Talk:Rome: Chapter 1 – Fiora Cavazza

Black Market Text Dump
Since any editing I make usually ends with an edit conflict (evidently many people are trying to edit at the same time) and my browser losing whatever I wrote, I'll just dump the text here; could someone else put it in the article and format it?

Black Market

I have served the Borgia for years now. Done horrible things. Seen the fantastic. I regret none of it. A war has made its way to Roma, fought in the streets, the senate, the churches. Cesare has tasked me to coordinate his shadow army.

The Price of Faith

I have brought flesh for Brother Ristoro's appetite. New girls eager for experience. In return, Ristoro has prepared church documents and trinkets for Cesare's agents. I have avoided the worm since my time at the Rosa in Fiore. I hope he has forgotten my face.

He does not even glance at the other girls. He walks right to me and puts a hand on my cheek. Tells me I was always his favorite. I kick him between the legs and threaten him with Cesare's wrath! He whimpers.

Ristoro opens several drawers and produces religious icons and amulets. He believes they will be useful to Cesare's plan. I am not convinced, but I take them.

I exaggerate Cesare's request. A little extra coin for myself. Payment for having to gaze upon this wretched man.

Ristoro hands me a stack of documents. He says it is filled with pardons and payments for Cesare's contracts. Officially sealed by the Church. Why anyone would give this man such power is beyond me.

Ristoro provides me with various pieces of religious gear. Junk. I am not sure that I can put any of it to use, but I take it anyway. Perhaps he toys with me.

As I turn to leave, Ristoro tries again to touch me. The girls move into his path and pull him away, giggling. They have a long night ahead. I almost feel guilty leaving them behind.

Go-To Girl

Lia de Russo. Smuggler. She is not at our meeting point. She never is. I wait several minutes and then turn to leave. Suddenly, she steps into my path. I follow her into a locked shop that she has apparently claimed as one of her storehouses.

I try to make conversation. She is uninterested. She hands me some blood-stained relic and smiles.

I cannot fathom why Cesare would want any of these random objects.

Now this is a treasure! Not one I particularly need, but I cannot imagine where she obtained it. She does seem proud.

How did she get this past the guards? Of course. Cesare owns the guards. Is there nothing out of this woman's reach?

The room smells of death. Heavy with insects. It would not surprise me to find the previous owner's body on the other side of the counter.

I manage to collect the requested items from Lia and pay her the coin. She keeps her palm open. Good girl. I give her the rest of her payment and she clucks her disapproval. I tip her.

...And The Beast

Cesare employs his own blacksmith, Auguste Oberlin. An [sic] former Swiss mercenary and weaponcrafter. I knock on his shop door. My my. Aren't you an ox of a man? Then he speaks. Articulate. Intelligent. I am shocked.

He slaps me on the shoulder as I enter his shop. It stings! He offers me a drink.

He shows me a wide range of standard weaponry. I relay Cesare's requests and have Auguste deliver the weapons to my helpers outside.

I notice small drawings covering most of one wall, starting with crude designs at the top and progressing to beautiful, intricate revisions near the bottom. Auguste explains that he distributes Borgia propaganda in Roma. How do such large hands produce such fine detail?

Auguste asks about Cesare's more bizarre requests. I tell him what I know. Cesare has several renowned inventors and engineers in his employ. Rethinking weapons of war. Creating new ones.

The smith's wife tells me I have overstayed my welcome. Demands that I leave. Auguste shouts back at her. The two growl at each other like wild dogs.

Auguste urges me to visit to him again. Carrying the last box of supplies, I push through the door. I promise him I will return. His wife scowls and I reply with a challenging wink.

Spare Parts

Requirements: 12 AP, Inventor's Tools, Modified Arquebus, Gold, 2 Copper, 2 Zinc

Gaspar de la Croix. Engineer. Marksman. Recluse. He frightens me, but his technical skills are unprecedented. His workshop is humble but overfilled. It is difficult to navigate without knocking over his myriad tools.

?

?

He asks me uncomfortable questions. Have I ever witnessed death? Is death driven by fate, chance, or choice? I do not answer him.

He tinkers with a weapon. Aims it towards the clouded window. Squints at the shadows of people as they pass on the street outside. Sighs. Puts it back on the table and adjusts it further.

I offer Gaspar his payment, but he tells me it is not necessary. I leave it on his workbench anyway.

I thank Gaspar for his help. He answers with a subtle shrug. A haunted man. I am careful to avoid his front window as I walk away from his workshop.