Courtesan (Animi Avatar)

For the faction in Assassin's Creed II, see Courtesans.

"Fiora Cavazza's extraordinary talents earned her a place in Cesare Borgia's social circle."

―Ubisoft Description

Fiora Cavazza, also known as the Courtesan, is a multiplayer character in Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood. She uses a bladed fan as her primary weapon. Her abilities include Smoke Bombs, the Power Ride, the Multiplayer Abilities#Morph and the Pistol. She differs from the courtesans seen in Assassin's Creed II, most notably by her different outfit and hairstyle

Life in the Rosa in Fiore

"I am a fine wine served in a low class tavern"

Fiora once worked in the Rosa In Fiore Brothel under Madame Solari, who was a traitress to the Assassins, feeding the Templars Assassin secrets. The Rosa In Fiore was popular with the clergy and the more powerful he was, the more girls allowed in the room. Many of the clientele where described as disgusting, among them was Brother Ristoro, a monk with a rather rapacious sexual appetite with a particular liking for Fiora, who disliked him.

Madame Solari often pressured her girls into making connections, Fiora wished to make a powerful client which would allow her to leave the Rosa in Fiore, presumably to work independently or live as a kept woman. The pressures of prostitution also worried Fiora, particularly sailors playing in foreign lands picking up exotic diseases, especially since Madame Solari was quick to expel girls from the brothel if they showed any symptoms.

It wasn't until the Jubilee of 1500 that she made the allies she desired, among them an ambassador, a man claiming to be a prince, a Florentine banker and a mysterious man with much insight into Italian political circles. Upon making such allies, the other girls where jealous.

One time in the brothel that Fiora remembered was when she and another girl Lucia, had to escort Santino Solari, the brother of Madame Solari, who was a swindler in the city of Rome. Fiora at first refused because she didn't like Santino, With Fiora and Lucia on either arm, he went to make various bribes to various contacts and threats, Fiora learned he had got involved in slave trading, when he questioned her about it, he smacked her across the face, Lucia tried to defend her and recieved the same enter. Santino told them to wait in an alley while he did business. He returned to them and threatened them with a knife and threatened them not to mention anything, even though they didn't know what they had saw. He told them that his sister will know of their assisstance.

Not long after the event, Cesare Borgia paid a visit to the Rosa in Fiore brothel. Fiora remembers him being intoxicatingly charismatic. He questioned her about the night she and Lucia escorted Santino. She tried to hide her opinions but he reads her face and Fiora tells him what she suspects and Cesare reveals that the Solari siblings have been getting involved in enterpises that should not concern them. He asks her about any Borgia clients she may have had, she replies she has never heard the name before, he passes her test. Fiora assumed he was a customer and began to undress rather eagerly, but he stops her and asks her her ambitions, the first person ever to do so. Cesare explains the situation and in exchange for their lives, the Solari siblings must relinquish one of the girls from their employ to work for him. Cesare chose Fiora. It can be assumed that Madame Solari and Santino further offended Cesare, due to the kidnap and murder of Madame Solari by slave traders.

Fiora left the Rosa in Fiore and moved into luxury funded by the Borgia, this time merely posing as a courtesan. She began training as a Templar under the Borgia.

In the employ of Cesare Borgia

"I have served the Borgia for six years now. Done horrible things. Seen the fantastic. I regret none of it."

From 1500 to 1506, Fiora served Cesare loyally. Making many contacts among the Templars. Among them Brother Ristoro, who supplied Cesare with various relics and Chruch documents, Lia de Russo, a Smuggler who obtained various items for the Borgia cause, Auguste Oberlin, Cesare's blacksmith, and Gaspar de la Croix, an pioneer of firearms.

Fiora had avoided Ristoro from the day she began working for Cesare Borgia. He was one of his regulars when she worked as a courtesan in the Rosa in Fiore brothel. However on one occasion, she had to go and see him in order to obtain certain items for Cesare. She had hoped after six years he would have forgotten her face, but he hadn't. He greeted her by stroking her cheek and reminding her she was always his favourite Courtesan at the Rosa in Fiore. She kicked him between the legs to teach him a lesson and threatened him with Cesare's wrath. She had brought with her a gaggle of inexperienced courtesans eager for experience. He provided her with relics and amulets that he believed would aid Cesare's caused, altough unconvinced Fiora accepted them regardless. She exaggerated Cesare's request to gain a little more money for herself, she justifies herself by describing it as "payment for having to gaze upon this wretched man. He also gave her a stack of stack of Church documents, filled with pardons and payments for Cesare's contacts. As she left he tried to grope her again, but the other girls stepped in his way, giggling as they pulled him away. Fiora almost felt sorry for them as they led him away as they "had a long night ahead of them"

Fiora would often have to go and pick up the various types of contraband, artifacts and trinkets, smuggled to Rome by the smuggler, Lia de Russo. Fiora was often amazed at how Lia obtained them, even more so baffled by why Cesare would want such random objects. Fiora often noticed how proud Lia would look, also noticing how uninterested she would look when Fiora tried to make conversation with her. Fiora would also tip her.

"My my, aren't you an ox of a man?" was what Fiora Cavazza thought when she saw the blacksmith, Auguste Oberlin. She was further shocked when she heard his voice and mannerisms, that of an articulate and intelligent gentleman. He was rather welcoming and hospitable to Fiora when she visited his shop to pick up weapons he had forged, which was a stark contrast to his wife who was quick to remind Fiora that she had overstayed her welcome and demanded that she leave. Auguste would shout back at her. Fiora once noticed that they would "growl at eachother like wild dogs". Auguste urged her to visit him again and Fiora promised he would. As she left his wife scowled at her, Fiora responded with a challenging wink.

Fiora found Gaspar de la Croix to be extremely unnerving, if not frightening. However, she did feel sorry for him as once she found him singing a sad song in French, she recognised loss in his voice and was intrigued to know what or who he had lost. Fiora would visit him to deliver payments and found his workshop uncomfortable as she could hardly move without fear of knocking one of his mysterious contraptions over. He would ask her strange and unnerving questions such as "Have you ever witnessed death?" "Is death driven by fate, chance or choice?" She wouldn't answer him. She was quick to leave, making sure her back wasn't facing the window for fear he would shoot her.

Final Assignments

"A war has made its way to Roma, fought in the streets, the senate and the churches. Cesare has tasked me to coordinate his shadow army"

Among the various exotic agents Cesare Borgia had ordered Fiora to oversee where Rocco Tiepolo, a seasoned mercenary captain, Donato Mancini, Cesare's finest horseman, the Cento Occhi, rivals to the Assassin aligned Thieves' Guild, Baltasar da Silva, a master spy who masquerades as a barber, Cahin and Caha, two murderous harlequins, Il Carnefice, a notorious executioner, and the slippery wannabe nobleman, Silvestro Sabbatini.

Fiora was sent to select mercenaries from Rocco Tiepolo's forces for Borgia purposes. He was very courteous upon first meeting her, (and obviously attracted to her and she to him) having food and wine prepared for her arrival. Fiora had to pick out which mercenaries she thought appeared the most skilled. She thought it would be wisest to pick the ones with obvious battle scars, but Rocco corrected her by noting that all his men had fought countless rivals. The men shouted about their exploits and showed off their weapons, Fiora was wise and decided to look for more silent, serious faces. To help her decide, Rocco picked out two mercenaries who he ordered to fight eachother, they battle brutally, drawing blood, and making no small wounds. When they finished, Fiora told Rocco she wasn't interested in damaged mercenaries. They both laughed. The mercenaries asked where the battle was to be had, Fiora told them she suspected on the streets of Roma, much to their disdain. Rocco took a liking to Fiora and showed her paintings of his own exploits and revealing to her he has only lost two battles in his career as a mercenary, and he commanded neither. Fiora asked if he is for sale, he replied to her that he is expensive and she would need much more coin for his services. He in turn asked her whether she is for sale, she responed by telling him she is already purchased. He invited her to stay longer, and although tempted Fiora declined. He presented her with signed contracts for each man. The mercenaries were eager for battle and Fiora promised them they would find it soon.

Donato Mancini was Cesare Borgia's finest horseman. Fiora had to bribe him to let Cesare win a race at the Circo Massimo, threaten him if he did not comply. Fiora's first impression of him was that of a confident man and horserider, she noticed his horse was completely under his control. The bribe in question, which Fiora had to present Mancini with was exceptional armour of good quality, however, he didn't seem moved by this, even though he readily accepted it. Fiora relayed Cesare's threat to him, he either lets Cesare win or he suffers dire consequences (presumably death), he was not suprised by this request, his only response was "The winner will win the race. There are no other factors". Fiora left him to watch the race. She sat beside Lucrezia Borgia, who refused to look at Fiora, thinking her a plaything for her brother. The race began and Cesare and Donato raced away, but one of Cesare's officers got in Donato's way, namely Teodor Viscardi, who tried to attack Donato, but Donato leaned out of his way and sped past both Teodor and Cesare to win the race.

Cesare sent Fiora to meet with Cento Occhi, who where a young gang of thieves led by Lanz. Cesare believes that the gang have led an attack on a Borgia carriage and he provides her with evidence, she is sent to investigate and strike a deal with them. Fiora found Cesare outside a church, counting coins he had stolen. She watches him from the church roof though he knows she is there. She threw a crude dagger at his feet, he knows she is a Borgia agent. Lanz immediately offered to return the stolen money, even though has already spent half of it, but promised to return a portion that day. Fiora told he will do that and more, if he is willing to allow his gang to work for the Borgia, not that he would have much choice. He decides to show off his skills to Fiora impressing her by stealing from five citizens and then escaping the guards. Fiora was very impressed, even going so far as to check her pockets to see if he had pickpocketed her. She remembers, he fears Cesare.

Cesare assigned Fiora to work with the master spy, Baltasar da Silva, to infiltrate and study the Assassin's Guild. To help them, Cesare used one of his own senators, who was notorious for his corruption, as a target for the Assassins. Baltasar and Fiora follow him, watching from the shadows, Fiora impressed by Baltasar's skill, believes they will never be noticed by anyone. From over their head jumping towards the senator was an Assassin. Using his/her hidden blade the Assassin killed the senator and fled to the shadows, despite Fiora and Baltasar chasing him, he vanished. Baltasar grinned and was pleased with the results, however, Fiora felt failure. Baltasar reminded her they had already learned alot about the Assassins, their weapons, their technique, their garb, he took notes. Baltasar would continue the work, reporting to Fiora any new information.

Fiora had to work with the performers Cahin and Caha, on an assignment to kill a target with claims to royal blood. At a courtly celebration, the brother and sister where to perform while Fiora masqueraded as a guest. They danced a comical and acrobatical playfight, which finished with a bombard of laughter and applause. Caha began to juggle knives, to distract the guests from her brother's actions, Cahin began to sneak off. Fiora drew her balde awaiting the right cue. Cahin and Caha start the carnage with Cahin stabbing a man through his chair and Caha throwing her knives into the throats of two guests. Fiora acted on this by killing the guest next to her. The three merrily murdered the party and when it came to the final guest, a lady, Fiora did the honours. Although the lady begged for mercy Fiora killed. Fiora reflected on her this, thinking to herself "To let her live would cost me mine. I finished her quickly." Cahin laughed as he went out the door, Caha tipped over a candelabrum to set the crime scene alight, before tumling after her brother. Fiora left with the impression that the two siblings where totally mad, yet fun.

Fiora Cavazza hated Il Carnefice, she would deliver to him Cesare Borgia's condemnations, she found his love for his work disgusting. He in turn liked to toy with her. Once she handed him a list of execution, flipping through them he looks at her with a serious look, telling her her name was on the list. He flashed his axe, Fiora was stunned. He smiled at her and tossed the list aside, telling her he cannot read. Their was man hanging. Dead. He was an old client of Fiora's, a friend. Possibly conincidence, but Fiora believed Il Carnefice had orchestrated this to torment her. She stayed to watch one of his executions. He led a bound man onto the platform, his head covered. The man begs Il Carnefice, proclaiming his innocence. He reminded the man; the innocent go to heaven. He put on a show with this execution, showing off to the crowd dismembered body parts of the executed. Fiora vomited at the sight of them and he mocked her for the crowd. She left more disgusted than intimidated by "Cesare's beast".

Fiora Cavazza had no respect for Silvestro Sabbatini, an ambitious nouveau riche buying his way into respectable Italian social circles. Fiora compared to a spider, hypersensitive and always on watch. Fiora knew of his past with Cesare, he had once failed a task and it resulted in his forearm being cut off, which he believed had gone unnoticed by his fellow nobles. Fiora was to present him with his second chance - a metal, claw-like arm, with a hidden blade which pops out from the centre. After that she left him to his games, noticing he immediately pulled up a chair to a young woman, showing off his new claw, she flinches and leans away from him, Fiora shuddered and walked away.

Malfatto

"He is a predator of women. A monster"

The final contact Cesare wanted Fiora to meet with was the "doctor" Malfatto. Fiora wandered Rome's poorest district to find Malfatto. Malfatto targeted Rome's courtesans, so she did her best to conceal herself, yet even she felt vulnerable and scared. Then fiora heard a scream, she ran through the alleys, catching only a glimpse of the muderous Malfatto. She did however find the corpse of a woman, lying in a pool of her own blood.

Fiora could not go back to Cesare, who would not accept her failure or refusal, he would have her killed. Fiora was extremely fearful of Malfatto, instead Cesare decided she wear one of her old courtesan outfits to draw Malfatto's attention to her. She went back onto the streets, travelling alone. She wandered for a while till spotting Malfatto, lurking in the shadows. He striked for her but she dodged him and quelled his actions by shouting Cesare Borgia's name at him, demanding he listen. He grabbed her and noticed the document she had in her hand, hestitant, he takes it. Malfatto released her and let her walk away, watching every step she took.

Later that night, Fiora returned to the luxurious house given to her by Cesare Borgia. On edge and nervous, she drank wine to get to sleep, to no avail. Done with Cesare Borgia, she made a plan to leave Rome within the week. But then, she felt a prick on her neck, perhaps an insect she though, but no. It was Malfatto's syringe, presumably poisoning her. Fiora scurried to the nearest table, grabbing her fan, unfolding it to expose a "blossom of blades". Fiora noticed Malfatto's posture showed fear. He had never had a victim fight back. She charged at him, as he backed into a wall, she shred his garb and drawn blood. Soon, Malfatto's poison had began to kick in, she blacked out, losing her vision and her ears began to ring.

Fiora survived, awaking to her floor being covered in Malfatto's blood, he escaped. Knowing Malfatto would seek revenge and knowing Cesare would not protect her. Fiora decides to seek aid from the Assassins, who she knows have been watching her, just as she has them. She knows of their pidgeon coops, which they use to transport messages. She wrote a list of Cesare's agents, even the ones who where kind to her. She passes the list on to a traitorous Borgia guard who is working for the Assassins. Fiora kept herself in plain sight, so the Assassins could find her. The Assassin who comes to find her is Francesco Vecellio, the painter, who tells her her worries will soon be over and that she has work to do.

Working with the Assassins

"I am done with Cesare. Done with the mad people who surround him"

On the list that Fiora gave the Assassins, where the Templar Agents: Rocco Tiepolo, Cahin, Caha, Baltasar da Silva and the mysterious Il Lupo.

Fiora did not wish to see Rocco Tiepolo die. But a large number of Cesare's army owed loyalty to him. The only other option would be to hire him, but that is out of the question due to lack of funding, so no other option was available. The Assassins launched an assault on his barracks, attacking them with arrows first, killing a good deal of them. They needed Fiora to indicate the defenses of the barracks and what is on the other side of each wall. It is not made clear whether Fiora is involved in any combat or whether she is merely giving instructions. She did however witness the death of Rocco Tiepolo, who althought vastly ountnumbered, went down fighting (and smiling).

Next on the list was the siblings, Cahin and Caha. Fiora found them performing in their streets, doing what Fiora described as "ridiculous" dance. They where too wrapped up in their performance to notice the change in crowd - Fiora and the Assassins had arrived. Caha tried to make a quick escape using a smoke bomb, choking some of the Assassins, others gave chase and ran after her. Fiora fanned it out using her trademark fan. Cahin tried to make an escape but he was stopped in his tracks and was killed by having several swords ran through him. Caha cried out for her fallen brother, she ignored the other Assassins and went straight to Fiora. However, she was no match for Fiora Cavazza, every move she made was deflected and she was slashed by Fiora's fan. Caha gave in and went straight to her brother, cradling him, she removed his mask and stroked his cheek. She chooses not to acknowledge the Assassin behind her, and welcomes death. The Assassin shoots an arrow into the back of her head.

Next, the Assasins planned to hit Baltasar da Silva's shop. However, Fiora showed them the way to his real hideout. He wasn't to be easily ambushed. However, the building was set up with traps and decoys. The real Baltasar arrived, shocked to see Fiora, and realising it was an ambush he torched the building he escaped. The team of Assassins and Fiora escape before the fire gets out of control.

Baltasar's escape meant bad things for Fiora, especially since Baltasar may have told Cesare about her betrayal, resulting in Borgia agents looking for her. Fiora observes his hideout, realising there is a small chance that he may return, probably because he left something behind. She searched the remains, finding little amongst the charred debris, except a note. It is from Baltasar, saying he admires her move, he wants to meet up with her and discuss options in order to work a better deal. Fiora goes to the Warehouse, she scouted it first to make sure there was no one else there, only Baltasar. He is sat at his desk, he bows and welcomes Fiora. He guessed to the motives of Fiora's betrayal, he was mostly right. He revealed to her he had not told Cesare about her betrayal, as it would reflect poorly on him. He apologises and several rifleman step out behind her, they level their guns and Fiora bows her head, welcoming death. She awaits the sound of gunshot but yet she heared nothing. She opens her eyes to see Baltasar and his men all dead with arrows in them, the Assassins had returned to save her.

The final target was Il Lupo, the Wolf. Fiora was intent on killing him as he was the only one who could tie her to any damage done to the Assassins. Fiora was the product of the information on the Assassins she and Baltasar da Silva obtained. He is an accurate imitation of them, utilizing their skills and weaponry. The two did battle at the docks, Fiora won using a combination of poison and slashes from her fan. Satisfied there is no witnesses, Fiora left the scene. Her fate remains uncertain.

Multiplayer

Fiora Cavazza, is a multiplayer character in Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood. She uses a bladed fan as her primary weapon. Her abilities include Smoke Bombs, the Power Ride, the Multiplayer Abilities#Morph and the Pistol. She differs from the courtesans seen in Assassin's Creed II, most notably by her different outfit and hairstyle

Gallery

• A Courtesan customised with Elite gear.
  A Courtesan customised with Elite gear.