Locations in the Known World

[The Dungeon Master]

The Grand Duchy of Karameikos (a wild land overrun with monsters that is only nominally under the sway of its ruler, Duke Stefan Karameikos. Towns are few and often isolated by hostile humanoids. Small farms and hamlets dot the countywide, threatened on every side. Only by the efforts of the powerful and heroic few can the Grand Duchy survive, grow, and prosper. It is among this powerful elite that the player characters strive to take their place.
The Duchy of Karameikos came into being when Duke Stefan Karameikos I11 of the Thyatian Empire traded his ancestral lands for control of a wild border region west of the Empire known as Traladara. For the last 30 years, he has been trying to develop it into a modern nation. Much wilderness remains. The population of the country is divided between the Traladaran natives. who form the bulk of the population: Thyatian nobility, who emigrated to the Duchy with the Duke; and small communities of friendly demihumans: dwarves, gnomes, elves, and halflings. Internal threats include tribes of humanoid monsters (goblins, hobgoblins, orcs and bugbears) and the rebellious Baron Ludwig von Hendriks. who controls an area of the Duchy known as the Black Eagle Barony.

Other important factions in the Duchy include:
Churches: The Church of Karameikos (25%) is the favored church of the nobility, similar to religious institutions of late medieval times. The Church of Traladara (70%) is the favored church of the natives. similar to religious institutions of early medieval times. The Cult of Halav ( 5 %) is a fringe group that believes Stefan Karameikos is the reincarnation of an ancient hero who will restore the lost glory of Traladara. The Order of the Griffon is a military order open to higher level fighters and clerics that supports the Church of Karameikos.

Thieves’ Guilds: Most thieves are independent independent. The Kingdom of the Thieves is strong in Specularum. It is for neutral thieves, specializing in complex burglaries. The Iron Ring is a secret society of slavers and assassins (mostly chaotics of any class) that is very widespread.

Taxes and Tithes. Four times a year, a 25% tax is levied on everyone in Karameikos by the Duke. Sales taxes run 5% , merchants pay 1% on all valuable cargoes. Clerics are expected to tithe 10% to the church, and many give more. This may seem harsh, but that is what pays for the military and for developing the Duchy. The situation is much the same in other parts of the world.

Coinage
In Karameikos, the gold piece is called the royal. On the obverse is a side-view of the head of King Halav, wearing his war-helmet; on the reverse are the inscriptions. “Grand Duchy of Karameikos,” “Glory in All Deeds” and “One Royal.”
The silver piece is called the crona. On the obverse is the royal palace in Specularum; on the reverse are the inscriptions, “Grand Duchy of Karameikos” and “One crona.’’
The copper piece is called the kopec. On the obverse is the great wolf of the inland forests; on the reverse are the (expected) inscriptions, “Grand Duchy of Karameikos” and “One Kopec.”

Points of interest
Specularum is the capital city of the Grand Duchy of Karameikos. Population 50,000
Kelvin (major population center ruled by Baron Desmond Kelvin II): Population 20,000
Luln (major population center ruled by Townmistress Sascia (a high level fighter)): Population 5,000
Fort Doom (population 10,000) is the main population center of the Black Eagle Barony, the only place in Karameikos where slavery is legal.
Highforge (population 6,100 gnomes, 1,000 dwarves) is a major demihuman community ruled by Dorfus Hilltopper, the Gnome-King.
Rifllian (population 1,700, mostly elves) is a trading post where humans and elves meet, run by the elven Chief Trader, Prestelle.
Forts: Castellan Keep, Duke’s Road Keep, Radlebb Keep. River Fork Keep, and Rugalov Keep are military posts that guard the borders of the Duchy. Koriszegy Keep is rumored to be haunted and very dangerous

Threshold (where we begin): a logging community of about 5,000, ably ruled by Sherlane Halaran, baron and Patriarch of the Church. The town is large for its population, filled with widely-spaced homes surrounded by vegetable gardens and livestcck pens.
The local points of interest include:
Town Hall. This is a very large building in the center of town, used for confiscated weapon storage, town meetings, public declarations, trials and entertainments.
Fogor Isle. This island is the seamy side of town; it is not patrolled at night. On the north end of the island is the blackened ruin of the Old Mill, burned 11 years ago. The ruin often becomes infested by giant insects and must be cleaned out periodically.
Tarnskeep . Baron Halaran’s castle is a small, sturdy fortress, just north of town. It ha s a curtain wall, four towers and a large manor house.
Dam and Weir The dam keeps large boats from traveling upriver. The weir can be opened to allow lumber to be floated downstream.
Logging Camp. Most of the logs cut locally are floated downriver to Specularum, where they are used for building, ship construction, and so on.
Ruins. North of Threshold, on the west shore of the lake, are the quiet ruins of an ancient town where no one ventures.

[The Dungeon Master]

Adventurers in Threshold
Town Law. Threshold is usually peaceful, and its citizens want to keep it that way! Within town limits, no weapons other than daggers, swords, and staves may be carried. Other weapons must be turned in and will be kept in the town hall, to be returned when the owner leaves. Wearing armor, while not illegal, will result in repeated questioning of those not obviously arriving or leaving town. No public casting of magic-user spells is allowed, and penalties for causing property damage or injury with magic are severe. The laws are enforced by the town guard. Most adventurers mind their manners while in town-few places on this frontier can match the services provided by Threshold!
Entering Town. New arrivals are met by Sergeant Arthol of the town guard, who outlines the local rules and regulations, collects weapons, and issues receipts. First time visitors (and those wearing armor) will be asked their name, class, profession and their business in town.
Inns. Threshold has many inns. Rates vary, hut private meager lodgings average about 10gp per week, including meals, while sleeping in the common room averages 1 sp per night.
Merchants. Many individual merchants sell their wares in Threshold, and trade with Specularum is lively. Items imported into Threshold cost 150- 200% of the list price, including: metal armor & weapons, warhorses and other trained animals, oils, exotic cloths, glassware, metal goods (locks, etc.), parchments and inks, wines and ales. Magics, rarely available, are sold by private individuals; there are no magic shops. Merchants usually pay no more than half the value of an item brought in for sale by adventurers if they are interested at all. Ships other than rafts must be ordered in Specularum and brought upriver
Thieves’ Guild. Neutral character thieves can join the Thieves’ Guild (part of the Kingdom of Thieves), which offers certain advantages: fairly trouble-free fencing of goods, some expedition backing and other services, for which the thief is expected to turn over 15% of his or her income. Although most of the thieves in Karameikos are independents, thieves who operate in town without guild consent might run afoul of the guild as well as the town guard.
Training. Although magic-users are rare, some teachers should be available in Threshold. Most other class-related special training is available here also.
The Church. The Church provides needed support, and is most important as a source of aid when adventurers are badly wounded or find cursed items. Clerical aid for those not in good standing is usually more expensive, when available.
Banking: The standard fee for moneychanging (including exchanging gems or jewelry for coins) is 10%. Funds can be stored without charge if they are left at least one month. otherwise there is a 10% charge. Borrowing more than the most trifling amount (5 gp) requires the borrower to put up an item of at least double value until the loan is repaid.

[The Dungeon Master]

Weather
Rainy season, with scattered showers every few days, starts in early Vatermont and continues into late Thaumont. Because of breezes coming off the southern ocean, summertime months tend not to be too uncomfortable (peaking at about 90° F.) Winter, too, is fairly mild; the warming ocean breezes and the barrier of the Altan Tepes mountains keep cold northern weather from descending in full force on Karameikos.