While our campaign has been set on and around the Hawkwood planet of Ravenna, much of the detail and intrigue is centred on the House Justinian controlled subterranean "Deep Core" city, designated Deep Core 104, a great urban complex set deep into the ground on the Southern Follari continent.
The Deep Core cities are vast urban complexes built around the edges of huge and ancient mining shafts, some of which that penetrate all the way to the planetary terraforming engines close to the world’s core.
The original cities were wonders of Second Republic architecture and innovation but over time superstition, technical ignorance and neglect has led to degradation in the systems and infrastructure. Power is erratic, living quarters are often in states of disrepair with leaks and inadequate plumbing a constant issue, while some areas can even be prone to collapse, whole sections of floor suddenly cascading into the mines below.
The City is vast and not yet completely mapped, let alone fully reopened or populated, but the areas of the city currently sanctioned for use are divided into a variety of boroughs. Each is known by separate, often unique, names drawn from the unearthed signage, local lore or personal preference of the ruling noble
It is here that both Dame Arcadia and Sir Hemlock's family fiefs reside and when we recommence the campaign (hopefully later this week) it will be where our cadre find themselves reunited.
While the players have visited the city briefly I anticipate it, and it's residents will factor more significantly in the coming sessions so felt it wise to try to help flesh out the geography and politics of the area around their family fiefs.
I'd stress that this is only a portion of the city as a whole but it makes more sense to start with the immediate local and their neighbours.
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| Deep Core 104, looking north with the fiefs and political boundaries noted. |
The city as a whole is ruled by the leading member of House Justinian on the planet, Earl Kiruda Quentin Justinian. The earl is a hardened military man and a veteran of many campaigns who has taken enforced “retirement” as one of the landed gentry very badly. It is probably fair to say that he tolerates the barons below him as a necessary indulgence; if they run their fiefs without having to involve him directly that’s fine. He can get on with hunting, walking his hounds and what little martial practise his wife and physician will permit him. However recent events (the revelation of the "traitorous Justinian") have forced him to attend court far more than he is otherwise comfortable with as he petitions Duke Cassius for clemency on behalf of Baroness Helena, mother of Dame Arcadia. He fears the loss of Justinian lands to the Hawkwoods and is increasingly concerned that forces within his own House see him as weakened are now conspiring to depose him.
Aracadia's family fief was The Midden Barony and until recently it was ruled by her mother, Baroness Helena Midden Justinian and her husband and consort General Sir Anthony Masseri Justinian. The barony was a mediocre work horse in the stables of the House but following the outing of Dame Arcadia as the would-be assassin of Planetary Duke Cassius Hawkwood the fief has been seized as a "Hawkwood Protectorate" and placed under the control of Baron Christopher Windsor Hawkwood.
The fact that a Hawkwood has taken residence right in the middle of Justinian lands, and the suspicion that is falling on the House as a whole has engendered a general sense of suspicion and some paranoia. Local nobles are withdrawing their military support of Austrum East (in the on going Austrum War) in order to strengthen their militia now that a Hawkwood roosts in their midst.
Meanwhile Baron Christopher is enjoying lording it over his new lands. His men-at-arms (or rather those lent him by Duke Cassius) are enabling him to rule with a rod of iron. They are frequently raiding homes and work places looking for "Arcadian sympathisers" and "Justinian Spies". They are particularly after Beorn (one of our old PCs) as he was the bounty hunter who claimed to have killed Arcadia and handed in her body (which we obviously know to be a fake). He is believed to currently still be on the run.
Sir Tarquin Midden Justinian, the sixteen year old eldest remaining child of Dame Helena is now a ward of Duke Cassius. Nominally the Midden Barony belongs to him and is being ruled in his stead by the Baron as "caretaker/steward". He was last seen in public returning to his family lands in the company of Baron Christopher and regiments of the Duke's personal guard, but is reported to be in excellent health and well engaged in the continuation of his studies. His remaining sister, Lady Stephanie Justinian, the Baroness & General's youngest child, has rarely stepped outside of her family's lands throughout the thirteen years of her young life. She remains quite reclusive but has occasionally been seen accompanying Baron Christopher at functions and on tours of his "occupied" lands.
The Midden Barony is surrounded by other Justinian holdings:
Above it sits "The Folly", ruled by Baron Turmeric Justinian. Turmeric is a member of the "non-traditionalist" Justinian faction and an open supporter of it's leader and figurehead, Princess Carolandra (as was Dame Arcadia). He steadfastly refuses to marry, arguing it depletes the House but has large harem of concubines all of whom are sworn to the Justinian House.
To The Midden Barony's east is "Crofter's Holt", one of Earl Kiruda's own holdings. It is stewarded by Lady Saffron Justinian, one of Earl Kiruda's knights.
On the other side of The Midden Barony sits "The Barony of Abalone". It's ruler, Baroness Phillipa "Peppa" Abalone Justinian is an old "grand dame". Geriatric and far past her best she steadfastly refuses to relinquish her grip on her fief. Her one remaining child, Sir Basil Justinian, is almost as infirm as she.
Separated from The Barony of Abalone by 2-3km of un-reclaimed city scape is Sir Hemlock's family fief, Sector 42. This is one of the most notable boroughs of Deep Core 104, a great urban complex set deep into the ground and holding some of the most productive and varied mineral seams currently being mined in the city and it is very much a jewel in the Justinian crown. Many wonder then why its rulers seem to spend so much time away from home.
Sir Hemlock's father, Baron Tochiro Justinian, is a regal looking man, his fair hair now peppered with silver. He stands a good six feet tall and still maintains the athletic build of his youth. Personally he is traditional and very formal in outlook; some might describe him as both cold and aloof, attributes that have gained him much support and many allies amongst the Ravennan Hawkwoods. Never a notable warrior he always saw himself more as a politician and ruler and as such spends most of his time away from his fief on “diplomatic missions” for Justinian interests. As such he leaves the running of things in the hands of his trusted retainer and bondsman, Master Alfredo Garcia. Master Alfredo was present with the Baron on a diplomatic mission to Delphi when the tragedy struck the household that robbed the Baron of his daughter and most of his household staff. As the most senior surviving retainer at the time Alfredo stepped up and took control of the running of things and has remained so ever since. Trained by the Reeves, Alfredo was born into service in the Baron’s household and has remained so ever since. Some still gossip that he has taken advantage of his master’s frequent absences to secretly extend the fief's mine workings and line his own pockets in the process.
Baroness Emeraldas Al Malik Justinian is Hemlock's mother and the baron’s second wife, his first having died during the delivery of his first (stillborn) son Eustace (4960-4960). The Baron remained in mourning for some years until he could be convinced to wed for the benefit of the house. That was not to say that he did not have “companions” during that time but he seemed averse to making a formal commitment again. For her part the current Baroness has always appeared the perfect wife for the Baron; demure, enchanting, witty and many believe that the ties to Al Malik have smoothed some previous issues that that previously faced Sector 42 when dealing with the Guilds.
The final fief of note in the immediate term is "Quentins's Retreat" set to the west of Sector 42 after another stretch of un-reclaimed city scape. It is ruled by Baron Samuel Justinian, an academic and learned student of the humanities. He has a reputation for maintaining one of the finest and most diverse libraries on the planet.
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