Proto-Republican Venice

Author's Note: Welcome to Venice—a labyrinth of canals and intrigue, where fortunes are made on the silk, spice, and slave trades, and betrayal lurks behind every gilded façade. The Doge, once a powerful figure, is now a puppet to be manipulated. Behind him, the Great Council teeters between chaos and consolidation as noble families vie for dominance in the city’s rise to Mediterranean power. A growing divide between the entrenched nobility, rising merchants, and foreign-born traders fuels alliances, betrayals, and assassinations. Outside Venice, Genoa is locked in a bitter struggle for trade dominance; Byzantium is resentful of the 4th Crusade; and the HRE is eager to assert control. - House Ziani: Traditionalists of Venetian values, the Ziani favor cautious foreign policy and oppose reckless expansion. Allies of Byzantium, they fight to preserve the old balance of power. - House Dandolo: Bold imperialists emboldened by their role in the Fourth Crusade, the Dandolo seek naval supremacy and control of Eastern trade, earning them accusations of tyranny. - House Tiepolo: Reformists courting the rising merchant class, the Tiepolo thrive on chaos, undermining patrician traditions to reshape Venice as a broader, merchant-driven republic. - House Gradenigo: Subtle and secretive, the Gradenigo are skilled manipulators and allies of the Ziani, favoring quiet diplomacy to maintain conservative order. - House Contarini: Naval adventurers aligned with the Dandolo, the Contarini pursue maritime empire-building but remain opportunistic and unpredictable in loyalty. - House Querini: Champions of excluded merchants and guilds, the Querini push for reforms, but their egalitarian rhetoric hides their hunger for power. Campaign Hooks: - Players must use bribes, alliances, and sabotage to secure a spot in the Great Council before it is "closed" forever. - A noble is assassinated. Was it a rival, a foreign agent, or the Doge himself trying to reclaim power? - Discontent threatens rebellion.