Defense of Monteriggioni

The Defense of Monteriggioni was an event recorded in Assassin's Creed: Project Legacy. It is the third chapter of the Italian Wars Memory Sequence, and the Achievement unlocked by completing it is called "Commander." The chapter takes place in the city of Monteriggioni, Italy, in the year 1454, and follows Mario Auditore's efforts to keep Monteriggioni safe from the upcoming Florentine attack.

Resourceful
"The Fiorentini may strike at any time, but they will find us prepared!"

- Mario, regarding the defense of the city.

Knowing that Florence had long desired to conquer Monteriggioni, Mario began to build up the city defenses and stock, by first monitoring and assisting in the preparations. He aided several carpenters in strengthening the city's fortifications, as well as gathered resources alongside the farmers growing food inside the walls, and the miners in the mines outside of Monteriggioni.

People Skills
"Monteriggioni is nothing without her people..."

- Mario, regarding the workforce of the city.

Mario then got to know the citizens, discovering their skills and problems. He spoke and argued with the city courtesans on various topics such as astronomy and philosophy. He also assisted the smiths who were preparing the weapons for the armory, helping them with the forges and ensuring that the best equipment was available to his soldiers.

Additionally, he spoke to all the artists of the city, encouraging them to bring fame for Monteriggioni and learn from the small art gallery he had set up with help from his brother's connections in Firenze. He then left to train the soldiers, by giving tips and showing how to fight a battle, teaching them a wide variety of techniques, from how to disarm a soldier to fight with exotic weapons.

Finally, he received a visit from his Assassin brothers who bore news about the Templars, and provided him with a list of Assassination targets that would have a critical effect on the balance of power in the battle.

Defensive Measures
"We will rely on careful observations to craft a battle plan and make sure everyone moves according to it."

- Mario, regarding war strategies.

As the enemy drew ever nearer, Mario began to make plans for the defense of the Villa. He brought his men to visit the stables, knowing the importance of a trustworthy steed paired with its rider. He then taught these soldiers how to position themselves within the city walls and what to do if they detected any signs of trouble.

To stay prepared, Mario also sent spies to every corner of Italy, in order to discover any relevant information about the enemy's movements. He also reached out to the several small towns near Monteriggioni, promising protection within their own walls (though at the risk of spreading his own forces too thinly) in exchange for their military aid and resources.

Cleaning House
"Disorder grips Monteriggioni... This is not natural for our humble community; I suspect we are dealing with a skilled manipulator."

- Mario, regarding the internal conflicts of Monteriggioni.

Despite the efforts to unite and defend the city, unrest swelled within Monteriggioni, resulting in several rallies and cases of violence. Mario took to the streets, settling several conflicts between arguing families and winning over the hearts of thieves who had been sent to steal specific objects to encourage unrest.

As the situation calmed, he decided that the disturbance had been caused by an enemy manipulator, as their city was usually so peaceful. He then sent all his available agents to find him, and paid citizens for information. Amongst the many names mentioned, one was brought up several times: Luciano Pezzati.

Mario and his men surrounded the house of Luciano, and engaged in a fight with Luciano's men. Upon breaking through, they found Luciano himself waiting with a knife in hand, and Mario decided to face him alone. The two began to fight, skillful enough to avoid drawing blood even after several counters. Finally, Mario sliced the other's fingers, though not enough to disarm him, and he only received a deep cut in retaliation. Not slowed by the injury, Mario buried his dagger into his shoulder, forcing him to drop the knife, before knocking him out with a blow to the temple. He and his men then brought the spy back to the Villa Auditore for questioning.

Storm Warning
"Our captive has confirmed that the Fiorentini are moving an army towards Monteriggioni!"

- Mario, regarding the oncoming battle.

Discovering that an army of Florence, led by a powerful condottieri named Federico da Montefeltro, was heading towards them, Mario organized his men for battle.

He scattered his soldiers to areas where they were strongest, setting archers on the ramparts and guard towers, and sending both pikemen and cavalry onto the field to intercept and flank the oncoming army respectively. The first wave of Florentines was a contingent of horsemen, which were quickly cut down by the spears and lances.

After the first successful encounter, Mario spoke out before the men, encouraging them that Monterggioni had endured for 200 years, and that the only thing Florentines would find that day was death.

Weathering the Storm
"The enemy's front line stares down Monteriggioni! They seek surrender, but they will receive the opposite!"

- Mario, regarding the enemy attack.

The Florentines surrounded Monteriggioni and the battle began. At first, the archers on both sides opened fire, causing several casualties to both forces. Monteriggioni's heavy and light cavalries then retaliated by attacking in waves, driving forward and backward in quick succession; while a solid wall of pikemen kept back any soldiers that slipped past the horsemen.

The Florentine army then attempted to make use of two trebuchets to turn the tides, and Mario's soldiers hurried to destroy them before they broke through the city walls. Mario himself led the heavy cavalry to destroy the war machines, throwing oil and torches upon the mechanisms until they had burned to the ground.

Defeated, the attacking army drew back and returned to Firenze.

Under our Noses
"He was not here for Monteriggioni; he sought what lies beneath her. Something my ancestors hid."

- Mario, regarding the reason for the siege.

Upon further questioning, Luciano confessed that the attack had not been to claim Monteriggioni, but to find an artifact that had been hidden somewhere beneath its walls. Curious, Mario, along with the city architects and historians, began to look for evidence of its location. Searching the architecture of the church, as well as the Auditore family journals and records, they discovered that (for some unknown reason) an ancestor of Mario's had had the old well drained and more deeply excavated.

Searching the underground chamber, they found a hidden passage on a back wall. As they entered, however, they were met by several lethal traps, including near-invisible razor wire, tripwire arrows and swinging pendulums. All present were either maimed or killed, with Mario losing his left eye to the blade of one of the traps just as they reached the end of the pass.

The plain wooden box they found seemed to speak to them, promising that it would heal their wounds if they would but open it. Mario objected, thinking that the box's contents were dangerous, and his men attacked him in retaliation. Forced to kill those he had called friends, he then snatched up the box and hid it in the Villa, ignoring its demands for him to submit to it. He then waited for his brother to arrive to retrieve it, dismissing the artifact as the Brotherhood's problem.

Source

 * Assassin's Creed: Project Legacy - Chapter 3 - Mario Auditore