Valeriano di Rossi

Can an apple a day really keep the doctor away?

Currently in progress of submission and approval.

It's a bird! It's a plague! It's an...Early Modern Period version of a hazmat suit??

Nobel Valeriano di Rossi

• Pronunciation guide: Here's how to properly pronounce my first name, "Valeriano", with an Italian accent: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eqp5vA5SCzs
• Alternate/former/use names: "Val" may be used as a nickname, if one is averse to pronouncing too many tricky Italian syllables.
• Armorial/Order of Precedence:https://www.calontir.org/persona/4940

Persona

• Period: Early 17th century
• Location: The Republic of Venice, or the Veneto region of modern northeastern Italy
• Favorite color: Red, just like the Venetian flag, and just like the etymology of my surname.
• Occupation: Plague doctor working during the 1630 Yersinia pestis outbreak in Venice, ominous beakmask and all. ...But remember, just as my partially bird-like appearance indicates, I'm just winging it.

Activities and Interests

• Proper sanitation and personal/public health practices, and their history.
• Learning the Italian language and general culture. This is to appear more Italian-like despite my identity-hiding plague doctor garb...even if I would have actually been speaking the Venetian language back in the 17th century.
• Venetian Carnevale masks, such as my iconic medico della peste mask. Masks aren't just functional; they can be fun, too!
• Wearing accessories and trinkets related to Italian superstitions about health and well-being. This is more for style and pops of color against my all-black garb more than anything. A golden mano cornuto from the south, a blue charm against il malocchio from Turkey, and many colorful scarves to protect against that colpo d'aria...
• The Near East and Far East's historical interactions with the Republic of Venice. Without the trade routes with these partners, Venice could not have had access to their delicious, exotic spices and foodstuffs. ...Nor would they have had gotten the plague from them, either.
• Learning Cut and Thrust techniques, a plausible form of self-defense that a northern Italian civilian could have used during the War of the Mantuan Succession. Just like in my plague doctor garb, during C&T, I am still masked up and covered head-to-toe in protective gear, using a long implement to interact with the dangerous world. Ugh, not only were those invading French and Spanish forces tearing apart northern Italy as they were using our countryside as their personal battleground, they had brought the plague to us during their war, too!
• Learning basic but effective modern first aid techniques to support my good gentles who are more experienced at fighting than I am.
• Calligraphy. I don't want my handwriting to be as brutto as many modern doctors' could be.
• Gardening and herbalism.
• Italian food and cuisine, ideally created as a result of the aforementioned gardening and herbalism.
• Aromatherapy, especially to cover up all those bad miasmas smells.
• Mixology?? Historically-based, of course. Herbal ingredients combined with alcohol used to be a form of medicine back in the day...
• Overall, in between dealing with disease and its loathsome consequences on society, I am here to make friends and have fun. ☺

History in the SCA

Timeline:

• When started in SCA: I first learned about the SCA's existence at the April 2, 2022 Great Plains Renaissance Festival. Most modern folk are frightened of me in my plague doctor garb and want to stay away. However, the fine gentles of Vatavia were not; they wanted to talk to me! I thought this would be a wonderful new social group and hobby to have after the modern plague, after dealing with disease for so long.
• Significant events since then (competitions, championships, tourneys, first event, etc.):
  • First Baronial Event: Champions, August 14, 2022
  • First Kingdom Event: Midwinter Knights Dream, December 17, 2022. Award of Arms presented by Duncan Bruce of Logan & Ylva Jonsdottir.

Groups and Affiliations:

• Current Group: Barony of Vatavia
• Previous Groups: None.
• Guilds, Households, etc: N/A

Offices:

• Local Offices:
• Regional Offices:
• Kingdom Offices:
• SCA-wide Offices:
• Other service:

Other Information

Websites, photo-sharing, etc.

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