This entry we are covering 2 months, as we come closer to the winter.
Some more Setting notes for you: There are two Races of Men that are prominent in Karameikos: The Traladaran and the Thyatian: Traladaran people have been in the land for thousands of years, they have pale complexions, dark hair, and have brown eyes. They have light builds, and are short. The average height for men is 5’9″ (175cm), and for women is 5’3″ (160cm). Traladarans make up the majority of the common folk, and are quite superstitious, believing in lucky charms and fortune telling practices. Most Traladaran towns don’t have schools, and many are illiterate.
Thyatian people arrived about 100 years ago and tend to be physically larger than Traladarans. They average 5’11″(180cm) for men, and 5’5″(165cm) for women. Thyatian hair ranges from dark blonde to dark brown, with the occasional ginger. Eye color ranges from blue to brown or black. Thyatians tend to be slightly darker, and often tan easier than Traladarans, who sunburn easily. Thyatians make up a lot of the nobility, and tend to be educated much better. Most Thyatians are from cities or large towns with schools. Since they came from a large empire, they tend to feel superior to the Traladrans. They think of themselves more reasonable than the superstitious Traladarans.
Sviftmont 8th 999 – Vanya’s Day Two nights ago we had some more “shooting Stars” which, while I like, did not register as anything special, but then last night the purple star returned and was glowing brighter than the rest of the stars in the sky. I wonder what is going on.
Today for Vanya’s Day, my wonderful wife had a sparring dummy delivered from Vladimir Vlem. She thought since this was a day to celebrate battle, I would appreciate the gift. While Vlad is not the best at making working dummies, this is a welcome gift.
Sviftmont 14th 999, Khoronus’ Day. Today we helped Amber finish her gift she was making to give Runa for Khoronus’ Day. She wrote her first simple letter to Runa thanking her for taking her under her wing. She also included a framed picture she had drawn of Runa. Khoronus’ Day is a day to honor your elders, Good to see a familiar Celebration.
Sviftmont 20th 999 The Tower in the forest seems to be almost finished. We ran into the owner, and man named Thaddigren Dentiata. He sure likes his black clothes. He claims to have hired the orcs to help him build his tower. He plans to do some magical work there away from town. He claims it’s safe. Man gave Adriana and Amber the scares really bad though.
Sviftmont 28th 999 – The Duke’s Birthday Today was Duke Stefan’s Day. In the capital there are parades, and fireworks. I wasn’t sure what to expect here. Turns out, nobody cares. Not a single person knew that today was the Duke’s birthday, or if they did, they didn’t show it. I’m guessing that even though the Duke came to power nearly 30 years ago, some of the locals still just see him as a Thyatian conqueror.
I personally feel that he has done a lot of good for all the people who live in Karameikos, and has been a very fair ruler. But I may be biased. I will have to ask Adriana, as she is even more of an outsider on these matters.
Sviftmont 29th 999 Last night was a new moon. It was quite dark, and Bram Radescu lost some of his sheep. This is strange in the fact that Bram is very careful with his animals. He claimed that he just couldn’t keep his eyes open, and when he awoke in the field some of the sheep were gone. I think he’s just getting old.
Some notes for everyone still: Ambyrmont is the first montn of Autumn. Julius Valarian was a soldier in Thyatis just across the border on the other side of Karameikos, when he met his wife, who had crashed her cloud-clipper (Areoplane). Details of how they fell in love, married, and moved to this side of the country may be explained in later episodes. The actual adventure starts in Ambyrmont 1,000AC (About a year from this point), but there are things that happen in town as background information before our team of heroes arrives.
Autumn has finally begun, it was a beautiful clear day. At mid-morning, Adriana had prepared a picnic for the two of us, and so we went out just to the tree-line and had a picnic for our 3rd anniversary. This was her gift to me. While we were sitting there enjoying the meal, and talking she pulled this small toy from her bag, she called it her “Model” it looked like a small version of her old Cloud clipper. She wanted to start building one again.
I honestly wasn’t sure what to think at first, but she explained that she wanted to build herself a clipper again, and then the excess food and vegetables we grow on our farm, we could sell on Serraine when it passed over Karameikos in the fall. She had a plan figured out all before talking to me about it, because she knew exactly what questions I would have. in the end I told her I agree, but I have my reservations. but here are my thoughts right now:
She deserves to be able to return to her homeland when she needs to. Surface life is so different, and I want her to be able to have the best of both worlds.
Serraine does need food imported. A city of that size imports most of its food.
We would have to turn part of our field into a take-off-lane or running-way, I think she called it, for her clipper.
Honestly, I want to see this wondrous city she comes from.
My gift to My wife this anniversary was a nice dinner at the Bountiful Tapope tavern. It wasn’t as well planned as her plans for the future, but I am still very happy.
Ambyrmont 2nd 999 AC, Freedom Days (Day 2) Today is Freedom Day in My beloved’s Flying city. She was telling me about all of the festivities and parades and games and activities they do on the 1st and 2nd of the month. Freedom Days are the first days of the cities original flight into the sky in AC 39. 960 years ago. It must have been majestic.
Ambyrmont 3rd 999AC, Kagyar’s Market. Today is Kagyar’s Market, originally a dwarven event here in Karameikos, but now a nation-wide celebration of craftsmen. The town has set up stalls for the local craftsmen to show off their abilities, discuss techniques and of course sell things. Mikail and Anya Tappe set up a stall outside the Tavern with refreshments and snacks for everyone. but other stalls included:
Dieter Mavrov set up a blacksmithing and metal working stall to show off some truly fantastic metal art he has made. But most of the wares he prepared for sale were farming tools and implements, he also included a couple of swords just to show that he could make them as well.
Odolf Czelb has been secretly preparing wines and ales, where he makes it, is anyone’s guess, and we all pretty sure he will keep most of it for himself. But a few bottles of ales are for sale.
Burr Silecz has a pottery stall where he has some excellent vases, and dinnerware for sale, as well as showcasing some clay figurines that are supposed to represent the immortals.
Milka Reh has a stall showcasing some tapestries, but most of her wares for sale are blankets and woven clothing.
Young Valdamar Vlem has a stall showing some excellent wooden toys he has built for the children.
And last but not least interesting is Adiana’s Stal showcasing some of her spring-work contraptions. Including her “Spring-work, Wind-up-Trusty- Timepiece” a confusing device that shows the time of the day using moving arms, and a little sun and moon. Her booth has not attracted the attention of the other adults who don’t understand her work, but the younger ones are intrigued.
Ambyrmont 17th 999
We had more of those “shooting stars” last night.
Ambyrmont 21st 999
I hadn’t thought about the orcs in a while, but today I wandered down that way and noticed the Tower being built. Orcs don’t use towers, and the tower seemed to be erected pretty fast for only a month’s work. I wonder who will move in, and what this will mean for the village.
I tried to hail one of the orcs, but he just grunted at me and continued to work. I don’t know if this means he doesn’t speak Thyatian, or if he just didn’t care for my presence. Either way the orcs have made progress on their tower. and have stayed away from the town for now.
Ambyrmont 24th 999, AC (Apprentice Day) Today I got a very unexpected guest. While I was in the field, and Adriana was out gathering herbs in the forest, I was surprised when I turned around and found Runa, the old Wisewoman standing there. She asked very bluntly where my wife was, to which I explained she was out and would return shortly. The old woman was determined to stay and wait. So, I took her to the house. I brewed up 2 cups of my wife’s amazing drink. A concoction made by pouring Hot water through the ground beans of a Kough-ee plant. She grows this plant just outside the house herself.
At first Runa declined this “Foreign drink” but after while of waiting she reluctantly tried it. Since she seemed to have little interest in talking to me, or letting me know why she was suddenly interested in my wife, I took the chance to explain about myself and how I had immigrated to Karameikos from Thyatis. I wanted her to be aware that I chose to come here because I fell in love with the country, and did not want to be associated with the more oppressive Karameikos-born-Thyatians she may have met in the past. I told her how Adriana and I were trying our best to learn the Traladaran ways, and that we found it so interesting and wonderful.
This of course did not seem to impress the old lady.
When Adriana arrived about an hour (According to our Spring-work Wind-up Trust Timekeeper on the wall.) the ladies talked, and I just took a back-seat, making a 3rd cup of Kough-ee, and listening.
Apparently today is a day called Apprentice Day, I had never heard of it. anyways it was a day for specialists to choose an apprentice, to train in their craft for the future. According to Runa, the orphan girl that lived with her, Amber, had begged her to come and ask permission to study Hedge-magery under Adriana.
Hedge-Magery is the specialization of magic use that is beneficial to agriculture and small towns. Brewing Cures for various diseases, casting spells to increase crop output, and things like that. Adriana, had been looking into this as well, since she was a formally trained Wizard, she had just been experimenting to find good magic to help me with the farm.
In the end, the ladies came to an agreement. Runa would continue to train the little girl in the skills she knew, apparently having had some training in the school of magic, but never completed, when she was young. and Adriana would train her the other half of the week. In return, the two ladies agreed to help teach each other as well. Adriana wanted to learn more about the local herbalism, thus her frequent trips into the forest, and Runa was interested in completing her own Magical training.
Ambyrmont 28th 999
The sky turned dusty yellow today; it was the strangest thing. Nothing seemed to be affected by it, but it spooked the local animals, and farmers. I felt it was best for us to stay indoors in case there was something in the air. Amber has been at our house all day sitting and listening to Adriana. She has been learning how to read for the past 3 days. I guess she never got to learn that before.
This is the Third Month of Juliu’s Diary Series. More Notes: Fyrmont is the 8th month of the Karameikos Year, and the last month of Summer.
Karameikos is a country that was up until 100 or so years ago just a bunch of mini-nations that had a very good trade system set up with the outside world. 100 years ago the Empire of Thyatis (The Roman Empire of Mystara) decided they didn’t want to risk anyone else controlling this trade, and invaded. 29 Years before these diaries begin, a Nobleman of Thayatis, Gave up all his land and possessions in a deal with the Empire to free this nation from the Empire, putting it under his rule. He has been a fair ruler for these 29 years, and to this date, the only Thyatian the locals truly trust. His name: Stefan Karameikos, he renamed the country the “Grand Dutchy of Karameikos” to give the illusion that it was still protected by Thyatis, and thus ward off any future invasions from other countires as he tried to re-unite his new people.
Fyrmont 1st 999 Tax collectors came today. Since we did not have any crop, we had to use some of our savings to pay. If we don’t get enough crop growing soon, I may have to go back into the military, or Adriana may have to start teaching magic again. A shame, neither of us wish to move back to the city.
Karameikan Royals, The standard Currency.
Fyrmont 9th 999 (Ack-Ack Day) When we married I promised my beautiful wife we would try to preserve both of our cultures. Today is Ack-Ack Day (Gnomes and their strange names), Anyways. Last week when I was selling some of our vegetables in Radlebb Keep, I met a Gnome from Serraine, and for a fee He wrote down the story of the Great Battle Defending The Flying city from Red Dragons for me. I took this manuscript and illustrated it. I also made a small square pin for each of us to wear. I hope we can share this with our children in the future.
Skyratchet MK-VII Fighter, (Only found in Serraine)
Fyrmont 10th 999 This afternoon, the sky went completely black for a moment. Like the sun was being eaten by a beast. I’m sure the locals believe that. But I have faith that the immortals were involved and had their reasons.
Fyrmont 15th 999 Ixion’s Day (Adventure Day) We were woken up before the sunrise this morning to Vladimir and his son Vlademar, our nearest neighbours, building something. So, I went out to find out what was going on. Vlademar, was excitedly telling me that today was “Adventure Day.” He took a short moment to try and explain before his father put him back to work. Apparently, it is a celebration of the Immortal Ixion, the wanderer. On Adventure Day the parents and adults set up a kind of Adventure course for the kids. It seems to be 1 part obstacle course, 1 part scavenger hunt, 1 part puzzle & riddle solving. The goal is to either find or show the 5 points of virtue. I’m not clear on that part. He and his father were responsible for the Trials for the 8~12-year-old children.
12:00: I asked Mikail at the Tavern, and he told me the 5 Virtues: 1. Wisdom 2. Bravery 3. Intelligence 4. Persistence 5. Empathy
Fyrmont 20th 999 Someone has begun construction of a building about 2 ½ miles out of town. The boy, Skelly saw orcs working on the building as he was out visiting animal friends. Adriana has a bad feeling about this, as do I. for different reasons. The presence of orcs is not a problem for us, as we have both dealt with tribes of them in the past, but usually They don’t just start building stone towers.
One of the Orcs I was Watching, Others called him “Sorkak”
Pictures From: Coins from “Gazateer 1: The Grand Dutchy of Karameikos”, Published in 1987 by TSR. (Book By Aaron Allston), Artist: Stephan Fabian Skywratchet MK-VII Fighter (Actually a Pflanger-Skywratchet MK VII Fighter Bomber) from the Map of Serraine Poster Published with “PC2: Top Ballista”, Published in 1989 by TSR. (Book by Carl Sergeant), Artist: Frey Graphics Orc from the “Monsterous Compendium”, Published in 1989 by TSR. (Project by Bruce Heard), Artist: Jim Holloway Map to the Tower originally from Dungeon Magazine #24, published July 1990 by TSR Periodicals. Drawn by Diesel
Baldwins Abroad 
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