Karameikan Cities.
Population in AC 1011: Estimated at 70 000 . The last accurate cencus was 25 years ago, when Specularum had a population of about 50,000. It is certainly graeter now.
Ruler: King Stefan Karameikos. Day-to-day activities are handled by the townmaster, Lord Lucas Tormandros.
Notes : Specularum , the gem of Karameikos, lies on the west bank of the Highreach
River , at the intersection of the Westron and King's Roads . The city sprawls over a
number of small , rolling hillcoks that cradle a large lake known as Specularum Bay (or
Mirror bay) , which takes its name from its smooth , placid nature. One hill rises higher
than the others and is known simply as "The Hill". Atop this dominant feature
sits the king's stronghold.
Two great walls ring the city, and portions of the old city within are walled off as well.
The city has not come under assault in the years since the Marilenev Rebellion, but
since it is a frontier city, King Stefan sees no point in taking chances.
The main roads are of paved stone, and in the area around the stronghold they are brick.
The back streets are mostly earthen, narrow, twisting, unlit, and unsafe. Sanitation
consists of a small trench cut into the center of the street that drains into sewers.
These sewers are not truly public projects, but rather the buried ruins of previous
settlements, as is the case for most of the community. Buildings are one - or two-story
constructions made of brick or wood; the better ones are made of stone. Many newer
building are constructed of stone along the first floor and wood and plaster for the
second and third floors (if present). Few buildings stand three or more stories tall.
This is the archetypal medieval city, gloomy , dirty and unsure. Expect the unexpected...
Population in AC 1012 : 20 000 (Sizeable population of refugee elves from Alfheim).
Ruler: Baron Desmond Kelvin II.
Located near the juncture of the Hillfollow and Highreach Rivers, the large , walled city of Kelvin was built by Thyatian settlers on the ruins of older Traladaran settlements. The King's Road crosses the Hillfollow here across the Kelvin Bridge, and the Windrush Road joins it at the western side. Stone walls surround Kelvin, and a large wooden palisade on the eastern side protects caravans stopping for the evening.
Laws: The King's Law, plus no wizard magic may be cast within the city walls.
Population in AC 1011 : 5 000.
Ruler: Patriarch Sherlane, the Baron of Halaran.The patriarch is a in the Church of Karameikos, and his religious training often influences his decisions.
Notes: Straddling the west bank of the Windrush River and the entire length of Fogor
Isle, Threshold is a bustling frontier community. most of the buildings are made of lumber
from nearby forests, with foundations of stone pulled from older ruins.
Despite its population, Threshold is not a tightly-packed, dirty, squalid town (with the
exception of Fogor Isle); by Baron Halaran's decree, no house on the west bank may be
built within 50 feet of another, so Threshold is spread over a large area, filled with
nice homes usually surrounded by vegetable gardens and livestock pens.
Laws: The king's law is enforced , with the following important additions:
1-Within the town limits , no wizard magic may be cast.
2-Only daggers, swords, and staves may be carried within town limits without special
permission.
3-Though the wearing of armor is not against the law, town guards repeatedly question
those in armor about their business.
4-No family house may be built within 50 feet of another family dwelling.
Population in AC 1012: 3 750.
Ruler: Dame Arteris Penhaligon (F9).
Notes: A fortified town halfway between Kelvin and the border pass leading to Selenica, Penhaligon was founded 30 years ago by Lord Arturus Penhaligon, a friend of King Stefan's. Arturus's daughter, lady Arteris was confirmed in her father's title upon his death four years ago and now rules. Penhaligon acts as a way station for travelers coming to and from Selenica. It suffers its share of nonhuman attacks, but trade and travel revenues are brisk.
Population in AC 1012: 6 500 Gnomes, 1000 Dwarves.
Ruler: Dorfus Hilltopper, gnome -king of Highforge.Dorfus is a typical gnome, though he isn't too fond of humans; while not impolite, he avoids dealing with them whenever possible.
Notes : A large gnome and dwarf community, Highforge is nestled in the Wulfwolde Hills. There are a number of exterior stone buildings in the community, but the bulk of the settlement lies below ground level. Quarries and shafts dot the region surrounding Highforge, and numerous "secret entrances" leads to the settlement.
Population in AC 1012: 2 000. (Chiefly Callarii elves).
Ruler: Prestelle (chief trader, E3)
Notes: Humans come to rifllian to trade raw materials and good horses to the Callarii elves for supplies, equipment, and items of elven craftmanship. Humans feel most comfortable in the Silver Swan Inn , which is run ( chiefly for human visitors ) by Stubbs Plattermann (H1).
Laws: When dealing with the visitors, the Callarii follow the King's law but in their own affairs follow elven custom.
Population in AC 1012: 10 000.
Ruler: Milo Korrigan is castellan of the town in lieu of an appointed ruler. Fort Doom is best known for its former , Baron Ludwig von Hendriks.
Notes: The Westernmost of the towns of Karameikos, Fort Doom lies within smelling distance of the Blight Swamp and serves as the seat of government for the Barony of halag (formerly the Black Eagle Barony). It is a cold, unpleasant , dreary area, only recently recovering from decades of mismanagement. The natives remain suspicious of outsiders, and a newly built wooden palisade rings the community.
Population in AC 1012: 5 000.
Ruler: Mistress Sascia.
Notes: This farming town is located on the main road to Fort Doom. It is founded on rich soil near a forest teeming with wildlife. With the overthrow of the Black Eagle Baron , it has turned into a good place to live.
Population in AC 1012: 7 500.
Ruler: Baron Philip Vorloļ.
Notes: This friendly , peaceful community is the family seat of the Vorlois. A trade town, Vorloi has its own small harbor, which the family uses mainly for their export activities, as merchants bring goods into karameikos at Specularum. The town of Vorloi has a low stone wall around its perimeter.
Population in AC 1012: 6 500.
Ruler: Lord Lev Dromilov (F6, 38 years old with black hair and brown eyes.His estate is small , but he rules it well; he gets along amicably with Baron Vorloi, whose lands borders his.
Notes: East of the Barony of Vorloi, at the end of a wide peninsula jutting out of the Sea of dread, lies the town of Dimitrov. It is primarily a fishing community with a mostly Traladaran population. The area is not often plagued by wanderering monsters, so the community is unwalled- in case of trouble, the populace retreats to the fortified manor of the lord. Dmitrov is a nice place to grow up, but seldom anexciting place to visit.
Population in AC 1012: 2 000.
Ruler: None ( there is a motion to appoint a townmaster).
Notes: Located just up the king's Road from Specularum, Krakatos is a new town constructed on the ruins of a much more ancient one. King Stefan established the Karameikan School of Magecraft here. The colledge has attracted many other businesses, and the place is booming.
Population in AC 1012: 950.
Ruler: Lord Zemiros Sulescu (Nosferatu).
Notes: A quiet village located on steep bluffs above a turbulent sea on the Karameikan coast;, Sulescu sits far removed from the hustle and bustle of greater towns and cities.Its natives have turned inward, away from national politics and troubles.
Laws: None, in addition to the King's Law. However there seems to be some sort of voluntary curfew in effect - at dusk , the welcome mats are rolled up, and people not back at the inn are shut out until dawn.
Population in AC 1012: 500.
Ruler: Lady Halia Antonic (M7) and Sir Retameron Antonic (F9).
Notes: Situated at the foot of the Black Peak Mountains, Verge is sometimes used as a jumping-off point for adventurers bound for Threshold. It has been plagued by goblin and gnoll attacks for the past 20 years, and twice it has been burned to the ground. A new wall is being built around the village, but construction is going slowly.
Population in AC 1012: 650.
Ruler: Lord Vlad Lutescu.
Notes: The small village of Rugalov gains some of its revenue from fishing, but most of it comes from trading with folk traveling between Karameikos and Thyatis. It also provides services to the garrison stationed at Rugalov Keep. This village has been in existence for only 40 years.
Population in AC 1012: 900.
Ruler: Dame Magda Marilenev.
Notes: The farming village serves the Estate of Marilenev, and here sits castle
Marilenev, a gothic monstrosity of depressing walls and crumbling towers. though she
cannot afford its upkeep, lady Magda stubbornly continues to make her home in the castle
out of tradition.
Laws: None in addition to the king's Law; Actually, if the crimes are commited against
Thyatians or Traladarans who side (in Lady Magda's opinion) with King Stephan there isn't
that much of the king's justice around here either.
Population in AC 1012: 100 in the village, and 800 in the surrounding forest and coastlands.
Ruler: Lord Gustav Vandevic.
Notes: A community of farmers and woodcutters, Vandevicsny stands near the forests and wilds of the southern coast. Most of the natives are Traladaran. If trouble ever comes along, the villagers would retreat into the lord's manor.
Laws: Vandevicsny has a curious custom, the origin of which is lost in history: Every household must keep a garland of garlic bulbs over the door and a holy symbol over each bed.
