House Fioranti

House Fioranti are a Knight Household bound to the forge world of Antire, and loyal servants of Absalom Vaughn and the Black Stars.

History
During the Great Crusade, the forces of the Imperium came in contact with many a worlds ruled over by powerful noble houses using the power of mighty engines of war to consolidate their power. Such worlds, named Knight Worlds, have proven indispensable to the imperial military, using their power to facilitate mankind's victories on countless worlds.

One such world was Toscania, located in the eastern fringes of Segmentum Ultima, ruled by House Fioranti. First contacted by forces of the Black Stars a decade after the discovery of Absalom Vaughn, the Knights of house Fioranti and the forces of the IIIrd Legion were forced into cooperation in a short but brutal campaign to protect the system from an incoming Ork WAAAAGH!!!!

In this conflict, the two forces came to the realisation that their preferred tactics meshed perfectly into a dance of death, the Fioranti Knights charging enemy positions, breaking their ranks and taking out dangerous, high priority targets, leaving surviving foes defenceless to the Legion's swift assault that delivers the finishing strike. This became evident during the final battle of the campaign, when the Knights launched a surprise offensive to the flanks of the Ork army, inflicting grievous losses and corralling them towards the ambush spot pre-ordained by the Black Stars, who then proceeded to decimate the greenskins and slay the Warboss.

Over the course of the campaign, deep respect was cultivated between the two allied factions and especially between Absalom and Contessa Anita Fioranti, then head of the House. It was not surprising then, that when Toscania officially joined the Imperium, House Fioranti pledged themselves to the service of the Black Stars, an alliance that has lasted for one and a half century and many believe will last to the end of days.

House Tactics
House Fioranti values a highly aggressive style of warfare. Instead of focusing on a balance between long and short range combat, they instead show a nearly complete disregard for engagements from afar, viewing them as cowardly and dishonourable. Instead, their expertise lies in close combat assaults, using the swiftness of the Cerastus chassis which they field in significant numbers. Other patterns, such as the Paladin, are piloted by the lower nobility. Additionally, the house employs a modified version of the Cerastus pattern, the Cerastus-Schiavona. Trading the common ranged weapons for another warblade, the Schiavona relies on the princeps' skill and its enhanced ion shielding systems to survive long enough and reach the enemy and wreak havoc

While their doctrine is undoubtedly effective, it is not without weaknesses. The House's lack of more heavily armed Knight patterns cripples its ability to offer heavy fire support to allies or even to their own knights, forcing them to rely on allied forces for covering fire.

Culture
The hierarchy of house Fioranti is strict, with the Capodomo, as their head of house is called, being the absolute leader. Their will is respected by all members without exception.

According to the succession laws, Knights are inherited by a combination of primogeniture and meritocracy. While generally the rights to the war machines would be awarded to the eldest heir, this must first be approved by the Capodomo and his council. If the council deems the rightful heir by seniority unfit, they have the right to choose a new successor.

The Capodomo is replaced either when the predecessor dies or voluntarily steps down, elected by a Conclave of the eldest house members. It is also possible for Capodomo to be forcibly removed if the House find his leadership lacking.

Notable Knights

 * Dive Fulmento - This Cerastus-Atrapos Knight is the most prized warmachine of house Fiorantis as well as the most temperamental, for its machine spirit is very selective of the princeps. Indeed, the engine will not allow itself to be piloted by anyone other than a princeps with ambition and brutality deep seated in their hearts, flaws that the machine spirit will endlessly try to exacerbate, causing the princeps to become progressively more unstable, arrogant, self-obsessed and brutal. For these reasons, the princeps of Dive Fulmento is never allowed to serve as Capodomo.

Notable Members

 * Anita Fioranti - Former Capodomo, deceased. Died fighting against Drukhari forces
 * Massimo Fioranti - Son of Anita Fioranti, current Capodomo
 * Ducessa Henrietta Fioranti - Current princeps of Dive Fulmento

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