KARAMEIKOS (Kingdom of)
Location: East of Thyatis, west of the Five Shires, and south of Darokin and Aengmor. OW
Area: 46,750 sq. mi. (121,085 sq. km.).
Population: 351,000 humans (40% Thyatian, 60% Traladaran) and 81,000 demihumans (90% elves, 5% gnomes, 3% dwarves, 2% hin).
Languages: Thyatian, Traladaran, Elvish (Callarii, Vyalia, Alfheim and Erewan dialects). Thyatian is the official language of the nation.
Coinage: Royal (gp), crona (sp), kopec (cp).
Taxes: Quarterly income tax of 25% for commoners and 20% for nobles. Sales tax of 5% as well as an import tax of 1%.
Government Type: Feudal monarchy, member of the Western Defence League.
Industries: Logging, mining (gold and silver), agriculture.
Important Figures: Stefan Karameikos III (King, human, male, F15), Olivia Karameikos (Queen, human, female, T12), Terari (Headmaster of School of Magecraft, human, male, M20).
Flora and Fauna: The wilderness of Karameikos is inhabited with all sorts of animals and monsters. Various reports of lycanthropes, vampires, and other undead are very common.
Further Reading: GAZ1 The Grand Duchy of Karameikos, Karameikos: Kingdom of Adventure boxed set, previous almanacs.
Description by Joshuan Gallidox.
We at the Mystaran Almanac receive mail from across the breadth of the Old World, and we don't always get a chance to respond to it personally. Even with my busy schedule, though, I couldn't afford to pass up a personal invitation by the newly landed Lord Ioannes Rosattas to visit his fief of Rifllian.
The Land
Even after several decades of existence, the town of Rifllian is still little more than a trading post for merchants travelling the King's Road between Specularum and Threshold. It is located on the western bank of the Windrush River, at the edge of the Radlebb Woods. A few small farms help support the town's permanent residents in times of lean trade. Lord Rosattas was quick to point out to me that his holding is not a barony-as was reported in last year's almanac-but a fief, a smaller sort of holding. He is very conscious of Traladaran sentiment towards "land-grabbing Thyatians" (as he termed it), and doesn't want his title to be misperceived. Of course, he notes, he hopes one day to prove successful enough a ruler to be elevated to full baronial status by King Stefan.
The People
At the last census, only 1,700 people lived in Rifllian on a year-round basis. During peak trading times, however, this figure can increase by several hundred, as Callarii elves from the nearby woods show up to hawk their wares with merchants from elsewhere in the kingdom. The majority of the residents are elven, with a small minority of Traladarans. Some Thyatian merchants also live here, as well as at least one fellow hin-a jolly fellow by the name of Stubbs Plattermann, proprietor of the Silver Swan Inn. You must try his golden-panned silverfish!
Recent History
The Callarii elves used to meet with Traladaran merchants at the edges of their forest to barter, rather than allow the humans entrance into "their" woods. Over time, some of the elves and humans began to settle there permanently, and Rifllian was founded. It has been mostly overseen by the chief trader of the town, an elven woman named Prestelle. Stefan's appointment of a human lord over the town has raised a few eyebrows, but it seems as if Prestelle was not interested in the position, preferring to concentrate on her business ventures. Lord Rosattas has an extensive background in administration, having served as an officer in the Thyatian Ministry of Trade for several years. He is confident that his skills will complement Prestelle's own business acumen, and turn Rifllian into a viable and booming town.
I hear word that another recent landed Thyatian noble, Basileios Zarides, Lord of Krakov, is making similar strides in his fief. [Krakov was incorrectly called the Barony of Traldar in last year's almanac; we apologise once more for any problems due to inaccurate reporting. Ed.]
Don't Miss
Obviously
you must not miss visiting the Silver Swan Inn while you're in town (did I
mention their silverfish?) The king's
Elvenguard makes regular stops here on their way to and from Specularum. The sight of their elven ship in the harbour
of Rifllian is a wonder to behold.