Scarvento (844): in the middle of the plains.

Nesci (736): on the hills North East of Sirecchia.

Petraja (646): few miles West of Lizzieni, along the River.

Fonte Algida (537): halfway between Lizzieni and Oreggiano.

Naequinum (453): 12 miles West of Lizzieni, along the River.

Ethnic groups: Caurenzan 90%, Lupin (Glantri Mountaineer) 5%, Others 5%.

Languages: Caurenzan, Lupin (mountaineer dialect), Glantrian (the latter spoken mostly by the cultured people).

Ruler: Prince Innocenti di Malapietra, Viscount of Sirecchia, Viceroy of Ylourgne (born 962), (OD&D: Mage 20^th, Grand Master of Earth Elementalism, Al C) (AD&D: Wizard 15^th, Al NE).

Military: 240 heavy infantrymen, 4^th Banner of Jaggar’s division.

Deployments: base in Lizzieni, 120 in Lizzieni, 60 in Oreggiano, and 60 in Sirecchia as Personal Guards of the Prince.

Flaemish settlers sparsely populated this area, and when Kerendans settled here only few fighting occurred in the years from 730 to 734. Anyway, whenever Kerendans didn’t fight against someone else, they proved to be exceedingly good at fighting among themselves. More than once the relatives of the current ruler "disappeared" one by one, and nowadays Caurenzans are so used to change their ruler that they don’t care about it, provided there’s enough food and feasting. "Panem et circenses" they’d say in Thyatis. Lords and petty Lords built Keeps and Castles, made alliances, fought battles in which they destroyed the Keeps and the Castles, and finally the winners and the new Lords started the cycle again. It’s impossible to list all the fights that occurred, so we’ll list those we judge the most important:

-the Battle of Oreggiano, where Ottone and Matteo di Sfonti killed Carlo di Sfonti on the steps of the Palace.

-the Battle of Pratajoli and the deaths following Borso di Sfonti's rise to power in 855.

-di Sfonti's plague, in 947, which stroke all members of the family before the crowning of Francesco di Malapietra.

Trails: Only few brief traits of the Arnus River are navigable before Lizzieni, which hosts the only port in the Principality. Passage fees are very high due to the high toll imposed by Alphatians in Volnay.

L’Anellare is a trail which runs the perimeter of the Principality, from Lizzieni upriver to Fonte Algida and Oreggiano, to Sirecchia via Scarvento, then to Nesci, Ponte d’Arno (Viscounty of Castelbianco), Naequinum and Petraja.

A fair trail, called Vialœnga, departs towards Desana, in the Two Volcanoes Free Province, ending in the Viscounty of Verazzano. Another fair trail departs from Oreggiano to Rocca dei Gusberti, in the Two Volcanoes Free Province. A third one departs from Naequinum to Torrepadůla, in the Glantrian Alps Free Province.

For those wishing to travel to and from the Viscounty of Castelbianco there’s no toll to pay if they’re licensed Caurenzan merchants; anyone else must buy the licence, which costs 1 sv.

Finally, a good trail departs from Lizzieni to Ponte delle Fiere, in the Silver Sierra Free Province, ending in Volnay, in the Principality of Blackhill.

Economics: Despite the high density of population, the high number of villages and the apparent lack of food resources, Caurenze deficit is relatively low. This because of the small allotments, which bring a varied production: Caurenze isn’t the main producer of any foodstuff, but it’s the 2^nd or the 3^rd, instead.

Weaponsmiths and armorers in the towns and villages, and mining, gold (imported from Castelbianco), marble, iron and gems in the Glantrian Alps and the hills around Oreggiano, provides the Principality with the ducats needed to pay Caurenze’s most serious shortage of food: meat and grain. Northwestern hilly lands hold most vineyards, Caurenze’s wines rivals those of Nouvelle Averoigne and there’s a strong rivalry between the two Principalities. One of the most renowned is the Candido, a white wine with a characteristic smell and taste, produced on the hills near Castelbianco.

Unfortunately Caurenze has to rely on Blackhill for trading; this turns to be an increase for its Treasury due to the bad relations with House Silverston. This misfortune turns against the Viscounties of Castelbianco and Verazzano, too, since they both rely on the Principality for food importing. Other imports of Caurenze include: some food and sulphur are imported from the Two Volcanoes Free Province, some food and coal are imported from the Silver Sierra Free Province, white marbles and iron are imported from the Viscounty of Verazzano and gold is imported from the Viscounty of Castelbianco.

Notable sites: Fonte Algida is a village renowned for its wine (Scarlatto dei Fonzi), and for Cerulče ruins. The ruins are found along the old trail connecting Lizzieni to Oreggiano. Cerulče was abandoned after a monsters’ attack, leaving an Arc and some sepulchres which are told to preserve the bodies in a strange way.

Naequinum rises over an olive tree hill, overhanging the river, 12 miles from Lizzieni. Once a temple, it was razed to the ground by an expedition of Braccio da Oreggiano, a.k.a. il Condottiero. A petty noble of the area, Baldo de’ Balducci, built a Tower on the ruins. The family has patronised many Caurenzans artists, and the tower’s garden hosts a large sculpture collection. The village is famous for its painters and goldcraftsmen.

Petraja is a centre renowned for marblecraft and ironcraft. Founded in 755 by Guiscardo da Petraja, it has given birth to the most famous Caurenzan sculptors, such as Gérmino Flachi, detto "lo Scalpellino", who sculpted the bas-relieves of the imposing Temple of Rad, better known as Duomo di Petraja. The art of sculpting developed thanks to the proximity of Mount Altissimo, from which an high quality marble is extracted, and it is handed down through the Art School named after Lucina di Malapietra, wife of Prince Francesco, and founder of the School. The School is for Caurenzans only, maximum twelve students at a time, and the expenses are entirely paid by the Prince. All the tools needed for sculpting are produced by the local ironcraftsmen.
Nesci was built around Malgrato Castle, named after a mysterious Kerendan noble who owed a favour to Di Sfontis and never paid it back. Originally built as a military Keep, it has been converted to a private mansion by di Malapietras. Agriculture is the main occupation for the locals, hemp, chestnuts and wheat, provide a good income for the local economy. The area is well known for its earthwares and terracotta statues that adorn the small Temple of Rad. La Sagra del fungo (Mushroomfeast), takes place during the last week of Sviftmont and the first of Eirmont.

La Fortezza del Brunetto (Brunetto’s Fortress), is an imposing Manor, far from civilisation, on a rocky slope near the borders with the Viscounty of Castelbianco. It’s home to Brunetto Menescaldi (hm, born 934, Alchemist of the 3^rd Circle) (AD&D: Apothecary** 18^th, Al NE) (OD&D: Al C), detto "il Viscido", a shadowy and dangerous character whose raison-d’ętre is the knowledge of poisons. He has links with the Assassin’s Guild, Prince Innocenti di Malapietra, Viscount Antonio di Tarento, he’s friend to none and foe to none. Yet, he escaped several attempts to his life and he indirectly caused the death of so many persons that they could fill a battlefield.

The village of Scarvento is curled at the foot of a Keep, Rocca di Malapietra (formerly known as Rocca dei Pratajoli and Rocca di Sfonti), that rises on a hillock, dominating the plains, over a previously swampy region. For a long time, the Keep belonged to the Pratajoli family, a family of warriors loyal to Di Sfontis. Scarvento witnessed various infighting amongst the factions of Di Sfontis family, but managed to stand straight thanks to Pratajoli’s ability to quickly side with the winner. However, when Matteo di Sfonti died in 855 AC, Rainaldo Pratajoli supported the wrong man, and after a bloody battle (la Battaglia dei Pratajoli), he was defeated and part of the Keep destroyed. Borso di Sfonti took possession of it and started exploiting the surrounding region for the breeding of horses. Under the following Prince of Caurenze, Bernabo di Sfonti, Scarvento breed had become the best horse breed in Glantri, and it’s still one of the most renowned.

During the third week of Fyrmont, a great Festival recalls people from all over the Principality and the Free Provinces, La Giostra de li Borghi (the joust of the villages). Originally every Kerendan Lord sent his Champion, and the competition was taken very seriously by the populace who travelled to support his hero, but nowadays the joust is open to everyone wishing to compete. Fighters are given a barded Scarvento horse, armors, and weapons crafted in Oreggiano, with the coat of arms of one of the villages. The Prince generally gifts the winner with some lands of a Free Province under Caurenzan control.

The coat is a mixture of black and brown hairs, giving the horses brown colour. The coat is completely regular, and there are neither leg nor body markings nor muzzle text. However, they have facial markings, a blaze, and a white bend of white ranges from the top of the horse’s head to the tip of its nose. They’re 18 hands high, which makes them the perfect heavy warhorses.

Their movement capability (as per heavy war-horses) is Walk 6,Trot 15,Canter 21,Gallop 27. Their encumbrance statistics (as per heavy warhorses) is Normal 260,one-half 390,one-third 520. Their maximum jumping capability is height 6’,length 16’. Furthermore 1 horse on four displays an exceptional morale (in AD&D terms it is steady 11-12) and all Scarvento are taught to kick and bite in battle, and to respond to knee pressure commands.

The horses of good and excellent quality are sold to the Great Army of Glantri and those of superb quality to important members of Caurenzan society. They generally are of mature age (3 to 5 years old), thus they have a +3 Movement capability, +100 Encumbrance statistics and +2’/+4’ Maximum Jumping Capabilities.

The horses sold to normal adventurers are middle aged (no bonus J ), and of average to good quality. The prices range from 200 to 1000 ducats. *

Personalities: Prince Innocenti di Malapietra, Viscount of Sirecchia, Viceroy of Ylourgnč, Grand Master of Earth Elementalism (born 962), (OD&D: Mage 20^th, Al C) (AD&D: Wizard 15^th, Al NE).

Brunetto Menescaldi (hm, born 934, Alchemist of the 3^rd Circle) (AD&D: Apothecary** 18^th, Al NE) (OD&D: Al C).

*Details on the horses’ characteristics can be found in the following articles appeared in Dragon Magazine:

"Horses Are People, Too" by Gordon Menzies, DM 191.

"Let the Horses Buyer Beware", by Robert Harrison, DM 92.

**Details on the Apothecary NPC class can be found in "Sages and Specialists", a TSR supplement for AD&D.

Thibault Sarlat, Giovanni Porpora, Agathokles.

January 2001, All rights reserved.