Threshold, Karameikos y areas cercanas.

Extraído del libro D&D Expert...

Map #1 shows a section of the Grand Duchy of Karameikos, at the scale of 6  iles per hex. The Duchy is a large tract of wilderness and unsettled land claimed by Duke Stefan Karameikos the Third. Although he claims control of a large area, large portions of the land are held by humanoids and monsters. The two main settled areas are the coast near the main city of Specularum and the Black Eagle Barony on the Gulf of Halag.

The weather throughout the area is usually temperate and mild, with short winters of little or no snowfall and long summers. Rainfall is ample but not heavy, and easterly winds blow cool breezes from over the sea.

The mountain range at the north edge of the Duchy is known by different names to the peoples of the territory: the Black Peaks, the Cruth Mountains, or The Steach. Large sections of the Duchy are filled with dense forest. Humans maintain lumbering operations near the edges of the forests, but are loath to venture too deeply without good cause. This hardwood and softwood is a prime resource of the area, either for shipbuilding in the port of Specularum, or for export.

Human Lands
Specularum: Originally a trading port founded when this area was first explored, Specularum has become the major city of the Duchy. Approximately 5,000 people live in or very near to the city. The Duke keeps a standing force of 500 troops and may raise an army of 4,000 from the nearby countryside in times of war. A small fleet of warships is kept in the harbor.

The city is famous for its excellent harbor and shipyards. Walled on the landward side, the city is also protected by 2 breakwaters that extend into the harbor, restricting passage to a narrow entrance. The Duke’s castle stands by the harbor, providing ample defense.

Black Eagle Barony: This area of the Duchy has been given to Baron Ludwig “Black Eagle” von Hendriks. The central town is Fort Doom, a forbidding structure whose dungeons are rumored to be filled with those who have displeased the Baron, an extremely cruel and unpopular man. The Baron may have connections with evil slavers and mercenaries. He keeps a garrison of 200 troops, using them freely to stifle dissent and crush attackers.

Luln: This village is populated by those who have fled the Black Eagle Barony, merchants who have come to trade with the Baron, and some non-humans who have left the wilderness. Luln is near to the Haunted Keep of the Koriszegy family and the surrounding land. This town of 500 is rather lawless and poorly defended, relying on the good will and forces of both the Baron and the Duke for its defense.

Threshold: This, the Home Town of most PCs, is a thriving frontier village of 400 permanent residents plus over 100 other regular visitors. The main business of Threshold is to supply timber to the Capital.

Map #1

Threshold

The characters’ Home Town is on the edge of a small lake about 90 miles north of Specularum.

The Town
It is ruled by the Patriarch Sherlane, who has a lakeside castle (called Tarnskeep) just north of town. The village includes about 500 humans, 50 demi-humans, and many occasional visitors, mostly human furriers and woodsmen. It is illegal to cast spells in town. Only personal weapons (dagger, sword, staff) may be carried; other weapons may be left at the Town Hall, at no charge. Guardsmen and townsfolk all help to enforce these laws.

The Duke’s Galley and Elvenguard come once each month, dropping off supplies and picking up taxes, furs, and other items. A passenger boat comes
once a week. The lake dam prevents boats from going upriver from the town.

Commerce: Trade boats bring supplies and provide rides to the Capital once a week. Merchant parties also visit, but rarely. The following items are shipped by boat from Threshold to Specularum: Armor (leather and shields only); Craft products (pottery, baskets, wooden items, etc.); Food (grains,
fruits, etc.); Furs; Herbs, including wolfsbane;Honey and Wax; Ice from the mountains; Magic items and Monster parts found by adventurers; Ores (a small local business); and crude weapons.

The following items are shipped by boat from Specularum to Threshold: Trained animals (including all warhorses); Armor and weapons; Exotic cloths (silk, velvet, etc.): from city trade; Exotic trinkets (imported from other countries); Foods (such as seafish); Glassware; Medicines; various Metal
goods (lock mechanisms, pots & pans, spoons, hardware, etc.); Metals not found locally (tin, copper, etc.); News; Oil (whale, olive, and others); Parchments and inks; Potions (though rarely); Salt (bagged or in blocks); Spices; Steel Tools; Wine and Ale; and visitors, traveling entertainers, and occasional government officials.

Map #2

Algunos detalles adicionales sobre la cultura de karameikos...

The Grand Duchy
The Duchy of Karameikos came into being when Duke Stefan Karameikos III of the Thyatian Empire traded his ancestral lands for control of a wild border region west of the Empire known as Tralandara. 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 (21%) 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.
The Kingdom of the Thieves is strong in Speculanun. 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 21% 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.

In the official coinage of Karameikos, a copper piece is a kopec, a silver piece is called a crona, and a gold piece is a royal.

Threshold
Threshold is a logging community of about 1000. 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 tuin 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, sturdyfortress, just northoftown. It has a curtainwall, 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 downstteam.
Logging Camp. Most of the logs CUI 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.

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. who are mostly first-level fighters; high level support can be brought in if necessary. Most NPC adventurer’s mind their manners while in town-few places on this frontier can match the services provided by Threshold!