Claudio (Assassin)

This article is about the Italian Assassin. You may be looking for the Venetian thief.

Claudio
Biographical information
Born	1479
Species	Human
Political information
Affiliations	Assassins Italian Brotherhood

Claudio (born 1479), formerly known as An-Nâsir, was a member of the Italian Brotherhood of Assassins in Venice during the Renaissance.

Biography

Early life

Born in 1479 as the son of a spice merchant, An-Nâsir began his life in a world saturated with fragrances and flavors. Venturing to Venice at the age of twenty, his arrival was marred by the misfortune of being mistaken for a slave, leading to numerous pursuits. These challenges molded his resilience, instilling a deep determination to navigate a world rife with prejudice and misconceptions.

Enslaved by the Templars

Having only lasted a few months in Venice, An-Nâsir was captured by Templars and loaded onto slave ship. Under the scorching sun, rowers toil amidst the relentless waves and rattling chains on the slave galley. An-Nâsir endured the hardships of captivity, haunted by regret and lashings. Spotting an approaching ship, he wrestled with the moral dilemma of sounding the alarm. The collision with Mameluke pirates was brutal, and chaos ensued. In the turmoil, An-Nâsir seized a moment of rebellion. Despite the mayhem, he orchestrated the overthrow of the copper overseer, unlocking the slaves' chains. Amidst the carnage, he grappled with the consequences of survival, haunted by the echoing screams of panic and clanging chains that reverberated in his mind. In a moment of determination, An-Nâsir renounced his birthname and renamed himself Claudio.

Joining the Assassins

Claudio would later be recruited by the Assassin Brotherhood. Upon his initiation, his Mentor gifted him with a rapier sheath, as to not forget where he came from. Successfully infiltrating the intricate web of Venetian aristocracy, he honed his innate seductive charm. Nearly ten years later, he embodied the epitome of a born seducer with dark skin, well-groomed short hair, and an impeccably trimmed beard. His seemingly casual attire concealed a subtle opulence, reflecting the duality of his life in the shadows.

Siege of Viana

Claudio and his team infiltrated the Viana Castle while it was under siege

In March 1507, Claudio and his team consisting of; Alessandra d'Avanzago, Dariâ, and Bastiano da Mezzo, accompanied Mentor Ezio Auditore da Firenze to Navarre, during his hunt for Cesare Borgia. Their team was personally picked by their Mentor, Bastiano and the others considered it a great honor. While Cesare was laying siege to the castle, the team of Assassins created a diversion and managed to distract the Templars long enough for their Mentor to enter the fortress. In the process however, the team were caught and imprisoned. Luckily they were able to send a carrier pigeon away to notify their allies of their predicament, sending for help. The four Assassins were then rescued by a group of fledgling Assassin Apprentices. Freed, they were then able to put into action the next part of their plan, disabling the pistol of Cesare Borgia.

Under the cover of darkness, while the castle was being overwhelmed by Cesare's forces, the team of Assassins snuck inside. Making their way to the weapons room they successfully sabotaged the pistol, allowing Ezio to approach Cesare without risk. One of the Apprentices also retrieved their confiscated Hidden Blades for them also which they took and equipped, bar Claudio whom preferred the single use of his rapier. While Ezio was facing off against Cesare, the team helped themselves to Cesare's personal effects and weapons, depriving the Templars of precious resources. After looting the place they came outside to witness Ezio dropping Cesare from the castle battlements.

Brotherhood of Venice

Founding the Venetian branch

Claudio and the founding members of the Venetian branch

Following the events of the siege, Ezio returned to Rome to focus on his Mentor duties, and Claudio and his companions were instructed to head to Venice to take over a recently abandoned Templar stronghold to strengthen their influence in the city for further operations. Unknown to the team, the Templar informant that told them about the base led them into a trap. The Templars had booby-trapped the entrance, triggering a collapse around the Assassins. Unknown to the Templars, the group survived and decided to rebuild the base under their nose. By 1509, they had fully repurposed the old Templar stronghold into a usable headquarters for their branch.

Investigating the Doge

Their first new mission was given to them straight from their ally Pope Julius II, to investigate Leonardo Loredan, another ally of the Brotherhood. There had been misgivings about his allegiance, the truth of the matter was hidden within the vault room of the Palazzo Ducale di Venezia in an encrypted document. The team of Assassins managed to steal both the vault room keys and a cipher used by Loredan to decode his messages from his residence. They then set about finding the secret room of the Palazzo, but not before Ezio summoned them and gifted them with a Auditore family relic as show of gratitude for their service.

At dusk, they infiltrated the Palazzo splitting up into groups of two. One group to retrieve the safe combination and send it via carrier pigeon to the other, and a second group to find the vault room and await the combination. Eventually they discovered that the Doge was being blackmailed by the Templars who were holding one of his daughters hostage. He was being forced to fight against the Pope and the Assassins, a situation Bastiano and the others sought to rectify. After identifying the blackmailer, the Assassins were led on a wild chase after he disguised two of his men as himself. Ultimately he was tracked down and assassinated, freeing the Doge and his daughter.

Protecting Leonardo da Vinci

Needing to upgrade their base of operations, the team were recommended by their Mentor to seek out Leonardo da Vinci who was visiting Venice. Da Vinci however had gone into hiding after the City Guard wanted to use him to make war machines. In order to get to da Vinci the Assassins enlisted the help of his apprentice, Salaì. Unfortunately, Salaì had been captured and interrogated by the City Guard for which the Assassins quickly dealt with and freed Salaì. Via contact from a Brotherhood emissary, the Doge has promised that da Vinci will be left alone. A promise that was not his to make, as the City Guard was taken under the control of Niccolò di Pitigliano, a Templar-allied condottiere. The Assassins were able to extract da Vinci and his defensive tank out to their headquarters, while Pitigliano's forces overran his workshop. Claudio and his companions planned to use the tank to fight back against the growing threat of the Venetian Navy.

After Pitigliano's forces took control of the navy, the Assassins discovered they had gained an experimental weapon―a naval cannon. Using Leonardo's tank the team were able to neutralize and recover the naval cannon for an upgrade to the tank. Trying to negotiate a ceasefire with Pitigliano the Assassins were appalled that he demanded a high price. On the suggestion of Ezio they enlisted the help of Niccolò Machiavelli to act as a go between. With Machiavelli's help they concocted a plan to steal the condottiere's own funds to pay him. A plan that was successful setting the stage for a meeting with Pitigliano. With Machiavelli's support the Venetian Assassins were able to strengthen their headquarters with the addition of Machiavelli's wheeled pistol.

The Staff of Eden

Retrieving the Staff

Pitigliano had agreed to an audience with the Assassins but had refused to tell his men to stand down. Claudio and his team stealthily eliminated the alert before meeting with him. Pitigliano then promised to put a stop to the actions of his brutes against them and the Headquarters. During the meeting, the group overheard Pitigliano speaking with a Templar messenger about locating an artifact of great value. Informed by Ezio that said artifact could be a Piece of Eden, the team set about intercepting the messenger. Alessandra gave chase and the messenger was assassinated. Confirming Ezio's suspicions, the artifact was a Staff of Eden, the group had one clue, a doctor in the San Polo District.

The doctor they were searching for was last seen around the Ponte delle Guglie, unfortunately he had been warned and was awaiting them. The Assassins poisoned the doctor and threatened him with the antidote to give them information on the Staff. Revealing the Staff was possibly hidden near the Lion of Venice statue in Piazza di San Marco. The Assassins then convinced the doctor of their goals and he joined them at their headquarters.

Remaining as discreet as possible, the Assassins looked around the plaza for any sign of the Staff. Alessandra investigated an underground entrance, while the others investigated a hidden door, and a votive alcove near the canal, the Assassins turned up empty handed. After getting a higher viewpoint, the Assassins located and secured the Staff. Aware that the Templars would not stop at nothing to retrieve it and enact their master plan, the Assassins took it to their headquarters.

Protecting the Staff

As expected, the Templars launched an attack from Rome sending an elite unit of mounted guards. Carrying out a strategic defense from their Headquarters, the members of the Venetian branch successfully defended their base and repelled the invaders. Determined to teach the guards a lesson, the Assassins trapped the remaining soldiers in the shipyard of the Venice arsenal and eliminated them all, sending a message to others who wished to do the same.

With the location of their stronghold compromised, the Assassins ascertained there was either a traitor in their midst, or an strong Templar informant. The latter proved true, when they discovered the culprit was one of the last remaining member of the Crows, a group of Assassin hunters thought to be dissolved some years ago. The Crow had disguised himself as Pestilence, one of the four Horsemen of the Apocalypse according to biblical writings, leading the Assassins to use it as a clue to search for possible accomplices.

Cornered by Templars on every side determined to steal the Staff, the Assassins met with Ezio in an abandoned palace to entrust the Staff to. Of which they able to, after a drawn out fight with Templar forces, the Staff was given to Ezio who in turn placed it underneath the Colosseum Vault for safe-keeping. With their headquarters safe, the team of Assassins were informed by their Mentor of his impeding trip to Constantinople. The Venetian Assassins were then free admire the new sense of peace over their city.

Personality and traits

Claudio, possessed a resilient spirit forged in the crucible of enslavement and rebellion. Driven by a deep sense of survival and justice, he defied the oppressive chains of the Templars' galley and orchestrated a daring escape during a clash with Mameluke pirates. His resourcefulness and determination, evidenced by the overthrow of the copper overseer, showcased a shrewd and adaptable nature. Despite the scars of his past, Claudio's actions reflected a commitment to freedom and a willingness to confront the brutality of his circumstances head-on.

Skills and equipment

Claudio wore loose fitting clothes with Assassin insignia motifs incorporated in. From the months he spent as a galley slave, Claudio excels in rowing, demonstrating remarkable strength and endurance. His survival instincts, honed through adversity, make him adept at evading detection and navigating hostile environments. Claudio's proficiency extends to hand-to-hand combat, utilizing both improvised weaponry and his raw strength. Additionally, his resourcefulness allows him to swiftly assess and exploit opportunities for escape or sabotage, reflecting a keen strategic mind. He was also adept at using his weapon of choice, the rapier, as his only weapon. Being different from the norm for Assassins and did not possess a Hidden Blade.

Behind the scenes

Claudio is a character created for the tabletop board game, Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood of Venice.

Etymology

His adopted name Claudio is an Italian variation of the Roman nomen Claudius, derived from the Latin claudus "lame." His birth name, An-Nâsir is an Arabic laqab. An- is an alternative romanization of al- (ال) "the", and Nasir (ناصر) "helper" or "one who gives victory."

Gallery

Promotional Art

Appearances

• Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood of Venice