Aderfall

Established in 1125, Aderfall was home of the College of Mages, one of the earliest schools of the arcane arts established on the continent of Iloa. The school became the centerpiece of the town, creating much economic activity as a result of its presence. The peculiar needs of the arcane students and teachers attracted many different types of merchants, vendors and tradesmen.

Demographics

Before it's collapse

Population

Race	Population %
Humans	69
Dwarf	15
Elves	8
Halflings	5
Gnomes	1
Other	2

Government

Aderfall was governed by the Council of Mages. Members of the council were elected by The Assembly, a larger government body that was concerned primarily with the rules and regulations governing the practice of magic. It was important to The Assembly that the non-arcane portions of the city remained friendly to practicers of the arcane. This lead them to appoint members of the council to lifetime appointments, with their removal only possible by a 2/3rds majority vote by The Assembly, a body of almost 150 mages. The Council of Mages served as the face of the arcane world when interacting with non-arcane interests.

Defences

The town was walled off, with the wall being magically constructed in a matter of days as a repellent force. Several magical traps were laid about the wall to ward off any attackers. These magical tricks were largely for show however and the town relied on a much more traditional force of a volunteer army. Fear of the mages inside the town is what truly protected it.

History

The ongoing battles taking place during The Coastal Wars drove people from the coastal cities of Ashford and Castleton into the surrounding area. People who weren't suited for rural life landed in the town of Aderfall. The town was on pace to quickly become the most populous city in the region, until the start of the Arcane Affliction. Surges in wild magic began more frequent occurrences. Aderfall became a dangerous place to live for the common man. As the events became more serious the population began to turn on the students and their teachers. On the 8th of Lowsun in 1168, the largest, deadliest event of wild magic occurred, blowing the top off the primary campus building of the College of Mages. Lava and flames spewed throughout the town. While there were a number of deaths, the most tragic came upon an elementary school in the southern section of town. A plume of flame crashed through the roof of the school building, igniting a fire that burned so hot that the occupants were vaporized almost immediately. 15 children and 2 adults lost their lives that day and the revolt not only on the College of Mages, but on the practice of magic generally quickly spread throughout the nearby area. Similar stories from throughout the Pridelands were told and the common man began to turn their back on the arcane. Although the buildup for this took place over several years, the Death of Arrogance as it became known, is widely considered the turning point in the mistrust of the arcane.
After the Death of Arrogance, people no longer felt safe in Aderfall as long as the College of Mages remained. Despite overwhelming support for relocating the College, political leaders at the time knew the College was the economic engine of the town and without it, Aderfall would pass into ruin. The college remained, but the residents began to move out in droves, either deeper into the Pridelands or to take their chances on the Coasts, despite the war efforts.
Aderfall was occupied almost exclusively by mages for a short time. Traders and merchants would refuse to travel there, forcing the mages to establish their own trade routes into nearby towns and villages for supplies they couldn't be bothered with supplying themselves. Despite the mistrust, these villagers were happy to do business without the need to travel into the cities. It wasn't until these regular trips into the villages ceased that people began to suspect all was not well in Aderfall.
After an entire season with no word from these reliable trading partners, an expedition set out into Aderfall, only to find it in ruin. The destruction looked so enormous in some places that the arcane was quickly blamed. With fear in their minds, the expedition left Aderfall and spread the word that the town was all but lost, with no hope of survivors. To this day, not many fully understand what happened in Aderfall.

RUINED SETTLEMENT
1170

Alternative Name(s)

Ruins of Aderfall

Type

Large town

Population

Unknown

Inhabitant Demonym

Adderites

Location under

The Pridelands