BOOK TWO THE RETURN OF TERROR THE LANDS OF KHANDURAS Years after the last of the [[Horadrim]] had died, a great and prosperous society grew in the lands of the West. As time wore on, many Eastern pilgrims settled in the lands surrounding [[Khanduras]] and soon established small, self contained kingdoms. A few of these kingdoms bickered with [[Khanduras]] over holdings of property or routes of trade. These squabbles did little to upset the lasting peace of the West, and the great Northern kingdom of [[Westmarch]] proved to be a strong ally of [[Khanduras]] as the two lands steadily engaged in ventures of barter and commerce. During this time, a bold, new religion of the Light known as [[Zakarum]] began to spread throughout the kingdom of [[Westmarch]] and into many of its northern principalities. [[Zakarum]], founded in the Far East, implored followers to enter into the Light and forsake the darkness that lurked within their souls. The people of [[Westmarch]] adopted the statutes of [[Zakarum]] as their sacred mission in the world. [[Westmarch]] began to turn towards its neighbors, expecting them to embrace this New Beginning as well. Tensions rose between the kingdoms of [[Westmarch]] and [[Khanduras]] as the priests of [[Zakarum]] began to preach their foreign dogma whether they were welcomed or not. It was then that the great northern lord [[Leoric]] came unto the lands of [[Khanduras]] and, in the name of [[Zakarum]], declared himself King. [[Leoric]] was a deeply religious man and had brought many Knights and Priests with him that comprised his Order of the Light. [[Leoric]] and his trusted advisor, the Arch Bishop [[Lazarus]], made their way to the city of [[Tristram]]. [[Leoric]] appropriated the ancient, decrepit Monastery on the outskirts of the town for his seat of power and renovated it to match its time-lost glory. Although the free people of [[Khanduras]] were not pleased with being placed under the sudden rule of a foreign King, [[Leoric]] served them with justice and might. Eventually, the people of [[Khanduras]] grew to respect the kind [[Leoric]], sensing that he sought only to guide and protect them against the oppression of Darkness. [[category:Story]]{{interwiki|full= |title=The_Lands_of_Khanduras}}
