Nero's Golden Palace

File:GoldenPalaceACB.jpg

Ezio in Nero's Golden Palace.

Nero's Golden Palace is a location in Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood. It is underneath the Terme di Traiano and serves as a Lair of Romulus. The Palace is not optional, and serves as a mission during Ezio's first memory sequence in Rome.

History

Nero's Golden Palace was a lavish Palace built by the Roman Emperor Nero after the Great Fire of Rome in 64 AD. Some people say that he intentionally started the fire to make room for his palace on Esquiline Hill. However, after Nero committed suicide in 68 AD, the Roman Emperors Vespasian, Titus and Domitian built on top of Nero's Palace,effectively burying Nero's palace. Finally, Emperor Trajan built his famous bath house on top of what was left of Nero's palace, after which it was forgotten until the Renaissance. During this time, the Pagan Cult, the Followers of Romulus took over the ruined palace and kept one of the Romulus Scrolls here until it was discovered by Ezio Auditore da Firenze in 1500.

Walkthrough

First Room: In this chamber the objective is to interact with the four levers to open a route to the underground ruins. Free-run up the pillar directly in front of Ezio's position, and strafe around the pillar to the left. Use the wall-eject technique to jump to the pillar behind Ezio, then jump forwards again to the cracked pillar. Climb up and to the right until you stand on the platform. Turn right and free-run (necessary to jump) to the lever and activate it. The re-trace your steps, free-running along the platform to the next lever, activating that too. Now jump across to the platform on the opposite wall to you, using beams and bars. Activate the next lever. Now, free run to the small pillar just below the level of the platform Ezio is currently on. Turn towards the wall and jump to the cracked surface and strafe to the left. You'll climb up onto the next platform, then free-run to the last level, activate it. After the brief cut-scene, jump down into the newly made hole in the ground.

Second Room: Climb out of the pool and head through the open archway to the south. If you want to collect all Borgia flags, swiftly turn left and run up the pillar to collect. Then backtrack to where you could have turned right and follow the path around until you come across the last pillar. Climb up this and jump to the wall, strafing along the wall over the locked gate and continue until prompted to perform a Back Eject. On the other side, jump and grab the hanging lamp to swing over another locked gate. In the next area, climb on top of the pillar and use it to reach a wooden beam. From the beam, head for the hanging fixture to swing around to your left. Continue along until you reach the third an final hanging fixture, jump onto this to reach your next waypoint.

Third Room: Climb the oh-so-not-obvious pillar on the wall. If you want to get all the treasure chests then jump to the beam on your right and free-run towards the chest. Then jump back to the pillar. Back eject on the statue's head and jump again to the next wall. Strafe along to the right until the camera angle becomes fixed, at which point use the Back Eject to jump onto a second statue. You can then drop down to ground level. Use the broken statue and pillar to reach the hand-holds on the wall to your left then climb up onto the platform. Free-run over the low wall the climb up a ledge in front of you. Strafe around the handhold until the camera angle becomes fixed again, and perform a Back Eject. Strafe around to the left until another Back Eject opportunity comes and jump to the pole behind Ezio's position. From the pole you can swing a platform. (If you're trying to get all Borgia Flags, run up the wall on Ezio's right, strafe/jump around to the left, run over the archway, up the wall, strafe around to the left again and reach the flag. From here drop to the ground and head the last small platform to get through the Archway) Free-run over the low platforms to get through the archway.

Fourth Room: Climb through the hole above the locked gate then jump and swing down to the lower level. Climb onto the pillar further ahead then free run and climb through another hole. (note: You will need the back Eject for this part) At the hole, strafe to the right until you reach two rings. Climb to the top of these and use the Back Eject to jump to a broken archway on the central pillar. Climb the ledges here and strafe around until you have an opportunity for a Back Eject. For the second treasure chest, strafe along the bar to the right, turn around and swing onto the platform to loot the chest. If not, swing straight forward after Back Ejecting from the central pillar. After touching down upon approaching the main chamber, turn around to find the third treasure chest behind Ezio's position.

Final Chamber: Head for the throne at the center of the East wall and use it to climb to the ledge above. Strafe along to the left to climb up onto the wooden beam. Climb up and follow the free-run path in an anti-clockwise direction around the room; first head the balcony ahead, then climb and free-run around the room until you reach a second broken balcony, jump across the pillars to the East side of the room and climb up the wall. From here you can head around the left and follow the path to the final Borgia Flag, or just strafe to the left following the hand-holds on the wall to the entrance to the Lair of Romulus. Collect the treasures and leave the Lair.

Note: DO NOT bother trying to fulfill the 100% Synch on your first run through, you won't get close. Focus on getting used to the lair and collecting the available trinkets for a bonus. You can come back any time. If you're trying for 100% synch, TAKE YOUR TIME, or you'll jump in the wrong direction and lose precious seconds. Also don't go for the extra treasure and flags if you want to complete the course in under eight minutes. A word of advice. Collect the Followers Treasure first if you still have a shot at 100% when you reach the treasure, the other treasures will still be available but collecting the Followers treasure will stop the timer and allow you to achieve 100%.

See Also

• Terme di Traiano
• Lairs of Romulus
• Armor of Brutus