Anoth-Urulien¶
"Haunting melodies fill the air, an ethereal choir of the elven citizens. Those who listen too long become entranced, walking deeper into the heart of the city." — Proturan campaign notes (S054)
Anoth-Urulien was "the great High Elven City" of the Kingdom of Arne'Athosia, ruled by the House of Urulien, "a noble high-elven family" of "magic-users and master artisans" (S054). It fell in the War of the Moradrim and "was already in ruins in the latter ages of the Kingdom of Arne'Athosia" (S053, S054). Its ruins stand in the forbidden depths of Etterwood, five miles from the Shrine of Caerylas and fifty miles north of Alyr-Emuien, the old capital (S054). The Shrine of Kae-Ferrel, a temple of Moros, "was once located on the outskirts" of the city (S054).
The ruins¶
The Proturan campaign's notes (S054, repeated in S055–S057) describe the places still reachable among the ruins.
The Tower of Urulien¶
The Tower of Urulien was "once home to the Order of the Golden Hand, a high elven mage association", and was "abandoned during the fall of Anoth'Urulien during the War of the Moradrim". Many Moradrim mages "were hastily buried here and their spirits have been corrupted by Teneb'Vari. These dark ghost mages now wander the ruins (esp at night) and will kill any living creatures they come across." Destroying them "is only a temporary solution as they will respawn after a few days". It is "one of the less-spoiled ruins" (S054).
The Urulien Citadel¶
The Urulien Citadel was the "seat of power of the House of Urulien" and is now "a den for a corrupted wolf pack" that has "quite a set of spoils from its kills" (S054). The city's ethereal choir draws the entranced toward it.
The Limeris Dam¶
The Limeris Dam "is overflowing and there are some buildings nearby". A "semi-insane corrupted Boreal Elf vampire makes his home here"; he "is not outwardly hostile and may trade information (and items)", but will try to learn where visitors camp and, "given the chance", to get one of them alone (S054).
The Star Forge¶
The Star Forge survives as remains "partially submerged" that "can be entered by swimming" (S054).
The Dwarven Gate¶
The Dwarven Gate opens on "a passage to the Underdark ... and dwarven roads which lead to the capitol city of the kingdom of Duer'Gerrum", a place "overrun with Lizardkin". The roads also connect "with local parts of the underdark ..., including the ruins of the capitol (Alyr'Emuien)", and "a giant scourged serpent makes his home in these tunnels" (S054).
Lake Lienne¶
Lake Lienne lies within the city, its waters enchanted. Dark elven nymphs tempt travellers to swim in them, where a Scourged eel waits (S054). The lake is a section of the Arne'Athosia page.
Gap
The notes ask "WHAT IS HERE?" of the Star Forge and never answer. Nothing describes the city as it was before its fall, its size, or its streets.
Hazards¶
Besides the ghost mages and the wolves, the ruins are stalked by the Bound Warden, "a High Elf Champion Protector (Vampire) corrupted by Teneb'Vari" who "wanders the city"; by corrupted Blackroot Vines that "spring from the ground and try to hold and consume flesh"; and by the choir quoted above (S054). What the ruins share with the forest around them, the Scourged beasts and the will-o-wisps of the forbidden zone, is described under Arne'Athosia.
History¶
Anoth-Urulien was destroyed in the War of the Moradrim, "long before" the elf Inwe was born, and the Shrine of Kae-Ferrel on its outskirts was hidden from the attackers (S054). The kingdom outlived the city for an age before its own forests fell to the corruption of Teneb'Vari. In the Fifth Age an expedition sent by Malathar and Eksuru dug at the shrine for the claw of the primal dragon Vixseranyol; the Proturan campaign's party took the claw and left with it (S057). That story is told on the Arne'Athosia page and in the Proturan campaign chronicle.
In Play¶
The ruins are "fully Corrupted" and the probable home of some of Teneb'Vari's minions (S054). Travellers should expect to be sung toward the Citadel, to be offered trades at the dam that end badly, and to find that nothing killed here stays dead for long.