Courtesan


 * For the multiplayer character, see Courtesan.

"You too must learn to blend like us: seen, but unseen."

- Paola's training on Ezio.

The courtesans are one of the three factions of the Assassin's Creed series helping the main character, Ezio; the other two being the thieves and the mercenaries. Florentine courtesans are led by Paola, Venetian courtesans are led by Teodora Contanto, and Roman courtesans are led by Claudia Auditore and Madonna Solari used to be in-charge.

Abilities
Courtesans can work in many ways. All four can seduce a group of nearby guards, allowing Ezio to slip past, or they can hide Ezio by walking with him in a diamond formation (similar to how Altaïr blended with scholars). Should Ezio encounter a group of guards while walking with the Courtesans, two of them will distract the guards, while the other two stay with Ezio in order to maintain the blend and help keep Ezio anonymous. This behavior is very helpful in assassination missions where the target walks among civilians.

Courtesans cannot perform any sort of free-running, and will go down very quickly in a fight. Therefore they should be avoided when looking for assistance in combat.

Equipment
Courtesans are almost entirely unarmed. They have no armor to speak of, and carry only knives, though they do not have to use them often.

Florence

 * Paola

Venice

 * Teodora Contanto
 * Lucia - a courtesan who worked in La Rosa Della Virtu, she was attacked and robbed just outside.

Rome

 * Madonna Solari
 * Fiora Cavazza
 * Giuletta
 * Lucia - a Courtesan who worked in the Rosa in Fiore. She was kidnapped by the slave traders, but they sent her back to alert the other girls of the ransom for Solari. It is presumable that she remained in the Rosa in Fiore after this incident, and worked under Maria and Claudia.
 * Mina - a victim of the Templar Malfatto, who was a rogue doctor that preyed on prostitutes. Ezio Auditore finds her being mourned by her friend in a back alley of Rome.

Achievement
The achievement/trophy, "Red Light Addict," can be gained by spending 5000 florins on them. One group of courtesans costs 150 florins, which means approximately 34 groups have to be hired to get the achievement.

Trivia

 * A glitch can be found while running around the outside of Forlì. One of the hired Courtesans becomes stuck, separated from the rest of the group, and left behind, but does not officially leave the group as when distracting guards. The remaining three courtesans will not activate any blending effects when surrounding Ezio until he approaches the lost courtesan's perimeter and again enters the 'middle' of the group.
 * Should one of the courtesans in a group fall into the water, the remaining three will continue to activate the blending effect without her, indicating that the death of one courtesan is similar to when two leave the group to distract passing guards.
 * Courtesans cannot be killed or grabbed by Ezio. However, you can still hurt them with your weapons.
 * The appearance of Courtesans has five randomly generated options: hair, face, dress color, necklace, and sleeves.
 * In Monteriggioni, after renovating the Brothel, random Courtesans appear to walk in the streets. However, you are unable to hire them.
 * Attracting attention after distracting guards with a group of Courtesans will cause the guards to attack the group and kill them.
 * In Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood, when Ezio reaches Level 5 in the Courtesans guild challenges, the courtesans are able to kill guards by blowing a presumably poisonous substance into their faces.
 * If a civilian you stole from prepares to have a fist fight with Ezio, the courtesans you have hired will sometimes go and fight him instead, knocking him out with only two punches (Brotherhood only).
 * The Assassin's Creed II memory "Fitting In" is the only time you can beat up, pickpocket and grab courtesans.
 * During the sequence "Carnevale", courtesans appear walking in the streets wearing masks.