Editing Ezio Auditore da Firenze (section)

===Search for the Masyaf Keys===

====Discovering a new purpose==== 

:''"There, over two centuries ago, our then Mentor, Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad, greatest of our Order, established a library deep beneath the fortress."''
:―Excerpt from the letter of Giovanni Auditore.<sup>[src]</sup>

With Cesare's death, the Borgia and their plans for Italy were finished. Ezio focused himself on internal matters, forming stronger ways of communication for the Assassins from Sicily to Venice, and creating more standard training methods for new Assassin recruits.

In 1509, Ezio happened upon some of his uncle Mario's documents, finding a letter written by his father Giovanni a year before Ezio was born, which mentioned a sealed library beneath the old Assassin fortress of Masyaf; the home of Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad, who had been Ezio's spiritual mentor during his early years as an Assassin. Driven by a will to find out more about the Order, Ezio decided to leave Italy in 1510 and set sail for Syria.

==== Pilgrimage to Masyaf ====

:''"None of you leave until the Assassin is dead. Do you understand?"''
:―Leandros sending his men after Ezio.<sup>[src]</sup>

In May 1510, Ezio set out from Rome on horseback, accompanied by Bartolomeo d'Alviano and fifteen of the general's mercenaries. After fifteen days, they arrived at Bari, on the eastern coast of Italy. At Bari, Ezio chartered a ship, a freighter called the ''Anaan'', and set sail for Corfu, located between Bari and Athens.

Along the way, the freighter was attacked by pirates, as it was carrying a valuable cargo of spices. Ezio joined the crew in fighting off the pirates and assisted in capturing the pirates' captain, a man Ezio would later come to know as Al-Scarab. The ''Anaan'' arrived safely in Corfu, and Ezio promptly made arrangements to sail to Athens, and from there to Crete, and then Cyprus. Not long after departing from Crete, Ezio's ship ran into a storm, and was forced to dock at Chios for minor repairs.

Finally, Ezio arrived at Cyprus, where he spent some time exploring the island, including the Templar's archive. However, as he experienced more delays, it became apparent that the Venetian authorities stationed in Cyprus were intervening with his journey. Finally, Ezio took matters into his own hands and attempted to "acquire" a small ship of his own, so he could continue on to Masyaf.

No sooner had he found a seaworthy vessel was he attacked by a mysterious man, whom Ezio thought he recognized. The commotion caused by their fighting attracted several members of the island's Night Watchmen, and Ezio, along with his mysterious assailant-turned-ally, fought off the guards. As the last man fell, Ezio was stabbed in the side and fell unconscious. When he awoke, Ezio found himself on a ship headed for Acre, manned by none other than the pirate captain he had defeated some months earlier.

Ezio arrived in the city of Acre ten months after leaving Rome. After spending a week there, Ezio was informed that the road to Masyaf was filled with foreign bandits and mercenaries. He also wrote a letter to Claudia, informing her of his journey so far and that, should he not survive, she should not seek vengeance. Shortly thereafter, he continued his journey to Masyaf.

Ezio arrived at Masyaf in March 1511, and found the town to be crumbled and largely abandoned. Upon making his way to the fortress, Ezio was ambushed by the town's Byzantine Templar garrison, under the command of their captain, Leandros. Outnumbered, Ezio nonetheless attempted to fight his attackers, but was distracted by visions of Altaïr and captured. The Templars took the defeated Assassin and lead him onto a plank to be hung from the fortress' watchtower. However, as Leandros put the noose around Ezio's neck, Ezio attacked Leandros, threw the noose about Leandros' neck, and eventually escaped along the outside of the tower.

Ezio quickly made his way back to the battlements, where he retrieved his weapons. He then made his way beneath the castle, to the doors of Altaïr's library, where he learned from a worker that Leandros had the journal of Niccolò Polo in his possession, which supposedly led to the keys needed to open the library's door.Ezio left the fortress and pursued the Templar Captain, who had escaped by carriage.

Ezio managed to hold onto a rope trailing from the carriage, and dragged himself up to the carriage itself. Leandros escaped onto the carriage of one of his men, and the chase continued, with each carriage jostling for space on a narrow cliff path.

Eventually, a well-placed bomb sent Ezio's carriage over the edge, severely injuring him, though he persistently continued to follow Leandros. Fighting his way through a nearby village, Ezio eventually confronted and assassinated Leandros. After learning that the Templars were searching for the Masyaf Keys to open Altaïr's library, Ezio rather brusquely gave Leandros his last rites, before claiming the journal for himself.

====Settling into Constantinople====

:''"Welcome to Galata district. For centuries it has been a home to orphans from Europa and Asia alike. You won't find more diversity anywhere else in the city. And for that reason, Assassins make it their home."''
:―Yusuf welcoming Ezio.<sup>[src]</sup>

Having obtained the journal, Ezio made his way to Constantinople by ship, where he hoped to find those Masyaf Keys the Templars had not already obtained. As they neared the port, Ezio briefly spoke with a fellow passenger, a young man who claimed to be a student. Ezio spoke to him of how he spent his own youth, until a woman on the ship caught his attention. Disembarking the ship at the Galata, Ezio was greeted by the leader of the local Assassin guild, Yusuf Tazim.

Yusuf informed Ezio of the state of affairs in the city and of how the Byzantine remnants, allied with the Templars, fought with the Ottomans for control of the city while there was a civil war between the Sultan Bayezid II and his son Selim who claimed the throne. As the Sultan wasn't in the city, the Templars tried to reclaim Constantinople. On their way, the two Assassins were attacked by Byzantines. As Templar backups arrived, the two Assassins were protected by Ottoman guards who chased the Byzantines. Later in the Galata headquarters, Ezio was introduced to some of Yusuf's men, and was advised to get new equipment.

When the two met again, Ezio was provided with an Ottoman hookblade and was taught on its use by Yusuf, in parkour and combat. To test his new skills, Yusuf challenged Ezio to climb the Galata Tower and reached the top before him. After the race, the two were contacted by the Assassin Kasim who warned them that the Templars attacked the Assassin dens of the Galata and the Grand Bazaar. On their way to the Galata den, Yusuf taught to Ezio some assassinating tactics with the hookblade. Arrived at the den, Yusuf decided to defend the Grand Bazar while Ezio organized with other Assassin the defense of the Galata. After the Assassins defeated the Templars at the Galata, Ezio decided to join with Yusuf at the Grand Bazar.

After he crossed the Golden Horn, Ezio fought with Yusuf who was attacked by the Templars. After they succeded, Yusuf informed Ezio that they lost the Grand Bazar den. Together, they decided to reclaim it. As the district was controlled by the Byzantines, the two Assassins stayed low profile and Ezio was introduced by Yusuf to bombs that he could use as a distraction. Arriving near the den, with other Assassins, they infiltrated the area and Ezio killed the Byzantine captain before igniting the signal fire to reclaim the den.

As they lost many Assassins during the attack of the den, Ezio decided to recruit some citizens in the Brotherhood. His first apprentice was a man who was imprisoned for stealing food. Ezio freed him by stealing the key of his cage. Ezio continued to recruit citizens who had useful skills for the Brotherhood or had the will to fight the Templars. Later Ezio investigated the disappearance of many Assassins in the Galata. With another Assassin apprentice, Ezio discovered the corpses of their brothers and sisters killed with Assassin's tactics. As they spotted a mysterious hooded man, they tracked him but he left the area as Byzantines attacked the Assassins. The apprentice revealed to Ezio that the hooded man was Vali cel Tradat, a former Assassin who joined the Templars. As Ezio though that the apprentice wasn't ready to fight Vali, he sent him to a mission in Bursa to perfect his training.

Later, Ezio met again Yusuf who taught him how to craft bombs for any kind of situation. After this Ezio showed to Yusuf the Polo's journal and explained why he was in Constantinople. Yusuf suggested to Ezio to meet Piri Reis, a Master Assassin who was also a cartographer and a bomb crafter, who could help him in his quest. Arriving at his shop in the Grand Bazar, Ezio spoke with Piri who indicated him the location of Niccolò Polo's old trading post, which was now a book shop.

Arriving at the book shop, Ezio met the owner, Sofia Sartor; the woman who had caught Ezio's eye on the ship into the city. While speaking to Sofia, Ezio investigated the place to find some clues. Locating a secret passageway beneath the trading post, Ezio flirtingly suggested they both investigate but was politely rebuked. He then entered the underground cavern, where Templars searching another Masyaf key. Discreetly exploring the underground, Ezio successfully obtaining his first Masyaf Key, as well as an encrypted map. Returning in the book shop, Ezio showed to Sofia the map. Together they saw that the map indicated the location of many books from Polo's library. As Ezio though that some of them could indicate the location of the Masyaf keys, he decided to associate with Sofia who will decode the map while Ezio will give her the books which she could reimprint them.

Leaving the book shop, Ezio met Yusuf and show him the Masyaf key. Yusuf advised to hide it in the Galata headquarters. When Yusuf explained that he needed to meet the different allies of the Assassins as the Mercenaries, the Thieves and the Romanies, Ezio proposed to speak with the last faction as he never truly had contact with them. Yusuf agreed and showed to Ezio the tunnels network to travel more easily in the city. Meeting the Romanies, Ezio discovered that the Templars stole their chest of gold. The Assassin decided to help them using his poison blade to kill the Templars to create the illusion that the chest was cursed by the Romanies. Ezio reclaimed the gold and became an ally of the Romanies, that he could recruit to distract guards when needed. Later, Ezio also helped the Thieves' guild by killing a snitch which impeached them to operate in the city and saved the son of the Mercenaries' leader who was captured by the Byzantines.

In the Galata headquarters, Ezio examined the Masyaf key and understood that it was an artifact of the Isu. With it, he relived a memory of Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad, when he saved his Mentor Al Mualim from the traitor Haras and became a Master Assassin. Later, the apprentice send in Bursa returned and informed Ezio that Vali kidnapped to Assassins to exchange them against the den of the Galata. Ezio decided to save the Assassins who revealed to him that it was a ruse to draw them from the Galata headquarters. Returning in the area, Ezio and the apprentice witnessed the Templars attacked the headquarters. As Vali flew, Ezio tracked him before the apprentice performed an air assassination on Vali. In his last breath, Vali explained that he joined the Templars as the Brotherhood didn't protect his country, the Wallachia, against Ottoman invasion. After that, the apprentice was granted the rank of Master Assassin and assigned to protect the Galata den.

====Working with Prince Suleiman ====

Ezio continued to aid the Assassins in the city while Sofia worked to uncover the location of the remaining Keys. At one point, Ezio disguised himself as a minstrel, and prevented an attack on the young Prince Suleiman at Topkapı Palace; whom he recognized as the "student" from the ship he had entered the city on. After becoming acquainted with Suleiman, Ezio helped to uncover those behind the attempted assassination.

Their investigations led them to Tarik Barleti, Captain of the Janissaries responsible for Suleiman's protection, and supporter of his father, Selim I. After observing an exchange of weapons between Tarik and Manuel Palaiologos, heir apparent of the now-defunct Byzantine throne and member of the Templar Order, Ezio was tasked to kill Tarik by Suleiman.

Ezio carried out the assassination, only to discover Tarik had been working to apprehend Manuel and his associate—Shahkulu—"where they felt safest". Remorsefully, Ezio asked for Tarik's forgiveness, before delivering the news to Suleiman.

====Journey to Cappadocia====

After obtaining the four Keys still within Constantinople, Ezio travelled to Cappadocia, the location given to him by Tarik, to confront Manuel Palaiologos. Before he could depart however, he was intercepted by Yusuf, who informed him that the Janissaries had raised the Great Chain across the mouth of the Golden Horn to prevent him from leaving the city. Yusuf provided Ezio with a sizable bomb, claiming that it was significantly more dangerous than their usual explosives.

Ezio proceeded to the port, where he destroyed the Great Chain with Yusuf's special bomb, and burned the numerous Templar ships that guarded the harbor using Greek Fire.

Arriving in Cappadocia aboard Piri Reis' ship, Ezio sought to make contact with Tarik's spies, who were already in the city. However, he soon learned that many of Tarik's men had already been discovered, apprehended, and executed by the Byzantines. He arrived just in time to prevent the execution of the remaining spies, engaging and eliminating Shahkulu in open combat.

With the spies safe, Ezio proceeded to detonate the city's ordinance supply and, in the ensuing panic, gave chase to Palaiologos. Confronting him at one of the city's docks, Ezio killed him and claimed the fifth and final Key. Before he could leave however he found himself confronted by Suleiman's uncle and heir-apparent to the Ottoman throne, Ahmet.

Revealing his own Templar allegiance, Ahmet demanded Ezio to hand over the Key, lest harm fall upon Sofia Sartor. Angrily, Ezio pledged vengeance should any harm come to her, then made his way back through the now smoke-filled city to his ship, and to Constantinople.

====Fight with Prince Ahmet====

After arriving in Constantinople, Ezio hurriedly made his way to Sofia's bookshop. He found that the place had been ransacked and Yusuf, whom Ezio had asked to look after Sofia during his time in Cappadocia, had been killed. Upon discovering Yusuf's dead body, Ezio gave him a final blessing before shutting his eyes. Declaring a renewed vengeance against all those who dared to cross the Assassins, Ezio collected the remaining Keys and prepared to ambush Ahmet during the exchange.

However, Ahmet held Sofia hostage atop Galata Tower, and Ezio was forced to give him the Keys in order to rescue her. The hostage turned out to be Azize, one of Ezio's fellow Assassins, and Ezio saw Sofia was being hung in a courtyard.

After parachuting down towards her, and after ensuring that she was fine, Ezio boarded a carriage with to pursue Ahmet, who had already hurried off towards Syria to find the library and unlock its contents.

After a lengthy ride through the country, which left Ezio essentially parasailing to hang onto their carriage, he managed to grab Ahmet and the two struggled as they both went flying off a cliff. Ezio subdued the prince and opened a parachute to save them both.

As they both recovered from their rough landing, Ezio and Ahmet saw an army arrive with Selim at its head. Selim explained that the Sultan had chosen him over Ahmet, and proceeded to strangle his brother and throw him off a cliff. Selim spared Ezio, having heard good things about him from his son Suleiman, but ordered him to stay out of Constantinople.

After traveling to Masyaf with Sofia, Ezio used the five Keys to open the door to Altaïr's library. Ezio discovered there were no books, only the body of the former Mentor, with a memory seal in his hand. The seal revealed Altaïr's final moments, and the location of his Apple at the back of the library.

Ezio moved towards the Apple, but refused to take it, believing he had seen enough for one life. The Apple emanated a wave of light, and Ezio began speaking to Desmond. Acknowledging he was a conduit for a message, Ezio removed his bracers and sword to declare the end of his life as an Assassin. He then encouraged Desmond to make his life's sufferings worth it, and told him to listen.

====Return to Constantinople====

After their visit to Masyaf, Ezio and Sofia returned to Constantinople to set their affairs in the city to rest. Despite Selim ordering Ezio never to return, Suleiman managed to secure Ezio a brief visit, as long as he behaved himself.

Ezio made sure that Dogan, the new leader of the Turkish Assassins, was able to competently command the Assassins' Guild there. Ezio also oversaw the selling of Sofia's bookshop to Azize, the Assassin who had been kidnapped by Ahmet and held at the top of Galata Tower as a decoy for Sofia. The bookshop was used as an outpost for the Assassins, and Ezio stored the Masyaf Keys in the chamber where he had found the first key, underneath the bookshop.