Venetian Campaign – A Web of Intrigue

Some friends at work asked me to start an oldskool D&D campaign for them. This campaign will meet twice a month via Roll20. It will take place in the same MappaMundi world as the Hibernian and Florentine campaigns, although it will start at the same time they started, so the opening of this campaign will be set for about the same time of year in 1366 as the other two.

Here is some background on the characters as well as some background on the Venice of the game world.

The Party:

Volpeo (fighter)

Pietro Cartaforba is the nephew of Marco Cornaro, Patriarch (bishop) of Venice. His mother, Prudenzia, is Cornaro's younger sister. When Pietro's father died in a duel, Cornaro took the lad under his wing and played the role of father figure. Because of what happened to his father, young Pietro Cartaforba showed an interest in learning the blade.

Due to his evident skill, Cornaro has asked him to do a very important job for the Church: averting civil disorder by preventing the assassination of the Doge. He sent Pietro to the Dandolo family with a personal request that they hire his nephew as a clerk in their banking operation. Pietro's real task, however, is to report back to Cornaro and to intervene in events when necessary to avert a civic disaster.  To protect him, Cornaro gave Pietro a sacred relic: a pair of boots reputed to have been made by St. Crispin.

To this end, Pietro Cartaforba presents himself as a bookish and mild-mannered actuary while maintaining an alter-ego in the form of the dashing swordsman, Volpeo. 

Gianna (fighter)

Gianna had aspirations of joining the Knights Templar. She was apprenticed to a sergeant but discovered he was embezzling.  She exposed him, and he was punished, but then she found herself farmed out to the Bankers' Guild in Venice. There, she saw even more corruption. When she tried to bring it to her superior's attention, she was brushed off and told to just keep quiet and protect the deliveries and banking officials as she's asked and not make any more trouble.

She's grown disheartened to see the Templars turning a blind eye to blatant corruption. The current Doge, Pietro Ziani (the one installed by the Dandolo Family, because they're allied with the Guild), is also the head of the Bankers' Guild. There are powerful forces in Venice trying to assassinate him so they can seize power, and the Dandolo Family has asked you to help uncover the plots and protect him. So far, you've decided to do your duty, begrudgingly.

Sister Maria (cleric)

Sister Maria Petra, her hands calloused not from rosary beads but from years of farm work, carried the quiet strength of the earth with her into the sacred halls of her order. Though her heart belonged to God, it was rooted in the fertile soil of her childhood outside of Padua, a place where she'd learned the patient rhythm of seasons and the enduring power of simple faith. Within the Church's complex tapestry of Venetian politics, she stood as a beacon of unwavering honesty, a trait honed by years of mediating disputes among her siblings and neighbors. Her gentle nature and genuine spirit drew confidences like wildflowers to sunlight, making her a trusted confidante even amidst the simmering tensions between the Dandolos and Contarini. Beyond her wisdom and empathy, Sister Maria Petra possessed a remarkable gift: the ability to lay hands and mend the broken, a divine spark that flowed through her, mending wounds both physical and spiritual. While the Church maintained a delicate neutrality, Sister Maria Petra's innate sense of justice, coupled with her deep spiritual connection and her miraculous healing, made her a keen observer of the city's undercurrents, a silent force capable of discerning truth and offering solace amidst the swirling currents of political intrigue.

Guido Falcone (cleric)

Guido Falcone became a cleric so that I could heal others both spiritually and physically. He is from the Campania region in the Kingdom of Naples.  He grew up in the country on a small farm surrounded by forest. He was fascinated by the grace and swiftness of birds and became a bird trainer. He was able to train them to locate people who got lost in the forest. All birds, not just pigeons, were able to deliver messages for him. He discovered that he had a gift for healing injured birds and realized that this gift of healing could be used for animals, and most importantly, people.

Guido has the love of the church, especially his home church, which was instrumental in his faith formation. He also had a strong dedication to St. Francis. For any treasure that he gets from his endeavors, he will donate 20%, split four ways: 1) His home church; 2) Nearest Shrine to St. Francis; 3) His current local church; 4) Personal fund to help pay for healing potions for the entire party.

Nico Voss (tiefling -- homebrew demihuman race that is a mix of thief/magic-user)

Nico Voss never knew luxury, only survival. Born in the decayed ruins of Bael Turath, he grew up among scavengers, thieves, and the undead horrors that still plagued the Cursed Wastes. His mother, a runaway from Arkhosia’s dragonborn slavers, barely kept them alive through trickery and theft. She taught Nico the trade young—how to pick pockets, how to lie with a smile, and how to disappear when the city guards came knocking.

By the time he was twelve, he was running cons on the caravan routes between Transylvania and the border cities of the Holy Roman Empire. By fifteen, he was a wanted man in three different city-states for smuggling illicit relics, falsifying noble identities, and a particularly ambitious scheme that involved replacing a baron’s prized ruby with a painted glass replica.

His luck finally ran out in the Kingdom of Carthage, where he was caught lifting a merchant lord’s purse. Instead of hanging, he was sold into indentured servitude to pay off his crimes. For two years, he fought in underground pit fights and ran contraband for his masters. That’s where he met Salina—a girl with a silver tongue, a sharper mind, and a fire in her heart. She danced in the pleasure houses by night, stole from nobles by dawn, and planned for a way out every waking hour.

Together, they escaped—burning the establishment to the ground behind them.

They spent the next decade refining their craft: Nico stole the jewels, Salina charmed their way past suspicion. From the courts of Hispania to the guilds of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, they built their reputation as partners in crime, known for their elegance and ruthlessness in equal measure. Eventually, their exploits caught the attention of the Dandolo family, one of the most powerful noble houses in Venice.

The Dandolos saw opportunity in them. They needed a man who could move unseen in the city’s underbelly, a thief who could secure secrets, debts, and favors without a trail. In return, Nico was given status, protection, and access to the wealth of Venice’s elite.

Now, he walks the thin line between noble influence and criminal enterprise, his knives always ready, his wit sharper than ever. But he knows that in a city like Venice, loyalty is an illusion, and only fools trust the powerful.

Salina "Fancy" Meraxes (tiefling -- homebrew demihuman race that is a mix of thief/magic-user)

Salina Meraxes never had a childhood—only a future that wasn’t hers to choose. Born in a dying village, where food was scarce and the nights were long, her mother saw only one way out. When the fever took her father and the tax collectors came for what little they had, her mother sat her down and said, "Now, you're my last chance, Fancy. You best start living up to your name."

She was sold to a traveling merchant, who in turn sold her to a wealthy brothel in Carthage. There, she learned the art of survival—not just through beauty, but through performance, deception, and power. She danced for kings, whispered in the ears of generals, and learned that secrets were far more valuable than coin.

But Salina had no intention of being a kept woman. She watched, she listened, she learned. And when the time came, she stole what she needed, slit the throat of the man who thought he owned her, and set fire to the past she refused to carry.

She met Nico in the slave pits of Carthage—another lost soul with fire in his veins and hunger in his heart. Together, they carved their way through the world, grifting nobles, conning merchants, and taking what they wanted. She played the role of the seductive courtesan, the mesmerizing performer, the tragic noblewoman in distress—whatever the job required.

Venice was their next prize.

The Dandolo family needed spies who could move between noble courts and the criminal underworld without suspicion. Salina and Nico fit the bill. As an official patron of the arts, the Dandolos provided her with a lavish theater, where she performed for Venice’s elite while secretly collecting their secrets. She whispered to lords, danced for the rich, and blackmailed those too foolish to keep their desires hidden.

She knows that power is an illusion, and beauty is a weapon. She plays the game well, but the past still lingers in her shadow. One day, she’ll have more than just survival—she’ll have control.

But for now, she dances.

Factions of Venice

 Noble Families

1. Contarini Family  

• Description: One of the oldest and wealthiest Venetian families, the Contarini are known for their naval prowess and expansive trade networks. Their influence extends into the shipbuilding industry and the Venetian Arsenal.

• Alliances: Strongly aligned with the merchant guilds, particularly those involved in maritime trade. They maintain cordial relations with the Mocenigo family.

• Rivalries: Fierce rivals with the Dandolo family, competing over dominance in trade and political influence.

• Leader: Andrea Contarini Andrea is a politically shrewd and ambitious leader, fiercely loyal to the Republic and pragmatic in his dealings. He is tall, with a weathered face, and known for his stoic demeanor and measured speech.

2. Dandolo Family  

• Description: Once dominant in Venice, the Dandolos are an older noble family seeking to reclaim their former glory. They focus on land-based trade routes and banking.

• Alliances: Allied with the foreign merchant guilds and families from the mainland cities like Padua.

• Rivalries: A bitter feud with the Contarini family over influence in the Senate and control over trade.

• Leader: Francesco Dandolo   A masterful politician with a genial public persona masking his ruthless ambition. Short and stout, with piercing blue eyes and a contagious laugh.

  
  

3. Mocenigo Family  

• Description: A politically moderate and diplomatic family, the Mocenigos are known for their connections with foreign powers, particularly Byzantium and the Levant. They specialize in luxury goods like silk and spices.

• Alliances: Maintain strong ties with the Church and religious guilds. Neutral towards most families but maintain an uneasy alliance with the Contarini.

• Rivalries: Occasionally clash with the Dandolos over influence in banking.

• Leader: Tommaso Mocenigo A diplomatic and patient statesman with a deep understanding of Venice's complex politics. He is tall and lean, with silver hair and a calming presence.

  
  

4. Grimani Family  

• Description: A newer noble family, the Grimani gained prominence through banking and investments in overseas colonies. They represent rising mercantile ambitions within the aristocracy.

• Alliances: Supporters of the trade guilds, particularly those focused on banking and textiles. Maintain good relations with the Dandolos.

• Rivalries: Viewed with suspicion by older families like the Contarini and Mocenigo.

• Leader: Alessandro Grimani A savvy financier with a taste for luxury, Alessandro is charismatic but manipulative. He has dark hair, a neatly trimmed beard, and a keen eye for opportunities.

  
  

Trade Guilds  

1. Guild of Wool Merchants  

• Leader: Lorenzo Malpiero, a gruff but fair overseer who rose from humble beginnings.

• Alliances: Close ties with the Grimani family.

• Rivalries: Compete with the Guild of Silk Weavers.

2. Guild of Silk Weavers  

• Leader: Marco Zorzi, an eccentric and creative artisan.

• Alliances: Strong connection to the Mocenigo family.

• Rivalries: Competition with the Wool Merchants for trade routes.

3. Guild of Shipbuilders  

• Leader: Giovanni Orseolo, a strict and pragmatic master of the Arsenal.

• Alliances: Supporters of the Contarini family.

• Rivalries: Conflicts with the Guild of Foreign Merchants over control of supplies.

4. Guild of Bankers  

• Leader: Pietro Ziani, a calculating and influential financier.

• Alliances: Loyal to the Dandolo family.

• Rivalries: Tension with the Grimani family over foreign investments.

The Church   

Leadership  

• Patriarch: Marco Cornaro, a pious and politically astute leader who balances the interests of the Church and the Republic. He is soft-spoken but unyielding, with a deep love for Venice’s spiritual welfare.

• Pope Urban V, Urban attempts to guide affairs in Italy justly, but he is more concerned with preserving Christian morality and peace  than practical concerns like aqueducts and commerce.  The practical considerations tend to fall on the shoulders of powerful merchant families who usually enroll their younger offspring in the priesthood or monastic life in order to increase their political clout. In his attempts to maintain political and civil stability in Italy, Pope Urban V often needs to tolerate the bad actions of ambitious noblemen. While he seeks always to uphold Christian morality, he occasionally makes compromises in order to keep the streets free from blood and the city-states’ governments free from tyrants.