Cosimo Giovanni de’Medici's page

But why would the English dukes want Cardinal Beaufort dead?

My God! When did this occur, Cardinal D'Sforza!?

"He was a good man, he loved me and raised me to form a mere street waif who defended him and his son in a tavern. I learned the ways of court and to fight. I have done so much for him and god, but now I am here and my brother..My brother.." she says crying a bit as she shakes her head and turns from the two men to look at the bodies. She was concerned for Vlad but even more so for Nero and what he had done here!

The Duke of Florence slowly moves to comfort Lady Ihrin, gently resting his hands on her shoulders. Please, my Lady Ihrin... You have served your father well... A father could ask for nothing more... As for your, er, brother... He seems bewildered. You and your friends have done more than anyone else has to stop his career into madness and evil... He embraces Ihrin Ardlean and wipes her tears away with his cloak. Now, we must discover what this means... That you have forestalled the plot of the Antichrist... Has Armageddon begun? Or is it been forestalled?... Is it poised to begin? Has the seventh seal been broken, and the trumpet sounded? A tremor of fear shakes Duke of Florence, and he searches Ihrin's face with tears welling in his own brown eyes.

Sir Alphonse d'Veritas, would you be so kind as to try to quell their fears? You speak with a noble tongue, blessed by God, Our Father! implores Duke of Florence...

To Alfonso the Magnanimous: Do not weep, Your Majesty. I shall see to it that both Count of Wallachia and Cardinal Lucius D'Borja are raised back to life with every florin in my banks, if need be.

Seeing the corpse of Ihrin's noble father, the Voivode of Wallachia, Duke of Florence bows his head sadly and crosses himself.

And here lies our brave friend, Vlad the Dragon, gone to his greater reward in the Kingdom of Heaven. My deepest condolences, my Lady Ihrin Ardlean...

At that moment, Alfonso the Magnanimous walks into the Chapel of Osiris...

With the Spanish King comes Duke of Florence Cosimo d'Medici, holding a flickering torch...

Signors! You are victorious, God be praised!

As Lord Perpireen flies cautiously back into the papal palace to find his friends gathered near the top of a dark stairwell descending into the Catacombs, King Alfonso V draws his holy sword and turns to Duke of Florence, saying: Duke of Florence, what say you? Shall we aid these mighty champions in hunting down and slaying this monster that masquerades as the Holy Father!?

Duke of Florence frowns and bows respectfully to Alfonso V, replying: Yours is a brave and noble heart, Your Majesty... But we have sacred duties to uphold to our people. What if we were never to return from that ineffable darkness? With all due respect, Your Majesty... it would be madness. We must stay here, you and I, to tell others what has become of the Holy Father, and to support these brave heroes as best we can from up here, while doing our best to stay vigilant. It is there quest, their destiny, to take the fight to the Antichrist down there in the fiend's lair...

Cardinal Lucius D'Borja shall be resurrected, Your Highness, fear not! I will not let so valiant an ally be lost to the darkness! Whatever the cost for his resurrection might be, the banks of Florence will cover it.

Duke of Florence bows sadly.

Another nobleman steps into the room to answer Alfonso the Magnanimous' question: it is Duke of Florence Cosimo D'Medici, an ally and patron of the Crusaders of the Catacombs.

I beg your pardon, Your Majesty, but His Holiness will not be returning any time soon, I am afraid.

Duke of Florence bows ceremoniously to Alfonso V, and to the Mighty Ones.

I am so pleased to see that the valorous Crusaders of the Catacombs and their friends the Desert Jackals have returned safely from their latest quest. Unfortunately, it seems that we meet again under inauspicious circumstances indeed. You brave adventurers have just unveiled a dark secret that I had been fearing and suspecting... Dreading, to be honest... The Pope has been replaced by our wicked enemy. And now we are left to wonder how far the corruption has spread...

Founder of a political dynasty that would serve as de facto rulers of Florence during much of the Italian Renaissance, banker and Duke of Florence Cosimo de'Medici spends his vast wealth as a patron of learning, the arts, and architecture, enriching the Duchy of Florence and aligning himself with the Church. However, the recent revelation of the Saint Valentine's Day Holocaust plot has been vaguely linked with House Medici through Filipo Brunelleschi, renowned Florentine architect and engineer, sent by Duke of Florence to Rome to assist the pope with preparing defenses for the city against dragonfire, but discovered by Johann Kaltgeboren to be an agent of the Church of Lucifer, plotting to sabotage the city's defenses.

This recent scandal has cast a dark shadow on House Medici, and rumors are beginning to spread throughout Italy that the Duke of Florence is secretly in league with the Church of Lucifer, and may be a high-ranking member of the cult...

After most of the guests have departed for home that evening, Duke of Florence visits with Toshio Okumura once more before departing himself. He carries the prize—the organetto of building—in a decorative leather case.

There can be no doubt in anyone’s mind that you are the rightful winner of the contest, Maestro Okumura. Please accept this prize as a token of my admiration and friendship. May you put it to good use... Perhaps build a conservatory of musical arts!

Duke of Florence gives the magical organetto to Toshio Okumura with a warm smile of appreciation.

Duke of Florence’s face darkens with anger at the assassin’s attempt to slay his honored guest!

How DARE someone try to slay one of MY protected guests! SEIZE THAT MAN!!

In Italian: Without further ado, our first performance will be by English composer and organist extraordinaire, Maestro John Dunstable!

The Basilica of Saint Peter resounds with thunderous applause!

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at the feast
In between courses of the feast, Toshio (no longer in robes, but in fine clothes suitable for a celebration) leaves his seat and greets Duke Cosimo in Italian: "My lord, I must thank you for putting on this splendid affair. I have long admired Maestro Dunstable's work, and the opportunity to meet him and hear him perform in person is magnificent!" Toshio leans in to speak a little more quietly. "I would love to meet any of your friends who are in attendance, if you would do me the honor of an introduction."

Duke of Florence smiles warmly at Toshio and replies: Thank you, Maestro Okumura, for accepting this friendly challenge! Your God-given gifts will provide a wonderful entertainment for the people of Rome, and I eagerly anticipate hearing your performance, and that of Maestro Dunstable! I would, of course, be honored to introduce you to some of my friends and acquaintances present here this evening! Come with me... Over here is Amadeus, Duke of Savoy, Defender of the Holy Shroud of Turin...

Duke of Florence introduces Toshio to several influential personages in attendance...

Duke of Florence speaks from the lectern near the altar in the spacious sanctuary of Saint Peter’s Basilica, in Italian: Benvenuto, brava gente di Roma! Grazie per aver partecipato alla mia festa per celebrare la mia visita nella tua!

The crowd of spectators filling the sanctuary and nave of the Basilica roar with applause and cheering! EVIVA!! VIVA IL DUCA DI FIRENZE!!

The Duke smiles and waves, and waits for the cheering crowd to quiet down again before continuing: Stasera, ho organizzato per il tuo divertimento un concorso speciale di improvvisazione sull’organo a canne tra due dei suoi migliori maestri... Maestro inglese John Dunstable, e maestro giapponese Toshio Okumura!

The Duke of Florence and his bodyguards attend the morning mass, sitting in a reserved pew near the altar...

These two have clearly suspected my identity...perhaps I was being too carefree with my revelation to the others, the Fox broods. I must be careful. Still, if my secret is safe with anyone, it is with the Holy Father of all Christendom! And this Duke is renowned for his graciousness and philanthropy.

He smiles at the Duke and the Pope. "Never would I have expected such company at my bedside! You both honor me well beyond anything I deserve, and I am humbled by your presence and your gift. If Toshio were here, I am sure he also would express the deepest gratitude for having lifted such a greatly troubling weight from his mind. He might not have been quite himself for the performance, otherwise..."

"My efforts on the Pope's behalf are, of course, ongoing," he nods toward Eugenius, "But if there is any service I may do for you, my Lord," he says, now looking at Duke Cosimo, "I pray you will ask it. It would honor me if I could but begin to repay your good deed toward me."

Duke of Florence smiles and grips the Ogon Fox's hand, kissing him on both cheeks.

Your friendship is sufficient payment, Signor Fox. If ever my enemies trouble me...and despite my efforts to be a friend to all men, I have made a few, unfortunately... I rest assured that I can count upon the Ogon Fox to come valiantly to my aid...

Duke of Florence visits the sick-bed of Ogon Fox, along with Pope Eugenius IV...

The Holy Father tells me that you suffer from ghoul fever contracted when a ghastly undead monster bit you in the Catacombs San Callisto while you were on an important mission for Holy Mother Church. I am also told you are a close friend of the famous Oriental composer Toshio Okumura... I told the Holy Father to spare no expense to see to your recovery... It would be a shame if Maestro Okumura were...too sick with worry over his mysterious friend...to perform for my contest on the morrow, would it not Signor Fox?

The Duke of Florence visits Rome on the 4th of January to deposit an obscene amount of gold florins in his papal bank. While he is in town, he decides that being entertained by the finest musicians in Rome at the moment would be a fine diversion and an opportunity to show his appreciation for the arts.

He arranges a contest between organists John Dunstable of England, and Toshio Okumura of Japan—the West versus the East. He offers as the prize a magical organetto of building, able to create buildings, tunnels, and other constructions with its wondrous music!

The contest will be held on the 7th of January, on the organ at the Basilica of Saint Peter! A feast will be thrown by the Duke of Florence, to which everyone in Rome is invited.