Gentle Benedetto was an altered representation of one of Claudio's genetic memories.
Intro[]
When Claudio was accepted into the Brotherhood, his Mentor gave him a precious rapier sheath so that he would never forget his origins and opinions. A few weeks ago while Claudio was controlling the comings and goings of a carnival troupe, the rapier sheath was stolen from him. Before he knew it, the troupe was gone and he never got his hands on it again.
Claudio's informants have just warned him that the carnival troupe has been spotted in the Cannaregio district. It is time to find what belongs to one of our own and teach a good lesson to those who think they can bother a member of the Brotherhood without consequence. Let's start by locating them...
Objective[]
Synchronize at the top of the Tower to reveal your target and then eliminate them.
Debrief[]
The bear has proven to be a worthy opponent! The sheath is back in the hands of its rightful owner and the town is rid of a band of crooks.
The animal seems to be grateful to us tor having freed him and Claudio is particularity moved by his fate.
Hearing the sound of chains being thrown into the canal, Claudio can't help but recall the noise of other chains...
The scorching sun hits the rowers like a swarm of glowing embers. Their moans are barely covered by the noise of the waves breaking over the ship's hull, before the deafening rattle of the chains that punctuate the slaves' efforts.
The copper, the one in charge of watching the rowers, howls the orders. Saliva frothing like a rabid dog. An-Nâsir is rowing. It feels to him as is he has rowed all his life. Yet, just a few months ago, he was free, rich and destined for a bright future as a spice merchant. Each and every moment he blames himself for not having been able to keep a low profile on that fateful day. The Templars have never forgiven him. He's always the one with the worst chores to do. He is always on the front rowing bench, the most difficult position. He has stopped counting the lashings and the times he was humiliated.
He is the first to see the tall mast on the horizon, the one called the main mast on battle galleys. He knows he will be punished if he does not say anything. He knows that he will be despised if he sounds the alarm. In resignation, he rows and discreetly watches the approaching ship for a sign of identification.
The whip that suddenly falls on him is not enough to make his wide smile disappear from his marked face. The copper has figured out that the man who will later choose to call himself Claudio noticed the crescent moon flag, but did not say anything.
The rowers, suddenly alerted by the cries of the Templars, slow their pace, despite the ragging. The ship, no doubt full of Mameluke pirates, inevitably catches up with them. Panic gradually grips the Order's meager crew, unable to force their slaves to row or even take up arms to defend them.
The impact was of a rare violence, as the collision turned into a ramming operation. The hull of the galley is fractured and their chains become a mortal danger to the slaves. Claudio feels the bite of metal on his wrists. He imagines the horror that may ensue when the fate of the galley is already sealed and he knows that it will end up at the bottom of the Mediterranean Sea.
The Mameluke grenadiers advance fearlessly, they move over the guard rail and walk along the spur to throw themselves against the few Templars who did not flee cowardly towards the stern. Claudio gets up, held in chains. He tries to free himself without success. The galley leans, the water rushes into the holds. He must free himself at all cost! The copper is struggling with a Mameluke. Seeing his end approaching, he's about to dive. Claudio narrowly catches him. The water is still rising. The screams of panic of the slaves still tied up echo in his ears like the cries of the miscreants at the gates of Al Jahim, the hell that is waiting for them.
Claudio can dither no more. He chokes the copper with al! the power his rower's arms can muster. In a matter of seconds, the copper loses consciousness, releasing the keys to the padlock that holds the slaves' chains.
He is safe and sound, but many have lost their lives, be them enemies or slave brothers. The noise of clanging chains will ring in his mind forever.