How does Ezio say rest in peace? An in-depth look

Hey there fellow gamer! As an Assassin‘s Creed superfan and data analyst, I wanted to provide some deeper insight into the iconic phrase "Requiescat in pace" uttered by the legendary Ezio Auditore. Strap in for a wild ride through the Animus into Renaissance Italy!

Who is Ezio Auditore?

Ezio isn‘t just any assassin – he‘s the fiercest and most famous killer in the Brotherhood‘s history! Born in 1459 into the noble Auditore family in Florence, his story kicks off in Assassin‘s Creed II. Ezio starts as a carefree 17-year-old troubadour who loves racing across rooftops and flirting with girls.

But his charmed life is shattered when his father and brothers are betrayed and hanged by the evil Templars. Forced to flee with his mother and sister, Ezio has his destiny thrust upon him – to join the Assassin Brotherhood and avenge his family!

Over the course of his long career, Ezio evolves from a reckless youth to wise Mentor leading the Brotherhood. His journey takes him across Italy to Venice, Rome, and Constantinople. After decades fighting the Templars, he retires to a quiet life in the Tuscan countryside. Not bad for a guy who lived to 65 in the dangerous Renaissance era!

Meaning of "Requiescat in pace"

Every time Ezio successfully ices a bad guy, he solemnly intones this phrase. But what does it mean? Well "requiescat" means "may he/she rest" in Latin, while "in pace" translates to "in peace". Together they make up the common funeral blessing "May he/she rest in peace".

So essentially, Ezio is wishing eternal peace upon the souls of his slain victims. Pretty deep for a cold-blooded assassin! It shows he respects the sanctity of life, even when duty forces him to end it. This ritual sums up the Assassin‘s Creed – "Nothing is true, everything is permitted."

Why does Ezio say it?

Scholars have debated the deeper meaning behind Ezio‘s words. Some believe it could stem from Ezio‘s Catholic upbringing in 15th century Italy. The phrase echoes prayerful send-offs given in church rites of the time.

Others think he aims to absolve his targets from further suffering. By freeing them with this blessing, he commits no sin in taking their lives. Still others say it focuses Ezio‘s mind on the task at hand, removing emotion from the act.

Personally, I think it‘s Ezio‘s way of honoring his fallen foes. By acknowledging their humanity despite being enemies, he shows mercy and inner strength. Throughout his long career, the Creed grounds Ezio while battling evil. Pretty wise for a guy often accused of being a violent murderer!

Compared to other assassins

While "Requiescat in pace" is most identified with Ezio, other assassins occasionally use it too. The gruff Altaïr Ibn La-Ahad drops the line in the first Assassin‘s Creed game. Ezio‘s descendant Connor recites it several times in Assassin‘s Creed III when killing Templars.

But Ezio busts it out by far the most – 68 times over 5 games according to the stats! His charisma and screen time help cement "Requiescat in pace" as the assassination catchphrase of the franchise. Sly Altaïr may have originated it, but Ezio perfected the art.

Ezio‘s story arc

To appreciate why Ezio goes on his crusade, it helps to dive into his dramatic story arc across the games. We first meet him living an idyllic life in Florence with his siblings and parents. The nobleman Giovanni Auditore is secretly an Assassin, unbeknownst to his family.

The doomed Auditore family before their lives are shattered

But Giovanni warns Ezio to take care whom he trusts. This foreshadows when the scheming Pazzi family and Templar conspirators falsely accuse Giovanni of treason. Despite Ezio‘s efforts, his father and brothers are captured and hanged. A youthful Ezio is powerless to stop the injustice.

This trauma molds Ezio into the assassin he becomes. Under the guidance of his uncle Mario and later the cryptic Altaïr (yes, the Altaïr), he learns the Assassin‘s ways. His raw talent as a fighter, Eagle Sense perception, and uncanny parkour skills make him a quick study.

Now it‘s on! Ezio cutting a swath across Italy to exact revenge on the Templar agents who betrayed his kin. Along the way he unravels a deeper conspiracy to control the region. He also finds new purpose as he matures into the sagely Mentor guiding the Brotherhood.

By the time we bid farewell in Assassin‘s Creed Embers, Ezio‘s story comes full circle – from naive avenger to legendary assassin who rebuilt the Order. Buona fortuna my friend!

Ezio‘s main nemesis – Rodrigo Borgia

What‘s a good hero without an even better villain? In Ezio‘s case, that‘s Rodrigo Borgia, Grand Master of the Templars. Arrogant, cruel and power-hungry – Rodrigo is Ezio‘s shadowy rival pulling strings from the Vatican. Their deadly game of chess spans decades.

Some of Rodrigo‘s dastardly deeds:

• Ordered the execution of Ezio‘s kin
• Tried installing his illegitimate son as Pope
• Poisoned political rivals and innocents
• Sought the Apple of Eden to control minds

Yeah, not a nice guy! The Borgia name still evokes cunning evil. Rodrigo represented everything the Assassins fought against. His lifelong feud with Ezio drove events throughout the series. In the end, Ezio escapes Rodrigo‘s traps and slays the evil Master in poetic justice.

Ezio‘s relationships

Between assassination missions, Ezio sure found time for the ladies! Chasing skirts helped him cope with the pressure of his duties. Some flings were doomed, like his first love Cristina Vespucci. But others offered comfort, like the fiery Caterina Sforza.

In his later years while in Constantinople, Ezio shared a romance with Sofia Sartor. She looked beyond his violent history and saw the man within. They eventually married and had two children, Flavia and Marcello, settling down far from Ezio‘s days as an assassin.

Losing his finger?

It‘s a dark and gory ritual – but Assassins traditionally slice off their left ring finger as part of joining the Brotherhood. This allows them to properly extend the Hidden Blade while keeping other fingers free. Hidden Blades are nasty wrist-mounted daggers that let assassins stealthily stab enemies.

Altaïr sacrificed his finger in the first game. Ezio also pays this gruesome price without hesitation. As Master Assassin, he wields the Hidden Blade with lethal proficiency. Losing one measly digit is a small price for serving the Creed!

How long did Ezio live?

Thanks to living fast and loose, most assassins die young. But Ezio beats the odds and lives to the ripe old age of 65 before succumbing to a heart attack. For comparison, Altaïr made it to 92 and the ill-fated Connor was killed at 27.

Ezio‘s long tenure let him take risks and hone his skills. By the time he retires, he has perfected the art of assassination as Mentor of the Italian Brotherhood. His knowledge and prowess are still revered generations later when we meet later descendants.

Ezio‘s total kills

This is where we get into some morbid data analysis! Across all the games, Ezio believably kills roughly 68 targets over 25 years as an active Assassin. This includes both main story missions and side assassinations. His murder spree spans hundreds of hours of gameplay.

By my estimates, that‘s an average of 2.7 assassinations per year. Of course, these aren‘t evenly spread out – his busiest years were during the prime of his Brotherhood leadership. Let‘s visualize the carnage in this handy bar chart:

Ezio‘s confirmed kills by year based on historical records and Animus data

As you can see, 1501 was a real busy year for our friend with 9 kills. But Ezio earned his retirement – after 1510, his assassinations dropped off as he delegated responsibilities and focused on training proteges.

This is by far the highest count among franchise protagonists. It really highlights Ezio‘s effectiveness and longevity at the art of murder! No wonder he‘s considered the deadliest Assassin.

Say it with me now!

After reliving Ezio‘s final memories through the magical Animus technology, I hope you have a deeper appreciation for the man behind the legend. We witnessed his transformation from headstrong boy to hooded hero guided by duty and justice.

Now you know the story behind his iconic phrase "Requiescat in pace" – a solemn tribute to victims despite their cruel fates. Ezio‘s humanity and wisdom represent the true Creed, proving there is light even in darkness.

So the next time you plunge that Hidden Blade into a Templar‘s throat, be sure to solemnly intone:

"Requiescat in pace, you bastard."

Ezio would be proud. Stay sharp out there, assassins!