Darkness before the eyes, and a ringing silence that settled at the very moment when the sounds of the last battle faded. Suddenly, a scarcely distinguishable shadow of a gaunt face appeared amid the black veil. The same face that had flashed before the eyes a moment before... the silence. It was as if it began to become more distinct, but then abruptly blurred, transforming into a shape of a familiar interior. The bedchamber of thy own castle. Its image at once evoked a feeling of serenity, but a sudden voice instantly dispelled it. "Welcome back." This unsettlingly calm and measured voice could only belong to one — the Councilor Feurlis. The necromancer stood a few steps away, and in the chamber's corners loomed the silhouettes of his spies and infiltrators, seemingly calm but with arm positions that clearly indicated they would draw their weapons at any moment.
"I knew you would make it," the councilor again spoke with his usual equanimity, and then, without changing his tone, added, "I'm sorry I didn't say anything. But this was the plan. Too much was at stake. The fate of the Empire, or perhaps of all that exists. You can't fool Death that easily. Trust me." The necromancer made a meaningful pause, as if emphasizing his own appearance, that of the living dead. "It was all intended to seem natural and not to arouse the slightest suspicion. Particularly in the eyes of those who had become overly enthusiastic in their worshiping. Death oughtn't to be a weapon of the mad and the fanatical. And neither will it be. Thanks to you, among others. Her Majesty will surely hear of this. If she hasn't already... But there are formalities to observe." For an instant, it seemed that the necromancer finished and would now head away, but he kept on standing there, as if he wanted to speak some more. And then, after an excessively long tense moment, his voice came again at last. "As for the necessary sacrifices…" These words evoked a wide range of ghastly pictures, which, however, immediately wisped away as soon as the councilor continued. "The Empire will mourn each and every life lost. Yet I have no doubt that you will be able to quell the guilt by serving Her faithfully." A faint glimmer of purplish magic flickered in Feurlis's empty unfathomable eye-sockets — and all of his warriors present in the chamber headed for the exit, including the ghostly spy who now appeared after lurking behind the back the whole time, gripping a glaive of metal cursed by darkness. Leaving her weapon by the wall, she followed the others. Now the conversation was over for certain, and prolonging it wasn't a desire in the slightest. Not here, and not now. Or rather — never at all. The buzzing head craved but for a little rest.
Lords and Ladies, the mysterious delusion is over now — and the dark call has died down. Maybe forever, or maybe — only for a while. On behalf of the Empire, Councilor Feurlis expresses his gratitude to all those who made a worthy contribution to the success of this secret operation. All who succeeded in defeating the enemy at stage 12 or higher are granted a unique trophy artifact as well as a corresponding achievement. The artifact’s durability depends on the number of points scored along with the Lord’s or Lady’s combat level:
The top 75 military clans, whose Lords and Ladies have excelled in grasping the mysteries of Darkness and Death, can count on a special recognition — a well-deserved reward and the loyalty of new followers awaits all who have brought at least 60,000 points to the clan.
Clan rank | Reward | Glory | | 1 | | 1,500 | | 2 | | 1,300 | | 3 | | 1,100 | | 4 | | 1,000 | | 5 - 8 | | 900 | | 9 - 13 | | 800 | 9. | #17 | Авалон | 13,300,782 | 10. | #407 | Asgard | 13,294,974 | 11. | #27 | Орда | 13,277,436 | 12. | #1209 | Any Key | 13,175,003 | 13. | #41 | Долина Магов | 12,913,445 |
| 14 - 20 | | 600 | 14. | #928 | Железный Легион | 12,836,650 | 15. | #7777 | Бессмертные | 12,639,258 | 16. | #10886 | Гиперборея 1685 | 12,526,653 | 17. | #57 | Тридевятое королевство | 12,057,417 | 18. | #846 | IV legion of Elfius: Инквизиция | 11,936,149 | 19. | #249 | Белая Русь | 11,857,432 | 20. | #3305 | Украина. Величие Запада | 11,441,475 |
| 21 - 30 | | 500 | 21. | #326 | Герои Уничтоженных Империй | 11,312,255 | 22. | #2302 | II legion of Elfius | 11,246,979 | 23. | #5152 | †Огненные рубежи† | 11,198,433 | 24. | #2517 | The Dedicated Fighters | 11,164,652 | 25. | #2735 | Ангелы смерти | 10,969,233 | 26. | #9426 | Орден Рыцарей - меченосцев | 10,961,665 | 27. | #346 | Свои | 10,907,362 | 28. | #782 | Легион Грешников | 10,860,297 | 29. | #965 | Земли Эльмора | 10,613,267 | 30. | #2230 | Агенты Хаоса | 10,573,869 |
| 31 - 45 | | 400 | 31. | #14 | Братство Стали | 10,540,776 | 32. | #5722 | Галерея Теней | 10,367,682 | 33. | #276 | Молот Ведьм | 10,334,186 | 34. | #12234 | Санаторий Виктория | 10,153,080 | 35. | #10721 | Fire Kingdom | 9,783,621 | 36. | #6118 | Владыки Мира Империи | 9,639,819 | 37. | #10557 | Dracarys | 9,512,202 | 38. | #3346 | Радуга | 9,439,185 | 39. | #1790 | Орден "Клинок теней". | 9,353,579 | 40. | #3975 | Степное Братство | 9,330,128 | 41. | #63 | Desperados | 9,308,260 | 42. | #1512 | † Nekropolis † | 9,227,826 | 43. | #2303 | III legion of Elfius | 8,989,361 | 44. | #73 | Орден Джедаев | 8,614,444 | 45. | #302 | Орден Единых | 8,259,661 |
| 46 - 60 | | 250 | 46. | #1488 | Тёмная лига Некромантов | 8,074,411 | 47. | #1787 | Scorpion | 7,978,717 | 48. | #5063 | Midgard | 7,790,823 | 49. | #728 | Улей | 7,786,541 | 50. | #10399 | Ни шагу назад! | 7,339,976 | 51. | #8433 | _Чудная Долина_ | 7,251,360 | 52. | #5041 | Орион | 7,220,305 | 53. | #493 | Говорящие с Ветром | 7,125,335 | 54. | #1271 | Братство Героев | 7,096,446 | 55. | #10592 | Холодная Сталь | 6,771,339 | 56. | #10877 | Warsong Outriders | 6,687,413 | 57. | #12447 | † Короли Имперской Власти † | 6,389,686 | 58. | #2939 | Стая | 6,340,569 | 59. | #522 | Властители семи ветров | 6,077,022 | 60. | #7490 | Rising Phoenix | 5,878,930 |
| 61 - 75 | | 100 | 61. | #3303 | Украина. Ярость Севера | 5,769,523 | 62. | #1317 | Чёрный Эльфийский Легион | 5,700,614 | 63. | #3695 | Бездельники | 5,014,489 | 64. | #15 | Destiny | 4,759,514 | 65. | #7705 | † Angels & Demons ? | 4,462,797 | 66. | #12395 | Королевство Винтерфелл | 4,125,839 | 67. | #11576 | Украина. Огнем и Мечом | 4,007,977 | 68. | #1254 | Миракулюс | 3,981,191 | 69. | #2745 | Черный Отряд | 3,900,415 | 70. | #9970 | Holy Legion | 3,780,693 | 71. | #9595 | Immortal Dynasty | 3,494,138 | 72. | #8502 | ~Orden of snow leopards~ | 2,997,896 | 73. | #644 | Гвардия Grail Keepers | 2,721,479 | 74. | #414 | Утёс Кастерли | 2,294,561 | 75. | #12092 | ERROR 404 | 2,278,979 |
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A special note is given to the top 5,000 apostles of Darkness, who have devotedly walked the road allotted to them — the word of your might is already spreading among the damned and the dead:
Lord/Lady rank | Reward | 1 - 50 | | 51 - 100 | | 101 - 200 | | 201 - 400 | | 401 - 650 | | 651 - 1000 | | 1001 - 1500 | | 1501 - 2250 | | 2251 - 3000 | | 3001 - 3750 | | 3751 - 5000 | |
The names of the ones who defied Death itself and selflessly fell in battle with the name of Darkness upon their lips will be engraved forever in black granite at the base of a new dark bastion in honor of the new era to come:
Darkness will not bow before Death! |