In the time of sorceress queens, fabled warriors and noble thieves the city of Tiriande prospered.
Its Spirewardens and Hatcheteers labored to expand the city perimeter, adding new districts and uncovering new ancient wonders almost daily, while trade with Faerun flourished into bustling markets and unprecedented wealth. In celebration, colourful festivals spiraled their way out from the Dungeonspire and all throughout the many layers of the city, home to millions.
But that was then, and this is now, and so - in the times after the event that would come to be known simply as the Vent, the city seeks simply to survive. The wardens that once ranged beyond the city limits and pioneered new lands now have their hands full simply protecting what remains, the hatcheteers battered and budgeted almost out of existence. The merchants, still powerful, cling to their wealth with desperate zeal as caravan after caravan goes missing, and the citizenry lies in fear of ever-present attack from the decaying remains of once-grand neighbourhoods, now lost to the dungeons.
Some believe that Ethrenna, patron goddess of our city, has abandoned us, that she has finally had enough of her centuries-long imprisonment at the hands of her own paladins and has left us to die, slowly, of attrition. Others place the blame at the feet of the Covenant of Latent Slaughter, thinking the priesthood has reverted to their ancient evil in the face of such adversity. Others still think it a curse from the Witch, some revenge for a slight long-forgotten. All those people are idiots, of course, but the point is - nobody agrees.
Still, Tiriande is a city of heroes and adventurers, of explorers and martyrs, and not a day goes by that no new young hopefuls take up the blade, bow or staff and venture out to make a name for themselves. But there are heroes and there are heroes, the true kind, those like Drizzt Do’Urden or the Francinet twins; those whose very presence in a story indicate that the fate of those around them is soon to turn, whether for good or for ill. If you ask me, I think we just haven’t had enough of those in a while. But maybe, just maybe, that will change.
