Thelgaard is located in the Solamnic province of Heartlund in Solamnia. It is west of the great city of Solanthus, and north of Garnet and Lytburg between the Vingaard Mountains to the west and the Garnet Mountains to the east.
Almost the entire city was built of gray stone. As you pass through the gray city walls, one will notice that all the buildings are square blocks with worn wooden shutters. There was no decoration on these buildings, living or merchant. The more wealthy and official buildings have marble on the outside of the building. This marble was brought from Garnet.
When the people of the city speak they put an accent on the second syllable of their words. Thelgaard Keep plays host to the Midsummer Tournament every year, and the city is know for having olive trees growing through it. The ruler of Thelgaard, or in later years the Duke of Thelgaard, sits on the Throne of the White Swan.
History of Thelgaard[]
Age of Dreams[]
The early history of Thelgaard is one clouded in mystery. The earliest mention of the city was in 2239 PC, when the city was the place for the signing of the Treaty of Thelgaard between the Empire of Ergoth and Silvanesti over the cloth trade.
Age of Might[]
During the Greatmeld, Solamnia and Istar went to war against the Empire of Ergoth. Ergoth laid siege on Thelgaard in 1 PC, but was defeated with the coming of the Cataclysm.
Age of Despair[]
Not much is known about Thelgaard in the years following the Cataclysm except that the Lord Knights fled the city for for Sancrist Isle. During the War of the Lance, their soldiers mustered at met the Red Wing on the field of battle between Thelgaard and Solanthus in 351 AC. They had some luck holding off the Dragonarmies with their hit and run tactics, but eventually they were defeated. Once the Dragonarmies were victorious on the field, they moved on to Thelgaard. They attacked the city and reduced it to a smoldering ruin, and the defenders retreated back to Caergoth. After the War of the Lance, they city was rebuilt.
Age of Mortals[]
Following the Chaos War, Thelgaard remained in Solamnic hands. The Citadel of Light would send master mystics to the city to coordinate actions with the Knights of Solamnia against the Dark Knights and Khellendros. For years it went without seeing a battle, but it would eventually fall during the War of Souls. Following the War of Souls, the knightly brigades served brutal warlords until Duke Walker du Crawford expelled the Dark Lords from power. Duke Jarrod Yorgan, a Knight of the Crown, was put in power over the city, and the city served as the headquarters for the Order of the Crown.
During Ankhar’s War in 425 AC, the cities defenders were crushed by Ankhar’s forces in the Battle of Thelgaard. The entire city was razed to the ground. Just prior to that though, their own Duke committed suicide rather than risk capture. By 427 AC, the Solamnics began rebuilding the city, and by 429 AC the city had a rebuilt outer wall and gate with the addition of several new towers.
Buildings of Thelgaard[]
References[]
- The Crown and the Sword, p. 382
- The Measure and the Truth, p. 32, 152
- Lord of the Rose, p. 2, 4, 327
- Dragons of Winter, p. 91, 100, 136, 164
- Dragons of Deceit, p. 10
- Dragons of War, p. 10
- Heroes of Defiance, p. 66
- Firstborn, p. 180-181
- Heroes of Hope, p. 49
- Knightly Orders of Ansalon, p. 43
- Tales of Uncle Trapspringer, p. 195-199
- The Players of Gilean, p. 66, 180
- Price of Courage, p. 263
- Races of Ansalon, p. 6
- Vinas Solamnus (Novel), p. 121
- War of the Lance (Sourcebook), p. 201, 228