Mario Auditore

"Don't you recognize me? It's-a-me, Mario!"

―Mario meeting Ezio

Mario Auditore (b. 1434) is the older brother of Giovanni Auditore and the uncle of Ezio. Like his brother, he is an Assassin, but prefers combat and group maneuvers over infiltration and stealth. He has become a condottiere leading a sizable group of mercenaries to fight against the Templars (and their interests) hidden among the local nobility. He proves to be a valuable ally of his nephew, Ezio (who he refers to as nipote, Italian for 'nephew') and trains him to improve his fighting skills in Monteriggioni.

Biography

Early Life

As a young man, Mario played an important role in the Battle of Anghiari, where he alerted the condottiero Micheletto Attendolo to dust clouds over the road, signalling a surprise advance on the Florentines by the Milanese troops. The attack was stopped, and the Florentines won the battle. However, after this battle, most of his time was spent defending his home town of Monteriggioni and the Tuscan countryside from persistent Florentine troops determined to seize it.

In 1454, Mario's younger brother Giovanni decided to move to Florence to pursue a career in banking. Mario remained at the Auditore family villa in Monteriggioni, and the two exchanged letters to keep in touch. In one of these letters, Mario defended his decision to stay in Monteriggioni by writing that he "preferred fighting like a man, to filling out balance sheets." It is insinuated that he rarely saw the family after that, as Ezio has little recollection of him.

Assassin's Creed II

While escorting his mother and sister away from Florence, Ezio is ambushed by Vieri de' Pazzi and his gang of thugs. Mario and his mercenaries save the trio, and he insists that they accompany him back to Monteriggioni. Mario tells Ezio of his Assassin heritage, and that he must be trained so that he can properly fight and defeat the Templars, and protect his mother and sister. He then shows Ezio the inside of his home, the Sanctuary hidden at the back of a bookcase and explains the purpose of The Codex. He soon starts Ezio's training to become an Assassin and is also shown to be extremely proud of his Assassin heritage after he storms off when Ezio announces his decision to take Maria and Claudia to Spain against Mario's wishes.

Feeling guilty, Ezio rethinks his decision and follows Mario to Tuscany to kill Vieri de' Pazzi. When Ezio kills Vieri and begins to abuse the body, Mario steps in and urges him to have respect for the dead. "You are not Vieri," he says to Ezio. "Do not become him." Then, addressing Vieri's body, he delivers a short monologue before uttering the words "Requiescat in Pace (Rest in Peace)," a term that Ezio will adopt for further assassinations.

Several years later, he, along with several other characters, help Ezio defend the Piece of Eden from Rodrigo Borgia in Venice. He also later helps appears when after Ezio collected all of the Codex pages and helped Ezio assassinate Rodrigo in Rome by distracting most of Rome leaving Rodrigo less protected. As of this time, his fate after this event is left unknown

Personality and characteristics

Mario dresses in the flamboyant style of the Italian nobility of the Renaissance, sports long, dark hair that he ties back neatly and has a scar over his left eye, which he is also blind in. He is a boisterous man, and makes no apologies for his passion for fighting and alcohol. He cares deeply for his brother and his brother's family, and is extremely proud of his Assassin heritage. From his letter to Giovanni and their differences in fighting styles, it can be assumed that he was often playfully critical of his brother, much like his nephew Federico is with Ezio.

Gallery

• Mario (center) with Ezio and two mercenaries.
  Mario (center) with Ezio and two mercenaries.
• 
  Mario's concept art

Trivia

• After rescuing Ezio from Vieri de Pazzi, Mario identifies himself by saying "It's-a me, Mario!" This is likely a reference to Nintendo's videogame mascot, Mario, and his first and most famous spoken line. It reinforces this reference because of both Marios' Italian heritage.
• He has a scar on the left side of his face and is possibly blind in his left eye.
• If you look closely, on Mario's left shoulder pad, the logo of the Assassins is embroidered/stitched onto the leather. The Auditore coat of arms is also stitched onto the cape on his back.
• Mario's date of birth as listed in the Database (1434) is most likely incorrect. Mario took part in the Battle of Anghiari, which took place in 1440, making him only 6 years old if born in 1434.
• He is often referred as ubriacone ("drunkard" in italian) by his enemies, the Pazzi.
• Although on the timeline page of this wiki says Mario was born in 1434, it says that 6 years later that he was a condotierro in 1440, making him 6 years old at the time.
• If Ezio obtains 50 feathers and places them in the chest in Maria's room, Mario will enter and attempt to stop Ezio from continuing on what he considers to be a vain effort. "I've seen you bringing Maria the feathers. I appreciate what you're trying to do for her, but you have to face facts. It's not working. Maybe you should focus on more important things. I've had a new weapon (Condotierro War Hammer) made for you at the Blacksmith's. You can go pick it up whenever you want." He will then sigh and add, "I'm sorry Ezio".
  • It's fitting that Mario gives Ezio the Condottierro War Hammer as he is a mercenary himself.
  • Mario is not married and doesn't have any children of his own, so he may not understand the importance of the feathers to Maria.
• Although Mario lives in the villa you only see him during the story line or when you get 50 feathers.