History of Myth Drannor The history of Myth Drannor is long and tumultuous , fraught with rises to power and falls to ruin . Early History . Many believe that the city began as an elven encampment consisting of tree dwellings near some fresh water pools that gradually grew and incorporated rope bridges , though in truth the city was founded in - 3983 DR by the Coronal Kahvoerm Irithyl as he summoned the Rule Tower with the elfblade , the Rulers ' Blade . The city was first called Cormanthor and became the capital of the newly created realm of Cormanthyr , after it united Semberholme , Elven Court and Jhyrennstar . The ritual of the blade was soon repeated with the Warblade and the Artblade , forming the three towers of Castle Cormanthor . For a century , this was the only grounded building in the city , as most dwellings were in the trees . It took 12 centuries before other towers broke the canopies of Cormanthor . For over four thousand years , the city prospers with little incident , passing into its sixth rysar in - 223 DR . The sixth Coronal , Eltargrim Irithyl , would forever change the city . The Opening . At this time , orc invasions every decade or so became a large problem and the cause of great bloodshed . In addition , the Coronal began to foresee the doom of his people at the hands of the expanding empires of humans and other races at Cormanthyr ' s borders . He decided that if Cormanthyr was to survive , they must make peace with the other races , so Eltargrim set about organizing the elven wizard s to create a mythal , a process that would take nearly twelve years to complete . It was during this time that Elminster visited the legendary elven city and became the first human to ever set foot in it . Elminster ' s presence was dogged by many nobles who opposed the Opening and he faced many attempts on his life , but was eventually found worthy by the Coronal . His role as Chosen of Mystra further emboldened the ruler of the elves to complete the mythal . It was completed in 261 DR , and its construction marked the " Opening " . The Coronal opened the city of Cormanthor to all non - elves , despite rebellion by the noble houses and attempts on his life , and the city was crowned Myth Drannor . These noble houses were angered by this , and some ( including the Starym , Bharaclaiev , Hyshaanth , Rhaevaern , and Tellynnan clans ) relocated . The rebellion was brought to the Court of Cormanthor by Lord Speaker Llombaerth Starym and many nobles lost their lives before the conflict was ended by the Coronal , the Srinshee and Elminster Aumar . The Golden Age . The Opening marked the begining of the Golden Age of Myth Drannor , when the city prospered and many races flourished amid its towers . In 273 DR Three dwalf clans from Ammarindar and Citadel Felbarr migrated together to Myth Drannor , and in 284 DR , a great halfling migration from Meiritin and Tethyr arrived by way of newly opened portals . In 292 DR , gnomes finally made their presence in the city . The first half - elf was born to a noble house in 330 DR , a member of house Maerdrym , and even held his normal position among the clan . In 379 DR , seven powerful mages formed the first wizard school open to all races whose teachers were not exclusively elves , called the Seven Wizards of Myth Drannor outside the city . Myth Drannor also suffered a violent attack in 398 DR when seven Chromatic dragon s ( five black and two green ) assaulted the mythal . They were ultimately destroyed by Itham , commander of the dragonriders , though at the cost of his life and those of a bronze dragon , and fifty hippogriffs and their riders . The year 414 DR brought the birth of Khelben " Blackstaff " Arunsun , though he did not gain that name until later . Son of Arun Maerdrym and Arielimnda , a Harper , he followed the ancient elven custom of taking no name , so that he might earn his own name later in life . By 426 DR , he joined the Incanistaeum of the Seven Wizards of Myth Drannor to learn magic . In 449 DR , the wizard left the city bearing the only name he knew : " Arun ' s Sun " . He vowed to return to the clan and reclaim his place after earning a proper name . The city saw other events during this time , including the return of the Starym clan in 523 DR from Eaerlann and Illefarn , who reclaimed their family ' s holdings and attempted to restore the family ' s honour , though they fell deeper into darkness when Illitran Starym formed a pact with Moander . The Guild of Naturalists formed in 561 DR , building a hall within two years . Myth Drannor reached a peak of power and culture in 661 DR , at which time it was producing exquisite pieces of jewelery , 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 . No city could compare to Myth Drannor with its magic , culture , peace and prosperity . The many races of Toril were living together in unity , united among the many guilds in the city as well as the Armathors , the Akh ' Faer and the Akh ' Velahr . So great was it that a dozen other settlements became sister - cities to Myth Drannor , including Silverymoon , trying desperately to emulate the wonder of the City of Song . This all changed when Eltargrim , contented with the completion of his dream , passed on to Arvandor . The Dusk . Following the death of Eltargrim in 661 DR , the city was left without a leader , as Aravae Irithyl , the sole heir , declared a five - year mourning period but was secretly murdered in 664 DR by Illitran Starym , leaving the rulership of Cormanthyr open . After a lengthy Claiming Ceremony amid many conflicts , deaths and in - fighting , no heir was deemed worthy , and so the Srinshee drew the blade and departed to Arvandor with it , vowing only to return once the elves had remembered the lost dream of Cormanthyr . The ranking officials left in Myth Drannor , mainly the Arms - Major , the Spell - Major , and the two High Court Mages , convened with the tree spirits to discuss the future of the city and the realm . Their message was " if one star cannot guide you in your travel , look to them all for guidance " . This was taken to mean a ruling council was needed , and 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 . Equally disastrous for Myth Drannor was the departure of the magical talent and artisan populations . Many of its great wizards left to colonize the sister cities , and after Eltargrim ' s passing fewer and fewer students enrolled in Myth Drannor ' s schools . In 682 DR , the Seven Wizards of Myth Drannor were disbanded . Those that did come to the city were more interested in empowering themselves than learning about magic . Many Craftsman left for better opportunities in neighbouring settlements , as the craft guilds were prone to stagnation since its members , invigorated by the lifespan - increasing powers of the mythal , never left their posts . Finally , a descent into factionalism truly sundered the great unified force of Cormanthyr . The Akh ' Velahr saw increased enrollment in the face of a looming civil war with the violent noble houses , and became a highly trained force under the council ' s direction . Mages from the High Court seceded and formed the Eternal Srinnala in 685 DR , a female mage body dedicated to following the Srinshee ' s and the Coronal last wishes . Guilds were at odds and even taverns became exclusive to this race or that occupation . The priests of the various faiths of Myth Drannor banded together to protect their own district in the city against outside forces . Myth Drannor was breaking down year after year . The Interim Years . For over six centuries , the city ' s ruins were home to many lethal predators including alhoon s , devil s , dragon s , the Cult of the Dark Naga and phaerimm s . Parts of it were protected by baelnorn s and it was frequented by adventuring parties and raiders looking for treasure and magic . 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 . It remained as such for many years , even through the Retreat when the elves abandoned Cormanthor and left the city to its own fate . Little else is known about the goings on in the city during this time . Recapture . In 1374 DR , the army of Seiveril Miritar , leading a return to Faerûn , recaptured Myth Drannor and its new Coronal , Ilsevele Miritar , began restoring the city to its former glory . As of 1479 DR , the city occupied a smaller area than it once did , and some parts of the ruins of the older city were still present , the forest having regrown to cover them . Myth Drannor ' s mythal was repaired and was active in 1479 DR , preventing access to the city from other planes . The Sundering . In 1487 DR , after years of war against Netheril , Thultanthar fell upon Myth Drannor , destroying both cities . Ilsevele and her surviving subjects fled to Semberholme .