Karameikos - Vaults of Pandius

mortal magic to heal. This“percentage” also builds up,weighing on the wizard’s mindand sanity. So, a magic usercasting a 2nd level spell has a 2percent chance of becomingafflicted with the rotting disease,and adds 2 percent to his runningtotal of sanity loss. Spells of theRadiance carry double thepercentage chance. A wizardopening himself to demonicpossession is shielded from theeffects of the rot and insanity, butthat running total is still kept,applying instead to how muchcontrol the demon can exerciseover its host, as it gnaws away at itswarlock’s soul...Weavers: Sundsvall Initiates andCiprian WildersThose who follow the “new” or“untainted” method making use ofcast-off threads of Spheric Powerare known as weavers, as thegestures they use in manipulatingthe threads look much like thoseworked at a loom. They also referto their spells and spell-like effectsas ‘weaves.’ Weaves of similarproperties are grouped intofamilies called “Talents.”There are two schools of learning,based on the two ancientAlphatian cultures that have foundtheir way to Mystara. TheAlphatian method involves ahighly structured and disciplinedstudy of the forces and powersEvery Traladaran home contains at least oneimplement edged in silver, and even the youngest inthe family know better than to go out after sundownwithout it. If a stranger begs entry, it is best to bar thedoor. Never open the door in response to threeknocks. What seem strange habits to the Thyatianinvaders are what has kept the Traladaran peoplerelatively safe from the demons, werewolves, andvampires that haunt the land. None wish to repeat themistakes of the brothers Koriszegy.How have the slight changes to the historical canonchanged Thorn’s Karameikos?No Guild of Magic. The Grand Duke has allowed agray-robed sister from the Alphatian Tower of Lightsto remain at court, as both advisor and ambassador.Her retinue of red and blue-robed sisters are allowedwithin the borders of the Grand Duchy under strictsupervision, their rounds to the villages to seek outthose with an affinity for magic performed on a rigidschedule. All of those touched with the sparkenabling magical ability must receive the permissionof their families, and that of the Grand Duke, to leavehis lands to study at the Tower in Alphatia. The Toweris also to compensate the families for each year of thenovice’s training.A Fourth Church. Besides the Churches of Traladaraand Karameikos (and, though not officiallyrecognized, the Cult of Halav), most towns contain atleast a small shrine to the Alphatian Silver Flame, astrange worship brought by the Wandering Exiles tothe East. The patriarchs of the Traladaran andKarameikan pantheons both recognize the superiorabilities of the Silver Flame in dealing with deceptiveand hidden foes, but neither have seen fit to includethe alien, anima-spirit into their respective pantheons.The Eyes of Traldar: Legendary magical stones, saidto have been infused with the last of the pure magicof the World That Was. They appear throughout manyof the Old Traladaran legends, passed down throughthe Golden Age by the druids. Some stories claim78THRESHOLD: The Mystara Magazine Issue #1