A Study of Minmir Manor and Kohlingen

Preface

This research was conducted by the Earthkin Arcanum in order to correct some misconceptions and inaccuracies in previous texts on the subject and in stories told across the island. However my personal interest in the matter was to study the necromantic magic used for which I will dedicate a certain portion of this text to.

Please note that for scholarly purposes this text is best read with its accompanying research notebook, the “Minmir Project,” which details the physical evidence, interview accounts and paper evidence that was gathered.

There will be simple annotations throughout the text that can be followed up by future researchers using the “Reviewed Materials” section at the end.

Chapter One: Early History

To begin, Kohlingen started out as a coastal town or outpost [6] [10]. It is believed to have been founded by Amn [10] or early settlers of the island that where largely brought in by Amnians [7]. The town began to expand rapidly into the fortress and city, some of which can be seen at the remaining ruins, after Lord Darius Tristam left Benwick for Kohlingen [10].

It is unclear why the departure took place; some suggest that it was largely due to a disagreement on acceptable ideologies [9] or practices [2]. Nevertheless, the influx of Lord Tristam and his allies prompted unprecedented growth of the town to the point where local resources were insufficient to cover its expansion [10].

The leadership of city was transferred to Lord Tristam [10]; he was named First Justiciar of Kohlingen [10]. It is unclear if this title was for the leadership position or prior to it when he formed the army to protect the city [10]. Regardless, Kohlingen ruled over Northern Minmir and fought to combat local ettin and cyclops threats [10].

In the midst of all this development, we know that Montgomery was named Duke of Minmir and Manfried was given the title of Earl [10].

Chapter Two: Earl Manfried and Minmir Manor

The position of Earl was advisory like a councillor [1]. Manfried, an occultist [9] [7], held his estate in Minmir, near Nexus Falls. It has come to be known as “Minmir Manor” or “The Chateau” [10]. The Manor wasn't the only estate in the area but it is the only one that has been well documented due to its relative permanency. It is suspected that other estates were located in what is now known as the Gap of Aeons [10].

The nature of the Earl's fall is disputed. Some suggest that he was warped by the darker sides of necromancy [1] while others propose that he was corrupted by the Twisted Rune in his pursuit of everlasting life [9] [10]. Another theory is that the Earl was driven mad by a otherworldly tome of evil [3]. Regardless, given the obscurity of the magic used, it is unlikely that the Earl came upon it without assistance; whether it was from a group or a sentient magical object. Everlasting life was not enough for the Earl. It would also require his subjects and adulation [10]. During a celebration in Kohlingen, the Manor was relatively empty. It was at this time that the Earl butchered a feeble minded boy, the son of Duke Montgomery, and used him in a ritual then later fed his remains to the guests at a Ball [7] [10].

Another theory suggests that the Earl was driven insane by an entity from the Negative Energy Plane and that the ritual feeding of the boy's remains to the guests also involved bits of flesh from the entity [7]. We will judge the merits of these two theories in a later chapter.

Either way, the guests were transformed when feeding causing them to turn into ghouls and other undead [7] [8] [10]. The music in the Ball appeared to have been part of the ritual since it spread from the Manor into the neighbouring village causing the adults to transform as well [10]. It is important to note not everyone was transformed, even at the Ball [10].

The children of the village were unaffected [10]. The nearby monastery of Bane was equally unaffected, citing that their space was holy ground and immune to such magic [10]. The monks of Bane left the security of their monastery to go rescue the children of the village [10]. Ultimately the rescued children would become the first Knights of Bane on Arelith [10].

Chapter Three: The Fall of Kohlingen

Earl Manfried rallied enough undead forces to attack Kohlingen. How he accomplished this is unclear. Some suggest the magic from the ritual continued to spread [1] while others speculate that the Twisted Rune added their support [9] [10].

All the same, Justiciar Tristam had time enough to attempt to evacuate the city [10]. It is suggested that Manfried's attack was motivated by the Light [10] which currently (AR 173) stands in the Ruins of Benwick however this conflicts with early history of that time [4] [10] which includes Celestial accounts that does not suggest the Light stood anywhere but Benwick. There was also no obvious place of prestige where the Light sat that could be located in the ruined city however it may still be under water.

We know that Manfried is not above using fake documents to steer researchers in another direction as was done to the Knights of the Road [9]. It may well be that the single document alluding to the Light was faked to hide the true reason for the attack and current occupation.

For a considerable time, the History of Kohlingen was scrubbed from island records [9] which could suggest that there was something more to protect at that location that required secrecy. Additionally, Benwick was not levelled in order to protect the Light implying that it can withstand being in enemy hands.

Regardless, Justiciar Tristam felt the dire need to protect the location from Manfried and his hordes. After evacuating as much of the city as possible, he gathered his mages for a ritual [10]. The mages of the city had been mapping leylines throughout the area for some time prior to the attack [10]. They had the flow and strength of the leylines as well as the ability to burst each line [10].

The mages utilized this knowledge in a final ritual to sink the city by bursting certain leylines around Northern Minmir [10]. This account conflicts with the Tristam family account that suggests that the city was sinking for an unknown reason and that the mages were used to create portals by which people could escape [10]. I believe that this version may have been scrubbed so that it can be comfortably passed down Tristam generations rather than sharing the true nature of the need to sink the city. Additionally, we know that some citizens did not leave via portal but instead escaped to the rest of the island [5] [1] which would support the first version. This event was noted as an earthquake, by outsiders, that permanently changed the landscape of Northern Minmir [7].

Chapter Four: Rise of the Ruins

Starting in AR 76 and lasting well over a year, undead, of varying strength, plagued the island of Arelith [3] [10]. An ancient artifact known as the Crown of Horns was being transported by Tethyran Knights to Evermeet when it was intercepted by a Nelanther pirate vessel; the Dead Weight under Kiran Vargos [3] [10].

The pirates were hired by the Twisted Rune [3] [10]. However the allure of the Crown was too much for Vargos to stand prompting him to put the Crown on [3] [10].

Arelithian forces tracked down Dead Weight to the open waters, around the island, in the North. Vargos had conducted a blood ritual that involved killing much of his crew in order, with the aid of the Crown, dredge up the ruins of Kohlingen [3] [10]. The rising of the ruins caused even stronger undead to terrorize the Arelith [3].

The Arelithians gathered their ships with Captain Atlas [3] and Captain Mari Meyne [10] among the notable. While the ground forces were led by Knight Nelehein Afsana, as field commander, and ranger Palas [10]. It was decided that in order to retrieve the Crown, there would need to be a Crownbearer; Amadeo Pneuma was chosen [3] [10].

The heroes fought their way to the roof top of the Fortress and defeated Vargos [3] [10]. The Crown fell from his head and spoke to the minds of all present, promising everything they desired [3]. In spite of the agreement of the Crownbearer, River Moonchild of Bendir grabbed the Crown [10]. Her reckless impulsiveness was soon quelled by the heroes and the Crown was passed to Amadeo [3] [10]. The intent was to take the Crown to Spellhold [10].

Once the heroes descended from the Fortress, they were met by three groups; The Twisted Rune, Khelben Arunsun and the elves of Evermeet [3] [10]. Each group had their own wishes for the Crown. The Rune wished to take the Crown with the promise that they would stay away from Arelith [3]. The Elves wanted to guard it at Evermeet and Khelben Arunsun wished to destroy it [3] [10].

A fourth option was presented by Amadeo [3] [10]. He would go with Arunsun and the elves to an undisclosed location to attempt to destroy the Crown; if the destruction failed or only turned it into shards then it would be contained by the elves [3] [10].

The Rune and the pirates opted to remain on the ruins of Kohlingen [3] [10].

Chapter Five: Containment and Innocence

This chapter will be discussing the magic involved at Minmir Manor. To begin, the Fall of Kohlingen did not end the undead scourge. The Elves (which would later become the Elves of Myon) along with aid from Southern Arelithians closed the Manor in a time loop as part of the Containment [1] [10].

This time loop prevents the Manor from being destroyed; even after being burned down, it always returns [10]. However the time loop is not absolute. Undead pour from the Manor at night suggesting that it is at its weakest then [10]. Additionally, it is suggested that those that die on the land or spend too much time in the Manor can succumb to the 'curse' [10] which means they can be caught in the loop.

There is no evidence that the magic involved is a curse but it has been described that way [10]. Although, those with little knowledge of such magic do have the tendency to name these things curses and be done with it.

The reason for the time loop is never explained. Currently (AR 173), the music which can be heard in the Manor, on occasion, does not transform adventurers into ravenous ghouls. There is nothing to suggest that a time loop would effect the ritual in any way suggesting the following:

(1) The ritual came to an end before Containment occurred. If this were true then the Containment would strictly be to keep the corruption already present from spreading. That would not require a time loop. (2) The Elves found a means by which to stop or dull the magic before Containment. Again, like above, this would not require Chronomancy. Merely Containment to prevent further corruption. (3) The problem still resides in the Manor but through the use of Containment and Chronomancy it has been lock away. This is the most likely and the most problematic theory because it means that if the time loop continues to weaken it can release untold horrors onto the island. Additionally, that the source of the magic was too powerful to dismantle or destroy, leaving only Containment.

Such strong magic was not possible without a unique catalyst: Innocence [10]. Earl Manfried notably required a child of unparalleled Innocence in order to conduct his ritual [10]. This would suggest that Innocence is a measurable feature of the soul or one's life force (more commonly referred to as Ki).

Additionally, the children of the village were unaffected by the magic [10] which may suggest that their Innocence was a factor in making them immune to the music. It would imply that souls are imbued with Innocence at creation as a defence. The monks of Bane were unaffected even after leaving their monastery [10] which could suggest that individuals with Ki manipulation training can steel their souls in a way that mimics the defensive effects of Innocence.

Given that the adults were transformed means that Innocence is lost over time; this is something that is commonly understood in most cultures even so far as dedicating events or celebrations for the loss of Innocence. Although this is always regarded as something more abstract than tangible.

Unfortunately, due to the ethical concerns surrounding studying Innocence in children and its defensive capabilities, I cannot provide any substantial data about the subject. Nevertheless, I believe that the case of Minmir Manor presents Innocence as fundamental to the soul and pivotal in combating evil magic.

Reviewed Materials

[1]“A Brief History of Minmir and Myon” By Snowflake

[2]“Abridged History of Kohlingen” by Ubaldo

[3]“Alia Silveroak's Records of Arelith History” by Alia Silveroak

[4]“Benwick and the Capitulations of Light Keep” by Adelyn Belle'rose

[5]“Everything Bendir, Vol I” Author Unknown

[6]“Geography of Arelith, Vol II” Author Unknown

[7]“History of Minmir” by Euthymius

[8]“Minmir: A Study of Trans-Planar Necroloci” by J. Bharaclaiev

[9]“The Lost City of Kohlingen” by Nelehein of Impiltur, Sage-Knight of the Road.

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[10] “Oghma's Copy – Minmir Project” by The Earthkin Arcanum

[Signed: Loomwarden of Azuth and High Magus Datura Willowgrave of the Earthkin Arcanum]