[[venice]]
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venice [2015/10/13 14:39] gm_agata [Tales of Folk and Fey] |
venice [2015/10/15 20:25] (current) gm_agata |
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| A long time ago, where the beautiful city of Venice is now, there existed a collection of small lagoon communities, making a living out of fishing. Mutual survival demanded they band together to present a force which could stand against the Lombards. In the first decades of the 8th century, their first leader - the first Doge we know of - was elected. He was successful in his role, as the Byzantine power dwindled and the Lombards were kept at bay. \\ | A long time ago, where the beautiful city of Venice is now, there existed a collection of small lagoon communities, making a living out of fishing. Mutual survival demanded they band together to present a force which could stand against the Lombards. In the first decades of the 8th century, their first leader - the first Doge we know of - was elected. He was successful in his role, as the Byzantine power dwindled and the Lombards were kept at bay. \\ | ||
| - | His daughter faced far greater challenges. Not only did she attempt to (unsuccessfully) establish a dynasty, she also faced a drastic split in public opinion, regarding their allegiance. Many people wanted to keep their ties to the Byzantine Empire, but many others were looking hopefully to the new king of the Franks, Pepin the Short, to provide defense against the Lombards. Yet another faction, albeit a small one, wanted an alliance with the Lombards. The Doge was assassinated, and the squabble continued, while the city grew, turning from a fishermen's village into a prominent trading outpost. \\ | + | {{:ship_tapestry.jpg?nolink&270 | by user Urban via Creative Commons under GNU Free Documentation License}}His daughter faced far greater challenges. Not only did she attempt to (unsuccessfully) establish a dynasty, she also faced a drastic split in public opinion, regarding their allegiance. Many people wanted to keep their ties to the Byzantine Empire, but many others were looking hopefully to the new king of the Franks, Pepin the Short, to provide defense against the Lombards. Yet another faction, albeit a small one, wanted an alliance with the Lombards. The Doge was assassinated, and the squabble continued, while the city grew, turning from a fishermen's village into a prominent trading outpost. \\ |
| For the next few hundred years, Venice was recognized as more or less independent, and was more concerned with its own problems than international politics. Yet it still grew and expanded along the coast of Adriatic, building a national shipyard and a war fleet. Slowly but persistently, they gained control over the eastern part of the Mediterranean Sea, fighting both pirates and merfolk. \\ | For the next few hundred years, Venice was recognized as more or less independent, and was more concerned with its own problems than international politics. Yet it still grew and expanded along the coast of Adriatic, building a national shipyard and a war fleet. Slowly but persistently, they gained control over the eastern part of the Mediterranean Sea, fighting both pirates and merfolk. \\ | ||
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| ==== Commerce ==== | ==== Commerce ==== | ||
| - | The strength of the Republic of Venice lies in its economy and trade. Every day, dozens of ship arrive at the docks, with goods from every corner of the world. There isn't a service that's not offered in the city. For the right price, anything can be achieved. \\ | + | {{ :gold_coins_chest.jpg?nolink&200|Photographer: Theodore Scott, shared under Creative Commons - https://www.flickr.com/photos/theodorescott/5095091081/}}The strength of the Republic of Venice lies in its economy and trade. Every day, dozens of ship arrive at the docks, with goods from every corner of the world. There isn't a service that's not offered in the city. For the right price, anything can be achieved. \\ |
| The Mercantile Guild's headquarters are located on Piazza San Marco in the capital, and its members are a power to be reckoned with in the city. They keep an eye on even the smallest business in the city and have their eyes and ears everywhere. If they so wished, the port would be closed, or the docking fee would be waived.\\ | The Mercantile Guild's headquarters are located on Piazza San Marco in the capital, and its members are a power to be reckoned with in the city. They keep an eye on even the smallest business in the city and have their eyes and ears everywhere. If they so wished, the port would be closed, or the docking fee would be waived.\\ | ||
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| **Piazza San Marco** - St. Mark's Square is the main square in the city, located on the northern bank of the Grand Canal. It expanded greatly during the rule of Orio's predecessor, Sebastiano Ziani. On the Eastern edge of the Piazza, stands the Basilica of St. Mark and the Doge's Palace. The Piazza is surrounded by Byzantine-Venetian architecture, with a continuous arcade encircling the open space. The Southern side of the square is taken up entirely by the Mercantile Guild's offices. \\ | **Piazza San Marco** - St. Mark's Square is the main square in the city, located on the northern bank of the Grand Canal. It expanded greatly during the rule of Orio's predecessor, Sebastiano Ziani. On the Eastern edge of the Piazza, stands the Basilica of St. Mark and the Doge's Palace. The Piazza is surrounded by Byzantine-Venetian architecture, with a continuous arcade encircling the open space. The Southern side of the square is taken up entirely by the Mercantile Guild's offices. \\ | ||
| - | **The Doge's Palace** is an impressive building located on the south-east corner of St. Mark's Square, facing the Grand Canal. Originally raised in the 9th century, it was burnt to the ground in the 10th. Orio's predecessor has rebuilt it to its current glory, changing the layout of the whole square while he was at it. It houses the Council's Chamber, the Doge's apartments, and a prison.\\ | + | **The Doge's Palace** is an impressive building located on the south-east corner of St. Mark's Square, facing the Grand Canal. Originally raised in the 9th century, it was burnt to the ground in the 10th. Orio's predecessor has rebuilt it to its current glory, changing the layout of the whole square while he was at it. It houses the Council's Chamber, the Doge's apartments, and a prison.{{ :piazza_sao_marco.jpg?nolink&300|"Libreria and Biblioteca Marciana and Columns in Piazzetta, Venice". Licensed under Public Domain via Commons - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Libreria_and_Biblioteca_Marciana_and_Columns_in_Piazzetta,_Venice.jpg}}\\ |
| **St Mark's Basilica** - Its construction began over a hundred years ago and took about 20 years. Now it adorns the eastern side of the Piazza and houses the supposed relics of St Mark the Evangelist. With sprawling domes, it's truly a wondrous sight, almost overshadowing the Doge's Palace.\\ | **St Mark's Basilica** - Its construction began over a hundred years ago and took about 20 years. Now it adorns the eastern side of the Piazza and houses the supposed relics of St Mark the Evangelist. With sprawling domes, it's truly a wondrous sight, almost overshadowing the Doge's Palace.\\ | ||
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| ===== Tales of Folk and Fey ===== | ===== Tales of Folk and Fey ===== | ||
| - | In the cities buzzing with life, where many languages are spoken and even more cultures clash together to form the glorious, colourful mix, overabundance of tales - some contradicting others - is inevitable. It is difficult to tell which stories are legitimately brought by sailors from their homeland, and which are made up on the spot to impress their drinking buddies. | + | {{:merman_relief.jpg?nolink&120 |by Spencer Means via Creative Commons - https://www.flickr.com/photos/hunky_punk/7974549798}}In the cities buzzing with life, where many languages are spoken and even more cultures clash together to form the glorious, colourful mix, overabundance of tales - some contradicting others - is inevitable. It is difficult to tell which stories are legitimately brought by sailors from their homeland, and which are made up on the spot to impress their drinking buddies. |
| There are stories about ships with black or red sails on the Adriatic Sea. These ships supposedly emerge from mist that gathers unnaturally quickly, and sink any vessel they come across. Both the Great Council and the Mercantile Guild insist that the tales are exaggerated and these are merely pirate ships, which they have sworn to bring to justice. Despite their best efforts, people still believe the more exciting rather than truthful version. | There are stories about ships with black or red sails on the Adriatic Sea. These ships supposedly emerge from mist that gathers unnaturally quickly, and sink any vessel they come across. Both the Great Council and the Mercantile Guild insist that the tales are exaggerated and these are merely pirate ships, which they have sworn to bring to justice. Despite their best efforts, people still believe the more exciting rather than truthful version. | ||
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| Finally something everyone agrees on is the merfolk inhabiting the warm waters, unsympathetic towards humans. Every now and then one can hear reliable accounts of beautiful people swimming under water, propelled by their silvery fish tails, of fishermen pulled overboard and dragged into the deep. Sometimes people find a broken tooth of a trident among shells on the sea shore. Mercenary companies even offer specially trained fighters to protect ships from the merfolk, often deaf or hard of hearing, to resist the charming songs. The merfolk were a thorn in the Doges' side for generations. | Finally something everyone agrees on is the merfolk inhabiting the warm waters, unsympathetic towards humans. Every now and then one can hear reliable accounts of beautiful people swimming under water, propelled by their silvery fish tails, of fishermen pulled overboard and dragged into the deep. Sometimes people find a broken tooth of a trident among shells on the sea shore. Mercenary companies even offer specially trained fighters to protect ships from the merfolk, often deaf or hard of hearing, to resist the charming songs. The merfolk were a thorn in the Doges' side for generations. | ||
| - | Next to all this no one bats an eye when a fae out two walk through a market in broad daylight. | + | Next to all this no one bays an eye when a fae out two walk through a market in broad daylight. |
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