Heroes of Karn

Long ago, in the reign of Beren, last of the Mountain Kings of Karn, there came from the distant north a horde of fell creatures, borne on the wings of Darkness. Dragons there were, and Vampires, and weavers of Enchantment, and nameless things from the deep places of the world. They swept down as a dark gale on the Halls of the Mountain King, and terrible was the slaughter of men.

From the Gates of Karn escaped but those few of greatest might. These four men were the Heroes of Karn, and mighty they were. Yet not mighty enough, for one by one they fell, captives bound with iron and stone and magic spells. And Darkness fell on the land. Darkness unbroken — until one day there came to Karn a Stranger, from a strange land where men could fly and machines could think. And the Stranger went forth into the wilderness and fought with the Powers of Night and released the Heroes, and with them removed the Shadow from the land of Karn for ever.