The Suburra

Background

The Suburra is an ancient district of Rome. An evil reputation clings to it, for even in the time of the Roman Republic it was ever a place of the poor and the wretched, a district known for its night-life, its brothels, its taverns, its gambling dens, its cut-throats and criminality, and its thriving street markets selling stolen and smuggled goods at suspiciously reasonable prices. As it was then, so it remains.

Tucked between the western slopes of the Viminal and Esquiline hills, and including the Cispian ridge that thrusts out between them, in ancient times it occupied twin valleys, facing the Palatine and Capitoline across the Roman Forum. However, there is little evidence now of this topography. The custom of building the new upon the bones of the old has persisted now for two thousand years and more. Thus below today’s Suburra are mazes of forgotten streets, sewers and ancient waterways on many levels. Some common byways are such that one must carry a torch or lantern or summon a link boy to traverse them even in daylight.

While the bounds of the Suburra are ill-defined in other directions, to the west the district ends abruptly in a mighty parapet. This retaining wall runs across the neck of the valley between the Viminal and the Oppian ridge of the Esquiline that bound the Suburra and clearly marks its western extent. The Conti and the Frangipani maintain strongholds at either end of the parapet and those that would use stairs at either end of the parapet leading down to the Forum must treat with them. Along Il Parapetto are to be found the more prosperous and sunlit dwellings of the Suburra.

The rest of the Suburra is a press of insulae – tenements built high around a central court - where folk live cheek by jowl, some in extended family groupings, others in loose confederations of mutual support based on circumstance. There are few comforts to be found in most of them and open fires are common, for warmth in winter and for cooking. Fire is a constant hazard, for though insulae are commonly encased in stone or brick, their interiors are typically constructed of timber. A fire is oft-times a death sentence for all within.

The Three-Way House

The Three-Way House, until recently the stronghold of the Bardoni, lies in the north-eastern extent of the Suburra, upon the southern slopes of the Viminal Hill. Indeed, it is arguable that whether the Three-Way House is truly within the Suburra at all. Certainly, the small piazza in front of it is the sort of open space in short supply within the Suburra proper. The palazzo, while not a stronghold in the sense of those of the Conti and the Frangipani, is certainly the most prestigious dwelling of the Suburra.

The Gangs of the Suburra

In a lawless city, the Suburra is by far the most lawless rione. In the absence of any effective clerical or lay authority (beyond occasional brief encroachment by the Conti or Frangipani), it is dominated by a complex and constantly shifting gang culture whose currency is theft, murder and extortion.

Almost every insula has its capo. This may be the head of the dominant family living in the tenement or simply the biggest dog amongst squatters in a building. They live by extorting the other residents who may make their money by theft, prostitution or by more traditional commerce. Many insulae have shops built into their external-facing street-level walls – and many residents of the Suburra make their denarii by relative honest means. They still need carpenters, masons, water carriers and traders in foodstuffs and raw materials. Some of these capos might have a small kingdom comprising several insulae. In return for his (or her) cut the capo’s role is to protect and support the welfare of their clienti. Some attend to this side of their role more assiduously than others. There other duty is to interface with the bigger gangs who inevitably predate upon them and their flock. There are many such gangs in the Suburra but here are some of the most prominent:

I Cani del Macellaio – The Butcher’s Dogs	Grown out of the meat trade, I Cani are the go to gang for muscle and body disposal. They often provide foot soldiers – for a price – in other gang conflicts. It is said that Carlo Bardone was close to them and that they have taken a lot of casualties in the events surrounding the fall of the Bardoni.
La Mano Rovinata - The Ruined Hand	Predominantly beggars, pickpockets, street thieves and market traders, they deal in information and stolen goods. Said to have been close associates of Ornella Morisi, who was in a similar business and was a frequent customer.
I Carbonai – The Charcoal Burners	A legitimate business selling firewood and charcoal around the Suburra is a front for a more sinister protection racket and shakedown outfit. Their proposition is simple – pay up or be burned out. Hated and feared in equal measure by all, they have no friends and don’t care.
Le Donne della Lupa – The She-Wolves	A loose sisterhood of prostitutes, madams, and lower-class women who band together for mutual protection - and occasional savage vengeance. Blackmail, theft, poisoning, seduction-for-hire, abortion services are their stock in trade along with information brokering.
I Topi Grigi – The Grey Rats	Experts in the subterranean places of the Suburra. Known for scavenging, burglary from below, smuggling and secret transit and the unearthing of secrets. They are close with La Mano Rovinata and were rivals of Ornella Morisi.
I Uomini Alti – the Tall Men	Second-storey-men and masters of roof-top pathways. Experts at house-breaking and cat-burglary. Known to crack open hard targets – at a price – for other gangs. Unaligned.

The Conti and Frangipani

Many would say that no account of the gangs of the Suburra is complete without mention of the Conti and the Frangipani. However, first and foremost they vie with each other for the domination of the Parapetto district. They take little or no interest in activities of the gangs of the Suburra unless they are provoked by some action against them or their clients. Their interventions then tend to be with overwhelming force and no mercy towards any that they can catch who they hold responsible for whatever annoyed them in the first place. They are seldom discerning in the matter of such guilt.

The whole Suburra is agog that they combined to attack the Bardoni. The silver-tongued notaio from the Aventine has much for which to answer. The fervent hope is that they go back to fighting each other as soon as possible. Consiglieri all over the Suburra are advising their clienti not to align publicly with sorcerors or kidnap nuns.

Marco’s Journal : Deuteronomy Days

Yea, their day of disaster is near, and destiny rushes upon them.

I’ve been hearing a lot of Deuteronomy of late, with Brother Giovanni’s help. He likes preaching other texts, but he can’t deny a bible request; verse 32 has been keeping me going.

St Michael be praised! For the Lord sent us aid and the means to defeat our enemies, just as promised by Deuteronomy. With faith we had the courage to overcome - for fear is the weapon of true destruction. The witch Ornella ruled her slaves with fear, and the sorceror Caltagirone used greed and ambition to twist the hearts of men. Now they are dead, and here is the story of their ending.

After Cola left us in charge of Orenella’s quarters in the Three-Way House, with a whole 5 florins each as our reward, we were glad to be alive but only half-way to our revenge. We wanted to spy on the House of Crows, so he sent Trucco and some lads to take over our duties for a while. We noted the streets outside had been swept clean of bodies in double-quick time, and wondered who wanted all these corpses ? For Providence whispered in our ears and made a hunch out of curiosity. So we sniffed around and found many bodies had gone to the Mausoleum of Nerva where embalming took place for bodies with a long way to travel before the grave. Expensive, and these were the poor of Subura. The place was an ancient ruin, with a family business run by one Giancarlo Ricchi. We followed a wagon all the way from there to the House of Crows – so our hunch was right, someone was sending new recruits to the Necromancer. No rest for the wicked indeed; the Bardoni were hardly hung and soon he would have a new army.

Well that was a test of faith and no mistake. I could think of no way to assault the House of Crows guarded by a Witch, the Sorceror, Bardoni rabble, and a new set of dead henchmen besides. Brother Giovanni scolded me for my doubts and quoted Psalms and Proverbs as well was St Paul writing to the Romans some 13 centuries before. So - Hope Springs Eternal, he said. But I must doff my cap to his conviction, for soon enough Providence heard our prayers and sent us Deliverance.

Well the Pope did anyway.

One day Cola called us all to meet at the Three-Way House – ‘be ready for anything’ was the word. Well I brought all my war-gear, but I was not ready for the Archbishop of Toledo. He came on an ox-drawn carroccio, with a choir of monks singing, and some real hard nuts as his bodyguard. We all lined up to kiss his ring – Rocco piled in first, but I felt humility for my doubts and kept to the back of the line. Archbishop Albornoz never wavered as the line progressed, just held a big silver hammer on his shoulder, with a holy relic set in the steel. He looked the real deal – the Hammer of God.

He had heard of the Eternal City in chaos, a tyranny of evil men and witchcraft - this must end. Now. All three companies there said Amen and signed up for his crusade there and then. When he asked for a briefing on the den of witchcraft, I told him the sorceror would surely flee into the tunnels beneath the streets as his Grace kicked in the front door, just as he had done before. So straight-way we were charged with stopping up his escape route with our bodies. Cola told us this was vital for Rome and wrung his hands; I told him bluntly we would do it or die trying. He seemed to note our resolve and got out of our way. We threw on our armour, grabbed some extra lantern oil and food, and used the secret exit from Ornella’s quarters down into the darkness of the underworld.

Straight-way we took a wrong turn and somehow ended up in the chamber of the Maidens of the Midden. I have no idea how we went so far in error, but at least we have found a new route to the Baths of Diocletian. Rocco flattered them in his usual way, but they did not bless our steps as father Arturo declined to sing a song and dance a few steps for them. He persists in his belief that the maidens are demons from hell and even conversation with them could imperil his very soul. Strange how the holy father might be tarnished when Rocco’s soul seems utterly impervious.

Soon we had found our way again and approached the very passageway beneath the House of Crows. Rocco led the way, followed by myself, Giovanni, Arturo and then Lino and Renzo. They had older scores than we did against the Witch. A sudden honking of geese came from the shadows and then Rocco was engaged by a goat-man abomination and some horrible cross between a goose and a child! The sorceror had been busy with his necromantic arts for the tunnel was filled with these things and they blocked the way.

After a few stern blows, Rocco grew tired and we changed places; then I took the fight to these horrors. A swift changeover is an essential part of tunnel fighting, and Providence guided our steps. Straight-way I swung my falcione with vigour, for I had decided to attack relentlessly as the horrors felt no pain but had little skill with weapons. Kissing the Archbishop’s ring motivated me even more than a thirst for revenge, for Providence guided my hand - blow after blow I struck, never missing. Doing good has no end, they say. One after another the goat-men went down, until a huge serpent with the face of the witch Ornella slithered out into the passage to replace them. She wielded a bright sword, armoured with scales and lighting flashed from her eyes; truly a great evil to trouble the world. Still Providence sat upon my shoulder – her lightning missed me, and we traded blows until she slithered off at speed, followed by the last of the weird-geese.

Now we held the tunnel, masters of the field, and guarded the low passage which led from the House of Crows into the main tunnel. We all agreed there was no need to follow – let them come to us and face four to one at the entrance, with prayers behind on each side. We waited nearly an hour in the darkness, wondering what might be happening far above on the streets of Rome. Suddenly four weird-geese returned – some bearing a small dagger full of poison. All were hacked down swiftly, but one stabbed poor Rocco in the arm, and soon its venom burned in his blood. Right after the geese came a large man with a bull's head, bearing a great axe. He charged Lino, and buffeted him back against the tunnel wall. Behind him came the Witch-Wyrm once more, and the hulking idiot servant we had spared when we first drove the sorceror from his abode above. The idiot drank a potion and was transformed into a monstrous swollen hulk maddened by rage. Now chaos reigned: I fought the Witch-Wyrm alongside Father Arturo, while Rocco, Lino and Brother Giovanni fought the bull-headed man, and Renzo faced the raging hulk. The Witch struck down father Arturo with more lightning from her eyes and wrapped her coils around me. I drew a dagger and struck at it in a frenzy until darkness finally claimed me.

When I came to, and found myself alive, I learned that I had killed the serpent before it squeezed all the life from my body, and my comrades had overcome the hulk and the bull-man too, after a desperate struggle. Even Brother Giovanni had drawn the dagger I gave him and stabbed away until the end. Everyone upright was bashed and wounded, except for me – I lay as a man half-drowned, with no breath and sore ribs, but no deep wound at all.

Soon a voice called from the darkness offering gold for passage to escape. Although I could not stand, the voice of the sorceror roused in me the will to resist and spite him. I told him to go back and face his doom – we cared nought for his gold or pleading for mercy. Only death awaited him – by our blades or the Hammer of the Lord above. He chose poison instead and cheated his enemies of the satisfaction of putting him to death. Soon afterwards we heard the voice of our friend Noli calling for us, and could make our way painfully back up into the world above. We received the praise of the Archbishop for carrying out our mission faithfully, as we watched the House of Crows looted by his forces before being torn down and wrecked as an example. They hung up the dead body of the sorceror in the courtyard, and built a great pyre of ruin to burn all his unholy works. Us wounded got a cart ride back while the fun was happening.

That evening everyone came back to the Three-Way House to celebrate. Although exhausted, I managed a cup of wine and listened as Noli told us the Archbishop’s monks took a battering ram from his carroccio, smashed the front doors down right away, and marched within signing hymns. The Bardoni rabble were cut down by the armed soldiers supporting the monks, and they forced their way within the House without delay. A host of necromantic horrors quailed from the holy hymns, while the Archbishop laid into them with the Hammer of the Lord! One blow was enough to crush the evil spell binding them together. It was a slaughter.

Cola was delighted, and placed us back in charge of his portion of the Three-Way House with the Bardoni rent-books to ponder over.

So this chapter of our lives is over - we have lost everything in the wreckage of the battle but gained a new home and maybe a new living as well. All of us are alive and our enemies cast down into hell – St Michael be praised!

18 - Kiss My Ring

Marco, Rocco, Arturo and Giovanni stand in the courtyard of the Three-Way House. Cola has sent word to be accoutered for action, so they are. They are not alone. There is a contingent from each of the other wings of the house. The Frangipani contingent is led by Matteo Corsini and Noli is with them carrying his preposterously long bow. There are Conti men too, nominally led by the fresh-faced Giuseppe Conti, but under the eye of his hawk-faced sergeant, Vasco Rubio. Renzo and Lino have arrived from the Baths of Diocletian along with the would-be King of the Street-Urchins, Pino, and a couple of his older lieutenants. None know what they await.

From the street outside there is the sound of singing, accompanied by the lowing of oxen. The door stands open and those assembled can see a carroccio - a large cart with a prominent cross upon it, pulled by a team of white oxen. Through the gateway walks a bareheaded figure in armour carrying a large battle-hammer. He is flanked a pace behind by a man armoured cap-a-pied and another more lightly armed, carrying an unfeasible number of javelins. Behind them a choir of monks still intone their hymn. The leading figure raises a hand. The chanting stops immediately, cut off mid-phrase.

" I am Gil Álvarez Carrillo de Albornoz, Archbishop of Toledo, victor of the Rio Salado and emissary of his Holiness the Pope. You may kiss my ring."

As all stand amazed and awed by the power and majesty of the Pope's representative, it is Rocco who darts forward and takes the proffered hand. He kneels and kisses the huge carnelian upon the prelate's gloved finger and steps back as the rest of the crowd begins to jostle forward.

After most, though not all, those assembled have had their opportunity, he withdraws his hand and embarks upon a brief sermon. He has been sent by the Holy Father, who has been disturbed by tales of anarchy in the Holy See, to take stock of the situation in the City. He has been appalled to find the baroni squabbling like spoilt children and other malign actors taking advantage of the ensuing chaos to loot and pillage. Meanwhile decent folk cower in their houses with the doors closed and barred. Above all, he is horrified to hear from this good man (he gestures at Cola who is standing nearby), that a necromancer is suffered to live amongst you, conjuring demons, corrupting the bodies of the dead and kidnapping nuns. This day he will take direct action against this abomination and those assembled will aid him in the Lord's work. He summons the leaders for a brief (he emphasises "brief") counsel of war. Rocco, Marco, Arturo and Giovanni invite themselves (it is held in their accommodation after all).

The plan is simple. The assembled host - several score including some burly choristers - will assault the House of Crows directly. To preclude any escape of the Necromancer via the sewers, a small force familiar with the underdark will be sent to hold the small tunnel that exits below the House of Crows. The above mentioned four, along with Renzo and Lino, are that force.

The party make their way through the tunnels to the sewer egress of the House of Crows. In the dark, they miss their way at first and end up in conversation once more with the "Four Graces". As before the "Maidens of the Midden" engage in lively banter with the party, particularly Rocco. They introduce Renzo and Lino to the ladies, and they quickly realise that they must be more or less below the Baths of Diocletian and that this is their midden. Father Arturo as ever is surly and seeks to maintain a distance. They, of course, tease him. They offer a special blessing to the party in their endeavour if he will cut a caper and dance around the midden for them. He refuses. Now re-oriented, they make their way to The House of Crows back entrance from there.

They find it guarded by several of the goat-headed men they had encountered at the Three-Way House. They are accompanied by half a dozen creatures with the bodies of small children but the heads of geese, these set up a huge honking racket to warn of intruders. They also peck at the adventurers as they fight the goat-headed inflicting many small wounds especially on Rocco. One produces a dagger impregnated with a poison and stabs Rocco, who soon find himself failing. He would have perished but for the Grace of God and the intervention of Father Arturo.

Other monstrosities begin to appear and the fight grows ever more deadly. First to appear is a snake-like demon with a woman's head and torso. lighting bolts flash from her eyes. The head is that of Ornella Morisco. It appears that Caltagirone has found a better use for his erstwhile ally and lover. She wields a sword and envelops Marco in her constricting coils, all but squeezing the life from him before she perishes to the combined blades of the comrades.

Caltagirone's giant servitor, Grumio, appears from the tunnel, quaffing something from a bottle that transforms him into an even larger and more grotesque figure than before that fights with mindless ferocity. He is followed by a large man with a bull's head that pins Lino to the far wall.

At length all these monsters are vanquished. All the protagonists are wounded and exhausted by their efforts. They spend their last strength piling some of the monstrous corpses into the tunnel. When the sorceror's second servitor, Piero, creeps down to see what is amiss, he might have taken them all had he tried, but seeing the body of his comrade Grumio lying there amongst all the other demonic bodies, he gives a cry and scuttles back up to the House of Crows.

They think they hear some faint sound of arms clashing above but are in no state to intervene. All they can do is guard the tunnel entrance and defend it with their remaining strength. In fact the next thing coming from the tunnel is the voice of Aristophane Caltagirone himself. He begs them to let him pass and offers gold and treasure if they do so - treasure that will go to the looters above if they do not accept his offer. They give him short shrift and hear no further from him. Finally they hear a voice with a faint English accent calling down from above, asking how they fare. It is Noli. One by one they drag their wounded and exhausted bodies up the crawl-way into the House of Crows.

There they find a scene of devastation. Much of the building is afire, including all the work they have commissioned since they have taken up residence. Much of it is feeding a great bonfire, piled with corpses in the middle of the courtyard. Swinging from a gibbet, extemporised from a winch and pulley left by their workmen, is the body of Caltagirone, hanging by the neck. Noli says they found him already dead from poison, taken by his own hand. He thinks Piero was with him, likewise dead of poison.

They present themselves to Albornoz who congratulates them on a successful mission and notes their exhausted state. Cola sidles up to them and says he is sorry how it has fallen out with the House of Crows. However, he says they are welcome to the Three-Way House instead - a much better appointed place anyway. He doesn't see the Conti and Frangipani staying there for long - he'll see to it. He has Gepetto's rent books for them.