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

Hidden Blade

2009-11-21T22:30:37Z

71.203.115.66: /* Trivia */

[[File:Hiddenblade.jpg|thumb|Altaïr stabbing a crusader with the Hidden Blade.]]

The Hidden Blade is the most iconic and precious weapon of the [[Assassins]], mainly used for stealth assassinations.

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 Longsword)so that he may perform his first assassination on [[Tamir|Tamir the Merchant]] in [[Damascus]].

It is worth noting that Altaïr's descendant [[Ezio Auditore da Firenze]], who you play as in ''[[Assassin's Creed II]]'', will possess two of these blades, whereas Altair has only one. In addition, both his ring fingers are intact, due to a modification that raises the base of the weapon itself.

==Use==
This weapon is mostly used for stealthy, low-profile assassinations upon soldiers. An unaware soldier may be stabbed in the neck or the stomach without drawing too much attention. When stealth is not a priority, Altaïr may perform a high profile assassination. This involves jumping upon an opponent and causing his victim to fall on the ground, then the blade is triggered, stabbing the opponent in the throat, or jabbing the blade into the target's chin, and on into the brain, when right in front of you, between other examples.

Both low and high profile assassinations may fail. A guard wary of your actions may catch your arms when you attempt the kill and throw you back. Counter-maneuvers using the blade are possible in active combat.

Be aware, of course, that you will lose a lot of [[synchronization]] if you assassinate innocent civilians with the hidden blade, just as with any other weapon.
===In combat===
The hidden blade can also be used while in combat. It can be easiely used on weak enemies, just pushing him to the ground (High-Profile+Shift) and then moving for the kill while he lays on the ground.

Used on actual combat against stronger folks or larger groups is more challenging, since it's only possible to counter the enemy you're facing and you cannot block ''any'' attack. The time frame in which the player can counter-attack is extremely small compared to the longsword and short blade, but successfully countering enables one of several different - always lethal - counter-attacks in which Altaïr stabs his opponent in the chest, head, abdomen, under the chin, or spine. Mastering the use of a hidden blade in combat against large and powerful groups of enemies is an art. It is actually possible to assassinate the enemy in combat, while he is caught in a moment of inattention (praying, threatening, horrified...) but any other time, it fails because the enemy will always block Altaïr.
[[Image:Ac2hiddenblade.png|50px|right]]
In ''Assassin's Creed II'' however, the use of the hidden blade in combat is more "classical": we can use it as a normal blade attack weapon, and try to break the enemy's defence instead of just trying to assassinate him. Moreover, the dual wielding of the blades make the combat with hidden blades easier.

==Role in investigations and missions==
===Assassination missions===
The Hidden Blade is also used for one of the [[investigation|investigations]] 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 [[Weapons#short blade|short blade]], the [[Weapons#longsword|longsword]], or any other high profile weapon, you will fail the mission. Because of this, you may ONLY use the [[Weapons#throwing knives|throwing knives]] or the Hidden Blade.

===Interrogation missions===
During [[Interrogation]] missions, after successfully interrogating the target, Altaïr is forced to kill them, so they can not 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. Occasionally, other assassinations performed with the Hidden Blade play out in the same manner.

===Save Citizen missions===
In the optional [[Citizens|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. If they notice your tactic, however, you'd best be prepared and draw either your short blade or sword for a swordfight.

===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.

==Mechanism==
[[File:Assassinscreedbladema5.png|thumb|This diagram shows the mechanism behind the Hidden Blade.]]When not in use, the blade is hidden in a gauntlet on Altaïr's lower left arm. Altaïr triggers it via a ring on his little finger. This causes a gear system to eject the blade, hopefully into the neck or stomach of an enemy.

When the blade is open, it rests between Altaïr's middle and little fingers, in the space left by his amputated ring finger. This amputation is part of the initiation into the Hashshashin sect, which the [[Assassins]] are based on.

== Trivia ==
It is unclear why the ring finger need be removed for the use of the blade, as 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). However, as the weapon is specifically a ''hidden'' blade, it seems unlikely that a true Assassin would ever walk around with it exposed in this manner. However doing so in AC will make the beggars wary and less likely to get in your way. As it does in a ACll with the minstrels.

Altair has one hidden blade in AC, Ezio has two in AC2, in the third installment, the protagonist could possibly have three.

{{AC}}

{{ACII}}
[[Category:Assassin's Creed Weapons]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed II Weapons]]
[[Category:Assassin's Order]]

Ezio Auditore da Firenze

2009-11-21T22:27:17Z

71.203.115.66: /* Background */

{{Character Infobox
|name = Ezio Auditore da Firenze
|image = Ezio.jpg
|imgdesc = A full body portrait of Ezio.
|meaning = "Eagle of Florence" (Ezio from Greek: Aetos)
|faction = [[Assassins]]
|appear = ''[[Assassin's Creed II]]'', ''[[Assassin's Creed: Lineage]]''
|period = Italian Renaissance (15th Century)
}} '''Ezio Auditore da Firenze''' is the protagonist of ''[[Assassin's Creed II]]''. He is an ancestor of [[Desmond Miles|Desmond]] and a descendant of [[Altaïr]], as well as being the earliest known link between the lineages of Subject 16 and that of Desmond.

==Biography==
=== ''[[Assassin's Creed: Lineage]]'' ===

[[File:Eziolineagechess.png|thumb|left|Ezio in ''Lineage'' playing chess with his brother [[Federico Auditore da Firenze|Federico]]. He is portrayed by [[wikipedia:Devon Bostick|Devon Bostick]].]]
'''Ezio Auditore Da Firenze''', is a young member of the Florentine Nobility. Second son of [[Giovanni Auditore da Firenze|Giovanni Auditore]], an [[Assassin]]. He is ignorant to his father's true profession, and his hereditary duties. He has slight skills at playing chess, and he is "learning fast" according to his mother (though he lost against his older brother, [[Federico Auditore da Firenze|Federico]]).

=== ''[[Assassin's Creed 2]]'' ===
Ezio Auditore Da Firenze's story begins moments after he exits the womb of his mother, Maria Auditore. A sense of threat is clear at the sight of the baby boy. Giovanni Auditore, dismisses the trepidation of the wet nurse and his Mother by welcoming Ezio into the world and bestowing his name upon him. We rejoin Ezio years later during a rousing pre-fight speech,addressing the other members of the House of Auditore. Ezio is holding one side of a bridge against Veiri Di Pazzi and his men, whom insult the House of Auditore, and Ezio's mother and Father personally. Reprimanded gently by his elder brother, Frederico and his father, Ezio becomes more involved with his family's affairs. His father, Giovanni, and another man, Uberto Alberti are discussing secret matters that Ezio can't make sense of, but seem urgent. Eventually, guards raid the Giovanni home and arrest Giovanni, Federico, and Petruccio. Ezio delivers evidence that can prove his family's innocence to Uberto, who promises to defend them at the hearing. But it turns out Bernaldi is a traitor who destroyed the evidence and sentenced the three Auditore men to death. Swearing vengeance, Ezio has to hide his mother and sister and learn the ways of the assassin. He is first taught stealth by Paola of the Courtesans, and later combat, by his uncle Mario, of the Mercenary faction.After assassinating Uberto, apparently a city official in charge of the law, Ezio has to balance his life between assassinations and protecting his sister and mother, who refuses to speak after Ezio's father and brothers were taken. Now wanted in Florence, Ezio has to flee Firenze to Tuscany with his family to the Auditore villa. He meets up with Uncle Mario, whose mercenaries save his family from an attack by Pazzi.

== Background ==

[[File:QuickTimePlayer_2009-09-25_19-22-34-26.png|thumb|300px|Young Ezio trying to kill the ones who murdered his father after attending powerless to his execution.]]
Ezio is a young Florentine nobleman who lives in [[Florence]] during the 15th century. Unlike Altaïr, he is a seducer, and he easily blends with any social classes. He has an affluent lifestyle and many friends until a life-changing event. He and his family are betrayed, victims of a conspiracy that takes his [[Giovanni Auditore da Firenze|father]]'s, [[Federico Auditore da Firenze|elder brother]]'s, and [[Petruccio Auditore da Firenze|younger brother]]'s lives, forcing him to flee from guards and become an Assassin, not just to protect himself , Mother and Sister, but to get vengance on the conspiritors who betrayed him.

From that day, Ezio is considered as a criminal and a traitor, and has to protect his mother and his sister. He becomes an [[assassin]] to accomplish his vengeance against the ones responsible for the tragedy that befell him and his family (it is likely that those men are [[Templars]](see the last shot of Lineage Part II - The swords are lain down in the shape of the Templar symbol). Ezio is helped not only by his uncle [[Mario Auditore da Firenze|Mario]], but also [[Leonardo da Vinci]] who becomes his best friend and his personal engineer, as well as [[Niccolò Machiavelli]] and other famous Renaissance figures.

[[File:Ezio_and_Lorenzo.jpg|thumb|Ezio conversing with Lorenzo de Medici]]Ezio will travel across Italy to various locations like [[Venice]], [[Tuscany]] and [[Rome]]. We will live a large period of Ezio's life through the game, from his youth to when he becomes an old Master Assassin. In ''Assassin's Creed II'', we will be playing approximately 27 years of his life from when he was 17 years old, to 44 years old, 1476 to 1503.

== Equipment ==
It has been announced that Ezio will be able to use a variety of weapons including two [[Hidden Blade|hidden blades]], allowing him to eliminate two enemies simultaneously. He can also steal (and use) several enemy weapons such as axes, hammers, maces, spears, halberds and two different sword types (one- and two-handed). Ezio will be able to use Da Vinci's flying machine in some parts of the game, gaining altitude from fires set throughout the city by his allies. Ezio will gain many upgrades from Da Vinci on his wrist gauntlet like a small pistol of some sort (most likely an early wheel lock firearm) concealed near his left hidden blade, or a poison needle. Ezio is said to possess the ability to use [[Eagle Vision]] while moving. He can visit Blacksmiths to purchase weapons and armors including Helmschmeid and Metal Plate, or tailors to customize the colors of his clothing.

[[File:Iexplore_2009-09-25_20-01-09-16.png|thumb|300px|Master Assassin Ezio assassinating two guards at once.]]

==Trivia==
* The Italian name 'Ezio' derives from the Greek word 'Aetos', which means "Eagle", similar to Altaïr whose name means "The Flying One".
* Unlike Altaïr (who had his ring finger removed to make way for the [[Hidden Blade]]), Ezio has all ten fingers (as evidenced by the fact he wears a ring -either a signet or wedding ring- marked with the Assassin's symbol). This was not, as is widely believed, made possible by a modification by Leonardo Da Vinci, as Giovanni da Firenze (Ezio's father) has all of his fingers as well. It is likely the change was made at some point between Altaïr's time and Ezio's. This seems odd, as the sacrifice of the finger was originally intended to 'ensure the commitment of whoever wields [the blade]'. However it is possible that as the Assassin brotherhood became more secretive, the missing finger became too obvious as a signal of involvement and was phased out.
* It is stated in the Philosophical Codex that after Altaïr defeated Al-Mualim at the end of Assassin's Creed 1 and became the leader, that the Assassins were forced to realize the scope of their fight against the Templars, and would have to abandon many of their traditions, like the removal of the ring finger or the ban on using poison, in order to survive.
* Ezio uses a wheel lock firearm, a type of weapon that Europe didn't start developing until the very late 1400's and early 1500's, making this weapon most likely one of the very first of its type to appear in Europe, thus many people may not know what the weapon is in game. The earliest firearms were single shot and took time to reload, so will most likely be only used as a last resort weapon. Once again Leonardo Da Vinci didn't create the Hidden Gun, but found instructions to make one from a Codex page, meaning Altaïr invented the Hidden Gun (and most likely the first ever firearm). Also note that Da Vinci created some of the first modern wheel lock pistols, so this could be a shortened version of one.
* Ezio's face in ''Assassin's Creed II'' seems to be a mixture of Desmond's ([[wikipedia:Francisco Randez|Francisco Randez]]) and Devon Bostick's from ''Lineage''.

{{ACII}}
[[Category:Assassin's Creed II Characters|Auditore da Firenze, Ezio]]
[[Category:Assassins|Auditore da Firenze, Ezio]]
[[Category:Descendant of Altaïr]]