Thilnethelas

### Religions

Pantheon of the Tinu'arel Gods (Old Thilnethelas)God-Emperor (Post-War Empire of the Bright Star)

## Politics

### Gov't Type

Oligarchy (Old Thilnethelas)War Council (The Dark Millennia)Monarchy (Empire of the Bright Star)

### Ruler

Kings of Old Thilnethelas (Old Thilnethelas)Warlords of Thilnethelas (Dark Millennia)Imperial Lineage (Pre-War Empire of the Bright Star)God-Emperor Curuthir (Post-War Empire of the Bright Star)

### Allegiances

Imperial Lineage (Pre-War Empire of the Bright Star)God-Emperor Curuthir (Post-war Empire of the Bright Star)

> *"It is said that once there was a land fair and beautiful, ruled by the gods of Elves. Within this land, prosperity reigned and justice was heard in every corner of its domain - the shining sun never took its gaze off the rolling fields within."* - Ancient text describing Thilnethelas
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Thilnethelas is the domain of ancient Tinu'arel Eladrin not unlike the Fey Eladrin, but far more ancient in their claim to Toril. It is located south of the Faerunic continent. Many elves on Toril descend from Tinu'arel Eladrin.

## The Settling of Thilnethelas

Long before the races of Toril congregated and populated the continents, there was a land more ancient still in the Age of Elves. Far within the southern seas, there was the continent of Thilnethelas, an expansive and peaceful land whose only denizens were Eladrin. Though no surviving texts describe the settlement of Thilnethelas, it is believed to have been settled even before the Fey Eladrin appeared on Toril twenty five millennia ago. It is currently unknown where exactly the Tinu'arel came from. At this time, no one ruler amongst the Tinu'arel Eladrin claimed Thilnethelas, instead several peaceful kingdoms co-existed, led by various rulers either chosen by their subjects or selected by elder Tinu'arel. Here, the Eladrin prospered for thousands of years, sustaining themselves on the vast resources of Thilnethelas.

## Expansion into the Continents

After many years of steady growth, the kingdoms of Thilnethelas realized that there was no more to claim upon the continent; and so they turned their attention to the vast waters. The Tinu'arel Eladrin knew of the existence of other continents, though no real attempt was made. The lands beyond were savage and wild, untamed by civility, but the Eladrin kings saw no choice but to expand Northward. After preparation, the first Tinu'arel fleets departed towards their first landfall in a strange land: Faerun.

The fleets were headed by a man known Kailu, a brave navigator and explorer charged with settling the lands beyond. He and his men arrived at the Sword Coast in the year 3577 in the Age of Elves, and there they erected the settlement of Fyvarion, around the location where Waterdeep stands now. Though the settling of the Sword Coast was turbulent, by the year of 3583, the wilderness had been pushed away just enough to allow several settlements to spring and prosper. Fyvarion became the capital of the new world, headed by Kailu as a governor of this land. The Tinu'arel found this new land far more useful than first anticipated, as they began the export of strange plants and animals that were not native to Thilnethelas.

In the coming years, contact between Fyvarion and the kingdoms of Thilnethelas would slow greatly, as the novelty of the exploration gradually wore off. Nonetheless, Fyvarion continued to prosper in this new land, and thousands of elves migrated from Thilnethelas towards Fyvarion to forge a new life in this far and distant land.

## War of the Amanol Mountains

In the year 4082, a Tinu'arel ruler by the name of Gweyir the Fair ascended to the throne of the mountainous kingdom of Enthas. Eldest of her father's children, she sought to complete a wide array of the late king's ambitions for his domain, approving the construction of various public works projects and the opening of several new mining operations throughout her domain, she quickly rose to fame as a ruler who ensured the continued prosperity of her people. One of these mines was located at the base of the Amanol mountains, where the kingdom of Enthas shared borders with the kingdom of Ortheiad ruled by Rolim Firfel. A year prior, Rolim had approved the construction of a new silver mine in hopes of using the ore to construct a temple within his kingdom. Disapproving of such an act of thievery, Rolim gathered the council of the nearby rulers in order to discuss the matter in the nearby Moonlight Glade, a secluded meeting grounds for all political matters.

The discussion bore no fruit worth taking, resulting in aimless political bickering which ended with all the parties displeased equally. The rulers returned from the meeting only to discover that the mine had become a battlefield, as two patrolling elven parties from both kingdoms stumbled upon each other and fired, causing an escalation that resulted in the first battle of the war. After discovering this encounter, both parties suspected foul play and escalated the situation into an open war. This war would become the first war that the Tinu'arel kingdoms ever engaged in. It is also here that the apparent fault of Tinu'arel is revealed, as this first war would prove to be a catalyst for future conflict amongst the kingdoms in Thilnethelas.

### List of Battles

* Battle of Glimmering Sea (4083)
* Siege of Orbryn's Hall (4084)
* Siege of Janna Tael (4084)
* Battle of Allel Mirin (4085)
* Battle of Eris Tilu (4087)
* Siege of Wyln Aray (4088)
* Battle of Ile Turus (4084)
* Battle of the Cold Peak (4086)
* Siege of Agryn Wall (4087)
* Battle of Tyl Carenn (4087)
* Battle of Beryn Cove (4085)
* Siege of Orren Edrai (4084)

### Notable Battles

#### Battle of the Reinry River

In the year 4082, shortly after the battle in the mine, forces sent by Enthas and headed by one General Elbauthin advanced towards a small town surrounding an Ortheiadian fort next to the Reinry River. The advancing force, comprised of 1,500 Enthian foot soldiers followed by a force of 1,000 archers and 800 war casters. As an addition, three arcane siege engines commissioned by the Royal Engineers Guild of Enthas were rerouted to aid them in laying siege to the fort.

On the opposing side, Fort Commander Orym and 800 soldiers stood to defend against the invaders. Though their numbers were small, they had the advantage of funneling the invaders through a narrow stone bridge which reached over the Reinry river. They also had access to about 150 levies from the town, who would help construct barricades and added defenses to slow down the invaders.

As General Elbauthin arrived at the river, he noticed the predicament of the river crossing. He then ordered all his men pick up axes and tear down the nearby forest of Il'ran Taesi in order to construct a secondary floating bridge downstream from the main bridge. In order to avoid his enemy learning the plans, he ordered his men to cut only at night, and ordered the mages to regrow only the first layer of trees facing towards the enemy so that they would not suspect any changes. In the meantime, he devised a plan which guaranteed him success, separating the primary force into two sections: heavy infantry which would proceed over the stone bridge and distract the enemy along with archers and a single siege engine, while the rest of the fort crossed over the floating bridge in order to flank the defenders and destroy some defenses before they noticed the ploy. Within a week's time, the new bridge was constructed and the plan was carried out.

Just as expected, the defenders focused a majority of their defensive strength on the main route, attempting to push back the seemingly meager invading force. It was not until a horn was sounded and a bastion was crumbling that Orym noticed his enemy's guile. He redirected his forces towards the seemingly larger force, which alleviated pressure off the heavy cavalry. A mere two hours of combat followed, at which point half the fort hand crumbled onto the earth and all the defenders within surrendered to the superior invading force. The prisoners were shackled and taken back to Enthas, while the fort was overtaken by its new defenders.

#### Battle of the Pale Clouds

In 4084, eight flying Enthian squadrons mounted on griffons were intercepted over the Glades of Iyena during a routine patrol by three Ortheiadian drake riders headed by Captain Irune. This was the first instance of aerial combat in the War of the Amanol Mountains and the testing ground for the drake riders, who at that point had never been deployed.

Within ten minutes of first engagement, six out of the eight Enthian squadrons were killed by the drake riders while the last two escaped the battle by retreating into the cloud cover, losing the drake riders and returning to the nearest fort. This of course resulted in absolute victory for the Ortheiadian force and Captain Irune was bestowed the title "Terror of the Pale Sky". Though no other strictly aerial battles would take place, Irune and his drake riders would aid in several sieges and land battles, increasing their fame with every passing day.

#### Siege of Cyl'numor

The second largest city of Ortheiad, Cyl'numor, sat a comfortable eighty miles from Ile Thalore (which at the time was the capital city). In the year 4087, Enthas would deploy its largest invasion force yet, amassing a total of fifty thousand elves to capture the city. The main fighting force was comprised of various forms of infantry and archers, as well as a few dozen siege engines and flying griffon squadrons. Though this force was large, the force defending the city was equally formidable. Forty eight thousand men defended Cyl'numor, supported by towers which dotted the farmlands beyond the main walls. At each segment of the wall, there were ballistae mounted at every bastion, with larger trebuchets constructed on elevated platforms that could sustain barrages outwards. The wall itself was the thickest Enthas had yet seen, and additional constructions were erected such as trenches lining the land beyond the external wall, as well as brick barriers that were built in order to break up and halt any invading forces.

This invasion force was once again headed by General Elbauthin of Enthas, who had cleverly captured the fort at the Reinry river in the first major battle of the war. On the opposing side, a cunning man by the name of Lord Ylnner headed the defense; though he was noble by birth, Ylnner followed a militaristic path that made him one of the more capable military leaders in Ortheiad. Ylnner relied on his enemy's apparent weakness against the drake riders, and since Ortheiad knew of the invasion force a week in advance, he requested a grand fleet of twenty four drakes be granted for the defense of Cyl'numor.

On the eve of battle, the invading army prepared to enter the territory of Cyl'numor, and as they camped on the ridge line, Elbauthin surveyed the rolling fields of golden wheat ahead. While looking through the glass, he saw a faint glimmer of starlight above; he saw a blackened shadow travel above the clouds barely visible to those on the ground. Realizing that his enemies had prepared their aerial supremacy, he ordered the siege be halted a week while the Royal Engineers Guild of Enthas reinforced his force with ballistae of his own in order to fend off the terror in the sky without risking his griffon squadrons. However clever a trick this might have been, Elbauthin's insistence on waiting caused the food stores carried by the army to be spread thin. Worrying for his men, he ordered that they turn their attention to the fields ahead, permitting them to enter the farmlands in bands in order to collect and seize any food the farms may contain. This decision directly led to the Massacre of the Golden Fields in which an untold number of civilians were murdered for attempted resistance against these soldiers. Though he did not directly authorize this use of lethal force, the decision would weigh heavily on Elbauthin's mind, culminating in his suicide by hemlock poisoning in the year 4093.

After the arrival of the ballistae, Elbauthin marched his army through the recently picked fields and into the bounds of Cyl'numor, and a bloody battle ensued. The siege of Cyl'numor lasted a month, wherein many days were filled with fighting, while others were simply awaiting the defenders to starve. In this battle, Irune would be shot down by a ballista crew behind the lines of Elbauthin, where he was promptly captured and put to death by beheading. His head was mounted on a pike carried on top of the banner of the vanguard legions, which did much to inspire fear and weaken the defenders' morale. Though the city could have held longer, Ylnner could not bear to watch as the buildings beyond the wall were razed to the ground, and it is said that the cries of his dying men haunted him greatly. After a month long siege, Cyl'numor capitulated under the heel of the invader, and Ylnner was captured and transported back to Enthas, where he was held until the end of the war.

The capture of Cyl'numor spelled the end for Ortheiad, as a city with such close proximity to the capital being captured with such swiftness was an omen of demise. Ortheiad underestimated the brutality that the forces of Enthas would employ and overestimated their own abilities in war. Their neighbors were far more militarily prepared, while Ortheiad held military parades coated in dazzling silver and gold as a show of wealth rather than preparedness. Regardless, only a year after the capture of Cyl'numor, Ile Thalore would fall.

#### The fall of Ile Thalore

The War of the Amanol Mountains was fought until 4088, at which point the capital of Ortheiad Ile Thalore was put under siege by Gweyir's forces. By this point, the forces of Ortheiad were all but in disarray, and the morale of the people was broken after news of the defeat at Cyl'numor spread like wildfire. Though the forces under the command of Gweyir were greater still than that used in Cyl'numor, very little resistance was met as the soldiery defending the city surrendered in the face of imminent death.

In the final days of the siege, after all the external walls were turned into little more than dust, and only the final inner wall stood surrounding the citadel. Here, the Last Stand of the Silvered Ones would go down in history, as a band of royal guards would fend off the invading army for five days, defending a large crater put into the wall by one of the enemy trebuchets. Without sleep nor rest, the guards fought heroically until one by one they were slain, where the final guard - Hasterien the Brilliant - exclaimed his final words as he saw his comrades fall:

> *"If this is all that Enthas would send, then I pity the mothers of such sons who died beneath my blade as cowards and dogs. Though my flesh may fade here today, you may only dream of a peaceful living on lands my brothers and sisters defend." - Hasterien the Brilliant*
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After his call, Hasterien would fight till his arms turned blue and bruised and his muscles failed. As he was struck by three arrows, still he fought with blood lust and might, collapsing dead only after eight more struck him.

With the last of the brave dead, Gewyir's forces poured into the citadel, seizing what remained of the lands of Ortheiad and tearing apart the banners of a dying kingdom. After the citadel was breached and the inner halls clamored with the ceaseless march of invading soldiers, Rolim was found within the tower in the center of the citadel. He was captured by a band of infantrymen, at which point he was taken to his balcony and the fall of Ile Thalore was declared to all those who still fought within the secluded streets of the city. Wails of desperation and cries of anger arose, as some of the last defenders fought until the bitter end or ceased their fighting and dropped their weapons. Whether or not it was a glorious day it is unknown, but Otheiad was conquered all the same.

### Absorption into Enthas

With the old government deposed, Ortheiad was absorbed into the kingdom of Enthas as a land ruled by a lord overseer, who would guide the region autonomously but still report to Queen Gweyir the Fair. Within Sylvathis (the capital of Enthas) festivities were held congratulating the military leadership and all those who fought on a brave victory, and though the celebration was tainted by the sorrow of war, the nation prospered in the following years.

Within ruined Ortheiad, there were still bands of resistance that sought to restore the lands to their former glory, however useless a task that may be. Until 4100, Ortheiad was considered a dangerous territory for citizens of Enthas proper, as bandits and warlords would disrupt trade ways and ambush anyone who wore the crest of Enthas. As the years went on however, "true Ortheidians" began to dwindle in numbers, and soon the fires of resistance were quenched by the sands of time.

## The Dark Millennia and the Decline of Old Thilnethelas

The war of the Amanol mountains marked a dark period of Tinu'arel history, as tensions began to rise and the seal on the option of war was broken, several nearby kingdoms broke out in brawls of their own. In the coming centuries, hundreds of battles would be fought for anything as little as territorial disputes, throwing the peace of Thilnethelas into complete ruin. To make matters worse, Fyvarion would soon learn of a troubling fact. While the great elves pondered their own problems and questions on the Sword Coast, several races began constructing domains of their own. The ancient kingdoms of man, dwarves and orcs arose from the chaos of the wilderness, and villages and towns built by halflings and gnomes sprung all over the maps. The gates of hell regurgitated tieflings, as the elemental planes spawned genasi. To make matters even worse, Fey Eladrin arrived on Toril, pestering the Tinu'arel and claiming what they had thought was theirs. While the kingdoms of Thilnethelas squabbled and warred, the races of Faerun and indeed Toril exploded outwards, multiplying far faster than any of the Tinu'arel settlements. Soon, the Tinu'arel were beset on all sides by strange short lived races that lived lives chaotic and erratic before wasting away as quickly as they came; and now the Tinu'arel had their cousins asking for a slice of the glory they had built.

### Independence of Fyvarion and the Tinu'arel Sword Coast

Fyvarion sent letter after letter with ships returning to Thilnethelas, asking the council of kings what they were to do about such strange times, but none of the ships returned with an answer. After a thousand years of silence, a ship returned bearing the bad news of bedlam and war. Fyvarion, seeing that the kings of Thilnethelas had lost their wisdom and grace, called for independence from the continent they once called home. Soon after, the other settlements of the Sword Coast declared independence of their own, and since the kings of the old world were embroiled in combat none could stop the streaks of rebellion happening across the wide oceans. Fyvarion opened its gates to the new kingdoms of Faerun, and soon they lost all their isolationist tendencies. These Tinu'arel elves would mingle with the races of Faerun, and soon their original identity was muddied by the passage of time.

Meanwhile in Thilnethelas, wars exploded every other passing year, new kingdoms were formed just as quickly as their predecessors fell. Roving war bands and independent warlords became common, and the wisdom of the Tinu'arel became a trait harbored by the enlightened and the old. In many ways, the Tinu'arel became more "mortal" compared to their current High Elf counterparts thanks to the Dark Millennia. This was the state of Thilnethelas for nearly eight millennia further, and the land was ravaged by the scars of war and tyranny. The names of the kingdoms (and indeed, written text as a whole) became a rare occurrence in these times, as naming a child which would be claimed by the grave a mere moments after its birth was a futile task. This is was the end of old Thilnethelas, its final chapter dotted with the splatter of Tinu'arel blood. It is claimed that the Age of Elves ended at the advent of the wars, giving ways to a new calendar aptly named the Calendar of the Dark Millennia.

## Unification of Thilnethelas

During the end of the Dark Millennia, Thilnethelas grew tired of war and conflict. The kingdoms were fragmented and disorganized, the Tinu'arel were filled with hate and anger, and little of the old arts were preserved. Cities of gilded stone and silver became rare and only existed as ruins, statues built to scholars were replaced by those that depict the cruelest of the cruel. A few kingdoms managed to maintain hold on their lands, but their histories were blackened by the onset of famine and disease. Healing magics had become a thing of the past, as most practitioners of the arcane arts chose violence and destruction instead.

### Esmira the Unifier

This rotten twine in the weave of Thilnethelas would soon be severed however, as a Tinu'arel woman by the name of Esmira Phyrris was born in 8292 in the Dark Millennia. She was a noble Tinu'arel within the city of Ile Gwaelyn, within one of the last "prosperous kingdoms". Esmira's mind wandered to an age of prosperity that came long before her, helped along by her father's bookshelf stacked high with texts remembering the early days of Thilnethelas. Determined to undo what time and villainy had done to a glorious continent, she set her mind onto a path that would change the future forever.

Joining the court of her father King Elryn, she aided him in the management of his domain to the best of her abilities. Though her father worried over maps of strongholds and armies, she focused her attention on food availability and a restoration of the Tinu'arel arts. With her father's permission, she aided in the construction of hospitals, shelters, farms, aqueducts and mills. She repaved the cobbled paths that ran throughout the city, appearing personally to help the construction of infrastructure. Her appearance amongst the crowds of toiling citizens improved her father's image, as the people saw his trust in them in the form of sending out his heir to the muddy fields and rainy streets. She was celebrated as a local hero, giving from her own palace to the people below.

This effort continued for many years, until in the year 8323 when her father surprised her with sudden news. After summoning her into the throne room one late night, he informed her of his decision to abdicate the throne to her. Though his health was well, he saw in her the fire to do what he could not for so many years, to bring around a revival of an ancient and forgotten time. He remained as her advisor, guiding her where she needed aid. Elryn would not be remembered so much for his leadership, but rather for the leadership he brought in. He prepared for a coronation ceremony in the coming days, and as the crown was set upon Esmira's head the crowds gathered below cheered with great enthusiasm.

Esmira grew to be a great ruler indeed, and under her the kingdom expanded greatly. Not by means of war but rather diplomacy and trade, where she offered many a fragmented town safety in exchange for their loyalty. Though she was ruler, she continued to appear among the common man in order to help them construct a brighter future. Within the next hundred years, she expanded so greatly that her now prosperous kingdom flourished under the golden sun once more. The neighboring kingdoms, first fearing defeat at her hands, launched surprise invasions whenever they could. These disorganized and fragmented invasions were met with a strong defensive line strengthened by unity and true infrastructure and civilization, but no retaliation. Instead, Queen Esmira invited them into the palace for diplomatic exchanges, and many of these smaller kingdoms bent knee to her in hopes of granting their people better lives, and if not that, to grant them favor with the seemingly great Esmira.

### The Grand Decree of Unity

Soon, all but the most violent of kingdoms joined Esmira in her quest to bring peace to the lands, and as she looked upon her domain she saw a gathering storm on the horizon. The last of the kingdoms were cruel and vicious, finding a thrill in war that could not be recreated with diplomacy. Esmira knew that the only solution to this problem was one she dreaded the most, utilizing that which she banished in order to finally bring peace to a war-torn land. Gathering her subjects in the marble courtyards she erected, she addressed them with utmost grief and regret. In 8640, she addressed her people with a speech that would come to be known as the Grand Decree of Unity:

> *"My dearest countrymen, those who hold the sky upon their shoulders, I come bearing terrible news indeed. Beyond our glimmering homes there is a maelstrom of anguish and misery fueled by a thirst of war that has lasted a eight thousand years. It is a sight most abhorrent, one that all of you have grown accustomed to, one that our ancestors would see in the most loathsome of light. Beyond our glimmering homes, there is a collection of dark kingdoms which seek to undo that which we hold dear, that which we now prize so greatly - civility, music, art, compassion, sympathy, love and kinship. Do not mistake my words for slander, those within their camps do not remember the time of joy and happiness. They are those who have lost sight of what we are rebuilding, who do not know the comfort of society and continuity, who do not understand brotherhood beyond that which can afford them slaughter and bounty. I ask with a heavy heart, dear countrymen, that you raise arms one last time to preserve a future so close to us now. To pick up blade and spear not in the name of war, but in the name of what it might bring. We will not march to destroy them, we will not march to rob them of their lands and homes. Instead, we march to unify ourselves with them, to become one beneath the warm sunlight of the midday sky, to share the dances of our forefathers when the full moon rises on the rolling fields of grass. They are not our enemies, countrymen, they are our long lost brothers and sisters who have lost sight of the gifts of harmony. We march today not for the sake of war, but for the sake of peace - one last symphony of combat that will silence our blades forever so that our children will never know the sound of war and violence again. What say you, warriors of peace, will you join the crusade to bring unity to a weary land? Will you rise to bring together Thilnethelas beneath the banner of prosperity?"* - Queen Esmira, addressing the public below
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Roused by these moving words and knowing that their ruler has not led them astray thus far, the people of Esmira's kingdom organized and took up arms, marching towards the hateful remnants of a past best forgotten.

As the armies marched towards their last objectives, the splinters of resistance could not hope to match such an overwhelming force. Unlike the armies of the old war, however, Esmira's forces accepted prisoners and surrender graciously. They fed them and took care of them, even those who presented a complete disregard for her cause. The last kingdoms of hate did not crumble because of overwhelming brutality, but rather because of the kindness their liberators imposed. Once the last kingdom fell, Esmira's unification of Thilnethelas was over, and the sound of clanging steel gave way to the chirping of birds and the babbling of brooks. Thilnethelas was not returned to former glory, but rather far surpassed any history of itself.

The unification marked the end of the Dark Millennia, and a new calendar was chosen, one punctuated by the end of all war. The Age of Prosperity had begun, beckoned forth by Esmira Phyrris: First Empress of the Bright Star of Prosperity. The massive kingdom, now spanning coast to coast, became known as the Empire of the Bright Star, and Esmira Elenion Ancalima became the first of a long line of rulers that would catapult Thilnethelas into the halls of history forever.

## Reconnecting with Faerun

Long after the unification of Thilnethelas, under the rule of Emperor Illiathrin Ancalima, an exploratory fleet of ships was sent to the Sword Coast in order to reconnect with the lost cities the old world had abandoned. As the ships docked off the Sword Coast, the Tinu'arel instantly noticed a stark difference in the description of the lands, as a vast human population had swept over many of the settlements. Most notably, Fyvarion was long since forgotten, and in its stead a new elven settlement by the name of Aelinthaldaar. Regardless of such a change, the crew forged new connections with the settlement in the name of Thilnethelas and the Empire of the Bright Star.

While in Faerun, the Tinu'arel traveled deeper into Faerun in order to discover the changes that had occurred within the continent. Much to their surprise, the geography was altered greatly by the races living within it, with many major kingdoms and empires sprawled across the continent. The largest of the empires was one by the name of Netheril, which occupied a great deal of Faerun's northern lands. With this new information, the Tinu'arel returned to their homeland, but not before being noticed by the Netherese.

## Destruction of Aelinthaldaar

After a few thousand years, the Empire of the Bright Star lost communication with Aelinthaldaar. Fearing that harm may have come to the settlement, they traveled once more across the open ocean under order of Empress Shalheira Ancalima. Upon their arrival, they found that the elves had de-established the settlement due to political pressures from Netheril, which was now embroiled in war with the Phaerimm. This however did not stop Netheril from attempting to intercept the Tinu'arel, who to them were a strange form of elf disconnected from Faerun. Several mages from Netheril intercepted the Tinu'arel landing parties, and it is there that the nomenclature "Sun Elf" was incorrectly bestowed upon them. After an attempted dialogue, the Netherese mages attempted to convince the Tinu'arel to return to Netheril with them. Fearing that this might be a trap, the Tinu'arel graciously declined the invitation, at which point the Netherese mages unleashed a searing barrage of spells towards one of the ships, sinking it instantly. A skirmish broke out between the elves and the mages, causing an abundance of spells to go flying in either direction. After several of their comrades were felled by superior Tinu'arel magics, the remaining Netherese mages vanished and retreated to their cities, where they informed the High Mages of Netheril of their findings.

At the time, the Tinu'arel were confused as to why the seeming pinnacle of human civilization was so outwardly hostile towards diplomatic envoys, and so they returned to Thilnethelas carrying the news of the skirmish. At the same time, the High Mages of Netheril became increasingly interested in such elves coming from without Faerun, especially considering their magics were far more potent than most Faerunic elves.

## The Great War of Man

The Tinu'arel continued to visit Faerun in small exploratory and diplomatic missions, collecting as much information on the inhabitants as possible. However, as the missions increased, the Tinu'arel began to notice a worrying trend amongst Faerunic races - that of blood lust and war. The Tinu'arel had shunned the use of force for political gain after the unification of Thilnethelas, and seeing so many short-lived races commit countless atrocities against peace in such a short time span began to change the light in which the Tinu'arel saw Faerun. Rather ironically, some Tinu'arel returned to seeing Faerun as an uncivilized and chaotic land, filled with overgrown wilderness much like they had when they first settled it.

As the opinions of the Tinu'arel changed, their visits became less frequent. The Empire of the Bright Star began to adopt more isolationist tendencies once more, opting to leave Faerun to its fate of self-destruction; many of the officials and citizens believed that much like the plague, war could be transmitted to one of their crews and returned to Thilnethelas, sparking another Dark Millennium. The last Tinu'arel ship to depart Faerun made a fatal mistake, however, forgetting to cast their vessel in invisibility - allowing one Netherese mage to catch glimpse of them returning in the direction of Thilnethelas.

In the following years the High Council of Mages with aid from many human kingdoms on the surface of Faerun organized an exploratory force, constructing large floating ships known as Cloudsplitters that could travel large distances quickly and safely. In the year -3120 DR, the Netherese Empire and the Kingdoms of Man would launch across the sea, following in the path the vessels of the Tinu'arel had laid. The first Cloudsplitter to arrive off the coast of Thilnethelas was commanded by a war mage by the name of Eldridge Galdrim. The beauty that he saw ahead was like nothing he had seen before, buildings and spires that have a thousand nations' worth of gold in them as well as massive magical crystals that littered the landscape.

Eldridge informed the rest of the force to return to Faerun, that he had seen more than is required, and that they would need far more aid in what he planned to do. Much like most men throughout history, Eldridge fell to greed within mere moments of seeing Thilnethelas, and he knew that the magical information contained within such cities would guarantee Netheril success in their war against the Phaerimm.

### The Massacre of Tael Thurmil

In -3122 DR, Netheril would return with thousands of Cloudsplitters carrying double their number in men, munitions and arms. On a fateful spring night in -3122, Netheril launched the first attack against the coastal city of Tael Thurmil. Within hours of first engagement, the city would be burnt to the ground by Netherese magics, casting the continent of Thilnethelas into its second bout of turmoil. This first attack would come to be known as the Massacre of Tael Thurmil, as the forces of man refused to take prisoners regardless of status nor occupation. As dawn rose, the streets of Thilnethelas reflected the grim crimson of battle, and the spires that once stood tall above the city were reduced to gravel. The city's wealth was plundered, artifacts were robbed from temples and halls of wisdom, instruments of magic were seized by Netheril and taken away.

The destruction of the city is said to be so absolute that had Netheril not written of their success, no one would know of its existence in the first place.

> *"Though we were the victors, a sense of solemn dread loomed over the now silent street ways. Temples, schools, universities, apothecaries, homes, gardens, statues, cemeteries, hospitals, palaces, estates, towers, shops; none remained in the wake of our footfalls. Still, this would prove to be a grand addition to the great libraries of Netheril, and these artifacts will surely aid our allies in their development towards the future."* - Ulkemann Deeplore, imperial scribe of Netheril in *A Recollection of Conquest*
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### Tinu'arel Mobilization

The attack on Tael Thurmil sent waves of panic throughout the empire. Empress Shalheira Ancalima quickly gathered her most trusted advisors and ordered them to gather the most capable of soldiers and mages and begin organizing into as many armies as could be mustered. Realizing that she had allowed the disease of war to be brought back to Thilnethelas, Shalheira first attempted to speak diplomatically with Netheril, believing this attack to be some sort of error. The Netherese, of course, did not respond.

Seeing no other solution, the Tinu'arel armies were amassed for war and deployed to set up a defensive front to hold back the invader. Though they were potent with magic, the people of the empire were not well versed in combat, as it was an evil thought vanquished long ago. Shalheira summoned her children to her side, bestowing them each command over one of the armies departing towards the defensive front. There were four sons: Curuthir, Heldrin, Taenrin and Ruthmir, and each oversaw the defense of one of the major cities on the defensive line.

### Victory at Nilath Anore

As the armies of man swept over the coast and poured into the continent of Thilnethelas, they focused their attention on the city of Nilath Anore, the second largest in the region. The invading force was comprised of 30,000 men, supported by a variety of artillery pieces as well as a force of a hundred Cloudsplitters. Within the city, Curuthir headed the defensive force of 25,000 Tinu'arel elves, as well as several hundred dragonmaw ballistae specifically constructed to target air vehicles. The thundering of the approaching armies footfalls could be heard from many miles away, and it seemed that the forces of man made no effort to hide their approach. Within a few days, the army had collected outside the city walls and had begun barraging the inner city with burning boulders and magical missiles.

While the forces of the Curuthir were strong and adamant on their position, the constant reinforcement of Cloudsplitters from the coast prevented the defenders from making any significant dents against the Netherese. The barrage was endless, and the Cloudsplitters kept appearing as soon as one was felled. Realizing that he could not keep targeting the airships actively, Curuthir devised a plan. Within the central city was a large stone dedicated to the upkeep of the city mythal, a large dome like barrier reinforced by Tinu'arel magics; this was the only thing preventing the artillery beyond the walls from ravaging the city within. Curuthir went towards the mythal, and with the aid of several of his brightest mages he reconstructed the glyphs that maintained the barrier. For but a moment, the barrier would fall and allow any of the opposing force to enter freely into the city. As the mythal was rearranged, the shimmering blue dome vanished and the forces of man cried out in victory as they stormed the main gates, bashing their way through as best as they could.

Unbeknownst to the attackers, they played their hand exactly as Curuthir predicted. As the Cloudspitters hovered over the city, dropping incendiary bolts of magic onto the citizens below, they noticed a strange taste on the air. Soon, the wooden boards aboard the airships began flaking slowly causing the ship to buckle and heave, and soon the armor on the invading soldiers began to flake as well. Before they could realize what was happening, a massive pulse of sickly green energy radiated from the standing stone, and the forces of man cried in hideous agony as their flesh melted off bone and as their eyes bubbled and boiled. Curuthir had constructed a new mythal which acted as an amplifying beacon for a spell akin to disintegrate, wherein all targeted creatures were drowned in wave after wave of searing energy. Cloudsplitters fell from the sky and crashed into the earth, soldiers begged and pleaded to be killed as their soul was torn from their flesh - and after the symphony of violence came quiet, then cheering. Just as quickly as they had arrived, the forces of man were reduced to burning piles of ash and biological residue, their remains scattering in the wind or seeping into the earth. Curuthir had remarked to one of his fellow mages that the dusting of ashes on the winds reminded him of the coronation ribbons that the Tinu'arel used, except their luxurious golden sheen was replaced with the dull grey of victory.

What little remained of the army of man turned around and retreated towards the coast upon seeing their brethren fall, and so the victory at Nilath Anore was captured from the invading brutes.

### Night of Sorrow

The war raged on, neither Netheril nor Thilnethelas willing to surrender their quarter, and both sides became quite accustomed to the rhythm of conflict. In -3124 DR, the advisors of Empress Shalheira gathered at the royal palace to discuss solutions to this endless meat grinder. Many suggested an amicable end to the combat, reciting that war should not be the only way forth. Several more were vocally more hostile, expressing the need to crush the invading "cockroach" army beneath the boot of stern discipline and hatred. Shalheira's sons were equally divided, with Ruthmir and Taenrin advocating for a peaceful end and forgiveness while Heldrin cited the effectiveness of blade and steel in thrusting the invaders back. In the heat of the discussion, Curuthir spoke up from amongst the gathered mass. He strode forward and spoke directly to his mother, explaining to her his plan of action. Curuthir, according to himself, had seen the futility of conventional war against such an adamant invader, and decided within himself that the only plan of action was to strike the enemy where they least expected it. Citing his first victory, he remarked about the effectiveness of the disintegrating pulse against all matter that the armies of man possessed. He presented his idea, an alchemical compound which would replicate the effects of the pulse with no magical signature to be detected. With the aid of the imperial lab of alchemy, he could produce this compound and sneak it onto a Cloudsplitter that was due to return to Netheril; detonating upon arrival and throwing the invader into a panic as their home became tarnished.

Though many of the advisors approved of such a plan, Shalheira utterly refused the possibility of such an attack. It was so gruesome and cruel that she could not bear the thought of living with such pain on her conscience. Hearing his mother's disapproval, Curuthir became increasingly irate, telling her that she was unfit for leadership and that Thilnethelas was to die in her arms as she attempted to coddle it with words of peace and mercy. Collecting his notes, he stormed out of the palace in a fit of rage. He contemplated solutions to his mother's disapproval as he marched down the streets until the thundering sound of an explosion deafened him and threw him onto the ground. In a state of confusion he spun around to see the palace on fire, blazing currents shattering the windows and consuming the architecture. The palace was destroyed beyond recognition, and in the darkness of night above a small sleek figure akin to the Cloudsplitter vanished into the clouds.

While the Tinu'arel were convening, the kingdoms of man had devised a new plan that would assure their success. An advisor thought to have been killed a week earlier in a skirmish with Netheril was actually captured and interrogated, surrendering information on the capital city. Netheril constructed a smaller less detectable version of the Cloudsplitter, affectionately called the Bluejay, designed to carry out missions far behind enemy lines. As the Bluejay skimmed through the clouds of the night sky, it deposited a large charge of offensive magics into the palace from its perch, detonating the charge as it landed in the midst of the gathered officials. In one fell swoop, Netheril managed to kill every high ranking member of the Empire, all except one.

Curuthir ran into the hall as soon as the fires were quenched, and there he saw the charred remains of his mother, his siblings and the best of Thilnethelas' officials. The guards who had entered the room alongside him recall seeing him kneel over his mother's body, attempting to gather what little remained of her form. Fearing another attempt and realizing that Curuthir was the last hope of the empire, the guards tore him away and took him into a secured room beneath the palace.

### Coronation of Emperor Curuthir

Soon after the death of his mother, Curuthir was crowned Emperor of the Brightest Star, a title which he bestowed upon himself after the death of his family. His coronation was equal parts celebration and mourning, as the people had lost one of their beloved leaders in the first assassination in the history of the empire. Not only that, the advisors that died during this attack were responsible for upholding the defensive line, and without their leadership the line began to fracture as forces of man threw their weight against the barrier.

Emperor Curuthir Ancalima gave addressed his people after his coronation, standing much like Esmira did so many years ago. This decree, however, would come to be known as the Decree of the Unmerciful Empire:

> *"This war has taken much from us, my people. It has weighed heavily on us since the treacherous attack that the kingdoms of man carried out. How shall we respond? My mother would have asked peace and nonviolence, but she is dead. My great grandmother would have asked unity of us, but she is dead. My grandfather would have asked curiosity and wisdom, but he is dead. Only I remain, my loyal people, only I am left to guide us along this lonely path. What would I ask of you I hear you say, what is it that you demand of us. Violence. Violence so unmerciful it will shake the thrones upon which the gods sit, violence so unforgiving that the sky would rupture and rain blood upon our foes, violence so potent it will not only strike fear into our enemies, but into their descendants as well. We did not ask for this, we did not want this, we did not seek this - we were bestowed it. We were bestowed the mantle of reminding Toril of our presence, of reminding the fools beyond the ocean who this realm belongs to. We, who conquered dragons. We, who settled the wilderness. We, who raised civilization from the chaos of a primordial age! These men live short lives, yet think themselves masters of us all! These men know nothing of the beauty of this realm, yet they destroy it with every step! They are monsters, beasts spawned onto this mortal coil by the forces of evil! Look how they ruined Tael Thurmil, look at how they slaughtered your sons, your daughters, your brothers, your sisters! Look how they slew my mother! They have offered me my own kin in the form of ashes and charred flesh, and for that they will pay dearly. Look yonder towards the sea where they crawl upon their hideous limbs, look towards the great beyond where they breed and rally! They have cost us our lives, but we will cost them their history! No quarter shall be granted to the invader, no sympathy for the hounds of war! Arise countrymen, arise! Brandish your blade and hone your steel, for man shall know the taste of their own blood. First their soldiers, then their lands, and soon their empire! For the glory of the Tinu'arel, for the glory of those who have left and those who have come! Too long have we spent meek and quiet, pondering our solitude while the races of Faerun prepared our coffin! We shall not falter in our holy crusade against the filth that has festered! If you seek a god in these trying times, look not to the stars above for there is nothing but silence! Look to me, for soon, I shall become a god to man - and cruel I shall be! Onwards!"* - Emperor Curuthir Elenion Ancalima in the Decree of the Unmerciful Empire
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The decree was so successful in rallying both soldiery and citizenry that a series of riots broke out in the streets of the capital, and this fire of anguish and violence did not cease beyond the bounds of the city. Mass mobilizations across all the cities of the empire marked the largest organization of fighting forces on Thilnethelas and perhaps even Toril itself. Twelve million soldiers were gathered from all the cities of the continent, formed into several dozen armies of a size unimaginable to most.

More importantly, the Emperor ordered all alchemists from all cities to start producing the alchemical weapon he envisioned, nicknamed "The Elixir of Renewal". His vision was no longer set on Netheril, but now all of Faerun was complicit in the attempt on Thilnethelas, and all of them deserved the reckoning which comes.

### Battle of the Drowning Men

As the armies advanced on the coast, the forces of man found themselves pushed against a corner; more specifically the ocean that they crossed. The Tinu'arel were revitalized, their souls reignited with the fires of blood-lust and war. With every passing hour, thousands of men fell beneath their swords and magics. So many Cloudsplitters were destroyed in this push that the burning wrecks caused black clouds of smog and smoke to collect above the battlefields, casting the vicious advance in a hellish darkness. Realizing their mistake, the forces of man formed a retreat off the continent, attempting to flee with their lives. Several armies arrived at the coast for escape only to find that the Tinu'arel had encircled them, and they were forced against the sheer cliffs of the coastline - still the Tinu'arel pushed. Though many Tinu'arel were slain, their comrades simply walked over their fallen allies and threw themselves against the enemy, each elf fighting with every ounce of their strength until they were killed or died from exhaustion.

Soon, the armies of man began falling off the cliffs into the sea below, and still the Tinu'arel pushed. The bodies were so numerous that the sea resembled a field of poppies, as floating corpses and blood ran into the waves and dyed the tides an awful crimson. As the last human soldiers fell, the Tinu'arel stood on the edge and watched as their enemies formed a sea of violent tranquility, envisioning the slaughter ahead. Their war did not end with the Battle of the Drowning Men, it would end when the last man on Faerun gasped his last breath

## The Rebuilding of Thilnethelas

God-Emperor Curuthir Ancalima did not simply accept the retreat. Immediately, he got to stockpiling the Elixir of Renewal into mass depots beneath the ground. Hundreds of facilities poured their efforts into the project, producing millions of barrels of the liquid. This continued for nearly two millennia. In addition to this project, Curuthir began rebuilding the lands that were razed by Netheril, specifically the previous city of Tael Thurmil. After the rebuilding, the city was renamed to Tael Curuthir, and in it stood a statue of the God Emperor pointing a sword towards Faerun. The statue's plaque was inscribed with the following words: "If ever a Tinu'arel asks where our enemies lie, then look towards the sword and the sound of war."

The Emperor also constructed a large collection of underground tunnels and chambers that spanned beneath the entire continent. This underground city was colloquially named Curuthir's Catacombs because of their resemblance to burial chambers. These tunnels could hold a great portion if not all of the population of the empire within them in the case of catastrophe. This construction was probably brought on by the emperor's developed paranoia, fearing that Netheril may choose to attack from the skies again.

### The Birth of a Princess

In this time, Curuthir took a wife in order to maintain his bloodline. His chosen wife was a woman by the name of Iowen, the daughter of an influential noble who had paid tribute to the emperor in order to fund his researcher. Though the circumstance of the wedding is unknown, it is thought to have been a political bid in order to elevate the nobleman's stature amongst his peers. His wife would bear him a daughter by the name of Ardhel, the heiress to the Empire of the Bright Star. Born in -1853 DR, Curuthir saw in Ardhel the continuation of the empire, and he grew obsessed with preparing her for war and the anticipated genocide of man. By the time she had reached a mere eighteen years of age, she had been drilled on all military matters and the duties of civil service. To Curuthir, she had become more than his daughter, she was the future of Tinu'arel on a Toril free of barbaric races. It was observed rather plainly that Curuthir's hold on reality began to slip soon after his mother's demise, and that his relationship with those around him (and especially his wife and child) was reduced to their usefulness in his crusade.

Just before Ardhel's twentieth birthday, Iowen passed suddenly. The circumstances as well as the cause of death was never announced. No ceremony was held for Iowen, her body was quietly interred in the imperial tomb with no grand mourning for her passing.

## The Fall of the Empire

In -1828 DR, on a day just like any other, a great rumbling was heard across all of Thilnethelas. On the horizon, cloud of sickly green poison rose into the sky and blanketed a majority of the continent. All local authorities within the cities of the empire began escorting civilians into Curuthir's Catacombs, leading evacuation efforts as the air grew heavy and the first flakes of alchemical powder rained from the sky. Fearing that Netheril had somehow found and destroyed the depot, Curuthir ordered all of the citizens of the empire to abandon all they owned except for their weapons and armor.

Curuthir also ordered a few select members of the imperial mages to remain in the palace and perform a ritual he had developed in case the armies of man returned in force. The mages would begin work on a mythal which would fragment the continent of Thilnethelas, sinking most of it into the sea to be preserved underwater. The mythal would ensure that should Emperor Curuthir ever return he could undoing the ritual, and when the time came Thilnethelas and all of its people would rise form the water below and reappear from the catacombs. The only part of Thilnethelas that would not sink was the grounds on which the capital city stood, forming a small island that would be safe to walk on once the invasion passed.

Before entering his imperial catacomb, Curuthir searched the palace frantically for Ardhel. Failing to find her, he activated a spell which he had cast upon her during her infancy. Should she ever face mortal peril, the spell would split her soul into three pieces, pouring them into the imperial staff, the imperial crown and the imperial spellbook. Confident in her survival, he descended into the catacombs, activating the elven centurion statues which stood on pedestals around every corner of the tunnels.

## The Great Slumber

Thilnethelas now lies in deep slumber, awaiting the day that Emperor Curuthir Elenion Ancalima would awake to restore it. Many ships would stumble on this unassuming island, believing it to be nothing more than an uninhabited land beyond the seas. Many ships would also crash against the jagged rocks surrounding the island, stranding their crews on the island.

There was an attempt to settle the island by some missionaries at some time, mostly comprised of humans, dwarves and Faerunic elves. This settlement lasted a very short while however due to the appearance of another inhabiting race: the Grauks. These creatures were elves that were forgotten on the surface and were transformed into hideous orc-like creatures by the elixir. They would inhabit and take over the capital island and would build rudimentary society on it. The Grauks were quite different from their original elf form, but they did retain the hatred and lust for war that they were left with after the war with Netheril. They constructed a new capital, Ghasgogor, which was constructed from blackened stone and crude metalworks.

## Return of Thilnethelas

In 1661 DR, the Boundless would crash on the island as they accompanied Volothamp Geddarm on his exploration. During their adventure, they would enter the imperial catacombs and awaken several of the elven centurions, eventually culminating in their meeting with Curuthir Ancalima, who had presented himself as a form of aid and guide. He gave them weapons and equipment which they could use in exterminating the Grauks, including a ring of scrying (unbeknownst to the party). Curuthir used the Boundless in order to survey the land above to determine whether it is time for the reawakening, and upon seeing the land clear of invaders, he awaited for the Boundless to depart the island.

As the Boundless escaped on their newly acquired vessel, they saw behind them the newly returned God-Emperor Curuthir Elenion Ancalima, who realized that they had taken from him something that was greatly important: the pieces that contained the heiress to the empire.