To this day, it is unknown how the Iron Fields got their name, but few besides historians care for its origin, for another event happened here almost a millennia ago that would heavily shape the future of all of Eo. The Iron Fields is where Janus Malacay, a powerful necromancer and royal advisor to many Hybernian Kings, was struck down by the Guardians for breaking the rules of Aonir - and with his dying breath, he created the Shaikan.
For the longest part of their past, the Shaikan resided here atop a hill in the fortress Shaikur, together with the dragon Ur, but war, intrigues, and the death of their patriarch have driven them out from their home and forced them to seek a new one, leaving their castle, thought by many to be nigh impenetrable, desolate and cold, with only the voices of the past stuck between its crumbling walls.
Notable Individuals
- Soul Carrier: Shaikan carrying the cursed soul of Malacay inside him
- Bor (deceased): Brother of the Soul Carrier
- Lya (deceased): Sister of the Soul Carrier
- Ur (deceased): Dragon and patriarch of the Shaikan
- Golgalath (deceased): Dragon turned demon, summoned by Sorvina to defeat Ur
Notable Historic Events
- 850 B.C.: Janus Malacay creates the Shaikan
- Unknown: Shaikur is built
- 19 A.C.: The Soul Carrier rescues Nightsong by turning her into a Shaikan
- 19 A.C.: Forces of the Pact attack Shaikur and abduct Ur
- 19 A.C.: Shaikur is liberated by the forces of the Realm, however, most of its inhabitants have been killed and the fortress is subsequently taken over by the forces of King Ulf.
Quests & Strategy
Coming Home
- Lya
- Your brother Bor has been looking for you on his way home. You should pick up your sister Lya on the way home.
- The Blood Ritual
- Lya was killed by the Dark Elves, use the Shaikan blood ritual to resurrect her.
- The Pact Attacks
- Strangely changed dark elves have attacked Lya. they seem to be part of a larger army threatening your homeland. Take the warning of the dark elves' attack to your people
- Nightsong
- It appears one unchanged, dark elf was hunted by the others, if you manage to save her life she might be able to tell you what is going on.
- Alarm
- Peace had ended, war has indeed come to your home. Light the fires in the east to warn your people and hopefully, they'll be able to retreat safely behind the walls of Shaikur.
- Help from the humans
- It is too late, the village near Shaikur is already surrounded and under attack. You must try to get help from a nearby Realm outpost.
- Break through the ring
- Recruit troops and destroy the enemy forces besieging the village.
- Ur, the patriarch
- Proceed to Ur, at the highest point in the fortress, and inform him of what happened.
Nightsong and the message for the King
- To Norimar
- Accompany Nightsong on her journey to King Ulf. But first, take word of the attack on the Realm to Baron Ortbrandt in Norimar. He and his Iron Falcons know the Shaikan and will probably listen to you and provide an escort to the King's court.
Rescue for the Iron Fields
- Against the Shadows
- When you arrive at the Iron Fields you find the old border wall destroyed and Shaikur besieged. But the more urgent problem are the relentless attacks from the Shadows.
- The pact attacks on your Headquarters come from the west and the east, with the latter generally more intense. To defend your headquarters the Shaikan and the units you received can be positioned slightly west and north of the headquarters. A stonemason at the western edge of the stone deposit will also be protected then, while the smeltery in the east of the valley never comes under attack. A couple of towers with the elven upgrade will increase the longevity of the defensive forces.
- As soon as the first waves of have been repelled it is time to go into the offense and destroy the two enemy camps, as the continuing attacks and lacking resources will wear down your army and prevent any form of 'sitting it out'.
- The camp to the northwest uses stone and silver and capturing their resources is a viable tactic. These can be reached going west from the HQ, then northwest when near the portal to The Needle, and then after crossing the river, turning east towards the west of the two camps.
- Their mining operation is undefended and easily taken by the Avatar and a dozen workers to build a stonemason, smeltery, and towers, while the main force and remaining Shaikan defend your HQ. Before the western camp runs out of silver they will likely be able to build a Titan to join in an attack on either your HQ or the captured resources. After this there should be little problems in expanding your army and flattening the enemy camps.
- Council of War
- The attacks from the shadows will cost a lot, you will have to find a way to compensate for their ability. Discuss the situation with your companions, Io and Falkmar.
- Griffons to the Outposts
- Send Griffon riders to the outpost the Falcons have in the northeast and coordinate your efforts with them.
- A sacrifice for the Treants
- Io suggest there might still be Treants in the Grimroot Forest and asks you to sacrifice 1000 Lenya plants at the altar in the forest. This old ritual, known as Elen's Call, will wake up the Treants, who's ancient eyes have the ability to see the truth in all, and even the shadows can not hide from them.
- The Lenya can be obtained at the Falcon outpost, send the Griffons you received at the start to the outpost in the northeast, liberate the workers and start gathering Lenya.
- Elen's Call
- Go to the shrine in the west of Grimroot Forest and perform this ritual. Hopefully, the magic of the altar will wake the Treants of Grimroot Forest.
- Be prepared to defend against one more large attack from the enemy, once you've completed the ritual. After this you are free to move north along the coastal pathway.
- Shaikur
- Shaikur, the ancient fortress of the Shaikan has been besieged and is occupied by Sorvina's forces and Ur seems to have been defeated. Storm the fortress and drive the attackers away.
- Storm the Fortress
- Even Ur's fire could not drive the Pact sieges away and now Sorvina appears to have conjured a monster to defeat the Patriarch. Break through the blockade at the old border wall and free Shaikur.
- The force protecting the blockade should not pose a big problem, but keep your new Treants out of the fight as they can be hurt badly by the enemies' firemages. Work your way to the village and Shaikur, destroy whatever forces attempt to resist, and continue until you reach the top of Shaikur.
- Revenge
- Golgalath has devoured your family, even their blood could not save them from this monster. He will pay for their deaths, and after him his mistress Sorvina will pay as well.
The Clans
- To the Gate of Swords
- Now that your bond with the Highmark was broken by Malacay you have to look for new allies and The Clans, who have turned away from the Pact, are the only hope for a new alliance. Travel to the Gate of Swords and contact Kor.
Inhabitants
This is the tutorial so the characters you meet won't be able to see again. But the ones you see are:
Things to attack
Resources
You get a pre-built base on this map the first time the primary story brings you here, headquarters and workers the second visit. As usual, most resources are near the base.
During Coming Home the Realm camp has stone and silver deposits near to its headquarters. The camp during Rescue for the Iron Fields has stone near the headquarters, and silver further to the east. Additional stone and silver can be conquered from the Pact camp to the northwest. Lenya fields and more workers are in the Iron Falcon outpost in the northeast and can (initially) only be reached with flying units. The resources at the center Realm camp may still are available during Rescue for the Iron Fields.