Herald

Heralds were citizens who informed the populations of cities about recent news, such as those concerning laws, taxation, public health issues or executions.

Renaissance

Heralds came about due to the lack of an effective means of information transfer, and were precursors to the communication system of modern times.

During the Italian Renaissance, should Ezio Auditore commit a crime, the heralds would begin warning the people about the presence of the Assassin. To keep himself hidden, Ezio would often bribe them with 500 florins, and encourage them to speak of other matters. Similarly, in Constantinople, Ezio would bribe heralds with 100 Akçe.

When viewed through Eagle vision, heralds were marked with blue if they were announcing normal events. If they spoke of the Assassins (mostly lies and slander), they were seen glowing red, as any other enemy.

Trivia

• In Assassin's Creed, certain people may be found speaking publicly, attempting to convince citizens to join the Crusaders or Saracens. These men function much like heralds, although they are not referred to as such, and are purely aesthetic.
• Bribing a herald lowers notoriety by 50%. In Assassin's Creed: Revelations, this is lowered to 25%.
• In Assassin's Creed II, heralds will appear on the map as long as Ezio's notoriety is not at 0%. In Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood, notoriety must be greater than 50%, and in Revelations, they appear around 25% Templar awareness. It should be noted that, in Assassin's Creed II, in Venice they appear at 50% notoriety.

File:Herold schmieren.png

Ezio bribing a herald in Florence.

• The achievement "Easy Come, Easy Go" can be unlocked by bribing a herald and stealing back the florins.
  • In this achievement, a herald is referred to as an "orator."
• The heralds of Rome in Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood warn about swine flu and syphilis, while in Assassin's Creed II, they warn citizens about plague.
• In Assassin's Creed: Revelations, heralds will talk about the war between Selim and his father until completing the final memory. They also comment on Manuel Palaiologos, Byzantines, and Ezio's assassination of Tarik Barleti.

Gallery

• 
  A herald in Venice.
• A herald in Rome.
  A herald in Rome.
• A herald in Constantinople.
  A herald in Constantinople.

Sources

• Assassin's Creed II
• Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood
• Assassin's Creed: Revelations