The Amphitheater is one of the original elven structures of Highguard that exist to this day. It was built into a bowl shaped depression that possessed naturally good acoustics. A Koilon and a stage were carefully crafted into the stone to give it a very natural look while enhancing the acoustics. The floor of the depression was smoothed out into a stage and a Skene was carved into the rocky face behind it. Soil was brought in and spread on top of the tiers to give them grassy sitting areas where viewers can spread out blankets to relax while in the audience. Many attendees will bring baskets of snacks and drinks, making the excursion something of a picnic. Tall tress grown along the upper rim have their high branches carefully tended to provide shade while not obscuring the performances.
The natural depression was originally a place where songs were performed after a bard stumbled upon the area while looking for a place to practice. When the first meetings took place between the Elves of
Osheau and the sailors looking for safe passage through the
Sunrise Strait, the representatives came to make use of the natural acoustics. Over the years it was frequently used in it's natural state for performances and meetings. Once construction on the city itself began, the elves decided it was time to shape the depression into an easier to use structure. A combination of stone masons and earth mages worked to carve out the Skene, flatten the stage area and shape the koilon. Stairs were added going down to the stage from the upper rim. Druids covered the tiers with grass and grew the shade trees along the upper rim. By 1530 D.A. the Amphitheater was complete and it was used for the first time to host the main performances for the
Feast of Melodies.
The Amphitheater was used regularly for major gatherings of political and trade nature until the OFFICIAL BUILDING NAME was built fifty years later. At that time the official ownership of the Amphitheater was handed over to the newly formed Bards Guild of Highguard who have maintained it to this day.
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