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These brief details are conclusions drawn by me in my brief
encounter with the ruins of this lost citadel. I cannot claim any word of this
to be absolute truth, for the information I had available was vague, if not
cryptic through the impenetrable veil of ignorance and time that shadowed my
vision. Throughout the whole of Norrath's libraries and scholars, I was not able
to find a single shred of evidence or legend relating to this place. Eerily, it
was as if it had never existed, that the memory of Norrath itself had torn
Ardathium from its mind.
Ardathium - that is the name of the place I shall detail as
best I can in these pages. A glorious citadel constructed by the first followers
of Mithaniel Marr in what is now known as the Southern Desert of Ro. I know for
certain that this place exists, or existed, though in unfortunate, irreparable
ruin beneath the unforgiving sands of the desert. I have been there, and I have
seen it. I cannot tell you where or how to enter this place, for I was forced to
leave prematurely during my investigation of the site. An earthquake forced me
to escape, or be buried alive with the city's forgotten dead. Unfortunately, the
earth swallowed the city further into its belly, the topmost portion of
Ardathium's tower was buried deep beneath the sands once more. I cannot say when
or if the city will rise again through the will and labor of united men and it
would be the wasted energies of a fool to hope for as much within our lifetimes.
In the two and a half days that I was alloted the opportunity
to explore the standing portions of this place, I learned so little and yet, so
much. A great library had once been housed within the walls of the white and
golden city of Truth. Though most of the tomes have dissolved into dust in the
cruel clutches of time, I was fortunate to find a few legible documents,
preserved by the desert's heat. The script was ancient, but I recognized bits
and pieces of the runic tongue of old. This story is one that I have concluded
to be a possible fate of Sir Grenic Drere, the hero of our tale, and the fate of
the city of Ardathium.
In the first years to crown the Monument Age, the Fortress of
Ardathium was erected in the northernmost fields outside the Elddar Forest.
Established by the half elven paladin, Countess Viannay, Ardathium would be the
first of the great monuments established in the name of Mithaniel Marr
throughout all of Norrathian history. Dedicated solely to the crusades of The
Truthbringer in the name of valor, honor, and truth, Ardathium was one of
Norrath's most beautiful, though tragically short-lived treasures.
Constructed of pure alabaster stone and crowned in statues
and tower caps of solid gold, Ardathium was a sight to behold. Its white and
blue banners rose high toward the heavens and the brilliant glinting of sunlight
off of its tower's golden caps could be seen for miles above the lush, green
canopy of the Elddar Forest to the south.
The Che Virtuson was established shortly thereafter - an
elite force of zealous knights and priests dedicated to The Truthbringer and his
divine word. A small commune of faithful peasants dwelled within the outer
sanctum of the fortress' temple, though the fortress was primarily governed as a
war-front against the dark evils that lurked in the eastern swamps of Innothule
and the Feerrott. Countess Viannay appointed three Viscounts to her aid, dubbing
each of them a General of the Che Virtuson and second in command to only her
dominion over Ardathium.
Grenic Drere, a human paladin of Marr who had led several
knights and faithful pilgrims to Viannay's aid during the first battles with the
troll armies of the east, was among those appointed to lead at her side.
Ardathium would launch several campaigns against the massive
trollish armies that dwelled in the swamps of Innothule to the east. Countess
Viannay's fervent regard of the amphibious race as a poisonous plague upon the
face of Norrath and her military prowess in conjunction with her unchallenged
zealous faith in The Truthbringer would lead the Che Virtuson to several
victories over their enemies -- all the in the name of Mithaniel Marr.
Unfortunately, Countess Viannay would not live to see the end
of her life's work and her death would be the first step toward the glorious
fortress' demise several generations later.
During one of the greatest battles that Ardathium had mounted
against the trolls of Innothule, Countess Viannay fell terminally ill to a foul
curse placed upon her by one of the powerful troll shamans, Tjarduugh. Unable to
lead her armies and confined to her bed chambers, Countess Viannay handed the
reins of her armies to the Viscounts while the high priests struggled to counter
the curse. After a mere fortnight of battle, Grenic Drere was the only remaining
general of the Che Virtuson and the war had seemed to turn to an inevitable
defeat within the clutches of the infectious shadow. His desire to avenge the
Countess was overwhelming and upon the final moments of her life, Grenic vowed
to fulfill Viannay's life's work.
The Countess' body was to be preserved through the magic of
the priests and laid to rest in the grand mausoleum that housed all of
Ardathium's heroes in the highest tower of the fortress. In the largest chamber
of the tower mausoleum, Countess Viannay's body was placed upon a raised
platform of alabaster and gold. She was dressed in ceremonial garb of silk and
chain-linked armor and held beneath her hands, folded over her breast, was the
hilt of her holy blade. Her body was covered with Soraviene's Veil - an artifact
that would kill any creature whose faith was not solely bound to honor and
virtue that dared to touch it.
With the Countess laid to rest, Grenic ascended to hold the
title of count over all of Ardathium. His vow to his mistress would become the
consuming goal that gave meaning to his life. Two massive campaigns would be
launched beneath Grenic's command against the trolls.
The loss of their Countess had fuelled a passion that acted
as an impenetrable shield upon all souls of the Che Virtuson, and they were
victorious. The troll warlord, a shadowknight known as Kzurott, and his forces
were pushed out of the plains upon the first campaign, and the second would lead
to the knight's demise. However, this victory would seem hollow, for Tjarduugh,
the high shaman that had ended the life of their beloved Countess, remained and
much of the troll army stood.
No doubt fell upon Grenic's mind that Tjarduugh would launch
an attack that would more than likely cripple Ardathium, if not destroy it. His
men were weary and few amidst their immeasurable bravery and honor. The attack
could not occur if Ardathium were to survive, and above all things, Grenic's vow
to Viannay was held in the foremost of all his considerations.
He ordered the pilgrims to leave Ardathium for their own
safety, vowing to them that they would hear word when and if it was safe for
them to return. The Che Virtuson were then organized and prepared to act as
mediators of defense, for to launch an offensive with such an army of a mere
five hundred soldiers and priests would be suicide and inevitably guarantee
Ardathium's downfall.
Grenic sent a message with the pilgrims, who had to travel
through the Elddar forest to reach safety as he had instructed them to do so. A
small band of the migrating pilgrims stopped at one of the elven outposts on the
eastern border of the forest. There, they left Grenic's message, which would
reach Elwyean in the halls of Takish'Hiz. The great Koada'Dal wizard was quick
to follow Grenic's request for his guidance and wisdom, for this several
thousand year-old elf was the grand-sire of Viannay and had given his blessing
for Ardathium's construction outside of the sacred forest.
The news was nothing new to Elwyean, for Ardathium's
impending doom had not escaped the keen eyes of the elves. Elwyean advised
Grenic that the destruction of the swamp would diminish much of the troll's
forces and would leave them in scattered chaos. Grenic was hesitant, though he
did not take Elwyean's advice lightly, for an elf's pledge to destroy a natural
niche was not something uttered in every lifetime. The elves of the Elddar
believed that the swamp was corrupt - that the trolls' darkness had seeped into
every fiber of the land and that even the trolls' destruction would not uproot
the whole of the evil that had infected the region. The wizard informed Grenic
that the swamp would inevitably be destroyed by the elves, but it was up to
Grenic to decide whether or not this act would be one in favor of his city's
continued existance, or one executed after Ardathium's fall.
After much consideration and prayer, Grenic conceded to
Elwyean's advice and asked for his aid, for the swamplands were immune to fired
kindled by human hands. The ancient, stoic elf understood and advised further
that Grenic station his troops for defensive purposes, and to destroy the trolls
that dared to flee toward the forest's borders. Hesitantly, Grenic agreed,
knowing that the act would undoubtedly leave a mark on his soul for judgment in
the hereafter. However, his heart and convictions were steely upon his promise
to the late Countess and the protectino of the great city and everything it
stood for.
Elwyean briefly returned to his people to inform them of the
coming destruction of the swamp. The elves were on guard for any trolls that
penetrated Grenic's forces, though none left the Elddar to directly aid the
human citadel. Elwyean's return was heralded in a massive azure, gold, and red
maelstrom of arcane fires that erupted across the swamplands. The magical fire
could be seen for miles beyond the forest and its glittering flames raged on for
days. Grenic's forces destroyed hundreds of troll warriors and civilians that
fled for their lives.
After twelve long days, the swamp of Innothule had been
obliterated - the waters evaporated by the searing heat of the blaze and even
the most robust of foliage reduced to pillars of ash. Elwyean never again
returned to Ardathium or consorted with Grenic after the battle. Grenic's
fortress was safe, though the cost of this victory would weigh heavily upon the
knight's conscience and soul for the next several decades.
Summons were sent back to the pilgrims that had previously
been sent away. Most returned, though a few opted to remain in the new
settlements that had begun to establish upon the eastern coast of the continent.
All were welcome back, though Grenic denied a celebration in the wake of a time
of mourning for what had been done.
Years would pass and Grenic would see the prosperity of his
city rise up from the ashes of its former turmoil. His remorse and shame would
lift their scars from his soul and his thoughts would change to that of humble
acceptance. Grenic revered what he had done as a necessity, for if he had not
given into a tactic that would otherwise be dishonorable, all that he saw before
him - the peace and happiness of his people, the people of Marr - would have
fallen to damnation and ruin.
The next several decades would bring prosperity and peace to
the people of Ardathium. Grenic would produce a son and daughter, Erolysia and
Mitharius, twin children who would be named after the patron deity and his
respected sister that the fortress had been founded for. Upon Grenic's death,
Mitharius, a knighted warrior in the Che Virtuson, would ascend to Count of
Ardathium. The great leader's body would be taken to the highest tower in the
city and in the great chamber of Ardathium's Heroes, Grenic's body would be laid
to final rest beside his comrades.
Ardathium would experience nearly a century of prosperity and
peace beneath the leadership of Grenic's bloodline, though a great earthquake
and the burning of the Elddar forest would leave the once-white and golden jewel
of Mithaniel's legacy upon Norrath in irreparable ruins that would, in the
passing eras, be consumed by the desert sands of Ro. The memory of this great
city would be lost as the ages passed and turmoil wrought the minds of the
modern cultures.
I hope that these words can give resurrection to the memory
of this glorious place - that the descendants of its survivors and the scholars
of Marr will come forward and restore the proper glory and respect to the memory
of a might, though compromised knight's achievements and the history of Marr's
first successful mortal campaign.
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