Journey Through Assassins Creed 2

The journey continues on in Assassin’s Creed II. Of course they couldn’t let the momentum after the first game die. Many wanted to know what happened to Desmond. What was going to be the next move to fight the Templars. So of course they had to create another game. So not long after the release of Assassin’s Creed they started working on Assassin’s Creed II.

Desmond Miles is rescued by Lucy and then taken to a remote location. Here he meets her team. Shaun Hastings, a historian and analyst. As well as Rebecca Crane who is a Technician. With plans that Lucy was able to steal they built their own Animus they call ‘Baby’. With it they plan to train Desmond to be an Assassin through the Bleeding Effect.

In this one he will be accessing the life of his ancestor, Ezio Auditore da Firenze. Starting his journey from birth into a wealthy family in the last 15th century. However, it does fast forward to years later in Italy. Ezio grew into a reckless yet charismatic young man during the Renaissance.

Here we have a life changing event for the young Ezio. His father and brothers are hanged after they being framed for treason by a corrupt magistrate. Ezio seeks his revenge and kills the magistrate. Afterwards he flees to Monteriggioni with his mother and sister.

Here he learns from some news from his uncle. His uncle as well as his late father were a part of an ancient order. They’re known as the Assassins. Agreeing to train Ezio in the ways. With this new knowledge and skills, Ezio’s determined to kill those responsible for his father’s death. Ranging from merchants to mercenaries and politicians. All of which are aligned to the Pazzi and Barbarigo families.

This journey takes him all over from Florence to Venice. Including San Gimignano and Forlì. Along these travels he makes new friends and allies. Including philosopher Niccolò Machiavelli and inventor Leonardo da Vinci. Leonardo actually is really helpful being an inventor and all. He creates weapons and makes modifications for Ezio throughout the game.

During his stay in Venice he learns something very valuable. The identity of the Templar Grand Master. Known as “The Spaniard”, Rodrigo Borgia. Borgia has been planning on securing Italy for the Templars. To do this he is unifying the most influential families under his leadership.

Ezio disguises himself as a soldier in order to confront Rodrigo while helping him transport the Apple of Eden to Rome. However, Rodrigo has another piece of Eden with him. The Papal Staff. This reveals his intention to unlock the “Vault”. The “Vault” is a chamber which is believed to hold a greater power. One that the world has never seen before. Unfortunately Rodrigo escapes leaving behind the Apple in Ezio’s possession.

With the unfortunate yet fortunate events that took place… Ezio’s inducted into the Assassins. This is all done by major characters revealed to be Assassins that Ezio had no clue about. All because he was able to bring the Apple back into the fold.

Switching back to reality with Desmond, a memory from his time at abstergo surfaces. He sees Altair impregnating Maria who is a Templar from the previous game. He also comes across a series of glyphs which are very similar to the drawings he found in his cell.

After deciphering them they reveal two human slaves stealing the Apple. The video ends with the ACII codes (in binary) for “EDEN” (01000101 01000100 01000101 01001110). The team theorizes that the two humans may be Adam and Eve, the first man and woman.

Here’s where things start to get hectic almost in the journey. A series of events propels into others. So after the flash back nothing else can be seen. This is because there are too many corrupted memory sequences. (Don’t Worry! Later released as DLC). Desmond goes back into the Animus for the final memory and leg of this adventure.

In 1499, Rodrigo is now secure in his position. He is now Pope Alexander VI. Ezio is an Assassin. They can get into anywhere if they truly want. With the skills they have perfected it’s not impossible. As they say: Nothing is True; everything is permitted. After infiltrating the Vatican City during Mass, Ezio beats him in a fistfight.

However, Ezio is smart. Sometimes death is just too good for some people. It let’s them off from their punishments easier than they should. Instead of killing him, he lets him live. To wallow in the fact that he failed. A worse punishment then dying and that being your last bit of knowledge. This way the rest of his days are led in utter dismay over losing.

Ezio combines the Apple and Staff together. This opens the entrance to the vault. Inside, he is contacted by a strange woman named Minerva. She is aware that Desmond is listening and explains how her people, the “First Civilization”, created humanity to serve them. Unfortunately they were destroyed by an unknown catastrophe. The catastrophe being a solar flare.

The survivors joined forces with their former servants, building a network of vaults to both preserve their technology and culture. As well as serve as a preventative measure against a future disaster. Before vanishing, she tells Desmond that only he has the power to fulfill this prophecy. Leaving both him and Ezio confused as to what she means. Also what journey lies ahead.

Not long after that sequence their hideout is invaded by a group of Abstergo Agents led by Warren Vidic. The team has to evacuate immediately leaving behind everything but the Animus. While on the run to a new location Lucy tells Desmond some news. The Assassins have detected some strange occurrences in the Earth’s Magnetic Field.

A solar flare that is going to pass in the coming months. This solar flare could trigger the same events that ended the First Civilization.