Italy
The King's Brother
Luigi Connici
Young Luigi is a very clever fellow, possessing great natural talents in most aspects of courtly life. Though the courtier that he apprenticed under was more prestigious than talented, Luigi developed an acceptable level of skill at manipulating a court. His manipulations are aided by his deserved reputation for worthy behaviour, being both a naturally modest and temperate man. Luigi is only an average-looking man, but his keen mind earns him the respect most courtiers seek to win with charm and grace.
The King's Cousins
Ambrogio Capponi
Ambrogino is a trusted and honored military commander, well trained in his craft and respected throughout Italy. Never possessing any great talents to speak of, Ambrogino has proven himself through mastery of his craft and the tremendous wisdom his patient and meticulous studies have brought him.
Bonaventura Guerrazzi
Bonaventura has long been a rival of his cousin, Ambrogio. Where Ambrogio sought to prove himself through rigorous application and practice, Bonaventura has always relied on natural talent. Bonaventura has proven time and again that, while his natural talent for military affairs cannot be easily dismissed, his decision to rely solely on natural talent has always been considered misguided. Because of that, Bonaventura has never gained the same esteem his cousin and rival has. This has made Bonaventura angry with God, and he has expressed more than once his belief that the fairness of God priests preach of is a lie. His closing of his heart to God has produced in him a very arbitrary mindset, and leaving him very ill-disposed towards religious people. As he no longer fears God, he also has come to regularly indulge in the carnal pleasures.
The King's Brothers-in-Law
Cesare Boromeo
Cesare the Hunch-Backed, much like his good friend Ambrogino, has always relied more on talent than hard work to make his name. Fortunately for Cesare, he has always possessed quite a bit more talent that his good friend, and has proven capable at whetever he tries. Cesare always demonstrates great faith in those around him, and also has shown his willingness to follow Christ's example and turn the other cheek to those that would derride him for his malformation.
Giuseppe Mancini
Giusippe his a hardened veteran of Italy's many wars. His foot was badly mangled in a conflict a few years ago, but he is still one of Italy's greatest warriors. He is rightly proud of all his many accomplishments, but Guiseppe is not one content to rest upon his laurels. He is always eager to start new projects or attempt new challenges, and is very popular among the nobles of Italy for his uneding dedication to his liege.
Innocenzo Cadorna
Innocenzo is the most accomplished tactician of his generation. A gifted and subtle man, his list of accomplishments in command of Italy's armies is rivaled only by his tremendous ego. Innocenzo is himself a very judgemental fellow, and thinks poorly of those noblemen unwilling to take to the sword and defend their land as he believes nobles aught. Because of that, Innocenzo is not so popular among the nobility as he perhaps should be.
Leonardo di Parma
Leonardo is a man of middling talents and of little accomplishment. He is, however, the eldest son of the powerful Guido di Parma, and thus commands great respect. Like his father, Leonardo is a very avaricious man. Unlike his father, he has tremendous respect for life and seeks to treat others in a kindly way. Leonardo has recently returned from a trip abroad, where he seem to have contracted a strange illness.
Michaelangelo Pelligrino
Crafty Michaelangelo is a talented courtier from Rome. He has always been considered a remarkably bold fellow, never afraid to speak his mind. Unfortunately, Michaelangelo also has no compunctions about spinning elaborate lies in order to make himself look better. Some believe that is why he no longer resides in Rome. Even so, Michaelangelo is a skilled courtier, and has a very good understanding of how a court's underbelly operates.
Nobles married to the King's Cousins
Enrico d'Este
Enrico was born from lust a bastard, and the sin of his birth is one that he cannot resist to this day. Dispite this weakness, Enrico has risen to become the most respected theologian in all of Italy. Other than his inability to resist the temptations of women, he is a model of Christian virtue, both modest and wise. His skill in bedding women is remarkable, particularly given that he is a rather ugly man who has taken holy orders. Still, he is sly and strong, and serves God well in his own way.
Gentile della Bande Nere
Gentile was one of many young men who went to fight in the Crusades against the Saracens. Unlike most, he never developed a taste for the conflict he witnessed and came back a detached fellow. He did take the Holy Orders while in Jerusalem, but has not shown much interest in following through with his oath. Dispise his lack of enthusiasm for the cloth, he is a generally energetic and excitable fellow. The bloodshed of the crusades has also left him a markedly merciful and compassionate fellow.
Orlando de Medici
Orlando de Medici is one of the craftiest of the newest generation of merchants. Orlando has a tremendous gift for making people rich. He is good at almost anything he tries, but it is his excellence with gold that has earned him the lofty honores that have been heapend upon him. Orlando has a fairly poor view of those that take to the cloth or to the sword, believing that true power in this world comes from money. He is, however, a kind and tender person, and few suspect the ruthless talent for making money that lies underneath the surface.
Rafaele Sforza
Some say Rafaele is the Devil himself. Others just say that Lucifer stays out of his way out of respect for an equal. Rafaele is one of the most devious and cunning people alive today. There has never been a scheme yet concocted that he couldn't unravel, and nobody (and everyone) always assume that he is manipulating them. Rafaele is exceedingly arrogant (though his arrogance is certainly well-deserved) and amazingly selfish (though no intelligent person would refuse Rafaele his due.)
Vittore Andreotti
Vittore is a charming man, graceful and suave. His grace is hard-earned, as he was relentlessly mocked as a young boy as a strong ox and little else. Though he has always posessed a great natural talent for military matters, he chose to become a courtier- if only to defy expectations. Thus far, he has defied them spectacularly. Vittore has always been eager to prove himself, though some say his eagerness is closer to rashness. Vittore also has a reputation for embellishment, but such is his likability that his decietfulness is seen as charming rather than sinister.
