2 - Druchii.net

fence of Tor Anlec. Korithan must hold the city with the forces already at his command,
or die in the attempt.
Four months passed. Even with the most careful rationing, the city’s food stores were
almost exhausted. Korithan knew that he could not hold the city any longer, no matter
what the Witch King commanded. His only choice now was between death and flight.
There were no galleys upon which he could flee, but he still had one more vessel under
his command: the black ark Jade Palace of Pain itself.
Korithan and his sorceresses withdrew to the innermost chambers of the black ark and
sealed the portals behind themselves. Some of the city’s inhabitants were fortunate
enough to be within the walls of the Jade Palace, but the majority were manning the defensive
walls of Citadel of Oblivion or elsewhere within Tor Anlec. Korithan abandoned
them to the mercy of the Asur without a second’s thought. The sorceresses groaned and
wailed as they invoked the raw power of Chaos and the masonry of the colossal fortress
began to shudder.
With a loud roar, the Bridge of Shadows broke apart and fell into the sea. Large sections
of the city wall collapsed, burying hundreds of Druchii warriors beneath tons of shattered
rock. The Asur, hearts filled with thoughts of vengeance, swarmed into the city.
Whether out of cruelty and malice or simply a wish to end the war swiftly, Tethlis ordered
his troops to leave no Druchii alive. Not even the children were spared and, from
that day on, Tethlis was known as ‘Khaelu’ - ‘The Slayer’. Perhaps overcome by shame
at what had been done, the mages that accompanied the Phoenix King’s army called
down a tempest of white-hot flame upon the ruins, scouring the land of Ulthuan of any
trace of Tor Anlec. Even the stones were obliterated.
Jade Palace of Pain escaped the
destruction, carrying with it
those pitifully few Dark Elves
that had survived the fall of Tor
Anlec. Its twin, Citadel of Oblivion,
was no more. Korithan disappeared
one night and was
never seen again. Whether he
fled the Witch King’s vengeance,
or whether it was the
Witch King’s vengeance that
caused his disappearance, none
can say. Jade Palace of Pain remained
in the hands of the
Khaithan family and went on to
distinguish itself at the Battle of
the Waves three years later,
commanded by Ierkhan, cousin
of Korithan and Failia.
Since the destruction of Citadel of Oblivion, the women of House Khaithan no longer
bear twins.