E'Themar Fire

The E'Themar fire was a major fire that swept through the city of E'Themar and into the Shahi Forest. It is a significant event in the cities history, as it caused the death and destruction of much of their city, forcing them to rebuild or abandon what their ancestors had built. It has later caused a strained relationship between the Elves of the forest and Gonarundu.

## Causes

The cause of the fire is up for debate, with extensive investigations being done to see how it was created.

### E'Themar

The E'Themar investigation believes it was caused by Arson. As a visitor, named Ramin Golshani, from Gonarundu came into the city just before the fire, spouting his hatred for the Elves whom kept blocking his expansion and cutting down of the forest. He was eventually removed from the city, but witnesses spotted him back inside, with a mischievous look on his face.

Further evidence supports the claim as he was found after the fire, trying to sue the city for the burns received on his arm. His belongings were also apparently burnt. Though this was countered with further witnesses.

Bags were found with different oils and liquids that were all extremely flammable nearby where Ramin was spotted last.

Thus the belief was that Ramin snuck back into the city to light the fire, along with many others on his route before tried abandoning the evidence.

### Gonarundun

The Gonarunduns also launched an investigation. Believing that the cause was simply a series of unlucky events. With someone accidentally leaving a flammable liquid near the E'Themar Tree, which was lit with the hot sun. They claim that the wind on the day spread the fire to different spots in the city.

Most of the Gonarundun investigation was spent claiming that it wouldnt've been arson, changing their reasoning everytime the E'Themars countered one of their arguments.

## Development of the Fire

### Wednesday

On Wednesday, Augona 4 **632PR**, a fire was spotted on the E'Themar Tree. Rousing the guard and the citizens, immediate firefighting efforts were employed, with both magic and water being used.

It was not long once the city was roused that more fires were found in the city, including their library and city gates.

While firefighting efforts were not in vain, so many fires in the city caused it to rage on through the night and spread further.

### Thursday

With the fire still going on by Thursday, King Balven sent his personal guards to help evacuate people in the fires radius while also employing some of his soldiers to stop anyone from getting too far, believing it to be a man-made issue.

By mid-afternoon, the fire had joined into one, firefighting efforts being in vain. A new, unpopular, idea was brought to King Balven, which spoke about destroying some of the housing to stop the fire spreading further. Some of the homeowners protested but the King decided to go ahead, convincing the populace this would be the only way to save the city.

Demolish efforts were conducted immediately, though the fire still raged on in the night.

### Friday

Friday saw the winds change, causing the fire to burst even worse. By this point many of the firefighters had spend days fighting it, and were very exhausted.

King Balven was even helping with the efforts personally at a stage, using some of his magic and when that was out, lifting a bucket of water and throwing it. At one point he was seen retreating from the fire with burn marks covering his face.

Though finally, the rain began to fell, with the winds calming down. This let the exhausted and injured firefighters finally beat back the fire, and bring it to an end.

## Deaths and Destruction

213 deaths is the official record from the fire. Many were from the library, which had the council of elders stuck inside. The loss of life and experience severely damaged E'Themar and the monarch, who relied on the elders for guidance and support whenever an important decision needed to be made.

For meterial destruction, around 1,000 houses were destroyed, along with some of the Gonarundun churches, the E'Themar Tree and library and some damage to the E'Themar keep.

## Aftermath

The aftermath of the fire was very costly to the city of E'Themar, who had a lot of families out of home, and a heavy loss of knowledge and influence with the destruction of their library and council.

Though King Balven had lost a lot, he managed to unite the city to become closer, even letting some of the displaced stay in his palace.

### Investigation

Not long after the fire, an investigation was created. Gonarundu also offered to conduct an investigation, letting the city have an independent choice.

Though later records show that this was Gonarundu trying to gain a good reputation with the world, as they were not very favourable.