Settlements

Many of Karameikos’s cities, towns, and villages did not exist even 100 years ago. Others grew atop the ruins of older civilizations, although the current inhabitants have long since forgotten this.

## Specularum

   *(see Specularum for more information)*

Specularum (pop. 50,000)

The capital of the Grand Duchy of Karameikos
and the ruling seat of its duke, Stefan I, Mirros is the only true
metropolis of any size and prestige in the nation – a bustling place
with its rough edges still showing. Most of the buildings are of
wood or brick, as well as carved stone in the wealthier areas. The
main roads are paved cobblestone, but many smaller streets and
narrow alleys are only packed earth. It is a noisy, crowded, busy medieval town.

## Kelvin

   *(see Kelvin for more information)*

(pop. 20,000)

A smaller city located up the Highreach
River from Specularum, Kelvin is nearly as bustling as the capital. A
huge central castle, lavishly apportioned and furnished, dominates
the area.

## Fort Doom

   *(see Black Eagle Barony for more information)*

(pop. 10,000)

Fort Doom, a dark, brooding castle
and the westernmost community in Karameikos, overlooks the
Traladaran village of Halag. It is the seat of the Black Eagle Barony and suffers the ill effects of its evil master
and his humanoid troops.

## Highforge

This is the gnomish community, including five clans of gnomes (totaling about 6,500) and one of dwarves (about 1,000). Highforge is
nestled in the Wufwolde
Hills. There are a number
of exterior stone buildings
in the community, but the
bulk of the settlement lies
below ground level. It is noted for its extensive mining operations. Quarries
and shafts dot the region
surrounding Highforge,
and numerous
“secret entrances” lead to
the settlement.

Within Highforge, the gnomes and dwarves ignore the King’s Law and live by gnome and dwarven custom; they settle their own disputes, try their
own criminals, and do not report law breaking to the
human officials. Additionally, they do not pay taxes
to the humans except when selling goods to them.
Humans who commit
crimes in Highforge are
tried under dwarven custom.
The DM may treat
this as Duke’s Law for determining
severity of sentence,
but bump the class
of crime up one class for
humans breaking the law.
Ignorance is no excuse in
t hi s ar ea as many
“formerly ignorant” prisoners
can attest.

## Vorloi

    (pop. 7,500)

The southernmost of the Karameikan communities,
Vorloi overlooks the Sea of Dread from a cliffside perch,
its safe harbor allowing some merchant traffic with Minrothad
and Ierendi.

This is the family seat of the Vorloi family. It's a trade town with
it's own small harbor; the Vorlois use it maily for their expoert
activities, as merchants beinging goods into Karameikos prefer to use
teh main port at Specularum.

## Dmitrov

    (pop. 6,500)

A sleepy town on the southern coast of
Karameikos, Dmitrov has a hard-working (if unimaginative)
population. “As dull as Dmitrov on a feast day” is a cutting remark
in the Karameikan court.

## Threshold

    *(see Threshold for more information)*

(pop. 5,000)

A large, open, bright town in northern
Karameikos, Threshold is favored by merchants, fishermen, and adventurers.

## Luln

    (pop. 5,000)

Luln is a ramshackle community of refugees who have fled the Black Eagle Barony and Fort Doom. It's poised between the armies of the Black Eagle Barony and Karameikos, and is a small, struggling community.

## Penhaligon

    (pop. 3,750)

This is a fortified town half-way between Kelvin and the border pass
leading to Selenica. It was founded 30 years ago by Lord Arturus
Penhaligon, a friend of Duke Stefan's. It is now ruled by his daughter,
Lady Arteris, who was confirmed in her father's title upon his death
four years ago. Penhaligon Village acts as a way-station for travelers
coming to and from Selenica. It suffers its share of non-human attacks,
but trade and travel revenues are brisk and Penhaligon is not in any
immediate danger of falling. It
thrives despite a continual humanoid threat from the hills.

## Rifllian

    (pop. 2,000): Primarily an elven settlement, this town

serves as a trading post between humans and Callarii elves. Its
buildings are mostly wood with intricate carvings in the elven
fashion.]

Humans come to Rifllian to trade raw materials and good horses to the
 Callarii elves for supplies, equipment, and items of elven
craftsmanship. Humans feel most comfortable in the Silver Swan Inn,
which is run (chiefly for human visitors) by Stubbs Plattermann, a
halfling.

When dealing with visitors, the Callarii follow the Duke’s Law, but in their own affairs follow elven custom.

## Sulescu

    (pop. 950)

Sulescu is an ancient village on the southern
coast, ruled by the same family for over 300 years.

A quiet village located on steep bluffs above a turbulent sea on the
Karameikan coast, Sulescu sits far removed from the hustle and bustle of
 greater towns and cities. Its natives have turned inward, away from
national politics and troubles.

There seems to be some sort of voluntary curfew in effect – at dusk,
the welcome mats are rolled up, and people not back at the inn are shut
out until dawn.

Lord Zemiros Sulescu, the latest in a long line of Sulescus named after the first.

## Marilenev

> **Population** 900 in the village.
>
>

Castle Marilenev dominates this small

farming village, a decaying monstrosity and the seat of the Marilenev
family. Note that Specuarum originally was named Marilenev , and
the capital city lies officially “within” the estate of Marilenev.

## Vandevicsny

> **Population** 100 in the village, and 800 in the surrounding forests and coastlands.
>
>

> **Ruler** Lord Gustav Vandevic
>
>

Located along the forests and wilds of the southern coast, Vandevicsny is a community of farmers and woodcutters, very isolated from the rest of the world. Most of the natives are Traladaran.

## Rugalov

> **Population** 650 in the village.
>
>

The small village of Rugalov gains some of its revenue from fishing, but

 most of it comes from trading with folk traveling between Karameikos and Thyatis. It also provides services to the garrison stationed at Rugalov Keep. This village has been in existence for only 40 years.

## Verge

> **Population** 500 in the village.
>
>

Situated at the foot of the Black Peak Mountains,

Verge is sometimes used as a jumping-off point for adventurers
bound for Threshold. It has been plagued by goblin and
gnoll attacks over the past 20 years and twice it has been burned
to the ground.