While the exact circumstances of the events that took place aren't clear, what was clear was that Nival Entertainment's gulag sweatshop had attracted the attention of forces beyond that of the normal, mortal realm. Development was not just dangerous - it was cursed. And so it came to pass that one night, after a bout of heavy drinking and questioning the legitimacy of their government - the lead designer, Alexander Mishulin, was snatched in the dead of night by a gargoyle.

Some say his crime was a blood curse long held and forgotten by his family, after arguing with and spitting on the carpets of a Tatar sorcerer - who damned Mishulin's bloodline with a thousand year old hex.

But others from the company claimed that this is entirely superstition, and that Tatars aren't even capable of casting spells, let alone bloodbinding gargoyles or golems to their servitude. The more logical explanation, according to their own account, was that Alexander talked ♥♥♥♥ about the glorious Russian Federation and was kidnapped for questioning by their secret services (SVR RF), which are known to employ gargoyles, golems and Gopnik shapeshifters to do their bidding. His lack of return may mean that he's still - to this day - held for questioning at one of the SVR RF detention centers.

The last remaining trace of HoMM V's lead designer, is this last, chilling photograph taken moments before his kidnapping.