Age of Wonders
               www.ageofwonders.com/aow.html

Welcome to the Age of Wonders, once a time of magic and peace. An
age swept into the ravaging gale of chaos by the arrival of a
single, uninvited race: the Humans. The fragile balance that
existed between the ancient races, Elves, Dwarves, Orcs and
others, has changed into a struggle for power and survival in the
wake of the turmoil the Humans have brought to the land. Prepare
for an adventure where you will uncover wondrous ancient
artifacts, awesome magical power, and the secrets of a shattered
empire. Ally with the forces of light or darkness to determine the
fate of the earth in the AGE OF WONDERS!

Age of Wonders is a turn-based game combining the best elements of
strategy, adventure and role-playing. It features 12 unique
fantasy races, over 50 different heroes with upgradable abilities,
dozens of spells and scores of locations to explore. In this game
of conquest, players employ strategic and tactical skills to
command troops in capturing vital locations and defeating enemies
in a captivating single player campaign or compete with friends in
multi-player scenarios.

Age of Wonders was co-developed by Triumph Studios and Epic Games
and is being published by The Gathering of Developers in the USA
and Take 2 Interactive in Europe. Age of Wonders has received
great reviews, including a PC Gamer Editor's Choice award and a
Next Generation 5/5 star rating.

Story

The Dawn of Humankind

In the early days of Earth, all living creatures were ruled from
the Elven Court where Lord Inioch sat upon the throne. Then the
mortal Humans came. Banished from their Garden, the Humans set
sail for new grounds, and, like a wrathful tempest, came ashore in
the Valley of Storms, where the Elven Court lay.  The Humans
rained down upon the Elven court without warning or mercy. Lord
Inioch was cut down in cold blood. Queen Elwyn, Inioch's second
wife, managed to flee the Court with her daughter, Julia. Prince
Meandor, Inioch's son by his first wife, was left for dead.

The fall of the Elven Court sharply divided the Elves' vision for
the future of their humbled race. Some Elves, intent on restoring
peace to the land, sought only to rebuild. Others saw only one
recourse - the extermination of the Human race. The Elves who
harbored this unquenchable hatred became known as the Dark Elves.

Inioch's Bloodline

Unable to maintain order after the fall of Inioch and the Elven
Court, the Elves established secluded realms throughout the lands.
Queen Elwyn made her new home on a remote island, where Princess
Julia grew up and was schooled in history, philosophy, and the
arts, as well as armed combat and magic.  Upon reaching adulthood,
Julia was introduced to The Keepers, a secret society established
to protect the earth, make peace and prevent bloodshed, while
maintaining as much of the legacy of the Elven Court as possible.

During the sacking of the Elven Court, young Prince Meandor hid
under the bodies of fallen guardsmen, watching helplessly as the
Humans slew his relatives and closest friends. When the carnage
finally ceased, Meandor fled for his life. When the Elven
community split into two opposing philosophical camps, he sought
out the Dark Elves. Here, he found support for his hatred for the
Humans and his repulsion for those Elves, especially his
stepmother, whom he felt had forsaken him.

With the weight of his royal descent behind him, Meandor founded a
secret faction of Dark Elves called the Cult of Storms.  With aid
from the other races of darkness, the Cult organized a global
campaign of terror against the Humans, Elves and anyone that
opposed their dark ideals.

Silence before the Storm

An eerie new star appeared in the eastern night sky, a beacon to
the Human-infested Valley of Storms where the ruins of the Elven
Court lay. The sages and seers could only explain it as an omen of
change or doom. After countless wars between the various races and
factions, an uneasy silence engulfed the lands.

The Cult of Storms was rumored to be plotting the resurrection of
Inioch and the rule of a new world order, which would include the
extermination of the Humans. But despite their many ears, The
Keepers could only guess when and how the storm would be
unleashed ...











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