How much do you know about Tomb Raider II’s fanatical cult, the Fiamma Nera? Read on to dive into Tomb Raider I-III Remastered lore! 

In the early 20^th century, the Fiamma Nera – which translates to “Black Flame” in Italian – was run by one Gianni Bartoli. Gianni resided in a mansion in Via Caravelli, Venice, Italy. In addition to his criminal pursuits, Gianni had a flair for theater, and worked as a magician.  

Under Gianni’s guidance, the Fiamma Nera eagerly pursued power, specifically in searching for the fabled Dagger of Xian - they even adopted the symbol from the Temple of Xian entrance as their cult logo. As Lara would learn, Fiamma Nera cultists are ruthless in their pursuit of anyone who dares to stand in their way. 

To learn more about the Dagger’s origins, read our recent feature - Tomb Raider I-III Remastered Lore: Dagger of Xian.   

At some point, Gianni acquired an object called the Seraph. He discovered that the Seraph unlocked the catacombs of the Barkhang monastery in Tibet, which housed a sacred object protected by the monks for centuries, namely the Talion. The Talion was believed to be the key to the Temple of Xian in China, where it was rumored that the Dagger of Xian was hidden away. 

Before Gianni’s departure to claim the Talion, he confided in his son Marco, revealing his possession of the Seraph. Gianni said he was beckoned towards something greater and claimed he had reached enlightenment.  

The monks of the Barkhang monastery learned of Gianni’s possession of the Seraph and destroyed the ship he was traveling on, the Maria Doria. The ship sank somewhere in the Adriatic branch of the Mediterranean and Gianni was consigned to a watery grave. The Seraph vanished with him. 

Marco succeeded his father as Fiamma Nera's new leader, determined to complete his father’s quest by locating the wreck of Maria Doria and retrieving the Seraph. 

Lara and the Fiamma Nera first crossed paths at the Great Wall of China, where she was investigating the Dagger of Xian herself. A cult member named Claudio was prepared to drink poison to safeguard information that could open the Temple of Xian doors. Due to Claudio’s recklessness, Lara learns about Fiamma Nera’s location and sets off to Venice to investigate and uncover the temple’s key.  

Adventure with Lara Croft to investigate Fiamma Nera’s intentions in Tomb Raider I-III Remastered, available now!  

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