Desmond Miles leads the modern-day story in Assassin's Creed II.
Desmond is an Assassin descendant whose genetic memories are accessed through the Animus. In the modern sections, he works with Lucy Stillman and other allies while reliving the memories of Ezio Auditore da Firenze, an Italian Assassin active during the Renaissance. These sequences connect the historical adventure to the series' continuing conflict.
Assassin's Creed II was released in 2009 and follows Ezio across fifteenth-century Italy. The historical storyline visits Florence, Monteriggioni, Venice, and other locations while showing Ezio's transformation from nobleman to Assassin.
Desmond is sometimes confused with Ezio because both are central playable figures in the game. Desmond is the modern-day character, whereas Ezio is the historical protagonist experienced through the Animus. The modern sections continue into Brotherhood and Revelations.