Outside of Ulthuan there is only one account of the Battle of the Vampire Coast, and it belongs to the evil Vampire Lord Luthor Harkon, the Despoiler of the Ancients. Harkon's secret record of the battle makes for dark reading. He filled entire volumes with his insane scribblings, choosing to describe the terrible fates of those slain in battle in detail, rather than the gallant defiance of the High Elves on that cursed battlefield. The story of Harkon's evil scheming has remained unseen and unknown ever since, that is until now...[1a]
History[]
Prelude[]
The story of the Battle of the Vampire Coast begins many years previous. It begins on the east coast of Lustria, a dark forbidding land where the tormented souls of the past are forced to walk again. These lands are the domain of Luthor Harkon, which because of his presence had been named the "Vampire Coast" by Old World explorers and High Elf ship pilots.[1a]
The Vampire's journals tell how Harkon came to Lustria from the Old World in a sarcophagus, unwittingly carried onboard a Norse Longship, which had originally sailed to Lustria to plunder the coast. A terrible fate befell the Norscan crew, for during the voyage Harkon stirred from his long sleep and arose from his sarcophagus. Using his magical powers, Harkon enslaved the crew, bending their minds to his will. When the longship arrived in Lustria all the once proud Norscans had become mindless Zombies, obeying the Vampire Lord's word without question.[1a]
After the longship landed Harkon and his new followers ransacked the many burial mounds that were scattered throughout the ancient jungles. Within these mounds the Vampire Lord found many magical artefacts, and many new bodies to raise as his servants. With his new power and a teeming horde of Undead at his command, Luthor Harkon carved out an Undead empire in the jungles, and to this day it is here that the mighty Vampire Lord holds court.[1a]
As is the way of evil, Harkon's journals describe his lust for power and, malcontented with his Undead empire, his inhuman mind's search for other "amusements." The books reveal that the Vampire Lord was a master of the black arts and necromancy, and how the Winds of Magic summoned to his realm quickly became a threat to any ships sailing around Lustria. Harkon had his servants build dark towers along the coast to watch for unwary ships, and no vessel was safe from the Vampire Lord's powers.[1a]
Records of the High Elves[]
High Elf ships sailing south from Ulthuan to the Citadel of Dusk are often threatened by mysterious magical winds, now known to be summoned by Luthor Harkon, and, after several vessels were lost, the High Elves were forced to find a safer, longer route. High Elf pilots soon came to dread the area around Harkon's empire and named it the "Vampire Coast."[1a]
One of the Ulthuani ships that fell under the spell of Harkon was the Dragonship Ingranion captained by the High Elf Lord Finrian Stardrake. It still remains a mystery why the mighty Dragonship sailed so close to the Vampire Coast. Perhaps her captain was hoping to save time because he was carrying an important magical cargo to the Citadel of Dusk, or perhaps it was a navigational error caused by the Vampire Lord's sorcery.[1a]
Whatever the reason, the Ingranion became trapped in a magical storm and was blown onto the rocks of the Vampire Coast. On a bleak, wind-swept beach Lord Finrian ordered his crew to regroup and organised the recovery of supplies from the stricken Dragonship. The vessel carried a full company of High Elven warriors, their steeds and cargo, and all were fully aware of their dreadful plight and the importance of delivering their magical cargo to the Citadel of Dusk.[1a]
After sufficient supplies were recovered, Lord Finrian decided to march south, braving the jungles of Lustria to reach the Citadel of Dusk. He knew he must keep his force together to avoid losing his crew in the jungles that surrounded them. Their precious cargo had to be guarded at all costs.[1a]
The Vampire Lord's Attack[]
Unknown to the High Elves the watchtowers of Luthor Harkon had tracked them while their ship was wrecked, and hollow eyes watched as the High Elves started to march south. The Vampire Lord sensed the presence of great magical power and, out of wanton greed, he raised his followers to meet the High Elves.[1a]
So it was that the Battle of the Vampire Coast began and the Ulthuani records tell nothing of what took place. Neither do the journals of Harkon tell us much, for his thoughts of battle are not those of honour and strategy, only of blood and darkness. Though these writings may be understood by some, they would not make good reading here.[1a]
All that can be told with any certainty is that Lord Finrian and some of his crew reached the Citadel of Dusk alive, and their precious cargo did not fall into evil hands. However, the dark winds that surround the Vampire Coast still remain and, though Harkon was defied, he survives to this day, plotting his revenge.[1a]