Age of Terror

I had just bought the game, Age of Empires II and was very excited to see that this game had full steam workshop support, which basically meant that I could download other users contributions. I downloaded a mod titled "Age of Terror" which was highly acclaimed for being quite terrifying. I wasn't sure how a game that has poor graphics could be even slightly scary, but I decided I would try it.

The mod downloaded and I launched the game. The opening graphics were different, instead of the Microsoft logo, Ensemble logo, and opening scene playing, there was a muffled moaning. I waited and soon more moans were heard. They escalated and became louder with coughing, wheezing, and choking. The screen was still black and I was about to click when the screen began to show a red backsplash. "Age of Terror. The dawn of the dead hath come." It faded in and out slowly and the moaning began to die down. Buzzing could be faintly heard as the main menu came up.

It seemed normal, only there wasn't any music and the armor was knocked over. Some skulls and bones were on the streets. I shrugged and selected singleplayer. A new campaign option was available titled again, "Age of Terror." I clicked on it and an exasperated breath like someone's last breath played. It opened to the campaign screen with quiet moaning again. The first mission was titled, "Run."

I selected the mission and a loud scream startled me. The loading screen showed a man running through the forest as glowing orbs chased him. The game then began.

It started normally, three villagers, a scout, and a town center. Resources were plenty, however, they didn't look the same. Trees had skeletons impaled on branches. Gold was blood red and pools surrounded the mining sites. Stone mines had people trying to claw out from under the rocks. Forage bushes were dead, but still yeilded food. Fish floated on the water. The terrain was black and rocky.

I shrugged and began to set my villagers to work. Each time I hit a resource of any kind, however, a shrill scream could be heard and no distance from the mine could stop it. Again I ignored it and continued on.

I was beginning to wonder what the objectivve of this was so I opened the objectives tab. It simply said run. Strange, I thought. So I built up an army, researched, and sat there with my fortifications just waiting for something to happen.

Suddenly a high pitched scream rang out through my headphones so loud that I had to take them off. Even when I did, the scream could still be heard clearly! And just as suddenly as it had started, it stopped. Distraught, I waited again only for the same screaming voice to come back. This time, however, instead of simply stopping, it began to speak in its shrill voice while displaying text.

"Run mortals! Run! Lest I feast upon your flesh and bones!"

Silence again. I mobilized my army to defend key areas while putting archers in castles to defend them better. A few seconds passed then I saw an enemy. It was a black skeleton clawing its way toward the gate. Upon investigating, it had 5 health and no armor. Its attack was shown with question marks. It slowly made its was to the gate where it was easily picked off by an archer.

I laughed and gained confidence that I could fight these off. Two more came up and again were killed. The bodies never disintegrated like usual, though. Soon more and more came in large hoards of 50 or more. Still, I was able to fend them off.

The scream returned. "Why are you still here! You should have heeded my warning! Now you will die!" The voice slowed and got deeper as it finished. Skeletons with flesh still attached soon came with the others, and my first gate was blown down. Each time a building was destroyed, a howling shriek was sounded by the horde of death.

I clenched and sent my men to fight back but it was no use. Some even ran without my command. The ones who didn't gave out exasperating screams of horror and pain. Those who fell began to shrivel, then stood upright as one of the horde! They took to the villagers next. The men screamed in agony while the women shrieked in pain.

I had one champion swordsmen to the south of my town. I had him run into the forests. Agonizing shrieks could still be heard all around as he ran through the dense forests.

"You cannot hide! We will devour your living soul!" The screeching voice boomed.

Two flags at the far southern end then appeared. I figured if I could make it there, I would win. But my swordsman was slow and chances were grim.

The fog was creeping up all around my one soldier as he ran. I heard a thundering charge accompanied by an evil laughter. The horde had finished my town and were charging my last man.

I focused my camera on the demolished town. Glowing orbs floated towards my swordsman. They flooded out towards him in a mesh of light.

Back with my champion, orbs began to pop up and converge on my champion. I could hear exasperated breathing as if he was sprinting. He was so close, but the orbs were closer. When the orbs were visible, I could see it was the skeletons charging him still.

"Fooouund yooouuuuu." The voice shrieked with a cackling laugh.

The swordsman was right there, but he never made it. A cutscene showed him being overtaken and torn apart by the undead horde. Screams of pain and terror came from the swordsman. Blood covered the screen. Words were being written in the blood.

"You're next. Run while you can."

Then the screen went dark. A head on a pike slowly faded in. It had a smile on it. Then sudden darkness. The power went out and my whole house was pitch black.

Nervous I looked around. I hear scurrying in my room. I stood up and slowly walked towards it. The door was opened a crack so I peeked in. A head suddenly appeared in the crack.

I fell backwards and pushed away quickly getting to my feet. Bony hands and heads began to blow through walls and dig through floors. I tripped and struggled for the door. A hand grasped my leg, then another and another until hands were all over me. Then they started tearing. I felt each boney finger as it tore a new gaping hole into me. I screamed but no one heard.

I tried to die but I couldn't. They held my soul down to earth. I still felt pain as they finished. I rose again as one of the horde. A voice echoed through my head.

"Welcome to the Age of Terror. Welcome to hell."

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