While no settlements from Italy have yet been seen in the New World, Italian sailors and merchants from Venice, Genoa, Pisa and Amalfi are to be found nearly everywhere that trade happens. Other Italians have followed in the train of churchmen sent from Rome or in the troops of Norman mercenaries from the Kingdom of Sicily.

Long the seat of civilization, the Italians are cultured and well-versed in language and religion throughout the world. Consequently, Italian adventurers start with a +2 bonus to their WIS score.

There is no Italian kingdom. The merchant-naval republics of Genoa, Pisa, Venice and Amalfi are wealthy powerful forces in the world. The northern regions are a series of duchies and city-states which all owe fealty to the German Holy Roman Empire, the Italians of the south are ruled by the Norman kings of Sicily, and the Italians in the center are ruled by the Pope directly.

Italians get along with just about everybody, except perhaps the Normans, who get along with nobody, and the Byzantines who grow tired of the arrogance and crass mercantilism of the Venetians especially.

Primary Language: Italian. Secondary Language: English