#10 The Mystara Magazine The tenth issue of the Mystara Magazine, featuring Elves of Mystara, and their countless Realms. pandius.com thepiazza.org.uk Previous Issues Previous Issues Issues #1 to #9 of THRESHOLD - the Mystata Also available at the same location are higher Magazine, are available for download from the resolution versions of the maps that were Vaults of Pandius website. included in the issue’s PDF, allowing greater detail to be viewed. #1 #2 #3 #4 Karameikos Vaults of Pandius The Sea of Dread Return to Dread #5 #6 #7 #8 Exploring The Northlands Exploring Warlords Davania Norwold of Norwold #9 Hollow World THRESHOLD: The Mystara Magazine Issue #10 Issue Contents ISSUE #10 Editorial Credits.....................................................................2 Editorial..................................................................................3 This Issue s Contributors.......................................................4 Call for Contributors..............................................................6 Elven Calendar and Holidays.................................................7 The Elven Clans and Their Migrations.................................10 Elves of Mystara - Elven Class Variants.................................39 The Fall and Rise of the Canolbarth.....................................65 The Stalkbrow Bad Magic Node.........................................115 Vesperlands Atlas................................................................125 Savage Seas: Pirates, Corsairs & Buccaneers.....................140 Who’s Who in the Wyrmsteeth part 3.................................152 The Skars’ Legacy...............................................................166 Koskatep level 8 - Mokrath, Serpent Eye...........................182 Artwork Sources and Credits.............................................201 Next Issue...........................................................................208 Threshold: The Mystara Magazine is a non-commercial, fan-produced magazine. There is no intention to infringe on anyone's rights, and in particular not on those of Wizards of the Coast, which holds all rights to the original material on which the magazine is based. THRESHOLD: The Mystara Magazine Issue #10 Editorial Credits Editorial Credits Threshold Editorial Team: Editor-in-Chief, Issue 10: Joseph Setorius (julius_cleaver) Allan Palmer (AllanP) Francesco Defferrari (Sturm) Layout: Giampaolo Agosta (Agathokles) Allan Palmer (AllanP) Håvard John Calvin (Chimpman) Art: Joseph Setorius (Julius Cleaver) I.Calvin Robert Nuttman (RobJN) William McAusland Simone Neri (Zendrolion) V. Shane Leland (Argentmantle) Seer of Y'hog LoZompatore Cartography: Micky Francesco Defferrari (Sturm) Joseph Setorius (julius cleaver) Editors Emeriti Robin D. (Robin) Ashtagon Andrew Theisen (Cthulhudrew) Additional Reviewers & Proofreaders: Jesper Andersen (Spellweaver) Shawn Stanley (stanles) Thorfinn Tait (Thorf) Harri Maki (hihama) Troy Terrell (CmdrCorsiken) Murray Neill (Louie the Monk) Angel Tarragon (The Angelic Dragon) THRESHOLD logo designed by Thorf Thanks To: The Mystara Community, for your support, hard work, and dedication to Mystara. The aims of Threshold magazine: ▪ to provide a venue for community members to present material ▪ to promote the Vaults of Pandius and the material there ▪ to increase the exposure of existing and new articles ▪ to encourage authors to revisit and revitalise existing articles ▪ to motivate interest in Mystara in general 2 THRESHOLD: The Mystara Magazine Issue #10 Editorial Though born in Houston Texas, where my buttressing elaborate elven palaces, I was parents played in the Symphony, I mainly incapable of completely grasping their world. grew up in Montana, a state roughly the size Magic, long-lived races, and a lack of of Germany, yet having a population of only technology change many aspects of societies, 725,000. Before playing in the Symphony, my and the delicate balance of power existing father had been a navigator and waist gunner between them. Although trying to imagine on a B-17 bomber during WWII. That what these cultures are like, to a certain experience convinced him he hated living in extent, they remain unrecognizable. Yet these close confines with his fellow humans, and foreign cultures and long-lived races add consequently abhorred hotels. Therefore, depth, taking us to a place outside the realm shortly after my parents were married, they of our reality, and this is perhaps the very bought an Airstream trailer. Our family root of fantasy. A fantasy world is supposed to vacations were spent hiking and camping in have fantastic elements…otherwise it’s just the national forests, mainly in or along the Earth! No fantastical race seems to capture perimeter of the Beartooth-Absaroka our imagination quite so completely as the Wilderness. Often, hiking trips took us up the idealistic elves, and quite often they are a eleven and twelve thousand foot mountain hallmark of many fantasy settings. slopes of the Beartooth Range, which remained snow-packed until July, with many Whatever inspiration or affinity you have for areas permanently covered by vast glaciers. elves, hopefully this issue will provide plenty Standing upon the crest of a high mountain of material to further spur your imagination. ridge, looking down into the coniferous From the elven calendar and its holidays, to forests of the mountain valleys, it was not elven class variants. Past and future timelines difficult imagining campfires below as Elven and maps give visual and chronological order encampments, or trailer lights dotting to elven events. There is also additional campsites as Elven villages, snug and secure in material for setting the CM5 module in the timbered mountain vales. Alfheim and playing the mysterious Vesperland Elves of the Hollow Moon, as well As I grew older, and became more political, as continuing articles from past issues. Finally elves held a place in my imagination as a there are two forays in the wilderlands of superior race, infinitely more in tune with the Norwold and among the pirates of the Savage natural world around them. Having long Coast! With a little bit of luck, there is lifespans and slow growing populations, the something in this issue to suit everyone’s tastes. elves seemed acutely aware of the consequences of their actions, and the So without further ado, let us leave the cities changes they wrought on the face of the planet. and pastures behind, and enter the Elven World… As I grew older still, and less political; I came to envy their long lives. However; trying to Joseph Setorius (julius_cleaver) envision life amid immense magical forests Issue 10 Editor-in-Chief filled with massive oaks and sentinels, 3 THRESHOLD: The Mystara Magazine Issue #10 This Issue s Contributors This Issue’s Contributors Joseph Setorius (aka julius_cleaver) began Robin (at The Piazza, Robin D elsewhere) roleplaying in '79, & besides a few brief Female from 1962, she began playing D&D intervals is constantly involved in one since its earliest days as far back as 1978, campaign or another. Though a longtime soon after becoming "addicted". Ultimately, Mystaran DM & player; including a thirteen she was intimately bound to the world of year campaign throughout the eighties & Mystara, because of its complex diversity. A early nineties, which helped create much of current compiler of massive materials his material; he is relatively new to the available on Vaults of Pandius & her "Breath Mystara online community. Besides Mystara of Mystara" blog; and former Teacher of he enjoys original settings & campaigns set in Biology, Ecology, Chemistry, Physics, once Greyhawk, Harn, and Dark Sun. A map loving travelling all over Europe as a stage dancer surveyor, his other interests include reading, including house parties. Once called "The hiking, and playing/teaching piano. Fletcher" at UK GenCon by Bruce Heard for her extensive compilation in "Revenge of the Even though Sturm (a.k.a. Francesco Little Ones". Defferrari) loves any alternate world, he believes Mystara is incomparably the best for DesertNomad started with Mentzer’s basic its vibrant community endlessly delving into set in the late 80’s and has played in many ethnography, linguistics and history just to fantasy worlds since then but always keeps make a little sense of it. Something like the returning to Mystara, drawn by the massive real world, but with dragons. effort that creative fans have put into keeping the world alive. He has had a soft Craig Antoun (a.k.a. Irondrake) was first spot for CM5 since he was given it as a gift introduced to D&D by a friend in 1981, which on his 12th birthday. began for him a long and rewarding journey as a Game Master that continues to this day. John Calvin (aka Chimpman) is fascinated Having experienced most editions of the by the depth of Mystaran history, and has D&D game, Craig has always been drawn always wanted to share that more fully with back to the BECMI/RC edition, which he finds players. To that end he has been developing elegant in its simplicity, yet rich in sub-settings like The Hollow Moon and possibilities. In early 2014 he returned to Mystara 2300 BC. managing his first Mystara campaign, which previously ran from 1984 to 1993. 4 THRESHOLD: The Mystara Magazine Issue #10 This Issue s Contributors I. "Meandrathel" Calvin enjoys drawing Giampaolo Agosta (a.k.a. Agathokles) fantasy, and animals that can kill. Namely agrees with Schiller that man "is only wolves, dragons, horses, and most large