Mussum Mussum was an abandoned city in Chondath , lying on the southeast shore of the Vilhon Reach . It was a plague - ridden ruin , but also home to the House of Holy Suffering , a major temple to Ilmater . History . Mussum had risen as a city by 50 DR , together with Arrabar and Samra , all lying on the trade routes of the Vilhon Reach . Over the next century , Mussum and Samra came to compete with the existing city of Iljak for trade . This culminated in war in the Year of the King ' s Destiny , 137 DR . On Flamerule 12 , on the Sandshore outside Mussum , Iljak ' s army met Mussum ' s forces in battle . They fought for a whole fortnight , yet neither side could win the upper hand . Finally , early in Eleasias , the army of Samra sacked the city of Iljak then came to Mussum to assault the Iljak army ' s undefended flank . The Iljak army surrendered to Mussum and Samra , who then sold the survivors into slavery as their city was razed . By 139 DR , logging in the Chondalwood was well under way . Lumber came through the newly established city of Shamph and was dispersed through Arrabar , Samra , and Mussum . However , in the Year of the Smiling Princess , 143 DR , a large force of wild elves blocked all logging activity in the Chondalwood . At this point , the ambitious Lord Anthony Illistine established an alliance between the city - states of Chondath , including Mussum . In winter of the Year of the Fear and Flame , 144 DR , the allied forces invaded the Chondalwood , were victorious in the Battle of the Elven Tears , and burned the elven city of Ariel - than . Over 2000 elves were killed and the logging industry was restored . Less than six months later Arrabar , Mussum , Samra , and Shamph were united in the nation of Chondath under Governor Illistine . Mussum rose to become of the most popular ports in the Reach . However , in early spring of the Year of Full Cellars , 472 DR , Mussum was struck by the Panicked Plague . Over the course of a single night , known as the " Eve of the Panicked Plague " , over three - quarters of the population suddenly perished , their skin turned green and disfigured by welts and abscesses . Natural and magical cures could do nothing to stop it . The terrified survivors fled the city so quickly they left all their belongings behind . They journeyed to Iljak , now a small village . Mussum remained plague - ridden , empty , and abandoned , even into the mid - to - late 14th century DR . Government . Although initially an independent city - state , Mussum was a part of the nation of Chondath from 144 DR . Description . By the 14th century , nine centuries after its abandonment , the buildings of Mussum were quite decayed , with most of the wooden structures collapsed and rotting . However , some magic remained in effect . The people fled so quickly that they left behind their belongings and goods , as well as the bodies of the dead . Fresher bodies were left by those foolhardy explorers who succumbed to the plague . The only inhabitants were those monsters that could resist the plague and who gnawed on the bones of the dead . Notable locations . Surprisingly , the area of Mussum was home to the House of Holy Suffering , a major temple to Ilmater the Broken God by 1264 DR , and one with a quite active and turbulent history . Legends . Few dared step foot inside ruined Mussum , and none lived to tell of it , as the Panicked Plague continued to stalk its streets . Occasionally , hapless travellers who ' d entered the ruins were found dead on the road , afflicted by the plague , their skin turned green and covered in welts and abscesses .