My take on Invidia (The Land of Conflicts and Lies)

[Mistmaster]

This is the forum version of my Invidia QtR article.
Invidia:The Land of Conflicts and Lies
Official Name : The Kingdom of Invidia
Culture level: Chivalrious
Ecology:Full
Climate & Terrain: Temperate, Invidia is a fertile plain crossed by many rivers; the Nharov River saparetes Invidia from Gundarak, while the Serpent's tongue and the Breadth Forest marks the southern border.
Languages:Common, Invidian, Barovian, Low Vaasan, Sithican, Verbreker, Kartakassian Dialect, Patterna.
Religions:Cult of Hala, Iron Church, Church of Ezra the Preserver. Vistani Religion, Wolfwere religion, Paka religion.
Races:Humans 95%(of which one third are Vistani Bloodied) , Wolfwere 3%, Paka 1%, Other 1%).
Governement: Hereditary Feudal Monarchy.
Ruler: King Malocchio Treholani under the regency of his mother.
Darklord: Queen Mother Gabrielle Aderre-Drakov-Treholani.
Lightlord: Lady Isabelle Aderre.
Inhabitants: 8 millions.
Surface :75,000 square kilometres.
Analog: XVII Century Italy.
Capital City:Karina(95,000 in, Standard, N/E),
Important towns: Beltis (65,000 in, Monstrous, L/G), Curriculo (72,600, Non-standard L/N), Endari Koorah (22,000 Non-Standard, N), Tancos (42,000 in, Monstruos N), Valetta (87,000 in, Standard, N)
Borders:North:Borca, North East: Lazendrak; East:Gundarak and Barovia; South: Sithicus, South West and West: Kartakass;

Domain Overview
Invidia is a vast fertile plain, with three forests inside its border and several rivers
The principal cities, Karina and Valetta lays on the edge of the navigable Serpent's Tongue River, Karina on the point where the Noisette River forks, giving birth to the Serpent's Tongue. The ancestral and holy capital city of the Vistani people Endari Koorah lies well protected in the deep of the Breadth Forest. The fortified city of Curricolo defends the border wlth Gundarak, while the Wolfwere considers theyr capital city the industrious city of Beltis, on the edge of the Noisette River, while the other main minority of shapeshifters in the kingdom, the Pakas, live together in Tancos, on the southern bench of the Nharov River, controlling the Tepurch Forest. The Massive fortress of Castle Loupet is in the center of the Vulpwood.


The People
As Invidia is the Vistana's homeland, it has the highest number of Vistana people of the Core, and the relationship beetwen regular Invidians and Vistani is complicated. While Vistana's cooking, dressing, hairdressing, architecture and jewelry are very popular, Vistana people are seen with suspect, as they do not conform with majority and cling fiercely to their tradition. Since Vistani often travel many non-Vistana Invidian tends to opportunely forget that they are Invida's native population. The other relevant minority are the shapeshifters, which are, in the eyes of Invidians, divided in two groups, the Wolfweres, lnvidian champions, and all the others, mainly the Pakas, seen with suspect and distrust. Invidians are a very religious people, with a rich folklore, and a long oral tradition. Invidians practice intensive agriculture and are core-wide exporters of wine, Olive oil is their second most exported commodity and Grain the third one. Invidian breeders are also chicken and eggs productors. Invidia's land is extremely fertile.
Pakas as seen as capricious but charming and Wolfweres are seen as Invidia's champions.

History
Age of Creation
In the age of Creation, Hala, the all-mother, heavily pregnant, flattened the land now known as Invidia while giving birth to her children, warring twins Zhakata and Ezra, cunning Zaganta, the Lord of Cats, and loyal and wise Fenris, Grandfather Wolf. Her tears generated the rlvers, and her afterbirth gave the land its fertility. Hanuvar, the Father of all Vistani was the last to be born, and Hala married him, and bore him Vistan; From Vistan and Hala herself six children were born, Boem, Kaldresh, Manusa, Qarginti, Teginta and Vanatra

Age of Empires:
During the age of Empires, Vistan, the Father of all Tasques and tribes, with his children, defeated the Olympian empire and established tne Vistana Kingdom. But a Calamity struck the prosperous kingdom, a Calamity ushered by the first Dukkar, and so the Wandering started; The Pakas and the Wolfweres formed permanent communities in Invidia.

Age of Darkness
In the Age of Darkness people of Terg descendence colonized the land. Invidia was the last redoubt of Terg Empire and at the end of the age, after the death of Emmett II , the last Terg Emperor, in the Battle of Vallaki, against Strahd I the Devil of Barovia Invidia fell in anarchy.

The Modern Age
In the modern Age the Wolfweres helped Invidiian Treholani Dinasty to win independence from Barovia, which conquered Invidia under Strahd III the Conqueror, and partecipated to Invidian attempts to conquer Verbrek. They have enjoyed broad acceptance in Invidia.

The Current Age
The current Wolfwere leader Mutton Aderre managed to stop his brother-in-law Harkon Lukas from violently sizing the power. King Bahkolis III Treholani has recently died after the loss of the province of Kartakass and his son Malocchio, under the regency of his mother, queen-mother Gabrielle, have instaured an increasengly centralized government, and in spite of the Queen 's Vistani inheritance, increasingly persecutory against the Vistani themselves.

Places of Interest:

Karina, the Heart of Invidia is a beautiful city, which took the better of the various civilizations which inhabited the land, Vistani, Olimpyans, Terg, Barovians, Wolfweres and Pakas. Strong Barovian-style fortifications, blended with gardens Terg-style, Vistana pavilions, Olympian-style temples , stout and practical wooden and stone houses and house blocks in the simple Wolfwere style and refined and extravagant manor houses in the Paka style. From the city, a paved road lead in the deep of the Vulpwood where the massive Castle Loupet, house Treholani fortress is seated. On the northern bench of the Noisette River, the famous Katrina's Vineyards, from which grape Invidia's more famous product, Karina's Red Gold Wine, is produced. A Lord Steward mind ordinary businness of the city from the Claw Shield Palace in the center of the city, near the City Hall; the current Lord Steward is Lord Radu Gerdank. Both the Iron Dome of Zakhata and the Ezrite Cathedral of our Lady of the Pictures both are in Karina, which houses a massive city hall were nobles meet and is divided in 6 districts Small folk inhabited Maze, Upper Class Commons, where the temples and the City Hall are, Business Oriented Warehouse, Enterteinement oriented Wine Garden, Bustarde, the Vistana Ghetto and Klein Falkovnia, the Falkovnian District.
Many inns and taverns dot the city, the most famous are the Black Swan, the Clock's Tick, the Crimson Dagger, the Golden Fields, the Laughing Maiden, the Platter and Candle, the Raven's Roost,the Shield and Boar,the Silver Star, the Silver Wolf, the Traveler Inn and the Wild Boar. The most distinguished building of the city is the Pale Tower where the Karina Art College is seated. The Curious Museum is seated in the basement of the Pale Tower.

Valetta is the agricultural heart of Invidia, and it is its most Terg-like city, as it was the capital of the Terg Enpire and is dominated by the Iron Church, so much that the Pave of Invidia Tatiana Valydova resides in Valetta's Stronghold of the Faith. The Broken Axe is the main Inn of the city, owned by retired militiaman Mikal Taliet; Baron Ianni Valmonde rule the city from the old crumbling castle of Wyvernstingfort. Recently a small chapel of Ezra and a charity opened up to help the poors and the orphans of the overcrowed city; Baron Ianni's wife Lady Ronda von Brausch is a sponsor of Anchorite Klaus Radiza.

The fortified city of Curriculo guards the way towards Gundarak. It was builded at the end of the Age of Darkness and heavily fortified during Barovian domination; today it houses the largest part of the Invidian Militia, and a chapter of the Steel Fangs, the elite Wolfwere's militia. A small temple of Zekhata, the Iron Chapel, has been opened in the city. Young Marcellus von Brausch rule the city as Baron and Commander, with his recently widowed mother Jelena advice, from the Green Tower of the fortress. His mother often reside outside the walls, in the Green Gold Manor, a country estate notorious for its green olive field. Curriculo's Central Market houses the Guild of the Merchants and the city two main inns, the Lady's Veil and the Plowshare inn.

Endari Koora is the misterious Vistani holy capital. Few non Vistana have been allowed there at least inside the inner walls. Once a glorious metropolis, Endari Koora is today a mere shadow of her past. Still, you can admire that past in the maze like ruins of the old city. Vistana's tribes still mantains the old temples and the Hall of Judgements where once every year meet the Gathering of the Great Raunies. The Ruling body of the city, the Council of 13 meet here; Every tribe mantains a Gathering Hall in Endari Koora; Non Vistani are usually restricted in the busiiness district in the south, were you can find the Inns, the most famous of which is the World Tree's Serpent. Olyvar Aderre, as the current Hight Captain of Endari Koora is the Chairman of the Council of 13 and the Baron of the city.

Beltis is the Wolfwere's capital; The city is designed to accomodate them both in wolf and human form; Patches of forrest with wild game are mantained beetween the various districts; The Smiling Fangs is the main inn of the town; his owner, Cyrus Lukas makes a point of pride of the fact he never takes his human form, if not strictly necessary. It is the principal attraction of the inn.
The Temple of Grandfather Wolf, Wolfwere's principal deity is a shrine in the deep of the biggest patch of forrest. The Stone Den houses the city Baron, Matton , the current Apha of the Invidian Werewolves.

Tancos is the Paka Capital, and is made to arrange the confort of the cat people; the city is full of tall and narrow walkways, poles were they can sharpen theyr claws, catnip bushes and many simple shrines to the Cat Lord, theyr primary deity. The Pakas live in large extended families, and the houses are organized to allow any member its independence. Human quarters are more traditional. Much of the inns in the city belongs to Bela Ghuitai, the richest person ever known in Invidia.



Religions
Cult of Hala: Invidian most ancient faith, the Cult of Hala is a Neutral Good religion centered around the figure of Hala the All Mother; She teaches her followers to live in harmony with nature, to be helpfull for your community, mindfull of your elders, respectfull to any life form and thirsty for knowledge. The priests are called Sisters, Mothers or Witchwives; The cult holy symbol is a circle with eight smaller circles, her favourite weapon is the quarterstaff; Her followers are smallfolks, midwives, and scholars. Her Domains are Animal, Arcana, Healing, Knowledge, Plant and Protection.

Iron Church : this L/E religion is the Invidian branch of the omonimous Vaasan Church of Zhakata the Lawgiver; it is the primary religion of the Terg-blooded Invidians, and it teaches to obey the laws and to respect authority; also it preaches blood purity if not on the point of segregation; The Invidian head of the church is the Pave of Invidia, which is confirmed by the Stal'noy Kulak in Kantora, Nova Vaasa. It is popular beetwen militiamen and conservative exponent of the privileged class. The symbol of the church is the Iron-cast book with the black gauntlet on. It's favored weapon is the spiked gauntlet. The granted domains of the cult are Evil, Law, Nobility, Strenght and War.

Church of Ezra the Protector: This Lawfull Good Religion is in communion with the Borcan branch of the faith with the Arch-Sentire of Karina being confirmed by the Bastion of the Faith in Borca. The Church teaches righteousness and moral strenght and bravery when facing injustice; the church is popular among the lower echelons of the middle class and the adventurers. The holy symbol of the priesthood is a shield with a laurel and a longsword, and the longsword is theyr holy weapon. The domain granted to the Clerics are: Good, Law, Nobility, Mist, Protection, Travel.

Vistani Religion: Vistani main Deities are Hala and Hanuvar, The Mother of All (Neutral Good) and the Father of Vistani (N). According to Vistani Tradition, Hala teaches respect for her creations and love for family and kin; her favourite weapon is the Quarterstaff, her domains are Community, Good, Healing, Knowledge, Plant and Protection. Hanuvar teaches distrust for the strangers, to protect each other and to not forget neither slights nor kindness, and to be smart and creative; He created the Mists to protect his children, his symbol is a wagon wheel, his favourite weapon is a Shortsword. Domains: Animal, Artifice, Destruction, Liberation, Strenght and Travel. Raunies and midwives often venerates her, while Captains venerates him.
Their child was Vistan I the first Vistana King (L/N; holy symbol: a crucible; he teaches his followers to follow his laws and taboos, and to preserve Vistani style of life and culture, his favourite weapon is the Mace; his domains are Knowledge, Law, Nobility, Rune and Strenght.) All Vistana pay at list lip service to him.
Vistan Children were: Boem the Trickster (C/N)(Symbol: a flute and a purse; Domains: Chaos, Luck, Travel and Trickery, favored weapon: Dagger)
Kaldresh the Skilled (L/N)(Symbol: Bridles on a Hammer with a bandage roll, Animal, Artifice, Healing and Law; Favored Weapon: Warhammer),
Manusa the Learned (N) ( Symbol: a Clock in a seer globe; Domains: Knowledge, Magic, Mist and Nobility; Favored Weapon: Quartersraff),
Qarginti the Dreamer (N/G)(Symbol: a pen crossed with a paintbrush on a lantern; Domains: Charme, Good, Rune and Sun; Favored Weapon: Blowgun)
Teginta the Strong (L/G) (Symbol: A Shield with a Cudgel and a Crossbow; Domains: Good, Law, Protection and War; Favored Weapon: Cudgel)
Vanatra the Spitefull (C/E) (Symbol: an Opened eye with a blood tear; Chaos, Destruction, Evil and Plant, Favored Weapon: Flail).
His Grand-children from Boem are Corvara the Thief (C/N) (Symbol, a cutted purse with gold coins falling; Domains: Chaos, Darkness and Trickery; Favored Weapon: a dagger) and Najat the Singer (C/G) (Symbol; a flute; Chaos, Charm and Good; Favored Weapon:Rapier);
From Kaldresh: Equaar the Tamer (N) (Symbol: bridles, Domains: Animal, Earth and Strenght; Favored Weapon: Net), Kamiil the Crafter (L/N) (Symbol: An Hammer; Domains: Artifice, Fire and Law, Favored Weapon:Warhammer) and Vaatraska the Healer (L/G) (Symbol: a roll of bandage; Domains: Good, Healing and Law; Favored Weapon: Dagger );
From Manusa: Canjar the Wise (N) (Symbol: a seer globe; Domains: Knowledge, Magic, Luck; Favored Weapon, Dagger) and Zarovan the Mysterious (C/N) (Symbol: a Clock, Domains: Chaos, Mist, Travel; Favored Weapon: Longsword)
From Qarginti, Giorag the Outsider (N/G) (Symbol: a lantern, Good, Protection and Travel; favored Weapon: Quarterstaff) e Xellinth the Rebel (C/G) (Symbol: a Pen crossed with a Paintbrush, Domains: Chaos, Good and Liberation, Favored Weapon: Dagger ),
From Teginta, Kulshev the Hero (N/G) ( Symbol: Cudgel on a Shield; Domains: Good, Protection, Strenght; Favored Weapon: Cudgel) and Lefaire the Avenger (L/N) (Symbol: Crossbow on a Shield; Death, Destruction and Law; Favored Weapon: Crossbow),
From Vanatra Mortu the Mourner (L/E) (Symbol: a blood-red tear; Domains: Darkness, Evil and Law; Favored Weapon: Axe) and Vehrtieg the Outcast (C/E) (Symbol: An opened eye, Domains: Chaos, Evil and Luck; Favored Weapon: Dagger)

Wolfwere religion: Wolfwere Religion is animistic, and it is centered around Grandfather Wolf, the eldest spirit in a vast pantheon; Grandfather Wolf is Neutral/Good and it's a good aspect of Fenris, and he teachs his followers to love their family, to be loyal with their friends but cunning and shrewd with their enemies; He also teaches the importance of stories and legends; His Domans are Animal, Community, Darkness, Good, Knowledge, Trickery. His favored weapon is the dagger (fang), his symbol is a wolf head with a laurel crown. Bards, Scholars and Poets venerate him even among not Wolfweres.

Paka religion: Paka Religion is ancestor worshipping; each extended Paka family has it's own pantheon but all Pakas counts Zaganta, the Cat Lord as their line's progenitor; He is a C/N deity of freedom, shelter, independence and cleverness who teach his followers self-reliance and sharpness of mind; his symbol is a cat's paw's print, his Domains are Animal, Chaos, Liberation, Travel and Trickery and his favorite weapon is the Spiked Gauntlet (claw). Thieves, merchants, travelers and con-artists even among not-Paka, often venerates the Cat Lord, also he is invoked against vermins.


The Famed and the Infamous:

King Malocchio Treholani-Aderre-Drakov
(Half-fiend Canjar Vistani Blooded human Youth Sorcerer Fiendish Line 10, C/N)
The ten years old king of Invidia, a beautiful black haired boy with a green and an azure eye, is, in truth the son of the Gentleman Caller, a powerfull Incubus Fiend; however he is still an innocent child; he is prone to capricious flicks of cruelty but he tends to be kind with people which are kind with him. He has powerfull, yet not totally controlled, sorcerous powers. His teleportation powers are a challenge for his tutors and his mothers as he tend to skip his cerimonial duties and studies. His mother is cultivating his demonic side and the hate for the Vistani People, with harsh and often abusive methods, but his Grandmother Isabella is opposing this influence. Will Malocchio become the next Dukkar and bring a new doom on the Vistani people or will he become the new Vistan the Great?

Madame Isabella Aderre
(Old Canjar Vistani Blooded Human Wizard Diviner 10, N/G)
The mother of the Queen Mother, Lady Isabella is a shrewed old woman very proud of her Vistani heritage, with a strong gift of the Sight, and a great knowledge of the magical Vistana tradition; thirty years ago, the Matriarch of the Aderre Vistani Family lived in Falkovnia where she was the Great Raunie of her Tasque; there, to save her people from persecution she accepted to became the 4th wife of the Kaiser-Fuhrer Vlad Drakov; She gave him a daughter and he was not as displeased as he usually was; the complications of the delivery robbed her from her fertility, but as long as he could exploit his wife's gift, he was happy, and their daughter was his insurance police and he spoiled her rotten; but Isabella couldn't keep helping that evil man dreams of conquest, so, one night, she took her 7 years old daughter and lead her people in the Mists. In Invidia she became one of the most rerspected leader of the Vistani, but her daughter never forgave her for the loss of her life of luxury and she became the wost enemy of Isabella's people; Isabella's burden is the perpetual hate her daughter reserve to her, while she loves inconditionally both her and her children; her good influence is what keeps her grandson from becoming the next Dukkar, the bringer of Vistani's Doom.

Lord Radu Gerdanok
(Middle Aged Lefaire Vistani Blooded Human Fighter 9 L/N)
Lord Radu is the Stewart of Karina and one of the most prominent nobles in Invidia; he is loyal to the crown, but recently his working relationship with the Queen Regent is deteriorating, as he is a staunch defender of the traditions of the kingdom against the Crown.

Arch-Sentire Keith Delalune
(Middle-aged Human Cleric 10 L/G )
This Dementlieuse man who currently heads Ezra's Church in Invidia has lived more then a decade in Karina, and was an advisor of King Bakholis prior to its demise; the Queen Regent distrusts and despises him. He is trying to defend her faithfuls interests and to curtain the growning influence of the Iron Church.

Sikar "Scar" Tabor
(Adult Human Vistani Blooded Corvara Rogue Mastermind 7, L/E)
The most powerfull Thieves Guildmaster of Karina is a "Darkling", a convicted criminal of his Vistani's tribe; He does not talk often about the transgression who lead to his conviction,but it seems tied to the T-shaped scar on his face. He does not seem partiucular embittered against Vistana people, thought. He is cautious and pragmatical and he prefers corruption and persuasuon to black-mailing and intimidation. He is cold, smooth talking and very rarely uses violence, when he does that he does that in the quickest and most effective way it's possible.

Captain Ian Deuseni
(Adult Human Fighter 6, N/E)
Captain Deuseni of Karina's City Watrch is a corrupted man easily bribed and always looking for a way to put more coins in his purse. Recently he is becoming a close collaborator of the queen-Mother herself.

Katrina Zimmerman aka The Midnight Slasher
(Young Adult Human Vigilante L/N)
Katrina is a seemingly innocent seamstres but she hides a dark secret; Her parents, a barber named Dieter Zimmerman and his wife Ingrid, Falkovnian dissidents in exile, were brutally assassinated under her eyes, but while the assassin was looking under the bed she was hiding under she took her father razor who had felled from his dead body and slashed him in the troth, killing him. Traumatized she swore to never allow other children and families to suffer what she did; A seamstress by day,when night falls, she put in a black hood, black cape and red mask and stalks the roads of Karina, armed with her father's razor, expecially the Falkovnian district. She fight crminals of every kind but while she spare thieves and the like she stalks and kills any certified assassin expecially if that person threathens families or children. She lives poetry written in blood on the body of her victims, both dead or unconsciuos. Her brutal ways have attracted attention from the Mists, which granted her uncanny sight and hearing.Her eyes, when she became her Slasher persona change color intermittently.

The Engineeer
(Old Human Wizard Clocksmith 13 L/N)
This old misterious wizard lives in the Goldenfinger the clocktower in Karina, where he works as the royal family personal tinkerer. No one knows is true name.

Arkhiyepiskop Alexey Ulnev
(Middle aged Human Cleric of the Lawgiver 7, L/E)
The Arkhiyepiskop of Karina is a dull, loyal and obedient man, and serves the interests of the Iron Church skillfully if without any particular distinction; howecer he has recently started to take the initiative in several venures which until now higtly benefitted the Church; The Pave of Invidia finds this sudden change hightly suspicious, expecially because it started suddently after a visit of the Queen Mother to the Arkhiyepiskop's abode.

Majordomo Zachary Beauchamps
(Old human aristocrat 7 L/G)
This loyal old man seves as the Majordomo of Karina and he is a loyal servant of the king and of the Queen-Mother. He is unaware of the subtle enthralling magic the latter is using on him, and he cultivates the illusion that one day the beautiful Gabrielle will marry him. A bit of a peacock he often renovates his already vast gardrobe, sparing no expense to stay fashionable.

Baron Ianni Valmonde
(Adult Human Aristocrat 6;L/G)
The baron of Valetta is a kind and hard-working man, who never accepted the cruel tenets of the Iron Faith; his Ezrite wife contibuited certainly to make him an enemy of the Pave, who constantly plot to undermine his rule.

Lady Ronda von Brautsh
(Human adult Aristocrat 4, L/G)
The beloved young wife of Baron Radu of Valetta, she is a kind and generous woman deeply devoted to Ezra. She is currently pregnant with their first child. She is the late Baron of Curriculo's sister, and young Baron Marcellus Aunt.

Pave Tatyana Valydova
(Old Human Cleric of the Lawgiver 12 L/E)
The Pave of Invidia has been in sevice as a priestess in Valetta since the days Bakholis father King Jundor II Treholani reigned on Invidia. Recently finally her hard work seems to start repaying itself as the Queen Regent is starting to favour the Iron Church above the other cults; Regrettably the Queen Mother is of questionable lineage, but Tatyana is old and wise enought to be able to ignore this unsavory detail for the greatness of the Lawgiver. Zhakata willing it, soon she will be able to cleanse Invidia from the cursed hybrids once and forever; one of the few female Paves in the male dominated Iron Church, she has even greater ambitions, expecially since news came from Kantora of the worsening health of the Stal'noy Kulak.

Imri "Ratctcher" Tulijip
(Young Adult Paka Rogue 4 C/G)
This bright smiled blond boy whose true form is that of a big white cat with great golden eyes works part time as a pest controller in the sewer of Karina; he knows a lot of things from the popular district of the city and lends gladly an hand to people he deems in difficulty.

Mikal Taliet
(Adult human Fighter 5, L/N)
The owner of the Broken Axe Inn in Valetta, Mikal is a retired officer of the militia, and a veteran of the Kartakassan Independence War; Haunted by the atrocities seen and done during the conflicvt, he drowns his sense of guilt with music and food.

Sentire Klaus Radiza
(Middle-Aged Human Cleric Cloistered Priest of Ezra the Protector 7, L/G)
The Sentire of Valetta is a noble and altruist man, and a vibrant preacher, whose aim is to help the poor in Valetta; his growing influence is seen with great concern by the Iron Church that in Valetta have their headquarters.

Baron Marcellus von Brautsch
(Young Adult Human Werewolf Fighter 5 L/N)
The young heir of the von Brautsh family and the Baron of Curriculo, Marcellus is a sober young man, who was deeply affected by his father's untimely death; he is working hard to manage to live up the legacy of a beloved father, maybe too hard. He doesn't know he is a Werewolf, thanks to the magic amulet gifted to him by his mother; he does not remember his murdering his own father.

Jelena Valmonde, widow von Brautsch
(Adult Human Aristocrat 6, N)
The sister of Baron Valmonde, Jelena is a wise if detached person. She does much of the household administration, and she was the one to suggest modernization for the tradition coltures of their farmlands. She still wears black clothes and mourn her dead husband. She dread that her son might one day learn the truth about his father's death, and she is ready to take extreme measures to prehent it.

Pyotr Stanislov
(Adult Human Cleric Evangelist 5, L/E)
Malevolent yet charming and silver tongued, the Fane (head priest) of Curriculo has already gained the ear of the young Baron; He is working hard to gain his trust to increase the Iron Church influence, but yet without avail; His activities have been recently distrupted by the forming of the Falkovnian trading post, as Falkovnian state religion, the Iron Falcon Church is viewed as heretical by the Iron Church.

Ambassador Reuben Weirmer
(Middle-aged Human Knight 8, L/N)
Leutnant Weirmer lost an eye during the last Dead Man Campaign against Darkon, and became a diplomat; he is hammering down a treaty beetwen Invidia and Falkovnia and he has taken residence in Curriculo, since Karina's Falkovnian quarter is made up of exiles and harbours no simpathy for the Kaiser-Fuhrher. He has meanwhile esbilished a flourishing trading post; while loyal to his sovereign, Reuben is more interested in the well being of the people he commands. For a Falkovnian officer, Reuben is surprisengly well-mannered and cultured.

Lord Stewart Radu Sczecti
(Adult Human Fighter 7 L/N)
Curriculo's competent Stewart was not born a noble, and he worked hard to gain what he has today. He is honest and loyal but surely would not miss a chance to advance himself furtherly like marrying the widow mother of his liege lord.

Ser Szefan Czerneich
(Adolescent Human Cavalier 3 L/G)
At 15 he saved little King Malocchio's life, as the young King had teleported himself in the wrong place; King Malocchio insisted on knighting him and he sent him as his personal envoy in Curriculo, stubbornly refusing his mother's arguments against it in front of the council at the price of getting a spanking once they were in private. He sees the king as a little brother, and in spite of his young age he has already proved himself worthy of his title.

Valeria Ieleni
(Young Adult Wolfwere Rogue 5 C/N)
Valeria is an accomplisched entertainer, jester and juggler, and a Wolfwere; she came to live in Curruculo couple of year ago, after a succesfull if brief stint in the Wolf's Fang in Beltis. She is a spy and thief for hire working for the hightest bidder.

Baron Olyvar Aderre
(Human Vistani Blooded Canjar Sorcerer 8 Arcane Bloodline N/G)
The current Hight Captain of the Vistani in Endari Koora, Olyvar is related with the king throught is mother and grandmother side; Olyvar is a thorn in Gabriella's side since his status as Baron allows him to shield his people from her spite.

Madame Illyana Sarandowa
(Venerable Human Vistani Blooded Mortu Cleric Cloistered Priest of Mortu 10 L/E)
This wrinkled hunchbacked lady is well past her one hundredth birthday, and has ruled her Tasque as Great Raunie for half of her long life; People who mistakes her for a frail harmless lady are in from a big surprise when she shows them her shrewed mind and here great magical powers. Her curses and her prophetic powers are legendary.

Baron Matton Blanchard
(Adult Greater Wolfwere Fighter 8, L/G)
The Baron of Beltis is a loyal and brave servant of the crown, and a most effective alpha for his pack if a bit of a traditionalist one; Matton challenged his own Alpha, his brother-in-law Harkon Lukas out of loyality for the Treholani Dinasty, and he is rumored to be the queen-mother's latest lover.

Cyrus Lukas
(Old Wolfwere Cleric of Grandfather Wolf 8, C/G)
The owner of the Wolf's Fang in Beltis is a big friendly grey furred wolf, missing an eye, who never takes human form; He entertains his guests with many accounts of his tricks and exploits. His easy going attitude belies his inner sadness; he was the uncle and the father figure of the infamous Harkon Lukas and lost his eye by his own beloved nephew's hand.

Baron Bela Ghuitai
(Old Paka Rogue 7, N)
The head of the Trade Guild, and the richest person in Tancos Baroness Khatun is the Patriarch of a vast Paka family and a shrewed businness woman. While not a pius man Bela is a paragon of virtue for the Cult of Zaganta the Cat Lord, which values shwredness and self-reliance above all.

Karnil "Demon" Luhantar
(Middle-aged Oracle od the cat Lord 5 C/E)
Charismatic but alse a complete lunatic, this Black furred Cat takes only rarely the guise of a tall, crazy eyed and black haired human woman; She leads a band of unscrupolous merchants who use unsavory tactics to deal with concurrence.



Organizations

The Queen's Men are a N/E secret police in the personal service of the Queen-Regent; they are a vicious organization of thugs, assassins and enforcers. Their symbol is their Queen's personal banner, the Zwei Falk tiara.

The Council of 13 is a N organization which is the ruler body of the Vistana People and is composed by the 13 Great Raunies, the spiritual and mystical rulers of each of the 13 tasques. The agents of the council are called Goraga, Lonesome in Patterna and are immediatly reckognizable becuase they are the only Vistani who travels alone in Black wagons.


The Darklord

Gabrielle Treholani-Drakov-Aderre
Medium Adult Human Canjar Vistan Bloodied (Sorcerer Maestro Bloodline 15, N/E) (HP)
Speed:30 feet
Initiative:+4 (+3 in Castle Loupet)
Senses: Perception +19 True Sight (+3 in Castle Loupet)
Armor Class: 25, Touch 17, Flat Footed 21 (+4 Dex, +8 armour bracers, +3 deflection)(+3 in Castle Loupet)
Space/Reach: 1 square /1 square
Combat Manouver Bonus/Combat Manouver Defense:+6/28 (+3 in Castle Loupet)
Str:8, Dex:18 (16), Con:12, Int:19 (15), Wis:14, Cha 25 (21)
Saving Throws: Fort +9 (+6) Ref +14 (+11) Will 14 (+11) (+3 in Castle Loupet)
Special Qualities: Curse of the Dark Lord, Evil eye (DC 14 + spell level), Maestro bloodline[ Perfect Voice (Understand and be understood by any creature with language), Inspire (Sp) Greater Heroism 1 x day)], Gaze of the temptress, Free of lunatio, Sinkhole of evil III, Protected Kin.
Special Attacks: .Evil eye (DC 21 + spell level), Maestro bloodline [Beguiling Voice (Ex, 7/day, As daze, 1 creature), Fascinate (11 rounds) (2/day) (DC 24)]
Attack: Melee: +1 Unholy dagger +7 (1d4; crit 19+ , +2/+2d6+2 vs good Alignment) (+3 in Castle Loupet)
Range:: +1 Endless Ammunition light crossbow +12 (1d8+1, crit 19+, range 80’) (+3 in Castle Loupet)
Skills: Bluff +28 , Diplomacy +25, Disguise +11, Intimidate +15, Knowledge (arcana) +11, Knowledge (local) +9, Knowledge (nature) +9, Perception +7, Perform (sing) +25, Sense Motive +17, Spellcraft +12, Use Magic Device +25. (+3 in Castle Loupet)
Feats: Defensive Combat Training, Dodge, Eschew Materials, Extend Spell, Greater Spell Focus (Enchantment), Lightning Reflexes, Skill Focus (Bluff and Diplomacy), Still Spell; Spell Focus (Enchantment), Voice of Wrath
Known Spells:
Cantrips:Resistance, Mage Hand, Read Magic, Message, Light, Prestidigitation, Dancing Lights, Ghost Sound, Detect Magic
1st: Disguise Self, Ventriloquism, Charm Person, Anticipate Peril, Unprepared Combatant, Vanish
2d: Hideous Laughter, Blindness/Deafness, Scare, Detect Thoughts, Touch of Idiocy, Unnatural Lust
3d:Suggestion (DC +1; Perfect Voice), Deep Slumber, Major Image, Dispel Magic, Hold Person
4th:Charm Monster, Confusion, Seeds of Influence, Shout, Terrible Remorse
5th: Charm Person, Mass; Dominate Person,Hold Monster, Feeblemind Sleepwalking Suggestion.
6th:Suggestion, Mass(DC +1; Perfect Voice), Repulsion, Symbol of Distraction, True Seeing
7th:Insanity, Power Word Blind, Walk throught Space

Daily Spells
1st:14, 2d: 8, 3d:7, 4th:7, 5th:7, 6th:7, 7th:5

SL:15, Save DC 17+Spell Level, (+2 Enchantment Spells, +1 Language-dependant spells)


Challenge Rating:19
Proprieties: Zwei Falcon Tiara (+4 Int, +4 Cha, +4 Disguise Checks) +3 Cloack of Protection, +3 Ring of Protection, +8 Armor Bracers, Ring of Wizardry I; +1 Unholy dagger, +1 Endless Ammunition light crossbow

Background
Gabrielle was born a princess in Falkovnia, and she has never understood why she had to leave her luxurious life and her daddy behind, or, to say it better, she has never wanted to understand why; No amount of explanation her mother could give her was ever enought for her and one day she managed to get in contact with her father, the Kaiser-Fuhrer of Falkovnia Vlad Drakov himself. In his letters Drakov seemed to be everything she remembered as a little girl, back when she had to leave him at seven years of age, kind, tender and worried for her. Her mother tried to explain her that Drakov was anything but kind and that he was manipulating her, but the young, ambitious and deluded sorceress followed his advices to seduce and marry the King of Invidia, Bahkolis III Treholani. She thought that being Queen would have made her happy, but her marriage was loveless, partly because her husband was infertile, partly because as Queen consort she was unsatisfied. Desperate to have a child she asked for help to her mother, but the Council of the Thirteen Raunies forced Isabelle to refuse as a child of the Aderre main line would have brought a great risk for the Vistani people. Feeling betrayed by her own people she fell victim of another manipulator, the Gentleman Caller, who gave her the son she wanted; The king named the boy Malocchio, whic means "Mismatched eyes" in Patterna, uphelding House Treholani tradition to name their children in Vistana fashion much for Gabrielle's annoyement. Initially glad to havefinally an heir, King Bahkolis started to frow suspicious of the boy's magical powers; initially Gabrielle distracted him funding the Kartakassian independence movement, then she found a lover and gave birth to a second child; Finally she managed to kill her husband off; as Queen Regent she tried to vent off her hatred for the Vistani but her own son, thanks to the care of his beloved grandmother opposed her; In a final act of spite she tried to assassinate the Council of 13 which retaliated cursing her to be eternally unsatisfied; The Mists rose to seal this sentence.

Current Sketches
Gabrielle is the Queen-Regent of Invidia but her power is checked by other advisors, first of all her own mother, which she have to tolerate because of the curse. Gabrielle do love her children, but is often mentally and phisically abusive with Malocchio and overprotective with Lupita, her younger daughter. She have diplomatically allied the kingdom with Falkovnia, allowing the opening of an ambassy in Karina; Her goals are the destruction of the Vistana people, to mold Malocchio in the perfect heir for her father, to raise Lupita as a perfect little princess and finally to live a true love story.

Combat
Gabrielle disdains combat preferring bribing, seduction, blackmailing and using other people to do the dirty job. If forced to fight she will use her magic to force the the strongest opponent son her side before subduing the rest.

Special Abilities:
Gaze of the Temptress: (EX) Every sentient being who looks at Gabrielle must attempt a saving throw on Will, DC 24 or that creature will consider her not a menace until she does not attack them.

Protected Kin: (Ex) Gabrielle is immune to any form of Vistani magic.

Curse of the Dark Lord: Gabrielle can't directly harm a Vistani Blooded individual except her own children, plus she is unable to judje correctly the intentions of men she is attracted too and her bond with her children will always be sour by her own actions.

Lair:
Castle Loupet is the massive fortress of House Treholanim and is the principal stage for Gabrielle's intrigues and betrayals and is a Rank 3 Sinkhole of Evil, able to bestow the Charmed, Slumbering and Confused condition (DC 24 Will Negate).

Closing Borders:
When Gabrielle wish to close the borders people who try to trespass grow increasingly anxious if they don't pass a Will ST DC 27 each round (you need 3 minutes to pass the border, so 30 saving throwns); after three consecutive fails people panic and ran in the opposite of the direction they were going to. Gabrielle can close the borders up to one month.

Feedback, as always is appreciated, and sorry for the eventual typos.