I have always associated Death Knights with Krynn, but the article links some of them to Orcus.
This lead me to think about Mystara. Which Immortals would create Death Knights? What would Death Knights from different countries look like? While a Karameikan Death Knight might look fairly close to the standard version, I'd imagine the Ethengar variant would be a bit different...
Havard
I can really imagine other flavors of Death Knights in Mystara. A Savage Coast death knight would be impressive. We have inheritor liches out there, I think an inheritor death knight might fit far better.
Has anyone read the Ecology of the Death Knight article in the first online version of Dragon? (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/dreo/20071003a )
I have always associated Death Knights with Krynn, but the article links some of them to Orcus.
This lead me to think about Mystara. Which Immortals would create Death Knights? What would Death Knights from different countries look like? While a Karameikan Death Knight might look fairly close to the standard version, I'd imagine the Ethengar variant would be a bit different...
Havard
Ethengarian Death Knights would probably be former Khans or Great Khans whose desire for revenge brought them back from the grave, followed by those who died with them. They'd be archery experts. (I like the idea that anyone they kill becomes part of their horde as a lesser undead...)
If they are undead knights in the service of Death, Thanatos might be a good candidate, and he is the reigning Heirarch after WotI, so he might need a few more agents in Mystara.
Since there hasn't been mention of Death Knights in Mystaran material before, perhaps place them somewhere that isn't fleshed out? Imagine Death-Knight Samurai Rakasta.
[indent]Modified excerpt from "Hytiliaph"
"Damn."
"What is it Yuri? What do you see?"
Yuri took a deep breath and twisted the Farseer he had held up to his eye.
"Damn," he said again, but the others could already make out the scene over the distant mountain peeks.
Sergei leaned back in his saddle. "Fire in the sky..." They all knew what that meant.
Yuri's mount shifted beneath him and let out a frosty grunt. "It's that damn fool Demetrion." A chorus of voices rang out behind him and his commanders shouted to regain control from the men. "Enough!" Yuri called, and all fell silent.
"What do we do now?" asked Guntar. Yuri still found it strange to look upon the face of the young Thyatian and think of him as an ally. No, not Thyatian. Hattian. There was a difference, and Guntar was an ally.
Sergei twisted on his mount. Looking behind him he addressed the men and drakes as his sword rasped out of its scabbard. "We have no choice now. Our lot is cast." He raised his sword above his head shouting, "For Yuri! For Traladara!"
More swords were drawn and lances were levelled.
"No," Yuri said, slapping the Farseer against his thigh compressing it.
He stood up in his stirrups, greeted by grim faces all around him, "There is always a choice." Several of the ice drakes flapped their wings in anticipation, but their riders held them back. Yuri raised his voice so that all could hear. "There is always a choice. Our choice remains the same. To bend knee before Empire... or to be free!"
A great cheer echoed from the mountaintops. As one, the men around him shouted out "Freedom!"
"Then now we must act!" A small change in pressure on the stirrups and Yuri's dragon mount leapt into the air. He did not look behind him. He did not need to. He knew the mind of his men. Roars and the flapping of massive wings filled the cold air behind him.
"Freedom," he whispered to himself. "Freedom... or death..."[/indent]
[indent]Excerpt from "The Order of the White Drake - A History", by Gander, et all
The Order of the White Drake was founded in AC 895 as an elite corps of soldiers riding on dragonback. Swearing a personal oath of service to the Thyatian Emperor himself, the Order was to be an elite task force that, it was hoped, would turn the tables in all future battles, and allow Thyatis to win the day.
The first decades of the Order's existence were glorious. Although they had not seen active combat duty, they were instrumental in boosting morale among the populace, as well as providing ground troops with crucial air support in the conquest of Traladara. After Traladara was annexed to Thyatis, the Order was given a plot of land along the coast, near the Dymrak Forest. Here, they built their headquarters, an imposing fortress called simply "The Aerodrome". Over the ensuing decades, the membership of the Order grew and changed, such that, by AC 950, many of its members were of Traladaran extraction. It was around this time that the Order's leadership changed, and a new Commander of the Order, by the name of Yuri Molotov, was chosen.
Unlike the previous Commanders, Yuri's first love was not to the Emperor, or to Thyatis, but to Traladara. He resented the Thyatian incursions into his homeland, and wished to see Traladara independent once again, but unified. Yuri, along with many other Order members who were Traladarans, saw the Order as the prefect vehicle with which Traladara could be taken, and held, against any reprisals. In AC 959, Yuri was approached by an Alphatian spy, who made him an offer. Yuri was informed of the coming Alphatian Spike Assault, and he was told that, if the Order did not come to the aid of Gabrionus during the assault, and remained neutral throughout the hostilities, they would be given Alphatian support to rule over Traladara and a sizeable portion of western Thyatis. Yuri's dream had come true, the chance to have a nation of his own.
...
Most of the former Order members have died since that time, though there probably are a handful of them still around - either as very old men and women, or those gifted with potions of longevity. Who knows what they might be up to today? [/indent]
Yuri Molotov - Death Knight
Yuri Molotov, an aerial warrior in service to the Thyatian crown, assumed command of the Order of the White Drake circa AC 950. Though he rose through the ranks of the military quickly, Yuri always harbored ill will against the Thyatian conquerers of Traladara, and never really considered himself a citizen of that empire.
Yuri was always fascinated by things that could fly. As a young child he found a hawk in the forest, its wing broken, and nursed it back to health. He began his carreer mucking the meager stables of his father's desolate farm, but by the age of twelve, Yuri knew that life was not for him. Her ran away to Mirros and apprenticed himself to various animal trainers throughout the city, always learning, always acquiring new skills. His earlier interests and self taught experience with birds paid off when a newly indoctrinated knight of the Order of the White Worm observed him handling several hunting falcons. Valdri Tescu, one of the first Traladarans to enter the Order, immediately took a liking to the boy and brought him back to The Aerodrome to be his squire.
The Order changed. Many of its new members were drawn from the surrounding countryside, and thus were of Traladaran descent. Yuri himself joined the order only four years after Valdri Tescu found him, and was knighted by the age of 18 in AC 937. Although never called into service by the crown, Yuri led the knights under his command into countless battles in the defence of Traladara and its people. During his time as a knight he repulsed humanoid raiders from Radlebb, hunted rogue wyverns over Kelvin, and even led several strikes against the frost giants of the Altan Tepes. On one such raid Yuri even returned with the white dragon Hoarfrost in tow, subdued and submissive to Yuri's commands. His status of hero was quickly cemented in the eyes of the locals and that was a major factor in his ascendance to master of the Order.
As Yuri climbed the ranks in the order he was exposed to more and more of the imperial politics that ran it, and his hatred of the Thyatians only increased. When the Alphatians launched their Spike Assault in AC 960, Yuri was contacted by agents of that government who promised him autonomy in Traladara if he held his forces back. This Yuri agreed to gladly. However when Thincol's uprising began, Yuri knew he had to take a more active stance. He led his men in a last ditch effort to reclaim their heritage, and their country. Alas, this final battle was not meant to end in victory for Yuri.
Yuri's ultimate fate is shrouded in mystery. As the Thyatians tell it, he was eventually subdued and brought before Thincol to face charges of treason. The Traladarans of Karameikos however, tell tales of how he evaded capture and still haunts the woods of Dymrak to dole out retribution against the hated Thyatian whenever he gets the chance.
Though the Traladaran's version of Yuri's fate is filtered by rose colored glass, it is actually closer to the truth. Yuri did indeed fall in combat against Demetrion and Hytiliaph, though his death was not an ending for him. His spirit persisted, even while his flesh and blood failed him. He wandered through dark places for years, visiting the graves of those branded as traitors by the Thyatians, waking old collegues from their dark slumber, and slowly rebuilding the might of the Order of the White Drake. Though hatred of Thyatis gave Yuri a second life, his new pursuit of death has made him an indescriminate killer. Traladarans and Thyatians alike join the ranks of his minions, and soon he will unleash his undead army upon the world.
If they are undead knights in the service of Death, Thanatos might be a good candidate
Or Orcus - he is Lord/Prince of Undead after all.
As indeed Havard pointed out in the initial post.
Regards
Gary
"It was him," Mila replied. "A fortnight ago someone attacked the caravan from Hattia, and none of the soldiers sent from Halag ever returned. And," Mila continued before her brother could interrupt her, "you heard the fisherman as well as I. He saw the white drake in the sky."
"Tales told by fisherfolk... that's what we're risking our necks over?" Gregor did little to hide the contempt from his voice, but still he followed his sister into the dark woods.
"Bargle thinks it's him as well..." Mila said into the dark. The moon was new and little light shown through forest canopy to begin with. "I've overheard him twice now cursing Yuri's name."
The two continued their journey in silence for most of the night. There was no turning back now however, since Mila had stolen several of their supplies from her erstwhile master. "Stop. We're near now," she said and found a patch of leaves to sit down on. Reaching into a black pouch at her side the Traladaran woman took out several rune covered bones and threw them to the ground.
Gregor could hear his own breathing. The forest was still. Too still. It was an unnatural silence. He tried to calm himself, tried to control the heavy breaths that escaped his mouth, but the burning in his lungs made that impossible.
Then they were there, standing in front of them, almost as if they materialized just as the first rays of the morning sun penetrated the shadows. Two figures, their armor chipped and dented, their mail rusty, and bones clearly visible underneath their helms. Mila continued to sit in the leaves, her legs crossed, and chanted softly under her breath. The two figures advanced. In unison they drew swords. Mila continued her chanting.
Sddenly she stopped and lurched to her feet. The two figures halted and lowered their swords. "Take me to Yuri," Mila commanded.
***
All of those years of seething hatred had led Mila and her brother to this place. At last the means to avenge their parents was within their grasp. Dozens of men, or at least what appeared to have been men at one time, mulled silently around the camp site. Mila ignored them as they looked up revealing dead eyes and yellowing bones. She focused her attention on the figure seated in the makeshift throne in the center of the camp.
Mia dropped to one knee. "My lord, we have traveled far to seek your guidance. We pledge ourselves to you and your cause," she declaired. "All we ask is the chance to avenge ourselves upon the hated Thyatians."
The thing that was Yuri stood up. Red flares of light flickered in the darkness that once held his eyes. "I will grant your wish," his hollow voice rang out.
Mila cringed, nearly screaming out in pain as cold hands gripped her shoulders. Behind her Gregor did let out a gasp. Their former guides siezed them and forced them to the ground on their knees. Yuri's sword rasped as he drew it from its rusty scabbard.
"No my lord!" Mila gasped. "We offer ourselves freely to your cause. We pledge our lives to you." The sweat was beading down her face. "We will serve you!"
"Yes," Yuri's hollow voice echoed through the camp as he brought down his sword. "... I know you will..."
I'm so stealing Yuri for my campaign.Anyway, as death knights go, Yuri is just a child. In AC 1000 he'l have only been a death knight for some 40 years or so. Anyone have any ideas on other Mystaran death knights? Possible some who have been around for far longer? ;) I'm heading over to the vaults to see if I can pull out any other tragic warrior types.
[INDENT]From the Gaz 8 Timeline
BC 744: The Third Rising. Hin defeat the orcs but humans, gnolls, and dwarves invade the land; lawless times begin.
BC 743-610: The Time of Heroes. Hin warrior-adventurers flourish in the land, eventually reclaiming much of it from the invaders. Rebuilding of a hin kingdom begins.
BC 609: The Restoration. Elders proclaim Gunzuth the Clanless as First Sheriff of Shaerdon. He rules wisely and well. The land prospers.
BC 572: Death of Gunzuth; Shaerdon split into five Shires, each ruled by a Sheriff, the whole being ruled by a Council of the five Sheriffs. The Golden Years begin.[/INDENT]
Gunzuth - Hin Death Knight
For nearly 250 years the land that would later be known as the shires passed hands from one tyrant to another. The hin struggled bravely, though each time they threw off the yoke of their oppressors, it was replaced by one yet more brutal and malicious. By BC 743 the hin had molded themselves into warrior heros, intent on breaking their subjugation and restoring hin self rulership. Gunzuth was just such a hin.
But Gunzuth became despondent and bitter, and knew in his heart that the hin could never succeed in their endevour. Years of constant struggle with little to no results ate at him until eventually Gunzuth lost all hope. Seeking something, anything, that might help his people, Gunzuth eventually turned to the aid of darker powers. In return for his soul, those powers granted him the strength and foresight to finally free the hin. His plans proved fruitful, and with their enemies overthrown the hin made Gunzuth the undisputed ruler of Shaerdon.
Though by appearances, Gunzuth's rule was marked by kindness and wisdom, something dark always clung to the periphery. The dark powers had given Gunzuth what he desired, and now they demanded their payment. They drove Gunzuth to greater and greater evils until finally his hin subjects, grateful though they were to their hero, could ignore his depredations no longer. His own children took up their weapons Gunzuth and drove him from the throne. Slaying their father, they divided his kingdom amongst themselves.
However, death was not the end for Gunzuth, for the debt he owed to the dark powers still was not paid. The life that left his body was replaced with unlife, and his love for the shires replaced only by hatred. He dwells there still, in the dark places between the cheery vales of the hin.