08-13-2009, 03:46 PM
So this is the first draft of the back story for my new Mercenary General, because my old one came (or will come to) to a sticky end in the Empire. Generally my writing his rather dark and tragic, so i've tried to go a little more light-hearted with this version, as befits those sell sword rapscallions that we all love. As I said, this is just a first draft, I would absolutely love some constructive criticism about my characters, are they too nice/too bad/not interesting enough? Are there any places I need to go into greater detail in? Are some of the characters too pale? etc.
The House of de Ruffa.
Family Emblem: Rearing grey horse on a green field.
Recent History:
The Family de Ruffa is a byword for rogues and adventurers in the Republic of Remas. Once a great and noble house of warriors pledged to the Prince and the Republic, it is said that a de Ruffa fought at Monte Castello, that one attended the tournament of Ravello, besting many a Bretonnian Knight and even that there was a de Ruffa in the expedition of Marco Columbo!
Then came the rule of Leonardo as the head of the house, an adventurer and sell-sword of the highest fame, it was said that his feet had traversed the world from Lustria to Kislev, amassing fortunes in gold. It was whispered that he was a devoted follower of Ranald, God of Thieves, which you can imagine caused great commotion in the senate of Remas. Under Leonardo’s rule, the de Ruffas became a constant thorn in the side of the Triumvirate, once even breaking into several street brawls between supporters of the leading senator and those of Leonardo. The rogue was seen as a local hero, his deeds passing into legend. Men wanted to be him, women openly lusted after him and it was said he wasn’t exactly faithful to his wife.
To Leonardo, his son, Alberto was a constant source of disappointment. He was so unlike his father that it was whispered behind Leonardo’s back as to the legitimacy of the boy as the heir to the de Ruffa house. Alberto grew into a serious merchantman, with little regard for games and adventure such as his father. The business-minded Alberto amassed a fortune through trading, the de Ruffa family owning an entire fleet of fishing boats and several large merchantmen vessels, de Ruffan goods were sold in the Bazaars of Araby to the street markets of Marienburg.
Alberto’s sons, Giovanni and Leopoldo were the spitting image of their grandfather, Leonardo, in looks and mentality. In trouble constantly as boys, the younger Leopoldo always following his brother, the quick witted Giovanni. The boys grew into young men, well versed in warfare like every nobleman and heirs to a great fortune amassed by their father and grandfather. Upon Alberto’s untimely death, the young Giovanni became the head of the house, playing host to lavish parties and hunts with his friends among the nobles. Many among the Reman senate became jealous of the celebrity status of the de Ruffas and whispers began once again behind their backs about them worshipping strange deities.
It was on a summers day that the de Ruffas earned their fame across Tilea. Giovanni was caught in the bed chamber of the Triumvirate of Remas with the first citizen’s wife. Escaping across the tiled roofs of the city, the young de Ruffa escaped the pursuing soldiers, stealing away into the night with Leopoldo, a small portion of their wealth, and a horse and armour each. Giovanni was chased all across Tilea by assassins sent by the Triumvirate of Remas, some even claim the infamous Vespero and his Vendetta were hired to slay the upstart young nobleman. Needless to say, none managed to find him and Giovanni outlived the ruler of Remas, the man murdered in his bed by an unknown knifeman in strange circumstances.
Free to go about their lives, the de Ruffas entered the mercenary trade of Tilea, recruiting a small private army to hire out to various Merchant Princes. The brothers were very capable in this trade, raking in the gold from the campaigns. Giovanni’s time as a mercenary is the basis for the epic play by the great playwright Wilhelm von Shudfrur of Nuln.
It was during this time that Giovanni, hunting alone with his favourite hawk, came across a group of bandits waylaying a coach, killing the escort and looting the valuables. Giovanni was going to simply ride by when he saw two of the robbers accosting a woman, with intentions of satisfying their lust. The mercenary spurred his horse forward, his sword slashing down on the robbers, his hawk scratching at eyes with its wicked talons. With the bandits routed, Giovanni approached the women, stunned by her beauty. She was Donna de Vignola, daughter of the Prince of Trantio, one of the most powerful men in all of Tilea. The young de Ruffa escorted the lady to the city, to her father, Prince Giorgio who, grateful to the condottieri bestowed upon him a fortune in gold and gems.
But Giovanni was not satisfied, stealing into the chamber of Donna every night to meet with her. It was not long until Prince Giorgio found out this secret tryst, ordering guards to apprehend de Ruffa. Giovanni and Donna disappeared into the night, riding on fast horses away from the city. Prince Giorgio, so distraught at the loss of his only daughter called them back in desperation, apologising to Giovanni, blessed their marriage and bestowed upon him the city and the lands of the Duchy of Viadaza on the coast.
The de Ruffa family had gained back their riches, and were now one of the most powerful families in northern Tilea, many members moving from Remas and central Tilea to the families’ new lands further north and spreading their influence by marriage. The de Ruffas are still closely linked with the God Ranald, but are so powerful now; many of the more conservative Tilean nobles can do nothing more than treat them with discourtesy at every opportunity.
Giovanni is now a Duca, a powerful man within the Principality of Trantio and an excellent general, leading his army against the Prince’s enemies scores of times. Yet his skills are not limited to the battlefield, Viadaza has become an important trading port in northern Tilea, taking the bulk of the sea trade from Trantio to the other city-states and beyond. Due to this, the Prince has given money to Giovanni for the building of a small fleet of galleys to protect the trading routes from the predations of pirates and the other cities.
The House of de Ruffa.
Family Emblem: Rearing grey horse on a green field.
Recent History:
The Family de Ruffa is a byword for rogues and adventurers in the Republic of Remas. Once a great and noble house of warriors pledged to the Prince and the Republic, it is said that a de Ruffa fought at Monte Castello, that one attended the tournament of Ravello, besting many a Bretonnian Knight and even that there was a de Ruffa in the expedition of Marco Columbo!
Then came the rule of Leonardo as the head of the house, an adventurer and sell-sword of the highest fame, it was said that his feet had traversed the world from Lustria to Kislev, amassing fortunes in gold. It was whispered that he was a devoted follower of Ranald, God of Thieves, which you can imagine caused great commotion in the senate of Remas. Under Leonardo’s rule, the de Ruffas became a constant thorn in the side of the Triumvirate, once even breaking into several street brawls between supporters of the leading senator and those of Leonardo. The rogue was seen as a local hero, his deeds passing into legend. Men wanted to be him, women openly lusted after him and it was said he wasn’t exactly faithful to his wife.
To Leonardo, his son, Alberto was a constant source of disappointment. He was so unlike his father that it was whispered behind Leonardo’s back as to the legitimacy of the boy as the heir to the de Ruffa house. Alberto grew into a serious merchantman, with little regard for games and adventure such as his father. The business-minded Alberto amassed a fortune through trading, the de Ruffa family owning an entire fleet of fishing boats and several large merchantmen vessels, de Ruffan goods were sold in the Bazaars of Araby to the street markets of Marienburg.
Alberto’s sons, Giovanni and Leopoldo were the spitting image of their grandfather, Leonardo, in looks and mentality. In trouble constantly as boys, the younger Leopoldo always following his brother, the quick witted Giovanni. The boys grew into young men, well versed in warfare like every nobleman and heirs to a great fortune amassed by their father and grandfather. Upon Alberto’s untimely death, the young Giovanni became the head of the house, playing host to lavish parties and hunts with his friends among the nobles. Many among the Reman senate became jealous of the celebrity status of the de Ruffas and whispers began once again behind their backs about them worshipping strange deities.
It was on a summers day that the de Ruffas earned their fame across Tilea. Giovanni was caught in the bed chamber of the Triumvirate of Remas with the first citizen’s wife. Escaping across the tiled roofs of the city, the young de Ruffa escaped the pursuing soldiers, stealing away into the night with Leopoldo, a small portion of their wealth, and a horse and armour each. Giovanni was chased all across Tilea by assassins sent by the Triumvirate of Remas, some even claim the infamous Vespero and his Vendetta were hired to slay the upstart young nobleman. Needless to say, none managed to find him and Giovanni outlived the ruler of Remas, the man murdered in his bed by an unknown knifeman in strange circumstances.
Free to go about their lives, the de Ruffas entered the mercenary trade of Tilea, recruiting a small private army to hire out to various Merchant Princes. The brothers were very capable in this trade, raking in the gold from the campaigns. Giovanni’s time as a mercenary is the basis for the epic play by the great playwright Wilhelm von Shudfrur of Nuln.
It was during this time that Giovanni, hunting alone with his favourite hawk, came across a group of bandits waylaying a coach, killing the escort and looting the valuables. Giovanni was going to simply ride by when he saw two of the robbers accosting a woman, with intentions of satisfying their lust. The mercenary spurred his horse forward, his sword slashing down on the robbers, his hawk scratching at eyes with its wicked talons. With the bandits routed, Giovanni approached the women, stunned by her beauty. She was Donna de Vignola, daughter of the Prince of Trantio, one of the most powerful men in all of Tilea. The young de Ruffa escorted the lady to the city, to her father, Prince Giorgio who, grateful to the condottieri bestowed upon him a fortune in gold and gems.
But Giovanni was not satisfied, stealing into the chamber of Donna every night to meet with her. It was not long until Prince Giorgio found out this secret tryst, ordering guards to apprehend de Ruffa. Giovanni and Donna disappeared into the night, riding on fast horses away from the city. Prince Giorgio, so distraught at the loss of his only daughter called them back in desperation, apologising to Giovanni, blessed their marriage and bestowed upon him the city and the lands of the Duchy of Viadaza on the coast.
The de Ruffa family had gained back their riches, and were now one of the most powerful families in northern Tilea, many members moving from Remas and central Tilea to the families’ new lands further north and spreading their influence by marriage. The de Ruffas are still closely linked with the God Ranald, but are so powerful now; many of the more conservative Tilean nobles can do nothing more than treat them with discourtesy at every opportunity.
Giovanni is now a Duca, a powerful man within the Principality of Trantio and an excellent general, leading his army against the Prince’s enemies scores of times. Yet his skills are not limited to the battlefield, Viadaza has become an important trading port in northern Tilea, taking the bulk of the sea trade from Trantio to the other city-states and beyond. Due to this, the Prince has given money to Giovanni for the building of a small fleet of galleys to protect the trading routes from the predations of pirates and the other cities.