Myth Drannor

Myth Drannor, formerly known as (the city of) Cormanthor, the City of Song, or the City of Love, as well as many other names, was an elven city of around 10,000 (as of 1479 DR) in Cormanthor, which had been rebuilt after the original had laid in ruins since it fell in 714 DR. It was one of four old communities and capital of Cormanthyr (the others being the Elven Court, Semberholme, and the Tangled Trees). At its height, it represented the peak of elven civilization and craftsmanship.

It fell to demons during the Weeping War and was in ruins, a dangerous place full of monsters and forgotten treasures, for many centuries, until reclaimed by Evermeet's Elven Crusade led by Seiveril Miritar. As of 1479 DR it is ruled by Coronal Ilsevele Miritar.

Magic
While it was in ruins, the powerful magic of Myth Drannor still leaked out from the ruin, affecting Cormanthor in several ways, such as the weather being milder than it should have been, with cooler summers and warmer winters, and there being far more plant and animal species in Cormanthor than any other woodland of its kind.

There were pockets of Cormanthor that would cause magic (spells and effects) to behave in unpredictable ways. According to Elminster Aumar these pockets were created as a result of the breakup of the mythal.

History
Myth Drannor was founded as Cormanthor in -3983 DR by the Coronal Kahvoerm Irithyl. For over four thousand years, the city prospered with little incident.

Coronal Eltargrim Irithyl decided that if Cormanthyr was to survive, its people must make peace with the other races, so Eltargrim set about organizing the elf wizards to create a mythal. It was completed in 261 DR, and its construction marked the "Opening"; the Coronal opened the city of Cormanthor to all non-Tel'Quessir, and the city was crowned Myth Drannor.

The Opening marked the beginning of the Golden Age of Myth Drannor, when the city prospered and many races flourished amid its towers. Many demihuman groups came to the city during this time, including dwarves, gnomes, and halflings. Myth Drannor reached a peak of power and culture in 661 DR, with all its races living in unity.

Following the death of Eltargrim in 661 DR, the city was left without a leader. By Midsummer 667 DR the Council of Twelve was in control of Cormanthyr and Myth Drannor. This council soon forgot the dreams of the Coronals and took to bettering their own agendas; the nobles made trade deals that favoured their own houses and influence, and worked to set up power holds in the sister cities. With Myth Drannor failing as a capital, Cormanthyr dissolved into city states within four decades amid divisive in-fighting among the council and the guilds.

Map prior to elven retreat:





Fall
In 711 DR, the Trio Nefarious entered the northern woods, attacking some eladrin outposts and moving closer to the capital, and starting the Weeping War. By 714 DR Myth Drannor was overrun by the Army of Darkness.

Interim years, the Return and anew destruction
For over six centuries, the elves kept the place hidden and sealed for the most part, and the city became a legend, one of the most dangerous adventuring sites in all of Faerûn. The city became host to treasure seekers of many different races, including phaerimms and their dark naga slaves as well as a cabal of alhoons. In the 14th century Dalereckoning, The alhoons manipulated the Church of Bane into opening a portal to Avernus, causing a legion of baatezu to pour forth. The Knights of Myth Drannor closed the portal but around seventy of the devils remained. Tyranthraxus briefly gained control of the city not long after, ruling from the temple of Labelas Enoreth until adventurers drove him out. Scant years after that, The Cult of the Dragon also gained a foothold in the city, led by Kya Mordrayn. In 1374 DR, the forces of the Daemonfey conquered the city by force but the army of Seiveril Miritar, leading a return to Faerûn, recaptured Myth Drannor. Seiveril's daughter Ilsevele Miritar became the new coronal and efforts to restore the city began. In 1487 DR, after years of war against Netheril, the flying city of Thultanthar crashed into Myth Drannor, destroying both cities. Ilsevele and her surviving subjects fled to Semberholme.

Relics
There are some surviving objects and artifacts from the city. One example is a single bottle of wine kept at Thaola's Wineshop in Leuthilspar on the island of Evermeet.