de Ferrino

    The de Ferrino Family    

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ADOPT A de Ferrino

  • Aristide's siblings would be available to anyone interested, contact Alex!
  • Species: Hybrid (Italian Wolf, Dog)
  • Family Origin: Pisa, Italy
  • Surname: Italian, variation on Ferro and Ferrari, occupational surnames for those who work with metal.
  • Archetype (Group): Blacksmiths, Nobles, Artists
  • Archetypes (Individuals): Industrious, Proud, Arrogant, Artistic
  • Status: Active, Small
  • Statistics: 1 on-board, ~90 off-board (0 dead; 1 active)
    ** Most members reside off-board in Italy/France

Updated 07/2016.

  • 'Souls:
  • Worldwide: Monaco (Past, driven out ~2016), Rome, Nice, Genoa, Pisa (Past, driven out ~ 2004)
  • First on-board Member: Aristide de Ferrino, LN, ~2016
  • First on-board Birth: None yet
    • Parents: -
    • Children: -
  • Languages: Italian (Dominant), English (Very common secondary), French (Common, but not universal)
  • Icon: de Ferrino 'F'

On this page... (hide)

  1.   1.  Family Members
    1.   1.1  First Generation
  2.   2.  About
    1.   2.1  Culture
    2.   2.2  Defining Features
    3.   2.3  Influence and Influences
  3.   3.  History

The de Ferrino family is a wolfdog-dominant family mainly situated along the French and Italian coast, with outposts of territory stretching from Nice to Rome. They are a wealthy family that are historically very skilled blacksmiths, and typically hold a monopoly over their craft in their chosen locations by hoarding the knowledge and tools necessary for advanced work such as weaponry, armour, and fine jewellery.

The de Ferrino family doesn't have a strong presence in Nova Scotia, though Aristide de Ferrino, the youngest son of the recently deceased pack head, has made his way there while in self-imposed exile following the destruction of the Monaco compound, and his immediate family.

1.  Family Members

The parent that contributes the de Ferrino genes is bolded.
Strikethrough indicates that a character is dead.
Δ indicates that a character is up for adoption.

1.1  First Generation

  • Bartolomeo de Ferrino x -Juliette de Ferrino-
    • Sebastian de Ferrino (1st Litter)Δ
    • Aurelio de Ferrino (2nd Litter)Δ
    • Aristide de Ferrino (3rd Litter)
    • Evelina de Ferrino (3rd Litter)Δ

2.  About

2.1  Culture

The Branches

The de Ferrino family is loosely split up into four major branches. Each branch has a particular subset of metalworking that it specialises in, though they all have their generalists. There is no hierarchy to the branches beyond that of there being one head family and multiple branch families, though the current head family has been decimated, so a power struggle may be in the future.

  • Monaco Branch (Head Family)
    • No living leader
    • Specialty: Swords
    • ~7 surviving members (Previously ~30)
    • Was based in Ezé, a mountaintop village just outside the city, and also held a workshop inside the city itself. Both these locations were destroyed in 2016.
  • Rome Branch
    • Lead by Mario de Ferrino
    • ~20 members
    • Specialty: Armour
    • Spread across several workshops inside the city.
  • Genoa Branch
    • Lead by Mateo de Ferrino
    • ~10 members
    • Specialty: Jewellery
    • Occupies Alberis Castle
    • Several members of this branch were killed in 2016 when the fighting between the main branch and the Visconti spilled over their way.
  • Nice Branch
    • Lead by Isabella de Ferrino
    • ~15 members
    • Specialty: Large-scale ironwork projects.
    • Occupies a waterfront compound in the city's harbour.
    • Is particularly known locally for an iron statue that stands outside their compound.
    • Several members are also skilled at woodworking, working with the smiths to create sturdy ships.
  • No Branch
    • Smaller groups of de Ferrino are scattered in various locations between the major hubs, living either as individual families or small clusters. Approximately 25 members live this way.
    • Approximately 10 members live away from France/Italy or are wanderers (Not counting the scattered Monaco remnants)

Blacksmithing

A family tradition of blacksmithing is an integral part of the de Ferrino's history, and the source of much of their wealth. Children are taught basic metalworking skills from a young age, and most of them will go on to practice the craft professionally as adults. While often not the only smiths in a given area, de Ferrinos are known for producing high-quality and specialised works. All de Ferrino crafts are marked with the de Ferrino 'F', often in a prominent place.

The de Ferrino tend to guard their trade secrets jealously, hoarding advanced techniques and tools from any competitors. Outsiders are rarely allowed access to this information, though it isn't unheard of for Luperci from outside the packs to be taken on as students. While the de Ferrino never overtly attack other smiths or prevent them from practicing, those who directly compete with them tend to lead lives filled with a rather large amount of 'misfortunes', and often move on to greener pastures before long.

All de Ferrinos are expected to practice some form of crafting or artistic trade, even those who don't take up blacksmithing. Their development as a craftsman is tightly woven into the culture of the pack. The progression from Apprentice to Journeyman in their chosen field is considered a right of passage. When a de Ferrino is considered a master of their craft they may create a symbol for themselves, modifying or adding to the Ferrino 'F'. This new symbol will feature on all their works from this point forwards, a personal identifier rather than the familial one used by the majority.

Nobility

The de Ferrino consider themselves nobles, styling themselves off a romanticised vision of renaissance-era noble families. As such, many of the de Ferrinos consider themselves above 'common' Luperci, and there is a heavy culture of familial pride and representation. The de Ferrino go to lengths to put on shows of power and wealth, and tend to be very politically active in the communities they are part of.

Religion

There is no particular family religion. Some de Ferrino based in Rome worship the local Pantheon, and Christianity has a base in the Nice branch, though neither of these are enforced as a matter of family policy. Many de Ferrino's are Atheist or Agnostic.

Miscellaneous

  • Almost all de Ferrino will commonly wear some form of jewellery with the family symbol - or their own master variation - as everyday wear. Necklaces, rings, and ear piercings are common.

2.2  Defining Features

Physical Features

  • Breed - ALL de Ferrinos by birth have some wolf blood. Wolfdogs are currently the vast majority, with a strong Golden Retriever bloodline present amongst those living in the north.
    • Hybridisation with Coyote and Jackals isn't unheard of.
    • Some pure wolves still exist, but they are uncommon.
  • Eyes - Blue and grey are common
    • Eyes of various red, brown, and amber shades are a signature trait amongst the head branch. Those without typically have some shade of blue.
  • Fur - Lighter fur colours are the norm, particularly shades or combinations of white and yellow.
    • Darker markings and, even less commonly, entirely dark fur, is rare but not unheard of. This is most common in the Rome branch.
    • Fur that is primarily wolfish, but has some elements of feathering, is common amongst those with Golden Retriever blood.
  • Stature - Tends to be sturdy and compact.
    • Typical height is in the 6ft - 6ft 6in range, though variations obviously exist.
    • Many de Ferrinos have bulky upper bodies due to their profession.

2.3  Influence and Influences

Families

  • Visconti: Italian family based in Pisa. These families are long-time rivals, with the Visconti currently being on top.
    • Surviving head branch de Ferrino members would have a blood feud against the Visconti due to the sacking of Monaco.

3.  History

The de Ferrino are an old Luperci family, born from a group of wolves that occupied the Italian city of Pisa early on after humanity's fall. While order and civilisation were establishing themselves once more, the de Ferrino horded knowledge that they deemed would be practical to survival; tools and techniques for crafting. Over the years they refined these skills and gathered more information, gaining a reputation as skilled blacksmiths. The de Ferrinos grew wealthy from their reputation and the trade that it brought to them, and soon spread across the Italian west coast and into the French Riviera. Three major branches of the family established themselves in the cities of Rome, Nice, and Genoa, providing their skills to the fledgling communities there, while the original family in Pisa acted as the family heads.

For a time, the family prospered. However, the head branch fell into conflict with the Visconti family, a merchant family also located in Pisa that resented the stranglehold that the de Ferrino held over smiths in the city. After several years of political rivalry, petty brawls and honour-fed duels, the situation eventually erupted into armed conflict. With the de Ferrino spread across the coast, they were unable to fight back against a foe of that size and were forced out of the city.

Attempting to save face, the head family relocated to the village of Ezé, near Monaco, and tried to play their departure off as a voluntary move. Things carried on much as they had for a long while, until eventually the conflict was rekindled when a drunken duel broke out between Aristide de Ferrino - youngest son of the de Ferrino head family - and Horatio Visconti - cousin to the Visconti family head - and Horatio was killed. The resulting fight left several dead on both sides, and reignited the conflict between the de Ferrino and Visconti. This time the conflict escalated much farther and the Visconti eventually hired a band of mercenaries, who attacked Ezé.

The village was burned to the ground, and the inhabitants put to the sword. Of the head family, the only survivors were those away from Ezé at the time - and many of these were hunted down in the coming weeks - and the children of the family head, who escaped through a hidden tunnel. Harried by the mercenaries, the de Ferrino head family scattered to the winds. Denied help by the branch families - who closed their doors under threat of the Visconti - the remnants of the head family scattered to the winds.

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