Drunder, the Fortress of Zek

Overview

Drunder, the Fortress of Zek, is more commonly known simply as the Plane of Tactics and it is the realm of the Zek family. Drunder is a massive stone stronghold that towers above the Field of Blood within the undiscovered Plane of War. It is inhabited by an enormous army of Zek's finest creations, primarily Ogres, who have remained safe from The Rathe's curse. Upon entering the fortress and walking a short distance down the great hall of stone, there are paths leading both north and south into separate wings of the castle. At the end of the north wing is Vallon Zek, known as the god of tactics and governor of war. In the south wing is Vallon's twin brother Tallon Zek, known as the god of strategy and the beholder of battle. The twins manifest themselves towering Orc-like creatures who are clad in emerald and black capes with crimson chainmail. They can be identified most easily by the fact that Vallon wields an obsidian scimitar while Tallon wields a bow. Defeating the two brothers is the only way to challenge Rallos Zek the Warlord, but it will also reveal, with the help of Maelin Starpyre's translations in the Great Library of Myrist, that Rallos Zek and Solusek Ro are planning a raid on Norrath.

Back near the entrance, by ignoring the north and south wings, one will soon come upon a massive pit surrounded by spikes larger than a Troll. At the bottom of the pit is an arena of bloodstained sand. On the arena level, there are stables of boars more ferocious and fearsome than any such creature seen on the face of Norrath. One can only imagine the destruction these beasts could unleash if set loose on the field of battle. Also down here are the barracks for Zek's army, a dining hall, kitchen, and armory. Past the armory is the forge, which has a river of lava running through it. Back upstairs, on the edge of the pit, is a passage that leads upstairs to Rallos' tower. It is here where one can find the War Room of Zek, where all the tactical considerations are played out before The Warlord himself. Maps that hang on the walls consist of worlds never heard of by any Norrathian.

The upper halls are guarded by the Diaku, the elite of the elite Ogres in Zek's army. The Diaku are divided into three groups, each under the training of one of the three Zeks of the realm. The Gindan are masters of long range warfare similar to Tallon. The Hendin are the assassins, trained ruthlessly by Vallon. And then there are the most fearsome warriors in history, the Decorus, trained by Rallos Zek himself. Those who survive the tower to challenge Rallos Zek will be lured back to the sandy arena by The Warlord. Rallos Zek manifests himself as a hulking mass of stark black plate armor with a horned helmet, spikes sprouting from his shoulders and back, and terrorizing red eyes that burn from within his visor. He wields an enormous double bladed axe that is forever on fire, and he swings it with unfathomable speed.