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"I can not rest until all has been revealed and my mentor's secrets lay bare."

―Ezio Auditore during his search for the keys.

The Search for the Keys was an event that took place during the early 16th century in which Ezio Auditore da Firenze, the Mentor of the Assassin Order searched for the Masyaf keys left behind by his spiritual mentor, Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad.

Driven by curiosity, Ezio set out on a pilgrimage to Masyaf. However, upon arrival, he discovered Masyaf controlled by the Templars. After learning about the Keys from the Templar Leandros, Ezio set out to find them before the Templars did.

It quickly became a race against time to recover five separate keys hidden by the legendary Assassin Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad, before members of the Templars could acquire them and open the library for themselves.

Constantinople

Arrival in Constantinople

"Welcome to Konstantiniyye, Ezio. The crossroads of the world."

―Yusuf Tazim on the city of Constantinople.

During the journey from Rhodes to Constantinople, Ezio delved deep into the journal of Niccolò Polo. As the ship sailed into the port of Constantinople, Ezio struck up a conversation with a young scholar.

Acquainting himself with the young man, Ezio then departed the ship, but not before noticing a young woman leave after him. Arriving at the docks of Constantinople, Ezio was met by the leader of the Ottoman Assassins, Yusuf Tazim. Proceeding to take him on a short tour of the city, Yusuf explained more about Constantinople, and the Templar faction that inhabited it. As the two Assassins walked the streets, they were suddenly ambushed by a group of Byzantine Templars. Dispatching their assailants quickly, the two men were attacked by another wave, however, a group Ottoman guards swiftly intervened, engaging the Byzantines in combat, allowing the Assassins to escape. Then arriving at the Assassin Headquarters of Constantinople, Yusuf introduced Ezio to the rest of the Assassin guild, before commanding them to do a quick sweep of the area. Yusuf then advised Ezio to visit a blacksmith and upgrade his equipment.

File:YusufEzioConstantinople.png

Ezio and Yusuf overlook Constantinople.

Fitted with his new equipment, Ezio returned to the Headquarters. Shortly after, Yusuf asked Ezio where his hookblade was, and upon learning that Ezio had never used one, handed him a standard issue hookblade. The two Assassins then took to the rooftops, where Yusuf proceeded to teach Ezio how to use his hookblade. The duo then made their way to Galata Tower. Reaching the base of the tower, Yusuf then suggested that they attempt to scale it. Arriving at the top of the tower, the two Assassins marveled at the view, before each preforming a Leap of Faith off of it.

Back at the bottom of the tower, Yusuf and Ezio were met by an Assassin, Kasim, who informed them that the Templars had launched an attack on the Assassin Dens in the Grand Bazaar, and in the Galata district. Hurrying to the locations, Ezio and Yusuf took to the rooftops again. Yusuf then taught Ezio how to move quickly and conveniently between rooftops with the help of the zipline. Spotting two Templar scouts along the way, Yusuf assassinated the first one with the help of the zipline, and left the second one for Ezio to deal with, after which they continued on their way. Approaching the Galata den, Yusuf then instructed Ezio to carry on to the Galata den, while he would make his way to the Grand Bazaar.

Ezio and Yusuf walk together.

Arriving at the Galata den, Ezio took command over the Assassins and defended the den against the Templar onslaught. After successfully defending the den, Ezio took a ferry across the Golden Horn to meet up with Yusuf. Arriving at the Grand Bazaar den, Ezio found Yusuf engaged in combat with a group of Templar soldiers. Aiding Yusuf, the two Assassins quickly dispatched their opposition. Yusuf then explained to Ezio that he was too late to save the den, but now they would take it back together.

Continuing on towards the den, Ezio and Yusuf came across a troop of Templar soldiers in their way. Yusuf then proceeded to use a cherry bomb to distract the group, allowing the duo to pass through unnoticed. Encountering more Templar soldiers, this time Yusuf handed Ezio a cherry bomb. Ezio used it to distract the men, and once again, the two Assassins passed through unnoticed. Reaching the den, Yusuf signaled to his men, and they began the attack. Making their way to a rooftop close to the den, Yusuf told Ezio to use his "special talent" to locate the Templar den captain. Doing so, Ezio located and assassinated the Templar captain, before scaling the den and lighting the signal fire atop it, signaling the Templar retreat.

Continuing the search

Ezio meeting with Sofia Sartor.

Following the recapturing of the Grand Bazaar den, Ezio was tasked with recruiting new potential Assassins to replace those that had perished in the den skirmish. After that, Ezio assisted a high ranking Assassin apprentice in tracking a Templar killer named Vali cel Tradat. Upon failing to eliminate him, Ezio sent the apprentice off to attend to a mission in Bursa. Returning to the Assassin den, Ezio was then taught the art of bomb crafting by Yusuf.

After learning the art of bomb crafting, Ezio showed Yusuf the journal of Niccolò Polo. Telling him all he knew, Ezio then asked Yusuf as to where the Old Polo Trading Post was located. Yusuf sent him to the Grand Bazaar to meet with an associate, Piri Reis. Meeting with Piri, Ezio then secured the location of the Trading Post, and departed for it at once.

Arriving at the Trading Post, Ezio discovered that it had long since been converted into a bookshop. Upon entering the shop, Ezio was greeted by the same woman that he had seen on the ship he had arrived on, Sofia Sartor. After a brief conversation, Ezio began to investigate the bookshop, using his eagle vision to uncover a secret passage. Bidding Sofia goodbye, Ezio then entered the passage.

Ezio retrieving the Key.

Emerging from the passage, Ezio found himself in the Yerebatan Cistern, which was teaming with Templar scouts. As he moved from room to room, Ezio discovered that the Templars had located another Masyaf Key. Eventually, Ezio made his way to the final chamber, where he used his eagle sense to uncover a secret door. Activating a switch, the door fell away to reveal the Masyaf Key. Taking the Key, Ezio then traveled back to the bookshop.

Arriving back at the bookshop, Ezio showed Sofia the Masyaf Key, as well as a map he had taken from the Templars that showed the location of many rare and antique books hidden all around Constantinople by Niccolò Polo. Asking Sofia to aid in deciphering the map, to which she readily agreed, Ezio then left the shop and met up with Yusuf outside. After showing him the Masyaf Key, Ezio then traveled back to the Assassins Headquarters to relive the memories stored in the Key he had just obtained.

Race against the Templars

Prince Sueiliman

"Suleiman. The Sultan's grandson, and governor of Kefe. And he's only seventeen."

―Yusuf Tazim introducing Sueliman to Ezio.

Ezio introducing himself to Suleiman.

After reliving the memories stored in the latest Key, Ezio then aided the Constantinople Assassins in some local affairs, including finally silencing the Templar killer, Vali cel Tradat, and strengthening the Assassins relations with the Romani guild. Following this, Ezio then met with Yusuf at the Hippodrome of Constantinople. Yusuf then revealed that the Byzantines were planning an attack on Tokapi Palace, to try and kill Prince Sueliman. Wanting to help, Ezio then traveled along with several Assassins to Tokapi Palace to acquire the minstrel disguises needed to infiltrate the Prince's banquet. Entering the banquet discreetly, Ezio mingled with the guests, while secretly using his eagle vision to identify and mark disguised attackers near Sueliman. Eventually, the Ottoman guards discovered the bodies of the attackers and a fight between the Byzantines and the Ottoman soldiers ensued. Protecting Sueliman from harm, Ezio then introduced himself to the Prince, who then asked him to meet him later.

Meeting with Sueliman as promised, the young Prince confided his suspicions about the Janissary captain, Tarik Barleti, to Ezio. Asking the Assassin to help him, Suleiman directed Ezio to a secret hatch in the tower, that would allow him to eavesdrop on a meeting between Tarik, Suleiman, and the soon to be Sultan, Prince Ahmet. Listening on the meeting, Ezio later confirmed to Sueliman that Tarik was acting somewhat suspicious. The Assassin then agreed to keep an eye out for the Janissary captain.

The third and fourth keys

Following the meeting with Sueliman, Ezio met Sofia at the docks. Sofia said that she had come there to receive a package, however the captain's papers were not in order. Promising Sofia that he would obtain the package, Ezio then stealthily infiltrated the docks and took Sofia's package, before returning to her store. Once there, Ezio gave Sofia the package, and in return, received the location of a new Polo book. Locating the book, Ezio then set off towards Galata tower, where he entered the structure through a secret passage. Traversing the caverns below the tower, Ezio finally located the third Masyaf key. Taking the key, Ezio returned to the Assassin's Headquarters, where he relived another pivotal memory in Altair's life.

Following the finding of the third key, Ezio went to the Grand Bazaar to learn more about the Janissaries and their captain, Tarik Barletti. Speaking to a rug merchant, Ezio discovered that Tarik was somewhere in the Bazaar. Locating Tarik, Ezio then stealthily pursued him. Evading Tarik's Janissaries, Ezio overheard the captain saying that he was to meet some one named Manuel at the Arsenal. Hurrying to the Arsenal gates, Ezio saw Tarik talking with Manuel, just before the gates closed.