Cormanthyr
Cormanthyr (pronounced: /kɔːrmɑːnˈθɪər/ kor-man-THEER) is one of many Tel'Quessir (elven and eladrin) empires that have graced Faerûn. For much of recent history it has been in ruin, though recently it has risen again under a new Coronal. Its capital, Cormanthor, was the first of any city to have a mythal created by wizardry, whereas previously, all mythals were created by elven High Magic. After the mythal was raised the capital was referred to as Myth Drannor.
History
The history of the elven realm of Cormanthyr spans more than five millennia and dates back to the ancient forest of Arcorar where fledgling elven realms born from the Crown Wars existed.citation needed
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Pre-History and Early History
Cormanthyr was formed from four existing elven realms settled in the forest of Arcorar, which would later become Cormanthor. The existing realms were Elven Court, Semberholme, Uvaeren, and Jhyrennstar.23 Problems began arising for the realms, including a meteor that destroyed Uvaeren and a drow incursion into Elven Court,245 and the Coronal Oacenth of Jhyrennstar, as a prophet of Labelas Enoreth, requested the creation of the Elfblades to determine a ruler who would unite the tribes to fight their foes together. Kahvoerm Irithyl was the first to draw the Rulers' Blade, and became to first Coronal of Cormanthyr in −4000 DR.2678
The early millennia of Cormanthyr were relatively uneventful. The title of Coronal was passed on through five more elves by −223 DR, when Eltargrim Irithyl took the throne.9101112 During this time, most of their conflicts came with the drow, who built the Twisted Tower and effected raids upon the elves and surrounding lands. Also during this time, the humans and dwarves began to settle on the fringes of Cormanthor, which made the elves nervous but led to Eltargrim's most renowned changes.citation needed
The Age of Alliance and the Decline
Following his interpretation of Coronal Oacenth's wishes, Eltargrim decided to embrace the approach of other races rather than be in conflict with them. In 220 DR, he opened the forests to any non-elf wizards and druids as well as non-human settlers.1013141516 By 261 DR, he extended the Opening to the city of Myth Drannor despite rebellion and attacks on his life, and the city flourished for four hundred years.101517
However, in 661 DR, four centuries after the Opening, Eltargrim died, leaving a lone heir, Aravae Irithyl, who was unready to take the throne.1819 Three years later, she was murdered, and left no heir.201019 In 666 DR, the powerful wizard Srinshee enacted the Claiming Ceremony that was needed to identify a new ruler of Cormanthyr, by drawing the famed Rulers' Blade. Over many days, elves died in attempts to draw the sword to no avail, and in the end, the Srinshee herself was resigned to draw it. While successful, she did not take on the role of Coronal, and instead departed for Arvandor to leave the elves to mull over their sins.20212219 For the next fifty years, Cormanthyr fell under the rule of the Council of Twelve, and experienced great decline.
The Fall of Myth Drannor and the Retreat
In 711 DR, the Army of Darkness, led by the Trio Nefarious (recently released from their prison above Myth Drannor) attacked Cormanthyr in what became known as the Weeping War. The elves fought bravely and slew all three of the nycaloths who led the army, but ultimately Myth Drannor fell under fiendish control in 714 DR, and the realm fell into shambles.20252627
For centuries to follow, the elves tried to contain the fiendish evil in Myth Drannor, having moved their power base to Elven Court. The realm became scattered and divided28, and ultimately in 1344 DR the elves began the Retreat, when more than 90% of their population abandoned Cormanthor's woods for other settlements in the west.29 The dream that was Cormanthyr was over.
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Modern Conflicts and the Revival
The woods of Cormanthor became infested with drow after the retreat, who moved into the abandoned habitats of their kin. These drow attempted to seize the mythals and use the power for their own purposes.30 However, their plans never came to fruition as Myth Drannor was invaded by Sarya Dlardrageth and her Daemonfey, who attempted to take control of the region in 1374 DR. In a complicated conflict involving the Zhentarim, Sembia and Hillsfar, the Dales, as well as an Elven Crusade from Evermeet and their allies in Evereska, the Cormanthor War was fought in the woods and surrounding Dales. Eventually, House Dlardrageth fell to the Crusade, which became the Army of Myth Drannor led by Ilsevele Miritar. The Army of Myth Drannor eventually defeated the Zhentarim and seized control of Cormanthyr for the first time in seven centuries. In 1377 DR, the Srinshee returned and granted the Rulers' Blade to Ilsevele, who drew it successfully and became the first Coronal of the Present Age.31
In 1487 DR, after years of war against Netheril, Thultanthar fell upon Myth Drannor, destroying both cities and thereby the second Cormanthyr. Ilsevele and her surviving subjects fled to Semberholme.
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