Cormanthyr: Empire of the Elves

The secondary casters were four in number; by the secret
design of the Coronal, the Srinshee, and Mythanthor, all were
confidentially High Mages (to control the mythal and its
power with their greater knowledge of magic, should this
wizardly method prove unstable):
• The Coronal Eltargrim Irithyl
• The Srinshee, Lady Oluevaera Estelda
• Lady Ahrendue Echorn
• Lord Earynspieir Ongluth
Of those assembled in the Court of the Coronal and within
the fiery ring, these were the tertiary casters, who established
the many minor powers of the mythal:
• the ioun stone studded half-elf Arguth of Ambral Isle
• Lady Herald Aubaudameira “Alais” Dree
• the human armathor Elminster Aumar
• Lady Alea Dahast
• Lord Ondabrar Maendellyn
• “Lady Steel” Dathlue Mistwinter
• Nacacia, half-elf paramour of Elminster
• Lord Aulauthar Orbryn
• Mentor Wintercloak, the long-hidden human wizard ally of
Lady Herald “Alais” Dree
Known lesser supporters of the mythal’s casting (though
not necessarily attendants at the Court of the Coronal) who
contributed energy (but no powers) to the mythal were:
• Harblest Stornmaster, the self-styled “Mage of Wands”
• Beldroth Llundlar
• Lord Nelaeryn Mornmist
• Lady Alaglossa Tornglara
• and at least a score of additional elves (noble and commoner
wizards alike) across the city
Secrets Surrounding the Mythal
During the construction of Myth Drannor’s mythal, unknown
Magics by wizardly means, including this greatest of feats.
His former fellows allowed his studies to continue, for their
trust in him was without question, and with this work he
needed to prove to himself that he was no less an elf for his
injuries and troubles. They rejoiced in his success when he
announced the create mythal spell was perfected. Had they
fully known that this would cost the life of their dear friend,
the High Mages would have stopped the casting in favor of secretly
performing the High Magic Ritual of Myriad that would
summon the mythal to life. While they are proud of their comrade’s
accomplishment, the High Mages of Cormanthyr
mourn their own reticence and ensure that Mythanthor’s
dream remains alive and healthy. In fact, some High Mages in
reverie even seem to talk with Mythanthor, whose consciousness
is buried deep among the weave of the mythal,
and they arise sadly, their eyes moist with tears.
During the casting of the mythal, all 14 casters were mentally
linked to Mythanthor. With his dying essence, he extracted
a solemn vow from all involved: “Speak not of the
mythal’s full powers and glory, but leave it for those with the
will to discover it on their own. Teach those who would learn
of the mythal, but never solve all of its puzzles, lest a student
have no cause or drive to learn further. Enlighten others that
they might feel the mythal, rather than draw a map to show
them where it truly lies—the mythal lies in the hearts and
minds of those it encompasses, and such knowledge and insight
must be learned by each one who touches its weave,”
Thus, the 14 would tell the younglings of all races only the
rudiments of the mythal and its lore, leaving its mysteries for
each to unfold as they will. Only eight of the 14 mythalcasters
live still on Faerûn in this Year of the Falling Tower
(650 DR), and but four of them reside within Cormanthor’s
boughs, so true lore on the mythal is scarce (while rumors
abound in every tavern).
Powers and Properties
thieves entered Mythanthor’s ruined tower and stole his The mythal spans a far wider range than the actual city of
bound notes on mythal construction and his rudimentary Myth Drannor. Based on both the vows of the Srinshee at the
notes on the create mythal spell. As the Srinshee was among casting and the reports of the akh’velahrn scouts, it roughly
his collaborators on this project, she has a copy of stretches north to the Northpost, west to Syshaamil’s Grove,
Mythanthor’s notes and the sole complete copy of the spell, east to the Five Speaker Trees, and south to the former site
and these are well hidden in the Vault of Ages. Still, after of Slammath’s Pool (which dried up over a century ago).
nearly 400 years of searching, neither the identities of the Castle Cormanthor marks the center of the mythal (the exact
thieves nor the location of the missing Mythanthor’s Folio centerpoint of the mythal lies 3,000-4,000 feet beneath the
have been found. forest floor), and its radii span an uneven one to two miles in
The true and secret tragedy of the mythal’s creation around each direction. The mythal rises to a height of 1,000 feet
the Towers of Song involves the sacrifice of Mythanthor. above the grounds of the old city (Cormanthor, Sheshyrin-
Among the casters of Mythanthor’s create mythal spell were nam, and Kerradunath), allowing elven flight over much of
three secret High Mages, whose manipulations and directions Cormanthor’s treetops; even at its farthest boundaries, the
within the aborning mythal helped keep it stable despite the mythal always rises at least 30 feet in the air among the trees,
corruptions of Uldreiyn Starym and other distractions. None allowing quick escapes by many an elf. Its depth has never
of them interfered with Mythanthor’s research or his casting, accurately been measured, though many assume the mythal’s
as he had been one of their number. Due to a High Magic one- to two-mile radii to be constants; should this theory be
backlash centuries before, Mythanthor was stripped of some true, the mythal’s lowest boundary underground is over three
power and reduced to wizardly magic forevermore. Since miles beneath Myth Drannor! (While the dwarves and
that time, he sought to duplicate some of his former High gnomes of Myth Drannor have offered to test for the true
Mythals • 143