The
work contained on the following pages is the property and copyright of Wizards
of the Coast\TSR inc. and is quotted directly from their site. It has
been formatted for viewing on this site by the Scribes of Candlekeep.
The article is available for viewing in its original state from the Forgotten
Realms Features page on the WotC site: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/main.asp?x=fr/features,3.
Mintiper's
Chapbook - Part 5
Myth Glaurach
By Eric L. Boyd
Myth Glaurach
No more do lovers pledge their troth,
Or gaze upon the stars.
No more do children sing and dance,
Or dream of lands afar.
(CHORUS)
For all about are bloody bones,
And shattered dreams now lost.
A sea of orcs sought only death,
Myth Glaurach was the cost.
No more do towers soar aloft,
Or cast their shadows deep.
No more are stones made into walls,
To form a sturdy keep.
(CHORUS)
No more do fields turn gold with grain,
Or wells yield water blue.
No more do tomes hold cherished lore,
Or teach old thoughts anew.
(CHORUS)
ballad entitled "The Horde’s Wake"
attributed to Mintiper Moonsilver
Year of the Arch (1353 DR)
Keeper’s Annotations
Despite being commonly attributed to the Lonely Harpist, The Horde’s Wake
is actually the work of an Eaerlanni spellsinger who died in the Year of the
Broken Branch (864 DR) and whose name is lost to history. Mintiper rediscovered
the ballad and popularized it in recent years, accounting for the confusion
over the correct attribution and its inclusion in this chapbook. (It should
be noted that, in lieu of "Myth Glaurach," most bards substitute the
name of another city or realm that has fallen to a horde of orcs and is better
known to their audience when performing this ballad. Of course, this practice
only contributes to Myth Glaurach’s continuing obscurity.)
The Journal of Ilygaard Stormhawk, Druid of the Tall Trees Circle, which now
lies in the Vault of Sages in Silverymoon, speaks of Mintiper’s first performance
of The Horde’s Wake in the Year of the Arch (1353 DR). According to Ilygaard’s
account, Mintiper introduced the ballad to the assembled audience of druids
by explaining that it had come to him in vision several years before while in
the throes of a terrifying nightmare during a night spent amidst some ruins
that lay to the east of Hellgate Keep. The Lonely Harpist and his companion,
the slave girl Noura, had sought refuge in a small chamber beneath some creeper-covered
rubble as they made their way westward from the Far Forest to Tall Trees, attempting
to skirt the demons and ghoul packs of Hellgate Keep. Although Noura’s
dreams while amidst the ruins were untroubled, Mintiper spent the night vividly
reliving the death of an elven spellsinger whose city was being overrun by an
orc horde. During the course of the nightmare, Mintiper somehow learned the
elf’s centuries-old final ballad, The Horde’s Wake, composed during
the sacking of Myth Glaurach as the spellsinger’s lifeblood slowly drained
away. [1]
It is my belief that Mintiper learned of this ballad while communing with the
spirit of a long-dead inhabitant of Myth Glaurach, perhaps by way of a heretofore
unknown property of the mythal said to still cloak the city’s ruins. The
wizardly mythal that envelops Myth Glaurach is perhaps the youngest and least
well known of these living fields of magic to be found in the Realms. [2]
As Myth Glaurach had neither a long nor particularly illustrious history ere
its destruction, few tales of fabulous treasure or magic are linked with its
name. [3] Nevertheless, this little known site is a
place of great magical power, and its ruins have long been a convenient staging
ground for adventurers daring to explore the nearby citadel-town of Hellgate
Keep. [4]
Myth Glaurach’s mythal was raised in the Year of the Turning Leaf (590
DR) over the Eaerlanni city of Glaurachyndaar, known in that era as the City
of Scrolls. [5] Elven and human wizards from Ascalhorn,
Eaerlann, Evereska, Silverymoon, and Myth Drannor participated in the casting,
employing a variant of Mythanthar’s create mythal spell based in part on
the earlier work of Mythanthar. [6] Major participants
in the raising of the mythal were Ecamane Truesilver, Khelben Arunsun, Tisharu
Craulnober, and Tellshyll the Aged. [7] Myth Glaurach
was intended to be the first of three allied cities wrapped in myth, but planned
wizardly mythals over Ascalhorn and Silverymoon were never raised. [8]
Myth Glaurach was overrun by the Nethertusk Horde in the Year of the Broken
Branch (864 DR), just eighteen years after its defenders easily repulsed the
much larger Bloodfang Horde. For generations, military historians have debated
the factors behind this tragedy, but most scholars agree that King Malraug of
the Nether Peaks, a venerable orc of tremendous cunning, simply outwitted the
overconfident commanders of Myth Glaurach’s military on his second attempt
to overrun its defenses.
A surprising explanation for the fall of Myth Glaurach is revealed in the journal
of an orc shaman from that era, a little-known volume entitled Life with Tusks
found in the Herald’s Holdfast. According to that account, Myth Glaurach
was warded against any being that had consumed the flesh of men, a rite of passage
to become a warrior in most orc tribes of the region. After the decimation of
the Bloodfang Horde, the one-eyed god of the orcs revealed the cause of their
failure to his surviving shamans in the region. After they informed their liege
of their collective vision, Malraug then banned an entire generation of orcs
from consuming the flesh of their hated foes. The orcs’ patience was rewarded
nearly two decades later, when the Myth Glaurach’s mythal provided no impediment
to the Nethertusk Horde.
If this account can be believed, it might well explain why several adventuring
bands have found sanctuary among the ruins of Myth Glaurach from the demons
of Hellgate Keep and their packs of ravenous ghouls. [9]
Other properties of Myth Glaurach’s mythal have been lost, forgotten, or
corrupted by decay, although those that survive have permitted the inhabitants
of Hellgate Keep and certain daring adventurers to work powerful incantations
and to replenish magic they carry. [10]
Chronicler’s Footnotes
- [1] Further discussion of the Journal of Ilygaard
Stormhawk, the slave girl Noura, and Mintiper’s trek across the Upvale
can be found in Mintiper’s Chapbook #4: Crypt of the Black Hand.
- [2] There are believed to be four true wizardly
mythals in Faerûn, including the one raised over the Imperial Mount
of Shoonach in the Year of the Black Flame (229 DR), the one raised over Myth
Drannor in the Year of Soaring Stars (261 DR), Myth Glaurach’s mythal,
and one as yet unidentified.
- [3] Although Myth Glaurach is largely forgotten except
among the Fair Folk, its historical importance far exceeds that which the
Keeper attributes to it, and the ruins of this ancient city still contain
some of the greatest treasures of the elven realm of Eaerlann. Other treasures
were plundered by the demons of Hellgate Keep and may yet lie within the ruins
of neighboring Ascalhorn. In those few tales that do speak of the City of
Scrolls, mention is made of Delimbiyra’s Shining Bow, the Dragontear
Crown of Sharrven, and the Shattered Staff of Starsongs, none of which have
ever been recovered.
- [4] See Mintiper’s Chapbook #4: Crypt of the
Black Hand and the module Hellgate Keep for further discussion of this fallen
bastion of evil.
- [5] Founded ere the rise of Netheril, Glaurachyndaar
was a small city in eastern Eaerlann near the confluence of the River Aulantrar
(Deepingstream) and the River Starsilver, well known for its school of elven
wizardry. After the Fall of Netheril, the High Mages of Glaurachyndaar joined
the ruling council of Ascalhorn in advocating the reeducation of Netheril’s
surviving arcanists in the ways of elven magic. Over the course of the next
eight centuries, the elven mages of Glaurachyndaar worked closely with the
Netherese refugees who settled in Ascalhorn, making the City of Scrolls an
ideal candidate to emulate the example of Myth Drannor.
- [6] Mythanthar’s notes on mythal construction
and his rudimentary notes on his create mythal spell were recorded in workbook
known as Mythanthar’s Folio. During the raising of Myth Drannor’s
mythal, thieves broke into Mythanthar’s ruined tower and stole his workbook,
which has never been recovered. However, one of his collaborators, the Srinshee,
kept a copy of Mythanthar’s notes and the sole complete copy of Mythanthar’s
create mythal spell, but The Srinshee’s Specular vanished, along with
its owner, in the Year of Stern Judgment (666 DR).
- At least three wizards are known to have studied from The Srinshee’s
Specular ere it disappeared: Elminster Aumar, the legendary Sage of Shadowdale,
the Nameless Chosen, who later took the name of Khelben "Blackstaff"
Arunsun the Elder, and Tisharu Craulnober, an Eaerlanni female moon elf of
House Craulnober. (Tisharu was an elder sister of Elanjar Craulnober and great-aunt
of Elaith Craulnober, as well as the last of her clan to dwell in Eaerlann.)
The Craulibram contains the only known record of Lady Tisharu’s discoveries,
said to advance the art of mythal construction beyond what Mythanthar achieved
in one key aspect: Myth Glaurach’s mythal seems far more resistant than
Myth Drannor’s mythal to the desecration of its natural environs and
the proximity of lower planar creatures. These advances no doubt account for
Myth Glaurach’s relative health despite the centuries-long presence of
many demons in the Upvale region. The Craulibram vanished during the raising
of Myth Glaurach’s mythal, just as Mythanthar’s Folio had several
centuries before. It too has never been recovered, although persistent whispers
suggest it is still hidden within the ruins of Myth Glaurach.
- The only other known record of a wizard’s create mythal spell was penned
by Qysar Shoon IV in the Year of Black Flame (229 DR). The Necroqysarus, as
the necromancer’s twelve-volume set of spell librams is known, was never
recovered, so the exact details of the only known true mythal to be created
by a non-elven wizard have never been studied. However, a horrific legend
survives from that era that suggests Shoon IV survived the casting, despite
serving as the primary caster, by draining the life forces of the four secondary
and the four tertiary casters instead of his own. The former group was composed
of human courtiers the Necroqysar deceived into voluntarily collaborating
in the raising of the mythal. The latter group consisted of four captive elven
sorceresses, all of whom are said to still haunt the catacombs beneath the
Imperial Mount as banshees.
- [7] The mythal that envelops the ruined city of Myth
Glaurach is a wizardly mythal that has lasted for over 700 years and should
last for nearly 400 more, albeit in increasingly corrupted form. At the time
of its creation, Myth Glaurach’s mythal was imbued with 5 major powers
and 19 minor powers. Approximately 500 hit points were drained during the
creation of Myth Glaurach’s mythal, so the mythal remained whole and
healthy for over five centuries. In the past three centuries, the mythal has
lost 1 major power and 7 minor powers. 2 of the remaining major powers have
become corrupt, as have 7 of the minor powers.
- As implied previously, the central caster of the variant of Mythanthar’s
create mythal spell in this instance was Tisharu Craulnober. She imbued one
major and one minor power into the mythal. Four secondary casters participated
in the raising of Myth Glaurach’s mythal, including Aelynthi of the Eagles,
a female moon elf of Eaerlanni ancestry and Clan Archmage of House Alenuath,
Isinghar "Feyrune" Ironstar, a dwelf runecarver and archmage of
Ammarindar, the Nameless Chosen (see above), and Tsaer "the Horned"
Nyamtharsar, a male moon elf of Eaerlanni ancestry and Clan Archmage of House
Nyamtharsar. Each added one major power to the mythal. Six tertiary casters
also participated in the raising of Myth Glaurach’s mythal, including
Caerthynna of the Swirling Stones, a female moon elf of Eaerlanni ancestry
and noted creator of ioun stones, Durngrym, an itinerant human male incantatar,
Ecamane Truesilver, a human male who later became the first High Mage of Silverymoon,
Jaluster of Ascalhorn, a human male archmage whose orizon later survived the
fall of Hellgate Keep, Nyaalsir the Stareye, a male moon elf of Eaerlanni
ancestry, and Symrustar Auglamyr, a Cormanthan gold elf female and Chosen
of Mystra. Each added three minor powers to the mythal. (The Keeper’s
incomplete and somewhat incorrect list of participants reflects both the natural
bias of scholars of the Vault of Sages towards major figures in Silverymoon’s
history and the natural distortion of the historical record over time. As
Khelben has taken great pains to keep his identity as the Nameless Chosen
distinct from his current guise, the Keeper’s inclusion of him in the
list of the creators of Myth Glaurach’s mythal is purely happenstance.)
- [8] Although plans to create "Myth Ascal"
were never realized, the fall of Ascalhorn in the Year of the Curse (882 DR)
necessitated that something be done to contain the demons that seemed poised
to conquer the North. On Midsummer’s day in the Year of the Fell Firebreak
(886 DR), a number of Harpers and powerful wizards created a near-mythal around
what had become known as Hellgate Keep, using knowledge gleaned from Mythanthar’s
Folio (or rather, The Srinshee’s Specular) in conjunction with other
sources of power hidden in Ascalhorn ere its fall by the elves. The primary
power of this near-mythal trapped all greater or true demons within the walls
of Hellgate Keep and prevented them from summoning others of their kind as
reinforcements.
- Similarly, no mythal was ever erected over Silverymoon, although many powerful
wards have been woven around the Gem of the North since the Year of the Ominous
Oracle (694 DR). The establishment of Luruar has led to a new spate of rumors
that Alustriel seeks to raise a mythal over her realm’s capitol city,
but for now plans for the creation of "Myth Lurue" are merely conjecture.
- [9] As most demons, ghouls, orcs, and trolls have
consumed the flesh of dwarves, elves, or humans, the first major power of
Myth Glaurach’s mythal described below makes these ruins a reasonable
safehold for adventuring bands active in the Upvale. However, this property
of the mythal was discovered by the rulers of Hellgate Keep before its fall
and is known to most of the surviving fiends. They developed the tactic of
keeping one or more packs of newly created ghouls in reserve that had never
consumed human or demihuman flesh. These packs were then used to drive opponents
from the mythal’s confines, at which point the demons could destroy them
at their leisure. In addition, a handful of cambion and alu-demon sorcerers
based in Hellgate Keep voluntarily abstained the taste of human and demihuman
flesh so that they could take advantage of the mythal’s augmentations
of the Art.
- [10] As presently constituted, the mythal that envelops
Myth Glaurach has the following 4 major powers, 2 of which have been corrupted:
- 1) The mythal bars the entrance of any being that has knowingly and
deliberately consumed elven, human, or dwarven flesh at any time in the
past from above, below, or at ground level. The mythal acts as an effective
magical barrier as solid as a mountain of stone against their entry. Anyone
doing so for the first time within the city’s confines or anyone
who manages to enter by unknown means suffers an automatic 1d8 hit points
of damage as the mythal crackles around them and then randomly teleports
more than five hundred miles from the High Forest.
- In addition, the mythal has a calming effect on creatures of Animal
or Semi intelligence (i.e. Intelligence scores in the range of 1 to 4).
Animals will not attack other creatures while within the mythal’s
confines, no matter how hungry, unless attacked or specifically trained
to do so and ordered by their masters. This property of the mythal ensured
the safety of the numerous animal companions, familiars, and other pets
that made Myth Glaurach home.
- To date, this power of the mythal remains uncorrupted.
- 2) At one time, the mythal wrapped all spellcasters in a mantle of up
to three spells of their choosing. As the spellcaster entered the mythal,
up to three spells of his choosing would be drawn from memory to form
the mantle, although they could be subsequently rememorized if desired
and no spell slots were consumed in the process. The spells contained
within the mantle could then be triggered by silent act of will with a
casting time of 1 once per twenty-four hour period for as long as the
spellcaster remained within the mythal.
- This power of the mythal no longer functions as originally intended
and has become corrupted. Now, any spellcaster entering the mythal loses
three spells from memory and the effects of those spells are visited upon
the caster and possibly his immediate environs. (If less than three spells
are currently memorized, than all memorized spells will be lost.) For
example, touch spells act as if the spellcaster was the intended target.
Spells with general areas of effect are unleashed centered on the caster.
A spell such as magic jar (a 5th level wizard spell) places the spellcaster’s
life force in a gem somewhere within the mythal. The exact effect of any
random spell unleashed in this process is left up to the DM to adjudicate.
- 3) While within the confines of the mythal, a spellcaster need not rememorize
wizard spells. Wizard spells return to memory exactly twenty-four hours
after being cast, if the spell was cast or otherwise lost while the spellcaster
was within the mythal’s confines and if the spellcaster has not exited
the mythal since casting the spell. Of course a spellcaster can rememorize
wizard spells if desired and must do so in order to change a spell in
the roster of memorized spells. Priest spells, magic items, and innate
spell-like abilities are unaffected by this power of the mythal.
- To date, this power of the mythal remains uncorrupted.
- 4) At one time, Myth Glaurach’s mythal enhanced the elven ability
to enter the reverie. (The reverie is a state akin to dreaming experienced
only by elves, as described in the Complete Book of Elves, p. 34.) If
desired, any full-blooded elf entering the reverie while within the mythal’s
confines could voluntarily control which memories rise to the fore to
be vividly relived. Many Teu’Tel’Quessir used this property
of the mythal in the twilight of their lives to aid in the recording of
their past experiences, a practice that greatly enhanced the fabled libraries
of Myth Glaurach.
- This power of the mythal no longer functions as originally intended
and has become corrupted. Now, any being with even a trace of elven ancestry
is wracked by horrific nightmares if they enter the reverie or go to sleep
while within the mythal’s confines. Most such nightmares revolve
around the destruction of Myth Glaurach, as the dreamer relives the horrors
experienced by of one of the elves slain during the sacking of the city.
Upon waking from such nightmares, a being affected by this power of the
mythal is automatically affected by a fear spell (as the 4th level wizard
spell) with no saving throw allowed. There is a 10% chance per night however,
that while experiencing the nightmarish visions, a being of elven ancestry
will glean some tidbit of ancient lore regarding the city at the time
it was sacked, as adjudicated by the DM.
- As presently constituted, the mythal that envelops Myth Glaurach has
the following 12 minor powers, 7 of which have been corrupted and many
of which require an understanding of one of the mythal’s secret properties
to employ.
- 1) At one time, any unmounted gemstone within Myth Glaurach’s mythal
could be placed in orbit around a being’s head, and, by doing so,
a being could draw on the innate, latent magical properties inherent in
most, if not all, kinds of gemstones in a manner akin to employing an
ioun stone.
- This power no longer functions as originally intended, as the mythal’s
decay has corrupted this power into a dangerous magical effect. Any gemstone
within the boundaries of the mythal has a 1% cumulative chance per day
of randomly unleashing an innate, latent magical property. (Once unleashed,
the chance of a spell eruption for any particular gem begins again at
0%.) For example, if a ravenar (a type of tourmaline) is caught within
a spell effect within the mythal’s confines, there is a chance it
will ‘drink’ the spell effect and erupt with three 6d6 lightning
bolts in random directions. See Volo’s Guide to All Things Magical,
pp. 34-54, for a compendium of the innate magical properties associated
with different varieties of gems. The exact effect of the mythal on each
type of gemstone is left up to the DM to determine. At the DM’s option,
gems fashioned into magic items, such as a gem of insight, a jewel of
flawlessness, or the gems of a helm of brilliance, are immune to this
corrupted power of the mythal.
- 2) Any being that knows the secret can use the mythal to provide a metamagical
boost to a single spell, innate ability, spell-like effect created within
the mythal. This boost in effectiveness is equivalent in effect to one
of the following spells (or their reverses), as determined by the being
unleashing the base effect: augmentation II, dilation II, extension III,
or far reaching III. For example, a wizard casting a fireball or triggering
a wand of fire might use this power of the mythal to add a point of damage
to each die (i.e. augmentation II), extend the area of effect by 50% (i.e.
dilation II), double the duration (i.e. extension III), or extend the
range by 150% (i.e. far reaching III). It is not possible by means of
this power to affect a spell, innate ability, or spell-like effect cast
or triggered by another being, nor is it possible to boost the power of
a magical effect if it is of too high a level to be affected by the above-mentioned
metamagic spells.
- To date, this power of the mythal remains uncorrupted.
- 3) At will, any being that knows the secret can direct the mythal to
recharge a magical item with charges in a fashion identical to that of
Myth Drannor’s mythal.
- See Cormanthyr: Empire of Elves, p. 146, for further details
on this power of the mythal, which, to date, remains uncorrupted.
- 4) At one time, any being knowing the secret within Myth Glaurach’s
mythal could adjust the effective ambient temperature and humidity they
experienced as desired.
- This power no longer functions as originally intended. The mythal’s
decay has corrupted this power so that the ruins now randomly experience
wild swings of temperature and humidity independent of the weather outside
the mythal’s confines. Thus while Myth Glaurach’s environment
may, by chance, match the outside world, it is just as likely to be dry
and freezing within on a rainy summer day in the outside world as it is
to match the sweltering environment of a southern jungle on a bitterly
cold and snowy day in the outside world.
- 5) At one time, any female cat impregnated within Myth Glaurach’s
mythal had a 10% chance of giving birth to a litter of elven cats.
- This power no longer functions as originally intended. The mythal’s
decay has corrupted this power so that any feline slain within its confines
will arise as a free-willed crypt cat, and several dozen undead felines
(most of the "normal" variety) now stalk the ruins, attacking
all living things they encounter. See the Monstrous Compendium Annual:
Volume 2, p. 26, for details on crypt cats.
- 6) At one time, anyone capable of casting wizard spells could read magical
writings as if under the effects of a read magic spell while within the
mythal’s confines.
- This power no longer functions as originally intended. The mythal’s
decay has corrupted this power so that all magical and nonmagical writings
are cloaked with a confuse languages spell (as the reverse of the 1st
level wizard spell comprehend languages) for as long as they remain within
the mythal’s confines. This effect can be temporarily negated by
means of a comprehend languages spell or similar spell or spell-like effect.
However, there is a 25% chance that any writing made readable by such
means erupts with all of the effects of an explosive runes spell (as the
3rd level wizard spell) when read.
- 7) Any being that knows the secret can use the mythal to seal a wholly
enclosed structure within against scrying and teleportation. By means
of this power, all manner of magical or psionic divination into an enclosed
space can be blocked. Similarly, all manner of magical or psionic transportation
into an enclosed space can be blocked. If any means of entering a structure
exists, whether it be an open window, an open door, or a hole of any size
in the wall of an otherwise enclosed structure, this power of the mythal
will not function. An aperture is considered sealed if any form of material
wholly blocks it, whether it is a wooden door, a glass window, a piece
of cloth, or a magically created wall of iron. Gases and force fields
do not constitute sealing an opening, so a wall of force or a wall of
fire would not suffice to block and aperture. Examples of closed structures
might range from a sealed subterranean chamber, to a cloth tent with the
flaps tied shut, to Daern’s instant fortress.
- To date, this power of the mythal remains uncorrupted. However, the
ruined city retains few wholly enclosed structures, making this power
far less useful than it once was.
- 8) Any being that knows the secret can use the mythal to project image
(as the 6th level wizard spell) at will. Only one projected image can
be maintained at any given time, and a projected image can range anywhere
within boundaries of the mythal as long as it remains within sight of
its creator.
- To date, this power of the mythal remains uncorrupted.
- 9) At one time, anyone who knew the secret could cause the mythal to
provide appropriate musical accompaniment to any lyrics sung or any tune
played on a musical instrument.
- This power no longer functions as originally intended. The mythal’s
decay has corrupted this power so that all music created within the mythal
is shadowed by a discordant echo. (Music created outside the mythal’s
confines but within hearing distance of those within the mythal is unaffected.)
The resulting cacophony steadily increases in volume for as long as the
music continues until it entirely drowns out the original composition.
Even after the music stops, the discordant echoes persist for 3d10 rounds,
gradually tapering off in volume. As the music appears to emanate from
the location within the mythal where the music was played, it triples
the chance of attracting wandering monsters. (The base chance of attracting
wandering monsters is left to the DM to determine as appropriate for the
campaign.)
- In addition, this corrupted power disrupts all magic with a musical
component unleashed within the mythal’s confines. Spells that employ
music as a material component, including spellsongs, a rare form of magic
employed almost exclusively by a handful of elves, function as if within
a wild magic zone if cast while within the mythal’s confines. Likewise,
the spell-like effects of enchanted musical instruments are also affected
as if within a wild magic zone if employed within the mythal’s confines.
- 10) At one time, anyone who knew the secret could cause the mythal to
cloak them with the effects of an ironguard spell (as the 5th level wizard
spell) at will.
- This power no longer functions as originally intended. The mythal’s
decay has corrupted this power so that metal weapons employed within the
mythal’s confines are unaffected by magical adjustments to Armor
Class. For example, a cloak of protection or bracers of defense provide
no protection against metal weapons, and magical armor and shields are
considered nonmagical for purposes of determining Armor Class against
attacks with metal weapons. Weapons that include both metal and nonmetal
components are similarly unhindered by magical protections if the metal
component of the weapon inflicts the actual damage.
- 11) Any spellcaster capable of casting wizard spells and who knows the
secret can use the mythal to cast legend lore (as the 6th level wizard
spell) at most once per twenty-four hour period. In cases where a legend
lore spell takes more than twenty-four hours to cast, only one legend
lore spell can be in progress at any give time.
- To date, this power of the mythal remains uncorrupted.
- 12) At one time, anyone who knew the secret could cause the mythal to
fashion a shimmering swordlike plane of force (equivalent to the effect
of a Mordenkainen’s sword, a 7th level wizard spell, but with unlimited
duration as long as concentration was maintained) at will.
- This power no longer functions as originally intended. The mythal’s
decay has corrupted this power so that if any spell from the wizard school
of force is cast within the mythal’s confines, it will automatically
fail. Instead, a Mordenkainen’s sword will appear and immediately
attack the caster. The shimmering swordlike plane of force will continue
its attack for as long as the caster remains within the confines of the
mythal or until a successful dispel magic (treat as if it were cast by
a 18th level caster) is used to destroy it.
- The school of force, originally defined in Player’s Option:
Spells & Magic, includes such spells as armor, gauntlet, magic
missile, shield, Tenser’s floating disc, battering ram, Belsham’s
mace, decastave, flying fist, forcewave, lance of disruption, levitate,
Quimby’s enchanting gourmet, skyhook, whirling blade, invisible mail,
manyjaws, Caligarde’s claw, elude blow, Geirdorn’s grappling
grasp, Othnal’s spectral dagger, Otiluke’s resilient sphere,
whisper blade, sighing chain, suspension, telekinesis, Thultaun’s
thrust, wall of force, gauntlet of teeth, repulsion, forcecage, Mordenkainen’s
sword, Otiluke’s telekinetic sphere, and spell engine.
For a listing of additional spells, heavily revised from the list in Player’s
Option: Spells & Magic, see the i, p. 1117.
References
Introduction
General references to Mintiper Moonsilver are cited in the first column of
"Mintiper’s Chapbook."
Myth Glaurach
- Myth Glaurach is first discussed in Ruins of Myth Drannor: Campaign Guide,
p. 22, wherein it is noted that it stood in the Sword Coast Northlands, in
the upper reaches of the Delimbiyr Vale, near present-day Hellgate Keep. That
passage notes that the city was entirely destroyed by orc hordes long ago,
and that all that remains is creeper-covered rubble and a few underground
chambers and sewer tunnels, now home to monsters. The mythal remains in force
over these ruins, however, and is used by certain daring adventurers and by
the evil inhabitants of Hellgate Keep to work powerful incanations and to
replenish magic they carry. This Eaerlanni city is described as newly wrapped
in a wizard mythal (one of four such wizard mythals in the Realms as of 650
DR) in Cormanthyr: Empire of Elves, p. 148, suggesting that Myth Glaurach’s
mythal was raised closer to 650 DR than 261 DR (when Myth Drannor’s mythal
was created).
- Spellsingers and spellsongs are discussed in the Complete Bard’s
Handbook, pp. 56-58, and throughout the novel Elfsong.
- Mintiper’s trek up the western edge of Anauroch, through the Far Forest,
and across the Upvale as well as his five year long residence among the druids
of Tall Trees in the company of Noura are discussed in Dragon #187,
p. 50, and Code of the Harpers, pp. 65-68.
- The River Aulantrar (Deepingstream) and River Starsilver are discussed
in Volo’s Guide to the North, p. 189. They compose the western
two rivers of the three that are collectively known as the Talons.
- The existence of four wizardly mythals enveloping the Imperial Mount of
Shoonach, Myth Drannor, Myth Glaurach, and one other unknown site is noted
in Cormanthyr: Empire of Elves, p. 148. Although the exact date of
the raising of the mythal over the Imperial Mount of Shoonach has not been
heretofore defined, a close reading of Empires of the Shining Sea,
pp. 26, 43, suggests that it had to occur between 227 DR and 236 DR. The raising
of Myth Drannor’s mythal is date in Cormanthyr: Empire of Elves,
p. 37.
- The River Delimbiyr is also known as the River Shining, as noted in The
North: The Wilderness, p. 63, but the origin of this name is not explained.
- The elven realm of Sharrven, which claimed the southern reaches of the
High Forest, is discussed in Dragon #228, p. 34, Cormanthyr: Empire
of the Elves, pp. 32-34, and the novel Elminster: Making of a Mage.
The former reference also makes note of the fact that the elves of Sharrven
mastered magic to take on dragonshape and that the Magelords of Athalantar
hunted many dragons in the region as a result.
- Starsongs are discussed in the novel In Sylvan Shadows, pp. 85,
114-116, 185-186, 212-224, 246, 249-252.
- Khelben Arunsun was known as the Nameless Chosen from 464 DR to 714 DR,
as noted in Cormanthyr: Empire of Elves, p. 40, and Fall of Myth
Drannor, pp. 27-28.
- House Craulnober was all but destroyed circa 740 DR, leaving only two survivors:
Elanjar Craulnober and his infant grandson, Elaith Craulnober, as noted in
Evermeet: Island of Elves (hardcover), p. 385. This date can be computed by
noting that Zoar Moonflower arrived on Evermeet in 715 DR (see Evermeet:
Island of Elves (hardcover), p. 293), and that Craulnober Keep was sacked
by invaders from the Underdark 25 years later (see Evermeet: Island of
Elves (hardcover), p. 387). As Myth Glaurach’s mythal was raised
in 590 DR before the near-destruction of House Craulnober, Tisharu Craulnober’s
existence up until that time does not contradict any existing Realmslore.
- Telshyll the Aged is identified as the first wizard to settle in Silverymoon
in 539 DR in The North: Cities, p. 47.
- Mythanthar’s Folio is discussed in Cormanthyr: Empire of Elves,
p. 143, Fall of Myth Drannor, p. 60, and Hellgate Keep, p. 5.
Qysar Shoon IV is discussed in Empires of the Shining Sea, pp. 26,
43.
- The rules governing the creation and corruption of wizardly mythals are
detailed in Cormanthyr: Empire of Elves, pp. 139-142.
- House Alenuath is identified as a moon elf house in Elves of Evermeet,
pp. 39, 101. (One erroneous reference refers to them as a gold elf family.)
- Clan Ironstar of the shield dwarves is discussed in FR11 – Dwarves
Deep, pp. 13, 53-54, 58, and Cormanthyr: Empire of Elves, pp. 34,
37. Ironstar dwarves are noted in FR11 – Dwarves Deep, p. 13,
as having been closely allied with elves after the fall of their realm in
207 DR.
- Dwarf-elf crossbreeds, known as "dwelf" in the singular and "dwelves"
in the plural, are noted as having been common in the days of Eaerlann in
FR11 – Dwarves Deep, p. 6.
- Durngrym was an adventuring incantatar active some 700 years before 1358
DR, as noted in Dragon #90, p. 8.
- Ecamane Truesilver arrived in the Savage North intent on redeeming the
ill deeds of the Netherese arcanists in the Year of Dragons Dawning (588 DR),
as noted in Cormanthyr: Empire of Elves, p. 41. His full history is
chronicled in Cormanthyr: Empire of Elves, pp. 41-42, Fall of Myth
Drannor, p. 8, and The North: Cities, pp. 46-48.
- Jaluster of Ascalhorn is discussed in Mintiper’s
Chapbook #4: Crypt of the Black Hand and Pages from the
Mages, p. 63.
- Nyaalsir the Stareye is identified as an important mage active in the Upvale
region in 882 DR in Hellgate Keep, p. 5.
- Symrustar Auglamyr is an important character in Elminster in Myth Drannor
and is detailed in Cormanthyr: Empire of Elves, pp. 113, 122, and Fall
of Myth Drannor, pp. 25, 26, 27, 31-32, 54, 63. She was born in –97
DR, died in 261 DR, was reborn as a Chosen of Mystra in 261 DR, and died in
713 DR during the Weeping War.
- It is noted in Fall of Myth Drannor, pp. 21, 26, that the first
time she met both Elminster and Khelben at the same time was in 712 DR, but
meeting Khelben in 590 DR does not contradict this fact.
- Symrustar Auglamyr is made a tertiary caster, because she was not of sufficient
level (20th, according to Cormanthyr: Empire of Elves, p. 140) in 590
DR to be a secondary caster. Despite being a 24th level mage when she died
in 713 DR, according to Fall of Myth Drannor, p. 63, she was only a
12th level mage (and 8th level priest of Mystra) as of 650 DR, according to
Cormanthyr: Empire of Elves, p. 122, and thus could not have been a
20th level archmage in 590 DR. (Although she created a 9th level spell in
348 DR, as noted in Fall of Myth Drannor, p. 54, this is easily explained
as being the work of Mystra speaking through her lips, a common enough occurrence
for the Chosen of Mystra.)
- The creation and power of the near-mythal that envelops Hellgate Keep is
discussed in Hellgate Keep, p. 5. The wards that envelop Silverymoon
are discussed in The North: Cities, pp. 45-46, 48, and Dragon Annual
#1, p. 60.
Read
the other articles of Mintiper's Chapbook:
Return
to Realms Lore
Return to
Alaundo's Library
