a new mystaran dark age - mystara the dark ages

8/13/2019 A New Mystaran Dark Age - Mystara the dark ages

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MystaraTHE DARK AGESKataris the Diviner watchedlazily from the shadow of atree as the world,enveloped in a foul blacksmoke gave way to reveal aterraced mound of earth

protruding from some ruinedcity. From its dull

pinnacle two smoke tendrilsreached upward into the skyto form the shadow of agiant beastly head thatblended Werewolf andlizard-man and gnoll. bove

it the sky burned with twolarge falling stars thatraced from a distantheavenly realm toward theKingdoms of an unsuspecting

!ystara."he first star struck the

mountains to the northsending up a greatbillowing cloud, the secondcontinued west over thehorizon.

Kataris snapped awake asthe thought caused him real

pain.#e spoke to the young womengathered in his goat hairtent. $%s shayll seek thy

man of thyne futyresfortyne in thys farminglands of &astryn

!arylinyv.' $(s he handsome)' *aysmyna

shushed her youngercompanion. Kataris returnedto his thoughts of anearthen mound burning withthe future of the +east-

mens return beneath twofalling stars one north andthe second east. "he beast-

men were returning.Kataris threw back the hoodof his scraped hide cloak

to reveal a red haired"raladaran by the name oftephan !arilenev ratherthan the %lari eer knownto so many in !irros asKataris the Diviner.$lease/ %ou must bothleave now.' #is accentgone, the shocked younggirls were 0uickly usheredout of the diviners tent.

– Kataris the Divinerstent, "he treet of Dreams,

!irros, "welfth day of

1atermont, 23345

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Mystara THE DARK AGES

A MYSTARA FOR D&D FOURTH

EDITION

It is the year one thousandtwo hundred ater !rownin"#The wor$d has !han"ed% andunortunate$y it has !han"edor the worse# Ma"i! haseen so "reat$y wea'ened inthe $ast two hundred yearsthat the sha!'$es that he$dentro(y at ay ha)e eenun$eashed#E*(ires and Re(u$i!s on!e*i"hty and ar rea!hin" ha)eai$ed and turned inwardwith the rise o iso$ated!ity states stru""$in" toho$d on to the re*ains othe on!e )ast and s(raw$in"estates on whi!h so *u!hde(ended#So *u!h on!e thou"htreso$ute and i**uta$e has

e!o*e ra"i$e andun!ertain#

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MystaraTHE DARK AGES

THE KARAMEIKIAN TERRITORIES

The Kin"do* o Kara*ei'oshas o)er the $ast twohundred years een(ro"ressi)e$y redu!ed to thethree *a+or !o**unities oKe$)in% Thresho$d% andMari$ene)# They are $o!atedin the *id$ands stradd$in"the Kin",s Road# -eyond that$i*it is an un'nown rea$*des(erate to e $et a$oneand des(erate orreunii!ation#

The Ar!hisho(ri! o Ke$)in

Ke$)in e$$ into star)ationwith her !ara)an routes !utand tens o thousands (ouredinto the !ountry side!arryin" hun"er and diseasewith the*# On$y now under-isho( Ke$)in the ith ha)ethey re!$ai*ed so*e "round#The Gui$d town now a"ainhe$d ir*$y in the "ri( othe .hur!h#Trade is *ost$y restri!tedto the ri)ers a$thou"h theKin"s Road !ontinues to see

the o!!asiona$ it otrai!# On$y a $itt$e othe trade "oods !o*in"throu"h the Mountains ro*Se$eni!a s$i( (ast the .ityo Ke$)in# Mu!h o thewea$th is in the e/!han"e o"oods that are dire!ted a!'o)er the *ountains#

The Ar!hisho(% Ke$)in theFith

Ke$)in sees trade as ano((ortunity to rid hi*se$o the (etu$ant !hi$d ho$du( in the .a(ita$ ($ayin" at0rin!e to the Detri*ent othe State#

1hat e)er ha((ened to the*Gno*es1hen the Gno*ish *ines nearKe$)in were e)entua$$y

aandoned the 0o(u$ationre$o!ated to wor' in the oneat Thresho$d# A$$ that is$et o the ori"ina$ Gno*ishsett$e*ent is a )ery dee((it now (o(u$ated y anassort*ent o wi$d$ie!o**on to the re"ion#

Thresho$d

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MystaraTHE DARK AGESesta$ished reeho$ds whi!hsu(($y (rodu!e to the Towno A'eso$i whi!h does a $oto trade with the Atrua"into the South% G$antrians tothe North% and Sind to the1est# There are a 4uarter*i$$ion (eo($e !rowded intothe Freeho$ds#The .ity o A'eso$i is(retty *u!h the re*ains othe Re(u$i!# Now thatTenoar has de!$ared itse$a ree(ort% and Se$eni!a has

esta$ished itse$ as the-an'er o the EasternStates% it is (retty *u!h onits own# Its Trade treatywith the Sind is unsta$e atest#

The Thear!hy o Si$ithThe Ma$(e""i swa*(s ha)es$ow$y e/(anded north toen"u$ the ri)er a$$ the wayto the -ro'en 2ands# The

South !ontinues to e ru$edy the 2i3ard o$' eneaththe !$aw o their e)er(resent God#

The Theo!ra!y o Tur Annis1hi$e the Star o the2i3ardo$' o Ma$(e""i hasrisen a"ain% to do*inate thesouthern *ost re"ions o theo$d Re(u$i! and the 1estern

Ierendis% Daro'in .ity hasa$$en to Shadow E$1orshi(ers o A3anteot$# The!ity is ruined or the *ost(art# The do*inant eatureo the o$d !ity is now the$ar"e earthen *ound 0yra*idthat s*o'es !ontinuous$ywith He!ato* 9*asssa!rii!e:# 1ho or what they

are sa!rii!in" isun!ertain#

The 1at!htower in the MistThis in)isi$e ti*er.itade$ is $o!ated so*ewheresouth o the southern Ed"eo the Forest o the ShadowE$)es# Esta$ished y E$)eso A$hie* as a *eans ore!$ai*in" their territory%It un!tions as a s!ientii!oser)ation (ost ro* whi!hthe Sura!e e$)es !an

!ontinue their *a"i!a$harass*ent o the ShadowE$)es and wor' toward thedestru!tion o their oresto 6Stone trees6# There area*i$ies here and !hi$drenwho are ein" raised in a*ore sut$e dis!i($ine thanhate and re)en"e% the way oIn)isii$ity# 1ith the he$(a ew )ery o$d ande/(erien!ed 0oo'a% The

!itade$ re*ains undete!tedand i it e)er is% it wi$$$oo' $i'e a $ow *isty hi$$!o)ered in shrus#

G2ANTRI% MER.HANT 0O1ER

Thin"s were "ettin" (rettyad in G$antri# The0rin!i(a$ity was on the)er"e o ra!turin" into

*any s*a$$ states than's tothe eorts o 6Do$oros theNi"ht Dra"on6# The on$ythin" ho$din" the re"ionto"ether is the Mer!hantGui$d o G$antri# Reu"eesro* the a$$ o theRe(u$i! ha)e ound a ($a!ein the Gui$d and (ut!onsidera$e (ressure on the0rin!es to e*ra!e the

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MystaraTHE DARK AGES-e!ause o in!reased$oodin" in the -ro'en 2andsthan's to what has ha((enedto the Stree$ Ri)er inDaro'in% A dy'e was!onstru!ted on the orderwith the -ro'en 2ands to !utri)er $ow# The water hasui$t u( and a o""y re"ionhas een "rowin" a$on" thesouthern G$antrian -order#E$)en ho$din"s here are$ooded a$thou"h so*e eorthas een *ade to redire!t

the water into the Great.rater or A"ri!u$tureirri"ation#

That other 0rin!i(a$ityThe Great .rater is o)er!rowded with Hu*anoidswor'in" the terra!ed($antations and Gardens othe !urrent 0rin!e Ko$#Thou"h no $on"er a (art othe 0rin!i(a$ities it

re*ains an odd$y !i)i$i3edre"ion in)o$)ed in tradewith the 0rin!i(a$ities#Hu*anoids and Hu*ans a$i'e$i)e in the .ity o Ko$ thatis !ar)ed in the hi"h ro!'o the North 1esternes!ar(*ent#

THE HIN ANAR.HY

F$ooded with Daro'inianReu"ees% Iso$ated ro* thewor$d y a 2i3ard E*(ire%the on!e shires areorderin" on Anar!hy# TheRe(u$i! tide on!e hudd$edinto Reu"ee !a*(s now indthe* se$)es $o!'ed down in$aour .a*(s in the rin"eso the Shires#

Fortress Menta$ityThe Hin sus(e!t what is!o*in" wi$$ e a tida$ wa)eo !haos# E*($oyin" theReu"ees in near s$a)e$aour% they ha)e ui$tortii!ations en!o*(assin"as *u!h o the shires as(ossi$e# A ew o theshires ha)e (ushed *anyreu"ee a*i$ies to $i)e ons*a$$ a!re ho$din"s wherethey *ust "row their ownood# Others are startin" to

de)e$o( resent*ent towardthe reu"ees# Unortunate$ythe 6Hin Anar!hy6 indsitse$ in a (osition wherei it does not "row into a6res (u$i!a6 it wi$$ ha)eno uture#

A -$a!' F$a*eThere is a thou"ht a*on"stthe Masters o the Hin thatthey !ou$d "et rid o the

Hu*an Reu"ees i an end!ou$d e (ut to the Foresto Stone ru$ed y the Shadowe$)es# A nu*er o Mastersthin' that the nature o theHa$$in" se!ret 'nown as-$a!'$a*e to urn Stone and$ea)e wood untou!hed wi$$ eso*ethin" they !an un$eashin the Forest o Growin"Stone# On!e the Forest is

"one% the re*ainin" 0$ainswi$$ e easi$y !on4uered yHu*ans o the Re(u$i!#

THE IERENDIS

The Kin"do* o Ierendi wase/(osed to a disease that'new no oe# 2y!anthro(ythat had de!i*ated the(o(u$ation o Minrothad was

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s(readin" ra(id$y west with

the aide o ine!ted0irates# Yet an o$d hea$erhad a so$ution# He had+ourneyed to a ar o $andand ound there a -ed oHea$in"# Unortunate$y the(ri!e wou$d e that thosehea$ed o 2y!anthro(y wou$de transor*ed into2i3ard*en#

Sa)ed at what .ost

A !onsidera$e nu*er o the(o(u$ation ine!ted with2y!anthro(y were transor*edinto 2i3ard*en with the!ure# Entire Is$ands e!a*e(o(u$ated with 2i3ardo$'#1hat no one 'new was the o$dhea$er who oered the* thehea$in" ed was an a"ent othe Ma$(e""i#

.onta!t with the Ma$(e""iIt !a*e e)entua$$y that the2i3ard o$' o the Ma$(e""i*ade di($o*ati! !onta!t withthe Ierendi and sou"ht a*er"er o states that they*i"ht no $on"er e assau$tedy the 0eo($e o Daro'in# Atreaty was or*ed with theRe(u$i! and Thear!hy oSi$ith o!!u(yin" theMa$(e""i De$ta etween

Tenoar and Athenos wasde!$ared an Ierendi0rote!torate in e/!han"e orunta/ed trade in theIerendi#

A SHIFT OF FO.US FOR THETHYATIANSSo*e terri$e !risis !entredon the .a(ito$ in (art the

s(read o $y!anthro(y ro*

the Minrothad Gui$ds to the.a(ita$ o Thyatis as we$$as an e!ono*i! !o$$a(sethan's to !orru(tion in thee*(ire $eadin" to a de!$inein !i)i$ *aintenan!e andTa/ation or!es itsaandon*ent# The out!o*e isa $oss o the Is$e o Dawnand an esta$ish*ent o thenew .a(ita$ at Kerendas#Thyatis .ity e!o*es a ruin

to e (i!'ed o)er yAd)enturers#

The HattiansA su(eri!ia$ a$$ian!e withthe !on4uest OrientedKni"hts o 5anya has a$$owedthe* to assau$t the .ityState o Te$a'ir ine/!han"e or !ertain!on!essions# Hattian youn"

are o(en$y re!ruited asront $ine e/(enda$e troo(sde($oyed to 1ar3ones arounds(here o Interest o theKni"hts o 5anya#

The 5on -$a!'ea"$e Fa*i$yA des!endant o Anna 5on-$a!'ea"$e has e"unad)enturin" in the re"ion oFort Doo* with a *ind toreta'e an an!estra$

territory#

A New 2y!anthro(yThe Thothian 0$a"ue *in"$edwith 2y!anthro(y to !reate a2y!anthro(y that !an not e!ured y .$eri!s# TheThyatians e"an a *assi)eDe(o(u$ation that shatteredthe s(ine o the e*(ire#

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MystaraTHE DARK AGESMany s$a)es and (easantswere $ost in the (ur"e#

0oisonin" the 1e$$s o ourRetreatIn re(risa$ or what Thothiahas done to their E*(ire%The Thyatians re$o!ated aun!h o 1erewo$)es ine!tedwith 6Thothian 2y!anthro(y6to the Is$e o Dawn# Theee!t is the .o$$a(se othe Thothians ho$d on theIs$e o Dawn and !haos

a!ross the Is$e o Dawn#

THE D1ERG 1INDREA2M

Fity years a"o the E)i$Mordri"swer"% Mis!he)ous%Tro$$s% and Giants sei3edthe Soder+ord <ar$do*s andesta$ished a Dwer" State%(ushin" *u!h o the hu*an(o(u$a!e north into 5est$andwhi$e ens$a)in" the rest#

Rea$i3in" that their ene*yhad returned% the Dwar)es oRo!'ho*e ha)e stru""$ed towa"e war on their ene*y#Unortunat$y% it hasresu$ted in drawin" in MoreGiants and Tro$$s to the!ause o their ene*y#On$y re!ent$y ha)e theRo!'ho*e Dwar)es ro'en otheir !on$i!t and a$$en

a!' to their own Territory#For now the Dwer" 1indrea$*is unrea'a$e#

Artisans o Enthro(y

It is ru*ored a*on"st thisDwer" rea$*% a ni"h i**orta$na*ed Andunhie* the .rateris !urrent$y !ratin" The.raters -ow$ that wi$$

a$$ow *an8*ade *a"i! ite*sto e wished (er*anent withan i**orta$6s wish so thatthey wi$$ not ai$ on theday o Dread# It isa((arent$y *ade ro*osidian $i'e "$ass that!ou$d e $a!' sand ro* theSea o -$a!' Sand# It isun!ertain at this ti*e whatthis *eans or the Artia!t#

The .rater6s -ow$

Des!ri(tion7 This is a $ar"e$a!' "$ass ow$ whi!ha((ears to ha)e een !ratedro* Sand ro* the Sea o-$a!' Sand# To use its(ower% the user *ust ($a!eso*e *a"i! ite* they ha)e!rated into the ow$ andwish it (er*anent#

Minor Artea!t o Entro(y0ower7 1ish% one hundred ((#

Handi!a(7 It *ust e ed theeyes o one hundred Dwar)esto re!har"e or e)ery use#0ena$ty7 The User ee$s ano)erwhe$*in" o$i"ation tosee' out Andunhie* the.rater and (ay hi* tenthousand "o$d (ie!es e)eryti*e the .raters -ow$ isused#

-E22ISARIA

The rise o Thothiaee!ti)e$y insu$ated-e$$isaria ro* the(redations o Thyatis% andas the ethni!a$$y A$(hatian(o(u$ation o -e$$isaria arehe$d in hi"h re"ard yThothia the rise in (ower othat nation has had a

PAGE | 12




$ar"e$y enei!ia$ i*(a!t on

the e!ono*y o this $ar"eis$and# The o$d A$(hatian'in"do*s on the Is$and ha)esur)i)ed *ost$y inta!t%e/(ortin" ood and te/ti$es(roita$y# 1hi$e Minea hase!o*e *ore in$uentia$ o)erthe years% twi!e sa!'in" the"reat (ort o S(ear(oint% no$eader ro* that nation has*ana"ed to e/tend hisho$din"s on to -e$$isaria#

1hi$e *any !entres o*a"i!a$ study on Mystaraha)e a$tered% A$!he*os% theor*er !entre o a$!he*i!a$study in the A$(hatianE*(ire% has $ourished#A$!he*ists ro* a!ross theKnown 1or$d $o!'ed toA$!he*os as a ina$ reu"e%and the !ity !an now !$ai*

to e the $ast "reat !entreor *a"i)a$ endea)ours#

The rea((earan!e o A$(hatiahas o !ourse "ri((ed theru$ers o -e$$isaria withe/!ite*ent% and it isun!$ear as yet what i*(a!tthis *ay ha)e on thisnor*a$$y (ea!eu$ is$and#So*e Kin"s wou$d !ertain$ye wi$$in" to re+oin an

A$(hatian e*(ire% whereasothers wou$d e $i'e$y toresist# As yet no a((roa!hesha)e een *ade ro* eitherside% ut it see*s on$y a*atter o ti*e eore su!h*ust o!!ur#

-ut or the *ost (art $ieon -e$$isaria re*ains as ite)er was= outside o the

the du$$est% *ost a"rarian

($a!e on Mystara#

ESTERHO2D

The "reat (eninsu$ar oEsterho$d was on!e ho*e toA$(hatian !o$onists whoens$a)ed the nati)e <ennite(eo($e% or!in" the* to wor'in dan"erous *ines or theeneit o their *asters#The !ities o Faraway and

S'yyr e/(orted raw*ateria$s% inished "oodsand s$a)es to A$(hatia#

Ater the a$$ o A$(hatia%the nations !ontinued asthey had or *any years% ute)entua$$y there were tooew A$(hatians and too *any<ennites% and under the$eadershi( o their "reat

re)o$utionary $eaderSi$)erur"% the <ennitese)entua$$y threw oA$(hatian !ontro$ in the!ity o Faraway% rena*in" itin honour o their $eader#De!ades o war o$$owed%with ar*ies ro* Si$)erur"and S'yyr att$in" on thewastes o Esterho$d or!ontro$ o resour!es andsett$e*ents% unti$ oth

sides were so )ery de($etedthat an uneasy tru!ee)entua$$y e*er"ed#

Most o Esterho$d is arren%!o$d and dan"erous% withon$y the re"ions in the)i!inity o Si$)erur" andS'yyr ein" in any way!i)i$ised# Stran"e%

PAGE | 13



MystaraTHE DARK AGESuna*i$iar !reatures $ur'under the sura!e oEsterho$d% and it ise$ie)ed that dee( withinthe !rust o the !ontinento S'othar an!ient e)i$sro* the days o A$(hatia%or e)en ro* as $on" a"o as-$a!'*oor% *ay sti$$ reside#

A2FHEIM

For hu*ans the in)asion oA$hei* y Shadow E$)es was

now "enerations a"o= or the$on" $i)in" e$)es thedestru!tion o theirho*e$and two hundred yearsa"o is sti$$ a raw and$oody *e*ory# The on!e"reat orest o .ano$arthhas in this ti*e re"rowninto a or* a)oured y theShadow E$)es= $itt$e $i"ht(enetrates the dar' !ano(yo this harsh% dense

wood$and% and on the orest$oor and a*on"st the treesthe Shadow E$)es now $i)eout their $i)es in a(er*anent% di* twi$i"ht#

Tanda$eyo% the Radant0rin!ess% ru$es this $and#1hi$e other nations ha)ea$$en% the Shadow E$)esha)e ui$t here their

uto(ia% whi!h or others isso*ethin" a'in to ani"ht*are rea$* o twistedtrees and ein"s#

Outsiders% rin"in" trade%are we$!o*ed y the ShadowE$)es# Few !hoose to !o*e%thou"h#

THOTHIA

The a$$ o the ThyatianE*(ire was *u!h hastenedthrou"h the $oss o her Is$eo Dawn territories toar*ies o Thothia# Strin'in"without warnin" ro* theGreat Es!ar(*ent% a$e toesie"e Thyatian stron"ho$dswithout need or ood orwater% undead hordes irststru!' at Fur*en"$ai)e% thenSe(tentronia% 1est 0orta"e%East 0orta"e and New'ir'#

Tens o thousands oreu"ees $ooded ro*Thyatian sett$e*ents on theIs$and% headin" North ando)er$oadin" shi(s toThyatis% rin"in" with the*disorder% a*ine and% worse%($a"ue# The ;ueen oThothia% in her wi!'edness%had ine!ted reu"ees with$y!anthro(y and *u**y rot#

Shi(s $ea)in" 1est 0orta"eound or Thyatis wou$dunoard in the !a(ita$% withha$ o the nu*er o(assen"ers that had $et%and ea!h sur)i)or ine!tedwith $y!anthro(y or *u**yrot# Fu$$ (ani! ro'e out inthe a$ready ri"htenedstreets o Thyatis= withrioters at the "ates o the

(a$a!e% the E*(eror had noo(tion ut to re!a$$ his$e"ions ro* Dawn% and theE*(ire was now in u$$retreat#

Thothia now !ontro$s *ost othe Is$e o Dawn% with thee/!e(tion o the Free .ityo He$s'ir% and the Dunada$eMar!hes# The wi!'ed ;ueen o

PAGE | 14




Thothia now sends s$a)e

)esse$s% s!ourin" the shoreso the Known 1or$d and the<un"$e .oast or )i!ti*s#1hether she is idin" herti*e eore *ore !on4uest orsi*($y needs odies to(rodu!e an e)en "reaterundead ar*y is un'nown#

HE2DANN

In the 6war to end wars6 o

the $ate e$e)en hundreds%the He$danni! Kni"hts wereina$$y or!ed ro* theirstron"ho$d in the Freeho$ds#-ut the artea!t that*aintains their $yin" $eetre*ained inta!t% and theirwarirds 9and sea"oin"or!es sur)i)ed#

The $o!ation o their new

stron"ho$d re*ains un'nown%ut their "reat $yin"*a!hines *ore terriyin"than e)er sti$$ a((ear ro*ti*e to ti*e% oerin"as(irin" no$es a$$ian!e indeeatin" their ene*ies=they don6t a!t as*er!enaries% ut rin"ers owar# Their so$diers aree$ie)ed to e the est inthe wor$d% and the Kni"hts

o 5anya as they are now'nown see* a$e to de($oythe* anywhere they !hoosewith ri"htenin" s(eed#

Those no$es who a!!e(t he$(ro* the Kni"hts are wise to(ay triute y assistin" inuture wars% e$se they *ayind that the a$$e"ian!e i

their 6a$$ies6 !an shit%

*ost ra(id$y indeed#

He$dann re)erted to itso$der ways= the Freeho$dswhere no rea$ $eaders otherthan the heads o househo$dsor $ar"er !$ans were reesta$ished# The !ity oFreier" is in ruins% and itis ru*oured that the "reat!ata!o*s ui$t y theKni"hts as a ina$ retreat

are now ridd$ed with*onstrous )er*in#

The Res 0u$i!a Reu"ee .a*(

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MystaraTHE DARK AGES

.ONTRI-UTING 1RITERSYe$$owdin"o

Hiha*aHar)ard.hi*(*an

.aAshta"on

Gawain 5IIIHa((y$arry

Ge!'oSeer o Yho"

-ot1i3o-onettiMi!'y

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a new mystaran dark age - mystara the dark ages

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