A Brief History of Minmir and Myon
Where to begin? In history, all things are related. One beginning lies around nineteen thousand years ago, when in a mighty ritual of High Magic, our kindred enacted the Sundering. Evermeet was born of that event, but the mainland was shattered. The isle of Arelith was likely born that day, and thusly it may be thought of as a cousin to Evermeet.
Over the following millennia, our kindred yet lived on the mainland of Faerun. Yet as the ages passed, the promise of Evermeet grew stronger in our hearts, and a few, generally of the Green kindred, made the journey early. Yet most remained behind, in our homes in the Great Forest. Kingdoms rose and fell: Keltormir, Arcorar, Cormanthyr. And a few begun to prepare for the day when those kingdoms would be gone, and Evermeet would become chief among our homelands.
The date of Myon's first founding is lost to the ages. The evidence we have places the founding around four centuries before the fall of Cormanthyr, or around a thousand years ago. What is known is that four High Mages, whose names are lost to us, were part of the founding expedition, and it is they who gave their lives to the creation of the Mythal. Its sentience is all that remains of the spirit of the Center of the four, and it is that High Mage who yet wards us to this day.
Myon's original purpose was likely as a staging post for the eventual Retreat. But when the Retreat came upon us in the last century, the forerunners who returned to Arelith knew nothing of Myon. Instead, they settled in the city of Minmir to the north. Humans lived on the isle as well, with the city of Cordor (then as now) their largest hub. Where Cordor was a city dominated by humanity, with a few of other races, so was Minmir for our kindred. In it, many took respite before crossing the Trackless Sea, and others chose to remain, living alongside other races in our island home.
It was explorers from Minmir who rediscovered Myon, passing in wonder through the Mythal and gazing upon the beautiful yet ruined settlement within. What ill befell Myon is unknown; our only link to those events retains too little sentience to offer discourse on such matters. Of course, the isle holds many dangers, but it is oft assumed by those of the Fair City that the Mythal will protect us from all ills. Clearly, once in the past, it was not.
Settlement of Myon, however, did not occur immediately. Minmir yet thrived, and a council of our people led it wisely and well. Until their trust was betrayed by a human advisor in the Minmir court, by the name of Manfried. An Elf-friend and trusted counselor, he fell to the lure of dark, necromantic magic. Subtle at first, the taint of his magic spread through Minmir while all frantically sought the source, hidden all the while behind the trusting smile of a friend. When the betrayal was uncovered, the Council made the difficult decision to abandon Minmir - and the traitor - to their fate. Locking the Manor and its estate away in a field of stasis, they contained the corruption to those lands already tainted too far to heal. Time passes not within the Manor and its grounds, and the corruption contained within thus does not leech out to further taint the island.
The decision to abandon Minmir was made easier by the presence of Myon, explored but yet unsettled. The survivors of Minmir among our people migrated there en masse, with those of other races passing instead to Cordor, Guldorand or other villages. Initially, the Council of Minmir ruled Myon, but having come face to face with the wickedness of the East, all departed for Evermeet within a few years. Elren, a cousin by marriage of Queen Amlaruil, was appointed from Evermeet as Steward of Myon, and upon his return to the island, his knight and brother in law Vestool (married to Elren's sister Camiwneg) took up the reins of rule.
The third Steward of Myon, and the last to rule as proxy for Evermeet's Queen, was Lord Rarylduil Siannodel, also known as Forlindel. The end of his rule came about amid a greater desire of the kindred of Myon for independence from Evermeet's rule, however distant, and when Wren Geltafer succeeded him as Steward, she and her husband Trintiren Elraiendel adopted the titles Queen and King of Myon by acclamation. Myon has remained a monarchy since.
With thanks to Lord Siannodel for sharing stories of the past.
-Snowflake, historian and arcanist