For once it was all peaceful. The Goblins returned to the caves and the Elves – to Neverwinter Forest. The Dwarves decided to remain in Great Shadow Master Bratu’s Stronghold. All races in the Triad were now amassing armies and preparing them for the assault on Riven’s Citadel.

Three long months went by. Shadow succeeded in driving off Riven’s greatest attack yet. He had sent millions of minions to finally seize the Crossroad. It was a bloody battle but Roksan’s magic protected the Watcher. The moment the minions entered the Crossroad they were immediately weakened by the protective spells. Shadow grew stronger as a result of these same spells. He was nearly invulnerable!

Eremik had gathered a vast force of Dwarven axe-throwers and berserkers. Laramir was in charge of several battalions of Elven elite archers and Thwarg commanded the Goblin pushers – the strongest cavalry in Utopia. King Duncan on the other hand was in charge of the supportive spell-casters. The Humans had no equal in that!

After observing how the army grew, Shadow finally decided that the time had come! He told the leaders to guide their armies to the Crossroad and prepared himself for battle. After no more than an hour or two all living armies were standing ready in the Crossroad. Shadow stood in front of them and begun his final speech.

“Goblins, Dwarves, Elves, Humans…Utopians! The time has finally come to drive Evil off this world forever! Today you will fight your children’s future, your future! Today you will fight for Utopia! Some of us might not make it back home. They will be avenged! But Riven must not be avenged! He must be forever forgotten! The moment you enter this portal is the moment the battle begins! My brother is evil but he is not stupid. He already knows we are here and has prepared his forces to meet ours. Be careful! Are you ready?”

A mighty roar echoed through the Triad. They all would die before seeing Riven live this day and destroy their dream, their own Utopia!

Shadow was the first to lead the army through the portal. They all followed him into the strange light. What they saw on the other side filled them with fear and worry. The world of Evil was a horrible place! The ground was burned beyond recognition! Streams of molten rock flowed all around them and Riven’s Citadel stood in the horizon as a monument to the hatred he had for all living beings. He himself was standing in the middle of the burnt land. He greeted the living with and evil laughter and drew a strange sign in the air. Shadowed warriors started emerging from the ground. They quickly covered the whole land.

“Dear, dear, foolish brother of mine! What do you think you will achieve here beside your own quietus? You should have known better than to come here. Now…you die!”

He waved his hand and the shadow army attacked. The battle begun! Shadow himself could not interfere. He was watching from a hill what the New Alliance’s army was doing in the world of Evil. Eremik and Hafnir were fighting side by side. The King was swinging the Shadow Master’s Hammer and Hafnir was putting his mighty axe into good use cleaving shadowed flesh. Thwarg was leading his elite troopers into an attack of the front lines of the shadowed army. Laramir was riding through the battlefield firing a volley after a volley of arrows and Duncan and his priests were healing the wounded Utopian troops.

Sadly the battle seemed won for Riven. No matter how many died in his army’s ranks more and more emerged from the scourged land.

“We need the Watcher!” Laramir shouted.

“He cannot interfere unless Riven does!” Duncan was busy healing a fallen dwarf.

“I’ll make him interfere!” and those were the last words they ever heard from Thwarg.

He stood before his band of elite warriors and spoke to them.

“Goblins! Today we die! We must die for Utopia! For our children! We must make Riven interfere in the battle. When this is done…victory will be ours! Now make me proud!”

With a wicked cry they sliced through the ranks of the shadows and reached Riven. He turned and in a blink of an eye cut them down with his dark blade! Shadow watched from the hill and a tear came down his cheek when he saw the Goblins’ heroism. In his heart he swore to avenge their deaths and with these thoughts he came down to the battlefield and started drawing strange symbols in the ground. The Utopian army circled him to guard him from the attacks of the shadows. When he was done he stepped in the symbols and raised his hands to the sky mumbling strange incantations.

Clouds appeared from nowhere! Thunder crashed and heavy drops of rain started falling down on the tortured land. The rain acted like a healing potion to the ground. Flowers started coming up. Then small bushes and trees! Riven’s army started diminishing under the healing rain and he himself appeared to be affected by it. He fell from his black stud and cried from pain. Utopia was reborn on this lost world! The army was celebrating the victory but at the same time mourning its losses. Laramir’s arm was cut off but he will live. Duncan was shot dead from a shadow’s arrow. Eremik was wounded lightly. And the greatest loss of them all – Thwarg the Goblin Khan.

Shadow stepped to Riven.

“See brother? Utopia will always be stronger than you!”

“What…will…you do…to me….now?” he asked weakened by the continuing rain.

“I cannot kill my own brother.” When Shadow said those words Riven’s expression became less gloomy.

“But” the Watcher continued, “You must be punished! Do you remember Utopia brother? Do you remember our father Bratu? He used to punish the guilty when we were young. And I intend to make him do so again!”

Riven gasped of amazement.

Shadow raised his hand above Riven’s head and drew an eye over him. It grew and grew until it became as large as a dragon’s head.

“Great Shadow Master Bratu! Father! Let us hear your voice once again! What is your wise decision? Tell us your verdict!”

The eye looked at Riven and a powerful voice echoed.

“GUILTY!” after saying that a cone of fire came down and burned Riven off this world. He was never to be spoken of again! Evil was finally purged of the Triad! The only thing remaining was to bring Utopia back together.

Shadow gathered the leaders and told them to go back to their own worlds through the portal.

“Today you won the greatest battle Utopia has ever fought! Until today you were all living separately. Tomorrow it will all be different! I promise!”

Laramir knew where this was going.

“What will happen to you?” he asked.

“Since you don’t need the Crossroad anymore, you won’t need a Watcher.”

“But…”

“Don’t worry noble elf! I have lived long enough and I think I deserve a little rest. Now Go!”

The Utopians returned to their worlds and Shadow went back to the Crossroad. Night fell and it was time to undo what Roksan had done to prevent Utopia from destruction ages ago. The Crossroad must be destroyed so the Triad will unite and form Utopia once again.

He started casting his last spell on this world. Roksan’s work was destroyed in only a matter of seconds. Utopia was reborn! And the Keeper of the Worlds’ soul took off on its final journey to the great void beyond where mighty heroes like Great Shadow Master Bratu, the human sage Roksan and the Goblin Khan Thwarg were watching over Utopia making sure evil never sets foot on this magnificent world again!

The Elven camp was busy like a bee-hive. A noble-looking elf was walking around shouting orders. He had a green Elven leather mail on him. It made him look like a great warrior. His name was Laramir. He looked worried. The rangers he had sent were still nowhere to be found. Without them they couldn’t fire the ballistae and the siege of the Stronghold had to wait.

“Don’t worry brother. They will be back.” said an old elf standing next to Laramir.

“I’m not sure. They should have been back hours ago! I’m going to look for them!”

“Sire! At least take some archers with you!”

“We cannot afford to lose anymore men!”

His decision was firm. He was still young, but wise and brave. He was born on the day of the Great Changes and that left its mark on his young soul. He somehow gained knowledge of everything that happened! He knew about the Crossroad…the Triad and Riven! But he was wise. He also knew that one race alone cannot be powerful enough to challenge Evil itself. So he decided to lead his people to domination of the world they inhabited instead of trying to revive Utopia. And he was right.

Laramir quickly took a bow and some arrows and went into the forest in search for his scouts. He was so occupied by looking for his scouts’ footprints he didn’t see the man standing right in front of him! When he finally saw him the surprise was so great that he fell down to the ground.

“Wh…who are you?”

“I am Shadow! Son of Ardaniel! And your nephew if I am not mistaking…”

The even greater surprise took away Laramir’s ability to speak! His nephew?! Who was this man? He remembered his sister. But her only son was the dreaded Riven! That’s why he never wished to be called a brother of Ardaniel anymore!

“I have no sister!” his voice was cold as ice.

“You are Laramir. Are you not?”

“I am. And who might you be stranger?”

“As I said…I am Shadow! Son of Ardaniel…brother of Riven…and your nephew…uncle.”

“But…Riven is an only child!”

“That’s what he wanted you to think! We are twins! You know about the Crossroad of the Worlds. And you know that there is a Watcher guarding it. I am that Watcher!”

“But then…oh no! Oh Ardaniel…oh dear sister! How I have defiled your sacred memory during all these years!”

He nearly broke down in tears.

“Calm yourself noble elf! You were too young to understand what happened to Riven. And I’m sure that Ardaniel forgives you!”

“Why are you here?”

“I am here to make you an offer. I offer alliance!”

“Alliance? With who?”

“Every living thing in the Triad! Goblins, Elves, Dwarves and Humans must unite!”

“What!? You are crazy!”

“You want peace don’t you? The only way peace will ever return to the world is Riven to be defeated and Utopia united again! I cannot interfere in the Worlds unless Riven does. So we must make him interfere! We must create the New Alliance of Utopia! Only united we can defeat the Devourer!”

“We are better off here! We are powerful! We will control this world!”

“Maybe. But someday Riven’s evil will become stronger than me! He will seize the Crossroad and your people as well as all other living things in the Triad will be doomed!”

Laramir went silent. He was thinking. He had sworn to protect his people with his life when they elected him leader. He now realized that their only chance was this new alliance.

“Ok. What must I do?”

“Meet me in my father’s temple in exactly midnight!”

With these words spoken Shadow disappeared leaving the confused elf. Laramir went back to the camp to talk to his people. Deep inside he knew that that won’t be necessary. They would follow him even if he led them to certain death!

* * *

Shadow returned to the Crossroad. One part of his task was complete. Now he had to visit all leaders in the Triad and convince them to join the Alliance. But that had to wait. Riven’s minions had broken into the Crossroad again. He rushed into battle!

* * *

The Goblin Warlord Thwarg was outside his tent. A map of the world was place on a small table and he was planning his next attack on the Dwarves. His plan was to wait for the Dragon Queen’s destructive raid and attack immediately after that. He aimed to destroy all Dwarves with a single attack. He was just marking the Dragon’s progress when he sensed someone’s presence. He sharply turned around and found himself face to face with Shadow.

“Greetings!”

“How did you get here?! GUARDS!”

“I don’t think that would be necessary” said Shadow and with waved his hand immediately paralyzing the guards! “I come with an important offer for you!”

The goblin was scared out of his skin. He could do nothing but listen to the strange man.

“I’m here to offer you a place in the New Alliance of Utopia!”

“Utopia? My father used to talk about it! But it is dead! Just like him!”

“It is dead…because of me! But that’s a long story. Now I need your help to bring Utopia back to life! All living things must unite against the Devourer in order to defeat him and resurrect Utopia! Meet me in the Temple of Bratu in exactly midnight tonight!”

Before Thwarg had a chance to object Shadow was long gone. He now had to travel to the Human world and bring them to the Alliance. That was going to be easy. Their king, Duncan, was his father’s old friend. He immediately agreed to join the Alliance and Shadow showed him the portal to the Crossroad. He told him to enter it in exactly midnight tonight and traveled to his father’s Stronghold to meet King Eremik.

When the Dwarves fled to Great Shadow Master Bratu’s old Stronghold they found themselves trapped between two powerful armies. The Goblins were attacking from the west and the Elves were already at the eastern gates. However the Dwarves led by their King Eremik were still holding on. They were fierce warriors and the superiority of their weapons was the reason why they were not slaughtered yet.

The King was sitting in his new throne room when a messenger came in.

“Sire”, he bowed to his King. “I bring news from Hafnir.”

“Hafnir?  Praise the Gods he is still alive!” the King was excited.

“Yes, milord, he is. But the news he brings are most dreadful!”

“Speak!”

“The Goblins have found where the Great Dragon Queen was imprisoned…and freed her! She is now traveling to this place seeking vengeance!”

Eremik’s expression was as good as a stormy sky. He was well aware that there was only one thing powerful enough to kill the Dragon Queen – Shadow Master Bratu’s Hammer. He once used it to defeat and imprison the Dragon. The time had come for it to be used once again!

“Bring me Hafnir!”

A tall, for Dwarven standards, man entered the room. He was wearing a wolf pelt and carrying a sturdy-looking axe. He bowed to his father and king.

“Aah, Hafnir! Come, come! Sit by my side!” Eremik was full of joy for seeing his son again. “Tell me now! How did the mission go?”

Hafnir started telling his story…

“We were going through Neverwinter Forest en route to the mountains in order to scout both our foes. We saw Elven Ballistae! They are preparing a siege! Luckily we were able to kill their rangers who were sent to scout our walls for a suitable place to aim the ballistae at. They won’t be laying siege for now! Then we traveled to the mountains. We had to avoid many Goblin patrols. And when we reached their leader’s tent our souls filled with grief! We overheard a conversation between their leader and a scout who informed him that they had found the Dragon Queen and released her! We hurried back to tell you the news!”

“You have done well, my son! But I have another mission for you. You must find the Hammer of Bratu! Unfortunately I have no information for you.”

“We found the Temple of Bratu! Is it possible that the hammer is in there?”

“It is worth checking out! Go there my son! Find the hammer! The fate of all Dwarves is now in your hands and feet!”

Hafnir left the Stronghold with a small group of scouts. Their spirit was high! They were happy to have found a new hope for their people.

The temple was in the deepest darkest parts of Neverwinter Forest. Hafnir’s path was filled with Elven patrols. But the Dwarves were experienced scouts. They managed to evade all Elves and unnoticed reached the Temple. But the real dangers lurked there! They were three men and Hafnir. One of his scouts mysteriously died at the entrance. The words “You are not welcome here!” were burned on his chest! Anyone else would have been frightened…but they were not Dwarves for nothing! However, Hafnir’s men fell one by one killed by an invisible force! He was left alone!

Who killed those Dwarves? And why? The portal to the Crossroad was in that Temple! And Shadow was guarding it! He spoke to Hafnir.

“Who dares defy this sacred place?”

“I am Hafnir! Son of Eremik – King of the Dwarves!”

“What are you doing here Dwarf?”

“I am looking for the Hammer of Bratu. My father needs it to defeat the Great Dragon Queen…or she will destroy us.”

“You won’t find it here! Be gone!”

“I’m afraid I cannot do that! The fate of my people lies in my hands! I must try and protect them with my life!”

Impressed by his bravery Shadow felt the time has finally come! The time to let the Triad know about each other! The time to take on Riven himself!

“Go to your father, young Dwarf! I will come to you there!”

Hafnir left the Temple. His mind was confused. Who was that strange voice? What is going to happen now? How will his father accept his failure? Lost in thought he walked right into an Elven patrol! He took out his axe. Battle was upon him again!

“I am Shadow. Watcher of the Crossroad. Keeper of the Triad. Guardian of all things living. It is my task to prevent the Triad from uniting once again. Because if that happens, Riven’s evil will spread and devour the world and all living beings. I must be forever vigilant, forever ready, to fight off Riven’s attacks on the Crossroad – the only way of reaching the three worlds. In each world there is a hidden portal leading to the Crossroad. Riven owns one of these portals. The other two remain hidden on the other two worlds.

In the first world Roksan put the humans. He took all knowledge from them. But there were still some wise old men whose knowledge could not be taken away. They kept on telling stories of Utopia to their children and grand-children. In time humans called these stories “fairy tales”. They didn’t believe them at all! It is better that way.

In the second world Roksan sealed Riven and his demonic horde. The Devourer knew where the portal to the Crossroad was located and built a Citadel of Evil around it. He constantly sent his Shadows to try and seize the Crossroad. But I was there to defeat them every time.

The rest of Utopia was left in the third world. There the portal was in my father’s temple. The elves remained in Neverwinter Forest. The Dwarves lived in Stoneforge Mountains and in the caves below lurked the Goblins. Unfortunately one day the Goblins decided to wage war on the Dwarves…and were victorious. The remaining Dwarves led by King Eremik fled to my father’s abandoned Stronghold. The Elves allied with the Goblins and attacked the Stronghold from the east. This world was again torn apart by war.

So why did I protect such miserable creatures from Riven? I have a debt to pay. I was the reason Riven got so powerful. I was the reason for the separation of Utopia! As you already know…I am Shadow and my brother’s name is…Riven! We are Sha’hdoween!

A very long time ago, when Utopia was still one whole, the Sha’hdoween were the most advanced race in the world. Led by my father – Great Shadow Master Bratu they prospered. When my mother, the elven maiden Ardaniel, got pregnant my father expected a son. He was ready to teach him the disciplines of Shadow Mastery which combined being a powerful Avatar and being a great Warlock. Instead Riven and I were born. My father decided to train us in different ways. I was to become a Warlock and Riven – an Avatar. Father was wise. The only way for the Sha’hdoween to prosper was to be led by a Shadow Master – a Warlock and an Avatar. After father’s death Riven and I must unite and lead our people. That’s what my father wanted to achieve. And it was all perfect until one day…

Riven was talented. He was becoming a powerful Avatar. And my mastery of spell craft was unmatched throughout Utopia. I was just finishing a healing spell when my father proposed we took a walk in Neverwinter Forest – the dwelling of the Elves. I told him I’d catch up and continued casting my spell. He left. When the spell was finished I followed him in Neverwinter Forest only to find him lying motionless under a tree! I rushed to him but it was too late! He could only say one word “dragons”. I looked up and suddenly realized what had happened.

Two dragons were teaching their young drake to fly. The inexperienced drake was often falling down to the ground. I realized that it had fallen on my father and crushed him! My heart filled with grief. I took him and carried him back to the Stronghold. When Riven found out he went mad! He started breaking chairs and tables and then locked himself in his room. I was worried about him. He didn’t come out until the day of our coronation.

All Sha’hdoween nobles were gathered in the Great Hall. We were ready to be crowned leaders of the Sha’hdoween. The old druid put the crown on Riven’s head and then turned to me. Then it happened! Riven stabbed him with his black blade and with the words “Sorry, brother!” he ordered me thrown in the dungeon. He then appeared in front of all Sha’hdoween and told them how my father was killed. How the Dwarves had released a killer-dragon and how it crushed my father. The people were furious! My brother had successfully sewn evil inside their hearts. He promised vengeance and the naïve Sha’hdoween believed him! He amassed a great army and marched towards the rest of Utopia. But he was no match for the Alliance of Utopia. With his army crashed in only three days Riven and the handful of survivors fled to the most distant parts of the world.

When the united armies reached my father’s Stronghold they only found me. As a sign of respect they left the Stronghold untouched. And I was at last free. When I found out where my brother had fled I went there to try and talk some sense into him. I knew my mother was also with him…somewhere.

I found that Riven could not be helped the moment I saw him torturing my mother! He threatened to kill her if I refused to help. I agreed to look into his future and tell him what I saw. I saw him being killed by a Sha’hdoween. Then he made me cast a protective spell. Should he be killed by a man of his own race his soul would rise again and destroy Utopia. Unfortunately my father had trained me well as a Warlock and my spells were the most powerful things in the world. I cast the spell and demanded the release of my mother. Riven killed her with bare hands! And me he threw in the mines below to work for my survival.

On the faithful evening of the Division I heard Riven’s scream and immediately knew what had happened! He was dead…almost dead. I tried to get out of the mines and when I succeeded I found out what Riven had done…what I had done! Everything was changing before my eyes! I had no time for looking around because of a band of bloodthirsty Goblins who saw me and started chasing me! I was almost running in Neverwinter Forest when I heard Roksan’s summoning.

Before I could even express my surprise that someone else has also survived the Great Changes I was teleported in his tower. He told me what he was about to do and that he needed a Watcher. I wanted nothing more in the world than to reverse the evil I had done. So I said “Yes”. Then Roksan divided Utopia into the Triad and I became the Keeper of the Worlds. The only thing powerful enough to oppose Riven and protect the world from his evil.”

“I am Shadow -The Keeper of the Worlds. Since the division of Utopia my task has remained the same – to prevent the three worlds from being united again and then destroyed by Riven – The Devourer of Worlds.

The world was once a very different place. Now a system of three connected worlds exists – The Triad. Today they are separated form each other but still exert influence on one another. It was not always that way. A long time ago the three worlds were one whole! It was a marvelous place! Unicorns ran free with no fear of the great black dragon that eventually swooped down to grab a juicy apple from the trees. Goblins, dwarves, elves and humans all lived together. Orcs hunted in the mountains, trolls scavenged the caves below the dwarven mines…Utopia! But, like all great things, this one came to a bitter end.

In the far reaches of the world, in an abandoned cave-complex, lived the scattered remains of a once great nation – the Sha’hdoween. Their number was so small that the evil that lived inside them didn’t stand a chance against Utopia. But, alas, everything happens with a reason. Their inferiority in number was compensated by the greatness of their leader – Riven. He was a mighty Avatar who had the uncanny ability to sniff out every opportunity for seizing a victory over the allied forces of Utopia. He was the one that with only five warriors managed to destroy a Dwarven forge filled with allied troops.

The danger rising in the face of Riven forced the Alliance of Utopia to devise a cunning plan. They hired one of Riven’s most trusted officers, Molok, to kill him. But what they didn’t know was that Riven had anticipated such a move and warded himself with protective spells. Should he be slain by a Sha’hdoween his soul would rise again and cause the destruction of Utopia.

This happened on a faithful winter evening. Riven was asleep when Molak crept in on him and stabbed his knife in Riven’s chest. And then it happened! A terrifying screech echoed through Utopia. A Shadow rose from Riven’s corpse and claimed its first victim – Molak. The screech of Riven’s soul changed all living things in Utopia. Dragons received the ability of breathing fire and blinded by this new power they began wreaking havoc in Utopia. Dwarves, Goblins, Humans and Elves were all locked in an eternal struggle for domination. And if that wasn’t enough Riven’s Shadow roamed free and killed everything that stood in its way.

Fortunately for Utopia a human sage was left unchanged by Riven. Roksan was in his tower when the Great Changes began and the magic of that sacred place protected him. He was witness to everything that happened in Utopia for just one night. He thought long and hard and reached the decision that Utopia must be separated into three different worlds – The Triad. In the first one he placed the humans but took all knowledge from them. They had to start from the beginning. In the second world Roksan locked the forces of Evil including Riven’s Shadow. And in the third world he left everything else. Neither world knew about the other ones. But just to be sure Roksan summoned a Keeper. One who must always keep watch over the Worlds and make sure they never know about each other.”