Continuity/Siege of Holtburg and Founding of Rithwic

There are some inconsistencies related to the seige of Holtburg, the rescue by Celcynd, and the founding of Rithwic.

Holtburg

Holtburg was founded in 2 PY In 6 PY, Tumeroks besieged the town. Most of the population retreated to the Holtburg Redoubt, where they were slain by the Tumeroks. The children were rescued by the mage Celcynd. The children escaped through a summoned portal to Rithwic.

Children known to have been saved are:

• Flinrala Ryndmad
• Hardunna
• Worcer

Adults known to have been killed are:

• Brogord the Forester, father of Flinrala Ryndmad.
• Mother of Worcer.
• Father of Worcer.

Adults assumed to have been killed are:

• Ryndya, mother of Flinrala Ryndmad.
• Roland, father of Hardunna.
• Hope, mother of Hardunna.

Some sources say all the adults were killed. Other sources say many (but not all) of the adults were killed, or imply that some of the adults survived.

The age of the children is also somewhat unclear. Flinrala Ryndmad once said that, when her father was killed, she was just a babe in swaddling. Flinrala also said that her father was going to make her an axe of her own, as soon as she was big enough to hold one. Worcer and Hardunna referred to themselves as a "boy" and a "girl" at the time of the attacks.

Celcynd

Some years prior to 10 PY, Harlune lived in Arwic. Before he was known as Harlune the Misanthrope, he was Harlune of Arwic. Harlune was a famous mage, and many young mages came to hime seeking apprenticeship. The only pupil he took on was Celcynd.

Harlune once referred to Celcynd as "the planar mage from Rithwic," and that he had borrowed one of his history books a few years back from 10 PY.

Celcynd stated that, when he was younger, he found adventure in the area around Rithwic.

Tazal al-Ashfai, a planar mage near Al-Jalima, called Celcynd his old colleague.

Rithwic

Rithwic was settled in 7 PY. It was originally a small stonemason's hamlet.

Brentsella and others used to live in the Old Warehouse. It is implied that Celcynd may have lived there as well.

Analysis

Holtburg

Holtburg's founding in 2 PY has no conflicts with other information, and makes sense in the larger picture, as Aluvians didn't settle outside of the Underground City until 0 PY, after the defeat of the Olthoi Queen.

Likewise, the seige of Holtburg occurring in 6 PY does not have any direct conflicts. We have multiple sources from release giving it that date, and it was reiterated later in The History of Auberean. The only potential conflict is that this was supposed to take place in the era before lifestones, so the deaths were permanent. But that is a topic for another article.

Our first conflict is with the death total. The historical marker states that the people of Holtburg were slaughtered in the redoubt, and only the children were spared. Hardunna's retired dialog also stated that all of the adults died in the redoubt. The text Of Celcynd the Dour also states the adults were unable to be saved.

However, the text Directions to the Holtburg Redoubt states that most of the population retreated into the redoubt, implying that some chose to hide elsewhere or flee. In the text A Crabbed Note, Harlune writes to Celcynd that he has heard the people of Holtburg praising Celcynd for saving their children. This again implies that some adults survived. And later on in The History of Auberean it states that many adults died, again implying some survived.

Finally, we have conflicts with the children themselves. Flinrala describes herself in 6 PY as an infant, and again describes herself as not big enough to wield an axe. Worcer calls himself a boy, Hardunna calls herself a girl, and in general, the survivors are referred to multiple times as children. The issue with this is that these are descriptions of these characters in 6 PY, and the game starts in 10 PY. When players were first able to interact with these NPCs, they have the appearance of adults, and their dialog does not indicate that they are still children.