Mystara at the Time of Blackmoor
by HåvardThe information below is a description of Mystara at the time of Blackmoor, that is ca 4000 BC. Lets zoom away from Blackmoor for a moment and consider what the rest of Mystara's Outer World was like at this time. I have based myself heavily on Mystaros Epic Timeline to find ideas for the civilisations that covered the planet in Blackmoor's early days. Like Mystaros, I have decided to divide the great Northern Continent into two separate parts, that of Brun and that of Skothar, even though the continent has not yet split, forming those two continents. Mystaros identifies a range of Kingdoms, Empires and other Civilisations, and these are listed with descriptions under each Continent.
Brun
Brun currently forms the western part of the Northern Continent. Azcan Kingdoms
The Azcans were once part of the Oltec Civilisation.
The Azcans are located mostly in the southwest of Brun. See the Oltec Civilisation for more detail.
Aquarendi Lands
The Aquarendi lands are marked on the map, which means they probably already at this time have left Davania for the lands just south of what will become the Known World. Their name, Aquarendi indicates that they are already a sea oriented clan, probably already at this time following Proteus rather than Ordana.
Borean Valley
The Borean Valley, stretching along the Borean River is the cradle of the Beastman Civilisation, which was created here, centuries ago by the Immortal Hel (Idris). The Beastmen gradually develop into Orcs, Goblins and the like and control the entire Valley and have also spread out to all corners of Brun. Some have crossed the Frosthaven land bridge to Skothar. A large portion has migrated to Hyperborea which will one day become the major stronghold of the race. The Humanoids do not have a common leader and are divided into numerous fractions and kingdoms, but are united in the worship of Hel. Many Humanoids have fallen under the Domination of the Draconic Empire. Others have become vassals of the Giant Kingdoms. The Gnoll race will not be created for another 2500 years, yet DMs who wish to use Gnolls in their campaigns may decide that an earlier form of this race existed but was destroyed during the Blackmoor Cataclysm, only to be recreated by the Nithians at a later time.
Draconic Empire
The Draconic Empire has its centre in the Wyrmsteeth Mountain Range. It is a nation formed by evil Chromatic Dragons with there arrival around 5500 BC.
Red, Green, Black and White dragons are the most common. The dragons were called to Mystara by Hel and are considered her servants. They have driven out all the dwarves of the region, except those clans who entered into the Dragons' servitude, and those who went underground. The Beastmen were created as allies for the Draconic Empire, and hordes of Humanoids now serve the Empire. The empire has enslaved many tribes of Neathar Humans who are used as slaves by the Dragons. The Draconic Empire are sworn enemies of the Golden Empire on the Southern Continent.
Dwarven Lands
Dwarves were once found in all the mountains and hills of the continent, but their numbers have been greatly reduced by fighting the Dragons of the Draconic Empire. In their traditional lands of the Wyrmsteeth Range, the dwarven population has been decimated. Some clans have sworn loyalty to the Dragons, others have been driven underground. The rest have been scattered.
Of this last group, many found their way to Skothar and are now found throughout the Thonian Empire and Blackmoor. Some dwarves have been driven south digging out the caves which later will be populated by the Rockhome Dwarves and Shadow Elves, others were driven to Blackmoor and Thonia, settling among those cultures. Yet another race of dwarves were driven to Hyperboria, still surviving there thousands of years later (See SB Wilsons Hyperboria material for more on these guys).
Frosthaven Land bridge
The Frosthaven Sea and the lands surrounding it, including the land bridge north of the Sea is dominated by several kingdoms of Frost Giants. The Frost Giant Kingdom of Frosthaven Island in AC1000 is all that remains of these ancient kingdoms.
Giant Kingdoms
A multitude of Giant Kingdoms exist all over Brun, populated by various Giant Races. Stone Giants and Mountain Giants dominate the lands just south of Yalu Lake. Cloud Giants and Storm Giants have kingdoms along the Immortal's Arm, while Hill Giants dominate the lands just west of Wyrmsteeth. Many Hill giants also live within the Borean Valley alongside Humanoids and Beastmen. Most Giant races follow Hel, although Odin also has some followers among Good and Neutral Giants. The most powerful Giant realm is still the ancient kingdom of Gandahar which has existed since before the last Ice Age.
Hyperborea
Hyperboria is dominated by Humanoids. Some other races including dwarves also live there.
Neathar lands
Neathar humans live in numerous pocket kingdoms all over Brun. Many are enslaved by the Draconic Empire.
Oltec Kingdoms
The Oltec civilisation spreads across the southern coast of Brun. On the southern part of Brun, a race of humans known as Oltecs have carved the land for themselves, but they are in constant conflict with the breakaway human culture of the Azcans, which threaten the Oltecs existence. The Oltecs are supported by the Golden Empire of Davania and many travel between the Northern and the Southern Continent. Pockets of Neathar Human Kingdoms, now in the Iron Age, are spread out all over the continent.
Davania
Davania is the huge Continent in the South of the planet.
Evergrun, Empire of
The very south of that continent is covered by a massive cold temperate forest, which hides the Legendary Kingdoms of Evergrun. At this time the Massive Evergrun Forest is inhabited by elves, faeries and all sorts of sylvan races, many of which no longer exist, as well as numerous Ancient Treants. The Elves were created by Ordana, the Forest Mother, some say by purging Yuan-Ti of their serpent blood. The childhood of the elves is long since over and they have now made contact with many of the other races of the continent.
Many have also travelled to other continents including a several clans who have left for Skothar and now live within the Thonian Empire and Blackmoor.
Golden Empire
The lands around the Brasol mountains form the heartlands of the Golden Empire, a federation of Kingdoms dominated by Metallic Dragons and Enduks. The Enduks are followers of Ixion. Their relationship with the Enduks who later appear on the Immortal's arm is unclear. The Dragons are creatures from another world, called to Mystara by Odin as allies for the Enduks in their struggle against the Draconic Empire of Brun.
The Hin Kingdoms are under the protection of the Metallic Empire as are a large number of Oltecs from Brun who are on friendly terms with the Metallic Empire. Gold Dragons are the dominant dragon race, but Silver, Bronze and other Metallic Dragons also exist in this age.
Grunland, Kingdom of
The Elven Civilisation also stretches north into the jungles of Pelatan, known as the Kingdom of Grunland, which is considered a colony of Evergrun. This is the Kingdom that eventually will give birth to Ilsundal and his followers who will lead the great migration to Brun in a later age.
Hin Kingdoms
Several small Hin Kingdoms are found between the rivers just west of the Brasol Mountains. They are under the protection of the Golden Empire, and the Metallic Dragons have a strong influence on the Hin.
The Halflings also have a good relationship with the Elves of Evergrun and its colonies.
Lizardman Kingdoms
Several Lizardman Kingdoms exits in Davania. Many of these are along the eastern Coast of Davania. These are now under the control of the Serpentine Empire.
Many Lizardmen, unwilling to serve the tyranny of the Serpentine Empire serve as slaves of the Hin and the Golden Empire.
Naga Kingdoms
Some Naga Kingdoms on the northeastern coast are under domination of the Serpentine Empire.
Serpentine Empire
The East is dominated by the Serpentine Empire, the ancient nation of the Serpent Men, once created as servitors of the Carnifex. Their heartlands, is the Forest of Ka in the northeast of Davania. The Serpentine empire has regained its dominance over many of the younger Lizardman and Naga Kingdoms, although independent Naga Kingdoms exist on the Cestian Peninsula. The Serpentine Empire is no longer as expansionistic as it has been in previous periods, and have much less contact with other races than in the past, but their forest kingdom contains many dark secrets still...
Skothar
Afridhi Tribelands
Afridhi are a warlike race of humans who threaten the Peshwah and Blackmoorians alike.
Beastman Wastes, aka Lands of Thorin
North of the Skandaharian lands, Beastmen rule. These Beastmen and Humanoids wandered through Frosthaven and dominate the lands north of the Skandaharian reaches.
Tenn, Duchy of
This is a breakaway Duchy of emigrants from Thonia.
Peaks, Duchy of the
The Duchy of the Peaks, is a magic oriented Duchy by the Superstition Mountains.
Elven Homelands
Elves have long since arrived from Evergrun and brought with them several clans of Hin. These two races have settled all over Blackmoor and Thonia. In some cases they live alongside humans, in other cases they have created small pocket kingdoms.
Frisia
These peoples are related to Skandaharians but less warlike and involved with trade with Blackmoor.
Hin Homelands
The Hin arrived with the Elves from Evergrun and have settled throughout Thonia and Blackmoor, and have founded communities such as the Shire of Booh.
Mermen Kingdoms
According to Supplement II, Mermen and Aquatic Elves live just east of Blackmoor. The Aquatic Elves in question are a special project conducted by Proteus, even before the Aquarendi enter the waters south of Brun.
Blackmoor
Blackmoor is located in around the southern "lake" as shown on the HW continental map. In my modified version of that map, I have assumed that this is the Black Sea around which the lands of the Blackmoor campaign are situated. Blackmoor is a breakaway colony of the Thonian Empire.
Peshwah Tribelands
The Peshwa are a race of hunter gatherers. They live in the lands west of Blackmoor and have long been plagued by the Afridhi.
Proto-Alphatia
Who lives on small continent which eventually will become the home of the Alphatians is unknown. The Peshwah will eventually travel through here on their way to Brun, where they will become the ancestors of the Ethengar, so it is likely to assume that some seagoing Peshwa (not unlike the Atruaghin Children of the Turtle) have already settled the coasts of this mini-continent.
Skandaharian Jarldoms
The northmen of Skandaharia are barbarian followers of Odin, under the rulership of Thorsen One-Thumb. The Skandaharians sometimes come to trade, other times to plunder the east coast of the Thonian Empire and Blackmoor.
Tanagoro Tribelands
In any case, the Thonians share southern Skothar with the Tanagoro, a dark skinned race which dominates the entire south of Skothar, stretching from the far east and as far west as the Bellisarian Peninsula. This tribal culture does some trade with Thonia and the Thonians quite possibly use Tanagoro people as slaves and gladiators. Expeditions to Oceania and Zyxl have been undertaken, although these lands have not yet been permanently settled by the Tanagoro.
Thonian Empire
South of Blackmoor lays the lands of the Thonian Republic/Empire. This is a multicultural empire, how large it is unknown, but it covers several cultures and lands which are dominated by the morally corrupt and decadent Thonians. (Although it is most likely a coincidence, Thonia sounds a little like Thothia, so perhaps Thonian colonists reached as far as the Isle of Dawn, leaving behind some remains for the Nithian colonists to find centuries later, perhaps leading to the corruption of this race as well?)