The Grand Duchy of Karameikos
- Ruler:
- Duke Stephan Karameikos III
- Government:
- Monarchy
- Capital:
- Specularum
- Languages:
- Thyatian (official), Traladaran, Elvish (Callari and Vyalia dialects)
Rumors, Lore and Places of Interest:
- Specularum is named for the mirror-like reflective quality of its harbor.
- The Black Eagle Barony is reported to be a dismal and evil place, ruled by the Duke's allegedly mad cousin, Baron Ludwig von Hendriks. Rumors have it that orcs, goblins and other foul creatures roam freely about the place.
- The forests of the nation are still largely unsettled, and hence, unexplored. Most villages have legends of ancient ruins haunted by spirits of the past, or tales of werewolves or other creatures roaming the woods.
History:
According to local lore, centuries ago the region was inhabited by a people known as the Traldar. Living in city-states, they had no centralized government. At some point, an invasion of "beast-men" descended upon the region, threatening to wipe out the human population.
From one of the Traldar villages rose a King by the name of Halav Red Hair. King Halav was able to unite the various Traldar tribes under his rulership to repel the beast-man invaders. He had help from a Traldar Queen named Petra, and a huntsman named Zirchev.
During the final battle of the war, King Halav and the King of the beast-men killed each other in a duel. The beast-men, without their leader, fled the area. It is said during Halav's funeral, the Immortals took up Halav, Zirchev and Petra into their ranks, and the Traldar looked to rebuilding their lives.
In A.C. 900 the Empire of Thyatis claimed all of the area, now populated by the Traldar descendants who called themselves Traladara, by sending troops to the trading port of Marilinev. The Thyatian conquerors re-named the city Specularum.
In A.C. 970, in the Duchy of Machetos within the Thyatian Empire, Stephan Karameikos III made a proposition to the Emperor. He offered the Emperor his ancestral lands in Machetos in trade for the lands of the Traladara and a decree of autonomy. The Emperor accepted, and Duke Stephan Karameikos III arrived in Specularum to rule his new subjects. He has sat on the throne ever since.
Notes from the Dungeon Master:
Karameikos is probably the best example on Mystara of a "typical" fantasy setting. It is very much like any medieval European nation.
For more information see GAZ 1: The Grand Duchy of Karameikos, and Karameikos: Kingdom of Adventure.
