Gianni Bartoli

An Italian magician who was also at some point, a leader of the Fiamma Nera cult.

Gianni's home was in Via Caravelli, Venice and his place of work was practically right next door to him at the Opera House. Gianni was very interested in Chinese relics and devious devices related to the Qin Dynasty and, as leader of the Fiamma Nera, became obsessed with the Dagger of Xian and its powers. Around the interior of his mansion the devious traps from China were placed to protect particular areas from being accessed. One of Gianni’s relics from China may have influenced his performances as a magician for Gianni can be seen to be apparently levitating a sphere on one of the opera posters. When Gianni’s son Marco was young, Gianni told him that he possessed the Seraph, an artefact needed in his quest for the dagger. Gianni soon set off in his luxury ship, Maria Doria, for his next destination which was presumably Tibet in order to retrieve the Talion, another artefact required. But Gianni never reached his destination. The ship was bombed by Barkhang monks who want the dagger to remain undiscovered. Gianni and everyone aboard died in the sinking of the ship. Soon, Marco inherited as leader of the Fiamma Nera. He would be the last.

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 moustache 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 total 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.