Naming a nation after a conqueror tends to give people a very specific impression. And if anything, this the impression that the typical Karrnathi citizen want to make. The name Karrn evokes a military tradition stretching back hundreds of years, and it is one of the cultural marks Karrnathis are most proud of. Whether it’s the Rekkenmark Academy or the towers of Korth, the landmarks of Karrnath are meant to remind visitors of the power of their nation.

Politics

• Kaius III is the nation’s leader, and he holds the country in an iron fist, using the Code of Kaius (created by his great-grandfather) instead of the more liberal Code of Galifar. He is aided by his aunt, Regent Moranna, who is surrounded by rumors of great necromantic power.
• The regions of Karrnath are adminstered by warlords, the highest Karrnathi title for nobles. Besides basic administrative duties, the warlords are also expected to recruit, fund, and maintain local troops. This leads to a close connection between the platoons and their local warlord. The two most prominent are Renn ir’Tanar, based in Atur, and Charl ir’Loran, based in Vedykar.

Necromancy

Within this culture of warfare and military discipline, there is one other thing that sets Karrnath apart from the rest of Khorvaire: its widespread use of necromancy. No tale of the Last War is complete without the hordes of skeletons and zombies under the Karrnathi banner. This is not to say that Karrnath is some sort of nation of evil maniacs. Most citizens don’t particularly like the idea of the undead roaming their land, but understand it as a necessary defense against the divine and arcane power of Thrane and Aundair. There are many misconceptions about the use of necromancy in Karrnath among outsiders. The most public figure in the use of necromancy is Count Vedim ir’Omik, Minister of the Dead, who still enforce corpse collection and spends much of his time in the laboratories of Korth.

Geography

• Karrnath is bordered to the west by Scions Sound, which turns into the Karrn river as it passes to the south of the country. Across the water to the west is Thrane and the eastern tip of Aundair. South lies the gray mist surrounding the Mournland, and the island of Thronehold. To the east lies the Ironroot Mountains and the Mror Holds, and to the southeast, the Talenta Plains. Finally, Karrnath’s northern shore touches the Bitter Sea.
• Notable Locations
  • Atur is the most northern metropolis, famous for its Crimson Cathedral.
  • The north is mostly covered by the Karrnwood an expansive forest famous for its hearty wood and the feyspire of the Winter Citadel.
  • Karrlakton is the nation’s trade center, with some of the largest buildings on the continent.
  • The capital Korth is in the central south, on the Karrn River.
  • These three large cities form a triangle around the Nightwood, the forest the nation’s famous ale is named after.
  • Rekkenmark (with its famous academy) is the uttermost wast city, with the Karrnathi half of the broken White Arch Bridge.

Demographics

• 2.5 million
• 52% human
• 18% dwarf
• 10% halfling
• 8% half-elf
• 8% elf
• 4% other