Role: Bank Director, Banco di Sicilia, Palermo
Arc / Description:
Cornelio Pappalardo is the serious-faced, formal manager of Banco di Sicilia in Palermo. He oversees the finances of Fondo Paradiso and is the gatekeeper for all loans and deals tied to the estate. Pappalardo is strict, pessimistic, and becomes quickly irritated when challenged or when his integrity is questioned. He repeatedly refuses Morello and Antonio’s requests for credit, arguing the estate’s production is unreliable and that fraud and theft are common in their accounts. He is blunt about the estate’s finances, pushes for a sale, and makes clear he will call in all loans.
Pappalardo becomes the target of intimidation and blackmailing. Antonio, with Tuzzollino, forcibly extorts money from Pappalardo by threatening his son. Shaken and terrified for his child, Pappalardo complies—handing over cash and covering up the transaction as a loan. From this moment on, he is entirely under Antonio’s control.
The arc culminates in a devastating scene: cornered by both Antonio’s threats and the authorities’ suspicion over missing money, Pappalardo gives Antonio one final cash delivery—then, after extracting a promise that Antonio will protect his son, he calmly shoots himself in the head, right in front of Antonio. His death is immediate and public, witnessed by both police and a judge. The suicide ends his suffering, spares his son from further blackmail, and closes the loop on a man crushed between Mafia violence and official corruption. Antonio, stunned and guilt-stricken, is forced to reflect on the moral cost of his campaign.
Outlook:
Pappalardo has a smooth, almost boyish face. His neatly cut hair is brownish; his eyes are nondescript gray. He always wears a gray suit with a plain, light shirt and a modest tie, blending into his office’s dull décor. His demeanor is tense and formal; under stress, his face turns red. His appearance matches Morello’s mental image of a banker: unimpressive, nearly invisible among the paperwork.
AI Image Prompt:
“Middle-aged Sicilian bank director, smooth boyish face, brownish neat hair, nondescript gray eyes, gray suit, plain light shirt, modest tie, formal and tense demeanor, often red-faced when under stress, surrounded by paperwork and a heavy office desk. Lighting neutral and drab, 1910s Palermo.”
Game Card Traits:
| Trait | Value |
|---|---|
| Influence | 5 |
| Cunning | 4 |
| Brutality | 1 |
| Loyalty | 3 |
| Charisma | 2 |
| Combat Skill | 1 |
| Stamina | 2 |
| Notoriety | 3 |
Secret Trait:
Weak Under Threat – If threatened with violence or family harm, will comply with any demand for one round. Cannot refuse intimidation from main players.
Type: BANKER
Faction: Banco di Sicilia / Atanasio (by force)
Age Range: 40s–50s
Relationships:
- Oversees all bank dealings with Fondo Paradiso
- Direct conflict and intimidation by Antonio
- Subordinate to city elites, powerless against Mafia threat
- Father (son threatened by Antonio)
Scene Appearances:
- Initial refusal to lend to Morello
- Multiple confrontations with Antonio about loans, estate, and fraud
- Intimidation/extortion scene (ear, threats to son)
- Forced “loan” cash handoff