Karameikos - Vaults of Pandius

Yuri Molotov - Death Knightfigure seated in the makeshift throne in thecentre of the camp.Mia dropped to one knee. "My lord, we havetravelled far to seek your guidance. Wepledge ourselves to you and your cause," shedeclared. "All we ask is the chance to avengeourselves upon the hated Thyatians."The thing that was Yuri stood up. Red flaresof light flickered in the darkness that onceheld his eyes. "I will grant your wish," hishollow voice rang out.Mila cringed, nearly screaming out in painas cold hands gripped her shoulders. Behindher Gregor did let out a gasp. Their formerguides seized them and forced them to theground on their knees. Yuri's sword raspedas he drew it from its rusty scabbard."No my lord!" Mila gasped. "We offerourselves freely to your cause. We pledge ourlives to you." The sweat was beading downher face. "We will serve you!""Yes," Yuri's hollow voice echoed through thecamp as he brought down his sword. "I knowyou will..."***Yuri s BackgroundYuri grew up in a small nameless villageunder the shadows of the Dymrak Forest ineastern Traladara. Working on his father’sfarm from a very young age, he mucked outstables and tended fields of stunted grains.Yuri spent his free time with the animals,which he considered more his friends thanany of his peers. He could do little but silentlyseethe when the Thyatians came to collecttheir taxes, and found himself watchinghelplessly as they slowly but steadilysiphoned away what little vitality was left oftheir small community. Not wanting to seehis father’s farm wither away intonothingness, Yuri decided to leave. At twelveyears of age he snuck off, determined tomake a better life for himself, and followedthe coast westward until arriving atSpecularum.Yet the city proved a disappointment to Yuri,who found little more to support himselfthan the same type of stable work he had leftbehind on the farm. Still, his affinity foranimals served him well when happenstancefavored him with the care of Sir ValdriTescu’s hunting falcon. Impressed with theboy’s skills, Tescu took him on as a squireand began teaching Yuri the art ofknighthood.Yuri s RiseValdri was a member of the Order of theWhite Drake – elite soldiers trained in theThyatian arts of aerial combat, each swearinga personal oath of service to the Emperor ofThyatis himself. Despite his misgivings forthe Thyatian order, Yuri accepted Tescu’stutelage and prospered, quickly attainingknighthood alongside his mentor. He wasinducted into the Order of the White Drakein AC 937, at the age of 18. During his timeas a knight he repulsed humanoid raidersfrom Radlebb, hunted rogue wyverns overKelvin, and even led several strikes againstthe frost giants of the Altan Tepes. On onesuch raid Yuri returned with the whitedragon Bruhminghet (Hoarfrost) in tow,subdued and submissive to Yuri'scommands.Like Valdri Tescu before him, Yuri activelysought out others disenfranchised by theThyatians to fill out the membership of theOrder, slowly replacing the aging Thyatian116THRESHOLD: The Mystara Magazine Issue #1