Hi. Italian forumer here. I have an idea for a D&D italian based adventure set in real history.
The year is 450 CE, technically just before the proper middle ages, the western roman empire is still going but crumbling under the assaults of barbarian tribes from the eastern europe.
The story revolves around Attila scourge of God and Pope Leone the Great.
Attila, king of the Huns, after destroying towns in northern Italy, is proceeding towards Rome, the eternal city of the emperors and the early popes. As a matter of historic fact, the actual emperor Valentiniano the Third has already fled, leaving Pope Leone the First as sole authority in Rome. The history goes that the Hun barbarians army is tired of conquers, sick from maladies, and Pope Leone I manages to persuade Attila to not raid Rome and return in his land (Hun-gary).
Here's the twist:
In Italy we had a pre roman civilisation, the Etruscan, which left many Necropolis (city of the dead, dungeon-like huge cemeteries all over northern and central Italy). The principal God of Hell and Afterlife, was Mantus, hence the name of the city of Mantua (Mantova) after him.
So, Pope Leone the (not yet) Great, sends the Pcs to the big Necropolis of Cerveteri (30 miles north of Rome, on the coast) to find the McGuffin of Mantus, hidden in the depth of the city of the dead, long gone, and now full of undead creatures, monsters, whatever, then bring it to Rome and defeat the army of Attila, which, IRL was very superstitious, but had an entourage of sages from Greece and Europe to advise and teach him. Now that I think about it, maybe Attila himself wants the Etruscan God artifact, and only the Pope knows where it lies buried. I suggest to use the Real map of Cerveteri Necropolis, in the adventure.
Sinopsis:
The Pc leave the city opening their way thru barbarians soldiers and shamans.
Pc arrive in the coastal town of Cerveteri (or Tarquinia): prepare for the dungeon exploration. Maybe followed by Attila's scouts and hunters.
Pc enter The Necropolis Dungeon. IRL there is an open part of it with huge steeple like tombs.. then the so called street of the dead leading to the underground section. See the actual map.
Maybe cultists or drow-like people in the underground part.
Pc retrieve what they are looking for and use it to try to scatter the sieging barbarian army.
Google: Attila king of Huns + Rome; Necropoli Cerveteri; Pope Leone the Great; Mantus etruscan god; etruscan italy.
https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1158
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_Leo_I
Enjoy Italy