Lost City of Amdapor

[Sobius]

What's the deal with this place? Is it "stuck" in the middle of a valley, or unearthed from the ground? I used to think it was completely underground but you can see the sun and moon from it, so that blew my theory.

Also, any explanation of why it's still intact or why Diabolos and the epitome of demonkind live deep inside it? (hyperbole on my part, but it seems odd - abandoned city on the outside, and weird, demon-like creatures on the inside).

Just wondering - Thanks!

[Alenore]

The place was hidden by a glamour cast by the elementals. Thing is, this glamour somehow dispelled itself, it seems, and the corruption that laid dormant started spreading to the Shroud, and we were then sent to clear it from its corruption (probably Diablos).

As for what the city is, it's simply the main city of the Amdapori civilization, which was at its peek during the Fifth Astral Era, and used the White Magic to oppose the Black Magic wielded by a still unknown civilization.
If I remmeber correctly what our Padjals friend teach us, their ennemies summoned Diablos (a lord among demons, I think) to destroy them. It apparently succeeded.
Black Magic 1 - 0 White Magic.

[Catapult]

Except that the White Mages managed to seal it.

Black Magic 0 - 1 White Magic.

It was the angered elementals that kicked the white mages out of the Twelveswood and sealed their power.

Elementals 1 - 0 White Magic.

[Magis]

Except that the White Mages managed to seal it.

Black Magic 0 - 1 White Magic.

It was the angered elementals that kicked the white mages out of the Twelveswood and sealed their power.

Elementals 1 - 0 White Magic.

Except their seal on Diabolos was broken by a mixture of time and meddling adventurers

Those Meddling Adventurers 1 - 0 White Magic.

[Morningstar1337]

Except their seal on Diabolos was broken by a mixture of time and meddling adventurers

Those Meddling Adventurers 1 - 0 White Magic.

And that seal would have stayed in place if it wasn't for Those Meddling Adventurers and their dumb dog

[Judge_Xero]

And that seal would have stayed in place if it wasn't for Those Meddling Adventurers and their dumb dog

You solved the mystery of Amdapor, here's a Scooby Snack.

[A_Magical_Unicorn_Rider]

Actually, I thought it was the WHITE Mages who dabbled in their aetherial power too far and ended up bringing over Diabolos and the voidkin. Which makes me think of:

http://youtu.be/94m_P4-0wXw?t=4m55s

[Estellios]

Actually, I thought it was the WHITE Mages who dabbled in their aetherial power too far and ended up bringing over Diabolos and the voidkin. Which makes me think of:

http://youtu.be/94m_P4-0wXw?t=4m55s

It's been a while since I read it but I believe if you go back and talk to E-sumi-yan he gives some more backstory and Diabolos was summoned by Amdapor's enemies.

[Alenore]

Except that the White Mages managed to seal it.

Black Magic 0 - 1 White Magic.

It was the angered elementals that kicked the white mages out of the Twelveswood and sealed their power.

Elementals 1 - 0 White Magic.

Actually, Raya-O-Senna tells us the survivors vowed never to use the black and white magic again, but the Elementals decided to maje the Twelveswood grew to recover the ruins of Amdapor, to seal the power away from people.
From how she phrases it, I'm not too sure it was in the Twelveswood at the time of the War of the Magi.

Sixth Umbral Era 1 - 0 Magi

Actually, I thought it was the WHITE Mages who dabbled in their aetherial power too far and ended up bringing over Diabolos and the voidkin. Which makes me think of:

http://youtu.be/94m_P4-0wXw?t=4m55s

Let's quote our E-Sumy-Yan friend.
"It is told that the enemies of the Amdapori abandoned all caution in their pursuit of victory, and used their dark magicks to summon a king among demons. ...I imagine this abhorrent entity is the very evil you slew in the depths of the ruins.
Though the mages of Amdapor eventually succeeded in imprisoning this fell creature, its recent resurgence speaks eloquenty of the impermanence and unpredictability of the arcane energies"

[Velox]

Actually, I thought it was the WHITE Mages who dabbled in their aetherial power too far and ended up bringing over Diabolos and the voidkin

Diabolos was summoned from the void thru black magic (blm quest line explains the link).

However, what you are talking about is also a legitimate concern with both black and white magic. BLM and WHM utilize the aether of the world and living things to do their spells. In essence, they have to drain aether from other sources, which funny enough, is exactly what primal do to survive. That is why WHM and BLM have to keep their power in check, as over use of it saps the life out of the planet and they become no different than a primal.