The Succession

After the death of the Duca di Casalmaggiore, his two nephews vie for his vacant throne. Federico is on the verge of succeeding in his claim, assisted by the horoscopes of the court astrologer and the wiles of his Hermetic lover. But his twin, Giuliano, is the firstborn and has the legitimate claim despite lacking political influence. And so Giuliano turns to the Order for assistance, in the knowledge that he needs to fight the magic in his brother's employ with magic of his own.

Giuliano and his entourage arrive at the player covenant without warning and demand audience. He firmly asserts his rank and refuses to be put off, citing a matter of grave urgency. When presented to the magi, or their senior representatives, he demands their assistance in exposing his brother's lies and trickery.

He contests that his uncle's throne is his by right as he is the firstborn twin, but that the court astrologer, Hieronymous, has persuaded the court that a

great calamity will befall the dukedom unless an heir is elected by a council of nobles and princes. He believes that Hieronymous' magic is being turned to his brother's aid and wishes to prove it. He also tells of a woman who is beguiling the court in order to secure his brother's claim to the ducal throne.

Asked why the covenant should help him, Giuliano is forthright; because he asks it of them. If, as is likely, the covenant requires more convincing, he says because he believes the woman, Lucia, to be one of them and that he knows enough of the Order to know that what she is doing is wrong. And if yet more inducement is required, he offers the income of a sizable fief to them for as long as his reign should last, assuming his brother's trickery is exposed and his claim discredited.

If the magi themselves refuse to help him, he suggests that they must at least have associates, learned in magic and astrology, who could at least guide him in these matters. This presents the covenant with the opportunity to use its companions and grogs to first gather information and second earn a new source of income. Giuliano escorts any willing to help him to Casalmaggiore as members of his retinue.

At this stage, the magi may decide to decline to help Giuliano in any way. In this case Giuliano leaves vowing some ill-defined revenge at some ambiguous time in the future, Federico is elected, and his brother is exiled to some small estate where he turns to taxing his vassals hard out of frustration and spite.

The heart of the Casalmaggiore region is a palace of white stonework, fortified yet elegant, and surrounded by orchards and villages. It sits on the river Po to the southwest of Verona, and there are several bridges that span the river, ensuring a steady stream of