Return of the Archwizards (event)

The Return of the Archwizards, referred to in part as the Return, was the name given to a series of events surrounding the release of the phaerimm from beyond the Sharn Wall, the return of the flying city of Thultanthar to the skies over Anauroch, and the conflicts that arose between these two groups with the people of the Western and Eastern Heartlands of Faerûn.

Location
These events were far-reaching in their scope, affecting cities as far west as Waterdeep in the Sword Coast North all the way to the Cormyrean city of Tilverton and the Dalelands to the east.

The Phaerimm Released
These events began on Nightal 20 in the when a squad of Evereskan tomb guardians led by Galaeron Nihmedu, encountered a group of Vaasan warriors led by Vala Thorsdotter and the Shadovar mage Melegaunt Tanthul, when some elven crypts beneath the Greycloak Hills. When a pair of magical blasts originating from both the Weave and the Shadow Weave each struck the other, a hole opened within the Sharn Wall and the long-imprisoned phaerimm were released from their confines within Toril.

By the end of the month, the phaerimm had taken control over much of the hills surrounding Evereska, determined to consume the mythal that protected the city. They formed the deadwall along their border, preventing any living beings from entering within, even by magical means.

Both the elves of Evereska and the companions that opened the Sharn Wall each sought a solution to prevent the phaerimm from consuming all the magic they encountered. While the Evereska's high mages initially sought to repair the Sharn Wall, they proved unsuccesfful and the city's military was weakened. One surviving high mage named Gervas Imesfor did manage to request aid from the archmage Khelben Arunsun of Waterdeep. Meanwhile, the mage Melegaunt led Galaeron, Vala, and some new allies named Aris and Malik el Sami on a joureny to the Dire Wood in search of the Karsestone to initiate the Return.

Scattered battles broke out through the Shaeradim, and the phaerimm were poised to overwhelm the Evereskan military. Khelben Arunsun used his unique powers to hold them off so that a circle of high mages at Rocnest could portal in the Waterdhavian relief army past the phaerimm's deadwall.

While in the Dire Wood, Melegaunt Tanthul allowed his fellow Princes of Shade entrance to Toril. The Shadovar nobility immediately set out to slay any phaerimm they encountered. After seperating from his brothers and entering into the Karsus Butte, the youngest prince Melegaunt was subsequently slain by the lich Wulgreth of Ascalhorn. Just before his death, he somehow imparted unto Galaeron all his accummulated knowledge about the phaerimm and they could best be defeated.

The Return
Galaeron and his allies eventually destroyed Wulgreth's physical form and the elven shadow adept used the Karsestone to initiate the Return. The Netherese city of Thultanthar returned to Toril from the Shadowfell and the remaining princes set out to remake the world in their image. One of their first initiatives was the formation of the shadowshell over the Shaeradim, to prevent the phaerimm from accessing the Weave.

Appearances

 * Novels
 * Return of the Archwizards (The Summoning, The Siege, The Sorcerer)