Karameikos - Vaults of Pandius
Karameikos - Vaults of Pandius
Karameikos - Vaults of Pandius
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Strolojca and Draconiusyounger than Vanyarine, was given the rank<strong>of</strong> General by Stefan and put in charge <strong>of</strong>organizing an unit <strong>of</strong> his new army. Vanyarinewas asked by Diomedes to help him; resentfulwith the younger Diomedes for the higherposition he held, Vanyarine did so with scarceenthusiasm. Despite this the two did a goodjob organizing the fledgeling recruits and themercenary companies into a proper anddisciplined army.In the meantime, Diomedes managed tosecure a pr<strong>of</strong>itable marriage soon after hisarrival in Traladara, marrying in AC 971Romana Vorloi, one <strong>of</strong> the sisters <strong>of</strong> PhilipVorloi, the wealthy merchant who wasfinancing Stefan <strong>Karameikos</strong>’ takeover <strong>of</strong>Traladara. While he and his cousin were inthe town <strong>of</strong> Vorloi attending the celebrationsfor the marriage, the Marilenev Rebellionbroke out in Specularum, only to be quicklycrushed by the Grand Duke, with theinstrumental aid <strong>of</strong> Desmond Kelvin. Even asDiomedes and Vanyarine rushed to theirliege’s side as soon as possible, the hotterfights <strong>of</strong> the rebellion had already takenplace, and they could only contribute to putdown some additional uprisings which hadtaken place in the capital’s countryside.Desmond Kelvin never passes up theopportunity to remark on Diomedes’ absencefrom the battlefield that day.In the following years, while Diomedes wasbusy maintaining control over western<strong>Karameikos</strong>, and building or improving theGrand Duchy’s fortifications on that border(Radlebb Keep and Riverfork Keep),Vanyarine left active military service andentered the Ministry <strong>of</strong> War under LuciusHyraksos; he was charged with patrolling theeastern coast <strong>of</strong> <strong>Karameikos</strong>, south <strong>of</strong> theDymrak Forest, and overseeing the buildingworks <strong>of</strong> the Eastron Road to protect themagainst bandit and goblin attacks.While Diomedes’ marriage with RomanaVorloi produced three sons in a row(Xentarion in AC 973, Zenon in AC 977, andGratian in AC 979), Vanyarine tried toimprove his social standing throughmarriage as well. In AC 977 he married themuch-younger last heir <strong>of</strong> a dying Traladaranfamily, Andjela Grogosula, who brought as adowry her family lands, located on theeastern coast <strong>of</strong> the Grand Duchy, west <strong>of</strong>Rugalov. Vanyarine named these landsGlucynthos and received from the GrandDuke the Landed Lord title for them, inreward for his past services, in AC 978. Thisunexpected gift by the Grand Duke lessenedhis resentment toward Stefan <strong>Karameikos</strong>,and also his nephew, who now was a stepbehind him in the social ladder.VANYARINE S CHILDRENMeanwhile, Vanyarine’s first son, Bessarion,married a Thyatian adventurer and priestess<strong>of</strong> Valerias, Adrianina Lastarthus, in AC 972.Along with her brother Demetitus, also acleric, she had followed Olliver Jowett’sideas to found a new church in a new land,and had come to Traladara. Unfortunately,this great love <strong>of</strong> Bessarion died duringchildbirth two years later, leaving him with adaughter, Stephania. For a time, Bessariontried to take care <strong>of</strong> Stephania himself, butthe pain evoked by the memory <strong>of</strong> Adrianinawas too much, and he began leavingGlucynthos for longer periods <strong>of</strong> time,adventuring in the Grand Duchy. Duringthose years he perfected his martial skills,helping both the ducal forces and thepopulation in many areas <strong>of</strong> the country.102THRESHOLD: The Mystara Magazine Issue #1