Sofia Sartor

"The more we know about the world, the less we seem to know."

- Sofia, in 1511.

Sofia Sartor (1476 - unknown) was a Venetian-Ottoman bookshop owner and literary enthusiast. Though born in the city of Constantinople, Sofia was forced to leave for Venice during 1499, when the Ottoman-Venetian war began.

Sofia eventually returned to her birthplace in 1507 to run a bookstore at the old Polo trading post. During 1511, she met the Assassin Ezio Auditore da Firenze, the man who would eventually become her husband and the father of her two children.

A polylingual, multicultural, and intelligent woman mature beyond her years, Sofia had a passion for literature, which fueled her decision to run a bookstore, in hopes of sharing the democratizing effect she felt in books with others.

Early life
Sofia was the daughter of a Venetian couple, born in 1476 in the city of Constantinople. She lived at the Venetian quarter of the city with her parents until 1498, when the Ottoman-Venetian conflict began. At that time, most Venetians living within the city were in danger, forcing Sophia and her parents to flee to Italy.

In 1505, Sofia's father commissioned the German artist Albrecht Dürer to paint a portrait of her as a gift for her twenty-eighth birthday, offering any price to the artist. However, when the artist met Sofia, he refused any salary, and said that the opportunity to paint Sofia's likeness was payment enough.

She later returned in 1507 to run the bookshop previously owned by her father, wanting to spread knowledge amongst the poor Ottoman people and share her love for books with others.

Meeting Ezio
In 1511, Sofia returned to Constantinople from Rhodes, on the same boat as Suleiman I and Ezio Auditore, the Mentor of the Assassins. Unbeknownst to Sofia, her bookshop was the old trading post of Niccolò and Maffeo Polo, who founded the Turkish sect of the Assassin Order. She later met Ezio Auditore, who was in the midst of searching for the Masyaf Keys. Suspecting the old Polo trading post to contain clues, Ezio searched Sofia's shop, and found a hidden passageway that led to the Yerebatan Cistern. After returning, Ezio shared what he found with Sofia: a map and one of the five Masyaf keys. The map he found included the location of rare books, which fascinated Sofia greatly.

Ezio believed that the books held clues as to where the other keys were. He then asked Sofia if she could help him deduce the location of the books by deciphering the map for him. Sofia agreed; in return, she asked to let her borrow the books from him once he was done with them. Ezio subtly agrees, before leaving her shop.

Locating the books
Sofia took a break from her work and waited by the harbor to pick up a package for her, but was unable to retrieve it due to the captain's papers being out of order. After scaring off a failing suitor, Ezio helped Sofia by locating her package, and successfully retrieved it. After Ezio returned the package, Sofia gave him the location of the first book. After a brief conversation, Ezio left to locate the other book.

After some time, Ezio returned to Sofia's shop and showed her the book he had obtained. During the time, Sofia's shop was just recently robbed by a thief, and managed to pilfer Dürer's painting of her, which she considered of sentimental value. After learning this, Ezio left Sofia's shop to locate the painting, and managed to retrieve it. After Ezio returned the painting, Sofia gave him the location of the next book, subsequently asking him what was his job. Ezio told her that he was somewhat a teacher, which she doubted. Ezio promised her that he'll explain everything someday, right before leaving.

Ezio returned to Sofia's shop again, and read a poem written by Dante Alighieri. Sofia then told him about her plan to leave for Adrianopoli within a few weeks to visit a new printing press, and tried to ask Ezio to act as her escort. He respectfully declined the offer, stating that his time was running short. Sofia understood, and proceeded to decipher the last code, but asked Ezio if he could wait another day, due to her having another errand to run.

Ezio asked what was the errand, which she said was to pick up white tulips. Ezio told her that he'll get the flowers, to which she agreed in exchange for the information Ezio sought. After obtaining the flowers, Ezio met with Sofia at a park near Hagia Sophia, where she had arranged food and drink for them to share. Afterwards, Sofia gave Ezio the location of the final book.

Abduction
After her return from Adrianopoli, Sofia continued her business while under the protection of Yusuf Tazim, who kept watch over her at the behest of Ezio. In March of 1512, Sofia was kidnapped by the Byzantine Templars under the orders of the Ottoman Prince Ahmet, which killed Yusuf in the midst of her capture.

Returning from Cappadocia and learning of Yusuf's death, Ezio led the Turkish Assassins to Constantinople's arsenal to look for Sofia and avenge Yusuf. After negotiating, Ezio agreed to trade the Masyaf keys in exchange for Sofia's safety. At the Galata Tower, Sofia was held by a Byzantine at the top of the tower, merely inches away from falling. After giving the keys, Ezio hurriedly made his way to Sofia, though found out that it was Azize, an Assassin apprentice, merely a decoy. Ezio looked for Sofia from the top of the tower, and found her being choked to death by one of the Byzantines at a nearby area.

Ezio immediately left the tower and rescued Sofia. Helping her recuperate, Ezio apologized for dragging Sofia into his business, though Sofia remarked that he was not responsible for his enemies' action. Before she could ask who they were, Sofia was dragged off with Ezio onto a carriage, and left the city to chase after Ahmet and the keys.

Chasing Ahmet
Ezio chased after Ahmet with Sofia through the countryside. After dealing with two of the Byzantines' carriages, Sofia nearly fell after their carriage collided with a wall. When Ezio tried to rescue her, he slipped up and fell to the back of the carriage, barely holding on a rope. After Ezio opened a parachute and glided whilst being bound to the carriage's rope, Sofia recuperated, and drove the carriage while Ezio protected her.

Despite the constant road obstacles and detours, Sofia managed to catch up to Ahmet, though her carriage was destroyed in the chase. Unscathed, Sofia bid that Ezio should go on his own from there. After defeating Ahmet, Ezio recuperated and retrieved the Masyaf keys. In the midst of their final confrontation, Ahmet's brother Selim I, newly named Sultan, intervened and threw Ahmet off of the countryside's cliff.

Sofia later met up with Ezio, just as Selim was introducing himself. When Ezio was provoked to strike Selim, Sofia stopped him from attempting the attack. Just as Selim left, Sofia told Ezio that what he did was the right thing. Afterwards, the two left for Masyaf.

Journey to Masyaf
Climbing to the old Assassin fortress at Masyaf, Sofia and Ezio discussed the history of the Assassins - how Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad restored the Order once more, and whether Ezio ever regretted living the life of an Assassin or not. Sofia comforted Ezio when he spoke about finally retiring from the order, saying that he would not stray far if he lets business with the order go. They then arrived at the door of Altaïr's library.

When Ezio attempted to solve the door's puzzle, Sofia assisted him by giving her insight about the possible solution. They were then able to solve the puzzle, and opened the lock of the door. Asking Ezio to come back out alive, Sofia waited for him outside of the library. After Ezio's return, they both left the fortress heading back to Rome.

Settling down
Ezio and Sofia were married in Venice after returning to Constantinople to ensure the future of Sofia's book shop, which was turned into an archive for the Assassins as well as a bookshop run by Azize and the Turkish Assassins. She and Ezio returned to Italy and traveled to Rome, where she met her sister in law, Claudia. She was also with Ezio when he made the announcment of his retirement as Mentor, passing the leader position of the Italian Assassins to Lodovico Ariosto. By this time, she was pregnant with their daughter Flavia.

By 1519, they had traveled to Italy, where they settled down in a villa in Tuscany, thanks to the money from Sofia's bookshop. She gave birth to Flavia and then their son Marcello by October of 1513.

She was present when a visit from a friend of the family Niccolò Machiavelli, told Ezio of their friend Leonardo da Vinci's failing health.

In 1524, while she took Marcello to visit Claudia in Rome, Ezio had an encounter with a Chinese Assassin named Shao Jun. Despite Ezio's discourteous welcome, Sofia told her that she should stay, seeing that she came a long way just to meet Ezio. After a day, Sofia had to leave the villa with her children at Ezio's behest, and stayed at Machiavelli's until the conflict was resolved.

After the dispute was settled, Sofia left to buy groceries with Flavia and Ezio, who had just finished his writings. After sitting Ezio down by a nearby bench, Sofia and Flavia bought some groceries at a local stall. After a short while, the mother and daughter would see Ezio, out of life. Distraught, Sofia and Flavia rushed over to Ezio, as did the other intrigued civilians of Florence.

Before Ezio passed away, he left a letter addressed to Sofia at his study, the writings that he had been keeping himself busy with. The letter detailed the last thoughts of Ezio's reflection on the life he led, and how the love he felt for Sofia was the driving force that kept him alive.

Personality
"She is a diligent woman, full of passion and vigor, and I enjoy her company immensely."

- Ezio, describing Sofia to Claudia in a letter.

Sofia was a hard-working woman, mature beyond her own age. She often engaged in intellectual individuals that she considered her equal in terms of intelligence. Whenever in business, she detested casual banter, though her intellect and sense of humor outmatched any perceived coldness.

She was often intrigued and interested by the mysterious and ancient, such as the lost books listed on the Polo's map, and the Masyaf key Ezio showed her. She also had a deep appreciation for most architectural structures, literature, and art. She was also very affectionate and romantic, as seen with her plan for Ezio at the park nearby Hagia Sophia.

She was most passionate when it came to literature, which was a love expounded after the invention of the printing press. She visited other countries and locations to learn more about books and the printing press, and knew a lot about the materials used in bookbinding, as well as several notable authors and literary work. She had a thirst for knowledge and had a desire to spread what she knew and loved about books and literature to the people of the Ottoman Empire.

Trivia

 * "Sofia" is a name of Greek origin, meaning "Wisdom."
 * Her database article stated that she was born some time in 1476. However, it was stated in the Assassin's Creed Encyclopedia that she was born in 1473.
 * The database also stated that the Ottoman-Venetian conflict began in 1499, while the encyclopedia stated that it began in 1498.
 * In her database article image, Sofia is seen wearing a different colored dress than her in-game dress.ACR_Welcome_4.png
 * Concept art and early images of Sofia depict her with bright orange hair, while her in-game model show that she had a darker-colored hair.
 * However, her hair color in Embers is depicted as orange.
 * Sofia was born on the same year when Giovanni, Federico, and Petruccio Auditore were all executed.
 * Art Director Raphael Lacoste based her appearance on one of Albrecht Dürer's painting. Co-artist Jeff Simpson commented that Lacoste was very adamant about the idea.
 * Dürer's painting of Sofia can be seen hung on the living room wall of their villa in Embers. However, it appeared to be much larger compared to its size in Revelations.
 * Upon acquiring all obtainable books, there is a cutscene that can be initiated upon returning to Galata headquarters that involves Sofia coming to make a delivery, and asking Ezio about his "students."
 * Sofia would come to interest Ezio in literature, lending him arts of fiction and poetry, such as Dante's Inferno.