The Return of Zagor

A respected wizard named Master Ellisar Varn, known for his scholarship on planar anomalies and ancient magical traditions, vanished several weeks ago. His last known destination was the ruined fortress of Castle Vharag‑Dûl, a place abandoned since the Trolltooth Wars and whispered to be haunted by echoes of old magic. He went there seeking clues about the Eye of Yuartoi, a legendary artifact said to reveal ''truths that lie between worlds.'' For what purpose? Only him knows... His apprentice, Seren Halwick, is young, earnest, and increasingly desperate. She hires a group of adventurers to find her master, believing he is merely trapped or injured. She has no idea that the truth is far darker.

Zagor began life as Oldoran Zagor, born in the northern city of Zengis. His bloodline was steeped in sorcery—his father a merchant‑wizard, his ancestors powerful mages who once claimed Firetop Mountain as their domain. Some tales whisper that his mother was a demoness, summoned through forbidden rites. Whether true or not, Zagor’s talent for magic was undeniable, and his ambition even greater.

As a young man he studied under the infamous Volgera Darkstorm alongside two other prodigies: Balthus Dire and Zharradan Marr. The trio became known as the Demonic Three, feared for their ruthlessness and brilliance. Their partnership ended in betrayal and murder, and Zagor eventually struck out alone, drawn by visions to reclaim Firetop Mountain.

Zagor seized the mountain with an army of orcs and trolls, filling its halls with traps, monsters, and unimaginable treasure. Adventurers from across Titan sought to plunder his hoard, and one finally succeeded—defeating the Warlock and ending his reign. But Zagor had prepared for death. A resurrection spell, hidden deep within his spellbook, ensured his return.

Ten years later, Zagor rose again—this time as a decaying, necromantic horror. He rebuilt his body from kidnapped victims, unleashed plagues, and summoned elemental forces to defend himself. Another hero confronted him, defeated his elementals, and slew him a second time. Yet even then, whispers spread that Zagor’s spirit lingered, refusing to pass on.

Zagor’s final known resurrection took him far from Titan. Drawn into the world of Amarillia, he merged with the monstrous Bone Demon, becoming a hybrid of sorcerer and abyssal entity. As a Demon Warlock, he conquered Castle Argent and threatened to tear open the boundaries between worlds. A lone champion defeated him in the castle’s depths and dragged his body into a sacred fire. His demonic flesh burned, his human soul unraveled, and his scream echoed through the void as he was consumed.

For the first time, it seemed Zagor was truly gone.

With Zagor’s fall, both Titan and Amarillia entered a rare age of peace. Kingdoms rebuilt, trade flourished, and the horrors of Firetop Mountain and Castle Argent faded into legend. Scholars declared the Demon Warlock destroyed beyond recovery. A generation grew up knowing his name only as a story told to frighten children.

For decades, the world believed the nightmare had ended.

But peace never lasts forever.

In recent years, troubling signs have begun to spread across the realms:

Monstrous races gathering under unfamiliar banners

Strange cults whispering in forgotten ruins

Corruption seeping into forests, borderlands, and old battlegrounds

Dreams haunted by a voice that should have died in fire

Something is moving behind these omens—something that should have perished with Zagor, yet refuses to fade.

A dark, mythic adventure rooted in the legacy of Fighting Fantasy invites players back into a world shaped by elemental sorcery, ancient warlocks, and the lingering shadow of Firetop Mountain. It will be strongly inspired from the Fighting Fantasy serie, a series of single-player role-playing gamebooks created by Steve Jackson and Ian Livingstone. Titan, the home plane the game will take place, remain scarred by the rise and fall of great sorcerers. The echoes of past conflicts still cling to ruined castles, forgotten dungeons, and the deep places where planar boundaries fray. This game draws from that lineage while expanding it into a new epic that will stands on its own. The tone blends heroic fantasy with creeping dread: heroes are brave and capable, but the forces they face are ancient, cunning, and far from defeated.  Classic themes of the Swords and Sorcery genre.

The story begins as a respected sage—an expert in planar lore—vanished while exploring the ruins of an old fortress. His apprentice, worried and out of options, hires a band of adventurers to investigate. Their task seems straightforward: find the missing wizard, recover his notes, and uncover what happened in the depths of the ruin.

The characters will begin as a simple group of rescuers, a group of experienced adventurers, but their path soon becomes one of epic heroism. They will uncover forgotten lore, confront warped creatures born of planar instability, and face the growing influence of a being who refuses to be erased from history: Zagor himself. The tone will shift from eerie exploration to high‑stakes adventures as the truth behind the sage’s fate and the artifact he sought will be unfold.

This game will use AD&D 2e system, and characters are starting with 20,000 experience points. All the info to create a character will be found in the Character creation rules section. I'm looking for a party of 4-6 players. No need to have any knowledge or experience with Fighting Fantasy, but please familiarize with the concept and the setting a bit before throwing in character. For veteran and new ones, I added info in the World section. No need to be ultra erudite on the setting - I'm very open to interpretation and creativity if it fit. However, be aware that the setting have a ''old school'' vibe.