Editing The Shadow of Death

[[Image:homm_sod.jpg|frame|{{sod}} box art.]]
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'''The Shadow of Death''' (or '''SoD''') is the second [[Expansions|expansion]] to {{hommroe}}. Chronologically, it takes place prior to the events that occur in Restoration of Erathia. It does not need a previous installation of Heroes III in order to work (unlike [[Armageddon's Blade]]), and it includes all of the new features of Armageddon's Blade, except [[campaigns]] and the ability to play as the [[Conflux]] town unless the Armageddon's Blade expansion is installed on the same computer.

== Plot ==
The Shadow of Death campaigns serve as a prequel to {{mm6}}, {{roe}} and {{mm8}}. The storyline revolves around [[Sandro]] the [[Necromancer]], who ten-year plot to reassemble two powerful artifacts that once belonged to his former mentor [[Ethric]]. He uses illusionary magic to take the form of a living human, which he uses to disguise himself.

[[Sandro]] first convinces the [[sorceress]] [[Gem]] and [[barbarian]] [[Crag Hack]] to find the pieces of the two artifacts for him, promising rewards in return. Unaware of [[Sandro]]'s true nature, they agree to aid him in wresting the pieces away from other necromancers. However, once secured by the unwitting heroes, the pieces are spirited away by [[Sandro]] without fulfilling his end of the bargain. He reassembles the pieces into two whole artifacts, the [[Cloak of the Undead King]] and the [[Armor of the Damned]].

With the Cloak and the Armor in his possession, [[Sandro]] battles the vengeful armies of his former [[warlock]] master, [[Ethric]], and passes onward into the [[undead]] lands of [[Deyja]]. There, he vaults a puppet king, [[Finneas Vilmar]], to the throne, attaining full political control of the [[undead]] lands. From there, he begins his plan to conquer the rest of the continent.

Some time later, amidst the war against the [[undead]], the heroes [[Gem]], [[Gelu]], [[Yog]] and [[Crag Hack]] band together to combat the threat. They arrange to meet at the plains of [[Bragden]], but are ambushed by [[Sandro]] himself and forced to flee. As they regroup, [[Yog]] recalls a task he performed earlier of dispensing the components of the [[Angelic Alliance]], a mighty sword. The team of heroes decide to seek out the pieces of the sword and reassemble it. Succeeding, they push onward into [[Deyja]], eventually cornering [[Sandro]] and defeating him. The heroes once again disperse the pieces of the necromantic artifacts as they part ways.

A final bonus campaign features [[Sandro]] after his defeat. The necromancer plots a second invasion, this time aimed squarely at [[Erathia]]. With the help of [[Lord Haart]], he has King [[Nicolas Gryphonheart]] poisoned, and forms an alliance between [[Deyja]], the [[Kreegan|Kreegans]] and [[Nighon]] against the human lands. However, he is tricked and imprisoned by his own puppet king, [[Finneas Vilmar]], who then leads the invasion of [[Erathia]] which takes place during {{roe}}.
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== Features ==
;[[Campaigns]]
* [[New Beginning]]
* [[Elixir_of_Life_(campaign)|Elixir of Life]]
* [[Hack and Slash]]
* [[Birth of a Barbarian]]
* [[Rise of the Necromancer]]
* [[Unholy Alliance]]
* [[Specter of Power]]


;Miscellaneous
* [[Combination artifact|Combination artifacts]]
* New [[magical terrain|magical terrains]]
* The [[random map]] generator
* Several new options for mapmakers
* [[Lizardman]], [[Lizard Warrior]], [[Serpent Fly]], [[Dragon Fly]], [[Angel]], and [[Archangel]] were rebalanced

== [[List of maps|Maps]] ==
{{Map table}}
{{Shadow of Death map table}}
|}

== Gallery ==
<gallery mode="packed-hover">
File:Shadow of Death Menu.png
File:SoD Crag Hack Yog.png
File:SoD Lich.png
File:SoD Gelu Gem.png
File:Shadow of death loading.png
File:Shadow of death cover.png
</gallery>

== See Also: ==
*[[Credits]]

[[Category:Expansions]][[Category:The Shadow of Death|*]]