The Nobility

Nobility of note encountered or mentioned in the Saga to date. Guelphs support the temporal power of the Pope, Ghibellines support the power of the Holy Roman Emperor

The Orsini
The most powerful family in Rome, of Ducal rank, and renowned Guelphs. Have a longstanding feud with the Colonna. In the first Rienzi revolt, a Duke asked the covenant to help capture Rienzi, but the covenant ignored this.

The Colonna
The second most powerful family in Rome, of Ducal rank, and renowned Ghibellines. Colonna abuse of the Pope in the early 14th century was one of the triggering events for the creation of the Avignon Papacy. The head of the household, Duke Francesco Colonna, was possessed by the infernal ghost of Nero around 1350 AD. Some of his direct retainers became part of the Cult of Zenodorus' schemes, and Colonna footmen attacked the Eastern Ear Inn. The covenant caused the death of Francesco but were not publicly implicated. Current head of the household is unspecified.

The Annibaldi
A baronial rank family. Have only come up peripherally. Paolo Annibaldi controlled the Forum at the time the covenant wanted to excavate some artifacts. Lavinia developed a medical theriac to help them when the flagellant cult had spread disease. Later, she struck a deal with them, and they assasinated Mortis of Verditius.

The Contis
A moderately powerful count rank family. They control the Conti Tower (Torre dei Conti) and the Militia Tower (Torre della Milizie). The Conti Tower has access to a magic regio above it, on what used to be its top floor, but the tower lost two floors in damage from a 1340s earthquake. The head of the family in the 1320s, Torquato di Conti, had one rude meeting with the covenant after he arrested a book vendor and took a strong dislike to wizards. In the 1340s, new family head Sangallo di Conti asked the covenant to help him reclaim the Conti Tower from revolutionaries, but his request was declined.

The Frangipani
A baronial ranked Ghibelline family who converted part of the Roman Colosseum into their fortress. Baron Rafael Frangipani asked the covenant to help him when his son was kidnapped by Colosseum fairies. The Baron later fell under the sway of the penitent cult and died from the covenant's efforts. His biological son, under the care of the magus Lodewig, is the last heir of the Frangipani family.

The Capocci
Formerly a count ranked family. Hugo di Capocci had a fascination with the supernatural and assembled a large court of hedge wizards, then later conquered the fief of Allumiere. After a long history with Vardian's Tomb, the family was wiped out by the aggression of Mortis of Rome. The surviving liegemen and the family's holdings in Rome were absorbed by the other nobility.

The Mancini
Lords of the area in central Italy where the covenant disrupted a scheme involving bandits and a Mercurian wizard's laboratory.

The Savellis
Control the castle town of Albano, southeast of Rome.

The Pamphili
Vassals of the Savellis and lords of Pamphili Estate, southeast of Rome. This area includes the woods that is home to the She-Wolf of Vengeance. Current head is Benso Pamphili.

The Farnese
Vassals of the Savellis. Included Lord Farnese and his daughter Hannelore. Have a bad track record with Magi.

The Malatesta and the Ordelaffi
Lords of Rimini and Forli, respectively. Had a positive encounter with Vardian's Tomb when the covenant prevented a Demon Lord from being summoned and slaughtering everyone in their lands. Each feuded with the other. As of the 1350s their independence was curbed by the military efforts of Cardinal Albornoz and they have resubmitted to the rule of the Pope.

The St. Duanes of Montcuq
Formerly headed by Rogier St. Duane and his fae-blooded wife Lady Gracia. The schemes of Galafre the Elder lead to the birth of Valentin, who was later legitimized as Rogier's son by the Pope. Galafre and Valentin's schemes later caused the downfall of the family when they allied with Hungarian invaders in Louis' unsuccessful war against Naples.

The Visconti
The powerful lords of Milan. Their influence has grown in Northern and Central Italy in the absence of the Pope.

Joanna, Queen of Naples
Queen of Naples, and a de jure direct vassal of the Pope. Briefly controlled much of Sicily but has lost it. Her realms are a hotbed of intrigue and plotting by many who wish to usurp her. Currently unhappily married to her cousin, Louis, Duke of Taranto.

Louis, King of Hungary
Lord of the powerful and wealthy Hungary. Waged war in Italy against Joanna in the 1340s. Due to the scheming of Galafre the Elder, Galafre's biological son Valentin become one of Louis' most trusted and adored household knights.