I, Borgia

Cesare has told you that he received a letter back from father, and he wants you and the rest of your siblings to meet him in Rome. However it must wait as he is busy with both templar and papal duties, and tells you to arrive in December. Since you still have many unfinished projects that Cesare hasn't completed you decide to get to work as Cesares "advisor".

---

[Development: Stewardship, 46+15=61]

The district that the exiles claimed as their own still hasn't been repaired professionally. Sure they've tried to do their own repairs and it seems that Argov, the romani steward you had hired before Firenze, had tried to funnel money into projects to repair these districts himself, but Cesare had him focused on other projects. So you take it upon yourself to finally fix the eyesore of the city.

You manage to scavenge an old map of the city from around a century ago. Thankfully the layout of this district at least hasn't changed much, just the quality of the buildings. With it and the efforts of the workers you hired for the job you are able to get started quickly and without trouble.

At least that's what you would like to say. It likely would be an incredibly easy project, were there no people living in the soon to be torn down dwellings. Since most of these people don't want to give up where they've lived the past half a decade, and you don't want to chase out an entire districts worth of people, you're forced to negotiate with nearly every last one of them.

Most want to be guaranteed that once the building is finished it is given back to them. Others have made businesses out of these buildings, and demand compensation to either make up for what they'd lose in profits or to buy new buildings or stalls outside the exile district. One doesn't wish his building to be touched at all, having come to appreciate its rusticness or so he claims, though this proves a lie as his neighbor tells you he just doesn't want his opium stash to be found.

Eventually you are able to convince the majority of them to agree to the renovations, and the workers are able to get started, however it proves that with how much time had to be spent on the negotiations that they aren't able to finish by the time you head to Rome. For now you shelve the project, at least having made some progress.

61/100 progress on renovation and negotiations

---

[Development: Stewardship, 15+15=30]

The effort to expand the forestry options is stopped before you can even start. It seems that most of the citizens who would make good foresters were instead making good soldiers, many joining the army of Ravenna. While it at least isn't a complete negative it does mean there wont be anymore lumberjacks for now.

---

You decide that, before meeting in person, you should send letters of your own to your family members. The letters are largely the same, telling them how you were alive first, giving some small detail only you would know to prove it was truly you such as how Juan has borrowed the guards swords when he was ten so he could play soldier for real, how Lucrezia had ordered you to buy her dolls, dresses and makeup, and how Gioffre had wanted to become a painter last you saw of him.

Lastly you wrote how you had no idea what exactly happened during the two years you were gone and that you hoped to see them when you all went to Rome, sealed it with your seal, and gave the letters to messengers. Hopefully once you've met them in person they wont demand you perform some test to prove its you as Cesare had.

---

Snow falls in Ravenna as you and Cesare get into a carriage, ready as you will be to head for Rome. Unforunately according to Cesare the only barber in Ravenna is better at slitting throats than cutting hair so you tie your two year odyssey hair into a loose ponytail and hope no one judges you for the scruff on your face. A small force from Ravennas army, including your former, and now once again, bodyguard Georgios Kostas, luckily for him he had stayed in Ravenna to help train the army.

The journey is cold and unpleasant even with the walls of the carriage, but eventually you make your way to Rome, and it doesn't look great. You had thought the exile district in Ravenna had been bad, but in Rome that seems to be the standard, with many places far worse. Old stores you had visited when you were younger are boarded up, landmarks of the city have been abandoned to the weather, and the people look at you and Cesare in fear, you moreso.

What papal forces you see do little to help, you see them get into altercations with citizens constantly on the way to papal territory. You ask Your brother what happened here and his response doesn't make things better. "The people would defy us and our father if they didn't have reason to turn to us for help, so we gave them a few. So now, as long as they obey the Borgia, they get food, water, shelter, and protection. If they don't then, well, you can see what happens if they don't." as the carriage passes more guards accosting citizens.

"And as for the fear, You were thought dead, some probably still think you are and now you're some specter or demon or other superstitious nonsense. I'd honestly take advantage of that reputation, nobody would dare defy the demon of Firenze, eh?" "I'm fairly certain they'd try to burn me at the stake for it actually."

At that cheery note Cesare goes silent, and you both wait for this cold carriage ride to end. Eventually you finally arrive at the doors of the Vatican palace, Swiss guards patrolling in force even in this cold. The two of you are escorted inside by the guards, less forcefully this time then when you met Cesare, and are led into an inner chamber where the rest of your family lies.

It's been a long time since you've seen many of them personally, even before your 'odyssey'. Your father Rodrigo is showing his age, skin sags off of him and his hair is nearly pure white. Juan seems much different, not just in appearance and the lack of an eye, but how he holds himself differently. It seems he's turned from the young self proclaimed knight and paladin into a toughened commander. Lucrezia however hasn't changed much at all, still the spoiled princess as ever, though now she glares at you with a practiced glare. And as for Giof-

The thought is driven from your mind as he nearly tackles you with a hug. "I knew you couldn't be dead Val, I told them it was stupid to bury a coffin." Gioffre seems to have grown only more affectionate, it feels like hell break your spine. "Gioffre, please let go, I'm still not fully healthy and this is not helping." You force out before Gioffre lets go. When last you saw him he was barely a decade old, and now he's a man grown, and grown to be very affectionate. From what Cesare told you apparently he'd been serving as a papal diplomat in many courts, being moved around whenever he seemed to grow too friendly with the courts.

"Boys, lock the door behind you and sit, we have much to discuss." Your father says and you do so. "It shows the fortune of the Borgia that you still live Valentino. When faced with unimaginable power we still survive." He says before taking a sip of wine. "Now, I know that you said you didn't know where the apple could be in your letter, but are you certain there was no sign of it? No possible lead as to where it could be?"

So you need to start with the lying already, great. "No father, before and after I blacked out, there was no trace of it." and your father does not like that answer. "Mierda, my plans relied on that damned apple! We've had no leads on it or on any other." "And we are certain that 'dear' Valentino truly has no idea? Were supposed to believe that he lost consciousness for two years and somehow ended up in Arabia or Persia or whatever place he claims to have come from?" Lucrezia nearly hisses out, glaring at you.

"Lucrezia! Why would he lie about this, right after coming home? We know what pieces of eden can do, Firenze died, why wouldn't it be able to do what it did to Val?" Gioffre comes to your defense. "Quiet, both of you, I need to think and you're arguing won't help." Your father says, rubbing his temples. After a few tense minutes he looks up, first at Juan.

"Juan, relations with the French are still tense, and their new king has made no secret of his desire for Milan and Naples. Keep the papal forces practiced and prepared for their aggressions." Juan gives a short nod of his head in response. Next he looks to Lucrezia. "You are to use your husbands connections, use them to find any mention of items resembling pieces of eden." A small scoff is the only response she gives, but she doesn't refuse. Next he looks towards you.

"Valentino, you are to retake the governship of Romagna. You still need time to recover, but do what you can to find any pieces of eden and see if you can expand anymore into Tuscany." At this Cesare yells out, in surprise and anger "Father, I have governed Romagna successfully in Valentinos absence, why would you take it from me!?" "Because you haven't governed successfully. You haven't done anything but claim right to Firenze without working to rebuild it. Catarina Sforza still rules in Forli, Pisa refuses to accept your rule and grows close to the Holy Roman Empire, and you find yourself distracted too often by your projects, these agents of yours and counter assassins.

What you will do is use those crows or whatever you've called them to hunt down the assassins and any information they may have on the apple. You may serve your brother as advisor while pursuing these goals but you will not be governor." Your father says in a tone that shows he refuses to budge on this, and your brother, in his anger, throws open the door and leaves. Father lets out a long sigh while Juan closes and relocks the door before turning towards Gioffre. "You are to ask among the allies you've made, within and without the templars, for any signs of the apple, and you will leave no stone unturned, am I clear?" "Yes father." He says quietly, not wishing to be a target of his ire.

"Good, Cesare will come around eventually, for now go and rest. You know your duties, and I expect you to fulfill them." He says as he rises from his chair and leaves for his chambers. You are escorted to chambers of your own where you spend the night getting little sleep. You spend most of the remainder of your time there exploring Rome with your brothers and avoiding Lucrezia, all the while wondering what you shall do from here.

---

Will you recruit Cesare as an advisor?

[] Yes

[] No

You have 650 florins, an army, two platoons, and two squadrons

You have six actions, use them as you will

Please make your vote in plan format

You have the cursed bonus and may have an advisor aid you or do a task on their own (you no longer have Sophia and I still need to add Django to the advisor list)

Martial
[] The army you were building was finished under your brother, perhaps you should check on them, see if there's anything that can be done to improve them

[] The simplest way to gain expand is to take the land by force, send an army to try and conquer somewhere

-[] Where?

-[] What is your Casus Belli?

[] Perhaps you should look into mercenaries you could hire

[] While your brother has worked on the local gangs and criminal situation there is still work to be done, send a platoon to clear out the remains

[] Write in

Stewardship

[] Your brother hasn't made any trade deals while in power, maybe you could make some?
-[] Who?

[] The current iron mining operations are doing well, but perhaps they could expand?(50 fl)

[] Your brother found blacksmiths while you were away, perhaps they could forge you something?

-[] What?

[] The ruby mines could always be improved, try to do so(75 fl)

[] The ruined districts are halfway done, finish them(125 fl)

[] The woods are dense and large, perhaps you could expand the operations (50 fl)

[] The docks are in good repair at least, perhaps you should purchase some ships to help with trade and defense (100 fl)

[] Write in

Diplomacy

[] Your father thinks you should get married/find an alliance, maybe you should look for a bride?

[] Maybe you could look for an alliance, without marriage?

-[] Where?

[] Send a letter to that Shakulu fellow, any enemy of the ottomans is possibly an ally of yours

[] Perhaps you should go meet one of your neighbors directly?

-[] Which one?

[] Send a letter to a different Power, such as Venice, the Ottomans, etc

-[] Who?

[] Your brother has recruited many advisors and agents of his own while you were away, perhaps you should meet them?

[] Write in

Intrigue

[] Perhaps a few assassins of your own could be useful, try to hire Cahir and Caha

[] The Cento Occhi Still serve the Borgia thankfully, you could use them to get some intel that would be useful?

-[]Intel about what?

[] the city still has some gangs, maybe you could get them on your side?

-[] Where?

[] The assassins are still a problem, now more then ever, find information on the one you met, Ezio

[] write in

Learning

[] Seek treatment for whatever the presence is

[] There's a whole new world out there, send one of your squadrons out to map it for somewhere a colony could be made (takes one turn, and is much more likely to succeed with your map, you may choose a location on the eastern American coasts/Bahamas, 500 fl)

-[] Where?

[] Give your engineer resources and let them design what they please, perhaps making something of use (50fl)

[] Write in

Personal

[] The Apple has unimaginable knowledge, see what you can learn from it

[] Perhaps you can train in use of the Apple, so you could use it safely and perhaps learn more uses of it

[] The assassin said your father was going to use the apple to open some vault, perhaps you could open it instead?

[] Train in use of the Apple, perhaps it has more to it than knowledge and mind control?

[] Send a letter to a family member

-[] To who, and what about?

[] You should learn how to use that dagger Cesare gave you

-[] Or maybe something else?

[] Write in

[Purchase: Stewardship, 73+15+8+11-10(multiple advisors) =97]

Seeing as how the world keeps getting more and more dangerous for you, you decide it'd be in your best interest to get some armor. Something that can fit, and more importantly be hidden, under a shirt or doublet. Sadly its near impossible to hide a helmet or greaves. You consult both Ast, for his personnel experience, and Farnese, for her skill with metal. Ast says to get a cuirass or breastplate, though he'd prefer you get armor more similar to cesares and ignore trying to hide it. Farnese on the other hand suggests you she make a brigandine or jack, for both ease of putting it on and it being easier to hide.

Sadly Cesares best blacksmith left with him to wherever hes gone but Farnese insists she can do a fine job on her own without that "Swiss Fool" as she called him. The choice for what you want is up to you.

[] Jack of plate ( a vest or shirt made of iron plates sewn inbetween layers of such as felt or canvas)

[] Brigandine (similar to the jack but larger and made with stronger materials such as leather, steel, and silk)

[] Breastplate (A single strong piece of metal to protect your chest worn on a leather harness)

[] Cuirass (Similar to the breastplate but covers the back and waist as well, though hardest to hide)

---

[Development: Stewardship, 40+15+14+61=130]

While you send off Zelic to personally handle any complaints from the exiles you focus on the construction efforts. It still proves a slog to get everything done but eventually you are finished. The district now resembles the rest, if not proving superior due to their relative newness. Soon the district is redecorated according to romani and jewish tastes, giving the district a very different atmosphere to the rest of the city. The only issue now, and it is a minor one, is that they dislike being referred to as the exile district, and so want their part of the city to be referred to differently.

What do you call it?

[] Write in

---

[Espionage: Intrigue, 86+17=103]

Trying to get back into contact with the Cento Occhi is a little difficult, most of their methods of contact and local haunts having changed over the years. Thankfully Cesare left behind some of his notes, and in them you found the identity of their current leader, a young man named Lanz, no last name. Eventually you track him down to a small house on the outskirts of Rome with his wife. You ask for but a moment of his time to get him out of the house, and once outside request both an easier means of contacting the thieves and information on what your family has been up to.

It takes a week before you find multiple letters on your windowsill. Inside you find quite the trove of info, as well as the location for a dropoff point for any future requests. With issues of convenience settled you dig into the letters, starting with your father.

Apparently, outside of public eyes, he's been rather busy. He has been busy sending out people under his command, Templars though the Occhi wouldn't know that, into the world to seek out relics, pieces of eden. He's also been preparing for war with France, making alliances with everyone and anyone who would agree. To listen to rumors he's also held debauched banquets, where the elites of Italy and courtesans would commit acts of sin within the heart of the Vatican.

The source of these rumors is a Genoese cardinal named Giuliano della Rovere, a friend of the French and hated enemy of your father. Apparently he rode alongside king Charles during the war and tried to convince him to depose your father and raise him as pope, though these plans didn't work out. The occhi also tell you that now he says how your father consorted with Lucifer himself in order to bring you back from death, claiming that now you have two "fathers of sin".

Moving on to more truthful news you read the letter on your brother Juan. Apparently since the end of the war he's been your fathers right hand man. He's often acted in his place in many non papal duties, as well as training more and more in the arts of war rather than training his personal skill unlike before. He has also been encouraging your father to take a more hostile stance against the French as well as Venice, claiming that its only a matter of when, not if, the French declare war, and that the venetians are untrustworthy and will side with whoever fills their coffers the most, and would betray us just as they did the byzantines in the fourth crusade.

They also tell you that he's been working alongside a strange cult that has appeared in Rome recently, the followers of Romulus, also called the Secta Luporum. Apparently they worship the founder of Rome, Romulus, as a god, and want to bring Rome back to its pagan roots. They also tend to dress in the skins of wolves and emulate wolves in their actions. What your brother is doing with them you don't know, but so long as he isn't dressing in wolf skins and howling at the moon you'll assume he has a plan.

Moving onto Cesare apparently he's been very active. He has been on a recruiting spree, anyone with skill and talent he's recruited, from courtesan and thief to black smith and mercenary. Apparently that barber he had mentioned is also one of his, and in charge of all matters intrigue. Looking into them yourself afterwards he's also recruited many of them into the templars. He's creating quite the personal powerbase, and it doesn't stop at individuals.

It seems that he's trying to create a force of Assassins of his own, emulating their tactics and weapons. He's called them the crows, apparently to mimic the assassins association with birds. So far it only has one successful "Crow", though Cesare has been using them to successful ends, having them gather information and hunt down targets that Cesare deemed a threat. It seems that having lost his governship he's been putting more and more effort into his crows, sending them to hunt down the assassins.

Lucrezia is still governess of Spoleto, though most of the work she leaves to her advisors. Most of her time is spent consorting with the nobility. She makes friends and allies and then uses them to whatever means suit her, often getting distracted or angered by some slight and focusing on that until something new comes along. When not settling personal grudges she gathers whatever information she can from the nobility. Their current flights of fancy, whatever projects they fund, grudges and alliances that are supposed to be held in secret.

Outside of that is her marriage, sham that it is. No child has been had and they spend little time with each other. Both blatantly indulge in their lovers and spend as little time together as possible.

Lastly is Young Gioffre, though he's not quite so young anymore. He's been acting as diplomat to many of the nations of Europe, though often finds himself soon unwelcome due to his relations with their daughters. He claims that his intentions are innocent, and that he doesn't intend to court them, it just keeps ending up this way and he doesn't know why.

When he isn't bumbling his way into relations with the children of nobility he's acting as a representative of your father amongst foreign templars. You don't even need to ask the Occhi about this since with one letter he gladly tells you about his work for the templars. Byzantines, French, Spanish and English, he's met most of the European rites and it seems his less strict and severe demeanor is appreciated over your fathers.

All of your family has been busy over the years, it seems you have a bit of catching up to do.

---

[Investigation: Intrigue, 8+17=25]

Your investigation into the Assassin Ezio goes nowhere. Whatever records of him there might be were likely in Firenze. What you can find are a few reports on him from former templars from the Pazzi family. Apparently they and the auditore family were rivals of a sort with the youngest of the, a Vieri Pazzi, was rival to Ezio specifically in their youth. The auditore were a family of assassins though they lived as bankers. It seems ezio was correct about your father killing his family as well, working with a signore Uberto, who was once friend to the auditores, to accuse them of treason, the punishment was death by hanging. After that you can't find anything, and that's likely where the more important information is. You decide not to waste anymore time on this and focus on your other tasks.

---

[Treatment: Learning, 80+15+12=107]

You decide to quietly look into any way of silencing the presence for good, bringing in only Kostas to help you. Most of your searching gives you solutions, though none you like. Many doctors suggest trepanning, creating a hole in the skull so that any foul spirits may be released. Middle east Shamans would have you consume multiple herbs to strengthen you soul. Even further east has all kinds of techniques to heal all kinds of ailments, but you don't think any of those will help.

You do hear legends though, tales stolen from the assassins by the templars of a piece of eden said to heal all but death. They say it was buried alongside the body of Brutus, wherever it may be. His body is likely somewhere in Italy but its location has been lost to history and assassins machinations. Wherever it is its likely your best bet, be useful long into the future.

---

[Apple of Eden: 35+15=50]

Your efforts to find somewhere to hide the apple has proven difficult. Not only can you not seek help or the whole effort would be pointless, but you can't be seen out scouting locations or you'd draw suspicion. If you want to build somewhere to hide it that would leave a money trail and curiosity as to why you're building a some random vault. You could send it off on some long voyage, send it off to the new world or far east but you wouldn't be able to go with it to ensure its lost. You could dump it into the Mediterranean but you feel that would only leave it to wash up on some shore to fall into someones' hands.

For now you settle on locking it in a chest and hiding it in the catacombs under the city until you find a more permanent way to hide or contain it.

---

It seems the French are up to their old shit again. The new king Louis XII had taken Milan with little resistance while you were gone, and now march on Pisa. According to Ast they likely do this to place a puppet in power that will support their armies march south to Naples. The people of Pisa are well prepared for a siege however, and intend to make the French bleed for every inch they march.

Your father and Juan prepare their army and send letters to try and unravel the knot of alliances France has made to shield themselves while seeking allies of their own. Cesare has gone to Aragon to hunt the assassins there along with an apple they had stolen years before. Lucrezia and Gioffre are mostly the same, so nothing to worry about there. You've had no signs of assassins either. Now you only wonder what you'll do from here.

You have 600 florins, an army, two platoons, and two squadrons

You have six actions, use them as you will

Please make your vote in plan format

You have the cursed bonus and may have an advisor aid you or do a task on their own

Martial
[] The army you were building was finished under your brother, perhaps you should check on them, see if there's anything that can be done to improve them

[] The simplest way to gain expand is to take the land by force, send an army to try and conquer somewhere

-[] Where?

-[] What is your Casus Belli?

[] Perhaps you should look into mercenaries you could hire

[] While your brother has worked on the local gangs and criminal situation there is still work to be done, send a platoon to clear out the remains

[] Send your Army to aid pisa, they might not be your allies but they're better then the French.

[] Write in

Stewardship

[] You have a good amount of wood, why not try to make a paper mill? (200fl)

[] Your brother hasn't made any trade deals while in power, maybe you could make some?
-[] Who?

[] The current iron mining operations are doing well, but perhaps they could expand?(50 fl)

[] Your brother found blacksmiths while you were away, perhaps they could forge you something?

-[] What?

[] The ruby mines could always be improved, try to do so(75 fl)

[] The ruined districts are halfway done, finish them(125 fl)

[] The woods are dense and large, perhaps you could expand the operations (50 fl)

[] The docks are in good repair at least, perhaps you should purchase some ships to help with trade and defense (100 fl)

[] Write in

Diplomacy

[] Send a letter to Sophia to try and rerecruit her.

[] Your father thinks you should get married/find an alliance, maybe you should look for a bride?

[] Maybe you could look for an alliance, without marriage?

-[] Where?

[] Send a letter to that Shakulu fellow, any enemy of the ottomans is possibly an ally of yours

[] Perhaps you should go meet one of your neighbors directly?

-[] Which one?

[] Send a letter to a different Power, such as Venice, the Ottomans, etc

-[] Who?

[] Write in

Intrigue

[] You could recruit a new spymaster

-[] Perhaps lanz?

[] Perhaps a few assassins of your own could be useful, try to hire Cahir and Caha

[] The Cento Occhi Still serve the Borgia thankfully, you could use them to get some intel that would be useful?

-[]Intel about what?

[] you could try and recruit the Cento Occhi, make them your personal spies and thieves (30 fl/turn)

[] the city still has some gangs, maybe you could get them on your side?

-[] Where?

[] The assassins are still a problem, now more then ever, find information on the one you met, Ezio

[] write in

Learning

[] Seek treatment the grave of Brutus for this healing shroud

[] There's a whole new world out there, send one of your squadrons out to map it for somewhere a colony could be made (takes one turn, and is much more likely to succeed with your map, you may choose a location on the eastern American coasts/Bahamas, 500 fl)

-[] Where?

[] Give your engineer resources and let them design what they please, perhaps making something of use (50fl)

[] Write in

Personal

[] The Apple has unimaginable knowledge, see what you can learn from it

[] Perhaps you can train in use of the Apple, so you could use it safely and perhaps learn more uses of it

[] The assassin said your father was going to use the apple to open some vault, perhaps you could open it instead?

[] Train in use of the Apple, perhaps it has more to it than knowledge and mind control?

[] Send a letter to a family member

-[] To who, and what about?

[] You should learn how to use that dagger Cesare gave you

-[] Or maybe something else?

[] Write in