The Lordcity of Istar was originally a small fishing village founded sometime before 2550 PC, along the north shore of the Lake of Istar, and eventually would be the capital of the Holy Empire of Istar. It would grow to be the center of Good on all of Krynn, and would prove that by not having any hunger or sickness in their capital city. Throughout the history of the Lordcity, Istar has always had a huge rivalry with Karthay to the north. This would continue until Istar finally conquered Falthana.
Istar was a huge city, built almost entirely of crystal, alabaster, and gold. It was built upon nine hills along the northern shore of Lake Istar. A massive white marble wall surrounded the city, some say that was built during the Age of Dreams, and on the walls were statues created of lapis, malachite, and jasper. Gilded gates allowed one to enter the city that was more ornamental than defensive. All the homes had broad arcades, delicate minarets, and tremendous mosaic-tiled domes, and many gardens that were home to rare plants, flowers, and trees along with rare birds, lizards, and other such creatures. The streets were wide and kept very clean. Most of the main streets were lined on either side by trees.
Many statues were all over the city, first of Paladine, then later of Kingpriests, especially Beldinas. The weather for the city was hot during the summer, and then raining during the winter with hardly ever there being snow.
People could always be found in the streets of Istar, being home to around half-a-million people. They were primarily human, with some Silvanesti Elves mixed in, and minotaurs could be found as people's slaves. Beneath the city was a secret opal mine that the Lucanesti Elf were forced as slaves to mine. A series of earthquakes in 3 PC closed off these mines, killing most of the elves. These were the first earthquakes in almost a thousand years.
This was also the place that, in his arrogance, in 0 PC, the Kingpriest ordered the gods to make him a god along with them. Then he would be able to rid the entire world of Evil. The gods were angered by this, and threw a fiery mountain down upon his temple, sinking the city deep down into the Courrain Ocean. The ruins of the city can be found at the bottom of the Blood Sea of Istar.
Istar the Ruin[]
When the fiery mountain struck the Great Temple, it caused a huge hole to be created that went to a gate to the Abyss. This hole would suck down water from the Blood Sea, and then expel the water over a great distance. The only way to enter the city is through a few passes that go through underwater mountains. If someone attempted to enter Istar from the surface, they would be sucked into the Maelstrom.
Shortly after the Cataclysm Speaker of the Moon Nakaro Silverwake ordered Apoletta and some followers to investigate the ruin of Istar. She and her followers cleansed the ruin of many horrors and found many buildings that still held air. Istar would then become a city in the Dargonesti nation of Watermere. Over the years, Apoletta and her people continued to save sailors that were dragged down by the Maelstrom.
During the Chaos War, the city was attacked by the Magori, and almost all the races living there were destroyed. Apoletta led the defense of the city with the other races, and they were able to defeat the Magori. The city though was almost abandoned following the war but Apoletta stayed with some followers. The city would begin to grow again with Dargonesti and other races including fifty Qualinesti exiles.
Following the War of Souls and through Apoletta's exploits, power started shifting from Watermere's capital of Takaluras to Istar. It was predicted that in time Apoletta would be the next Speaker, and Istar would possibly become the most influential city under the sea.
Festivals[]
- Festival of Purification
- Midsummer Games
- Night of Ten Thousand Spears
- Night of White Roses
- Shinarion
- Spring Dawning Festival
- Yule Welcoming
Locations in Istar Before Cataclysm[]
Districts of Istar[]
Parks and Plazas of Istar[]
- Barigon Plaza
- Central Court
- Eusymmeas
- Paradise Park
- Pursemaker’s Square
- Silversmith Square
- Square of Six Swords
Buildings of Istar[]
- Banquet Hall
- Dome of Infinite Light
- Encuintras Estate
- Eusymmeas Fountain
- Exotic Art Emporium
- God’s Eyes Beacons
- The Great Temple
- Hammerhall
- Hart’s Leap Tavern
- House Bulus
- Hysolar’s Wall
- Imperial Jetty
- Imperial Prison
- Imperial Warehouses
- Inn of the Four Courts
- Istaran Money Traders
- Keep of the Kingfisher
- Marketplace (Istar)
- Mirrorgarden Wines
- Old Wall
- Sacred Halls of Silence
- School of Games
- Shrine of Branchala’s Bells
- Sign of the Basilisk Pub
- Slave Market (Istar)
- Temple of Mishakal (Istar)
- Temple of Shinare (Istar)
- Timon’s Folly Inn
- Tower of High Sorcery at Istar
- Warrior's Gate
- Water Gate
- Welcoming Tower
- Willow Wand Tavern
Roads and Streets of Istar[]
City Guilds[]
Locations in Istar Post Cataclysm[]
- The Pit (Istar)
- Steward’s Palace
Key Dates[]
- 2550 PC - The Tower of High Sorcery at Istar was raised in the small village of Istar.
- 962 PC - 1 IA - Galeric was crowned the first king of Istar. He formed the city-state of Istar into the Kingdom of Istar.
- 574 PC - 389 IA - The War of Bones occurred in Istar when Salius Ruven led an undead army on the city. The war ended when the Knights of Solamnia broke the siege. This act solidified Istar’s dislike of wizards.
- 280 PC - 683 IA - The last Emperor of Istar was overthrown by Symeon I who became the first Kingpriest.
- 118 PC - 845 IA - Factional fighting between Vasari II and Pradian continue to take place in the city of Istar; Pradian fled from Istar, and set up a rival church in Govinna; The Imperial Prison in Istar was constructed.
- 40 PC - 923 IA - Kurnos became the next Kingpriest following the death of Symeon IV; Beldyn overthrew Kurnos as Kingpriest, and took the name Beldinas Pilofiro; The Order of the Divine Hammer was established, and Cathan MarSevrin became the first knight; Neutral churches were declared evil by Beldinas, and the Knights of the Divine Hammer began to destroy neutral churches and shrines along with evil.
- 3 PC - 960 IA - First earthquakes in almost a thousand years.
- 0 PC - 963 IA - Cataclysm.
References[]
- Legends of the Twins, p. 52-53
- Conundrum (Novel), p. 62, 161, 208-209
- Divine Hammer, p. 37, 46, 49, 254
- DLC3: Classics Volume III, p. 50-54
- Dragons of Time, p. 270
- Fistandantilus Reborn, p. 4
- Kendermore (Novel), p. 234
- Knights of the Crown (Novel), p. 1, 108, 117
- Knights of the Rose (Novel), p. 12, 19
- Knights of the Sword (Novel), p. 83, 266
- Land of the Minotaurs, p. 119
- Lord Soth (Novel), p. 22, 277, 297
- Lord Toede (Novel), p. 34
- Maquesta Kar-Thon (Novel), p. 113
- Rebels and Tyrants, "Sharing the Luck", p. 51
- Rebels and Tyrants, "The Deep, Deep, Dark, Dark Place", p. 149
- Riverwind the Plainsman, p. 25
- Sacred Fire, p. 25, 184, 298, 313, 327
- The Reign of Istar, "Colors of Belief", p. 15-17
- The Reign of Istar, "Filling the Empty Places", p. 183-185
- The Alien Sea, p. 6, 17, 27, 47, 113, 159, 160, 199, 261, 269
- The Companions (Novel), p. 152
- The Dark Queen (Novel), p. 1, 70, 169, 263, 273
- The Dragons of Krynn, p. 53
- The Kagonesti, p. 220
- The Odyssey of Gilthanas, p. 50
- The Search for Power, "Marine Skies", p. 225, 229
- The Wayward Knights, p. 70
- Shadow of the Flame, p. 1