Castelbianco, Viscounty of

Other two small (112 and 93) villages are inhabited by Lupins.

Ethnic groups: Caurenzan 95%, Lupin (Glantri Mountaineer) 5%

Languages: Caurenzan, Lupin (Mountaineer dialect), Glantrian (the latter spoken by the few cultured people)

Ruler: Viscount Antonio di Tarento (born 954, Alchemist of the 3^rd Circle, Headmaster of the Assassins' Guild) (OD&D: Mage 12^th, Al C) (AD&D: Thief 6^th- Wizard 10^th , Al CE).

Military: 30 (a gang of thugs, mostly linked to the Assassins' Guild)

History: Castelbianco is one of the most recently created fiefs, since Flaemish settlers ignored the lands North the Arnus River. A Kerendan petty noble, Fabius Fabi built a solitary castle (Castelleremo) and since the end of forty years war people gradually populated this side of the river. The Viscounty was recently founded by Viscount Antonio di Tarento, with the help of Prince Innocenti di Malapietra. The Prince strongly wanted those territories North of the Arnus River under his indirect control rather than leaving it to the Council, and he had some good reasons: the recently discovered gold mines.

Trails: The river is navigable in few brief parts, but NW and SE of Castelbianco, where the River coasts the Glantrian Alps, the navigation’s impossible. A fair trail connects Castelbianco and the mines of gold to Ponte d’Arno and to the Principality of Caurenze. There’s no toll to pay for licensed Caurenzan merchants; strangers who want to cross the border must buy the licence, which costs 1 sv.

A poor trail runs along the River Arnus, starting from the village of Castelleremo towards a village in the Glantrian Alps Free Province.

Economics: Fishing (river species) is the main food resource of the Viscounty, which strongly relies on imports for food. The southern hills are home to small hamlets and vineyards (the Dòreo dei Colli di Castelbianco is a white wine, famous for his straw-yellow colour). Near Castelbianco there are the recently discovered mines of gold, which provide the Viscounty with the money to pay the expensive food needed. Trade is done with the Principality of Caurenze.

Notable sites: At Ponte d'Arno there is a sturdy wooden bridge, built in 995 by the Prince of Caurenze and the Viscount of Castelbianco. It is used to bring to Caurenze the gold mined in Castelbianco, and to Castelbianco highly needed products like wheat, livestock, and vegetables.

Mandûa is a village who has recently gained a lot of attention thanks to a musical Duo, Li Bardi Mandûesi (Manduan Bards), Errico Nedo Porpûa (born 968) (OD&D: Mage 14^th, AlN) (AD&D: Bard 12^th, LN), and Delciso Agôa (born 972) (OD&D: Mage 14^th, Al N) (AD&D: Bard 12^th, NG). This duo presented a new small, lute-shaped instrument (at least, they pretend it to be a new one): the mandûa. It seems the name doesn’t come from the village but from the style of playing: man (hand), dûa (rigid). A similar instrument is very popular among the Bards of Nouvelle Averoigne, and many claim the Caurenzan Duo stole the Averoignian design. This is why Errico Nedo and Delciso are very popular in Caurenzan territories as they sing in Caurenzan and Castelbianco dialects. Their style is called "goliardico" (a sort of School of Magic spirit), as they love to sing popular tales, filled with spicy details and hearsaid gossips.

In the mountains, there is a zone particularly rich of caves, which have been named by the creative shepherds’ minds. The most renowned is Grotta dei Caprai (goat-herders Cave), where an ancient Bronze Bone (a fibula) was retrieved by modern herders.

Castello degli Alfieri (Alfieri’s Castle), was once owned by a reclusive Kerendan family. Di Sfontis tried to win them to their side politically, but after their unsuccessful attempt, they sent their armies to vanquish them under the false pretext Alfieri were practising clerical magic. Since then, the Castle has remained empty.

Personalities: Viscount Antonio di Tarento (born 954, Alchemist of the 3^rd Circle, Headmaster of the Assassins' Guild) (OD&D: Mage 12^th, Al C) (AD&D: Thief 6^th- Wizard 10^th , Al CE).

Li Bardi Mandûesi: Errico Nedo Porpûa (born 968) (OD&D: Mage 14^th, AlN) (AD&D: Bard 12^th, LN), and Delciso Agôa (born 972) (OD&D: Mage 14^th, Al N) (AD&D: Bard 12^th, NG).

Coat of Arms: Argent castle (asymmetric, large tower on the right) on gules background.

Thibault Sarlat, Giovanni Porpora, Agathokles.

January 2001, All rights reserved.