Italians

The Italians are the Ostrogoths, a Germanic tribe that occupies Italy, the peninsula in south-central Europe in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea. For seven hundred years Italy, as the glorious Roman Empire, ruled the world, but has since been overrun several times. Now the Kings of Italy rule. Central government, public works and standards of living have fallen.

Dietrich of Bern is King of the Ostrogoths, securing both legendary and historical stakes in the book. The merchant cities of Italy are unique in their knighthood.

Noble Vocabulary

Lord: Signore

Lady: Signora

Knight: Cavaliere

King, the: il Re

## Personal Data

### Homeland

The Ostrogoths live in the Balkans and along the Dalmatian coast for many years, confined by the Byzantine Emperor.

Verona is one of the largest and most beautiful cities in Italy. Rome is a large city, the ancient capital of the Roman Empire and site of the Vatican, where the Pope lives. Once grand, it has diminished under barbarian rule. Milan is a city in the plains of the Po River, a great trade center. Florence is a beautiful trade center in Tuscany, on the Arno River. Four cities are known as “maritime republics” because they contend for dominance in the Mediterranean with their fleets and shipping. These are Amalfi, Pisa, Genoa and Venice. Venice is a seaport that is built upon a marsh for protection. Many canals have been dug, and are being dug, to make it livable.

d20 Homeland

01-03 Verona

04-05 Venice

06-07 Amalfi

08-09 Pisa

10-11 Genoa

12-13 Milan

14-15 Florence

16-17 Rome

18 Apulia

19 Ravenna

20 Syracuse

### Culture

“We are the Ostrogoths. We have ranged the world, conquering and taking what we wished. No one has stood against us, and we were destined to become lords of Italy and its great city, Rome. We will go on to even greater conquests.”

#### Urban Roman

The inhabitants of the cities in Italy are Roman/Roman Christian, and the ravages of successive barbarian invasions have nonetheless left them largely intact. For characters from here, use the information for the Roman/Roman Christian people found in the Mainland Character types.

#### Names

##### Male

Amalaric, Athalaric, Theodehad, Theoderic, Theudis.

#### Religion

##### Arian Christian

“Saint Arius taught to us the way of the True Christ, the mortal son of God, and when we are true to that way, then God watches over us.”

##### Roman Converts?

If it’s hard to imagine the Italians not as Roman Christians, then please feel free to do so. For interest, though, I suggest keeping the traits given here, but underlining the Roman Christian Traits.

### Your Lord

d20 Roll Lord

01-10 a Baron of the City

11-19 The duke of the city

20 The Royal Ostrogoth Household

### Father’s Class

d20 Roll Class

01-19 Cavalryman

20 Noble

#### Nobles Table

d20 Roll Title

01-18 Barone (Baron)

17-19 Conte (Count)

20 Duca (Duke)

### Equipment

#### Cavalry

Chain mail and open helm (10 points), Shield (6 points), Sword, 5 spears, dagger; Charger, two rouncys, sumpter

## Condottieri

The ruling nobles of the Italian cities, being wise in finances, often hire professionals to do their dirty work. These are mercenaries, called Condottieri (singular condottiere, in English). They come in Companies of any size. Some famous in history are the Company of Saint George and the White company. The leader is foremost, and under his command are knights (often with their own units), plus many footmen. This is where lordless or landless knights find noble employment. Captains contract knights with their units, and have formal terms for their employment. Those rates are in the price lists as mercenaries. Each campaign season the captain works for whoever pays him the best. If he’s not paid, or unemployed, he’ll raid and pillage as needed to keep the unit together. When a man’s contract is up, he is unemployed.

These independent armies are not found in Arthur’s Britain. But wherever there is war, they go.

## Traits & Passions

### Italian (Arian Christian)

Chaste 13/7 Lustful

Energetic 10/10 Lazy

Forgiving 8/12 Vengeful

Generous 10/10 Selfish

Honest 13/7 Deceitful\*

Just 13/7 Arbitrary

Merciful 13/7 Cruel

Modest 10/10 Proud

Pious 10/10 Worldly

Prudent 10/10 Reckless

Temperate 13/7 Indulgent

Trusting 7/13 Suspicious

Valorous 15/5 Cowardly

\* May use Manipulate Specialty skill to replace Honest or Deceitful, as desired.

### Religious Bonuses

If all the underlined Traits are 16 or higher, then the appropriate bonus applies

### Starting Passions

Loyalty (Lord, or City) 2d6+5

Love (Family) 2d6+5

Hospitality 2d6+5

Honor 2d6+5

## Attributes & Statistics

### Men

Roll 3d6+4 for SIZ, and 3d6+1 for each other attribute.

### Women

Roll 2d6+2 for SIZ and STR; 3d6+1 for DEX and CON; and 3d6+5 for APP.

## Skills & Combat Skills

### Starting Skills

Skill Male Female

Awareness (5) (4)

Boating (1) (2)

Chirurgery ― (8)

Compose (1) (2)

Courtesy (3) (8)

Dancing (2) (2)

Faerie Lore (1) (2)

Falconry (2) (2)

Fashion ― (5)

First Aid (5) (8)

Flirting (10) (8)

Folklore (1) (5)

Gaming (2) (2)

Heraldry (3) (2)

Hunting (2) (1)

Industry ― (10)

Intrigue Use Manipulate

Orate (3) (2)

Play (harp) (3) (2)

Read (Latin) (0) (0)

Recognize (3) (4)

Religion

(Arian Christian) (2) (4)

Romance (2) (0)

Singing (2) (2)

Stewardship (2) (8)

Swimming (2) (1)

Tourney (0) (0)

Specialty Skill

Manipulate (8) (4)

Combat Skills

Battle (2) (1)

Siege (2) (1)

Horsemanship (8) (2)

Sword (8) (0)

Lance (8) (0)

Spear (8) (0)

Dagger (5) (5)

Don’t forget to add Individual Skill Choices!

#### Special Skill: Manipulate

Manipulate is used to exploit people with subtle verbal skill and social acumen. It replaces Intrigue, and also the Traits of Honest and Deceitful, when desired by the user. A character may have a normally low trait of Deceitful, but be a skilled manipulator.

### Homeland Skill Bonus

#### The Maritime Republics, of Amalfi, Pisa, Genoa, and Venice

Replace Boating with Seamanship, and add 5. They also get the Italian Skill of High Finances at 8, and another Italian Skill at 8.

#### The Great Cities of Verona and Rome

Stewardship +2, Courtesy +2; and player’s choice of two Italian Skills each with a starting value of 8.

#### The Artistic Cities of Milan and Florence

The Italian skill of Art Appreciation at 8, and one other Italian Skill at 8.

### The Italian Skills

The Italian Skills are Science, Philosophy, High Finances and Art Appreciation. These are the new subjects of the nascent Renaissance. Only Italians know these, and only they can have them. The skills have no game application, and no one but Italians care about these things. But they are always subjects of great interest to other Italians. A common conversation between them is an argument over which of these “trumps” the others. Is Philosophy more important than Science, or High… oh, who cares…

## Luck & Glory

### Italian Luck

d20 Roll Result

01 Money: £15 in new local coin.

02 Money: £3d6+5 in new local coin.

03 Money: £5d6 in new local coin.

04 Legionnaire’s Shield: Grants 8 points of armor (instead of 6), and –3 Horsemanship.

05 Centurion’s Lucky Helm: Adds +1 to armor.

06 Ring blessed by the Pope: Requires a Religion (Roman Christian) roll, and if successful grants +2 Armor.

07 Nero’s Harp: Grants +9 to Play (Harp), but +3 to Selfish, +3 to Arbitrary and +3 to Lazy.

08 Little Toe of Saint Christopher, a Christian Relic: Grants +2 to Awareness while travelling.

09 Ear of Saint Martin the Soldier, a Christian Relic: With a successful Piety roll, grants +2 to Sword Skill of any Christian. Failed Piety = immediate Melancholy.

10 Vial of blood of Saint Peter, a Christian Relic: With a successful Religion (any Christian) roll, it grants +2 to Any Trait.

11 Vial of blood of Saint Paul, a Christian Relic: With a successful Pious roll, it grants +5 to Religion (any Christian).

12 Kidney of Saint Damian, a Christian Relic: With a successful Religion (Roman Christian) roll, it grants 10 points of Healing. Can only be used once per person, ever.

13 Visionary Necklace: allows the wearer to see when a creature is of faerie, or where one is hiding, if nearby.

14 Tooth of Cerberus: Gives +6 armor against all dog bites.

15 Augustus’ diadem: grants the wearer +5 to Just Trait.

16 A very fast charger: Move 9.

17 A charger and a Camargue ambler

18-19 Andalusian Charger

20 Destrier, with trapper (5 points armor).

## Knighting

### Warrior Tradition

The Italian cavalry are professional heavy cavalry, armored and charging with lances. When a young man qualifies for this class he swears an oath to his warlord, receives his weapons and is blessed by the priests. This does not qualify for the 1000 Glory of being knighted.

## Previous Experience

Get 50 Glory for witnessing each non-battle event. For each battle, get 1d6 x 50 Glory.

### 476

Odoacer, a German mercenary leader, deposes Emperor Romulus and becomes King of Italy, subject to Emperor Zeno of Byzantium. Many wars with neighboring barbarian tribes follow.