By traversing them, he discovered more about the Followers, and obtained their scrolls, keys, and treasured set of armor. In the early 16th century, Ezio Auditore was able to enter all of the Followers' lairs. However, in truth, the equipment had belonged to Marcus Junius Brutus, and had only been entrusted to the Followers as an icon to worship. These keys would unlock the gate to the Followers' central shrine which held their cherished treasure, the unbreakable armor and dagger of Romulus. A single golden chest at the shrine's center held one of six scrolls of Romulus and a corresponding key. Įach lair contained a shrine dedicated to Romulus which was always decorated with wooden crosses, treasure, and skulls. The lairs could be accessed through locked grates hung with a wolf's skull, or through ladders hidden beneath circular trapdoors. The Followers occupied seven underground lairs, which could be found beneath famous landmarks in Rome. While investigating the ruins, he encountered a cluster of Followers and killed them when they became aware of his presence. Around 1506, the Italian Assassin Lo Sparviero visited the Roman Forum to eliminate the Borgia agents who had killed four of his brethren for stealing a chest containing the blueprints and prototype of the Crows' Hidden Blade replica, the "Corvix Blade". The cult still continued its activities, but was reduced to pockets of largely disorganized believers. With Rodrigo Borgia murdered, Lucrezia marrying Duke Alfonso d'Este and cutting all family ties, and Cesare under arrest in the Spanish fort of Castillo de la Mota, their control over the Followers was broken. īy 1503, the Borgia's power had collapsed. However, the masses of the Followers were misguided, as their leaders commanded them in the name of Romulus despite not believing in his mystical existence themselves. The Followers themselves were mainly used to cause fear in the civilians and send them into the arms of the Catholic Church, though later orders included having them specifically target the Borgia's enemies, the Assassins. The leaders of the sect were paid by the Borgia to manipulate the Followers into doing their bidding, and would often do so through carefully scripted "sermons" and evocations of their god. "This band of false pagans has been terrorizing the city for months and driving the people into the arms of the church." ―Niccolò Machiavelli to Ezio Auditore.