Upon returning to Rome in 1506, Ezio Auditore visited his old friend Leonardo Da Vinci at his workshop. Ezio informs Leonardo that he wishes to charter a ship and that the Apple has been put to rest. Leonardo tells Ezio of his research and a possible breakthrough associated with Pythagoras. Eager to help his friend, Leonardo wishes to accompany Ezio to the docks to locate a captain, but cannot leave without his assistant Salaì. Ezio leaves the workshop to retrieve Leonardo's assistant at La Volpe Addormentata.
Ezio arrives at Leonardo's workshop, seeking his assistance in chartering a ship.
File:Rollofthedice1.pngEzio speaks with Leonardo.Leonardo:Salai? Is that you? Ezio! I must be getting lazy in my old age. I did not know you had returned to Roma.
Ezio:Unfortunately, I cannot stay. I am here to charter a ship.
Leonardo:Let me assist you! I know a captain, he is very discreet. Hang on, I have the name recorded somewhere.
Ezio looks over scrolls set upon a table in the workshop.
Ezio:What are you working on?
Leonardo:Oh this? A hobby of mine. Of course you are familiar with Pythagoras!
Ezio:Remind me.
Leonardo:The brilliant scholar from Grecia (Greece) who discovered many secrets about the heavenly spheres and our cosmos.
Ezio:These symbols come from him?
Leonardo:Ever since my exploration of that strange Apple, they have been stamped on my mind. I found symbols like them in the writings of the Pythagorean disciples.
Leonardo searches for the name of the captain, to no success.
Leonardo:I am afraid the captain's name escapes me.
Ezio:The Apple has been put to rest. Perhaps it would do you good to focus on painting. You seem to be doing decent work on this one.
The pair gaze upon an unfinished Mona Lisa.
File:Roleofthedice2.pngEzio and Leonardo look upon the unfinished Mona Lisa.Leonardo:Ha! You are kind, however even I can see that she is badly drawn. And that smile? Overdone. Meaningless. But forget painting, I made a breakthrough in my research several days ago. A huge discovery. Salai! Can you bring the-- Oh he is not back! I intended to accompany you to he docks, but we cannot leave my workshop without my assistant.
Ezio:Bene. (Good.) An easy task.
Leonardo:I am afraid you underestimate Salai!
Ezio: Hehe. Wait and see.
Leonardo:Suit yourself. You will likely find him at La Volpe Addormentata (The Sleeping Fox).
Ezio leaves Leonardo's workshop and heads for La Volpe Addormentata.
The Gambler
Ezio arrives at the Thieves guild and locates Leonardo's assistant gambling.
Salai:Better. But not good enough. Yes! Di nuovo! (Again!)
Ezio:Leonardo, your master, requests your presence.
Salai:Let him wait.
Ezio:No.
Salai:Nice hood. Are you one of Julius's monks?
Ezio: My church is not of God.
Salai:Outside the kingdom of God is the realm of men. You worship there, Messere (Sir)?
Ezio:Come with me and find out.
Salai:It has been fun, but I must go.
Hermeticist:Please, do not depart. The game is not finished.
Salai:Sorry, but a better offer has arisen. (to Ezio) Lead on, Messere (Sir).
Ezio and Salai leave La Volpe Addormentata, but are followed by three Hermeticists.
File:Rolethedice4.pngThe Hermeticists draw their weapons.Ezio:The three men from the dice game follow us. Stay quiet--
Salai:Why? Sentite! (Listen!) I am done playing.
Hermeticist:So are we!
The three men draw arms and attack Ezio and Salai, and are joined by a larger group of Hermeticists. Ezio slays the attackers.
Salai:There is only one man in Roma who can put on a show like that. You must be Ezio Auditore.
Ezio:Come. We need to return to Leonardo right away.
Salai:You do not talk much, do you? Fine. I will run ahead. You catch up.
The Rendezvous
Ezio leaves to meet with Salai and is attacked by multiple groups of Hermeticists along the way. He eventually rendezvous with Salai in the Centro district.
Ezio:Disciples wearing similar robes appeared once before. They sought an...object I had in my possession.
Salai:You mean, the Piece of Eden?
Ezio:Leonardo told you?
Salai:He tells me everything.
Ezio: I fear his indiscretion has cost us greatly. We must warn him.
Salai:Say no more. I know the best route home. I take it every moning after the taverns close. Follow me.Ezio follows Salai on his route to the workshop, they see a group of Hermeticists searching for them .
Salai:I am going around.
Salai:How about some fun on the rooftops?
Ezio:Leonardo told me that he had discovered something important.
Salai:He has been exploring a hidden catacomb for years now. I think he came to Roma to find it. You have no idea what he is like. He works on this all the time, he never takes me out. And he is so cheap! I have to beg him for money.
Ezio:He actually gives coins to you?
Salai:More or less. What he does not know will not hurt him. Allora (So), you are from Firenze? Tell me more.
Salai:Fine, I will use my imagination.
The pair spot another group of Hermeticists.
Salai:It is too early in the day for fighting. Follow me.
Ezio:Leonardo discovered something in the catacombs?
Salai:He found the entrance to a temple, something he read about in his books. I have not seen him that excited in years.
Ezio:Did he say anything else?
Salai:That the temple contains the perfect number, something discovered my some scholar from Grecia.
Ezio:Pythagoras.
Ezio and Salai are attacked once more on a rooftop.
Salai:Get them!
Salai:Taste my blade!
Salai:Try this on for size!
Salai:If you want to get back quickly? Avoid their swords.
The pair defeat their attackers.
Ezio:Knowing Leonardo, I suppose he spoke of his discovery to whomever would listen. Did you notice any robed men around him?
Salai:Why would I spend my time at he workshop when I can go out and have fun? Ask the master himself when you get there.
The Da Vinci Disappearance
Ezio and Salai finally arrive at a thrashed workshop, Leonardo is nowhere to be found.
Salai:I cannot read. Leonardo promised to teach me. But now...
Ezio:"Villa. Paintings." He wants us to examine art?
Salai:I remember when Leonardo lived at your villa, he was researching the location of the catacombs.
Ezio:Several of his paintings hung in the gallery there. What do they have to do with the temple?
Salai:Perhaps the pages of his research are hidden in one of the frames?
Ezio:The paintings are gone. They all burned in the attack.
Salai:No. They did not. Only Leda and St. John, the Borgia took the rest.
Ezio:Six paintings.
Salai:Five. I told the art merchant that Portrait of a Lady was by Leonardo. I needed the money for a doublet. Of course, now it has gone out of fashion.
Ezio:Who has the paintings now?
Salai:Lucrezia Borgia, in her husband's palazzo outside Ferrara.
Ezio:Then it is time I took back what was stolen.
Outcome
Ezio and Salai return to a thrashed workshop, immediately realising that Leonardo has been kidnapped, leaving only a clue as to how to find him on the floor. Realising what must be done, Ezio leaves for Ferrara in search of the next clue.
