25: The Traitor

25: The Traitor is the twenty-fifth mission of Myth III: The Wolf Age.

Journal Entry
September 26th, 1440 A.E., The heart of The Nornpass

Upon finding Moagim's force, the band of heroes fought like wolves, cutting their way to the form of Moagim. There, Connacht and the Faceless Terror squared off as the battle raged around them. After a sword battle the likes of which had never been seen, Moagim clutched his final wound and dropped into the snow and mud. The undead in his army began to shiver, collapsing into piles as the magic that held them together was no more.

The war had been won, but at a terrible price. First the Smiths of Muirthemne and the people of the Downs, then the Oghre and the Twelve Duns had perished. Even the Emperor himself had given his life to this conflict.

But now, finally, the terror of Moagim's war was over.

With Moagim's blood still wet on his sword, Connacht lead his battered force back down the Nornpass...

Background

 * September 26th, 1440 A.E.
 * The heart of the Nornpass.
 * Hunt down the traitor Mjarin, and cut him down.

Level Hints

 * So it was Mjarin all along!
 * The Imperial Advisor himself is the Leveler!
 * He brought back Moagim and commanded his every action!
 * And Myrdred was in on it? So that's where he got all his powers-trained by the Leveler himself!
 * So, how to defeat him? Beats me!
 * And he would have gotten away with it too, if it hadn't been for you pesky kids.

Epilogue
The Leveler Mjarin had been exposed and ultimately defeated.

During the final battle, Connacht's axe had severed the head of Mjarin. Yet, through some dark sorcery, the head refused to die, continuing to spit vulgar curses at Connacht. Mjarin's dream powers had ended, but not his life.

Myrdred, who had aided them so much in the war, had in the end revealed himself as a traitor. Desiring the vast powers known only to the Leveler, he had offered his soul in return for that knowledge. Connacht and Damas could not bring themselves to kill the traitor they had once counted as their close friend. Connacht spared him from death, but told him to flee and never to return. From now on he would be known as "The Deceiver".

To ensure that the being known as Moagim would never again be resurrected, his body was incinerated. Those ashes were then mixed with sea salt and placed in a metal urn. That urn was then buried beneath the Mountain of Kor, never again to see the light of day.

Bahl'al the Watcher had survived the war. Having fled from the pursuing Avatara, he was eventually hunted down and captured in a silver mine on the western side of the Cloudspine. Believing a swift killing was too merciful for such a beast, the Watcher was imprisoned by a powerful spell, permanently sealing his body to the very rock of the mountain.

No one can recall the fate of Mjarin's living head.

After a long period of mourning for their much-loved Emperor Leitrim, Connacht was crowned as the new Emperor of the Cath Bruig Empire. At his coronation, Emperor Connacht issued three commands.

Firstly, the city of Llancarfan was to be renamed to Muirthemne-to honor the brave Dwarven smiths who had given their lives to save it.

Secondly, for the honor of the Northmen of the Twelve Duns who had fallen in battle, they were to be interned in the Mausoleum of Clovis, the first Emperor of the Cath Bruig.

And finally, the mountain pass where Emperor Leitrim fell to Moagim's blade, was to be renamed "The Stair of Grief".

And with that, Emperor Connacht began the rebuilding of the great city of Muirthemne. It was the end of the Wind Age, and the beginning... of the Wolf Age.

Unused Post-Epilogue
With the armies of Moagim destroyed, and the Myrkridia and Trow defeated, peace flourished over the lands of man. Connacht proved himself to be a strong and just Emperor. Reuniting the scattered remnants of the Twelve Duns, he gave aid to the rebuilding of their once great nation. The Dwarven Kingdoms would eventually come to think of the Empire of the Cath Bruig as brothers. Emperor Connacht began a dynasty that would last for hundreds of years.

It is said that in Connacht's hundredth year, he left the mighty city of Muirthemne alone and on foot. Eventually, he traveled to his beloved Nation of Gower, and saw and how his people had prospered. From there, legends say that the Emperor Connacht disappeared into the unknown east, not to be seen again for a thousand years.