The Future of Mystara

The purpose of these articles, which will likely be a series of two or three, is to imagine what the future of the Known World and Mystara in general could have been if the product line had continued beyond the Almanacs. As Mystara fans well know, the official Almanacs (Poor Wizard’s Almanac I, II and III and Joshuan’s Almanac & Book of Facts) stem from the events of the Wrath of the Immortals boxed set^¹ and cover the years from AC 1,010 to 1,013. Some years later the fan community reprised the work to create the Mystaran Almanacs^² which cover the years from AC 1,014 to 1,019, with AC 1,020 currently in production.
However the direction taken by the fan community could well be very different from the one intended by the authors of the official Almanacs. In this first installment, I’ll examine only the events of the official Almanacs, imagining what could have been the future developments. I’ll also highlight some ‘lost threads’ which were introduced in these Almanacs but never developed further later, either officially or by fans. In another article in a future issue of Threshold Magazine, I’ll do the same work for the possible futures and the eventual lost threads as they appear in the fan Almanacs.

The Known World^³

Without any doubt, the most important event which affects the whole Known World in the Wrath of the Immortals boxed set and the Almanacs is the Day of Dread. On The Piazza forum there was a discussion about the possible medium and long-term consequences of this event^⁴ given that in the Joshuan Almanac it was specified that the event happens at different times in the world and therefore wizards and magical creatures from all over the world will eventually be able to pinpoint the origin in Glantri City. The Day of Dread could then literally make Glantri City the center of the world, with interesting but maybe not pleasant consequences for the local inhabitants and rulers. The arrival of Dolores of Hillsbury and her true nature is indeed already one such consequence and she is explicitly in Glantri to investigate the matter.
The Day of Dread will certainly cause a lot more intrigue in Glantri City (as if the place had not plenty already) with agents of interested parties coming there from all over the world, not just the Known World. In the end the matter of the Nucleus will have to be resolved somehow, or else a full-scale world war could erupt, with even the intervention of far-off empires that will have the interest and the means to take or destroy the Nucleus.
Another very important event affecting the whole Known World and later potentially the whole world is the publication of Claransa’s Travels to the Center of the World in Ierendi on Nuwmont 7th, AC 1,010. As specified in her description, Claransa traveled around the Hollow World from AC 1,004 to six months before the publication of the first Almanac, so we can assume mid AC 1,009. From this timeline, we can assume she does not know Alphatia was moved to the Hollow World, and therefore her book should contain only the Hollow World cultures before this event. Anyway, as we can see in the events of the Almanacs, even if many people will not believe such an account, many governments take it seriously and so Karameikos sends its expedition and Thyatis and Minrothad try to rebuild the Aegos’ Pit. In the official Almanacs it’s not really clear when the existence of the Hollow World is confirmed, as well as the presence of the floating continent of Alphatia. The Karameikan Expedition in fact in AC 1,012 is still trying to escape the Hollow World, and in AC 1,013 the support ship leaves Qeodhar, thinking its members all dead. But later in the first fan Mystaran Almanac set in AC 1,014 the Expedition returned and the New Alphatian Confederate Empire, created at the end of AC 1,012, officially confirmed the survival of Alphatia. We do not know if the authors of the official Almanacs would have done the same, but both things would have made sense. It would have been absurd not to make the Expedition return safely after we followed their adventure in three Almanacs. Also for the New Alphatian Confederate Empire it makes sense to declare to the whole world, and especially to Thyatis, that the might of original Alphatia survives and its empress lives.
What could be the consequences of these events?

Cold and Hot War in Glantri City!

As mentioned above, sooner or later all the powerful nations of the world will pinpoint Glantri City as the origin of the Day of Dread, and likely send agents to investigate. This opens to multiple cloak and dagger and spy story adventures in the city as wizards from all over the world try to understand where the Radiance is concealed. If there are powerful empires in the world beside Thyatis and Alphatia (as the Master set map seems to suggest^⁵) they will also get involved at some point. The event could provoke a full-scale invasion of Glantri and the Known World by an external power, as happened with the forces of the Master of Hule, or even by multiple invaders all at once!
The Chamber of the Spheres built by Rafiel in the City of the Stars should also be taken into account. If it eventually stabilizes the Radiance and allows the creation of new Immortals even easier than now, a lot of parties will be interested in controlling it, if they can find where it is.

Only One World?

Claransa’s book has been published. Her account by AC 1,014 at the latest has been officially confirmed by other independent sources, the Karameikan Expedition and the New Alphatian Confederate Empire. Sooner or later the existence of the Hollow World will become common knowledge not just in the Known World, but everywhere. A rush to the Hollow World could soon begin. Countries nearest to the polar openings could have a major technical advantage, such as Norwold, Qeodhar, the Sylvan Realm, Nentsun or, in the south, Vulcanian nations and more. If multiple visitors start to arrive in the Hollow World, the nations there will not remain idle and maybe they’ll send their own explorers. What will the Immortals do? What will happen to the Spell of Preservation? The very presence of Alphatia could jeopardize it without remedy anyway. In the end the world could become much smaller and much more ‘globalized,’ unless some catastrophe occurs.

Aengmor and the Shadow Elves (and Alfheim)

Only a few events are dedicated to them in AC 1,010 and 1,011, but in AC 1,012 Aengmor and the shadow elves are among the main protagonists of the unfolding history, with the War of Oenkmar against humanoids and Rockhome and its consequences, especially Oenkmar falling into the hands of the shadow elves and a lot of humanoids displaced to Glantri, Sind, and the Northern Reaches.
However after a time in which it seemed shadow elves could go to war with the whole Western Defence League, they seem instead more inclined to create the basis for a peaceful coexistence with the former Alfheim elves, whose help they’ll need anyway to save the Canolbarth forest, which is becoming more and more dry and dead^⁶.
How then could the future of the elves of the Known World unfold? Maybe in three very different ways.

New Alfheim and the City of Aengmor

The shadow elves and the former Alfheimers could reach a lasting peace, and start cooperating to the common benefit. Rafiel could become more tolerant to other elven Immortals and share with Ilsundal and the others the benefits of a completed Chamber of the Spheres. Canolbarth would be saved and a new elven empire rise, expanding to the borders of Rockhome and Glantri, pushing humanoids out of the region, and eventually maybe inglobating the whole Glantri. Such a force could become a major power to rival Thyatis, Alphatia, and any other empire of the world.

No Elves

An opposite outcome could be instead a coalition of humanoids (likely maneuvered by Kol and Synn) defeating the shadow elves and even pushing them out of Aengmor, Glantri, and even out of the Shadowlands. Both Alfheimers and shadow elves would have to find a new home, maybe Norwold or the Sylvan Realm, and elves would become rarer and rarer in the Known World.

Atzanteotl’s Revenge

It seems quite stupid that this Immortal pushes his most powerful followers—Azcans, Schattenhalfen, humanoids, Tiger clan—to fight each other instead of cooperating. Maybe Atzanteotl could come to his senses and combine his forces to restore his former Kingdom of Aengmor and even an Azcan Empire! Should he succeed, his dominion could span the Hollow and the Outer Worlds, from Azcan lands to Aengmor, Glantri, and the Atruaghin lands. Darokin and Sind, now surrounded by powerful enemies, would fall and the Known World would belong to Atzanteotl.

Atruaghin Clans

The official Almanacs have just some events for the clans, who are first enslaved by a cabal of Alphatian wizards who also destroy the elevator to the Bear clan, then free themselves and restore trade with Darokin via an underground route.
What consequences will these events have in the future?

The New Empire of the Sun

If the Atruaghin clans integrate themselves better in the Known World, and in the meantime Atruaghin returns to power in Azcan lands, as an event of AC 1,011 seems to suggest, the clans could be unified under Atruaghin’s rule and have an access to the Hollow World, boosting their trade with the rest of the world. Helping Darokin and Sind against the forces of the Master they could even expand to the west, restoring a new version of the Azcan and Oltec Empires.

Broken Lands, Oenkmar, and the Humanoids

The events of the Almanacs could well mean the end of the humanoids in the region. Thar is gone to the Northern Reaches, Alebane and Zotl are defeated in Oenkmar when the city falls to the shadow elves, Xilochtli disappears with the Blue Knife. The only one rising to more and more power is Kol, who becomes a Prince of Glantri and welcomes in the Great Crater many humanoids displaced by the shadow elves.
What the consequences of these events will be?

New Monstrous Princes of Glantri

Synn, Kol and their allies take more and more control of Glantri, which opens its borders to humanoids and all kinds of ‘monsters.’ Morlay-Malinbois is taken over by werecreatures allied with Synn, Boldavia and Klantyre become openly undead domains. Humans and elves are enslaved or pushed away. This ‘monstrous’ Glantri is bound to get soon in conflict with Heldann, Wendar, the shadow elves, and maybe even Darokin, but could find allies in Denagoth and Hule.

Darokin

In the Almanacs Darokin has some troubles with humanoids, Hulean Sea reavers, floods, and shadow elves, yet also creates the Western Defence League, and eventually resumes trade with Atruaghin and Aengmor and hosts the first World Games. However Darokin as presented in its Gazetteer and in the Almanacs is quite a ‘vanilla’ nation, and the social consequences of such a classist country are very much ignored^⁷. I think that Darokin could have the potential to be much darker or much lighter, focusing either on the worst or the better aspects of capitalism^⁸.

It’s a Revolution

Promoted either by Benekander, rebelling against the Immortals’ status quo, or by Hule for nefarious purposes, Darokin plunges into a revolution. The copper class overthrows the silver and gold classes. From here it can go in any direction: to an enlightened state promoting equality (or at least something resembling democracy), bound to clash with all its hierarchical and aristocratic neighbors such as Sind, Glantri, Heldann, or Thyatis; and/or to a Terror and maybe a genial General coming out of nothing who will conquer nation after nation to impose a new order on the Known World.

The Corps

The DDC seemed a (relatively) nice organization trying to promote peace among nations in the interest of better and smoother trade, but has always been instead a secret organization working in the shadows to take control of other countries. Once ready, the DDC set its long-prepared plan into motion, ousting the former rulers of every throne or Council body of the Known World to place more friendly ones. Some nations could fall easily, others, like Glantri, could require much more work, or even war.

Ethengar

Events for Ethengar in the Almanacs are few, and related only to the rivalry with Heldann. It seems the Ethengarians have too many enemies and not enough allies to really be able to do something. But what if they could establish some solid alliances?

The Northern Alliance

It seems the only neighbor with whom Ethengar could get along is Rockhome, but what if the Great Khan, or a new Khan, were to establish a solid alliance with Rockhome, the Northern Reaches, Wendar, and Norwold? First, the Alliance could be just an answer to the WDL and an attempt to contain humanoids, but eventually could be used to defeat some common enemies: Glantri, Heldann, Denagoth, and the shadow elves. Should the Alliance be able to defeat all four, it could rapidly become the greatest power in the Known World.

Horde of Chaos

The Great Khan is replaced by another one, willing to ally with Synn, humanoids, and the Church of Idris in Denagoth. This Horde of Chaos could ravage the Northern Reaches, then Norwold and Wendar, submitting the whole region to the plans of Synn!

Five Shires

The Shires defeat the Black Eagle in the Almanacs, then are marginally involved in the War of Oenkmar. Not much else but some natural disasters and clashes with pirates. The Shires seem to be a nice and quiet place, so let’s turn them to the dark side!

Dark Shire

The Shires have some unique and interesting creatures living above and underground, such as the glaurants. They also lie in a land which was once an outskirt of Taymora. What if an alliance of undead, glaurants, dragons^⁹ and dark hin^¹⁰ takes over the Shires? It could be a plot by the Master of Hule, Argos and Thalkor, or all of them, creating a lot of danger and trouble for the surrounding countries.

Glantri

Glantri is a favorite topic of the official Almanacs and one of the nations accumulating the most events along with Karameikos and Thyatis. The arrival of Synn/Dolores and her intrigues, and eventually her clash with Prince Malachie, the failed attack by Thar and the ascent of Kol as Prince, the power struggle in Averoigne between Henry and Isidore, Von Hendriks in New Kolland, Ferdinand Lillipot and his Gargantoid, and much more. Glantri is full of events in the first three Almanacs, less so in Joshuan’s Almanac, but still there is plenty of material. One important event of AC 1,010 and one of AC 1,013 have not been reprised by the following fan Mystaran Almanacs, if I recall correctly. One is the partial exodus of Erewan elves to Karameikos, something that could lead in the long run to their complete disappearance from Glantri, as indeed Synn and Kol plan. Another is the joint expedition of the Glantri City and Krakatos Schools to study the Behemoth in the southern seas.
So there is a lot simmering in Glantri, but what could the future bring?

Bright Glantri

After reading the Almanacs we sort of expect there will be a showdown between Good and Evil in Glantri. Even if Good is likely quite relative in Glantri, we could expect a different nation if the first one wins. Clerics, dwarves, hin and gnomes will be fully accepted, as well as werecreatures. Such a new Glantri could establish good relations with all neighbors, even humanoids maybe, and become a force able to help Darokin and Sind against the Hulean menace and maybe Wendar against Denagoth, expanding more or less peacefully into the Adri Varma plateau.

Dark Glantri

The opposite result is obviously a triumph of Synn and her allies and/or, maybe, Brannart and Morphail. The question here is only if this Dark Glantri will also ally with Denagoth and Hule, or just one of them. Depending on this, it could also happen that this ‘Dark Glantri’ will actually protect the Known World against Hule or Denagoth, at least temporarily.

Heldann

Barely mentioned in official supplements before Wrath of the Immortals and the Almanacs, Heldann becomes a real protagonist with the war against Ethengar, the attempted attack on Helskir, and the invasion and conquest of southern Norwold and Oceansend. In AC 1,013 however the start of an Inquisition seems to forecast a season of internal strife, and in the Hollow World the Heldannic forces are defeated by the Alphatians. It seems the Heldannic Order could either head to triumph or disaster.

New Antalia

Allying with Wendar, Heldann invades Denagoth and takes over half the region. Then with wars, diplomacy or coups they also take over the Northern Reaches, Helskir and Norwold, establishing a peace with the Wyrmsteeth dragons. Finally the Empire of New Antalia takes advantage of chaos in Thyatis to take over the whole Empire.

End of the Order

The Wyrmsteeth dragons take over Denagoth and, allied with Norwold, invade the Heldannic lands, promoting in the meantime a revolt against the Knights. Alphatian forces attack Vanya’s Rest in Davania. The Fall of the Order is a major stroke for Vanya, who loses ground and followers also in Thyatis proper.

Ierendi

There isn’t much in the Almanacs about Ierendi but some pirates, natural disasters, and the Tournament. I think the place could become more interesting if the likely conflicts between the local oligarchy and common people is accentuated. Adventurers and Makai, maybe with the support of the King and the Queen, could try to promote some changes, and pirates could exploit the situation or maybe be exploited by both parties.

Anarchy in the Known World

Adventurers and pirates take over Ierendi for real, creating a sort of anarchist pirate republic with the naval power of Honor Island. Using this superior naval power, they free from feudal lords and merchant princes the coasts of Karameikos, Darokin, Minrothad, Sind, and Jaibul. The Shires and the Turtle clan could become allies, the Tiger clan would be occupied. And then onward to take the biggest bite, Thyatis.

Thyatian Naval Power

It could start as in the previous scenario, but the outcome is that Thyatis conquers Ierendi again. Minrothad would be unlikely to maintain its independence, and from here the Empire would force other nations—starting with the Shires and Karameikos—to obey its will or be absorbed. Then there is the West and Davania.

Karameikos

Like Glantri and Thyatis, Karameikos has a lot of events in the Almanacs. Alfheim and Erewan elves settle in the country, the Black Eagle falls, the School of Magecraft is founded in Krakatos, and several Alphatians settle too. The relations with Thyatis are mixed, as Stefan becomes more and more independent and friend of the Alphatians, yet helps Thyatis during the famine and the plague that hit the Empire. He also grants asylum to political enemies of the new Emperor Eusebius, however. Karameikos also hosts the second edition of the World Games in AC 1,013 and starts a new age of exploration, sending an expedition to the Hollow World in AC 1,010 and another to circumnavigate the world in AC 1,013, and another in cooperation with the School of Glantri to study the behemoth. It seems the country is poised to become an important player in the Western Defence League and in the Known World. But what’ll happen in the future of Karameikos? Let’s see two extreme scenarios, even if Karameikos could simply survive and prosper under the current dynasty.

Elven Confederation of Traladara

After crises in Thyatis and Darokin, Queen Adriana promotes a confederation which unifies elven territories in Alfheim/Aengmor, Thyatis, Minrothad, and Karameikos, and pacifies the humanoid territories. Eventually the Shires join too and the former Karameikos, now renamed Traladara, becomes the most important nation in the Known World.

Battleground

Karameikos implodes when Thyatian agents arrange for the assassination of Queen Adriana; the puppet king Justin is killed just a year later. While the south is occupied by Thyatis, the central and northern parts of the former country are invaded by the elves of Aengmor/Alfheim, not so secretly supported by Darokin and the rest of the WDL.

Minrothad

The events about Minrothad in the Almanacs are mostly about pirates, the dispute with Ylaruam about an artifact, later solved peacefully, the Behemoth, and the alliance with Thyatis to reopen the Aegos Pit. The future of the islands could well be in the shadow of Thyatis. The Merchant Princes could be willing to sacrifice their independence to gain profitable trade in the Hollow World. But the opposite could happen too if Thyatis gets weak or suffers some major crisis.

Merchant Kings

The Princes start a profitable trade with the Hollow World and later, adding skyships to their merchant fleet, with the rest of the Outer World. Contacts with Alphatia increase and eventually the Princes remove the Thyatian Emperor with a bloodless coup, establishing a Republic with them as the real puppet masters of the Senate.

New Taymora

Vampires, undead and werecreatures from old Taymora take over the Guilds and finally all the islands. Refugees sweep to Ierendi, Karameikos, and Thyatis. Undead pirates give to the Sea of Dread a whole new meaning.

Ostland, Vestland and Soderfjord

The Northern Reaches in the Almanacs see some important events. In Ostland Queen Yrsa and later King Finn outlaw slavery and start modernizing the nation, while in Soderfjord Ragnar is crowned King and tries to defeat the kobolds in the mountains, with mixed success. In the meantime Vestland is seriously threatened by King Thar, who is unifying the humanoids of the Makkres mountains.

Humanoid Power

A first, relatively obvious, future is that Thar and Psagh unite, gain the assistance of giants, and win over Soderfjord and Vestland, sacking the capitals. Ostland intervenes to stop them, but the humanoids use ships to invade the islands too. The Northern Reaches have fallen, Heldann intervenes too but it’s completely defeated as well. Thar and Psagh ally with Ethengar, and are ready to march to the conquest of the whole Known World.

Nordhartar Kingdom

King Finn, or another one, intervenes to save the other kingdoms from humanoids and succeeds. Thar and Psagh are killed, humanoids are expelled to Ethengar, destabilizing it for years. King Finn defeats Heldann and then marches to Denagoth, incorporating also Wendar and southern Norwold, creating a true New Antalia.

Rockhome

The civil war, the deaths of Denwarf and Everast XV and the lost war of Oenkmar against humanoids and shadow elves are important events for Rockhome, something which really could prompt a rebirth or a decline of the dwarven country.

Dragonhome

Ambur and Jagnir kill Druuwor^¹¹, and gain the alliance of many other dragons, giants and humanoids, and make a pact with shadow elves too. Together they attack Rockhome from all sides, and the dwarven homeland falls. Dwarves escape to Thyatis, Karameikos, and Minrothad, or other surrounding countries. Rockhome becomes a haven for humanoids, expanding to the Orclands and the Northern Reaches, becoming a serious threat for Darokin and Glantri.

Greater Rockhome

King Everast XVI realizes he cannot fight two powerful enemies at once, so he signs a peace treaty with the shadow elves, granting them much to obtain free hand in attacking humanoids. The Rockhome army wins and pursues enemies to the Orclands, the Broken Lands, and then to the Great Crater. It’s war with Glantri, but Everast XVI had previously allied with Amanth^¹², Ethengar, and rogue Alphatian wizards eager to get revenge. Attacked from three sides, Glantri falls. The north is given to Amanth, the east to Ethengar. All the rest, from Sablestone to Monteleone, is a dwarven country. Rockhome is now the biggest nation of the Known World.

Sind and Jaibul

In the Almanacs these countries are respectively occupied by and firmly allied with the Master of Hule, constituting a serious menace for Darokin especially and the whole Known World. Hulean Sea Reavers start attacking Known World shipping from Jaibul, and there are serious hints they are also expanding the slave trade. There are all the premises and more to run X10 Red Arrow, Black Shield, i.e. another war with the Master. But we also know that there are Freedom Fighters in Sind, and the new religion of Gareth is born with the prophets Anand and Sitara.

Master of the Desert Nomads and the Sea Reavers

The Master attacks Darokin and Glantri from Sind, while from Jaibul a fleet of Sea Reavers sweeps over the coasts of the Known World. Combined with the destabilizing effects of the Master’s plans (as in X10), this strategy defeats Darokin, Ierendi, the Shires, Karameikos, and Minrothad. Ethengar and Ylaruam ally with the Master, and some Glantrian Princes do the same. Soon almost the whole Known World is enthralled to the Master, and just Rockhome, Aengmor, Thyatis, Heldann, and the Northern Reaches remain free, for now.

Gareth’s Light Shines

Anand and Sitara first free Sind from the Master’s occupation, then Jaibul. The new religion of Gareth, preaching freedom from the Immortals and a new social order, soon spreads also in Glantri, Darokin, and Hule. When all three fall to Gareth’s prophets a new Empire is born.

Thyatis

A lot happens in and to Thyatis in the Almanacs. At first the disappearance of Alphatia seemed to allow an easy conquest of the Isle of Dawn but soon the reaction of Thothia, slave revolt, plague, famine, and the death of Thincol created serious difficulties for the Empire. Finally the new Emperor Eusebius seems able to bring stability, but also repression of any dissent, and he’ll have to deal with the confirmed survival of Alphatia.

Death of an Empire

Thyatis struggles with instability while Alphatia, slowly but steadily, organizes reliable means of transport from the Hollow World. Eriadna’s resolution has not been changed by the events: Glantrians and Thyatians have to be defeated. Finally her plan is set in motion. Mercenaries from Adri Varma and Denagoth attack Glantri and Heldann along with Norwold, Ethengar, and Rockhome. Ylaruam, the New Alphatian Confederate Empire boosted with troops from the Hollow World, Karameikos, Ierendi and Minrothad attack Thyatis while revolts spread in the Hinterlands, Ochalea, and the Pearl Islands. The Empire is overwhelmed and defeated, the Torion dynasty ousted, the Thyatian mainland territories are divided among Karameikos, Ylaruam and Minrothad, the Isle of Dawn among Helskir, Thothia and Ochalea. Glantri becomes an Alphatian colony open to massive dwarven immigration, parts of it given to Ethengar and humanoids. Alphatia is triumphant in the Hollow and Outer Worlds.

Thyatis Triumphant

Eusebius stabilizes the Empire, but decides to leave the Alphatians be, and focus on the north and the southwest. Minrothad and Helskir become exarchates, Heldann is conquered alongside Oceansend, and the Empire intervenes to stabilize the Northern Reaches and makes them close allies. Still Eusebius refrains from invading Norwold, instead allying with Wendar, the Wyrmsteeth dragons and Norwold itself to conquer Denagoth. He conquers and settles the Thanegioth archipelago, but obtains the help of Darokin, Ierendi, the Shires, the Atruaghin and Karameikos to free Sind and Jaibul from the Master’s forces, then begins to plan an alliance against Hule with Slagovich and the Savage Coast. Cooperating with Glantri and Yavdlom, the Empire starts to expand into the Adri Varma and the northern Davanian coast. Leaving the East to the Alphatians, Eusebius lays the foundations to a long-term expansion of the Empire in Brun and western Davania, at least until equally powerful empires are encountered.

Wendar

The Almanacs have almost nothing on Wendar except for the fact we know from Wrath of the Immortals that many Alfheim elves settle there and a tree bearing magically healing fruit is discovered in AC 1,013. The greatest development of Wendar and Denagoth, following the outline of X11 Saga of the Shadow Lord, has mostly been done by fans, mostly by the Gazetteer written by JTR and others^¹³ and subsequently in the fans’ Mystaran Almanacs. Still the place is too near to the Known World to not be considered a part of it.

Descent of the Shadow

Wendar falls to Denagoth and the Church of Idris, whose power has been seriously underestimated by many. The Church has an innumerable supply of humanoids and dragons from Northern Brun, and soon enough the Adri Varma is also overwhelmed. Norwold, Heldann and Glantri are seriously threatened and if in the latter country Synn allies with Idris (or is even an avatar of her!) then the whole Known World is now in mortal danger.

New Essuria and Greater Wendar

Wendar, Heldann and Norwold ally to conquer Denagoth and divide its territory. While Heldann rules over a reborn Essuria, Wendar takes back the Geffronell and Lothenar forests and the Northern Wildlands, thus becoming the biggest elven nation of the world.

Ylaruam

There are some events in the Almanacs, as the murders of a Nithian mummy and the discovery of an artifact in Minrothad, plus one raid in Thyatis, but it seems the potential of the country is a bit undeveloped, especially the presence of Barimoor, Magian Fire worshippers, and undead lizardmen as outlined in the Gazetteer.

Barimoor Ascending

Finally Barimoor not only takes control of several artifacts, but of the whole Ylaruam. Then he attacks Thyatis and conquers it too, proclaiming a new Empire of Nithia. Barimoor would try to maintain peaceful relations with the Alphatians while expanding in the Isle of Dawn and Thothia. Later yet he could make another move to take control of all the former Alphatian territories, basically unifying former Thyatis and Alphatia in one single Empire under his name, at least until Eriadna strikes back from the Hollow World.

The Great Caliphate

Thyatis falls to Ylaruam and the Caliphate is born. The Caliph establishes an alliance with Alphatia, at least temporarily, and focuses the expansion of the new empire toward Davania, Sind, and the West, with the ambition to bring the faith of al-Kalim to many new territories in Davania and Brun. If the New Alphatian Confederate Empire is weak enough, the Faith could even expand to the Alatians, Bellissaria, and beyond.

2The Mystaran Almanacs created by the fan community can be downloaded for free here in the Vaults of Pandius http://pandius.com/alm.html

3I will follow more or less the geographical division outlined by Harri Mäki in ‘A geographical/political index for the almanacs AC 1014 to AC 1018’ which can be found here in the Vaults http://pandius.com/almindex.html. I am working on an expanded version of this greatly useful list which I’ll post in the Vaults after the publication of this issue of Threshold Magazine.

5Obviously fans have created several powerful empires in Brun, Davania and Skothar, see also THRESHOLD Magazine issues #5, #17 and #20.

6Or should they fail, check The Fall and Rise of the Canolbarth by Robin from THRESHOLD Magazine issue #10 http://pandius.com/Threshold_10.pdf#67 and here in html http://pandius.com/risefall.html

7On this topic, check Dark Darokin by Not a Decepticon from THRESHOLD Magazine issue #28 http://pandius.com/Threshold_28.pdf#91 and here in html http://pandius.com/drkdrkin.html

8Or more probably, mercantilism, a sort of ‘ancestor’ of capitalism focused on the accumulation of precious metals and discouraging imports. As such, mercantilism tended to foster conflict between countries rather than peaceful trade. This could be another reason why Darokin should be a bit darker than as presented in its Gazetteer.

9See Who’s Who Among Dragons by Bruce Heard http://pandius.com/whoswho.html. Argos and Thalkor could ally against Azem, who is likely one of the most powerful protectors of the Shires.

10See The Dark Shire by Geoff Gander http://pandius.com/drkshire.html

11See Who’s Who Among Dragons by Bruce Heard http://pandius.com/whoswho.html

13See Wendar page in the Vaults of Pandius http://pandius.com/wendar.html