The Fall of Haelun’or

[Kads99 30]

 

The Fall of Haelun’or: Its Causes and History
By: Althanis

 

(A missive can be seen in the notice boards of various places on Azuras, announcing a new book that can be read in Caurost Library)

 

INTRODUCTION

 

This document was not written with the intention of offending or defending any of the parties involved in the destruction of Haelun’or. The consequences for the High Elf population were significant, and many innocent people suffered as a result of the destruction of Haelun’or. This document is also not intended to criticize the concept of purity ingrained in the culture of the elves of Haelun’or, nor their culture as a whole; ultimately, it is like any ideology, with its flaws and virtues. Instead, the primary purpose of this document is to shed some light on such an important event in the history of Azuras. It is up to each reader to draw their own conclusions on the morality of the events - if any conclusions are to be drawn at all.

 

PURITY AND CORRUPTION

 

Within the culture of the High Elves of Haelun’or, purity of body and mind is one of the key pillars of society. For them, the body of a High Elf is a treasure that must be preserved, which is why they reject most bodily modifications. Many of the most dedicated High Elves consider themselves fundamentally superior to other races due to the belief that their bodies and mind are a blessing.

The mind is another aspect of purity. High Elves take great care not to let their minds and bodies be affected by anything “weakening” or “impure” such as uncouth words or altering substances.
These ideals viewed from this perspective are commendable and worthy of a civilization that seeks the highest status and development for its people.

While the intentions behind purity culture seem benevolent, the writings of Vellullaei'thill Vul'athri (E.T.H.I.C. is the best example) and the statements of myriad anonymous elves and half-elves display just how these ideas of purity led to some actions unseemly for such a highly developed civilization, including the creation and use of the violent "Acid Pool” (used to execute those considered impure and cleanse any trace of their presence) invented by the High Elf Silvos Sythaerin, and even going so far as to consider religion, physical characteristics like hair color or even height as impure.

In Azuras, it was thus under the leadership of Sohaer Acalmaehr Calith, a notorious Darkspawn and founder of Haelun’or on this continent, that these ideas would take a path that would lead the city to corruption, and to the suffering of many who would escape from this city over time, before its destruction.

 

HISTORICAL CONTEXT

 

Before discussing the fall of Haelun’or, and its capital, commonly referred to as the Silver City, a brief historical overview is necessary to understand the factors that led to the end of this great civilization.

Haelunor’s first iteration was founded under the leadership of the first High Elf, Malaurir Di Astore, almost a millennium ago on the continent of Aegis.

The city has been rebuilt on the various continents that Descendants have since colonized, sometimes as its own regional power, other times as a vassal or protectorate.

Within Haelun’orian culture, every High Elf is considered an equal; however there is an office, that of the Sohaer, bestowed upon the one who holds the greatest political power among equals, through a democratic election by the population of the realm.

It was on the continent of Aevos, in the year 2028 that conflict erupted due to the Sohaer Valindra Nullivari’s aggressions against the honor of High Prince of Caurost, Galahad Ílumrin, like the attempted murder of Húrin Ílumrin, father of the High Prince and the forced captivity of Seraena and Galahad Ílumrim, according to a public missive from the Princedoom of Caurost. In the face of this looming conflict, Haelun’or sought the protection of Idunia and became its vassal, temporarily avoiding potential destruction.

 

THE FALL.

 

Under Calith's corrupt rule, darkness reigned in Haelun’or, transforming the last few decades into some of the darkest in its recent history. Twisting the ideology of purity for their own purposes, Calith and his followers managed to infiltrate beings of darkness into their society. Rumors and popular stories from anonymous Idunians and High elves of Haelun’or, speak of the presence of Mystics, demons, and other creatures. Official sources such as the Imperial decree on the crusade and The testimonies of Paladins of Xan speak of followers of Azdromoth. Regardless of the nature of their origin, these foul beings marked a bloody era in the history of the Silver City.

By the year 2057, the Empire would declare a crusade against the city, following an incident in Idunia, where Haelun’or's political envoys were executed after their connection to forces from Ibless was made public.

 

Among the justifications for this crusade were:

 

- The accusation that their government was organized by a cabal of demons.

- Harboring within their lands followers of Azdromoth, responsible for the murder of priests and nuns, as well the murder of Paladins of Xan.

- The allowance of sorcerers and practitioners of dark arts who used the souls of their own citizens in their rituals.
- It is later discovered, thanks to the interception of correspondence between high-ranking officers of Haelun'nor, regarding the darkspawn nature of the Sohaer, and subsequently confirmed upon finding the lair of mystics.

 

Faced with these accusations and the evidence presented by the Kingdom of Idunia and the Empire of Man, the kingdom of Haelun’or was dissolved, its population dispersed, and the guilty parties executed. Even so, anonymous survivors who were interviewed accuse the Empire of going too far with the innocent population, since many of them were unaware of the presence of these beings in their lands.

 

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

 

I thank the NGS, and especially Dr. Tanith Vursur, for the opportunity to start this independent research. I also thank the Paladins of Xan for providing initial information, to High Prince Galahad Ílumrin, The Annals of the Library and an anonymous former official of Haelun’or for providing opinions.
 

WORKS CITED

Spoiler

Galahad Ílumrin: The price of a silver tongue, Censure from the Ivory Crown; 13th of the Deep Cold, year 232 S.A. Cauróst. https://www.lordofthecraft.net/forums/topic/247352-the-price-of-a-silver-tongue/

Brother Ryker: A missive to the masses; Unknown Date. Azuras. https://www.lordofthecraft.net/forums/topic/262605-a-missive-to-the-masses/#comment-2145506

Hadrian Tiberias of the House Horen, Aetius Vanderius, Tar-Zorgagar Argelion Anorion Harren Arthalion: Imperial summons: The rot beneath; unknown. The Empire. https://www.lordofthecraft.net/forums/topic/262501-imperial-summons-the-rot-beneath/ 

Hadrian Tiberias of the House Horen, Aetius Vanderius, Tar-Zorgagar Argelion Anorion Harren Arthalion: Imperial decree: Suffer not the Witch; unknown. The Empire.

https://www.lordofthecraft.net/forums/topic/262553-imperial-decree-suffer-not-the-witch/

 

 

[Spellblades 749]

Vesryn scanned over the finished studies of his student, a grin plastered across his face.

 

"So that's what he was writing..."

[Morigung-oog 5697]

"I won't defend Haelun'or, but I will defend that I personally had no aggressive intentions against Galahad, and instead my mongrel of a nephew decided he wished to play Emperor or Elvenkind." The 'fenn droned lifelessly from her bed, having succumbed to the same sickness seemingly as the Imperial family. "The Bronze Tyrant will eventually fall, with or without my interference."

[Turbo_Dog 3566]

Spoiler

Your pfp is fire

 

[Unwillingly 18096]

22 minutes ago, Morigung-oog said:

"I won't defend Haelun'or, but I will defend that I personally had no aggressive intentions against Galahad, and instead my mongrel of a nephew decided he wished to play Emperor or Elvenkind." The 'fenn droned lifelessly from her bed, having succumbed to the same sickness seemingly as the Imperial family. "The Bronze Tyrant will eventually fall, with or without my interference."

Spoiler

 

[Wolfy-D 466]

Astrid chuckles at the part which mentioned the mystics "I knew one person that fits this description, and they fled to Idunia the moment shit started to go down, and is still there"

[JustMeMorgan 2065]

On 5/5/2026 at 9:20 PM, Kads99 said:

notorious Darkspawn

 

Acalmaehr Calith stares at this document, was he truly this notorious? He wasn't even found guilty of being in possession of dark magic. "Several decades have passed, and people still are naming me. Anyway this document cites work from three pieces of propaganda."