Dark Champions

The Dark Champions were a group of great warriors whose souls became corrupted by the effects of Esturk, The World's End. In their controlled state, they were forced to battle against the Zenethian Heroes. They were defeated and their souls were released after the Heroes set Esturk to slumber again at the end of the Fourth Age.

Description

Though Esturk had captured the souls of three great warriors, they did not have bodies to occupy. With a corruptive beam from his mouth, Esturk build bodies constructed from shards of prismatic, black glass. These bodies were extremely painful and each forced movement would hurt the captured souls.
Through these forms, Esturk could control the movements of each Dark Champion, forcing them to move, fight, and channel the magic and abilities the Champions had access to in life. However, this control did not seem to extend to their mental and verbal faculties, as they could still reason and talk during combat.

History

Corruption

In the late Fourth Age in Aktempto, the shrine and gravestones of Porgorag, Wielder of the Zenethian Hook and Chain, and Morazar, Wielder of the Zenethian Swords, were corrupted by the forces of Esturk. Porgorag and Morazar were somehow taken from Zenethia, the Plane of Light, and they were corrupted into Esturk's first two Dark Champions.
In 4A 996, the Zenethian Heroes arrived in the Endor Tunnel, where they found minions of Psaro the Manslayer sacrificing dwarven scouts on a great spell circle. They engaged them and during the fighting, Esturk's corruption within Rath manifested, and he altered the spell circle before killing his sister, Trip. This resulted in Trip's soul being taken and held by Esturk, and Trip became his third Dark Champion.

Combat

On 2 Avedar 4A 996, the Zenethian Heroes and Zenthai, The Dragon King, faced Esturk deep beneath Aktempto at Doravelzog. Esturk summoned his three Dark Champions: the stolen souls of Morazar, Porgorag, and Trip. Esturk taunted Zenthai, saying he now had holy warriors of his own.
While the Heroes battled the Dark Champions, Esturk and Zenthai fought in the air above them. Though Morazar and Porgorag constantly fought Esturk's influence and warned the group of the actions they were forced into, each Dark Champion was forced to battle at their full strength. Eventually Morazar was felled, then Porgorag. Lastly, Rath defeated Trip and rescued her soul.

"The champions fought a bloody battle. Porgorag and Morazar called out as they could to try to aid them, but they were not in control of their body’s’ actions. Joseppe fell immediately and was revived in the battle. During the melee, Esturk invaded their minds in turn and offered them dark rewards and the power to save their stolen friends and slay Psaro. They shook off these temptations and steeled their resolve. Eventually Morazar was felled, then Porgorag. Lastly, Rath defeated Trip and rescued her soul."

- The Story of the Zenethian Heroes

Records

Members

• Morazar, Wielder of the Zenethian Swords: Half-orc sorcerer and Zenethian Champion.

• Porgorag, Wielder of the Zenethian Hook and Chain: Orc barbarian and Zenethian Champion.

• Trip, the One Who Fell: Half-orc ranger and Zenethian Hero.

Founding Date
Late 4A 994

Dissolution Date

2 Avedar 4A 996

Type

Religious, Other

Notable Members
Morazar, Wielder of the Zenethian Swords
Porgorag, Wielder of the Zenethian Hook and Chain
Trip, the One Who Fell