Siege of Monteriggioni

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The Fall of Monteriggioni was a series of events leading up to an engagement between the Borgia, under the command of Cesare Borgia, and the Auditore which took place in January, 1500.

Return from the Vatican

After Ezio received the message of Those Who Came Before from the Vault under the Vatican, Ezio and Mario Auditore return to Monteriggioni after escaping the Papal forces, with the Apple of Eden with them.

At the countryside of Monteriggioni, Ezio and Mario conversed about what Ezio learned in the Vault, and as they rode to the city, mercenaries were testing out the cannons recently installed during Ezio's absence. Arriving at the city, Ezio and Mario was joyously greeted by the townspeople on their return. Arriving at the foot of the Villa Auditore, the two were greeted by Claudia, who told Ezio of Caterina Sforza's presence in Monteriggioni. Claudia then asked if what Ezio started was finally finished, to which Ezio replied that he will explain later in Mario's study, along with the others. As Claudia left, Mario told Ezio to prepare himself for many questions, before he went back to the Villa.

Before going to the villa, Ezio helped some of the townspeople, and while doing so, he learned of Claudia's birthday party from the townspeople. After helping the townspeople and some of Mario's mercenaries, Ezio headed off to the Villa. Caterina Sforza stood waiting at the hall of the villa, who greeted Ezio with glee. Caterina sought out help from Ezio, asking for the assistance of his mercenaries to defend against the Papal army. Ezio told Caterina that they will discuss things after the meeting at Mario's study, to which she agress, as she followed Ezio to the meeting place.

Ezio arrived at the study, where Claudia, his mother, Mario, and Niccolò Machiavelli were waiting. Ezio explained what he saw in the Vault and his confrontation with the Spaniard, Rodrigo Borgia. In the Vault, Ezio met the goddess Minerva, who told Ezio of a disaster that will occur in the distant future, and also mentioned the existence of temples that can aid humanity. After her message, called out to a phantom named Desmond, much to Ezio's confusion. After this, the goddess disappeared.

The others were astounded by Ezio's journey. Claudia asked if the goddess appeared human. Ezio told her that she did, though her words proved otherwise. Mario asked who Desmond was, and where were the Temples that Minerva mentioned. Ezio did not know the answer. Machiavelli asked Ezio how it ended with Rodrigo, if he begged for mercy or offered power. Ezio told him that none of these happened, for he did not kill Borgia. Enraged, Machiavelli told Ezio that it was a mistake to let him live. Ezio tried to explain why he spared Borgia, that they should forget the past and focus more on the future. Machiavelli disagreed with the assassin, and abruptly left for Rome.

As Machiavelli left, Mario tried to comfort Ezio with his decision, stating that he made the right move. After this, Ezio leaves the study and returned to his room. There, he undressed and bathed. With him was Caterina, who "comforted" him while bathing. After the bath, Ezio and Caterina continued their "activities" in bed, which lasted until dawn.

Siege

"We've had too much bloodshed. I think a cleansing is in order. So consider this as an invitation from my family...to yours!"

―Cesare Borgia, moments before killing Mario.

As they wake up, Caterina asked Ezio if he wants to "go again". Ezio replied that she need not to ask.

The Siege

Determined to rid themselves of the Master Assassin Ezio Auditore, the Templars attacked the city of Monteriggioni with an overwhelming force, whilst the city's defenders, led by both Ezio and his uncle – Mario Auditore – attempted to hold them off.

The Auditore were caught by surprise. At dawn, Ezio himself was unaware of what was happening, sleeping together with Caterina Sforza, and at first believed the cannons to just be "training exercises" due to a mercenary's notice to Ezio the last afternoon. Though when a cannonball crashed into the room, shattering the wall and central pillar, Ezio jumped out of bed, dressed and armed himself with one Hidden Blade, a sword, and the Hidden Gun, however his armor was scattered by the attack and he had no time to put the rest of it on. He jumped out the window onto the first-level rooftop to observe exactly what was happening.

It was then that Ezio realized that Monteriggioni was under attack by thousands of soldiers. Another bomb struck the villa just near where he was standing and Ezio fell down to the ground. There, his uncle Mario helped him up and told him the attack was led by the Borgia. Mario instructed his nephew to hold off the army until the townspeople could flee, and that he'd intended to lead a frontal assault. Wishing each other good luck and victory, they parted ways with Ezio running through the training area then jumping from it onto the back of a horse to get as fast as possible to the walls of defense. Upon the fortress walls, he used the cannons to destroy as many enemy cannons and siege towers as he could.

Despite the destruction of many of the Templars' artillery, the Templars managed to overwhelm the city's defenders and breach the main gates. A mortally wounded Mario Auditore was forced inside the city by Cesare Borgia who, revealing the Apple to be in his possession, proceeded to "invite" Ezio to come to Rome with a shot of his firearm (built by Leonardo da Vinci); a shot that killed Mario Auditore, whilst Ezio was also shot twice by a detachment of Templar arquebusiers upon the city walls. When Ezio eventually came to his senses, he made his way to Rome in pursuit of Cesare. However, due to the gunshot wounds he'd received during the siege, Ezio collapsed again. When he regained consciousness, he woke up in a small house, in the outskirts of Rome, where a woman nursed Ezio back to health. After a doctor gave Ezio a pain duller for his wounds, he then began his journey in Rome.

Gallery

• 
  Monteriggioni under fire.
• 
  Ezio defends Monteriggioni with a cannon.
• Cesare Borgia, holding the Apple of Eden alongside his sister Lucrezia.
  Cesare Borgia, holding the Apple of Eden alongside his sister Lucrezia.
• Mario Auditore is badly wounded.
  Mario Auditore is badly wounded.
• Ezio and Mario together before they depart.
  Ezio and Mario together before they depart.

Trivia

• Altaïr's armor was seen damaged at the siege of Monteriggioni.