Early Arelithian History: The Foundlings of Myth Myon
Written by Lorekeeper of Myon Vaeryll Aistra in 176 AR.
It is claimed by Evermeet historians that the archipelago of Arelith was birthed as a result of the events of the First Sundering or Ever'Sakkatien. The First Sundering was an event involving the creation of Evermeet by way of a miscalculated, highly destructive high elven magic ritual. The spell was meant to merge a piece of Arvandor, or Arborea, with the prime material plane. This spell was successful at the cost of countless lives across all of Toril. (1)
Arelithian scholars today still debate and discuss the origins of this strange island to date. However, no other theory carries as much supporting evidence as the First Sundering theory and is largely accepted as fact among the community. One of the biggest pieces of evidence supporting this theory is the interference caused by faerzress areas located unusually close to the surface of Arelith.
Arelith's leyline system is strongly affected by a force of wild magic called the faerzress. The faerzress itself was created during the Fourth Crown War, when the drow were forced into the underdark. Its original creation was to ensure that the drow couldn't escape their confinement through arcane means. The radiation itself most strongly hinders conjuration, teleportation, and divination for this exact purpose. Some scholars have found that Arelith's leylines are split into two different transportation networks and the very magic created to imprison the drow actually hinder our own spells directly on this island. This is why various schools or specific spells are varied, limited, or impossible to practice without special circumstances involved. (2) (3)
Further evidence of this theory can be found by researching the archipelago's leyline system, the Astrolabe*, and further reading on the faerzress beneath Arelith's surface.
The scholarly community of Evermeet considers the creation of the Arelith Archipelago as a result of the Sundering to be a universal fact. However, this fact is not something that Evermeet is proud of. An archmage of Evermeet was even once recorded to have claimed 'Arelith was our Greatest Sin'. Others, such as the elven bard known as Talagon, suggested an alternate explanation to the recorded statement. Talagon suggests that the Sundering was the reason why Kohlingon dropped into the sea, noting that an earthquake caused by 'unknown force' plunged it into the sea. (4)
However, this suggestion is factually false due to evidence and records disproving key points of Talagon's theory. We know that Kohlingon's fall was within the last few centuries whereas the Sundering happened over 19,000 years ago. Therefore, we cannot place the events of the Sundering during Kohlingen's fall. It is further proven false by the fact that Kohlingen's descent was caused purposely by the mages of Justiciar Tristam. They used their extensive and collective knowledge of local leylines to explode key leylines in Northern Minmir. Which in turn caused a cataclysmic earthquake and sink it to hide a secret unknown to this day.(5)
The creation of Myth Myon is recorded to have happened around a thousand years ago, however the exact date has been lost to time. Sometime after the Sundering, yet four centuries before the Fall of Cormanthyr, Evermeet sent the first colonists on a founding expedition to arrive on the island of Arelith. These first colonists were dubbed as the 'Foundlings' and were thought to have made several points of interest among the island including the Heartwood Grove, and the Weatherstone. Evidence of this can be found in the elven architecture which still persists within the heart of the heartwood Grove. It is thought that the colonists used stone from around the grove to carve out the city before the mythal's creation, using the hearthstone to protect them from the island's natural dangers. Given the Foundlings ample use of High Magic, It may be even possible that the dryads who protect the hearthstone were once Foundlings who dedicated their lives to nature and the protection of the forest. Once Myon was in the air, it was then positioned protectively above what is now the Heartwood Grove where it remained until it was rediscovered, further giving evidence to this theory.
The purpose of the Foundlings' expedition to the archipelago of Arelith was mainly to create a safe staging post between the mainland and Evermeet that would serve the elven People during the Retreat. Once the original city of Myon was completed and carved, we know that Four Selu'taar, or High Mages, sacrificed their lives to create the mythal and caused the city to float. Their names are lost to us, but we know that pieces of their souls inhabit the mythal to this day.(1)
Before their death, the four Foundling Selu'taar created an artifact known as the Mythal Shard during the creation of the Mythal. Due to most items of old, traditionally passed between monarchs, becoming lost during the coronation of Coronal Karathas Morathil, it is largely unknown why exactly this shard was made. It is likely the Shard was used to help maintain the status of the Mythal and also served as a magical way to restore the Mythal in case anything ever happened to it. Unfortunately, the Shard was used up in the ritual done to restore the mythal's stability during the Mythal Crisis. Because of this, not much else can be gleaned from its existence and use. (6)
During the Foundlings' time on Arelith, as mentioned earlier, the Foundlings practiced quite a bit of high magic to prepare the island for the Retreat to Evermeet. It is suspected that the Weatherstone was created by the Foundlings to help control the wild and disastrous weather of the archipelago. Furthermore, we know that they created a Baelnorn by the name of Avalion the Protector. Not much information can be found on Avalion the Protector, as his existence is only noted by King Trintiren and a few unremarkable notes from the era. Avalion was noted to serve in protecting the Lye Astalderea before Daedin Angthalion, the Inheritor, became a Baelnorn and took his place. Avalion's current whereabouts is unknown. It is thought that after he allowed Daedin to take on his role and duties, he was guided by Sehanine Moonbow to his final resting place.
During the Retreat to Evermeet, elves did in fact arrive on the island of Arelith. However, these elves didn't know anything about the Foundlings, and arrived via the docks of the Amnian Colony then named the Kingdom of Cordor. The Elves of Minmir settled to the North in the hills near where the Radiant Heart now calls home.They started to explore the surrounding forest, and discovered the ruins of Myth Myon's mythal. Considering the Grove and the forest was often utilized in the time of Manfried, it is theorized that Avalion the Protector revealed the Mythal entrance and the Lye Astalderea to the elves of Minmir for some unknown purpose.
The Minmir Elves described Myon to look nearly untouched except for the erosion caused by the weathering elements. As if all of the inhabitants had simply disappeared in their daily life, only to be later discovered. It was suggested by Lord Forlindel that the Foundlings suffered some form of magical illness which killed them. A story likely supported by Avalion given its recording by Snowflake.
The floating city was not immediately resettled, and it would be after Earl Manfried's betrayal and the fall of Kohlingen that the Minmir elves would resettle in the lost city of Myon once more.
Before 176 AR, the mystery of what happened to the Foundlings was unknown with little evidence to suggest what happened to them past Avalion and the Mythal. In 176 AR, a ruin from the Foundlings' time was uncovered by scholars of Evermeet. The revelation of this ruin was announced by Evermeet's representative quite randomly, and happened to fill in many answers to the mystery of the Foundlings' disappearance.
This ruin, called the Lye Ansrivarr, appeared to have been unfinished catacombs for Foundling commoners of Myon. The catacombs are all empty, except for a mass grave which sits in the farthest corridor. The Elven People always cremate their dead. It is a very sacred and religious act to care for a loved one's body by burning it to ensure it cannot be raised by animation magic. Therefore the concept of mass graves do not exist in elven culture except in the circumstance of magical plague or war. Given its proximity, time period, and lack of other races existing on the island then, it is unlikely the Foundlings found their end via war. This mass grave appeared to have special divine wardings in place above the grave as flowers and other plants unnaturally grow and thrive without the presence of sunlight.
We can conclude that it is likely the Foundlings found their end at the hands of an unknown magical plague. Because Avalion was the only Foundling that would have been unaffected by such a plague, it is likely that he was the one to bury them. A statue of what appeared to be some sort of guardian sits across from the mass grave, and appears to once be a dedication to Avalion. It is theorized that having suffered the loss of his People, he destroyed the dedication out of shame and anger. It remains the only item within the ruins that is purposely destroyed from an unnatural source.
Within the ruin, there also exists an unfinished temple of Sehanine Moonbow. While the contents of this temple cannot be discussed publicly due to cultural reasons, it can be noted that it remains unfinished and possibly has a magical tie to the divine protections in place on the mass grave. Within it is an active ritual circle, often used by high mages of old, to conduct powerful divine magic. Considering its placement and the unfinished nature of this temple, it can be concluded that whatever ritual took place to confine the remains of the Foundlings took place here.
While the Foundlings' story is curious and still full of many questions, anyone seeking out their final place of rest should take heed of Myon's restrictions on entering our burial grounds. The Lye Astalderea serves as the resting place of our dead and is considered holy ground. Any without Corellon's blood needs permission from the current Coronal to enter this sacred place.
For all investigating this curious mystery, I implore you to heed the warning of the descendents of the Elves of Minmir, least you end up with an arrow to your back.
[1] Brief History of Minmir and Myon by Snowflake
[2] The Pinch by Vanya Dae'ia
[3] Faerzress by Nicolaas Duval - History, Lore, Myth Vol. 1.
[4] Ever'sakkaitien / The Sundering By Cassima Sal'enden - History, Lore, Myth Vol. 2
[5] A Study of Minmir Manor and Kohlingen
[6] Myon History: The Mythal Crisis and the Reconstruction of Myth Myon
[7] The Alwcalala Amaccla (Deep Wells of Guldorand) by High Delver Perdan Carmenor
- - The Astrolabe is a curious invention specific to the archipelago of Arelith that currently monitors and keeps the main island's natural leyline system in check. Further, it acts as a planar anchor which allows for artificial planeswalking via mechanical ritual by use of an attuned item. Before the Astrolabe's creation, the natural leyline system was maintained by the Red Wizards of Thay for the original colonists who used the leylines for short distance travel.
The Alwcalala Amaccla and the Foundlings of Myth Myon
Please note that this section is largely written and based off the book The Alwcalala Amaccla (Deep Wells of Guldorand) written by High Delver Perdan Carmenor
Underneath the very elven quarter of Myon, adjacent to Guldornad, exists a place that the People have named the 'Alwcalala Amaccla', or known colloquially by adventurers as the Deep Wells. To understand this theory, we must also define where exactly the term Alwcalala Amaccla comes from and why its context is so important.
Nearly 20,000 years ago, during the time of the First Flowering, there existed an empire called the Shantel Othreier. During the time of Shantel Othreier, there existed tales and legends told by an individual called the Shepherd Alamsidar.
This Shepherd was known as a great elven sage who lead a large group of moon elven people across the very corners of Faerun in order to settle and discover the nature of the world. Over time, this Shepherd and his People would return to the Shantal Othreier, telling of their many adventures and experiences from across the world.
Due to the Crown Wars having destroyed the empire of Shantel Othreier, many of these stories have been lost to poor documentation and time. However, quite a few of these stories remain either written down or passed from word of mouth through the descendents of this empire. The Shepherd's stories almost always, though not exclusively, revolve around leading this group of moon elves to settle on an island located 'at the edge of the world', and the discovery of a series of mythical and mysterious endless tunnels called the 'Alwcalala Amaccla' or 'The Endless Wells'. Due to the nature of poor preservation and documentation of these stories, they were considered to simply be myths and legends for a long time among the People.
The Shepherd's stories would almost always describe these endless tunnels as being something of a large, everchanging 'luminal space'. Often this shepherd and his followers would discover old strange and ancient ruins, or strange creatures deep within that would test their resolve. Others described the wells as being almost like a dreamscape where they would learn grand life lessons or overcome eldritch powers of the earth. In other strange and exotic retellings, the endless tunnels brought them to different and strange worlds by means of strange portals or emerging from the caverns to find themselves standing beneath foreign and unknown skylines.
When the city of Guldorand first started to be excavated so that foundations may be built, an ancient elven settlement was discovered just underneath the surface. The appearance of this settlement was shocking and gained the attention of Evermeets' scholarly community. With digging stopped, historians and experts from the Evermeet isle investigated the unearthed ruins. Inscriptions of Old Espruar, fragments of pottery, architecture, and other items left behind identified the settlement to be a previously undiscovered colony of the Shantel Othreier. Once digging for the foundation of Guldorand continued deeper to lay out the sewers of the city, the excavators discovered a serious of both artificial and natural caverns linked even deeper without any seemingly unified purpose. It was then that an ancient elven burial site of a Shantal warrior bearing the inscription 'Beloved of Alamsidar' was discovered and it was decided that these tunnels were the Alwcalala Amaccla.
This burial isn't exactly hard proof of this place being the Endless wells that the Shepherd himself discovered. It could be that this burial site meant the person buried there had a profound love of the tales told about Alamsidar, or that it referred to someone else entirely. [7]
Of course, considering that the tales of Alamsidar were told during the golden age of a now fallen empire, it's highly probable that many of these tales have been changed or exaggerated via word of mouth retellings through the centuries. While many of them are based on fact and share curious similarities, it's entirely possible that the ruins within the deep wells may be attempts from the Foundlings to establish multiple cities. It could also be possible that the settlement found was a failed elven settlement around the time of the First Flowering when the elven people crossed over to this world.
Regardless of these explanations, it is difficult to find concrete proof of any of these theories. According to the High Delver, creatures old enough to actually have experienced the founding of these settlements on Arelith refuse to speak about the Deep Wells.
Despite the uncertainty of the true birth of this abandoned settlement, the Founder's Charter of the Republic of Guldorand lays out in the Evermeet Accords that any elven artifacts, settlements, or sites are owned by Myon. The main entrance to this mysterious series of caverns can be found in the elven quarter of Myon within the Republic.