Blood and Iron: Renaissance

Author

By Kirk Jacinto

Background

The year of Our Lord 1450 has come to pass, and strife spreads across Northern Italy. Nestled between the beautiful snow-capped Alps and the Po river valley, the industrious Duchy of Milan churns out all manner of tools for war. South of the river, growing along the coast, lies the Republic of Genoa, its war fleets ever-expanding driven by their wars across the Mediterranean, none in Italy would dare challenge them in the open sea. Across the peninsula, where the Po river empties into the Adriatic Sea, in the marshes and among its small islands grows the most Serene Republic of Venice, whose ports hold the gate way to the East and all the wealth it entails. South of the the Po Delta rise the Imperial city of Bologna, the home to the greatest university in Europe and the hold of the Holy Roman Emperor himself. And last but not least, between the rolling hills of Tuscany stands the great Republic of Florence, center of all commerce in Europe, a city who's merchants decide the fortunes of every monarch in the known world.

War is brewing, calls to arms are being sound, from all corners mercenaries come to answer the call of gold. To take up arms for who ever will pay them most, for gold is sweeter that honey, it is more quenching than water, and the cities of Northern Italy have much gold, someone will have to claim it all...