Battle of Forlì

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Battle of Forlì: Machiavelli (left) and Ezio (right) protecting Caterina Sforza from the Templar Knights

Battle of Forlì was a major military conflict between the Templar forces of Rodrigo Borgia – commanded by the brothers Orsi; and those loyal to Caterina Sforza, Countess of Forlì, in the year 1487.

Following the capture of the Apple of Eden from Templar hands in Venice and the induction of Ezio into the Assassin's Order, Ezio, Mario Auditore and Niccolò Machiavelli met with the inventor Leonardo da Vinci n the hope that he might be able to shed some light upon the nature of the artifact. Leonardo knew little more than the assassins' themselves, and so the decision to hide the Apple from the Templars in the Rocca di Ralvadino was made; leaving Leonardo, the assassins met with Caterina Sforza, an ally of the assassins' and Countess of Forlì.

As they made their way towards the city however, they found the people fleeing from the advancing forces of Checco and Ludovico Orsi, who had invaded and taken control of much of the city – including the city gates – and were barring entry into Forlì. Entering Forlì by accessing a city drain, Ezio liberated the city gates, allowing Sforza reinforcements and the assassins to fight their way to the safety of the Ralvadino. Once inside however, they found themselve surrounded by the Orsi brothers' army, who demanded the Codex map and Apple in return for the safety of Sforza two children; Sforza refused, and the brothers attacked the citadel.

Hunt for the Orsi

Ezio, together with Machiavelli and Mario, fought of the Templar invasion of the citadel and retained both the Apple and the Codex mapl however, with two of Sforza's children still in Orsi hands, Ezio was tasked with the liberation. Leaving the Apple within the citadel, Ezio left the city – still being bitterly fought over by the followers of both Orsi and Sforza – and made his way into the wetlands of Romagna to free both Ottaviano and Bianca Riario.

Ezio overpowered the guard detail assigned to imprison Bianca, who directed Ezio to her brother Ottaviano. As Bianca fled back to the city, Ezio made his way the the lighthouse upon which Ottaviano was being held by Ludovico himself. Climbing the tower, Ezio dispatched the Orsi brother, and liberated Ottaviano; though not before learning that the distraction of the captured siblings had allowed the brothers to steal the Apple. Hurrying back to the citadel, Ezio learnt that Ludovico's jeering had been true, and that Checco had acquired the Apple; Ezio swiftly tracked down and killed the remaining Orsi brother.

Retrieving the Apple, Ezio failed to notice that Checco had stabbed him in the abdomen. Injured, Ezio collapsed to the floor, the Apple rolling from his hand. Before losing consciousness Ezio saw a monk with a missing finger pick up the Apple and walk away, despite Ezio's warnings against doing so. The battle was over, and the city remained within the hands of Caterina Sforza.