Atlas of the Old World
Welcome dear reader to the atlas of the Old World. Formerly called the Known World and the Dread Coast, the Old World is the seat of civilisation on the world of Mystara. It is the place where technology is at its peak. It is the place where art and music are awe-inspiring. Civilisation is almost everywhere, and it is rare indeed to walk for more than a day and not have any village or town to rest in for the night.
In this enlightened land, education is on the rise, and most people can read and write. It is an age of knowledge and discoveries. Even magic, once held secret by old mages in their remote towers, can now be learned through various schools and universities. Slavery is almost abolished, and most people are considered citizens of their nations, having the freedom to do as they please. Diplomacy is the favoured method of accomplishing one's goals, and savage brutality is almost non-existent.
Of course, this does not mean there is no danger to be found. Some places are still savage, such as the Atruaghin clans or the hordes of the Ethengar Steppes. Goblinoids can still be found almost everywhere, and their brutality is unmatched in the entire world. Even diplomatic nations cannot achieve everything with words, and therefore their armies march across the land. It is simply that, here, in the Old World, such events are normally much rarer than anywhere else on Mystara.
Instead of brute force, this land is ripe with intrigue and behind-the-scenes powers. Manipulations are everywhere, and strong guilds and organisations rule almost as much as the kings on their thrones. Those that think that adventure cannot be found here in the Old World simply aren't looking in the right place.
The Old World is a large stretch of land found in the southeastern margin on the continent of Brun. It is bordered by the Sea of Dread to the south, the Sea of Dawn to the east, the Great Waste to the west, and the Mengul Mountain Range to the north. Within this land are two dozen "nations," most of them enlightened, but a few still hold on to barbaric traditions. These nations have influenced every other corner of the world, and just as Mystara is the centre of the multiverse, the Old World can honestly be said to be the core or heart of Mystara.
Correspondents for the Old WorldHere is our list of correspondents that give us detailed information on the nations, places, and events of the Old World:
Balinor "Silverblade" Audriel
Captain of the shadowelf army. During his adventures he travelled all over the shadowelf kingdom, in the Broken Lands and he even visited some nations of the surface world, like Darokin, Sind and Glantri. A quick fighter and accomplished skinwing rider, he took part in the invasion of Alfheim and in the siege of Oenkmar, where he was shot down by enemy forces. He is our eyes and ears inside the shadowelf community.
Christopher Dove
Formerly an explorer and a renowned archaeologist of the Old World, Christopher Dove has spent the last ten years teaching archaeology and ancient history at the University of Corun in Corunglain, Darokin. He has published famous essays on the Nithian and Milenian civilisations, and has made many interesting discoveries in the past years, the last one being the finding of the tomb of Nennaya-Sherat.
Now in his late fifties, this scholarly and well experienced fellow has agreed to join our cadre of correspondents on behalf of his student and our friend Ursula Bremen: he will cover the region of Wendar and Denagoth for the almanac this year.
Hempford Brewster
A native-born Glantrian, Hempford will be giving us a closer look at the various principalities of that nation, and the people who live there. Hempford is proud to have been raised in the free territories of his homeland (those ungoverned by any single principality), and hopes to provide an unbiased viewpoint.
Hendrik von Gultzer
Freiherr Hendrik von Gultzer, descendent of a long line of Hattian noblemen, arrived in the Heldannic Territories in AC 1004 in search of opportunities. These he found in abundance. Entering the Heldannic Order, von Gultzer ascended the ranks quickly, until he reached a respectable rank. Though he serves his superiors willingly, von Gultzer possesses about him a slightly irreverent air-one that has got him into trouble in the past. One would think that he entered the order only to profit from the additional privileges it provides him in this land, but he denies this of course. Today, he divides his time between running his estates in Kammin and Landfall, and corresponding for the almanac. In the latter function, he provides us with news from Heldann proper and Heldland.
Joshuan Gallidox
The owner and publisher of this fine almanac, Joshuan Gallidox has taken leave as editor to once more visit far-away and interesting places. Describing himself as world traveller, pipeweed smoker, collector of knowledge and spinner of tales, the halfling adventurer describes to us his homeland of the Five Shires, as well as the nations of Ierendi and Karameikos.
Misha Mananov
An itinerant priestess of the Church of Traladara, Misha has given herself the goal of bringing the various goblinoid tribes to a level of civilisation equal to those of other nations. She has therefore left her homeland of Karameikos for Soderfjord, where goblinoids had been running rampant the past few years.
Omar-ibn-Chukri
Born in Selenica, Omar is a second-generation descendant of Alasiyan immigrants. An adventurer by trade, he has signed on with the Mystaran almanac to provide us with inside information on the Emirates of Ylaruam. His ethnicity enables him to venture into the region that is now closed to all outsiders.
Ryuk-uk Tshaa
Ryu is a hsiao-an intelligent, owl-like creature-and a scholar in the ways of goblinoids. He hails from the forests of Vestland, and he and his companion Starkad Grimmson, a warrior from Soderfjord, will be bringing us all the information on the Great Migration.
Additionally, as Joshuan Gallidox Publishing is the primary backer of his expedition, we have convinced Ryu to send us information on all the nations through which they travel on their way, such as the Atruaghin Plateau and Sind.
Shaun the Elfin
Shaun of clan Grunalf is one of the most renowned artists and adventurers of the Old World. A well-travelled and knowledgeable elf, she has long retired from her adventuring career and now lives in Ierendi acting as kia'i (guardian) of the crown and member the Adventurers' Club. She is a formidable storyteller and has a deep passion for heroic tales. After hearing of our editorial pursue, she has volunteered to tell us what she knows about the most exotic lands she visited in her life.
Starkad Grimmson
Companion and bodyguard to the scholastic Ryuk-uk Tshaa, Starkad will provide us with an insight into the mindset of the Northmen, particularly those of his native home of Soderfjord.
Thurgood Lodestar
Little is known of Thurgood, save that he appears to be a gnomish revolutionary in the city of Serraine. Not an official correspondent, the Mystaran Almanac has nevertheless managed to secure some top secret information about the activities of the Grey Front and their flying city from his reports.
Ursula Bremen
Ursula is a smart and experienced member of the Darokin Diplomatic Corps, giving her great insights into the political goings-on in Darokin and surrounding nations. Her connections also allow her inside information on the military activities in Darokin, Aengmor, and the Orclands, making her an invaluable asset to this almanac.
A very ambitious woman in her mid-30s, Ursula always manages to keep her ambitions in check. The duties of her job always come first.
Vivianna Romanones
An adviser and supporter of Eusebius, Lady Romanones is one of the empire's special envoys. Her duties demand a considerable amount of travel throughout the region under Thyatian influence, and she has been kind enough to provide us with some unclassified reports of these areas. A strikingly beautiful but headstrong woman, Lady Romanones is a skilled negotiator known for her dedication to Thyatis and its interests. She is a strong proponent of reform in Thyatis, and of doing the right thing. Some of her detractors claim she is willing to use any means to achieve what she believes is right, but we can only say she deserves praise for the insightful reports she has graciously sent us. We know our readers will find her unique insight into the Thyatian mindset interesting.
Atlas
AENGMOR (City of)
AENGMOR (Colony of)
ATRUAGHIN CLANS (Territories of)
DAROKIN (Republic of)
ETHENGAR KHANATES
FIVE SHIRES
GLANTRI (Principalities of)
HELDANN (Heldannic Territory of)
IERENDI (Kingdom of)
KARAMEIKOS (Kingdom of)
MINROTHAD GUILDS
ORCLAND
OSTLAND (Kingdom of)
ROCKHOME (Kingdom of)
SERRAINE (Flying City of)
SHADOW ELVES (Kingdom of the)
SIND (Rajahstan of)
SODERFJORD (Kingdom of)
THYATIS (Empire of)
VESTLAND (Kingdom of)
WENDAR (Elven Kingdom of)
YLARUAM (Emirates of)