Amlaruil Moonflower

Until the end of her reign, Amlaruil commanded the absolute loyalty of Evermeet, including all military and civic powers, ruling by decree as advised by the senior nobility of the realm.

For most of her reign, she ruled in equal partnership with her husband, King Zaor. Zaor was assassinated in 1321 by Fenian Ni’Tessine in a plot orchestrated by the infamous Kymil Nimesin. Upon later examination by a Harper tribunal, it was determined that Nimesin was behind most of the deaths in her family (most of her 13 children are now dead or presumed dead). Sentenced to lifelong imprisonment, he escaped to mount an invasion of Evermeet out of spite, and cheated death once again as he was confronted by Prince Lamruil; his current whereabouts are unknown.

Due to the staggering losses of her family, especially the death of Zaor, Amlaruil earned the name "the Sad Queen" for her protracted period of mourning. She found herself in an inferior position to the greater nobles of Evermeet, especially the vaunted Durothil family (themselves the trunk line of House Nimesin). For the latter years of her reign, she was ineffective as a monarch, allowing the nobles to rule as they pleased.

The Elven Retreat from 1344 on brought Evermeet many new immigrants, and all were overwhelmingly behind their Queen. Even so, the nobles' power was absolute, and there was little she could do to resist their guidance of the nation.

The Evereskan Tragedy

In 1372, a horde of phaerimm, set loose by the Cult of the Shadovar, descended on Evereska, beginning a year-long siege. The city sent for aid from Evermeet, but none came beyond a few volunteers. The matrons of the Council of Evermeet used their political power to stay the Queen's hand in lending the city aid.

As Evereska fought off the assault, many of their eldest and greatest died in the city's defense. As the death toll mounted, the Queen loudly pressed for intervention, but was stayed by the nobles, who pronounced it a "senseless tragedy" which they could not possibly avert.

Furious, she ordered her own honor guard to defend the city, but they arrived too late; the Shadovar had sealed the city, preventing the phaerimm from escaping, while simultaneously disallowing any outsiders from entering the city. For months, the city suffered under the Shadow Canopy. When it was finally lifted, much of the city was destroyed, most of its population--especially the greatest mages and warriors--had died, and the mythal itself was grievously damaged.

The tragedy cost the Elven Queen much trust amongst Faerunian elves, and her unilateral action won her no friends among the Council back home.

The Daemonfey and Cormanthyr

In 1374, an army of Daemonfey descended upon Evermeet, in search of a great artifact that would allow them to free an army of their imprisoned allies. They were repelled from Evermeet, but they continued their war against the elven people by assaulting other fortresses, including Evereska.

The Council once again balked, but one among them, Seiveril Miritar, abdicated his position, and called on all like-minded individuals to follow him, of their own volition, in a crusade against the Daemonfey. It was this Crusade that bested the Daemonfey armies and ultimately retook Myth Drannor.

This was a first, small victory for the Queen, but it was a mixed blessing as well. She desired the silent majority of the Council, whose intentions were as good as her own, to speak out against the domineering Durothils and their allies; however, in doing so, Miritar had lost his position, and now yet more of the Council was stacked against her.

Still, in Ilsevele Miritar, she gained a powerful ally. Much of those who retreated from Faerun returned to Cormanthyr to aid in the reconquest of that land, and it became an independent nation, beyond the reach of the Council.

Although, many of those who journeyed back to Faerun left family in Evermeet, and as such can yet be pressured by the Council; this has resulted in a political stalemate between the two elven nations, with all eyes on the Queen, who is called upon to resolve the situation but has virtually no choice that results in a good outcome for all.

Abdication

On 21 Eleint 1378, the Queen stunned her court by walking out of her palace, leaving behind the Three Great Treasures of Evermeet, the symbols of her power. This shocking abdication, without any designated heir, led some to proclaim she had been taken prisoner by wayward elves, in league with drow and Shadovar.

In her stead, the Council has claimed Regency, with senior matron Selsharra Durothil acting as Queen in all but name. Support among the Council exists to pass the throne to her, but not before the matter of the Queen's issue is resolved.

Relocation of the Court to Myth Drannor

On 4 Eleasis 1378, the Queen returned to the realms, and proclaimed that her throne would now and forevermore reside in the reconquered city of Myth Drannor. Thousands of Evermeet elves flocked to her call, but the majority stayed behind, many deeply offended by her seeming betrayal of her island home. By the power of this endorsement, and her relationship with the Coronal, she effectively "annexed" Myth Drannor into her realm, practically, where it was always semantically.

The Queen took to a sudden surge of activity, forming a more centralized and militaristic government. She became the de facto commander of the Akh'Velar and the Akh'Faer, and expanded their mission to include all lands of Faerun. She declared Evermeet a protectorate of the Elven Realm, a demilitarized zone where none who seek its solace need ever serve the call of war. This noble act could also be seen as a power play, removing the possibility of an organized army to counter her rule.

Though she met with much dissent, particularly among the old guard of Evermeet, the majority of the elven people supported her reforms, and the population of Myth Drannor began to swell considerably.

The Great Absence

On 24 Eleint 1379, the Queen disappeared from Toril, not to be seen again. It is rumored that she had taken to the Sea of Night in ships of silver, and many "true believers" hold fast to the notion that she journeyed to the heavens to seek her reward, and that her successor shall soon come to The People to lead them into a Grand New Age.

The Regency Council has established themselves in Myth Drannor, and though tensions are high between Selsharra Durothil and Coronal Miritar, the government remains stable and functioning. However, patience is running thin with the Queen's escapades, and the council has decided that, at some point, enough is enough.

The Council has set a formal deadline of Cinnaelos'Cor (Shieldmeet) 1380 for the coronation of an heir or the return in good faith of Amlaruil. Should this not occur, the Regent will accede to the throne as Protector, pending a thorough analysis of all living elves to determine if any share in the Queen's royal bloodline.

Amlaruil's history is interesting, in that it is not easy to discover it. For someone who took the throne a mere two centuries past, there is not much lore openly available on how she came to power.

What is known is that Zaor Moonflower was born in Semberholme, and gained prominence as a commander and general of the Akh'Velar during the latter years of Myth Drannor. Amlaruil was born in Evermeet, and met Zaor when he arrived on the shores of the island, leading the last group of refugees from the fallen city.

The matter of their nobility is somewhat questionable, as is either of their connections to the Moonflower name. It is simply not done to question these, however, and they go undiscussed; the Council has long supported their claims of royal lineage, and it is surmised that this dependence on their peers for legitimacy has led to the great power held over the Queen in the later years by the council.

There are a few who know more about the Queen's past, and would have very interesting things to say, were they willing. It is known to some in Evereska that Amlaruil herself once adventured with Varanyr Dragonsong (now Moonflower) and Aunadra Auglamyr (same), elder nobles of that city. It is also known that they crossed blades at one point with the Nimesin clan, long before the modern troubles brought on by Kymil.

Issue

As of 1378, only two royal descendants are thought to be alive: Lamruil, son of Zaor and Amlaruil, and Arilyn Moonblade, half-elven daughter of Princess Amnestria.

Lamruil has not been seen by elves since 1374, though it is rumored he lives a secret life in Myth Drannor. The Council is now investigating all leads, and openly calling for him to return to claim his throne. So far, he has not shown himself; many believe the call to be a trap.

As for Arilyn, the Council has not formally ruled that a half-elf could become the Queen of Evermeet, but they have extended an invitation for her to hold court with them. She has politely declined, and it seems, of late, she has come under the constant (and annoying) guard of one Elaith Craulnober.

Amlaruil is said to be the Queen of All Elves. This is a mostly ceremonial title, as individual elven kingdoms outside Evermeet have their own monarchs. However, the vast majority of all elves (besides drow) acknowledge her as their Queen, though never has there been a decree of hers that explicitly affected elves beyond Evermeet that was not in agreement with the Faerunian monarchs. It is an open question whether or not such a decree, if it ever came to pass, would divide the Faerunian populace, or simply reveal her title to be one of no consequence.

It is widely considered that she engineered the Elven Retreat, and the agreement of so many Faerunian monarchs was a demonstration of her true power. Of course, her power being so limited on her home island, this is difficult to believe.

Recently, the Coronal of Myth Drannor has publicly and explicitly stated that she and all her subjects are bound to the will of the Queen and Elven Court. However, she has made it quite clear that she will only accept a new elven monarch if the transition of power is valid; she will not acknowledge a simple power-grab by the Council elders. Likely, it is this influence that has led them to take such a careful approach with the remaining issue of Amlaruil.

With her passing in 1379, she is succeeded by Queen Regent Kirilar Moonflower.