
Storyteller Shadow |
2 people marked this as a favorite. |

Venice The Year of Our Lord 1309
While the rest of the Italian City States are ruled by autocratic despots Venice is still an Oligarchy. Currently Doge Pietro Gradenigo and the members of the Great Council guide the city though this turbulent time period. Recent changes to the law have much of the citizens still grumbling about the dangerous turn the city has taken, through deft political maneuvering the Doge has closed the Council to those who have either already sat on the council or who can prove that relatives were on the council in the past. Though there are still plum positions to be sought by those who are not “included” much of the citizenry has been closed off from having an effective voice in the administration of the city.
Current Noble Families: Dandolo (supporters of the Doge), Gradenigo, Soranzos, Querini, Tiepolo, (last two opponents of the Doge), Ca’Grande.
There are people from all walks of life and all cultures in Venice at this time, merchants and skilled laborers hold great prominence in the city not just the Venetian “nobility”.
Traditionally Venice looked to the east and the Mediterranean Sea. Her founding fathers were as much Byzantine Greek as they were Latin. In fact Venice’s Doge was one of the architects of the fall of the Byzantine Empire over 100 years ago. Since that time though, the Latin Kingdom of Constantinople (never much more than the city and its walls) fell to the Palaeologus line which has revived the Byzantine Empire. Relations between that Emperor and the hated Genoans was long established which weakened Venetian Black Sea trading interests. However, the most serious blow came over 15 years ago when the Mameluke Sultan of Egypt swept away the last of the Crusader states in the Outremer. Though the Venetians immediately opened relations with the Sultan their position which was once one of strength has been diminished by unstable relations with an infidel.
As her Mediterranean power has been checked, her power on land has grown. Venetian mercenaries who unlike the mercenaries of the other Italian city states which look for deep pockets, are from the lagoon itself and are loyalt to the "Republic". This however changed just over a year ago when Marquis Azzo VII of Este died at Ferrara leaving no legitimate offspring. It would appear that one of Azzo’s two brothers had a claim to the seat of power in Ferrara. Before his death Azzo had named his grandson Folco, from an illegitimate son, to be his heir in his will. The brothers were furious and Folco’s father Fosco appealed to Venice for help.
Naturally Venice was all too eager to aid Fosco’s son retain the title after all would this not extend the control of her land Empire? The Doge dispatched a military force to prop up the young heir. The Pope though had no intention of seeing Venice gain such a prize and resurrected the papal claim of Suzerainty over the city declaring in favor of the brothers. Doge Gradenigo refused to yield and did not withdraw Venetian troops when ordered to do so by the Pope. After all, Venice had long been outside of the direct influence of the Pope’s influence. Appeals by the Doge fell on deaf ears and Pope Clement threatened to excommunication and interdict on the Republic, its Doge, his councilors and captains and all those who gave advice against the wishes of the Holy See.
Naturally such a threat was poorly received by the Doge who refused to secede to the wishes of the Pope. A delegation was sent to try a diplomatic solution but was rebuked. It is now February of 1309 and the streets and canals of Venice have become a dangerous place. The Great Council debates over the pending excommunication with the enemies of the Doge as well as his supporters out on the streets calling for the support of the people and in many instances coming to blows...

Storyteller Shadow |

Venice by Night - Saturday, February 28, 1310

Sergei Volkov |

Perception + Awareness
4d10 ⇒ (7, 1, 4, 4) = 16
"He seems normal enough, but always be cautious sister. We can never allow our guard down, no matter how safe we feel."
The small envoy makes their way down to the gondolier. Sergei saunters up to the man, looks him up and down, and leans in.
"The crow flies at midnight....."

Katriana Volkov |

"I am so sorry, I apologize for my brothers behavior. I am Katriana, and this is my brother, Sergei." She shyly bats her eyelashes the new acquaintance.

Xing Shi |

Xing Shi quickly takes to the shadows.
Dex + Stealth
7d10 ⇒ (10, 9, 8, 4, 6, 4, 8) = 49
She moves through the shadows to see what the commotion is up ahead cautiously with her sword drawn pulling her cloak higher covering her face.

Lorenzo Cappelli |


Storyteller Shadow |


Storyteller Shadow |


Storyteller Shadow |


Lorenzo Cappelli |


Storyteller Shadow |


Xing Shi |

Xing Shi watches the fight not entirely interested in helping either side. Let the Gaijin kill each other for all she cared din't matter to her. She looked around to see if anything else was happening in the area still sticking to the shadow.
Perception + Awareness (Diff 7)
6d10 ⇒ (9, 9, 6, 5, 9, 8) = 46

Storyteller Shadow |


Lorenzo Cappelli |

Lorenzo shakes his head in mild frustration.
"Very well. First of all, did anyone see you come to my door? God knows you were making enough noise to wake the dead, but did anyone actuall see you or follow you? Secondly, where is the body now, how long ago was he wounded?"
Assuming the answers, imply there is even the slightest chance that the man is still alive...
"Alright, we will see what we can do for him. Be sure no one sees you, and bring the body around to the back entrance."

Storyteller Shadow |

"No way Doc. If you don't want anybody to see us you will have to come with me. It'll be quick to get there. Sorry but he is too heavy for me to move plus I don't want anybody to see me carrying a body around y'know". Giuseppe looks at you expectantly hoping you will comply.

Lorenzo Cappelli |

As the former doctor walks away he mutters to himself, "Dominic, what have you gotten me into this time..."

Storyteller Shadow |

Guiseppe stands back while you approach the stranger with your bag and take his pulse which is weak and fading fast. His eyes look glazed over and blood seeps from his nose. Seeing you or at least seeing something, he states, "Take me to Prince Narses, I must tell him what I have seen here. He will reward you as he always does". Giuseppe interjects, "Did he say something? Is the Doge investigating us? Find out Doc before we lose him!"
Lorenzo make a Perception + Awareness test at Difficulty 8. Also, let me know what you would like to do next.

Xing Shi |

Xing Shi spots her mark and sees the danger growing. She can't let her mark die here or else her mission will be failed. She attempts to climb the nearest building to get to higher ground.
Dex+Athletics
7d10 ⇒ (8, 7, 7, 9, 1, 5, 2) = 39

Storyteller Shadow |


Xing Shi |

With all her years of training and fighting she watches the man charge like a wild bull and swiftly draws four shurikens from her pouch and launches them toward the fool charging into battle.
Dex+Athletics
7d10 ⇒ (8, 2, 9, 9, 7, 1, 9) = 45
Damage Str+1 for each success over 3
5d10 ⇒ (7, 3, 10, 10, 2) = 32

Lorenzo Cappelli |

Perception + Awareness (Diff 8):5d10 ⇒ (10, 10, 9, 10, 4) = 43
Lorenzo glares back at Giuseppe, "Quiet. I don't have much hope for him. Let me do my work."
The former doctor turns his attention back to his patient. "Prince Narces? There are no princes in this city. Who are you, what have you seen?" Lorenzo asks the dying man, doing his best to bandage and stabilize his wound.
Taking a guess on the roll: Medicine + Intelligence: 7d10 ⇒ (6, 6, 1, 6, 2, 1, 4) = 26

Storyteller Shadow |

The two swordsmen exchange words and break off contact with no winner to the contest. The man with the larger group jogs backwards his eyes to the skyline but he fails to see you as well as he trots off behind his compatriots. Let's stop there and wait for Miguel to respond tonight.

Storyteller Shadow |


Storyteller Shadow |

Upon hearing your voice the man's eyes focus again. "Wait I don't know you... What have I done?" He pauses to take in a sharp breath and lets out a wheezing cough like rattle, "That is where you are wrong. There is a Prince and you will rue this day that you have made this discovery". You try as best you can to stabilize him but it is obvious that he will not make it. Within only a few more minutes his breath stops.
From behind Giuseppe says, "No Doc no, you gotta save him!"
As you turn to reprimand this fool suddenly the weight of the body vanishes from your hands. As you turn back the body you expected to see is gone replaced with ashes in the imprint of a man. From behind you hear a loud thump as Giuseppe appears to have passed out at the sight.

Lorenzo Cappelli |

Lorenzo is nearly as shocked as the passed out Giuseppe by the dying man's rapid transition to dust. Equal parts frightened and curious, Lorenzo reaches into his bag, and fills an empty specimin bottle with a bit of the dead man's dust to study later.
His sample gathered, Lorenzo grabs a broom and obliterates the man's outline, not wanting extra attention drawn to discovery. He then moves to check on Giuseppe, satified that the man will be alright, Lorenzo goes to investigate the pried open crate.

Storyteller Shadow |


Lorenzo Cappelli |

Any chance for a Intelligence + Occult to put two and two together?Intelligence + Occult:6d10 ⇒ (6, 2, 6, 8, 1, 6) = 29

Storyteller Shadow |


Storyteller Shadow |


Xing Shi |

Xing Shi quickly leaps down from the building performing some crazy somersault.
Dex+Althletics
7d10 ⇒ (1, 6, 7, 9, 9, 10, 3) = 45
After landing she quickly follows her mark and his friends down the way they left sticking to the shadows as best she can at a fast pace.

Storyteller Shadow |


Michael Santo |
1 person marked this as a favorite. |

Santo Prologue – Storyteller Shadow and the Volkov’s
I raise an eye brow and stare at Sergi with a strange and confused look.
Slowly turning to Kartina "It's a pleasure to meet you Katrina, I am Miachel Santo Your Captin this evening. Would you like a moonlit tour of the city? The sights of Venice are simply breath taking by waterview? whadda-ya-say-no?"

Sergei Volkov |
1 person marked this as a favorite. |

Manipulation + Intimidation (-1 for Bruiser) 6d10 ⇒ (8, 4, 10, 4, 5, 5) = 36

Xing Shi |

Sticking to the shadows she follows Michele Querini and his friends making note of the surrounding area passing through the city. She marks the territory as she moves for ease of escape of known route in case the need arises.
She thinks to herself that this fool is lucky to be alive and almost lost her contract due to their idiocy. Men always trying to be bravos.

Storyteller Shadow |


Storyteller Shadow |


Storyteller Shadow |


Lorenzo Cappelli |

As Lorenzo begins to leave and head back home, he turns back to the night watchman, "One question before I go, why is there a crate full of religious garb and filed down chair legs here? Seems like an odd thing to keep around. Once you have finished resealing that crate, I would get some rest if I were you."
Once he has heard Giuseppe's answer, Lorenzo returns to his home and work.

Xing Shi |

While waiting she pulls out a parchment and begins marking down the territory creating a crude map.

Storyteller Shadow |

Giuseppe gets to work closing the crate as you slip out the entrance after ensuring that no one is watching. The walk back is accompanied by the sound of steel bared on steel which echoes from somewhere far away. You pull your cloak tighter and head back to your home wondering if you can just forget everything you saw here tonight.

Lorenzo Cappelli |

Lorenzo thinks to himself, as he locks his door and prepares to head back down into his lab, Perhaps I should pay Dominic a visit in the morning....yes, I think I shall.

Michael Santo |
