Paola

"I'm going to teach you how to survive."

- Paola, to Ezio

Paola was the leader of the Florentine Courtesans, and owner of La Rosa Colta. She was a member of the Assassins' Order, and sister to Annetta, an Auditore housemaid.

Biography
Paola lost both her parents, who were also Assassins, at the age of eight, when they were killed at sea. Left with a choice between joining a nunnery and prostitution, she began a life on the streets.

At sixteen, she vanished from the records, only to reappear four years later when she was arrested for murdering a city guard. Fortunately for her, Giovanni Auditore represented her in court, winning the case on a self defense plea, and would later reintroduce her to the Assassins. Released from prison, Paola went on to start her own brothel to protect many other unfortunate women of the street.

Paola took care of Giovanni's wife, Maria and daughter, Claudia, when Giovanni was executed for treason. She also assisted in the early training of Giovanni's son Ezio, by teaching him how to blend in with the crowd. She forwarded him to Leonardo da Vinci in order to repair his father's damaged hidden blade, starting the long friendship between the two men. After Ezio killed Uberto Alberti, Paola had him become incognito, and sent him and his family on their way. In 1488, after Ezio fought Rodrigo Borgia for possession of the Apple in Venice, she revealed herself as an Assassin; she was also present during Ezio's initiation into the Order.

During the Bonfire of the Vanities, Paola and La Volpe would rally the citizens into a mob to take a stand against Savonarola; although they only have one line of dialogue, but they do appear each time one of Savonarola's lieutenants in assassinated.

In 1499, Paola would travel to the Auditore Villa to help formulate the plan to assassinate Rodrigo Borgia. Her role was to help the others create a distraction while Ezio infiltrated the Sistine Chapel.