Ezio Auditore becomes an Assassin after his family is executed in Assassin's Creed II.
The game opens in Florence in 1476, where Ezio lives as a young nobleman. His life changes when his father and brothers are arrested and hanged as part of a conspiracy. Ezio escapes Florence and begins pursuing those responsible.
His revenge gradually becomes a wider commitment to the Assassin Brotherhood. Leonardo da Vinci helps him understand and use several pieces of advanced equipment, while figures such as Niccolò Machiavelli and Caterina Sforza become important to his journey.
Assassin's Creed II is set mainly in Renaissance Italy and visits Florence, Venice, Forlì, and Tuscany. It is distinct from the first game because it follows Ezio across several decades and forms the beginning of a trilogy centered on him.