"Mythallar History & Theory" by Vanya Dae'ia

The first Mythallar was created by Ioulaum, a famous Netherese Arcanist, in the year -3014 DR. Best known for their use as an energy source in the great flying enclaves of Netheril, Mythallars tap into the raw magic of The Weave and project an energy field which can power quasi-magical objects and devices.

Some definitions and explanations are needed to understand the function and purpose of the Mythallar.

Magical Devices

A magical device is a mundane object which has been imbued with the power of The Weave, in the form of a spell, such that the effect of the spell can be later released at the will of the user. On Arelith, the most common of these items are scrolls, wands, and potions, but some other more rare forms can be found. The creation of such an item comes at a price for the imbuer, consuming a portion of life energy. For a master of The Art, this is usually an insignificant loss - one which can be recovered in time. However, a novice mage may be weakened or even killed by repeated attempts.

Magically Imbued Items

Any inhabitant of Arelith is very likely to be acquainted with the use of an Enchanting Basin. These magically attuned devices act as a conduit for The Weave, allowing the creation of magically imbued objects; most commonly weapons, armor, and specialized clothing, due to the large population of warriors and adventurers. These items are limited in their function, as they cannot be made to release their energies like a magical device. This method of imbuing objects is generally safer, but still has the potential for a great personal cost to the imbuer, if he should fail in an attempt.

Quasi-Magical Devices

A quasi-magical device is one which is capable of creating a spell-like effect, but has been imbued with no energies of its own. Here enters the Mythallar, which is essentially a self sustaining energy converter. In the presence of a Mythallar, a quasi-magical device can be created, without risk of harm, which will feed off of the projected energy field, so long as it remains within range.

The Mythallar in Practice

The flying enclaves of Netheril were made possible by a feat of High Arcana known as Proctiv's Move Mountain. This complex spell used the power of The Weave to slice the peak off of a mountain top, invert it in the sky, and thereafter use a quasi-magical device powered by a Mythallar to maintain its levitation indefinitely.

Unfortunately, the acts of Lord Karsus of Netheril revealed a fatal flaw in the use of these devices. The Fall of Netheril was both a metaphorical and a literal one. The use of Karsus's Avatar destroyed the goddess Mystryl and disrupted The Weave until Mystra was born and took custody. Without the energy of The Weave to draw from, the Mythallars ceased to function, and so did the quasi-magical levitation devices which they powered. This was the true cause of Netheril's descent from the skies.

Adding to this loss, Mystra then restricted the use of High Arcana, making the creation of full sized Mythallars difficult, if not impossible, for most mortals. This has made Mythallar fragments prized possessions, and intact Mythallars an Arcanist's dream. To this day, expeditions deep into the deserts of Anauroch are not unheard of. Treasure hunters, loremasters, and seekers of power still hope to uncover the shattered pieces of a Mythallar in the fallen remains of an enclave, or possibly even a complete and fully functional specimen.