ATLAS OF THE SAVAGE COAST
Introduction to the Savage Coast
The Savage Coast is a frontier land, with continuous goblinoid invasions and squabbles between the local lords. Most of the land is in ruins and is mainly unexplored. Colonised over the centuries by the riff-raft of the Old World, most people are unscrupulous and the law of the jungle often prevails. The natives who lived there (goblinoids, savage rakasta and lupins, etc.) are none too friendly either, and are often hostile towards humans and demihumans.
Some of the natives are more civilised, such as the rakasta of Bellayne or the lupins of Renardie. In fact, along the Savage Coast, race is often ignored and non-humans can fit in easily to human society. Instead, nationality is the main source of pride, and several nations have had century long feuds in which there appears to be no end in sight.
In this land, the local lords make the rules, and others are poor and uneducated peasants who must follow their whim. Many an adventurer has broken free of this feudalism and wanders the land, without a home, in search of fortune and fame. There are more adventurers without loyalties on the Savage Coast than anywhere else on Mystara.
Unique to this land is a strange metal called red steel. This metal is as strong as normal steel, but much lighter, making it a prized possession by all warriors. Red steel is more precious than gold, and rulers have sacrificed entire armies to try and control its trade. Many grand quests have the goal of finding red steel, and many wars still go on because of it.
Finally, the entire land is falls under the sway of the dreaded Red Curse. This affliction deforms all those it affects, transforming them into hideous beasts. Even stranger, some of the inhabitants seem to have learned how to control this curse, gaining wondrous magical powers known as legacies. It is rumoured than once you are affected by the Red Curse, you cannot leave the Savage Coast otherwise the curse will destroy you.
Adventure can be found by exploring the many ruins and searching for ancient artifacts. But on the Savage Coast, red steel and the mastery of legacies are the true keys to power and fame!
Located to the west of the Old World, the Savage Coast stretches almost 2,000 miles in length. Its southern shores lie against the Western Sea of Dread, while the west is blocked by Yalu Bay. To the east, the Great Waste separates the Savage Coast from the Old World. Finally, the north is bordered by the Yazak Steppes, home of the endless hordes of goblinoids.
Correspondents for the Savage Coast
Here is our list of correspondents that give us detailed information on the nations, places, and events of the Savage Coast:
Marina Takanitas
At 23, Marina Takanitas is one of the youngest on our team, and she brings us news from the Serpent Peninsula and the Savage Coast. Marina is a trader who hails from Kastelios, one of the biggest, and fastest-growing, port cities in the region.
A cheerful person, her laughing brown eyes and bouncing golden curls are hard to miss in a crowd, but this exterior also serves to shield a very capable correspondent who will stop at nothing to get you, the reader, the ground-breaking stories of the Serpent Peninsula and the Savage Coast as they happen. No danger is too much for her, and, believe me, she knows how to use that short sword she carries!
Hernando Cagliostro
Hernando is a refugee who fled Narvaez, apparently because of something to do with the inquisition there. He now studies magic in Ciudad Real, and has mastered several cold-related magic spells. He enjoys scholastic research and has a dislike toward the priests of Narvaez whom he claims hide the truth.
Hernando talks about his native Narvaez, as well as the baronies of Gargoña and Saragón.
Piotr Drobnjak
Adventurer and part-time merchant, Piotr is our correspondent for Slagovich and nearby states. A devout follower of Halav, the young Piotr has a deep knowledge of city-states' affairs.
Piotr describes us his hometown, Slagovich, and the mysterious land of Hule (this one just from bibliographic research).
Gnighmen Lodestar
Gnighmen is a wicca [mage. Ed.] of Clan Lodestar from the flying city of Serraine. He is a minor member of the clan who is greatly interested in the cultures of the areas over which the city flies. Gnighmen is an inquisitive young skygnome who is, whilst practical by gnome standards, still fond of sarcastic humour.
Gnighmen makes a report of the kingdoms of Gombar and Suma'a during a trip he made there incognito during Flaurmont, AC 1015. [The report was passed on to the editors of this article through Matazumi, a resident we have contact with from the flying city. Ed.]
Rikard Prospero
Former owner of the Poor Wizard's Almanac (property of TSR, the Thyatian Services and Reviews), the book that started the Mystaran Almanac series, Prospero now travels the lands of the Savage Coast, describing to us all the wonders he discovers.
This year, the mysterious yet meticulous wizard once more describes to us a few of the Savage Baronies along the Gulf of Hule.
Atlas
ALMARRÓN (Estado de)
BELLAYNE (Kingdom of)
CIMARRON COUNTY
GARGOÑA (Baronía de)
GUADALANTE (Estado de)
NARVAEZ (Baronía de)
SARAGÓN (Baronía de)
SLAGOVICH (City-State of)
SUMA'A (Kingdom of) and GOMBAR (Kingdom of)
YAVDLOM (Most Serene Divinarchy of)