Svarturis (Black Ice)

"The history of Laerthi, Svarturis as it now known, is a sad tale of hubris, pride and arrogance. It stands as a warning to all."

Amarim of Malfarbar

Located in the far north of Arcania, the city of Laerthi was once a thriving community and a centre of learning. Travellers from far and wide made the long trek in order to study at the magical academy, founded by Edrias the Blue. As such, the city became wealthy as more and more people flocked there, either to study or to make use of the magics that abounded within its walls.

As the power of the mages grew, so did their arrogance. Most notable among these was a young mage named Thorgo Fjarrisson. Impatient and reckless, he dismissed the warnings of his tutors and delved deeper and deeper into the art of necromancy and, as such, came to the notice of The Dark, who sent emissaries to whisper promises of greater power into his ear.

The more the emissaries whispered, the more he listened and began to gather to his side those of similar aims and desires. So it was, from the shell of Thorgo Fjarrisson arose The Dark Prince who became known as Jozrolath Svarthjarta. Immediately, he set about dominating the mages of  Laerthi.

The final battle between Svarthjarta and the head of the council of mages, Ibarin the Great, was of such a magnitude that has rarely been seen in all the history of Arcania. In the end, Ibarin was triumphant but the cost was high. The once mighty city of Laerthi was laid waste and enveloped by the great glacier now know as The Creeping Ice.

People fled Laerthi, unable to hold back the advancing glacier, naming their once beautiful city Svarturis.

Since then, the city has been left alone, feared by the locals as a place of ill omen. However, in recent years, a few brave souls have begun to venture into the frozen streets of Svarturis, tempted by the tales of fabulous treasures to be found within.