Karakast: Difference between revisions
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Latest revision as of 12:26, 18 November 2024
| Karakast | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Error creating thumbnail: File missing Map of Karakast and environs, from The Adventure Begins:Adventure Maps booklet (1998). Art by Sam Wood. | |||
| General information | |||
| Realm: | Domain of Greyhawk | ||
| Size: | Village/Fortification | ||
| Government | |||
| Authority: | "Battle Axe" (leader) | ||
| Government: | Military/theocratic council | ||
| Alignment: | Lawful neutral | ||
| Demographics | |||
| Population: | 600 (in 591 CY | ||
| Races: |
| ||
| Languages: | Dwarven language | ||
| Groups | |||
| Religions: | Clangeddin Silverbeard, and Dwarven pantheon | ||
| Allies: | Domain of Greyhawk, Mountaineer Militia skyriders | ||
Karakast is a subterranean dwarven stronghold in the Cairn Hills.
Description
Karakast is essentially a hill that has been hollowed out over the centuries, and converted into an nigh impregnable fortress. Like Greysmere, it is "linked with a cavern system, but the caverns under Karakast are said to be large and to extend farther below ground."[1]
History
Before the Great War, Karakast was within the domain of the Duchy of Urnst.
"A great underground battle was fought beneath Karakast in times past, littering the caves with rubble and bones."[1]
Geography
It is situated at the northern end of the Abbor-Alz in the Cairn Hills near the border of the Duchy of Urnst. It is northeast of Dumadan, and aproximately 30 miles due west of Maure Castle.
People
While dwarven culture is typically a dour or stoic one, the dwarves of Karakast are noted for being unusually polite, comparably speaking, even unusually so.[2] At the same time, however, the culture is exceedingly formal, "always addressing others by full name, title, and rank (even their best friends)."[3] This is so ingrained in the culture of Karakast that what might be considered a slight social faux pas elsewhere might be set in the memory of dwarves for generations.
Interestingly, resulting from the small population of dwarves in the area, clan association is less significant or prominent than in other regions.[4]
The dwarven folk of Karakast come from a slightly different lineage than other dwarves, and have a notably different phenotype. They tend toward olive-tinted skin and frequently have red hair and beards.[2]
Citizens of Karakast are not prone to travel as other dwarven cultures or strongholds,[1] but if they are found in the Free City, they frequent the Gold Digger Tavern.[5]
Government
Council members are "chosen by trials of strength, with the strongest and most militarily able member of council becoming the leader (the “Battle Axe”)."[6][3]
Languages
Resources
The main resource of Karakast is mining. It is most prominently an iron mine, but gold and platinum is also found in some veins,[2] as well as one of the only two silver mines found in the Cairn Hills
Karakast trades with other local settlements, even as far away as the Free City of Greyhawk. Dwarf-crafted ironwork shows up there on Freeday at the High Market.[7]
See Also
See also:
- Dwarven characters of the Flanaess
- Dwarf
- Greysmere
References
Notes
Citations
- ↑ a b c The Adventure Begins (1998), p.3.
- ↑ a b c From the Ashes (1992), p.26, Campaign Book.
- ↑ a b From the Ashes (1992), p.27, Campaign Book.
- ↑ From the Ashes (1992), p.22, Campaign Book.
- ↑ The Adventure Begins (1998), p.119.
- ↑ Player's Guide (1998), p.62.
- ↑ The Adventure Begins (1998), p.89.
Bibliography
Encyclopedia Greyhawkania Index
The Encyclopedia Greyhawkania Index (EGI) is based on previous work of Jason Zavoda through '08, continued by numerous other fans. The EGI article has a list of sources, product names, abbreviations, and a link to the full, downloadable index.
| Topic | Type | Description | Product | Page/Card/Image
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Karakast | Settlement | Settlement, | Dragon magazine #195 | 95 |
| Karakast | Settlement | Settlement, | Dragon magazine #225 | 54 |
| Karakast | Settlement | Settlement, | From the Ashes: Campaign Book | 21-23, 26, 27 |
| Karakast | Settlement | Settlement, | Oerth Journal #11 | 66 |
| Karakast | Settlement | Settlement, | Player's Guide to Greyhawk | 62-64 |
| Karakast | Settlement | Settlement, | Return of the Eight | 3 |
| Karakast | Settlement | Settlement, | The Adventure Begins | 47, 69, 71, 89, 115, 119 |
| Karakast | Settlement | Settlement, | The Adventure Begins: Adventure Maps | 3, 8 |
| Karakast | Settlement | Settlement, | LT1 The Star Cairns | IC, 4 |