Francesco Vecellio

"Someday I will take the time to create, to paint, but not now. For now, I am a soldier on the front lines."

―Francesco Vecellio.

Francesco Vecellio (c. 1475 - 1560) was an Italian painter, and a member of the Assassin Order. He was one of Ezio Auditore's apprentices, who was chosen to lead his own core team of Assassins upon his graduation.

Biography

Early life

Francesco and Perotto, during Francesco's training.

"In a way, I already have a child. His name is Francesco, one of the newest members of our Brotherhood. Though he is not yet a man, he is a promising understudy."

―Perotto, regarding Francesco.

Francesco Vecellio was born into the Assassin Order, in the year 1475. Around 1498, he began his training as Perotto Calderon's understudy.

In his younger years, he was described by Perotto as tall and thin for his age, a stubborn perfectionist who quickly grew frustrated over his own shortcomings. During the early stages of his training, he would often attack in anger, losing control over his emotions. However, despite his anger and self-insults, Perotto also praised him as wise beyond his years.

After Perotto fell for Lucrezia Borgia, she suggested that the Assassin kill Francesco if he caught onto their relationship, but Perotto loved Francesco like a son and refused to harm him.

Perotto's betrayal

Francesco attempting to bargain for Perotto's life.

"I have exhausted nearly every resource to lessen Perotto’s punishment for his crimes, but I fear there is little left I can do. We will hunt him tonight."

―Francesco, upon setting off with other Assassins to find his master.

Francesco was later involved in the hunt for Perotto when the latter went berserk, breaking all three tenets of their Creed in a desperate attempt to save his child. Francesco was deeply hurt by his master's betrayal, though he still attempted to persuade his Brothers to show him mercy. However, due to his young age and the severity of Perotto's crimes, Francesco's objections were outweighed, and the rest of the Assassins concluded that they were duty-bound to kill Perotto.

Tracking Perotto to Agnadello, Francesco and a team of Assassins discovered that he was attempting to use the Shroud to save his son's life. Following a trail of bodies, Borgia guards and their own Brothers alike, the Assassins reached the home of Rinaldo Vitturi, in which the Shroud had been stored. Perotto was nowhere in sight, but the locals informed them that he had set up camp outside the city.

The Assassins surrounded Perotto's camp, but despite their numbers, Perotto's skill with a bow was unmatched, and he managed to kill several of them. Despite still wondering if his master could be reasoned with, Francesco fired upon Perotto nonetheless. Though his arrow grazed him, Perotto only looked at Francesco sadly and did not return fire. Eventually, Perotto was overwhelmed and killed.

Apprenticeship in Rome

Francesco training with Ezio in Rome.

"We struggle to oppose Cesare Borgia, who, with his wretched family, controls the Church as well as the city."

―Francesco, regarding the Liberation of Rome.

After his mentor's death, Francesco was apprenticed to the Master Assassin Ezio Auditore da Firenze in 1501, and was taught various skills such as free-running and pickpocketing.

After his training, he was placed in charge of a team of Assassins, whose purpose was to disrupt Cesare Borgia's influence over Italy. Notable members of his team were the African Cipriano Enu, who specialized in archery, and the stealthy Tessa Varzi, who was skilled with poisons. While many of the team's missions took place in Rome, they also visited Romagna, Camerino and Venice, among others.

The team faced the likes of the French Templar, Charles de la Motte, and also teamed up with the Borgia-traitor Fiora Cavazza to kill Templar agents Rocco Tiepolo, Cahin, Caha and Baltasar de Silva.

Sometime in 1503, Francesco also recruited Perotto's son, Giovanni Borgia, into the Assassin Order.

Assassination of Niccolò di Pitigliano

Francesco and Niccolò.

Main article: Assassination of Niccolò di Pitigliano

"My target is old, unsuspecting. Age will take his life soon, but I will not allow it."

―Francesco, regarding Niccolò di Pitigliano.

Francesco received an important solo mission in 1510, which involved killing Niccolò di Pitigliano, and freeing the population of Lonigo from the latter's rule.

After learning what he needed to know about his target and slowly destroying his influence over Lonigo, Francesco assassinated Niccolò. Initially, Niccolò survived the attack with the help of a mysterious artifact, but when it backfired and brought his brutal end, it was Francesco who took possession of the artifact.

Painting career

File:Francesco Vecellio Painting.jpg

Francesco's "Saint Antonio Searches with Great Interest for the Heart in the Coffin."

"Francesco Vecellio. The blossoming painter. I never would have suspected."

―Fiora Cavazza, upon discovering Francesco's identity as an Assassin.

Alongside his Assassin life, Francesco pursued a painting career during the 1520s to 1530s in Cadore, but he would never become as successful as his younger brother Tiziano Vecellio.

In 1524, he signed an altarpiece for San Vito in Cadore. During the 1540s, he painted a polyptych in Candide, as well as the organ shutters of San Salvatore in Venice. He also painted an Annunciation for San Nicola di Bari, which is now in the Accademia.

Equipment

Francesco was known to carry a unique combinations of weapons, some of which are not mentioned elsewhere. His first hidden blade was attached to his right arm, though he would later be granted a dual hidden blade.

Despite begging Ezio to allow him to carry a firearm similar to Ezio's Hidden Gun, at the time, his mentor told him that he was not ready for such a weapon. Instead, he had Leonardo da Vinci craft Francesco a poison blade, as well as a Hidden Bolt, a weapon that fired small crossbow bolts.

Other than these, Francesco also carried the standard sword, knife, and bow of an Assassin.