Karameikos - Vaults of Pandius

Strolojca and Draconiusembarrassment for his bad-tempered (towardmen) and lecherous (toward women)behavior; Diomedes had him married withCelinda Penhaligon, the younger daughter ofLord Arturus, but this proved a disaster forDiomedes’ relations with the Penhaligonfamily when Xentarion’s many sexualescapades became known. Zenon insisted onundergoing the Shearing Ceremony at age 17and went to sea, but lost an eye during abattle against pirates and was back homethree years later. Gratian, a sickly boy, wasforbidden by his mother to undergo theShearing, and doesn’t show any interest inwomen.MEMBERS OF THE FAMILYBESSARION’S BRANCHAndjela Grogosula (Neutral NormalWoman) is Vanyarine’s second wife. Andjelais the last scion of the Grogosul clan, aTraladaran family who ruled the communitiesin the narrow coastal strip west of Rugalov.The Grogosul were already a clan in declinewhen the Thyatians conquered Traladara inAC 900, and the family slowly died out in thenext few decades. Her father and elderbrother went into the Dymrak Forest with acompany of soldiers to retaliate against thegoblins after their family lands had beenraided – but they were ambushed and killedby the goblins in AC 975. Andjela was leftalone trying keep together the pieces of herfamily fortunes; a very beautiful woman, sherefused many suitors because initially sheonly wished to avenge her family, and begana short training as a warrior. Soon, sherealized that her efforts could only at bestresult in her death, and that the best way toensure the safety of the people living in herlands was to marry someone able to defendthem. She chose to accept the marriage offerof Vanyarine Draconius, a Thyatian militaryman who was nearly thirty years older thanher. Vanyarine already had three children,and no need to produce an heir; if Andjela’smarriage was to be a loveless one, it wasbetter to chose a man that didn’t have theneed to pursue an intimate relationship withher. Andjela became a sort of second motherfor Bessarion’s last two children, Petrus andArcadia, when their mother died in AC 988,and the two became quite fond of her,especially in the years in which their fatherwas away with Stephania. Today Andjelaspends her time in Glucynthos, taking careof the Draconius’ family mansion andorganizing the tasks of the servants. She isquite an intelligent and cultured woman,well-versed in many languages, who has theuncomfortable habit to speak the truth evenin the most untimely circumstances.Arcadia (Neutral 2 nd -level Magic-User) isBessarion’s second daughter from hisLutescu wife, born in AC 982. As Petrus,Arcadia has almost no talent at magic, butmanaged to learn a little arcane lore fromher aunt. Arcadia hates her half-sisterbecause she is the favourite of their father,because she is so beautiful, because shelearnt magic much better than her, becauseshe stays at Specularum’s court and not infar-away Glucynthos, because she is allowedto marry who she wishes while Arcadia mustmarry who her father commands: in a word,Arcadia broods a hate as deep as possible forStephania, and for their father Bessarion aswell. Of all her family, Arcadia only admiresher aunt Shaelyn, and loves her acquiredgrandmother Andjela. Almost driven mad byher hate, she plans to poison Stephania asthe first step of her revenge.105THRESHOLD: The Mystara Magazine Issue #1