Guide to Talia (revised and updated spring 1580)

2

Contents 1. Pronunciation Guide 2. City Guide 3. Corteo Cards 4. The Manoush 5. The di Chimici family 6. Stravaganti 7. Talismans 8. Religion 9. Silver 10. Differences between Talia and Italy

3

1. Pronunciation Guide Places Bellezza Bell-ETS-ah Bellona Bell-OHN-ah Cittanuova Chitt-ah-NWOHV-a Classe CLASS-ay Fortezza For-TETS-ah Giglia JEE-lyah Montemurato Mon-tay-moo-RAHT-oh Moresco Mor-ESK-oh Padavia Pad-AHV-ee-ah Remora Ruh-MORE-ah Romula ROMM-oo-lah Volana Vol-AHN-ah People Alfredo Al-FRAY-doh Andrea An-DRAY-ah Arianna Ar-ee-AHN-ah Aurelio Ow-RAY-lee-oh Beatrice Bay-ah-TREECH-ay Celestino Chel-ess-TEE-noh Cesare CHEZ-ah-ray Crinamorte Crinna-MORE-tay di Chimici dee KIM-ee-chee Duchessa Dook-ESS-ah Enrico Poggi En-REEK-oh PODG-ee Fabrizio Fab-REEZ-yoh Falco FAHL-koh Fausto Ventura FOWST-oh Ven-TOO-rah Filippo FILL-ee-poh Flavia FLAH-vee-ah Francesca Frahn-CHESS-kah Gaetano Guy-TAHN-oh Gentile Jen-TEEL-ay Germano Jer-MAHN-oh Giorgio JAW-joh Giovanni Gambone Joh-VAHN-nee Gam-BOHN-ay Giuditta Miele Jew-DITT-ah MYAY-lay Giunta JUNE-tah Guido GWEE-doh Jacopo YAK-oh-poh Leonora Lee-on-ORE-ah Luciano Loo-CHAHN-oh Lucien LOO-syuhn Matteo Nucci Matt-AY-oh NOO-chee Michele Borca Mick-AY-lay BOR-kah Paola POWL-ah Paolo POWL-oh Raffaella Raff-eye-ELL-ah Rodolfo Rod-OL-foh Sulien SOO-lyuhn Teresa Ter-AY-zah Valeria Val-AIR-ee-ah

4

2. City Guide

Bellezza (bell-ETZ-ah) On lagoon in north-east Talia (Equivalent of Venice) Known as the City of Masks An independent city state, ruled by an elected Duchessa, a senate and a Council. Current Duchessa: Arianna Rossi (elected 1577) Regent: Rodolfo Rossi Predecessor: Silvia Bellini (1552-1577, assassinated) Principal industries: tourism, lace, glass, daggers Transport: mandolas on the canals (horses are banned) Eating out: Fiorentino’s in Piazza Maddalena Shops: Egidio’s for marbled paper, notebooks etc Feast days: Marriage with the Sea (Ascension Day); giornata vietata (forbidden day, after Marriage with the Sea: no person NOT born on Bellezza allowed in the city on that day, upon penalty of death); Carnival and many others too numerous to mention. Cathedral: La Maddalena Islands: Merlino, Burlesca, Torrone Interesting fact: All unmarried women over the age of sixteen, including the Duchessa, must wear a mask in public. You can read more about Bellezza in City of Masks. Remora (ray-MORE-uh) Di Chimici principality and main city of Talia (Equivalent of Siena) Known as the City of Stars Current ruler: Ferdinando di Chimici, Pope Lenient Vl Heir designate: Prince Gaetano di Chimici Principal industries: horseracing, wool, painting, silversmiths, crocus-farming to produce saffron History: Remo won the fight with Romulo; some say Romulo was killed but see entry for Romula. Remora was the capital of the Reman Empire Eating out: try the Granita of La Mandragola in Santa Fina Administrative Divisions: Twelve contrade named after the signs of the Zodiac. WARNING: Do not wear colours of adversaries when walking in contrade.

5

Principal festival: The Stellata horse race 15th August Interesting fact: The adjective from Remora is ‘Reman’; only the citizens are called ‘Remorans’. You can read more about Remora in City of Stars. Giglia (JEEL-yah) Most important city after Remora, the banking capital of Talia (Equivalent of Florence) Known as the City of Flowers Di Chimici duchy Current ruler: Fabrizio II of Giglia, also Grand Duke Fabrizio I of Tuschia Predecessor: Duke Niccolò di Chimici, who was declared the first Grand Duke of Tuschia shortly before his death in a duel in 1579 Principal industries: banking, wool, perfume, poison, sculpture Cathedral: Santa Maria del Giglio Shopping: visit the profumeria/farmacia at the Friary of Saint-Mary-among-the-Vines in the north of the city Interesting fact: The city is prone to flooding from the river Argento. You can read more about Giglia in City of Flowers. Padavia (pah-DAH-vyah) North-east of Talia on mainland near Bellezza (Equivalent of Padua) Known as the City of Words Independent city state with elected governor and Senate, closely allied with Bellezza and for a period under its rule Current ruler: Messer Antonio Principal industries: scholarship, particularly law, medicine, rhetoric and philosophy; printed books Principal sights: Cathedral del Santo; bronze equestrian statue by Donato Miele Eating out: the Black Horse Inn is popular with students Interesting facts: The university is Talia’s second oldest; there is a Reman amphitheatre under the swamp in the south of the city. The Regent of Bellezza, Senator Rossi, went to university in Padavia. You can read more about Padavia in City of Secrets.

6

Classe (CLASS-ay) Independent duchy, with an elected duke (Equivalent of Ravenna) Known as the City of Ships Current ruler: Duke Germano Principal industries: merchant trading; spices, silks, pigments etc; mosaics; piracy Artistic sights: silver mosaics in the main cluster of temples and churches Interesting fact: The city is associated with the Nucci family of Giglia, who were exiled here in 1579 after an assassination attempt on Fabrizio di Chimici. (Carlo di Chimici was killed, as was Camillo Nucci.) You can read more about Classe in City of Ships Fortezza (for-TETS-ah) Di Chimici principality in north-west of Talia (Equivalent of Lucca) Known as the City of Swords Current ruler: Prince Jacopo the Elder Heir: Principessa Lucia di Chimici, widow of the late Carlo di Chimici History: founded by the ancient Tuschians, known as Rassenans; it is a strongly fortified city with circular walls.

You will be able to read more about Fortezza in City of Swords

Moresco (more-ESS-koh) Di Chimici principality (Equivalent of Pisa) Known as the City of Mermaids Current ruler: Prince Ferdinando di Chimici Heir: Prince Ferrando Principal industries: trade; fishing Principal sights: picturesque harbour and port Interesting fact: Mermaids are occasionally seen off the coast. Bellona (bell-OHN-ah) Di Chimici principality

7

(Equivalent of Bologna) Known as the City of Dreams Current ruler: Prince Jacopo the Younger Heir: Filippo di Chimici Principal industries: alchemy; food and drink; the interpretation of dreams; Corteo cards; predicting the future The University of Bellona is the oldest in Talia Interesting facts: The streets are largely arcaded; there are many tall towers; the city is also known as ‘Bellona the fat’; home city of Federico Bruno, famous alchemist; the Bellona stone is known throughout Talia as a powerful alchemical device. Cittanuova (chitt-ah-NWOH-vah) Independent duchy in southern Talia with an elected duke (Equivalent of Naples) Known as the City of Fire Current ruler: Duke Alvise Principal industries: a busy port; vulcanology Biggest landmark: volcano (Mount Ignis), just outside the city and still active Archaeological site: Perseum Montemurato (mon-tay-moor-AH-toh) (Equivalent of Monteriggioni, which is near Siena, but in a different position) Known as the City of Towers Independent city state in northern Talia, ruled by elected governor Current ruler: Messer Giorgio Fortified city with twelve watchtowers Industries: astrology; telescopes; astrolabes; armillary spheres Annual festival: Fiesta della Strega, celebrated with bonfires and revelry History: Montemurato has an ancient university; it was much affected by the plague of 1552 and its houses have ‘doors of death’ for coffins Volana (voll-AH-nah) Di Chimici duchy (Equivalent of Ferrara) Known as the City of Music Current ruler: Prince Alfonso di Chimici

8

Predecessor: Prince Fabrizio di Chimici (d. 1575) Principal industries: music; violin-making Principal sight: Palace with very tall tower and deep dungeons; Conservatorio di Musica

Romula (ROMM-oo-la) Independent principality (Equivalent of Rome) Known as the City of Dragons Current ruler: Prince Stefano Industries: dragon-charming; jewellery History: reputed to have been founded by Romulo, the brother of Remo, who founded Remora Sights: interesting mosaics; mithraeum Interesting fact: There are dragons in the hills round Romula.

9

3. Corteo Cards

Invented in Bellona, these cards can be used for divination. (They are also known as ‘Diambi’.)

There are four suits with cards numbered 1 to 10 (they relate to the Four Elements):

Fishes (Water) Birds (Air) Salamanders (Fire) Serpents (Earth)

There are four Court Cards in each suit:

King

10

Queen Prince Princess

There are also 22 Greater Trumps as follows:

0 The Fool 1 The Magician 2 The Goddess 3 Spring Maiden 4 The Green Man 5 The God-king 6 The Lovers 7 Corn 8 The Knight 9 The Sword 10 The Spinning Wheel 11 The Book 12 The Tree 13 Death 14 Lightning 15 The Ladder 16 Moving Stars 17 The Tower 18 Moon 19 Sun 20 The Scales 21 Mandala

When used for divination, the cards must be laid face up and the diviners should face east. Set down 12 cards in a circle, widdershins. Place the thirteenth card face up in the centre. The cards do not foretell the future; they suggest possible future patterns. Interpreting the patterns is a skilled business, not for amateurs.

4. The Manoush The Manoush, also known as Zinti, (though not by themselves), are a nomadic people, originally from the East. They are Goddess-worshippers and do not sleep inside buildings. They are musicians and some of them have second sight.

11

5. The di Chimici family

12

The wealthiest and most influential family in Talia. They began as chemists (hence the family name) and distillers of perfumes

(and poisons). Their wealth soon led to their becoming bankers to many of the crowned heads of Europa.

Eventually Fabrizio di Chimici (1425–1485) became the first Duke of Giglia. He was succeeded by his son, Alfonso (1455–1542), whose own son became Duke Niccolò (1422 – 1579). Duke Niccolò’s life ended in a duel with a Bellezzan cavaliere, shortly after the assassination of his second son, Prince Carlo, at his own wedding and the subsequent banishment of the Nucci family from Giglia.

The current Pope, Lenient Vl, is a di Chimici, Prince Ferdinando of Remora. Rinaldo di Chimici, younger brother of Prince Alfonso of Volana is a leading cardinal.

6. List of Stravaganti in Talia*

Rodolfo Rossi, Luciano Crinamorte, Guglielmo Crinamorte (Bellezza) Paolo Montalbano, Horsemaster of the Ram (Remora)

Giuditta Miele, sculptor (Giglia)

Brother Sulien, friar (Giglia)

Professor Constantin, rhetoric professor (Padavia)

Flavia, merchant trader (Classe)

Fabio, soldier (Fortezza)

Giovanni, fisherman (Moresco)

Fulvia, an interpreter of dreams (Bellona)

Germano, vulcanologist (Cittanuova)

Corrado, astrologer (Monteriggioni)

Aurora, musician (Volana)

Ranieri, dragon-charmer (Romula)

There may be more; these are the known ones

13

7. Talismans These are the known talismans that have taken stravaganti from the other world to Talia: • copper dish (William Dethridge – Bellona) • marbled notebook (Lucien Mulholland – Bellezza) • flying horse ornament (Georgia O’Grady – Remora) • leather-bound spell-book (Matthew Wood – Padavia) • bag of silver tesserae (Isabel – Classe) • silver paper-knife (Laura – Fortezza) • wooden carving of mermaid (Ross – Moresco) • silver candlestick (Julia – Bellona) • piece of lava rock (Sean – Cittanuova) • telescope (Emily – Montemurato) • flute (Rory – Volana) • silver dragon-ring (Caitlin – Romula)

8. Religion The official religion of Talia is the Reman Church. It is led by the Pope and his Cardinals in Remora. However, many Talians still practise the older Goddess-worshipping religion which was common in the ancient Middle Sea. It is still prevalent in the lagoon city of Bellezza and is the religion of the Manoush. It is quite common in Talia to find people who practise both religions simultaneously.

9. Silver In Talia silver does not tarnish, making it more valuable than gold, which suffers from the ‘morte d’oro’ (gold death). Silver does not need cleaning; it is just polished with a cloth.

10. Differences between Talia and Italy Details of the differences between the two countries can be found at the end of each of the Stravaganza books.