Rouille
Rouille is a primary target within the Memory Sequence 6, Memory 1: The Estates General, specifically during the final assassination phase of this main story mission. This assassination takes place within the confines of the Sainte-Chapelle, a breathtaking Gothic chapel located on the Île de la Cité. Rouille, a corrupt nobleman and key conspirator, is heavily guarded, making a direct assault highly perilous. Success hinges on meticulous planning, environmental awareness, and leveraging the unique opportunities presented by the Sainte-Chapelle's intricate layout.
Assassination Opportunities & Approach
The Sainte-Chapelle offers several distinct approaches to eliminate Rouille, each catering to different playstyles. Stealth is paramount, as detection will significantly increase the difficulty and risk of failure. Consider your preferred method before initiating the assassination.
Opportunity 1: The Confession Booth Disguise (Stealth Focus)
This is arguably the most elegant and stealthy method to eliminate Rouille, allowing for a unique assassination animation.
- Location: The lower level of the Sainte-Chapelle, near the main entrance.
- Steps:
- Infiltrate the Lower Level: Enter the Sainte-Chapelle through a less-guarded entrance, perhaps a side door or by scaling the exterior to a window. Avoid the heavily guarded main entrance.
- Locate the Priest: A specific priest NPC patrols the lower level, often near the confessionals. He is marked with a unique icon when the opportunity is active.
- Incapacitate the Priest: Discreetly knock out or assassinate the priest. Ensure no guards witness this. Drag his body into a nearby hiding spot (e.g., a confessional or hay cart outside).
- Assume Disguise: Interact with the priest's body to don his robes. This will grant you temporary access to restricted areas without immediate suspicion.
- Approach Rouille: Rouille will eventually enter one of the confessionals on the lower level to confess. As the disguised priest, you can enter the adjacent confessional booth.
- Execute the Assassination: Once Rouille is in the confessional, a unique assassination prompt will appear. This results in a silent, cinematic kill.
- Pros: Extremely stealthy, unique assassination, low risk of detection if executed correctly.
- Cons: Requires careful timing and discreet handling of the priest.
Opportunity 2: The Sermon Distraction (Diversion Focus)
This method creates a large-scale diversion, scattering guards and creating openings.
- Location: The upper level of the Sainte-Chapelle, specifically the pulpit area.
- Steps:
- Access the Upper Level: Scale the exterior of the Sainte-Chapelle or use interior staircases to reach the upper level. Be wary of patrolling guards on the balconies.
- Locate the Bell/Chandelier Mechanism: Near the pulpit, there's often a mechanism or object that can be interacted with to cause a disturbance (e.g., ringing a bell loudly, sabotaging a chandelier).
- Trigger the Distraction: Interact with the mechanism. This will cause a significant commotion, drawing many guards away from their posts to investigate.
- Assassinate Rouille: While guards are distracted, Rouille will likely be exposed or his immediate vicinity will be less guarded. Use this window to perform a stealth assassination (e.g., air assassination from the upper rafters, stealth kill from cover).
- Pros: Creates a wide-area diversion, can be combined with other tactics.
- Cons: Can alert some guards to your presence, requires quick execution after the distraction.
Opportunity 3: Verticality and Environmental Kills (Freeform Stealth)
For players who prefer a less guided approach, the Sainte-Chapelle's architecture is a playground for stealth.
- Key Features:
- Rafters and Beams: The upper levels of the chapel are crisscrossed with beams and rafters, providing excellent vantage points for air assassinations or silent traversal above guards.
- Confessionals and Pillars: These offer abundant cover for stealth kills and hiding bodies.
- Stained Glass Windows: While beautiful, some windows can be used as entry/exit points or even for throwing objects to create minor distractions.
- Pews and Furniture: Provide cover and opportunities for quick stealth kills on patrolling guards.
- Strategy:
- Observe Patrol Routes: Spend time from a high vantage point observing Rouille's movements and the patrol patterns of his guards.
- Isolate Targets: Use Phantom Blades or Berserk Blades to thin out guards or draw them into isolated areas.
- Air Assassination: Rouille frequently moves through open areas on both levels. A well-timed air assassination from the rafters or a balcony is highly effective.
- Cover Assassination: Lure Rouille near a confessional or pillar, then perform a stealth kill from cover.
- Pros: High degree of player agency, rewarding for skilled stealth players.
- Cons: Can be riskier if not executed perfectly, requires good map knowledge.
Recommended Loadout & Skills
To maximize your chances of a successful and clean assassination, consider the following:
- Weapons:
- Phantom Blades: Essential for silently taking out isolated guards or creating small distractions. Carry a good supply.
- Berserk Blades: Excellent for causing chaos among groups of guards, making them attack each other and drawing attention away from your primary target.
- Smoke Bombs: Your best friend for escapes, repositioning, or creating a brief window for an assassination if detected.
- Long-range Rifle (Optional): For players who prefer a sniper approach, though less in line with the intended stealth opportunities.
- Gear:
- Prioritize gear that enhances Stealth and Detection Speed. Lowering your detection radius is crucial.
- Gear that boosts Phantom Blade capacity or Smoke Bomb duration can also be beneficial.
- Skills:
- Disguise: While not directly applicable to the Confession Booth opportunity, having a higher Disguise skill can help you blend in more effectively if you need to move through crowded areas.
- Lockpicking: Useful for accessing alternative entry points or chests within the chapel.
- Double Air Assassination: If Rouille is near another guard, this can be a swift way to eliminate both.
- Blend into Crowd: Crucial for escaping detection or moving past patrols.
Escape Plan
Once Rouille is eliminated, your priority shifts to escaping the Sainte-Chapelle and the surrounding restricted area. Plan your exit strategy before the assassination.
- Rooftop Escape: The most reliable method is to immediately scale the exterior of the chapel to the rooftops. From there, you can use the Parisian skyline to quickly get out of the restricted zone.
- Ground Level Exit: If you're on the ground, use smoke bombs to disorient pursuing guards and sprint towards the nearest exit, blending into crowds or using hay carts for cover.
- Underground Passages: Check your map for any nearby underground entrances. These can provide a quick and safe escape route from immediate pursuit.
Common Pitfalls & Tips
- Don't Rush: The Sainte-Chapelle is a complex environment. Take your time to observe guard patrols and Rouille's movements. Patience is key to a clean assassination.
- Body Disposal: Always hide bodies in confessionals, hay carts, or other designated hiding spots to prevent guards from being alerted.
- Eagle Vision: Use Eagle Vision frequently to highlight guards, Rouille, and interactive opportunities. This is your most valuable tool for planning.
- Environmental Hazards: Be aware of environmental hazards that can cause noise or draw attention, such as fragile objects or loose tiles.
- Synchronize Viewpoints: Ensure all nearby viewpoints are synchronized before starting the mission. This provides valuable map data and fast travel points for quick escapes if needed.
