Karameikos - Vaults of Pandius
Karameikos - Vaults of Pandius
Karameikos - Vaults of Pandius
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The History <strong>of</strong> <strong>Karameikos</strong>was Bogdan Ivanovich 34 , Ban <strong>of</strong> Marilenev,who succeeded to the Marilenev throne inAC 301 and began a campaign <strong>of</strong> unification<strong>of</strong> other settlements and clans, both bydiplomacy and war, which concluded in AC324 when he was crowned King <strong>of</strong>Traladara in Marilenev; his son Anton evenmanaged to conquer the Cruth Lowlandsand the city <strong>of</strong> Achelos in AC 327, and t<strong>of</strong>ound a vassal banate there. Unfortunately,internal strife erupted at Bodgan’s death inAC 356, breaking the recently-formedkingdom apart. In the Cruth Lowlands, thelegacy <strong>of</strong> Anton was preserved after hisdeath in AC 364, and the Ivanovich familykept control <strong>of</strong> the banate, allying itself withthe Hojah family <strong>of</strong> Halag.FROM THELYCANTHROPIC PLAGUETO THE TRALADARANLEAGUEThis event prompted the organization andthe consolidation <strong>of</strong> the churches devoted tothe Traladaran patrons, bringing about theformation <strong>of</strong> the Church <strong>of</strong> Traladara inMarilenev, as well as <strong>of</strong> other branches <strong>of</strong> thefaith, called churches <strong>of</strong> Halav, in the rest <strong>of</strong>the country.The Traladaran communities continued tostay divided and independent <strong>of</strong> oneanother. Depending upon the era, theywaged war or traded amongst each other,allying together only to repel a foreigninvader. Some nobles even managed tobecome quite powerful local lords duringthose centuries; in reality, their domains andauthority only reached as far as their swords.The most important <strong>of</strong> these petty noblesThe 5 th century AC saw some very importantevents for Traladara. Around AC 410,merchants coming from the southern islesbrought to Traladara the plagues <strong>of</strong>lycanthropy and vampirism with which theyhad been infected in the east. This sparselypopulatedregion <strong>of</strong> dense woods and smallvillages was the ideal hideout for a werewolfor a vampire. In the following decades,many communities were terrified by thesecreatures and Traladara became known asthe favourite haven <strong>of</strong> such horriblemonsters. Those years also saw a newemergence <strong>of</strong> old Taymoran-descended34This is another <strong>of</strong> the short-lived kings <strong>of</strong> Traladara mentionedin <strong>Karameikos</strong>:Kingdom <strong>of</strong> Adventure, where he is featured onlyas “Ivanovich”. Further details on Bogdan’s story can be found inG. Agosta’s A <strong>Karameikos</strong> Companion and Lords <strong>of</strong> the CruthLowlands.54THRESHOLD: The Mystara Magazine Issue #1