Sunday, August 28, 2011
Asian Locations: Mystara
Mystara is the oldest of the D&D Worlds. However, when it comes to an Oriental settings, Mystara provides few areas and what is provided the information is very scarce (except for the Ethengar). Mystara has showcased many cultures and themes, along with Pacific Islanders as well. Although many ancient and extinct cultures can be found in the hollow world, it is strangely absent.
The first introduction of can be found with the Ethengar Khanate. It is located in the eastern grasslands of the continent of Brun. It is bordered by a ring of mountains, in which the nations of Glantari, Wendar, and Rockhome lie. It does however stretch to the Western Sea of Dawn. The people here a very reminiscent of the Mongolians, and follow the same lifestyle and much of the people are scattered in a various collection of tribes. Currently these tribes have banded together under a Great Khan. Long ago most of the people where enslaved by various humanoid hordes, but when the Great Rain of Fire occurred it poisoned the land and killed many. The humanoids abandoned their slaves and retreated to safety of the mountains. The remaining humans eventually formed the Ethengar peoples.
The second area is a mixture of oriental cultures. The island kingdom of Ochalea is a combination of various oriental cultures mixed in with the Alphatian.The island nation lies south of the Isle of Dawn. Ochalea itself has a mixture of temperate forest and jungles, broken up by several small mountains chains. The land itself is one of the few areas of the world that are free from monsters and monstrous humanoids.
Long ago Ochalea was a tributary kingdom, but gained it's independence. The people here have rigid tradition, and strong concepts of family and duty. Because of the Alphatians, they have a strong distrust of arcane magic. Ochaleans are similar to mainland Asians (Chinese to Siamese) and their culture is a blend of all this.
Lastly on one of the moons, Patera, there is a kingdom known a Myoshima. This kindgom remains hidden behind a magical shield which keeps it safe and invisible. Here Rakastas (Feline Humanoids) live in a fashion similar to that of the japanese. Only a few beings from Mystara have visited Myoshima, but all information about the empire comes from the few Rakasta that have befriended some individuals. From these encounters with their warriors, these beings wield katanas and dress in similar fashion to samurai.
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