Of the Five Nations founded by the human settlers of Khorvaire, Karrnath has the strongest military tradition. Famous as the birthplace of Galifar himself, the great king who unified the Five Nations, the nation consists of lush forests, fertile plains, and extensive waterways flowing from snow-covered mountaintops to the sea. Once, the borders of Karrnath included most of the land east of Scions Sound, covering what is now the Mror Holds, the Talenta Plains, Q’barra, and the Lhazaar Principalities. Today, the nation stretches from Scions Sound and the Cyre River on the west to the Ironroot Mountains in the east, and from Karrn Bay in the north to the start of the Talenta Plains in the south. The nation’s name has not changed since the ancient days before the founding of the Five Nations, when Karrn the Conqueror not only established the country that still bears his name but also tried to conquer and unite all of Khorvaire under his rule. Centuries later it was another Karrn, one of King Galifar’s sons, who rededicated the nation to himself in 32 YK, the same year when the Five Nations officially adopted the names of Galifar’s five eldest children.

During the reign of Jarot, Galifar’s last king, Kaius I governed the nation. Third born of King Jarot’s children, Kaius was a tall, whip-thin man with intense eyes and a sharp mind. With the death of his father, Kaius joined his siblings Thalin of Thrane and Wroann of Breland in rejecting their eldest sister Mishann’s claim to the throne. The Last War began as a two-sided affair— Cyre and Aundair on one side, attempting to uphold the tenets of Galifar succession; Breland, Thrane, and Karrnath on the other, rejecting the crowning of Mishann but unsure how they wanted the question of succession to be settled. It wasn’t long before each scion decided that he or she was meant to rule the kingdom, and the initial alliances collapsed in blood and fury.

The current ruler of Karrnath, King Kaius ir’Wynarn III, uncannily looks just like his great-grandfather, that scion of Jarot from whom his name derives. Kaius came to power in 991 YK and quickly became one of the most vocal proponents of peace in all the land. He was instrumental in convincing the other nations to attend peace talks at the ancient capital of Thronehold, and consequently was the first to sign the Treaty of Thronehold.

Today, Karrnath works hard to keep the current peace from failing. Without any children of his own as yet, Kaius has nonetheless exchanged his own brother and sister as well as the heirs of his most prominent nobles with the royal families of the other nations to assure cooperation and continued peace. He has taken in two of Boranel of Breland’s children, Halix and Borina, to help ensure a lasting peace and promote friendship between the two nations. Karrnath seeks to improve relations with Aundair and Thrane, two of the nations it fought most fi ercely during the war. It continues to have a good relationship with the Mror Holds, one of its most staunch allies throughout the war. In the south, to curb continued aggression from the Valenar elves, Karrnath has established a separate alliance with the halfling clans of the Talenta Plains. This alliance has allowed Karrnathi troops to set up forts in halfling territory for the mutual protection of both nations.

Nation Basics

Motto: ‘’Death holds no terror’’
Ruler: King Kaius ir’Wynarn III
Capital: Korth
Anthem: “War March of the Karrns”
Heraldry: A blood–red wolf head on a shield of silver and black.

Climate: Temperate in south with cold, cloudy winters and cool, partly cloudy summers;
central to northern region has short, cool summers and long, harsh winters.
Population: 75 million (52% human, 18% dwarf, 10% hobbit, 8% khoravar, 8% elf, 4% other)
Languages: Common, Dwarven, Elven, Halfling
Area: 1’350’000 square miles.
Major Cities:
Exports: Ale, dairy, glass, grain, livestock, lumber, paper, textiles
Highest Point: Mount Tharzil in the Ashen Spires, elevation 9’925.
Founder: Kaius I, third scion of King Jarot.

Karrnathi Names

Karrns usually have a personal name followed by a family-based surname.

Male: Adalstan, Alarich, Arend, Berend, Brenius, Detlev, Drago, Evetius, Falko, Fraedus, Garrick, Geroldt, Gertan, Gustavus, Halden, Leonus, Leodegar, Maenrad, Rochus, Rolund, Sigor, Theoban, Vedim, Vorik, Wultram.

Female: Adalgisa, Alinda, Asta, Bauin, Clotrila, Demuth, Ebba, Ermena, Forsindh, Gisaul, Harika, Haedrun, Karola, Lorelea, Mauriana, Menelda, Oydelis, Renilda, Syardis, Syele, Theda, Valpaea, Vaunn.

Surnames: Altaner, A rgland, Balich, Barthus, Brand, Cerfas, Denka, Dorn, Erdei, Eschus, Furnau, Gaebler, Gergus, Grogloth, Hellekanus, Hintram, Jaranus, Karlach, Kessler, Kraal, Lassinus, Losho, Maerer, Ochem, Rangoth, Roerith, Sattler, Senglin, Taggert, Thul, Trothut, Vanalan, Vedenin, Zecklin.

Five Things Every Karrn Knows:

1. How to play Conqueror. This chesslike board game reputedly invented by Karrn the Conqueror is enjoyed across Khorvaire. But in Karrnath, it’s the national pastime and a popular way to spend long, wintry nights.

2. Their own family trees, going back at least 4 generations. The Blood of Vol has encouraged interest in genealogy. Combined with a Karrn’s natural pride in heritage, it’s not surprising for everyone to know their families well. Two Karrns who meet in a tavern will often start a conversation by mentioning their ancestors, trying to find a common link.

3. A bit about military organization. Almost all Karrnathi adults spent some time in the military, so they know the difference between a sergeant major and a major, the proper way to salute superior officers, and what various uniform insignia mean.

4. An appreciation for art. During the Last War, many of Karrnath’s artists painted colorful propaganda posters that adorned walls in major cities. Though the war is over, many Karrns have taken the posters into their homes, where they hang as decoration and a reminder of Karrnath’s military past.

5. A keen sense of the weather. Of the Five Nations, Karrnath gets by far the worst weather. Karrns love to talk (and complain) about the weather, and they’re adept at comparing one day’s snowfall to the next. They aren’t necessarily any better at predicting the weather, but they’re quite good at answering questions such as “How hot was it yesterday?” in detail.

Karrnathi Speech

The following turns of phrase are uniquely Karrnathi:

“You can break a single arrow, but not ten in a bunch.” – Used to express how Karrns prefer to work together, finding strength in numbers. It’s also a subtle reminder to conform to the direction the other “arrows” (fellow citizens) are taking.

“While the wolf drinks, the dog looks on.” – A Karrnathi way of saying “rank has its privileges.”

“Edible birds don’t live long.” – A Karrnathi warning not to make yourself a tempting target to your rivals; a way of saying “put your guard up.”

“There’s more to good ale than a silver flagon.” – A Karrnathi proverb expressing a preference for substance over style.

“Blunted!” – An expression of dismay or failure.

“Khoot! Khoot! Karrnath!” – A battle cheer common among rank-and-file Karrn troopers. The “oo” sounds are often drawn out into a howling wail.