it has struck. Skilled users like Sven can tell what kind of blade they are facing with this.
 * An unorthodox blade whose edges converge into a ring rather than a tip. The ring symbolizes unending courage.

As for his armor, most of them are taken from the Vigil Knights, including the uniforms of the Chiseled Guard, the Mono Militis sect, and the Flameguard sect. The serrated shafts that are crafted along the protrusions of Sven's helmet are said to improve the wearer's hearing.

Much like the sets of armor that the Vigil Knights once wore, even his armor can be used as a weapon. He once impaled an attacking ogre in the Feral Road using the spikes resting on his shoulder guard, and a specific left-handed gauntlet in his possession was carefully designed to intercept an enemy swordsman's attack on his shoulder or to catch a blade mid-swing.

Powers
Sven's abilities are a mixture of his knightly skills and godly power. All of these abilities synergize with each other to destroy multiple opponents at once, fitting for his theme as a one man army in a planet full of foes.

Sven unleashes his father's magical gauntlet, launching the on his foes. He prefers using his gauntlet on enemies that attempt to escape him. A prophecy from a strange Oracle called Nerif states that his gauntlet is the hammer of the gods, implying that Sven has some form of connection with divinity.

The Outcast Blade's can cut through multiple opponents at once with a combination of its massive length and the shockwaves that it emits when swung.

In battle, Sven may hearten his allies with a by reciting a few poetic lines from the burned Vigil Codex, fortifying his obedience to his rogue code. Lorewise, it's unknown if it provides any other buffs outside of gameplay mechanics. He also doesn't seem to recite any lines when using this ability, but he roars loudly instead.

is the same strength that Sven used to shatter the Sacred Helm on the day of his In-Swearing. Card art for this ability in Artifact shows that Sven and his sword will grow in mass and size when this ability is activated, while also turning his padded armor red. This, alongside his Storm Hammer (which is said to be the hammer of the gods) is one of his connections to divinity, at least according to its name.

Friendships and rivalries
Allies meeting Sven
 * vo_abaddon_abad_ally_11.mp3  Honors to you and to the rogue's code you follow.
 * vo_crystalmaiden_cm_ally_05.mp3  That's a lovely shade of blue, Sven.
 * vo_crystalmaiden_cm_ally_06.mp3  Sven, are you still so blue under that armor?
 * vo_dark_willow_sylph_ally_179.mp3  Good on you for standing up for yourself.
 * vo_dark_willow_sylph_ally_180.mp3  Nice to have the knights of the Vigil on my side for a change.
 * vo_dawnbreaker_valora_ally_193.mp3  Swords aren't really my thing. But yours isn't so bad.
 * vo_grimstroke_grimstroke_ally_76.mp3  Twin hammers await our enemies, my taciturn friend.
 * vo_hoodwink_hoodwink_ally_187.mp3  That sword's bigger'n you are. Pretty neat!
 * vo_kunkka_kunk_ally_07.mp3  With a helm like that, Sven, I dub thee my helmsman.
 * vo_mars_mars_ally_107.mp3  Break out a warcry, Sven! Or your heart's not in it!
 * vo_monkey_king_monkey_ally_171.mp3 vo_monkey_king_monkey_crown_ally_171.mp3   How do you see anything with that helmet on, Sven?
 * vo_monkey_king_monkey_ally_172.mp3 vo_monkey_king_monkey_crown_ally_172.mp3   Come on, Sven. Time to drop the hammer on someone!
 * vo_pangolin_pangolin_ally_177.mp3  Follow your heart, Sven, not some code.
 * vo_pangolin_pangolin_ally_178.mp3  Such a blade seems impractically large, mon ami.
 * vo_snapfire_snapfire_ally_191.mp3  Someone said you can breathe under water. Is that true?

Enemies killing Sven
 * vo_arc_warden_arcwar_rival_12.mp3 Your vigil ends.
 * vo_dark_willow_sylph_rival_179.mp3  That's the best you could do, Sven?
 * vo_dark_willow_sylph_rival_180.mp3  I was expecting more from you, Sven.
 * vo_dragon_knight_drag_sven_01.mp3 vo_dragon_knight_dragon_sven_01.mp3  Sven, you have much to learn about fighting dragons.
 * vo_dragon_knight_drag_sven_02.mp3 vo_dragon_knight_dragon_sven_02.mp3  Good night, Sven. I mean bad knight.
 * vo_dragon_knight_drag_sven_03.mp3 vo_dragon_knight_dragon_sven_03.mp3  I'm the better Knight, Sven.
 * vo_enigma_enig_rival_23.mp3 Your armor crumples.
 * vo_grimstroke_grimstroke_rival_112.mp3  Brute force fails you, fool.
 * vo_hoodwink_hoodwink_rival_187.mp3  My first thought was your sword's impractical. But now I see it's actually impracticable.
 * vo_juggernaut_jugg_rival_01.mp3 vo_juggernaut_jugsc_arc_rival_01.mp3  It's not the size of the sword, Sven, it's how you use it.
 * vo_juggernaut_jugg_rival_02.mp3 vo_juggernaut_jugsc_arc_rival_02.mp3  Size means nothing when your blade carries no weight.
 * vo_lina_lina_rival_03.mp3 Cooked you in your armor.
 * vo_mars_mars_rival_127.mp3  God's strength! Hmmm...
 * vo_mars_mars_rival_128.mp3  Your past accomplishments mean nothing, and your future is at an end.
 * vo_monkey_king_monkey_rival_171.mp3 vo_monkey_king_monkey_crown_rival_171.mp3   I'm not saying there's always a connection between excessive brawn and mental deficiency.
 * vo_monkey_king_monkey_rival_172.mp3 vo_monkey_king_monkey_crown_rival_172.mp3   Hahahaha, Sven. You thought you could keep up with me? There are trees everywhere!
 * vo_omniknight_omni_rival_15.mp3 You would have been a powerful follower Sven.
 * vo_omniknight_omni_rival_21.mp3 Sven, your dedication honors us.
 * vo_pangolin_pangolin_rival_179.mp3  I'm not foolish enough to stand in front of that blade, Sven. It's all about positioning.
 * vo_pangolin_pangolin_rival_180.mp3  That is a fight they will be telling stories about. Well, my part anyway.
 * vo_snapfire_snapfire_rival_192.mp3  It'll take more than an oversized apple peeler to bring me down.
 * vo_snapfire_snapfire_rival_193.mp3  I knew that armor would wear down eventually.
 * vo_void_spirit_voidspir_rival_104.mp3  You would have the same chance wielding a sharp stick.

Others
 * vo_oracle_orac_prophecies_090.mp3  To the rogue who wields the hammer of the gods, all mortal forms resemble crooked nails.
 * vo_legion_commander_legcom_duelhero_18.mp3 vo_legion_commander_legcom_dem_duelhero_18.mp3  Time to match steel for steel!

Biography
Although his origins are as dubious as children's tales, there is only one origin story that belongs to Wukong. The oldest tales say that he hatched from a large magical boulder that bore silent witness to all of creation. But only children and fools put stock in such things.

Rumble In The Deep
During a time when Wukong had no worthy weapon in his hands yet, he was searching for one that was worthy of his talents. Finding none on land, he turned to the underwater realm where The King of the Eastern Sea (or Seas ), hoarder of the surface world's treasures, dwelled in the depths where no sunlight could reach. Hearing of the Monkey King's desire, he mused about a weapon called the Jingu Bang, which he said was a weapon worthy of a warrior like him. Unfortunately, he also said that it was lost to the depths of the ocean, and so he directed him to the base of Dark Reef Prison where it can be found.

Seemingly unaffected by the crushing pressure of the depths, Wukong swam through the murky waters towards Dark Reef and found the staff embedded on the ocean floor. He then gripped the staff with all of his might until it was freed, but he realized he had been tricked. By freeing the staff, it suddenly extended its length and breached the walls of Dark Reef prison. He quickly shrunk the staff to a more manageable size, but it was too late. The notorious and dangerous prisoners of Dark Reef have begun their exodus. Determined to correct his mistakes, he singlehandedly stopped three dozen criminals from escaping.

Of course, this story contradicts with the Nightcrawler's accounts on how he alone escaped Dark Reef, and it even contradicts with another report where multiple criminals broke out of the same prison, lead by none other than Slark. Still, who cares about authenticity when this legend puts most heroes' feats to shame?

Immortal Path
This legend is much more dubious than the previous one. Some say that the legend started when Razor trapped the Monkey King in the Narrow Maze many years ago, but some say that it started when Wukong traversed the path to the underworld by his own accord for the sake of making himself an immortal warrior. Either way, this is the one and only story of how Wukong achieved true immortality.

In the Narrow Maze, Razor chased after Wukong's soul until the latter reached an open space with a luminous exit at the other side of the room. Finally having a bit of breathing room, he quickly hid behind a rock and shapeshifted into a tree before Razor could catch up to him. When his tormentor reached the room, he could not find Wukong and searched around until he was attacked from behind. A brutal battle ensued and eventually Wukong defeated the Lightning Revenant. He was now free to remove his name from the Book of Life and Death alongside the names of his clone army, making them both immortal.

Somewhere in between this legend and the next (assuming that his lore follows its real-life mythical counterpart) Sun Wukong waged a war against the heavens until nothing but his legend survived.

Burning Crucible
Wukong's audacious act of removing himself from the great wheel of the cycle of nature did not go unheard of. The four forces of nature conspired to punish Wukong so that they may restore order back to nature and prevent further chaos from disrupting it. Wukong's legendary skills as a warrior were no match for the combined forces that governed aspects of creation itself, and so he was locked away to have his heavenly powers purged by the purifying flames of Xin's Eternal Crucible.

Outraged at this injustice, Wukong struggled to survive in the flames of the Eternal Furnace. But even with his deathless existence, he soon learned that even he had limits. So he resolved to be stronger. For forty-nine days, the Monkey King meditated in the furnace as the flames lapped upon him. Unable to be consumed by the fire, the furnace that was meant to be his punishment became a crucible where a powerful being was reborn.

The King versus The Quorum
There is a legend that describes one particular at some point in Wukong's immortal life where he fought the The Quorum, a senate of thirty-one powerful wizards who govern over all of Weeping Rose. No other details exist about this legend yet, since it was only mentioned in passing by Ilexa, a young Radiant creep who claims to be Wukong's biggest fan.

A New Journey
Long after his war against the heavens, and with his greatest feats all behind him, Wukong found himself working as a cage fighter for Grek in White Spire. This job only came to him as a pleasant distraction from his journey to the war of the Nemesis Stones after he saw a flyer on the way to the battle. But scripted cage fighting seemed like a fun thing to take up.

Already accustomed to his new job, Wukong maintained a staged feud with his rival Breklin, the Living Anathema, for many months. Following a pretty exciting performance that wrecked the cage and Breklin with it, Grek approached Wukong after the match and informed him about the arena's dwindling budget. Grek claimed that he could not afford Wukong's theatrics since most of their funds have been spent on repairing the stage after every performance. In response to their situation, Wukong suggested a less destructive performance where he and Breklin would perform stand-up comedy. But Grek refuses, saying that comedy doesn't sell, but he ominously assures him that he has something else in store for tomorrow's show and that they're going to love it.

Wukong retreats to the Sundered Moon bar where he and Breklin are signing autographs. He informs the latter on their boss' idea for a new kind of performance and his assumptions that they're going to approve of it tomorrow. Breklin predicts that it's going to be terrible and Wukong agrees with him before calling the next person in line. Black Arachnia's scurries through the intimidated crowd as she makes her way towards their table and pins her flyer on it with her spider leg.

The two ex-lovers greet each other—Arachnia expresses her anticipation while Wukong coldly greets her back. Arachnia proceeds to reveal that she

Friendships and rivalries
Aliies meeting Monkey King Enemies killing Monkey King Others
 * vo_dark_willow_sylph_ally_111.mp3  So you're the chatty little rodent man everyone's been talking about.
 * vo_dark_willow_sylph_ally_112.mp3  Now walk me through this: You have your staff. But you still have to buy your staff.
 * vo_dawnbreaker_valora_ally_121.mp3  I'm sorry, who were you again?
 * vo_dawnbreaker_valora_ally_122.mp3  I didn't catch your name...
 * vo_grimstroke_grimstroke_ally_48.mp3  Your early works are impressive, Wukong, but I'm not a fan of the newer stuff.
 * vo_hoodwink_hoodwink_ally_117.mp3  I heard you came to my neck of the woods once, Wu Kong. But it was before I was born.
 * vo_mars_mars_ally_69.mp3  I'd heard stories, but you're even more annoying face to face...
 * vo_pangolin_pangolin_ally_115.mp3  Tell me your name again? Monkey Man?
 * vo_pangolin_pangolin_ally_116.mp3  You talk too much, Wu Kong. But nothing to say to me, eh?
 * vo_snapfire_snapfire_ally_120.mp3  Good thing I learned to tune out prattlin' years ago.
 * vo_templar_assassin_temp_ally_11.mp3  I'm more interested in that which remains unsaid, Wukong.
 * vo_templar_assassin_temp_ally_12.mp3  With apologies, Wukong, I do not believe the temple will find you.
 * vo_shredder_timb_ally_15.mp3  You seem a little too fond of trees, friend.
 * vo_shredder_timb_ally_16.mp3  I will cut where I wanna cut, and you will deal with it!
 * vo_void_spirit_voidspir_ally_37.mp3  You've provided much amusement, Wu Kong. It's always entertaining to see divine arrogance brought low.
 * vo_void_spirit_voidspir_ally_37_02.mp3  I serve no gods, Wukong. I merely had later need of you and this version is much more useful.
 * vo_zuus_zeus_monkeyking_ally_01_02.mp3 vo_zuus_zeus_arc_monkeyking_ally_01_02.mp3   Why do I get the feeling this is going to be a long battle?
 * vo_zuus_zeus_monkeyking_ally_02.mp3 vo_zuus_zeus_arc_monkeyking_ally_02.mp3   Putting up with your impudence best yield me something.
 * vo_dark_willow_sylph_rival_111.mp3  Shoulda hid as a tree.
 * vo_dark_willow_sylph_rival_112.mp3  Next time run away on your little cloud.
 * vo_dawnbreaker_valora_rival_121.mp3  I'm not a god. I'm better than your gods.
 * vo_grimstroke_grimstroke_rival_69.mp3  Now you've seen what a real martial art looks like.
 * vo_hoodwink_hoodwink_rival_117.mp3  Looks like I'm the king of mischief now.
 * vo_mars_mars_rival_92.mp3  I'll have to embellish your death when I tell this story...
 * vo_mars_mars_rival_93.mp3  It's hard to believe it took this long for someone to kill you.
 * vo_pangolin_pangolin_rival_113.mp3  Leave the mischief to the children, Wu Kong.
 * vo_pangolin_pangolin_rival_114.mp3  You came all this way, Wu Kong. The least I could do was kill you.
 * vo_snapfire_snapfire_rival_120.mp3  Someone had to fix that leaky mouth of yours.
 * vo_snapfire_snapfire_rival_121.mp3  You obviously haven't heard of me. Guess I been gone too long...
 * vo_templar_assassin_temp_rival_18.mp3  Your loud mouth left little to the imagination.
 * vo_templar_assassin_temp_rival_19.mp3  The world will wonder at your fate. Unlike some, I value discretion.
 * vo_shredder_timb_rival_21.mp3 Oh I saw right through you, Wukong, you were with them from the start!
 * vo_shredder_timb_rival_22.mp3 Where are your precious trees now, Wukong?
 * vo_shredder_timb_rival_23.mp3 Sympathizer!
 * vo_void_spirit_voidspir_rival_68.mp3  Gods never fared well against you, but I am not a god.
 * vo_zuus_zeus_monkeyking_rival_01.mp3 vo_zuus_zeus_arc_monkeyking_rival_01.mp3   I'll be the envy of all the gods!
 * vo_zuus_zeus_monkeyking_rival_02_03.mp3 vo_zuus_zeus_arc_monkeyking_rival_02_03.mp3   You've had this coming for a long time.

Description
Those who are well versed in the Juggernaut tradition are both talented swordsmen and voodoo practitioners. Practitioners of the art see no dishonor in healing and regeneration.

Techniques
is a simple technique where the user spins their sword around them to slash at nearby enemies. In this state, the user will repel incoming magic, leaving them unharmed and unaffected. Yurnero's use of this technique has made it renowned and feared by warriors and sorcerers alike. It can easily cut through 's strong webs and it is complimented by, although this might just be a reference to gameplay.

focuses on pure swiftness. The user will leap towards a target and slash them with imperceptible swiftness, leaping around them or towards nearby targets after each of the strikes they land successfully in a dance of swords.

Magic
A portable can be summoned by a ritual. The ward heals others' wounds with its voodoo magic. Even after the drowning of the Isle of Masks, the healing arts haven't lost any of its potency.
 * Besides its default appearance, it may come in the form of a gargoyle statue crafted by the Kuur-Ishiminari a figure of an irresistable, furry peddler, a Pisces-like statue, etc.

Notable Practitioners
Among the extinct race of the Masked Ones, Yurnero the is the last and most notable practitioner of this art. Having named himself after the tradition to represent its last practician, he is commited to preserving the Juggernaut tradition with each blow of his blade to ensure that the style is well remembered.

seems to be familiar enough with the style to comment on its unoriginality.

Biography
Ostarion awoke from his trance to see the sun shining on his face. With the millennial solstice of Wraith-Night now at an end, and him being the only survivor of a massacre that he enacted but was completely oblivious to for its entire duration, he found himself in a luminous body made of wraith flesh and no longer at the mercy of decay that all material things are subject to. Declaring himself the Wraith King, he refashioned his bone kingdom into a land made of wraith essence. His mortal subjects shared the same fate too, turning everything in his current domain into an incorporeal land until everything he ruled over was as immortal as he is.

Campaigns
There was once a small kingdom renowned for its textile specialists that Ostarion tried to conquer. The surviving subjects fashioned a cape for the ghost king in the hopes that he would spare them. Which he did, but just this once.

The Duke of Levinthal, Elector of the Gleaming City, once held out against the hordes of Ostarion's undead warriors for many days. Seeking to finally end the siege, he did a sortie and fought Ostarion in personal combat. He lost the battle and his domain fell to the king, with his broken greatsword now in Ostarion's hands.

Ostarion's eastern expansion caught the ill attention of an undead dragon named Ambinderath. The beast was probably killed by Ostarion, and its jaw was severed to create a sword out of it. Whatever happened to its other remains is unknown.

Ostarion's lust for power and immortality eventually led him to add even the Seven Hells to his eternal kingdom. To this end, he sought to collect the many shards of the prison plane Foulfell which is rumored to have the ability to imprison the souls of demons. He has yet to conquer this realm, though.

Personality and Mannerisms

 * Ostarion is a cruel king.
 * Ostarion is, despite his lack of a material body and thus his inability to feel pain, into BDSM.

Relationships
Given the massive time gap between the reign of the Skeleton King and the Wraith King, not to mention that Ostarion's memories have been mostly consumed by the wraith fire, it's unknown if his previous incarnation's relations still carry over to his current form. Nevertheless, one can read it in the link above.

Immortality
Having forsaken his material body for a body shaped from wraith flesh, Ostarion now has an incorporeal form. His embodiment is made of pure spiritual essence that is beyond any material decay. The countless quantities of wraith energy that he has consumed should give him large amounts of strength, since the wraith energy that was stole from the Wraith-Night hordes empowered the throng as well.

As a spiritual being, Wraith King has access to the spiritual planes of existence, such as the afterlife. He resurrects himself by returning from the veil of death and back into the world without staying in the Underscape that comes after the veil.

Equipment
Ostarion's subjects, both willing and unwilling, have forged various weapons and armor for their undead King. Although he has long forsaken his form of bone, he still finds himself appreciating things made out of bone, only appreciating non-bony items on rare occasions.

In Ostarion's storeroom, he owns a variety of large swords that fit his large stature. Most of these swords are made of bone and other materials, but mostly bone. Besides his default sword, which appears to have a spinal cord along the flat side of the metal blade, this includes the following: Besides his other bony swords, Ostarion owns a variety of non-bony swords, ranging from worldly swords made of mundane material to eerie swords that can influence matters spiritual. (Usually in a bad way.) Ostarion's royal wardrobe has a vast miscellany of armor and regalia. It's interesting to note that most of his articles of clothing or armor, if not all of them, were given to him as tribute. Either the senders voluntarily gave their tribute to him or if Ostarion himself forcibly took it from them, usually after their deaths. After all, even unwilling and unwitting sacrifice is due tribute in the eyes of the Wraith King.
 * A bony, wicked looking sword fashioned by Ostarion's biggest fans in the smithing trade.
 * A sword made from the late Dreadknight's own sword and fused with his spine. A scary reminder of what awaits those who challenge Ostarion. A similar sword made out of the spine and blade of an unknown victim exists in Ostarion's possession.
 * A white sword made by Ostarion's subjects. Its hilt and grip was crafted from the bones of fallen kings, while its blade was forged from the armor in which they died wearing.
 * A sword made from the severed jaw of the undead dragon Ambinderath.
 * The Boneslayer, a sword that was presented by an unfortunate kingdom that Ostarion was about to conquer. They staked their hopes on this gift which they thought should open opportunities for negotiating a peaceful surrender. It didn't work.
 * An unorthodox shaped blade made from the bone shards of many a broken enemy.
 * A makeshift sword fashioned from a femur and a blade that are fastened together.
 * A sword that appears to be made of crystallized blood.
 * The broken greatsword of the Duke of Levinthal.
 * The Relic Sword, a sword with a blade that has been broken off. Although it is physically broken, it still has an ethereal edge. Only bloodshed can satisfy its phantom blade.
 * The Winterblight, a sword carved from stone and glacial ice. Its cold edge can freeze the very souls of its victims.

Among the clothing that he has taken from others alongside their lives, he has taken the remains of the Dreadknight and his Magnoceros accomplice. For their bold act of conquest on Ostarion's realm, he killed the two invaders and fused their remains on his obsidian pauldrons and gauntlets that are lined with gold, adorning the latter piece of armor with the Dreadknight's skull. He also took the Dreadknight's cloak which is lined with inscribed sigils that were said to render its wearer invincible—which Ostarion proved otherwise. To complete the outfit, he wears a crown made from the bony remains of the Dreadknight—a dreadful reminder of Ostarion's reign and the fate of those who dares to challenge it.

Powers
Calling upon his damned lineage, Ostarion draws upon it to fire a from his fist, reducing those unfortunate enough to be caught in its wake to ashes. The same wraith flame has consumed his memories about his previous regime back when he was the bony king. Ostarion's is sustained by the spiritual essence of his enemies, draining it away from them with each strike he successfully lands to feed his aura. This "aura" might refer to the spiritual kind of aura in real-life metaphysics where it is said to be the colored emanation surrounding the body of humans, animals, and objects, which sounds very similar to the luminous Wraith Essence that gives the shape of revenants and untethered spirits on the material plane. Its active component is a good demonstration of Ostarion's skill with necromancy, allowing him to summon his skeletal/ghostly subjects to his side. His dark magic ensures that their loyalty to him will be eternal, even after they have died.
 * In his transition from the Skeleton King to the Wraith King, his "hellish lineage" and hellfire has been replaced with his "damned lineage" and spectral flame. This damned lineage is his new power source for abilities that use wraith fire.
 * However, he would soon regain his ability to manipulate hellfire after one particular resurrection. On his return passage through the veil of death, he was attacked by a swirling fire that struggled to drive him back into the endless abyss. He grasped the flame with his mailed fist, thrashing and tearing at it until he returned to the earthly realm.
 * This flame may be his "hellish lineage" that he discarded upon becoming a wraith and his lineage is probably seeking vengeance for abandoning them.

doesn't have any lore.

His is best explained in his Immortality section.

Frostivus Powers
During the Wraith-Night before Frostivus, Ostarion displayed a much more powerful application of his ghost powers. It's unknown if they're still canon or not.

is an ability that summons the spirits of the dead to damage anyone in a large area surrounding him. The effect is not immediate since Ostarion must plunge his sword into the ground first to start casting, then channel the ability until the ground erupts. Unlike the next two abilities, this one has some degree of lore from its description. is an aptly named ability where he summons wraiths to buff his attack damage, movement speed, and attack speed. This ability has no lore to it though.
 * It shares the same "Wraithfire" moniker as his, implying that it also uses wraith fire which is drawn from the same power source that is his damned lineage. This shared power source is evident in the ability's use of dead spirits to work its power.

Yet another aptly named ability, Ostarion's can summon wraiths who will regroup with their summoner to heal him at the cost of their life. This ability has no lore to it.

Friendships and rivalries
Allies meeting Wraith King
 * vo_dark_willow_sylph_ally_225.mp3  You're not a king, you're a despot.
 * vo_dark_willow_sylph_ally_226.mp3  You would have fit right in at Revtel.
 * vo_dawnbreaker_valora_ally_241.mp3  I've been around for a while, Ostarion. And I really don't think you've got what it takes to handle everlasting life.
 * vo_grimstroke_grimstroke_ally_105.mp3  I must admit, Ostarion, you knew all along what I discovered only by accident.
 * vo_grimstroke_grimstroke_ally_106.mp3  Ostarion, your kingdom was a wonder to behold.
 * vo_hoodwink_hoodwink_ally_235.mp3  I grok'd smoking was bad for you, Ostarion, but this is bloody nuts!
 * vo_mars_mars_ally_126.mp3  Admit it, you wish you could be me, Ostarion.
 * vo_mars_mars_ally_127.mp3  You had to work so hard for cut-rate immortality...
 * vo_monkey_king_monkey_ally_217.mp3 vo_monkey_king_monkey_crown_ally_217.mp3   We might as well make the best of it, Ostarion.
 * vo_monkey_king_monkey_ally_218.mp3 vo_monkey_king_monkey_crown_ally_218.mp3   I'll fight beside you, but I'm not callin' you king, Wraith.
 * vo_pangolin_pangolin_ally_223.mp3  Where is the fun if there's no chance of death?
 * vo_pangolin_pangolin_ally_224.mp3  Just do not talk to me and we'll get through this.
 * vo_snapfire_snapfire_ally_240.mp3  Eh. Good...bad... I work with what I got, Ostarion.

Enemies killing Wraith King
 * vo_bounty_hunter_bount_rival_07.mp3 You're wanted dead or alive. I don't know which you are but I'll collect your bounty all the same.
 * vo_centaur_cent_rival_01.mp3 Your reign as king is over.
 * vo_centaur_cent_rival_02.mp3 You are a better corpse than a king.
 * vo_chaos_knight_chaknight_rival_01.mp3 Knight takes king.
 * vo_dark_willow_sylph_rival_225.mp3  I've seen what rulers like you are like... you deserved to die.
 * vo_dark_willow_sylph_rival_226.mp3  Death is too good for you Ostarion.
 * vo_ember_spirit_embr_rival_18.mp3 Be gone, foul wraith.
 * vo_grimstroke_grimstroke_rival_137.mp3  Better luck next time.
 * vo_grimstroke_grimstroke_rival_138.mp3  I'll ensure your legend lives on, Ostarion, but not your reign.
 * vo_hoodwink_hoodwink_rival_235.mp3  You want these little bones of mine? Gonna have to do better than that!
 * vo_juggernaut_jugg_rival_15.mp3 vo_juggernaut_jugsc_arc_rival_15.mp3  I bow to no king.
 * vo_juggernaut_jugg_rival_08.mp3 vo_juggernaut_jugsc_arc_rival_08.mp3   One strike against the throne of bone.
 * vo_legion_commander_legcom_rival_33.mp3 vo_legion_commander_legcom_dem_rival_33.mp3  Never trust the dead.
 * vo_lycan_lycan_rival_15.mp3 Tis no treason to kill a tyrant king.
 * vo_lycan_lycan_rival_16.mp3 When you strike a king's neck, you better take his head.
 * vo_mars_mars_rival_149.mp3  I know a thing or two about hubris, and you had this coming!
 * vo_mars_mars_rival_150.mp3  I'll scatter your bones from here to the pits of hell!
 * vo_monkey_king_monkey_rival_218.mp3 vo_monkey_king_monkey_crown_rival_218.mp3   King? Ha!
 * vo_monkey_king_monkey_rival_219.mp3 vo_monkey_king_monkey_crown_rival_219.mp3   Get back up again, I dare you.
 * vo_night_stalker_nstalk_killspecial_02.mp3 I'll pick my teeth with your bones.
 * vo_pangolin_pangolin_rival_225.mp3  All that suffering, I revisit upon you ten fold!
 * vo_pangolin_pangolin_rival_226.mp3  How many times must I kill you?
 * vo_queenofpain_pain_rival_13.mp3 King for a day… Queen for eternity.
 * vo_sandking_skg_killspecial_01.mp3 The King is dead. Long live the King.
 * vo_snapfire_snapfire_rival_241.mp3  The way I hear tell, you fashion yourself a bad man...
 * vo_snapfire_snapfire_rival_242.mp3  I got bullets for days.
 * vo_terrorblade_terr_rival_41.mp3 vo_terrorblade_terr_morph_rival_41.mp3  vo_terrorblade_terr_shards_rival_41.mp3  I ruled in the hell of Foulfell. Why would you think I'd bow to you?
 * vo_abyssal_underlord_abys_rival_01.mp3 Bow to your new lord.
 * vo_abyssal_underlord_abys_rival_02.mp3 You are no king.
 * vo_undying_undying_rival_10.mp3 vo_undying_undying_big_rival_10.mp3  We welcome kings and tyrants.
 * vo_visage_visa_rival_26.mp3 At last you bow before me, Ostarion.
 * vo_void_spirit_voidspir_rival_128.mp3  Your thirst for life amounts to nothing in the end.
 * vo_weaver_weav_rival_01.mp3 Who puts their skeleton on the inside?

Others
 * vo_oracle_orac_prophecies_112.mp3  The one who makes you bow will rise again. But no such luck for you.

Ranks
The Bronze Legion is a diverse motley of soldiers from different backgrounds united under the common goal of fighting for Stonehall. Besides the obvious presence of humans within the Legion, there is also the Vhoul, the Ogres, the Satyrs, the Odobenus, and even Radiant creeps among their vast ranks.

It is said that their hallmark trait is discipline, and their soldiers are always training when outside of combat.

Equipment
In the armories of the Bronze Legion's infantry, the light legionnaires have access to various one-handed swords, pikes, spears, bows and arrows, boetian/aspis shields, razor nets, clubs that bear the Bullsnake symbol as its head, battleaxes, etc. Heavier troops such as the ogres are given massive clubs, warhammers, and the same shields. Their equipment may be forged by Stonehall's blacksmiths or from mercenary Smeevils, who forge weapons and armor for whatever side requests their service.

During the siege on Roseleaf, the Bronze Legion defended the walls from the ladders of Oglodi siegemasters and other Oglodi who may scale the walls by pouring burning oil on those who attempted escalades. Alongside several other poorly constructed battlements in Roseleaf, the Bronze Legion utilized lodestones, but were sabotaged by Lorlin Lasan of the Jasper Circle (on behalf of the Red Mist) who managed to turn their defenses against them. The result was the lodestone's magnetism pulling nearby armored soldiers towards it, destroying the poorly built defenses and restraining the poor troops caught in it. They also have access to what appears to be a primitive tank or siege engine.

Transgression in Tares
The neighboring kingdom of Tares spent centuries maintaining their deference to their Stonehall colonizers. Many centuries of servitude have passed and the Taresian nobles finally found it necessary to strike back against them, secretly negotiating to amass an army of poor soldiers and cheap mercenaries who have all been motivated with the whispered promises of golden plunder and a life free of the Stonehall tyrant's legions.

Word of their rebellion has somehow reached the intelligence of Stonehall, prompting Emperor Galanius to dispatch the Bronze Legion. The incumbent Legion Commander Tresdin and her subordinates Marcus and Rix were sent to destroy the meager opposition and bring the conspirators to justice.

Fled to Filedo
Tresdin, Marcus, Rix, and the rest of the selected Bronze Legion chase after the remaining Taresian nobles who have fled for Filedo using the battle waged in their lands as a distraction.

Battle of Roseleaf
Led by Tresdin, the Bronze Legion attempted to hold off the Red Mist army at Roseleaf. Details are scarce, save for hints that Tresdin made poor decisions and may have initiated the fight, resulting in disaster for the Bronze Legion. After the battle, the Bullsnake Flag was found at the site by Mireska, which may be legion's emblem.

Destruction
When Stonehall came under attack by the and his Abyssal Horde, the Bronze Legion was the only division near enough to come to the city's aid. Although Tresdin was able to drive back the demonic invaders, the Bronze Legion was largely destroyed in the battle.

Stonehall Elite
The Stonehall Elite is a subdivision of the Bronze Legion. It was created by Belasanno after Rix betrayed the Bronze Legion.

Invasion
Stonehall was attacked by the Abyssal Horde, led by Vrogos, the Underlord. While Tresdin and the Bronze Legion were able to repel the attack, the city was largely destroyed in the process.