Assassin's Creed Wiki - User contributions [en-gb]

Mission to Aragon

2010-10-02T20:54:13Z

205.188.116.75: /* Finding the Assassins */

{{WPtimeline}}

{{Event

|prev = [[Battle of Forli]]
|next = [[Bonfire of the Vanities]]
|image = [[File:Assassins-Creed-2-Discovery-2.jpg|300px|]]
|timeframe = [[Renaissance]]
|name = Sailing to Spain
|date = 1491
|place = *[[Italy]]
**[[Venice]]
*[[Spain]]
**[[Barcelona]]
**[[Zaragoza]]
**[[Granada]]
|outcome = * Ezio saves Christopher Columbus
* Ezio's recovery of the Atlas
* Ezio's migration to Spain
* Freeing of the Spanish Assassins
* Death of Tomas Torquemada's Inquisitors
|key = *[[Assassins]] & [[Thieves]]
*[[Inquisitors]]
|participants = *[[Assassins]]
**[[Ezio Auditore da Firenze]]
**[[Christoffa Corombo]] (ally)
**[[Antonio de Magianis]]
**[[Luis Santangel]]
**[[Muhammad XII]] (ally)
*[[Inquisitors]]
**[[Tomas Torquemada]]
**[[Gaspard Martinez]]
**[[Pedro Llorente]]
**[[Juan de Marillo]]
*[[Templars]]
**[[Rodrigo Borgia]]
}}
{{Template:Stub}}

{{youmay|in-game [[Assassin%27s_Creed_Wiki:WikiProject/Hungerer_of_Knowledge|events]]|the [[Spanish Inquisition (tribunal)]]}}

{{Quote|I am Ezio Auditore da Firenze, and as my father and grandfathers were before me, I am an Assassin.|Ezio Auditore da Firenze, Venice, 1491}}

[[Rodrigo Borgia]], who fears for his life, has stationed wanted posters all over [[Italy]]. Every guard has been alerted of the presence [[Ezio Auditore da Firenze]], and are given orders to take him out on sight. Ezio, who was scouring the country for the [[First Apple|Apple of Eden]], is soon delayed when [[Antonio]] informs him of Borgia's current location.

=='''Venice'''==
===The Thieves' Guild===

[[Ezio]] received word from a thief that [[Antonio]] summons him for an urgent meeting, and proceeded to make his way through [[Venice]]
[[File:Acd23.png|right|thumb|221px|Ezio in a duel with a Borgia Guard Captain]]towards the [[Thieves]]' Guild. Guards have been ordered to hunt down Ezio on sight, and Ezio saw numerous Wanted posters on his way to the guild. Even with this at hand, Ezio managed to enter the guild unscathed.

Ezio meets with Antonio, who mentions that [[Luis Santangel]], a stranger from Spain, is in need of some help and has heard that Ezio is the "''...deadliest man in Italia...''". Luis after introducing himself, tells Ezio that a friend of his, [[Christoffa Corombo]] is attending a meeting with [[Rodrigo Borgia]]. Ezio's posture brightens a bit as Luis continues. He suspects that it is a trap, as the meeting was called a mere day or two after Christoffa stumbled onto a significant artifact.

Ezio agrees to protect Christoffa, but states that he is not a hired blade, stating that he is only doing the job for Borgia. Ezio thanks Luis for the opportunity, but states that he does not want to meddle with Christoffa's affairs.

===A Favor For a Friend===

Ezio proceeds to the meeting, being careful not to alert any of the guards. Seeing an opportunity, Ezio makes his way to the rooftops where civilians do not linger.[[File:Asscreed4.png|frame|Ezio Auditore in combat.]]

After jumping and scaling a few rooftops, Ezio spots Christoffa speaking to a Guard through a window. Christoffa is complaining that Rodrigo hasn't shown up yet. The guard acts silent at first, but after a few minutes of complaining. The guard walks forward to Christoffa and tells him that Rodrigo has changed plans, he then draws his sword and pokes Christoffa with it. The guard says in a grim fashion that Rodrigo has no need for Christoffa and is about to strike.

Before the guard gets a chance to silence Christoffa, Ezio kicks down the door and prepares to enter combat, Ezio stabs at the guard's legs and punches his stomach area, and unwinds his [[hidden blade]] from his fist, impaling the guard, and then throws the guard's corpse off the blade and onto the floor.

Christoffa thanks Ezio kindly as Ezio tells why he saved him. He then questioned Christoffa, about how he arranged a meeting with Borgia, but Christoffa said that 'The Spaniard' miraculously found him after finding a certain artifact in an expedition and wanted to fund it.

Moments later, Guards stormed through the door. Ezio slew them as he told Christoffa to escape while he diverts the guard's attention. Ezio runs into the open street in an effort to distract the attention of the guards after Christoffa. Christoffa and Ezio get away safely and make it back to the Thieves Guild to report to Luis and Antonio.

Ezio, however arrived a bit later than Christoffa to the guild. When he gets there, Antonio states that they have already left and are waiting for Ezio in a building near the Garden District. Ezio, seemingly tired, asks Antonio who these two men are. In reply, Antonio states that he does not know, and that Luis's choice in approaching the Thieves Guild first-hand was a bit strange.

At the Garden District, Luis and Christoffa again thank Ezio. Christoffa tells Ezio that Rodgrio Borgia has discovered their hideout and his soldiers are searching for a rare artifact, which is an Atlas of no name. It contains maps charting a Western route to the 'Orient'. Luis says that in the wrong hands, the Atlas could cause great harm and kindly tells Ezio if he could retrieve it for him as a final favor before they leave Italy.

Ezio heads to the Harbor District to find the Hideout and recover the Atlas.

==='''Looking for Christoffa's Atlas'''===

The guards in Venice have strengthened their forces, many of the guards were replaced by Borgia's men, which were better trained and better equipped than those of the [[File:Asscreed2.png|thumb|right|250px|Ezio in the hideout library]]Venetian ones. Ezio, after almost a dozen encounters with the guards, manages to get to the Hideout and enters the building in search for the Atlas.

Many guards are stationed in the building, which forced Ezio to cling to the walls and slide past patrols or take out the rare common loner guards. The closer he gets to the Atlas the more guards there are. A few halls away from the Atlas Ezio spots a heavy guard patrol consisting of two [[Seekers]] and several guard captains, Ezio hides in a nearby doorway and waits for them to pass, he then grabs four throwing knives from the side of his belt and flings them at a sideway angle. In a matter of seconds, a heavy guard patrol became withered corpses.

After sneaking through the library, Ezio was relieved that the Atlas has yet to be taken. He swiftly sneaks off from the stand and onto his hands and opens it up; "...''not mistaking this for anything else''.", Ezio then turns around and encounters a [[Brute]] Captain, the Brute angrily groans and twirls his huge halberd. Ezio readies his sword and prepares to do battle, but called it bluff, as he quickly fled to the back of the room and exits through a small secret entrance on the ground, which was already opened. It led to an underground crypt and small sewer. Ezio successfully dodged the fight.

To Ezio's dismay, Guards were following him and gave chase, but they proved no match for the aspiring Assassin.

Ezio makes his way to the Harbor to deliver the Atlas to Christoffa and Luis. After he arrives Christoffa was very happy, but states that a few maps were missing. Still, he was satisfied that the 'Piri Reis' map was in one piece, which was to be their next stop.

Ezio made it clear to Luis that from now on he should bring his own protection to Italia, to which Luis sadly states that all the Assassin captains and leaders in Spain were captured and tortured by [[Tomas Torquemada]] and his inquisitors. Ezio then changes his mind and tells Luis to continue, Luis says that all [[Assassins]] in Spain are to be arrested immediately due to Rodrigo's paranoia of being killed by them.

Ezio reports to Antonio about the bad news and mentions that his quest for the Apple Of Eden is to be postponed as he prepares to make his way to [[Barcelona]] in [[Spain]], to make an effort to free the Assassins and get closer to Rodrigo Borgia. Antonio complements Ezio and tells him that there is a Thieves' Guild in [[Barcelona]] that has connections to the one run by Antonio and that it should be easy to gain the trust of the Thieves there. Antonio states that while Ezio is in Barcelona, he should assassinate two targets that are Templars that have also taken part in the jailing of Assassins.

=='''Barcelona'''==

===Finding the Spanish Assassin's guild===
Ezio walks through the streets of [[Barcelona]], guards are on the duty, but seem to be novices. Ezio sets out to murder the two targets, he states that at least one of them should know the current location of the captured assassins.

On his way, Ezio encounters a civilian who states nothing more than the location of a secret entrance (name not revealed by the civilian), then walks away. Ezio trusts that this civilian might be a thief or an assassin, although he is not sure. Ezio follows the instructions guided by the civilian and soon[[File:ACD67.png|frame|Ezio in combat with the Spanish Guard]] approaches the secret entrance.

It appears to be a hatch on top of a rooftop, Ezio opens it and soon finds himself in an abandoned Assassin's Guild. He is saddened by the emptiness, but soon finds himself unsheathing his sword as four guards enter the room.

Ezio runs into one guard, stabbing him through the stomach, he then blocks an attack with his [[Hidden Blade]] and kicks the attacker in the stomach, the attack falls to his knees as Ezio spares him for a second, grabbing another guard and slicing at his neck, he then returns to the downed guard and impales him. The remaining guard tries to flee, but gets tackled by the Assassin, Ezio digs his Hidden Blade into the guard's back. Finishing the guards with no mercy.

On his way out, Ezio encounters a Brute, much like the one in Venice, albeit with a two-handed sword. The Brute charges Ezio who rolls under a gap in the Brutes placing and escapes yet again from another ''brutal'' encounter.

After exiting the guild, Ezio finds a platoon of guards chasing him. Ezio runs throughout the streets in an effort to escape the guards. Again, they were no match at all for the ever-growing speed of Ezio Auditore da Firenze, an assassin not to be trifled with.

===The Assassination of Gaspar Martinez===
[[File:Gaspar.jpg|right|thumb|Gaspar Martinez]]
Ezio took a route through the Barcelona sewer, and began to recollect what had just happened, it was not long until Ezio felt the presence of another person. The person leapt in front of Ezio and asked him what he was doing, Ezio thought he was a civilian and told him to step aside. Ezio begins to walk past the man but stops short when the man asks him if he is a Florentine Assassin, Ezio turns swiftly and questions the man. The man tells Ezio to relax and simply states that he saw the mark of the Assassins on his finger and the Florentine clothing is a dead give-away.

Ezio approaches the man and asks him to explain his knowledge of the Assassins;
:'''Ezio''': "''What do you know of the Assassins?''"
:'''The Man''': "''Only that I am one of them, sir. My name is [[Raphael Sanchez]]. I arrived here ''(Barcelona)'' this morning, bound to the same errand as you.''"
:'''Ezio''': "''Do you know who betrayed us to the Inquisitors?''"
:'''Raphael''': "''Not yet, but we know the name of the Inquisitor Prosecutor responsible for their arrests. [[Gaspar Martinez]].''"
:—''Raphael then shares crucial information about Gaspar Martinez with Ezio.''
[[File:Raphael.jpg|left|thumb|164px|Raphael Sanchez]]
Ezio, who is now on the Barcelonese rooftops, begins his hunt for [[Gaspar Martinez]]. It does not take Ezio long to spot Gaspar's location; standing on a balcony out in the open happily looking over Barcelona, Ezio scales the building and hops onto the balcony, Gaspar shakes his head nervously and moves back to the wall.

Ezio approaches Gaspar and asks him who gave him the names of the imprisoned Assassins, Gaspar questions Ezio and states;

"''What do you mean, 'Assassins'? My dungeons are for heretics.''" Ezio sighs, Gaspar states that whoever these men may be, it won't matter for much longer and states that [[File:Gaspardie.jpg|thumb|The Assassination of Gaspar Martinez.]]they will soon be executed one by one, he then tells Ezio that as they speak an execution is being prepared for one of the heretics, Gaspar laughs but he is soon silenced as Ezio interrupts him and angrily tells him that if this man dies, he will keep the stake fire burning until this whole city is a cinder. Gaspar grunts as Ezio plunges his blade into the [[Templar]], a moment passes and [[Gaspar Martinez]] crumples to the ground, no longer is he a Templar, but a helpless corpse.

Ezio searches Gaspar's body and finds a list of names; the names of the captured Assassins. Ezio sets out to save the current Assassin at risk and in time find Raphael and show him the list.

Ezio runs through the city streets, as fast as he can in an effort to stop the Assassin burning at the stake, unfortunately [[guards]] are alerted to his presence and have given chase, Ezio loses most of them but his effort is undone when he finds a mass of guards near the [[Assassin]], who is unharmed. Ezio leaps down from a nearby rooftop and engages in combat. Ezio draws his sword and charges at an unaware guard, he then impales the guard and kicks another nearby guard in the stomach, the guard drops his sword and Ezio drives his fist into that guard's chin, Ezio then pulls his sword from the other guard's chest and slices at the wounded guard's neck. Two other guards run from behind a wall to the east. Ezio pulls out his throwing knives and throws them directly at the guards. The guards get knocked back as the knives hit and impale their stomach area, the guards make a useless effort to run at Ezio but weaken and collapse in a heap to the ground.

Ezio helps the captured Assassin up and they proceed to Raphael, who is spotted on a nearby rooftop. Raphael thanks Ezio for his help, but Ezio ignores him and gives Raphael the list of names. Raphael states that he knew these men and tells Ezio that they were captured in [[Zaragoza]], in the kingdom of [[Aragon]]. Ezio tells Raphael that Zaragoza will be his next destination and asks Raphael if he will join him, Raphael tells Ezio that his fighting skills are dwindling and that he won't be able to aid in fighting, but will provide as a guide since he knows the town well, he also states that he will find shelter for the freed Assassins.

Ezio Auditore and Raphael Sanchez begin their long journey to [[Zaragoza]].

=='''Zaragoza'''==
==='''Finding the Assassins'''===
Upon arrival in Zaragoza, Ezio and Raphael parted ways. Before leaving, Raphael told Ezio to seek out the Inquisition's Calificador, Pedro Llorente, saying that he might be "persuaded" to tell where the six Assassins in the city were being imprisoned. Ezio was then left to his own devices, as Raphael said that his face was infamous to the Inquisitors, and that "[he'd] need an alibi" if Llorente were to suffer an untimely fate.
Ezio then began to prowl the city looking for his target, but finding Llorente turned out to be easier than Ezio thought. Not long into his search, he came across Llorente speaking to none other than Spain's Inquisitor General, Tomas Torquemada himself. Llorente humbly welcomed his superior, who had arrived unexpectedly, but Torquemada rebuffed his pleasantries. The two men turned their attention to an Assassin that had been recently captured. Pedro stated the prisoner had refused to "convert or confess." Incensed, Torquemada had the Assassin executed by a Brute, telling him before he died that other prisoners before him had been terrified, even theough they felt God was on their side. Torquemada went on to say that it was unbelievable that the Assassin wasn't afraid at all, considering that, like all his people, he ridiculed the concept of God completely. After the Assassin's execution, Torquemada was heard to say, "Rodrigo Borgia was right to have me arrest you and your cohorts...Your lack of faith is a disease." The Inquisitor General then left, remarking coldly, "Let the heretic bleed." For Ezio, this confirmed in his mind that Rodrigo Borgia was ordering the Spanish Inquisitors to destroy the Assassins in Spain to keep them from stopping his plans. With his worst fears confirmed, Ezio raced to save the remaining five Assassins from sharing their brother's fate.

Ezio made his way through the sewers of Zaragoza to find and save the other Assassins. It wasn't an easy job, as guards were everywhere. Fortunately, Ezio was able to dispatch them with ease. As he made his way through the tunnels, Ezio found the Assassin's imprisoned at points along the way, stopping to save them one by one. Unfortunately, he was only able to find four of them. News of Ezio's efforts spread quickly. When Pedro Llorente got word of the four Assassin's escape, he was enraged. He realized what was up, and ordered his guard to keep watch over the last remaining prisoner, or else "Torquemada himself will personally supervise your disembowling." But the extra security proved useless, as Ezio was easily able to rescue the fifth and final Assassin. Ezio then made his escape via a Leap of Faith.
===The Assassination of Pedro Llorente===
Upon escaping the Inquisitor guards, Ezio met up again with Raphael Sanchez, who expressed gratitude on seeing "the shadows of [his] city are moving again." Ezio shared what he had learned from his eavesdropping, and Raphael informed him of Torquemada's position. Ezio mentioned that Rodrigo Borgia ordered the imprisonment and execution of the Spanish Assassin's Guild, and at this, Raphael cursed their bad luck, stating that he and his fellows had suspected contact between the Templars and Inquisitors all along. Raphael went on to say that Llorente would be easy to track in Zaragoza, but looking for Torquemada would be another story, to which Ezio replied, "I'm a patient man, Sanchez." then he left to deal with Llorente.

After sneaking past and killing numerous guards, Ezio confronted Pedro in the city square. After being rebuked by the Inquisitor, Ezio demanded of Pedro how he had been contacted by the Templars. Pedro scoffed at Ezio's claims, insisting that the Templars had been disgraced in disbanded in 1312, quipping, "Rumors of their activites are as reliable as fairy tales." Ezio responded that if that were the case, they couldn't be around to save Pedro, and he struck down the Inquisitor on the spot. As the hue and cry went up, Ezio beat a hasty retreat back to Raphael.

When the two met, Ezio reported his murder of Pedro, but that he hadn't seen nor heard from Torquemada. Raphael replied that he had expected as much, adding that Queen Isabella hadn't told him that the Inquisitor General would be in town. Flabbergasted and stunned, Ezio asked how Raphael was able to speak to the Queen of Spain, to which Raphael answered that he served her court as Royal Treasurer. Ezio expressed amazement that an Assassin was able to infiltrate the highest ranks of the Spanish Royal Court, as the Templars were more proficient at gaining favor and working their way into positions of power in Europe. Raphael assured him that Isabella and her husband, King Ferdinand, knew nothing of him being an Assassin, but warned that, though they held one of the Queen's ears, the Templars, it seemed, held the other. Raphael offered to explain more, but Ezio politely declined, saying it was best he return home to Italy. But Raphael was adamant, insisting that the Templars had a horrible scheme in the works to assume control of Spain. So, putting his priorities aside and surrendering once more to his sense of duty, Ezio followed his brother Assassin south to the Moorish stronghold of Grenada.
[[Category:Major Events]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed II: Discovery]]

Mission to Aragon

2010-10-02T18:29:01Z

205.188.116.75: /* The Thieves' Guild */

{{WPtimeline}}

{{Event

|prev = [[Battle of Forli]]
|next = [[Bonfire of the Vanities]]
|image = [[File:Assassins-Creed-2-Discovery-2.jpg|300px|]]
|timeframe = [[Renaissance]]
|name = Sailing to Spain
|date = 1491
|place = *[[Italy]]
**[[Venice]]
*[[Spain]]
**[[Barcelona]]
**[[Zaragoza]]
**[[Granada]]
|outcome = * Ezio saves Christopher Columbus
* Ezio's recovery of the Atlas
* Ezio's migration to Spain
* Freeing of the Spanish Assassins
* Death of Tomas Torquemada's Inquisitors
|key = *[[Assassins]] & [[Thieves]]
*[[Inquisitors]]
|participants = *[[Assassins]]
**[[Ezio Auditore da Firenze]]
**[[Christoffa Corombo]] (ally)
**[[Antonio de Magianis]]
**[[Luis Santangel]]
**[[Muhammad XII]] (ally)
*[[Inquisitors]]
**[[Tomas Torquemada]]
**[[Gaspard Martinez]]
**[[Pedro Llorente]]
**[[Juan de Marillo]]
*[[Templars]]
**[[Rodrigo Borgia]]
}}
{{Template:Stub}}

{{youmay|in-game [[Assassin%27s_Creed_Wiki:WikiProject/Hungerer_of_Knowledge|events]]|the [[Spanish Inquisition (tribunal)]]}}

{{Quote|I am Ezio Auditore da Firenze, and as my father and grandfathers were before me, I am an Assassin.|Ezio Auditore da Firenze, Venice, 1491}}

[[Rodrigo Borgia]], who fears for his life, has stationed wanted posters all over [[Italy]]. Every guard has been alerted of the presence [[Ezio Auditore da Firenze]], and are given orders to take him out on sight. Ezio, who was scouring the country for the [[First Apple|Apple of Eden]], is soon delayed when [[Antonio]] informs him of Borgia's current location.

=='''Venice'''==
===The Thieves' Guild===

[[Ezio]] received word from a thief that [[Antonio]] summons him for an urgent meeting, and proceeded to make his way through [[Venice]]
[[File:Acd23.png|right|thumb|221px|Ezio in a duel with a Borgia Guard Captain]]towards the [[Thieves]]' Guild. Guards have been ordered to hunt down Ezio on sight, and Ezio saw numerous Wanted posters on his way to the guild. Even with this at hand, Ezio managed to enter the guild unscathed.

Ezio meets with Antonio, who mentions that [[Luis Santangel]], a stranger from Spain, is in need of some help and has heard that Ezio is the "''...deadliest man in Italia...''". Luis after introducing himself, tells Ezio that a friend of his, [[Christoffa Corombo]] is attending a meeting with [[Rodrigo Borgia]]. Ezio's posture brightens a bit as Luis continues. He suspects that it is a trap, as the meeting was called a mere day or two after Christoffa stumbled onto a significant artifact.

Ezio agrees to protect Christoffa, but states that he is not a hired blade, stating that he is only doing the job for Borgia. Ezio thanks Luis for the opportunity, but states that he does not want to meddle with Christoffa's affairs.

===A Favor For a Friend===

Ezio proceeds to the meeting, being careful not to alert any of the guards. Seeing an opportunity, Ezio makes his way to the rooftops where civilians do not linger.[[File:Asscreed4.png|frame|Ezio Auditore in combat.]]

After jumping and scaling a few rooftops, Ezio spots Christoffa speaking to a Guard through a window. Christoffa is complaining that Rodrigo hasn't shown up yet. The guard acts silent at first, but after a few minutes of complaining. The guard walks forward to Christoffa and tells him that Rodrigo has changed plans, he then draws his sword and pokes Christoffa with it. The guard says in a grim fashion that Rodrigo has no need for Christoffa and is about to strike.

Before the guard gets a chance to silence Christoffa, Ezio kicks down the door and prepares to enter combat, Ezio stabs at the guard's legs and punches his stomach area, and unwinds his [[hidden blade]] from his fist, impaling the guard, and then throws the guard's corpse off the blade and onto the floor.

Christoffa thanks Ezio kindly as Ezio tells why he saved him. He then questioned Christoffa, about how he arranged a meeting with Borgia, but Christoffa said that 'The Spaniard' miraculously found him after finding a certain artifact in an expedition and wanted to fund it.

Moments later, Guards stormed through the door. Ezio slew them as he told Christoffa to escape while he diverts the guard's attention. Ezio runs into the open street in an effort to distract the attention of the guards after Christoffa. Christoffa and Ezio get away safely and make it back to the Thieves Guild to report to Luis and Antonio.

Ezio, however arrived a bit later than Christoffa to the guild. When he gets there, Antonio states that they have already left and are waiting for Ezio in a building near the Garden District. Ezio, seemingly tired, asks Antonio who these two men are. In reply, Antonio states that he does not know, and that Luis's choice in approaching the Thieves Guild first-hand was a bit strange.

At the Garden District, Luis and Christoffa again thank Ezio. Christoffa tells Ezio that Rodgrio Borgia has discovered their hideout and his soldiers are searching for a rare artifact, which is an Atlas of no name. It contains maps charting a Western route to the 'Orient'. Luis says that in the wrong hands, the Atlas could cause great harm and kindly tells Ezio if he could retrieve it for him as a final favor before they leave Italy.

Ezio heads to the Harbor District to find the Hideout and recover the Atlas.

==='''Looking for Christoffa's Atlas'''===

The guards in Venice have strengthened their forces, many of the guards were replaced by Borgia's men, which were better trained and better equipped than those of the [[File:Asscreed2.png|thumb|right|250px|Ezio in the hideout library]]Venetian ones. Ezio, after almost a dozen encounters with the guards, manages to get to the Hideout and enters the building in search for the Atlas.

Many guards are stationed in the building, which forced Ezio to cling to the walls and slide past patrols or take out the rare common loner guards. The closer he gets to the Atlas the more guards there are. A few halls away from the Atlas Ezio spots a heavy guard patrol consisting of two [[Seekers]] and several guard captains, Ezio hides in a nearby doorway and waits for them to pass, he then grabs four throwing knives from the side of his belt and flings them at a sideway angle. In a matter of seconds, a heavy guard patrol became withered corpses.

After sneaking through the library, Ezio was relieved that the Atlas has yet to be taken. He swiftly sneaks off from the stand and onto his hands and opens it up; "...''not mistaking this for anything else''.", Ezio then turns around and encounters a [[Brute]] Captain, the Brute angrily groans and twirls his huge halberd. Ezio readies his sword and prepares to do battle, but called it bluff, as he quickly fled to the back of the room and exits through a small secret entrance on the ground, which was already opened. It led to an underground crypt and small sewer. Ezio successfully dodged the fight.

To Ezio's dismay, Guards were following him and gave chase, but they proved no match for the aspiring Assassin.

Ezio makes his way to the Harbor to deliver the Atlas to Christoffa and Luis. After he arrives Christoffa was very happy, but states that a few maps were missing. Still, he was satisfied that the 'Piri Reis' map was in one piece, which was to be their next stop.

Ezio made it clear to Luis that from now on he should bring his own protection to Italia, to which Luis sadly states that all the Assassin captains and leaders in Spain were captured and tortured by [[Tomas Torquemada]] and his inquisitors. Ezio then changes his mind and tells Luis to continue, Luis says that all [[Assassins]] in Spain are to be arrested immediately due to Rodrigo's paranoia of being killed by them.

Ezio reports to Antonio about the bad news and mentions that his quest for the Apple Of Eden is to be postponed as he prepares to make his way to [[Barcelona]] in [[Spain]], to make an effort to free the Assassins and get closer to Rodrigo Borgia. Antonio complements Ezio and tells him that there is a Thieves' Guild in [[Barcelona]] that has connections to the one run by Antonio and that it should be easy to gain the trust of the Thieves there. Antonio states that while Ezio is in Barcelona, he should assassinate two targets that are Templars that have also taken part in the jailing of Assassins.

=='''Barcelona'''==

===Finding the Spanish Assassin's guild===
Ezio walks through the streets of [[Barcelona]], guards are on the duty, but seem to be novices. Ezio sets out to murder the two targets, he states that at least one of them should know the current location of the captured assassins.

On his way, Ezio encounters a civilian who states nothing more than the location of a secret entrance (name not revealed by the civilian), then walks away. Ezio trusts that this civilian might be a thief or an assassin, although he is not sure. Ezio follows the instructions guided by the civilian and soon[[File:ACD67.png|frame|Ezio in combat with the Spanish Guard]] approaches the secret entrance.

It appears to be a hatch on top of a rooftop, Ezio opens it and soon finds himself in an abandoned Assassin's Guild. He is saddened by the emptiness, but soon finds himself unsheathing his sword as four guards enter the room.

Ezio runs into one guard, stabbing him through the stomach, he then blocks an attack with his [[Hidden Blade]] and kicks the attacker in the stomach, the attack falls to his knees as Ezio spares him for a second, grabbing another guard and slicing at his neck, he then returns to the downed guard and impales him. The remaining guard tries to flee, but gets tackled by the Assassin, Ezio digs his Hidden Blade into the guard's back. Finishing the guards with no mercy.

On his way out, Ezio encounters a Brute, much like the one in Venice, albeit with a two-handed sword. The Brute charges Ezio who rolls under a gap in the Brutes placing and escapes yet again from another ''brutal'' encounter.

After exiting the guild, Ezio finds a platoon of guards chasing him. Ezio runs throughout the streets in an effort to escape the guards. Again, they were no match at all for the ever-growing speed of Ezio Auditore da Firenze, an assassin not to be trifled with.

===The Assassination of Gaspar Martinez===
[[File:Gaspar.jpg|right|thumb|Gaspar Martinez]]
Ezio took a route through the Barcelona sewer, and began to recollect what had just happened, it was not long until Ezio felt the presence of another person. The person leapt in front of Ezio and asked him what he was doing, Ezio thought he was a civilian and told him to step aside. Ezio begins to walk past the man but stops short when the man asks him if he is a Florentine Assassin, Ezio turns swiftly and questions the man. The man tells Ezio to relax and simply states that he saw the mark of the Assassins on his finger and the Florentine clothing is a dead give-away.

Ezio approaches the man and asks him to explain his knowledge of the Assassins;
:'''Ezio''': "''What do you know of the Assassins?''"
:'''The Man''': "''Only that I am one of them, sir. My name is [[Raphael Sanchez]]. I arrived here ''(Barcelona)'' this morning, bound to the same errand as you.''"
:'''Ezio''': "''Do you know who betrayed us to the Inquisitors?''"
:'''Raphael''': "''Not yet, but we know the name of the Inquisitor Prosecutor responsible for their arrests. [[Gaspar Martinez]].''"
:—''Raphael then shares crucial information about Gaspar Martinez with Ezio.''
[[File:Raphael.jpg|left|thumb|164px|Raphael Sanchez]]
Ezio, who is now on the Barcelonese rooftops, begins his hunt for [[Gaspar Martinez]]. It does not take Ezio long to spot Gaspar's location; standing on a balcony out in the open happily looking over Barcelona, Ezio scales the building and hops onto the balcony, Gaspar shakes his head nervously and moves back to the wall.

Ezio approaches Gaspar and asks him who gave him the names of the imprisoned Assassins, Gaspar questions Ezio and states;

"''What do you mean, 'Assassins'? My dungeons are for heretics.''" Ezio sighs, Gaspar states that whoever these men may be, it won't matter for much longer and states that [[File:Gaspardie.jpg|thumb|The Assassination of Gaspar Martinez.]]they will soon be executed one by one, he then tells Ezio that as they speak an execution is being prepared for one of the heretics, Gaspar laughs but he is soon silenced as Ezio interrupts him and angrily tells him that if this man dies, he will keep the stake fire burning until this whole city is a cinder. Gaspar grunts as Ezio plunges his blade into the [[Templar]], a moment passes and [[Gaspar Martinez]] crumples to the ground, no longer is he a Templar, but a helpless corpse.

Ezio searches Gaspar's body and finds a list of names; the names of the captured Assassins. Ezio sets out to save the current Assassin at risk and in time find Raphael and show him the list.

Ezio runs through the city streets, as fast as he can in an effort to stop the Assassin burning at the stake, unfortunately [[guards]] are alerted to his presence and have given chase, Ezio loses most of them but his effort is undone when he finds a mass of guards near the [[Assassin]], who is unharmed. Ezio leaps down from a nearby rooftop and engages in combat. Ezio draws his sword and charges at an unaware guard, he then impales the guard and kicks another nearby guard in the stomach, the guard drops his sword and Ezio drives his fist into that guard's chin, Ezio then pulls his sword from the other guard's chest and slices at the wounded guard's neck. Two other guards run from behind a wall to the east. Ezio pulls out his throwing knives and throws them directly at the guards. The guards get knocked back as the knives hit and impale their stomach area, the guards make a useless effort to run at Ezio but weaken and collapse in a heap to the ground.

Ezio helps the captured Assassin up and they proceed to Raphael, who is spotted on a nearby rooftop. Raphael thanks Ezio for his help, but Ezio ignores him and gives Raphael the list of names. Raphael states that he knew these men and tells Ezio that they were captured in [[Zaragoza]], in the kingdom of [[Aragon]]. Ezio tells Raphael that Zaragoza will be his next destination and asks Raphael if he will join him, Raphael tells Ezio that his fighting skills are dwindling and that he won't be able to aid in fighting, but will provide as a guide since he knows the town well, he also states that he will find shelter for the freed Assassins.

Ezio Auditore and Raphael Sanchez begin their long journey to [[Zaragoza]].

=='''Zaragoza'''==
==='''Finding the Assassins'''===

:
[[Category:Major Events]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed II: Discovery]]

Mission to Aragon

2010-10-02T18:28:33Z

205.188.116.75: /* The Thieves' Guild */

{{WPtimeline}}

{{Event

|prev = [[Battle of Forli]]
|next = [[Bonfire of the Vanities]]
|image = [[File:Assassins-Creed-2-Discovery-2.jpg|300px|]]
|timeframe = [[Renaissance]]
|name = Sailing to Spain
|date = 1491
|place = *[[Italy]]
**[[Venice]]
*[[Spain]]
**[[Barcelona]]
**[[Zaragoza]]
**[[Granada]]
|outcome = * Ezio saves Christopher Columbus
* Ezio's recovery of the Atlas
* Ezio's migration to Spain
* Freeing of the Spanish Assassins
* Death of Tomas Torquemada's Inquisitors
|key = *[[Assassins]] & [[Thieves]]
*[[Inquisitors]]
|participants = *[[Assassins]]
**[[Ezio Auditore da Firenze]]
**[[Christoffa Corombo]] (ally)
**[[Antonio de Magianis]]
**[[Luis Santangel]]
**[[Muhammad XII]] (ally)
*[[Inquisitors]]
**[[Tomas Torquemada]]
**[[Gaspard Martinez]]
**[[Pedro Llorente]]
**[[Juan de Marillo]]
*[[Templars]]
**[[Rodrigo Borgia]]
}}
{{Template:Stub}}

{{youmay|in-game [[Assassin%27s_Creed_Wiki:WikiProject/Hungerer_of_Knowledge|events]]|the [[Spanish Inquisition (tribunal)]]}}

{{Quote|I am Ezio Auditore da Firenze, and as my father and grandfathers were before me, I am an Assassin.|Ezio Auditore da Firenze, Venice, 1491}}

[[Rodrigo Borgia]], who fears for his life, has stationed wanted posters all over [[Italy]]. Every guard has been alerted of the presence [[Ezio Auditore da Firenze]], and are given orders to take him out on sight. Ezio, who was scouring the country for the [[First Apple|Apple of Eden]], is soon delayed when [[Antonio]] informs him of Borgia's current location.

=='''Venice'''==
===The Thieves' Guild===

[[Ezio]] received word from a thief that [[Antonio]] summons him for an urgent meeting, and proceeded to make his way through [[Venice]]
[[File:Acd23.png|right|thumb|221px|Ezio in a duel with a Borgia Guard Captain]]

towards the [[Thieves]]' Guild. Guards have been ordered to hunt down Ezio on sight, and Ezio saw numerous Wanted posters on his way to the guild. Even with this at hand, Ezio managed to enter the guild unscathed.

Ezio meets with Antonio, who mentions that [[Luis Santangel]], a stranger from Spain, is in need of some help and has heard that Ezio is the "''...deadliest man in Italia...''". Luis after introducing himself, tells Ezio that a friend of his, [[Christoffa Corombo]] is attending a meeting with [[Rodrigo Borgia]]. Ezio's posture brightens a bit as Luis continues. He suspects that it is a trap, as the meeting was called a mere day or two after Christoffa stumbled onto a significant artifact.

Ezio agrees to protect Christoffa, but states that he is not a hired blade, stating that he is only doing the job for Borgia. Ezio thanks Luis for the opportunity, but states that he does not want to meddle with Christoffa's affairs.

===A Favor For a Friend===

Ezio proceeds to the meeting, being careful not to alert any of the guards. Seeing an opportunity, Ezio makes his way to the rooftops where civilians do not linger.[[File:Asscreed4.png|frame|Ezio Auditore in combat.]]

After jumping and scaling a few rooftops, Ezio spots Christoffa speaking to a Guard through a window. Christoffa is complaining that Rodrigo hasn't shown up yet. The guard acts silent at first, but after a few minutes of complaining. The guard walks forward to Christoffa and tells him that Rodrigo has changed plans, he then draws his sword and pokes Christoffa with it. The guard says in a grim fashion that Rodrigo has no need for Christoffa and is about to strike.

Before the guard gets a chance to silence Christoffa, Ezio kicks down the door and prepares to enter combat, Ezio stabs at the guard's legs and punches his stomach area, and unwinds his [[hidden blade]] from his fist, impaling the guard, and then throws the guard's corpse off the blade and onto the floor.

Christoffa thanks Ezio kindly as Ezio tells why he saved him. He then questioned Christoffa, about how he arranged a meeting with Borgia, but Christoffa said that 'The Spaniard' miraculously found him after finding a certain artifact in an expedition and wanted to fund it.

Moments later, Guards stormed through the door. Ezio slew them as he told Christoffa to escape while he diverts the guard's attention. Ezio runs into the open street in an effort to distract the attention of the guards after Christoffa. Christoffa and Ezio get away safely and make it back to the Thieves Guild to report to Luis and Antonio.

Ezio, however arrived a bit later than Christoffa to the guild. When he gets there, Antonio states that they have already left and are waiting for Ezio in a building near the Garden District. Ezio, seemingly tired, asks Antonio who these two men are. In reply, Antonio states that he does not know, and that Luis's choice in approaching the Thieves Guild first-hand was a bit strange.

At the Garden District, Luis and Christoffa again thank Ezio. Christoffa tells Ezio that Rodgrio Borgia has discovered their hideout and his soldiers are searching for a rare artifact, which is an Atlas of no name. It contains maps charting a Western route to the 'Orient'. Luis says that in the wrong hands, the Atlas could cause great harm and kindly tells Ezio if he could retrieve it for him as a final favor before they leave Italy.

Ezio heads to the Harbor District to find the Hideout and recover the Atlas.

==='''Looking for Christoffa's Atlas'''===

The guards in Venice have strengthened their forces, many of the guards were replaced by Borgia's men, which were better trained and better equipped than those of the [[File:Asscreed2.png|thumb|right|250px|Ezio in the hideout library]]Venetian ones. Ezio, after almost a dozen encounters with the guards, manages to get to the Hideout and enters the building in search for the Atlas.

Many guards are stationed in the building, which forced Ezio to cling to the walls and slide past patrols or take out the rare common loner guards. The closer he gets to the Atlas the more guards there are. A few halls away from the Atlas Ezio spots a heavy guard patrol consisting of two [[Seekers]] and several guard captains, Ezio hides in a nearby doorway and waits for them to pass, he then grabs four throwing knives from the side of his belt and flings them at a sideway angle. In a matter of seconds, a heavy guard patrol became withered corpses.

After sneaking through the library, Ezio was relieved that the Atlas has yet to be taken. He swiftly sneaks off from the stand and onto his hands and opens it up; "...''not mistaking this for anything else''.", Ezio then turns around and encounters a [[Brute]] Captain, the Brute angrily groans and twirls his huge halberd. Ezio readies his sword and prepares to do battle, but called it bluff, as he quickly fled to the back of the room and exits through a small secret entrance on the ground, which was already opened. It led to an underground crypt and small sewer. Ezio successfully dodged the fight.

To Ezio's dismay, Guards were following him and gave chase, but they proved no match for the aspiring Assassin.

Ezio makes his way to the Harbor to deliver the Atlas to Christoffa and Luis. After he arrives Christoffa was very happy, but states that a few maps were missing. Still, he was satisfied that the 'Piri Reis' map was in one piece, which was to be their next stop.

Ezio made it clear to Luis that from now on he should bring his own protection to Italia, to which Luis sadly states that all the Assassin captains and leaders in Spain were captured and tortured by [[Tomas Torquemada]] and his inquisitors. Ezio then changes his mind and tells Luis to continue, Luis says that all [[Assassins]] in Spain are to be arrested immediately due to Rodrigo's paranoia of being killed by them.

Ezio reports to Antonio about the bad news and mentions that his quest for the Apple Of Eden is to be postponed as he prepares to make his way to [[Barcelona]] in [[Spain]], to make an effort to free the Assassins and get closer to Rodrigo Borgia. Antonio complements Ezio and tells him that there is a Thieves' Guild in [[Barcelona]] that has connections to the one run by Antonio and that it should be easy to gain the trust of the Thieves there. Antonio states that while Ezio is in Barcelona, he should assassinate two targets that are Templars that have also taken part in the jailing of Assassins.

=='''Barcelona'''==

===Finding the Spanish Assassin's guild===
Ezio walks through the streets of [[Barcelona]], guards are on the duty, but seem to be novices. Ezio sets out to murder the two targets, he states that at least one of them should know the current location of the captured assassins.

On his way, Ezio encounters a civilian who states nothing more than the location of a secret entrance (name not revealed by the civilian), then walks away. Ezio trusts that this civilian might be a thief or an assassin, although he is not sure. Ezio follows the instructions guided by the civilian and soon[[File:ACD67.png|frame|Ezio in combat with the Spanish Guard]] approaches the secret entrance.

It appears to be a hatch on top of a rooftop, Ezio opens it and soon finds himself in an abandoned Assassin's Guild. He is saddened by the emptiness, but soon finds himself unsheathing his sword as four guards enter the room.

Ezio runs into one guard, stabbing him through the stomach, he then blocks an attack with his [[Hidden Blade]] and kicks the attacker in the stomach, the attack falls to his knees as Ezio spares him for a second, grabbing another guard and slicing at his neck, he then returns to the downed guard and impales him. The remaining guard tries to flee, but gets tackled by the Assassin, Ezio digs his Hidden Blade into the guard's back. Finishing the guards with no mercy.

On his way out, Ezio encounters a Brute, much like the one in Venice, albeit with a two-handed sword. The Brute charges Ezio who rolls under a gap in the Brutes placing and escapes yet again from another ''brutal'' encounter.

After exiting the guild, Ezio finds a platoon of guards chasing him. Ezio runs throughout the streets in an effort to escape the guards. Again, they were no match at all for the ever-growing speed of Ezio Auditore da Firenze, an assassin not to be trifled with.

===The Assassination of Gaspar Martinez===
[[File:Gaspar.jpg|right|thumb|Gaspar Martinez]]
Ezio took a route through the Barcelona sewer, and began to recollect what had just happened, it was not long until Ezio felt the presence of another person. The person leapt in front of Ezio and asked him what he was doing, Ezio thought he was a civilian and told him to step aside. Ezio begins to walk past the man but stops short when the man asks him if he is a Florentine Assassin, Ezio turns swiftly and questions the man. The man tells Ezio to relax and simply states that he saw the mark of the Assassins on his finger and the Florentine clothing is a dead give-away.

Ezio approaches the man and asks him to explain his knowledge of the Assassins;
:'''Ezio''': "''What do you know of the Assassins?''"
:'''The Man''': "''Only that I am one of them, sir. My name is [[Raphael Sanchez]]. I arrived here ''(Barcelona)'' this morning, bound to the same errand as you.''"
:'''Ezio''': "''Do you know who betrayed us to the Inquisitors?''"
:'''Raphael''': "''Not yet, but we know the name of the Inquisitor Prosecutor responsible for their arrests. [[Gaspar Martinez]].''"
:—''Raphael then shares crucial information about Gaspar Martinez with Ezio.''
[[File:Raphael.jpg|left|thumb|164px|Raphael Sanchez]]
Ezio, who is now on the Barcelonese rooftops, begins his hunt for [[Gaspar Martinez]]. It does not take Ezio long to spot Gaspar's location; standing on a balcony out in the open happily looking over Barcelona, Ezio scales the building and hops onto the balcony, Gaspar shakes his head nervously and moves back to the wall.

Ezio approaches Gaspar and asks him who gave him the names of the imprisoned Assassins, Gaspar questions Ezio and states;

"''What do you mean, 'Assassins'? My dungeons are for heretics.''" Ezio sighs, Gaspar states that whoever these men may be, it won't matter for much longer and states that [[File:Gaspardie.jpg|thumb|The Assassination of Gaspar Martinez.]]they will soon be executed one by one, he then tells Ezio that as they speak an execution is being prepared for one of the heretics, Gaspar laughs but he is soon silenced as Ezio interrupts him and angrily tells him that if this man dies, he will keep the stake fire burning until this whole city is a cinder. Gaspar grunts as Ezio plunges his blade into the [[Templar]], a moment passes and [[Gaspar Martinez]] crumples to the ground, no longer is he a Templar, but a helpless corpse.

Ezio searches Gaspar's body and finds a list of names; the names of the captured Assassins. Ezio sets out to save the current Assassin at risk and in time find Raphael and show him the list.

Ezio runs through the city streets, as fast as he can in an effort to stop the Assassin burning at the stake, unfortunately [[guards]] are alerted to his presence and have given chase, Ezio loses most of them but his effort is undone when he finds a mass of guards near the [[Assassin]], who is unharmed. Ezio leaps down from a nearby rooftop and engages in combat. Ezio draws his sword and charges at an unaware guard, he then impales the guard and kicks another nearby guard in the stomach, the guard drops his sword and Ezio drives his fist into that guard's chin, Ezio then pulls his sword from the other guard's chest and slices at the wounded guard's neck. Two other guards run from behind a wall to the east. Ezio pulls out his throwing knives and throws them directly at the guards. The guards get knocked back as the knives hit and impale their stomach area, the guards make a useless effort to run at Ezio but weaken and collapse in a heap to the ground.

Ezio helps the captured Assassin up and they proceed to Raphael, who is spotted on a nearby rooftop. Raphael thanks Ezio for his help, but Ezio ignores him and gives Raphael the list of names. Raphael states that he knew these men and tells Ezio that they were captured in [[Zaragoza]], in the kingdom of [[Aragon]]. Ezio tells Raphael that Zaragoza will be his next destination and asks Raphael if he will join him, Raphael tells Ezio that his fighting skills are dwindling and that he won't be able to aid in fighting, but will provide as a guide since he knows the town well, he also states that he will find shelter for the freed Assassins.

Ezio Auditore and Raphael Sanchez begin their long journey to [[Zaragoza]].

=='''Zaragoza'''==
==='''Finding the Assassins'''===

:
[[Category:Major Events]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed II: Discovery]]

Hidden Blade

2010-09-30T21:34:36Z

205.188.116.75: /* Assassin's Creed II */

{{Era|AC|AC2|Assassins}} {{Revamp}} [[File:Hiddenblade.jpg|thumb|300px|Altaïr stabbing a crusader with the Hidden Blade.]] {{quote|The hidden blade has been a constant companion of ours over the years. Some would say it defines us - and they would not be entirely wrong. Many of our successes would not have been possible without it.|[[The Codex|Altaïr's Codex]], Page 13|Assassin's Creed II}}

The iconic weapon of the [[Assassin's Creed series|''Assassin's Creed'' ''series'']], the '''Hidden Blade''' is used both for stealth assassinations and for regular combat (only in ''[[Assassin's Creed II]] and [[Assassin's Creed Brotherhood]]''.)

==''Assassin's Creed''==
Although [[Altaïr]] already has this weapon at the start of the game, he loses it when he is demoted to [[Novice]]. At his first promotion to [[rank]] 2, however, he earns it back (along with his Sword) so that he may perform his first assassination on [[Tamir|Tamir the black marketeer]] in [[Damascus]].

===Basic usage===
[[Video:12 Ways to Wield the Hidden Blade|thumb|300px|right|Video tutorial on usage of the Hidden Blade]]
This weapon is mostly used for stealthy, low profile assassinations upon soldiers. An unaware soldier may be assassinated without drawing too much attention, with stealth assassinations
being possible from both behind and in front of the target. Altaïr rams the blade into the victim's abdomen (front) or through his spine (back). When stealth is not a priority, Altaïr may perform a high profile assassination. This involves jabbing the blade through the target's nose and into the brain when facing Altaïr, or pushing the target onto his knees and stabbing him in the neck when approached from behind.

The Hidden Blade is the only weapon that Altaïr may wield while sprinting. When Altaïr is close enough to the victim during a foot pursuit, the button on the ''weapon hand ''button on the HUD will change to "assassinate", which can be pressed to carry out the assassination. Altaïr will perform a running leap, landing on his victim from behind and burying the blade in the neck. This feature makes it an ideal choice for running down targets who flee such as [[Talal|Talal the Slave Trader]] in [[Jerusalem]].

[[File:Altaïr_using_the_hidden_blade.jpg|thumb|left|280px|Altaïr performing an air assassination]]

Both low and high profile assassinations may fail. A guard wary of your actions may catch your arm when you attempt the kill and throw you back. Attacks from behind and attacks made upon guards who are prone on the ground will never fail, no matter the circumstances. Be aware, of course, that you will lose one third of your [[synchronization]] if you assassinate innocent civilians with the Hidden Blade, just as with any other weapon.

===Air Assassination===
In a [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=blXy3W2O2PE 2007 demo] of the [[William of Montferrat|William V of Montferrat]] mission, [[Jade Raymond]] introduced a move called ''air to assassinate'' that combines
some of Altaïr's acrobatic skills with his Hidden Blade. From higher ground above a target such as a nearby roof or beam, Altaïr leaps directly onto his victim and stabs him in the throat. Although the move was not covered in the manual or in-game tutorials, air to assassinate does exist within [[Assassin's Creed|''Assassin's Creed'']] and the controls were documented by stabguy on [http://www.thehiddenblade.com/air-assassinate-guide The Hidden Blade] website. All forms of air to assassinate draw attention of nearby guards, even when performed in low profile. Note that in ''[[Assassin's Creed II]]'' ''Air'' ''to Assassinate'' was renamed ''Air Assassination'' and included as a required tutorial with simplified controls.

===In combat===
The Hidden Blade can also be used while in combat. An enemy who has been grabbed and thrown (or counter thrown with a grab break) can easily be killed while he lies on the ground.
Using the Hidden Blade in combat against large groups is challenging, as Altaïr cannot block ''any'' attack. The time frame in which Altaïr can counter-attack is extremely small compared to
the sword and the short blade, but successfully countering enables one of several different - and always lethal - counter-attacks in which Altaïr stabs his opponent in the chest, head,
abdomen, base of the skull, or spine. It is also possible to assassinate the enemy in combat, while he is caught in a moment of inattention or grappling with a vigilante, or if he is taunting Altaïr (this is documented
on The Hidden Blade as the "taunting penalty"), but any other time it will fail because the enemy will always block the attack. It is also possible to assassinate your targets even if they are aware of you by getting behind them and assassinating them.

===Mechanism===
In ''Assassin's Creed'', Altaïr has the hidden blade on his left hand. The blade is integrated into the vambrace, and when not in use, sits retracted inside of the slide mechanism. Though not fully or officially understood, as to ''how'' the blade functions, there are a number of theories. One being that when Altaïr flicks his wrist, the blade is ejected with the combined force of Altaïr's arm and gravity. Altaïr is "unhinging" or "releasing" the blade which is kept locked in place. If the player holds down the weapon hand button, the blade stays ejected and Altaïr makes a fist around the blade, which rests in the spot where his amputated ring finger once was. Another popular theory is that a ring mechanism is used and that opening the hand ejects the blade, but this raises the question that why the blade does not activate every time he opens his hand, say when leaping for a ledge, and how he can hold the blade in his fist without it retracting. Another, more sensible theory is that it uses both mechanisms to operate the blade and that the blade wont eject or retract without both systems being used. one being the flicking of the wrist, and the ring mechanism.
[[File:Assassinscreedbladema5.png|thumb|The ring mechanism]]
This explains why he flicks his wrist ''and'' opens his hand to eject the blade and why he can close his fist without the blade retracting and why he can flick his arm without fear of an unexpected stabbing.

The true mechanics behind the retraction of the blade yet remain a mystery. When the weapon hand button is released, Altaïr loosens his fist and opens his hand. At this point, the blade returns to the vambrace seemingly of its own accord. Some other theories on the blade's mechanics exist, with some maintaining that the blade works on a spring-retraction system, and with others stating that the blade is never truly locked when it is released, and therefore the blade will return if Altaïr is not holding it in place. Many fans of the game have attempted to construct their own hidden blade, with many posting videos of their blade on YouTube.

It is probable that it works on the same system as modern full automatic switchblade knives. There are two springs of equal strength present. The inertia from the pull/push of one spring is enough to overcome the resistance of the other spring for the blade to lock into place.

===Role in investigations and missions===
====Informant missions====
The Hidden Blade is also used for some of the [[investigation]]s given to you by [[informants]]. You are asked to stealthily assassinate a number of targets. If any guard even once confronts you, the mission is failed. If you attack the targets or the guards with [[fists]], the [[Short Blade|short blade]], the [[Longsword|sword]], or any other high profile weapon, you will fail the mission. Because of this, you may '''only''' use [[Throwing Knives|throwing knives]] or the Hidden Blade to assassinate your targets.

====[[Interrogation]] missions====
During Interrogation missions, after successfully interrogating the target, Altaïr is forced to kill them, so they cannot reveal his plans to the enemy. He will bury the blade in their stomach to kill them, then gently lower their body onto the ground so as not to draw further attention to himself.

====[[Save Citizen]] missions====
In the optional Save Citizen missions to save citizens from soldiers threatening to kill them, this weapon will come in handy. Successfully and stealthily used, you might take out three of the soldiers before they notice you, draw their weapons, and engage you in a swordfight. Also, the Save Citizen missions are commonly located in alleyways or dark corners, so it is possible to begin the mission by starting from an elevated position and performing an air-to-assassinate.

====Assassinations====
The hidden blade is used in every storyline assassination you perform. Even if you begin by attacking the enemy with a sword, you will always finish them off with the hidden blade before it cuts to the death cutscene.

==''Assassin's Creed II''==

{{quote|The blade is designed to ensure the commitment of whomever wields it.|Leonardo da Vinci}}

[[File:Lineage Hidden Blade.png|thumb|300px|right|Giovanni's (later Ezio's) Hidden Blade in Lineage.]]

In ''[[Assassin's Creed II]]'', [[Ezio]] possesses two hidden blades, whereas Altaïr has only one. In addition, unlike Altaïr who had to sacrifice his ring finger, both of Ezio's ring fingers are intact due to a design that raised the base of the weapon itself, as outlined in the Codex.

[[File:Demond_blade2.jpg|thumb|left|250px|The blade given by Lucy to Desmond]] This revised hidden blade had been designed by Altaïr (presumably through using the Apple of Eden) so that the Assassins, who he intended to go undercover, could not be identified by the lack of a ring finger. Furthermore, the mechanism did not require a wrist "flick" to extend the blade, thus the user could retract the blade without any wrist or hand movement, and as pictured the weapon could be used with a clenched fist. (Giovanni has only been depicted as using a clenched fist, while Ezio would use the "traditional" open hand as did Altaïr.) While there is a forward/downward-rotating wheel atop the rear portion of the mechanism's housing, its function has not been identified, and there are no known schematics or explanations for the mechanism. In [[Assassin's Creed: Lineage]], there were no shots of it operating while explicitly being worn on the actor's arm without gimmicks (such as an open-ended rear housing where the blade could be pushed or pulled through), so it is probable that no actual working prop exists that operates as depicted.

Ezio's first blade would be inherited from his father, which along with the corresponding Codex page, the Assassin's Robes and a common sword had been in Giovanni's secret room after his arrest. The weapon had become inoperative ever since [[Giovanni Auditore|Giovanni]] had fought [[Rodrigo Borgia|Borgia]]'s men (in ''[[Assassin's Creed: Lineage]]''), when a single sword strike against the blade had dislodged it from the bracer and mechanism, but Ezio brought it to his friend [[Leonardo da Vinci]] to repair it.

Later on, Ezio would acquire another Codex page which upon decryption by Leonardo detailed the construction of a hidden blade with a metal plate on the top side of the vambrace, allowing the wielder to safely deflect enemy attacks and thus to properly engage in armed conflict with the blades.

[[File:Double_assassination.jpg|thumb|250px|A Double Assassination from directly in between two guards.]]

At the end of the game, [[Desmond]] receives one from [[Lucy]], a similar (if not the same) model of the Hidden Blade used by Ezio to face Warren Vidic's henchmen, but the Poison Blade and Gun are seemingly absent and/or inoperable, possibly due to the fact that the hidden blade that is given still needs improvements from a skilled engineer such as da Vinci, or the fact that lead bullets or the certain alloy used to make the hollowed out blade isn't available anymore.

In combat

In ''Assassin's Creed II'', the use of the hidden blade in combat is more classical. It can be used like a regular weapon, and is capable of[[Video:---The Guide to the Hidden Blade---|thumb|left|300px|Video Guide to the Hidden Blade]]

breaking an enemy's defense. It attacks fairly fast, becoming faster after the acquirement of the second blade, allowing Ezio to unleash a constant barrage of strikes, suppressing a foe's ability to attack or killing them before they can attack. While attacking with the hidden blade, enemies cannot counter-attack, unlike

when you attack with swords, maces and smaller weapons. Unlike the first game, it is also possible to block attacks while using the Hidden Blade once he has the upgraded vambrace. The hidden blade also allows you to attack very quickly and gives you more freedom in movement rather than the other weapons. For example, Ezio can easily strafe a 180 degree arch in the time it takes for the enemy to attack. This is barely possible except from very close range range with the sword or dagger. It also allows Ezio to quickly flee from a battle without having to take the time to sheath his weapon.

Veterans of ''Assassin's Creed'' combat may want to challenge themselves by using the Hidden Blade(s) in combat. While the counter-kill timing window is very short (a fraction of a second), skillful timing will be rewarded nicely; except for against the [[Brutes]]' smashes which knock Ezio's weapon away (does not work against Hidden Blades) and [[Seekers]]' (sweep Ezio's feet) special attacks, a successfully timed counter will always kill the guard against which it is performed, even if the guard has high health and/or is a high-ranking soldier. In addition, Brutes are very vulnerable and easy to combo kill with the hidden blades. Even a 3 hit combo can be used to kill a brute: see 1:44 in the video to the left.

===Upgrades===
[[File:Air_assassination.jpg|thumb|250px|An Air Assassination Being Preformed by Ezio]]
The second Hidden Blade is acquired later and the main blade gets upgraded with the [[Poison Blade]] and the [[Pistol]] installed. Also, both blades get greaves allowing Ezio to block heavier attacks with the hidden blades.Ezio can buy poison for the blade from [[Doctors]] and ammunition for the pistol at [[Blacksmiths]].

===Techniques===
[[File:956856_20090525_790screen003.jpg|thumb|left|Ezio performing a 'Hiding Spot' assassination.]]
Later on, Ezio can assassinate enemies below with an Air Assassination, a Double Air Assassination if the target is adjacent to another, by leaping from a platform onto the victim. This, however, is easily noticeable by [[guards]] and they will attack once they see you doing it. It is possible to assassinate two guards at the same time (at ground level) by standing between them and piercing both their throats.

At the same time Ezio learns the aforementioned techniques, he also learns how to assassinate enemies that are standing on ledges above him, as well as how to assassinate targets from a hiding spot (e.g. Hay, Wells and Benches).

There are also other techniques that aren't actually part of what Ezio learns, but rather what players use to kill guards. One example would be side-stepping around a guard right after he attacks and then doing a instant kill to their backs with the hidden blade. Also, one can may grab an enemy and strike or throw him so that he falls, and then run to his body to perform a instant kill using the hidden blade before he can get back to his feet. A flashier and possibly quicker alternative is to perform an Air Assassination while running up a nearby wall or other vertical surface (i.e. a pillar). This sort of Air Assassination may also be attempted against standing enemies, though the chance of success is low if the enemy is aware of Ezio's presence during Open Conflict.

Ezio can also perform special combo kill animations and counter kill animations with the dual hidden blades.

==''Assassin's Creed Brotherhood''==

[[File:Acbeziohiddenblades.jpg|thumb|250px|Ezio's new hidden blades in ''Brotherhood''.]]

In ''[[Assassin's Creed Brotherhood]]'', 1499, at the beginning of the game, Ezio's hidden blade (or at least its bracer) can be seen on a table while he is sleeping with [[Caterina Sforza]].

However in 1503, Ezio has two new hidden blades with similar bracers on each forearm. These new bracers match the other new parts of Ezio's robes, however in some screenshots or pictures Ezio has only one hidden blade instead of two, the reason of for this is currently unknown.

[[Ezio's Apprentices]] are equipped with hidden blades, though they only have one, two hidden blades only goes to the most trusted of assassins.

The [[smuggler]] from the Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood multiplayer also appears to sport a hidden blade, although it is inverted (upside down. The blade comes out from on top of her arm, rather than the bottom).

==Trivia==
[[File:Zw-darius.png|thumb|Darius, the first to wield a Hidden Blade]]

*On one of the [[Codex Pages]] it states that the blade has to be connected or linked with the user, thus explaining part of why Altaïr had his ring finger removed. Altaïr opens his hand and spreads his fingers whenever the blade is extended. Similarly, he never uses the blade with his hand clenched in a fist; all stabbing moves and assassinations are performed with an open hand. The only time the blade sits in the space left by the amputated finger is when the player extends the blade and holds it out (by holding the weapon hand button while out of combat). Holding the button will keep the blade extended, and will act as any unsheathed weapon, scaring away [[civilians]].
*In both games the trigger mechanism is not visible on Altaïr's or Ezio's hands, even when they aren't wearing gloves.
*Masyaf Guards in ''Assassin's Creed'' do sport a hidden blade, though they never use it, nor is their ring finger missing.
*[[Malik]], from the first game, had the hidden blade before he lost his arm but did not have an amputated finger.
*The first recorded usage of the Hidden Blade by an Assassin was [[Darius]], when he assassinated [[Xerxes]] of Persia. Moreover, his [[Assassin's Seal|seal]]'s symbol is the Hidden Blade. However, his ring finger is still intact and he weilds it on his right hand.
*[[Patrice Desilets]], the creative director of the game, stated that the addition of a second blade in ''Assassin's Creed II'' also had a lucid reason: it's ''Assassin's Creed II,'' so there are 2 blades.
*In the film ''Smokin' Aces'', one of the assassins sport a weapon similar to the hidden blade. Also, in the movie ''G.I.Joe: Rise of Cobra'', Storm Shadow uses a weapon similar to the Hidden Blade, though it is limited by the fact it must be operated with both hands. In the new ''Mortal Kombat: Rebirth'' trailer Dr. Alan Zane, a.k.a. Baraka has similar forearm hidden blades. In Soul Calibur : Broken Destiny, the character Dampierre fights with two similar hidden blades, although much bigger in size.
*The Hidden Blade is the only weapon that has a counter attack that cannot be blocked by enemies, though the timing has to be more precise than with a counter with a sword or shortblade.
*Ezio's second Hidden Blade on his right arm in ''Assassin's Creed II'' is black, compared to the original white one.
*In ''Brotherhood'', it seems that Ezio has a new set of Hidden Blades, each of them sporting the gun attachment.
*According to the Codex, there are only a limited number of Hidden Blades due to how hard it is to retrieve metal they are made of.
*Also, the newly-revealed multiplayer character for Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood, the Smuggler has a Hidden Blade which is on the top of her forearm and not on the bottom of her wrist.

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[[Category:Assassin's Creed Weapons]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed II Weapons]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood Weapons]]
[[Category:Assassin's Order]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed Series]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed: Bloodlines Weapons]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed II: Discovery Weapons]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed: Altaïr's Chronicles Weapons]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood Weapons]]