Editing Marcourt (section)

== History ==
Nestled at the southern bend of the Dempel River, Marcourt was founded as Fort Marcourt in 1245 VR (23 of the 2nd Era IR), to be used as an elven military garrison for the border between old [[Valden]] and [[Yoren]]. For the next 3,000 years, Marcourt evolved into hundreds of different things—village, fort, bustling metropolis, ruins—its structure and population ebbing and flowing as much as the tide of war throughout Irolean history. The only reason it is still known as Marcourt, and even still exists, is its proximity to [[Gall]], which makes it an important stopping point for whichever force controls Gall at any given time. It wasn’t until the beginning of the 3rd Era of Iro that Marcourt became what it is today—a prosperous college town. Ironically, this came about when [[Padorism]] swept through the country shortly after the era began; originally, a group of dissidents and [[Skallanites]] (worshipers of the Old Gods) met in what was, at the time, a far seedier and dirtier Marcourt, to discuss ways to preserve the old knowledge of Iro. They were concerned that [[King Locane II]], a devout Padorist, would use his station to ban Skallanite worship. Their teachings were at first divine in nature, but over the years, they began to expand their teachings. In 3369 VR (39 of the 3rd Era IR), [[Storybearers]] set up a satellite headquarters in Marcourt to capture and record the teachings of Skallanite worshipers there, and within 10 years Marcourt had founded its first college--Fortuna College, cobbled together by the ragtag assortment of down-and-out bards, skalds, and minstrels in the city.

Currently, Marcourt remains a strong defensive garrison for Gallean troops, while also housing the largest number of universities per capita in Iro.