The ending for the campaign in Age of Wonders plays upon completing the final scenario, Valley of Wonders. There are has six distinct endings, three for the Keepers version of the campaign, and three for the Cult of Storms version. The ending that is given depends on the endgame faction that was chosen.
Contents
Keepers campaign[]
Elves route[]
Victory!
The Star is gone, yet the valley sparkles in white light. The Keepers prevail! The Elves, Halflings and Dwarves have proven themselves as stalwart allies to life. The Highmen concede our victory. They placed the star in the sky, and have returned to it. In typical condescending fashion they have entrusted the Keepers to guide the destiny of their children, Humankind—for now. I cannot dismiss the nagging concern that we are not finished with these Highmen, or their nemesis the Undead.
Were it not for their conflict, would the Elves be as vibrant as they are today? I cherish the prospect of a free world where we may establish our own rule and breathe peace -even if it be for a few gasping cheers. Celebration echoes from every part of the valley. Much work remains, but for now, we have peace. All the remaining races have sued for peace. We'll rebuild and share this Valley according to Julia's vision—a vision shared by dear friends and others I would have liked to have known who are dead and gone.
Must all good things be paid for with a gruesome price and face such opposition? Why does the universe demand the shedding of blood? From such violence can sprout seeds of new prosperity. What of us remaining? Living, but with such loss. I suppose I will have many decades to ponder such mysteries and how one heart turns from war scarred with anger while another is reborn in hope. But first, I think I will put this book down, and join the celebration of lights and song with my allies—my friends.
Highmen route[]
Visions of Goodbye
The Highmen have come in their glory to forge a new age of Humankind. They give Humanity dominion over all other races. Such an obligation comes not freely to the Humans. They must abide laws, for it is only by law that freedom may exist. Should they choose to neglect that law they will lose their power and terrible calamities will befall them. For some races, little will change as their lands are inhospitable to Human life, but others find it impossible. The Elves refuse to surrender their forests to the race which has slighted them so grievously.
So they went to Evermore. Every Keeper followed the Elves. Other races are simply gone, though I know not where or how. Gabriel was exalted to the High Council. I'm left alone. Gabriel sent me a gift. To the untrained eye, the gift appears to be just a clear stone, but it is a portal through which I may observe other worlds. The Highmen will leave soon, but with Gabriel's gift I can follow him. Even so, I have lost a friend—many friends. The Humans look to me as some sort of oracle, but I refuse to encourage them.
Among the Keepers, the artifact would be studied, but no one remains to behold it. The Humans want me to teach them mysteries, but I will not. I am a prisoner, left with this window. I can see many things, but I am bereft of one desired vista. In regret, I wish very much to see it. I wish to see the world before this change. The time when I had friends and was more than a relic. It is gone. I am left to ponder. Was it real, or only another image trapped in the crystal of my mind?
Undead route[]
Brimstone
I knew for certain that Inioch was right. His power shook the earth. His voice penetrated me. But now, I doubt. Darkness hid his true nature. The Keepers are broken and all life withers. I flee. I must hide. Curse Julia! As she fell, she cursed me. I touched her fallen form with the pride of a victor, and somehow was healed. My flesh, once pocked by the rot of my deeds, was mended by her last enchantment. I finally know life, but am dead. I see how I succumbed to Blackwater's temptation. The star is gone. All stars are gone.
Inioch knows of my transformation. He knows me. He rules all. I destroyed the forces that might have saved me! It is only a matter of time before he finds me. Inioch will not let me go. I am too valuable to him. Of the Keepers--I am the last. I seal this record with the hopes that the living might someday rise against the tide of oblivion. My only hope for this world rests in the return of the beings I decimated. And yet, how will they know not to make the same mistakes I did?
Will they believe the same lies, and follow the same lusts? Demons streak the sky, searching for me. They will find me soon. I must hide this record and destroy myself. Only then will I, or this record, be safe from the powers of Inioch. My prayer is in memory. Remember. Remember the days when once flourished Elves, Dwarves and jubilant Halflings. Believe the good, when faeries kissed verdant hillsides. A time when satyrs and nymphs danced freely in sacred groves. Wee things blossomed. All thrived in an Age of Wonders.
Cult of Storms campaign[]
Dark Elves route[]
End of Wonders
I am all that remains of Meandor's dream. The Keepers and Humans are gone. Their demise was glorious and justified. I will not regret it. I have rebuilt the court upon their bones. I have returned blow for blow. The vermin are dead, just as planned. I will not regret the duty I performed faithfully. I established this realm by power of that which was just, and will not apologize, though it is unpopular. Though I am alone. Stormlords that I thought had died, hid while I did them all the favor of eradicating their enemies.
They excuse their greed with lies of noble purpose. What better way to obtain power than to incite weak minds to act out of fear? They hold aloft a human skull, threatening their allies with genocide, if I do not die. Meandor is gone. As the last human died, when Inioch crumbled and the stars were extinguished, I first noticed his absence. Did he foresee this disaster? Is he still alive or was he tied too closely to his father? The Stormlords claim I killed Meandor, all the while siphoning my allies for their acts of mutiny.
I will not abdicate the throne to these scavengers. I refuse to give them a gold piece. My allies are sparse. Few are able to resist the intoxication of Stormlord rhetoric. Soon the palace will be decorated in flames, but it is better flames than creatures of dung, such as the Stormlords. My kingdom is war. My treasury is full of wrath. My scepter is a viper. My friends are my assassins. But I was not wrong. The world is gone mad. I am the last stalwart servant. I did what had to be done, as I do now.
Undead route[]
Valley of Hunger
All forces have been put down. The star over the Valley is gone. There is no light save that of torches, and even then, thick black vapors obscure them. Inioch rules supreme. My living minions have disbanded. Each flees in the dark, feeling for an escape from the change which Inioch has for them. I should have seen it. Inioch's vision ended at the Valley of Wonders. He seeks to make all like unto himself. All must now die, that Inioch may rule. The Undead view all life as corruption, to be swallowed and refined.
My few loyal troops have fallen to the scourge that I created. There is no hope, for there is no purpose, but to die. This is the joke of creation, that we may choose to obliterate ourselves. It is inevitable and eventually all must succumb to this final state. A state of perfection, or so Inioch would say. Inioch's court is returned. He sits upon his shattered thrown, surrounded by motionless courtiers; and this time, he needs no music, entertainers, or riches, for he cares for nothing. He is nothing—nothing but dust.
I sit and await the Necromancers. They will come soon. I wonder for a moment, could I have changed things? Chosen a better path? Never. Death is inevitable. It is the end. Only a fool would believe in something better thereafter. So I suppose I should take comfort in my actions, for I have hastened the inevitable end of all worlds. I have returned it to a state of ash and dust. I am the god of death. I am a god of dust. And I leave this record here to fall to dust. I fear nothing—nothing but dust.
Highmen route[]
Long Goodbyes
I have been robbed. I gave the Highmen's children dominion over this world. I gave them all what they wanted. Gabriel joined the High Council. The Elves went away to Evermore. The other races disappeared from the world and I know not how. Were they executed? In garish daylight, I see Humans as vermin devouring this once remarkable land, leaving only shadows of its former wonder. All is my creation. And what's my reward? What do the Highmen give me in return? A rock. A simple stone. They said it has power, if my heart is pure.
I am pure, but by whose standard? Pure nonsense! I will rule, not spend eternity chasing impossibilities! It was a trick. I demanded the High Council give me what I wanted, and I threw their rock back at them. I demanded an immortality of power! They struck me dumb by some power beyond the talent of any healers. They placed a mark upon me, and proclaimed I would live forever in scorn. They said I was dangerous, that I would plunge their utopia into war. All who see the mark shun me. Who are they to cast judgement upon me?
They summoned war by whim. They pretend to be guiltless, condemning all who threaten their pets, allowing Humans to consume everything. Still, the fools left me alive. And though I cannot speak, I can write. I shall write. I shall rule this world from shadows. With gold, I will raise up armies. With silver, I shall ordain priests. I will flood their world with a war of false gods, and make their virtues this world's heresies. It will take time, but if I am to remain for eternity cursed, the least I can do is have a little fun.
Notes[]
- Subsequent media in the Age of Wonders series treat the Keeper campaign's Elves route as being canon.[1]