Sequence 05

Four To The Floor: A very simple task: meet de Medici on the Ponte Vecchio and view a cutscene. Once it ends, head over to the waypoint to meet Leonardo.

A Blade With Bite: Another short and uncomplicated objective. When you reach his workshop, Da Vinci prepares a new gadget for Ezio-the Poison Blade. If you have any optional engagements that you’d like to work on in Florence, do so now as you’ll be leaving the city for the rest of this Sequence. Once ready, either travel to Monterigionni.

Evasive Maneuvers: On your return to Monterigionni, speak with Mario to begin this short yet instructive Memory. Pay special attention to the Dodge and Disarm tutorials, as these abilities will grow in significance as Ezio faces ever more varied and well-armed adversaries.

Town Crier: The Memory Start position is just outside Santa Maria Assunta in San Gimignano; I suggest that you pick up Throwing Knives on your way there if your stocks are low. Figuring out the best way to reach Antonio Maffei is a puzzle of sorts.

1: Begin by climbing a ladder behind a hay cart northeast of your starting position. Eliminate the nearby rooftop archer, then climb the short tower directly south of the one where Maffei is holding forth.

2: When you are almost to the top, stop and observe the two sentries. One stands in the center, turning to face a new direction at regular intervals. His companion, though, walks around the outside of the roof-making him an easy target for a stealthy Assassinate from Ledge move as he passes your position. Naturally, you should do this while his companion is looking elsewhere. Once you’ve sent hi plummeting, bide your time to kill the second archer.

3: A rope bridge links this tower and your destination, so drop down to it and head over to Maffei’s tower. At the top, your target is guarded by a few soldiers. When you reach the wooden platform, ensure that there is no one above before climbing up. At this point, the manner in which you deliver the coup de grace is yours to choose-though, it must be said, it’s a long way down...

Behind Closed Doors: The Memory Start position is located far outside the walls of San Gimignano. This is an extremely combat-oriented mission, so stock up on Throwing Knives and Medicine and repair Ezio’s armor before you head for the waypoint just southeast of Villa Salviati. Once you start the Memory, head north to the buildings on the east side of the villa. All soldiers in the region have been briefed to expect you, so waste no time: order your Mercenaries to attack each group you encounter, then try to stalk the periphery of each melee, performing easy one-hit kills on opponents facing away from you. When you reach the houses, make the archers your priority. The tallest building here is high enough to enable Ezio to leap straight over to the villa walls. With Throwing Knives at the ready, turn left and follow this high path until you reach the main gate, dispatching sentries with as little ceremony as possible. Then jump down and open the gate-the mechanism is clearly visible beside it. Once your allies engage the many soldiers here, your target is easy to identify: he is, after all, the only combatant wearing nightclothes. If you engage and dispatch him quickly, your sole remaining objective is to escape.

Come Out And Play: Bernado Baroncelli is the most cautious assassination target you have faced so far. The streets leading to his location are blocked by guards, so you need to find and climb a building on the western edge of the highlighted zone. The specific one you need has a ladder leading to its roof. Move over to the Leap of Faith position on the east face of the building. Observe the scene below, then activate Eagle Vision to identify Baroncelli. Ensure that he is facing away and there are no guards moving underneath, then dive into the cart full of hay just below. Watch your target closely as he walks around the area, regarding groups and potential hiding spots with great suspicion. Wait until he is facing away from you, then jump out and Blend with the nearby crowd. Finally, pick a group that lies directly on his “patrol” route and lie in wait. Activate Target Lock as he approaches, then strike with the Hidden Blade once he moves in range. For a more exotic finish, you could opt for the Poison Blade instead-on either Baroncelli or his bodyguards. If you remain concealed throughout, you may be able to Blend straight into another group once the deed is done, escaping detection entirely. Should Baroncelli spot Ezio, he will flee immediately, with surrounding guards rushing to his aid. Don’t get sidetracked by fighting-aim to catch your quarry and perform a quick kill before making your escape.

The Cowl Does Not Make The Monk: Stefano da Bagnone is seeking refuge inside the Monte Oliveto Maggiore, located southeast of San Gimignano. Though it may seem that you can stroll straight in, activating Eagle Vision will reveal that certain groups of monks are actually disguised guards. Those patrolling outside will be suspicious of Ezio as he passes, but are easy to avoid. Those inside the building, however, are more attentive, and will attack on sight if they see Ezio enter. Given the need to identify Bagnone with Eagle Vision before you make the kill, a discrete approach definitely works best. One tactic is to slip through the entrance on the north face of the building and immediately Blend with a crowd (good thinking and judgement are essential here); you can make use of the numerous hiding spots available to move into position and strike as Bagnone walks by. Another tactic is to sneak onto the rooftop and perform an Air Assassination once your target strolls out into the center of the cloister. Either way, the Smoke Bombs given to Ezio at the start of the mission will facilitate the quick escape required once the deed is done. If you leave via the exit on the north face of the building, one dropped just outside should suffice.

With Friends Like These: Before you start this Memory, take the time to reduce Ezio’s Notoriety level to zero and replenish your stock of Throwing Knives. Identify Jacopo de Pazzi with Eagle Vision, then trail him out of the town. He will become suspicious if Ezio approaches him too closely, or causes any kind of commotion-even colliding with a civilian may lead him to backtrack and investigate. If you lose a direct line of sight with your target, you have 25 seconds to lay eyes on him again, or Desynchronization will follow. His destination is a secret meeting in the Antico Teatro Romano ruins not far outside the town. The best approach is to take to the rooftops, though you will need to swiftly slay a few archers with well-aimed Throwing Knives. Follow him out of the square, and scale the first suitable wall once you note that there are guards blocking the exit. Wait on a roof until your target strolls through, then use the wooden scaffold to the west of the gate to climb onto the town’s outer wall. When he walks past your position, free run on the beams and poles extending from the nearby tower to reach the next wall section. When Jacopo reaches the steps leading into the ruins, wait until he and his guards walk down the steps into the ruined amphitheater, then use the Leap of Faith to return to ground level. Do not attempt to follow them down. Approach the waypoint marker that appears from the south (look out for a stone “bridge” over a passage below) and stroll over to the glowing circle to trigger a cutscene. Make use of the powerful Disarm ability in the fight that ensues, then approach the mortally wounded Jacopo to end his suffering.