Myth Drannor

Myth Drannor, formerly known as (the city of) Cormanthor, the City of Songs, or the City of Love, as well as many other names, is a ruined elven city in the forest of Cormanthor. It is one of four old communities of Cormanthor (the others being the Elven Court, Semberholme, and the Tangled Trees). At its height, it represented the peak of elven civilization and craftsmanship.

Magic
The powerful magic of Myth Drannor still leaks out from the ruin, affecting Cormanthor in several ways, such as the weather being milder than it should be, 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 are pockets of Cormanthor that cause magic (spells and effects) to behave in unpredictable ways. According to Elminster these pockets were created as a result of the breakup of the mythal.

Ancient history
It is believed that the city began as an elven encampment consisting of tree dwellings near to fresh water pools. This gradually grew and incorporated rope bridges. By the time humans arrived in the area, the city was known as Cormanthor, inhabited by moon and wood elves and was ruled by the Irithyl royal family of moon elves. The humans named the city "The Towers of Song."

Under the rule of Eltargrim Irithyl, the influx of humans was counteracted by the invitation for gnomes, halflings and dwarves to join the city. Some elves, including the Starym family, were angered by this, and relocated west to the Thunder Peaks, but in general the newcomers were welcomed and the city grew quickly.

Creation of the mythal
In King Eltargrim's times, the orc invasions every decade or so became a large problem and the cause of great bloodshed, so he set about organizing the human and elven wizards to create the mythal; a process that would take nearly twelve years to complete. It was finished in 261 DR.

Myth Drannor
In 261 DR Cormanthor became known as Myth Drannor after the mythal was raised. It was during this time that Elminster visited the legendary elven city and became the first human to ever set foot in it. Coronal (King) Eltargrim Irithyl, the elected ruler of Cormanthor at the time, allowed humans from the overcrowded Vilhon Reach area to immigate to Myth Drannor rather than allow them to destroy areas of the High Forest. This increase in power led to the city being known as the City of Might.

Golden age
Myth Drannor reached a peak of power and culture in 661 DR, at which time it was producing exquisite pieces of jewellery, famous pieces of music and powerful magic. It earned a name as the City of Crowns because a great deal of magical crowns were produced here during this time. In particular, the Lharithlyn, Shraiee and Tlanbourn houses produced musical instruments of incredible quality.

The Dusk
Following the death of Eltargrim in 661 DR, the city was left without a leader, and simultaneously, a large number of evil wizards immigrated from the area now known as Thay, causing great strife and encouraging uprisings from the goblinkin in the surrounding area.

Fall
In 714 DR Myth Drannor was overrun by the Army of Darkness, commanded by the three nycaloths Aulmpiter, Gaulguth and Malimshaer. Despite fierce resistance from the elven defenders, the demonic hordes were far too numerous to prevent the fall of the city. In an operation lasting almost a month, the city was set alight and pillaged, and the elves were almost all slain, leaving only two hundred survivors.

Present day
In present-day Faerûn, the city's ruins are home to many lethal predators including alhoons, devils, dragons, the Cult of the Dark Naga and phaerimms. Parts of it are protected by baelnorns and it is frequented by adventuring parties and raiders looking for treasure and magic.