"We were travelling from Miragliano to Trantio. Somehow, we had found ourselves in the midst of one of the Tileans’ interminable civil wars and had to be at our diplomatic best to avoid upsetting every side at once. Professor von Gronighof’s research had little to do with the political climate, so we were managing to gain access to the historical sources he was after. He claimed that cairns in the foothills of the Appucinis might hold a clue to the fabled skeletal court of Lumbrusco, though this hypothesis has yet to be rigorously tested."
- —Notes about Marius Von Gronighof's journey[3a]
Lumbrusco, sometimes spelled Lambrusco, was once a Tilean city-state located near the Apuccini Mountains. It was ruled by the Duke Fabriano of Lumbrusco.[1]
The city increased its fortunes thanks to the military prowess of captain Ennio Mordini and his mercenary company.[1]
But the neighboring state of Organza feared as Fabriano himself that too much power would turn the mercenary troop against his master to overthrow the power, so when was asked in the terms of the alliance that the band would be dismantled, the Duke of Lumbrusco did not think about it twice and accepted.[1]
Five years after the assassination of Mordini and his men his company returned in the form of unstoppable skeletons later known as the Nightmare Legion. They took revenge attacking the city of Lumbrusco, and tore it down to the ground. Every living being in the city was slaughtered in one night, with the exception of the traitorous duke, whose death is said to have lasted seven days and nights. It is said that the skeletons re-fortified the ruins of Lumbrusco and that Mordini is now courting his undead there, but there is no living person who has seen it and can tell about it.[1]
Even so, the town is considered under the Principality of Pavona. Although Princess Lucrezzia Belladonna does not seem to have power over the city at all.[2a]
History[]
It seems that an unfortunate event has undermined the relations between Fabriano di Lumbrusco and the Duke of Organza. At the center of the scandal were three initiated priestesses and the son of the Duke of Organza who, with the help of a string and an apple, must have done something obscene. What made it all the more serious was the fact that one of the initiates was in fact the youngest of Fabriano's daughters. Whether this event actually happened or if it was just an expedient to make Captain Ennio Mordini fall into a trap is not known.[1]
Timeline[]
- 2283 IC - Smarra Udolpho invites the household of Isabelle Di Lambrusco to visit the Udolpho estate to celebrate their impending nuptials. Isabelle’s jealous brother murders her on the eve of the wedding. She returns from the grave to haunt the estate as the Spectre Bride.[2b]
- 2406 IC - The mercenary general Ennio Mordini is employed by Duke Fabriano of Lumbrusco to make war on his neighbour, the Duke of Organza. Ennio performs competently. In fact, he is so competent that he begins to make his employer increasingly nervous.[2b]
- 2411 IC - The Duke of Organza offers to make peace with Duke Fabriano and in secret meetings the two dukes agree that Ennio Mordini must be killed. Duke Fabriano orders Mordini to attack Organza via a mountain pass, and Ennio walks into an ambush and is slain along with his men.[2b]
- 2416 IC - An army of skeletons flying the tattered banner of Ennio Mordini march from the Appucini mountains. They lay siege to the city of Lambrusco, overrun it, and fortify it.[2b]
Uniform[]
Nightmare Legion banner.
Mordini's Legion colours used to be green and gold. Although they no longer wear anything that could be recognised as a uniform, the colours are sometimes visible on the tattered rags of clothing that occasionally survive. Their shields are dark green with gold rims, and portray a skull with a red surround.[1]
Notable Inhabitants[]
- Ennio Mordini - One of the most renowned mercenary commanders of Tilea’s Era of Enlightenment. He claimed he was blessed by both Myrmidia and Morr.
Trivia[]
The name of the city is both spelled Lambrusco and Lumbrusco in Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay 4th Edition: Up in Arms, this is probably a typo as the "Lumbrusco" is the original name in the miniature box.[1]
Lambrusco is also a famous Italian wine.
Sources[]
- 1: The Nightmare Legion box (3rd Edition).
- 2: Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay 4th Edition: Up in Arms (RPG)
- 3: Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay 4th Edition: Tribes and Tribulations (RPG)
- 3a: pp. 66-67