the valley of Karaccia:
a setting for classic LOW-LEVEL adventures

An Overview of the Valley:

The Valley of Karaccia is a pleasant mountain basin, enclosed almost completely by sheer granite walls reaching half a mile into the sky. The basin is surrounded by impassable mountains, the only egress being a passage in the southeast.

Two rivers enter the valley. The first, known as the Fallflow, drops in over the Echo Falls near the town of Brink in the northwest, and is fed by the Hazelglade Creek before it joins the Corkorran. The Corkorran river meanders in through the hills in the passage to the southeast. The city of Nefford is situated at the confluence of the two, and from there it flows southwest to feed Gorgewater Lake. The Corkorran then exits and continues south from the lake, passing under the mountains where it continues on underground for some way.

The northern and southern portions of the valley are covered with dense woods. In the north is the Brinkwood – dark, wild, and untamed. In the south is the more hospitable Stonedurn Grove, though it too harbors dangers.
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Humans account for 75% of the population, Halflings 15%, Dwarves 5%, Elves 4%, and Gnome an appropriately wee 1%. The Humans are gathered mainly in the three towns of Brink, Southshore, and Nefford. Brink and Southshore are both ecclesiarchies – they are run by the head clerics of their local churches – while Nefford is technically run by a democratically elected town council, but is in effect run by the two powerful merchant families of Barleyfellow and Blackgrove.

The Halflings who don’t live among Humans (which is the majority of them), live in the smaller villages of Addersfield, Stanwyck Crossing, and Wealdstone. Dwarves and Gnomes mostly live in small clan settlements dug throughout the eastern hills, which is also home to their sizable city of Grimegarde. Additionally, a goodly portion live in the Kneetown quarter of Nefford. The Elves have a few small hamlets scattered about the woods of Karaccia, though most are settled in the town of Gul Nalore, nestled in the forest of Stonedurn Grove to the southwest.

The Humans of Karaccia are generally friendly folk, more curious of outsiders than wary. The Halflings are similar, if not more amiable, as are the Gnomes. The Dwarves, while not disagreeable, do tend to keep to themselves. You will find Dwarves working with the other races – trading, adventuring, etc. – but will rarely see them at festivities and social gatherings. The Elves tend to come off as cold and emotionless, but can open up warmly to those who have proven themselves to be good, honest folk.
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The climate is temperate, and the mountains keep the valley sheltered from most extreme weather. Springs are wet and warm, and Summers mild and dry; temperatures rarely reach above 90 degrees. Autumn is cool and dry, and Winter, while cold, is considered pleasant with gentle snowfalls through most of Coldmonth, Newmonth, and Fathermonth.


Learn More:

Further information about the valley, its inhabitants, and points of interest can be found in the modules MECC1: The Valley of Karaccia, MECC2: Nefford and Beyond, MECC3: The Knaves of Nefford,  and MECC4: The Realm of Imlar​.
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