The Heldannic Order - Vaults of Pandius

PERSONALITIES
hatred for Ethengarians molded into
passion to seek out and hunt the enemies
of the Order. Chaplain Thorn is feared
by many within the Order, for he has
already cast down two corrupt abbots.
Siegfried Meinhard: F4 LG.
Siegfried is an eager and devout Hattian
recruit, but he is prone to greed and
personal advancement. He is 33 years of
age, and some fat is beginning to show
on his frame. A scar distinguishes his
right jaw (a reminder of the 993
rebellion). Siegfried is bald with black
eyes and stands 5’10”.
[Editor’s Note: Siegfried will be in line
to govern Landfall in 1010, but that town
will dissipate Meinhard’s honor. He will
institute a series of overlapping – and at
times competing – networks of spies and
thieves. The new Landmeister will
support Ingeborg Gottfried, hoping to
keep the rest of the Order off-balance as
he lines his pockets.]
Herr Wilhiem: F7. Herr Wilhiem is
a Knight currently stationed at Altendorf.
His story is one of redemption. Born 45
years ago in Thyatis, Wilhiem was a
prosperous businessman, but he had a
weakness for alcohol. One night he
accidentally set fire to his home, resulting
in the death of his wife and three
children. A broken Wilhiem joined the
Order to forget his pain, and in due
course found a surrogate son in Chaplain
Thorn.
Wilhiem worked his way up from a
volunteer soldier to Knighthood and lost
his self-rage. He is a compassionate
leader, willing to bend rules to make
things easier for others or to question
unfit orders. He continues to taunt
himself of with a glass of whiskey at
night.
[Editor’s Note: After the successful
conquest of Oceansend, Wilhiem will be
named commander (Kb) of a small
commandery in Norwold Territories
(1013).]
Volkan Veraltet: F4, Cha18. Volkan
is a Thyatian Knight who joins the order
1007, receiving his name (“popinjay”)
from a mirthful scribe. The Fist of
Hattias will fast track his rise in the
warbird fleet, but unbeknownst to them,
Volkan is an agent of the Eyes of Vanya
sent to spy on the Fist. Volkan appears
foolish and easily lead, but this is only a
superbly executed act.
Elke Schwarznase: F3, Wis17. Elke
is a Knight who has just entered the
warbird fleet. By the time the Order
targets Landfall for invasion, she will be
First Officer aboard the Wirbelwind.
Elke is an astute observer and will catch
on to any corrupt dealings with
Landfall’s new leadership.
Gustav von Heldring: F8, C. Gustav
von Heldring is a brutal old knight, more
concerned with removing those unworthy
to be in the Order than in keeping his
ship, the Zackigpfeil II, in fighting form.
Gustav is a member of the Fist of Hattias.
Ilse Degensinger: F7. Ilse is
currently the Second Officer for The
Drang. She dreams of glory and great
battles in the skies of Mystara, and wants
to command a ship with history of the
Karmesinfalke. [Fate will make her
captain of the Wolkengeist – Ed.] Ilse is
a perfectionist and strict adherent to the
laws and regulations of the Order. Her
frequent white-glove treatments have
earned her resentment among The
Drang’s crew. To help release the
pressures of her perfectionism, she has
developed a habit of rolling two marbles
inside her hand. Ilse is an able tactician
and skilled swordsman.
Heinz von Himmelswille: F8, N.
Heinz is the commander of the
Graudame III, a vessel that never
retreats. In the future battle for
Oceansend, the black dragon Lahar
destroys the Graudame, which crashes
into the freezing ocean. Heinz survives
but is badly disfigured from acid. The
vengeance-minded captain is assigned to
the new Kampfgeier, and he sets off to
catch his black dragon with special
barbed-lined harpoons added to his
ballistae stock.
Friedhelm von Donnerschlag:
Friedhelm comes from a humble
background. Uncouth and barely literate,
he progressed through the ranks from
indentured soldier to Third Officer of the
warbird Argo II. The Knight is cunning,
brave, and quick-thinking in combat.
Labor holds no shame for Friedhelm, and
he joins the crew, often bare-chested. He
is gruff with those of a refined
upbringing and dislikes intellectuals.
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When the time comes, Friedhelm will be
a candidate for captain of Sturzhahn II.
Dietmar Scholarse: F3. Dietmar has
just entered the warbird fleet. He is a
short, compact man with a very quiet
demeanor. His speech is very formal but
assertive. Ultimately, Dietmar winds up
as First Officer and Acting Captain of the
Sturmkrähe (1015). Dietmar is a short
compact man whose quiet and calm
speaking sounds very formal but highly
assertive. He understands the value of
drilling.
Gretchen von Strauss: F8. Gretch
von Strauss is captain of the training
vessel Kriegwind. She is an attractive
woman in her early thirties who
previously served three years as the First
Officer aboard the Karmesinfalke. She is
a hard taskmaster and runs a very tight
ship. She has been awarded the Gorgerin
with one oak leaf, the Cord with two oak
leaves, and the Hilt. Her younger brother
was a Serving Brethren who died in the
Dracheklaue Accident.
Althaven Personalities
Helmuth Grunberger: F7, LN, 43.
Knight Banneret Helmuth is the ranking
military officer for the army at Althaven.
He has held the post since 993, when his
predecessor was slain by Alphatian
mercenaries. Helmuth was instrumental
in organizing the village’s reconstruction,
but he has occasionally run into conflicts
with the Admiralcy.
Rogan Aditer: T4, CG, 65. Rogan is
the Minrothaddan Consul at Althaven.
Issues of importance are handled by the
embassy at Freiburg, so the retired trader
wiles away his time at the Drunken Rat
Tavern. Rogan is an important contact
for various smuggling operations.
Magda Himmerstein: NW, LG,
55. Magda runs The Gilded Sword, a
tavern and inn in Althaven. Magda was a
maid in service to a well-to-do Hattian
family that relocated to Heldann nearly
40 years ago. She parted ways 20 years
ago, and set up shop in Althaven. Magda
keeps an ear out for useful information.
While she would not risk harboring an
outlaw, it is within her nature to run
interference for those being chased by the
Knights.