Assassin's Creed II/Sequence 13: Bonfire of the Vanities

In this sequence you find that Girolamo Savonarola has infiltrated your home city of Florence and is attempting to take it over. His brand of religious zeal includes forcing the populace to burn objects of sin, cutting off travel and food, and instituting long prayer sessions for penance. He has used the Apple of Eden to sway the minds of nine lieutenants, who control different sections of the city. To restore peace and regain the Apple, you'll need to take out his henchmen before getting to him.

New to this DNA sequence is the opening of a new district across the river to the south, including seven more viewpoints, and the introduction of springboards that allow you to fling yourself across great distances. The springboards look like short metal rods, marked with maroon drapery, sticking out from the sides or corners of buildings. To use them, simply run out along them to fly a good distance in the direction the springboard is pointing.

Version differences
For the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, this DNA sequence must be downloaded separately to be played. If you finish the game before getting this DLC, you will go straight to Sequence 14 from Sequence 11 or Sequence 12. If you already have the DLC installed, you must complete it before moving on, just like any other sequence. If you don't have the DLC, the in-game reason for its absence is due to a corrupted data stream, though Shaun will give you some info on what went on during the missing years. When you install the DLC after having already completed the game, Rebecca will inform you that she's repaired the DNA sequence.

There are two versions of the DLC available – one has just the DNA sequence and the other also includes the three Templar lairs that can only otherwise be acquired by purchasing the Black or Master Assassin's editions of the game. Although the Windows version comes with both Sequence 12 and this one as part of the basic game, only the Black edition also includes the Templar lairs.

Florentine fiasco
Machiavelli is waiting for you on the eastern bridge in the south part of the city, but first you have to get through the line of guards at the gate into the city. In a nod to the first game, blend with a group of monks heading into the city to pass by them unnoticed to the marker inside. You are notorious, so you'll want to avoid being seen by the city guards. They're busy fighting, so it shouldn't be hard to get away from them if you are spotted. Once you're through the gate, head south and run along the inside of the city wall to the other end, which will keep you away from guards or let them be drawn into one of the armed conflicts if they were chasing you. Keeping your eye on the minimap, head west along the south end of the district through the streets to the bridge. Climb up to the roof of the building adjacent to the bridge, and you'll be able to jump down to it and head over to Machiavelli on the other end.
 * Memory start: Enter the white marker outside the eastern gate in Florence, on the road to the mountains.
 * Reward: 1,000ƒ

The last part of the mission is where you follow Machiavelli through the new Oltrarno district as he fills you in on current affairs within the city. Once you get to the pile of bodies and learn that they are Borgia's men, he will follow you to the next objective to the southwest. There are a lot of guards on the way, but whether they attack is keyed off of your alert status, so as long as you stay anonymous, no one will bother your small group. You have to be anonymous to enter the white marker to end the memory, so finish any fights that you are your allies are still engaged in.

Moving on
See X marks the spot at the beginning of Sequence 14 for the requirements to progress to the final DNA sequence.