Ghor Minthra

Drawn inexorably to the same point on the material plane, the ancient and arcane-rich city of Ghor Minthra, Japhaia and Agartha collided in a cataclysmic event that sent shockwaves across all planes of existence. The Sundering, as it came to be known, obliterated Ghor Minthra, leaving its ruins buried beneath the debris of the fallen cities. The leylines, once the lifeblood of Avaleen’s magic, fractured and writhed uncontrollably. Vast tracts of land were scarred, some rendered barren and lifeless while others became wild zones of volatile magic. The Portals themselves, once the coveted prize of the war, were destabilized, their magic unpredictable and dangerous. Yet some still function, even if their function is rudimentary at best.

— From the Campaign Guide to Avaleen

Much of what we know about Ghor Minthra is lost to history and war, and the recovery of artefacts and scrolls from the sunken ruins is a continuous endeavor by both the Aeos Reserve and other agents looking for coin and glory.

What we do know is that the city was founded at the very beginning of the Age of Celestials and remained unbroken and victorious until the Second Sundering which marked the end of the Age of Arcanists. In the end, what broke the city was not foreign armies, celestial wars or natural disasters but an innocuous mistake which led to Agartha and Japhaia ripping through the realms to crash into the city. Not only was Ghor Minthra - the Dawn Cradle - destroyed, but so was Toura, the beautiful continent it resided on.

 Before the fey Akati and shade Illevan became such in their respective realms, they were one people known as the Uralfven and not much different from the more mortal elven races that remained on Avaleen when their kin set off to conquer the other realms.

Naturally, there are many legends of how the Uralfven came to Ghor Minthra, whether they followed the whispers of their gods or whether the city was already built or not. This is the object of many heated debates within the Reserve, and between the akati and the illevan too, though the Shadow War limited the interactions between the scholars who cared little for politics.

What is known, however, is that Ghor Minthra was a gorgeous, sturdy city made of granite and shimmering sandstone infused with quartz and marble, with living gardens that spiraled through the city. It was a magical sight to behold in its day, and it is perhaps not surprising that the Age of Arcanists began right here. When the wind was just right, the City sang.

Ghor Minthra was also known as the birthplace of high elven culture and the seat of the First Accord, which vowed to rule through harmony and unity between all races and gods. Though after the gods opened portals to other realms and the akati and the illevan left, the City became more about arcane discovery and invention rather than celestial worship.