Draft Copyright © 2013 Stephen Reeves The Karlmark (Shadowmane) All Rights Reserved A Basic Fantasy RPG Setting Supplement Distributed under the terms of the Open Game License version 1.0a Basic Fantasy Website: basicfantasy.org

INTRODUCTION This supplement provides an artic and/or sub-arctic setting for your game world. It is a Peninsula setting of two Dwarven Kingdoms that the game master can drop onto his game world whole, or in part. This supplement provides information and rules for using them in your campaign.

The Karlmark volcanic mountains which directly border the lands held by the Keyvan Karlmark. To the north, the Introduction to the Karlmark mountains run right out onto a peninsula that juts out into the icebound Great Northern Sea. The Karlmark is an ancient Dwarven Kingdom situated in the Razortop Mountains on the Founding of the Karlmark Korchuka Peninsula in the arctic regions. It is a The founding of the Karlmark goes so far back into series of Dwarven Cities and Settlements scattered the history of the world, that it is the thing of legend throughout the mountains. among the lesser lived races of the world. In fact, it goes back to the origin of the Dwarves themselves. The Northern Nation of the Karlmark, People's Republic of the Karlmark, is ruled from the city of The race of Dwarves that dominate the world are Muskwa. Muskwa is the center of Hammerthrall from the tribe of Durinn, the second Dwarf created thought and power. It is the city wherein the High by the Gods. However, the race of Dwarves who Council of the People's Commissars holds court, settled the Karlmark are of the seed of Dvalinn, who and it is where all of the Guilds in the Karlmark gave the ancient Dwarves the runes. have their headquarters. It is where the headquarters of the Commonist Party, the political The poem Völuspá from the Poetic Edda has the wing of the Hammerthrall, is situated. following lines:

The Soutern Nation of the Karlmark is the called "The rocks they left, and through wet lands the Keyvan Karlmark, ruled from the old capital, They sought a home, in the fields of sand" Keyv. Keyv is the center of what is left of the Ancient Dwarven Kingdom of the Karlmark and is The poem does not tell the story of Dvalinn's folk, it ruled by Boris Belanovich, Lord of the Karlmark. merely states that they left to seek a home among the It is the place all refugees of the revolution go to fields of sand. They did find their fields of sand, and escape the reach of the Checka. Some Dwarves travelled through them. They continued to travel would rather take their chance with the son of the past praries and through forests until they found the tyrant Belan, than to submit to the rule of the mountains which they named themselves... the Commonist Party. Razortop Mountains. Here they settled and built the first of their great Dwarven strongholds, Keyv. A The Karlmark is bordered to the east by a great generation later, they had spread into the mountains, arctic tundra which stretches for thousands of building other strongholds, and establishing the miles. To the west is the Kama Forest, home to a Karlmark. race of fascist Wood Elves. To the south is the Kamtaka Mountain range, a fiery group of active Dvalinn then gave them a new writing system, to A BASIC FANTASY SUPPLEMENT THE KARLMARK replace the runes that the Dwarves they left behind used. It made them a unique tribe among the The ancient standard of the Karlmark is a light blue Dwarves. hollow star on a silver field. The Hammerthrall of the Karlmark

What do you mean Hammerthrall? Philosophies of the Hammerthrall Hammerthrall is not the name of a city, or even of a tribe of Dwarves. It is, instead, a philosophy. A Origin of the Philosophy way of being. It is not a religion, though there are As a philosophy, Hammerthrall was developed by a certainly Priests of Hammerthrall among the Dwarf named Fedot Ivanovich, who wrote under the Dwarves who live by this philosophy. The pseudonym Engol. He lived in the city of Muskwa, Hammerthrall are the servants of the hammer... ruled by the tyrannical Boris son of Dolm, Lord of the working classes of the Dwarves. Their the Karlmark. Boris saw all of the Dwarves within his philosophy is summed up in the saying “from each mine who were not of the warrior class as serfs, and according to his ability, to each according to his as his own possessions. He worked them hard, and need”. They are the brotherhood of the hammer, gave them very little in return. It was in this and they are fierce defenders of their philosophy, atmosphere that Engol wrote his manifesto. Engol and of the common Dwarf. believed that the Guilds could do a better job of running The Karlmark than the warrior class, and They hold the Dwarven ideal of the Chieftan to be drew disciples to himself. When he and his writings anathema. They do not believe in royalty, but in came to the attention of Boris, he was banished from usefulness. Warriors are useful to defend. Miners The Karlmark, and his writings were branded as are useful to mine riches, to be filtered back into seditious and forbidden. 50 years later, Boris would the society as a whole so that all are taken care of. be killed in a violent uprising, and the Karlmark Clerics are useful to discern the depths of the would be the first of the Hammerthrall Nations. philosophy that they hold dear and teach it to the Unfortunately, Engol would not live to see this, as he next generation. fell victim to the blade of an assassin 7 years before the revolution. To the Hammerthrall, the Guild is the ultimate arbiter of what a Dwarf is. Once a Dwarf chooses The philosophy of the Hammerthrall is divided up his Guild, that choice forms the basis of who he into four major divisions, each with its own myriad will be for the rest of his life. The Commissars of divisions and sects. They are Engolism, Engolist- his Guild are elected from among the Masters of Lunonism, Iosefism, and Truskism. the Guild, and make all decisions on behalf of the Guild members. In turn, the leader of each Guild Engolism form the High Council of People's Commissars. Since Engol died in exile, no one actually got to see Each Dwarven settlement that holds to the his philosophy in action after a revolution. However, philosophy of Hammerthrall will be ruled by a his idea of revolution caught on in the other High Council. philosophies that branched off from his. The standard of the Hammerthrall is a silver His philosophy can be summarized as “rule of the hammer on a light blue field, with a hollow star guilds”. The Guilds were to be the arbiters of the (light blue) emblazoned on the head of the people, and the place wherein all power among the hammer. Hammerthrall resided. The Guilds were to have equal voice among the government and rule with a rolling presidency of a High Council of People's

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Commissars. With Engol's philosophy, each Truskism settlement was to be autonomous and not Truski's (Lav Dawadovich) philosophy (Truskism), beholden to any other settlement. which was a refinement of Engolism, was the idea of Engolist-Lunonism “permanent revolution”. Commonism was to be ever refined and ever evolved to provide the Vledamyr Illiyovich, who took the revolutionary commoner with the most opportunity for self rule name Lunon, was the leader of the revolution that and self-improvement. Where Steelfistism was took control of the Karlmark. His philosophy concerned only with the spread of Commonism in (Engolist-Lunonism), which was a slight refinement the Karlmark, Truski sought to spread his philosophy of Engolism, added central control of all broadly among other nations, as well as other races. Hammerthrall settlements within the Karlmark. The revolution was to take two phases.

Each settlement was still to be autonomous, but The first phase was the revolution of the capitalist they were to send a representative to a Supreme classes against the nobility. Merchants and small Council, which would make decisions dealing with landholders were to be incited to rebel against the foreign policy and trade between the settlements nobility and be encouraged to establish a democratic within their system. republic. Steelfistism The second phase was to be the revolution of the Iosef Besarnovich, who took the revolutionary working class against the capitalist class. The small name The Steelfist, came to power in the Karlmark landholders were to be rebelled against and forced to with the death of Lunon. His philosophy form communes that supported the people by (Steelfistism), which was a refinement of Engolist- growing food. The merchants were to be rebelled Lunonism, was “commonism in one nation”. It against and forced to share their profits with the was very inward looking, and held the belief that workers who allow their businesses to make capital. the Karlmark was where Commonism originated, therefore the Kazlmark was where Commonism The second phase was to be constantly refined to was to be practiced. The Steelfist developed a ensure no one group could gain power over another. very bureaucratic form of government which This continuous revolution is the hallmark of the sought to centralize and control everything from Truskites. the education of the young, to control of the means of production. The Guilds were there to The Truskites carry their own standard to differentiate implement the will of the Supreme Council. The them from other Hammerthrall. It is a silver hammer Party existed to control the people, and determine on an olive colored field. Truskites can also be who could and couldn't vote. distinguished by the wearing of olive colored outfits, instead of the light blue of the Hammerthrall of the Towards the end of his rule, when Truskism was Karlmark. taking hold outside of the Karlmark, The Steelfist transformed his philosophy to include spreading the philosophy of Commonism as practiced in the Karlmark. It took Engol's idea of revolution and turned it into an idea wherein the people of a given nation rise up and throw off their noble oppressors. They were to establish a republic of the commoners, established along the lines of the government of the Karlmark.

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History of the Hammerthrall

The Commonist Revolution he could outfit his army of conscripts who were being trained by his warriors. It was in this atmosphere that Engol wrote of a rising up on the Guilds to take Lunon snuck back into the capital city to further their rightful place at the head of the government spread his influence. By this time, he had infiltrated of the Dwarves. The Guilds were to be the arbiters all of the Guilds, including the jewel in the crown of of the people, and the place wherein all power his plans. He was able to engineer the election of among the Hammerthrall resided. Engols' Iosef Besarnovich to leadership of the Warrior's disciples, who were left behind when he was Guild. To Boris, the Warrior's Guild was there to banished, began infiltrating the different Guilds in serve he and his Thanes. To the Warriors in the an effort to spread his philosophy throughout the Guild, who now followed Iosef, the Thanes were the Karlmark. The chief of these disciples was enemy, helping Belan to oppress their brothers Vledamyr Illiyovich, who was a miner by trade. It among the other classes. was he who began spreading the outlawed philosophy of Engol. He chose the hammer as the It all came to a head when the workers, at the behest symbol, as well as the name of the movement. of Lunon, began to slow their mining of the materials Hammerthrall, meaning “slaves of the hammer”. needed for the forges to continue uninterrupted. He also began the tradition of taking a This infuriated Belan, and he made the unwise revolutionary name, calling himself Lunon to hide decision to loose the Warrior's Guild on them with his identity from the authorities. orders to slay anyone who would not work. The Warriors of the Warrior's Guild (as well as the Thanes Of course, Lunon was more radical than Engol, commanding them) refused the order. One whole believing it was the destiny of the common company of them were slaughtered by Belan's Dwarves to throw off the chains of the oppressive Huscarls for refusing the orders. This was the ruling class and form the socialist society Engol incident that sparked the revolution. dreamed of. Where Engol's idea included the ruling class, Lunon's idea, stemming from the Before the Thanes could act to depose Belan, the oppression he saw all around him, was to stamp Army rose up and began the wholesale slaughter of out the ruling class once and for all, thereby the Huscarls, and Belan's Thanes. They didn't stop freeing the commoners to rule themselves. there. They continued on until all of the nobles had either been killed, or had fled The Karlmark. Belan's After a half a century, Lunon had managed to heir, Boris, fled with what was left of the nobles and wrest control from the old conservative Masters of set up a kingdom in exile in the city of Keyv. his Guild, who were dependent on the status quo. It was at this time that he, too, was banished from Without nobility to choose a new leader of The the Karlmark. However, unlike Engol, Lunon Karlmark, the leaders of the Guilds formed a Council would not stay away from the settlements of the to determine what they were to do. This Council Karlmark. Even with a price put on his head, he eventually became the High Council of People's still spoke out against Boris and the nobility. Commissars, who elected Lunon as the Premier of the Council. During this time, Belan wanted to go to war with the Men of a neighboring city, who had refused to Among the commoners, each Dwarf was to choose a pay him for a shipment of Dwarven arms. He had Guild to belong to. Once a Guild was joined, the the forges fired up and running 24 hours a day, Dwarf was part of that Guild for life, and could only pushing the smiths, and those upon whom they elect the leaders of that Guild. In return for his work, depended to work harder and longer hours so that

4 THE KARLMARK A BASIC FANTASY SUPPLEMENT each Dwarf was given food to eat, and a home to swoop. live in. The young were to be raised and trained by the Hammerthrall Cleric's Guild, and could not His opponent among the Hammerthralls was the join a Guild until they first joined the Commonist equally cunning Lav Dawadovich, who went by the Party. All voting rights were through the revolutonary name Truski, was of the Blacksmith's Commonist Party, and anyone losing their Guild. Truski's father Dawad, who went by the membership in the Party, also lost the right to vote revolutionary name of Truvi, had been an early in their Guild. However, whether you were in the disciple of Engol, and had even made a trip to Commonist Party or not, no one could throw you Muskwi to meet him, as well as a few trips during out of your Guild. Once joined, a Dwarf had Engol's exile as well. Uli kept tabs on Truvi, and lifetime membership in his Guild, and could not when the revolution first broke out in Muskwi, he had change Guilds. ordered his secret police to assassinate him. Up until this point, Truski had not been very active in the Having taken the capital of the Karlmark, the plans for the revolution. However, with the death of Hammerthrall set out to convert the workers of the his father, he was elected to leadership of the other cities and settlements to their philosophy. A Blacksmith's Guild, which thrust him into the middle bloody civil war broke out between the of the growing rebellion. Hammerthrall enthusiasts and the royalists, who called themselves Boris' Fyrd. Unlike his father, Truski knew what the secret police could and would do. He had worked in the personal forge of Uli, and had been in the Earl's presence The Civil War multiple times. As the new leader of the Blacksmith's Lunon had already been busy among the other Guild, he was called to council with the Earl a few settlements of the Karlmark, which were ripe for times, as the Earl tried to discern what to do about rebellion. However, the Earls of those settlements the growing revolution. and cities were not keen on letting go of their holdings. The cities proved easier to convince to Uli was no fool. He knew Truski was not an ally, throw off their masters than the smaller though he hoped that the son would not follow in the settlements, who were closer to their Thanes than footsteps of his father. Truski spent months gathering those in the cities. One by one the cities fell. support among the commoners while Uli built up his Gurki, Vostik, Kursk, Ufa, and Smolsk. Slowly, personal guard in preparation for an outbreak of over the course of a couple of years, the revolution rebellion in his city. Finally, Uli played his hand. He spread even to the smaller settlements in the had the leaders of the Guilds rounded up and Razortop Mountains, until only a small area near arrested. He would hold them hostage to force the the volcanic southern end of the mountains were workers to back down. He called on those loyal to left to Boris, his Thanes and his Fyrd. him to report those who were scheming against him to his secret police. Things came to a head when the Hammerthralls sprung the Guild leaders out of their The Dwarf from Smolsk prison.

One of the most hard fought cities to take was the Uli responded with deadly force, which was met with city of Smolsk. The Earl of Smolsk, Uli the equal force. The Warrior's Guild was split, and half Steadfast, was a warrior of the first order, and was of them rallied to the Earl, while the rest of them quite popular among the population of his city. rallied to the commoners. Civil War had come to Through his Secret Police, he had been able to Smolsk. With the full force of the Guilds behind him, keep tabs on the revolution both within his city, Truski was able to fully arm and equip his followers, and within the Karlmark as a whole. His plan was while Uli was left having to use the stores he already to lure the Hammerthralls into a trap that would had. Uli holed himself up in his palace deep in the decapitate their leadership in his city with one fell caverns of Smolsk to await reinforcements which had

5 A BASIC FANTASY SUPPLEMENT THE KARLMARK been promised to him by Boris. Truski was made Deputy Premier of the Commonist Party, Comrade-Governor of Smolski, and a Those reinforcements, led by Uli's uncle Ole, had permanent member of the Supreme Council. been brought to battle by the forces of Iosef Besarnovich and slaughtered. This battle earned As their power grew, the members of the Supreme Iosef the nick name “The Steelfist”. The Steelfist Council started consolidating power around them. then marched his army to Smolsk and aided in the After several attacks from Boris's secret police, which seige of Uli. After holding out for several months, were designed to disrupt them, they set up the Uli finally surrendered to the forces of Truski. Extraordinary Commission, whose job it was to weed out the members of Boris's secret police, as well as The Steelfist wanted to arrest Uli and his Thanes those who were still loyal to the nobility. As the and put them to death. However, Truski told him crackdown grew, the new rulers started to become in no uncertain terms that Smolsk was his, and he just as bad as the last in the eyes of the common would determine what would happen to the Earl. man, and the rhetoric of the Commonist Party was The Steelfist stormed off and returned to Muskwi starting to go stale. to report this irregularity to the High Council. Truski told Uli to take his Thanes and go, pointing This was a period of instability, with riots breaking towards Keyv, where he knew the refugees of the out here and there, and work stoppages happening Karlmark were gathering. Uli would never make it when one Guild would see another trying gaining too to Keyv. He and his Thanes were slaughtered much power. At the height of all of this, Lunon died while still in sight of Smolsk by the forces of The suddenly. Some say he was poisoned. Others say Steelfist, who had left them behind just for this he had a weak heart. Whatever it was, it created a purpose. vacuum at the top, and a power struggle everywhere else. This would have been the perfect time for Boris Consolidation of Power to strike, but the Lord of the Karlmark was too With the defeat of Uli, the last of the real distracted with Goblins in the south to do anything opposition was done away with. The about it. He therefore missed the only chance he Hammerthrall had no intentions of trying to take was going to have to regain his kingdom. the lands to the south. After all, those who could not live the Hammerthrall lifestyle needed a place All of the Guild leaders jockeyed for positions on the to go, and as long as Boris was content to remain Supreme Council, while the two most senior down south, they would leave him alone. members squared off for leadership. In the end, one Dwarf would be dead... the other a powerful dictator. Each city set up its own High Council of People's Commissars made up of the leaders of the Guilds When Lunon died, The Steelfist became the de facto in their city. In Muskwa, Lunon also set up the Chairman of the Supreme Council, though a vote Supreme Council, made up of representatives of was going to have to be taken on it. Unable to the leaders of the Councils of the cities and gather the necessary support to gain the settlements. Lunon was made Chairman of the chairmanship outright, The Steelfist began digging up Supreme Council and Premier of the Commonist dirt on the other members of the Supreme Council in Party. an effort to discredit them and have them ousted from the Council. For his part in the revolution, The Steelfist was made Vice-Chairman of the Supreme Council and At the same time, Truski was having a better time of Chief of the enforcement wing of the Extraordinary it consilidating his power among the Party elite. In a Commission. He also became the first Champion unanimous vote, the Central Planning Committee of of the Hammerthrall People, a special order of the Hammerthrall chose Truski as the new Premier of Paladin whose job it is to defend the revolution. the Commonist. With this, Truski now had the power to appoint new members to the Supreme

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Council, and to remove those deemed unfit either caught up to Truski, but failed in his assassination politically, or otherwise. attempt. This only served to further embolden Truski. He began building support among the At first, this worked well. The Steelfist would point Dwarves of several other kingdoms in an effort to out objectionable members of the Supreme eclipse his new arch-nemesis, The Steelfist. Council, and Truski would oblige him with removing them. However, Truski would not In the Karlmark, after ousting Truski, The Steelfist always take The Steelfist's suggestions on who the was elected Premier of the Commonist Party, replacements should be. Ultimately, with both thereby becoming the undisputed leader of the men having some support among the other Karlmark. He still had to stand election every few members, a power sharing arrangement had to be years to the Premiership, but he was able to influence worked out. They were both made Co-Chairmen, the elections of the other members of the Central though everyone knew Truski had the advantage, Committee of the Hammerthrall enough to gain a being the Premier of the Party as well. majority of support there.

The solution, or so the others watching the power With the Commonist Party in his pocket, he now struggle from the outside believed, was to elect began to purge members of the Supreme Council The Steelfist the Deputy Premier of the who could prove to be trouble for him. This great Commonist Party, as well as electing him purge of the leaders of the revolution created fear Chairman of the Supreme Council, while electing among the political class. The commoners, however, Truski as the Vice-Chairman. Interestingly enough, saw The Steelfist as a hero still, and supported his Truski was alright with this arrangement. He could leadership wholeheartedly. His leadership of the keep an eye on The Steelfist, while holding a Extraordinary Commission enabled him to weed out certain amount of power himself to keep him in Boris's secret police within a few years of check. consolidating his power, until now he was the master of his domain. The Steelfist hated this arrangement, and felt that Truski was not fundamentalist enough in the ways Schism of the Hammerthrall. He had never forgotten the No matter how much power The Steelfist amassed in incident in Smolsk, and was determined to be rid the Karlmark, there was still Truski out there, of Truski forever. He was able to arrange for spreading the gospel of the Hammerthrall. The information to be planted that implemented Truski Steelfist's power went no further than the Karlmark, in collaboration with Boris's secret police (and this whereas Truski's power was becoming world wide. even though it was they who had killed Truski's Many attempts were made on his life from many father). Truski was kicked out of the Commonist different quarters. However, The Steelfist pretty Party, stripped of his seat on the Supreme Council, much left him alone for some years after the initial and banished from the Karlmark. attempt. But after 20 years, and two other Dwarven kingdoms infiltrated, Steelfist could take no more He went to live in the same little settlement Engol chance. He had to stop Truski once and for all. had went to. Truski had been working to spread the Hammerthrall philosophy outside of the He offered to lift the banishment on Truski, and allow Karlmark to other Dwarven settlements, something he and a group of his closest disciples to come set up Engol himself had been working on when he died. shop in Smolsk, where Truski could live among his Troski became the new face of the Hammerthrall family and spread the Hammerthrall philosophy from philosophy, and the heir to Engol's life's work. He home. Truski agreed and set off for Smolsk with five was having some successes, which made him still of his disciples. He never made it. No one knows very dangerous to The Steelfist. what, exactly, happened, but Truski and his disciples were found murdered on the road within sight of Several years later, one of The Steelfist's assassins Smolsk.

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All evidence pointed to a Goblin attack, and The Another Dwarf whose star was on the rise, and even Steelfist was quick to point out that Boris was the sooner than that of Brisnef, was Nikita Sergiyovich. one who had been having problems with Goblins He was unique among Hammerthrall in that he of late. He again pointed out the incident with Earl refused to take a revolutionary name. He had risen Uli, and again linked Truski to Boris. This created through the ranks of the Brotherhood of the Chalice, a permanent schism between Truski's followers becoming the Chancellor of that Guild 60 years into and the Scholars of the Karlmark. The The Steelfist's rule. In The Steelfist's 75 th year, Nikita Commonism of the Karlmark was called was made Deputy Premier of the Commonist Party Lunonism, while that of Truski's followers was and given a seat on the Supreme Council. called Truskism. Nikita was instrumental in advancing the cult of While Truskism was outward looking, seeking to personality that was developing around The Steelfist. convert the world to the Hammerthrall philosophy, He began revising and reforming this image, starting the Lunonists were concerned with the Karlmark, by calling him simply “The Steelfist”. Cheap portraits and the running of the People's Republic of the of The Steelfist were spread throughout the Karlmark Karlmark. Any expansion of the Lunonist with slogans on them encouraging the commoners philosophy would be at the point of a sword. that “The Steelfist is working for you.” He was quick Truskism was more subtle, and sought to work to turn The Steelfist's popularity among the masses within the framework of pre-existing communities. around. He went from being the oppressive dictator, Lunonism was Dwarf-centric, while Truskism was to the Dwarf fighting the bureaucracy for the people all-encompassing. (never mind he was the one who created the massive bureaucracy to begin with).

The Rise of Nikita For all of this work, The Steelfist brought Nikita into After ruling for 75 years, The Steelfist saw the his inner circle, and began giving him more and more need to start passing off some of his responsibilities responsibilities. This brought Nikita into direct to others. He had purged the Supreme Council conflict with Malinka, who was the Vice-Chairman of several times when it wouldn't go along with his the Supreme Council, and Buria, one of the most schemes. He had purged the Warrior's Guild (who senior members of the Supreme Council, and a he was still the Chancellor of) several times as well. member of the Presidium, which was the Chairman's He turned over the Warrior's Guild to a Dwarf cabinet. Though Nikita was the Deputy Premier of named Leonid Illiyovich, whose revolutionary the Commonist Party, these two blocked his name was Brisnef, who came up through the ranks candidacy to the Presidium on several occasions and was now made Comrade-Grand Marshall of before The Steelfist hinted subtly that there would be the People's Army. trouble if they continued.

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Organization of the People's Republican of the Karlmark

The Presidium of the Supreme Council Any failure is subject to a review of citizenship by a Extraordinary Commission. This is the Executive Committee of the Supreme Council, and acts as the Cabinet of the Chairman If a citizen fails this review, they are removed from of the Supreme Council. These are the most the Commonist Party and lose their voting privileges powerful and the most trusted of Dwarves among in their Guild. If they fail a second review, they are the Hammerthrall of the Karlmark. Their sent away to the Emergency Committee for further responsibility is to enforce the laws of the Duma, review. If they fail that review, they are sent to the and to run the executive branch of the Gulags, located near the peaks of the mountains, government. where they are made to work hard labor until their The Supreme Council term is up. If, during their next preliminary review, they are still found wanting, they are banished from The Supreme Council is the upper chamber of the the Karlmark. At least, that's how it works in theory. ruling body of the People's Republic of the Karlmark, the Duma. Membership on the Supreme Council can only be gained by The Guilds sponsorship of the Premier of the Commonist The Guilds are the soul of the Hammerthrall nations. Party, by the Chairman of the Supreme Council, Each Guild commands a class within Dwarven or by a member of the Presidium of the Supreme society. A Dwarf is defined by the Guild he belongs Council. In addition to those sponsored by the to, and, in their mind, the two are inseparable. The Commonist Party or members of the Presidium, Hammerthrall Guilds are as follows: are those who represent each of the cities of the Karlmark (one per city or settlement, subject to the The Brotherhood of People's Defenders (Warrior's approval of the Premier of the Commonist Party). Guild) The Extraordinary Commission The Brotherhood of the Forge (Blacksmith's Guild) The Brotherhood of Engol (Hammerthrall Cleric's The members of the Extraordinary Commission Guild) (and its many smaller Community Committees) The Brotherhood of the Candle (Miner's Guild) are the Secret Police of the Hammerthrall. The The Brotherhood of the Gem (Jewler's Guild) Commissions are made up of Clerics of the The Brotherhood of the Stone (Stonemason's Guild) Hammerthrall (Checker class) of all levels, and The Brotherhood of the Axe (Carpenter's Guild) have civilian members throughout the The Brotherhood of the Thimble (Textile Guild) communities. Within the Karlmark, these civilians The Brotherhood of the Chalice (Services Guild) are called the “Checka”, as it is their job to keep tabs on those around them to make sure they are adhering to the precepts of the Hammerthrall.

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Player Character Classes

Hammerthrall Classes Special Abilities: People's Champions may use any weapon and may wear any armor or shield. Champion of the Hammerthrall People People's Champions can Incite Revolutionary Zeal with a fiery oration. Any Hammerthrall within a 50' Spells radius are inspired by this oration and gain a +2 on Level Exp. Points Hit Dice 111 222 attack rolls. All allies of the People's Champion 1 0 1d8 - - receive a +1 on attack rolls. 2 2,500 2d8- - rd 3 5,000 3d8- - At 3 level, the People's Champion gains the Check th 4 10,000 4d8 - - ability. This ability acts as the detect lie spell. At 6 th 5 20,000 5d8 - - level, this ability adds all near-humans. At 9 level, 6 40,000 6d8 - - this ability adds all creatures. 7 80,000 7d8 - - 8 150,000 8d8 - - People's Champions can Smite once per day per 9 300,000 9d8 - - level. They can make a melee attack as if their 10 450,000 9d8+2 1 - weapon was magical, thus becoming able to hit 11 600,000 9d8+4 2 - creatures immune to non-magical attacks. At 10th 12 750,000 9d8+6 2 1 level, this becomes once per round. 13 900,000 9d8+8 2 2 10 th level People's Champions gain the Incite Loyalty 14 1,050,000 9d8+10 3 2 ability. This ability is as the Charm Person spell. At 15 1,200,000 9d8+12 3 3 14 th level, it effects near-human type creatures, and 16 1,350,000 9d8+14 4 3 at 18 th level, it effects all creatures. 17 1,500,000 9d8+16 4 4 18 1,650,000 9d8+18 5 4 People's Champions must give a minimum of 75% of 19 1,800,000 9d8+20 5 5 all treasures gained or other profits to the People for 20 1,950,000 9d8+22 6 5 re-distribution. Restrictions: This class is restricted to Hammerthrall A Champion of the Hammerthrall People Dwarves. (hereafter People's Champion) is their version of a Holy Warrior. Fighting the People's battles is what he does best. He is a sworn enemy to all nobility throughout the world, whether good, or bad. He is the quintessential Commonist, whose loyalty to the revolution is unquestionable. Should he ever begin to question the rightness of the Hammerthrall cause, he will lose his abilities as a People's Champion and revert to being a fighter until he atones.

Requirements: To become a People's Champion, a character must have a Strength score of 9 or higher (just as with any Fighter), a Wisdom of 11 or higher, and a Charisma of 11 or higher.

10 THE KARLMARK A BASIC FANTASY SUPPLEMENT

Truskite Revolutionary/ that take the place of the Cleric class. They Turn Hammerthrall Checker Undead as a Cleric, using a War Hammer as their “holy symbol”. Exp. Checker Ability Level Points Hit Dice They may use martial weapons, and any armor, 1 0 1d4 Check though heavier armors effect their Thieving abilities. Incite Revolutionary Zeal, Great 2 1,250 2d4 Hammer once per day Usually, they carry a staff, or its more martial cousin, 3 2,500 3d4 the spear. Also, they will always be equipped with a 4 5,000 4d4 Check effects near-human types War Hammer. 5 10,000 5d4 Incite revolutionary zeal effects near- Requirements: To become a Revolutionary/Checker, 6 20,000 6d4 human types you must have a Charisma score of 12 or higher and 7 40,000 7d4 a Dexterity score of 9 or higher. 8 75,000 8d4 Check effects any living creature 9 150,000 9d4 Special Abilities: At first level, the Incite Loyalty, Great Hammer five times Revolutionary/Checker gains the Check ability. This 10 225,000 9d4+2 per day 11 300,000 9d4+4 ability acts as the detect lie spell. This ability adds Incite revolutionary zeal effects any different creature types at levels 6 and 8. 12 375,000 9d4+6 creature 13 450,000 9d4+8 At level 2, the Revolutionary/Checker gains the Incite 14 525,000 9d4+10 Incite Loyalty effects near-human types Revolutionary Zeal ability. This ability acts as the 15 600,000 9d4+12 Great Hammer at will bless spell. At 6 th level, this ability effects near- 16 675,000 9d4+14 human type creatures, and at 12 th level, it effects any 17 750,000 9d4+16 creature. 18 825,000 9d4+18 Incite Loyalty effects any creature 19 900,000 9d4+20 Also at 2 nd level, the Revolutionary/Checker gains the 20 975,000 9d4+22 Hammerthrall Great Hammer ability. This ability acts as the spell Spiritual Hammer. This can be called on once per A Truskite Revolutionary (hereafter Revolutionary) day at 2 nd level, five times per day at 10 th level, and at is the evangelistic hand of the Truskist will at 15 th level. Hammerthrall. At 10 th level, the Revolutionary/Checker gains the A Hammerthrall Checker (hereafter Checker) is Incite Loyalty ability. This ability is as the Charm the thought police of the Karlmark. It is they who Person spell. At 14 th level, it effects near-human type are the guardians of the revolution, and the hand creatures, and at 18 th level, it effects all creatures. of the Extraordinary Commission. At 20 th level, the Revolutionary/Checker gains the This class is very similar to the Confessor Quasi- Hammerthrall ability. This ability is as the Class in Kevin Smoot's Quasi-Classes Supplement. Clairvoyance spell, with the exception that he can only see through the eyes of all other Hammerthralls This class uses the Thief table from the rule book within a 60' range. (p. 8), and levels up as a Thief. This class also uses all of the Thief abilities on page 9 of the rule Restrictions: This class is restricted to Hammerthrall book. This class acts more in the role of a spy and Dwarves, but the Truskite Revolutionary may be revolutionary organizer than a Thief, though it open to other races at the GM's discression. does have a lot of the same abilities as a Thief.

Since the majority of Hammerthralls are atheists, they have no Clerics. This is one of the classes

11 A BASIC FANTASY SUPPLEMENT THE KARLMARK

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