Bonfire of the Vanities

"Then it's true? Savonarola has taken the control of Firenze?"

- Ezio Auditore questioning the recent takeover of Florence.

The Bonfire of the Vanities was an event centered in the Italian city of Florence during the years 1497 and 1498, instigated by the Italian Dominican priest Girolamo Savonarola; who believed that the "Renaissance idea" had corrupted Italy, and preached for a return to medieval life. Savonarola used the Apple of Eden (which he had obtained from a wounded Ezio Auditore) to gain control of the city, following the expulsion of its former rulers, the Medici family.

The Mad Monk
In the year 1497, the Assassin Ezio Auditore once again returned to Florence to find it in the grip of Savonarola and his lieutenants. Ezio soon met with Niccolò Machiavelli on one of the Arno bridges. Machiavelli greeted Ezio, and remarked he chose "a fine time for a homecoming". He confirmed that Savonarola had taken control of Florence, aided by the "treacherous artifact". With this, Ezio declared that they should work on retrieving it. However, Machiavelli rebuked this statement, claiming that it would be more complicated than Ezio thought.

Ezio then asked Machiavelli to tell him of the recent events leading up to the bonfires. Machiavelli told Ezio it started a few weeks earlier, when the man everyone reviled was the one they later "worshiped". However, Machiavelli revealed this was only part of Savonarola's tyranny, as Savonarola had taken control of the city leaders, those who held such influence and power over the city's districts. These leaders in turn oppressed the people and ensured Savonarola's will was done.

Savonarola's Lieutenants
"If we can silence his lieutenants and stir up discontent, he will be distracted and I will have a chance to strike."

- Ezio to Machiavelli about the Lieutenants.

The two passed into the Oltrarno District of Florence and discovered the bodies of a contingent of soldiers bearing the emblem of the Borgia, evidence that Rodrigo Borgia was also aware that Savonarola held the Piece of Eden. Learning that the Apple only held sway over the minds of Savonarola's nine lieutenants, with most of the city's populace simply controlled by fear, and that a direct assault would result in failure, Ezio decided to assassinate the nine, whilst La Volpe and Paola helped to arouse the districts and the people.

The Painter
"My own self-doubt let him hold me as he did. I am sorry."

- The Painter to Ezio before he met his end.

The first of Savonarola's lieutenants that Ezio decided to kill was the painter, who was burning several piles of artwork behind the Palazzo Pitti in the Oltrarno District. As Ezio remained unseen and got closer, the man spoke of how, when he first became a painter, he thought he would become closer to God; however he found he was only deceived by the Devil. He told the crowd to burn all their pieces of artwork in fires. However, Ezio quickly surprised the painter and assassinated him with the hidden blade. As the painter died, he told Ezio he was sorry and that his actions were not his own.

The Preacher
"Not all of us required deception to be convinced. I already believe. All I said is true."

- The Preacher confessing his belief in Savonarola's cause.

The second lieutenant that Ezio hunted was the preacher. Finding him standing outside the Santo Spirito Church in Southern Florence, he addressed a crowd in front of the church, surrounded by guards. The preacher invoked that everyone must repent or they would go to hell. However, Ezio was able to close in on the preacher and assassinate him. As the man died, he claimed that he was not deceived by the Apple of Eden, and that his actions were his own. Ezio then fled to continue his hunt.

The Condottiero
The third lieutenant was a Condottiero, who guarded and monitored passage across the Ponte Vecchio. He spoke of Savonarola's cause to the people below, and said that he wanted to lead the people into a new future, and that their resistance was futile. However, Ezio was able to sneak past the guards and eventually assassinate the Condottiero. As he died, Ezio asked how Savonarola was able to charm him. The Condottiero admitted he wanted wealth and power far beyond what he currently possessed.

The Merchant
"Secure those crates! We can ill afford to let their contents fall into the wrong hands."

- The merchant's orders to his crew.

The fourth lieutenant was a merchant, who Ezio found on a boat in the River Arno. The merchant had his guards load food supplies onto the ship, withholding it from the people, hoping they would submit to Savonarola. Ezio was able to sneak aboard the ship and evade the guards before reaching the merchant and assassinating him. In his dying words, the merchant showed regret, but admitted he agreed sometimes people must be told what to think, though felt guilty.

The Farmer
"Your orders are simple - keep watch over these fields and ensure no harm comes to the bundles of fieno (hay). It may seem a mundane task, but it's critical nonetheless!"

- The farmer's orders to his men.

The fifth lieutenant was a farmer in Florence's countryside. Arriving there and noticing the farmer, he ordered his men to protect the hay and continued to patrol the area. As he walked, the farmer spoke of how he withheld other farmers' provisions for their livestock, thereby cutting their source of income, and Florence's food supply, hoping they would submit to Savonarola. Using the hay bundles to his advantage and remaining hidden, Ezio was able to assassinate the farmer. As he died, Ezio interrogated him, questioning his actions. The farmer admitted that he did it in order to gain respect before passing on.

The Nobleman
The sixth lieutenant was a nobleman. Ezio soon located the nobleman on the rooftop in the Mercato Vecchio in central Florence. Upon his sighting of Ezio, the nobleman shouted that Florence must be cured and claimed that Ezio would not interfere. However, Ezio began to pursue the nobleman. Shouting for guards, the man started to run towards Savonarola to inform him of Ezio. However, Ezio was faster and assassinated him quickly. As he died, he claimed he was "charmed" by the Apple. Ezio explained that he killed him for the people's benefit before leaving.

The Priest
"I led my flock astray... It's just... I wanted so badly to believe..."

- The Priest confessing.

The seventh lieutenant was a priest. Locating the priest on top of the Santa Maria del Fiore praying. As the priest preached to the people in favor of Savonarola and his cause, Ezio silently climbed the building, dispatching the guards he encountered. Reaching the top, Ezio silently stabbed the priest with his hidden blade. As he died, the priest admitted he accepted the illusion, wanting to believe in God so desperately. Ezio then claimed that everyone did before departing.

The Captain Guard
"Or was it that I tasted power and found myself intoxicated? I wish I had been strong."

- The captain guard to Ezio.

Eventually, Ezio was able to locate the captain guard at the Basilica di San Lorenzo. Arriving in the courtyard and noticing no civilians were around, the captain guard revealed himself from the scaffolding above. Calling out to Ezio, he revealed he had devised a trap. Promptly Ezio was surrounded by dozens of guards and archers; however he was able to fight them off, climb the building and assassinate the captain guard. As he died, the captain was disgusted by his actions, wishing he was stronger.

The Doctor
The last of Savonarola's lieutenants that Ezio had to assassinate was the doctor, who was found in a courtyard in central Florence. He was protected by many guards, and he offered free medical care to those who swore allegiance to Savonarola. Ezio infiltrated the courtyard, avoiding the guards' gaze. Sneaking up on him, the Doctor soon felt the sting of Ezio's blade and was put to rest. Before dying, he admitted to Ezio on his deathbed that he had been intoxicated by power.

Savonarola's Demise
"We don't need anyone to tell us what to do; not Savonarola, not the Medici. We are free to follow our own path."

- Ezio Auditore's speech.

The citizens rallied by Niccolò Machiavelli, La Volpe and Paola massed in front of the Palazzo Pitti, to confront Girolamo Savonarola. Savonarola confronted the enraged mob, demanding to know why they were not cleansing themselves. However, Savonarola's rage forced him to use the Apple's power, weakened by the loss of his lieutenants. Savonarola attempted to use the Apple to subdue the crowd, exclaiming that they would submit.

Ezio, however prevented Savonarola from using the artifact by throwing a knife and injuring his hand. As soon as the artifact left Savonarola's grip, the crowd carried him away. A Borgia guard suddenly tried to steal the fallen artifact, only to be killed after a lengthy chase by Ezio. Ezio then discovered that the people, now freed from the grip of the Apple, were burning Savonarola at the stake outside the Palazzo della Signoria. While the crowd screamed in rage, Ezio concluded that no one should die in so much pain.

Making his way through the crowd, Ezio lunged at Savonarola, and mercifully assassinated the crazed monk with his hidden blade. With Savonarola dead at last, ending his tyranny, Ezio then made a speech, claiming that the citizens should be free to make their own choice, not to follow the Medici, Savonarola, or him, but to choose their own path. As Ezio concluded his speech, he departed from the city once again, with Mario Auditore, Machiavelli, La Volpe, and Paola, ready to face his nemesis.

Aftermath
"There are those who will take that freedom from us, and too many of you gladly give it. But it is our ability to choose - whatever you think is true - that makes us human."

- Ezio's proud speech towards the people.

The Assassins secured the Apple once more, and Savonarola's tyranny ended, once again freeing the city of Florence, and allowing the people to fully embrace the Renaissance movement. The Assassins retrieved the last pages of the Codex which they would soon assemble on the Codex wall to locate the Vault and soon, confront the last of their targets in Italy, Rodrigo Borgia.

Source

 * Assassin's Creed II - Bonfire of the Vanities (DLC)