This is my 'retinue' roster so far. It is in need of some revising I think, and isn't fully finished, but should serve 'ok' for now fluff-wise. Any comments or concerns?
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Venetian Ghost ( Magic ), Advisor/Chancellor
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Faerie Airy Spirit of Court of Winds, Courtly Romance
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Volcano Genus Loci Daimon ( Magic ), Guard/Soldier
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Ghosts ( Magic ) of a gang of thieves/smugglers, spies
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Venetian Ghost ( Magic ), Guard/Soldier
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Sewer/Canals ( Venice ) Genus Loci Daimon ( Magic ), Interrogator/Advisor
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Roman Ghost ( Magic ), Priest
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Air Djinn ( Magic ), Assistant/Messenger
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Earth Djinn ( Magic ), Soldier/Knight
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Spirit Horse ( Faerie), Mount/Conveyance
Mattias Fosari, former Chancellor to the Doge of Venice several generations ago. ( Chancellor )
Magic Might: XX ( Ghost, Magic Realm )
Powers:
Fixed Arcane Connection: Preserved Skull, inscribed with runes. ( Ludovico has researched his birth horoscope as well. ) ( Gold Signet Ring, inscribed with Ludovico's family heraldry. Concealed setting on the underside of the ring (interior surface) is a preserved tooth from the skull, fixed as a connection. )
Mattias discovered the long resting Mattias' remains during the frequent forays into the catacombs and tunnels of Venice of his younger days. Recognizing the markings of both rank and family upon some of the accoutrements which accompanied hastily discarded corpse the young Magus salvaged the skull, preserving it for use in his art. It was a decision he did not regret. Mattias did indeed prove to be former member of the man's own fallen house, a former chancellor to a former Doge who had been stricken with a virulent a fearful disease and been barried with undue haste ( and improper procedure ) thereby. The man's shade was not overly powerful at first after his long rest, yet with the steady service it has rendered to Ludovico it as grown into a spirit of respectable though still not considerable strength. His real value to Ludovico remains what it originally was. Sympathy for a fellow man of the same lineage and his extreme skill in management, statesmanship, and diplomacy acquired during his life. Often the mage speaks for hours with 'his chancellor' and seems to greatly value the ghost's advice. The ghost often urges him however to return to Venice and seek the restoration of his line, and to take vengeance on the house of the Doge that persecuted his family.
He appears as he did during his days at court, a man in his fourties, graying, though still vibrant seeming.
Yasmine, Daughter of the Grand Duke of the North Wind, Faerie Court of Winds. ( The Lady )
Faerie Might: XX ( Air Elemental, Faerie Realm )
Powers:
Fixed Arcane Connection: Ring ( Agate set in silver, finely wrought with the heraldry of her father engraved into the stone. A wisp of her hair was used in it's forging to imbue it with the desired connection.)
A noble faerie of the court of the winds, Yasmine is proud and elegant. With the bearing of the regal fae of high blood that she is, she can seem cold at first. Underneath is the wry wit and boisterous humor of a girl that adores excitement and adventure, despite her father's wishes. First encountered in the Italian countryside 'playing' with a village's small fleet of fishing craft. The Grand Duke at first despised Ludovico as unworthy of the company of his daughter and has sent lesser agents of his court to kill him twice. As the young Magus has, since surviving said attempts obviously ( and sending his retainers back chastened but unharmed ), continued to develop his powers and a quite regal bearing himself the Grand Duke has improved to simply being 'greatly dubious' as to the man's prospects. Yasmine keeps her own feelings to herself, mostly. While unfailingly proper in the high court way, she seems quite fond of Ludovico's company and is as close to the 'lady of the court' in Ludovico's odd group that can be found. Perhaps one day the Grand Duke will consent to a marriage? Unique among Ludo's retinue she is usually not 'bound' to service, but is more of a companion.
She appears as a sidhe lady of breathtaking beauty. Alabaster skin, raven black hair, and violet eyes. She is always dressed formally and conservatively.
Ordobos, the Fellhand of Pompei ( Grand Marshal )
Magic Might: XX ( Fire Elemental, Magic Realm, Spirit of a dormant volcano )
Powers:
Fixed Arcane Connection: Ring ( Ruby set in gold, engraved with images of fire and destruction. Underneath the ruby is a piece of stone from Ordobos' mountain. )
Ordobos was deliberately sought out by Ludovico. Ludovico climbed and summoned Ordobos from his long slumber in the earth on the heights of his mountain itself and there the two parleyed. Ordobos had not been awake in almost an age. He knew that he would return to his slumber when the then young summoner released him. The two reached an accord. Ordobos desired to return to the world and Ludovico desired a strong right arm among his 'Court'. Not a grand conversationalist, but loyal to the summoner who keeps him from his stone-wrought slumber.
Appears as a great flaming minotaur composed of magma.
Valkian & Co. ( 'Agents' )
Magic Might: XX
Powers:
Fixed Arcane Connection: A fine 'ivory' bracelet of many links, each link made from the bone of a diffent one of the ghosts.
Valkian was a thief who ran a decent racket and gang in the underworld of Venice for some time. Actually he was rather profitable in his trade. His problem was that his operation was not sanctioned by Rellantali. Ludovico orchestrated and lead the assault that climaxed with him killing Valkian by his own hand. He had the bodies burned after he salvaged the bones that now constitute the bracelet he now wears and serves as the means by which he usually exerts his influence over them. There are a total of twelve shades tied to the bones that compose the bracelet, Valkian and his gang. All hate Ludovico, but serve him under binding from time to time. Frequently he uses them as spies, observing things and then reporting back to him.
Young unwashed ruffians, typical thieves in appearance.
Araris, former bodyguard of the Doge of Venice, several generations ago ( The Hand )
Magic Might: XX ( Ghost, Magic Realm )
Powers:
Fixed Arcane Connection: Ring, Topaz set in silver with Araris' heraldry carved therein. Concealed tooth setting. Also possesses skull.
Araris served with the noble Mattias and died of the same disease, buried in the same haste. While not a former bloodkin to Ludovico he sees a new purpose in his unlife in serving the man alongside his old comrade Mattias... who so is so obviously devoted to the summoner. Araris frequently acts as Ludovico's spiritual bodyguard now, as he once did the Doge. He is a cany guardsman, wary and well trained. Occasionally Ludovico has channeled him to partake of his skills directly and thus charge into battle himself. Araris disapproves strongly of this later action, believing it to unduely endanger his lord.
A crisp rather stiff man with long mustaches and wearing the accoutrements of a venetian ducal guard.
Grimald, Keeper of the Canals ( Ignoble )
Magic Might: XX ( Genus Loci Daimon, Magic Realm)
Powers:
Fixed Arcane Connection: Ring, Star saphire set in silver, engraved with a salamander seal. Contains a stone from the bottom of a venetian canal.
Grimald usually rather resents being summoned by anyone, yet Ludo's power was not to be denied. Despite Grimald's sometime resentment the two have come to a working relationship, given that usually the tasks Ludo uses him for are to the somewhat malign spirit's liking anyway. This perhaps is the only reason Grimald doesn't totally hate Ludo, which perhaps he did when he was first being summoned. Perhaps he still does and simply hides his feelings? He has served a variety of capacities, but is often given tasks associated with the capture, torture, and interrogation of prisoners. Not so secretly lusts for Yasmine and takes great delight and pride in his great ability at torturing into compliance the prisoners given to him by Ludovico. Many of his tortures feature water, though often his teeth and claws and simple degradations are part of his repertoire. Sometimes called upon simply for his powers over his element.
The spirit of the often filthy canals of venice Grimald appears a giant half-toad half-man creature that is immensely fat and quite repulsive. He smells rather strongly as well. Possessed with unusually thin long arms and clawed fingers while having short, squat, very flabby legs and torso.
Cornelius Sirco of Patavium, Priest of Mercury
Magic Might: ( Ghost, Magic Realm )
Powers:
Fixed Arcane Connection: Skull and Ring, Onyx and Gold bearing a stylized symbol of Hermes.
Serves as the court's 'spiritual advisor', much as the christian clergy do to mundane courts. Basically has been summoned and bound to fulfill the office he had in life, and seems to have taken to it with some verve. Frequently rails against christianity and sometimes urges or counsels Ludovico in a manner that is quite out of touch with the modern world and 'very' pagan. Ludo seems to agree in spirit a great deal of the time but temper his decisions with the more moderate voice of Mattias... thus the two ghosts don't get along very well. Cornelius lived during a period of prosperity for the romans and is rather upset that the empire has fallen and the christians he used to feed to lions are now ruling the world. Appears in traditional roman priestly garb, an older man with a shaven head.
Kartesh Bassall, Keeper of the Ruins of Menzanar
Magic Might: XX ( Air Djinn, Magic Realm )
Powers:
Fixed Arcane Connection: Ring
The spirit of an abandoned palace kept by a now defunct Caliph which Ludo once explored on an entirely different quest. Ludo employs him as his personal assistant and messenger. The very clever Kartesh has a variety of travelling and divinitory abilities at his disposal for the means of finding the intended recipient of a message and delivering it. He is not however capable of carrying a great deal of cargo or other persons with him. Known for his seemingly unique ability to keep Yasmine in line when Ludo is not around.
He appears as a formally robed arab man, turban included, also wearing a fair amount of jewelry and bearing a few minor weapons. He does not have the appearance of a warrior, rather a socialite of great yet restrained mirth.
Arash, Emir of X
Magic Might: XX ( Earth Djinn, Magic Realm )
Powers:
X, X
Magic Might: XX ( Faerie? Horse Spirit )
Powers:
