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By Root 1375 0

he stood before the throne. When the Srinshee reeled in the aftermath of the mighty magic she'd awakened, he put an arm around her shoulders to support her, and said, "People of Cormanthor, great evil has been done-and undone-here today. Mythanthar declares that he is ready, and I will not wait longer, lest those who seek to control the realm as their private plaything find time to make another attempt, and cost us more Cormanthan lives. Before dusk, this day, the promised Mythal shall be laid, stretching over all the city from the Northpost to Shammath's Pool. When it is deemed stable-which should befall by highsun on the morrow-the gates of the city shall be thrown open to folk of all races who embrace not evil. Envoys shall go out to the known kingdoms of men, and gnomes, and halflings-and yes, dwarves. Henceforth, though our realm shall remain Cormanthor, this city shall be known as Myth Drannor, in honor of the Mythal Mythanthar shall craft for us, and for Drannor, the first elf of Cormanthor known to have married a dwarven lass, long ago though that be."

He looked down arid the Lady Herald caught his eye, stepped forward, and announced grandly, "The wizards have been summoned. Let all who abide here keep peace and watch. Let the laying of the Mythal begin!"

Epilogue

The Mythal that rose over the city of Cormanthor was not the most powerful ever spun, but elves still judge it the most important. With love, and out of strife, it was wrought, and was given many rich and strange powers by the many who wove it. Elves still sing of them, and vow their names will live forever, despite the fall of Myth Drannor: the Coronal Eltargrim Irithyl; the Lady Herald Aubaudameira Dree, known to minstrels as 'Alais;' the human armathor Elminster, Chosen of Mystra; the Lady Oluevaera Estelda, the legendary Srinshee; the human mage known only as Mentor; the half-elven Arguth of Ambral Isle; High Court Mage Lord Earynspieir Ongluth; the Lords Aulauthar Orbryn and Ondabrar Maendellyn; and the Ladies Ahrendue Echorn, Dathlue Mistwinter, known to bards as 'Lady Steel,' and High LadyAlea Dahast. These were not all. Many of Cormanthor joined in the Song that day, and by the grace of Corellon, Sehanine, and Mystra some of their wants and skills found mysterious ways into the Mythal. Some did not, for treachery never died in Cormanthor, whether it was called Myth Drannor or not…

Antarn the Sage

from The High History of Faerunian Archmages Mighty

published circa The Year of the Staff

Armathors who had run from their guardposts at the Coronal's palace hastened into the Chamber of the Court, led by the six court sorceresses. Grim-faced, they drew their blades and made a ring, shoulder to shoulder and facing outwards, on the pave before the throne.

Into that ring stepped the Coronal, his Lady Herald, Elminster, Nacacia, Mythanthar, and the Srinshee. The warriors drew their ranks closed.

Their swords lifted in readiness almost immediately, as a mage hesitantly approached, looking to the Coronal. "Revered Lord?" he asked cautiously, trying not to let his eyes stray to the bloodstains on Eltargrim's white robes. "Have you need of me?"

The Coronal looked to the Srinshee, who said gently, "Aye, Beldroth. But not yet. Those of us here in the ring must die a little, that the Mythal live. Here is not for you."

The elf lord withdrew, looking a little ashamed, and a little relieved. "Join in when the web is spun, and shines out over us," the little sorceress added, and he froze to hear her every word.

"If dying's involved," an ancient and wrinkled elven lady husked then, stepping out of the crowd with a slow hitch to her step, leaning on her cane, "then I might as well go down at last doing some good for the land."

"Be welcome within, Ahrendue," the Srinshee said warmly. But the guards did not move to clear a way into the ring until the Lady Herald said crisply into their ears, "Make way for the Lady Ahrendue Echorn."

Their swords came up, and a murmur rippled across the court, when an elf standing by a far pillar stepped forth and said, "The