Missions (Recollection)
Renaissance[edit | edit source]
Corona d'Aragón[edit | edit source]
Barcelona: In Good Company[edit | edit source]
I was astounded, yet very much honored, when the Lord Captain approached me.
After all, his reputation as a loyal servant of the Crown of Aragon was second to none, while I, on the other hand, was little known, even in my hometown of Epila.
It all became clear when the Lord Captain revealed that he was a member of the Order I so proudly served, and asked me, a man of letters, to validate the rumors he had heard.
With the assistance of his retinue, I began to investigate, confident I would find the answers he sought amongst Barcelona's cultured elite.
Zaragoza: For What he's Worth[edit | edit source]
Of all the valiant men and women of out company, only the Lord Captain and I were brother Templars. And no one, not even the Lord Captain's most trusted advisors, could ever know our secret. Our Mission into Italia depended on it!
The Lord Captain was a man both driven and devoted, but more importantly he was a born diplomat. Still, in order to prove his worth to his Excellency, the King, he needed the succor of all able men and women of his newly formed company.
And so the Lord Captain pitted us against the other great lords of Aragon and their servants in a battle which went far beyond proper courtly etiquette.
Valencia: Breaking Faith[edit | edit source]
In Valencia, the Lord Captain appointed me guardian of a young man named Adrià, the son of a Catalan nobleman who would accompany us on our journey. The morning chill had not yet vanished when Adriá and I boarded the vessel which would bring the Lord Captain's company to Italia.
To our surprise, Brother Ristoro, a zealous priest who was journeying aboard the same vessel, told us that we were no longer welcomed aboard. Fortunately, the Lord Captain stepped in to confront the priest.
Città Stato d'Italia[edit | edit source]
Gavorrano: Dog Eat Dog[edit | edit source]
We were careful to avoid detection as we made our way to Siena. After docking in a secluded, coastal village, we eventually stopped in Gavorrano. We did not expect to find trouble in this quaint little place, but troubled found us.
The condottiero Micheletto Corella was already in town, and his scouts had espied our arrival. Corella and the Lord Captain, I learned, knew each other well. Perhaps too well. There was a great rivalry between the two, yet they called each other brothers. This came as a surprise to me, for I did not know Micheletto was a Templar, like the Lord Captain and I.
Yet, for reasons unbeknown to me at the time, Corella's men ambushed us!
Siena: Nobility Loves Company[edit | edit source]
I count myself fortunate, for the men and women of the Lord Captain's company are both brave and capable, as much in war as in the art of politics.
It was on the third day of our visit to Siena that the Pazzis, one of the most powerful and influential families in Tuscana, agreed to see the Lord Captain.
The engagement lasted long into the night, and despite the fact that Vieri de' Pazzi and the Lord Captain were part of the same Order, it took the collective efforts of everyone in the company to win the respect and, more importantly, the trust of the Pazzi family.
Monteriggioni: By the Book[edit | edit source]
From our encounter with the Pazzi family, we learned that the Lord of Monteriggioni was suspected of being an enemy of the Order both the Lord Captain and I secretly served.
It thus came to no surprise when the Lord Captain commanded us to investigate the matter.
In the fortified town of Monteriggioni, I did not expect to be pitted against some of the greatest scholars in Italia.
However, I must admit I was glad to meet, amongst others, the astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus.
San Gimignano: Aiming for the Stars[edit | edit source]
The Lord Captain learned many secrets from the scholars in Monteriggioni.
Most of these secrets I did not understand myself.
One night, by the fire, the Lord Captain revealed to me, his most devoted servant, that he would soon have the means to make our Order even stronger, in the lands of Aragón and beyond.
The following day, we entered San Gimignano, where we were greeted by the thespian Pietro Rossi.
Pisa: With all due Respect[edit | edit source]
Our long journey to Pisa was uneventful, but it was on our way there that the Lord Captain deemed it wise to explain to me the true purpose of our secret Mission into Italia.
He was searching for an ancient relic, an object so powerful it would double the strength of our great Order—provided we could locate it. It was for this reason that he asked me to be Adrià's guardian, for he believed the young man could help us in our quest.
More to the matter, it was the very reason which brought us to Pisa, where we met some of the most learned men in the world.
Firenze: Honor Among Thieves[edit | edit source]
Our great company had been entrusted with the secret task of promoting the political and economic interest of the Crown of Aragón throughout the lands of Italia, but the Lord Captain also had another agenda: To win the favor of the greatest and most influential men of the land, and bolster the strength of the Order we both served.
Few in our company were aware of this, but I suspected that some amongst us were secretly conspiring against the Lord Captain, and thus against the Order.
My suspicions were confirmed when La Volpe confronted us in Firenze. Someone close to the Lord Captain had betrayed us!
Vernio: Life of the Party[edit | edit source]
Our Mission to Italia had thus far been fruitful, but there was yet much work to be done.
In Tuscana, we had learned that our Order was strong, despite its occasional dispute amongst its members. However, to secure the Order's position there were many potential allies who needed to be rallied.
It was principally for this reason that the Lord Captain attended a great feast in Vernio.
During the banquet, I had the pleasure of meeting some of the most notable lords in Italia, but it was the favor of the Lady Catarina Sforza, Countess of Forlì, the Lord Captain sought.
Reggio Emilia: Now Hiring[edit | edit source]
I had been wondering why the Lord Captain had sworn to help the Countess of Forlì.
No doubt Lady Sforza had something—a vital piece of information, perhaps—that the Lord Captain sought.
When we arrived in Reggio Emilia and met Gaspar de la Croix, Master Engineer, I began to understand the Lord Captain's reasoning: If he could convince de la Croix to help Forlì in its hour of need, then the Master Engineer's secrets would be revealed to us—and to our Order.
All that needed to be done now was make sure Master de la Croix would cooperate...
Forlì: The Countess only Knows[edit | edit source]
Armed with the knowledge gained by the Master Engineer, we returned to Forlì to help secure the town's precarious defenses.
We barely had time to prepare, for on the fourth morning, at dawn, the alarm sounded. A great host laid siege to the city, and it was up to us to defend it—or die trying. Fortunately, there are many paths to victory...
Ravenna: Thin End of the Wedge[edit | edit source]
I never learned the secrets the Lord Captain uncovered from the Lady Sforza, or what favors she agreed to bestow upon him, but as soon as the siege of Forlì ended, our commander urged us to Ravenna. No doubt, the Lord Captain had discovered some kind of clue that would bring us closer to the forgotten relic he had mentioned.
Unfortunately, Bartolomeo d'Alviano, the infamous condottiero, was waiting for us outside of Ravenna. Had we been betrayed by the Lady Sforza? Or were the Brotherhood's spies as effective as I had feared?
Regardless of how the condottiero had learned about our journey to Ravenna, we now needed to deal with his unlikely troops: a few militants who seemed eager to support him.
Padova: Vested Interests[edit | edit source]
We were in Padova when Silvio Barbarigo, Inquisitor of Venezia, summoned the Lord Captain.
The Inquisitor blatantly accused the Lord Captain of heresy.
The charge came not only as a complete surprise, but indeed as an appalling and hurtful blow. Yet again was proof that the members of our secret Order were conspiring against their fellow brothers.
If only they understood that it is through unity that the Order of the Knights Templar will endure! We had enough enemies to deal with without bickering amongst ourselves.
Fortunately, by now we knew how to deal with the likes of the Inquisitor!
Venezia: Thick as Thieves[edit | edit source]
After our brush with the Inquisitor of Venezia, we were betrayed once more.
This time, the betrayal came not from fellow Templars, but by one who undoubtedly walked amongst us. There was no other explanation! I had not yet been able to identify the Judas, but I vowed there and then to uncover him, whatever the cost.
Because of this traitor, the scourge of Venezia, who were clearly in league with our Enemies, did everything in their power to stop us. Their leader, Antonio de Magianis, proved to be a worthy adversary.
Pescara: Act of Faith[edit | edit source]
We were on our way to Roma when the Lord Captain further explained why he had appointed me the guardian of the young Adrià: The Catalan youth was not only well learned, but he would be able to help us identify the relic we sought, and perhaps even help us understand its workings.
No wonder the youth was so dear in the eyes of the Lord Captain.
I was contemplating these matters when the troops of Cesare Borgia intercepted us.
This time, we had to prove that we were worthy of an appointment with the Pope.
L'Aquila: A Battle Royal[edit | edit source]
After an uphill battle with Lia de Russo, she promised that she would speak on our behalf to the Roman nobility.
We had not yet reached Roma, but everyone in the company understood that our journey would soon be at an end.
I was still trying to uncover the traitor who hid amongst us, but to no avail. He was laying low.
As time went on, I began to fear the betrayer was an Assassin. And not just any Assassin, but a master! No one else could have deceived the Lord Captain for so long a time.
When we arrived in L'Aquila, we had other matters to attend, for we now faced one of the most fearsome man in Italia: Cesare himself, Captain General of the Papal Guard.
Roma: Moving Mountains[edit | edit source]
Following our encounter with Cesare Borgia, we entered Roma. At last!
The Lord Captain was confident that he would find his precious relic in the Vaticano District, perhaps even within the very walls of the Cappella Sistina.
How he came to this information, I can only speculate, but I was certain—as certain as I was of Aragón—that the Lord Captain was right.
Meeting Rodrigo Borgia, the Bishop of Roma, was a grand affair.
Roma: Under Attack[edit | edit source]
The Lord Captain had arranged a secret meeting with Madonna Solari, for he needed the help of her resourceful courtesans to escape unnoticed from Roma.
At the appointed time, we met her at the Rosa in Fiore, but fell into an ambush!
The courtesans betrayed us! Worse still, they were working with Assassins!
It was when the fiends revealed themselves that Adrià, my ward, turned against us. At last the traitor in our midst had revealed himself!
And so began the most formidable battle I had ever fought.
Osmanlı İmparatorluğu[edit | edit source]
Constantinople: Facing the Music[edit | edit source]
I was now fortunate enough to be the Lord Captain's right-hand man, but the treacherous youth Adrià, of whom I had been appointed guardian at the beginning of our journey, had escaped during our confrontation with the Assassins in Roma.
The days of our humble company, however, were far from over, and every one of us would gladly follow the Lord Captain wherever he would lead; although, to be fair, none amongst us had expected to travel so far east when we first left our beloved Kingdom of Aragón, months hence.
After a long sea voyage, we finally set foot in the great port city of Constantinople, Pride of the East.
The locals did not make us feel welcomed, but fortunately for us we had the wise Lord Captain to guide us.
We knew we would not fail!
Revelations[edit | edit source]
Osmanlı İmparatorluğu[edit | edit source]
Galata: Little Judgment Day[edit | edit source]
--Ece Ashkar, Assassin
Our city is in turmoil following a great tremor, one more massive than any man now living can remember. It began suddenly, like the coming of a rolling nausea, leaving Konstantiniyye weak, legless, and crippled. Thousands are dead; many more are homeless. Hundreds of buildings and dozens of mosques have been damaged, with Bayezid's signature glory showing the worst of it.
And even now, three weeks after the event, the earth still shakes from time to time. It reminds us of its power, teasing us. Muslims, Christians, and Jews alike are calling this "Little Judgment Day," though each has his own private idea about the exact target of God's wrath.
Meanwhile we Assassins concern ourselves with more parochial matters. From the first day, Yusuf Tazim has led our efforts to feed and shelter those who cannot do so for themselves. But only today we learned some troubling news - unusually large numbers of mercenaries have appeared in the city with the intent, out sources tell us, of launching an attack on our waterfront headquarters in Galata.
Yusuf has taken it upon himself to fortify and expand our secondary location near the tower, while the rest of us prepare for battle, taking pains to warn and protect the innocents who will be caught in this fight. But who is behind this unprovoked attack? And what do they hope to gain? It is hard to imagine they are not aware of the full strength of our Order within the Sultan's empire. But only time and shed blood will tell.
| The following content was translated from Spanish by Cristophorus35. |
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Constantinople: Stalemate--Hasan Pasha, Templar Two months has passed since the "Little Judgement Day" and the city is beginning to heal while our war against the Assassins intensifies. Our attack to their headquarters at the harbor wasn't a decisive one, but without a doubt we have stopped them from using it. It should be noted that much of our success is due to the large numbers of mercenaries who have migrated to the city after the Sultan's march. I wonder what brought them here. It's true that, with the absence of Sultan Bayezid , security is rather weak in the capital. Maybe they came looking for work, or opportunity to do their dirty work. Naturally, that favors our Templar Order, as shown by a letter recently sent by Prince Ahmed from his palace in Amasya; I'll cite the most relevant parts: "Did you know about the existence, dear Hasan, of Cem, the unjustly disgraced long-dead brother of Bayezid, the first of Mehmed's sons to appreciate the true strength and wisdom of the Templar vision? Cem was a charming man, erudite and sincere, an attentive uncle, with a compassion that my own father often lacks. During more than a decade, Cem wrote to me in secret from his several prisons in Europe, teaching me and guiding me, giving shape to my way of acting and thinking"... "And it was Cem who directed me to get my hands on a manuscript of singular knowledge, a memoir written by a Venetian merchant recounting his close friendship with Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad, the legendary Assassin mentor who spent more time with the Apple, or one of the Apples, than any other man in recent times. At last, I've gotten that manuscript, 22 years after my uncle's last plea"... "This small book contains enough details to infer two highly interesting facts; that Altaïr, in his final years, hid all the knowledge he got from the Apple in a chamber beneath his old home in Masyaf, and that the keys of said chamber, sent with the merchant to our city, are buried beneath our beloved capital"... "My orders, therefore, are as follows: Search well the tunnels under Topkapı Palace and report what you find. But be careful. The Assassins have grown stronger over the years and will not tolerate intruders. You must arm yourselves and prepare to fight."... "I wish you much luck and skill. And may the Father of Understanding guide you in your search". As our dear Prince commands, we will go into the tunnels at sunset... Bursa: Seeking Refuge--Ece Ashkar, Assassin Two weeks ago, master Yusuf compiled a list of the many and concerning, but vague, rumors of Templar activity in the city, and urged prompt action. It was decided that our first task would be to travel to Bursa to coordinate with the least capable of Bayezid's sons, Prince Korkut, a melancholic type with a poet's temperament and the ambitions of a newborn. He's an individual who is easily swayed by authority and charisma, something we Will have to exploit. The Prince has money and resources, but lacks the imagination to make good use of them. We made the trip to Bursa in a matter of a few days, slept in the open with our brothers on the outskirts of the city, and let the Prince know to welcome us. This proved to be a most unfortunate mistake, for Korkut's foolish response put all Templar agents in the city on alert, warning them of the Prince's activities and affiliations. If he persists in such obvious folly, he Will fall victim to some kind of Templar poison in less than a month. So be it then. Yusuf reminds us that we Assassins cannot establish permanent alliances with these so-called dynasties, for we seek freedom first and foremost. In these times, the Ottomans ruled by Bayezid are as friendly as could be expected of anyone, considering the circumstances, but we look forward to a time when the divine rights of kings, sultans, and emperors are but mere footnotes in the annals of human experience. So we continue waiting the arrival of Korkut's envoy, convinced that he will be followed by Templar agents, and perhaps even a small army. We are ready to fight and, should Korkut come to survive, with all his supine foolishness intact, we will communicate our options, and discuss our intentions with him.... Trabzon: Under Influence--Iskender, chorbaji Janissary Selim had one of his typical mood swings last night, bursting with passion and almost maniacal cheerfulness. He spoke of the recent earthquake and its curiously political aftermaths: "So my father, Bayezid, has left the city that God entrusted him to rule, fearful of a few shakes and tremors… or perhaps afraid that some rubble would fall on him from the walls of Hagia Sophia during prayer. A sign of divine discontent! He would burst into tears. Ah, stupid old fool. He's no longer fit to rule, but he's holding on to see if God will renew his strength. What nonsense." I then asked my Prince what he thought about the Sultan's line of successors, seeking not to say outright that it would most likely be his brother Ahmed who would receive such an honor. Selim laughed heartily: "It's true that the firstborn son of any Sultan is the one who usually receives his father's blessing, simply because he has been in this world so long without acquiring any renown. But there is another custom that is equally valid: upon the death of the father, the son who arrives first at the capital armed and passionate, and with the intention of ruling, will be considered more worthy of the throne. This is how I will become sultan..." Having made his intentions clear, I asked about Sultan Bayezid's health, aware that he had been troubling him lately. Selim said he was sure his father would not last more than a few years at most. I then asked him if we would raise an army to march from Trabzond with the intention of occupying as soon as possible. Selim answered affirmatively, and added: "But we must be decisive," he warned, "for we are surrounded by enemies; on the one hand, the Assassins, and on the other, my brother Ahmed. Ahmed is a cunning fellow, no doubt. He is not a good soldier, but he will dispatch his mercenaries to ambush us in case we try to leave the city. Locate and kill those soldiers, then prepare to leave." "When we are safe, we will set sail for Varna through the Black Sea and prepare to seize the ultimate prize." Prince Selim's predictions did not take a day and a half to come true. We discovered a camp of elite soldiers outside the city, waiting for their chance to attack. We went out to meet them... Amasya: Sancta Sanctorum--Hasan Pasha, Templar I watched as Prince Ahmed wandered up and down his palace in Amasya, worried by the news from the northeast: his brother Selim had discovered and defeated a company of our Templar warriors outside Trebizond, before boarding a number of ships and setting sail through the Black Sea. As I write these lines, his destination is still unknown, although Kefe and Varna seem the most likely. Amidst all the turmoil, however, Ahmed remains focused and calm. He has recently received an invitation to meet with Manuel Palaiologos, an individual he knows as the presumed heir to the throne of the defunct Byzantine Empire, although he would not consider him a friend. Manuel claims to be responsible for the recent surge of mercenaries into Constantinople, to which he adds that, although most are of Christian origin, they are Templars to the core. Ahmed has told me that he is looking forward to meeting this Manuel, and hopes that their association will serve as a link uniting East and West in a glorious empire, ruled by Templars, for all mankind: "We are not the first with such a dream, of course," Ahmed tells me. "It was my uncle Cem who set this project in motion some time ago. As a young man, he discovered that his father, Mehmed, had in his possession an Apple of Eden, and it was this ancient weapon that helped him conquer Konstantiniyye. After Mehmed's death, Cem, failing to secure the throne, turned to the Apple for help. But it would not listen to him, nor would it speak to him....". "Cem then deigned to send the Apple to the Templars in the West, men who had documented far more than he had about the nature of its power. But that would prove to be somewhat tricky, as a relatively recent convert to the Templar order, Cem feared that the Borgia might accept the Apple but reject the man who brought it to them. So he decided to hide it until he could determine to what extent he could trust the Borgia." Ahmed was silent, then continued, "We must not allow such monumental mistrust to lead to the misfortunes my uncle suffered. Arrange the meeting with Manuel. But be alert, for the Assassins will be watching us, waiting. They will attack us before the week is out, you will see." Derinkuyu: Under Siege--Hasan Pasha, Templar We've arrived in one of the famous underground cities of Cappadocia, called Derinkuyu, to meet with Manuel Palaiologos. This corpulent aristocrat and our Prince Ahmed are an odd pair, but they have come to trust each other in the last few days, enough to let their respective roles rest. For now, Manuel will be busy training new Templars through the bases already established in Rhodes, Derinkuyu, and northern Thrace, while Ahmed searches for the four remaining Masyaf Keys. Later, Manuel will lead an expedition to Masyaf itself to locate the entrance to Altaïr's library. I was lucky enough to catch Ahmed in an unusually curious mood yesterday. He asked Manuel about his uncle Cem, about his capture and imprisonment in Europe, about his friendship and struggle with Rodrigo Borgia, and finally, about his death. How could such a noble and loyal Templar be treated with such indifference by members of our order? "I had just reached my thirties when all this happened," Manuel explained, "but I will do my best to remember it." "Before bowing himself before the Templars at Rhodes, Cem took his Apple of Eden and returned it to the Templar Archive in Cyprus, where an imposing arsenal of weapons and knowledge was once kept. Then, as now, the archive was empty, but well hidden. Cem located the entrance and hid the Apple inside, then headed for Rhodes. There his worst fears materialized. The Knights Hospitalier arrested him and delivered him in chains to their masters in Europe." "Cem, made prisoner, was calm, convinced that he had hidden the Apple well, and hoped that this fact would serve to secure his release. He demanded an audience with the Borgia and appealed to their mutual Templar ties. But the Borgia were deeply suspicious of the Sultan's clever son. Still, the clever Rodrigo and his allies, after many years of convincing and appealing to Cem's kindness, somehow managed to pry the location of the Apple out of their prisoner. Rodrigo immediately sent a ship to Cyprus and, after many months of searching, succeeded in recovering the precious artifact. From that moment on, Cem became worthless to the Borgia, and the poor man rotted for another nine years in various prisons, until he died. I'm surprised he didn't tell you any of this in his letters." "No," said Ahmed, "it was not like him to blame others for his misfortunes, whatever their cause. He wanted to believe that our Order was better than the worst men who were part of it… better than the devils who might corrupt it." Ahmed remained thoughtful and tense. Then we heard shouts echoing through the caverns of Derinkuyu. Noises of fighting! A detachment of Selim's men had found us! We hurried to gather our defenses. Antalya: Absolute Control--Ece Ashkar, Assassin Yusuf's private audience with Prince Korkut went as well as one could expect. That is, after finishing off the Templars who were pursuing him, Yusuf demanded compensation for the loss of time, resources, and men caused by Korkut's ineptitude. And, given Yusuf's charm and Korkut's reliable corruptibility, the Prince agreed without complaint. "The Prince has agreed to open his coffers to us," Yusuf told me, "provided we are willing to escort part of his advisors on his long journey to Antalya, where his father, Bayezid, has appointed him governor." I remarked how strange it was to me that a guy like Korkut should have administrative power over a city of such strategic importance as Antalya, located on the southern coast of Anatolia, on the edge of the empire. Yusuf said no more than the following in reply, "Never underestimate the ability of a father to overestimate the ability of his own son." After discussing the wisdom and feasibility of such a journey, and then outlining a plan of action, we informed Korkut that we would be willing to send a small but perfectly instructed group of men south with his caravan. Korkut was delighted, until we told him that we would not allow him or any of his councilors to review the route we intended to follow. Secrecy was of vital importance. So, we set out on our long journey south, for which we estimated will last four weeks minimum. A prudent pace, certainly, but one that would at least guarantee secrecy and security. Still, Yusuf warns us to be on our guard. The Templars have lately exhibited an incredible gift for treachery. We could come under attack at any giving moment. Rhodes: The Maestro's Blessing--Ece Ashkar, Assassin As Yusuf suspected, we encountered several Templar agents on the long road to Antalya, and battles had to be fought; all most discouraging. But we managed to prevail and lead Korkut and his men to the Prince's lodgings. In return for our protection, Korkut has provided us with sufficient arms and powder as if to supply the Sultan's army. We are now well equipped to deal with the rising Templar tide. I had hoped to return north, to Istanbul, in a matter of a couple of days, but news received from outside sources demands our attention. Today, while preparing for our trip, Yusuf received a message from one of our contacts in Rhodes, informing us that the Templars were training a large number of troops on the nearby island of Rhodes. Although currently the headquarters of the Knights Hospitallers, there is no doubt that these knights of the Order of St. John are providing support or, at the very least, turning a blind eye to Templar presence. Is this where the mercenaries we have seen lately in the capital are being prepared? Yusuf would like to find out. Therefore, we have set up a small but highly skilled raiding team to move secretly to Rhodes and assess the full extent of the Templar training program. If the rumors we have heard are true, and we have every reason to fear that they are, we shall attack forcefully but discreetly, to strike fear into their hearts. We must make them aware that we are everywhere and that we will never give up in our efforts to put an end to their operations. Finally, a curious fact I must share before sailing to Rhodes. Yusuf took me aside this morning to tell me that news had reached him lately that the Italian Mentor Ezio Auditore had left Rome a few months earlier, bound for the Holy Land. Yusuf was unaware of what brought him here, but the Assassin contacts who passed on the information seem certain that it is related to the recent upsurge in Templar violence in these lands. Following the defeat of the Borgia, a large majority of Europe's upper Templar echelons seem to have moved East; a man of Ezio's influence and reach will no doubt have noticed this, and may be on his way to offer us his expertise. Time will tell. Lacking a Mentor of our own at this time, we are ready to welcome with open arms the maestro (as I believe they call him) hailing from Italy. Perhaps he is currently on his way to Rhodes. Perhaps he knows more than we do. These are the kind of questions I'm looking forward to getting answers to. Adrianople: Blessed Ignorance--Vizier Taha Pasha Every day, the same royal whims; first, our Sultan is hungry, soon our sultan has eaten too much; he demands that his books on mysticism must be brought to him in haste, then orders them removed with pious humiliation; suddenly, he fancies moving the capital of his empire to Adrianople, where he is currently staying for fear of another tremor, and the next moment he is lamenting over his glorious Konstantiniyye and his desire to return as soon as it is safe. The whims of our old leader are exasperating; they mitigate the will and loyalty of his Janissaries and viziers, who once hung on his every last word or gesture like a fly on a piece of ripe fruit. Traces of the old wolf can still be seen in him from time to time, but his strength is fading and he will soon have to choose a successor. As custom dictates, it should be his firstborn son, Ahmed, but my senses revolt at the prospect of having to obey such a man; someone whose preference for intellectual chatter has eradicated any hope that he might ever become a great warrior, like his younger brother, Selim. As for Korkut, the idea that this dissatisfied fool could ever occupy the throne is ludicrous. No, it has to be Selim. For the honor and dignity of the empire to survive this century intact, it has to be Selim. But, for now, we must work hard to prepare for Bayezid's move to his new palace in Adrianople. The Assassins, with whom we currently have a precarious alliance, have warned us of Templar activity in the area and will be sending a few men as an additional security measure. Given the recent Borgia uprising in the Vatican, it's in our best interest to listen to what the Assassins have to say about their rivals. A Templar attempt on Bayezid's life would be an attack on the entire empire. We cannot allow this to happen. Varna: Desperate Measures--Iskender, chorbaji Janissary Two weeks ago, a few of my Janissaries and I arrived at a village north of Varna to welcome Selim and his army there. We let them know that the Assassins are aware of their movements and are no doubt preparing for an attack, either against the Prince or against some of his military advisors. Why would Bayezid give such free rein to these criminal rascals in his empire is beyond me, but I suspect that the Sultan and the Assassins have formed some kind of strategic alliance of which we Janissaries are unaware; an offensive idea, but not inconceivable. Of course, the fact that we so manifestly sided with Selim, rather than the presumed Prince Ahmed, is a questionable act on our part. It seems we are all guilty of making questionable decisions in this silent war. We accept them and live with them. For the time being, my Janissaries are staying with Selim's troops as they fortify their camp while awaiting word from a detachment the Prince sent into the interior of the empire. Selim expected the return of his messenger more than three months ago, but we have resigned ourselves to the worst possible news. "Perhaps my brother is a better fighter than I like to admit," Selim hastened to say, though he stopped short of acknowledging having learned any lessons from this tragedy. Still, he is in good spirits with the arrival in camp of his son Suleiman, a tremendously intelligent 16-year-old boy, who already seems to rival his father in charisma, and may even surpass him in intelligence. Suleiman is currently engaged in important studies at the university of Konstantiniyye, but has taken time off to travel north. His final destination is Kefe, on the north side of the Black Sea, where he has just been informed that he will serve as governor when he finishes his studies. A very honorable appointment for a young man of his age. So, while we rest and prepare, we have fun while staying alert. The Assassins are undoubtedly coming for us, it's just a matter of knowing when and how. Our main task is therefore to ensure Selim's safety while trying to remain as unnoticed as possible; revealing our affiliation with Selim too soon would jeopardize our position with the current Sultan. Soon, very soon, the empire will be in the hands of the man who deserves it the most... |
Behind the scenes[edit | edit source]
While specific dates are not given, a loose timeline can be constructed due to characters that are featured in the various missions. Despite this, the timeline does not seem very feasible. The first mission able to be assigned a date is "Nobility Loves Company", where the Lord Captain meets with the Pazzi family including Vieri, placing it sometime in or before April 1478. This presents some complications, as the preceding mission "Dog Eat Dog" featured Micheletto Corella, who would be 8 at this time, while the subsequent missions "By the Book" and "Aiming for the Stars" featured Nicolaus Copernicus and Pietro Rossi, who would be 5 and 8, respectively.
Allowing for some time to pass, the next dateable mission is "Life of the Party" which must take place sometime after July 1480 as Caterina Sforza is already styled as the Countess of Forlì. A few missions later in "The Countess only Knows", it is implied to be July 1488 as Forlì is under siege with Checco and Ludovico Orsi being shown. However, this is further complicated by the mission "Vested Interests", where the Lord Captain meets with Silvio Barbarigo who died 2 years before the Battle of Forlì.
Another jump then occurs, as Cesare is introduced as Captain General of the Papal Guard, an appointment that did not happen until after the death of his brother Juan Borgia the Younger in July 1497. Finally, at the end, the Lord Captain's journey is described in the term of months despite ostensibly having lasted about two decades.
References[edit | edit source]