Machavellio Disforza

—Vice Regent Fanākhati of the Verdis Tribe, listening to Machavellio's speech asking for aid.

 —A fortune-teller in the Fallo, cursing Max in his youth.

**Lord Governor Machavellio Disforza, Liberator, Cunning Bear** (*Euluska*: *Valaxto Dvëtor Makaveljo di Sforza, Livretador, Hno'ratónho*) was a Luskan man of house Disforza. He was one of the most intriguing, cunning and scheming people to grace the world. He was well versed in speaking, history, politics and culture. He lived an impossibly interesting life, being brought up as a rich young noble's son, before being forced to become a bandit to survive, then being captured and sent off as a prisoner, next becoming a freedom fighter, and then succeeding in becoming Lord Governor of the Lakayan Federation and later of Halcyon proper. He had some adventures, to say the least.

## Machavellio Disforza

The new Disforza family crest as made by Machavellio. The colours represent the intertwined Luskan (blue) and Lakayan (gold) sides of the family and their deeds. The Luskan motto means 'Freedom Always Prevails'. The triangles represent the shattered crown of the Lusken Emperor, and the wreath represents peace, whilst the falcon is a nod to the Bayut tribe of Lakay.

### Known For

Leading the liberation and decolonisation of Lakay, expanding the Federation, becoming first Lord of the city of Halcyon

### Associated With

The Lakayan Liberators, Anderson Rookes, many others

### Family

Gianluca Disforza (paternal uncle); Colombo Disforza (father); Prella Seausca (mother); Anaïs Disforza (sister); Érmione, Mercio & Francisco (children)

## Names

He was known by countless names throughout his life.

* Born as Machavellio Disforza, he adopted the name 'Max' when on the run.
* His work in Lakay's liberation earned him the Euluska Lakaïa title *Livretador* (liberator).
* Additionally, his time alongside the Larawak people earned him the epithet *Bi'maahó Cw'ž'húú*, meaning 'Cunning Bear' (lit. strong-minded hair-chested beast). It was translated into Halcyian Larawiyaki as Hno'ratónho.
* As chief of the Lakayan Federation, he was *Lord Protector*, later *Lord Governor,* which in Euluska is Valaxto Dvëtor)

## Fugitive

> *'You can't fight change, gentlemen... you can't... fight... gravity-'*
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- Max, cornered on the cliff where the knights killed Anaïs, just before leaping off into the sea and surviving.

As a young man, Max was schooled in the art of public speaking, politics, history, languages, and swordfighting. He enjoyed a good life, spending summers in Disforza Manor in The Danderillon and most his life in The Fallo at House Disforza. When he was a young man, his father Colombo Disforza and his wife Prella Seausca refused to support the Lusken Emperor Regulus XIII in the emperor's bid for tributes to prepare for a war. Regulus cast the Disforza clan out of grace for this transgression.

His father Colombo, his mother Prella and his maternal non-blood aunt Arronda were hanged in the square in Luskan, whilst his maternal uncle Gianluca was exiled to Fort Helena. Max and Anaïs escaped on foot, spending time with different groups of roving bandits and sailors, until Anaïs was killed by Luskan knights in the Fallo on a cliff, where Max jumped into the sea and stole a fishing boat to escape.

Max became a bandit for a time and joined roving highwaymen, but was caught in the Fallo in 1513 under a fake name and exiled aboard the LEV Eagle Cried Hope as a minor prisoner.

## Livrettadór

> *"Your city is taken, your powder burnt, your keep breached. Your soldiers swarmed, your nobles turned, your citizens panicked. Your army is crushed, your navy is drowned. Surrender and we might have the sense to spare you."*
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- Max to Governor Silverhand, ordering her to stand down.

When the Eagle Cried Hope was hit by a storm off the north coast of Lakay, Max helped stage a mutiny and escape attempt, along with Galaden, Elna Carrinstoke, Alessandro Lucari, Ocker Minsterfuller and Teller Tanglefork. They washed up together, and set off on a journey across the island, entreating with the Bayut of Oryix, then becoming established in King's Stead. As part of the Lakayan Liberators, he was a cunning and guiling man, with machinations beyond his ambitions. His contact with his uncle Gianluca Disforza helped his plans take root - he was ruthless, even going so far as to have his uncle order the death by firing squad of Gauward to not compromise their plans.

Max helped incite the Larawaks to war by personally orchestrating the death of Born of Thunder during an auspicious grey wolf hunt, then framing the colonial Davison Detective Agency as the perpetrators. He also entreated with the Verdis tribe to supply considerable amounts of weapons for their venture - using his silver tongue, again. He rallied the Larawak tribe under his banner for the final march, becoming good friends with Biting Shark (later Bringer of Liberty) - Shark never knew Max was responsible for his mother's assassination.

At the Battle of Fort Helena, Max led many warriors of differing tribes during the assault, and made it to the keep, where he faced down again against Leona Adler, Davison Special Overseer. The two of them nearly killed one another, but in a climactic moment after Elna Carrinstoke nearly decimated everyone in the keep with her explosive suicide (including killing Alessandro Lucari right before Max's eyes), the two joined arms. They killed Gary Johnson and took Orthalas to the inner sanctum, where they confronted Laeral Silverhand. Lee had El Tiburon execute Silverhand by forcing the former to attack against his will. Max appointed himself Lord Governor of the Fort and leader of the new Lakayan Federation

## Lord Governor

> *You're not all gone. You can still see sense. Just think, a land of freedom, for you, for me, for all of those who call this island home. Don't be on the wrong side of history.*
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*-Max to Lee at the climactic moment when he convinced her to join him.*

As the lone survivor of the liberation, Max and Lee grew close, and the pair married as they worked together with many of the native leaders to rebuild and decolonise the isle as best they could. His first act was the conception of the Lakayan Federation, a bold and noticed move where he ruled as *Lord Governor and Protector*. His upbringing in politics served him well as he struck deals with the Vortic Mercatorium and other powers.

Lee and Max had three children - the twins Mercio and Érmione in 1514, followed by the rebellious young Francisco in 1521.

He bought a scroll from Captain Selim once day in Fort Thunderlord's docks in 1515, thinking it would look good on his mantlepiece. This was Mori's family heirloom. Mori, along with Soot, Professor Langdon and Angélos, came to confront him in the 1520s, and after sending them on a mission to assassinate a Volan politician, he gave them the scroll back gladly.

## Lord of Halcyon

> *Max rolls his eyes, and laughs. ‘What was it you said to me, all those years ago? At the gates of the Fort, with the Lusken soldiers bearing down on us, the tribesmen at our side? Standing shoulder to shoulder with…’ he pauses for a moment, running his hand along the scars again- ‘with Antonio and the others. What was it?’ he muses. Anderson turns, the gold bar poking out his pocket.*
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> *‘In a world without gold, the two of us mighta been heroes, eh, Max?’.*
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- Anderson Rookes and Max talk before unfolding their plan.

Max's rule had been an excellent and prosperous one, but it was still fraught with problems. Half of his island was little more than endless prairie, rocky mountains or uninhabitable jungle. The whole land was littered with not much more than the ruins of old Luskan castles. Trying to 'touch the sun' so to speak, and secure his people a better future, in 1561, he hatched a plan after the Night Watch gave him a half-ton of gold and pleaded with him to help them free Waterdeep from Oracle control. He ordered Anderson Rookes to act as their ferryman, and after gaining assent from the Vortic protectorate of Sanctum, a large Lakayan fleet led by Lilac Rogers blockaded Waterdeep. However, Max's real plan unfolded perfectly. The blockade gave an ultimatum of ten days, but with no intention of letting their demands be met, bombarded the city on Mirtul 7th 1561 and invaded overland. Max wanted Waterdeep.
Max got what he wanted. His troops led the *liberation* of the nobles from Waterdeep County Jail, and aided the Night Watch to storm the final fort, where Aresilia Decimus was killed. With the city entirely within his grasp, Max was victorious, and declared Waterdeep to now be Halcyon, capital of The Lakayan Federation. In the coming years, he moved his government and many of his people followed. Max and his family moved into the restored Disforza Manor south of the city, where he spent his time enjoying life. He had made it, once again.