Assassin’s Creed: Ascendance

The film opens with Ezio Auditore da Firenze assassinating the Templar Octavien de Valois in order to rescue Pantasilea Baglioni. This bold act demonstrates Ezio's willingness to risk everything for Pantasilea and marks the first direct strike against the Templar leadership. The assassination sets the stage for Ezio's pursuit of Cesare Borgia.

After the opening action, Ezio meets a hooded figure in the streets of Rome to gather intelligence on his next target, Cesare Borgia, the Captain General of the Papal Army. The encounter signals that Cesare's rise and influence are now the focus of Ezio's campaign. This meeting plants the seeds for a broader confrontation across Italy.

The hooded figure begins narrating Cesare Borgia's rise to power, starting in 1497, when his brother Juan is appointed Captain General and Cesare maneuvers into power while still a cardinal. He uses influence and a courtesan to instrumentalize a murder and seize his claim. This marks the early phase of a ruthless campaign to conquer Romagna.

Cesare's ascent is backed by Ramiro d'Orco, Oliverotto da Fermo, and Vitellozzo Vitelli, who lead his armies as he tightens his grip on the land and expands his reach. As his power grows, whispers of dissent begin to ripple through conquered territories, foreshadowing cracks in his carefully laid plans. Fear and brutality become tools of his rule.

Oliverotto da Fermo and Vitellozzo Vitelli grow uneasy and conspire to undermine Cesare's rule, sowing seeds of rebellion within his ranks. Their secret plotting signals the start of a protracted struggle to curb his tyranny.

In 1502, Cesare invites the rebel leaders to a dinner under the pretense of reconciliation. After the meal, he orders their execution through his assassin Micheletto Corella, removing Oliverotto and Vitellozzo and signaling his merciless determination to stay in power. This brutal purge cements his ruthless strategy to stay in power.

The killings deepen Cesare's reputation as a calculating, merciless leader who will stop at nothing to maintain control over Romagna and beyond. The consolidation of his power becomes even more concrete after the brutal purge.

Ezio, moved by the tale of Cesare's rise and ruthless purge, vows to kill Cesare and end his tyranny. This vow reframes his personal vendetta as part of a larger effort to liberate Rome.

After the vow, the hooded figure hands Ezio a scroll and heads to Castel Sant'Angelo, where he is revealed to be Leonardo da Vinci. The revelation broadens Ezio's horizon, introducing new allies and strategies beyond assassination. The moment shifts the chessboard for Ezio's mission.

Inside Castel Sant'Angelo, Leonardo confronts Cesare and urges him to continue developing war machines for his army. The scene underscores the crucial role of engineering and innovation in warfare during this era.

Ezio realizes that freeing Rome will require more than assassins—hearing Leonardo's potential and the importance of minds and talents allied with him deepens his strategic thinking for the campaign ahead. This expanded view reframes his mission and signals a broader coalition.

The narrative frames Ezio's mission as the beginning of a city-wide struggle and signals the impending events of Brotherhood, with power centers and minds aligned to resist Cesare. It sets the stage for a larger conflict that will define the next chapters of Ezio's story.