Sforza Family
Contents
House Sforza
House Sforza The Sforza family are relatively new faces amongst the high nobility of the lands. The first generations were merchants and traders, who, over the years, gathered enough wealth to 'buy' themselves into the lesser nobility of the South-East Island. Operating as small landlords, the Sforza continued to amass gold and influence, until five ambitious brothers decided it was time to join the upper echelons, and they became vassals of some of the most influential and wealthy lords of the world.
Active members
Ludovico Sforza 
Age: 26
Realm: Pian en Luries
Class: Knight
Rank: Duke
Titles: Duke of Giask, Royal Arbitrator of Pian en Luries
Titles held: Marquis of Askileon Purlieus, Marshal of the Guardians of Askileon, Marshal of the Sabre of Giask
Ludovico is the oldest member of the Sforza clan in active duty. He is a cunning, two-faced man who will stop at almost nothing to further himself. Even those most loyal to him are not completely safe from his plotting. He tends to use people until they become useless to him, and then drops them like bricks. He will often balance between political adversaries, waiting to see which side gains the upper hand, and then joins that side with a passion. Zanaras Tian once - albeit jokingly - described Ludovico as a "brown-noser", and it is a fairly accurate description. He hates commoners and even lesser nobles with a passion. He regularly refers to the peasantry as cattle walking upright. The rogue lands of Dwilight were regularly visited by Ludovico and his men, who, on more than one occasion, plundered hundreds of coins. He surrounds himself with men who are every bit like him - treacherous, cunning and ruthless.
Ludovico was amongst the first nobles to colonize Dwilight, allowing him to quickly establish himself as a leader. By shamelessly sucking up to the teenage King Kaennji I, he managed to get himself appointed as a Marquis. He used a thousand stolen gold coins to He gathered several knights whose loyalty he more or less bought, by offering them gold in return for their unconditional loyalty. But Ludovico himself is only loyal for as long as need be, a feat he demonstrated by plotting against Kaennji I mere weeks after being appointed by him. Alanna Anaris, the intended new monarch, became his new priority. She too was bombarded by Ludovico with demonstrations of his 'loyalty' - at one time during her rule as Queen he did not even bother making any effort of it, as he simply sent her a stack of bonds worth 100 gold, a fortune in the then-fledgling realm.
As Alanna needed troops to support her in a rebellion, Ludovico 'graciously' offered his army for the task - at a price, of course. Using his forces as a leverage of sorts, he managed to get Alanna to promise him a ducal position. Ludovico's original target was Poryatown, then governed by Kaennji I, but he quickly regretted that choice, as Giask was much better suited for him: a city that would eventually become one of the wealthiest in the known world. But, Dame Fortuna favored Ludovico. Kaennji I stepped down himself, but maintained his position as Duke of Poryatown. Alanna became Queen Alanna I. Ludovico continued to sweet-talk her, as well as viciously slander anyone opposing her. In the end, he was rewarded for his 'efforts'. Giask was reclaimed after revolting, and Ludovico was appointed as the new Duke.
But that did not prove to be enough. After Anna, the first Royal Arbitrator of Pian en Luries, stepped down, Ludovico declared his intent to fill up the position, at the same time as campaigning to become Duke of Giask. A referendum was called, and Ludovico made sure to gather as much support as possible. In the end, he lost to Finegus O'Shea by three votes. At first, Ludovico was infuriated, but he quickly realized that having the Royal Arbitrator as a friend is better than having him as an enemy. He ignored Finegus and focused on rebuilding his duchy. He continuously attempted to get nobles loyal to him appointed to the Giasken provinces, and regularly raided rogue provinces to bring in more gold, even going as far as creating an army for that sole purpose.
Another opportunity for Ludovico arose when Finegus was imprisoned by rogues, thus losing his position as Royal Arbitrator. With some of his most vocal adversaries having left Pian en Luries after Duke Edelstein seceded Port Nebel to form the tyranny of Shadovar, Ludovico once again announced his candiday to become Royal Arbitrator. In another hotly contested referendum, Ludovico managed to gain enough support to have himself elected as Royal Arbitrator. He relinquished command of the Sabre of Giask to Nnaoj Urominiel, to fully concentrate on his new job.
Vincenzo Sforza 
Age: 20
Realm: Minas Ithil
Class: Knight
Rank: Knight
Titles: Knight of Moramroth
Vincenzo is the youngest of the Sforza brothers. After Fiorello's early retirement, Vincenzo travelled to the mountainous north of Atamara, where Minas Ithil had recently conquered lands from the Vikings of Norland. He became the first Ithilian knight of Moramroth under Seria Marioneaux, and currently serves in the Shanandoah Preatorians in the war against Norland
Graziano Sforza 
Age: 22
Realm: Taselak, Carelia, Falasan
Class: Knight
Rank: Knight
Titles: Knight of Sandalak, Knight of Strombran, Knight of Barad Gardor
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Retired/deceased members
Fiorello Sforza (retired)
Age: 21
Realms: Caligus, Perdan, Papania
Class: Knight
Ranks held: Knight
Titles held: Knight of Partora, Knight of Aix, Knight of Ossaet
Giuliano Sforza (retired)
Age: 22
Realms: Ash Sea Islands, Protectorate of Magnus
Class: Knight
Ranks held: Knight
Titles held: Knight of Wor'ight, Knight of Rustton
