Mainline from: 1.3.3
Created by: esci (original), nemaara (latest revision)
Takes place in: 389 YW
Created by: esci (original), nemaara (latest revision)
Takes place in: 389 YW
The town of Parthyn, located at the border of Wesnoth, regularly faces attacks from the orcs. One day, the baron of the town dies in one of said attacks, but the town is saved by unexpected arrival of a necromancer, Darken Volk. Necromancy is a forbidden art however, so the town doesn't accept Darken Volk. The only one in the town who do accept Darken Volk is the baron's son, Malin Keshar, an expelled mage who want to protect his town at any cost. Malin soon learns how to do necromancy himself in order to stop the orc attacks, even if his hometown hate him for it.
This campaign provides example of:
- Accidental Murder: From 1.14 onwards, this is the circumstances behind Malin's expulsion from Alduin. Malin "tested" a curse in anger towards a classmate who makes a joke about the orc raids and it kills the classmate. Malin insists that he didn't know the curse is fatal.Pre-1. 14
- The Corrupter: The Ghost summoned by Malin Keshar as his first one encourages him down the path of darkness.
- Easter Egg: A couple:
- If the player completes the first scenario without recruiting any Walking Corpses, the dialogue at the end of the chapter, and in chapter 6 will be different.
- Also in the first scenario, the player can come across a dead fish, whom Malin will raise as an aquatic Soulless. Later in scenario 6, the player can bring said Soulless back to where it was originally raised, which gives it some noticeable buffs.
- If the player spends hours upon hours killing rats with a Ghoul to grind its HP in the third scenario (due to said scenario having respawning enemies and lacking a time limit), the characters will get annoyed with it. The breakpoints are 111, 419, 999 and ''9999'' HP.
- If you reach Endless Night 6, and have specifically orcs defeat Mal Keshar while he is standing on the spot where the book is, you get to learn what exactly is it that Zephirin said that got Malin to curse him in the backstory.And it is...
- Endless Game: The final scenario, appropiately named "Endless Night", is looped any time you win and only ends when you lose. Version 1.14.6 adds an alternative way to win by letting the enemy take Mal Keshar's book and tricking them into believing that their attempts to destroy the book manages to destroy the lich.
- I'm Cold... So Cold...: As he progresses towards being a lich, Malin says he feels cold. When he finally emerges from the ritual the cold is so intense he needs to look for living things to drain the life from.
- No Cure for Evil: A campaign where you play as a Protagonist on His Journey to Villain, and you don't get any healer units.
- This becomes a plot point in one mission, which begins with an injured and poisoned Malin retreating from a battle. Since he has no healers no one can save him from his wounds or cure the poison. The only answer is to perform a ritual to become a lich.
- Protagonist Journey to Villain: Malin Keshar goes from a young mage who was willing to do anything to protect his hometown from the orcs to Mal Keshar, one of the most powerful lich lords in the history of Wesnoth as he turns to darker and darker magics to try to wipe out the orcs.
- That Man Is Dead: When the reflection pool is visited in "Endless Night", Mal Keshar's memories of Drogan and Dela would call him Malin. The lich replies that it's not his name.
- Screw This, I'm Outta Here: In the revamped edition, the scenario where Malin butchers the three orcish leaders of the Whitefang clan has the last one opting for a strategic retreat when his two companions are slain. Malin proceeds to chase after him, returning to his home village.
- Stealth-Based Mission: "A Small Favor, pt 1" has you trying to sneak into the mansion while trying to keep your army unnoticed for as long as possible. You can also win by simply killing the enemy general.
- Title Drop Chapter: Scenario 9 is titled "Descent Into Darkness", when Malin finally turns into a lich.
- Video Game Caring Potential: When Malin is chased from the village, you can avoid killing more villagers and instead slay the orc warlord who has come to pillage the town.
- You Have Outlived Your Usefulness: Shocking Malin (but probably not the player), Darken will turn on Malin after he helped him obtain the book from Tath. Downplayed in that he just abandons Malin rather than killing him, only attacking after Malin refuses to let him leave.
