In the time before scribes where stories told are left to record history, the first incarnation of Nethilorn resided at the entrance of what was once known as the Silvered Pass, one of the safest passes to take through the Dragons Spine in order to avoid confrontation, bandits, and creatures. This would have been the ideal route to travel between the Kingdom of Aerlyhn and the lands of Zhadya were it not for the reputation of Nethilorn as a city of thievery being known to same as the City of Thorns and Thieves.
The First Nethilorn
As the stories go, its repuation was so renowned that a caravan had decided against taking it, choosing instead to travel around the Dragons Spine range and then into Zhadya adding a couple weeks to their travel time. For some unknown reason, the caravan had detoured to the very edges of Nethilorn's borders and was traveling through the city limits when they were felled upon by vicious bandits that sealed the fate of the hundreds and thousands of people that lived within.
When the bandits sprung the trap on their target, they'd been prepared to fight against mages and fought with a party of more than enough to take down a small army. Once a strong mage did emerge from one of the carriages, they were quick to mute his powers allowing for those of deft aim to pin him where he stood, killing him. As the bandits opened the door to loot whatever was inside, they saw the figure of a girl and then black fire.
Nethilorn, as many knew it, was destroyed in the blink of eye by the uncontrolled magic of a young girl en route to a new school. Many would call the destroyer of the city by the name Wildfire and while some would hail her as a sign from the gods that Nethilorn had grown unchecked in its attitudes towards others, there were those that saw her as something to be found and claimed with a power that could be used to destroy those that stood before them.
The Second Nethilorn
A century after the Brink and early on into the time of recorded history, another city rose in the Southern Sands that sought to continue the spirit of Nethilorn as a trade city of all sorts. Stationed away from major trade routes so as to avoid what happened the last time and with dedicated routes that led straight to them, this iteration of Nethilorn lasted the longest and became known as a black city in the Southern Sands developing their own survivalist laws and taking on a new name as the time went on believing that they had outgrown the legacy of their predecessor and had become something more- something greater, the City of [redacted].
Currently...
After the second iteration of Nethilorn, many cities after that took the name both rose and fell, whether it was due to kingdoms/governments reclaiming the lands and upholding the law or due to trade dying in that area. Because the city was always known and always appearing elsewhere amongst the continents, it became known as an undying city, one whose spirit would carry on no matter what happened.
Currently, there is only one city that has taken the name and it is in a place unlike any other. It is unknown whether or not it was done on purpose but the second major city in the Kingdom of Easselin is called Nethilorn and seems nothing like the other cities just by look. It is said by many that this is the summer capital of the kingdom and considered to be far more beautiful and pristine than anything. There are whispers that it's what happens under the city that is most important, but no one has been able to find anything strange underground of the city.
Comments