Karameikos - Vaults of Pandius

Strolojca and Draconiusnow he had emerged from it with a muchstronger will, and a much more completecomprehension of one’s path through his life.He left his two last sons with their auntMildred at Specularum, asked his father-inlawIonut Lutescu (the father of his deceasedsecond wife) to watch over Glucynthos, andtook Stephania on many voyages. He wasaway with her for two years, during whichthey adventured in the Known World –Ierendi islands, the Darokinian cities, AlfheimTown, the dwarven kingdom of Rockhome,and then the Empire of Thyatis, from themainland to the Isle of Dawn and Ochalea:Bessarion wanted to show her as much of theworld as possible, before she grew too muchand took her part of adult responsibilities. Hewas partly successful, because Stephaniadecided to embark on the path of arcanemagic, even if she took a more studious thanadventuring life. He also tried to teach herwhat he himself had understood after thosetragic events, and let her see what in theworld made life worth living, despite lossesand painful happenings.Bessarion’s other two children had longed forthe return of their father. While Petrus washappy when his father and half-sisterreturned in AC 994, Arcadia was angered: herfather had been away with Stephania for twoyears and had left them alone. She couldn’tstand this, and began to feel a deep hatred forStephania, which she – rightly – saw as herfather’s favourite daughter; she vowed toavenge herself.When Bessarion returned, he devoted histime to the rule of Glucynthos. He took amore active role in his children’s education,and in the Grand Duchy’s politics. WhenBessarion’s father-in-law, Ionut Lutescu,passed away in AC 998, he did much to haveLutescu’s son, Vlad (a stern priest of theChurch of Traladara; the two had becomegood friends after Bessarion’s return),named Landed Lord of the nearby village ofRugalov, which in the years had grown froma small hamlet to a sizeable village and tradepost – and succeeded. Thanks to theiralliance, the Draconius’ and the Lutescu’sfamily lands, together with Rugalov Keep,represent today the backbone of the GrandDuke’s control over his easternmost border.DIOMEDES AND HISCHILDRENOnce the construction of Stefan’s army wascomplete, Diomedes was appointed Generalof the 5 th Division, in charge of the westernkeeps he had contributed to build andimprove. His duties often kept him awayfrom Specularum, where his wife andchildren lived. As Diomedes was often awaycarrying out his duties as General, theirmother, Romana, brought their children tothe Vorloi family mansion in Specularum, orto the court of his brother Philip in Vorloitown itself. There, the three sons havegrown up good-natured but a little spoiled,surrounded by all sort of commodities, mostof their wishes being fulfilled immediately.To his disappointment, Diomedes could dolittle to avoid this; whenever he choseprivate tutors for his sons, upon his returnfrom his duties away from the capital, hesystematically found that Romana haddismissed them for one futile reason oranother – and so he gave up.Add still to his disappointment, that hedidn’t manage to secure advantageousmarriages – those which could bring themtitles or wealth - for his sons. His firstborn,Xentarion, became a source of constant104THRESHOLD: The Mystara Magazine Issue #1