– And what if it floats? – Antonio wondered aloud. He wasn’t used to covering his tracks. Usually, he would fire a shot, causing a lot of noise. Afterwards, he had to flee, and it either turned out that no witnesses survived, or no one believed that such a shootout could have been caused by one man, let alone a musician, or he would just move on. He didn’t plan to stay long in Vienna either. Things only changed when he met Elena. That woman knew how to organize an efficient crew. And most importantly, she paid really well.
– Chained and weighed down with a stone? No one’s ever floated up that way, – said the dwarf Leonzio, who seemed to know what he was talking about. He was the brains behind most of the operations. He was from Italy, just like Elena. He had been in Vienna for quite some time, so he became the perfect ally for her.
– You’re wasting time chatting. And what if it does float? Not like they don’t drown people here – Arnold said. He was definitely a man of action, not words. The giant, with his artificial hand and a mask covering almost half of his face, stirred unease and fear even among his comrades. However, he was indispensable when it came to fighting.
He grabbed the corpse and headed towards the Danube.
– True, plenty of bodies float here. Especially ones tied with chains, like incorruptible city guards – Leonzio finally allowed himself some sarcasm once they heard the splash, ensuring Arnold wouldn’t hear him. The Italian wasn’t eager to find out how the brute would take the sarcasm.
***
– So, you’re telling me that you witnessed the whole incident? How the entire squad of city guards escorting an important witness turned into an alley and was slaughtered to the last man?
– Y… Yes, sir – the terrified peasant stammered. He didn’t live in Vienna; he had come here only to sell the fruits of his hard labor. He knew neither the city nor the way things worked here. Perhaps that’s why what he was saying seemed real to him. At least, that’s what the interrogating officer suspected.
– So… If I understand correctly, there was a woman fighting with knives, a dwarf with a crossbow, a musician, a giant machine resembling a man, and two comedians?
– Not exactly, sir. Those comedians were a pair. I mean, a man and a woman. I think.
– I see… And there wasn’t perhaps a mermaid, a werewolf, or a unicorn?
LEADER - ELENA
LEADER - ELENA
Elena “Mamma” di Mondragone hails from Naples. She is a prominent member of one of the Italian criminal organizations. Ambitious and independent, she convinced the capos to let her pick a few soldatos and open a Vienna branch.
Elena’s true goal is subduing the local crooks and becoming the queen of the Vienna criminal underworld. In order to do that she’s going to need time, money and connections, so for the time being she’s willing to take any job.
She support her operations by creating potions in her secret laboratory.
LEONZIO
LEONZIO
Leonzio is a dwarf born around the year 1625. He is rumored to be a son of an Italian prince’s consigliere. His father was a cruel man who abused Leonzio since his early childhood.
Eventually the young lad snapped and shot his father with a crossbow just as he was leaving the latrine. Forced to leave the country, he made it to Vienna.
While not the strongest of fighters, he makes up for it with his quick wits and silver tongue.
ANTONIO
ANTONIO
Born 33 years ago in Malaga, Antonio loves to play. Sometimes he makes some extra coin on the side by playing Malaguena on his guitar, but more often his tune is played with the barrels of his guns.
Antonio is hired by anyone desperate to get the job done, if they don’t mind some noise that comes with his services.
Posing as a guitar player, he is inconspicuous and easily creeps up to the target. When up close, he unleashes hell with his two double barrelled pistols. His guitar case contains a reall arsenal of heavier gun he might need at the moment – an arquebus, a blunderbuss or a musket…
HARLEQUIN
HARLEQUIN
The Harlequin is a mysterious Italian assassin. Those who know him say that he used to be an ordinary actor in street commedia dell ‘arte performances.
He traveled around Italy with his young wife and a troupe of comedians. But when the plague broke out in Naples 10 years ago, Harlequin’s world collapsed.
A strict quarantine deprived the comedians of their livelihood. In order to get money, the Harlequin set his foot on the criminal path. Initially, he dealt in petty thefts to support his family, but when his wife fell ill and the medics requested a fortune for their services, the Harlequin accepted an offer from a young star of the criminal world – Elena di Mandragone. But it was all in vain. His wife died, and the Harlequin himself went mad. Others say that his wife did not die at all, but was caught during a raid organized by the city guard. The Harlequin eluded the chase, but his wife, weakened by disease and pregnancy, was captured and could not endure the hardships of being locked up in the city dungeons.
Still others say it’s all baloney and there never was a wife. The Harlequin himself was supposed to fall ill with the plague, and it disfigured his face so much that he covered it with a mask. To make matters worse, he was paralyzed and the muscles of his face froze in an eternal, ghastly smile.
It is difficult to make out the truth. The Harlequin himself tells a different story of his life each time.
The Harlequin, despite its madness, is an effective killer. Disguised as a comedian, he can easily get close to the unaware victim. His wooden stage sword has a steel blade inside. The Harlequin sewed a chain mail inside his costume.
He is not an outstanding swordsman, but apart from the element of surprise, in combat he uses his left-handedness to his advantage.
JESTER
JESTER
Jester is Harlequin’s partner. Her past is even more mysterious.
According to one of the stories, she met Harlequin when, as a young novice, she worked in a shelter. Fascinated and in love, she was to run away with him and accompany him on the way of crime.
Others claim that she is a young acrobat, the daughter of one of the actresses of the troupe to which Harlequin belonged. According to other rumors, Jester is Harlequin’s daughter and they live in a toxic, incestuous relationship.
Perhaps the truth is also different but it is difficult to find out. The Jester is agile, quick and just crazy like her partner.
In combat, she uses a marotte (a stick-puppet). Unlike the standard ones, her puppet is carved from a single piece of hard oak. The second beloved weapon of the Jester are hand grenades. They are glass balls, filled with dust and with a fuse attached, were painted by it to resemble juggling balls. She claims that this makes them more suited to the color of her clothes…
ARNOLD
ARNOLD
Arnold “Der Schwarze” von Thal – a cold-blooded assassin for hire.
He is devoid of feelings, a bully. He will undertake any mission for an appropriate fee. He traveled extensively around the world and was convicted in absentia in many countries and cities.
It is said that he was behind the high-profile attack that occurred several years ago. Apparently, Alexander Hamilton, brother of James Hamilton, 1st Earl of Abercorn, hired him to kill his wife’s lover. A man named Michael Riese, the captain of the guard in Düsseldorf, and several of his men were killed in the night attack on the barracks. No one survived the attack, but it is said that it was Arnold’s doing and Riese was supposed to be the lover. Rumor has it that Alexander’s wife, Sara, went mad and was placed in an institution for the insane. People also say that she gave birth to a son soon afterwards.
Arnold recently arrived in Vienna, tempted by the prospect of making easy money in the service of one of the electors.
BANDITI
BANDITI
Banditi are thugs at Elena’s service.
Not every thug earns the title of bandito. Only those who have proven their usefulness and loyalty to the mafia can proudly bear this name.
Banditi don’t have their own unique models. Instead, they replace the thugs included in the Core Set and the “Thugs” set. Their character cards can be found in the “Mercenaries I” expansion.