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Mystara

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File:Ms-logo.gif
The 1990s Mystara Logo

Mystara is a campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons role playing game. It originated as the Known World, a semi-generic setting used in early adventure modules, which was expanded upon in various D&D modules and sources.

Mystara began as several semi-independent projects by different teams of writers who were each assigned to the task of developing different cultures and nation or nations that would exist in the fantasy world that was supported by Dungeons & Dragons at the time. Their work was gathered and compiled, blended, and combined to form a fantasy world, Mystara. It became, and remains, one of the most richly varied, in-depth, and detailed campaign settings to exist for a fantasy world. Although it has officially been dropped from production by its creators, many fans continue to develop and evolve this fantasy setting jointly, continuing its original theme of group development.

The Known World

Mystara's outer surface consists of three principal land masses: the continents of Brun, Skothar, and Davania, plus the island continents that constitute the Empire of Alphatia.

The inhabitants of Mystara are diverse: humans of all races can be found here, along with myriad creatures such as elves, dwarves, halflings, orcs, dragons.

Some of the notable nations of Mystara include the Empire of Thyatis, which could be compared to Byzantium; the Grand Duchy of Karameikos, comparable to medieval southeastern Europe; the Principalities of Glantri, which is similar to medieval western Europe; and the mysterious Alphatian Empire, a fantasy kingdom ruled by and through magic.

The Savage Coast

Mystara includes the Savage Coast, an area under the Red Curse, which eventually kills its inhabitants by mutating them unless the metal cinnabryl is worn in contact with the body. This area was published in its own boxed set entitled Red Steel, and later republished on-line as the Savage Coast.

The Hollow World

Main article: Hollow World

Mystara is a hollow planet, with a habitable surface on its interior called the Hollow World. This world is lit by an eternal red sun at the center of Mystara, and serves as a "cultural museum," preserving the societies that have become extinct in the outer world. One must keep in mind that the original creators of the Mystara world developed a very thorough and comprehensive history, almost as long as recognized real world civilization. The existence of the Hollow World is not, in general, known to the inhabitants of the outer world. The poles are actually huge, subtly curving holes that allow passage between the outer and inner world, although it is a long, hard trek through a cold, unlit, stormy and anti-magic area. The curvature of the holes is so subtle that explorers from either surface do not notice the transition until after it is already made, causing quite a shock for most.

Moons

Two moons orbit the planet. Matera is a moon much like our own, whose phases govern lycanthropy (werewolves, werebears, etc.). It is uninhabited, except by the Immortals who have built a city, Pandius, where they can meet and from where watch over Mystara. Patera, or Myoshima to its inhabitants, is an invisible moon that cannot be seen from Mystara. Patera's inhabitants have a culture similar to that of medieval southeast Asia and Japan

Blackmoor

Mystara also incorporated the Blackmoor setting by describing Blackmoor as a highly advanced civilization that existed in the distant past. The culture of Blackmoor unfortunately utilized more and more powerful, and destructive, technology. It ended itself in an apocalyptic explosion so devastating that it changed the climate and geography of the planet as a whole.

Mystara Video Games

Mystara is the setting for the Capcom arcade Beat 'em up/RPG games Dungeons & Dragons: Tower of Doom (1993) and Dungeons & Dragons: Shadow over Mystara (1996). Other Mystara video games are: Dungeons & Dragons: Warriors of the Eternal Sun (Sega Genesis, 1992), Fantasy Empires (PC, 1993), Order of the Griffon (TurboGrafx 16, 1992).

Novels

  • Dark Knight of Karameikos (October 1995), by Timothy Brown, (ISBN 0-7869-0307-4)
  • The Black Vessel (August 1996), by Morris Simon, (ISBN 0-7869-0507-7)

1st Quest

Dragonlord Chronicles

  • Dragonlord of Mystara (July 1994), by Thorarinn Gunnarsson, (ISBN 1-56076-906-8)
  • Dragonking of Mystara (July 1995), by Thorarinn Gunnarsson, (ISBN 0-7869-0153-5)
  • Dragonmage of Mystara (April 1996), by Thorarinn Gunnarsson, (ISBN 0-7869-0488-7)

Penhaligon Trilogy

  • The Tainted Sword (October 1992), by D.J. Heinrich, (ISBN 1-56076-395-7)
  • The Dragon's Tomb (April 1993), by D.J. Heinrich, (ISBN 1-56076-592-5)
  • The Fall of Magic (October 1993), by D.J. Heinrich, (ISBN 1-56076-663-8)
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