The Demography <strong>of</strong> <strong>Karameikos</strong>Table 2: Human Population and Density <strong>of</strong> Major DomainsDomainArea(square miles)HumanpopulationPopulation density(people per sq mile)BARONIES:Black Eagle 622 31,950 51.4Kelvin 714 44,800 62.8Threshold 92 10,950 119Vorloi 947 68,300 72.1ESTATES:Dmitrov 297 33,200 111.8Marilenev 818 86,400 105.6Penhaligon 325 7,900 24.3Rugalov 84 2,950 35.1Sulescu 100 3,800 38Vandevic 84 2,100 25Verge 89 1,850 20.8found in the more settled areas and in theborderlands they have the duty to defend,while a number <strong>of</strong> the largest ones arelocated around important cities or tradingtowns. Table 2 lists the most importantdomains <strong>of</strong> the Grand Duchy, with averagearea, human population, and density.Note that the population figures shown abovedon’t take into account the small percentage<strong>of</strong> demi-human population who may befound within those domains. For example,Threshold has a not-negligible population <strong>of</strong>halflings, gnomes and dwarves, while theBlack Eagle Barony hosts some humanoids.Many other minor noble estates dot theGrand Duchy’s lands: among these areHighdell (north <strong>of</strong> Threshold), Ourosco,Darinov, and Strolojca (on the coast betweenthe Black Eagle Barony and Sulescu), Brezovo(on the coast between Sulescu andMarilenev), Bergoi and Veseya (on theCastellan River south <strong>of</strong> Castellan Keep),Glucynthos and Locrida (on the coast south<strong>of</strong> the Dymrak Forest). These minor estatesusually range from 50 to 100 square miles <strong>of</strong>land, <strong>of</strong>ten including a small keep, castle ormanor, and at least a medium-sized village,alongside some additional thorps orhamlets; their population varies accordingto the type <strong>of</strong> terrain and region in whichthey are found, ranging roughly from 500 to5,000 people.URBAN POPULATIONOverall, the Grand Duchy has an urbanpopulation <strong>of</strong> 14.5% - “urban population”here meaning only those living in cities withat least 10,000 people (that is the capital,Kelvin, and Fort Doom). If we also considersmaller towns down to 1,000 people, thispercentage rises to 20.4%. These12THRESHOLD: The Mystara Magazine Issue #1
The Demography <strong>of</strong> <strong>Karameikos</strong>percentages should be taken carefullyhowever, because most <strong>of</strong> the population <strong>of</strong>smaller towns is still at least partiallyemployed in agricultural activities which arecarried out around the community; this issometimes also true for larger settlements,like the capital, whose South End is mostlyinhabited by agricultural labourers who workin the lands around the city.<strong>Karameikos</strong>’ urban population is quite high ifwe consider that a vast part <strong>of</strong> the country isbarely or sparsely settled. Nevertheless, thesouthern area <strong>of</strong> the Grand Duchy aroundSpecularum and other towns like Vorloi andDmitrov is very densely settled: there acombination <strong>of</strong> fertile lands, coupled with thevicinity <strong>of</strong> a huge trade center whosepopulation is always in need for food hasfavored this level <strong>of</strong> settlement. This has inturn allowed formation <strong>of</strong> a big metropolislike Specularum. Quite large cities are als<strong>of</strong>ound in other areas <strong>of</strong> the interior, like theconfluence <strong>of</strong> the Windrush, Highreach andHillfollow Rivers at Kelvin, and the coast <strong>of</strong>the Gulf <strong>of</strong> Halag – both regions have beenhistorical settlement areas during the ages.Elsewhere only small towns are found, <strong>of</strong>tenat the edges <strong>of</strong> border areas, born to protecttrade routes or to exploit some naturalresources.Here follows a list <strong>of</strong> known settlementsfound in the Grand Duchy, along with theirpopulation, if it is known.Cities and large towns: Fort Doom (pop.10,000), Kelvin (pop. 20,000), Specularum(pop. 59,800, including about 2,500 demihumans– the last city census was made in AC985 according to GAZ1, and gave a result <strong>of</strong>50,000 city dwellers, but the samesupplement confirms that population as <strong>of</strong>AC 1000 is certainly greater; the given figure<strong>of</strong> 59,800 is a realistic estimate which takesinto account a stable increase toward the<strong>of</strong>ficial population <strong>of</strong> 70,000 reached bySpecularum by AC 1013 according to thePoor Wizard’s Almanacs and <strong>Karameikos</strong>:Kingdom <strong>of</strong> Adventure supplements).Small towns: Dmitrov (pop. 6,500),Highforge (pop. 7,500, all gnomes anddwarves), Luln (pop. 5,000, including about200 demihumans), Penhaligon (pop. 3,750),Rifllian (pop. 1,700, nearly all Callarii woodelves), Threshold (pop. 5,000, includingabout 500 demihumans), Vorloi (pop.7,500).Villages: Callanya (a Callarii village southeast<strong>of</strong> the Barony <strong>of</strong> Kelvin), Eltan’s Spring(a small village on the mountain ridge northeast<strong>of</strong> Threshold), Guido’s Fort (a village onthe Shrill River, which flows from thesouthern spur <strong>of</strong> Altan Tepes into theHighreach River), Highdell (a mining13THRESHOLD: The Mystara Magazine Issue #1