Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood (novel)

Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood is a novel based on the game of the same name, released on November 25, 2010. Written once again by Oliver Bowden, it is a direct sequel to Assassin's Creed: Renaissance.

Description

"I will journey to the black heart of a corrupt Empire to root out my foes. But Rome wasn't built in a day and it won't be restored by a lone assassin. I am Ezio Auditore da Firenze. This is my brotherhood."

Rome, once mighty, lies in ruins. The city swarms with suffering and degradation, her citizens living in the shadow of the ruthless Borgia family. Only one man can free the people from the Borgia tyranny - Ezio Auditore, the Master Assassin. Ezio's quest will test him to his limits. Cesare Borgia, a man more villainous and dangerous than his father the Pope, will not rest until he has conquered Italy. And in such treacherous times, conspiracy is everywhere, even within the ranks of the brotherhood itself...

Differences in the Novel

Characters

• In the novel, Mario Auditore was said to be the Grand Master of the Assassin Order prior to his death during the Siege of Monteriggioni. In the game, it was assumed but never confirmed.
• The novel references to how Cesare's face had been mutilated by the "New Disease" (which relates to the recent outbreak of syphilis - an affliction that plagued Cesare Borgia in reality), leading him to wear a mask. In the game, however, his face is always fully shown without any signs of such deformities.
• According to the Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood novel, Cesare excelled at bullfighting. Machiavelli believed he showed such an interest in the sport due to his aggressive nature and partly being Spanish, where the sport originated.
• It is stated by Machievelli that Paola taught Ezio his skills in Venice but in Assassin's Creed II he clearly gets taught in Florence
• In the novel Machiavelli does not become the Grand Master of the Assassin Order after the death of Mario Auditore, even though his in-game database suggests so. In the novel, no new leader is elected, however, Ezio and Machiavelli both act as chiefs. When Ezio begins recruiting assassins, La Volpe suggests Ezio to be their new leader, but he is not officially elected until the initiation of Claudia, as seen in the game.
• In the novel, Leonardo is offered a place in the Brotherhood, though he declines.
• The traitorous thief from Monteriggioni was said to be named Paganino and had once served Antonio in Venice, before being recruited by the Borgia.
• Some of Ezio's recruits are said to be wanting to get back to the normal life they once had, after the defeat of the Borgia.
• Maria Auditore passes away due to a long-time illness sometime between 1504 and 1505.

Relationships

• In the novel it goes into more detail regarding Ezio's relationship and feelings for Caterina Sforza.
• At the start of the book Mario Auditore makes reference to Claudia being married and then widowed; where as in the game this doesn't happen, or at least is not mentioned.
• Giuliano della Rovere is said to be allied with the assassins upon Ezio's arrival in Rome and after the fall of the Borgia in Rome, Ezio becomes his counselor.

Equipment

• Ezio is said to have lost all of his codex inventions at the Siege of Monteriggioni. After reuniting with Leonardo in Rome, Leonardo rebuilds them for Ezio, as well as some additional inventions. In the game, Ezio claims that he had lost all of the codex inventions Leonardo once fashioned for him, while only having lost his second hidden blade.
• Guns are used much more frequently by enemies in the novel; in the game they are only used by arquebusiers, Papal Guards and Cesare Borgia.
• The poison darts given to Ezio by Leonardo are not fired from Ezio's pistol like in the game, but instead they are tossed as ordinary darts.
• In the novel it is Leonardo who constructs Ezio's crossbow for him, and Ezio only uses it in one mission - while escorting Bartolomeo to 'surrender' to the French Army.
• Leonardo reveals that he used the Apple to locate Ezio in Rome, similarly to how Ezio discovers where Cesare is headed after his escape from prison.
• Ezio does not use the Apple as a weapon against Cesare.

Assassinations

• Il Carnefice, Malfatto and Silvestro Sabbatini are not mentioned at all, and Ezio does not use his recruits to assassinate any targets.
• Juan Borgia's party is not held outdoors in the Trastavere, but instead in his own palazzo in the Vatican. Ezio does not assassinate him from a bench, but corners him and a guard in a small room before finishing them both off.
• In the game Ezio can either air assassinate the Baron de Valois or shoot him from above; in the novel Ezio corners him and kills him with his sword.
• The fight between Ezio and Cesare is a little different in the novel. They begin the battle only with their fists, however, after Cesare punches Ezio they both resort to swords. After disarming Cesare, Ezio parries an attack from his dagger by cutting Cesare's hand, almost severing it. Realizing his defeat Cesare desperately shouts that he can not die by the hands of man, to which Ezio replies "then I leave you in the hands of fate!" and seizes Cesare and pushes him from the edge, without looking down.

Other Events

• Ezio and Mario both rode horses while escaping the Vatican and did not jump into the Tiber like in the game.
• After waking up in Rome, Ezio decided to go to a doctor after the pain he felt while trying to do a Leap of Faith from the church unlike in the game, in which Ezio meets the doctor first.
• Mario Auditore is both shot and beheaded during the defense of Monteriggioni. Cesare then waves Mario's head at Ezio when he catches up to their escape under the tunnels, shouting "You're next!" after him.
• Ezio and Cesare meet during the Siege of Monteriggioni and Ezio is shot by Octavian de Valois. In the game, Ezio and Cesare don't meet until later, and Ezio is shot by an arquebusier.
• Leonardo da Vinci is present and stands with Cesare at the Siege of Monteriggioni, against his will.
• Ezio uses his Apprentices to destroy Leonardo's inventions, and to guard Leonardo from the Borgia. In the game, Ezio himself destroys the war machines, and he doesn't leave Leonardo with any protection.
• In the game the passion play and the events concerning the distrust La Volpe had for Machiavelli take place after killing Baron de Valois. In the novel it is reverted.
• In the novel Thief and Courtesan missions are executed by Assassin recruits.
• The fall of the Borgia loyalists is covered in more detail in the novel.
• In 1504, Claudia Auditore da Firenze steps down as the Madam of the Rosa in Fiore, after being kidnapped by Borgia loyalists, and Rosa replaces her.
• Machiavelli is present when Ezio hides the Apple under the Colosseo. In the game, it is assumed Ezio is alone.
• None of the events of The Da Vinci Disappearance are mentioned.
• A more detailed account of Ezio's hunt for Cesare after he escapes from prison is given. It details Micheletto being killed, and describes Ezio in Spain with Leonardo and Machiavelli trying to find Cesare.
• In the game, all of the events, from Ezio emerging from the Vault to Cesare's arrest, take place in four years. However, due to the final scene in Assassin's Creed: Renaissance being said to take place in 1503 instead of 1499, these events only take place in a few months.