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Several of the people who worked on {{homm3}} wrote short stories related to the lore, but these stories were never incorporated in the game.
<span style="float:right">__TOC__</span>
== Lost Stories ==
[[Christian Vanover]], {{homm3}} assistant director, wrote a series of texts that were being posted on the official [[3DO]] forums as {{roe}} approached its release. They were never incorporated in the game itself, but there are numerous references to them in hero bios and other texts. These short stories delve into the lore of [[Antagarich]] and tie into the game's plot, never contradicting canon (except for [[History of Erathia|one]] of them) while also providing various notable details. The character [[Xanthor]] went on to play a massive role in {{mm8}}. Many of these stories were rehosted on the now-defunct "The Nether Gods" fan site.
 
Also included are parts of the outlines for the {{homm4}} backstory, [https://www.celestialheavens.com/jennifer-bullard-lost-manuscript-files provided] by [[Jennifer Bullard]], namely the texts that describe events leading up to and soon after the [[Reckoning]]. It should be noted that these outlines were written during the game's development and never officially published. They are at least partially non-canonical, with a few details that differ from the release version of the game, as well as from the [[Heroes Chronicles]] campaigns, which were still being released at the time when these outlines were written. However, most of the information in them does fit with the canonical lore.
 
In addition, supplementary material from the now-defunct official websites for {{mm7}} and {{ab}} is listed.


''NOTE: The stories are marked with the era/order they occur in. Stories that are purely lore and make no mention of current events are marked with a '0'.''
''NOTE: The stories are marked with the era/order they occur in. Stories that are purely lore and make no mention of current events are marked with a '0'.''
* {{whc-}}Ancient History: ~0-1000 [[AS]]
* {{whc-}}Ancient History: ~0-1000 [[AS]]
* {{ws}} {{sod}}: ~1160-1164 [[AS]]
* {{ws}} {{sod}}: ~1155-1164 [[AS]]
* {{wr}} {{roe}}: ~1165-1167 [[AS]]
* {{wr}} {{roe}}: ~1165-1167 [[AS]]
* {{wa}} {{ab}}: ~1171 [[AS]]
* {{wa}} {{ab}}: ~1171 [[AS]]
* {{wd}} [[The Reckoning]]: ~1177 [[AS]]  
* {{wd}} [[The Reckoning]]: ~1172-1177 [[AS]]  


{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
Line 14: Line 20:
! Narrator
! Narrator
|-
|-
| rowspan=4 | [[NWC]] employees<br>(published on the now-defunct "The Nether Gods" fan site)
| rowspan=5 | [[Christian Vanover]]<br>(published on the now-defunct 3DO message board)
| 0. [[Deyja#Necromancy origin|Necromancy origin]]<br>0. [[Inferno#The Inferno|The Inferno]]<br>0. [[Rampart#The Rampart|The Rampart]]<br>{{ws-}}3. [[Kreegan#Kreegan reference|Kreegan reference]]<br>{{ws-}}4. [[Antagarich#Geography|Geography]]<br>{{ws-}}5. [[Catherine#Queen Catherine|Queen Catherine]]<br>{{ws-}}6. [[Marcus Finch#Parallel world|Parallel world]]
| {{ws}} 1. [[Tatalia#Tale from the Swamps|Tale from the Swamps]]<br>{{ws}} 13. [[Royal Erathian Military Command#The Legacy|The Legacy]]<br>{{ws}} 14. [[Royal Erathian Military Command#Unlikely Alliance|Unlikely Alliance]]
| {{Hn|Xanthor|0=}}
|-
| {{whc}} 4. [[Deyja#Necromancy origin|Necromancy origin]]<br>{{whc}} 7. [[Timber Wars]]<br>0. [[Erathia#History of Erathia|History of Erathia]]<br>0. [[Antagarich#Creatures Overview|Creatures Overview]]<br>{{ws-}}2. [[Antagarich#Geography|Geography]]<br>{{ws-}}3. [[Kreegan#Kreegan reference|Kreegan reference]]<br>{{ws-}}4. [[Catherine#Queen Catherine|Queen Catherine]]<br>{{ws-}}5. [[Marcus Finch#Parallel world|Parallel world]]
| [[Marcus Finch]]
| [[Marcus Finch]]
|-
|-
| {{ws}} 2. [[Tatalia#Tale from the Swamps|Tale from the Swamps]]<br>{{ws}} 15. [[Royal Erathian Military Command#The Legacy|The Legacy]]<br>{{ws}} 16. [[Royal Erathian Military Command#Unlikely Alliance|Unlikely Alliance]]
| {{ws}} 6. [[The Courtier#Introductions|Rumors from the Court: Introductions]]<br>{{ws}} 7. [[The Courtier#The Letter|Rumors from the Court: The Letter]]<br>{{ws}} 8. [[The Courtier#Annihilation|Rumors from the Court: Annihilation]]<br>{{ws}} 9. [[The Courtier#Death|Rumors from the Court: Death]]<br>{{ws}} 10. [[The Courtier#Battle Results|Rumors from the Court: Battle Results]]
| {{Hn|Xanthor|0=}}
|-
| {{ws}} 8. [[The Courtier#Introductions|Rumors from the Court: Introductions]]<br>{{ws}} 9. [[The Courtier#The Letter|Rumors from the Court: The Letter]]<br>{{ws}} 10. [[The Courtier#Annihilation|Rumors from the Court: Annihilation]]<br>{{ws}} 11. [[The Courtier#Death|Rumors from the Court: Death]]<br>{{ws}} 13. [[The Courtier#Battle Results|Rumors from the Court: Battle Results]]
| [[The Courtier]]
| [[The Courtier]]
|-
|-
| {{ws}} 12. [[Dannil Darvin#Rumors from the Court: Proclamation|Rumors from the Court: Proclamation]]<br>{{ws-}}14. [[Dannil Darvin#Rumors from the Court: A Word of Courage...|Rumors from the Court: A Word of Courage...]]
| {{ws}} 11. [[Dannil Darvin#Rumors from the Court: Proclamation|Rumors from the Court: Proclamation]]<br>{{ws-}}12. [[Dannil Darvin#Rumors from the Court: A Word of Courage...|Rumors from the Court: A Word of Courage...]]
| [[Dannil Darvin]]
| [[Dannil Darvin]]
|-
|-
| rowspan=2 | Jennifer Bullard<br> (a member of the original {{homm3}} team)
| 0. [[Rampart#The Rampart|The Rampart]]<br>0. [[Inferno#The Inferno|The Inferno]]<br>
| unspecified
|-
| rowspan=2 | [[Jennifer Bullard]]<br> (a member of the original {{homm3}} team)
| {{wd}} 1. [[Lost Manuscripts]]
| {{wd}} 1. [[Lost Manuscripts]]
| {{Hn|General Kendal|0=}}<br>{{Hn|Lysander|0=}}
| {{Hn|General Kendal|0=}}<br>{{Hn|Lysander|0=}}
Line 34: Line 43:
| {{Hn|Lysander|0=}}
| {{Hn|Lysander|0=}}
|-
|-
| Official stories<br>(published on the now-defunct official Might and Magic VII website)
| Published on the official Might and Magic VII website
| 0. [[Rose|The Black Rose]]<br>{{whc-}}1. [[Day of Fire]]<br>{{whc-}}2. [[AvLee#History of the Elves: the 'Pure Bloods' and the 'Renegades'|History of the Elves]]
| 0. [[Rose|The Black Rose]]<br>{{whc}} 1. [[Day of Fire]]<br>{{whc}} 2. [[AvLee#History of the Elves: the 'Pure Bloods' and the 'Renegades'|History of the Elves]]
| [[Bard Tanni]]
| [[Bard Tanni]]
|-
| Published on the official Armageddon's Blade website
| {{wa}} 0. Alternate Biographies:<br>{{---}}{{---}}{{---}}• [[Kilgor]]<br>{{---}}{{---}}{{---}}• [[Adrienne]]<br>{{---}}{{---}}{{---}}• [[Catherine]]<br>{{---}}{{---}}{{---}}• [[Roland]]<br>{{---}}{{---}}{{---}}• [[Dracon]]<br>{{---}}{{---}}{{---}}• [[Gelu]]<br>{{---}}{{---}}{{---}}• [[Mutare]]
| n/a
|}
|}


== Stories from the manuals ==
== The Wider Story ==
=== Stories from the manuals ===
Although these works are canonical, many people do not encounter them due to them being in print and not in the game. Included here merely for ease of reference.
Although these works are canonical, many people do not encounter them due to them being in print and not in the game. Included here merely for ease of reference.


Line 46: Line 60:
! Story
! Story
! Narrator
! Narrator
|-
| {{hc}}: [[Conquest of the Underworld]]
| {{whc}} 3. [[Tarnum#Letter to Allison Gryphonheart|Letter to Allison Gryphonheart]]
| {{Hn|Tarnum (Knight)|name=Tarnum|0=}}
|-
| {{hc}}: [[Revolt of the Beastmasters]]
| {{whc}} 6. [[Tarnum#Letter to Erathia|Letter to Erathia]]
| {{Hn|Tarnum (Beastmaster)|name=Tarnum|0=}}
|-
| {{hc}}: [[Masters of the Elements]]
| {{whc}} 5. [[Tarnum#Letter to Gavin Magnus|Letter to Gavin Magnus]]
| {{Hn|Tarnum (Wizard)|name=Tarnum|0=}}
|-
| {{homm1}}
| [[Morglin Ironfist#Letters to Ragnar Ironfist|Letters to Ragnar Ironfist]]
| [[Morglin Ironfist]]
|-
|-
| {{mm6}}
| {{mm6}}
Line 67: Line 102:


|-
|-
| rowspan=2 | {{homm3}}: {{ab}}
| {{homm3}}: {{ab}}
| {{wa}} 1. [[Lucifer Kreegan#Armageddon's Blade Introduction|Letter to Xeron]]
| {{wa}} 1. [[Lucifer Kreegan#Armageddon's Blade Introduction|Letter to Xeron]]
| [[Lucifer Kreegan]]
| [[Lucifer Kreegan]]
|-
|-
| {{wa}} 0. Alternate Biographies:<br>{{---}}{{---}}{{---}}• [[Kilgor]]<br>{{---}}{{---}}{{---}}• [[Adrienne]]<br>{{---}}{{---}}{{---}}• [[Catherine]]<br>{{---}}{{---}}{{---}}• [[Roland]]<br>{{---}}{{---}}{{---}}• [[Dracon]]<br>{{---}}{{---}}{{---}}• [[Gelu]]<br>{{---}}{{---}}{{---}}• [[Mutare]]
| {{mm8}}
| {{wd}} 1. [[Escaton#The Destroyer Cometh|The Destroyer Cometh]]
| n/a
| n/a
|-
| {{hc}}: [[Clash of the Dragons]]
| {{wd}} 2. [[Tarnum#Letter to the Elf King|Letter to the Elf King]]
| {{Hn|Tarnum (Ranger)|name=Tarnum|0=}}
|-
| {{hc}}: [[The Sword of Frost]]
| {{wd}} 3. [[Tarnum#Letter to Gelu|Letter to Gelu]]
| {{Hn|Tarnum (Overlord)|name=Tarnum|0=}}
|-
| {{hc}}: [[Warlords of the Wasteland]]
| 0. [[Tarnum#Letter to the Historian|Letter to the Historian]]
| {{Hn|Tarnum (Barbarian)|name=Tarnum|0=}}


|}
|}
=== Stories from other games ===
To see a summary of the plots of other games in the series, see [[List of games set in Enroth (world)]].


==See also==
==See also==
* [[List of games set in Enroth (world)]]
* [[List of wars in Enroth (world)]]
* [[List of wars in Enroth (world)]]
* [[Heroes from previous games]]
* [[Heroes from other games]]


[[Category:External Projects]]
[[Category:External Projects]]


[[Category: Storyline]]
[[Category: Storyline]]

Latest revision as of 12:54, 9 September 2025

Lost Lore Only found in the Lost Lore.

Lost Stories[edit | hide | hide all]

Christian Vanover, Heroes of Might and Magic III assistant director, wrote a series of texts that were being posted on the official 3DO forums as Restoration of Erathia approached its release. They were never incorporated in the game itself, but there are numerous references to them in hero bios and other texts. These short stories delve into the lore of Antagarich and tie into the game's plot, never contradicting canon (except for one of them) while also providing various notable details. The character Xanthor went on to play a massive role in Might and Magic VIII: Day of the Destroyer. Many of these stories were rehosted on the now-defunct "The Nether Gods" fan site.

Also included are parts of the outlines for the Heroes of Might and Magic IV backstory, provided by Jennifer Bullard, namely the texts that describe events leading up to and soon after the Reckoning. It should be noted that these outlines were written during the game's development and never officially published. They are at least partially non-canonical, with a few details that differ from the release version of the game, as well as from the Heroes Chronicles campaigns, which were still being released at the time when these outlines were written. However, most of the information in them does fit with the canonical lore.

In addition, supplementary material from the now-defunct official websites for Might and Magic VII: For Blood and Honor and Armageddon's Blade is listed.

NOTE: The stories are marked with the era/order they occur in. Stories that are purely lore and make no mention of current events are marked with a '0'.

Source Story Narrator
Christian Vanover
(published on the now-defunct 3DO message board)
Shadow of Death 1. Tale from the Swamps
Shadow of Death 13. The Legacy
Shadow of Death 14. Unlikely Alliance
XanthorXanthorXanthorXanthor Xanthor
Heroes Chronicles 4. Necromancy origin
Heroes Chronicles 7. Timber Wars
0. History of Erathia
0. Creatures Overview
Shadow of Death 2. Geography
Shadow of Death 3. Kreegan reference
Shadow of Death 4. Queen Catherine
Shadow of Death 5. Parallel world
Marcus Finch
Shadow of Death 6. Rumors from the Court: Introductions
Shadow of Death 7. Rumors from the Court: The Letter
Shadow of Death 8. Rumors from the Court: Annihilation
Shadow of Death 9. Rumors from the Court: Death
Shadow of Death 10. Rumors from the Court: Battle Results
The Courtier
Shadow of Death 11. Rumors from the Court: Proclamation
Shadow of Death 12. Rumors from the Court: A Word of Courage...
Dannil Darvin
0. The Rampart
0. The Inferno
unspecified
Jennifer Bullard
(a member of the original Heroes of Might and Magic III team)
Day of Reckoning 1. Lost Manuscripts General KendalGeneral KendalGeneral KendalGeneral Kendal General Kendal
LysanderLysanderLysanderLysander Lysander
Day of Reckoning 2. The Reckoning (Lysander's account) LysanderLysanderLysanderLysander Lysander
Published on the official Might and Magic VII website 0. The Black Rose
Heroes Chronicles 1. Day of Fire
Heroes Chronicles 2. History of the Elves
Bard Tanni
Published on the official Armageddon's Blade website Armageddon's Blade 0. Alternate Biographies:
         • Kilgor
         • Adrienne
         • Catherine
         • Roland
         • Dracon
         • Gelu
         • Mutare
n/a

The Wider Story[edit | hide]

Stories from the manuals[edit | hide]

Although these works are canonical, many people do not encounter them due to them being in print and not in the game. Included here merely for ease of reference.

Source Story Narrator
Heroes Chronicles: Conquest of the Underworld Heroes Chronicles 3. Letter to Allison Gryphonheart Tarnum (Knight)Tarnum (Knight)Tarnum (Knight)Tarnum (Knight) Tarnum
Heroes Chronicles: Revolt of the Beastmasters Heroes Chronicles 6. Letter to Erathia Tarnum (Beastmaster)Tarnum (Beastmaster)Tarnum (Beastmaster)Tarnum (Beastmaster) Tarnum
Heroes Chronicles: Masters of the Elements Heroes Chronicles 5. Letter to Gavin Magnus Tarnum (Wizard)Tarnum (Wizard)Tarnum (Wizard)Tarnum (Wizard) Tarnum
Heroes of Might and Magic: A Strategic Quest Letters to Ragnar Ironfist Morglin Ironfist
Might and Magic VI: The Mandate of Heaven Shadow of Death 1. Letters to Catherine RolandRolandRolandRoland Roland
Heroes of Might and Magic III: The Shadow of Death Shadow of Death 7. Letter to the Wizards of Bracada YogYogYog Yog
Heroes of Might and Magic III: Restoration of Erathia Restoration of Erathia 1. Letter to the Commander Wilbur Humphrey
Might and Magic VII: For Blood and Honor Restoration of Erathia 2. The Diaries of Archibald ArchibaldArchibaldArchibaldArchibald Archibald
Heroes of Might and Magic III: Armageddon's Blade Armageddon's Blade 1. Letter to Xeron Lucifer Kreegan
Might and Magic VIII: Day of the Destroyer Day of Reckoning 1. The Destroyer Cometh n/a
Heroes Chronicles: Clash of the Dragons Day of Reckoning 2. Letter to the Elf King Tarnum (Ranger)Tarnum (Ranger)Tarnum (Ranger)Tarnum (Ranger) Tarnum
Heroes Chronicles: The Sword of Frost Day of Reckoning 3. Letter to Gelu Tarnum (Overlord)Tarnum (Overlord)Tarnum (Overlord)Tarnum (Overlord) Tarnum
Heroes Chronicles: Warlords of the Wasteland 0. Letter to the Historian Tarnum (Barbarian)Tarnum (Barbarian)Tarnum (Barbarian)Tarnum (Barbarian) Tarnum

Stories from other games[edit | hide]

To see a summary of the plots of other games in the series, see List of games set in Enroth (world).

See also[edit | hide]