Gianni Bartoli

Gianni Bartoli is a former leader of the Fiamma Nera cult/organisation and the father of Marco Bartoli.

Leader of the Fiamma Nera
Gianni Bartoli lived at a mansion in Via Caravelli in a desolate part of Venice under the control of the Fiamma Nera. It is likely that he paid a visit to China at some point as he collected various Qin Dynasty relics and the Emperor's 'toys' - devious traps which were installed throughout the mansion should intruders set foot within the building. Gianni was also a magician at the Opera House adjacent to the mansion. It is possible that his success as a magician may have been influenced by a relic he collected, although this is unclear.

Death
"When my father left when I was a boy, he confided to me that he was enlightened... beckoned by something greater than impulse."

- Marco Bartoli

At an unknown location, Gianni discovered the Seraph, a key required to open some catacombs beneath the Barkhang Monastery in Tibet which had previously been stolen from the monastery. Gianni confided to his son, Marco, that he possessed the Seraph and felt enlightened by this development. Soon, Gianni left in his luxury ship, the Maria Doria, and presumably set off for Tibet. However, the ship was bombed by Tibetan monks who did not want anyone to possess the Dagger of Xian at the Emperor's palace in China, an artefact which the Fiamma Nera sought for centuries. Gianni died and the Seraph was lost. Leadership over the Fiamma Nera was passed down to Marco. Not knowing the exact loaction of the sunken vessel, the Fiamma Nera would spend years searching before they discovered Gianni's watery grave and continued the quest.

Tomb Raider II: Starring Lara Croft

 * Opera House (poster)

Trivia

 * The Opera House poster with Gianni on it is in fact an edited Harry Houdini poster. The word 'Bartoli' has been added and a mustache and beard have been added to the face.
 * A Gamesmaster Magazine article stated that one of the elements the story evolved around was a dead magician called Callistro. This is either a mistake or is in fact an earlier version of Gianni's name. So, he may have once been known as Callistro Bartoli before he became Gianni Bartoli.

Appearances

 * Tomb Raider II: Starring Lara Croft (First appearance)