The Dark Eye
Encyclopedia
The Dark Eye is a German role-playing game
created by Ulrich Kiesow
and launched by Schmidt Spiel & Freizeit GmbH and Droemer Knaur Verlag
in 1984. The name literally means "the black eye". However, this does not imply a "black eye
" (as in a bruise); the German expression for such bruising is "blaues Auge" ("blue eye").
It is the most successful role-playing game on the German market, outselling Dungeons & Dragons
. Many years of work on the game have led to an extremely detailed and extensively-described game world. Droemer Knaur dropped the project in early 1989, after the bankruptcy of the Schmidt Spiel & Freizeit GmbH in 1997, publishing was continued by Fantasy Productions
(Fuchs' company, which had already done all the editorial work). Since the game's launch the game system
has gone through three editions, making the rules and background more complex. The basic rules of the fourth edition of The Dark Eye were published in 2001, and was the first edition to be released in English (in October 2003).
Aventuria (the continent on which the game is set) was first introduced to the English-language market through a series of computer games and novels and later under the name Realms of Arkania. The trademark
Realms of Arkania was owned by the now-defunct Sir-tech Software, Inc.
, which spurred the name change to The Dark Eye; Fantasy Productions
was unable to obtain the trademark. In April 2007, Ulisses Spiele assumed the TDE pen-and-paper licence from Fantasy Productions.
The German first edition (1984) was translated into Dutch
("Het Oog des Meesters"), French
("L'Œil noir") and Italian
("Uno sguardo nel buio"), but not into English
. It is a very simple class and level system. It was published in Das Schwarze Auge—Abenteuer Basis-Spiel ("The Dark Eye—Adventure Base Game"). Advanced rules were published in 1985 in the book Abenteuer Ausbau-Spiel—Zusatzausrüstung für alle Abenteuer ("Extended adventure—Additional equipment for all adventures").
(8–13). The weight the character can carry is equal to strength × 100 ounces (1 aventurian ounce is 25 g).
The player can choose five different character types (or classes): adventurer, warrior, dwarf, elf and mage. All characters can be adventurers, but there are attribute conditions to access the other types (for example, a warrior must have at least 12 in both courage and strength).
During the adventures, the character gains adventure points; with a sufficient number of adventure points, he can go to the next level. When attaining a new level the character can increase an attribute by one point, and either the attack or parry value by one point; he also wins vitality points equal to one die roll, or vitality or astral energy points equal to one die roll for elves and mages. The extended rules add a sixth quality to the hero's definition: stamina. The initial stamina is the sum of the force and vitality points. Stamina represents resistance to exhaustion; it decreases when the hero makes physical efforts such as running, swimming and fighting.
The extended rules also provide four more classes that can be chosen during the creation of the character, or sometimes as an evolution of an adventurer or dwarf: rider, druid, priest or wood elf. It introduces the aptitudes (skills) that are chances to manage definite actions (such as horseback riding or camouflage), whereas the qualities are generic indicators. The aptitudes range between 0 and 18 (and are tested with a d20 in dice notation). They have a basis value (some are part of the culture, or are simple tasks). When the character reaches a new level, the player can distribute 10 points to raise the aptitudes. The basis value and the cost to increase depend on the type of hero (riding is easier for a warrior than for a mage); the cost also depends on the current aptitude level.
damage points inflicted by a sword.
In the extended rules, stamina plays a role in the healing of diseases (such as a fever); when it is 20 or more spontaneous healing is possible, and it is faster when stamina is above 25.
The modifier is positive when the action is difficult, and negative when it is easy. The extended rules introduce the aptitudes, which are tested in the same way as the qualities.
Characters have attack and parry values determined by various other values. Typical attack/parry values for a new character are in the range of 14/12 (for fighters) to something like 6/8 (dedicated non-fighters, such as Tsa-priests).
When the attack test of the attacker is successful and the defender misses the parry test, the defender loses the number of vitality points equal to the damage of the weapon minus the protection rating of the armour (chain mail has a protection rating of four, and knight armour has six). When the attacker rolls one or two on the die, he makes a master hit; the maximum damage is inflicted, and the armour does not protect.
The extended rules provide for miniature figures which allow a finer representation of movement, with (for example) the possibility to push back an enemy. They also offer various possibilities such as fleeing, charging and successive attacks from the same fighter (assault).
They replace the master hit with the notions of good attack (the attacker makes a throw equal to or less than the good attack score, as shown on a table in relation to her attack score) and good parry (five points less than the parry score with the d20 in dice notation). A good attack not parried by a good parry implies a serious (or critical) impact (throw 1d20 and read the result on a table). When the attack or parry-test die shows 20, this can lead to a fumble. The extended rules also allow dodging thrown weapons, introduce specific rules for empty-hand and horseback fighting and infection (fever) for wounds.
The extended rules introduce new spells. From the fifth level on, it is no longer necessary to speak the words to cast the spell. These rules also describe spells for the druids and wood elves, and priests' miracles: manifestations of the priest's god, which are similar to magic spells. The priests do not have astral energy but karma, which works the same way.
It was written for advanced-level characters (typically level 15). The sets describe a new world: Tharun , a hollow world. It is the inside of Ethra, lightened by a central sun. Nine archipelagos constitute the realm of this world. A pantheon of nine deities rules over the inhabitants. Divine runes (one of the only sources of magic which can be used by magicians and druids) are scattered all over the world. The sets also provide a divine quest. A third set of campaigns was planned, but has not been released. The Tharun setting was abandoned, but it is said that the world and its pantheon still exist; some deities are worshiped in Myranor.
(1993), Attic
/Sir-Tech
), RoA: Star Trail
(1994, Attic/Sir-Tech) and RoA: Shadows over Riva
(1997, Attic/Sir-Tech). Realms of Arkania was also the name three translated novels: RoA: The Charlatan (January 1996, ISBN 0-7615-0233-5), RoA: The Lioness (March 1996, ISBN 0-7615-0477-X) and RoA: The Sacrifice (September 1996, ISBN 0-7615-0476-1). The rules are similar to the second edition except for two additional positive attributes—dexterity (Fingerfertigkeit) and intuition (Intuition)—and two additional negative attributes—curiosity (Neugier) and violent temper (Jähzorn). The character is thus defined by seven positive and seven negative attributes (qualities), and this edition uses the same system of talents.
(also published by Fantasy Productions) and even more to GURPS
. One reason for this development is the large community of professional authors and enthusiastic players, which have helped to define the continent of Aventuria over the last 20 years. Character generation is based on “generation points” from which a race, a culture and a profession must be “paid”. The points are also used for attributes and other skills. After generation, the gained “adventure points” for each adventure can be used for equipping the character with skills. Using this system, all characters generated at the same level are somewhat equivalent.
The fourth edition was also translated into English. Three books are available in English (all published 2006):
The Dark Eye is set in the fantasy realm of Aventuria. During the 1990s, it was first translated as "Arkania", but the name was later changed to one closer to the original German name. Aventuria is a continent of the planet Ethra (an anagram
of "Earth", as the planet's name in the German edition, Dere, is an anagram of "Erde", the German word for "Earth"). The other continents of Ethra are Myranor (also called "Gyldenland" in Aventuria), Uthuria and Vaestenland.
The Elves are indigenous cultures, and generally do not believe in gods. Unbeknownst to most Elves, Firn, Meadow and Veld Elves once had a single common culture (like that of Tolkien's
elves
).
In addition are:
The original sun, Glost, was the work of Guerimm, the god of fire. New gods appeared and started to oppose the twelve gods of Aventuria. One of them, Arkan'Zim, destroyed Glost, and another new god, Sindayri, created a new sun, aiming to reduce the influence of the twelve gods in the hollow world.
The splinters of Glost were spread everywhere. The inhabitants picked them and drew runes on them. They thus became runestones; the combination of three runestones can lead to the liberation of the energy of Glost, allowing a new magic.
Tharun is linked to the surface of Ethra by a double-sided volcano. The upper side is on an island 1,400 km west from Havena, the other side is upside down, and is situated in Tharun on the isle of Hamur.
The society is a military dictatorship, with a caste of Sword Masters ruling the rest of the population.
in 2000. Initially, it was used to play-test an early version of what came to be The Dark Eye 4th edition rules.
In contrast to Aventuria, the setting is high fantasy
. There are gigantic metropoles
, flying ships and cities, several races unknown to aventurians including cat-like humanoid
s and intelligent insects, as well as a country leached by its vampire-like, skull god "Draydalān" worshiping population. The continent is huge and parts of it still are unexplored.
While most of Aventuria is set in the central European Middle Ages
, Myranor is based on a mixture of classic Greek/Roman
as well as medieval Asian
background.
One notable political structure is a huge empire
that has been in degeneration for millennia. At its height, it had been the origin of modern civilization
in Aventuria, and the area it still controls is larger than Aventuria itself.
In its early years, the empire was controlled by mighty three-eyed wizards, called "the old ones", who disappeared thousands of years ago.
After its initial release in 2000, only one additional rule book, one regional description and six adventures were released. After those, it became quiet about Myranor. Two fans, however, revised Myranor to be played with the "final" 4th edition rules with FanPro's permission. These new rules were released as a hardcover
book in January 2006. On January 20, 2007 Ulisses Spiele announced that they would be handling future publications related to Myranor.
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...
created by Ulrich Kiesow
Ulrich Kiesow
Ulrich Kiesow was the creator of the pen and paper role-playing game The Dark Eye and its accompanying universe. Besides contributing to many publications regarding this game, Kiesow used the pseudonym Andreas Blumenkamp to write satirical articles for the now defunct German roleplaying game...
and launched by Schmidt Spiel & Freizeit GmbH and Droemer Knaur Verlag
Droemer Knaur
Droemer Knaur is a German publishing house, with headquarters located in Munich. The company was founded in 1901 by bookbinder Theodor Knaur. It is owned jointly by Holtzbrinck and Weltbild.- External links :* official homepage...
in 1984. The name literally means "the black eye". However, this does not imply a "black eye
Black eye
A black eye , or or 'shiner', is bruising around the eye commonly due to an injury to the face rather than eye injury. The name is given due to the color of bruising. The so-called black eye is caused by bleeding beneath the skin and around the eye...
" (as in a bruise); the German expression for such bruising is "blaues Auge" ("blue eye").
It is the most successful role-playing game on the German market, outselling 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...
. Many years of work on the game have led to an extremely detailed and extensively-described game world. Droemer Knaur dropped the project in early 1989, after the bankruptcy of the Schmidt Spiel & Freizeit GmbH in 1997, publishing was continued by Fantasy Productions
Fantasy Productions
Fantasy Productions Medienvertriebsgesellschaft GmbH is a German publishing company based in Erkrath.The company was founded in 1983 by Ulrich Kiesow, Werner Fuchs and Hans Joachim Alpers to produce small metal miniature figures...
(Fuchs' company, which had already done all the editorial work). Since the game's launch the game system
Role-playing game system
A role-playing game system is a set of game mechanics used in a role-playing game to determine the outcome of a character's in-game actions...
has gone through three editions, making the rules and background more complex. The basic rules of the fourth edition of The Dark Eye were published in 2001, and was the first edition to be released in English (in October 2003).
Aventuria (the continent on which the game is set) was first introduced to the English-language market through a series of computer games and novels and later under the name Realms of Arkania. The trademark
Trademark
A trademark, trade mark, or trade-mark is a distinctive sign or indicator used by an individual, business organization, or other legal entity to identify that the products or services to consumers with which the trademark appears originate from a unique source, and to distinguish its products or...
Realms of Arkania was owned by the now-defunct Sir-tech Software, Inc.
Sir-Tech
Sir-Tech Software, Inc. was a United States-based video game developer and publisher founded by Robert Woodhead and Norman Sirotek. While the original company closed its doors in 2001, its Canadian counterpart Sir-Tech Canada continued to operate up until late 2003.Sir-Tech is best known for the...
, which spurred the name change to The Dark Eye; Fantasy Productions
Fantasy Productions
Fantasy Productions Medienvertriebsgesellschaft GmbH is a German publishing company based in Erkrath.The company was founded in 1983 by Ulrich Kiesow, Werner Fuchs and Hans Joachim Alpers to produce small metal miniature figures...
was unable to obtain the trademark. In April 2007, Ulisses Spiele assumed the TDE pen-and-paper licence from Fantasy Productions.
First edition
Dutch language
Dutch is a West Germanic language and the native language of the majority of the population of the Netherlands, Belgium, and Suriname, the three member states of the Dutch Language Union. Most speakers live in the European Union, where it is a first language for about 23 million and a second...
("Het Oog des Meesters"), French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
("L'Œil noir") and Italian
Italian language
Italian is a Romance language spoken mainly in Europe: Italy, Switzerland, San Marino, Vatican City, by minorities in Malta, Monaco, Croatia, Slovenia, France, Libya, Eritrea, and Somalia, and by immigrant communities in the Americas and Australia...
("Uno sguardo nel buio"), but not into English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
. It is a very simple class and level system. It was published in Das Schwarze Auge—Abenteuer Basis-Spiel ("The Dark Eye—Adventure Base Game"). Advanced rules were published in 1985 in the book Abenteuer Ausbau-Spiel—Zusatzausrüstung für alle Abenteuer ("Extended adventure—Additional equipment for all adventures").
Character
The character (called "Hero" in the rules) is defined by five qualities (or attributes): Mut ("courage"), klugheit ("wisdom"), charisma, gewandheit ("agility") and körperkraft ("strength"). They are determined by 1d6+7 in dice notationDice notation
Dice notation is a system to represent different combinations of dice in role-playing games using simple algebra-like notation such as 2d6+12....
(8–13). The weight the character can carry is equal to strength × 100 ounces (1 aventurian ounce is 25 g).
The player can choose five different character types (or classes): adventurer, warrior, dwarf, elf and mage. All characters can be adventurers, but there are attribute conditions to access the other types (for example, a warrior must have at least 12 in both courage and strength).
During the adventures, the character gains adventure points; with a sufficient number of adventure points, he can go to the next level. When attaining a new level the character can increase an attribute by one point, and either the attack or parry value by one point; he also wins vitality points equal to one die roll, or vitality or astral energy points equal to one die roll for elves and mages. The extended rules add a sixth quality to the hero's definition: stamina. The initial stamina is the sum of the force and vitality points. Stamina represents resistance to exhaustion; it decreases when the hero makes physical efforts such as running, swimming and fighting.
The extended rules also provide four more classes that can be chosen during the creation of the character, or sometimes as an evolution of an adventurer or dwarf: rider, druid, priest or wood elf. It introduces the aptitudes (skills) that are chances to manage definite actions (such as horseback riding or camouflage), whereas the qualities are generic indicators. The aptitudes range between 0 and 18 (and are tested with a d20 in dice notation). They have a basis value (some are part of the culture, or are simple tasks). When the character reaches a new level, the player can distribute 10 points to raise the aptitudes. The basis value and the cost to increase depend on the type of hero (riding is easier for a warrior than for a mage); the cost also depends on the current aptitude level.
Health
The character type determines the starting value of vitality points (from 20 for a mage to 35 for a dwarf). This is to be compared with the 1d6+4 (dice notation)Dice notation
Dice notation is a system to represent different combinations of dice in role-playing games using simple algebra-like notation such as 2d6+12....
damage points inflicted by a sword.
In the extended rules, stamina plays a role in the healing of diseases (such as a fever); when it is 20 or more spontaneous healing is possible, and it is faster when stamina is above 25.
Resolution of actions
Actions are resolved by testing the attributes; the action succeeds when:- 1d20 + modifier ≤ attribute
The modifier is positive when the action is difficult, and negative when it is easy. The extended rules introduce the aptitudes, which are tested in the same way as the qualities.
Combat
In fights, the characters act in decreasing order of initiative (the character with the highest initiative acts first).Characters have attack and parry values determined by various other values. Typical attack/parry values for a new character are in the range of 14/12 (for fighters) to something like 6/8 (dedicated non-fighters, such as Tsa-priests).
When the attack test of the attacker is successful and the defender misses the parry test, the defender loses the number of vitality points equal to the damage of the weapon minus the protection rating of the armour (chain mail has a protection rating of four, and knight armour has six). When the attacker rolls one or two on the die, he makes a master hit; the maximum damage is inflicted, and the armour does not protect.
The extended rules provide for miniature figures which allow a finer representation of movement, with (for example) the possibility to push back an enemy. They also offer various possibilities such as fleeing, charging and successive attacks from the same fighter (assault).
They replace the master hit with the notions of good attack (the attacker makes a throw equal to or less than the good attack score, as shown on a table in relation to her attack score) and good parry (five points less than the parry score with the d20 in dice notation). A good attack not parried by a good parry implies a serious (or critical) impact (throw 1d20 and read the result on a table). When the attack or parry-test die shows 20, this can lead to a fumble. The extended rules also allow dodging thrown weapons, introduce specific rules for empty-hand and horseback fighting and infection (fever) for wounds.
Magic
Elves, druids, shamans, witches and mages can cast spells and have astral energy points; the starting value of astral energy points depends on the attribute values the hero has when created. The system is based on the memory of the player; the player must speak the formula without reading it during the game. When the formula is correct the spell is cast, and the character loses astral energy points corresponding to the spell.The extended rules introduce new spells. From the fifth level on, it is no longer necessary to speak the words to cast the spell. These rules also describe spells for the druids and wood elves, and priests' miracles: manifestations of the priest's god, which are similar to magic spells. The priests do not have astral energy but karma, which works the same way.
First-edition advanced rules (The Sword Masters)
Two sets, DSA-Professional—Schwertmeister Set I ("TDE Professional—Sword Master Set I") and DSA-Professional II—as Fest der Schwertmeister ("TDE Professional II—The Sword Master Feast"), were published in 1988 and 1989. This edition was published as advanced rules for the first edition, but is sometimes erroneously considered the second edition. Combat rules are much more elaborate, introducing a hit-location system.It was written for advanced-level characters (typically level 15). The sets describe a new world: Tharun , a hollow world. It is the inside of Ethra, lightened by a central sun. Nine archipelagos constitute the realm of this world. A pantheon of nine deities rules over the inhabitants. Divine runes (one of the only sources of magic which can be used by magicians and druids) are scattered all over the world. The sets also provide a divine quest. A third set of campaigns was planned, but has not been released. The Tharun setting was abandoned, but it is said that the world and its pantheon still exist; some deities are worshiped in Myranor.
Second edition
The second edition was published in 1988. The character is defined by the same five positive attributes (qualities) as in the first edition, as well as five new negative ones: superstition (Aberglaube), acrophobia (Höhenangst), claustrophobia (Raumangst), avarice (Goldgier) and necrophobia (Totenangst). The positive attributes are determined by 1d6+7 in dice notation (8–13), and the negative by 1d6+1 (2–7). The player can choose from over 40 different character types (classes). Again, there are attributes (conditions) to access the types. A character also features over 80 skills, called "talents"; the use of a talent requires testing three attributes, and the character is able to cast over 100 (11×11) spells.Third edition and Realms of Arkania
The third edition (1993) was used (with a few limitations) to power the three Realms of Arkania computer games: RoA: Blade of DestinyRealms of Arkania: Blade of Destiny
Realms of Arkania: Blade of Destiny is a computer role-playing game developed by Attic Entertainment Software. It was the first game based on the German pen & paper RPG system Das Schwarze Auge by Fantasy Productions. The original German version of the game was released in 1992...
(1993), Attic
Attic Entertainment Software
The Attic Entertainment Software GmbH was a German computer game developer and publisher that was founded September 1990 by Hans-Jürgen Brändle, Jochen Hamma and Guido Henkel in Albstadt, Baden-Württemberg...
/Sir-Tech
Sir-Tech
Sir-Tech Software, Inc. was a United States-based video game developer and publisher founded by Robert Woodhead and Norman Sirotek. While the original company closed its doors in 2001, its Canadian counterpart Sir-Tech Canada continued to operate up until late 2003.Sir-Tech is best known for the...
), RoA: Star Trail
Realms of Arkania: Star Trail
Realms of Arkania: Star Trail is a computer role playing game by Attic Entertainment Software based on the German RPG system Das Schwarze Auge. The original German version of the game was released in 1994...
(1994, Attic/Sir-Tech) and RoA: Shadows over Riva
Realms of Arkania: Shadows over Riva
Realms of Arkania: Shadows over Riva is a computer role playing game based on the German RPG system Das Schwarze Auge by Attic Entertainment Software. The original German version of the game was released in 1996...
(1997, Attic/Sir-Tech). Realms of Arkania was also the name three translated novels: RoA: The Charlatan (January 1996, ISBN 0-7615-0233-5), RoA: The Lioness (March 1996, ISBN 0-7615-0477-X) and RoA: The Sacrifice (September 1996, ISBN 0-7615-0476-1). The rules are similar to the second edition except for two additional positive attributes—dexterity (Fingerfertigkeit) and intuition (Intuition)—and two additional negative attributes—curiosity (Neugier) and violent temper (Jähzorn). The character is thus defined by seven positive and seven negative attributes (qualities), and this edition uses the same system of talents.
Fourth edition
The fourth edition of The Dark Eye supports a great variety of character choices. Where the older editions forced the player to create a character along very strict lines, the fourth edition is flexible and the player can choose from hundreds of different character classes and cultural backgrounds. The creation rules are somewhat similar to those of ShadowrunShadowrun
Shadowrun is a role-playing game set in a near-future fictional universe in which cybernetics, magic and fantasy creatures co-exist. It combines genres of cyberpunk, urban fantasy and crime, with occasional elements of conspiracy fiction, horror, and detective fiction.The original game has spawned...
(also published by Fantasy Productions) and even more to GURPS
GURPS
The Generic Universal RolePlaying System, or GURPS, is a tabletop role-playing game system designed to allow for play in any game setting...
. One reason for this development is the large community of professional authors and enthusiastic players, which have helped to define the continent of Aventuria over the last 20 years. Character generation is based on “generation points” from which a race, a culture and a profession must be “paid”. The points are also used for attributes and other skills. After generation, the gained “adventure points” for each adventure can be used for equipping the character with skills. Using this system, all characters generated at the same level are somewhat equivalent.
The fourth edition was also translated into English. Three books are available in English (all published 2006):
- Basic Rules (ISBN 1-932564-02-0)
- Secret of the Blue Tower / Witching Hour (ISBN 1-932564-05-5)
- World of Aventuria (ISBN 1-932564-06-3)
Aventuria
Anagram
An anagram is a type of word play, the result of rearranging the letters of a word or phrase to produce a new word or phrase, using all the original letters exactly once; e.g., orchestra = carthorse, A decimal point = I'm a dot in place, Tom Marvolo Riddle = I am Lord Voldemort. Someone who...
of "Earth", as the planet's name in the German edition, Dere, is an anagram of "Erde", the German word for "Earth"). The other continents of Ethra are Myranor (also called "Gyldenland" in Aventuria), Uthuria and Vaestenland.
Humans
There are three human groups, and several smaller cultures:- Middenrealmians: from Myranor, they landed on the west coast and spread to the centre of Aventuria
- Garetians (template: central Europe at the end of the Middle AgesMiddle AgesThe Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
) - Horasians (template: ItalyItalyItaly , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
and FranceFranceThe French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, between the BaroqueBaroqueThe Baroque is a period and the style that used exaggerated motion and clear, easily interpreted detail to produce drama, tension, exuberance, and grandeur in sculpture, painting, literature, dance, and music...
and the RenaissanceRenaissanceThe Renaissance was a cultural movement that spanned roughly the 14th to the 17th century, beginning in Italy in the Late Middle Ages and later spreading to the rest of Europe. The term is also used more loosely to refer to the historical era, but since the changes of the Renaissance were not...
) - Fountlandians (template: RussiaRussiaRussia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
at the end of the Middle Ages) - Maraskani (template: Asia—an amalgam of Middenrealmians and Tulamides)
- Norbardians (template: petty, travelling east-European traders; an amalgam of Middenrealmians and Tulamides)
- Garetians (template: central Europe at the end of the Middle Ages
- Tulamides : natives of Aventuria, probably from the Rashtul Wall; they spread to the south of Aventuria;
- Mhanadistanians (template: caricature of the golden age of Arab civilisation)
- Novadis (template: Tuareg): nomadNomadNomadic people , commonly known as itinerants in modern-day contexts, are communities of people who move from one place to another, rather than settling permanently in one location. There are an estimated 30-40 million nomads in the world. Many cultures have traditionally been nomadic, but...
ic people of the desert of Khom;
- Thorwalians (template: vikingVikingThe term Viking is customarily used to refer to the Norse explorers, warriors, merchants, and pirates who raided, traded, explored and settled in wide areas of Europe, Asia and the North Atlantic islands from the late 8th to the mid-11th century.These Norsemen used their famed longships to...
s): coming from Hjaldingard in Myranor, they settled in northwest Aventuria - Smaller groups, all indigenous to Aventuria:
- Nivesi (template: SamiSami peopleThe Sami people, also spelled Sámi, or Saami, are the arctic indigenous people inhabiting Sápmi, which today encompasses parts of far northern Sweden, Norway, Finland, the Kola Peninsula of Russia, and the border area between south and middle Sweden and Norway. The Sámi are Europe’s northernmost...
) - Forest People (template: Indigenous peoples of the AmericasIndigenous peoples of the AmericasThe indigenous peoples of the Americas are the pre-Columbian inhabitants of North and South America, their descendants and other ethnic groups who are identified with those peoples. Indigenous peoples are known in Canada as Aboriginal peoples, and in the United States as Native Americans...
)
- Nivesi (template: Sami
Elves
- Forest Elves: fairy-like elves, living mostly in a large wood called the Salamander Stones. They are worldly yet innocent, and dislike humans.
- Firn Elves: live in the north, in perpetual ice; for them, life is a hard struggle.
- Meadow Elves: live throughout the northern half of Aventuria along rivers; open-minded, they sometimes live in human cities.
- Veld Elves: horsemen from the grasslands of northeast Aventuria; they have loose contact with humans and Goblins.
The Elves are indigenous cultures, and generally do not believe in gods. Unbeknownst to most Elves, Firn, Meadow and Veld Elves once had a single common culture (like that of Tolkien's
J. R. R. Tolkien
John Ronald Reuel Tolkien, CBE was an English writer, poet, philologist, and university professor, best known as the author of the classic high fantasy works The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, and The Silmarillion.Tolkien was Rawlinson and Bosworth Professor of Anglo-Saxon at Pembroke College,...
elves
Elf (Middle-earth)
In J. R. R. Tolkien's legendarium, Elves are one of the races that inhabit a fictional Earth, often called Middle-earth, and set in the remote past. They appear in The Hobbit and in The Lord of the Rings, but their complex history is described more fully in The Silmarillion...
).
Dwarves
- Ore Dwarves: conservative, concerned with etiquette
- Anvil Dwarves: aggressive and stubborn
- Brilliant Dwarves: artistic
- Hill Dwarves: similar to Tolkien's HobbitHobbitHobbits are a fictional diminutive race who inhabit the lands of Middle-earth in J. R. R. Tolkien's fiction.Hobbits first appeared in the novel The Hobbit, in which the main protagonist, Bilbo Baggins, is the titular hobbit...
s, but here considered Dwarves
In addition are:
- OgreOgreAn ogre is a large, cruel, monstrous, and hideous humanoid monster, featured in mythology, folklore, and fiction. Ogres are often depicted in fairy tales and folklore as feeding on human beings, and have appeared in many classic works of literature...
s: giants of great strength, these simple-minded, strong creatures are often found in the company of Orcs, swinging large wooden clubs lopped off trees. Common to all Ogres is the consumption of nearly everything they encounter. - OrksOrcAn orc is one of a race of mythical human-like creatures, generally described as fierce and combative, with grotesque features and often black, grey or greenish skin. This mythology has its origins in the writings of J. R. R. Tolkien....
: black-coated, monkey-like species native to the veld ("ork land") in northwest Aventuria, with a culture similar to the Orcs of Warcraft - Holberker: a mix between elves and orcs, found only in few areas
- GoblinGoblinA goblin is a legendary evil or mischievous illiterate creature, a grotesquely evil or evil-like phantom.They are attributed with various abilities, temperaments and appearances depending on the story and country of origin. In some cases, goblins have been classified as constantly annoying little...
s: smaller relatives of the Orks, with red-brown fur, living mostly in northeastern Aventuria. Goblins are second in numbers only to the humans. - Achaz: lizard-men, whose ancient culture is now destroyed
- Trolls: large, burly creatures living in the Troll Mountains. Intelligent, they hint at an ancient trollish civilization predating every other.
Further reading
- Realms of Arkania: The Charlatan by Ulrich Kiesow, January 1996, ISBN 0-7615-0233-5 (Das Schwarze Auge: Der Scharlatan)
- Realms of Arkania: The Lioness by Ina Kramer, March 1996, ISBN 0-7615-0477-X (Das Schwarze Auge: Die Löwin von Neetha)
- Realms of Arkania: The Sacrifice by Ina Kramer, September 1996, ISBN 0-7615-0476-1 (Das Schwarze Auge: Thalionmels Opfer)
Computer/video games
- Realms of Arkania: Blade of DestinyRealms of Arkania: Blade of DestinyRealms of Arkania: Blade of Destiny is a computer role-playing game developed by Attic Entertainment Software. It was the first game based on the German pen & paper RPG system Das Schwarze Auge by Fantasy Productions. The original German version of the game was released in 1992...
(Das Schwarze Auge: Die Schicksalsklinge) - Realms of Arkania: Star TrailRealms of Arkania: Star TrailRealms of Arkania: Star Trail is a computer role playing game by Attic Entertainment Software based on the German RPG system Das Schwarze Auge. The original German version of the game was released in 1994...
(Das Schwarze Auge: Sternenschweif) - Realms of Arkania: Shadows over RivaRealms of Arkania: Shadows over RivaRealms of Arkania: Shadows over Riva is a computer role playing game based on the German RPG system Das Schwarze Auge by Attic Entertainment Software. The original German version of the game was released in 1996...
(Das Schwarze Auge: Schatten über Riva) - The Dark Eye: DrakensangDrakensang: The Dark EyeDrakensang: The Dark Eye is a computer role-playing game developed by Radon Labs. The game was announced on April 21, 2006 by publisher dtp...
(Das Schwarze Auge: Drakensang) - The Dark Eye: Drakensang: The River of TimeDrakensang: The River of TimeDrakensang: The River of Time is a computer role-playing game developed by Radon Labs. Drakensang TROT is the second personal computer game in The Dark Eye-universe since Attic's Northlands Trilogy from the 1990s .-Story:Though released after Drakensang: The...
(Das Schwarze Auge: Drakensang: Am Fluss der Zeit) - The Dark Eye: Drakensang: Phileassons Secret (expansion pack for Drakensang: The River of Time)
- The Dark Eye: DemoniconThe Dark Eye: DemoniconThe Dark Eye: Demonicon is an upcoming fantasy-themed role-playing game for the Xbox 360 and PC, and is to be published by The Games Company and developed in-house by Silver Style Entertainment...
(Das Schwarze Auge: Demonicon)
Mobile adventure series
- The Dark Eye: Nedime: The Caliph's Daughter (Das Schwarze Auge: Nedime: Die Tochter des Kalifen)
- The Dark Eye: Secret of The Cyclopes (Das Schwarze Auge: Das Geheimnis der Zyklopen)
- The Dark Eye: Swamp of Doom (Das Schwarze Auge: Sumpf des Verderbens)
- The Dark Eye: Among Pirates (Das Schwarze Auge: Unter Piraten)
- The Dark Eye: Crypt Raiders (Das Schwarze Auge: Die Grabräuber)
- The Dark Eye: Dragon Raid (Das Schwarze Auge: Drachenfeuer)
- The Dark Eye: Arena (Das Schwarze Auge: Arena)
Other games
- a trading card game, "Dark Force" (Dark Force: Duell um Aventurien)
- three Dark World board gameBoard gameA board game is a game which involves counters or pieces being moved on a pre-marked surface or "board", according to a set of rules. Games may be based on pure strategy, chance or a mixture of the two, and usually have a goal which a player aims to achieve...
s:- Dark World (Das Schwarze Auge: Die Burg des Schreckens)
- Dark World: Village of Fear (Das Schwarze Auge: Dorf des Grauens)
- Dark World: Dragon's Gate (Das Schwarze Auge: Tal des Drachens)
Tharun
Tharun was envisioned as the inner side of Ethra, which was supposed to be a hollow world. It is lit by a central sun which also annihilates the usual magic. In today's ingame theory Tharun is a so-called "Globule", a place in another Sphere of reality – or an alternate dimension (although this explanation is very simplified).The original sun, Glost, was the work of Guerimm, the god of fire. New gods appeared and started to oppose the twelve gods of Aventuria. One of them, Arkan'Zim, destroyed Glost, and another new god, Sindayri, created a new sun, aiming to reduce the influence of the twelve gods in the hollow world.
The splinters of Glost were spread everywhere. The inhabitants picked them and drew runes on them. They thus became runestones; the combination of three runestones can lead to the liberation of the energy of Glost, allowing a new magic.
Tharun is linked to the surface of Ethra by a double-sided volcano. The upper side is on an island 1,400 km west from Havena, the other side is upside down, and is situated in Tharun on the isle of Hamur.
The society is a military dictatorship, with a caste of Sword Masters ruling the rest of the population.
Myranor
Myranor or Gyldenland (In the original "Güldenland", meaning "Golden country") is a large continent west of Aventuria. It was first described in 1990 and released as a separate RPGRole-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...
in 2000. Initially, it was used to play-test an early version of what came to be The Dark Eye 4th edition rules.
In contrast to Aventuria, the setting is high fantasy
High fantasy
High fantasy or epic fantasy is a subgenre of fantasy that is set in invented or parallel worlds. High fantasy was brought to fruition through the work of authors such as J. R. R. Tolkien and C. S. Lewis, whose major fantasy works were published in the 1950s...
. There are gigantic metropoles
Metropolis
A metropolis is a very large city or urban area which is a significant economic, political and cultural center for a country or region, and an important hub for regional or international connections and communications...
, flying ships and cities, several races unknown to aventurians including cat-like humanoid
Humanoid
A humanoid is something that has an appearance resembling a human being. The term first appeared in 1912 to refer to fossils which were morphologically similar to, but not identical with, those of the human skeleton. Although this usage was common in the sciences for much of the 20th century, it...
s and intelligent insects, as well as a country leached by its vampire-like, skull god "Draydalān" worshiping population. The continent is huge and parts of it still are unexplored.
While most of Aventuria is set in the central European Middle Ages
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
, Myranor is based on a mixture of classic Greek/Roman
Classical antiquity
Classical antiquity is a broad term for a long period of cultural history centered on the Mediterranean Sea, comprising the interlocking civilizations of ancient Greece and ancient Rome, collectively known as the Greco-Roman world...
as well as medieval Asian
History of Asia
The history of Asia can be seen as the collective history of several distinct peripheral coastal regions such as, East Asia, South Asia, and the Middle East linked by the interior mass of the Eurasian steppe....
background.
One notable political structure is a huge empire
Empire
The term empire derives from the Latin imperium . Politically, an empire is a geographically extensive group of states and peoples united and ruled either by a monarch or an oligarchy....
that has been in degeneration for millennia. At its height, it had been the origin of modern civilization
Civilization
Civilization is a sometimes controversial term that has been used in several related ways. Primarily, the term has been used to refer to the material and instrumental side of human cultures that are complex in terms of technology, science, and division of labor. Such civilizations are generally...
in Aventuria, and the area it still controls is larger than Aventuria itself.
In its early years, the empire was controlled by mighty three-eyed wizards, called "the old ones", who disappeared thousands of years ago.
After its initial release in 2000, only one additional rule book, one regional description and six adventures were released. After those, it became quiet about Myranor. Two fans, however, revised Myranor to be played with the "final" 4th edition rules with FanPro's permission. These new rules were released as a hardcover
Hardcover
A hardcover, hardback or hardbound is a book bound with rigid protective covers...
book in January 2006. On January 20, 2007 Ulisses Spiele announced that they would be handling future publications related to Myranor.
English
- Wiki Aventurica - a wiki dedicated to the TDE universe
- Kingdom Albernia - English translation of the Königreich Albernia site, a lot of background information on the region
- The Dark Eye Yahoo group
- The All-Seeing Eye unofficial translation of the 'Adventure Base Game'.
German
- Official DSA Homepage
- Ulisses Homepage
- Fantasy Productions Homepage
- Nandurion - News for DSA
- Orkenspalter - Fan-Community for DSA
- Memoria Myrana - First fanzine for DSA-add-on Myranor
- Wiki Aventurica - a wiki dedicated to the TDE universe, see the English language project above
Italian
- Uno Sguardo nel Buio - a wiki dedicated to the TDE universe