Valentino Family Application - Printable Version +- Diverge Networks (https://divergenetworks.com/forums) +-- Forum: 1980s Mafia Roleplay (https://divergenetworks.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?fid=4) +--- Forum: Faction Applications (https://divergenetworks.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?fid=22) +---- Forum: Denied (https://divergenetworks.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?fid=28) +---- Thread: Valentino Family Application (/showthread.php?tid=3143)

Valentino Family Application - TheTrumpMeister - 02-22-2022 Name of Faction: Valentino Family Number of Members (Minimum of 5): 10+ Type Of Faction (Family, Triad, Street Gang, etc): Family Ethnic Background (ex: Italian, Greek, African American, Irish, etc): Italian-American Server Preference (Miami or New York): New York Your Discord # (ex: gamer#4210): TheTrumpMeister#5379 Your SteamID: STEAM_0:0:56488939 Your Server playtime: 10+ hours Your Faction Discord link (If you have one): https://discord.gg/yfmyRM5Q Organization Backstory (Min. of 250+ Words & any images): VALENTINO FAMILY HISTORY Fifteenth Century - 1980s Early Modern Period (Fifteenth Century to 1861) The Valentino Family can trace its origins to the fifteenth century in the Lombardy province within Northern Italy. The Valentinos, which at the time were known as the House of Valentini, were an Italian family with significant financial and political dealings in the Duchy of Milan (ruled by the Spanish Habsburg Dynasty at the time). They maintained close ties with whichever ruling dynasty held claim to the Lombardy kingdom, be it Spain (from the sixteenth to seventeenth centuries), Austria (eighteenth century) or France (early nineteenth century). Following a brief occupation by French forces during the Napoleonic wars, the Valentini Family politically aligned itself with the Italian unification movements that dominated the peninsula following the liberal revolutions of the 1840s. Stoked with a sense of Italian nationalism and pride, the Valentini Family sided with French-Piedmontese forces in 1859 to expel their old Austrian rulers and join a newly unified Italy, with Milan as their home and primary base of financial operations.  Post-Napoleonic to Pre-WWI Period (1815-1914) The next few decades were a period of economic prosperity for the Valentini Family, which also enjoyed political benefits from the new monarchy in power. Northern Italy flourished while the South continued to remain poor and rural. As the North continued to industrialize, a growing arms industry developed. The Valentini Family invested in various armament factories, which proved to be one of their most successful ventures in centuries, and allowed the family to grow substantially in wealth. However, the family never took direct part in colonization or military operations. With WWI soon on the horizon, the Valentini Family was able to secure a deal with the monarchy that would exclude any of its family members with blood ties from serving in any future conflict.  Interwar Period (1919-1924) Following Italy’s entry into the war on the side of the Entente Powers, the Valentini Family briefly moved their base to Western Lombardy, fearing any possible Austro-German intrusion. After the war concluded and an armistice was signed, the Valentini Family liquidated a portion of its investments and donated to public projects intended to address the economic devastation that plagued Venice and other Northern Italian provinces occupied during the war. Despite attempts to rectify the increasingly grim political situation, radical fascist party leader Benito Mussolini would eventually rise to power in 1922. The new government proved to be ruthless and unwilling to do business with the Italian families of old. Mussolini ordered the nationalization of Valentini business operations and demanded absolute cooperation with the new pecking order. Even after several attempts to diplomatically address the new order, several Valentini family members were purged or publicly executed to help project Mussolini’s power. The family was eventually forced to leave Italy altogether or face brutal consequences by the totalitarian regime. United States Beginnings (1924-1930) In 1924, the remaining Valentini Family members relocated to various parts of the United States and Canada. Parents Andre and Sofia Valentini, along with their young son, Emilio Valentini, moved to New York City and were incorrectly processed at Ellis Island as the ‘Valentino’ Family. Shortly after moving to Lower Manhattan in the recently established ‘Little Italy’ district, Andre and Sofia lost control of their financial holdings due to interference by the fascist Italian government and a loss of their original Valentini name. As a result, the “Valentinos” quickly became dependent on blue collar work within the US. By 1927, Emilio, at age 16, was told to work at a grocery store to help make his family’s basic ends meet. Emilio would work at the store until age 19, when the store abruptly closed after a worsening economic depression hit most businesses in Little Italy. Out of work and nearing starvation, Lorenzo began to look for alternative means to earn money and quickly shifted to petty crimes such as pickpocketing and larceny. Prohibition and Rise (1930-1933) After a year of committing various small crimes, Emilio would eventually be caught after stealing nearly $400 in jewelry and other various valuables. He was given a sentence of one year, but was let go after four months on account of good behavior. Seeing the high risk and low return of petty stealing, Emilio shifted to the lucrative and illegal bootlegging industry that dominated the Northeastern US. Having made friends with Canadian sailors, he was able to secure a crate of cheap Canadian liquor. Although his new business venture proved difficult to run at first, Emilio was able to find business with other local gangs in Northern Jersey and Long Island that had no access to Canadian trade. Emilio rapidly grew his new enterprise in the early 1930s. Although malt liquor was immensely successful and profitable (due to its cheap cost), the writing was on the wall. With no end in sight for the depression and lower tax revenues, Congress was prepared to eliminate Prohibition altogether and legalize alcohol once again. Disturbed by this news, Emilio quickly sold a large portion of his bootlegging operation and looked to the future for new avenues of criminal enterprise. Post-Prohibition (1934-1939) After months of deliberation and debate, Emilio decided to pursue gambling and prostitution as his new business. However, manpower was lacking and he realized that some enforcement would be needed to regulate his new trade. After some back and forth haggling, he eventually convinced some of his old childhood friends to join him and help run his growing criminal empire. By 1936, Emilio had completely exited the alcohol trade and dealt exclusively in gambling and prostitution. Not long after the establishment of his new ventures, Emilio would hear rumors of a new criminal syndicate that was organized by Italian and Jewish gangs that dominated the upper-East coast of the US. However, against his better judgment, Emilio decided not to take part in any meetings with the newly formed Syndicate and ignored any requests for partnerships. This proved fatal in 1938, when Emilio was shot by an unknown assailant thought to be connected to the National Crime Syndicate. Emilio’s closest and most trusted friend, Luca Marceni, took over his operations and mentored Emilio’s two young sons, Lorenzo and Riccardo. By 1939, Luca decided it would be best to join forces with the National Crime Syndicate in order to avoid any more potential bloodshed, but despite pressure by Syndicate heads, refused to change the organization’s name from Valentino to Marceni. Post-WWII and Marceni Rule (1939-1979) During and after the years of WWII, Luca continued to take care of Valentino operations and expanded its network beyond Manhattan. He established a small gambling operation in Northern Jersey and made a small investment in a casino at the growing Las Vegas scene. The 1950s were relatively stable as the National Crime Syndicate took shape into the modern Five Families recognized today. The Valentino Family was not considered as prominent or powerful as its five more influential peers, and thus was treated as a lesser Italian crime organization. However, this proved to be the Valentinos’ biggest advantage in the decades following the 1950s. Following an overhaul of US criminal law and the introduction of the RICO act in 1970, all of the Five Families were targeted and many of its members incarcerated or incriminated by other members to avoid lengthy jail times. The Valentino Family slowly grew in the background while its bigger peers suffered huge losses in manpower and profitability. The Last Golden Age of Italian Organized Crime (1979-Present) By 1979, a frail and aging Luca realized that it was time to hand the reins over to a successor, and that would prove to be Lorenzo, the first Valentino to run the organization since the death of Emilio Valentino in 1938. Lorenzo was calculated and learned well from Luca, but organized crime in North America was headed in a new direction. No longer could a criminal organization risk open murder or public talk of business. The FBI had gotten aggressive and efficient, and with the advent of wiretaps, nothing could be left to chance. With the help of his younger brother, Riccardo (known colloquially as Richie), the two would work together closely to ensure the Valentino Family’s rise from the ranks of being once considered a ‘petty young cousin of the Five Families’, to a well-established criminal incumbent that would dominate the New York metropolitan area. VALENTINO FAMILY HIERARCHY INNER CIRCLE POSITIONS (In order of authority) DON: The highest role in the Family and holds ultimate authority within the Inner Circle. Any and all major decision-making, including the induction or removal of members/affiliates, foreign policy, promotions, and major business expansions go directly through the Don. No one can be brought in or removed from the Family without the Don’s explicit permission (barring circumstances where the Don is not around, in which case the next highest role would have this authority). UNDERBOSS: The second highest role in the Family and a part of the Inner Circle. The Underboss is considered the Don’s eyes and ears on the street. He represents the Don on the outside and may even attend meetings without the Don being present. He has executive authority over all the Caporegimes and can reassign made-members to other crews (or recommend they be removed to the Don) if need be. The Underboss is considered to be a middle-man between the capos and the Don, and will usually recommend associates that have proven their worth and are ready to be inducted, or existing members that may be ready to take on a crew and become capos themselves. He is the next in command if the Don is away. CONSIGLIERE: The third highest role in the Family and a part of the Inner Circle. The Consigliere is considered the Don’s closest friend, as well as his closest and most trusted counsel. The Consigliere is usually tasked with managing the Finances of the Family, including potential business dealings, white collar schemes, and major legal issues. When the Don and Underboss are away, the Consigliere will become the acting boss. CAPOREGIME: A caporegime, the next highest rank in the Inner Circle, is considered a made-man who has proven his capabilities in leadership, and has ascended to the rank of lieutenant within the Family. A capo is given control and autonomy over their own crew, typically consisting of a mix of made-men and associates. If a caporegime notices good performance from an associate, he can recommend to the Underboss that they be inducted into the Family. A capo can specialize in whatever they want (barring rackets that are banned), or whatever they deem will be the most profitable for their crew. They almost never address the Don directly, though they may in rare circumstances, and usually answer to the Street Boss or Underboss. LOWER-TIER FAMILY POSITIONS SCAGNOZZO: Scagnozzo are considered to be the Family’s most prestigious and ruthless made-men, and are granted a unique level of trust and respect by upper management. They are considered the right-hand man, or underboss equivalent, to the caporegime, and their orders are usually important and discreet. If a caporegime is away, the scagnozzo can temporarily run the crew as acting capo until they return. This position is rarely appointed and only given to trusted personnel within a crew.  CONSULENTE: Consulente are considered the ‘consigliere’ or advisor of the crew they operate in. Similar to a consigliere, the consulente is tasked with helping manage and grow the crew’s business affairs, and has some say over the crew's finances. The caporegime has the power to appoint whoever they deem is best fit for the role, usually being a trusted, long-time soldato in their crew. SOLDATO: The first and lowest official rank in the Family. To the outside, they are considered grunts, but on the inside, they are considered untouchable within the Underworld. Made-men were once associates who have since proven their worth by consistently earning within their crew, or accomplishing a major feat for the Family.  Usually, an associate will become inducted once he has “made his bones”, or deals with a troublesome person that the Family has ordered be removed. Made members can only be removed from the Family if the Don approves of it. If a made-man is illegally removed, the Don will order an investigation and proceed accordingly. NON-FAMILY POSITIONS SENIOR ASSOCIATE: Although they are still outside of the family, Senior Associates are considered associates that have gained the trust and confidence of some inner-Family members. They can lead lower-level associates during various odd jobs, and are one step closer to being officially inducted into the organization. ASSOCIATE: The second lowest rank in the organization. Associates are considered to be low-level workers who have not yet proven their worth to be officially a part of the Family, but are more recognizable and well-known than hangarounds. They will never be inducted if they do not have an Italian background or fail to prove themselves. However, they still have several perks that are typically inaccessible to outsiders of the Family. Associates are most likely already familiar with other associates and made-members in the Family, they may take part in certain schemes or business operations, and they are placed in a caporegime’s crew, which gives them some protection from outsiders. However, because they are not made, they do not fall under the Don’s direct protection. Any made-man may remove them if they receive permission from the crew’s capo, and a capo or higher can remove associates indiscriminately. VALENTINO FAMILY RULES 1. The Don retains the right to keep and remove any member or affiliate of the Family. No inducted member may be removed without the Don’s explicit permission. 2. The Inner Circle, by order of importance and authority, will consist of the Don, Underboss, Consigliere, Street Boss, and Caporegime, in this exact order (see Chain of Command). These roles will work together as a council to determine the Family's next major course of action, however, the Don has the ultimate authority.  3. In the event that the Don is no longer capable of rule (due to mental/physical circumstances or death), the successor will be the next highest Inner Circle member that is actively present (see Rule #2). The successor has the power to bestow themselves, or someone else of their choosing, the title of Don.  4. The Don must approve of any promotions as well as the induction of new members. At least one Inner Circle member (see Rule #2) must be present during an induction.  5. Follow the Chain of Command. Should the highest role go inactive for a period longer than one week, whoever is next in line in the CC will retain the highest authority and receive jurisdiction over rules 1-3 (until the higher ranking member returns from inactivity). The Don may also appoint a temporary ‘Acting Boss’ instead, in the event of a prolonged absence.  6. Unless given explicit permission, do not harm, provoke or harass any members of other organizations. Use commonsense and avoid conflict whenever possible. Our allies and enemies will fluctuate and change over time, the Inner Circle will determine and authorize if we make any moves against other factions. 7. Excessive disrespect will result in expulsion from the Family. This applies to all members, not only lower-level associates. 8. Respect the Chain of Command. Do not attempt to talk to someone who is two or more positions higher than you. 9. Be discreet. Do not talk of important business or inner-family matters in any public areas or with non-members. 10. Members and affiliates may not change or choose their crew. Both capos must agree to the change and receive approval from the Underboss.  RE: Valentino Family Application - Loren - 02-22-2022 1+ Backstory was well made RE: Valentino Family Application - Tony Marinara - 02-24-2022 +1 Very detailed backstory, Have seen them around in game and they are clearly serious about their RP and goals. RE: Valentino Family Application - DonFauci - 02-26-2022 +1 glad to see an og back RE: Valentino Family Application - Chad - 02-26-2022 -1 minge group RE: Valentino Family Application - Tweaked - 02-27-2022 -1 Don't think we need another Italian faction RE: Valentino Family Application - Emperor - 02-28-2022 +1 very good application and amazing roleplayers. Should definitely get accepted. RE: Valentino Family Application - Infamy - 03-03-2022 -1  really mingey Valentino Family Application - Pendred - 03-11-2022 Denied Faction dfid not reach out.