Maria Amiel

Maria Amiel was a Hermetic practitioner who lived in western Europe during the 16th century.

She was the assistant of Bombastus from 1524 until 1527, and the wife of Giovanni Borgia.

Biography

Divine Science

Maria speaking with Giovanni and Bombastus.

In 1527, after she had visited her mother, Maria returned to Professor Bombastus' lab, and found him with a stranger. Bombastus introduced him as Giovanni Borgia, who greeted her graciously.

Giovanni then returned to asking Bombastus questions while Maria listened, though she was unable to follow the conversation, as the two spoke mainly in riddles. Finally, Giovanni demanded that Bombastus read The Book to get the answers he needed, but Bombastus confessed that the Book was incomplete, and that he would need "the other half." Not knowing where it was, the Professor offered Giovanni the help of Maria.

Maria and Giovanni spent a week in the university library researching the Book, which they found to be a journal of the French alchemist, Flamel, based on the teachings of Abraham of Würzburg. They learned that Abraham had divided his knowledge into two manuscripts: "True Magic" and "Divine Science." With that, the two of them decided to travel to Paris.

Paris

Giovanni and Maria investigating the Cimetière des innocents.

"It is not proper for an unmarried woman to travel alone with a stranger, not to mention dangerous, but I am excited to go to France."

―Maria, upon departing for France.

Maria and Giovanni traveled first to Besançon, where they joined up with a group of merchants bound for Paris. They shared many thoughts along the way, until they reached their destination.

After Giovanni secured permission for them, the two went to the royal library, where they found Flamel's last will and testament, which said his wife's nephew had inherited a grimoire. Unfortunately, Flamel's nephew had died a long time ago, thus they began searching for living relatives. Though it took a few days, Maria found one of the nephew's descendants, and Giovanni insisted that they visit him in the morning.

They left the royal library and continued to talk along the way back to their hostel. However, in the city, they walked into an ambush set by brigands. Giovanni quickly dispatched all of the assailants, much to Maria's amazement.

The next morning, Maria followed Giovanni to the house of the man they sought. Though reluctant at first, the old man told them that his cousin, Jacques Henri, had inherited the book. They found Henri, and learned that he didn't care about the book, and agreed to sell it to them. They returned to the hostel and studied the book, which detailed ancient Hermetic practices, symbols and numbers.

That night, the two of them went to the Cimetière des innocents, to "prove or disprove a rumor" as Giovanni put it. The two entered a narrow crypt, where they found Nicholas Flamel's tomb. Giovanni removed the tomb lid, and both discovered that his and his wife's tombs were empty.

Troyes

Giovanni and Maria in the streets of Troyes.

"As we approach the city, Giovanni becomes distant, haunted by reveries. What does he expect to find in Troyes?"

―Maria observing her traveling companion.

Maria and Giovanni prepared to return to Basel, but Giovanni insisted that they visit the city of Troyes on the way back. In Troyes, he rented a single room for Maria's own protection, and remained watching the window vigilantly the entire night.

The next morning, the two of them went out for a tour of the city. They passed by the cathedral and market, where Maria lost sight of Giovanni. She was then approached by a stranger, who asked her peculiar questions. Just then, Giovanni killed the man, and pulled Maria away. When they stopped running, a furious Giovanni asked her why she had been "conspiring with the Viper." However, his fury melted when she began to cry, and the two of them kissed.

While Giovanni confessed to killing the man, the pair escaped Troyes through streets and alleyways. He showed Maria a sealed letter that he had taken from the man, which explained their quest, indicating that someone had betrayed them.

After they scaled the city wall, the two hid from Templars who were on the hunt for them. After crossing a river, they were discovered by three horsemen, though they were all quickly routed by Giovanni. The two then continued towards Basel.

Basel

Giovanni and Maria returning to Bombastus' lab.

Maria and Giovanni eventually returned to Basel, careful not to draw attention to themselves. At Maria's suggestion, the two went to Ivan, a trusted colleague's house. His wife, Lara invited them in while they waited for her husband.

Eventually, Ivan returned home, and informed her that Professor Bombastus had gone mad, and had insulted all of the physicians in the university. They found him in front of the Münster throwing books into a bonfire.

Giovanni pulled him away, but not before he threw one last book in the fire. They brought the insane professor to Ivan's house, where Lara agreed to take care of him. In the morning, they discovered Bombastus was nowhere to be found, though Giovanni was "convinced that there is nothing anyone can do for him."

Before they left Basel, Maria and Giovanni broke into Bombastus' laboratory, which was in shambles. Giovanni unlocked a secret compartment, and took the first half of the Book.

Temple

Maria and Giovanni at the temple.

Giovanni: "We must go to this place, Maria. I know there is something there. I know it! Trust me!"

Maria: "I always have. And look where it has gotten me!"

—Maria teasing Giovanni as they discuss the temple.

Years later, Giovanni showed Maria, now his wife, a crumpled map that led to a temple discovered by a member of his Order long ago. He convinced her that there was something in the temple, and that they needed to find it.

She agreed, and they both went to Rome, and to the entrance of the catacombs. Giovanni helped her down, and they passed through several rooms and tunnels. Giovanni stopped in front of a wall, and pushed at some loose bricks until it opened to a circular room. After he rearranged some more bricks, a door opened to the next chamber.

When they entered, light illuminated the walls and formed patterns and glyphs. Giovanni then dropped unconscious. Alarmed, Maria knelt beside him, but his eyes suddenly opened, she saw that her husband's face had been altered, and he spoke in a distant, unfamiliar voice, calling himself "Consus, the Erudite God."

Trivia

• Maria and Giovanni share the names of Ezio's parents, Maria and Giovanni Auditore da Firenze.
• Maria has at least two sisters, as well as a step-father.
• Maria thought of her mother often, even throughout her travels to Paris.
• Maria appears to be skilled with a blade, as her first instinct upon being attacked by brigands is to attempt to draw her stiletto.

Source

• Assassin's Creed: Project Legacy - Chapter 1 - Maria Amiel