Post by Lilitha on Dec 11, 2006 13:03:48 GMT -5
The Twin Empires
Before the Eastern Kingdoms and Kalimdor was separated, they were a single continent that was Azeroth the trolls existed as one tribe, the Zandalarians which is the mother of all troll tribes. Over time the bond between the trolls grew thin and two empires emerged. The Gurubashi Empire of the southeastern jungles and the Amani Empire of the middle forestlands, both of which had little love for the other. Many smaller tribes also separated themselves from the Zandalarians, though they never achieved the size or prosperity as the two empires.
The Gurubashi and Amani empires, though they despised each other, hardly ever waged war against the other. At one point they shared a common enemy. This enemy was the civilization of Azi Aqir. These intelligent insectoids ruled the lands far to the west. They were highly expansionistic and what many consider a great evil. The Aqir were overly obsessed about eradicating all non-insect life on Azeroth.
Many thousands of years passed with the three empires fighting for survival, though never gaining a true victory over another. Eventually, the troll empires persistence led the Aqir kingdom to split in half as its citizens fled to colonize the far north and south regions of the continent. These regions became the Azjol-Nerub and the Ahn’Qiraj city-states. Though both the Gurubashi and Amani believed there were more Aqir colonies beneath the Kalimdor.
With the insectoids driven into exile, the twin empires turned to face each other again. Despite their great victories, their borders never expanded much further than their original boundaries. However, ancient texts speak of a small faction of trolls that broke free of the Amani and founded their own colony in the heart of the dark continent.
These pioneers discovered the cosmic Well of Eternity that transformed them into beings of immense power. Some of the legends left behind suggest that these adventurous trolls were the first Night Elves, though this theory was never proven.
The Empires Fall
Aside from their shadowy origins, it is clear the Night Elves came to power soon after their discovery of the Well of Eternity. Despite the effort of the trolls, the Kaldorei, or Night Elves grew quickly in size and built a mighty empire that expanded rapidly. Wielding powers that the trolls had never before imagined, the Night Elves did what the Aqir empire could never have done. They brought the fall of the Gurubashi and the Amani simultaneously.
After dismantling the defenses and supply chains of the trolls, the trolls were left defenseless to counter the elves’ destructive magic and buckled under the onslaught. The Kaldorei proved to be just as cunning and bloodthirsty as the savage trolls. After a few, short years, the twin empires had fallen.
Though they had wielded great power, the Kaldorei were soon burned by the magic they controlled. Their reckless use of magic had sent a beacon out through the Twisting Nether and lured the demonic Burning Legion into Azeroth. With as much ease as the Night Elves destroyed the trolls, the demons did to them. There are no records that have been found that tells of the Burning Legion attacking the trolls, though it is believed they did hold many battles between them. This became known as the War of the Ancients.
After the war had subsided, the Well of Eternity imploded. Azeroth was shattered. The middle of the continent was blasted beneath the sea, which is believed to be where the Maelstrom originated. Besides the considerably smaller islands, the main continents became Kalimdor and the Eastern Kingdoms. Great chunks of both Amani and Gurubashi ruins still exist in present day Quel’thalas and Stranglethorn. The Azj’Aqir kingdoms of Azjol-Nerub and Ahn’Qiraj have also survived in Northrend and Silithus.
Both Gurubashi and Amani were devastated and after the Burning Legion came and destroyed most of the Kaldorei, they began to lick their wounds and rebuilt their ravaged cities.
Wrath of the Soulflayer
Long centuries passed the trolls and gave them a difficult time. Famine and terror had nestled into both kingdoms. Driven to desperate ends, the Gurubashi sought aid from ancient, mystical forces. Both troll empires had shared a central belief in a great pantheon of primitive gods. However, the Gurubashi would succumb to the darkest one of them all.
Hakkar the Soulflayer, a vile and bloodthirsty spirit, was the first to heed the call of the trolls. He gave them the secrets of blood to the Gurubashi and helped them extend their civilization across Stranglethorn Vale. Though he brought his devotees great power, Hakkar began to crave more for his efforts.
The bloodthirsty god demanded a daily sacrifice of souls from his followers. He dreamed of gaining access to the physical world so that he could devour all mortal creatures. In time the Gurubashi realized the fate they had brought upon themselves and turned against Hakkar. The strongest tribes rose up against him and his Atal’ai, his most loyal priests.
The terrible war that ensued between Hakkar’s followers and the rest of the Gurubashi tribes rivaled that of the War of the Ancient and is only spoken of in whispers. Once again there empire had been shattered by powerful magic though this time is was between the enraged Hakkar and his rebel children. The battle seemed hopeless, though in a unexpected turn of events, the trolls destroyed the avatar of Hakkar and banished him from their world.
Even the Atal’ai were driven from Zul’Gurub and forced to survive in uncharted swamplands in the north. Within those shadowy fens they built a great temple in honor of their fallen god where they could continue their master’s work. This temple is now other than Atal’Hakkar.
The rest of the Gurubashi tribes went their separate paths after the civil war had left their lands in ruins. The Skullsplitter, Bloodscalp and the Darkspear tribes were the largest next to the original Gurubashi. Though a fragile peace had settled between the trolls, a prophecy had snuck into each tribe. Hakkar would be reborn, this time to consume the whole of Azeroth.
Before the Eastern Kingdoms and Kalimdor was separated, they were a single continent that was Azeroth the trolls existed as one tribe, the Zandalarians which is the mother of all troll tribes. Over time the bond between the trolls grew thin and two empires emerged. The Gurubashi Empire of the southeastern jungles and the Amani Empire of the middle forestlands, both of which had little love for the other. Many smaller tribes also separated themselves from the Zandalarians, though they never achieved the size or prosperity as the two empires.
The Gurubashi and Amani empires, though they despised each other, hardly ever waged war against the other. At one point they shared a common enemy. This enemy was the civilization of Azi Aqir. These intelligent insectoids ruled the lands far to the west. They were highly expansionistic and what many consider a great evil. The Aqir were overly obsessed about eradicating all non-insect life on Azeroth.
Many thousands of years passed with the three empires fighting for survival, though never gaining a true victory over another. Eventually, the troll empires persistence led the Aqir kingdom to split in half as its citizens fled to colonize the far north and south regions of the continent. These regions became the Azjol-Nerub and the Ahn’Qiraj city-states. Though both the Gurubashi and Amani believed there were more Aqir colonies beneath the Kalimdor.
With the insectoids driven into exile, the twin empires turned to face each other again. Despite their great victories, their borders never expanded much further than their original boundaries. However, ancient texts speak of a small faction of trolls that broke free of the Amani and founded their own colony in the heart of the dark continent.
These pioneers discovered the cosmic Well of Eternity that transformed them into beings of immense power. Some of the legends left behind suggest that these adventurous trolls were the first Night Elves, though this theory was never proven.
The Empires Fall
Aside from their shadowy origins, it is clear the Night Elves came to power soon after their discovery of the Well of Eternity. Despite the effort of the trolls, the Kaldorei, or Night Elves grew quickly in size and built a mighty empire that expanded rapidly. Wielding powers that the trolls had never before imagined, the Night Elves did what the Aqir empire could never have done. They brought the fall of the Gurubashi and the Amani simultaneously.
After dismantling the defenses and supply chains of the trolls, the trolls were left defenseless to counter the elves’ destructive magic and buckled under the onslaught. The Kaldorei proved to be just as cunning and bloodthirsty as the savage trolls. After a few, short years, the twin empires had fallen.
Though they had wielded great power, the Kaldorei were soon burned by the magic they controlled. Their reckless use of magic had sent a beacon out through the Twisting Nether and lured the demonic Burning Legion into Azeroth. With as much ease as the Night Elves destroyed the trolls, the demons did to them. There are no records that have been found that tells of the Burning Legion attacking the trolls, though it is believed they did hold many battles between them. This became known as the War of the Ancients.
After the war had subsided, the Well of Eternity imploded. Azeroth was shattered. The middle of the continent was blasted beneath the sea, which is believed to be where the Maelstrom originated. Besides the considerably smaller islands, the main continents became Kalimdor and the Eastern Kingdoms. Great chunks of both Amani and Gurubashi ruins still exist in present day Quel’thalas and Stranglethorn. The Azj’Aqir kingdoms of Azjol-Nerub and Ahn’Qiraj have also survived in Northrend and Silithus.
Both Gurubashi and Amani were devastated and after the Burning Legion came and destroyed most of the Kaldorei, they began to lick their wounds and rebuilt their ravaged cities.
Wrath of the Soulflayer
Long centuries passed the trolls and gave them a difficult time. Famine and terror had nestled into both kingdoms. Driven to desperate ends, the Gurubashi sought aid from ancient, mystical forces. Both troll empires had shared a central belief in a great pantheon of primitive gods. However, the Gurubashi would succumb to the darkest one of them all.
Hakkar the Soulflayer, a vile and bloodthirsty spirit, was the first to heed the call of the trolls. He gave them the secrets of blood to the Gurubashi and helped them extend their civilization across Stranglethorn Vale. Though he brought his devotees great power, Hakkar began to crave more for his efforts.
The bloodthirsty god demanded a daily sacrifice of souls from his followers. He dreamed of gaining access to the physical world so that he could devour all mortal creatures. In time the Gurubashi realized the fate they had brought upon themselves and turned against Hakkar. The strongest tribes rose up against him and his Atal’ai, his most loyal priests.
The terrible war that ensued between Hakkar’s followers and the rest of the Gurubashi tribes rivaled that of the War of the Ancient and is only spoken of in whispers. Once again there empire had been shattered by powerful magic though this time is was between the enraged Hakkar and his rebel children. The battle seemed hopeless, though in a unexpected turn of events, the trolls destroyed the avatar of Hakkar and banished him from their world.
Even the Atal’ai were driven from Zul’Gurub and forced to survive in uncharted swamplands in the north. Within those shadowy fens they built a great temple in honor of their fallen god where they could continue their master’s work. This temple is now other than Atal’Hakkar.
The rest of the Gurubashi tribes went their separate paths after the civil war had left their lands in ruins. The Skullsplitter, Bloodscalp and the Darkspear tribes were the largest next to the original Gurubashi. Though a fragile peace had settled between the trolls, a prophecy had snuck into each tribe. Hakkar would be reborn, this time to consume the whole of Azeroth.