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Emperor Rufalus Caesar
Caesar is a balding, overweight human male who is a lifelong politician. Caesar has inherited the city from his father, and he is somewhat resentful that Il Senso is in such condition. Knowing the proud history of the Caesars of Il Senso de Acqua, Rufalus wants to see his city returned to her former glory before he dies. Caesar is cunning, but given to bouts of avarice like most men in a position of ultimate power. Caesar often throws lavish parties and bestows opulent gifts upon those in his favor. His bigotry against the demi-humans of the city is well known, having inherited it from his father before him. Caesar would like nothing better than to banish the "undesirables" from his city, but lacks the overwhelming force needed to do so without destroying his city. He is found most often at his Palace and at the Senate.
Praetorian Guard
These elite members of the Legion serve as Caesar's personal bodyguard and also as crack shock troops in time of war. The Preatorian usually take only the best and brightest into their ranks; those destined for greater commands or perhaps positions in the senate. Because of these future possibilities, it is not uncommon these days for a rich nobleman's son to be inducted into the guard, his way paved by substantial bribes. Despite the fact that its once solid core is now somewhat diluted by greed, the Praetorian guard is still a force to be feared. For more information on the guard, click here.
The Senate
The Senate is a small governing body, which once numbered in the hundreds when Il Senso was capital city of a vast empire. These are its only members now.
Senatoral Leader Sartorus Mallus
1st District Senator Edward Merik
2nd District Senator Appolonia Carpathes
3rd District Senator Philip Augustus Haddick
4th District Senator Crucius Tarpas
5th District Senator Margot Flametongue
6th District Senator Vanderis Grackis
Primus Pilus Cassadorius Flavius
Flavius is a human male of small stature whose appointment to the position is political. He has no real military experience and demands respect from those around him while doing little to earn it. Flavius enjoys the power his position: Primus Pilus of the Praetorian Guard affords him and frequently abuses it; forcing women into his bed, beating citizens whom he thinks have violated a law, or bullying merchants into granting him free goods. And as he is the Emperor's nephew, few are willing to stand up to him. He is most often found with the Praetorian Guard and the Senate, as well as the Palace.
Aldamar the Wise
Aldamar is an elderly human male, most likely over a century in age, with long white hair and a flowing beard to match. He is now stooped with age, and uses a stout staff to aid in his walking but Aldamar's mind is clear and unusually keen. Aldamar is difficult to meet; one must pass through several rings of lower level librarians and functionaries first, but if a question cannot be answered by a tome or book, it is likely that Aldamar the Wise knows the answer. Rarely is he seen outside of the Library.
Librarians
These keepers of knowledge are studious by nature and vary greatly in appearance and background. Most are human, but several are of the longer-lived races such as dwarves and elves. From the lowest of the "stackboys" whose job is to clean the books and scrolls and keep them in order, up to Aldamar's advisors and scribes, all are devoted to knowledge, its safe keeping and enrichment. Indeed, some have compared (and not unjustly so) the library to a temple, with Knowledge as its god and Aldamar as its priest.
Brutus Martinus
Martinus is an imposing, barrel-chested human male with a thick mane of whitish hair and a full beard. His voice is deep and resonant and when he speaks it is with total conviction to his causes and ideals. Seen as often in a flowing white robe as in his plate mail armor, Martinus is a crusader in every sense of the word. Serving as advisor to Rufalus Caesar, Martinus advocates an expansionist policy for the good of the city, and also in order to convert what he believes to be millions of "heathens" in the wilds beyond to the word of Cadaeum. Martinus respects all races (well, good ones anyway) for their individual accomplishments and strengths. Often he is found at the Temple of Cadaeum, the Senate and at the Palace.
Father Albert
Aaver's representative in the city, Albert is rotund, balding and wears a long, white and gold cassock which is often stained by his last meal. Albert is a loud and boisterous speaker, and his impassioned sermons sway many to his beliefs and causes. Unfortunately, Albert's bigotry toward the demi-human races is often a driving factor in his messages, and he is a chief cause of the overall feeling of dislike toward the non-human races by the human majority of the city. Father Albert is a good man, with misguided views and is most easily found at the Temple of Aaver.
Morgana Langtree
Langtree is a human woman with graying hair. With an open and friendly face, Langtree is a popular woman among the citizens of Il Senso, as she is always ready to talk or listen to a story. Her laughter is genuine and boisterous and she enjoys a good joke. Langtree eagerly looks forward to the days when she and her acolytes can begin reestablishing Ison's shrines along the roadsides of Myrrdin. She is quite happy that adventurers will be setting forth into the wilds soon and is frequently found tending to the shrine of her god.
Tamblyn Sartorus
Tamblyn appears to be a beautiful human female but slight points on her ears and the upturned corners of her eyes show her elven half. Dressing provocatively at all times, Tamblyn has attracted many male followers whose interests lie in uncovering something more than magical secrets. As the priestess of Gannan, Tamblyn is well versed in the ways of the arcane arts. Sartorus maintains a public distance with her congregation but is well-known to enjoy the male company her appearance solicits. Needless to say, Sartorus is not popular with the female citizens of Il Senso De Acqua. All those who wish to inquire of her will typically find her at the Temple.
Quarion Meliamnend
This male elf is of middle years for his race and is a stern and charismatic leader. Slight of build, like most of his race, Priest of Urse Meliamnend is still a formidable archer and possesses no small divine power. More disappointed than angry with the human bigotry in his city, Quarion seeks a peaceful end to these feelings and wants the city to unite in its common goal of self-preservation. Since his protests to the city guard have gone unanswered, Quarion now believes that guarding his temple is the only way to stop the rash of vandalism that plagues the area's demi-human shrines and is most frequently found there.
Gunnar Haroldson
Haroldson is a huge human male with long blonde hair and a full mustache which drapes below his chin. Once a gladiator of great renown, old age and a multitude of injuries forced his retirement. Now at just over fifty years old, Haroldson is still an imposing figure more than capable of showing the younger generation a trick or two. He revels in a good contest of strength and skill and following the wrestling matches, it is customary for the worshippers to retire to the lower level of the temple for wine or ale and the telling of lies. Haroldson is quite fond of Dwarves, and respects their strength and fortitude. His opinion of elves and the smaller races such as halflings and gnomes is less jovial. While not biased against them, Haroldson is a simple man who sees greatness measured by physical strength. For many years now, the city has eagerly awaited a wrestling match between Haroldson and Scipio, the gladiator trainer. He is easily found at the Temple of Apom.
Gaius Trecko
Cymeraz's head priest is a human male of middle years and is often found at the shrine of his god. A devout follower of his deity, Trecko often expresses his great fortune and good luck that he was given the opportunity to serve as high priest. He laments the sudden death of the former priest, apparently by a failed heart, but promises almost weekly to serve the congregation faithfully. His sermons are lively, sometimes too much so, and there have been altercations between his and Urse's worshipers in the past.
Lawrence Harcott
Harcott was the former high priest of Cymeraz. He died almost a year ago, apparently the victim of a failed heart though he was but thirty years old. Harcott was a popular minister and his passing was mourned by many, even those not of his church. His assistant, Gaius Trecko, took the reins as high priest upon Harcott's death.
Daedalus Terricks
Terricks is a young human cleric of Tavecus, in his early thirties who is fond of fiery speeches and of waving a mace about while he preaches. He and his followers feel that the time is right for the Legion of Il Senso to march forth and cleanse the land of the evil that has befallen it. Terricks is unbiased in his attitude toward Demi-humans. save the half-orcs. Believing they are no better than their evil full-blooded relations, Terricks would drive them from the city if he could.
Shamel Turin
An elderly gnomish woman, Shamel seems perpetually sad or tired. It is thought that she might be dying, or that she is simply overwhelmed by the suffering of the demi-humans of the city, and the plight of the city in general. Turin's sermons and teachings at the Temple of Nimm Diamondeyes always speak of tolerance and of patience. She wishes the gnomes of the city to make themselves valuable to the emperor, as the dwarves have, and thereby gain recognition and respect. Her views are not overwhelmingly accepted by the gnomish community, as some believe it to be "selling out" to their oppressors.
Jebeddo Beren
The chief acolyte and assistant priest to Shamel Turin, Beren is a young gnomish male who waits eagerly for the day he is given the mantle of leadership for the shrine. Beren's views concerning the city's feelings toward the gnomes is quite different from his superior's. Beren believes that they are the equal of any race in the city and has plans to advance the gnomish cause through more "spectacular" means.
Cedric Hammerhand
Hammerhand is a powerfully built dwarf of about 120 years. Most often found at the shrine to Merazin, he wears his greying black hair twin pony tails down his back and has a matching set for his greyish beard in the front. A popular and charismatic leader, Hammerhand inspires his congregation with fiery speeches and ancient tales of the glory days of dwarven society. Generally jovial and outgoing, Hammerhand is more reserved with humans, their bigotry having dulled his friendly manner over the years.
Synne Goldenhair
An elderly halfling woman, Goldenhair still possesses the long, thick, flowing locks that gave her her name in youth. She is a kindly grandmother to all she meets, regardless of race or religion and few in the city can muster even the slightest dislike for her. The good deeds she and the Shrine of Ingraya do for the poor and homeless are well-known and her outward compassion and kindness shine like a beacon of light in the dark times of the city.
Laucian Nailo
Nailo is an older elven male who serves as the high priest for the official shrine of Xorunil. Due to the bigotry and occasional violence against the demi-humans of the city, few come to the shrine to pay homage to their god, but instead worship him in the druid's grove in the relative safety of the Foreign District. Nonetheless, Nailo dutifully offers weekly services to any who come. Peaceful by nature, Nailo is more saddened than angry with the humans and their narrow-minded nature and believes a peaceful solution to the racial problem is the best and only way to solve the crisis.
Lady Elvira
The leader of this shrine is a half-elven female, a beautiful woman who, like Tamblyn Sartorus, believes in dressing to impress. Her garb usually consists of tight leather pants and a matching halter top. As the "high priestess" of the god of rogues, Elvira presides over weekly meetings in the small cottage that serves as Eodelonon's temple. Friendly to all outside the shrine, one cannot but think the woman is up to something. Elvira projects an image of someone who is simply biding her time until something grand happens. Elvira is fond of baiting men, especially when in the presence of their women, and easily ignores or dismisses the hateful looks and whispered words directed at her by the more conservative members of the citizenry. Any actual liaisons between the priestess of Eodelonon and male followers of the god or citizens in general have not been documented, nor have the actual contents of one of her weekly meetings.
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