The Pact

The Pact
The Norcaine of Lar had always been a force to be reckoned ever since the War of the Six Races. However with Sorvina and Nazshar having recovered D'arh's gargoyles and forged the Pact with the shadows, the threat rose once more.
From there on not even the powerful Realm or the Clans and not even the Shaikan were safe from the Pact's assault on the Highmark and southern Fiara.

The Pact is an alliance between the dark elves and the shadows from beyond the veil of the world of Eo forged by Nazshar. Those two parties are supported by the Gargoyles, demonic beings bound to elemental bodies serving the pact. They are one of the five total playable peoples in the second SpellForce series.

Story

The heart of the Pact consists of the dark elves, the people of the nightgod Nor, known as the Norcaine. The culture of the Norcaine has always been shaped by the fight between the two largest castes, the warriors of the Dracon and the sorcerers of the Archons. While the warriors are striving for an honourable life in the fight against the Light, the Archons are recklessly striving for power. This striving made the current High Archon Toth Lar forge the bond with the Shadows with the help of his mother Sorvina. He gave a part of the power of life of his people to the Shadows and in return got the invisible Assassins who slaughtered his antagonists in the caste of the warriors within just a very short time. The honour of the Norcaine died along with these warriors. But the dark elves have been dragged out of their paralysis that was caused by this inner conflict and now they are ready for new campaigns.

The new allies of the Norcaine, the Shadows, are invisible in their normal form and only become visible when they want to or when their lethal blow hits its target. It is known that they came to Eo from another world, but nobody really knows their goals and plans.

The gargoyles are no real members of the Pact. They are bloodthirsty demons from the inner centre of the world that have been given a form by magic. Grateful for their new bodies and happy to quench their blood thirst at last they throw themselves into battles for their masters. Sorvina’s knowledge as an alchemist of the Silver Hand enabled her to join these creatures into the army of the Pact.

Strategic Information

Now following up is all informations regarding the combat units and buildings of the Pact.

Units

The Pact's army is made up from different kinds of units which will be listed below.

	Slave
The Skerg have been the slaves of the Norcaine since the conquest of Urgath by the Dark Ones. Their culture and their desire of freedom have been destroyed by centuries of torture and slavery. Meanwhile their only purpose in life is to erect more and more new obsidian buildings for their relentless masters. The Pact covers the conquered countries with these buildings
Unit Type:		Unit Costs:
Resource gatherer and builder		20 - 60 , 0 , 0
Recruited at:		Requirements:
Headquarters		None
Offensive Stats:		Defensive Stats:
5 - 20 every 2s at melee range		80 Health, 120 Mana, 1 Armor
Additional information:
Gathers resources and constructs the Pact's buildings. Recruiting costs increase the more workers are already recruited.
	Shadowblade
Without the warriors of the Dracon it was the task of the smaller caste of the Sinistra to train melee combat fighters for the future armies of the dark elves. Without the master smeltery of the warriors caste and facing the heavily equipped armies of the humans and dwarves, the Sinistra only saw one way. They trained these quick and nimble fighters who in a dance of blood and steel send their heavily armed enemies to the ground with whirling blows of their blades.
Unit Type:		Unit Costs:
Melee Fighter		50 , 0 , 1
Recruited at:		Requirements:
Headquarters, Black Fortress		Training Grounds
Offensive Stats:		Defensive Stats:
6 - 24 every 1,5s at melee range		180 Health, 220 Mana, 7 Armor
	Sorceress
The influence of the alchemist Sorvina has caused other females to join the armies of the Pact. The women of the dark elves have always had a better connection to black magic and only the strict traditions forbade them to use this talent. The sorceresses of the Pact command the destructive form of magic in perfection and they lacerate the flesh of their enemy with dark streams of black magic.
Unit Type:		Unit Costs:
Magic Caster		60 , 0 , 1
Recruited at:		Requirements:
Headquarters, Black Fortress		Academy
Offensive Stats:		Defensive Stats:
4 - 16 every 2s at melee range		180 Health, 220 Mana, 5 Armor
Additional information:
Casts Pain spells onto enemy targets.
	Death Knight
Before the Convocation, the Death Knights of the Sinistra were the archenemies of the Paladins of the Light. Quite often both parties would forget orders and battle plans, when they met on the battle field. Through friends and enemies with thundering hooves they would crash into one another again and again until one side was completely destroyed. As elite of the dark elves Sorvina has assigned the Death Knights a special place in the hierarchy of the Pact army. Only a fool would trust an ally unconditionally, and that is why Sorvina teaches the Death Knights a spell that helps them to drag the Shadows out of their invisibility, in case they should turn against the Pact.
Unit Type:		Unit Costs:
Cavalry Unit, Melee Fighter		100 , 20 , 2
Recruited at:		Requirements:
Black Fortress		None
Offensive Stats:		Defensive Stats:
14 - 28 every 2s at up to 17 meters		250 Health, 300 Mana, 10 Armor
Additional information:
Very fast movement Can see and uncloak enemy shadows nearby. Taking melee damage drains life from the attacker to restore health.
	Necromancer
Similar to the sorceresses the necromancers too have been called to the ranks of the Pact because of their talent for black magic. In the onyx temples of the dark elves they study all the forms of resurrection and command over the undead. For nights on end you can hear their whispering songs and when they finally leave the temple, they have almost become undead themselves, dedicated to destroy the peace of the enemies of the Pact even after their death.
Unit Type:		Unit Costs:
Magic Caster		50 , 100 , 1
Recruited at:		Requirements:
Black Fortress		Onyx Temple
Offensive Stats:		Defensive Stats:
5 - 25 every 2s at melee range		180 Health, 220 Mana, 6 Armor
Additional information:
Casts Lifetap spells onto enemy targets. Casts Raise Dead on fallen enemy and allied units - one unit at a time!
	Arachnis
Hidden in the eternal night underneath the mountains of Eo the offspring of the Silverweaver, the nightgod, are still alive even after the banishment of their master. In the great Silver Halls the dark elves weave long conjurations and call the offspring of their master from their cold hideouts to go to war for the Pact. In battle the Arachnis first spit poison on their victims to then jump with their claws at their weakened prey.
Unit Type:		Unit Costs:
Cavalry Unit, Magic Caster		100 , 100 , 3
Recruited at:		Requirements:
Black Fortress		Silver Hall
Offensive Stats:		Defensive Stats:
15 - 30 every 2s at melee range		300 Health, 360 Mana, 8 Armor
Additional information:
Fast movement Summons Spiderlings to attack enemy targets that deal direct damage bypassing all armor.
	Frost Gargoyle
In the endless caverns underneath the surface of the worlds these demons are waiting for a possibility to get to the surface and quench their thirst for flesh. A skilled conjurer can make such a ghost his servant by forming him a body that he can take hold of. The dark elf D’arh found a way to combine a gargoyle created like this with the essence of an element and thus give it special powers. The Frost Gargoyle is formed with an essence of the winter. Its body of ice is hard to break and its frost spells bring the icy death through the air.
Unit Type:		Unit Costs:
Flying Unit, Magic Caster		40 , 80 , 2
Recruited at:		Requirements:
Tower of Faces		None
Offensive Stats:		Defensive Stats:
10 - 30 every 2,2s at melee range		220 Health, 220 Mana, 10 Armor
Additional information:
Fast Movement Takes 75% less damage from ice-based attacks and spells Takes 100% more damage from fire-based attacks and spells Casts Freeze spells onto enemy targets.
	Fire Gargoyle
This gargoyle is formed in the bloodfire with an essence of the flame. It is the counterpiece of the Frost Gargoyle, as their skills complement each other. Driven by the glowing earthblood in their veins the Fire Gargoyles lift themselves up in the air as burning infernos and burn everything that gets into their way. They circle above the lands they depredated, full of joy and ecstasy about their own destructive powers.
Unit Type:		Unit Costs:
Flying Unit, Magic Caster		60 , 60 , 2
Recruited at:		Requirements:
Tower of Faces		Blood Forge
Offensive Stats:		Defensive Stats:
10 - 30 every 2,2s at melee range		220 Health, 220 Mana, 10 Armor
Additional information:
Fast Movement Takes 75% less damage from fire-based attacks and spells Takes 100% more damage from ice-based attacks and spells Casts Fireball spells onto enemy targets.
	Stone Gargoyle
The Stone Gargoyle is formed in the magma forge. It is a terrible melee combat fighter whose skin of rock a sword can hardly pierce. Its fists of dense rock go down on the opponent like an avalanche. Neither fear, nor pain, nor exhaustion can harm this stone giant.
Unit Type:		Unit Costs:
Melee Fighter		180 , 0 , 3
Recruited at:		Requirements:
Tower of Faces		Magma Forge
Offensive Stats:		Defensive Stats:
20 - 40 every 2,3 at melee range		400 Health, 200 Mana, 14 Armor
Additional information:
Takes 75% less damage from projectile based attacks Damage is dealt as direct damage that bypasses all enemy armor
	Assassin
How the Shadows exactly came to Eo is unknown, but it was the doing of Nazshar, Sorvina's husband, who helped them disperse there. Their bodies are like black depths where all light and life just disappear. They usually move about on the shadow level, invisible for normal creatures. Only when they fight against a visible opponent, they have to leave the shadow level and become visible. In this moment, the magic of the shadow level runs through them and they can launch a single devastating attack against their unsuspecting victim. Their blades directly appear in the bowels of the enemy and quickly kill them.
Unit Type:		Unit Costs:
Melee Fighter, Shadow Unit		60 , 40 , 1
Recruited at:		Requirements:
Shadow Crystal		None
Offensive Stats:		Defensive Stats:
5 - 25 every 1,5s at melee range		150 Health, 250 Mana, 7 Armor
Additional information:
While being invisible, the next attack against a ground unit will deal 120 - 200 damage while also terminating the unit's invisibility briefly.
	Nightmare
Silently and invisibly the Nightmare is gliding above the battlefield, until he has spied out his victim. Similar to the Assassin on leaving the shadow level he goes down in a devastating attack on an unsuspecting target. For veterans that have fought against the shadows once before a sky full of enemies is never as scaring any more as an apparently empty sky that can turn into a screaming inferno of darkness any moment.
Unit Type:		Unit Costs:
Melee Fighter, Shadow Unit, Flying Unit		60 , 60 , 2
Recruited at:		Requirements:
Shadow Crystal		Tower of Negation
Offensive Stats:		Defensive Stats:
5 - 35 every 2,2s at melee range		170 Health, 280 Mana, 9 Armor
Additional information:
Fast Movement While being invisible, the next attack against a flying unit will deal 120 - 200 damage while also terminating the unit's invisibility briefly.
	Ravager
Similar to his shadow brothers the Ravager attacks from out of hiding, but turns its power against buildings. Penetrated by the power of the shadow level, the Ravager even makes the earth tremble, when he changes into the visible world. That is how he destroys buildings and facilities of the enemy.
Unit Type:		Unit Costs:
Siege Unit, Shadow Unit		100 , 60 , 2
Recruited at:		Requirements:
Shadow Crystal		Shadow Cathedral
Offensive Stats:		Defensive Stats:
10 - 30 every 2,3s at melee range		200 Health, 300 Mana, 8 Armor
Additional information:
While being invisible, the next attack against a building will deal 800 - 1400 damage while also terminating the unit's invisibility briefly.
	Netherbeast
On their journey through the abysses of the eternal night between the worlds, the shadows have come across atrocities even the worst nightmares of Eo’s inhabitants could not create. Under the lightless face of a devastated world, the Netherbeasts lie waiting, hungry and restless. Nothing in their world is alive any more; in their greed they devoured everything there was. Thus they happily follow the conjurations of strangers calling them to feast and fill their bowels in a bright world full of life. The Pact makes use of their hunger and lets them harvest abundantly in the armies of the Light. The huge claws of the Netherbeasts most of the time kill several light worshippers in one go, while their poisonous breath sends their opponents down on the ground twitching with pain and agony.
Unit Type:		Unit Costs:
Titan		800 , 1200 , 5
Recruited at:		Requirements:
Headquarters		Dark elven, gargoyle and shadow upgrade
Offensive Stats:		Defensive Stats:
20 - 55 every 3s at melee range		2500 Health, 1200 Mana, 5 Armor
Additional information:
Can attack multiple enemies in melee range at once with each attack. The primary attack is hit three times upon each attack. Casts Pain spells on up to ten different enemy targets at the same time.

Buildings

The Pact's bases are made up from different kinds of buildings which will be listed below.

	Headquarters Main building of the Pact. Creates Slaves, Shadowblades, Sorceresses and Netherbeasts. Researches the Dark Elf, Gargoyle and Shadow expansion.
	Stonemason Serves as a drop location for Stone. Increases the Stone gathering efficiency of your slaves.
	Smeltery Serves as a drop location for Silver. Increases the Silver gathering efficiency of your slaves.
	Alchemist Serves as a drop location for Lenya. Increases the Lenya gathering efficiency of your slaves.
	Farm / Beetle Breeder Farm: Increases the army population limit by 5 slots. Beetle Breeder: Increases the army population limit by 10 slots.
	Training Grounds / Academy Training Grounds: Unlocks Shadowblades for training. Academy: Unlocks Shadowblades and Sorceresses for training.
	Black Fortress Trains Shadowblades, Sorceresses, Death Knights, Necromancers and Arachnis units.
	Onyx Temple / Silver Dome Onyx Temple: Unlocks Necromancers for training. Silver Dome: Unlocks Necromancer and Arachnis units for training.
	Tower of Faces Trains Frost Gargoyles, Fire Gargoyles and Stone Gargoyles.
	Blood Forge / Magma Forge Blood Forge: Unlocks Fire Gargoyles for training. Magma Forge: Unlocks Fire and Stone Gargoyles for training.
	Shadow Crystal Trains Assassins, Nightmares and Ravagers.
	Tower of Negation / Shadow Cathedral Tower of Negation: Unlocks Nightmares for training. Shadow Cathedral: Unlocks Nightmares and Ravagers for training.
	Tower Stationary defensive building tha attacks with black magic. Can be upgraded for additional damage, stun on being attacked and being able to uncloak Shadows.
	Altar of Life Allows the revival of your avatar, your heroes and companions.

Media

Now following a few pictures showing content of the Pact.

Slave

Shadowblade

Sorceress

Death Knight

Necromancer

Arachnis

Frost Gargoyle

Fire Gargoyle

Stone Gargoyle

Netherbeast (Titan)