The inhabitants of
Karameikos and its neighbouring countries call their lands the
Known World, bounded by the Sind Desert and the Savage Coast
to the south, the Sea Of Dawn to the east and the vast wilderness
of Denagoth and Norwold to the north. More than a dozen small
nations, cultures, racial territories and empires lie within
the Known World's borders, all seeking their own destinies.
The Known World resembles the Europe of our Earth around the
15th Century, though it lacks gunpowder and the printing press.
The Known World is part
of a larger continent known as Brun, one of the land masses
of the planet Mystara. Click here
for a map of Mystara's western hemisphere [the Known World indicated
within the white circle], and here
for a map of the geographical relationship beween the Known
World's nations.
Mystara is a planet smaller
than Earth, 6,190 miles in diameter. Matera, Mystara's one visible
moon, marks of the months by its orbit. Mystara is hollow and
has another world within, a primitive land of floating continents
and dinosaurs. The year the Dungeons & Dragons Virtual
Theatre takes place during is AC 1,000.
Aengmor [The
Caverns Of The Shadow Elves]
Elves that survived the disaster that created the Broken Lands
fled underground. These 'shadow elves' plot to conquer Alfheim
and pit surface nations against one another.
Alfheim [The
Kingdom Of The Elves]
Magically transformed into a deep, dense forest and enormous
trees. Few non-elves are welcome unless they are invited.
Alphatia [The
Empire Of Wizards]
Continent of magic-users from another plane who rule numerous
lands. Archenemies of Thyatis.
Atruaghin [The
Clans Of The Plateau]
Grassy plateau, forest and hills inhabited by tribal herders
and hunters living in small villages. Similar to Native Americans.
The Broken Lands
[The Humanoid Kingdoms]
Wasteland of rugged hills and mountains created by a man-made
disaster infested with tribes of orcs, kobolds, goblins, hobgoblins,
kobolds, orgres, trolls and numerous other savage demi-human
races.
Darokin [The
Kingdom Of Gold]
A culture similar to Venice or Genoa in medieval Italy ruled
by wealthy merchant families.
Ethengar [The
Kingdom Of Horsemen]
Northern steppes ruled by nomadic riders very similar to the
Mongols.
The Five Shires
[The Hin Nation]
Coastal nation, the homeland of the halflings. Broad, deeply-forested.
Glantri [The
Kingdom Of Magic]
Forested and mountainous land magocracy divided into many principalities
with their own rulers and laws.
The Grand Duchy
Of Karameikos [The Land Of Adventure]
This heavily-forested region used to be known as Traladara,
a 'nation' that was really a loose confederation of independent
baronies. It was conquered in AC 970 by Thyatian nobleman Stefan
Karameikos in the name of the Thyatian emperor. Click here
to see a map of Karameikos.
The Heldan Freeholds
Barbaric peoples who hunt, fish and raise crops on isolated
farms.
Ierendi [The
Kingdom Of Islands]
Sea traders and romantic holiday resorts.
Minrothad [The
Kingdom Of Sea Princes]
Island cluster governed by heads of various trading guilds,
many demi-humans.
Rockhome [The
Kingdom Of The Dwarves]
High and treacherous mountains, the homeland of the dwarves.
Sind [The Kingdom
of The Wastes]
A rugged, poverty-stricken nation similar to medieval India.
Thyatis [The
Empire Of Warriors]
Seaside empire, famous for its imperial history, cunning of
its leaders, decadence of its entertainment and might of its
army. Akin to the Roman and Byzantine empires. The Empire consists
of the Kingdom Of Thyatis, the Pearl Islands, the western half
of the Isle Of Dawn, Ochalea and the Hinterlands.
Wendar [Elven
Kingdom of The North]
The largest elven settlement of Mystara, home to powerful elf
wizards.
Ylaruam [The
Desert Kingdom]
Desert Emirates, all blazing sun, rolling dunes and widely-separated
oases similar in appearance and culture to medieval Arabia.
