Early History of Visimontium
A standalone, 8-volume ATU commemorative edition of Sage Miriel's Recent History of Visimontium, originally introduced in the city guide. Published in 2250 AAoP.
THE FIRST DECADE
"Much as I like having a group of folk named after me, it was never my intention. If anything we're Melonius's Mercs! It's just the way it happened that my name got used for the group, and it sort of stuck!" --Leopold Phefefhur, leader of Leo's Mercenary Group, 1st General Marshal of the Visimontium Sentinels
This volume spans the events following the Migration to Visimontium of 2150.
Finishing of the Building Works
(2150 - 2156)
By the time the migrants from M'Chek arrived in Visimontium, the east wing of the City (Trust, Academy and Temple districts) was still being built. The City consisted mainly of underground settlements, with few surface homes made of wood. In 2153, the City finally woke up in silence: The blasting and hammering of the gnomes in the east side had ceased. The work was finally finished. In time, the remaining portion of Visimontium was reworked to hold proud buildings of stone, paved streets, strong walls. By the end of 2156, this work too was completed.
Proclamation of Geritri Forest as a Nature Reserve
(2152)
The Geritri Forest, home for many rare animals and plant life, drew druids seeking to tend to the forest and adventurers seeking to challenge its inhabitants. As a result, the druids started treating with hostility anyone who would venture in the forest. The druidess Naer'maril is remembered as one violent defender of the Geritri Forest. In counterbalance, Belevren of Gorethar sought for a legal compromise on the statute of the forest.
"Geritri Forest is considered a nature reserve. Hunting animals or Treants there is forbidden. It is each visitor's responsibility to make sure they do not disturb the animals living there. Capture for profit or killing of animals will result in a fine or worse punishment depending on how severe is the action. Construction of buildings or housing will not be allowed in Geritri Forest."
--Aerill Ailpera, 1st Speaker of the Visimontium City Council
Heatwave reaches Visimontium
(2152 - 2156)
The heat to sweep through Southern Negaria in the early 2150s did not miss Visimontium. For several years it lingered over the City, causing dangerous steam elementals to rise from the great valley lakes and numerous streams.
A Year of Mysteries
(2155)
Visimontium is a City of Magic, and this has many effects in everyday life. Flowers would sprout out of a seed within minutes, scarecrows will start walking. This first recorded in the autumn Harvest Festival of 2155, when the scarecrows did not limit themselves to simply walking around but also attacked farmhands. Another memorable occasion of the same year was the grievous end of a wedding anniversary. Morran Unuldur and Dame Grace Dane-Unuldur of M'Chek had received a small ship as a gift from their Kurathene friend, Lord Ayren Milen. As the couple ventured to the misty centre of the Lake Crescetoria, a storm rose and shattered the lovely "Trenium" vessel to pieces. The crew barely survived and the the story lived on, retold by Trinash, resident bard of The Plough & Scythe.
Drangonari Siege
(2155-2158)
The Beginning
The spring of 2154 brought small groups of Drangonari attacking the City outskirts. Little did the Visimontium residents know, that these were the first drops of a forthcoming flood.
The Drangonari arrived in greater numbers, attacking the City in groups of near half a thousand at a time. They had set camp in the surrounding mountains, under Psionic concealment. The Grantir government denied any relation to the situation. For the longest time, all that the City could do was to defend itself when attacked.
Behind the Scenes
In time, some realized that the threat came not only from Angadar's children, the Drangonari, but also from Angadar himself. Perhaps, Angadar saw Andrinor as a rival, after Andrinor outsmarted him to became the god of mortal magic on Avlis. The investigation by Andrinor's Trust against the Web of Angadar's faithful could perhaps fill a separate tome. Such may someday be written, should either side choose to reveal what now is considered confidential information. During the conflict, one of the moves of Angadar was to limit the ability of Andrinor's magi to scribe spells onto scrolls. In response, Andrinor Empowered all spells cast by His magi in His City. (These restrictions are non-existent at present).
Troublesome Years
The City of Visimontium suffered much, giving many victims. The Drangonari were not the only attackers. The frost giants and bugbears living on the slopes of Mount Crest made use of the exhausted City defenses and organised raids down the valley. Still, most of the damage was dealt by the Drangonari. The eastern outskirts of the City (Eastern Wastes) became a wild magic zone as a result of their purposed rituals. From 2156 till the end of the struggle, the Ashen Order joined the Visimontium Sentinels in the City defenses. Following the reformation of the Gold Order, in 2157 a large group of orc magi also came to the defense. The remainder Orders of the Trust soon followed suit.
First Great Victory
By midwinter of 2156, Ialath Fentellon of the Ashen Order summoned the aid of a young Psion. That was Arania Moonshadow, head of the Academy of Bardic Arts. Arania revealed a large Drangonari camp hidden in the sewers near Lake Coldshadow, under the Northern Residential district. A large group of Sentinels, Ashen and Blue magi, joined by the 5th Ebony Archmage Micah Ormane, swept down to destroy the Drangonari base. The sewers were much damaged in the course of battle, to the point where this sector had to be reconstructed entirely.
The Last Battle & Negotiations with Grantir
After numerous pleas by the City Council and demands by Andrinor's Trust, a group of Grantir's officials arrived in Visimontium in the summer of 2518. The group was presided by Ambassador Pluvier Preaan. The day before their arrival was probably the darkest in the history of Andrinor's Holy City by then. The rogue Drangonari made a final onslaught, backed by members of the Web of Angadar. At the end of the attack, the City was in ruins. The Drangonari attackers, in turn, were nearly exterminated by the joint effort of Sentinels and the Trust magi who'd arrived to meet the Grantir delegation. Bridges were burning, houses were brought down, the City wall near the Western Passage Gate was completely destroyed. (I might be missing some details, seeing as I was buried under that wall. --Sage Miriel)
Some excerpts from the meeting with the Grantir Delegation are available to public. One is the revelation that a number of faithful of Andrinor and Angadar had dreams, in which both gods proclaimed peace with each other. The Drangonari who attacked Visimontium appeared to have been tricked into doing so by Drotid agents. After this was brought to light, the meeting attendees agreed that peace was needed not only in-between the gods, but also among their followers. Even so, a number of the Web's members were announced wanted for crimes against Visimontium.
"The Wall Fell. The City Stood." --Memorial of the Western Passage Battle
The Visimontium Lifestone Uncovered
(2159)
"Long ago, a druid sorceress by the name of Sinaata lived in the forests of T'Nanshi. There she was a friend of many of the forest creatures, and well known to those whose hearts walked with Dru'El. After a time, she ventured North. Very little is known of how she lived out her days in the North, except that she was a mystic and could foresee the future. In her time, I believe she tended the Lifestone, deep below lake Crescetoria. However, at some point the stone was entombed and its force diverted. Sinaata in her wisdom foresaw a day when the stone would be reinvigorated, and used her druidic and arcane talent to guide and aid those in the future who would seek the Stone's revival."
--Tralil Breck, 2nd Archmage of the reformed Ivory Order
Through dreams and visions, Sinaata guided a group of mages and druids of present times, to uncover the Lifestone and put it back into activity. This brought a much needed flow of vital energy to the valley, in the years after the Drangonari siege. Rumour has it, the High Mage Council Moderator, Miette Hartley, carries Sinaata's memory.
THE SECOND DECADE
"We all change with time, just make your choices wisely. You will regret some in the future, but you cannot change them. Some things are hard to learn except by making a mistake, but it is better to avoid the worst mistakes if you can." --Fealith Anifail, 2nd General Marshal of the Visimontium Sentinels
Reconstruction
(2160 - 2166)
In the aftermath of the Drangonari siege, many Visimontium residents were in need of food, clothing and a roof above their head. Cloth was donated by the Warrior Maidens of Dre'Ana and the faithful of Dra'Nar. The church of Visimontium hosted a kitchen for the poor, and the Healers of Cha'reth became a frequent sight in town. The City also required wood material. A great lot of it arrived from the AAAA, the ACE and the AKN. The building works were concluded over the course of a few summers. The rare plant gardens, however, took much longer to revive. Rika Vandor of Cha'reth and Archmage Namlig Sirhc of the Green Order took great effort to replant what was lost.
Rise of the Trolls of Kazan
(2160 - 2164)
"For a long time, this City has suffered from the attentions of the foul creature known as Kazan. This Troll, was a shaman of enormous power, with a particular gift for controlling the beings of the elemental planes. He was able to unite many of the troll clans from the mountains under his leadership. Together they raided the lands of Visimontium and took the lives of too many of our citizens and the Sentinels who protected them. Some died under the claws of trolls, while others were sacrificed in unspeakable rituals to further Kazan's powers. Kazan himself was not to be seen in the fighting, which he left to his minions."
--Visimontium Sentinels, Public Announcement
The Sentinels finally managed to deal with Kazan, thanks to Senior Mage Ialath Fentellon and Archmage Robert Wallace of the Ashen Order. The two opened a portal and lured Kazan out the Demiplane he was hiding in. While attacks from goblins, trolls and giantkin were not uncommon for Visimontium, none had been so well organised. Kazan's powers also caused the eruption of Mount Crest in 2162. What could bring such an extraordinary influx of power to such a creature? The answer will come in time.
Curse lifted from the Treants of Gertitri Forest
(2163)
A curse long lingered at the depths of the Geritri Forest, causing the ancient Treants to attack without thought. The curse was lifted by followers of Dru'El, assisted by Archmage Fergus Goodmane of the White Order.
Reign of the Goblin King Ip
(2166 - 2170)
This incidence was reported by the Fauna and Flora Group, led by Robert Wallace. Following a Sentinel patrol, the group climbed Coldshadow Ridge only to face a group of snow goblins locked in a fight: The goblin king Ep was outsted by the goblin king Ip. The new goblin king appeared reasonable at first, concerned mainly with the well-being of his people, who held the caverns of Mt. Crescetoria.
Not long after this curious incident, a series of break-ins were reported, all of them involving snow goblins. Fear overtook the common people of Visimontium. A messenger of Ip soon appeared, announcing that the goblin king was annexing the City. A run-away goblin delivered a horrifying truth to the Sentinels: The goblin king Ip acted as if possessed by a great power, his mind lost to reason. Ip could teleport his minions at will, and kill them at will from a distance.
By the end of the year, the Sentinels arranged for dimensional seal of the Garrison and turned defense to full scale offence. The goblins had created golems similar to those patrolling Visimontium as a part of the City guard. To set these golems to motion, they used their living comrades, maddening them in the process. Still the Visimontium resistance battled the goblins to the bottom of their caverns, only to meet an impenetrable wall of ice. The wall was blocking the way to the Firefly Valley, where the Temple of Ra-Ghul stood. Thus the goblins were no longer a problem of Andrinor's Holy City alone, but also of the Fury of Ra-Ghul.
Imprisonment of the Ancient Evil Behind Kazan And Ip
(2170)
There had to be a greater force behind beings like the troll Kazan and the goblin Ip. General Marshal Anifail's guess was confirmed, after he sought the Geritri Treants for their wisdom and they in turn called forth an ancient being. The being presented itself in the form of a dragon, under the name Kalseru. Kalseru explained that Kazan and Ip were merely puppets for an old enemy of his. Kalseru instructed the City defenders to gather materials, amongst them Ip's heart, for a ritual to expel his old enemy. This was achieved through the joint effort of the Visimontium Sentinels, the Fury of Ra-Ghul, the Ashen Order, Vana the Blue and allies.
Kalseru built a prison for his old enemy atop Mountain Crescetoria. Once captured on the Prime Material Plane, the foe could be destroyed. The mortal group witnessed the summoning of the ancient evil from the Elemental Plane of Fire and saw it fall, its essence imprisoned on the mountain peak. Alas, as future records would attest, it was not for long.
Trial for Crimes Against the City: The Web of Angadar
(2166 - 2168)
A few members of the Web of Angadar involved in the Drangonari siege appeared before justice during this period.
"Kisri Aedia, who renounced Angadar, was found guilty of murder and treason and sentenced to labour work. A few years later Krator Blackfist, who too forswore his faith, was found guilty of the same. He was sentenced to labour work and a fine of 500 gold crowns. Fraudoc Loclac, whose trial was conducted at the same time was found to be insane. Unable to answer for his actions, he was neutralized by being turned into a rodent."
--Visimontium City Council, Public Announcement
THE THIRD DECADE
"We can look back and learn from what we have done, certainly. It can help us to better react in the future. But I suppose I will put it this way: When one cares about the outcome of their actions, I think that bravery becomes much more than facing our opponents. I think we must find it even more so in facing our own choices. Before, and after we make them." --Vanar Alhaldren, 2nd Archmage of the reformed White Order, Sentinel of Visimontium
Hospital Built in Visimontium
(2170)
Under the sponsorship of Jand de la Fleur and spouse Navarra Dyaniera of the Ashen Order, the Healers of Cha'reth established a hospital on the Crescetoria lake shore. The building works took several years, impeded by the goblin incursions. The hospital was finally finished in September 2170, as if to close the chapter of a troublesome decade with a touch of peace.
The Ancient Evil Revolts
(2171)
The ancient spirit, was sealed off by Kalseru atop the Crescetoria mountain, did not stay there for long. John Wake of the White Order was the first to sense the presence of impending doom. A couple of White and Ivory magi and a handful of Sentinels hurried to the mountain, where they found a group of Ebony and Gold performing a ritual over the captured ancient spirit. In the words of the Gold mage Crunk Steelcaster, they aimed to more securely seal the being to its home Plane of Fire.
First Devastation of Geritri Forest
(2172)
The spring to follow was a sombre one, beginning with the slaying of every living Geritri Treant and animal by an unidentified group. As the Treants were the only link to the forest warden Kalseru, he could not be summoned. Fortunately, some of the Geritri Treants had been dormant at the time and were spared. Shemathen Le Yeritath brought a T'Nanshi Treant from the south, to wake them. The forest recovered very slowly.
Bugbear Attacks
(2172 - 2175)
The first bugbear attacks came at the tail of the Geritri forest devastation. Portals opened across the City, leading in groups of highly skilled shamans and warriors. In time, it was confirmed that the ancient spirit was not sealed off in the Plane of Fire, but had taken over the Crescetorian bugbears' chieftain. Visimontium received assistance from the M'Chekian Guards. Naturally, this was a temporary arrangement. In the absence of Kalseru, the City was under constant threat by the bugbears, who had been regarded as fearsome even before the arrival of the ancient spirit.
Note: This volume does not cover the events around the murder of Robert d'Angelus, Sentinel Ensign. For a detailed account, refer to the founding record of the Visimontium Orphanage.
Construction of Andrinor's Arena
(2173)
Andrinor's Arena, or Andrinor's Amphitheatre was constructed for a record time given the proportions of the project. It occupies a vast, artificially carved valley in the southern slopes of the Bolinar mountain, accessible from the Academy District. To celebrate the conclusion of the momentous arena, the first Mage Tournament was held in 2173. Organized by the Ivory Order, the event ran to great public acclaim.
Construction of Coldshadow Village
(2173 - 2185)
In 2173, building works began on the south-western shore of the Coldshadow lake. Alongside with the Sentinels, the construction was formally supervised by the Ashen Order and met much impediments after bugbear attacks.
Rumours of Dark Shards in the City, Refugees from Jechran
(2174)
Refugees from Jechran poured in the City, fleeing a great disaster in their home land. It had begun with the waning of crops and all living things, fear and disease brought to men and women, and eventually an army of demons storming in. Ahead of the refugee wave, a certain manner of rumours had reached Visimontium. Whispers spoke of a Dark Shard found in Jechran that would make its wielder both strong and weak. As it would soon come clear, such artefacts of dark power had surfaced throughout Southern Negaria. The demon lords of the Negarian Underdark too strived to attain them. The first signs of what had befallen Jechran were felt throughout the south, with the waning of the Lifestones. The Visimontium Lifestone endured longer than the others, but it also showed signs of creeping doom.
Demons Against Bugbears
(2175)
In 2175, tremors shook the ground as fires erupted all over the Crescetoria mountain. News spread of demons fighting devils atop the mountain, and each of them in turn fighting the bugbears. The demons were after one of the Dark Shards. All signs pointed that such a Shard had been held by the ancient spirit puppeteering the bugbears. The demons soon shifted their attention from the mountain to the City, indicating that the Shard had changed its owner and location.
Construction of Apara Thorpe
(2175 - 2178)
Under the guidance of the Green Order, the plateau of the Tera Tera mountain took extensive transformation to hold fruitful land. A settlement was built, delayed by a plundering Deglossian dragon. The hero of the day was Arwan Mylwen, Sentinel Ensign, who took a potion and donned the form of a dragon himself. Quaking in his boots, the young man still managed to trick the very real dragon into fleeing. Once the work was finished, Apara Thorpe opened its doors to the Avariel of the nearby mountains, as decreed by the Visimontium City Council.
Construction of Falkirk's Portal Tower
(2178)
In the spring of 2178, a great portalling tower was opened for the public at the Academy district. The tower was part of a private enterprise by Quintin Fallkirk III. It provided portals to the major cities of the South, and for a time also Kuras.
Second Devastation of Geritri Forest, Demonic Army Approaches
(2179)
"People of Visimontium: For the last decade we have stood as vigilant sentry against the vile spirit which over time has thrown onto us the troll armies of Kazan, the goblin hordes of Ip, and of late - the fearsome Crescetorian bugbears. Most of you have noticed that recently demons have taken interest into our City as well. This alas has not turned to be a passing fancy of theirs. A demon lord and his army approach this City as I write this. Kalseru, the ancient protector of the Geritri forest, that dared stand against the vile spirit, was slain by these demons, his remains turned to stone. The forest itself is a poisoned waste. The few Treants to survive have fled to wait for better times. We are caught in-between two forces. The bugbears from the north, and the demons from the north-west. Both of these forces have means of teleportation, which allow small groups to appear at unpredictable locations."
--Visimontium Sentinels, Public Announcement
THE FOURTH DECADE
In Andrinor's City, the tension runs high, Fiends lying in wait upon every side, Sentinels preparing as well as they can, To defend the townsfolk unto the last man --Fear Fable by Eldrea Addams
"We justify many things to ourselves, for reasons that are poor in hindsight." --Fealith Anifail, 2nd General Marshal of the Visimontium Sentinels
Demonic Army Occupies Gertri and Crescetoria
(2180 - 2191)
Ordered by the Transmutant Amand Xilo, a large group of Ebony Order battlemagi lost their lives in attempt to banish the demons from Crescetoria. The demons had taken over the bugbears, and turned into submission the ancient spirit who had been the bugbears' master for the past few years. The demons maintained a large troop in Geritri forest, while Crescetoria had turned into a bastion for the mightiest of them. Rarely had demons of such power walked the face of Negaria. To the horror of many, the Abyssals had trapped the souls of [[Champion|Champions of O'Ma, Paladins of Gorethar and Avengers of Dru'El. The demons channeled the fallen's holy powers for their own advantage in combat.
Meeting to Coordinate the Efforts Against the Demons
(2181)
The demons and the mysterious Black Shards appeared throughout Negaria. In 2181, the City Council of Visimontium called for a meeting of the groups and individuals united in their struggle against the demons.
The Visimontium Sentinels were joined by members of Andrinor's Trust, the Church of Andrinor, the Order of Gorethar, the Equalizers of Mikon, the Shemathen'le'Yeritath's Circle of Seven, Le'Nofaythen T'Nanshi, Guild:Le'Megen T'Elysia, M'Chekian Army, the Deglos Brigade, FEAT, the Warrior Maidens of Dre'Ana, the Fury of Ra-Ghul, the monk Order of the Dragon, the Healers of Cha'reth, the AKN the ANRA, the Academy of Bardic Arts and the Avariel Community of Apara Thorpe.
A large group of Equalizers were stationed in Visimontium afterwards, to aid with the City defence.
Refugees from Jechran Move to Elysia
(2184)
Following Jechran's destruction by demons, the refugees numbered several thousand in Visimontium alone. With the aid of the Warrior Maidens of Dre'Ana, the refugees were transported to Elysia, their new home. Initially this was done through Falkirk's Portalling Tower, but soon enough the White and Ivory Order prepared a portal at the Sentinels Arena. This allowed to transport the rest of the refugees at one go. They arrived safely in Elysia, to the last one.
Fear Fable
(2185)
Desperate times come with desperate measures. Mary of the Red Order devoted her life to just one spell: Fear. Over time, she found herself overtaken by an impersonation of the power she sought to control. One part of her became an elusive being who laid traps for demons and townsfolk alike. Many perished in terror and pain, but even once put to rest, a feeling of unmanageable dread spread from their bodies. The Sentinels finally discovered the identity behind the incidents, as Mary battled her dark half. She perished before their eyes, explaining her actions with her desire to see the demons driven away from the holy City of Andrinor.
Trial for Crimes Against the City: Amand Xilo
(2185)
The mastermind behind the escape of the ancient spirit and the first devastation of Geritri Forest was confirmed to be Amand Xilo. His confession came after he stepped down as 7th Archmage of the Ebony Order. His sentencing was public, held in the High Temple of Andrinor where he was given opportunity to apologize for his deeds. His sentence included transformation to a bugbear for 12 years, fine and banishment from the City. Amand Xilo was reported dead less than a month later. The official version stated that his body did not bear the magical transformation. (As his spouse, I maintain that I have not taken any part in his actions. --Sage Miriel)
Vampire Settles in the City
(2188)
In the summer of 2188, a Deglossian vampire caused a legal turmoil in Visimontium. The vampire, Vlad, requested to be permitted residence in the central graveyard crypt together with his family. The presence of Vlad and his next of kin was ruled out as a potential danger to the City, despite the claim that he purchased blood instead of feeding from living beings. The vampire still settled in the crypt and responded with hostility to the Sentinels' attempts to expulse him.
Related petitions were raised by various non-living members of the Orders of Andrinor's Trust. Nevertheless, the City refrained from issuing blanket regulations toward sentient undead.
(To be continued)