Karameikos - Vaults of Pandius

The Demography of KarameikosUndeadGiven Karameikos’ ancient history, it shouldbe no surprise that here the creatures ofdarkness thrive. Undead like skeletons andzombies can be found everywhere – neargraves, in particular - as the result of darkmagics, as well as ghouls. Karameikos alsohosts a variety of elder ghouls, who aredetectable by a green eerie glow around theirhead, able to sap their victims’ strength.Wights and spectres may be found inisolated areas, moors especially; wraithshaunt ancient ruins, where old hutaakanmummies are sometimes encountered aswell. The dread wyrd, elven undead spirits,are mainly found in central and easternKarameikos. The numerous burial moundsand tombs built in the most varied ages andscattered throughout the Grand Duchy aresometimes infested by apparitions (a type ofphantom) and haunts – banshees, who arefound mostly in barren hills and moors,ghosts, and poltergeists. A variety ofnightshade, the nightwing, has beenspotted in the Blight Swamp, near theborder with the Five Shires. The trueprinces of the undead, the vampires and thenosferatu, represent one of the reasons thatmake Karameikos stand out in the KnownWorld; although they are not so numerous,they are spread all across the land, oftenholding unsuspecting and influentialpositions in human settlements (like LordZemiros Sulescu), or terrorizing isolatedcommunities (like the mad Count ofKoriszegy). Lastly, even some very rareliches dwell in Karameikos, weaving theirdark plots from their hidden lairs (one ofthose is Oirtulev, whose lair is found in theAltan Tepes region bordering Thyatis).31THRESHOLD: The Mystara Magazine Issue #1