Antharia zone
- Levels: 9-42
- Danger: easy opponents
- Author: Amadeus
- Translation: Hauzer
- How to get there:
9e5n3w2n2d(from the Market Square)
An excerpt from the latest revision of the book of the Historical University of Dreamland.
The Kingdom of Antharia, one of the discoveries of the modern world, has a most interesting history. Having existed from time immemorial, it was peopled by a race whose knowledge and wisdom far surpassed our own. We see this clearly in the example of a small excerpt from the history of the kingdom's eponymous capital, Antharia.
About a thousand years ago, Antharia was a very rich and prosperous land. Many problems over which other kingdoms racked their brains were here solved. The form of government in the kingdom was called a "constitutional monarchy". There was a king who was at once the nominal head of state and the political leader. However, the working laws and policy were created by two councils: the High Council of Wizards and the Holy Order of Priests. These two factions worked together most productively, and made Antharia the best place to live. It was these very two councils that made the discovery which overturned the life of every Antharian.
It was discovered that a great shift of the layers of the earth's crust was coming, a Cataclysm, as a result of which all Antharia (and the kingdom was an island) would sink into the abyss of the ocean. In fear for the lives of the kingdom's folk the Council of Wizards and the Order of Priests began their search for a solution, for how to be saved from the disaster.
After many months, a way out was found: the wizards joined their powers, creating the "Stone of Salvation". This stone, in essence, could hold air within a whole city even deep underwater, forming a dome of air. However, this forced the government to make a decision -- who would live, and who was doomed to die... the city could not hold so many people.
The Antharians speak of those times most reluctantly. It is understandable, the decision was not an easy one; no wonder that several decades following the sinking of Antharia are lost to history. Nonetheless, this was only the beginning of the dramatic events in the life of the Antharians.
And so, the Antharians lived in their underwater city, but then the council of wizards made yet another discovery, which might have deprived us of Antharian culture forever. The Stone worked, but grew weaker by the day. Not having expected such a turn of events, the wizards once more set about searching for a solution to the problem. With the help of the priests of Enki the wizards came to a conclusion that brought the race of Antharians to the form in which we know them today.
They understood that the only way to preserve the lives of the citizens was to become creatures able to breathe underwater. But this process demanded the full giving of the joined power of all the wizards of Antharia, which meant that not one of them would be transformed into the new shape. Knowing that this was the only hope of salvation, the wizards went to that sacrifice. The Day of Transformation is to this day reckoned a great holiday, and the wizards who gave their lives are always remembered by the Antharians with love and reverence.
We are happy that these wizards found the time to teach their pupils how to handle the Stone and care for it. The Stone was changed simply to provide constant gravity and protection from the surrounding water, to keep the city from falling into ruin. The Stone works to this very day.