Cyril of Rhodes

"You are meddling in affairs far outside your understanding."

―Cyril to Ezio's pupil.

"Is it any wonder that I should turn to men with more honor, more courage, and more vision? I regret nothing."

―Cyril's last words

Cyril of Rhodes was a member of the Templar Order, formerly associated with the Eastern Orthodox Church. He was hunted by the Assassins in the early 16th century as part of Ezio Auditore da Firenze's training of Assassin recruits in Constantinople. His death was the capstone assassination for one of Ezio's recruits and sealed the Assassin influence in one of Constantinople's districts. Later in 2012, his genetic memories were used as an Animi Avatar by the Templar company Abstergo Industries, for the training of their Animus recruits, under the title of the Deacon.

Biography

Early History

Cyril of Rhodes was originally a priest for the Eastern Orthodox church. After being publicly shamed and humiliated by the Patriarch of Constantinople for "actions unbecoming the Eastern Orthodox Faith," Cyril spent a decade plotting revenge against his former masters. No longer a believer in the doctrine that he once espoused so passionately, he used his nominal position in the church to erode it from within, in order to further the Templars' ideology.

The Plot

Ezio Auditore observes Cyril

As Cyril made plans to kill the Patriarch, an Assassin apprentice heard of these rumors and told the Mentor, Ezio Auditore da Firenze, upon being made master of the Bayezid North Assassin Den. There were rumors of a Templar operative working in the nearby district. Since they did not know Cyril's exact identity, the pair both began their search to find out who he was, eventually coming across a member of the church that Cyril was a part of. Their contact described Cyril of Rhodes, his history and whereabouts.

Ezio and the apprentice arrived at the location their contact had described and saw a group of people matching the description given by their contact. However, since they all looked alike, Ezio attempted to use his Eagle Sense to locate Cyril from the other two similarly dressed individuals. It was too late, however, as his Apprentice had acted in haste, already striking the wrong man and giving Cyril the chance to escape with his life intact.

The Assassination

Ezio assassinates Cyril with the aid of his apprentice

Once his Apprentice had gained sufficient experience, Ezio brought the recruit to continue the hunt for Cyril. When they went to visit their contact, they instead found him murdered, killed by the Templar to silence him. Ezio used his gift to follow Cyril's tracks from the body. Finally spotting him consorting with civilians, Ezio decided that his apprentice needed to create a diversion so that he could follow Cyril unnoticed.

Following his orders, the recruit ran up and stole Cyril's pouch, starting a chase between the two, with Ezio following closely behind. The apprentice led Cyril to a small balconied area near to the city's Thieves Guild before revealing their allegiance to the Assassins. With anger in his voice, Cyril proclaimed that he would not let an Assassin stop him from achieving his goal and attempted to fight off the apprentice, but Ezio was quick to kill the man with his Hidden Blade before he could harm anyone else.

Final words

Cyril's final moments

• Cyril: What do you hope to hear, Assassin? That I regret my associations? Never. Rome abandoned us in our time of need, the west turned a blind eye to the Ottoman juggernaut. Is it any wonder that I should turn to men with more honor, more courage, and more vision? I regret nothing.
• Ezio: Requiescat in pace (Rest in peace).

Legacy

The Deacon Avatar in use by Abstergo employees

Cyril's memories and habits were used by Abstergo Industries. Abstergo recruits being trained by Warren Vidic entered Animi to learn his skills and further the Templar cause. It was hoped that these skills would aid the Templars in their fight against the Assassins, using Cyril to further the Templar cause from beyond the grave.

Trivia

• Cyril is a name derived from the Greek word kyrios, meaning "lord."