Torre del Drago

Scourged Lands of Valenor    The Land    Country & Kingdoms      Principalities of Hansa      Ducato del Drago      Torre del Drago

### **Torre del Drago**

#### **History of the City**

Torre del Drago (Tower of the Dragon), founded centuries ago as a bulwark against enemy invasions, grew under the Gianforza dynasty, becoming one of the most feared and militarized cities in the Duchy of the Dragon. **Duke Valentino Gianforza's ancestors** were seen as protectors of the people, establishing an almost paternal relationship with the citizens and justifying their rule as a defense against external threats. However, this connection has eroded over the decades, culminating in the despotic and militaristic regime of Duke Valentino, who sees the people only as a tool for his ambitious plans of conquest.

The decline of the Gianforza family as defenders of the people was marked by the **disappearance of their cousin Paolo Gianforza**, a popular leader and symbol of hope for the resistance, who could have represented a return to the old values. Paolo, betrayed and imprisoned in the dungeons of the fortress, managed to escape with the help of some loyal soldiers and now hides in the bowels of the city, trying to gather supporters and escape.

#### **Current Situation**

Today, Torre del Drago is a city dominated by fear and the rigid control of the Ducal Guard. The lack of temples highlights the Duke's hostility towards any institution that could threaten his authority. Despite this, some religious orders, such as that of the **priestess Lavinia**, who serves the Sun Goddess **Arva**, secretly try to alleviate the suffering of the population, offering refuge and aid to wanted people and dissidents.

Military parades and public executions in the **Piazza d'Armi** keep the population in a constant state of terror, and the oppressive control exercised even on the markets and economic activities has reduced the inhabitants to a monotonous and suffocating life. The only public event of note is the annual **Honor Parade**, during which the Duke parades with his army and dragons to show off his might. This event, while billed as a celebration, is perceived more as a show of strength by the regime. Two years ago, a near-catastrophic accident during the parade, caused by the restlessness of the dragon **Devasto**, made the destructive potential of the beast even clearer.

#### **Notable Characters**

Duke Valentino Gianforza: The despotic ruler of the Ducato del Drago, who has turned the city into a place of repression and military control. His connection to dragons, especially **Devasto**, symbolizes his obsession with absolute power.

**Paolo Gianforza**: The Duke's cousin, considered the **people's hero**, who was imprisoned for his role as a resistance leader. She now hides in the city, trying to gather supporters and escape the Duke's control.

**Lavinia**: A priestess of Arva, infiltrated the city to provide refuge and assistance to wanted men, including Paolo Gianforza and other dissidents. She works in the shadows, using a network of merchants and adventurers to smuggle people out of the city.

#### **Locations and Resources**

**Duke's Palace-Fortress**: The heart of Dragon Tower's power, an immense fortress with eight dragon towers that house **Devasto**, **Pira**, and two young green dragons in training. Here, the Duke reigns supreme and personally oversees the affairs of the Duchy.

**Piazza d'Armi**: The city's main public space, used for military parades, executions, and training. The square represents the symbol of the Duke's repression and control over the population.

**Bigozzi Forge**: One of the largest and oldest forges in the Duchy, run by the Bigozzi family, famous for producing high-quality weapons. The forge works incessantly, with the smoke from its furnaces darkening the sky and contributing to the bad air that plagues the city, causing trouble and disease among the population.

#### **Folklore and Details**

Despite the Duke's tight grip, local folklore still lives among the citizens, who tell tales of times past, when **ancient and intelligent dragons** ruled these lands, free from human control. Some say that the Duke's trained dragons are but shadows of those legendary creatures, enslaved and forced to serve a human tyrant.

Another legend that circulates through the narrow, dark streets of the city is that of the **Buseca**, the thieves' guild. Despite the surveillance of the Ducal Guards, this organization manages to thrive, trafficking contraband goods thanks to its contacts with **orc smugglers**. It is said that the Buseca has ears and eyes everywhere in the city and that no secret escapes its members.
The Duke's control is not only physical, but also psychological: the city lives in an atmosphere full of fear, polluted not only by the smoke of the forges, but also by the latent tensions of a people ready to explode, despite the constant risk of repression.
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**Torre del Drago** is therefore a city suspended between past and present, where military control and fear suffocate freedom, but where the sparks of a potential rebellion remain lit. The figure of the Duke, his dragons and his men exercise an almost absolute power, but the resistance is still alive, hidden in the shadows of alleys and courtyards.

Ducato del Drago, Guardia Ducale

Type

Large city

Location under

The Dark Sea

Owner/Ruler

Duke Valentino Gianforza

Ruling/Owning Rank

Duke/Duchess

Owning Organization

Ducato del Drago