SpellForce 2: Shadow Wars

SpellForce 2: Shadow Wars is a blend between an RTS and an RPG developped by Phenomic Game Development and published by JoWood Production. It was released on PC in 2006. It follows SpellForce: The Order of Dawn published in 2003.

The story of the game focuses on a Shaikan (later called The Soul Carrier) who tries to save his home, Shaikur, from the threat of the Pact, as well as explaining the story behind the race of the Shaikans.

It has three extensions : SpellForce 2: Dragon Storm, SpellForce 2: Faith in Destiny and SpellForce 2: Demons of the Past.

It later was combined with SpellForce 2: Dragon Storm in an edition called SpellForce 2 Gold Edition.

Gameplay

Heroes

Shadow Wars introduces a new outlook of the heroes. Instead of being summoned at a hero monument, they instead join your party and stay with you for the whole game. A party is formed of the avatar, five heroes and two companions who, unlike the heroes, can't be managed by the player and may leave the party during the game.

Heroes Bor Lya Jared Shae Mordecay

Companions Nightsong Kor

Factions

Instead of The Order of Dawn having playable races, Shadow Wars has playable factions which are made of 3 different factions. Each faction has a dozen of units and its own titan.

Factions

• The Realm
• The Clans
• The Pact

Campaign

Main Characters

Shaikan Related The Soul Carrier Bor Lya Jared Shae Mordecay Ur Malacay

Humans Baron Ortbrandt Falkmar Matricus King Ulf Einar Hagard

Dwarves Jandrim Windhammer Skadjir Bloodaxe Thane Wulfgar

Elves Io Queen Sansha

Orcs The Iron Lord Kor Lokhar

Norcaine Nightsong Sorvina Toth Lar

Shadows The Shadow Warrior The First Shadow

Story

Bor joins his brother, The Soul Carrier, that just came back from his journey. On their way to their home, they quickly find out that the army of the Pact is approaching thanks to Nightsong. After having pushed back the first wave, Ur, the Patriarch asks the Soul Carrier to go with Nightsong on her way to inform the King Ulf of the arrival of the shadows and bring back an army able to confront the Pact.

At the castle of Sevenkeeps, Ulf doesn't listen to either of them. Einar suggests the Soul Carrier to gather a small army of dwarves and elves in order to attack the Bulwark, an immense fortress on the only way to go back home, as the previous one is blocked. While doing so, the Soul Carrier stops the pest epidemic at Sevenkeeps, convincing the king to help him take down the Bulwark. After taking it down, the Soul Carrier brings back to life Kor, an orc leader, thinking that it could only bring good.

When coming back at The Iron Fields, it is already too late, as Shaikur is nearly destroyed, Ur defeated by a devourer and brung to Shal, and townsfolk given as food for the devourer. After freeing the Iron Fields from the Pact, the Soul Carrier decides to free Ur at Shal but The Realm won't follow him. Thanks to Kor that he saved earlier, he manages to gain the help of The Clans. To go to Shal, they must first go thought the fortress of Dragh'Lur, protected by shadows, making it near impossible to conquer.

To solve this problem, the Soul Carrier forges a new Shadow Ring, a ring able to see shadows. After doing so, The Shadow Warrior tells the Soul Carrier how the shadows are slaves of Sorvina and can only stop to serve her after the Black Mirror will no longer be in her grasp. After retrieving the mirror, the Clans finally attack Dragh'Lur and without the shadows, it quickly falls.

At Shal, the Soul Carrier is kidnapped by Sorvina. She drinks his dragon blood in order to gain eternal youth and bring back Nazshar but instead the soul of Malacay gains control of her body. He flees to his laboratory in the Crystal Forest to start making a swarm of malars to take over Eo. The Soul Carrier follows him, facing him at the Steel Shore and is finally able to take down Malacay and the curse of the Shaikan.

Maps

• The Iron Fields
• Norimar
• Rushwater Downs
• Sevenkeeps
• Westguard
• Underhall
• Dun Mora
• The Needle
• The Gate of Swords
• Uram Gor
• The Fireforge
• The Magnet Stones
• The Crater
• Tuscari Desert
• Dragh'Lur
• Shal
• The Crystal Wastes
• The Song Glass
• The Crystal Forest
• The Steel Shore

Main Quests

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Shadow Dance Coming Home Lya The Blood Ritual The Pact Attacks Nightsong Protect her Life Alarm Help from the Humans Break through the Ring Ur, the Patriarch

Threatened Homeland Nightsong and the Message for the King To Norimar On the Way to the Falcons of Norimar The Watchfires The First Watchfire The Second Watchfire The Third Watchfire The Fourth Watchfire The Horn of the Falcons Secure the Horn The Horn must sound. Return to the Castle Falkmar The Supply Unit The First Command Through the Undead The Vault of the Undead To Rushwater Downs Rescue for Lyraine Break through the siege around Lyraine. Master Matricus Against the Iron Storm The Eastern Defense Defend Lyraine The End of the Attacks Return to Matricus The Old Order Stronghold The Portal Stone To Sevenkeeps The King of the Highmark A Friend The Catapults of Underhall The Ambassador of the Dwarves The Sobering Up Potion Bitter Lye The Respect of the Priests Crystal Vial The Favor of the Craftsmen Jared's Mixture Talk to Jared In the Home of the Dwarves The Power of the Portal Stone To Underhall Ruler of Underhall The Way unto the Mountain The Thane Through the Mine Open the Inner Gates The Eastern Lever The Heart of Niethalf Windhammer's Redemption Down with Iuan The Way out of the Mine Leave the Mine Reinforcement One after the Other United Forces United in Death Back to Sevenkeeps The Bows of Dun Mora The Morhir The Ambassadress of the Elves Hagard, the Magician The Snakenettle Honi soit qui mal y pense.... Never trust a Magician The Magician The Trust of the Magicians The Militia Jobs for the Militia Dubious Magic To Dun Mora A New Hope Queen Sansha The Mourning Ghosts Redeem the Lonely Mourning Ghost Redeem the Angry Mourning Ghost Redeem the Wild Mourning Ghost Redeem the Frightened Mourning Ghost Redeem the Greedy Mourning Ghost From the Depths Back to the Queen Time is Running The First Battle They're Coming Back Back underneath the Ground The Archers of the Morhir Elven Oath The Battle begins Rescue for the Iron Fields Nightsong's Kidnapping Talk to Redmond Search in the Northeast Hagard's Return To the Needle Matricus and the Griffons Through the Bulwark A New Command The First Wave Tactics The Order Griffons Storm The Breaking-Up of the Dark Ones On to the Iron Fields Against the Shadows Council of War Griffons to the Outposts A Sacrifice for the Treants Elen's Call Shaikur Storm the Fortress Revenge

Ur, the Patriarch The Clans To the Swordwall Old Enemies Through the Gate The Iron Lord Shadow and Light Nightsong The Freetraders Mordecay Zanza's Order The Messenger The Shadow Ring A Question Kor's Oracle The Oracle The Test The Abandoned Forge To Uram Gor Through the Burning Plains Old Art of Forging The Gate of the Nameless Fortifying the Position The Gate Through the Valley of Ashes Gauntlet Run Chaos Nodes The Lord Steward On to the Fireforge The Barbarians Allies Upward The Fireforge Into the Old Town Look for the Key Let Vlad open the Gate The Last Ring Volcano Forge Essence of Heat Yellow Fire The Black Mirror The Shadow Warrior The Forgotten Lands The Freetraders Library of Memories The Forgotten Portal Thunderfists The Magnet Stones The Banned Portal Skull Castle The Spell is Broken The Bone Wall The Bone Wall Naugron, Guardian of the Mirror Pledge The Storm on Dragh'Lur The Storm Begins The Iron Lord Through the Sanctuaries The Stone God The Treasure of the Western Camp The Treasure of the Eastern Camp To Dragh'Lur When the humans became cheeky... Sorok Human Sacrifices The Preserver Must Live Souls for the Guardians Shygalla, the Mother Zarach's Menials Hammer and Anvil The Ruler of the Norcaine The March to the Fortress Through the Swamp Traps The Impregnable Tower Wall Revenge

Malacay The Rebellion Captured Save your Companions Carrier of the Seal Civil War Hunt for Malacay Common Cause To the Crystal Wastes The Hunt To the Crystal Forest The Book D'arh Complete the Book Fire Ice Earth To the Crystal Mountain To the Laboratory The Wrong Enemy Stone grinds Sword Shadows The Melody of Magic Crystal Puzzle Malacay's Hideout A Strange Mosaic Mosaic The Last Journey Father The Secret Fortress Blood of My Blood To the North To the Blood Temple A Thousand Years of Dying

Side Quests

Generic side quests Rottgar's Letter Weapons Master Uland Traitors in Falcon Castle Report to the Baron Arrest Hedwig's Suicide The Wards Inga Rolf Inform Alwin The Iron Falcons Berengar The Lost Armor A Borrower's Note from Undergant The Dying Portals Rohen's Books Master Askan Monsters in the Quarry Living Stone, I Presume Back to Thoya Spidersilk White Spidersilk Silver Spidersilk Grey Spidersilk Black Spidersilk A Spindle for Odger Mushrooms for Zacharias Poisonous Stinger Yellow Spouter Stomach Turner Elven Straddler Brown Forestus Back to Zacharias Herbs for Galius Wormwood Feline Root Bloodnettle Glowherb Devil's Leek Back to Galius Sanctuary of Light Spellbreaker Back to Sephis Observation Betha Olar Hana Gunnar Freja Ingvert Turja Haldor Solution of the Case The Lost Deliveries Reconquer the Loot Delivery for Irion Delivery for Zacharias Delivery for Galius Delivery for Odger Delivery for Firin Delivery for Falida Delivery for Talienne Delivery for Sephis Delivery for Jorge Delivery for Thoya The Strange Chest Ask Firin about the Chest Firin's Offer Crafters or Traders The Glass Harp Crystal Chant Back to Talienne Heart of Stone The Earth Elementals Hearts for Alba Harpy Plague Ten are enough Report Ogre Hunt An Example Back to Falida The Banner Needle in a Haystack Decision Return to Irion Undercover Inquiries Lemuel Among Thieves Pickpocketry Five Purses for Lemuel Another Test Back to the Boss Right and Rightfulness Report to the Militia Once a Thief, always a Thief The Fruits of Mercy The Book of the Red Horde The Prophecies of the Lord Steward Take the Books to Thur The Conjuration Slaughter the Demon The Petrified Giant Use the Heart of Niethalf to resurrect the Petrified Giant. Blood Revenge Kill Lakash Bring Undar the Head of Lakash Kill Tzang Kill Orog Bring Undar the Head of Tzang Bring Undar the Head of Orog Kill Itza Kill Shar Bring Undar Itza's Head Bring Undar Shar's Head The Black Legion Call the Ghosts of the Legion Choose the Legion or the Iron Falcons Report to Morca Find an Ironseeker Look for Armor Parts Take the Armor Parts to Morca Look for a Blade for the Axe Mosaic of Death The Fragments of the Mosaic The Second Fragment The Servant of the Mosaic The Third Fragment Complete the Mosaic The Last Fragment Master of the Mosaic Fool's Gambit The Song Glass The Missing Scout Malkuth Perfect Crystals Heart of Crystals

Westguard Utrecht Westguard - Red Plague Westguard - Reconstruction Westguard - Utrecht's Wishes Blacksmith Alchemist Altar of Life Westguard - Guard the Westguard The First Watch Towers for Utrecht Westguard - New Allies Farming The Bows of the Morhir Warriors from Underhall Westguard - The Builder's Worries Baru The Girl and the Clans A Happy Father Westguard - The Army of the Westguard Westguard - The Westguard Grows Elven Fortress A Warrior Guild Westguard - A new Home A Dwarven Forge Elen Shrine Better Towers Westguard - Walls for Westhome Westguard - The Monument Westguard - Construction of a Well Westguard - Walls for Eternity Westguard - Grey Hordes Westguard - Peace for the Westguard Westguard - Freedom

The Right Twist An Odd Codger The Right Twist - The Professor Lela Furry's Nemesis Here Kitty, Kitty... Burst Chains Back to Twiddle The Right Twist - Mauser's Evil Empire Look for the Professor Return the Professor to his Human Form Meet the Professor The Right Twist - Magnetic Detector Look for Perfect Magnet Stone Take the Magnet Stone to the Professor Look for the Geodes Report to the Professor The Right Twist - Rohen's Portal Look for the Portal Fragment Meet the Professor at the Song Glass The Right Twist - The Timetwister Look for the Glasses Activate the Timetwister Report to Twiddle

The Grey Family The Grey Family – Letho Talk to Letho Grey Look for the Grey Family Deliver Letho's Apology to Kara Deliver Letho's Apology to the Poor Return to Letho Grey The Grey Family - Dario Deliver Dario's Parcel to Marcus Return to Dario The Grey Family - Sara Look for a Magnet Shard Return to Sara The Grey Family - Nyano Look for Dwarven Brandy for Nyano Bring Nyano his Brandy The Grey Family - Myra Paint the House of the Grey Paint the View from the Needle Paint the Silent Glade Paint the Fireforge Paint the Magnet Stones Bring Myra the Paintings

The Art of Forging The Art of Forging – Lightfist Crystals Forge the Lightfist The Art of Forging - Thought and Memory A Singing Splinter The Whisper Stone The Volcano Steel Hafts The Skin of the Beast Forge the Fencing Daggers The Art of Forging - Bloodmoon A Tear-Quenched Blade A Piece of Dragon Skin The Living Runes Forge the Bloodmoon

Free Game Mode

Free Game Mode is one of the two mutliplayer mode in Shadow Wars. Up to 3 players can play together, or it can be played in solo. The player is given quests in Westguard and can play maps in any order and redo them any time they want, each labeled with the intended level for the avatar to play them.

Main Characters

Westguard Tor Halicos Jandrim Windhammer Ylia

The Cult The Prophet Lord Steward Mardagant

The Guardians Zerbo Niethalf

Story

The avatar joins the Hand of the Dragon, a group of shaikan mercenaries founded during the events of the campaign. As its leader, Tor Halicos gives various tasks to the avatar. After proving that they are worthy to join the Hand, Tor quickly tasks the avatar a more personal request, which is to free a "friend" at Dragh Lur. Later, the task is to move freetraders to a safe place in Tuscari Wasteland, where they are then all killed by demons.

This event make the avatar question Tor Halicos, who refuses to answer them. After doing some researches with Jandrim, they find that Tor Halicos helps a group called The Cult. He explains that it is because they hold hostage of Aya, in whom he has a great affection. After saving her, Asha tells the party that the Cult controls a god, Zerbo, and plan to destroy his former self so he is reborn in a new form. After conjuring Niethalf to fight Zerbo, the avatars of the two gods are destroyed.

After this event, the Cult casted The Bone Spell on Sevenkeeps, turning all the citizen into undeads. To stop them, the avatar broke the Power Crystal powering a magical barrier, but too late, as Zerbo has already reincarnated between five of his disciples, including The Prophet. After defeating several Incarnation of the Red God, the avatar confronted the weaken prophet at The Crater, defeated him and put an end to the plans of the Cult.

Maps

• Westguard
• Rushwater Downs
• The Gate of Swords
• The Iron Fields
• Norimar
• Dragh'Lur
• Shal
• Gillyshire
• The Icefangs
• The Song Glass
• Tuscari Desert
• Uram Gor
• The Magnet Stones
• Howler Pass
• Sundancer Plain
• The Fireforge
• Underhall
• Ironheart Foothills
• Windtalker Gash
• Summer's End
• The Judgement Stones
• Sevenkeeps
• The Steel Shore
• Dun Mora
• The Needle
• Sunspear Ridge
• The Crystal Forest
• The Crystal Wastes
• The Sunken City
• Nine Shadows Mountain
• The Crater

Main Quests

The Hand of the Dragon

1. Heroes of the Hand
   1. The Choice
   2. Improve the Reputation
   3. A New Companion
2. Defense
   1. The Honor Badges
   2. Back to the Westguard
   3. Rescue a Friend
   4. A Queer Codger
3. The Freetraders
   1. Bring them to Safety
   2. Report
   3. A Two-edged Sword
   4. Wrong Game
   5. What now?
4. The Cult
   1. Plans of the Cult
   2. Report to Jandrim
   3. Talk to Halicos
   4. Aya
   5. The New/Old Halicos
   6. Jandrim
5. The Face of the Gods
   1. The High Priests
   2. Ready for the Conjuration
   3. Fight of the Gods
   4. The Mad God
6. The Bone Spell
   1. Sevenkeeps
   2. What is Going on Here?
   3. Destroy the Spell Shield.
   4. The Shield Will Break
   5. The Bone Spell
   6. The King's Thanks
   7. Ylia
7. Incarnation
   1. The Incarnation of the Red God
   2. The God Sleeps Again

Side Quests

Westguard quests Jandrim's Craftsmanship Ore for Jandrim Take the Ore to Jandrim Gather Perfect Ore Take the Perfect Ore to Jandrim Utrecht's Family Look for Jandra Bring Utrecht the Brooch Talk to Odin Mersadion Search for Utrecht's Wife Iris Meet Utrecht at the Westguard The Light of Ankbrand The First Piece of the Map Bring Anderhall the First Piece The Second Piece of the Map To Anderhall The Third Piece of the Map To Anderhall The Fourth Piece of the Map To Anderhall The Fifth Piece of the Map Take the Last Piece of the Map to Anderhall Look for the Light of Ankbrand Take the Light to Anderhall The Origin of the gods Seek the Holy Shrines Return to Ylia The Language of the Dragons Dragon Runes Take the Dragon Runes to Odin The Second Rune Circle Take the Second Rune Set to Odin Find the Gathering Place Report to Odin about the Dragon Hunters Border Fortification Build Watchtowers at the Border Report to Halicos Supply for the Westguard Gather Raw Materials Return to Utrecht The Devourer Kill Shalagath, the Devourer Bring the News to Odin

Individual map quests Master Certhis (Rushwater Downs) Morca's Ores (The Gate of Swords) Presents of the Elves (The Iron Fields) The Wrath of the Falcons (Norimar) Prisoners of War (Dragh'Lur) The Blood Brother (Shal) Crystals (The Song Glass) Stop them (Gillyshire) The Study of the Beasts (The Fireforge) Good Luck (Underhall) The Brave Little Trader (Ironheart Foothills) The Last Humans of Sevenkeeps (Sevenkeeps) Not Quite the Same (The Steel Shore) Against the Cult (Dun Mora) Crystal Power (The Crystal Wastes) Raptor Hunt (The Crystal Forest) The Guardian (The Sunken City)

Skirmish

Skirmish is the second multiplayer mode in SpellForce 2. It can be played up to 6 players (games are 1v1, 2v2, 3v3 or 1v1v1v1). This mode can also be played against the AI and you can have AI as your allies.

Before starting a game, players can choose their team, their faction and which avatar they will use. There are 9 predetermined avatars to choose from or an avatar with level 30 in Free Game Mode can also be chosen.

Player setups

Avatars Irianna Ragnar Caytlin Wulfe Sindare Artimus Anuir Jeremiah Joshua Ashir (AI Pact only) Caine (AI Clan only) Soma (AI Realm only)

Heroes Necromancer Scout Healer Mentalist Paladin Elementalist Skirmisher Knight Bowmaid Avenger

Maps

• Ironheart Foothills
• Howling Pass
• The Icefangs
• Sundancer Plain
• Gillyshire
• The Judgement Stones
• Summer's End
• The Sunken City
• Sunspear Ridge
• Nine Shadows Mountain
• Windtalker Gash
• The Cursed Shrine