In Bocca al Lupo

In Bocca al Lupo was a virtual representation of one of Ezio Auditore's genetic memories, relived by Desmond Miles in 2012 through the Animus 2.0.

Description

After discovering the Vatican Vault's location in Rome from the Villa Auditore's wall of Codex pages, Ezio traveled to the city to assassinate Rodrigo Borgia and retrieve the Staff of Eden.

Memory Animus Feedback System

• Enter the Vatican
• Remain undetected
• Kill Rodrigo Borgia without being detected
• Assassinate Rodrigo Borgia
• Find the secret passage
• Assassinate Rodrigo Borgia and recover the Pieces of Eden

Dialogue

At the Villa Auditore, Ezio talked to his uncle in order to travel to Rome.

• Mario: Roma (Rome) beckons, Ezio. Let me know when you are ready to depart.

He and Mario traveled to Rome, with the latter leaving his nephew at a dock just under the Castel Sant'Angelo. The Assassin then made his way up the side of and through the complex until he reached a watchtower. As the guards were alerted to his presence, Ezio leapt onto a horse in the great wall under his position.

• Guard 1: Assassino! Assassino! (Assassin! Assassin!)
• Guard 2: Close the gates! Stop the intruder!

Despite some minor resistance, Ezio crossed the Passetto di Borgo by horse and, then, by foot, while fleeing and killing the soldiers. He successfully managed to enter the Sistine Chapel, where he found the Italian Templars' Grand Master and Pope proclaiming the Nicene Creed to the cardinals during Mass.

• Rodrigo: Credo in unum Deum, Patrem omnipoténtem, factórem cæli et terræ, visibílium ómnium et invisibílium. Et in unum Dóminum, Iesum Christum, Fílium Dei unigénitum, et ex Patre natum ante ómnia sǽcula. Deum de Deo, lumen de lúmine, Deum verum de Deo vero, génitum, non factum, consubstantiálem Patri: per quem ómnia facta sunt. Qui propter nos hómines et propter nostram salútem descéndit de cælis. Et incarnátus est de Spíritu Sancto ex María Vírgine, et homo factus est. Crucifíxus étiam pro nobis sub Pontius Pilate; passus et sepúltus est, et resurréxit tértia die, secúndum Scriptúras, et ascéndit in cælum, sedet ad déxteram Patris. Et íterum ventúrus est cum glória, iudicáre vivos et mórtuos, cuius regni non erit finis. Et in Spíritum Sanctum, Dóminum et vivificántem: qui ex Patre Filióque procédit. Qui cum Patre et Fílio simul adorátur et conglorificátur: qui locútus est per prophétas. Et unam, sanctam, cathólicam et apostólicam Ecclésiam. Confíteor unum baptísma in remissiónem peccatórum. Et exspécto resurrectiónem mortuórum, et vitam ventúri sǽculi. Amen.
  (I believe in one God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible. I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God, born of the Father before all ages. God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father; through him all things were made. For us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven, and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and became man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate, he suffered death and was buried, and rose again on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead and his kingdom will have no end. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets. I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church. I confess one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins and I look forward to the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen.)

Rodrigo surviving the assassination attempt

Ezio entered the large room through some scaffoldings and attempted to air assassinate Rodrigo with his Hidden Blade.

• Ezio: I thought... I thought I was beyond this. But I'm not. I've waited too long... lost too much... Requiescat in pace (Rest in peace), you bastard.
• Rodrigo: I don't think so!

Rodrigo picked up his Staff to knock him away with it and used its power to drain the vitality of everyone present, causing all but Ezio to collapse.

• Rodrigo: How is it you resist?

He looked to the glowing pouch attached to Ezio's waist.

• Rodrigo: I see... Kind of you to bring me the Apple. Now give it here!
• Ezio: Vai a farti fottere. (Go fuck yourself.)

Rodrigo laughed.

• Rodrigo: Ahh, always the fighter. Just like your father. Well—rejoice, my child—for you will see him again SOON! You WILL give it to me!
• Ezio: As you wish.

Ezio using the Apple to create illusionary copies of himself

Ezio used the Apple to create an illusion of himself splitting into five duplicates.

• Rodrigo: Fascinating! An impressive power, this. But if you think it's going to save you, you've another thing coming!

He began fighting Ezio and the illusions, using the Staff as a spear, uncertain as to which of them was the real one.

• Rodrigo: How long do you think you can keep this up?
  A clever trick! But useless!
  You cannot stop me.
  You are right to fear me!
  I'll cut you down, Assassin!

Ezio won the fight, putting the Pope on his knees.

• Rodrigo: No! You will not take this from me...
• Ezio: It's finished, Rodrigo. Lay down your arms and I'll make sure the end comes swiftly.
• Rodrigo: Really, Ezio? And would you give up so easily were it the other way around?

Rodrigo smashed the Staff into the ground, causing Ezio to fall.

• Rodrigo: Why don't we find out!

He then utilized the artifact to become invisible. In response, Ezio pulled out the Apple in an attempt to defend himself, but Rodrigo stepped on Ezio's arm, causing him to scream and drop the Piece of Eden.

• Rodrigo: At last!

Rodrigo picked up the Apple and attached it to the top of the Staff.

• Rodrigo: And now to deal with you.

Ezio watching Rodrigo try to open the Vault

A glowing aura surrounded a vulnerable Ezio as Rodrigo suspended him into the air with the Staff and stabbed him in the gut with a dagger, before taking the Apple and disappearing below ground. Weak from blood loss, Ezio fell unconscious, but survived the wound due to the Armor of Altaïr. The Assassin then found two switches hidden in the walls of the room by using his Eagle Vision, opening a passageway on the floor of the altar. He went down the entrance and made his way through the corridors, sided by blue futuristic lights, until he reached a grand room composed of unusual architecture and a smaller chamber on the ground.

• Ezio: What is this place...?

He dropped down into the antechamber of the Vault, where the Templar desperately tried to open its door.

• Rodrigo: Open, damn you! OPEN!
• Ezio: It's over, Rodrigo. No more tricks. No more ancient artifacts. No more weapons. Let us see what you are made of, old man.

As Ezio talked, he discarded the Sword of Altaïr, the Notched Cinquedea, and even his Hidden Blade to the floor.

• Rodrigo: Alright then, if that's how you want to play it.

Ezio facing Rodrigo for the final time

Ezio and Rodrigo engaged in a fistfight.

• Ezio: What do you even want with the Vault, Rodrigo?
• Rodrigo: Don't you know what lies within? Or do you mean to tell me the great and powerful Assassins didn't figure it out?
• Ezio: Figure what out?
• Rodrigo: God! It's God that dwells within!
• Ezio: You expect me to believe that God lives beneath il Vaticano? (the Vatican?)
• Rodrigo: A more logical location than a kingdom on a cloud, don't you think? Surrounded by singing angels and cherubim. Makes for a lovely image—but the TRUTH is far more interesting.
• Ezio: Let's say I was to believe you—what do you think he'll do when you open that door?
• Rodrigo: I don't care. It's not approval I'm after. Just power.
• Ezio: And you think he'll give it up?
• Rodrigo: Whatever lies beyond that wall won't be able to resist the staff and apple. They were MADE for felling Gods.
• Ezio: God is meant to be all knowing. All powerful. You think a couple of ancient relics can harm him?
• Rodrigo: You know nothing, boy. You take your image of the creators from an ancient book—a book, mind you, written by MEN.
• Ezio: You are the Pope! And yet you dismiss the central text of your Faith?

Rodrigo laughed.

• Rodrigo: Are you so naïve? I became Pope because it gave me ACCESS. It gave me POWER. Do you think I believe a single god-damned word of that ridiculous book? It's all lies and superstition. Just like every OTHER religious tract written over the past ten thousand years.

Ezio sparing Rodrigo's life

Gaining the upper hand, Ezio grabbed Rodrigo by the throat and choked him, before throwing him to the ground.

• Rodrigo: You can't! You can't! It's MY destiny! MINE! I am the prophet!
• Ezio: You never were...
• Rodrigo: Get it over with then.

Ezio stood up and stepped back, letting him go.

• Ezio: No. Killing you won't bring my family back... I'm done. Nulla è reale, tutto è lecito. Requiescat in pace. (Nothing is true, everything is permitted. Rest in peace.)

The Staff and Apple at the center of the chamber emitted a golden light, embroiled in various strange glyphs. Ezio carefully approached them and touched the Staff's shaft. The relics recognized his DNA, generating light beams which pointed to the door and opened it, granting him access to the Vault. Leaving a stunned Rodrigo behind, Ezio entered it. As he did so, a hologram of the Isu Minerva appeared and spoke to him.

• Minerva: Greetings prophet. It is good you have come. Let us see it. To give thanks.

Ezio holding the Apple out for Minerva

Ezio held out the Apple of Eden for Minerva to see, and she touched it in response.

• Minerva: We must speak.
• Ezio: Who are you?
• Minerva: Many names. When I died, it was Minerva. Before that Merva and Mera. And on and on. The others, too: Juno, who was before called Uni. Jupiter, who was before called Tinia...

Amazed with his surroundings and the figure of the Isu, Ezio greeted Minerva as he saw fit.

• Ezio: You are... gods.
• Minerva: (laugh) No. Not gods. We simply came... before. Even when we walked the world, your kind struggled to understand our existence. We were more... advanced in time. Your minds were not yet ready. Still... not. Maybe never. No matter. You may not comprehend us. But you will comprehend our warning. You must.
• Ezio: None of what you are saying makes sense...
• Minerva: Our words are not meant for you.

Minerva addressing Desmond

Confused, Ezio looked around the room as the hologram looked away from him, seemingly at someone else.

• Ezio: What are you talking about? There's no one else here!

With her time running short, Minerva reprimanded Ezio.

• Minerva: Enough! I do not wish to speak with you but through you. You are the prophet. You've played your part. You anchor him, but please be silent! That we may commune.

Ezio watching the history of humanity

Ezio remained silent as Minerva's figure disappeared and conveyed the message.

• Minerva: Listen: When we were still flesh and our home still whole, your kind betrayed us. We who made you. We, who gave you life! We were strong. But you were many. And both of us craved war. So busy were we with earthly concerns, we failed to notice the heavens. And by the time we did... The world burned until naught remained but ash. It should have ended then and there. But we built you in our own image. We built you to survive. And so we did. Few were our numbers. Your kind and mine. It took sacrifice. Strength. Compassion. But we rebuilt. And as life returned to the world... We endeavored to ensure this tragedy would not be repeated. But now we are dying... And time will work against us. Truth turned into myth and legend. What we built, misunderstood. Let my words preserve the message and make a record of our loss. But let my words also bring hope. You must find the other temples. Built by those who knew to turn away from war. They worked to protect us—to save us from the fire. If you can find them... If their work can be saved... so too might this world. Be quick! For time grows short. And guard against the cross—for there are many who will stand in your way.

Minerva appeared before him once again, but continued to stare beyond his position.

• Minerva: It is done. The message is delivered. We are gone now from this world. All of us. We can do no more. The rest is up to you, Desmond.
• Ezio: What? Who is Desmond? I don't understand... Please, wait! I have so many questions!

The hologram faded, leaving Ezio alone in the room.

Outcome

Ezio defeated Rodrigo but spared him. Entering the Vatican Vault, he spoke to a hologram of Minerva and learned about her people and of a disaster that would befall mankind in the distant future. After listening to her message, Ezio was left with many unanswered questions when the hologram disappeared.

Gallery

• 
  Ezio scaling the walls of Castel Sant'Angelo
• 
  Ezio fighting the guards outside Castel Sant'Angelo
• 
  Ezio making his way to Sistine Chapel
• 
  Rodrigo wielding the Staff against Ezio
• 
  Rodrigo repelling Ezio with the Staff's power
• 
  Rodrigo using the Staff's power on everyone in the chapel
• 
  Rodrigo challenging Ezio
• 
  Ezio and his illusions fighting Rodrigo
• 
  Rodrigo holding Ezio using the Staff
• 
  Rodrigo stabbing Ezio in the abdomen
• 
  Ezio opening the secret passage to the Vault
• 
  Ezio cornering Rodrigo in the Vault
• 
  Ezio using the Staff to open the Vault

Behind the scenes

The memory name "In bocca al lupo" translates to "Into the wolf's mouth" and is an Italian idiom used in the theatre industry as a local equivalent to the English idiom to "break a leg". The traditional response is "crepi il lupo", or "may the wolf die", which is also the name of a memory from Assassin's Creed II's immediate sequel Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood. The Italian version of Assassin's Creed II differs from the English one by rendering the memory name as "Nella tana del lupo", or "Into the wolf's den", a regional equivalent to the English saying "into the lion's den", which would also become the name of a memory for the 2012 game Assassin's Creed III.

The game files reveal the following dialogue was written for an initial draft of Minerva's speech but was cut from the final product:

• Minerva: Greetings traveller. It is good you have come. Let us see it. To give thanks. Too... soon. No It is not yet time. Ah. Now I understand. We must speak.
• Ezio: Who... are you?
• Minerva: Many names. Last it was Minerva. Before that Merva and Mera. And on and on. The others, too: Juno, who was before called Uni. Jupiter, who was before called Tinia...
• Ezio: You are... gods?
• Minerva: (laugh) No. We came... before, bringing with us...gifts. They thanked us with veneration: song and prayer; tears and blood. They struggled to understand the existence of something more... advanced in time. Their minds were not yet ready. Thus they called us Gods. But we were mortal. Just like you.
• Ezio: Were?
• Minerva: Still... not ready. Maybe never. No matter. You may not comprehend us. But you will comprehend our warning. You must.
• Ezio: None of what you are saying makes sense...
• Minerva: So? Our words are not meant for you.
• Ezio: What are you talking about? There's no one else here!
• Minerva: Enough! You anchor him here, so I must suffer your presence. But be silent! Let us commune. You thrash about determined to paint the world in two colors alone: "There is" and "There is not". Too often, the brush lies, guided by such frail and faulty hands. It fails to appreciate the details. It covers them when it should cast them in relief! Do you understand? No. Still you stare. Perhaps you simmer: Listen. Not all of us are patient. Not all of us are kind. There are those who did not retreat to wait with understanding. These chambers are become their PRISONS. Some... hate. They seek release. They seek release so that they might have vengeance. And your enemy... the one who bears the... You call them Pieces of Eden. Like children. Listen! The ones who bear the Apple. They will not gain what they desire. They must not set it in sky! They must not fix it as a star! It will open the doors. It will wake them from their slumber, And so it will birth chaos. All the world will be set afire. It will END YOU. Do you understand? Do not let them open these doors! It is done. The message is delivered. Leave now.
• Ezio: I have so many questions...
• Minerva: We do not CARE for your questions. You will turn our answers into weapons. No. We will not speak to you, savage. Begone! Leave that [Staff] behind. We will not chance another visit. Too dangerous. You may keep the rest. They may help you. GO!

Trivia

• When Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood picked up from where Assassin's Creed II left off, with Ezio having just talked to Minerva, Ezio had a more ornate cape, rather than the plain brown one seen in Assassin's Creed II, and was wearing the armor of Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad. He also had his weapons by his side, despite the fact that he had never picked them up after fighting Rodrigo.
• Even though Ezio had the Apple taken from him, he still had the pouch which held it by his side while battling Rodrigo.