Iron Falcons

The Iron Falcons are an organization devoted to the guardian gods tasked with keeping the world of Eo safe from the Fial Darg and orther dark forces.

Insignias[]

The Iron Falcons are represented differently across the different games of the SpellForce series.

In SpellForce 2: Shadow Wars the banner used by Baron Ortbrandt of Norimar shows a white falcon on red ground. The soldiers were mostly using grey or white steel armor with a black falcon emblem on the chest.

In SpellForce 3 the Iron Falcons of Aonir's Blade use a black falcon on orange ground with white stripes below. Their soldiers also wear orange clothing below their armor as well.

It is unclear if the different design approaches are intended to show that there were multiple insignias depending on the area the Iron Falcons were residing in or if this design choice was just based on artistic freedom.

History[]

After the War of the Six Races the renegade gods' armies led by the Fial Darg were defeated and the princes of darkness were sealed away by the gods. The Iron Falcons were founded and declared it their sole purpose to prevent the seals from weakening. Because they were both supported by the guardian gods and the population who had become tired of war, their power quickly rose to considerable heights.

During the Mage Wars[]

Screenshot Sieges — The fortress in Aonir's Blade has been the place of many battles of the Iron Falcons

Many decades later the Iron Falcons were an established organization and their fortresses were still as sturdy as only few others in Eo. However with the Fial Darg being imprisoned so long the fear lessened and the amount of new recruits for the Iron Falcons grew less and less. The order's numbers had diminished to such an extent that they were often incapable of doing more than simply maintain their existing fortifications. By the end of the Mage Wars, the Iron Falcons were barely holding on.

When the Song of the Wight was heard, after the Mage Wars had ended, the resurrected undead fought the Iron Falcons and began to attack the seal within the fortress of Aonir's Blade. If Corporal Tahar had not appeared in time to drive them back, the prison would most likely had been breached.

Decline of the Iron Falcons[]

With the rise of the Circle the Iron Falcons dogmatic behaviour often came into conflict with their thirst for power. The Iron Falcons' influence became less and when the first rumours about the myth of obtaining godhood were first heard, they warned. They believed that this myth was in fact a trap laid of by the Fial Darg or their followers to plunge the world into chaos.

TheHowlingMounds InnerGraves — The former fortress of the Iron Falcons has entirely been taken over by the undead

Sadly the mages of the Circle ignored the warnings and initiated the ritual when the Dark Roamer appeared. With the world of Eo being shattered many fortresses of the Iron Falcons were obliterated and those which remained lost the majority of their power.

The former fortress within the Howling Mounds was first laid to ruin during the wars before the Convocation and then was entirely reduced to rubble when the undead of the Darklands took it over.

Falcons of Norimar[]

IronFalconsSF2 — The Iron Falcons as shown in SpellForce 2: Shadow Wars

In Nortander the Iron Falcons were almost non-existing when the conflict with the shadows arose. However the Highmark still had some fighters remaining. When the the Soul Carrier was rallying allies for saving the fortress of Shaikur in the Iron Fields, the falcons of Norimar were one of the first who were willing to help. Later on the Iron Falcons were led by Falkmar during the assault on the Bulwark and thus took a huge toll in taking the Clans' fortress blocking the portal to Shaikur.

Origins[]

SF3AvatarPicIronFalconSoldier — A falcon soldier wearing heavy armor in SpellForce 3

Although the Iron Falcons were devoted to all the guardian gods there were two gods they treated with utmost respect. The first was the god of death and saviour of the souls of the departed, Hirin. The Iron Falcons took their name him, since Hirin was often represented as a falcon and guardian of the gods.

Another god of great value was the patron of the dwarves, Niethalf. Since the Iron Falcons were all trained warriors honoring the teachings of Niethalf, the god then ordered his servant Glamrig to forge armor of the highest quality for the most respected paladins of the falcons. The legendary elite equipped with these armor were said to be invincible even during the War of the Six Races.

Overview over some armors in different titles[]

Known fortresses[]

The Iron Falcons spread across all of Eo in order to fulfill their duties. While they were first present throughout the entire continent of Fiara and were keeping the Fial Darg in check, their numbers dwindled with the rise of the Circle in Nortander.

After the Convocation wars began the once mighty fortresses in Nortander fell quickly, and by the time the primal elements awoke there were none left intact. Only in the Highmark were therestill Falcons present after the elements had calmed down.

Aonir's Blade[]

TeranorClosedTheBreach — Keeper Teranor closed the breach and restored the seal through self-sacrifice

Deep within the Scorching Desert of southern Nortander sat a huge fortress. Led by High-Keeper Arenor, the Falcons of Aonir's Blade guarded the tomb of the Fial Darg from outsiders and cultists alike. The cruel Mage Wars had taken a toll on them the number of prospective recruits slowed to a trickle. Their situation turned even more grim with the arrival of the Bloodburn. The plague woke the dead in such vast numbers that the Falcons were driven out of their citadel and into the desert.

Only with Corporal Tahar's help was the fortress of Aonir's Blade able to persevere against the undead, the Deathmen, and later the Purity as well and their fighters became part of the Corporal's army to combat the now-tyrannical Purity of Light.

Howling Mounds[]

The fortress's original name was erased from history when the Falcons were wiped out as a result of the Circle's war during the Convocation. While they tried to remain neutral, the magical outbursts resulted in the release of hordes of undead, demons. The Falcons ultimately fell before the rage of the Primal Elements during the ritual after the Dark Roamer had appeared. Later on the former fortress had become a home to Hokan Ashir's legion of undead led by Korshar.

Norimar[]

Within the Highmark the Iron Falcons of Norimar had erected the Falcon Castle. This legendary keep was capable of holding the border against the orcs of the Tuscari Desert and against the dark elves of Lar. It also served as an outpost for the capital of Sevenkeep in case of an invasion.

The Soul Carrier marched through Norimar to search for help for Shaikur. Although the power of the Iron Falcons had degraded compared to former ages they still presented a formidable force. When the dead were raised by the magicks of the Red Cult the Falcons of Norimar exterminated the cultists without mercy.