Fight for the Masyaf Keys

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The fight for the Masyaf Keys was an event in 1512 that occurred in Constantinople.

Near the end of his mission in Cappadocia and after the death of Manuel Palaiologos, the Assassin Ezio Auditore da Firenze witnessed the Ottoman prince Ahmet in the area, revealing where his allegiances truly lied: with the Byzantine Templars.

After Ezio refused to hand over the Masyaf Keys he recovered, Ahmet threatened to harm Sofia Sartor, the woman who assisted Ezio in locating the Keys and his love interest. Disregarding Ezio's threats, Ahmet and his men sailed back to Constantinople.

Wasting no time, Ezio hurriedly escaped Cappadocia and made his way back to his boat, immediately sailing back to Constantinople.

Return

Upon his arrival, Ezio overheard an announcement from a herald concerning a reward for his capture. Disregarding this, Ezio made his way to Sofia's bookshop.

Inspecting Sofia's bookshop

"Brothers. Sisters. The whole city rises against us while Yusuf's murderer waits and watches from the arsenal, laughing. Fight with me, and show him what it means to cross the Assassins."

―Ezio, after giving Yusuf his final rites.

Entering the bookshop, Ezio discovered the mess left behind by the Byzantine soldiers. Dead bodies scattered the floor, and as Ezio looked further into the shop, he found the body of the leader of the Turkish Assassins and close friend, Yusuf Tazim on a bench leaning against a wall. On closer inspection of the body, Ezio found a piece of paper held in place by by a dagger piercing his back.

Removing the dagger, Ezio gave Yusuf his final rites, saying that he had earned his rest. That moment, a group of the Assassin apprentices arrived to see their Mentor's body. Ezio then rallied them for battle, and had them prepare for an invasion in the Arsenal, where Ahmet lied in wait.

Invading the Arsenal

Suleiman: "Spare my uncle, if you can."

Ezio: "Would your father?"

Suleiman: "No."

—Suleiman and Ezio, regarding what was to become of Ahmet.

With the Assassins, Ezio launched a full-scale assault on Constantinople's Arsenal, facing a legion of Byzantine soldiers in their wake. Despite encountering wave after wave of Byzantine defenders, the Assassins, enraged by the death of Yusuf, surged forward, breaking the lines of their enemy. As a countless number of Assassin and Templar blades clashed around him, Ezio hurriedly made his way to Ahmet's location in a secluded area of the Arsenal.

Once Ezio encountered Ahmet, he rapidly pinned him down with his blade, an inch away from his throat. Ezio demanded that Ahmet reveal Sofia's location, though Ahmet reminded him that he he was in no position to negotiate. The two then argued about the goals they shared, though discussed the differences in their means to achieve them. Afterwards, Ahmet instructed Ezio to meet him with the Masyaf Keys at Galata Tower in exchange for Sofia's life. Afterwards, Ahmet left the area.

Suddenly, Suleiman I, who had been eavesdropping the whole time, revealed himself to Ezio. He admitted grief over the discovery of his uncle's true allegiances, but he knew that he must be stopped. Before Ezio left, Suleiman asked Ezio that he spare Ahmet if he could, though when asked if his father, Selim I, would do the same, he admitted that he would not. The two then went their separate ways.

The exchange

Ezio: "Are you hurt?"

Sofia: "No, not hurt. But very confused."

Ezio: "I did not mean to drag you into this. I am sorry."

Sofia: "You are not responsible for the actions of other men."

—Ezio and Sofia after her rescue.

Returning to the Assassins' Headquarters, Ezio gathered the Masyaf Keys and prepared to meet with the other Assassins. Arriving at the graveyard at Galata, Ezio prepared a speech for the apprentices, who were mourning the death of Yusuf. After appointing a new Master Assassin to lead the others in honor of Yusuf, Ezio instructed the other Assassins to take position near the tower and prepare to meet the Byzantines.

At the meeting point, Ezio asked for Sofia's location, though Ahmet did not comply. When Ahmet sent his men to detain Ezio, the Assassin summoned his apprentices. Ezio asked for Sofia once more, which Ahmet replied to by pointing to the top of the Galata Tower, where Sofia, with a burlap sack over her head, was being held by a Byzantine guard at the edge of the tower, mere inches away from falling. Ahmet told Ezio to order his men to stand down and hand over the Keys, to which he complied to. With the Keys in his possession, Ahmet left Ezio's audience and allowed him to rescue Sofia.

Ezio hastily climbed to the top of the tower and saved Sofia, or so he thought. After removing the mask, Ezio discovered that he saved a different woman who had worn the same clothes as Sofia. Scouring the city from the top of the tower, he saw Sofia, being chocked to death by a rope hung from a tree. Ezio instantly leapt off the tower and deployed a parachute to quickly reach and save Sofia.

Sofia admitted that she was more confused than hurt. Ezio apologized, stating that he did not mean to drag her into his affairs, though Sofia commented that he was not responsible for it. Abruptly, a group of Byzantines tried to intercept Ezio and Sofia, though the two managed to flee on a carriage. Taking control of the carriage, Ezio rode to meet Ahmet by Constantinople's countryside.

Conflict at the countryside

Ahmet: "So what now, Ezio? How does this end?"

Ezio: "I am wondering that myself."

—Ezio and Ahmet, after their fight.

With Sofia, Ezio drove the carriage and chased after Ahmet through the countryside. Riding to catch Ahmet, Ezio was being attacked by two carriages of the Byzantines. After dealing with the carriages, Ezio's carriage collided with a nearby wall, which caused Sofia to fall off. While trying to help her, Ezio slipped up, causing him to fall to the back of the carriage, barely holding on to a rope. Before being forced to let go, Ezio activated a parachute whilst being bound to the rope, making him glide over the carriage. Sofia then recuperated, and drove the carriage while Ezio remained air-bound.

Sofia drove the carriage as they chased after Ahmet. However, several Byzantines on horseback chased after Sofia's carriage. Ezio, still gliding with the parachute, dispatched the men using his hidden blade, keeping to the air as he killed the men. In the midst of the chase, Sofia was forced to take several detours, destroying most market stalls and navigating through small villages. Eventually, Ezio and Sofia caught up with Ahmet.

When Sofia tried to get close, Ahmet utilized his carriage to dispatch hers, destroying the wheels with his spiked rims. As Sofia's carriage came to a halt, she bid that Ezio should go on his own from there. Letting go of the rope, Ezio dropped down to a small plateau, and made haste to meet Ahmet's carriage. Jumping down, Ezio caused Ahmet and himself to fall off a cliff.

As they fell, Ahmet and Ezio fought each other, with Ezio eventually gaining the upper hand. As they drew closer to the ground, Ezio had another parachute prepared, and utilized it just before they fell. With Ahmet latching onto him, Ezio directed the parachute to safety, dropping down at a nearby village.

The new Sultan

"Were it not for his endorsement, I would have you killed where you stand. Leave this place, and do not return."

―Selim I, to Ezio.

As Ezio and Ahmet recovered, Ahmet asked what would happen next, to which Ezio also wondered. At that moment, a platoon of Ottoman soldiers and Janissaries arrived, with the Ottoman prince Selim I leading them. In a panic, Ahmet told the Ottomans that Selim was not their leader, and that they only follow the word of their Sultan, Bayezid II. When Ahmet asked where was the Sultan, Selim answered that he himself was the Sultan, stating that their father had made his choice.

Enraged by Ahmet's actions, Selim choked him, as he begged for mercy. Despite Ahmet's pleas, Selim continued to choke him to death, eventually pushing him down a nearby cliff, killing him. Afterwards, Sofia arrived at the scenario, as the new Sultan formally introduced himself to Ezio, stating that his son Suleiman spoke highly of him.

As Ezio praised Selim's son, Selim continued to say that had it not being for Suleiman's word, he would have had him killed right then. He then told the Assassin to leave Constantinople, and never return. Enraged, Ezio readied his sword to stab Selim, but was stopped by Sofia. Selim, while laughing, then left with his soldiers. Sofia comforted Ezio, saying that he had done the right thing, though Ezio remained doubtful.

Aftermath

After the death of Ahmet, Selim returned to Constantinople and began his reign as the new Sultan of the Ottoman Empire. Ezio returned to the Assassin fortress of Masyaf with Sofia, ready to open the door to Altaïr's library.

Source

• Assassin's Creed: Revelations