General Info

The great eastern continent of Toril, Kara-Tur lies beyond the lands of Faerûn, past the Hordelands and the towering Mountains of the East. A land of sprawling empires, ancient traditions, and immense natural beauty, Kara-Tur is a continent steeped in history and mysticism. Its cultures draw from countless centuries of dynasties, clans, and kingdoms—each shaped by spirits, ancestors, and the ever-turning Celestial Bureaucracy.

From the disciplined legions of Shou Lung to the shamanic tribes of Tabot, Kara-Tur is a realm where honor, tradition, and balance shape every facet of life. Great rivers carve through its heartlands, sacred peaks pierce the clouds, and seas both stormy and serene cradle its island nations.

Geography of Kara-Tur

Kara-Tur stretches from the forbidding mountain borders of Faerûn to the endless seas of the far east. Its climate ranges from frozen tundra in the north to lush jungles in the south, and from temperate plains to wind-scoured deserts. Trade routes like the Golden Way and the Celestial Road link its far-flung regions, while myths speak of dragon spirits and celestial guardians watching over its balance.

The continent can be divided into broad cultural and geographic regions: the imperial heartlands of the east, the rugged northern steppes, the southern jungles and archipelagos, and the mystic highlands of the west.

North Kara-Tur

Harsh, wind-swept, and steeped in ancient war, the northern lands of Kara-Tur are dominated by nomadic tribes, steppe empires, and vast mountain chains. The region’s open plains have seen countless invasions and migrations throughout history.

Notable Areas:

• The Endless Wastes – A cold expanse of grassland home to the fierce Tuigan Horde and their horse clans.
• Yaimunnahar – A western frontier region between the Wastes and Shou Lung, famed for its fortified passes.
• Kozakura Uplands – Windswept highlands and ancient ruins of forgotten empires.
• Kuong Jungle (North) – The northernmost reaches of the dense southern jungles.
• Mountains of the East – A formidable range marking the border with the Hordelands and Faerûn.

East Kara-Tur

The imperial heart of the continent—rich, orderly, and ancient beyond reckoning. The east is defined by its massive empires, powerful bureaucracies, and intricate philosophies. It is here that the Celestial Emperor’s influence shines brightest.

Notable Areas:

• Shou Lung – The largest empire of Kara-Tur, a land of immense bureaucracy, discipline, and artistry.
• Tu Lung – A southern rival to Shou Lung, known for corruption, intrigue, and civil strife.
• Kao Shan Plateau – Home to monasteries, scholars, and mystics who study the balance of ki and the elements.
• Tien Lun Mountains – Sacred peaks where dragons and spirits are said to dwell.
• Plain of Horses – Borderlands between empire and steppe, patrolled by warrior-nomads.

Southeast Kara-Tur

A tropical and coastal region filled with maritime kingdoms, island cultures, and hidden jungles. Trade and exploration define much of life here, with rich spices, exotic beasts, and ancient ruins hidden beneath overgrown canopies.

Notable Areas:

• Kozakura – An island nation of samurai, scholars, and rival daimyos, known for its strict codes of honor.
• Wa – A disciplined island realm ruled by the Shogun, closed to most outsiders.
• Tabot – A highland realm of monasteries and mountain spirits, resembling a realm of mysticism and ascetic enlightenment.
• T’u Lung Delta – Fertile farmlands and trade hubs linking the empire with the southern seas.
• Chukei Islands – An archipelago of pirate lords, mystic hermits, and hidden temples.

South Kara-Tur

Dense rainforests, ancient ruins, and isolated kingdoms mark this vast southern expanse. Here, civilization and wilderness intertwine, and the old gods of nature still hold dominion.

Notable Areas:

• Koryo – A disciplined and proud kingdom known for martial arts and spirit worship.
• Malatra (The Jungle Lands) – Vast rainforests teeming with wild magic, lost temples, and primal tribes.
• The Kuong Kingdom – Hidden cities amidst the jungle, ruled by a divine monarch said to commune with spirits.
• Khitai Coast – A hot, humid coastline of merchant cities and fishing villages.
• Veldorn Expanse (Southern) – Jungled valleys crawling with monstrous rulers and lost ruins.

West Kara-Tur

The western frontier where Kara-Tur meets the Hordelands and Faerûn. Mountain passes and caravan routes define this rugged region, often called “the roof of the world.”

Notable Areas:

• Tabot Highlands – Snow-capped peaks and spiritual monasteries hidden among the clouds.
• The Hordelands – Technically west of Kara-Tur, but culturally linked through trade and migration.
• Kao Shan Lands – Remote territories where mystics and martial hermits dwell.
• Shan States – Small, warring principalities vying for trade and influence.
• The Great Road – A historic trade route connecting Kara-Tur with Faerûn via the Endless Wastes.

Central Kara-Tur

A land of fertile plains, vast river valleys, and ancient capitals. It is here that the cultures of north, south, east, and west collide—an eternal crossroads of trade, faith, and conquest.

Notable Areas:

• Chukei Basin – A lush, populous valley fed by great rivers and home to countless villages.
• The Hungtse River – The lifeblood of Shou Lung, lined with cities, temples, and trade barges.
• The Celestial Lake – A sacred site said to mirror the heavens themselves.
• The Dragon Wall – A monumental defensive barrier separating Shou Lung from the northern Wastes.
• Kao Shan Forest – Ancient woodland where spirits, elves, and tengu dwell in uneasy balance.

The Underdark of Kara-Tur

Far beneath Kara-Tur lies a shadowed reflection of its surface world—an underrealm of ancient horrors, forgotten kingdoms, and alien deities. While less mapped than Faerûn’s Underdark, it is no less perilous.

Notable Areas:

• Kyorlin Deep – A drow enclave beneath Shou Lung, steeped in forbidden magic.
• The Jade Warrens – A network of caverns filled with phosphorescent fungi and ancient carvings.
• Nisura Hollow – An illithid dominion that manipulates surface politics through dreams.
• The Silent Temples – Collapsed shrines of long-dead gods, haunted by restless oni and shadows.
• The Deep Rivers – Subterranean waterways connecting to the Underdark of Faerûn.

The Spirit Realms

Beyond mortal sight, Kara-Tur overlaps with spirit worlds where the Celestial Bureaucracy, ancestral ghosts, and elemental kami dwell. These realms influence the natural world and the destiny of nations.

Notable Realms:

• The Celestial Heaven – Home of the Jade Emperor and the divine order.
• The Spirit Court – Bureaucratic realm of minor deities, each governing an aspect of nature or human life.
• The Shadowed Garden – A twilight mirror of Kara-Tur where forgotten spirits linger.
• The Dragon Courts – Domains of celestial dragons who oversee rain, rivers, and fortune.

Regions

Capital Cities