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"The answer to all points made by scholars of the Empire is this: ‘Yes, I understand what you are trying to say, but you do know that concept originated in Tilea?'. Not only is it probably true, but it invariably infuriates"

—Professor Morvalli Marmideo of Pavona University[2a]

The Perfidious Principality of Pavona is a city-state situated in inland Tilea. Located almost at the middle of Tilea, south of the Trantine Hills, on the fertile plains between the River Remo and the Apuccini Mountains, Pavona is blessed by a much milder climate than the lands of the Empire, enjoying almost year round the kindly favours of the warm Tilean sun.[1a][3a] Despite this, Pavona is the only major Tilean principality lacking an outlet to the Tilean Sea.[4]

History[]

Pavona quickly rose to become a serious rival to Trantio for the eastern trade into the Dwarf realms, Border Princes and beyond. So intense was this rivalry that the territory between the two cities became a famous stomping ground for mercenary generals. Not only were there many wars, but also many attempts at reconciliation. This led to the princely families becoming entwined through a succession of marriage alliances. The pacts were often short lived, with the marriages ending in poisoning or some other form of assassination.[1a].

Their intense rivalry often seeming to others to be a fatal weakness. However, as soon as a hostile army from any other city appears on the scene, the two cities promptly forget their quarrel and join forces to beat back their common enemy. In this way Luccini, Verezzo and Miragliano have all experienced humiliating defeats in the hills around Trantio or Pavona.[1a]

The End Times[]

During The End Times the fall of the city of Pavona was masterminded by the rising star of Clan Skryre, Skribolt.[8a]

Timeline[]

See also Tilean Timeline for events concerning the whole territory of Tilea and sources.

Era of Enlightenment (2000 to Present)[]

  • 2494 - Pavona is defeated by a mercenary army from the Principality of Verezzo. Prince Borso is wounded in the battle but swears by the healing arts of his new wife, Lucrezzia Belladonna. He dies a few days later. Later during the Battle of Etobrutti, the mercenary captain Donato took over the command of the troops of Pavona and defeated Verezzo's army, he saved the city and subsequently married Lucrezzia Belladonna.
  • 2497 - Prince Donato of Pavona brokers an alliance with Trantio but perishes after consuming a meal of poisonous mushrooms. His widow, Lucrezzia Belladonna, soon remarries, choosing the dashing captain Ranuccio for her husband. At the battle of Vittoria Viccia, Borgio the Besieger defeats a mercenary army from the Principality of Trantio, assisted by the last minute betrayal of the mercenaries from Pavona who attack their Trantine allies in the rear. Miragliano is established as the most powerful principality in Tilea.
  • Between 2497 and ca. 2503 - Bensario one of the most influential merchant princes of Pavona set a marriage of convenience between his daughter Juliana and one of the Triumvirs of Remas, Prince Umberto Gambini. In this way, he hoped to cement the alliance between the two cities against the Principality of Trantio, strongly weakened by the defeats suffered due to the war with Miragliano.
  • 2513 - Poggio, Prince of Pavona and seventh husband of Lucrezzia Belladonna, dies after consuming three bottles of dubious quality wine leaving Lucrezzia as the city's sole ruler.

Government[]

The current ruler of the principality is the much-widowed Lucrezzia Belladonna, who is rumoured to be a sorceress and poisoner.[7a]

The City[]

Easternmost of the Tilean city-states, the wealthy city of Pavona itself remains small in comparison to other Tilean cities. The city is noted for its many bridges which are not over rivers, or canals, but high above the narrow, winding streets meander through the town below them. The streets are haphazardly laid out, the better to confuse and disorient any enemy who managed to force their way through the city’s thick walls. Overhead, numerous bridges arched above the cobbled streets, connecting the palazzos of the ruling elite, enabling the merchants and nobles to avoid the throngs of soldiers, peasants, laborers, and servants that filled the lanes as they hurried about their own petty affairs.[1a][3a] In particular, the gates of the city are plagued by beggars, who from the side of the road hope to collect some coin from the travelers.[3a]

Despite its vicinity to the city-state of Remas, there are no temples dedicated to Solkan inside the city, the only contact with the cult is through the travelling adepts.[3a]

University of Pavona[]

Where Professor Morvalli Marmideo has a professorship.[2a]

Palazzo Bensario[]

Placed above the streets frequented by the plebs is the Palace Bensario, home of the prince Bensario andof his daughter Jualiana.

Here the chamberlain, Masario, deal with the paperwork of the prince and deals with the recruitment of mercenary generals and other men devoted to vulgar money.[3a]

The room where he gathers these hired swords is dark, lit only by pairs of pot-like oil jars set at either end of the chamber. What the flickering, dancing light cast by the flames did reveal was expensively furnished. The table that dominate the room is massive, stained cherry-wood imported from across the sea, its claw-footed legs tipped in silver, a great slab of polished black marble set into its surface. Stern-visaged portraits glowered down from the dimly illuminated walls, secure in their gilded frames. The polished wood-floor is barely visible, much of its surface strewn with expensive fur rugs, the gleaming black hide of the Arabyan jackal, the dun hues of the Ebonian lion, and the pristine white of the Norscan ice bear.[3a]

Temple of Morr[]

A temple dedicated to the God of the Dead. Some of the priests who work there are on excellent terms with the chamberlain of the city, Masario.[3a]

Countryside[]

Beyond the walls of Pavona lies the farmlands and peasant villages that crowded outside the city.[3a]

The road that leads to Remas to the west of Pavona misure nearly a hundred and fifty miles as the crow might fly. But it is a much longer distance on the ground, for the roads are few and progressively more ill-tended the further from Pavona they become, marks that the land itself is no longer firmly under the domination of man. Just two days’ ride from Pavona and the only traces of civilisation are the dirt road upon which people can travel and the occasional ruined traces of some villa or farm house lurking just off the path. The days of peace and tranquillity had deserted Tilea, forcing the wealthy merchants from their country villas and back into the overcrowded cities. The wilds are still not quite so hazardous as those of the Empire, but there are enough unnatural things prowling the countryside to make them not so devoid of danger as they had been in ages past.[3a]

In the last years, Chaos Marauders devoted to Nurgle have plagued the forest between Pavona and Remas, but they were dispersed by mercenary troops in the pay of Umberto Gambini, a member of the Triumvir of Remas.[3a]

Skaven Nests[]

The territories of Pavona as other Tilean cities are plagued by the Skaven shrouded presence.[5a]

  • Queekwell - Queekwell is a nest near Clan Skaar’s stronghold in Pavona. It is a small mining village, typical of any nest that claims allegiance to a nearby stronghold or warren. The sleepy, smalltown feeling of Queekwell is often interrupted by occasional earthquakes that seem to be centred in the mines themselves. Workers often meet their ends in cave-ins and the like, but Clan Skaar demands that the mining continues.[6a] The date of the tunnel's excavation was around 1000 IC to present days.[5a]

Subsidiary Settlements[]

Pavona is a regional centre of political power, wielding significant influence over the settlements listed below.[7a]

Notable Pavonians[]

  • Bensario - Prince Bensario is one of the most powerful man in Pavona, second only to the ruling Princess Lucrezzia Belladonna. He hopes to form an alliance with Remas thanks to the marriage of his daughter, Princess Juliana with Prince Umberto Gambini, a Triumvir of the Council of Fifty. And to use that alliance to earn a power position against the hated city of Trantio.[3a]
  • Donato - Prince of Pavona. Former mercenary captain. (Assassinated)[1c]
  • Masario - Chamberlain of the powerful Merchant Prince of Pavona, Bensario.[3a]
  • Poggio - Prince of Pavona until 2513. (Assassinated)[1c]
  • Ranuccio - Prince of Pavona. Former mercenary captain. (Assassinated)[1c]

Trivia[]

People from Pavona are also called Pavonans.[3a]

Pavona is the only one of the eight most powerful Tilean city-states whose insigna is still unknown.[4]

Pavona is also a real hamlet in Lazio, central Italy. It is a frazione of the comune (municipality) of Albano Laziale. However, its traditional territory is also included in those of Castel Gandolfo and Rome.

Sources[]

  • 2: Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay: Tome of Salvation (2nd Edition)
    • 2a: pg. 11
  • 3: Brunner the Bounty Hunter - Omnibus C. L. Werner (Novel)
    • 3a: Blood and Steel (Chapter)
  • 5: Warhammer Armies: Skaven (4th Edition)
    • 5a: pp. 34-35 (The Skaven Under-Empire Map)
  • 6: Children of the Horned Rat (2nd Edition Fantasy Roleplay)
    • 6a: pg. 55
  • 8: The End Times Vol IV: Thanquol
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