Barony of Dragan

The Domain of Razvan Dragan

Do you ever remember some of your early characters and how cool they seemed at the time? Well, a recent map by Thorfinn Tait (you NEED to see his Mystara stuff!) got me thinking about an old character of mine from the Grand Duchy of Karameikos.

I honestly don't even remember the guys name; but I do remember that he was a Traladaran Fighter...so we can just call him Razvan Dragan (thanks Romania for the name) because that sounds cool.

I remember that Razvan fought tooth and nail on many solo adventures back then; sometimes I remember just opening a module and playing through it all on my own sometimes. It was fun, and often lonely; but what I was going after was the feeling of creating something. I played Razvan by himself so that I would have a complete backstory for something I wanted to place in my own Grand Duchy of Karameikos: a Traladaran dominated Barony.

I reasoned that despite the absence of a frontier community on the map where I wanted to place Razvan Keep, it didn't mean that many small communities weren't already scattered all over the land. I never understood why Karameikos seemed to have a dearth of settlements compared to neighboring Thyatis and the Five Shires. So I decided to place a frontier community dominated by Traladarans in the forested mountains of the Cruth Lowlands.

Previously called the Village of Brasov; Razvan's construction of Razvan Keep renamed the area as far as the Duke was concerned; but even Baron Dragan called his hometown Brasov. Not very many people lived there initially, but the new Baron had brought many soldiers with him who also brought their families. The Baron had hand-picked these warriors only from Traladaran families, and made sure that he did not displace any local families either by building a small stone wall around the village and turning it into a small town; his new soldiers and their families living either in his new keep or within new houses constructed north of the older part of town.

The Barony of Dragan was a minor one, with hardly any other individuals outside of the town of Brasov except for individuals from the Miner's Guild that the Baron brought to the area to exploit the iron in the Black Peak Mountains. There was constant strife with ogres and even hill giants; as well as a few raids by other humanoids...but over all, the Baron's own personal power and the strength of his soldiers kept the town and the mining operation safe.

In the Companion Rules we find the rules for ruling a Dominion. The Dominion of "The Barony of Dragan" was as follows:

Population: 208 Famalies (1,040 people); not counting Mercenaries

Resources: 3 Rolled (1 Mineral, 1 Animal, 1 Vegetable)

1. Iron Mine: 42 Families work this resource
2. Goat Herds: 62 Families work this resource
3. Farm Produce: 104 Families work this resource

Standard Income: 10 gold pieces per family = 2,080 g.p. per month

Tax Income: 1 g.p. per family = 208 g.p. per month cash

Resource Income: From Iron = 126 g.p. + Goats = 124 g.p. + Produce = 104 g.p. Total = 354 g.p.

Total Income: 2,642 g.p.

Liege Tax: 20% = 528 g.p. to Duke Stefan (paid from Standard)

Tithe: 10% = 264 g.p. to Church of Traladara (paid from Standard)

Monthly Grand Total Income: 562 g.p. cash and 1,288 g.p. in Services/Goods

Baron Dragan is adamant about protecting his people as well. He keeps a core group of highly trained soldiers which he uses to patrol his land. He also demands service from the families of the Barony as a standing militia with a number of constables which enforce the laws of the Duke. The Beadles are the leaders of the militia in daily activities, while the Baron commands his soldiers directly with the aid of a trio of Knights. His Barony is also often home to trading halfling merchants, and he gladly welcomes the wee folk; and actually employs a group of them as his scouts. The military of the Barony of Dragan is as follows:

Baron's Own (44 total Troops)

Leader: Baron Dragan (F12, Mounted)

Officers: 3 "Knights" (Ftr 9 Mounted, Elf 9 Mounted on Pegasus, Cleric 9 Mounted)

Troops: 10 Cavalry (Ftr 1, Chainmail, Shield; Lance, Longsword), 10 Longbowmen/Hobilars (Elf 1, Chainmail, Longbow, Longsword), 20 Heavy Infantry (Ftr 1, Chainmail, Shield, Spear, Longsword).

Basic Force Rating: 123 (Troop Class: Excellent)

Battle Rating: 219

Monthly Pay: 510 g.p. Cash for troops; Knights are Retainers and paid via adventuring money

Barony Militia (105 total Troops)

Leader: Beadle (F3, Chainmail, Shield, Lance, Longsword; Mounted)

Officers: Beadle Sergeants (F3, Chainmail, Shield; Lance, Longsword; Mounted ) x5

Troops: 10 Scouts (Halfling 1, Mounted, Leather, Shield; Shortbow, Spear), 10 Yeoman Longbowmen/Hobilars (F1, Mounted, Chainmail, Shield; Longbow, Longsword); 40 Archers (F1, Leather, Shield; Shortbow, Longsword), 40 Spearmen (F1; Leather, Shield, Spear, Dagger)

Basic Force Rating: 57 (Troop Class: Fair)

Battle Rating: 81

Monthly Pay: 810 g.p. in Services

If the Baron's Elven Advisor (his 9th level Elf "Lady Friend") tells him that his forces aren't adequate based on the magical scrying done, the Baron will send word to both Riverfork Keep AND to the Five Shires. He has an arrangement with certain halflings there that will bring a band of mercenaries to his aid if needed; especially if the aid is against anything to do with the Black Eagle Baron!

So there you have it...a little Grand Duchy of Karameikos fun! I hope you can use the Barony of Dragan in your own game. Have a good one!