House Members:
Arturo, Lord Acciaio
Lord Nicola Acciaio, his eldest son
Lady Iolanthe Acciaio, (née Tremontaine, previously Lady Greywood) Nicola's wife
Gianina, Nicola's elder daughter
Donata, Nicola's younger daughter
Tancredo, Nicola's son
Lady Ofelia Acciaio, Arturo's daughter
Rugero Acciaio, Arturo's younger son
Nellinora (Nellie) Acciaio, (née Rostay) Rugero's wife
Romeo, Rugero's elder son
Aurora, Romeo's twin
Rosalia, Rugero's younger daughter
Angelo, Rugero's younger son

House Associates:
Antonini

About the House
Emblem: Draco (The Dragon)
Responsibilities: The Law
Heraldic Symbol: a green dragon, crowned and bearing a small blue pennant
Colours: Red and green with yellow stripes
Motto: The ardour in my heart becomes flames in my mouth.
Symbolizes: Ardour

History of the House

Arturo, Lord Acciaio
Born: 3435

The irascible, subtle Arturo has managed to keep his House in the limelight over the quarter-century, but it appears that his race is finally coming to an end. He credits his longevity to his gaggle of /dottore/ and his strict diet (which he cheats on every chance he gets), but in the last few months has begun to succumb to a liver ailment.

House Acciaio has stayed aloof from the baser political fights, yet has managed to accrue some of its lost power through a long campaign of manipulation and dealing. It is separate from the House function of Law, as it is widely known that the elder Acciaio has impeccable ethics; no whispers of corruption ever surface, even in the racier tabloids.

The rise of the House is in spite of two events, the re-establishment of Rugero into the family (who still bears somewhat of a social onus from his leaving) and the marriage of salacious Nicola to Lady Iolanthe Greywood.

Arturo is well-liked by those who know his games, feared by most, and generally talked about in the social circles; not only because of his children, but because of his private lifestyle and refusal to take sides on the succession issue.

Lord Nicola Acciaio
Born: 3465

Nicola has changed a bit from the attention-seeking clumsy fop he was at the turn of the century; after marrying Iolanthe, he has gained a bit of maturity and even a little savvy. He has gained some measure of House responsibility, Arturo finally including him in the decision making for Acciaio, and is a competent, though erratic lawyer, but still prides himself on his skill in the, ah, amorous arts; he just restricts these attentions to Iolanthe. .

Lady Iolanthe Acciaio
Born: 3473

Lady Iolanthe Acciaio, born to Tremontaine, has long enjoyed a reputation as one of the reigning beauties of Aquila's nobility - and one of the most notorious. At the age of seventeen, concerned that her wide and varied flirtations might lead to a scandal, her father, Bertrand Tremontaine, gave her in marriage to the much older Edgar, Lord Greywood. Lord Greywood doted on his bride - but she made no secret of the fact that he did not please her; although her actions were generally irreproachable, she continued to refine her artful flirtations and her dress and manner generated some talk. There was more talk when Lord Greywood took ill and died five years after the marriage, allegedly from eating a plate of eels that were not quite fresh enough. Scurrilous - and baseless - rumors maintained that Lady Greywood had done away with her unwanted husband, but Ethan, Greywood's son by his first wife, embraced his stepmother upon his ascension, and made it known that he did not believe the rumors.

At some point during this period an etching emerged, popularly accepted as being a near-nude study of Lady Greywood. Nothing is known about the identity of the artist or how he came to have such intimate access. The etching, neither acknowledged nor denied by Lady Greywood, increased her fame. She redecorated Greywood Manor into a showplace, organized many fashionable hunts, and enjoyed a few discreet affairs during her widowhood, including one with Lord Nicola Acciaio, heir to the Major House that controlled Aquila's legal affairs. When, under orders from his father to settle down with a suitable wife, Nicola came courting, he found Iolanthe - who had also received an offer from Roderigo, Lord Oswestry - deeply preoccupied with dashing off-worlder Lord Talaren Bahlmis. That flirtation, however, went nowhere, and Iolanthe married Nicola in 3502. She found that she enjoyed being married to the heir to a Major House, and although Arturo, Lord Acciaio, lived far longer than she had imagined he would, she found herself becoming deeply fond of her father-in-law, learning a great deal from him and putting her natural shrewdness into the service of discreetly 'assisting' her husband in his house duties. A major irritation in Iolanthe's life disappeared when her sister-in-law, Lady Ofelia, chose to live off-world. Providing an heir for Acciaio became her mission - after a miscarriage in 3503, she gave birth in 3505 to a son, Dante, who died of influenza two years later, while Iolanthe was pregnant with what turned out to be a healthy daughter, Gianina. Another daughter, Donata, followed in 3511 and, finally, the much-desired son, Tancredo, in 3513. Iolanthe completely dotes on her handsome, adventurous son, and is tolerant of the trouble his headstrong energy causes from time to time.

In spite of her past preference for Talaren Bahlmis, Iolanthe came to appreciate her husband, although she can be impatient with Nicola when she feels he is being foolish. Still, they present the image of the perfect family in public, in accordance with Arturo's desires. Behind the doors of their luxurious suite in Palazzo Acciaio, however, they sometimes have fierce rows - but equally passionate reconciliations.

Lady Gianina Acciaio
Born: 3507

The eldest child of Nicola and Iolanthe, Gianina came into the world shortly after her older brother Dante died of a mysterious illness. Somewhat sheltered, with what her mother termed a 'dreamy' disposition, she grew to be a solitary child, much quieter than her younger brother and sister. As a girl she used to enjoy sitting in the massive library at Palazzo Acciaio, and would curl up reading the storybooks her parents bought her. She also spent time with the house animals, though she was never as good a rider as her mother. At fourteen, Gianina was sent to the Convent School, where she did well academically, and received excellent notice for her manners and the way she executed her religious obligations. She was selected to take a special course of studies that has extended her stay at the school by an extra year, and is just now coming home to attend what looks to be her grandfather's deathbed.

Lady Donata Acciaio
Born: 3511

Donata is Nicola and Iolanthe's middle child and younger daughter,  a bubbly, goodnatured girl who loves to roam around the grounds of the Palazzo. She plays at sports and games with her younger brother Tancredo and his friends, and seems to have a never-ending supply of smiles for the people she loves. In addition to her energy and athletic prowess she enjoys sketching and painting.

Lord Tancredo Acciaio
Born: 3513

Tancredo is the youngest child and only surviving son of Nicola and Iolanthe. A match for his sister Donata in energy, he is headstrong and mischievous. His strength and athleticism are a great reassurance to his parents, who feared losing him as they did his older brother Dante.  Although very bright, he has trouble focusing on his lessons, but his doting mother is certain that maturity will bring the necessary concentration - and future greatness.

Lady Ofelia Acciaio
Born: 3479

Ofelia has distanced herself from the family since Nicola's marriage; there is an antipathy between her and Iolanthe, and the only other reason she would stay, Nicola's ineptitude, seemed to disappear; thus, she followed her dream to travel off-world. The brightest of the Acciaio children, she has made a name for herself both on- and off- planet.

Rugero Acciaio
Born: 3481

Rugero remains the quiet type, and still has a hand in the defense of the House, but mostly involves himself in the minor business of Acciaio and relations with the minor Houses. He was reinstated to Acciaio long ago, yet he still is talked about in social circles as "that soldier in Acciaio."

Nellinora (Nellie) Acciaio

Nelinora 'Nellie' Acciaio is the wife of Rugero Acciaio and the mother of four children by him.  She was born into House Rostay, the only daughter of the current Lord Rostay.  Her appearance is rather plain, especially when compared to her beautiful sister-in-law Iolanthe.  Yet she doesn't seem particularly troubled by this.  As a former lady-in-waiting to Duchess Lilly, Nellie is a frequent visitor at House Tremontaine when her duties permit.  She and her husband Rugero are known to go for rides in the coutryside when their duties permit.

Rosalia Acciaio
Born: 3515

The ten year old daughter of Rugero and Nelinora is sweet and intelligent for her age.  She has her mother's brown hair and eyes, with a bit more of her Aunt Ofelia's beauty.  Rosalia is wonderfully candid with people she trusts, and equally quiet and observant with people she doesn't.

Angelo Acciaio
Born: 3518

The seven year old son of Rugero and Nellie is a quiet, serious youngster. Even at his tender age Angelo seems have the Rostay predilection for intense loyalty to people. Especially to his family, including his cousins.