Italy (WOD)

Italy is a state at the Mediterranean, which most supernaturals having ties to the Roman Empire of antiquity or the advances of the Renaissance cities. Today, the situation has slightly changed, and many among the supernaturals are forced to maintain a low profile due the high percentage of Witch-hunters active in Italy.

Please not that the information below mainly concern themselves with Italy in the Modern Nights. For information about Italy in Antiquity, visit Rome.

Vampire: The Masquerade
The Kindred of Italy have fallen on hard times since the Anarch Revolt. Camarilla and Sabbat alike maintain low profiles and conspire against each other, as most of the native Kindred simply do not exercise any measure of cooperation or strategic planning with other sect officials. They prefer to bicker amongst themselves and keep up centuries-old squabbles over invaded whose city and so on. The cities suffer as a result.

The vast majority of Italian princes are Brujah, Toreador or Ventrue, but there are also a prominent set of Lasombra dioceses that date back to the Long Night, the most prominent (until recently) being Giangaleazzo, as well as Grimaldi strongholds that are controlled by the Tzimisce. Nearly all of them live in the distant past, longing nostalgically for their youth. The absent-mindness and carelessness of the ruling vampires results in a variety of “Anarch”- as most Anarchs in Europe are Ancillae and fairly set in their ways compared to their American counterparts- domains especially in the rural north of the country. Sabbat activity has recently increased, as many packs travel to Italy to retake Milan and punish Giangaleazzo, but the Camarilla has reacted by sending their own elite corps down there, rekindling the sect war on European ground. Before their destruction, The Tal’Mahe’Ra entertained a minor Revenant family in the Po valley, the Rafastio, who were also potent Hedge Magess.

The true power in Italy, however, rests with the Giovanni (and, by extension, the Putanesca and Rosselini families that were adopted into the Clan). Other clans fear the Giovanni, though they are loath to admit this. The Giovanni are slowly taking over the financial realms of the Elders and looking for more rapid expansion through the European Economic Community. Thanks to their mortal family members, they are among the few Clans that have managed to gain footholds in the Vatican itself. No one is willing to question the Giovanni - much less oppose them - in Italy.

Werewolf: The Apocalypse
Although Italy is part of the Eurohub and thus clad in the Weaver’s Webs, the northern alps still have some wolf populations and the Garou Nation maintains its presence here. Most are Glass Walkers, who are comfortable with cities, but a fairly great number of Black Furies also maintains a permanent residence, and the Get of Fenris have claimed Caerns they still hold today after their ancestors had aided the sacking of Rome. Furies and Get alike used to squabble among each other, but recently, infighting has ceased under Konietzko’s approach. Still, tensions between both tribes are high and in no place these two tribes clash more often. Another small enclave is hold by the Children of Gaia, who try to bring an end to the conflict between the two tribes, and the Red Talons, who fight a desperate battle for survival in central Italy's forests.

Other Fera are rarely found, although there are rumors that the Italian Alps are the hidden refugees for sleeping Gurahl.

Mage: The Ascension
As the wellspring of several mystical traditions of antiquity, many of these saw a reformation in the Renessaince. As a result, both the Order of Reason and the Nine Traditions had several foci there, trying to imbed their ideals in the minds of artists and thinkers alike.

In modern times, the Celestial Chorus (to no one’s surprise) is one of the main Traditions on the peninsula, although the Order of Hermes, Verbena and the Cult of Ecstasy, who have their own Covenants that- in some cases-date back to antiquity, are also present. A Euthanatos coven that date back as far as the Etruscans and who has maintained its unique style of magic also remains, even if they are restricted to one family line. Many Etherites also maintain their own Chantries within Italy, trying to uncover the secrets of Renaissance tinkers like da Vinci. Milan serves as a beacon for European Hollow Ones, who admire the gothic cathedrals of the city. Technocratic presence is strong, but has waned over the years, as the Union withdrew its focus from religion as a means to unification. Still, the Void Engineers retain many traditional Constructs within Italy’s borders

Wraith: The Oblivion
The Italian Shadowlands were subsumed by the Stygian Republic long before Charon assumed the mantle of Emperor after the First Great Maelstrom. Since then, it has always been connected to Stygia, given that many of its institutions were originally inspired by the Roman Republic. Many ruins of Roman and Etruscan origin have a relatively thin Shroud and allow interaction with the Skinlands much more easily, attracting certain ghosts who want to commune with the world of the living.

The Sixth Maelstrom destroyed the Underworld and nearly all Necropoli under Stygian rule were destroyed by the shock.

Changeling: The Dreaming
Italy is part of the Galacian Confoderation and, as it stands, under Commoner rule. During the Resurgence, Italy was place of various fierce battles between the returning Sidhe and the Commoners who had stayed in the Autumn Lands after the Shattering. In contrast to most northern nations within the Confoderation, Italy is fairly lax, given the steady influx of tourists and artists, who generate plenty Banality and Glamour alike. This means that Italian Changelings have an easier time generating Glamour, but that the stakes are also constantly higher for them to maintain their faerie self.

Hunter: The Reckoning
Italy’s high presence of mortals who know of the supernatural is frightening high. Rome is the ancestral home of the Society of Leopold and the presence of Inquisitors on the peninsula is heavy. San Marino is a bastion of the Arcanum and Benandanti are more present in Italy than elsewhere. The arrival of the Imbued has led to careful examinations if one of the groups could become an ally, but given the small number of Imbued, there are no concrete plans.

An additional phenomenon of Italy is the presence of the Mafia, who is known to maintain arcane ties to several supernatural beings who have either a vested interest in the organization since the beginning (like the Brujah) or are sometimes even family members (some Glass Walker Kinfolk lines have originate in their ranks). The Mafia sometimes cooperates with these supernaturals, but remains wary of their intentions.