Ideas about the future timeline of Mystara
by Francesco DefferrariIndeed future development could well change the KW in unpredictable ways. My ideas at the moment are, taking into account the Almanacs and Fan Almanacs:
Alphatia: weakened but not destroyed IMC by WotI, Zandor is not mad and developed into a decent emperor. He had to face a rebellion started by Blackheart and Arogansa, but won, therefore creating a more centralized Alphatian government. Neverthless the discovery there is another smaller Alphatia in the Hollow World changed the outlook and purpose of the Empire, which in the future would tone down the conflict with Thyatis to focus on the Hollow World, space and other planes. A greater menace however will arrive from Skothar, where the Empire of the Great Khan has been taken over by an ancient and near immortal dragon. Also the Hollow World immortals will force Alphatians to preserve it or will try to destroy it, as OW Alphatia may be a very unbalancing element.
Thyatis: Eusebius too was nearly ousted by civil war but won. After taking Minrothad the commercial power of the Empire will increase significantly and probably be focused on Western Brun and Davania. The main ambition may become to conquer former Milenia and the Savage Baronies, territories in which Thyatis has strong connections. If the WDL remains strong, it's unlikely Thyatis will be able to conquer Karameikos, Ierendi, Ylaruam and Darokin which likely will become competitors in parts of Brun and Davania. In the north, much depend on Heldann. If they fall, Thyatis could find the void and claim Heldann, Ostland and Oceansend, but with the Heldanns having the support of Vanya it's more likely they will remain in part allies and in part competitors for Thyatis.
Northern Reaches: Eventually Vestland and Soderfjord could unite, and probably will join the WDL. If Rockhome enters too, the WDL will be able to resist both Thyatis and the Heldann. Ostland could enter the orbit of either Heldann, Thyatis or the WDL depending on the circumstances.
Alfheim and Shadowelves: The Shadowelf takeover happened IMC but eventually I think they will come to terms and create an unified elven power in Canolbarth and the Shadowdeep. This could well become a main pillar of the WDL.
Ethengar: I do not see much room for expansion around them. All the neighbours are pretty strong and able to resist, as it happened in canon and almanacs. Possibly Ethengar could become a different country, joining the WDL too and becoming less a clans-based and nomadic-based country.
Wendar: The conflict with Denagoth has to be resolved somehow. If Denagoth (either ruled by Idris or the Darklord) conquers Wendar, it would quickly become a major menace both for the WDL and the Heldanns, and Norwold. Idris and Synn could be connected, even be the same entity. In this case, the Synn plot in Glantri is much more dangerous than anyone suspects, and would mean Synn conquering Glantri and Denagoth, maybe even the Adri Varna and other northern territories, forming a dark empire which would engulf Wendar and become a major menace not just for the WDL and the Heldann, but also for Norwold, Alphatia and Thyatis.
Still in Glantri any major Prince has the potential to become the unique ruler, transforming the country in his image, so for example an undead nightmare in case of Morphail or Brannart, a werewolf paradise for Malachie, or an ally of the Dragon Kingdom of Norwold in the cases of Juliana and maybe even Jaggar.
Karameikos: I do not see the place as returning under Thyatis, but rather become more and more Traladaran with a stable membership in the WDL. If the WDL expands to Ethengar, Atruaghin, Sind and the Northern Reaches it will become the true power of the KW. It could even at some point ally with Norwold and crush the Heldann, or force them to join as well and focus Heldann's ambitions on Davania only.
Hule and the Savage Coast I think either one or the other should fall. Despite the power of the Master, it could well be Hule to fall if the Baronies and the other nations are able to form a sort of Confederation and fully use the power of cynnabril and inheritors. There are in the region two other big powers to take into account. One is Pyre in the Orc's Head Peninsula and the other IMC is the Empire of Dorfin, slowly reforming under the control of gnomes which will build Earthshakers and could rapidly become a major power in Brun.
If one wants to roughly follow the path of the real world (which however should not be taken for granted as there are many different hypothesis why real countries and empires developed in the way they did) it could be supposed first an Age of Exploration lasting about 400 years, i.e. until 1400 AC, during which several major regional powers will develop in all continents, probably at least 10 of them, then a 'Modern' Age which could include or not ground-breaking inventions such as widespread firepower, steam, better ships, medicines and mass production, leading to a sharp competition for resources, which could lead to colonization and wars between the Powers. This 'age' could last up to 400 years and lead to a pruning of the continental powers, with only two or three becoming really dominant while the other 7 to 10 declining or ending up as minor allies of one of the major ones. A following 'Age' which IMO in our world is only just starting or hasn't even started yet should lead to a unified world government in the time of about 400 years, if the Powers do not go 'Blackmoor-style' again, destroying themselves or even the world with war or mass pollution.