AC2: Understanding the Templar plot in Italy [Spoilers]

[Flavvy]

Hi there,

I'll start off by saying that the below contains spoiler to the game so be warned--obviously, I expect whoever answers to have finished the game and understand the story.

Basically, after playing the game paying particular attention to the story as well as doing some online research about the plot, I'm still left with some questions regarding the Templars' schemes in Italy, such as:

- How does Rodrigo Borgia manage to become Pope despite the fact that his attempts to put Templars in control of both Florence and Venice (arguably to gain political support) have been thwarted by Ezio? Or does it simply mean that these are unrelated, i.e. on the one hand Rodrigo works to spread Templar influence in Italy and on the other plans his own ascension as Pope?

The latter would be a bit disappointing since it would basically mean that all of Ezio's efforts in AC2 are essentially in vain.

- Silvio Barbarigo, upon dying, tells Ezio that the Venetian Conspiracy was "just a distraction" from their plans in Cyprus to get the Apple--why is a distraction even needed? To distract who? Surely not Ezio, since he wasn't even an Assassin at 17 when all this was put into motion by Rodrigo (i.e. that would mean the "distraction" was being put in place before there was anyone there to distract). To distract the Assassins in general (i.e. all other Assassins in the game, including his father before his death)?

- How exactly does Rodrigo become Pope? In the Lineage videos, it seems that Rodrigo has a very close relationship with the current Pope--does this mean that he simply betrays him/kills him to take his place? Is there any evidence of this in the game?

I hope someone can help me out. Thanks!

[BloodyMares]

I hope the reply would still be relevant.

The answer is...nobody really knows. Rodrigo becoming the Pope seems...contrived, to say the least. Like it happened simply because it happened in history. They don't explain how he did that, only why. I think these events are unrelated. I guess contolling things is just a hobby for Templars, judging by the lore. Even in AC1 Lucy says that Templars want to control everything so they can force Peace onto everyone.


As for the Venetian Conspiracy...Maybe it was explained better in a novel but certainly not in the game. The whole Venice sequence was just a waste of Ezio's time really because his vengence ended on the Pazzi family and he only needed to kill Rodrigo to truly avenge his father. Instead he got to kill people from his list (to continue father's work I guess). There is no plot advancement in Venice. You help the Thieves (who's leader turns out to be an assassin but requres Ezio to do everything) to prevent Templars from taking over and Ezio kills some of them. But it's unknown why they did all that. Apparently it was a distraction for Giovanni Auditore and other assassins...But I really don't see a point in this. How Pazzi running the Florence would've helped Rodrigo's cause? How Venice takeover would've helped Rodrigo's cause? It feels like these events happen simply because they happened in real life and the developers just didn't know how to explain them within their setting.

For the massive amount of time the game takes to complete there is very little plot. It only happened in the first 4 sequences (where Mario tells there is a hidden message in the codex pages about the Prophet) and then almost near the end of the game where it is revealed that Templars want the Apple and Rodrigo wants the Papal Staff to reach the Vault. So I really don't understand why this game is considered the best in the series. I guess it's fun if you simply turn your brain off and not try to make sense of everything that happens.

[Abraham Simpson]

you right

[Flavvy]

Thanks for the comments! It's a shame there isn't a bit of a stronger link between the plot and historical events, as you say.