1. Famous Sarvonian wizard, who lived at the Age of Silence during the War of the Chosen (approx. 8900 b.S.). Much is hidden in the grey mists of history about the wizard Thalambath, but one thing was never forgotten and is still present, even though it was created thousands of years ago: The black keep at the southwestern coast of the Truban Province of Santharia, a huge black fortress, arising challengingly to the sky like a dark mountain of pure black shining stone.

Picture description: The legendary Sarvonian wizard Thalambath. Image drawn by Faugar.

The legend goes that the building is Thalambath in own person. The chronicles of the ancient city begin with a passage starting at the end of the War of the Chosen, when according to the legend eight riders arrived in the south. They were refugees from the Great War, wounded and battered in many a battle and seeking a place for peace after years of horrifying war. Their leader was named Thalambath. He was a wizard, powerful and skilled, but had tried to avoid the mayhem of war by staying neutral in the dispute of White and Black Wizards. The fighting parties, who both tried to convince him to choose their side, eliminated his small realm in the north and tried to destroy him, but failed. With his seven servants the weakened wizard roamed the countryside, hiding from his pursuers, who gave up the pursuit in the end. The eight went south, in the hope to find a few likeminded people to cooperate with, but found nothing but destroyed and burned cities, only inhabited by a few remaining citizens. So the heart of the wise sorceror darkened and it is said that he slowly began to hallucinate at nights, while sitting weak and halfsleeping in his saddle at daytime. Madness came over him and a few small communities were destroyed by his seven powerful heralds before they arrived at the last spot he hoped to find a friend.

But even there, almost at the furthest point in the south of the continent, the war had ravaged the country. The last powerful wizard ruling these lands had died in battle as well, and his kingdom was destroyed.

It is at the sight of his last hope gone that Thalambath lost the last piece of sanity and ordered his seven followers to leave him once and for all. When they returned the ruins had made place for a gigantic castle, a black rock standing at the coast. Thalambath in person had disappeared but it is believed that he lives on within the walls of the fortress. It is also rumoured that hidden deep within the dungeons and catacombs there lies a large green diamond, the heart of Thalambath. But no-one has ever found it, yet.

See also: "The Legend of Thalambath"

2. One of the most ancient cities of the southern Sarvonian Continent and capital of the Santharian province of Truban. The legend goes that the base of the city was founded at the War of the Chosen, but this is only confirmed by the stories and tales of old.

Picture description: A citizen of Thalambath. Image drawn by Bard Judith.

Like most other cities in Truban, the economy of Thalambath is now based upon trade and full of strange people and creatures, but this is not the way it had always been. In fact Thalambath had been one of the more secretive communities, not being very fond of strangers to say the least. The city was infamous for its apparatus of intelligence and dreaded for its dark agents. The rumours of shapeshifting men penetrating defences and guardlines in animal form or creatures infiltrating even the most trusted councils were numerous. Trade was simply not done by the Thalambath administration, as they liked to keep out of the way of others as much as possible, only a few secret deals were made with vague associates from all over the continent. But there may be a good explanation for this.

In the time the refugees came from the north after the horrifying Dragonstorm at 1650 b.S., Thalambath was still a small community, but guarded by its large black keep and surrounded by strong walls. The Thalambathians did not receive the visitors friendly, and any company of travellers continued their journey soon. It was decades later that Thalambathian spies found out that the refugees from the Dragonstorm had founded a new town called Strata at the most southern point of the Sarvonian continent.

The Seven (see ancient lore on the person on Thalambath above), who still ruled the city in absence of their master, started infiltrating the Stratanian society and after years and years of careful planning and spying were finally able to control most of the Stratanian trade, though no-one knew about their machinations. The contacts with Nybelmar for example where completely realized by Thalambathian companies under the flag of Strata. The syndicate of Thalambath kept control until Strata entered the Red Alliance. A disastrous battle in the north followed, after which the infiltrators slowly disbanded their project and moved it to their home town, to start open trade. It is since then that the city is more open.

Still the Thalambathians left the Stratanians with a ruined organisation, and the seemingly powerful city diminished in might bit by bit, while Thalambath grew steadily due to their experience in trade. Eventually Thalambath took over the leading role in the region of Truban at the cost of Strata.

Today Thalambath is no longer ruled by the Seven of old, though their High Council is still called the Seven. However, no-one really knows when the Seven disappeared or when they were vanquished. The history books are very unsure at this point, though the Stratanians claim to have killed the seven rulers in a desperate attempt to retrieve their waning power.