I'm starting a new thread to create a fresh start, but the old thread may be viewed here: http://forums.gleemax.com/showthread.php?t=690634
THE MAP
The first problem encountered was the map. Some of the criticisim received earlier was that my previous maps imposed too many changes in the geographical features of the CM1 map. With my new attempt I have decided to tilt the Karawenn Map slightly and move the region to the western edge of the Great Bay as suggested by Old Dog. One advantage this has is that it allowed me to align the Trollheight Mountains with the Jotunheimr Hills:
Not counting settlements, the only alterations on the geographical features of the canon maps are the River Tanyv (Running through the Karawenn Region) and the World's End Canyon. I'm reducing the latter to a mere canyon that may have some magical effects to the somewhat bizarre "End of the World" phenomena described in the books.
Map Locations
• Vanderthan – The southernmost of the Realm of Karawenn. Vanderton is its capital.
• Vanderton – The capital of Vanderthan
• Rochester – The Realm west of the Greenbriar Forest, north of Vanderthan and east of Bedford. Home of the Blue Gorgon.
• Bedford – The Realm west of Rochester. Famous for its weavers. Once plagued by Goblins.
• Rockeford – A Duchy north of the Knollbarrens. Secretly allied with Trolls against Vanderthan. Home of the Bull Troll.
• Trollheights – The hills north of Karawenn. They are home to Dwarves, Trolls, Yetis and other strange creatures.
• Knollbarrens – A hilly region in the eastern part of Vanderthan.
• Oxvale – A farming village in the Knollbarrens. Its inhabitants, known as Darymen was once known for their courage and heroism during the Trollwars.
• Graywall – The largest dwaren settlement in the region.
• Graytor, Castle – A legendary castle, built by Giants who once lived in Karawenn, now in ruins on the edge of the End of the World Canyon. It is where the artefact known as the Source Lodestone is located.
• Tannyv River – The river running through Karawenn.
• Tannyvheights – area south of the Greenbriar Forest
• Ice Castle – Home of the Yetis.
• The Three Hags – Rocky formations resembling three old women.
• Greenbriar Forest – A woodland area which is home to a community of Shiye elves under the rulership of the Kippican Clan.
• Vale of Strength – magical area, created by the elves. Now the home of Elkhorn and his Sprites and other Fey companions. Located south of the Knollbarrens.
• Glade of Wisdom - magical area, created by the elves. Now a home to Sir Ira Hsiao and possibly others of his kind. Located in the Knollbarrens.
• The End of the World – A vast canyon creating a natural eastern border of Karawenn.
• Amana - The lands of Earl Terrence. Home of the Black Stag.
• Icepeak Mountains – mountains north of Amana.
• Riftvale: A valley which is home to Fey, Fauns, Centaurs and Gnomes. It has recently become a place of refuge from those fleeing from the dragon Xtan.
• The Gnome City: A Ruined Gnome settlement, destroyed by the dragon Xtan.
• Skyspire: A volcano and the lair of the red dragon Xtan.
• Darwill: The capital of Rochester
• Pumice: A dwarven settlement. Its leader is Dargan Greataxe.
Thoughts before I go on?
Havard
From previous discussions, I have identified four issues that have raised controversy over adapting Karawenn to Mystara:
1. Karawenn is not Canon
I am currently of the position that Karawenn should not be considered Mystara Canon, but is instead seated firmly in the camp of Apocrypha. It is clear that the novels detailing Karawenn were not written with Mystara specifically in mind. At the same time, the novels employ a clear Mentzerian cosmology with Immortals, the Five Spheres etc which are unique to the Classic D&D/Mystara Multiverse. Statements by Bruce Heard that he had intended these novels to be part of Mystara should also be taken into account. Ultimately, the decision is left up to the individual DM however. As a result of this, I have in Take 2 of the Karawenn project taken steps to adapt the material from the novels so that they better fit with Mystara Canon, instead of wading right through it.
2.Location in Norwold
I have returned to the position that Karawenn would fit best in the Norwold region. This has also been a controversial issue. One of the arguments for locating it in Norwold, is that Douglas Niles author of both the First Quest Triad and CM1 suggested Norwold as the best location for the novels. Furthermore the maps from the novels are easily fitted to this area (as shown in my maps). Finally several of the geographical names of Karawenn are very close to those of Norwold, probably due to both settings having the same creator. The main objections previously raised to this had to do with scepticism concerning having to alter geographical features to accommodate Karawenn (particularly the World’s End) and the Origin and nature of the Humans of Karawenn. I will discuss these below:
3. Geograpgical discrepancites and The World’s End
In my second take of the adaption of Karawenn to Norwold I have taken steps to limit the number of changes in the regions geographical features that would have to be changed to accommodate Karawenn. By giving the Karawenn map a slight tilt, the Trollheim Mountains fall into the place of the Jotunheimr Hills. In the current map, I have stayed true to CM1 and fan made maps of Norwold with the exception of adding the river Tanyv which flows through Karawenn and the World’s End Canyon. In the original version, World’s End was a much more imposing feature, with planar connections and the odd attribute of having the sea plunge into the Canyon. In this revised version, I have toned it town severly making it into a mere mundane canyon which may be too small to have shown up on 24 mile hex maps.
4. Origin and nature of the Humans of Karawenn
There were two issues raised concerning the Humans of Karawenn. The first being that such a large area of civilized beings would affect the power balance of Norwold, especially if running CM1. IMO there is no way of adding Karawenn and claiming it would not affect its surroundings at all. However, in this version, Karawenn’s population is small and disorganized. CM1 mentions barbarian settlements all over Norwold. Karawenn will be seen from the outside as little more than barbarous states. The realms of Karawenn refer to themselves as Kingdoms and Duchies, but in actuality they are little more than baronies. They have suffered greatly from attacks by Trolls and other monsters over the last centuries and thus have very little contact with the rest of Norwold, including even the Shire of Leeha.
The other question of the Humans of Karawenn is their origin. In my first write-up I suggested that many of the humans here were a result of Thyatian colonizing efforts and Known World emigration in general. This concept has been abandoned. Instead I now see two races of humans living in the area. The commoners are Antalian-Stock barbarians. The main bulk of these humans live in the Knollbarrens and call themselves Darymen. The gentry and nobility are Alphatians arriving in the wave of Alphatian colonization ca 450-510 AC. I have also linked the early exploration of the region by the Wizard Graytor with the Alinor period.
Did I forget anything?
Havard
Is it your suggestion that Karawenn of the novels takes place contemporary to year 1000 AC?
How about a bibliography of all things Karawenn?
Good idea! All information on Karawenn comes from the Quest Triad novels by Douglas Niles:
Pawns Prevail (Book I)
Suitors Duel (Book II)
Immortal Game (Book III)
Is it your suggestion that Karawenn of the novels takes place contemporary to year 1000 AC?
Im still working on revising the timeline, but in my latest version the main events of the novels take place during Wrath of the Immortals period:
Pawns Prevail (Book I): AC1006
Suitors Duel (Book II) AC1008
Immortal Game (Book III): AC 1009-1010
The main reasoning behind this is that the events in the novel are initiated by the meddling of two Initiate Immortals, Pusath and Dalliphree. At the beginning of Immortal Game, these actions have been discovered by other Immortals who basically tell them to clean up their mess.
There are also references to events "16 years ago" (Before Book I) during the last Troll invasions and an even earlier period where elves of the region fought the evil wizard Graytor which I have linked to the Alinor period.
Havard
The Ironwoods is a nation mentioned as the home of Baron Durquesson, a minor character in Book 2: Suitors Duel. No specific location is given for it, but I feel there is room for it where it now appears on the map.
My theory is that all of the realms of Karawenn were united under Vanderthan untill AC 990 when the realm was fractured after the last Troll War.
Havard
Slightly OT- How are you making your maps, Havard? Photoshop and filters? I really dig them.
Thanks! I don't consider comments to the map OT
You are correct, the maps are made in Photshop. I didnt use filters for this particular one, but rather layers and blending effects between the laters. Forests and Mountains are drawn with the same brush for instance, but Forests have the "Drop Shadow" effect added to them, while Mountains have the Bevel and Emboss option added. Coastlines and rivers have an "Outer Glow". Finding a good palette and effects/brushes that fit is really the hardest part of the job. Once that is done making the actual map is quite easy with IMO quite pleasing results. The maps arent as accurate as hex maps though, but I just dont have the patience ;)
Thanks for your interest!
Havard