The Orb Lords

    The Orb Lords, as they have come to be remembered, were a cadre of wizards that ruled the lands north of present day Waterdeep from what is now called the city of glass. The Orb Lords ruled from a palace created entirely of glass steel. It is said that there were many tall towers purely constructed from glass steel as well. The city was called Haelabelee (Hail uh 'Bee lee) and is one of the seventeen wonders of the ancient world. Rumors impossible to substantiate abound about the ancient city but it must have surely been a breathtaking sight.

The lords created a great many magical orbs and thus earned their place in history. It is said that every single magical orb in existence today was created during the three hundred year reign of the Cadre of Nine, as they were known at that time. The Orb of Storms, the Black Orb of Untog and the Spheres of Annihilation are also attributed to the Nine. One thing is certain and that is that a great many orbs were created and a great many survive to this day. Their powers are myriad, in some cases many copies of the same orb were created and in other cases the orbs powers are unique.

    The Orb Lords, the city of glass and a good portion of the realms were laid to waste by a vast army of dragons in what history calls, "The Flight of Dragons". The destruction of the Orb Lords is attributed to Humathax the Black. The legend says that Humathax created the Dragon orbs, including the orb of the eternal dragon. Once Tiamat learned of the existence of the dragon controlling orbs she sent a great flock of elder dragons to lay waste to Haelabelee and destroy Humathax and the dragon orbs. Another account places Humathax in league with Tiamat who ultimately betrayed him.

The city has lain in ruins for more than eight hundred years. What remains of the city lies deep within the Mere of Dead Men swamp. Few who venture into the black waters of the cursed swamp are ever heard from again. The swamp is filled with ancient magics and more than a few angry souls still clinging to this world. It is said that an incredibly powerful black dragon lives in the ruins of the lost city.