Exactly what is the Taint, and where did it come from? I know it was released by Merian Emporer hoody-whats-it, but where exactly did it originate? And what is Kethuru? I'm not even sure I spelled that right. I've looked and looked and can't seem to find a straight explanation for it. Someone help me, I'm slowly going crazy.

Lusternia Website Library (with histories)

If you haven't I would suggest you completely read the histories for starters, since you're interested in information.

Further, when you say the 'taint' do you mean currently or back when Kethuru was half out and about.

Also, if you start to go into purely game based explanations for differing organizations, all four nations will give you varying explanations, which stress their organizations relationship/role in the taint wars.

I already can tell this is going to turn into an IC debate on the forums, though I hope I'm wrong.

Kethuru is one of the old Soulless Gods, whose sole purpose is to consume everything. In otherwords, he's bad news. Emperor Landantine partially released Kethuru, but not fully. As such, Kethuru's influence was through the Taint, which he used to twist everything it touched into his puppet.

Kethuru was then banished, and since then you won't find an agreement on what the taint is - the simplest explination is that its what remains behind from Kethuru's influence, though without his control. I would suggest asking IC what implications that has, it'll vary based on who you ask.

To Celest, it's evil. To Serenwilde, it's unnatural. To Magnagora, it's a tool. To Glomdoring, it's ... I don't know, they probably just don't care what it is. Note: the previous are generalizations, and of course you'll find different explanations in each org, but that's the gist of it.

There's really a lot of room for interpretation, I recommend you read the histories on the website. That'll give a good background, then if you're really interested look at HELP and ask somebody listed there from the different orgs.

Just as a warning, the Fall of the Holy Celestine Empire one (that has the most about the taint, Ackleberry, Hallifax, and Gaudiguch) is long. VERY long.

The Taint is the 'good' and the Light is the 'bad'.

We have cookies, they don't.

We can do anything. They don't.

Oh right, and the Elder wars are coming out in-game in the form of books, go to your national Great Library to check them out.

Assuming you can read the Divine script.
Or hope that someone has translated the book into Common at your local library.

I know serenwilde has a full list of translated copies at least, that's where I looked at them. Certain books are also floating around the forums as well, if you search hard enough for them.

Or you can read them on the website...

Oh, , my bad. Someone needs to update this in that case.

thanks, everyone. I skimmed those histories but didn't find exactly what I was looking for. Thanks guys.

Or that announce from Estarra saying that history updates would be released in-game rather than on the website.

Ah, so you can. (Tae is awesome.)

Well, what are you looking for?