Battle of Forlì

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The Battle of Forlì was a major military conflict between the Templar forces of Rodrigo Borgia, commanded by the Orsi brothers, and those loyal to Caterina Sforza, Countess of Forlì, in the year 1488.

Shelter in the Wetlands

After procuring the Apple of Eden from Templar hands in the city Venice, and the induction of Ezio into the Assassin's Order, Ezio, Mario Auditore and Niccolò Machiavelli met with the inventor Leonardo da Vinci with the hope that he might be able to shed some light upon the nature of the artifact. Leonardo knew little more than the Assassins themselves. After inadvertently witnessing the Apple's power, and realizing that if the artifact fell into the wrong hands, the results could prove disastrous, Mario knew he had to protect the Apple. He thought it best to hide the Piece of Eden within the city of Forlì, where a powerful ally of the Assassins reigned; Caterina Sforza, an old acquaintance of Ezio.

Accompanied by Machiavelli, Ezio met up with Caterina, who was surprised to hear of Ezio's allegiances. Escorted by the city guards, Caterina, Machiavelli and Ezio made their way to the city. As they did, Caterina talked about her rise to power, reminiscing about the death of her husband by the hands of the Orsi brothers. Ezio offered his condolences, but Caterina informed him that her husband's death was her doing, stating that she hired the Orsi brothers herself, much to Ezio's surprise.

As they made their way towards the city however, they found the townspeople fleeing from an unknown hostile force. When Caterina asked one of the fleeing civilians who was attacking, she was given the names Checco and Ludovico Orsi, the men she had hired to kill her husband. They had invaded and taken control of much of the city. Fearing the worst, Caterina made her way to the city, but was blocked from entry, for the city gates were locked. Ezio asked if there was another way into the city, and Caterina replied that there was a secret entrance.

She told Ezio to swim under the city drain and open the gates once he got inside. As he made his way into the city, Caterina threw insults at the Orsi brothers, shouting and screaming at the top of her lungs. After making his way through the city, avoiding open conflict, Ezio managed to open the gates for Caterina and her militia.

Defending the Citadel

"Caterina! Caterina Sforza! I know you're in there! I have something you may want back... Are you missing any children?"

―Checco Orsi, addressing Caterina

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The Orsi brothers leading the Templar attack

Ezio, together with Machiavelli and Caterina, made their way to the citadel and fought off the Templar invasion, managing to retain both the Apple and the Codex map. As her militia rested, Caterina went on to check on her children. Making her way home, she saw that two of her children, Ottaviano & Bianca were missing. The servant informed her that the two were playing outside during the attack, and feared the worst. Before Caterina spoke, the guards that were posted on the city walls informed them of the Orsi's reinforcement.

Preparing for combat, Ezio, Caterina and Machiavelli fought off the invaders as they made their way into the citadel. After fending off most of the attackers, Caterina heard some very familiar voices. Looking outside the citadel, Caterina spotted the Orsi brothers, who made their statement. Checco informed her that the children were with them. The two were also surprised to see Ezio, and introduced themselves to the Assassin. Caterina demanded her children be released, and the Orsi brothers stated that they would be freed once Caterina handed over her husband's map. During this exchange, Girolamo Savonarola watches from the back of the Orsi's armed band.

Caterina refused to surrender the map, and even went as far as to say that the Orsi can have her children, stating that she has "the instrument to make more". Figuring that Caterina would change her mind, the Orsi brothers gave her some more time to think about the deal. After this, the brothers and their men left the area.

Caterina cried out of concern for her children. Ezio told Caterina that he couldn't let her make that sacrifice, and Caterina replied that there would be no sacrifices. She then tasked Ezio to rescue her children. Ezio gave Caterina the Apple of Eden, and then left to rescue her children.

Dealing with the Orsi

"The Maestro gains his prize, because of me..."

―Ludovico Orsi's last words after Ezio slays him

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Ezio assassinating Checco Orsi on horseback

With two of Sforza's children still in Orsi hands, Ezio was tasked with their liberation. The Assassin overpowered the guard detail assigned to imprison Bianca, who directed Ezio to her brother Ottaviano. As Bianca fled back to the city, Ezio made his way the the lighthouse upon which Ottaviano was being held by Ludovico himself. Climbing the tower, Ezio dispatched the Orsi brother, and rescued Ottaviano, though not before learning that the distraction of the captured siblings had allowed the brothers to steal the Apple. Hurrying back to the citadel, Ezio learned that Ludovico's jeering had been true, and that Checco had acquired the Apple; Ezio swiftly tracked down and killed the remaining Orsi brother.

Retrieving the Apple, Ezio failed to notice that Checco had stabbed him in the abdomen. Injured, Ezio collapsed to the floor, the Apple rolling from his hand. Before losing consciousness Ezio saw a monk with a missing finger pick up the Apple and walk away, despite Ezio's warnings against doing so. The battle was over, and the city remained within the hands of Caterina Sforza.

The Hunt for the Monk

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Ezio waking up after being stabbed by Checco Orsi

In the battle's aftermath, Forlì guards scouting the area found Ezio, barely alive. They brought him back to the city, where Caterina personally nursed him back to health. When Ezio regained consciousness, he told her what had happened, and she suggested that he head for an abbey in the wetlands where he might find some clues to the monk's identity, and also gave Ezio the map, since he would need to find it to find the remaining Codex pages in order to determine the location of the Vault. With that, Ezio thanked Caterina for her help, and departed.

Ezio headed to the abbey, where he found an Irish priest, Brother O'Callahan being roughed up by Borgia thugs. After helping the priest defeat his attackers, Ezio inquired as to the identity of the monk with the missing finger. O'Callahan replied that he didn't know, but suggested that Ezio might gain more information at the abbey within Forlì.

Returning to the city, Ezio went to the Abbey and was about to make inquiries when one of the priests present recognized him as Stefano da Bagnone's killer nine years previous. The man fled, but Ezio caught up and tackled him. Ezio managed to convince the monk that Stefano's death had been justified, since Ezio only slew those who deserved death, then asked for the identity of the monk. The priest identified the monk as Brother Savonarola, but insisted that he had retired to a hermitage. Ezio replied that Savonarola had left and asked where he might have gone; the priest suggested he might have returned to the place where he studied; Santo Spirito, in Firenze.

Aftermath

Armed with the knowledge he obtained from the monk, Ezio departed Forlì to travel to Florence. It is here that he faced the monk, Girolamo Savonarola and his devout followers.

Source

• Battle of Forli (DLC)