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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Insight" data-source="post: 5507959" data-attributes="member: 11437">SEMI REQUIRED READINGThis information is taken from (and somewhat modified from) what is found in the X-1 module, "The Isle of Dread" and concerns the "known world" aka Mystara.  I am ONLY using the information below as backgrounds for your characters.  Further information from gazetters and such may be used at a later time (but probably not).Each character should be from one of these places.The Principalities of Glantri: Glantri is a magocracy; that is, the princes and princesses who rule the state are all high level arcanists.  The rulers are more concerned with rituals and magical research than ruling.  Most decisions are left to local councils of elders and the princely stewards.  The princes and princesses do not trust each other and live in a state of uneasy truce.  The Principalities of Glantri are most similar to Medieval Europe.  Typical Characters: Any sort of arcane class, few martial and divine, humans, half-elves, elves, and eladrin.Ethengar Khanate: The Ethengar are nomadic herders of horses, cattle, and goats.  They are divided into small family clans.  Usually, the clans raid and quarrel with one another, but occasionally, a strong leader (khan) emerges to unite the entire Ethengar people into a strong "nation".  The Ethengar Khanate is similar to the Mongols, Huns, and Turks of Medieval times.  Typical Characters: Martial and primal classes, humans, goliaths, half-orcs.Heldann Freeholds: The Heldann are a barbaric, fair-haired people who hunt, fish, and raise crops on isolated farms.  They are similar to Medieval Iceland.  Typical Characters: Martial and primal classes, humans, goliaths, perhaps some dwarves.Kingdom of Vestland, Kingdom of Ostland, and the Soderfjord Jarls: Each of these states is composed of many petty "kingdoms" that are loosely united under one ruler.  The people of these kingdoms prize individualism, physical strength, and prowess in combat.  They are similar to the Vikings.  Typical Characters: Martial and some primal classes, humans, a smattering of dwarves and goliaths.Rockhome: Rockhome is the homeland of the dwarves.  It stretches throughout the northern Altan Tepes Mountains.  The dwarves have built and maintain a caravan road through the mountains.  They charge a toll from all who pass.  Typical Characters: Dwarves, anything.Atruaghin Clans: These grassy plateau, forest, and hilly regions next to the sea are inhabited by herders, hunters, and fishermen who live in small villages.  All the villagers claim to be descended from the great hero, Atruaghin.  If threatened by war, they will unite under a temporary ruler.  Typical Characters: Mostly primal with some divine and martial, few arcane, mostly humans, elves, half-elves, and half-orcs.Republic of Darokin: This republic is centered around the capital, Darokin.  Its wealth is based on trade from Lake Amsorak (the large inland lake), the Streel River, the eastern caravan route, and sea trade filtering in through the Malpheggi Swamp.  They resemble Venice or Genoa in Medieval Italy.  Typical Characters: Arcane, divine, and martial classes, humans and half-elves, few other demihumans.Alfheim: This is the homeland of the elves and eladrin.  The elven king rules the great forest of Canolbarth.  Because Canolbarth is tended by the elves, it is far larger than a natural forest in this area would be.  Darokin pays the elves to protect the caravan route through the forest to Selenica.  Typical Characters: Elves, eladrin, half-elves, and gnomes of any classes.Emirate of Ylaruam: Ylaruam is built in the middle of the largest oasis in the Alasiyan Desert.  It is the center of caravan routes crossing from north to south and east to west and is controlled by the Emir of Ylaruam and his royal family.  It is similar to the Arabic desert states or the Central Asian states of Palmyra, Damascus, or Samarkand.  Typical Characters: Primal mostly, with some martial and divine, humans and a small sample of dwarves and goliaths.The Five Shires: This is the homeland of the halflings.  This area is ruled by a council of five sheriffs who each control a shire.  Four times a year, the sheriffs meet at a great feast and there decide shirewide policy by vote.  Typical Characters: Halflings of any classes.Grand Duchy of Karameikos: This part of the continent is a wild and unsettled land claimed by Duke Stephan Karameikos.  In reality, little of the land is under the Duke's control.  Large areas are overrun with monsters and hostile humanoids.  Typical Characters: Nearly anything brave enough to live there.Kingdom of Ierendi: The trading ships of Ierendi rival those of Thyatis.  The kingdom sports a magnificent royal palace carved from pure white coral.  The king and queen of the land are usually popular adventurer-heroes.  They are figureheads, however, holding little actual power.  Certain aristocratic families hold the real power in Ierendi, making it more of an oligarchy.  Typical Characters: Humans and half-elves of any classes.Minothrad Guilds: The Minothrad island cluster is a syndicracy; the government is run by the heads of various trading guilds.  Minothrad is closely allied with Thyatis.  Typical Characters: Martial and primal classes, humans, half-elves, and half-orcs.Empire of Thyatis: The empire of Thyatis is an autocracy.  The emperor holds absolute power, but his decisions must allow for the desires of powerful nobles and for the threat of mob riots over unfavorable laws.  The city of Thyatis is built beside a large canal that separates the southern peninsula from the mainland.  Thyatis is most similar to Medieval Byzantium.  Typical Characters: Martial classes, some arcane and divine, humans and a small sample of other demihumans.[sblock=SOMEWHAT LEGIBLE MAP]<img src="http://pandius.com/x1-known-world-24-1981.png" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " data-size="" style="" 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