The Disforza Conspiracy

In 1510 and 1511, the Calinezzi family's most evil moment, their most darkest deed, was wrought. In the years leading up to this, the Disforza family had led several conquests to stamp out rebels and heretic armies in the Horn and Moors, some successful, some not. The way the Lusken armies worked during this time was really focused on glory and honour. Whenever the Emperor or Empress (who at the time was Regulus the Thirteenth) desired for a Just War (a war on the grounds of faith or suppressing rebels), it would be a great honour for a member of a Lusken noble family to lead the army. They would hold a Diet (a meeting of representatives from noble families) to decide on the plan. Upon their return, they would be granted boons, power from the rulers, land, titles, money, and more fame. 
The patriarch of the Calinezzis at this time was Jakobo Euvristhim Calinezzi, a cunning and snake-tongued man who was ambitious beyond reason. In late 1510, the Holy City of Imvola was occupied by Fallonese pagans. Emperor Regulus the 13th selected Colombo Disforza, the bearlike patron of his family, to lead an army to reclaim it, much to Jakobo's anger. Jakobo wanted a chance to elevate his family status and prove the Calinezzis were not just whalers and lords of the coast, but could lead armies too. General Disforza chose several other noble families to aid in his conquest - the de'Ferrva family, the Fioretta family, and the Montefiori family. Interestingly and to much controversty, Colombo Disforza refused to wait for the Archon (pope)'s saintly blessing for his expedition, because he worried it would slow things down for the pope to have to travel to where the army was mustering. This was unheard of, refusing the pope's blessing.Another person who shared Jakobo's anger at being passed over was Lady Valaneä de'Seditus, a copper-skinned ivory tiefling. United by a shared passion, Jakobo and Valaneä also began an extramarital affair in between their plotting. As if they couldn't get any worse.There was another factor that contributed. In late 1510 whilst the Disforzas, Deferrvas, Fiorettas and Montefioris began their siege on Imola, there was a crisis of succession in the cardinalcy of Cessalia, third largest city in the Horn after Lusken and Brist. The previous archcardinal of Cessalia, Cardinal Manara, died without any heirs. Normally they'd pass her title to her daughters, or then her sons, but she had no family. Therefore, the noble families of Lusken were needed to convene another Diet to resolve this. Jakobo hoped that the Diet would see the merits of his nephew-in-law, Bishop Erulekion Calinezzi-Decimus and choose him as archcardinal, thereby allowing the Calinezzi family influence among the Cessalian church and upper echelons. Erulekion's main competitor was none other than Bishop Iliyaka Fiexo-Disforza, the cousin of General Colombo, It was an evenly matched lead-up.
Jakobo hatched a plan. He sent Valaneä to sneak into the army at Imola and set gunpowder beneath the mercantile district, hopefully decimating Colombo's strike force. Such an event would seem like a partial defeat or setback at Imola and hopefully shake the faith of the Diet, thereby allowing Erulekion to win. Valaneä set the trap, but was interrupted by General Minka Fioretta and her friend, Colombo's daughter Anaïs who had snuck in to join her father's conquest. The bomb went off early, killing Minka and wounding Valaneä and Anaïs. Colombo's army avoided the blast, and successfully routed the pagans from Imola, returning victorious the day before the Diet. Faith was restored in the Disforzas, who returned to fanfare and celebration. Ilyaka Fiexko-Disforza won by a landslide - and what's more, Anaïs now knew that there was a conspiracy against her family. Jakobo needed change, and fast. With the power of the Calinezzis, his priestly nephew-in-law's connections to the Decimus family, and his extramarital mistress's De Seditus family, the three noble families plotted and came up with a plan.
Jakobo approached the Archon of the Euluskan church, Anxara Verreion. Verreion tried to project herself as a neutral pope, but she had personal loyalties, like we all do. Jakobo knew that Verreion highly coveted power over the diocese of Sanctum, the historic home of the Disforza family. Sanctum was the most powerful port on the west coast, and the Disforza family often resisted the attempts of the church to influence it. In addition, Verreion had a bad taste in her mouth with the Disforzas, since General Colombo had refused the pope's blessing for his expedition to Imola. Jakobo reasoned that with the Disforza family out of the picture, Verreion could appoint Erulekeion Calinezzi-Decimus as cardinal of Sanctum, and he would do the Archon's bidding. It was a tempting offer. The Archon responded carefully to Jakobo, officially stating that she could not show bias, but implying heavily that she would lend whatever help was needed in the plot. The Archon's word was law, second only to the Emperor. The stage was set.The conspirators - Jakobo Calinezzi, Valaneä de'Seditus, Erulekeion Calinezzi-Decimus, and Archon Verreion - orchestrated their final act on Saint Elias's Day 1511. Condottiere (mercenaries) of the Decimus family ambushed the Disforzas' private militias on the forest roads in the Horn and rained arrows upon them, killing several of them. These allies were on their way to church for the Saint Elias' Day feast. Spies of the de'Seditus family entered the Disforza manor and planted documents suggesting that Colombo was planning on assassinating the Archon - killing the pope would be high heresy. Other de'Seditus spies disguised themselves as minor members of the Disforza family and appeared in Sanctum, giving speeches to the Saint Elias' Day revellers about the 'tyranny of the Archon' to provide a false narrative of premeditated betrayal. The final act was a cunning one of sacrifice. Jakobo's right-hand bodyguard volunteered to be Polymorphed into the likeness of the Disforza family militia captain; the real captain had been kidnapped and killed by Valaneä de'Seditus that morning. The transfigured bodyguard emerged from the crowd when the Archon was walking up the steps to the Sanctum Cathedral to lead worship for Saint Elias' prayers. The bodyguard stabbed the Archon in her hand, as pre-agreed. Then, Jakobo Calinezzi emerged from the cathedral in mock surprise, drew his sword, and killed the transfigured guard. The Archon's security guards moved the body before it could revert back to its true form.
It was a master stroke. The family's militia was ostensibly killed by pagans and bandits as revenge for taking Imola. The family house was full of further evidence to convince the public and the Emperor of the Disforza family's betrayal, which was 'conveniently' found rather quickly. And the Archon, the mouthpiece of God, had been almost killed (apparently) by the Disforza's chief of security. Jakobo was a mastermind. There was no hope for the Disforza family. An angry mob broke into House Disforza on the outskirts of Sanctum after Jakobo whipped them into a frenzy. General Colombo, his wife Prella, and his sister-in-law Arronda Maia were dragged by the mob out into Sanctum's Mornala Square. As the bells rang for Saint Elias's Feast, they were hanged by a cheering crowd after the Archon and Jakobo gave a fervent speech about their evils. Colombo's brother Gianluca was seized, but because he was a savant and mathematician, he was sent as an indentured labourer to serve the Governor of Lakay. Colombo's four children managed to avoid being found, though it is said some of them witnessed their parents' hanging. These four children were Machavellio, Anaïs, Isilen, and the illegitimate Inigo. Machavellio and Anaïs fled together for a time before they were separated. Isilen was quite simple and managed to blend into a crowd and take passage on a ship. And Inigo was a half-Disforza, so they were able to fit in for some time. What happened to them is another story, but we're here for the Calinezzis.
Jakobo Calinezzi's evil deeds stayed silent for some time. The Archon ruled with one hand and never let slip what she had agreed to, being killed eight years later in the Sack of Lusken as the final pope of the united Empire. Erulekeion became archcardinal of Sanctum and ruled as the Archon willed, just a puppet for the Decimus family's will. Valaneä de'Seditus stepped back into the shadows, her task done, her family quietly expanding its influence where the Disforzas had left gaps. And Jakobo was pleased with his handiwork. From 1511, he kept silent, and the Calinezzi family in Brist enjoyed a life of luxury, powerful allies, and a prosperous rule. Yet, in his old age in 1561, when he heard that Machavellio Disforza, the son of Colombo and the Lakayan revolutionary hero, had become Lord Governor of Felonil-now-Halcyon, he suffered a nervous break and suffered from intense guilt. He fell quite ill from nerves. Upon his deathbead, Jakobo was visited by Machavellio Disforza. Jakobo was haunted by this sight; Max looked just like Colombo, huge and bearlike with a hairy mane of curled brown hair. Jakobo confessed his role in the conspiracy as he lay dying. His last words were "Know everything I did, I did for my family". Machavellio stood, delivered his final piece to Jakobo, and left him to die with dignity:
Category:Events
Category:Lore