Harmondale
| (Unaffiliated) |
|---|
| Regions: |
| Evenmorn Island |
| Harmondale |
| Bodies of Water: |
| Nighon Straits |
| Quiet Sea |
| Shandar River |
| Skyline Bay |
| Towns: |
Utopia 
|
A town and castle in the Welnin region of the Contested Lands, near Tularea. Featured in Might and Magic VII: For Blood and Honor, the new lords of Harmondale being the game's protagonists. This area has been at the center of nearly half a millennium of human-elf conflicts.The castle itself is sometimes referred to as Castle Harmondy.
Rulers
- Unknown Erathian Ruler — Ruled 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 infamous Battle for Harmondale.
- Baron Danforth Octavio — Erathian ruler who reigned with cruelty until he was overthrown and killed by the townsfolk in 817 AS.
- King Vespin I — Chosen by the townsfolk following Octavio’s death, he ruled an independent Harmondale for six weeks before being executed by Erathian King Aaron Gryphonheart IV.
- Unknown Erathian Ruler — Reigned over Harmondale after it was reconquered by Erathia following Vespin’s death.
- Unknown AvLeean Ruler — Controlled Harmondale after AvLee reclaimed the region again in 818 AS.
- Lord Terrence Rockwin II — A necromancer who seized the castle in 1008 AS; it was retaken by either Erathia or AvLee in 1009 AS.
- Unknown Ruler — Either an Erathian or AvLeean lord who governed Harmondale after Lord Rockwin’s defeat.
- At least five unknown rulers — A succession of either Erathian or AvLeean rulers who held power at various times between the AvLeean rule established after the Battle for Harmondale ended and the rule of Lord Markham began.
- Lord Markham — An Erathian noble who organized a grand scavenger hunt to determine Harmondale’s next rulers, which concluded 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
Castle Harmondale was completed in 689 [ AS ] as the first line of defense against Elvish forces led by King Lothoe IV during the Timber Wars. In a sign of things to come, It fell to an Elvish assault just three years later at the infamous Battle for Harmondale. Since then, the castle has changed hands 13 times in bloody conflicts with hundreds of deaths. In all but two of the cases, the castle has been controlled by either Erathia or Avlee, but those two cases are remarkable. In 817, the long suffering citizens of Harmondale tore the cruel Baron Danforth Octavio to pieces in the streets over his enthusiastic tax collection methods. Seizing the moment, the mob elevated mayor Ty Vespin to King of Harmondale, and installed him in the castle. The glorious reign of King Vespin the First lasted exactly six weeks. Erathian King Aaron Gryphonheart IV marched on the town with two veteran legions, and put King Vespin and his loudest supporters to the sword. With this ""victory"" in hand, King Gryphonheart then marched upon the elves, who slew him in battle two weeks later. The castle returned to Elvish control in 818. More recently, the Necromancer Lord Terrence Rockwin II seized the castle as part of his expansion plans in 1008. The few citizens who survived this conquest did so by hiding in the hills for the year he was in control of the castle. Witnesses reported signs of a frenzied excavation taking place at the castle, but when Harmondale was retaken in the fall of 1009, no evidence of digging or construction could be found. For that matter, no prisoners ever taken to the castle by the Necromancers were ever seen again. - Wendell Tweed, Court Historian
In 1168, just after the Restoration Wars, Harmondale belonged to an Erathian duke, Lord Markham, who was also the ruler of Tidewater and a decorated leader in the recent war, honored personally by Queen Catherine. The shrewd nobleman had plans of his own and did not want to be burdened with, by his own words, “a territory [he] couldn't pay to have someone take”. Lord Markham came up with a scheme to rid himself of Harmondale, staging a contest on Emerald Island, with the prize being a deed to the castle and the surrounding lands. Multiple adventurers were attracted to this Scavenger Hunt, a party of four commoners eventually claiming victory. Secretly glad that his trick worked, Markham went to his manor in Tidewater, while the new lords arrived at Castle Harmondale.
The adventurers found that it was not only in disrepair, but also infested by giant rats and giant bats, as well as recently overrun by small band of goblins. Clearing out their new home, the lords then garnered support from Stone City, the dwarf nation of Antagarich, which led to the castle being repaired, among other benefits.
In gratitude for my Lords' heroic rescue of the dwarves from their old mine, Dwarf King Hothfarr IX has officially recognized them as the rightful lords of Harmondale. Emissaries were sent to the surrounding countries to herald this declaration, and in response, Erathia and Avlee have sent ambassadors to Castle Harmondale to officially represent their positions.
More importantly, King Hothfarr was so grateful for the aid at the mine that he has sent an engineer and construction crew to make long overdue repairs to the castle and the town. I have witnessed the work, and I must say I am impressed! Rubble that has been in the castle since the defeat of Lord Rockwin II more than 150 years ago has finally been removed, revealing several more rooms that haven't been used since then.
Even the usually pessimistic townspeople have begun to cheer up. Though most of the improvements to the town are cosmetic, the effect has been electrifying! Business is positively booming, morale is up, and there is a real feeling that the worst days are behind us. Providence willing, taxes will remain low, and good fortune will remain high. The population's consensus is that nothing can go wrong!
- Wendell Tweed, Court Historian
To my sorrow, the old rivalry between Erathia and Avlee has flared up again, and this time it is over us. My lords' effectiveness has made this territory a valuable resource, and both powers wish to claim Harmondale as theirs. Though currently under Erathian jurisdiction, Avlee has asserted its right to the territory under the treaty of Tularea (signed in 673). Erathia, of course, responded to that claim by pointing out Avlee's treaty abrogation in 811 under the Declarations and Annunciation's clause. The position of Avlee on THAT issue has been to deny abrogation under the doctrine of Traitors and Miscreants, established circa. 375 by the great warlord Sardowin One-Eye.
There is a response to that claim as well, and a response to the response, ad infinitum. The subject of international relations is worthy of many books, but isn't in the scope of this history. Suffice it to say that both sides believe there is sufficient reason to spill blood, and that spilling is likely to happen in and around Harmondale. I fear for the future.
The townspeople have taken the announcement of war in stride, but there is an undercurrent of worry. I am sure the pressure on my lords to choose a side is intense. I am not sure what I would do, and take comfort in knowing that the decision is not mine to make. Step carefully, my lords.
- Wendell Tweed, Court Historian
Travelling to both their de jure sovereign Catherine Ironfist in Steadwick and Elf King Eldrich Parson in Pierpont, the lords of Harmodnale were given tasks by the feuding rulers, aimed at striking blows against the other side involving the burgeoning war. Several months into this conflict, the lords receive news that Judge Grey, the arbiter in the Harmondale dispuite, died from a heart attack. It was now up to them to decide the course of the war.
Good news! After some light skirmishes and plenty of spying and maneuvering, both sides of this silly war have decided to call a truce until a suitable arbitrator can be found. My lords have been chosen to select the arbitrator. The future of relations between Erathia and Avlee now rests squarely upon my Lords' (so far) capable shoulders. I am sure their decision will be a wise one. In other developments, ambassadors from Deyja, land of the Necromancers, and Bracada, land of the Wizards, have arrived. They have come to announce their countries' recognition of my lords as rightful rulers in Harmondale, and no doubt to secure diplomatic favors. Politics such as they are, both sides detest one another. I wouldn't be surprised if one ambassador tried to murder the other in the middle of the night. Everyone is holding their breath. Nothing can happen, it seems, until this decision is made. - Wendell Tweed, Court Historian
Deyja and Bracada offered their candidates for the arbiter post, sages Devon Sleen and Brandis Fairweather respectively. Gavin Magnus, Grand Vizier of Bracada, wanted to stop the war as soon as possible, resolving the Harmondale dispute peacefully. Archibald Ironfist, new ruler of Deyja (who recently influenced the unrest in the Contested Lands), wanted to increase hostilities and, through Sleen, resume the war for Harmondale.
The decision not only meant Harmondale becoming allied with the arbiter's kingdom, but the lords' choice in this fateful moment would also put them either on the spiritual Path of Light, centered in Bracada, or the Path of Darkness, centered in Deyja. Canonically, the lords chose Judge Fairweather. The Bracadan sage presided over the tense negotiations between Catherine and Eldrich, evenhandedly dividing the contested lands of Harmondale and surrounds, which led to the Treaty of Harmondale being signed. During the ensuing celebration, Queen Catherine mused: "It's hard to believe we were fighting each other when we all know who the real enemy is."
The details of the treaty were affected by the political leanings that the lords had shown during the crisis. There are three outcomes in the game depending on the player's previous actions. Erathia can be assigned control of Harmondale itself, with AvLee getting the more outlying territories, the reverse can happen, or Harmondale can gain independence, establishing a new nation, the Kingdom of Harmondale, the four lords being its rulers.
With the all-out war averted, the lords, having chosen the Path of Light, began to work closely with Gavin Magnus’ mysterious advisors, the Adventurers of Terra. Guided by these otherworldly chosen ones of the Ancients, the lords performed several heroic deeds. The most major of these was slaying Xenofex and destroying Colony Zod, the main base of the devil Kreegan after their Hive in Enroth was destroyed. The fall of this remaining hive prevented the world from being overrun by the recovering Kreegans.
When going after Xenofex, the lords received an unlikely ally in Archibald Ironfist, who was recently dethroned by Kastore. Archibald informed them of his brother Roland being imprisoned and tormented inside the horrid alien colony, and asked them to free him. He also provided a powerful Ancient weapon, a blaster pistol, that his goblin underling stole from his former advisors. The lords freed the king of Enroth from his cage in Colony Zod and then defeated Xenofex and his devils. Archibald escorted Roland to Catherine, while the lords went on to perform the final task for the Terrans, helping them obtain an Oscillation Overthruster - the final component needed to open a gate to the Web of Worlds.
As it turned out, the Gate was only connected to a splinter section of the larger Web, and could not bring them to the Ancients as the Terrans had hoped, though a thousand worlds now lay at the heroes’ feet. Webstation Beta 5, which they now had access to, contained many other Gates, leading to planets that were seeded by the Ancients long ago and went into decline over the course of the Ancient-Kreegan war. The lords, along with their Bracadan/Terran allies, set out to explore those worlds in hopes of one day finding the Ancients and ending the Silence. Their own world, however, would soon be destroyed.
In a twist of fate, when he fell to the lords, Xenofex enacted a doomsday plan. He visited his servant Lucifer in a dream and charged him with constructing Armageddon's Blade, a fabled pre-Silence weapon capable of setting the planet on fire. Although the remnants of the Kreegan invasion were soon defeated by Erathia and the Great Conflux, the Blade was forged, eventually causing the Reckoning. However, the exploits of the lords of Harmondale ultimately saved countless lives during the world’s destruction. The completion of the Gate allowed for the opening of the portals that took fortunate refugees to Axeoth.
The Heavenly Forge
Prior to Forge’s cancellation, the Path of Darkness was intended be the canonical one in Might and Magic VII: For Blood and Honor. The lords choose Sleen, who then takes a hands-off approach in the arbitration between Erathia and AvLee. With Catherine and Eldrich unable to agree to a proper division of lands, the negotiations swiftly end and an all-out war between Erathia and AvLee erupts. This bloody conflict allows Deyja to harvest many undead troops. Similar to the Treaty of Harmondale, the peace agreement at the war's conclusion then decides Harmondale's political status, depending on the player's actions.
Following that, the lords are allied with Deyja and Kastore’s faction of the Terrans, performing tasks for them, but also killing Xenofex, destroying the Kreegan Hive and freeing Roland, like they would on the Path of Light. Ultimately, the same final piece that is needed for building the Gate is required for the completion of a restored Heavenly Forge from the Time of Wonders. Using this machine, Kastore makes countless copies of a blaster. Arming goblins and undead with these Ancient weapons, the Dark Terrans and the lords of Harmondale set out to conquer the planet.
This would set the stage for the scrapped original version of the Armageddon's Blade storyline, with the equipment created by the Heavenly Forge explaining the existence of the Forge faction. In this alternate timeline, Armageddon's Blade would be used by Erathia to defeat the Forge army.
Trivia
- Based on how it is shown on the maps and described, Harmondale is located in Forestdale.
- Depending on the player’s choices during the character creation, there can be humans, elves, dwarves and goblins among the four lords of Harmondale.
- The choice of the Path of Light is explicitly canonical, but Harmondale's political status is 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 detail about the portals to Axeoth comes from Jennifer Bullard. She said in an interview that the portals were opened by Corak, the android Guardian of the Web’s section that has been accessed through the Gate.
- The banner of the independent kingdom of Harmondale is based on the New World Computing logo.
Gallery
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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)
