Mediterranean Defense

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Mediterranean Defense was a collection of strategic contracts that Ezio Auditore gave to his Ottoman Brotherhood apprentices in Constantinople during the Renaissance. These tasks proved critical not only to the recruits' development but also to expanding the Assassins' knowledge and influence in the region.

History

Under the direction of the Italian Assassins' Mentor Ezio Auditore, who was on sabbatical in Constantinople at the time, the 16th century Ottoman Assassins sought to expand their influence throughout the Mediterranean; considering this, they began sending apprentices and recruits to usurp Templar-controlled cities. Their exploits ranged from simple acts, such as protecting allied merchants and officials, to greater plots involving assassinations and freeing jailed allies. Some special requests, specifically Piri Reis' survey requests, involved the Assassins traveling to certain cities and mapping the area.

Ezio meeting with Dogan

Many of these cities were eventually freed from Templar rule and came under the Assassins' control. However, a constant danger in the possibility of Templar reprisal remained at hand. As such, the contracts needed to be completed regularly to maintain the Assassins' control of the city, though should their grip on the locations fall too low, the Templars would attempt a reclamation of the city, forcing apprentices to rally a defense.

The Brotherhood took special care to raise the standard of living in these regions by improving daily income and providing many opportunities for their newly liberated citizens. The apprentices who were sent on these missions gained valuable field experience, and the Assassins gained funds to further their operations, as well as resources for their bomb-crafting stations. After a local guild was established, certain apprentices from Constantinople could also be assigned to become permanently based in one of the cities. There, they provided protection and solidified the Assassins' goals more directly.

Mission descriptions

AlexandriaAlgiersAthensBursaDamascusGenoaJerusalemLisbonMadrid

The Memory Seals, Part I

During a recent excavation of the destroyed library of Alexandria, the Mamluk Sultan's soldiers discovered two First Civilization Memory Seals in a chest dated 331 BC. Infiltrate the soldiers' barracks and acquire the seals before they are inaccessible.

The Memory Seals, Part II

Templar soldiers have launched an offensive to recover the Memory Seals. Defend our headquarters and keep our blessed initiate safe as she works to unlock the mysteries of the seals.

The Memory Seals, Part III

We had recovered the First Civilization Memory Seals and were preparing to decode them, when a contingent of Templars ambushed us and stole them away. Organize a search party and recover the seals. Use maximum force if necessary.

The Mentor Vanishes

Our Mentor Iskender, descendant of the great Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad, has been arrested and detained without explanation. His execution will occur in two day's time. Locate and rescue him.

All The King's Men, Part I

The Spanish King currently ruling occupied Algiers has taken King Samis El Felipe hostage. His prison is too well fortified to break him out, but it should be possible to pass messages to and from the jailed King. Establish a line of communication.

All The King's Men, Part II

Former King Samis El Felipe has authorized the Assassins to employ the aid of the infamous pirate, Hayreddin Barbarossa, to chip away at Spanish influence in the area. Provide "Red Beard" Barbarossa with the support he needs.

All The King's Men, Part III

With the Spanish influence on Algiers somewhat weakened, Ottoman Prince Korkut is eager to make friends with Mamluk Sultan Al-Ashraf, with the hope that he may gain influence over his brothers Selim and Ahmet. Spy on this meeting and report back to the Assassins in Konstantiniyye.

An Eye For A Helping Hand

Amir Selim of Algiers has a proposal for the Assassins. He will turn a blind eye to our activities in his region if we will provide protection for a community of Moors living on the island Penon, now occupied by Spaniards.

For The People, Part I

Our brothers in Athens are finding it difficult to retain the trust of the people now that Athens is under Ottoman rule. We must work to convince them that the Assassins fight for no nation, but for the people as a whole.

For The People, Part II

Ottoman soldiers have been looting the homes of wealthy residents, against the explicit orders of the Sultan himself. Defend the people, but be prepared for an Ottoman backlash.

For The People, Part III

We have discovered that Templar agitators have been paying Ottoman soldiers handsomely for looted goods. Find the Templar leaders in Athens and eliminate them.

First Civ Problems

Remnants of First Civilization technology have been found in a tomb deep beneath the Acropolis. Guard the location until our scholars are able to make a full survey of the area.

The Little Prince

Sultan Bayezid's third and least capable son, Korkut, has been captured by Templar thugs and is being held hostage in Bursa. Send in a team of Assassins to eliminate all Templars and rescue the Prince.

Follow The Money, Part I

An attack on a local Turkmen philanthropist and ally has driven him into hiding. Provide him with protection until he can move his family to Constantinople.

Follow The Money, Part II

Despite our best efforts, the Templars have captured the philanthropist's family and are holding them ransom. Organize a rescue party. Use lethal force wherever necessary.

Follow The Money, Part III

Our rescue attempt was successful, and what's more: we learned the philanthropist was behind the kidnapping himself. In an attempt to extort money from the Assassins, he endangered his own family. Track him down, and eliminate him.

The Best Laws Money Can Buy

Corrupt Janissaries stationed in Bursa are selling access to viziers visiting from the Sultan's Sublime Porte. We would rather these misers beg for their influence. Take out the corrupt soldiers.

The Hydra's Head, Part I

Ottoman troops have blocked the roads north of Damascus, crippling many of the city's northern trade routes. In spite of our truce, we must side with the civilians affected by this blockade. Draw the army away from their position by any means necessary.

The Hydra's Head, Part II

A detachment of Safavid soldiers from the East has filled the power vacuum north of the city, and yet are experiencing very little resistance from the Mamluks to the north. We suspect an alliance. Send spies into the Safavid camp and learn the truth.

The Hydra's Head, Part III

We have learned that the Safavids and Mamluks are planning a joint attack on Bursa. Currently the Safavid high command is stationed in Damascus as the personal guest of Sultan Al-Ashraf Qansuh al-Ghawri. Assassinate their generals and cripple their command structure.

Level Up

Our training facilities in Damascus are of middling quality and could use an upgrade. Perhaps a few local Templar luminaries would be interested in funding our project. If not, borrow their money without asking.

Rebels With A Cause, Part I

The French have occupied Genoa and are using it as a launch pad for military excursions to the south and east. Naturally the Genoese are unhappy about this. Cripple the French military through clandestine means.

Rebels With A Cause, Part II

With the French military now weakened, Genoese Captain Andrea Doria is orchestrating a citizens' revolt. Aid him with manpower and weapons.

Rebels With A Cause, Part III

Captain Doria's revolt was only a mild success, and his name is now known to the French vassals ruling Genoa. Protect the Captain and escort him out of the city before the French find him.

Buying Influence

A corrupt Genoese banker has been funneling money to French interests while claiming to be the victim of numerous robberies. Eliminate this parasite.

Brokers Of Peace, Part I

There has not been a stable Assassins' Guild in Jerusalem for over a century. Assess your resources and begin recruiting.

Brokers Of Peace, Part II

The ruling Mamluks disapprove of our recruiting efforts. They fear the growing strength of the Assassins and have arrested Grand Master Mujir as part of a program of intimidation. Rescue Mujir in spectacular fashion, but harm no one. Send a message that the Assassins will not be intimidated.

Brokers Of Peace, Part III

A wayward party of Ottoman Sepahis recently clashed with patrolling Mamluk riders. Send your wisest Assassins and negotiate for peace before tensions boil over into more violence. Show both parties the value of peace through diplomacy.

Behind The Cross

An Assassin traitor is taking refuge in a domicile adjacent to the Chapel of the Ascension. Take advantage of the large crowds that gather there and wait for him to appear. Apprehend him dead or alive.

The Colonies, Part I

Emboldened by recent Portuguese colonization efforts, the Templars have started sending "missionaries" as far east as India. Collect intelligence on the activities of these agents and map their movements.

The Colonies, Part II

King Manuel I of Portugal—a pious and credulous man—is paying large sums of money to fund these missionary expeditions, not realizing the Templars are diverting the money to their cause. Liberate this money from its owners and put it to better use.

The Colonies, Part III

The man in charge of the Templars' overseas proselytizing is a sea Captain named Francisco. Board one of his ships in Lisbon and eliminate him at sea.

The Rage Of Exploration

Portugal's extensive wealth and power has created a cottage industry of explorers, many of whom are selling information of their discoveries to the Templars for large sums. We cannot compete with the Templars' wealth, but we have other means of acquiring that information. Use them.

Cannon Fodder

The famous blacksmiths of Toledo have fled to Madrid after Templars commandeered their forges. Assemble a band of Assassins and reclaim their property from the Templars.

Just Following Orders, Part I

Grand Inquisitor Cisneros has continued his predecessor's bad habit of persecuting Assassins for crimes unrelated to our activities. Recently we have been blamed for a rash of murders of cardinals. Find the true culprits and bring them to justice.

Just Following Orders, Part II

From our investigations, we have learned that a small but dedicated band of Templars intend to murder King Ferdinand with the hope that will divide the kingdoms of Aragon and Castile. Protect him at all costs.

Just Following Orders, Part III

King Ferdinand is safe but remains ignorant—or willfully blind—to the dangers brewing in his kingdom. It is time to seek out the leaders of the Templar network in Madrid and eliminate them.

MarseilleRhodesTripoliTunis

Age Old Art

A treasure housed in a wealthy merchant's home is rumored to be of First Civilization origin. Break into the merchant's house and acquire the artifact to assay its true value.

By Any Other Name, Part I

King Louis XII, tired of Marseille's constant threats of secession from France, wants all Assassins banished from the city. Hinder his army's efforts to expel our Order, but do not resort to violence.

By Any Other Name, Part II

Our efforts to obscure our presence in the city have been successful. Now we must rebuild. Recruit disgruntled soldiers from King Louis's exhausted army and grow our ranks.

By Any Other Name, Part III

Upon further investigation, it has become clear that King Louis XII has Templar advisors poisoning his judgment against the Assassins. Root out the traitors in his court and eliminate them.

The Knights, Part I

The Knights Hospitaller have captured some of our Assassins and are holding them prisoner in the Palace of the Grand Master. Organize a rescue and bring our men and women home.

The Knights, Part II

Most of our Assassins have been recovered, but Master Assassin Castor was taken to a secret compound near the peak of Ataviros for further enhanced interrogations. Reconnoiter the area in secret and make maps of this location.

The Knights, Part III

Master Assassin Castor has been murdered by the Hospitallers. We have no reason for caution now. Organize an assault on the Ataviros and destroy the Hospitaller compound.

Amid The Rubble

Corsairs have made a habit of raiding and sacking churches in villages along the sparser coastlines of Rhodes. Help the people defend and rebuild their houses of worship.

The Demolition Man, Part I

Find local explosives expert, Pedro Navarro, and offer him money and protection in exchange for knowledge of his renowned weaponry.

The Demolition Man, Part II

Pedro Navarro has been abducted following his involvement with us. We suspect Templar interference. Locate Pedro and rescue him.

The Demolition Man, Part III

Newly rescued, Pedro Navarro tells us that the Templars in Tripoli are being commanded from Rhodes. Cut off their supply and communication lines end expel them from the city.

From The Ground Up

The Knights of St. John are fortifying their position in Tripoli by building new fortifications and castles. Infiltrate the workforce and modify the structures to allow Assassins easy access to these buildings in the future.

Goods And Services, Part I

Hafsid King Muhammad IV is receiving bribes from local Templars to keep local goods from coming to market. Only Templar approved merchants have been allowed to peddle their wares openly. Steal these bribes and redistribute them.

Goods And Services, Part II

Now the Hafsid King is imposing quotas and mandates on local farmers that serve Templar goals rather than the citizens' needs. Protect the farmers and eliminate the King's extortionists.

Goods And Services, Part III

To revive the crippled economy in Tunis, several Tunisian community leaders are going to meet with merchants from Europe to discuss fruitful trade arrangements. Accompany the leaders and ensure their safety.

A Blind Eye

Corrupt Hafsid ministers have been taking bribes from Templars in exchange for loosened restrictions on imports and exports. Eliminate the most corrupt ministers and send a message that corruption will be repaid with retribution.

Trivia

• Rhodes was only unlocked in Mediterranean Defense after playing a multiplayer match on each map in the city, namely, Knight's Hospital, Souk, and Ippokratous.
• The achievement "Armchair General" could be earned by controlling all of the Mediterranean cities (except Rhodes) simultaneously.
• Some Mediterranean Defense missions had a reward of automatically recruiting one apprentice into the Order, though this was only valid if Ezio had vacancies in his roster.
• Managing Assassin Guilds increased the percentage-of-control capacity of the city. A city with no Assassins garrisoned had a percentage-of-control capacity of 50%. The maximum amount of Assassins garrisoned permitted was 5, where the percentage-of-control capacity was raised to 100% when a city's garrison was staffed by fully-trained Assassins. Placing 5 low-ranked Assassins in a city yielded a percentage-of-control capacity spanning from 50% to 100%.
• Every 20 minutes, at the same time as Ezio received a revenue deposit at the banks from city renovations, all of the cities lost a random percentage of Assassin control or gained the same in Templar control if relevant. If that percentage reduced Assassin control to 0%, the Templars would lay siege to the city.
• Some city missions required a specific fighting style from an Assassin recruit to be assigned as the first Assassin of the operation. There were four types, each signified by a symbol near their rank number: a marksman (crossbow), an enforcer (heavy weapon), a scout (short blade), or a soldier (Hidden Blade).