Founding of the Citadel
Founding
345AC
Most early records point to this year as the formal founding of The Citadel. Because of the turmoil of the time, there is considerable debate and doubt surrounding this date.
As far as history is concerned, The Citadel has always been. That is to say that there were no written records prior to its founding. In fact, there were no written records for nearly a century following, which of course means that the accuracy of the earliest records is somewhat suspect.
Many of the records of the time have to do with supply lists and manpower assignments. It seems that much of the early efforts of The Citadel were focused on feeding, clothing, and protecting the survivors of the Conflux and the Time of Madness. Ledgers show that nearly the whole 'staff' were assigned to production of material, healing, and creating magical protections. No teachers or instructors of any kind were among the lists.
It wasn't until nearly six centuries after the Conflux (567 AC) that we finally find a narrative of the founding and a history of the early events1. The following is an excerpt from A Short Summation of the Events Following the Conflux2 by Illen the Elder3.
The three Great Breakers4 saw what their arrogance had wrought and set out to mend it. To them they gathered every member of their clans5 and caused them to build a great stone circle surrounding the points of pierced space6 so as to mitigate the suffering.
The peoples came to them and asked for aid. Guilt as great as theirs caused even The Silent7 to agree. As they built and strived, The Citadel rose around them, growing up and out.
The World settled enough that those who wished to leave the shadow8 of the Great Breakers' work went to settle elsewhere. The Deathless left and the Thoughtful turned inward. Thereafter the Silent continued the Vigil alone9.
In the centuries following, records of The Citadel's history and development improved considerably...
- Many of the earlier journal entries are somewhat fantastical and much too personal to be used as reliable sources.
- The whole treatise is nearly 3,000 pages, mostly concerning the development of the office of Warden Keeper as an intermediary between various, disparate groups.
- There is no record of an Illen the Younger.
- Cultural theorists point to this as being proof that folk tales are in many ways more resistant to change than any other form of history.
- Who these clans are and what happened to them is never explained.
- The meaning of this is unknown. There are no stone circles on the grounds or in the basements of The Citadel. As to 'the points of pierced space,' many arcanists have put forward theories. Rowan Heathersdiottr complied a collection of these theories called Holes in our Understanding.
- This is a possible reference to the earliest holder of the office of Warden-Keeper who was known as 'The Silent Arbiter' in ancient Artuensk.
- The original copy of this manuscript was written in an odd amalgamation of Elvish, Draconic, Infernal, and Celestial. The word used here (Celestial - svortha) can also be translated as 'shame'.
- These last three sentences have caused more debate than any other portion of text in history. Their meaning has been the subject of countless books and manuscripts, remaining among the greatest mysteries of history.