Miriel's Guide to Visimontium

Visimontium and its Surroundings

The Crescetoria Valley and the Surrounding Mountains

Visimontium, the holy city of Andrinor, is built in the Crescetoria valley of Northern Deglos, around the Lake Crescetoria, and guarded by four mighty mountain ranges.

To the south is Mount Teratera, where the Causeway from Deglos to Galdos branches. Outside of the well travelled path, Teratera offers a barren and difficult to cross terrain.

To the east lay the slopes of Mount Bolinar. The southern side includes a low plateau, often used for festivals and open air mage tournaments. While relatively low in comparison to her sisters, Mount Bolinar bears a flaming heart. Hot springs streak her feet like veins, and her scorching breath vapours through the crags marring her shoulders.

To the west the horizon is occupied by the mountain most rich in ore veins in the vicinity - Mount Geritri. Vast caverns and underlakes stretch deep its surface. Geritri also is famous for the secluded high valey of the Geritri Forest. The forest is protected by the city law as a nature reserve. North of the mountain is the deep Coldshadow Lake, the beauty of which draws one and all.

To the north is the mountain believed to be the highest in Avlis, Crescetoria, which holds the tower of the city founder - Melonius Mennallin. However, the higher parts of the mountain imprisoned in ice and snow all the year round also are a home for the kin of Maleki: goblins, bugbears and frost giants. A grand temple to the god of fury, Ra-Ghul, rises as well in the shadow of Mount Crest.

The heart of the valley - the namesake Crescetoria Lake mirroring the proud mountain - holds one large island which in turn shelters the Lifestone invigourating the area. A smaller island is connected through a bridge to the southern shore. On the southern shore also is the fabulous Periwinkle Fireworks and Foghorn Factory. Rocky wastes stretch east and west of the north shore around the Crescetoria mountain feet. Like the unfriendly mountain itself, they only draw the most eager and brave miners. This applies with even greater power to the eastern wastes which include a dangerous area of wild magic.

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The Districts of Visimontium

Although some of the Visimontium inns and taverns are mentioned below, the complete list of them can be found on a separate page.

The Garrison District

The Causeway path through Teratera leads up to the Mountain Gates and into the well fortified Garrison District of Visimontium. This is where the headquarters of the city guard - the Visimontium Sentinels - are situated, and within the same building, the city jail. The Visimontium City Council building is here as well, together with the office of the city architect Jenii Kim under its roof. An inn and a small marketplace meet the worn travellers. The tunnel east leads to the District of the Trust, and the tunnel west - to the Residential Districts.

The Underground Settlement

The Underground Settlement is the oldest part of the city, now accessible through the Garrison Distcit. It initially sheltered the Visimontium builders - most of them gnomes and dwarves, then was used to accomodate the first wave of human settlers. At present, the Underground settlement holds the memorial graveyard of the Gnomish workers to have fallen during the blasting works, the Sentinels' Arena and a temple to Clangeddin Silverbeard.

The Crescetoria Valley Marketplace

Craftsmen of all trades offer their goods here in a long row of shops facing the Temple of Hurine. The valley marketplace is a major meeting point for locals, drawn not only by the necessity of supply and demand but also by the large wooden table outside the Plough and Scythe Inn, under the great oak tree. Secluded in the eastern end of the area is the town cemetery.

The Residential Districts

Stretching from the Garrison District along the northern slopes of Mount Geritri to the eastern shore of Lake Coldshadow, the Residential Districts are a well presentable face of the city. They are divided into southern, central and northern areas, bond together by the broad Ailpera Lane. The Residential Districts except for private residences include the workshops of great artizans. Such are the "Precious Objects" run by the jewelers Wulfgar and Tzaramendl, the "Frimungun Clothing Empire", and indeed the "Heffernven Toy Shop"!

The Southern Residential District where the Western Tunnel from the Garrison District opens is quiet and secluded, with few private residences nestled around the Lohenson Court.

Through the Central Residential District one can take the path to the Mount Geritri Mines. The famous "Hideaway Cafe" is here for those who shun the mining pick, not far from the First City Real Estates office. The centre of the Residential Districts is also dignified by the grove devoted to Mary Briggs, druidess of O'Ma.

The Northern Residential District often is refered to as "The Cottages", though these rented homes take but a portion of its territory. The Northern Residential District is where the Ailpera Lane ends, at the elevation offering a glorious view to the Coldshadow Lake. Here is the home of the Visimontium city council speaker, commander of the Army of Visimontium and a great benefactor to the city Aerill Ailpera, Archmage to the Blue Order of the Sky. The entrance hall of her residence opened to the public now hosts the "Mennallin Shop".

The District of the Trust

The District of the Trust is indeed occupied by the nine towers of the Nine Orders of Andrinor's Trust, and the smaller but no less imposing Tower of the Trust. A centrepoint of the area however admittedly is the Nine Towers Brewery and Tavern. Those drawn by the waterfalls crossing the east side may soon find the secluded Grove of O'Ma. Following the Promenade boulevard north, one reaches the quiet, picturesque Willow Lake.

The Academy District

The most busy district of Visimontium is the Academy District. In itself it is a broad square, lined by houses at its far northern and southern ends, and occupied by a number of buildings of importance. Here are the local branch of the Academy of Mortal Magic and the Alchemy research department, the Great Library of Visimontium, the Academy of Bardic Arts feat. Reverdie, the open air Observatory, and last but not least the Department of Conflagration. When free of work, the populace can often be found around "Jade's Coffee House", "Truely Sweets" - a legacy of Lord Derrington's chocolate tradition, or indeed the Tipsy Wizard Inn. Unsuprisingly, here also is the workshop of an industrious Ganoom offering alchemical dyes.

The Temple District

Above the square of the Academy District is the Temple District, built around a small hill atop which is the High Temple of Andrinor. The area also offers roof for the faithful of Cha'reth, Dagath, Dru'El, Fegall, Gorethar, Mikon, and Mishlekh. Outside the Eastern Gates, at the lower slopes of Mount Bolinar, overlooking the Thousand Springs stands a shrine to Yeraiah.

The Farmlands

As the city forms a half-circle on the southern end of lake Crescetoria, the Farmlands occupy the fruitful land in-between the lake shore and the city walls. Both the west and east farmlands boast with lush apple gardens. At the eastern farms opens a grand cave system; its higher reaches are used to make premium quality cheese. In the western farmlands the local school is built, as a part of a dream coming true: the dream of the city founder Melonnius Menallin to provide education for the children of Avlis. The school has been built thanks to Dame Moira Celyn Windspar from Mikon's Council of Balance, who also is the architect of the Academy of Bardic Arts.

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The Inns and Taverns of Visimontium

In alphabetical order:

• Coldshadow Tavern, Northern Residential District

Proprietor: Grandari

• Mountain Settlers' Inn, Garrison District

Proprietor: Merarry Askyrew

• The Nine Towers Brewery and Tavern, District of the Trust

Proprietor: Losil Fentleln

• Orchards Guest House and Public Room, South-Western Farmlands

Proprietor: Granny Micah

• The Plough and Scythe Inn and Tavern, Crescetoria Valley Marketplace

Proprietor: Alia Jarlson

• The Snow Eater's Inn and Tavern, Western Passage (Near the West Gate)

Proprietor: Legnar "Snow Eater" Kessen

• The Tipsy Wizard Inn and Bar, Academy District

Proprietor: Drarry Askyren

The Visimontium City Council

The city of Visimontium is represented by counselors to decide on laws and edicts. At present these are:

• The Andrinor's Trust Representative - Rorln Frizzlegomp of the Blue Order of the Sky
  
• The High Mage Council Representative - Damar Ogdem, Archmage of the Gold Order of the Sand and Moderator of the High Mage Council
  
• The Church of Andrinor Representative - Rayna Na'Tanlynn, High Priestess of Andrinor
  
• The Sentinels of Visimontium Representative - Fealith Anifail, General-Marshall of the Visimontium Sentinels
  
• Speaker of the Council is Aerill Ailpera, Archmage of the Blue Order of the Sky and Commander of the Army of Visimontium
  

The Visimontium Sentinels

The Visimontium Sentinels are the guards of the City of Andrinor, initially hand-picked by the city founder Melonius Mennallin himself. The Sentinels protect the city and its population and deal with the day to day law enforcement issues in order to keep the city running as normally as possible. They answer to the decisions and orders of the City Council of Visimontium.

Founding members of the Visimontium Sentinels:

In alphabetical order:

Aerill Ailpera (Now Commander of The Army of Visimontium)
Bheem (Now retired)
Fealith Anifail (Now General-Marshall)
Harbesh Lohensun, Brigadier
Igor Nappovich, Brigadier
Jenii Kim, Captain
Leopold Pfefehur, First General-Marshall (Now retired)
Nadrin Dy'ner, Captain (Now retired)
Shanner Kendry, Brigadier

Deputees to have made a name in the early days of the city:
Godloth Mikonar (Now Ensign)
Peren Ayloud (Now Ensign, Deceased)

Recent History of Visimontium

Founding of the City (Apprx. 2120)

Two things the god of mortal magic Andrinor bestowed on his mostly devoted follower, the then-Archmagus of the Ivory Order of the Sun Melonius Mennallin. One was the establishment and moderation of the High Mage Council, the other - the building of a holy city in Andrinor's honour which also was destined to be a home to the magi of Andrinor's Trust.

The works on the holy city of Andrinor began in early 2120s, after Melonius Mennallin bought off the valley sheltered in-betwen four mountain ranges in Northern Deglos. Most of the expenses were covered out of Mennallin's personal funds, as well as by numerous donations. The greatest lot of the donations were gathered during the celebration of the opening of the Merchants Rest Inn in Elysia, mutual property of Melonius Mennallin himself and the famous tradesman Zacharia Featherfingers.

Much more expenses came in the form of life losses. A great lot of gnome quarrimen, stonesmiths and engineers were lost during the blasting works. Their bodies are now laid in a memorial graveyard in the Underground settlement. The blasting and building works were supported and supervised by a group of people hired by Melonius himself, known as "Leo (Leopold)'s Mercenary Group". For clarity, I apply a popular statement by Leopold Pfefehur on the group's name: "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!"

Migration to Visimontium (2150)

The city of Visimontium is not merely the city of mages. It is a home more than 100,000 migrants from post-war M'Chek, who were given a chance to begin a new life thousands of miles away from their homeland. This was possible after Melonius Menallin's proposal to the M'Chekian government, which was quickly accepted. A great lot of the work on organising the migration and colonization of the valley has been done by the founding Sentinel members Fealith Anifail, Aerill Ailpera, Jenii Kim, Leopold Pfefefhur and many members of Leopold's Mercenary Group a lot of which remained in Visimontium as Sentinels. Moving such a great lot of people, be it in groups, took the effort of many organisations - from religious orders to mage orders, from the national guard of M'Chek, T'Nanshi and Deglos to the AAAA and AKN. The migration met much impediments in the form of Sereg'Wethrin attacks, diseases, and the unforgiving nature of the depths of Deglos. Tens of thousands were lost on the way. On the 20th of November 2150 the last wave of migrants reached Visimontium. The people held the torches high in the harsh winter night, and the hopes were high ...

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The First Decade

Finishing of the building works (2150-2156)

By the time the migrants from M'Chek arrived in Visimontium, the eastern wing of the city (the districts of the Trust, the Academy and Temple districts) were still in process of building. The city was for the most consisted of underground settlements, and houses made of wood and stone. In 2153, the city finally woke up in silence - the blasting and hammering of the gnomes in the east side of the city had ceised, it had finally been finished. In time, the remaining portion of Visimontium was reworked to hold proud buildings of stone, paved streets, strong walls. In the end of 2156, this work was completed.

Proclamation of Geritri Forest as a nature reserve (2152)

The Geritri Forest, home for many rare animals and plantlife, as well as treant wardiens, drew druids seeking to tend to the forest and adventurers seeking to challenge its inhabitants alike. As a result, the druids started treating with hostility anyone who would venture in the forest. The name of the druidess Naer'maril still is remembered as one violent defender of the Geritri forest, as well as the local priestess of Gorethar, Belevren Graniteanvil, who sought for a legal compromise on the statute of the forest.

A copy of the public announcement of the Visimontium City Council:

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, Speaker of the Visimontium City Council

Heatwave reaches Visimontium (2152-2156)

The heat to sweep through Southern Avlis in the early 2150s did not miss out Visimontium. Four years in a row, it lingered over the city, causing dangerous steam elementals to rise from the great valley lakes and numerous streams.

An year of mysteries (2155)

Visimontium is a city of magic, and this alone has many effects in the everyday life. Flowers would sprout out of a seed within minutes, or scarecrows will start walking. The latter happened in the autumn Harvest Festival in 2155 when the scarecrows did not limit themselves to simply walking around but also randomly attacked locals. Another memorable occassion of the same year was the griveous end of the wedding anniversary of Dame Grace Dane-Unuldur and Morran Unuldur, who recieved a small ship as a gift from their friend Ayren Milen. As the couple ventured to the ever-shrouded by mists centre of the lake Crescetoria, a storm rose which shattered the lovely "Trenium" vessel to pieces. The couple barely survived, and the story lived on, retold by the resident bard of the Plough and Scythe Inn and Tavern - Trinash Vellah.

Drangonari Siege (2155 - 2158)

• The beginning

The first sightings of hostile Drangonari were in the spring of 2154. Groups of one or two randomly attacked the city, and little the Visimontium residents knew 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. Their camps were believed to be hidden in the surrounding mountains. However, these camps also were concealed by psionists and for a long time all the city could do was defend themselves when attacked. The Grantir government denied any relation to the situation.

• Behind the scenes

In time the Trust of Andrinor realized there was serious threat on the side of Angadar himself, and not only his creations, the Drangonari elves. This was not surprising, considering that Angadar looked onto Andrinor as onto a rival, after Andrinor outtricked him to became the god of mortal magic on Avlis. The investigation and counteraction on the side of the Trust of Andrinor against the faithful of Angadar organised in the so-called Web of Angadar throughout Southern Avlis 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 limiting the ability of Andrinor's mages to scribe spells onto useable scrolls. In response, Andrinor willed that all spells casted by his magi in his city - Visimontium - would be cast as empowered. (These restrictions are unexistant 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 came on the side of the Drangonari. The eastern outskirts of the city (the Eastern Wastes) still are a wild magic zone as a result of their purposed rituals. From 2156 till the end of the struggle, the Ashen Order of the Stars gave a hand to the Visimontium Sentinels in the city defences. In 2157, after the reformation of the Gold Order of the Sand, a large group of orc magi also came to the defence. Many magi of other Orders of the Trust able and willing to assist soon joined in.

• First great victory

In December 2156 the then-Senior Mage of Visimontium for the Ashen Order of the Stars, Ialath Fentellon, invited to aid Arania Moonshadow Alastaire-Alaster, Keeper of FEAT and director of the Visimontium Academy of Bardic Arts feat. Reverdie. The psionicist abilities of Arania revealed a major Drangonari camp to be hidden in the sewers near the lake Coldshadow, under the Northern Residential district. A large group of Sentinels, Ashen and Blue Mages, and the then-Archmage of the Ebony Order of the Moon Micah Ormane herself swept down to destroy the Drangonari base. The sewers were much damaged in the battle to ensue, and that segment had to be entirely reconstructed.

• The last battle and negotiations with Grantir

After the insisting of the Visimontium City Council and the Trust of Andrinor, in June 2158 a group of representatives of the Grantir authorities led by Ambassador Pluvier Preaan arrived in Visimontium. The day before their arrival was probably the darkest in the history of the city of Andrinor. The Drangonari made a final onslaught, assisted by members of the Web of Angadar. In this attack, the city was literally ruined. In turn, the attackers Drangonari were nearly exterminated by the joint effort of the Sentinels and the numerous Trust magi present in Visimontium for the arrival of the Grantir delegation - all of these assisted by a handful of Healers of Cha'reth. Bridges were burning, houses were brought down, the city walls of the Western Gate were completely destroyed.

A few excerpts from the meeting with the Grantir Delegation should with certainty be recorded for the public. One was the revelation that a number of faithful of Andrinor and Angadar had dreams in which both gods proclaimed peace with each other. The Drangonari to have attacked Visimontium appeared to have been tricked into doing so by agents of the Grantir arch-enemy, the Drotid. After this was clarified, the present in the meeting agreed that peace was needed not only in-between the gods, but also in-between their followers. Regardless, a number of members of the Angadarian Web were indeed announced wanted for crimes against Visimontium.

The Visimontium Lifestone uncovered (2159)

Excerpt from a public announcement by Tralil Breck, second Archmage to the Ivory Order of the Light past the Reformation: "Long ago, a druid sorceress by the name of Sanaata lived in the forests of T'Nanshi. There she was a friend of many of the forest creatures, and well known to those whose heart 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 forsee 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. Sanaata in her wisdom foresaw a day when the stone would be re-envigorated, and used her druidic and arcane tallent to guide and aid those in the future who would seek the Stone's revival..." Through dreams and visions, Sanaata guided a group of mages and druids of present to uncover the Lifestone and put it back into activity. This brought the much needed flow of vital energy to the valley which at the time was exhausted after the Drangonari siege. Peculiar fact is that the famous sorceress of the Blue Order of the Sky Miette Hartley bears much of the memories of Sanaata, and rumour goes she is the reborn Sanaata herself.

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The Second Decade

Reconstruction (2160-2166)

The slow reconstruction of Visimontium after the Drangonari siege began in 2160. Many homeless people were in need of clothing and food, except for a roof above their head. A lot of cloth was donated by the Warrior Maidens of Dre'Ana and the faithful of Dra'Nar, the church of Visimontium organised opened kitchen for the poor and the Healers of Cha'reth were often seen in town. The city also required wood matherial. A great lot of it arrived from the AAAA, the ACE and the AKN. While the building works finished for three summers, the garden holding rare plants in the south-western farms took much longer to revive. The resident Healer of Cha'reth and member of ANRA Rika Vandor and the then-Archmage of the Green Order of the Forest Namlig Sirhc took great effort to replant the garden.

Rise of the Trolls of Kazan (2160 - 2165)

Excerpt from public announcement by General-Marshall Fealith Anifail of the Visimontium Sentinels: "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." The Ashen Order of the Stars and the Visimontium Sentinels, assisted by the resident Healer Rika Vandor, finally manage to deal with Kazan, after the Ashen Archmage Robert Wallace and the Ashen Senior Mage of Visimontium Ialath Fentellon opened a portal and lured him out of the demiplane he was hiding in. While attacks from goblins, trolls and giantkin are not uncommon for Visimontium, none have been so well organised. Kazan's powers also caused the eruption of Mount Crest in 2162. What could cause such an extraordinary afflux of power to such a creature? The answer was to be found in the years to follow.

Curse lifted from the treants of the Gertitri Forest (2163)

A curse long lingered at the depths of the Geritri Forest, causing the ancient treants to attack any creature to approach them on sight. The curse was lifted thanks to the efforts of the follower of Dru'El, honourably assisted by Fergus Goodmane, then-Archmagus of the White Order of the Light.

Reign of the Goblin King Ip (2166 - 2170)

In the spring of 2166, during an outing of the Fauna and Flora Group led by the Ashen Archmagus Robert Wallace, accompanied by a few Sentinels, the Coldshadow Ridge was found to be occupied by snow goblins fighting each other. It came known that the group was witnessing internal conflict, and a change of the goblin king Ep with the goblin king Ip. The new goblin king appeared reasonable at first, concerned mainly with the well-being of his people into the caverns of the Mountain Crescetoria. It was not long however before break-ins started being reported in Visimontium, and all of these were in time ascribed to the 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 the horrifying truth of what was going on to the Sentinels: the goblin king Ip had been as if possessed by a great power, and lost his mind. Ip could teleport his minions at will, and kill them at will from a distance.

In 2168, the Sentinels were forced to magically ward the City Guard Barracks from such intrusions, and turn the defence to fullscale offence. The goblins had made 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 impenetratable wall of ice. Per happenstance, it was blocking the way to the Firefly Valley, where the Temple of Ra-Ghul stood. Thus the goblins were no longer problem of the city of Andrinor alone, but also of the Fury of Ra-Ghul.

Destruction of the ancient evil behind Kazan and Ip (2170)

It was the Sentinels' General-Marshall, Fealith Anifail, that had the insight there had to be a greater force behind beings like the troll Kazan and the goblin Ip. His guess was confirmed, after he was advised to turn to the Geritri treants for their wisdom and they in turn called forth an ancient being. It presented itself in the form of a dragon, by the name Kalseru. He explained that Kazan and Ip were merely puppets for an old enemy of his. Kalseru inquired the city defenders to gather matherials, amongst them Ip's head, for the purpose of a ritual to expell his old enemy. This was done after the joined effort of a group of the Visimontium Sentinels, the Fury of Ra-Ghul, the Ashen Order of the Stars, the great magus Vana of the Blue Order of the Sky and others.

On the top of Mountain Crescetoria, Kalseru built prison for his old enemy, where he could be captured on the prime matherial plane and distroyed. The same group witnessed the summoning of the ancient evil from the elemental plane of fire, and destroyed it. No longer would he toy with the denizens of the Crescetoria Valley.

Trials against 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 at the time had renounced Angadar, was found guilty of murder and treason and sentenced to labour work. A few years later Krator Blackfist, who at the time had also left Angadar, was found guilty of the same, and sentenced to half a million gold fine and labour work. Fraudoc Loclac whose trial was conducted at the same time was found to be insane, unable to answer for his actions and neutralized by turning into a rodent. (This information is based on official announcements of the City Council of Visimontium).

Afterword

As the author of this Guide, I have aimed for accuracy and neutrality. Like any mortal being, I am prone to omissions and mistakes and I would like to believe that I have made as few as possible. I arrived in Visimontium after the Migration as resident magus of the Ashen Order of the Stars and remained in the city ever since, even though for a time I parted ways with Andrinor's Trust. After I defended Visimontium as my home all these years, remaining unbiased was perhaps the hardest task about writing this book. May Vorin guide my hand.

Mrs. Miriel Xilo

Visimontium Sentinel, Ensign
Visimontium Cartographer
Freelance Architect

Historian of Vorin
ATU Apprentice Sage
AKN Journeyman