Valentino Clementi

In 1494 Charles VII of France led an army onto Italian soil to claim the throne of Naples by right of being a member of the house of Anjou. After some weeks of enjoying the hospitality of Naples, in particular its young women, the tired and hungry French army returned home pausing only to engage a mercenary army paid for by Italian coin. An army which despite both outnumbering the French and holding the far bank of the River Taro still managed to lose.

Around nine months later a boy child was discovered on the steps of the church of Santa Maria della Visitazione in Rome. This was not an unusual circumstance as the church was well known as a foundling home for orphaned children, in fact it had become so popular that a warning plaque had been set outside threatening eternal damnation to living parents who tried to pass off their children as orphans.

Whether the boy was truly an orphan or just the bastard whelp of either French invader or not-very-good mercenary was not known. No note had been left with the child and the rags he was wrapped within gave no clues as to his origins (though they strongly hinted that he was not noble born). The priests named him Valentino meaning Strong for the wetnurse complained bitterly about strength of his suckling, and Clementi from the Latin for Merciful to forever remind him that he owed his life to the Mercy of God and of others.

A life in a foundling home is hardly an earthly paradise but a child of such lowly origins could do far worse. Strict and often painful as their methods of care were the Fathers took it upon themselves to raise the children in a right and proper manner to serve God in word and deed. So that some of the children might repay God for His kindness and Mercy the Priests tried to guide the children towards service to the Church in whatever fashion their talents suited (even if it were merely as a servant or Catamite to a member of the Clergy).

Perhaps thankfully for him, in Valentino they discovered a quick wit (which some said was as much curse as blessing), a fine grasp for languages (which some said pointed towards mixed parentage) and an outstanding talent in learning his letters (which some said was a complete waste of time for one so lowly born unless he found occupation as a merchants clerk or, perhaps, a Priest).

Therefore over the years the Fathers of Santa Maria della Visitazione instructed Valentino in Latin and Greek as well as a smattering of French, English and other trade languages of note. He read again and again the words of the Bible, one of the few books the children were allowed, and learned many of its chapters by heart. The ageing Fathers taught him the ways of the church, the ways of politics and, as well as they understood them, the ways of man. He learned to debate and to preach and to proselytise, though his tutors all agreed that he lacked eloquence but more than made up for in with wit and passion.

Now after nineteen years of watching the other children being found employment and leaving the home it has been decided that no more can be done with Valentino and the time has come for him to go. Sadly the home can offer him no more assistance, and certainly no funding, but the fathers are confident that with all their teachings and his fierce intelligence Valentino will naturally find a place somewhere within the church.

So with no family, no friends and no funds but with enough naivety to confuse the five thousand Valentino Clementi emerges onto the streets of Rome. A city he has lived in all his life but has never visited.

[Valentino Clementi, Social Level 1 bastard and unwanted son of a peasant enters Rome, well not enters, rather emerges into. Rumours that Charles VII himself sired him are of course completely unfounded, regardless of that birthmark.]

The Fathers of the Santa Maria della Visitazione orphanage watched Valentino Clementi as he spoke to the small group of children assembled in the aisle before him. The week before he had come to them and expressed the need for a servant or two, now that his duties were taking up much of is time, and these were the children the Fathers judged as suitable to fill such a role. Well, apart that is from young Gonzo the troublemaker who they had included in the hope that Clementi might be unobservant enough to take him off of their hands.

It had in truth taken them some time to recognise the man who came to them, as young Clementi had changed greatly since he had left their care. He wore new robes which would have cost more than every item of clothing he had worn in the last seventeen years and his skin had been darkened to an olive hue by a summer spent in sunny climes rather than their shadowy halls. And then of course the fact that whilst not obese, portly was still enough of a word to cover it, he certainly had more skin then he ever used to before.

“It seems that Gluttony is winning out over Abstinence,” said Father Ghirigoro, which brought chuckles from the others and caused Clementi to glance around briefly before turning his attention back to the children.

“He claims that banquets are an important part of foreign negotiations on behalf of the Church. In vino veratis after all.”

“Has he really left Rome three times?”

“Oh yes, he has seen Hungary, Spain and France. And in so doing he has made a valuable contribution and been praised by his superiors on a number of occasions so I hear.”

“Then at least we can assume that Diligence is keeping Sloth at bay.”

“But surely this may lead him to Pride? A Deacon already, in such a short space of time.” queried Father Nuzzio.

“I think we can rest assured that in this area, during his time with us, we performed the task set to us by God to the best of our abilities and that he still maintains a very low self-esteem. For now at least, humility is assured. Furthermore he never struck me as a man where Chastity would be an overly burdensome concern.” Chuckles again, though much quieter.

“And in donating to the orphanage and taking other unfortunate souls off of our hands he shows Liberality and rejects Avarice.”

“Though he now has, I couldn’t help but notice as he mentioned it in passing, in excess of one thousand Ducats to his name.”

“ONE THOUSAND!”

At the loud exclamation Clementi’s attention was drawn to them again, as was that of the assembled children.

“ONE THOUSAND ANGELS ON THE HEAD OF A PIN, I AM SURE OF IT, THOUGH IT IS CERTAINLY AN INTERESTING DEBATE…” covered Father Sodo before gesticulating at a random carving on the rood and leading the Fathers in that direction, away from their potential audience.

“Greed is a terrible thing indeed, as is Envy” intoned Father Ghirigoro and those assembled marshalled their own thoughts whilst nodding and mumbling in general agreement.

“Ah, he appears to have chosen, and it looks like he has chosen Duti and Gonzo.”

“Gonzo? Really? Then it looks as if the battle between Patience and Wrath is just beginning Fathers.”

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