Lux Tenebris: Fallen Baramir

            A thousand years ago, in the shadow of the Southern Greytooth Mountains, a hero-king called Baramir fought a demon-prince known as the Unnamed.  Baramir and his companions defeated the Unnamed and his army, but at a cost. Baramir fell.

            As Baramir lay dying, a miracle occurred. A tree of purest gold erupted from the earth where his blood had spilt.  Upon a branch of this tree, Baramir placed his crown and said, “Let my crown hang there until the true king claims it. And should a false king lay claim to it, let him find only death.”

            The golden tree still stands today, and upon a branch hangs a simple, circlet of steel known as Baramir’s Crown, still waiting for the true king to claim it. It is unguarded and more than one man has been foolish enough to claim it as his own.  All came to regret that choice, as all of these false kings came to grisly ends.

            Today, the city known as Fallen Baramir is ruled, not by a king, but by a Regent. The position is not hereditary, but is earned by luck and fate. At the death, or abdication, of the old Regent a lottery is held, overseen by priests of Cyric, God of Truth. Anyone may enter their name in this lottery, but there can be only one winner. The losers must pay for their hubris with their lives; they are hung by the neck until they are dead.  For this reason, the folk of Fallen Baramir often say, “Noble ambitions have a high price.”

            Although Fallen Baramir has stood for a thousand years, established by the surviving companions of the hero-king, the area it occupies has been inhabited for almost four thousand years.  Indeed, Fallen Baramir is the eldest of the northern cities and has often been referred to as the Gateway to the North.  Five hundred years ago, its reputation grew even greater with the establishment of the Adamantine Archive. Since then, Fallen Baramir has expanded and embraced the Archive, even as it remains a separate and independent state within the city’s boundaries.

            Sadly, despite its long and storied past, today Fallen Baramir is not considered a major power in the region.  It is best known as a waypoint for trade with the south and a destination for sages, historians and researchers.  Adventurers sometimes pass through the city, but they seldom stay long; there are no great threats in the area requiring their services. Between the resources of the city, the Adamantine Archive and the Greytooth Dwarves, the region is well-guarded and quite placid.  Monsters and bandits that wander close to Fallen Baramir meet a quick and violent end.

            The Regents of Fallen Baramir, perhaps influenced by the example of the Adamantine Archive, have striven to remain neutral in the region. Their strategy has kept the city safe, but has also allowed Swordhold and Mountgate to surpass it in influence and wealth.

            During the Draconic Invasion, the city was considered of lesser importance than its neighbors. Draconic Legions were dispatched to the city, but with orders to secure the Adamantine Archive. Their efforts were futile and the Legions were decimated by the Archive’s defenses. The few survivors fled to the east, seeking to return to newly-claimed imperial territories around Shrike and Calhorne.

            Since the end of the Invasion, Fallen Baramir has seen an influx of immigrants and refugees from the south and east. Many have moved on, fleeing further north, but some have settled in the Gateway to the North.  It is widely speculated that if the North is to march upon the Draconic territories, the military forces will pass through Fallen Baramir. For the first time in a century, mercenary companies and adventurers have a presence in the city. They are not entirely welcome.

            Of greater interest to the locals is a rumored prophecy that Baramir’s Heir will appear, to claim the crown and occupy the Waiting Throne. Whether this is true or not, a palpable nervous energy now fills the normally placid streets and districts of Fallen Baramir.

            Perhaps Fallen Baramir will regain its fame and influence? Perhaps the Gateway to the North will rise to golden glory again?

            Only time will tell.