Record of Lodoss Wars...
Sometime ago, I picked up the VHS version of Record of Lodoss Wars...
Record of Lodoss Wars is an epic sword-and-sorcery tale centered on the island of Lodoss. I lost interest in Lodoss fairly early on. I gave Record of Lodoss Wars a 1 out of 5. In the aftermath of the Ultimate Otaku Fall Cleanup, I decided not to keep Record of Lodoss Wars in my archive.
Fans of fantasy role-playing games can't ask for a better anime portrayal of a great campaign than RECORD OF LODOSS WAR, a six-volume (thirteen episode) OAV based on the actual gaining sessions of creator Ryo Mizuno and friends. LODOSS details the adventures of a party of six adventurers: Pam, the teenaged righter son of a disgraced paladin, Deedlit, a flighty, haughty elf attracted to Parn, Ghim, a stolid, haunted dwarven warrior, Slayn, an experienced sorcerer, Etoh, a novice cleric and close friend to Pam, and Woodchuck, a cynical but good-natured thief. The grand journey of this untested band will take them across the length of Lodoss, the accursed island continent, as a "War of Heroes" revives an elemental battle between good and evil.
Volume 1
OVAs
A party of six are drawn together to battle for the future of Lodoss. Among them: Parn, a young fighter who lacks experience and is driven by his desire to redeem his father's tarnished name; Deedlit, a young and haughty elf who is both attracted to the young fighter and infuriated by his lack of interest; Ghim, a dwarf warrior haunted by a personal failure; Etoh, a young priest; Slayn, a skilled magic user, and Woodchuck, a cynical but good-natured thief.
Volume 2
The fall of Myce has dragged Pam and his friends into the midst of the invasion of Lodoss, and now they race against time to warm the remaining free kingdoms of the impending peril. The party must do battle with Karla, the mysterious "Grey Witch," as she attempts to kidnap Princess Manna. After rescuing Fianna, Pam meets a powerful new ally: Kashue, the warrior king of the desert kingdom of Maim. But Karla's mysterious plans continue to touch everyone in King Fahn's palace, as Kashue is targeted for assassination. As Emperor Beld's forces approach Valis, Pam and his friends seek out the sage Wort to learn about Karla's origins and her real intentions.
Volume 3
The heroes return to Valis and advise the king that Karla is the last descendant of an ancient kingdom of sorcery. Pleased with Pam's success, King Faint invites him to serve in his army of Holy Knights. Meanwhile, Glum leaves his friends behind to pursue his own personal quest. Once out on the battlefield, Parn confronts the Black Knight, Ashram; the man upon whom he swore vengeance at the fall of Myce. And two kings, once friends, face each other in a duel to the death.
Volume 4
The War of Heroes has left Lodoss in turmoil, and it is clear that Karla must be stopped at any cost. The heroes encounter the mercenary fighter, Shiris, and her berserker partner, Orson, who are soon valuable allies. At Karla's stronghold, Ghim faces the witch in a duel of wills in an attempt to free Leylia. Meanwhile, the forces of Marmo are in disarray as Ashram prepares to take up the struggle where Held left off. Urged on by the dark wizard Wagnard, he sets off for Fire Dragon Mountain to obtain the Scepter of Domination. But Wagnard has plans of his own, as he dispatches the elf Pirotess to kidnap Deedlit.
Volume 5
The journey to Fire Dragon Mountain becomes a race between Kashue and Ashram, with the scepter of Domination being the prize. But the scepter is guarded by a formidable obstacle: Shooting Star, one of the last of the ancient dragons of Lodoss. The evil of Kardis the Destroyer stirs beneath the dark island of Marino, and Waguard takes the final steps toward her resurrection. As he plots for his chance at godhood, Kashue and the others prepare for one last assault on Marino. Since no one is prepared for the powers Wagnard has already gained from Kardis, he succeeds in kidnapping Deedlit. But not even Wagnard can know that Karla is still plotting to prevent any one man from controlling all of Lodoss.
Volume 6
As Kashue and the remaining armies of Lodoss cross the southern straits enroute to the dark island to stop the resurrection of Kardis, Parn and his friends arrive just ahead of them. With Deedlit's eternal life about to be sacrificed to Kardis by the now power-mad Wagnard, they have no time to lose! But the island of Marmo holds a frightening trump card: the evil dragon Narse. This remnant of the ancient dragons stands ready to fight the forces of light while Wagnard proceeds with his dark ceremony far beneath the Earth's surface. As Parn and the others rush to stop this dark rite underground, Kashue and his army face the demonic forces of Kardis on the surface.
Volume 1
TV Series
A New Legend Begins
Five years past, a band of six adventurers defeated the conquering armies of Marmo, the dark island, and saved the accursed island, Lodoss. Since that day, the survivors have been honored as heroes, and their deeds have become legends. But the evil never perished... it retreated, waited and schemed. Now, the Black Knight of Marmo has returned to threaten the accursed island once more. Old heroes must heed the call to defend their homeland and new heroes are forged as the battle for Lodoss begins anew.
Volume 2
Demon Sword
Long ago, in an age shrouded by time and myth, five great treasures were entrusted to the ancient dragons of Lodoss, who were to guard them for all eternity. Such was the fate of the Scepter of Domination, a legendary artifact of such power that he who holds it controls all life. Now, Ashram, the Black Knight of Marmo, has embarked upon a quest to seize the Scepter of Domination and to enslave all of Lodoss. To save Lodoss, two parties of heroes must begin the perilous journey to the lair of dragons, to find and protect the Scepter of Domination from the Black Knight. Led by a noble king and a haunted warrior, they must race to rescue the Scepter before the Accursed Island is plunged into darkness - forever!
Volume 3
Scepter of Domination
Ashram has vowed to seize the Scepter of Domination and use its power to conquer Lodoss. To this end, he has invaded the lair of the demon dragon, Shooting Star, with the intent to capture the legendary treasure. Trapped in the fiery lair of the dragon, King Kashue and Parn must struggle to vanquish not only the Black Knight, but also the murderous beast that has guarded the Scepter for centuries.
Volume 4
Dark Shadow
Wagnard, the dark wizard, seeks to resurrect Kardis, the goddess of destruction! To awaken Kardis, he must unite two mystical items, the Soul Crystal Ball and the Staff of Life, and a life given in sacrifice. Sent to rescue the Soul Crystal Ball from the dark wizard, Spark, a young knight in training, encounters Little Neese, a mysterious girl who suffers from the premonition the she is to be Wagnard's chosen sacrifice...
Volume 5
The Black Knight
Can Spark and his comrades rescue young Neese from her tragic destiny? After losing the Soul Crystal Ball to Wagnard's dark minions, there may be only one hope remaining. Spark's company of heroes must prevent the wizard from plundering one final treasure - the healing artifact known as the Staff of Life. Meanwhile, Parn and Deedlit struggle to free the people of Kanon from the conquering armies of Marmo. But the commander of the Marmo forces is an old and skillful enemy... Ashram, the Black Knight has returned!
Volume 6
The Holy City
Spark and his companions seek refuge in the city of Valis, as the dark nightmare that torments Neese grows ever stronger. He must decide where his loyalty truly lies: with the war-bound soldiers of his homeland, or with Neese, whose own quest will lead her to the very heart of the evil wizard's domain.
Volume 7
The Last Hope
In the war-torn region of Kanon, Spark once again joins forces with Parn, the leader of the free army. But the reunion is chillingly cut short when Wagnard appears to lay claim on Neese's life!
Volume 8
Dark Island
Upon arrival on the dark island, Spark and the others are immediately beset by demons. The heroes fight valiantly, but with each passing moment their hope of rescuing Neese grows ever more dim. Even as the last demon is slain, the exhausted warriors gather to face a far greater threat: Karla, the Grey Witch, she who has shaped the fate of Lodoss since the beginning of history.
Volume 9
Birth of a New Knight
The mad goddess stirs within Neese, threatening to consume her immortal soul. With a desperate heart, Spark faces the unholy presence and is offered an impossible choice: to save the girl he has grown to love... or to sacrifice her life for the island of Lodoss.
Record of Lodoss Wars is an epic sword-and-sorcery tale centered on the island of Lodoss. I lost interest in Lodoss fairly early on. I gave Record of Lodoss Wars a 1 out of 5. In the aftermath of the Ultimate Otaku Fall Cleanup, I decided not to keep Record of Lodoss Wars in my archive.
