Italia

Italia is essentially Renaissance Italy as we wish it had been, with the addition of superheroes. Everything is more exciting and more amazing and more dangerous than it was in real life. There are not merely politics, but Machiavellian secret societies behind the scenes controlling everything. The Church isn't just in charge, it's right. And the inventions of da Vinci's that we know are just the ones he didn't keep secret³³.

If you want to add more detail to the world, just follow this simple principle: if it seems right to you, it probably is. This is Renaissance Italy according to movie history. If a few facts get changed to make things more interesting, that's all for the better.

There is, of course, one major change to the real Renaissance Italy to come up with Italia: the Omegas. Like many superhero settings, this one does not fully integrate the superheroes into the setting. The world is not altered to anywhere near the degree it most likely would be with a large body of superpowered persons within it. For the most part, life continues as it would if the only sources of power were wealth, politics, information, and the Church. Very few laws have been changed to accommodate the Omegas, though a few places have explicitly restricted them from some activities or burdened them with extra responsibilities, and a a very few have given them special rights. Part of the reason that they are not treated as a special population is the difficulty of identifying them -- remember, very few can see how the Forces affect a person, and not all Omegas have powers that manifest obviously. For Example, Leonardo da Vinci is not an Omega, yet he is the source of the alchemy and mechanisms that make Captain Italia and the Daring Davincis Omegas. So it is easier for governments to deal with actions than people. Make controlling someone illegal, and not distinguish between mystical rituals, phenomenal mental powers, or a knowledge of herbs as the method. The Church, of course, is much more concerned with means and motives than ends. So canonical law does care about how you get your powers. Of course, it still relies on the fallible mortals and Omegas within its fold, so an exact science it isn't. For the most part, Omegas whose power comes from clearly scientific sources (such as the Daring daVincis) are safe from its wrath, so long as they don't make claims to defying God's will. Those whose powers are more mystical in bent are at best seen unfavorably by the Church, unless their powers descend from the Heavens -- or they claim as much. Of the rest, those who claim that they have no need of God or the Church, or who claim that their powers are evidence that God is not the only, or not the supreme, source of mystical power suffer the brunt of the Church's wrath. While the Church doesn't have enough power in most of Italia to try or punish someone merely for heretical thought (heretical action is another matter), its minions may go out of their way to cause such an Omega grief.

The other reason that Italia isn't drastically different from Renaissance Italy is one of magnitude: the Omegas just aren't that significant of a force. Perhaps, if they were united, they would be a force to contend with. As is, all but the most powerful can be brought down by a well-trained group of soldiers, and none can completely ignore social pressures. So while many an Omega can do as she wills in the face of a single mortal, or even a small group of them, if they upset a large group of people -- a village, the Church, a merchant family, etc. -- enough for them to want retribution, they will most likely get it. No Omega could defy the law for long, for example -- those villains that do, do so by being willing to spend most of their lives outside of the rest of society, or by playing one set of laws and authorities against another. Likewise, almost all Omegas need to eat, so it is not in their interests to have the general populace against them.

Finally, Omegas have been around for as long as anybody can remember³⁴. Their presence predates even Church law, so society has had plenty of time to adapt. Chiefly, this adaptation has taken the form of keeping a very close hand on Omegas, using monks and other learned men to ferret out any whose powers were not obvious. In various lands over the last two millenia, Omegas have frequently held carefully-circumscribed positions of power. Kings' champions, temple enforcers, and generals' right-hand-men have often been Omegas, and it was only by selling their services to the most powerful men in the land that a few Omegas escaped ostracization or persecution. All the while, the majority of Omegas led quite lives, hiding their powers as best they could. Many chose the seclusion of religious life or hermitage, the better to avoid those who would ask awkward questions. A few were feared or even respected, able to parlay their powers into political influence -- the occaisional prophet, general, or bandit king.

Then, less than a century ago, an Omega decided that she could do more for society than society was letting her. She chose to step outside of society, in order to better serve it. By day, she continued her life as a weaver of fishing nets in Venicia. But by night she became Luna the Huntress, the Moon's own Avenger, striking fear into the criminals of the night. She did not concern herself with the laws of the land, for they clearly were not right. But she would let no justice go unpunished. At first, she merely beat up street thugs and disrupted smuggling rings. The law turned a blind eye to her. But when she began to hunt down corrupt politicians and merchant lords, and the law saw her clearly. The man hunt lasted more than a year, in no small part because they never considered that their mysterious hunter might actually be a huntress. And even once they knew their quarry, they discovered she was no easy catch. Finally, after more than two months of attempts, the Council of Ten managed to capture her. However, she had captured the public's imagination, and they could not simply try and execute her as they wished. So, they made a big show of exiling a couple of Councilors, and then struck a deal with her. She would be released, free to resume her night prowlings, but should she find further evidence of corruption within the government, she would inform the Senate and let them handle it. Upon her release, she formed The Redeemers, the first independent group of Omegas dedicated to fighting crime. Over the decades, the membership has changed regularly, with only Luna herself still remaining of the original members³⁵. Meanwhile, the Senate or the Council of Ten occaisionally exiles some scapegoat, or an actual conspirator who has become too obvious, and Luna remains unaware of the true level of corruption within Venicia.

In the years following the founding of the Redeemers, similar groups of vigilante Omegas have been formed up all over Italia. Certainly the most famous of these is the Daring Davincis, of Florenza, though they are probably more famous for their namesake than on their own merits. After The Redeemers, the group to have the most influence on society would be the Hall of Justice, in Milano. Boasting over fifty current members, and another dozen now deceased, the Hall of Justice is more a loose affiliation, like a gentlemen's club, than a tight pseudo-military organization. Authorities and citizens alike come to the Hall of Justice, seeking aid, and whatever Omegas are present render it. The organization that is likely to have the greatest influence on Omegas in the future, however, is Professor W's School for Gifted Youth. Here, Omegas of all ages come to better learn their powers. At the current rate, in 50 years fully a quarter of all Omegas will have spent some time here, and have been exposed to the Professor's ideas of what an Omega is and what her responsibilities to society are.

Venicia

Venicia is one of the richest cities in the world, with only Roma, Constantinople, Sophia, and Alexandria being more prosperous. This is due to trade coupled with careful politics for the last thousand years. Venicia sits on a trade nexus, at the mouth of the Italian Sea, and essentially all trade to the Austro-Hungarian and Holy Roman Empires goes through it, as well as a fair bit of the trade to the Mediterranean (most of that which goes by sea). Due to its huge coffers and even larger fleet, it is more powerful than any city in Italia save Roma. Luckily, Venicia prefers to conquer with gold, rather than guns.

Physically, Venicia sits just off the shores of the mainland, sited on a dozen small, close-set islands. Over the centuries, hundreds of bridges have been built between the islands, making of them one large city. As a result, Venicia has almost as many canals as roads, and these have been dredged and walled to make deep clear channels. Even moderate-sized sailing ships can sail right into the heart of the city. The land is dominated by close-set, often abutting, 3- and 4-story wooden houses with flat roofs and frequent courtyards. Some of the government buildings are stone, and there are several mansion houses scattered about. The skyline is dominated by the cathedral, the clock tower, and the city hall, all of which are over 60 feet tall.

There are well over 100,000 people living in Venicia, and a sizable government to match. The largest body is the Grand Council, made up of several hundred hereditary aristocrats. Most of the wealthiest merchants of Venicia are members, but since the positions are hereditary, not all Councilors are rich, nor are all the wealthy Councilors. From among their number, they pick 60 to serve one-year terms in the Senate. The Senate is the body that actually does most of the day-to-day governing, primarily through the proxies of countless councils and committees. The Grand Council also picks 6 members to be the Ducal Council, the personal advisors to the Doge. The Doge is elected by the Grand Council for life, and is the only person with official decision-making power, though he delegates freely to the Ducal Council and the Senate, and so long as they do not contradict his wishes they effectively can make their own decisions. The Council of Ten is one of the most powerful of the many councils the Senate oversees. Selected by secret ballot and known only to each other and the Ducal Council, they oversee the secret police of Venicia, a ruthless organization unfettered by the public relations concerns of the regular watch.

The actual people of Venicia are not very different from those of other parts of Italia. Almost everybody here is in some way related to the business of international trade, but that still includes many "normal" professions, such as inns and restaurants, cobblers, and so forth. The people are, almost without exception, Catholic, but they are slightly less fervent about it than most. Probably due to their constant interaction with other lands, the people tend to be a bit more cosmopolitan -- less bigoted, more interested in science and art. Finally, they are probably the least militant people in Italia. Venecia is unique in having neither walls nor a standing military. Of course, walls would be superfluous, since they live on an island. And, in times of trouble, the merchant fleets of the city become the largest navy since Alexander's time.

Milano

Milano is not quite as big, nor as prosperous, as Venicia. It is a well-to-do town of about 80,000 people, ruled as a true dukedom. The Duke of Milano is currently Cetto Foscari, and his family has held the title since being granted it nearly 250 years ago. Omegas are generally treated well, but at arm's length. For the most part, they have a positive reputation, but every time a villain runs amuck it hurts matters terribly.

Beyond Italia

While Italia is the center of the world (by Papal Decree), there are many other lands known beyond its borders. Some have a great deal of interaction with Italia as states, while others have peoples that mix with those of Italia on a regular basis, and a few have very little contact with Italia or its people. Immediately to the west of Italia, and sharing the "island" made by the Straight of Gibraltar and the Sea of Tunis, is Espania, home of the Spanish and Catalan peoples. North and northeast of Italia is the Austro-Hungarian Empire, while north of that is the Holy Roman Empire, both powerful political rivals to Italia and each other. Perched on the coast, abutting both of these empires and near the mouth of the Sea of Italia, are the Swiss Alps, a confederation of small states upon some of the highest and most rugged mountains known. To the far north are the Kingdom of Denmark, and two small uncivilized islands known as Brittania and Eyre. South of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and east of Italia, are the lands of Serbia and Macedonia, while south of those is Greece, home of the other pillar of Gibraltar. East of the the Austro-Hungarian Emprie is Dobrudia, ruled by Commander Daemon, while east of the Holy Roman Empire is the land of Rus. South, across the Sea of Tunis, are the lands of Tunisia and Egypt, as well as the many Moorish kingdoms and states. It is said that the land continues on south of the great desert that is the southern extent of Moorish influence, thrice again as far, though what kingdoms and peoples might inhabit this land, or if it even truly exists, is unknown. East across the Aegean Sea from Greece are The Ukraine and the Ottoman Empire. Across the Mediterranean Sea are the Holy Lands and the lands of Arabia and Abyssinia. Further to the east are Hindustan and the Oriental lands of Cathay, Persia, and Nihon, and the jungle empire of Khmer. To the far north are the uncivilized lands of the great Steppes. Of these, only those close to Italia will be detailed here.

Austro-Hungarian Empire

The Austro-Hungarian Empire is a relatively young empire, and is still growing. It was formed by the marriage of the Austrian and Hungarian families only five generations ago. It currently has uneasy relations with both the Holy Roman Empire and Rus, as it pushes at its limits, seeking further growth. Omegas here are never royalty, but often enjoy a sort of privileged status, somewhat outside the usual social order.

Holy Roman Empire

A thousand years ago, the Roman Empire extended as far north and west as Denmark and Brittania, controlled all of the lands to the east, as far as Persia and Cathay, and held Egypt as a vassal. It had grown so big that it was ruled from two capitols, one for the Mediterranean and eastern lands, and a second for the northern and western lands. When the barbarians sacked Roma, the Empire fell, but the northern capitol was able to maintain its rule over some of the northern lands. Over the centuries, its sway has waxed and waned , until today the Holy Roman Empire is one of the wealthiest and largest lands. However, it is a very fractious land, which undermines its potential for power. The Emperor has little more than the power of persuasion over his many barons and dukes, so the Empire only rarely acts as one unit. Here, most Omegas are caught up in the political machinations, so their status varies from individual to individual, from outcast to trusted advisor to the Emperor.

Swiss Alps

The Swiss Alps are an extremely craggy range of mountains, at the south-west corner of the mainland. Most of the country is above 5000 feet of altitude, with many of the peaks being over 10,000 feet. The mountains plunge directly into the sea, making the coastline here a series of rocky cliffs and fjords, with thousands of miniscule islands, no more than outcroppings of rocks, within a few hundred yards of the shore. The Swiss Alps is not a single country, but a loose confederation of cities and small states, united principly by their wish to be left alone, and particularly to have no dealings with those outside the mountains. It is unknown if any Omegas live here, or how the people feel about them.

Espania

Espania has only recently become one united country. Until a little less than four centuries ago, there were the feuding kingdoms of Aragon, Leon, Castille, and Navarre, as well as the Moorish land of Granada. Then, in 1065, Ferdinand I, King of Castille, died and divided his lands among his progeny. The eldest, Sancho, feeling that he should have inherited all of his father's holdings, waged war and treachery on his siblings, and eventually gained control of all but one parcel before being slain. Along the way, he first befriended and then banished the then Count of Bivar, Rodrigo Diaz. Before being banished, he had so distinguished himself in battle that he had become commander of Sancho's armies, and after Sancho's death became commander of Urraca's³⁶ armies, until being once again betrayed by his political rivals and banished. At this point, Diaz took to the mercenary lifestyle, selling his services and those of his loyal followers to the highest bidder, and often engaging in fights for his own reasons. It is said that, no matter the forces at his command, he could not be defeated, and the Moors that he drove from Granada gave him the respectful title of seid, "chief", which he gladly adopted as El Cid. Despite his mercenary nature, it was his conquests that eventually created Espania. Before his death in 1099, he had Christianized all of Espania, and become ruler of Granada, Castille, and Leon. His two daughters, through strategic marriages, helped him forge alliances with Navarre and Aragon, and through crafty politics managed to form a joint kingdom when the king of Navarre died. When the king of Aragon died, in 1148, they managed to get his son, the grandson of El Cid, on a throne ruling the whole of the newly-dubbed Espania. Only after this point, in their later years, was it revealed that both of El Cid's daughters were Omegas, and to this day Omegas are treated more favorably in Espania than almost any other land.

Egypt

Egypt is the oldest land in the known world. Its empire extends back further even than those of Persia or Cathay. As such, it is also the most stable, and one of the most powerful. Egypt's navy is second only to Venicia's, but is a standing navy. Egypt also has one of the largest standing armies. However, a combination of diplomacy and the threat of force has meant that Egypt has not used its military for over a thousand years. Here, Omegas are generally feared, though in times past they ruled as gods.

Dobrudia

Dobrudia is a forbidding, mountainous land, swept by the cold winds from Rus and lapped at by the cold waters of the Aegean Sea. It is too rocky for most crops, too rocky for good roads, and too rocky for ships to make landfall. Sandwiched between the ancient state of Rus, the growing Austro-Hungarian Empire, and the prosperous kingdom of Macedonia, it is a poor land full of poor people. It was originally a Prefect of the Roman Empire, becoming an independent state upon its fall, and only the undesireable nature of the land has kept it free since then. That, and its current ruler. Commander Dæmon was the 2nd son and 3rd child of the last king. Seeing the Austro-Hungarian Empire become ever greedier during his childhood, he resolved to make something of his country. He knew of one asset, the people's unbreakable spirit, and discovered a 2nd: veins of minerals that, as far as he knew, had never been found anywhere else. He went to the best schools available (in Florenza and Constantinople) and spent years in the greatest libraries (at Alexandria and Ur), all looking for a way to lead his people to greatness. Eventually, he discovered uses for the minerals: better steels, superior ceramics, even improved mortars. Then, through deceit and skullduggery, he took the throne upon his father's death. He created a vast industrial architecture the likes of which has never been seen, and began creating and exporting. The raw minerals are never exported, only the products, and those in the workshops are sworn to secrecy. As far as the rest of the world knows, superior workmanship is the secret. But this has come at a price. The very people he wished to free from poverty are now all but slaves of the state. While Dobrudia has grown both more influential and richer, only a few have shared this wealth. While they no longer want for food on their plates, the masses now work harder than ever before, and see little else in the way of improvement. If Commander Dæmon ever truly wanted to better the lives of his people, he has lost sight of this goal in his quest for power. In his quest for dominance, all Omegas of the land are forced to work for the state, on pain of death.