Fiora Cavazza
- "I do not concern myself with morals. How could I, in this business?"
- ―Fiora Cavazza.[src]
Fiora Cavazza was a courtesan working in the Rosa in Fiore, who was recruited into the Templar Order by Cesare Borgia, by whom she was used to go on several errands.
Eventually betrayed by Cesare and barely surviving a vicious attack from the murderer Malfatto, Fiora joined forces with the Assassins and helped them take down the Templar agents scattered throughout Rome.
Her genetic memories were later used by the Templar-owned company Abstergo Industries, for the training of their Animus recruits, under the title of the Courtesan.
Biography
Life in the Rosa in Fiore
- "I am a fine wine served in a low class tavern."
- ―Fiora, regarding the Rosa in Fiore.[src]
In 1497, Fiora Cavazza lived in the Rosa in Fiore brothel of Rome, working as a courtesan under the leadership of Madonna Solari. However, Fiora was not satisfied with her life and was eager to build powerful connections with her clients, hoping that would allow her to leave the brothel. She often ventured outside to gather information and allies, and earned the jealousy of the other girls by her success in doing so. Brother Ristoro was one of them who commonly talked to her, but Fiora was disgusted by him and his 'perversions'.[1]
Sometime during her stay in the Rosa in Fiore, she and another courtesan, Lucia, were dispatched to escort Madonna Solari's brother, Santino. While escorting him, Fiora and Lucia were treated violently by Santino, and Fiora suspected that whatever it was that Santino was dabbling in, his trade was crumbling.[1]
Not long after this event, the Rosa in Fiore was visited by a charming but mysterious client: Cesare Borgia. Fiora was attracted to Cesare's allure, and they spent some time conversing. At first, Fiora thought he was there to enjoy her services, but Cesare explained that that was not the case. In return for their lives being spared, Madonna Solari and Santino had allowed Cesare to choose one of the girls for himself, and he had chosen Fiora.[1]
Working for Cesare Borgia
- "I have served the Borgia for six years now. Done horrible things. Seen the fantastic. I regret none of it."
- ―Fiora, on working for the Borgia.[src]
From 1497 to 1503, Fiora served Cesare loyally, merely posing as a courtesan while living under his patronage. In the first year of her employment, Cesare had Fiora sleep with — and murder — his brother Juan on Tiber Island, in order for him to take his position as Captain General.[2] Over the years, Fiora would also oversee, and eventually recruit, several of his Templar agents.[1]
Among the agents that Fiora first encountered was Brother Ristoro, a corrupt member of the clergy and frequent visitor to the Rosa in Fiore, who supplied Cesare with religious items and letters for him to dispense at his will. Another supplier to Cesare was a smuggler named Lia de Russo, who delivered various trinkets and antiquities of little to great value.[1]
Fiora also met Auguste Oberlin, Cesare's personal blacksmith, and Gaspar de la Croix, Cesare's engineer, who Fiora described as a "haunted man."[1]
Final assignments
Later, Fiora was entrusted with the task of recruiting more people into Cesare's underground army, a group of people she described as his "personal collection of misfits."[1]
The first, Rocco Tiepolo, was a condottiero, from whom Fiora was tasked to gather the finest mercenaries.[1]
Fiora was also sent to bribe Donato Mancini, who was said to be Cesare's finest horseman, to let Cesare win a racing match that was to take place that day. Donato was unmoved by the bribe and threats that Fiora relayed, and managed to win the race despite Cesare's officer being sent to deter him.[1]
Fiora also met with the Cento Occhi, a group of thieves led by a young man named Lanz, who Cesare suspected had raided one of the Borgia's carriages. Fiora managed to convince Lanz to return the stolen money, and have his gang work for Cesare and the Borgia.[1]
Cesare then assigned Fiora to meet and work with Baltasar de Silva to study Cesare's enemies, a league of Assassins. Together, they watched as one of Cesare's senators was assassinated, and although Fiora felt defeat when the Assassin escaped, Baltasar was more optimistic with the discoveries of his weapons and technique.[1]
Fiora's next assignment was to work with Cahin and Caha, a brother-sister pair of harlequins. Together, the three of them killed a group of guests at what was disguised as a performance by Cahin and Caha.[1]
Fiora also met with Il Carnefice, a twisted executioner with a love for his carnage, and Silvestro Sabbatini, Cesare's failed agent to whom she was to deliver the opportunity for a second chance, by presenting him with a prosthetic arm.[1]
Malfatto
Cesare's last contact assignment for Fiora was with Malfatto, a doctor with a love for slaughtering the courtesans of Rome. Fiora was frightened with the prospect of meeting up with him, since she had seen one of his victims lying in a pool of blood. Cesare, however, insisted that she present a letter of absolution to him, so as to gain his allegiance.[1]
On her first attempt to find Malfatto, she found nothing but his latest victim. On her second attempt, she wore one of her old courtesan costumes, hoping to lure him out. When she finally met Malfatto, he nearly attacked Fiora, but she managed to fend him off by shouting Cesare's name and by handing over the letter she was to give him.[1]
That night, Fiora returned to the house that Cesare had bought for her, but was unable to sleep. In the middle of the night, she felt a pricking sensation at her neck, and was shocked to find not an insect, but Malfatto injecting her with his syringe.[1]
The contents of the syringe began to take effect on Fiora, but she managed to wound Malfatto with her metal fan before losing consciousness. When she woke up, Malfatto had gone, but Fiora's loyalty to Cesare had diminished; she was determined to betray him to the Assassins.[1]
Fiora crafted a list containing the names of Cesare's finest agents, all of which she had worked with, and sent them to the Assassins. To her surprise, the Assassin who came to pick her up was the blossoming painter, Francesco Vecellio.[1]
Working with the Assassins
- "I am done with Cesare. Done with the mad people who surround him."
- ―Fiora, regarding leaving the Borgia's employment.[src]
Fiora followed and assisted the Assassins as they targeted the names on the list she had given them. The first of the betrayed agents to be assassinated was Rocco Tiepolo, and his mercenaries. The fight against them proved little more than a brutal massacre, the Assassins overcoming them surprisingly easily.[1]
Fiora and the Assassins targeted the siblings Cahin and Caha next, whom they found performing in the streets. Cahin was swiftly assassinated, and while Caha at first tried to retaliate, she soon realized that she was fighting a losing battle. She finally accepted death, and sat cradling her brother's body as an Assassin shot a crossbow bolt into her head.[1]
Afterwards, Fiora led the Assassins to Baltasar de Silva's hideout, where they planned to ambush him. However, Baltasar proved a crafty opponent, and set fire to the building as he made his escape. When Fiora later checked the remains of the burnt structure, she found a letter from Baltasar for her. In the letter, he told her that he wanted them to meet, to discuss things.[1]
Fiora complied and visited the place Baltasar had directed her to, but realized too late that it was a trap when marksmen appeared from behind the crates and aimed for her. Fiora bowed her head, but the gunshots never came. When she looked up, Baltasar and the marksmen were dead, shot by arrows; and Fiora realized that the Assassins had saved her.[1]
Fiora's final target was Il Lupo, a Templar agent that she and Baltasar had once trained to imitate the Assassins as perfectly as possible, mimicking their clothes, techniques, and weapons. Fiora feared that Il Lupo would be the one link to reveal what harm she had done to the Assassins, and thus she confronted him alone. Although Il Lupo was stronger in an open fight, Fiora was able to kill him with poison when his back was turned.[1]
The Apple of Eden
- "Papà asked Fiora to eat dinner with him. Papà is angry with her. He says she is a liar. I told him she is nice, but he says she is still a liar."
- ―Giovanni Borgia, regarding Cesare's opinion of Fiora.[src]
Some time after she defected to the Assassins, Fiora paid a visit to Cesare Borgia upon his request, where she was noticed by Cesare's presumed son, Giovanni. Though she and Cesare calmly shared dinner, their distrust of one another was barely hidden. Cesare questioned Fiora on his lost allies, and on her relations with the Assassins, but she denied any knowledge of either.[1]
That night, Giovanni witnessed Fiora sneaking around, searching the house for the Apple of Eden. Thinking that she was there to play, Giovanni snatched the Apple and ran off, calling gleefully for Fiora to catch him. Alarmed, Fiora attempted to take the Piece of Eden from the boy, but was subsequently frozen by its power. Woken by the clamor, Cesare advanced on the immobilized Fiora, calmly telling Giovanni that he would hurt her.[1]
Trivia
- Fiora Cavazza is the only multiplayer character to eventually turn against the Templars and work for the Assassins instead. Interestingly, she is also the second known Templar to switch sides, though she was much more ruthless than Maria Thorpe.
References
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