Post by Chosen. Of. Chaos.† on Jun 4, 2007 16:56:51 GMT 7
I'm doing this for a close friend of mine. =)
In case you guys have no idea what HOMM 5 is, let me start with a brief summary.
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Heroes of Might and Magic V is the next installment in the venerable and long-standing Heroes of Might and Magic series. Heroes V was released in May of 2006. It is the first time in the product's history that it is being developed by a company aside from New World Computing and 3DO, the publisher. It is the Russian company, Nival Interactive has the main responsibilities for developing Heroes V and its expansions, overseen and published by the world-renowned French game developer, Ubisoft.
In accordance with this new genesis of the game, Nival have also developed an entirely new universe, one that is so diverse and different that it is likened to a mythology. The highest beings of the Heroes of Might and Magic 5 universe are Dragons, who are the basis of religion, beliefs and cosmology in this new world. Each town adopts its own beliefs which are influenced by its interactions with other races throughout history. The six towns that will appear in Heroes V are the humans, Haven, the demons, Inferno, the necromancers, Necropolis, the dark elves, Dungeon, the wizards, Academy, and the elves, Sylvan, with the dark elves being the new addition to the series.
The game itself will be beautifully rendered in 3D, another advancement not seen in any other previous Heroes game. It consists of at least 90 different creatures, 14 in each town. A different set of 6 magic schools live up to the name of 'Magic', while the Dynamic Combat System provides a faster option in battles. There are 6 campaigns which, in total, have over 30 missions which further explore the history behind the towns.
Promising to take the genre of strategy gaming to a whole new level, Heroes of Might and Magic V has all the necessary elements of an addictive, competitive, and highly successful game. Boasting 5 different multiplayer modes, both online and offline, it is a game that can be played for hours alone, or with a host of friends, via a LAN, or over the internet in a tournament. With crisp 3D graphics, a completely new storyline, and scores of new features, Heroes of Might and Magic V is the complete fantasy game.
Anyway, I'll introduce you to some of the important characters of each castle, so listen up well.
Haven; "For honor, order and duty."
Facts and Traits:
Associated Colours: Light blue, white and gold
Worship: Elrath, the Dragon of Light and its first servants - the Angels
Core Philosophy: Law and Order instead of Good and Mercy
Country/Kingdom: The Holy Griffin Empire
Capital City: Talonguard
Key Symbols: The Holy Sun, the Griffin
Description: (From the Official Site)
"A feudal Holy Empire, Haven is the strongest realm of Ashan. It is a kingdom of medieval knights and monks, with prevalent access to 'Light / Life' Magic and 'Angelic' elite troops. The Empire chose the Griffin as its symbol. Tamed griffins are used by the nobility as 'flying hounds', and sometimes as mounts. On the battlefield, Haven troops are known to be extremely resistant, relying more on the mighty power of brutal force than on the delicate art of magic. The heroes of the Haven faction will develop skills and abilities to support the hurricane of steel and fury that will rush into the enemy's rank."
A Summary:
The Humans of the Holy Griffin Empire are inspired and guided by angels. It’s a feudal society driven by the rigorous edicts of the Dragon of Light.
The Heroes V counterpart of its Heroes I-II cousins, the Knight castle, the Heroes III Castle town, and its Heroes IV namesake, the Haven. Often referred to as the 'human town', the Haven is one of only two towns showcased so far. It maintains many of its creatures from the previous games, with the Griffin returning to the Holy town after a short stint with the naturalists.
The Inferno town will act as the Haven town's archrival in Heroes V, described as the "classic Heroes of Might and Magic fight - Good vs. Evil, Angels vs. Devils."
Important heroes:
King Nicolai is the King of the Holy Griffin empire.
Queen of the Griffin Empire, Isabel was the unwitting victim of the centuries-old plans of the Demon Sovereign. Luckily, she was saved by troops of Rangers, Wizards, Warlocks and Knights from Sheogh itself in the final moments of the war that bears her name. Though she has literally been through hell, her faith has remained steady and her troops benefit from her holy blessings.
Godric is rightfully upheld as a model knight and sterling example of chivalric ideals. Demanding the highest standards of courage and integrity from both himself and his followers, Godric commands respect wherever he goes. Troops under his banner trust him without question, as his history of great deeds and his favor in Elrath's eye convince them that his mere presence upon the battlefield can guarantee victory.
Inferno; "Do what thou willst."
Facts and Traits:
Also Known As: The Demons, the Lords of Chaos
Associated Colours: Black and red
Worship: Urgash, the Primordial Dragon of Chaos - their progenitor
Core Philosophy: 'Might makes Right' ; conquer, plunder and rape the weak, laugh when you’re wounded or tortured, indulge yourself in selfish pleasures, spread anarchy and chaos, corrupt the righteous
Country/Kingdom: Sheogh, the Prison of Fire
Capital City: Ur-Hekal, the "Gate of the Burning Heart"
Key Symbols: Unicursal Hexagram, Ouroboros (the snake that eats its own tail)
Description: (Adapted from the Official Site)
"The Demons are ravenours monsters that would burn the world to a cinder just to watch it burn. Demons are an alien pantheon of hostile monsters that are bent on conquering Ashan. Fortunately, they are imprisoned in Hell (a 'dimensional jail' created in the lava core of the planet) and can’t exist for long in the material (surface) world, except when they are summoned by a sorcerer or when they can possess a mortal body. On the battlefield, Inferno troops are famous for their insane brutality in both the might and magic fields. Inferno troops will rush into the melee, while creatures with magic abilities will disrupt the normal order of proceedings and call for demonic reinforcements or to summon the fury of the 'fire element' and set it upon their enemy. The inferno heroes will of course support their troops, sometimes taking part in combat, but most of the time they will use their boundless mana reserves to cast a multitude of devastating spells. "
A Summary:
Imprisoned between worlds by the legendary wizard known as the Seventh Dragon, the Legions of Chaos want out in the worst way - using any destructive, spiteful, vicious and sadistic methods to get what they want.
The Inferno, introduced as a new town in Heroes III, was amalgamated with the Death alignment in Heroes IV following the genocide of the Kreegans, but have once again dissociated themselves with Death, but maintained their correlation with evil. Witnessing the advent of new creatures such as the Horned Overseer and the Succubus, the Inferno town has a formidable line-up, and plays a large role in the storyline.
The rivalry between Angels and Devils will be rekindled in the latest installment of the Heroes series, their hatred for each other already showcased in the latest E3 videos.
Important characters:
Agrael rose rapidly through the ranks of Demon cultists to become a trusted right hand of the Demon Sovereign. His detractors call him reckless and over-ambitious, but Agrael's measured aggressiveness has made him a feared and respected leader in battle. He will attack when a good opportunity presents itself, and does not hesitate to take risks when the rewards are commensurate.
After witnessing the massacre of King Alexei and his knights first-hand during the War of the Eclipse, Nymus decided that overpowering tactics are the key to victory. As a result he has spent much of his existence researching the Infernal Gates and has achieved striking results: the troops he summons arrive much more quickly than they do for other Demonlords.
Arguably the most dangerous weapon in the Demon Sovereign's arsenal, Biara is a succubus of legendary skills. With ample natural gifts enhanced by almost masochistic self-discipline, her talents for seduction, assassination, and infiltration are unequaled in all of Sheogh. When the going gets tough, Kha-Beleth gleefully turns to Biara.
Necropolis; "Life is change, chaos, filth and suffering. Death is peace, order, everlasting beauty."
Facts and Traits:
Also Known As: The Necromancers, The Undead
Associated Colours: Black and fluorescent (toxic) green
Worship: The Primordial Dragon of Order in a twisted version of her destructive aspect
Core Philosophy: “Embrace the Void”. Morbid fascination for death and fanatic devotion to the cause
Country/Kingdom: None (they are a secret society hidden within Academy and Haven)
Capital City: None (same reason)
Key Symbols: The Mother Spider
Description: (From the Official Site)
"Necromancers are a split-order of the Wizards. They study death-magic to become eternal. They can control the spirits of the deceased (ghosts) or raise the dead form their graves (skeletons, zombies). Necromancers believe that pleasures are sensual (linked to our five senses) and that each pleasure leads to pain (being sick from eating too much, grieving the death of one’s beloved, etc.). The solution is to embrace death, which is perfection through sensory deprivation. Necromancers believe in an eternal, unchanging, neutral life rather than maintaining moderation in all things until the next life. High-ranking Necromancers become Vampires: eternally young, beautiful and powerful, but as cold and insensitive as alabaster statues.
On the battlefield, Necropolis troops are generally weaker than their opponents. However their cost is lower as they are less dependent on “material” resources to grow. So they tend to benefit from a clear numeric advantage.
But Necropolis troops also compensate their relative weakness with other abilities. All Necropolis creatures are Undead. Undead creatures are not affected by morale: the dead don't care, you can't motivate them with the prospect of victory and they are not afraid to die. Mind Effects and poisons also don't work on them: they don't have minds or bodies.
On top of that some units will drain life from their enemies or remain untouched by non-magical attacks. "
A Summary:
The Necropolis town adds another dimension of evil to the game, after having departed from the igneous brothers at the end of Heroes IV. The 'toxic green' legacy of the Venom Spawn remains, but the trump card in the Necropolis Town is their undead state and cheap recruitment price.
The Necropolis Castle has been a mainstay in the Heroes series since Heroes II. The Heroes II and III creature line-ups are much the same as Heroes V, again with an emphasis on magic rather than might. A new facet to the Necropolis town in Heroes IV is that they are a hidden society, deep within the bounds of the Haven and Academy alignments. The Necromancers are seen as a divergence from their roots as Academy wizards into undead liches.
We can already see a clear distinction and rivalry emerging. The Inferno is the sworn enemy of the Haven, while the Necromancers despise the Wizards; the Academy.
Important character:
A devoted student of all that Necromancy can offer, Markal has risen to the highest heights that one can achieve among the Necromancers -- while still being alive. Formerly the court astrologer and favorite counselor of the Griffin Queen Fiona, Markal established a strong (but secret) base of Death cultists within the Holy Empire. The religious leaders of the Church of the Light became suspicious of his nefarious activities, however, and when Fiona passed away her advisor was exiled.Realizing that he will no longer circulate freely among the other kingdoms of Ashan once he receives the Kiss of the Spider Goddess, Markal furthers the goals of Heresh through diplomacy and, of course, skullduggery.
Dungeon; “Hide, listen, watch, learn… And when the time is right, strike from the shadow.”
Facts and Traits:
Also Known As: The Dark Elves.
Associated colors: Black and purple.
Worship: Malassa, the Dragon of Darkness, keeper of deadly secrets.
Core philosophy: “We rule the shadows, and someday the shadows will rule everything.”
Country/Kingdom: Ygg-Chal, the Dark Below.
Home terrain: Dungeon.
Capital city: Konos, the Maze of Shadows.
Key symbols: Snake, featureless mask.
Description:(From the Official Site)
The Dark Elves are renegades from the Sylvan factions who long ago made a pact with the mysterious Faceless. As a result, the whole nation embraced the darkness and chose to live in the underground world of Ashan, building their cities in the huge caves there.
The Dark Elves worship the Dragon of Darkness, and because their deeds in her name are their worship, the Dungeon society is built around secrecy, plots, betrayal, and occultism. Each town is ruled by a clan with a High Priestess at its head. Women are almighty in the Dungeon society, for they lead the religious, political, and military powers. They do not raise their children themselves, but send them to the temple instead, where they will learn all the arts a young Dark Elf must know to survive.
In peace time, the Dark Elves use their very particular skills against other Dark Elf cities, to strengthen their own clans. But in war time, all these skills dedicated to murder and plots are turned on the common enemy. On the battlefield, Dungeon troops are renowned for their superior agility and power, even amongst their basic units. Fortunately for their enemies, this superiority is scarce and comes at a higher cost, for the Dark Elves are few in numbers and each loss is a severe blow to their military might.
A Summary:
The town of the underground - The Dungeon - has formed an alliance with the Dark Elves to strengthen its reptilian ranks in Heroes V. The role of women is higher than usual in this town, especially for the Dark Elves, who have renegaded from the traditional 'Sylvan' Elves.
Despite this change towards a more elvish faction, beasts and reptiles remain a focus for the Dungeon town, even moreso than in Heroes III. The ominous and legendary Black Dragons return to terrorise enemy ranks, as do the Minotaurs. A female application of Heroes IV's Bandit, the Scout, epitomises the Dungeon's shadowy and stealthy nature. The colossal Hydra is another Heroes classic creature to return to its roots of the Warlock town, armed with an extra head. Two elvish creatures are also included in the Dungeon, the Blood Sister, and the Shadow Witch, augmenting the traditionally strong magical element of the town.
Judging on the basis of a divergent culture such as the Dark Elves, the Dungeon look to be ensued in a fierce contest with the 'pure' Sylvan elves. The legacy of Heroes I's Warlock town is alive in Heroes V, albeit under the guise that the Dark Elves have placed over the town.
Important characters:
Nothing is known of Raelag's past, and though he is direct and ruthless in battle his plans and tactics are kept as secret as his personal history. Because he often out-thinks, outflanks, and outmaneuvers his opponents, they move with a great deal of hesitation when facing him in battle. When up against this wily and intimidating warrior, his enemies often find themselves second-guessing their own plans.
Ylaya is a Keeper of the Law for the Shadowbrand clan of Dark Elves. As such, her life has been described as levels of religious piousness, devotion, and training in the arts of Dragon Magic. A respected matriarch in a position of responsibility, she is devoted to her dragon-goddess Malassa. Ylaya lacks experience as a military commander, however, so she relies on the unfailing support of her sisters, the matrons and matriarchs of Ygg-Chall.
Shadya's family was killed off early in the succession wars of the Soulscar clan. As the sole survivor, she has dedicated her entire life to revenge. Training herself in every art that could further her vendetta she disappears for months at a time, resurfacing only to cross another enemy off her list. One against hundreds, Shadya has mastered all there is to know about infiltration, evasion, assassination, and subtlety.
Academy; “All secrets will be understood, and mastered, in time.”
Facts and Traits
Aka: The Wizards, the Mages
Associated colors: orange (saffron) and gold
Worship: Wizards do not view the dragons as gods, merely as more powerful beings. With enough study and experimentation, they too will achieve the power of the dragons
Core philosophy: “No Gods, no Masters. Knowledge is Power, Power is Freedom”. The universe is a puzzle to be solved… and the ends justify the means.
Country / kingdom: The Silver Cities
Capital city: Al-Safir, the Sky Dome
Key symbols: the Silver Star, the Cross of Wisdom
Description: (From the Official Site)
The Academy wizards are proud seekers after knowledge and subjugators of the natural order. The Academy society is dedicated to wisdom and knowledge. The mages spend their lives studying and writing occult research studies.
A senate of wizards, called The Circle of Nine, rules the Silver Cities, though each of the cities maintains a greater or lesser degree of independence. Citizens who are incapable of magic are essentially second class, with an ability to harness sorcerous power being the key to social and political advancement.
Magic is taught in academies in the large cities, as hedge wizardry is frowned upon. These academies are formal places (much like Oxford or Cambridge in the real world) where which school you’re in means a great deal about what you will learn, how you learn it, and how the rest of your life plays out. Wizards tend to cluster into “schools” following the teachings of one great magus or another, and rivalries between schools are fierce.
The wizards rule a people of servant creatures that have been either summoned or magically animated by them.
A Summary
The Academy, from it's humble beginnings as the Wizard town in Heroes II, has always been a predominantly magical alignment. This ideal is certain emphasised in Heroes V's Academy, though the setting has been changed from one of snow and ice to a vibrant desert scene, filled with middle-eastern dress.
Often dubbed 'the wizards' for their mastery of the magical arts, the Academy town also includes 2 spellcasting creatures, as well as two shooters and a flyer. The heroes will again focus on magic, and hence the might element of the town will be weaker, perhaps reflected in their creatures. The Academy town is always luxurious and costly, and therefore targeted at more advanced players, who will make use of their spellcasting prowess.
The Wizards are in direct competition with the Necromancers, their undead counterparts, and their history reflects a heated past. The Academy is the only town whose inhabitants do not worship a dragon, rather they rely on their technological skills to make creatures presumably just as powerful (Titans), in addition to other things, such as mini-artifacts for their creatures through the 'artificer' skill.
Important Character:
Excitable, headstrong, and energetic are the sorts of words the older Mages use to describe Zehir. He chose to master elemental magic, figuring (correctly) that if he could control beings as fickle and powerful as elementals he would be well prepared for any magical struggle.Though the title First of the Circle was granted to the young Mage in the hopes of staving off political infighting during a crisis, the other wizards of the Circle quickly realized that it was only a matter of time before Zehir's skills surpassed theirs - time that is more likely to be measured in months than in years.
Sylvan; “We dance to the rhythm of the world.”
Facts and traits:
Aka: The Wood Elves
Associated colors: green and brown
Worship: Sylanna, the Dragon of Earth, Nature’s Great Mother
Core Philosophy: Swift as the wind, graceful as the stream, strong as the waterfall, wise as the oak… At one with nature…
Core philosophy: “Live and let live… in harmony”
Country / kingdom: Irollan, the forest maze
Capital city: Shataqua “New Green”
Key symbols: tree leave, feather, “triskel” rune
Description: (Adapted from the Official Site)
"Sylvans are graceful and patient souls who live in close harmony with the earth. Distrustful of machinery and cities, they keep to their ancient ways and ally with others only rarely.
The sylvan society is built around several people that all experience a symbiotic relationship, making the Sylvan realm a very united nation.
Along with the elves (druids, hunters, warriors) live wild legendary beasts (Direwolves, Unicorns, Treants…), and Faeries (Sprites, Pixies…)."
A Summary:
Assuming the role of classic environmentalists: despising modern technology and machinery, the Nature Town has returned under its adopted name of Sylvan, which means 'Woods'. Associated with the Earth and Nature, the Sylvan continues its strong Heroes tradition, and this time violently opposing their dark counterparts in the Dungeon.
The unmistakably quick and adept Nature dwellers, mostly composed of elves and fantastical creatures, have welcomed a few newcomers. The Green Dragon has taken the spot of the Phoenix, while hysterical War Dancers are a bersker-like, tatooed elf. Having a strong focus on magic, the Druid has returned to strengthen the metaphysical aspect of the town.
Having two rival elf factions in the game makes for some intense rivalry, which includes a born-again rivalry between Black and Green Dragons. The elves are the driving forces behind their respective armies - whose army will emerge victorious?
Important characters:
All Elves worship the ideal of Harmony, Alaron did so to the point that he even viewed his enemies as necessary and worthy. While this could be a good philosophy on a cosmic scale, it causes great difficulty when a leader of troops has a tendency to forgive and let live attacking troops. Understanding the political necessity of destroying others for the preservation of his realm, Alaron nevertheless avoids those moments whenever possible.
More a poet and diplomat by taste and training than a warrior, Findan is less comfortable than many of his brethren in fighting at close quarters with a sword. He vastly prefers to strike quickly, and strike hard, but from a distance. His favorite tactic is to first weaken the enemy with a rain of well-aimed arrows.
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I guess that's it to describe the game...really good, but you would need a large amount of disk space and very high video card to play it. T_T
Jay, do you have anything to add?
ANG HABA NIYAN!!!
In case you guys have no idea what HOMM 5 is, let me start with a brief summary.
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Heroes of Might and Magic V is the next installment in the venerable and long-standing Heroes of Might and Magic series. Heroes V was released in May of 2006. It is the first time in the product's history that it is being developed by a company aside from New World Computing and 3DO, the publisher. It is the Russian company, Nival Interactive has the main responsibilities for developing Heroes V and its expansions, overseen and published by the world-renowned French game developer, Ubisoft.
In accordance with this new genesis of the game, Nival have also developed an entirely new universe, one that is so diverse and different that it is likened to a mythology. The highest beings of the Heroes of Might and Magic 5 universe are Dragons, who are the basis of religion, beliefs and cosmology in this new world. Each town adopts its own beliefs which are influenced by its interactions with other races throughout history. The six towns that will appear in Heroes V are the humans, Haven, the demons, Inferno, the necromancers, Necropolis, the dark elves, Dungeon, the wizards, Academy, and the elves, Sylvan, with the dark elves being the new addition to the series.
The game itself will be beautifully rendered in 3D, another advancement not seen in any other previous Heroes game. It consists of at least 90 different creatures, 14 in each town. A different set of 6 magic schools live up to the name of 'Magic', while the Dynamic Combat System provides a faster option in battles. There are 6 campaigns which, in total, have over 30 missions which further explore the history behind the towns.
Promising to take the genre of strategy gaming to a whole new level, Heroes of Might and Magic V has all the necessary elements of an addictive, competitive, and highly successful game. Boasting 5 different multiplayer modes, both online and offline, it is a game that can be played for hours alone, or with a host of friends, via a LAN, or over the internet in a tournament. With crisp 3D graphics, a completely new storyline, and scores of new features, Heroes of Might and Magic V is the complete fantasy game.
Anyway, I'll introduce you to some of the important characters of each castle, so listen up well.
Haven; "For honor, order and duty." Facts and Traits:
Associated Colours: Light blue, white and gold
Worship: Elrath, the Dragon of Light and its first servants - the Angels
Core Philosophy: Law and Order instead of Good and Mercy
Country/Kingdom: The Holy Griffin Empire
Capital City: Talonguard
Key Symbols: The Holy Sun, the Griffin
Description: (From the Official Site)
"A feudal Holy Empire, Haven is the strongest realm of Ashan. It is a kingdom of medieval knights and monks, with prevalent access to 'Light / Life' Magic and 'Angelic' elite troops. The Empire chose the Griffin as its symbol. Tamed griffins are used by the nobility as 'flying hounds', and sometimes as mounts. On the battlefield, Haven troops are known to be extremely resistant, relying more on the mighty power of brutal force than on the delicate art of magic. The heroes of the Haven faction will develop skills and abilities to support the hurricane of steel and fury that will rush into the enemy's rank."
A Summary:
The Humans of the Holy Griffin Empire are inspired and guided by angels. It’s a feudal society driven by the rigorous edicts of the Dragon of Light.
The Heroes V counterpart of its Heroes I-II cousins, the Knight castle, the Heroes III Castle town, and its Heroes IV namesake, the Haven. Often referred to as the 'human town', the Haven is one of only two towns showcased so far. It maintains many of its creatures from the previous games, with the Griffin returning to the Holy town after a short stint with the naturalists.
The Inferno town will act as the Haven town's archrival in Heroes V, described as the "classic Heroes of Might and Magic fight - Good vs. Evil, Angels vs. Devils."
Important heroes:
King Nicolai is the King of the Holy Griffin empire.
Queen of the Griffin Empire, Isabel was the unwitting victim of the centuries-old plans of the Demon Sovereign. Luckily, she was saved by troops of Rangers, Wizards, Warlocks and Knights from Sheogh itself in the final moments of the war that bears her name. Though she has literally been through hell, her faith has remained steady and her troops benefit from her holy blessings.
Godric is rightfully upheld as a model knight and sterling example of chivalric ideals. Demanding the highest standards of courage and integrity from both himself and his followers, Godric commands respect wherever he goes. Troops under his banner trust him without question, as his history of great deeds and his favor in Elrath's eye convince them that his mere presence upon the battlefield can guarantee victory.
Inferno; "Do what thou willst."
Facts and Traits:
Also Known As: The Demons, the Lords of Chaos
Associated Colours: Black and red
Worship: Urgash, the Primordial Dragon of Chaos - their progenitor
Core Philosophy: 'Might makes Right' ; conquer, plunder and rape the weak, laugh when you’re wounded or tortured, indulge yourself in selfish pleasures, spread anarchy and chaos, corrupt the righteous
Country/Kingdom: Sheogh, the Prison of Fire
Capital City: Ur-Hekal, the "Gate of the Burning Heart"
Key Symbols: Unicursal Hexagram, Ouroboros (the snake that eats its own tail)
Description: (Adapted from the Official Site)
"The Demons are ravenours monsters that would burn the world to a cinder just to watch it burn. Demons are an alien pantheon of hostile monsters that are bent on conquering Ashan. Fortunately, they are imprisoned in Hell (a 'dimensional jail' created in the lava core of the planet) and can’t exist for long in the material (surface) world, except when they are summoned by a sorcerer or when they can possess a mortal body. On the battlefield, Inferno troops are famous for their insane brutality in both the might and magic fields. Inferno troops will rush into the melee, while creatures with magic abilities will disrupt the normal order of proceedings and call for demonic reinforcements or to summon the fury of the 'fire element' and set it upon their enemy. The inferno heroes will of course support their troops, sometimes taking part in combat, but most of the time they will use their boundless mana reserves to cast a multitude of devastating spells. "
A Summary:
Imprisoned between worlds by the legendary wizard known as the Seventh Dragon, the Legions of Chaos want out in the worst way - using any destructive, spiteful, vicious and sadistic methods to get what they want.
The Inferno, introduced as a new town in Heroes III, was amalgamated with the Death alignment in Heroes IV following the genocide of the Kreegans, but have once again dissociated themselves with Death, but maintained their correlation with evil. Witnessing the advent of new creatures such as the Horned Overseer and the Succubus, the Inferno town has a formidable line-up, and plays a large role in the storyline.
The rivalry between Angels and Devils will be rekindled in the latest installment of the Heroes series, their hatred for each other already showcased in the latest E3 videos.
Important characters:
Agrael rose rapidly through the ranks of Demon cultists to become a trusted right hand of the Demon Sovereign. His detractors call him reckless and over-ambitious, but Agrael's measured aggressiveness has made him a feared and respected leader in battle. He will attack when a good opportunity presents itself, and does not hesitate to take risks when the rewards are commensurate.
After witnessing the massacre of King Alexei and his knights first-hand during the War of the Eclipse, Nymus decided that overpowering tactics are the key to victory. As a result he has spent much of his existence researching the Infernal Gates and has achieved striking results: the troops he summons arrive much more quickly than they do for other Demonlords.
Arguably the most dangerous weapon in the Demon Sovereign's arsenal, Biara is a succubus of legendary skills. With ample natural gifts enhanced by almost masochistic self-discipline, her talents for seduction, assassination, and infiltration are unequaled in all of Sheogh. When the going gets tough, Kha-Beleth gleefully turns to Biara.
Necropolis; "Life is change, chaos, filth and suffering. Death is peace, order, everlasting beauty."
Facts and Traits:
Also Known As: The Necromancers, The Undead
Associated Colours: Black and fluorescent (toxic) green
Worship: The Primordial Dragon of Order in a twisted version of her destructive aspect
Core Philosophy: “Embrace the Void”. Morbid fascination for death and fanatic devotion to the cause
Country/Kingdom: None (they are a secret society hidden within Academy and Haven)
Capital City: None (same reason)
Key Symbols: The Mother Spider
Description: (From the Official Site)
"Necromancers are a split-order of the Wizards. They study death-magic to become eternal. They can control the spirits of the deceased (ghosts) or raise the dead form their graves (skeletons, zombies). Necromancers believe that pleasures are sensual (linked to our five senses) and that each pleasure leads to pain (being sick from eating too much, grieving the death of one’s beloved, etc.). The solution is to embrace death, which is perfection through sensory deprivation. Necromancers believe in an eternal, unchanging, neutral life rather than maintaining moderation in all things until the next life. High-ranking Necromancers become Vampires: eternally young, beautiful and powerful, but as cold and insensitive as alabaster statues.
On the battlefield, Necropolis troops are generally weaker than their opponents. However their cost is lower as they are less dependent on “material” resources to grow. So they tend to benefit from a clear numeric advantage.
But Necropolis troops also compensate their relative weakness with other abilities. All Necropolis creatures are Undead. Undead creatures are not affected by morale: the dead don't care, you can't motivate them with the prospect of victory and they are not afraid to die. Mind Effects and poisons also don't work on them: they don't have minds or bodies.
On top of that some units will drain life from their enemies or remain untouched by non-magical attacks. "
A Summary:
The Necropolis town adds another dimension of evil to the game, after having departed from the igneous brothers at the end of Heroes IV. The 'toxic green' legacy of the Venom Spawn remains, but the trump card in the Necropolis Town is their undead state and cheap recruitment price.
The Necropolis Castle has been a mainstay in the Heroes series since Heroes II. The Heroes II and III creature line-ups are much the same as Heroes V, again with an emphasis on magic rather than might. A new facet to the Necropolis town in Heroes IV is that they are a hidden society, deep within the bounds of the Haven and Academy alignments. The Necromancers are seen as a divergence from their roots as Academy wizards into undead liches.
We can already see a clear distinction and rivalry emerging. The Inferno is the sworn enemy of the Haven, while the Necromancers despise the Wizards; the Academy.
Important character:
A devoted student of all that Necromancy can offer, Markal has risen to the highest heights that one can achieve among the Necromancers -- while still being alive. Formerly the court astrologer and favorite counselor of the Griffin Queen Fiona, Markal established a strong (but secret) base of Death cultists within the Holy Empire. The religious leaders of the Church of the Light became suspicious of his nefarious activities, however, and when Fiona passed away her advisor was exiled.Realizing that he will no longer circulate freely among the other kingdoms of Ashan once he receives the Kiss of the Spider Goddess, Markal furthers the goals of Heresh through diplomacy and, of course, skullduggery.
Dungeon; “Hide, listen, watch, learn… And when the time is right, strike from the shadow.”
Facts and Traits:
Also Known As: The Dark Elves.
Associated colors: Black and purple.
Worship: Malassa, the Dragon of Darkness, keeper of deadly secrets.
Core philosophy: “We rule the shadows, and someday the shadows will rule everything.”
Country/Kingdom: Ygg-Chal, the Dark Below.
Home terrain: Dungeon.
Capital city: Konos, the Maze of Shadows.
Key symbols: Snake, featureless mask.
Description:(From the Official Site)
The Dark Elves are renegades from the Sylvan factions who long ago made a pact with the mysterious Faceless. As a result, the whole nation embraced the darkness and chose to live in the underground world of Ashan, building their cities in the huge caves there.
The Dark Elves worship the Dragon of Darkness, and because their deeds in her name are their worship, the Dungeon society is built around secrecy, plots, betrayal, and occultism. Each town is ruled by a clan with a High Priestess at its head. Women are almighty in the Dungeon society, for they lead the religious, political, and military powers. They do not raise their children themselves, but send them to the temple instead, where they will learn all the arts a young Dark Elf must know to survive.
In peace time, the Dark Elves use their very particular skills against other Dark Elf cities, to strengthen their own clans. But in war time, all these skills dedicated to murder and plots are turned on the common enemy. On the battlefield, Dungeon troops are renowned for their superior agility and power, even amongst their basic units. Fortunately for their enemies, this superiority is scarce and comes at a higher cost, for the Dark Elves are few in numbers and each loss is a severe blow to their military might.
A Summary:
The town of the underground - The Dungeon - has formed an alliance with the Dark Elves to strengthen its reptilian ranks in Heroes V. The role of women is higher than usual in this town, especially for the Dark Elves, who have renegaded from the traditional 'Sylvan' Elves.
Despite this change towards a more elvish faction, beasts and reptiles remain a focus for the Dungeon town, even moreso than in Heroes III. The ominous and legendary Black Dragons return to terrorise enemy ranks, as do the Minotaurs. A female application of Heroes IV's Bandit, the Scout, epitomises the Dungeon's shadowy and stealthy nature. The colossal Hydra is another Heroes classic creature to return to its roots of the Warlock town, armed with an extra head. Two elvish creatures are also included in the Dungeon, the Blood Sister, and the Shadow Witch, augmenting the traditionally strong magical element of the town.
Judging on the basis of a divergent culture such as the Dark Elves, the Dungeon look to be ensued in a fierce contest with the 'pure' Sylvan elves. The legacy of Heroes I's Warlock town is alive in Heroes V, albeit under the guise that the Dark Elves have placed over the town.
Important characters:
Nothing is known of Raelag's past, and though he is direct and ruthless in battle his plans and tactics are kept as secret as his personal history. Because he often out-thinks, outflanks, and outmaneuvers his opponents, they move with a great deal of hesitation when facing him in battle. When up against this wily and intimidating warrior, his enemies often find themselves second-guessing their own plans.
Ylaya is a Keeper of the Law for the Shadowbrand clan of Dark Elves. As such, her life has been described as levels of religious piousness, devotion, and training in the arts of Dragon Magic. A respected matriarch in a position of responsibility, she is devoted to her dragon-goddess Malassa. Ylaya lacks experience as a military commander, however, so she relies on the unfailing support of her sisters, the matrons and matriarchs of Ygg-Chall.
Shadya's family was killed off early in the succession wars of the Soulscar clan. As the sole survivor, she has dedicated her entire life to revenge. Training herself in every art that could further her vendetta she disappears for months at a time, resurfacing only to cross another enemy off her list. One against hundreds, Shadya has mastered all there is to know about infiltration, evasion, assassination, and subtlety.
Academy; “All secrets will be understood, and mastered, in time.”
Facts and Traits
Aka: The Wizards, the Mages
Associated colors: orange (saffron) and gold
Worship: Wizards do not view the dragons as gods, merely as more powerful beings. With enough study and experimentation, they too will achieve the power of the dragons
Core philosophy: “No Gods, no Masters. Knowledge is Power, Power is Freedom”. The universe is a puzzle to be solved… and the ends justify the means.
Country / kingdom: The Silver Cities
Capital city: Al-Safir, the Sky Dome
Key symbols: the Silver Star, the Cross of Wisdom
Description: (From the Official Site)
The Academy wizards are proud seekers after knowledge and subjugators of the natural order. The Academy society is dedicated to wisdom and knowledge. The mages spend their lives studying and writing occult research studies.
A senate of wizards, called The Circle of Nine, rules the Silver Cities, though each of the cities maintains a greater or lesser degree of independence. Citizens who are incapable of magic are essentially second class, with an ability to harness sorcerous power being the key to social and political advancement.
Magic is taught in academies in the large cities, as hedge wizardry is frowned upon. These academies are formal places (much like Oxford or Cambridge in the real world) where which school you’re in means a great deal about what you will learn, how you learn it, and how the rest of your life plays out. Wizards tend to cluster into “schools” following the teachings of one great magus or another, and rivalries between schools are fierce.
The wizards rule a people of servant creatures that have been either summoned or magically animated by them.
A Summary
The Academy, from it's humble beginnings as the Wizard town in Heroes II, has always been a predominantly magical alignment. This ideal is certain emphasised in Heroes V's Academy, though the setting has been changed from one of snow and ice to a vibrant desert scene, filled with middle-eastern dress.
Often dubbed 'the wizards' for their mastery of the magical arts, the Academy town also includes 2 spellcasting creatures, as well as two shooters and a flyer. The heroes will again focus on magic, and hence the might element of the town will be weaker, perhaps reflected in their creatures. The Academy town is always luxurious and costly, and therefore targeted at more advanced players, who will make use of their spellcasting prowess.
The Wizards are in direct competition with the Necromancers, their undead counterparts, and their history reflects a heated past. The Academy is the only town whose inhabitants do not worship a dragon, rather they rely on their technological skills to make creatures presumably just as powerful (Titans), in addition to other things, such as mini-artifacts for their creatures through the 'artificer' skill.
Important Character:
Excitable, headstrong, and energetic are the sorts of words the older Mages use to describe Zehir. He chose to master elemental magic, figuring (correctly) that if he could control beings as fickle and powerful as elementals he would be well prepared for any magical struggle.Though the title First of the Circle was granted to the young Mage in the hopes of staving off political infighting during a crisis, the other wizards of the Circle quickly realized that it was only a matter of time before Zehir's skills surpassed theirs - time that is more likely to be measured in months than in years.
Sylvan; “We dance to the rhythm of the world.”
Facts and traits:
Aka: The Wood Elves
Associated colors: green and brown
Worship: Sylanna, the Dragon of Earth, Nature’s Great Mother
Core Philosophy: Swift as the wind, graceful as the stream, strong as the waterfall, wise as the oak… At one with nature…
Core philosophy: “Live and let live… in harmony”
Country / kingdom: Irollan, the forest maze
Capital city: Shataqua “New Green”
Key symbols: tree leave, feather, “triskel” rune
Description: (Adapted from the Official Site)
"Sylvans are graceful and patient souls who live in close harmony with the earth. Distrustful of machinery and cities, they keep to their ancient ways and ally with others only rarely.
The sylvan society is built around several people that all experience a symbiotic relationship, making the Sylvan realm a very united nation.
Along with the elves (druids, hunters, warriors) live wild legendary beasts (Direwolves, Unicorns, Treants…), and Faeries (Sprites, Pixies…)."
A Summary:
Assuming the role of classic environmentalists: despising modern technology and machinery, the Nature Town has returned under its adopted name of Sylvan, which means 'Woods'. Associated with the Earth and Nature, the Sylvan continues its strong Heroes tradition, and this time violently opposing their dark counterparts in the Dungeon.
The unmistakably quick and adept Nature dwellers, mostly composed of elves and fantastical creatures, have welcomed a few newcomers. The Green Dragon has taken the spot of the Phoenix, while hysterical War Dancers are a bersker-like, tatooed elf. Having a strong focus on magic, the Druid has returned to strengthen the metaphysical aspect of the town.
Having two rival elf factions in the game makes for some intense rivalry, which includes a born-again rivalry between Black and Green Dragons. The elves are the driving forces behind their respective armies - whose army will emerge victorious?
Important characters:
All Elves worship the ideal of Harmony, Alaron did so to the point that he even viewed his enemies as necessary and worthy. While this could be a good philosophy on a cosmic scale, it causes great difficulty when a leader of troops has a tendency to forgive and let live attacking troops. Understanding the political necessity of destroying others for the preservation of his realm, Alaron nevertheless avoids those moments whenever possible.
More a poet and diplomat by taste and training than a warrior, Findan is less comfortable than many of his brethren in fighting at close quarters with a sword. He vastly prefers to strike quickly, and strike hard, but from a distance. His favorite tactic is to first weaken the enemy with a rain of well-aimed arrows.
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I guess that's it to describe the game...really good, but you would need a large amount of disk space and very high video card to play it. T_T
Jay, do you have anything to add?
ANG HABA NIYAN!!!
<--- Mah boss. OH YEAH. 
