Courtesan

2011-11-12T00:36:45Z

46.7.186.56: /* Characteristics */

{{Era|acII|brotherhood|pl|renaissance|bbook}}
{{youmay|the faction|the [[Courtesan (multiplayer character)|multiplayer character]]}}
{{Faction infobox
|name = Courtesans
|image = Courtesanart.png
|imgdesc = Artwork of courtesans in ''Assassin's Creed II''
|hideo = No
|founder =
|leader = [[Paola]] [[Teodora Contanto|Teodora]] [[Claudia Auditore da Firenze|Claudia]]
|headquarters =
|locations = [[Monteriggioni]] [[Venice]] [[Rome]] [[Florence]]
|related =
|religion =
|hideh =
|formed =
|reorganised =
|collapsed =
|hidea = No
|notable = [[Madonna Solari]] [[Fiora Cavazza]]}}
{{quote|You too must learn to blend like us: seen, but unseen.|[[Paola]] to [[Ezio Auditore da Firenze|Ezio]].|Assassin's Creed II}}

The '''Courtesans''' were one of the three factions allied to the [[Assassins|Assassin Order]]; the other two being the [[thieves]] and the [[mercenaries]]. They usually aided by collecting information from clients, or by acting as distractions by allowing allies to slip into restricted areas.

[[Florence|Florentine]] courtesans were led by [[Paola]], [[Venice|Venetian]] courtesans were led by [[Teodora Contanto]], and [[Rome|Roman]] courtesans were led by [[Claudia Auditore]], who took over after the death of the previous owner of the brothel, [[Madonna Solari]].

==History==
[[File:Zw-courtesans.png|250px|thumb|Courtesans in Venice.]]
Though courtesans were mainly based in [[brothels]] within a city, many were known to stand along the streets - usually in groups of four - to entice customers. Each possessed a standard style of dress and hairstyle, as was deemed appropriate for those in their profession at the time.<ref name="AC2">''[[Assassin's Creed II]]''</ref>

After the [[Auditore Execution|execution]] of [[Giovanni Auditore da Firenze|his father]] and [[House of Auditore|brothers]], [[Ezio Auditore da Firenze]] sought sanctuary with Paola and her courtesans, who taught him how to [[Blend|conceal himself in a crowd]], and be "seen, but unseen" as they were.<ref name="AC2" />

Afterwards, Ezio often hired courtesans he met in the city, usually instructing them to seduce a group of nearby [[guards]] in order to allow him to slip past unseen. Alternatively, they would follow Ezio along the streets, concealing him among them by walking around him in a diamond formation (similarly to how [[Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad]] blended with [[scholars]]).<ref name="AC2" />

Upon traveling to Rome, Ezio aided the courtesans by funding the renovations for their main brothel, the [[Rosa in Fiore]], as well as renovating smaller brothels throughout the city. After his sister took over administration, he volunteered to teach the girls [[Guild Challenges#Courtesans Guild|several skills]].<ref name="Brotherhood">''[[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood]]''</ref>

==Characteristics==
Courtesans could not perform any sort of [[Free Running|free-running]], and were usually unarmed. If armed at all, they carried [[Short Blade|knives]] and bladed fans. Should they be discovered aiding Ezio in attempting to infiltrate a guarded area, the courtesans were usually attacked mercilessly, and killed very quickly in the fight.<ref name="AC2" /><ref name="Brotherhood" />

If Ezio encountered a group of guards while walking with the courtesans, two of them would leave the group to distract the enemies, while the other two stayed with Ezio in order to maintain the blend and help keep him anonymous. This behavior was very helpful in assassination missions where the target walked among [[civilians]].<ref name="AC2" />

The courtesans in Rome acted much as they did in other cities, however, after Ezio had allied himself to their guild for some time, the girls he hired were able to poison any enemies they were instructed to distract.<ref name="Brotherhood" />

==Known Courtesans==
[[File:Rome_Courtesan.png|thumb|right|150px|Roman Courtesans insignia.]]
===Florence===
:''Main article: [[Brothels#La Rosa Colta|La Rosa Colta]]''
*Paola<ref name="AC2" />

===Venice===
:''Main article: [[Brothels#La Rosa della Virtù|La Rosa della Virtù]]''
*Teodora Contanto<ref name="AC2" />
*Lucia<ref name="AC2" /> - a courtesan who was attacked and robbed just outside her brothel.

===Rome===
{{main|Rosa in Fiore}}
*[[Madonna Solari]]<ref name="Brotherhood" /><ref name="Project Legacy">''[[Assassin's Creed: Project Legacy]]''</ref> - the previous owner of the Rosa in Fiore.
*[[Fiora Cavazza]]<ref name="Project Legacy" /> - a courtesan working for the Solari, who eventually entered the service of [[Cesare Borgia]].
*[[Giuletta]]<ref name="Brotherhood" /> - a traitorous courtesan who traded information about the Assassins to a [[House of Borgia|Borgia]] contact.
*Lucia<ref name="Brotherhood" /> - a courtesan who was kidnapped by [[Cento Occhi|slave traders]] alongside Madonna Solari. She was sent back to alert the other girls of the ransom for Solari.
*Mina<ref name="Brotherhood" /> - a victim of the Templar [[Malfatto]], a rogue [[Doctors|doctor]] that preyed on courtesans. Ezio Auditore found her being mourned by her friend in a back alley of Rome.
*Agnella<ref name="Brotherhood novel">[[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood (novel)|''Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood'' novel]]</ref>
*Sarghina<ref name="Brotherhood novel" />

==Achievement==
The [[Assassin's Creed II Achievements|achievement]] "Red Light Addict" can be gained by spending 5000 florins on courtesans. One group of courtesans costs 150 florins, which means approximately 34 groups must be hired.
{|border="1" cellpadding="2" style="text-align:center"
!width="64"|Icon
!width="300"|Name
!width="200"|How to obtain
!width="64"|Points
!width="64"|Trophy
|-
|[[File:RedLightAddict-ACII-trophy.PNG|64px]]
!Red Light Addict
|Spend 5000 florins on Courtesans.
|10[[File:G.png]]
|Bronze
|}

==Trivia==
[[File:assacreed2_b02_375.jpg|thumb|250px|right|Courtesans of La Rosa Colta.]]
*A courtesan's appearance has five randomly generated options: hair, face, dress color, necklace, and sleeves.
*A glitch can be encountered with a group of courtesans outside of [[Forlì]]. One of the hired courtesans becomes stuck and separated from the rest of the group, and the remaining three will not activate any blending effects until Ezio approaches the lost courtesan's perimeter, and again enters the middle of the group.
*Should one of the courtesans in a group fall into the water, the remaining three will continue to activate the blending effect without her, indicating that the death of one courtesan is similar to when two leave the group to distract passing guards.
*Courtesans cannot be killed or grabbed by Ezio.
*The ''[[Assassin's Creed II]]'' memory "[[Fitting In]]" is the only one where you can beat up, [[Pickpocketing|pickpocket]] and grab courtesans.
*During the memory "[[Carnevale]]," courtesans appear in the streets wearing masks.
*In [[Monteriggioni]], after renovating the brothel, random courtesans appear to walk in the streets. However, you are unable to hire them.
**These no longer appear during the early scenes of ''[[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood]]'', except for one who appears behind Ezio as he is leaving the hidden tunnel from Monteriggioni.
*In ''Brotherhood'', if a civilian you stole from prepares to have a [[Fists|fistfight]] with you, the courtesans you have hired will sometimes go and fight him instead, knocking him out with only two punches.
*In ''[[Assassin's Creed: Revelations]]'' courtesans are replaced by the [[Romani]], as they were not accepted in [[Ottoman Empire|Ottoman]]-[[Byzantine Empire|Byzantine]] society.

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{ACII}}
{{ACBH}}
[[Category:Factions]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed II Gameplay]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood Gameplay]]

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Courtesan