"Believe me, I would have died for her, but I am bound to this life. I can only look on as my friends die off, time and time again."
- ―Shadow Warrior to Elune
The Shadow Warrior, is the main protagonist of SpellForce: The Breath of Winter and also a possible protagonist in SpellForce: Shadow of the Phoenix. He was a Rune Warrior who averted the Aryn Crisis but in the process lost his body and soul and turned into a Shadow. He also has a major role in the second SpellForce series where he aids The Shaikan directly or indirectly.
Background[]
The man who would be known as The Shadow Warrior was one of the rune warriors that fought in convocation wars, in that time he was brother in arms with Lena, and Grim. it is unknown under which circle mage he fought but it did not matter, to him all the circle mages were "Insane". After many years of being unsummoned, he does not appear to have much memory from that time. Sometime during the war he was defeated and his rune was lost.
Breath of Winter[]
The Shadow Warrior is Summoned
Approximately two years after The Battle of Fiara, Grim and Lena both came to a rune monument in Mirraw Thur to summon him. It was never specified how they got his rune but, both of them claim that they were his friends from Convocation wars, and thought about him, and his abilities that could help them, and the Refugees. Grim was little reluctant on giving Insali back his rune because he wanted to use him for his own goals, but Lena insisted on it.
The Resistance[]
Reowys
He quickly joined the resistance and helped them reclaim Runes of two other warriors, friends, and old leaders of the Resistance. Dunhan and Reowys .
Dunhan
Dunhan became mad by his love for Janina, and his rivalry with his brother, Setrius. Sometime before Shadow Warrior came to Stormcleaver Rocks, Janina died, and have been resurrected by Dunhan.
After Janina was deemed by skergs incurable, of her soul sickness her only chance was to face Dunhan, who in anger killed Janina. Her freed spirit returned the favor and killed the mighty rune warrior, whose rune was then taken by the Shadow Warrior.
Reowys, on the other hand, went into a different direction, he left for Echo Swamps. There, his rune was captured by black magician Whorim, who used Reowys as his personal guard, and one of his lieutenants for commanding his Orc, and Ogre army.
With the help from Hortar, one of the officers of Whorim, the Shadow Warrior, together with Lena, and Grim, managed to defeat dark magician with use of special flute which got swamp crawlers to kill magician's elite units. Hortar paid the ultimate price for it however. One thing that also should be noted about Echo Swamps is that this is the place where the Shadow Warior first meets Hokan Ashir in disguise as ''Masked one" . Hokan offers help by creating special runes for him from essences he finds in his journeys.
With both, Dunhan and Reowys in group service, Grim announces that it is time to attack Ice elf city in Mirraw Thur, and free Cenwen, the ice queen. When resistance fighters attacked with the help of the rune warriors, Elves did not expected that, they weren't prepared. With leaders like the Shadow Warrior and Grim, humans managed to defeat elves in town, and kill the high priestess, but nobody expected what was going to happen next after they release the queen.
Crimson Empire[]
The Fial Darg is freed by the traitor Grim
Lena took Grim last actions with a little of distrust, because high priestesses was going to warn them, and yet, Grim just killed her, and moved on on it. Even though she felt something is not right, they continued the plan and went for the cell. After opening the cell, they were struck by a monstrosity called Fial Darg that was held here, not the queen.
Grim freed the monster, and after a little fight with Lena opened gates that were blocking Crimson empire from attacking these lands. Now, Grim escaped to Shal'Dun with his master to coordinate an attack on light worshippers in Mirraw'Thur, and nearby lands of Urgath.
In time, Elune appeared, one of the ice priestesses and Lena's former master. Lena pleaded her to save what's left from her people, and asked for protection in the lands of the ice elves. She reluctantly agreed.
The Crimson Empire attacks...
Dracon Arach attacks...
With the Shadow Warriorand Aedar leading refugees to the portal in the north for the bordering with Tirganach land called, Frostfall. unfortunately Frostfall was not any safer than Mirrar Thur and everyone had to fight tooth and nail for their survival. the refugees barely fled from Frostfall to Tirganach with the vicious Dracon Arach in their pursuit.
High Priestess Aedale is giving the rune warrior information
Once they arrived at the island a number of the winterguard accompanied them to the gate of the city. the journey from island to the city was perilous and was not made any easier by the Wolfing Rawor who had killed the guardians of the gate and stolen the key. The Shadow Warrior retrieved the key by slaying Rawor and led the refugees into Tirganach. Aedar thanked the rune warrior and started to help the refugees settle. Lena on the other hand was not well, she was confused and fearful, many questions plagued her mind : what Grim and his master had planned? where is the queen? Elune and high priestess Aedale shed light on those questions. Queen Cenwen was abducted by the Crimson Empire and now with the Fial Darg freed they could perform a ritual in which they could use cenwen's blood (a firstborn) to free the renegade gods Nor and Zarach. The Shadow Warrior was not about to let that happen and promised to stop them.
The elder Windjalf had been returned to Fastholme.
He was sent by Elune to the lands of dwarves to acquire the Firebane, an ancient and secret magic scroll, the only thing capable of destroying the defensive towers of the crimson empire. first he arrived at the Winterdeep and put an end to the undead curse that was plaguing the island. Then he arrived at Fastholme and was greeted by King Ragnar Undalfskjar and his advisor Murim. they revealed that the city was under siege by undead hordes under the command of the undead giant Gorg who had kidnapped the elder Windjalf in the hopes of receiving the Firebane himself. The Shadow Warrior offered his help and was thus given command of the dwarven army and access to the monument in the city. he managed to defeat the undead army, slay Gorg and free Windjalf. afterwards Windjalf reluctantly gave the rune warrior the firebane. The Shadow Warrior then returned to Tirganach and discussed how to proceed with Elune.
DarkWall
He proceeded to The Nevershade Frontier (after acquiring the key to its portal from Zanzaar) alongside Lena. The crimson empire had several camps alongside their troll allies in their, moreover the legendary Darkwall was located there. None of them could stop the rune warrior and he with the help the dwarven warrior Borondir and his destroyers completely defeated the crimson empire's army and even destroyed the Darkwall, a feat no race had ever managed. afterwards he and lena proceeded to Shal'Dun.
The Dracon Craig Un'Shallach welcomes the rune warrior and hopes that he will stop the Fial Darg.
"Lena...maiden..you wouldn't..."
Once there they met with Craig Un'shalach who revealed that he and many other dark elves had no intention following the Fial Darg's plan. Thus, they became allies and discussed how to conquer Shal'Dun. In order to get inside they needed the keys that the Archons of the neighboring cities possessed. The Shadow Warrior acquired all of the keys, Shal'Dun was conquered and Grim was finally killed by Lena. Later, Craig told the rune warrior that he needed the ShadowBlade before venturing into The Abyss since it is the only weapon capable of killing a Fial Darg. Thus the Shadow Warrior and lena went to the Firefangs.
a trick by the masked one
They had little luck in the Firefangs since it was invaded by the Shadows and the shadowblade itself was guarded by a Fire Angel. The Shadow Warrior posed as a servant of the Fial Darg and helped the fire angel in defeating and sealing the shadows, but despite this the fire angel refused to give up the sword and figured out the lie. He was defeated by the rune warrior. The Shadow Warrior was told that whoever wields the shadowblade will lose his soul but that was a price he was willing to pay in order to save the world. Him and Lena returned to Shal'dun where they met Archon Zhaal Tuor who lies to them, telling them that Craig had been killed. In actuality, they captured Craig on order of the Masked One. Unable to dwell on it for long, the Shadow Warrior and Lena continue their journey.
Catastrophe[]
Cenwen is found...
Afterwards, they ventured into the Abyss and met with Willit who gave them vital information regarding the forces of the crimson empire and their allies. the place where Cenwen was imprisoned was guarded by Soulfire Barriers and the way to break them was to kill the leaders of the allies of the crimson empire. They accomplished this task and later destroyed all the forces of the crimson empire.
"you should be grateful to me that you can die by my hand, human"
Inside the abyss they met and freed Cenwen but suddenly the Fial Darg emerged and killed Lena. The dark lord taunted the Shadow Warrior and engaged in a fierce battle with him. After the Fial Darg was killed, Cenwen thanked the Shadow Warrior and told him to meet with her in Tirganach before Teleporting away.
The rune warrior met with the elven queen in Tirganach and discussed how to stop Aryn. Cenwen told him that the Fial Darg had put a spell on Aryn and he would not recognize her. The only way to break the spell was fight Aryn until he was weakened then Cenwen would sing until the spell lose its effect. The rune warrior was a bit scared but he accepted nonetheless and headed towards the Frostweaver Rift.
Once there he was greeted and assisted by Murim and the dwarves of Fastholme. The battle between the Frostweaver and the Shadow Warrior was bloody and dreadful but at last Aryn was weakened and Cenwen was able sing long enough for the Fial Darg's spell to lose effect.
Shadow of the Phoenix[]
the city of souls, the resting place of Raith the black
"you are a rune warrior but you are free...free like me, who are you ?"
- ―Phoenix Bearer meeting the Shadow Warrior
Five years after the Aryn Crisis , he approached the masked one and asked him for a cure for the unbearable pain that the shadowblade was causing him and also a way to save his soul, which he felt was "freezing". the masked one was well aware that there is no cure and the damage that the shadowbalde had caused was beyond repair but refused to tell and decided to manipulate the rune warrior to do his bidding.
The masked one brought the shadow warrior to the City of Souls and asked him to slay the Fial Darg that was guarding an urn he needed. He promised that in return for the urn he will give him a substance that would lessen the pain he felt. The Shadow Warrior was friendly with his mysterious ally once but that was a long time ago and he had become wary of him , thus at first refused his offer (deeming him another "Insane mage") but at last relented and accepted.
He completed the task, slayed the Fial Darg and brought the masked one his urn. the masked one poured a bit of the essence potion into the urn and revived Raith Skaddar , a former mage of the circle. The Shadow Warrior was both horrified and disgusted at being forced to such a commit such a vile act. The masked one simply ignored him and ordered the rune warrior to assassinate a Dryad who had become a threat to his plans. The Shadow Warrior violently protested but the masked one simply brushed it off and reminded him that he still needed the substance.
"one way or another it will end"
After some time and work, he met the dryad and tried to kill her but relented after the dryad revealed the truth of the masked ones identity, plan and the cruel trick he had played on the rune warrior. The Shadow Warrior swore vengeance and set off to confront Hokan Ashir. His betrayal was witnessed and reported by the resurrected Rohen. Hokan easily defeated and captured the furious rune warrior using the Arch-fire. He was imprisoned in the Darkwind Keep alongside Craig Un'Shallach
The Shadow Warrior was freed by the Phoenix Bearer, another free rune warrior who also had the goal of destroying the Circle. He begged her to take him with her, he no longer cared about vengeance or whether they would succeed, the pain had become simply unbearable and he could feel his soul fully freezing and himself becoming a Shadow. He only wished for his suffering to end but with phoenix bearer he could make the best of what little time he had left. The phoenix bearer accepted and shortly after they both became aware that they are part of the prophecy foretold by the dryad and they were guided to be together by her since both had something that only by combing them could they defeat Hokan Ashir : Phoenix Stone and Shadowblade
They proceeded into the Gorge and defeated all of the Blades and Sha that were stationed there. after that they entered the Bone Temple of Zarach to destroy the Circle and stop Belial from being summoned.
In the bone temple with a bit of help from the "locals" they completely annihilated Hokan's forces and freed Ereon (Daruis in the language of the Shapers).
Ereon urged them to hurry and defeat Belial. The rune warriors claimed this to be impossible since no mere mortal could battle a god or a demi-god for that matter. Ereon claimed that since the ritual is not yet complete Belial is not at full strength, although he admitted that this did not make the task any easier.
The rune warriors moved on and challenged the demi-god. The battle was extremely hard, although the circle mages were focused on the ritual, whenever Belial was seriously injured he would absorb the body and power of the mages. In the end, however, Belial was defeated and the circle was destroyed, there remained only one more person to die, Hokan Ashir.
shadow warrior about to free the Phoenix
Hokan was infuriated and tried to summon the arch-fire to destroy those who had foiled his grand plan. The Phoenix bearer held out the phoenix stone and the Shadow Warrior broke it with the shadow blade, freeing the Phoenix. The celestial creature destroyed the mad mage.
The circle's madness finally came to an end, Ereon and the Dryad were forgiven by the guardian gods. Ereon returned to his brethren and the dryad began to fully heal Xu and return it to its former glory, her work was made easier with Alyah succeeding her evil and mad father and claiming the throne of the Empire of Xu and reforming it.
The rune warriors bid each other farewell and parted ways. It is presumed that the Shadow Warrior turned into a shadow not long thereafter.
Trivia[]
- In the Shadow of the Phoenix Campaign, it was revealed that the shadow warrior was male.
- He appeared in some form in every expansion that was released after his introduction.
- After he became a Shadow, he had to follow orders from ''First Shadow"
- Although he is the youngest, he must have obtained some position within the Shadow court, seen as in some games he acts as leader of the Shadows and as Messenger of their ruler.
- It can be assumed that his high position within the shadow court includes him owning the Shadow blade.
Gallery[]
Female heads and starting gear for each character specialization
Male heads and starting gear for each character specialization
The Shadow Warrior as seen in all the spellforce 2 games.
The predefined hero options from shadow of the phoenix expansion campagin. The equipment on this predefined options will be the starting gear on your character and depending on the class will also affect the rune warriors you gain from it