The Kingdom of Karameikos is a fictional nation located within the Mystara

Mystara

Mystara is a campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role playing game. Although it has officially been dropped from production by its creators, many fans continue to develop and evolve this fantasy setting jointly, continuing its original theme of group development.-Development:It...

 campaign setting, in the Dungeons & Dragons

Dungeons & Dragons

Dungeons & Dragons is a fantasy role-playing game originally designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson, and first published in 1974 by Tactical Studies Rules, Inc. . The game has been published by Wizards of the Coast since 1997...

role-playing game

Role-playing game

A role-playing game is a game in which players assume the roles of characters in a fictional setting. Players take responsibility for acting out these roles within a narrative, either through literal acting, or through a process of structured decision-making or character development...

.

Karameikos is described as deeply forested flatlands and hills bordered by rugged mountains to the North. The territory is largely untamed, haunted by many monsters and tribes of goblins. Civilization is tenuous and engaged in a constant struggle to push the wilderness back. Ancient nations once ruled there, and many mysterious ruins are hidden about the land. There is also cultural struggle between the native Traladaran people and the new Thyatian settlers trying to build Karameikos into a powerful nation. Karameikos is one of the most frequently visited areas of the 'Known World' in publications for the Basic Dungeons & Dragons game.

Karameikos is ruled by King Stefan Karameikos, a Thyatian who gained rulership over the nation in AC 970 by trading his ancestral lands, the Duchy of Machetos, to Emperor Thincol of Thyatis in exchange for autonomous rulership over the Imperial Province of Traladara. The nation was originally called the Grand Duchy

Grand duchy

A grand duchy, sometimes referred to as a grand dukedom, is a territory whose head of state is a monarch, either a grand duke or grand duchess.Today Luxembourg is the only remaining grand duchy...

 of Karameikos, and theoretically owed fealty to Thyatis, but following the great war between Thyatis

Thyatis

The Empire of Thyatis is a powerful state in the Mystara campaign setting for the Dungeons and Dragons fantasy role-playing game. Thyatis was first mentioned in Module X1, Isle of Dread, which describes it briefly. Along with the Alphatian Empire, Thyatis was more fully detailed in the Dawn of the...

 and Alphatia

Alphatia

Alphatia is a continent and empire in TSR's fictional fantasy game setting, Mystara for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. The continent of Alphatia is nearly in area and has approximately 7,500,000 inhabitants...

, which greatly damaged Thyatis and resulted in Alphatia's sinking, Duke Stefan sold out his homeland and friend and declared himself King, and Karameikos gained greater prominence in the Known World.

The Grand Duchy of Karameikos was first briefly described in the 1981 Dungeons & Dragons Expert Rulebook

Dungeons & Dragons Expert Set

The Expert Set is an expansion boxed set for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. It was first published in 1981 as an expansion to the Basic Set.-1981 printing:The D&D Basic Set saw a major revision in 1981 by Tom Moldvay...

, where it was presented as a sample wilderness adventure area. Soon following, adventures were published specifically set in Karameikos.

The definitive references for Karameikos are:

• GAZ1 - The Grand Duchy of Karameikos
  The Grand Duchy of Karameikos
  The Grand Duchy of Karameikos is an accessory for the Basic Set edition for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. The book was written by Aaron Allston, and was published in 1987...
  
   Gazetteer by Aaron Allston
  Aaron Allston
  Aaron Allston is an American game designer and novelist of many science fiction books, notably Star Wars novels. His works as a game designer include game supplements for several role-playing games, several of which served to establish the basis for products and subsequent development of TSR's...
  
   for the Frank Mentzer
  Frank Mentzer
  Jacob Franklin "Frank" Mentzer III , is an American fantasy author and game designer best known for his work on early materials for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. He was a performing folk musician from 1968 to 1975, and played one concert at the White House during the...
  
   edited boxed D&D game rules sets and the Rules Cyclopedia
  Dungeons & Dragons Rules Cyclopedia
  The Dungeons & Dragons Rules Cyclopedia was published by TSR, Inc. in 1991, as a continuation of the basic edition of the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, which ran concurrently with Advanced Dungeons & Dragons. Its product designation was TSR 1071...
  
   compilation of same.
• Karameikos: Kingdom of Adventure boxed set for the AD&D game.
• In Search of Adventurecompilation of Modules B1-B9 of the Basic D&D product line.

Other print sources featuring information about Karameikos are:

• The timeline in the Wrath of the Immortals boxed set.
• The Poor Wizard's Almanac/Joshuans Almanac series.
• The Penhaligon Trilogy of novels also takes place in Karameikos but differs in many details from canon sources.

The adventure module King's Festival

King's Festival

King's Festival is an adventure module for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game.-Plot synopsis:King's Festival is an introductory scenario set in the Grand Duchy of Karameikos, and includes advice for beginning players and DMs...

is set in Karameikos.

The adventure module X12 Skarda's Mirror

Skarda's Mirror

Skarda's Mirror is an adventure module for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. It was published by TSR in 1987, and designed by Aaron Allston. Its cover art is by Tim Hildebrandt with interior art by Al Williamson and Jeff Easley, and cartography by Dave S. LaForce, Dennis Kauth, and...

by Aaron Allston is set in Karameikos.