Northern Plains of Karana

Dangers ------- Given that the above is true, hunting in this area is very dangerous, although it can be quite lucrative. If you know how to hunt, and by that I mean to pull creatures to the zones edges and use your far distance view to keep an eye on what's coming, you can actually do quite well fighting the many types of beetles at lower levels. Like I said, though, hill giants are fast and can spawn practically on top of you, and the run from Qeynos is long...

Benefits -------- The largest benefit in this area is the high-level hunting it affords. Well-coordinated groups of 15th level and higher (usually low 20's) can make quite a bit of money and experience in this area, travelling and killing off Griffins.

It is possible to bind in the gypsy camp here as well, making the trip for melee-types a bit better.

There are also some items to be had in this area which are unique on this half of the continent. The only place to get combine weapons on the western half of Antonica (other than Rathe Mountians) lies within the Northern Plains. Also, there is a good chance that werewolves can be found in the northern part of the zone next to the mountains where the Fangbreakers roam, providing all of their associated items as well. There is also a merchant who sells high level Druid spells, as well as a trainer for Druids near the eastern bend of the river.

TravellingTo andFromNorthernPlains ofKarana ------------------------------------------- The southern and eastern edges of the zone are bordered by an impassable river. The only ways across it are two bridges. The southern bridge leads into the Southern Plains of Karana, and is guarded by the Qeynos Guard.

The eastern bridge is a vast wooden structure, rumored to have been built by the hill giants, that passes over the eastern stretch of the river. Nobody guards this bridge.

Listen up kids and pass me a smore:

I appreciate the interest in my background. I can’t reveal all the bits and pieces, but here is something to go on.

In the Age of Turmoil, Vhalen was a prestigious member of the League of Antonican Bards. Although never truly having a home, Vhalen frequented stages of Qeynos quite often. It was there in Qeynos that he met the woman of his dreams, the woman that would complete the sonnet of his soul. Now, I would love to tell you the tale of this romance, but we would be here all day. I would love to tell you the woman’s name, but that would be revealing too much too early. What I can say is that the sonnet of love ended in tragedy. Vhalen and his love would grow farther and farther apart until one day… she vanished. Vhalen grew distraught and almost went mad. He broke ties with the League of Antonican Bards and stormed into the Plains of Karana, (no pun intended), where his insanity grew and his actions became violent and malicious. He lost all control. But he would not remain in this state of madness. The records of his temporary madness were only destroyed after he dragged his tortured soul from the pit of despair and performed many good deeds for the residents of the Plains of Karana. His selfless actions more than made up for the crimes of his madness. It was said that the harmony of the thunder storms of the plains sang to his soul. This beautiful melody of Karana cleansed his soul and madness was no more. That is why Vhalen soon made residence within the Plains of Karana. It was the place that saved him from a pit of madness. He often sat beside the well, the well where he first met his lost love. There at the well he could now safely compose poweful songs of love and soon some of the greatest of arcane sonnets, the likes of which has never been seen before. Some of his more powerful arcane melodies required the use of enormous intruments such as organs the size of temple halls and harps that rose like sails on a ship. By far his greatest spells required the bells within his bell tower, The Bell Tower of Vhalen. It was in this Bell Tower of Vhalen that Vhalen played some of the greatest arcane compositions for the defense of Qeynos during the War of Plagues. When all seemed lost and Qeynos was soon to fall, Vhalen stood alone in his Bell Tower, ringing aloud the sound of benevolence and the powerful melody of valor. He stood alone, in a tower surrounded by a sea of undead, ringing the bells that would smite the forces of the Bloodsabers and their allies. Even as the forces of evil break down his door and stabbed as his soul, he still rang the bells. Without his efforts in the War of Plagues, all would be lost and Qeynos would be no more.

Oh… one more thing. About that woman he loved. At some point he learned that his temporary madness was not the result of a broken heart, but a soul driven mad by the compositions that his love often studied. It seems as though his love acquired some ancient songbooks and even an instrument once belonging to a legendary bard named Kelkarn. Odd, just like his love, Kelkarn just vanished one day. Where he went and why he went was never discovered.

That’s all. Does that help a bit?

——

Tony “Sir Lucan” Garcia