| Locations of Note |
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Locations:
Grand Duchy of Karameikos – Most of the Grand Duchy is Forest and foothills, with
a few large patches of flatlands, moors, and one swampy region.
The weather throughout the area is usually temperate and mild, with short winters of
little or no snowfall and long summers. Rainfall is ample but not heavy, and easterly
winds blow cool breezes from over the sea.
The mountain range at the north edge of the Duchy is known by different names to
the peoples of the territory: the Black Peaks, the Cruth Mountains or The Steach.
Large sections of the Duchy are filled with dense forest. Humans maintain
lumbering operations near the edges of the forests, but are loath to venture too
deeply without good cause. This hardwood and softwood is a prime resource of the
area, either for shipbuilding in the port of Specularum, or for export.
Most of the communities are on the coast or along the rivers. There are very few
human communities in deep woods or far from well-traveled roads, so the vast
majority of the Grand Duchy is unsettled no-man’s land, unexplored and undefended.
Some places have two names because the settling Thyatians, uncomfortable with
the native names of some of these sites, simply renamed them. Today, when
speaking Thyatian, most people use the Thyatian name and when speaking
Traladaran use the original name.
Specularum – The largest city in Karameikos (50,000 pop.). Built just west of the
point where the Highreach river enters the sea, Specularum is a trade city, with a
good harbor, ample accommodations for traders and other visitors, and most of the
comforts of civilization
The city is surrounded by the farmlands of the Estate of Marilenev, and the lands of
Baron Vorloi border the Estate of Marilenev to the southeast.
Specularum is ruled (through subordinates) by Duke Stefan Karameikos III.
Additional political power lies in the Merchants’ Guild, in the Church, and in wealthy
families, such as the Vorloi, Radu and Toronescu clans.
The Duke keeps a standing force of 5,000 troops and may raise an army of 40,000
from the nearby countryside in time of war. A small fleet of warships is kept in the
harbor.
The city is famous for its excellent harbor and shipyards. Walled on the landward
side, the city is also protected by 2 breakwaters that extend into the harbor, restricting
passage to the narrow entrance. The Duke’s castle stands by the harbor, providing
ample defense.
Kelvin – 2nd largest city in Karameikos (20,000 pop.) Built where the rivers
Windrush, Hillfollow and Highreach (Wufwolde, Shutturga and Volga) merge.
Kelvin was designed to be a way-stop for entire caravans and a fortress defending
the surrounding territories. It is a large, walled encampment. Inside the walls are a
large field for caravans to set up and a secondary wall in which is the city of Kelvin
proper; inside the city is a third walled area, the garrison fortress and castle of Baron
Kelvin.
The city and surrounding baronial lands are ruled by Baron Desmond Kelvin II, son
of the founder of the city. Baron Kelvin, though young for his duties, rules well, with
military efficiency and impartiality.
Krakatos – A ruined stone-walled village of antiquity. Some of the action in “The
Song of King Halav” takes place here, and the site is of some fascination for
Traladaran visitors. It has no inhabitants.
Luln – A town of about 5,000 citizens, is a ramshackle community of refugees who
have fled the Black Eagle Barony and Fort Doom. It’s poised between the armies of
the Black Eagle Barony and Karameikos, and is a small, struggling community.
It’s townmaster is Mistress Sascia; she is gradually organizing the village into
a permanent, fortified community and there is speculation that she is trying to
acquire a noble title.
Threshold – A logging community of about 5,000. Though small, it’s a decent place
to live and is not as rustic as most communities of similar size.
Threshold is ably ruled by Sherlane Halaran, baron and patriarch of the Church, from
his lakeside castle (called Tarnskeep) just north of town. In addition to the 5,000
humans the village is home to about 500 demihumans, and many occasional
visitors, mostly human furriers and woodsmen. It is illegal to cast spells in town.
Only personal weapons (daggers, sword, staff) may be carried; other weapons may
be left at the Town Hall, at no charge. Guardsmen and townsfolk all help to enforce
these laws.
The Duke’s Galley and Elvenguard come once each month dropping off supplies
and picking up taxes, furs, and other items. A passenger boat comes once a week.
Fort Doom – This town, once called Halag, was invaded and conquered by Baron
Ludwig “Black Eagle” von Hendriks, Duke Stefan’s power-mad cousin. (He didn’t
need to conquer it – he’d been granted the area as his baronial lands – but he
wanted to conquer something). It’s a dreary, unhappy farming community of about
10,000, held in tight repression by the army of Baron von Hendriks., a force of about
2,000. Fort Doom is the central town of the Black Eagle Barony, and is a forbidding
structure whose dungeons are rumored to be filled with those who have displeased
the Baron, an extremely cruel and unpopular man.
Highforge – This is the gnomish community, including five clans of gnomes (totaling
about 6,500) and one of dwarves (about 1,000).
Callarii Lands – The Callarii elves live in the central forests east and west of Kelvin
and in the forested foothills south of the gnomish community. Accurate numbers for
the entire elvish population of Karameikos are not available (the elves don’t bother to
keep them and the humans can’t tally them), but a reasonable guess is that there
are about 7,500 elves scattered through this territory, living in communities of 100-
200.
Smaller Villages and homesteads – There are numerous villages and homesteads
all across Karameikos. There are literally hundreds of homesteads along the rivers
and roads of the duchy. These are one-or two-family settlements, mostly farms and
logging operations, with populations ranging from a handful of people to as many as
750 inhabitants.
Grand Duchy of Karameikos – Most of the Grand Duchy is Forest and foothills, with
a few large patches of flatlands, moors, and one swampy region.
The weather throughout the area is usually temperate and mild, with short winters of
little or no snowfall and long summers. Rainfall is ample but not heavy, and easterly
winds blow cool breezes from over the sea.
The mountain range at the north edge of the Duchy is known by different names to
the peoples of the territory: the Black Peaks, the Cruth Mountains or The Steach.
Large sections of the Duchy are filled with dense forest. Humans maintain
lumbering operations near the edges of the forests, but are loath to venture too
deeply without good cause. This hardwood and softwood is a prime resource of the
area, either for shipbuilding in the port of Specularum, or for export.
Most of the communities are on the coast or along the rivers. There are very few
human communities in deep woods or far from well-traveled roads, so the vast
majority of the Grand Duchy is unsettled no-man’s land, unexplored and undefended.
Some places have two names because the settling Thyatians, uncomfortable with
the native names of some of these sites, simply renamed them. Today, when
speaking Thyatian, most people use the Thyatian name and when speaking
Traladaran use the original name.
Specularum – The largest city in Karameikos (50,000 pop.). Built just west of the
point where the Highreach river enters the sea, Specularum is a trade city, with a
good harbor, ample accommodations for traders and other visitors, and most of the
comforts of civilization
The city is surrounded by the farmlands of the Estate of Marilenev, and the lands of
Baron Vorloi border the Estate of Marilenev to the southeast.
Specularum is ruled (through subordinates) by Duke Stefan Karameikos III.
Additional political power lies in the Merchants’ Guild, in the Church, and in wealthy
families, such as the Vorloi, Radu and Toronescu clans.
The Duke keeps a standing force of 5,000 troops and may raise an army of 40,000
from the nearby countryside in time of war. A small fleet of warships is kept in the
harbor.
The city is famous for its excellent harbor and shipyards. Walled on the landward
side, the city is also protected by 2 breakwaters that extend into the harbor, restricting
passage to the narrow entrance. The Duke’s castle stands by the harbor, providing
ample defense.
Kelvin – 2nd largest city in Karameikos (20,000 pop.) Built where the rivers
Windrush, Hillfollow and Highreach (Wufwolde, Shutturga and Volga) merge.
Kelvin was designed to be a way-stop for entire caravans and a fortress defending
the surrounding territories. It is a large, walled encampment. Inside the walls are a
large field for caravans to set up and a secondary wall in which is the city of Kelvin
proper; inside the city is a third walled area, the garrison fortress and castle of Baron
Kelvin.
The city and surrounding baronial lands are ruled by Baron Desmond Kelvin II, son
of the founder of the city. Baron Kelvin, though young for his duties, rules well, with
military efficiency and impartiality.
Krakatos – A ruined stone-walled village of antiquity. Some of the action in “The
Song of King Halav” takes place here, and the site is of some fascination for
Traladaran visitors. It has no inhabitants.
Luln – A town of about 5,000 citizens, is a ramshackle community of refugees who
have fled the Black Eagle Barony and Fort Doom. It’s poised between the armies of
the Black Eagle Barony and Karameikos, and is a small, struggling community.
It’s townmaster is Mistress Sascia; she is gradually organizing the village into
a permanent, fortified community and there is speculation that she is trying to
acquire a noble title.
Threshold – A logging community of about 5,000. Though small, it’s a decent place
to live and is not as rustic as most communities of similar size.
Threshold is ably ruled by Sherlane Halaran, baron and patriarch of the Church, from
his lakeside castle (called Tarnskeep) just north of town. In addition to the 5,000
humans the village is home to about 500 demihumans, and many occasional
visitors, mostly human furriers and woodsmen. It is illegal to cast spells in town.
Only personal weapons (daggers, sword, staff) may be carried; other weapons may
be left at the Town Hall, at no charge. Guardsmen and townsfolk all help to enforce
these laws.
The Duke’s Galley and Elvenguard come once each month dropping off supplies
and picking up taxes, furs, and other items. A passenger boat comes once a week.
Fort Doom – This town, once called Halag, was invaded and conquered by Baron
Ludwig “Black Eagle” von Hendriks, Duke Stefan’s power-mad cousin. (He didn’t
need to conquer it – he’d been granted the area as his baronial lands – but he
wanted to conquer something). It’s a dreary, unhappy farming community of about
10,000, held in tight repression by the army of Baron von Hendriks., a force of about
2,000. Fort Doom is the central town of the Black Eagle Barony, and is a forbidding
structure whose dungeons are rumored to be filled with those who have displeased
the Baron, an extremely cruel and unpopular man.
Highforge – This is the gnomish community, including five clans of gnomes (totaling
about 6,500) and one of dwarves (about 1,000).
Callarii Lands – The Callarii elves live in the central forests east and west of Kelvin
and in the forested foothills south of the gnomish community. Accurate numbers for
the entire elvish population of Karameikos are not available (the elves don’t bother to
keep them and the humans can’t tally them), but a reasonable guess is that there
are about 7,500 elves scattered through this territory, living in communities of 100-
200.
Smaller Villages and homesteads – There are numerous villages and homesteads
all across Karameikos. There are literally hundreds of homesteads along the rivers
and roads of the duchy. These are one-or two-family settlements, mostly farms and
logging operations, with populations ranging from a handful of people to as many as
750 inhabitants.
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