Harmondale
| (Unaffiliated) |
|---|
| Regions: |
| Evenmorn Island |
| Harmondale |
| Bodies of Water: |
| Nighon Straits |
| Quiet Sea |
| Shandar River |
| Skyline Bay |
| Towns: |
Utopia 
|
Harmondale was a town located in the region of Forestdale within the Contested Lands, near Tularea. Featured in Might and Magic VII: For Blood and Honor, it served as the home and seat of power of the game's protagonists, known as the Lords of Harmondale. For nearly half a millennium, the area stood at the center of various human–elf conflicts between Erathia and AvLee. Within the town stood Castle Harmondale, sometimes referred to as Castle Harmondy.
Rulers[edit | hide | hide all]
- Unknown Erathian ruler - Governed around the time of the castle’s construction in 689 AS.
- Unknown AvLeean ruler - Took control after the Elves conquered the area in 692 AS during the Battle for Harmondale.
- Baron Danforth Octavio - Erathian noble who ruled with cruelty until overthrown and killed by the townsfolk in 817 AS.
- King Vespin I - Former mayor Ty Vespin, chosen by the people after Octavio’s death; ruled an independent Harmondale for six weeks before being executed by Erathian King Aaron Gryphonheart IV.
- Unknown Erathian ruler - Reigned after Erathia reclaimed the town following Vespin’s death.
- Unknown AvLeean ruler - Controlled Harmondale after AvLee retook the region in 818 AS.
- Lord Terrence Rockwin II - Necromancer who seized the castle in 1008 AS; defeated the following year by either Erathian or AvLeean forces.
- Unknown ruler - Either an Erathian or AvLeean lord who held the town after Rockwin’s fall in 1009 AS.
- At least six unknown rulers - A series of Erathian and AvLeean lords who controlled the area at various points in time between the AvLeean rule established after the Battle for Harmondale ended and the rule of Lord Markham began. Each succession was preceded by violent, bloody conflicts and many deaths.
- Lord Markham - Erathian noble and ruler of Tidewater, who organized a grand scavenger hunt to determine Harmondale’s next rulers in early 1168 AS.
- The Lords of Harmondale - The fair and well-liked rulers who emerged victorious from Lord Markham’s contest. They governed presumably until the opening of the Gateway to Webstation Beta-5.
History[edit | hide]
Construction of Castle Harmondale was completed in 689 AS as an Erathian fortification during the Timber Wars, intended as a defense against the Elvish forces of King Lothoe IV. The castle fell to AvLee only three years later at the Battle for Harmondale, beginning centuries of conflict over the region. Since its founding, Harmondale changed hands at least sixteen times, most often alternating between Erathian and AvLeean control.
In 817 AS, after a time of oppression, the citizens of Harmondale revolted against Baron Danforth Octavio, killing him in the streets. They declared their mayor, Ty Vespin, as King Vespin I. His short-lived rule lasted six weeks before Erathian King Aaron Gryphonheart IV retook the town, executing Vespin and his supporters. Gryphonheart himself was slain soon after by Elvish forces, and the town returned to AvLee in 818 AS.
In 1008 AS, the necromancer Lord Terrence Rockwin II captured the castle as part of his expansion plans. During his brief occupation, citizens fled or hid in the nearby hills to survive. Witnesses later spoke of frenzied excavations beneath the castle. When the town was retaken in 1009 AS, no evidence of the dig or of prisoners taken by the necromancers was ever found.
By 1168 AS, following the Restoration Wars, Harmondale was ruled by Lord Markham, an Erathian duke and war hero. Desiring to be rid of the troublesome territory, he announced a scavenger hunt on Emerald Island, offering Harmondale’s lordship as the grand prize. A party of four adventurers emerged victorious, becoming the new Lords of Harmondale.
Upon their arrival, the castle was infested by rats, bats, and goblins. The new lords cleared the infestation and soon gained the support of Stone City and the dwarves of Antagarich. In gratitude for their rescue of dwarves trapped in the Red Dwarf Mine in the Bracada Desert, King Hothfarr IX recognized them as the rightful rulers of Harmondale and sent craftsmen to restore the long-neglected castle and town. This marked a period of prosperity and optimism for the citizens.
The Conflict[edit | hide]
As tensions between Erathia and AvLee reignited, both nations claimed Harmondale under conflicting treaty interpretations. Although under Erathian jurisdiction, AvLee invoked the Treaty of Tularea in 673 AS, while Erathia countered by citing AvLee’s abrogation of the treaty in 811 AS.
The Lords of Harmondale, meeting with Catherine Ironfist in Steadwick and King Eldrich Parson in Pierpont, were given tasks by both leaders, aimed at striking blows against the other side. Several months into the conflict, Judge Grey, the designated arbiter in the Harmondale dispute, died of a heart attack, with the lords having been chosen to select his successor. Ambassadors from Bracada and Deyja arrived to present their candidates: Brandis Fairweather for Bracada and Devon Sleen for Deyja.
The lords ultimately chose Fairweather, aligning Harmondale with Bracada and the Path of Light. His arbitration led to the Treaty of Harmondale, which ended the conflict peacefully. During the signing, Queen Catherine remarked, “It’s hard to believe we were fighting each other when we all know who the real enemy is.”
The Heavenly Forge (alternate timeline)[edit | hide]
In another timeline, the lords chose Devon Sleen, the Deyjan candidate, aligning Harmondale with Deyja and the Path of Darkness. Sleen’s inaction caused the negotiations to collapse, igniting an all-out war between Erathia and AvLee. Deyja exploited the chaos to raise vast undead armies.
Following the outbreak of war, the lords aided Deyja and the Terrans Tolberti, Dark Shade, Maximus, and their leader, now King of Deyja, Kastore, in his plan to restore the legendary Heavenly Forge. Recovering the final component needed to activate the machine, Kastore succeeded in creating weapons of the Ancients and equipping his forces of undead, goblins, ogres, and other creatures with advanced technology.
Together, Deyja, led by the dark Terrans, and Harmondale, led by the Lords, sought to conquer the world with this army. However, they were ultimately defeated by Erathia using the Armageddon's Blade.
Trivia[edit | hide]
- Before Forge’s cancellation, the Path of Darkness was intended to be the canonical route in Might and Magic VII: For Blood and Honor.
- Depending on the player’s choices, the Lords of Harmondale may include humans, elves, dwarves, or goblins.
- While the Path of Light is canon, Harmondale’s political alignment remains ambiguous. It is rather likely that the lords chose Erathia, since Lucifer calls them "heroes from Erathia" in Seeking Armageddon. A devil in Catherine's Charge also relays Lucifer’s regards to Catherine for "a small part she played in his ascension to the throne". However, both statements are open for interpretation.
- Devon Sleen and Brandis Fairweather both appear in the Armageddon's Blade campaign as supporting characters. Judge Sleen provides information that helps Xeron assemble the Blade, and Judge Fairweater corresponds with Gelu, advising him on the Sons of Erebus.
- The later games do not explore what happened to the lords of Harmondale and the Adventurers of Terra. However, Jon Van Caneghem briefly mentioned that before New World Computing’s dissolution, there were plans to finalize the Kreegan storyline and depict a visit to the Ancient homeworld. This would have likely tied into the Lords and Terrans travelling through the Web of Worlds.
- The banner of the independent kingdom of Harmondale is based on the New World Computing logo.
Gallery[edit | hide]
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Harmondale as depicted on the MM7 map -
Harmondale depicted on the MM7 Town Portal map (the highlighted icon) -
Kingdom of Harmondale heraldry
(containing the NWC logo)
