Mario Auditore
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He who increaseth knowledge, increaseth sorrow. This article contains spoilers, meaning it has information and facts concerning recent or upcoming releases from the Assassin's Creed series. If you do not want to know about these events, it is recommended to read on with caution, or not at all. |
- "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.
In 1487, Mario and the other male Assassins help Ezio recover and defend the Piece of Eden from Rodrigo Borgia in Venice. After securing the Piece of Eden, Mario studies it alongside Machiavelli, Leonardo, and Ezio. When the Apple is activated, Mario and Machiavelli are both affected and collapse, holding their heads. Mario recognizes its great power and tells Ezio to protect it by taking it to Forlì. He then invites Leonardo to the Villa Auditore in Monteriggioni.
He also later appears when 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 slicks 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.
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 video game mascot, Mario, and his most famous spoken line. It reinforces this reference because of both Marios' Italian heritage.
- Another reference to Nintendo's Mario is that both Mario's wear red, while the Mario's mercenaries wear green, much like Nintendo's Mario's brother: Luigi.
- He has a scar on the left side of his face and is 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 he wears.
- 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.
- 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 (Condottiero 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".
- Although Mario lives in the villa you only see him during the story line or when you get 50 feathers.
- He is apparently a proponent of geocentrism, believing the Sun to revolve around the Earth.