Karameikos - Vaults of Pandius

Yuri Molotov - Death KnightFROMTHE VAULTSOF PANDIUSby John Calvin (Chimpman)Once held up as the shining paragon ofTraladaran culture, the name Yuri Molotovnow serves to send frightened children undertheir bed covers at night, and evokes signsagainst evil from all adults who hear it."How can you be sure it was him?" Gregorasked his sister."It was him," Mila replied. "A fortnight agosomeone attacked the caravan from Hattias,and none of the soldiers sent from Halagever returned. And," Mila continued beforeher brother could interrupt her, "you heardthe fisherman as well as I. He saw the whitedrake in the sky.""Tales told by fisherfolk... that's what we'rerisking our necks over?" Gregor did little tohide the contempt from his voice, but still hefollowed his sister into the dark woods."Bargle thinks it's him as well..." Mila saidinto the dark. The moon was new and littlelight shown through forest canopy to beginwith. "I've overheard him twice now cursingYuri's name."The two continued their journey in silencefor most of the night. There was no turningback now however, since Mila had stolenseveral of their supplies from her erstwhilemaster. "Stop. We're near now," she said andfound a patch of leaves to sit down on.Reaching into a black pouch at her side theTraladaran woman took out several runecoveredbones and threw them to the ground.Gregor could hear his own breathing. Theforest was still. Too still. It was anunnatural silence. He tried to calm himself,tried to control the heavy breaths thatescaped his mouth, but the burning in hislungs made that impossible.Then they were there, standing in front ofthem, almost as if they materialised just asthe first rays of the morning sun penetratedthe shadows. Two figures, their armourchipped and dented, their mail rusty, bonesclearly visible underneath their helms. Milacontinued to sit in the leaves, her legscrossed, and chanted softly under herbreath. The two figures advanced. In unisonthey drew swords. Mila continued herchanting.Suddenly she stopped and lurched to herfeet. The two figures halted and loweredtheir swords. "Take me to Yuri," Milacommanded.***All of those years of seething hatred had ledMila and her brother to this place. At lastthe means to avenge their parents waswithin their grasp. Dozens of men, or atleast what appeared to have been men atone time, mulled silently around thecampsite. Mila ignored them as they lookedup, revealing dead eyes and yellowingbones. She focused her attention on the114THRESHOLD: The Mystara Magazine Issue #1