Aliprandi Clan

Count Anastasio

Count Anastasio is the patriarch of the Aliprandi clan. He has a younger brother, Cornelius Aliprandi, who predeceased him.

A strict old noble, he expects the world to confirm to his views and is very conscious of his political power. After the St. Ivorys, he is perhaps the most influential man in LuxuryCorp's board of directors and not afraid to use his voice, while at the same time being highly intolerant of oppositions in any form. Although he often claims that his interest is chiefly for the good of his family, and while he will undoubtedly back the Clan with all te strength of his authority, he is also very selfish and manipulative; for example, setting up his youngest granddaughters against each other and holding Silvana to impossibly high standards to "deserve" his approval, which she'll never really earn anyway because of the bad blood between her mother and Count Anastasio's wife. Similarly, he is highly critical of his grown up children; for example, berating Achille for his slot machine addiction, blaming Charles of having married a woman not of the Clan's liking, or reminding Astoria that her husband had "commoner" ancestors and that she essentially ran off to marry a fortune hunter.

When his youngest granddaughter Cristina was brought up with charges of treachery, Count Anastasio took the offense personally but was able to conceal it better, laying the blame entirely on the Di Ventimiglia family and in particular on Demetrio, Cristina's father who was notoriously a skinflint. Anastasio insinuated that the only person to blame for Cristina's surreptitious ways was Demetrio himself and totally supported his daughter Astoria when she asked for divorce.

Years later, Cristina unexpectedly turned up in the midst of a grandiose celebration, pregnant and with her firstborn little girl in her arms. Having come to realize the dangers that pirate life would entail for her children, she asked her grandfather's forgiveness for running off and voluntereed to take back her place in the Clan, if so he would allow. Although Count Anastasio had no intent to forgive her foolish shehanigans, and could not find any trace of affection for his wayward granddaughter in his heart, he was far more interested in her children who would perpetuate the Aliprandi bloodline and inherit his fortune. So rather than have them raised among commoners and street rats, he made a grandiose display of "sympathy" for the blood of his blood and took them back in. He did, however, instate Cristina's husband as heir heritage, meaning the title would be passed on to him (even if he was not an Aliprandi) and eventually to the children, but sidestepping Cristina entirely (not that she minded).

After the couple retired for some off-stage time away from the public eye, Count Anastasio grew increasingly suspicious. He finally sent out his son Achille to track down Cristina, who turned out to have been hiding on the Harmonya (a starship dedicated to the patronage of arts) under a false name. But the Count also discovered something else, apparently Cristina's husband had intended to divorce her before he went missing, and all of things seemed to suggest he had returned to his criminal life and met his end. Cristina was brought back to the Clan and Count Anastasio immediately started pressuring her to remarry, since she herself had no authority over the Clan's inheritance if not as her children's guardians. Meanwhile he is having her surveilled for any tell-tale sign of depression over her lover's death or rebellion against the Clan's micromanaging and controlling nature; all instances that might allow him to deem her mentally unfit for takin care of the kids, thus locking her up and seizing the custody of his precious heirs. Unfortunately for him, his granddaughter seems to be aptly reading through his plan and is always countering his attempts to catch her off guard with a mix of cleverness and wits.

Countess Isabella

Isabella is the descendent of a noble Italian family and very set in her way. She has an older sister, Victoria, who married a museum director and became the mother of a famous explorer and researcher.

Her wedding to Count Anastasio was one of interest, a betrothal decided between their respective families. However, even as an arranged marriage it clicked well from the beginning; Count and Countess are one of a mind and a formidable force to be reckoned with in social circles and politics alike. Together they had four children and six grandchildren, and with the birth of Cristina's kids they are now entering great-grandparenthood proudly.

She has the fierce protectiveness of an Italian mother and will fight like a tigress to protect them. Isabella is the epitome of the high-nosed noble snob; her consideration of people relies entirely on their wealth and standing. For example she would often insist that her two granddaughters were taken to school on her limo and would throw her weight and title around with teachers to humble them (much to Cristina's embarassment).

Even if she is deeply protective, Isabella is the kind of person who embodies tough love and will harshly criticize and complain when something does not match her views. She believes in class differences, and will be downright patronizing with anyone she perceives as "inferior" (unless it's a specific choice to "elevate" someone into nobility, like she attempted to do with her granddaughter Cristina's husband). Isabella thinks that her word is a law unto itself and won't tolerate being crossed or disrespected in any way; in these instances she can get downright nasty and oppressive.

Cornelius dei Conti Aliprandi Della Scala was Anastasio's brother, the cadet son of the late Count and Countess Aliprandi before Anastasio inherited the title. He was renowned as being a patron of the arts, residing permanently on the starship Harmonya. An icon of style, his heritage lives on in his niece Laudomia Aliprandi.

He was a mecenate and art collector, as well as chairman in a series of charitable organizations (the funds of which he secretly embezzled).

He married a wealthy woman named Irene McAndrews and had a son named Alcide who would become Bishop and head of the Aloyisian cult.

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Victoria Di Rocca Martinez is the sister of Isabella. The two women were not very close and in their youths would often vie for the attention of eligible bachelors. Ultimately, Isabella ruled the gambit when she married Count Anastasio and Victoria had to content herself being second best.

She married an influential politician and their son is a researcher and space explorer.

Nowadays the relationship between the two sisters is "polite but distant", they don't visit each other often but when they do, their interactions are courteous and the sibling rivalry of their young age has thawed into a mutual respect, even if they will never be the closest of friends.