Editing Mystara (section)

== Planet of Mystara ==
Three principal land masses are described on Mystara's outer surface: the continent of Brun, the continent of Skothar, the continent of Davania, and the island continent of Alphatia (up to AC 1010). In the officially published material, the Known World concentrated on the eastern portion of Brun and the lands of the Sea of Dawn. The continents of Mystara were designed to be similar in appearance to the continents of [[Laurasia]] and [[Gondwana]] on [[Earth]] approximately 135 million years ago.

In addition to human races, several archetypal fantasy races were included on Mystara: these include [[Elf (Dungeons & Dragons)|elves]], [[Dwarf (Dungeons & Dragons)|dwarves]], [[halfling]]s, orcs, and [[Dragon (Dungeons & Dragons)|dragons]].<ref name="KoA">{{cite book |last1=Grubb |first1=Jeff |author-link=Jeff Grubb |first2=Aaron |last2=Allston |author2-link=Aaron Allston |first3=Thomas M. |last3=Reid |author3-link=Thomas M. Reid |title=[[Karameikos: Kingdom of Adventure]] |publisher=TSR, Inc. |date=1994 |isbn=1-56076-853-3}}</ref>

Nations created for the world of Mystara include the [[Thyatis|Thyatian Empire]], the [[Grand Duchy]] of Karameikos, the [[Principality|Principalities]] of [[Glantri]], the merchant-run [[Republic]] of Darokin, the Emirates of Ylaruam, the Dwarven nation of Rockhome, the Elven Kingdom of Alfheim, Halfling lands of the Five Shires,<ref name="KoA"/> and the chaotic Alphatian Empire.<ref name="DotE">{{cite book |last=Allston |first=Aaron |author-link=Aaron Allston |title=[[Dawn of the Emperors: Thyatis and Alphatia]] |publisher=TSR, Inc. |date=1989 |isbn=0-88038-736-X}}</ref>

=== The continent of Brun ===
The most commonly known land mass on Mystara's outer surface is only a tiny portion of Brun. In the officially published material, the Known World concentrated on the eastern portion of Brun along with the islands of the Sea of Dawn.<ref name="KoA"/>

==== The Known World ====
Nations of the Known World display a great range of government types. Some countries are populated entirely by demihumans and/or humanoids. By standard convention, the boundaries of the "Known World" are those covered in the world map as initially published in the module X1, "[[The Isle of Dread]]," <ref name="KoA"/> plus Norwold, the Isle of Dawn, and (pre ''Wrath of the Immortals'') Alphatia.<ref name="DotE"/>

As the name implies, the "Known World" covers the most notable nations of Mystara, the ones most commonly used in Mystara-based campaigns and featured in fiction. It includes the Thyatian Empire, which could be compared to the [[Byzantine Empire]]; the Grand Duchy of Karameikos<!--no link: currently redirects to this article--> (which includes the town of Threshold, the default setting of many classic D&D adventures); the Principalities of Glantri, ruled by wizard-princes; the Ethengar [[Khanate]], a [[Mongols|Mongol]]-like society; the merchant-run Republic of Darokin, which is based loosely on the mercantile states of medieval Italy; the Emirates of Ylaruam; the Heldannic Territories, ruled by an order of religious [[knight]]s similar to the [[Teutonic Order]] devoted to the [[Dungeons & Dragons Immortals Rules|Immortal]] Vanya; the Atruaghin Clans, which have an [[Native Americans in the United States|Amerindian]] feel; the nation of Sind, based on the [[Mughal Empire]]; the Northern Reaches Kingdoms of Ostland, Vestland, and the Soderfjord Jarldoms, based on [[Scandinavia]] at various periods of history; the Dwarven nation of Rockhome; the elven Kingdom of Alfheim; the Halfling lands of the Five Shires;<ref name="KoA"/> and the Alphatian Empire, ruled by wizards and other spellcasters.<ref name="DotE"/>

To the distant Northwest of the "Known World", across the Great Waste, lies the mysterious lands of Hule, ruled by Hosadus, also known as "The Master". Also on the periphery of the Known World are the Kingdoms of Wendar<ref name="KoA"/> and Denagoth, the first an elven-dominated nation and the latter a mountainous and dark realm of evil, with ill-intentions towards Wendar. The Adri Varma lies between Sind, Wendar, the Great Waste, and The Black Mountains, forming the northern border of Glantri and defining the northwestern limits of the region.

==== The Savage Coast ====
Mystara includes the Savage Coast, a coastal area located in the south-central part of the Brun continent, to the south and west of Hule. The area is a 2000-mile frontier [[coastline]] about 2000 miles west of the Known World.

This part of Mystara is affected by the Red Curse. This sinister enchantment eventually kills its inhabitants through mutation unless the (fictional) metal [[cinnabar|''cinnabryl'']] is worn in contact with the body. The specifics of the "Red Curse" include mutilation of the body and extreme degeneration of physical and mental health. It also imprisons the region's inhabitants, as debilitating effects result if they leave the cursed area.<ref name="RSCE"/><ref name="SCCB"/>

=====Atmosphere=====
Savage Coast's swashbuckling flavor is very different from that of the Known World, closer in atmosphere to that of the [[Age of Discovery]] than the fantasy middle-ages/renaissance tone of the Known World. The Savage Coast is complete with gunpowder ("smokepowder") weaponry.<ref name="RSCE">{{cite book |last=Beach |first=Tim |title=[[Red Steel (boxed set)|Red Steel Campaign Expansion]] |publisher=TSR, Inc. |date=1994 |isbn=1-56076-895-9}}</ref><ref name="SCCB">{{cite book |last1=Beach |first1=Tim |first2=Bruce |last2=Heard |author-link2=Bruce Heard |title=[[Savage Coast Campaign Book]] |publisher=TSR, Inc. |date=1996 |isbn=0-7869-0379-1}}</ref>

=====Publication history=====
The first published information on the area was the [[Adventure (Dungeons & Dragons)|module]] ''X9 [[The Savage Coast]]'' for ''[[Dungeons & Dragons Expert Set]]''. The region was later expanded in ''[[Dungeon (magazine)|Dungeon]]'' magazine issues #6 and 7 (1987) with the adventure  "Tortles of the Purple Sage".

Two series in ''[[Dragon (magazine)|Dragon]]'' Magazine, "The Princess Ark" and the "Known World Grimoire", described the Savage Coast in more detail. These articles were partially reprinted in the D&D game accessory ''[[Champions of Mystara]]'' (1993).<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://reviews.dnd.starflung.com/select.php?id=92 |title=Reviews |access-date=2020-09-03 |archive-date=2009-05-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090502131042/http://reviews.dnd.starflung.com/select.php?id=92 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

The ''Savage Coast'' in 1994 was spun off into a campaign setting for ''Advanced Dungeons & Dragons'' (2nd Edition). This area was published in its own boxed set entitled ''[[Red Steel (boxed set)|Red Steel]]'', and later republished online as the Savage Coast. An expansion, ''Savage Baronies'', was released the following year. These supplements were for [[Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 2nd edition]], as all the previous material had been for the "Classic" version of ''D&D''.

In 1996, the setting was revised and re-released under the ''AD&D: Odyssey'' line as three fully online products available for free download.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd%2Fdnd%2Fdownloads |title=Previous Edition Dungeons & Dragons Downloads |access-date=2020-10-18 |archive-date=2004-09-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040916023319/http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd%2Fdnd%2Fdownloads |url-status=dead}}</ref> This range included the base ''[[Savage Coast Campaign Book]]'' by Tim Beach and [[Bruce Heard]], a supplement ''Savage Coast: Orc's Head'', and a [[Monstrous Compendium]] Appendix.

=== The continent of Davania ===
Even though most of the Known World civilizations historically originated from this part of the planet, it did not see much development while the Mystara product line was still in production. The only major appearance of the continent was in ''[[Dragon (magazine)|Dragon]]'' magazine, where parts of it were sketched out during the Voyage of the Princess Ark series, by Known World Product Manager [[Bruce Heard]].

Many Mystara fans have been turning their attention to Davania with fan-made material in recent years.

=== The continent of Skothar ===
Very little was officially developed for this part of Mystara. Since the Mystara product line was discontinued, fans have created their material for this part of Mystara.