14 - A Council of War and a Reconnaissance in Strength

At the Black Cat there is a Council of War. Apart from the senior members of Cola's Famiglia, others in attendance, include Matteo Corsini and his servant Noli and Renzo and Lino from the Termi de Diocleziano. Cola gives a speech in which he says that the Bardoni seizure of the House of Crows cannot stand unanswered. He draws a connection, not only with the recent disorder in the City, but specifically the kidnap of six nuns from the Convent of Santa Bibiana - not so far from the Bardoni stronghold in the Suburra. "For do we not suspect the Bardoni of collusion with the sorceror Caltagirone? His interest in obtaining virgins for the summoning of scimioni volanti - flying monkeys - is well known."

Discussion then falls to ways and means and it decided that a strong party will go to reconnoitre the underground entrance of the Bardoni stronghold. For it transpires that Renzo and Lino as youngsters were Spigolatori - gleaners in the dark for Ornella Morisi, the aunt of Gepetto and Carlo Bardone and a key member of their gang. They know the secret ways under the city and an entrance from which they could lead a party to the underground entrance to the Bardoni palazzo.

Reconnaisance in Strength

Led by Renzo and Lino, Marco, Father Arturo, Rocco, Fra. Giovanni, Astore and Lorenzo make their way up the Esquiline to a jumble of ruins and from thence squeeze down a dark opening in the rubble. They follow a maze of passages until they come to a set of steps upwards and a heavy door. An advance guard of Lino and Rocco are discovered by its guardians - demonic creatures that seem half man and half beast. Their comrades come to the rescue and battle ensues. A woman appears in the doorway. Taking her to be Ornella Morisi - rumoured to be a witch - the wizard Lorenzo envelopes her head in a well-aimed globe of fire. She falls down the steps, face and head horribly burned and is dispatched. The beastmen are slain and the party have access to the basement of the palazzo.

The Three Way House

In the basement they free a score of children, caged and living in miserable conditions. Upstairs they find a strange arrangement. The large palazzo is divided into three more or less discrete parts. They take two prisoners, a maid called Rosa and an archivist called Ubaldo. They are both cooperative. Ubaldo curates an immense collection of ancient artifacts gleaned from the underdark. He tells them that the palazzo is shared equally between Ornella and the Bardoni brothers and that relations are currently strained between Ornella and her nephews. He thinks it something to do with the alchemist, Caltagirone. He was Ornella's protege, and created the Beastmen for her. He seems to have transferred his alliegance now to the brothers. He confirms that he saw a group of nuns who were clearly captives. He believes it likely that they are held captive somewhere in the brothers' domain.

Renzo and Lino are concerned about the children and propose to lead them back through the underdark, deposit them at a monastery and then go to report to Cola. The maid Rosa is very keen to help with this so they agree to let her accompany them.