Karn River Valley
The Valley of the Karn River is a large drainage area on the extreme eastern edge of the Arak Mountains. The native tribes of the valley are collectively known as Karni and speak a common tongue that is closely related to other regional languages. The people of the Karn River region are dominated by a mostly foreign folk made up of pirates and slavers from all over the world, drawn to the region by the general lawlessness of the area and the lack of any significant authority other than the strongest brigand of the band.
Much of the Karn River's course is the established border between the Corsair Kingdom of Karnesh and the Burna Sovereignty, with only the west bank of the river's last few miles contested by Burna. The largest city of the valley is Karnesh, the Corsair Kingdom's capital, with a population of 18,000 people, two-thirds of which are Oshahni, or the non-native ruling class that dominate the entire region, made up almost entirely of pirates and slavers.
Geography
The Karn River has its headwaters in the foothills of the eastern Arak Mountains. It is a fast-flowing river for its first few dozen miles, then it reaches the valley floor and widens out to a navigable expanse of water for the last 90 miles of its course. It flows through many miles of forest, swamps and grasslands and is home to dozens of unique species of flora and fauna.
Climate
Tropical and sub-tropical climates domiante the river's course through the broad valley. Heavy rains in the late summer will bring the river to its highest level, while late spring is typically the river's lowest seasonal level.
History
The Karn River valley has evidence of an ancient civilization that has become almost entirely lost to time. Long stretches of carefully laid stone roadways still exist within the valley, as well as numerous known (and possibly more unknown) ruins of significant size and scope. One such ruin is the Citadel of Karnesh, which is the seat of the rulers of the Kingdom of Karnesh and is located on the western side of the Karn River mouth. Situated on top of high bluffs overlooking the river's mouth and the Port of Karnesh, the Citadel is an ancient fortress ruin that has been reoccupied by the ruling elite of the Oshahni pirates. While the lower levels and outer walls of the Citadel are ancient, they are so well constructed designed that they present a formidable defense for the Corsair King and his court. The upper, more recently built levels of the Citadel, however, are quite poorly designed and were built with inferior materials that offer little in the way of comfort or protection.
Another ruin of some note is located at the junction of the north-south river road and the east-west road that connects the Karn and the Kaldee rivers. At this location there is a large complex of ruined buildings within a ring of thick, high walls that still provide an excellent protection from attack by an enemy force. Two gates have been reconstructed to make the complex a large and very defensible fortress for the Oshahni masters that occupy the site.
Type
River Basin
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