Information on Western Karameikos
by Patrick SullivanHi everyone.
About a week and a half ago, I asked if anyone would be interested in my
development of Western Karameikos, loosely based on Geography: The Cruth Lowlands are very sparsely settled, wild, empty lands.
Small Traladaran farms and tiny villages occur occasionally along the rivers
or on one of many smaller tributary streams. Narrow trails, barely
discernible to the untrained eye, wind through the countryside, connecting
the isolated villages. The Black Peak Mountains form a beautiful backdrop for
these lands (see the picture on p. 5 in K:KoA). They rise from only about
1,500 feet above sea level to peaks over 5,000 feet. The two most dominating
mountains are Mt. Tybor (5,100'), known to the locals as Mt. Achelos, which
juts sharply out into the surrounding lowlands between the Magos and Gustos
Rivers. Mt. Dread (5,400'), farther East, is a high, isolated mountain with a
bad reputation; a unique situation causes Mt. Dread to be visible from many
sites far away: Riverfork Keep, the village of Verge, and, on especially
clear days, the treetops of the southern Canolbarth forest. Lights, possibly
large fires, are frequently seen atop Mt. Dread on the Equinoxes or
Solstices, and sometimes on the Day of the Dead, but for as long as anyone
can remember, massive fires blaze on the Night of Fire, indicating that a
great treasure must be buried on the mountain. However, few brave Mt. Dread,
and even fewer return. The Mountains are inhabited by several races of
giants, some of whom are rumoured to have a predilection for human flesh. The
Cruth Lowlands are a very old country: broad river valleys carved in eons
past by great glaciers. Towering bluffs and stony hills, canyons which wind
for miles to end up simply as a dead-end box canyon, hanging valleys,
beautiful layers of sedimentary rock, all rise above the marginally-forested
valleys, which serve as the home for the majority of the human population.
The hills are extremely isolated, inhabited by the occasional ogre or
bugbear, and teeming with wildlife. The rivers run lazily through the hills;
all are navigable until near their sources. The Achelos' River is officially
named the Black Peak River, but the locals still use its traditional name.
History: The Cruth Lowlands have always been rather sparsely settled. The
inhabitants of this area were enslaved by the Beast-men during that epic
invasion, until the forces of Halav drove the beast-men to defeat. Around 500
BC, this area was claimed as a kingdom by a man named Achelos Chardastes,
who claimed to be a direct descendant of King Halav. Achelos established a
capital on the river named for him, nearly due north of the current location
of Koriszegy Keep. Achelos was a wise and beneficent king who helped protect
his followers from the monsters of the area. He was also noted as a great
healer and worker of miracles, so the people loved him greatly. Soon after
Achelos abdicated the throne in favour of his daughter he disappeared, but the
people believed that Achelos would return to protect them in the future. For
the next 17 centuries, the dynasty (renamed Vargos after Achelos' daughter
married) ruled the area very loosely, trying as best they could to protect it
from various threats. The legends of Achelos grew greater and greater, and he
was soon venerated as an immortal. Remarkably, clerics who dedicated
themselves to his teachings received spells and clerical benefits. This
continued for 17 centuries, until the Thyatians began attempting to conquer
Traladara in 900 AC. The Cruth lowlands were the target of a military
operation launched from Tel Akbir and led by the intelligent and dashing
General Muktar al Harb. The King had died only a year before the invasion,
and his son, Achelos Vargos (King Achelos II), took the throne. The new
Achelos and Muktar were both honourable, expert adventurers, and they fought
each other for years, the Thyatian invaders paying dearly for each advance
they made; the Traladaran defenders slowly retreating toward the Black Peaks.
According to legend, Muktar finally sent a magical army against Achelos,
defeating him. Muktar established his command at Riverfork Keep, and, even
through the acquisition of Traladara by Stefan Karameikos, the area has
remained under the control of the invaders from Tel Akbir, now under
Karameikos. The area suffered greatly from the attacks of the Black Eagle
Barony, but it seemed at times that the Fury did less than it could have to
prevent these raids. Sites: Riverfork Keep is still the centre of the Thyatian
presence in this area. It has a village of about 500 people surrounding it,
but it is dominated by "The Fury of the West," a battalion of Karameikos'
Fifth Division. Many smaller villages dot the countryside. The ruins of what
are claimed to be Achelos' castle, although mostly destroyed by a series of
earthquakes soon after Achelos' defeat, are located on the Achelos River
north of Radlebb and Koriszegy Keeps. At the foot of Mt. Tybor (Mt. Achelos)
is a large cave complex which is partially unexplored. Note that while a
river, a large forest, a prominent mountain, and many other geographical
features bear Achelos' name, it is unlawful in these parts to refer to them
as such (Thyatian names, ie Riverfork Woods, Mt. Tybor, etc., must be used).
Customs: The Traladarans of this area share many customs with other
Traladarans. In addition, they are highly likely to follow the immortal
Chardastes (known to them as Achelos) and follow older, season-based rituals.
The Traladarans also believe strongly in their would-be saviour, Achelos. They
still believe fervently that Achelos will return to save his people. They
resist the attempts to convert them to the Church of Karameikos, and they
despise their Thyatian overlords far more than do other Traladarans. The
Thyatians, on the other hand, enjoy brutally suppressing rebellion in the
Traladarans. It is illegal to refer to natural features as "Achelos'"
anything, and the soldiers brutally put down any insurrection. On the other
hand, the soldiers do help greatly to protect all the inhabitants from
attacks by Giants, ogres, or bugbears.
Personalities:
General Nizar al Harb: (F8, AL: LN) Commander of The Fury of the West and
descendent of Muktar. Suleiman is overwhelmed by his task as commander of
Riverfork Keep. He spends most of his time running the Keep itself, and the
rest is focused primarily on destroying the humanoids in the area. He would
prefer to live in peace with the Traladarans, but he cannot bear the threat
they make to his authority. He therefore authorises his advisers to do pretty
much as they wish with the ethnic population.
About 35 years old. He has black hair, a moustache, brown eyes, and dusky
skin. He's about 5'10", 165 lb.
Captain Suleiman ibn Subay (F6, AL: LE) Administrative Captain,
second-in-command. Suleiman pretty much runs the show at Riverfork Keep. He
has accepted bribes from the Black Eagle Baron for years (Ludwig would send
criminals to the Cruth lowlands simply to be killed by the Fury to show that
they were fighting Von Hendriks). Now that this source of income is gone (in
1011, I believe), Suleiman is casting around for a new patron. In the
meantime, he is perfectly content to go on brutalising the Traladarans just
for the sheer pleasure of it. He has many spies, so he knows nearly
everything that goes on near the Keep, and he occasionally arranges the
disappearance of a "problematic guest" (ie, anyone who tries to dig beneath
the surface of affairs in the Cruth lowlands). Suleiman is completely without
morals or ethics regarding anything whatsoever; Ludwig von Hendriks loved him.
Suleiman is in his mid-thirties. He is overweight and shaves his head
completely. His skin is remarkably pale for one of Tel-Akbiri descent.
Natasha Tibonerial: (MU6, AL: CN) Magist of the Fury of the West. Natasha
is the daughter of immigrants from Thyatis City. She was also on von Hendriks'
payroll. She really has no interest in the Traladarans, she simply wishes to
live in as much comfort as possible. She has several business ventures
operating in the lowlands that she will try VERY hard to protect. For now,
she believes that her best bet is to retain her alliance with Suleiman, but
she would desert him if she really thought it was for her best.
She is about 30 years old. She is 5'9", 145 lb. Long, beautiful brown
hair, brown eyes. Though she is physically fit, she is not particularly
attractive: her nose is large, her eyes are small, and her face just looks
somewhat strange. She speaks with a slight lisp, although she is able to
overcome it with concentration. These factors help make her seem harmless and
slightly hapless.
Mahmud Buqumius: (C6, AL LN) Mahmud is the chief chaplain of the Fury of
the West. He is an elder of the Church of Karameikos. He is not a bad
individual at all, but his primary intent is to win converts to the Church,
so he has no love for most of the ethnic Traladarans and their stories of
Achelos.
Usually found in comfortable priestly robes, although he occasionally
wears armour for adventuring. He is about 5'6", 150 lb. His hair is black,
his eyes are brown, and he has a distinctively Alasiyani look about him. He
cuts his hair very short and sometimes smears it with oil to look more
fashionable. He also walks with a slight limp, and is more than happy to tell
the long story of how he received his injury years ago in an effort to spread
the Good Word of the Church of Karameikos into the wilderness and has never
fully recovered.
Achelos: (?, Al: N) Of course, there is currently a Traladaran leader who
calls himself Achelos. He claims to be of the lineage of the Royal Family,
and, from his secret base (in the caves at the foot of Mt. Achelos) he
directs the effort to kick out the Thyatians from this part of Traladara. It
is up to the DM to decide whether this is the real Achelos Chardastes,
travelling forward in time to help his dynasty, or if the true Chardastes
will return to bring a peaceful coexistence between the Thyatians and
Traladarans.
None but loyal Traladarans know his (or perhaps even her) identity.