Kharolis is a region battered by empirical rule, then devastated by climate change. Let’s take a closer look at this southern region of Ansalon. Buy War of the Lance: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/3164/War-of-the-Lance-35?affiliate_id=50797
Transcript
Cold Open
Once it was a province for the Empire of Ergoth, but the Cataclysm changed that.
Intro
Welcome to another DragonLance Saga episode. My name is Adam and today we are going to talk about Kharolis in the War of the Lance Era. I would like to take a moment and thank the members of this channel, and invite you to consider becoming a member by visiting the link in the description below. You can even pick up Dragonlance gaming materials using my affiliate links. I am referencing the Tales of the Lance boxed set and the War of the Lance sourcebook for this information. If I leave anything out or misspeak, please leave a comment below!
Discussion
Originally belonging to the first barbarian humans of Ansalon, Kharolis was a vast stretch of rugged hills and green savanas. These barbarians wandered the land, fighting for dominance and resources. But when the dwarves came and claimed the mountains which cut into and frame the eastern side of Kharolis, the barbarians didn’t take kindly to losing the territory. War was a constant between them, and for thousands of years it remained that way. Then the Wizards came and the Tower of High Sorcery was created in the northern Wayreth forest, the barbarians refused to give any more ground, and tried their best to expel them as well.
This proved as unsuccessful as the dwarves, but when the Hylar came and defined the boundaries of Thorbardin and Kharolis, it ended much of the fighting as everyone knew where their territory began and ended. There was a rise of the barbarian kings of Tarsis, who stretched out over all of Kharolis, even north to Xak Tsaroth. But the Cataclysm changed everything. The maelstrom diverted the climate, pulling the cold north from Icereach. Much of the grasslands vanished and its people retreated north. With the Silvanesti diaspora, the region has been flooded with new peoples, refugees from a war slowly encroaching on Kharolis. While the vast majority are in the port city of Alsip waiting for passage to Southern Ergoth, others have decided to remain.
This is the current state of Kharolis. Wedged in the southwestern tip of Ansalon and bordered by three vast kingdoms. Qualinesti to the north, Thorbardin to the northeast, and the remnants of the Lord City of Tarsis to the east. While the Cataclysm did end the Ergothian rule, it brought with it a vacuum which the subjugated races took quick advantage of. Persistent attacks from ogres and Thanoi raiders, and goblin tribes led by Rashften form rag-tag communities for raiding. Interestingly, the Wizards of High Sorcery are seen most favorably in Kharolis due to their aid against these raiders.
The scope of this region experiences a vast array of weather. In the north, the mountains are cool most of the year, with a wide array of seasonal weather. In the south summers are short, lasting from Corij to Reorxmont, and winters last from Phoenix to the last of Chistlemont. It has more snow than rain annually, and most vegetation thrives from the runoff of lakes. The region has an estimated one hundred and three thousand residents, with around seventy percent being human, fifteen percent hill dwarves, and the rest made up of goblins, Thanoi and the like. While there are many settlements of note, it is few and far between compared to its former empirical glory.
Alsip is the largest, though still a small city with over nine thousand residents. It is the most secure town in Kharolis, with its ruler, Duke Berlan Drafford strictly maintaining sanitation of the streets and shops. They have recently opened a public library in an old temple to Kiri-Jolith. Than-khal is the next largest town with over forty five hundred residents. This is ruled by the tyrant Rashften the Oath-Breaker. The ogre rules the city composed of goblins, hobgoblins and ogres. Rashften rules the villages of Valens and Swiftwater from here, where the main export is slavery and raiding. Pensdale is the next most populous town with just under two thousand residents. It is a farming community which found its independence after the Cataclysm. If it weren’t for the goblin raids, it would be the most prosperous center of agriculture in the south. Many of the residents were drafted in a militia for protection. They are supplemented by the Orerender hill dwarves and Joklin MarKennin, daughter of a Solamnic Knight who leads them.
Windkeep has under nine hundred residents. This small citadel is a rare neutral location. The ruler Baron Windslow of Windkeep trades with all peoples of Kharolis and maintains a small standing army. Hamlet, a village of under nine hundred, was formed as a crossroads between humans from the east, mountain folk of the north and dwarves of the west. It sits west of a pass in the Bluegate Mountains which leads to Tarsis. Their mayor is a hill dwarf named Hesil Irontwister. She is overprotective and keeps the town safe from smugglers, and bandits. The town is surrounded by a wooden palisade for protection, and features a number of wells to underground springs for protection. Lastly is Halter Wood, a hamlet of under four hundred. This port village borders the Qualinesti woods. Legends say a Qualinesti male fell in love with a human female and built the refuge for their mutual protection. Liam Halter sees to the protection and collection of monthly taxes, and welcomes anyone who needs a safe place to stay.
Of course in this wild region while settlement may be scarce, there are some important sites of note. Deadlights is a phenomenon which occurs in the ruins of Waw. Bands, curtains and streams of colored lights appear in the sky. These are both fascinating and terrifying as the locals believe them to be the spirits of evil folk who have passed into the great beyond. These spirits apparently do not like their existence and try to return to Krynn. The Firecrab Hills contain a druidic cult to the god of disease, Morgion. While this cult is believed to have been exterminated by the mayor of Hamlet, strange abductions still occur in this area. Some blame ogres, but the memory and fear of a resurging cult remains. Lastly the Frozen Hills stretched from Waw and Vash fortresses to the deep south. This territory has been claimed by the Thanoi due to the harsh winter conditions that seem to permeate it year round.
Life in Kharolis is tough, and it’s a region of Ansalon that is ripe for adventure in the War of the Lance era. Locals are always in need of mercenaries to defend against the raiders, and the ancient ruins of Ergothian settlement are ripe for exploration, if you can get through the Thanoi who have occupied them. The plains still feature some nomadic tribes, and Hill Dwarves are present for trade or bartering. If there ever was a place to try to set up your own roots, free from the governance of the majority of Ansalon, the Kharolis might just be the place for you.
Outro
And that is all I have to say about Kharolis in the War of the Lance Era. What do you think of the vast plains? Do you like the idea of exploring former imperial ruins? And finally, if the cults of Morgion are on the rise, would you help stop them? Leave a comment below.
I would like to take a moment and remind you to subscribe to this YouTube channel, ring the bell to get notified about upcoming videos and click the like button. This all goes to help other Dragonlance fans learn about this channel and its content. Thank you for watching, this has been Adam with DragonLance Saga and until next time, remember:
Sometimes it hurts to care, doesn’t it, Caramon? But it’s better than being empty inside.
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