Asian Locations: Domains of Dread

Ravenloft is the Domain of Dread, where hundreds of people have been taken from various cultures. The realm is filled with many Gothic Horror elements from various cultures, and over the years some Asian influences have appeared as Island of Terrors. Likewise a on a Gothic Earth, where the dark Powers have influenced history, an Asian theme supplement was also planned.

I'cath has been identified as an island of terror. It is a small forested domain in which travelers usually find themselves lost. The weather is usually heavy with thunderclouds, threatening a storm. As they wander some of the travelers encountered Chinese-like small mansions, inns, or beautiful tea shops often run by beautiful women. Travelers who stay at such places may find companions missing, structures disappeared, or worse decrepit structures.
The Truth behind this is the forest is cursed. On the world of Toril, a powerful sorceress known as Tsien Chiang from Kara-Tur and her daughters were taken by the Dark Powers for murdering one of their own. Tsien Chiang has a hatred of men, one which she passed on to all but one of her daughters. She had used her daughters beauty and charms to lure many men to their deaths and drain them for her own personal gain. Yet, her daughter Nightingale was appalled by her mother's plan. When she and her lover failed to stop her sister's and mother, Nightingale was killed. I'cath and her daughters continue to prey on travelers lost within their domain, and Nightingale resurrected does her best to be an obedient daughter by luring the wicked and letting the pure of heart go free.

The second such site is a larger domain found on a raised island chain in the Poisonous Sea. These island are known as Rokushima Taiyoo and are ruled by the Shujin, the son of Shinpi Haki a great Warlord who ruled over these islands. He was a ruthless and cunning warlord that tamed the islands by any means necessary. When Shinpi Haki died, his began fighting for control of the lands. It was then that the mists rolled in and a great earthquake happened. When the mists cleared the entire chain of islands were raised above the sea. It was soon discovered that the surrounding seas were toxic in nature, and that they were cut off from the rest of the world. Soon each brother began blaming one another and each went to war with each other. When one of the brothers fell in death, their island was pulled down into the sea. The island chains again experienced another great earthquake and adjusted itself. The people here a very Japanese like, during the feudal era. They are distrustful of outsiders, as it boggles them how some could have traversed the poisonous sea or managed to climb the deadly cliffs.
Like other domains, the truth of this curse is hidden. Shinpi Haki was a ruthless warlord who was without mercy or honor. He seized control of these islands. His only pride and joy were his children and the legacy that would live in. When he died, the Dark Powers confronted him, but Shinpi Haki was a stubborn should who accepted his fate for the life he lead and had no remorse. So the only way the Dark Powers could torture him was through his family. He children had learned and followed in their father's footsteps. They instigated the feuds between the brothers, and let them tear Shinpi Haki's legacy apart. Helpless to warn his children of save his legacy.

The last area of Ravenloft was to be Gothic Earth, and focusing on who the Dark Powers influenced parts of Asia. Dr. Fu Manchu was known as one of the agents of the Dark Powers, and his organization spread corruption and terror of the Asian Continent.

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.

Asian Locations: Oerth

One of the oldest campaign settings is Greyhawk, also known as the Oerth. Far to the west of the Flanaess lies two countries with cultures found in Asia. However these area have never been fully fleshed out. and much of the information comes from scattered adventures found within the original Oriental Adventures lines, the novels based upon Gord the Rogue, and what information was planned from the revival of Greyhawk.

The first to be encountered is the island kingdom of Nippon located just south of the Sea of Dust within the Pearl Sea. The land if Nippon is very similar to the feudal era of japan, and is a default location for the "1st Edition" Oriental Adventures book. Not many details were given about Nippon, and was largely left open for DM's and Player's to create. Likewise the Nippon have also expanded onto the mainland along the Peninsula, claiming an area known as the Geitsakuru Dominion, just south of Zindia and east of Erypt.

The second area lies directly west and past the kingdom of Zindia, north of Erypt, and situated between the Baklhaut and Dragonspine Mountains.The Celestial Imperium, also known as the Celestial Kingdom of Shaofeng "Sufang" is a large Chinese like empire made up of various smaller kingdoms. Their southern region is bordered by the Celestial Sea which separates them from Erypt. To their north the lands are harsh and cold, and ruled over by various barbarian tribes. Not only do they have to contend with the Mongol like tribes, but also with hords of Gnoll found near the Dragonspine Mountains and the hordes of Orcs from Darak Urtang near the Baklhaut Mountains. It is largely due to the orcish hordes, that the Great Wall of Tsian was built to stop these northern invaders.

It is believed that Shaofeng consists of the land of the Imperial Court ; to the east the Kindgoms of Tsian, Szian, and Tzong ; the Myrchang border kingdom near Zindia; Zhang-kiri border kingdom near Farak Utang ; Zhatana-kiri border kingdom near Erypt ; and the lands of Khanate's Nweng, Nwong, and Nwang along the Dragonspine Mountains.