- "Our enemies believe our Creed to be naive, or unsustainable. In fact, I have learned it is quite the opposite. Nothing is absolute in this world, including a world ruled by our enemies. What is absolute, is that we are capable of growth - both mental and spiritual. And through our continued growth is how we find peace within ourselves and through each other. But to do this, we must be allowed to retain our individuality, our free thought."
- ―Lonan Kavanagh, 1604
| Arthur Kavanagh | |
|---|---|
| |
| Biographical information | |
| Born |
12 June 1558 |
| Died |
3 June 1615 (aged 56) |
| Political information | |
| Affiliations |
British Assassins (1577 - death) |
| Real-world information | |
| Appears in | |
Arthur Liam Kavanagh (1558 - 1615) was an Irish Master Assassin of the British Brotherhood of Assassins operating during Queen Elizabeth I's reign. He was the father of the English Templar Lonan Kavanagh and grandfather of the English-Japanese Assassin Takao Hayato.
In 1581, Arthur uncovered the existence of the Preservers of Humanity that opposed both the Assassins and Templar Order. Kavanagh's interaction with this group would have a ripple effect, reaching all the way into the modern day when his descendant Jin Chen was sought after by all three groups, looking to access Arthur's genetic memories.
Arthur was killed during the final battle of the Siege of Osaka, betrayed by the Assassin Ito Ichiro - who secretly served the Preservers of Humanity.
Biography[]
Early life[]
Youth in Waterford[]
Arthur was born in Waterford, Ireland to Finn and Katherine Kavanagh, their second child of three. Hailing from a lower-class family Arthur's father worked as a fisherman and Arthur was intended to follow in his footsteps, however fate would have other plans for the young Kavanagh.
At the age of eight, Arthur befriended a noble boy named James O'Connor and the two became inseperable. However, O'Connor's father caught wind of their friendship and detested the idea of his son associating with a commoner, forbidding their friendship. Arthur's treatment at the hands of O'Connor's father and friendship with his son planted the first seeds in Arthur's desire for equality and freedom. Despite this though, James still met with Arthur in secret and their friendship continued.
James O'Connor's death[]
A young Arthur pressured into exploring the cave
In 1570, tragedy struck when the two boys were exploring a cave near the coast during the middle of a thunderstorm. Arthur was apprehensive of doing this, aware of the danger it posed, however James insisted and managed to convince Arthur to explore the cave with him. The rain continued, eventually flooding the cave and trapping the boys inside. Arthur was able to escape and attempted to help, however he was unsuccessful and James eventually drowned.
Arthur returned home distraught and informed his parents of what happened. Realising that James' father would no doubt blame Arthur for his son's death and punish him for it or worse, Finn promptly moved the family out of Ireland so they wouldn't be tracked by O'Connor's father, moving them to Whitby in North Yorkshire, England.
Kavanagh execution[]
James' death would have a lasting impact on Arthur for the remainder of his life, manifesting in drinking, violent tendencies and sleeping around with other women. By 19, Arthur was also working as a fisherman alongside James and his eldest brother Tom to help support his family. During this time, Arthur's desire for equality was further reinforced as he bore witness to the injustice of the working class at the hands of the higher ups - having all his hard work rewarded with table scraps and his employers reaping the most.
Arthur in 1577.
On one of his frequent visits to the tavern following a day's work, Arthur was kicked out from having too much to drink and initiating a brawl within the tavern. After drunkenly making his way home, Arthur came to see his home on fire and his family murdered by a group of masked assailants. Enraged at the sight of his father's, mother's, brother's and younger sister's bodies, he attacked his family's killers but was quickly overwhelmed and brutally beaten. The leader of the attackers revealed his identity to Arthur as James' father, who had spent the last 7 years tracking him down, blaming Arthur for his son's death. James' father also blames Arthur for the death of the Kavanagh family, stating that it was simply an eye for an eye.
O'Connor revealed his plan to not kill Arthur immediately, and return him to Ireland where he planned to torture him horrendeously before finally killing him. Arthur is then knocked out when O'Connor stomps on his face.
Becoming an Assassin[]
- Arthur: "What am I supposed to do? I don't even know how to stomach working for men with more than enough money, without a family to support."
- Aleria: "You may not have to."
- ―Arthur and Aleria, 1577
Waking up a few days later, Arthur found himself in an undisclosed location and believed himself to be back in Ireland ready to be torutred by O'Connor. However, he was met by a woman named Aleria Sinclair who revealed to him that he was in London and that she rescued him from O'Connor, killing him, adding that she had spent the last few days tending to his wounds. Arthur immediately breaks down upon the realisation that his family had been murdered, Aleria tried to comfort him but to no avail, however he thanked her for rescuing him and killing O'Connor, as well as making sure he was okay.
Once more, Arthur deflates at the fact that his family is gone and he didn't know how to go on, being unable to stomach working for rich men without a family to support. Moved by his plight, as well as curious toward his worldview, Aleria told Arthur to meet her at Westminster Abbey within a day before leaving him.
Deliberating on her words and with nothing else left to lose, Arthur met her at the church a day later. There, she led him inside where Arthur began to see strange glyth plastered all over the walls with his Eagle Vision, notifying Aleria of the strange markings. After hearing this Aleria is convinced more than ever and reveals to him her status as an Assassin and the nature of their organisation, secretly dedicated to ensuring the freewill and equality of man. Aleria then explains to Arthur of the Templars, and their fight against them, revealing to Arthur that O'Connor was a Templar and that she was assigned to assassinate him when she came upon Arthur.
The Assassin then activates a hidden entrance within the church, ushering Arthur to follow inside, revealing to him the location of the Assassin's headquarters in England. Arthur expressed his interest in joining the Brotherhood, having experienced inequality his entire life and wanting to prevent the Templars from hurting others like they did his family. Finally, Aleria introduces Arthur to the Mentor of the British Brotherhood, William Abbot. William shows his interest in Aleria bringing in a potential recruit with Aleria revealing to William that he possessed Eagle Vision.
Following their meeting, Arthur expressed his desire to join the Brotherhood. Interested in Arthur's motivations and skills, William authorised Arthur to undertake the 'Eagle Path'. During the induction ceremony, Arthur drank in a chalice containing a hallucinogenic brewage. Seeing visions of his life, Arthur experienced once again the deaths of James O'Connor and his family killed by a singular hooded figure. Tracking down the individual, Arthur killed the hooded man only to find it was himself. Coming to terms with his guilt and essentially killing his former self, Arthur awakens from the hallucination - William gifts Arthur with a Hidden Blade, explaining that he had now been reborn as a member of the Assassin Brotherhood.
Following this, Aleria was assigned to train Arthur and the two eventually developed a romantic relationship.
Investigating the Preservers of Humanity[]
First encounter[]
In 1581, Arthur was tasked with locating and assassinating the high ranking Templar Henry Wriothesley in Hampshire. Having tracked him down, Arthur followed him beneath the All Saints Church and entered a temple located beneath the church. Biding his time, waiting for the opportunity to assassinate the Templar, Arthur witnessed Wriothesley recover a Piece of Eden appearing as a shield, upon seeing this Arthur assassinates Wriothesley from above and kills his guards.
Arthur gives Wriothesley his final rights who condemns the Assassin for meddling in matters he doesn't understand, while Arthur argues that he'll do whatever it takes to keep the Pieces of Eden out of Templar hands. Wriothesley remarks that this is bigger than the Assassins and Templars before finally dying. Arthur makes his way over to the shield, picking it up and examining it before his attention is drawn to another group that make their presence known.
The group demands that Arthur hand over the shield, refusing, the Assassin refers to the group as Templars but they correct him, stating they are not affiliated with the Templars. Arthur asks what they want with the Piece of Eden but the leader of the group refuses to answer, threatening to kill him if he has to ask for the shield again. The Assassin remains committed to not handing over the shield and engages in a skirmish, killing all but one. Arthur briefly fights the leader but is handily defeated when he is thrown from the temple. Arthur is forced to flee, leaving the shield behind and he navigates his way through the underground caves of the All Saints Church to escape.
Returning to London a day later, Arthur makes his way to the Assassin hideout and informs the Mentor, William Abbot of what transpired in Hampshire. Curious about the group that attacked him, William assigns Arthur to investigate this group further. Following this meeting, Arthur reunites with Aleria who has returned from her own mission assassinating Hubert Languet in France.
The couple head to the top of the Abbey where Arthur reveals to her of the group he encountered in the All Saints Church. Aleria expresses her interest in investigating this group however Arthur declines, feeling guilt that he lost the Piece of Eden and stating its his responsiblity to recover it. Aleria acknowledges this and respects his wishes, offering her help whenever he needs it. She then flashes Arthur with a sultry look indicating for him to follow her before performing a Leap of Faith off of the rooftop of the Abbey. Following suit, Arthur also performs a Leap of Faith.
Learning their name[]
Arthur learns that a Templar, Edmund Campion, is currently in prison and set to be executed for treason. As well as this, Arthur believes that he may have a lead on the group he is investigating. On 21 November, Arthur sneaks into the Tower of London and makes his way to Campion's cell, Little Ease, and interrogates Campion. Initially, Campion refuses to give any information to the Assassin but is reminded he's going to die anyway. Campion reluctantly reveals to Arthur that he had been framed of treason, Arthur deduces that this was the Secret Organisation's doing which Campion confirms.
Arthur asks who they are with Campion revealing that he'd been investigating them and learned of their name - the Preservers of Humanity. Campion then tells Arthur that he was framed by them when he got too close to figuring out their ultimate goals.
Following this, Campion calls for the guards telling Arthur that killing Assassin before parting this world was too good to pass up. Following this, the guards arrive and Arthur is forced to fight his way out of the White Tower. Freerunning his way to the top of the outer war, Arthur escapes by performing a Leap of Faith into a pile of hay and flees into the night.
On 1 December 1581, Arthur is present at Campion's execution in Tyburn, perched from above. As the hanging is about to take place, Arthur uses his Eagle Vision to locate any potential members of the Preservers in attendance. After a few minutes of scouring, he manages to locate a member of the secret group. A familiar looking man with red hair and soon after the execution was over, Arthur stealthily tailed the man and overheard his plan of travelling to Mantua, Italy in order to spread the influence of the Preservers.
Learning of this, Arthur returns to the Abbey and informs Abbot of what he discovered. After hearing this, Abbot praises Arthur for discovering this information and tells him to continue his investigation, allowing him to travel to Italy. As well as this, Abbot tells him to locate a fellow Assassin James Crichton - who was currently trying to ally the Assassins with the Duke of Muntua.
Search in Italy[]
While in Italy, Arthur regularly wrote letters to Aleria every month updating her on his time in Italy. During his time there, Arthur allied with Crichton and the two became fast friends. As well as this, they learned that the Preservers oppose both the Assassins and Templars but aim to remain a hidden organisation, even from the two groups, and through this - they kill anyone who grows too close to discovering them or their goals. Arthur is still unaware of what their true goals are or why they oppose the Assassins and Templars, he writes that he is determined to find out.
On 3 July 1582, Arthur delivers another letter addressed to Aleria to a courier. While on his way back to his dwelling, he is attacked and deduces that it is a member of the Preservers, he repels his attacker and neutralises him. Before dying, his attacker mocks him and states that while he saved his self, he would not be able to rescue Crichton. Hearing this, Arthur rushes to the dwelling of Crichton's lover, knowing he spent most nights there. He discovers that Crichton has already left, forcing Arthur to make his way over to his friend's home.
On his way there, he hears the sound of swords clashing - following this sound, he finds Crichton in intense combat with masked attackers. Arthur immediately, joins in, aiding his friend fight off his attackers. The two fight valiantly, killing Crichton's attackers. However, the leader Arthur encountered in the All Saints Church enters the skirmish and engages Arthur and Crichton, aiding the last remaining masked attacker in the process. Arthur is once more bested by the Preserver he encountered at the Church months prior, Ewan.
Badly beaten from his fight with Ewan, Arthur is forced to watch helplessly as Crichton is killed by Prince Vincenzo Gonzaga, Crichton's rival now allying himself with the Preservers. Shortly before passing out from his injuries, Arthur hears Ewan order Gonzaga to leave Arthur alive as 'the Lord' wishes to speak with him.
Imprisoned[]
Some time later, Arthur wakes up in a dungeon cell stripped of his robes and equipment. Upon waking up, the same red-haired man from Campion's execution arrives with Ewan. The man orders Ewan to wait outside the cell, Arthur can't help but find the man so familiar. Not revealing himself yet, the redhead man expresses delight at having captured Arthur specifically, having longed to kill him for many years. It then all clicks, Arthur realises that the man standing before him is an O'Connor. Confirming this, the man reveals himself as Kieran O'Connor - James O'Connor's younger brother.
Kieran blames Arthur for James' death believing if James hadn't associated with "commoners" like Arthur, then he'd still be alive. Kieran also reveals that his father was a Templar and that he and James were supposed to follow in his footsteps. Noticing the Templar cross that he is carrying, Arthur questions if he is a Preserver or a Templar. Kieran admits that he is both, however his true loyalties lie with the Preservers. He explains that he hated the Assassins for killing his father and he is disinterested with the Templars' goal of forced peace through control.
Kieran expresses that he disagrees with both the Assassins and Templars, calling them meddlesome and incapabale of leaving well enough alone. Arthur reminds Kieran that the Assassin protect freewill with Kieran wrongly believing that the Assassins invite anarchy. Kieran continues and tells Arthur that the Preservers simply act to oppose both the Assassins and Templars, fighting to leave humanity to its own devices.
Following this, Arthur asks why they were looking for the Shield but Kieran denies him an answer. Confused, Arthur asks why he would tell him all of this but not what the Preservers want with the Shield. Kieran gleefully tells Arthur that he wanted the Assassin to know about the existence of the Preservers but die with the knowledge he won't be able to tell the Assassins. It is then revealed by Kieran that Arthur is to be sent to trial for the murder of James Crichton as well as a plot to assassinate Prince Vincezo Gonzaga, with the story that Crichton died defending Gonzago from Arthur.
Escape[]
Arthur would spend the next 6 months in a dungeon where he was tortured and interrogated, repeatedly questioned regarding the "assassination plot" while he waited to go to trial. A few days before his trial in January 1583, he hears the guard outside of his cell killed. Aleria and a small group of other Assassins reveal themselves to Arthur, there to free him. The two embrace and he asks her how she found him, Aleria explains that after he hadn't sent more letters she noticed something was wrong and came to Italy to investigate. Eventually, she found out he was imprisoned and came to rescue him. Handing him two of his Hidden Blades, Arthur escapes with Aleria and the other Assassins.
Continuing the search[]
2 years later, Arthur has made a full recovery and has since cleared his name of both Crichton's death and plotting to assassinate Gonzago, thanks to the help of Queen Elizabeth I, an Assassin ally. Arthur has resumed his investigation into the Preservers of Humanity. Following his debrief to William Abbot, William has since made it a high priority to find any traces of the Preservers and assassinate any of its members. During this time, Arthur has caught wind that English lawyer Edmund Plowden is a member of the Templars and a Preserver spy.
Tracking Plowden down to his home in London, at nightfall Arthur sneaks his way into Plowdon's home and reaches his chambers. There he restrains a sleeping Plowden in his bed, waking him up he demands answers but instead of providing him with any, Plowdon calls for guards before managing to kick Arthur off of the bed. However, before Arthur can restrain Plowden, his guards arrive.
Arthur is forced to fight them off while Plowden flees in the chaos. Dispatching the guards quickly, Arthur gives chase to Plowden who he can see escaping into the streets from the bedroom window. Noticing a hay pile below, Arthur performs a Leap of Faith into the hay pile and chases after Plowden. Finally catching up to him, Arthur pounces on him before assassinating him. Due to his age, Plowden dies instantly and Arthur is unable to question him - however, he finds a letter on his person hailing from Ewan. The letter details of a plot to assassinate Queen Elizabeth as her relationship with the Assassins is deemed too dangerous.
Defending Queen Elizabeth I[]
Arthur spends a year finding out more information about the plot. Arthur learns more information from Aleria who has since assassinated Margaret Clitharow, a Templar with information on the assassination. She reveals that Ewan, Anthony Babington, John Ballard and more have been tasked with carrying out the assassination to replace the Queen with Mary, Queen of Scots who would be impartial to both the Assassins and Templars. Arthur and Aleria inform Francis Walsingham of this plot and enlist his help to stop the conspirators. The three begin to formulate a plan of their own.
The Assassins and Walsingham's plan involved utilising double agents to correspond between Mary and the Preservers in order to entrap Mary in the plot, as well as find out more information on the Preservers' planned assassination. The plan was successful and the conspirators were arrested in August 1586, all of them but Ewan. Arthur and Aleria were present at the interrogations, although they detested the torture methods used the Assassins were aware it was needed in order to save Elizabeth.
Eventually, the conspirators confessed and revealed that Ewan where he was located and that he was still planning to assassinate Elizabeth. Certain that now their original plan was set back, Arthur knew that Elizabeth was not under threat currently but Ewan still needed to be dealt with. Aleria accompanies Arthur to Ewan, refusing to allow him to go alone as he already lost to Ewan twice. With Aleria there, she was certain they'd be able to defeat him.
Arthur and Aleria track Ewan to a mansion in Queen Anne's Square and find it desolate. Arthur proposes they split up and search for him but Aleria refuses, believing it too dangerous to go alone since Ewan has already bested him twice. Arthur agrees and the two search the mansion together. There they were attacked by Ewan and a fight began, during this fight Ewan was able to temporarily knock out Arthur which left Aleria alone with him. Ewan revealed to Aleria that he was once an Assassin and goaded her when he confessed to having killed her parents.
Flying into a frenzy, Aleria attacks Ewan and gives him difficulty for a short time but he manages to best her and subdue her. Arthur regains consciousness and sees Ewan preparing to kill Aleria, jumping up to his feet Arthur rushed to Ewan and attacks him once more. Arthur manages to injure Ewan's shoulder with his Hidden Gun but Ewan is able to escape by trapping Arthur under a bookcase.
Assassinating Kieran O'Connor[]
- Kieran: "You should have saved him!"
- Arthur: "Aye, I wish I could have. Not a day goes by where I haven't thought of all the ways I could have saved him. But it wasn't my fault, it wasn't anyone's."
- ―Arthur coming to terms with James' death, 1587
In April 1587, Arthur tracks down and assassinates Thomas Bromley, a high ranking Templar, interrogating him before he dies Arthur learns that O'Connor and Ewan are preparing to sail for the New World and expand the Templar network there within the day. Knowing that this isn't the case and O'Connor is actually planning on expanding the Preservers' presence, Arthur rushes to the Port of London by horseback and using his Eagle Vision - he locates O'Connor and Ewan who are preparing to board a ship to the Colonies.
However, Ewan catches sight of Arthur and the two Preservers flee. Arthur gives chase, chasing them through the streets of London and concluding it in an abandoned warehouse. Ewan stops to match Arthur, telling O'Connor to escape while he does. However, Arthur shoots his Hidden Gun into O'Connor's back stopping him, but not killing him. An enraged Ewan attacks Arthur and briefly overwhelms him, managing to disarm him forcing Arthur to fight with his Hidden Blades. The fight is long and brutal with the two severely injuring each other but Ewan once more begins to turn the fight in his favour.
Arthur is knocked on to the ground, nearly beaten. As Ewan prepares to land the finishing blow, Arthur proceeds to stab Ewan in the leg with his Hidden Blade and roll out of the way of Ewan dropping his sword on him. Getting up to his feet, Arthur proceeds to impale his Hidden Blades into Ewan's throat, killing him. With Ewan out of the way, Arthur approaches O'Connor who is on the verge of death from his gunshot wound.
O'Connor tells Arthur how much he hates him, that James' death was all his fault. Arthur, now having been able to alleviate himself of the guilt he felt at James' death tells O'Connor that it wasn't his fault. Revealing the James insisted, pressuring Arthur to go into the cave with him. O'Connor angrily tells him that he should have saved him, Arthur agrees and explains that he tried too but he wasn't strong enough and not a day goes by without him wishing things could be diferent. Still not having forgiven Arthur, O'Connor openly mocks him and confidently states that the Preservers have grown beyond him now and that his death means nothing - they will continue on.
Arthur asks him what he wanted with the Piece of Eden all those years ago. O'Connor reveals that the Piece of Eden is part of a set called the Armor of Ares, with the Armor being capable of memory manipulation on a global scale through interfacing with an Isu vault. O'Connor further reveals that he has tasked the Preservers with locating them and purging the world of both Assassins and Templars with it. Arthur asks where the Shield was and if they'd found anymore, O'Connor reveals that the Shield had been transported to a location he does not know the location of, and refused to answer the second. With that, O'Connor dies.
Arthur returns to the Abbey and informs the Mentor of what had transpired earlier in the day, as well as what he'd learned. Abbot praises him for his work and putting an end to O'Connor, certain that it will set back the Preservers quite a bit. Arthur expresses his desire to search for the Shield and the other Pieces of Eden otherwise their Brotherhood will always be under threat. Impressed by Arthur's initiative, Abbot grants Arthur permission to begin his new mission.
Hunt for the Armor of Ares[]
Marriage and fatherhood[]
Following his assassination of Kieran O'Connor and Ewan, Arthur married his long-time lover Aleria in October 1587 and the two had a daughter, Rose in September 1588. Two years later, Aleria would give birth to their second child, a boy, Lonan, in 1590. Arthur was present in their life and made an effort to balance being both a father and an Assassin, much like Aleria did. When his children were old enough Arthur and Aleria would begin to train them in the ways of an Assassin. At some point Arthur was granted the rank of Master Assassin.
Travelling to Japan[]
Arthur shortly before his departure to Japan in 1612
Arthur spent over twenty years, travelling across the globe in search of the other pieces to the Armor of Ares, only to follow leads which led to dead ends. However, in 1612, upon returning to England after several months away, he learned that his son had recovered information on the Shield following his assassination of the Vincenzo Gonzago.
Learning from his son that the Preservers sent the Shield to Japan, Arthur prepared to sail there but Lonan expressed his desire to accompany him. After making sure this is what Lonan truly wanted, Arthur agreed to let Lonan accompany him to Japan, happy that he will have a chance to spend more time with his son. Arthur managed to buy his and Lonan's way on to the merchant John Saris' ship, the Cove and they set sail for Japan that same year. During their voyage at sea, the Cove would come under attack by the wokou but Arthur and his son were able to defend the ship and repel their attackers.
After a year at sea, the Assassins finally arrived in Hirado before setting off to make contact with the Assassins in Honshu. Reaching the Assassin's base of operations, a plot of land named Kakureta owned by the Japanese Mentor Hashimoto Mashashi. Arthur informed their Mentor Hashimoto Mashashi of his mission. Notifying them of the Armor of Ares and the existence of the Preservers of Humanity. Mashashi agreed to aid his English brethren but also asked for their aid in return, helping the Assassin to prevent a war from breaking out between the Tokugawa and Toyotomi.
In 1614, Arthur learned that the Japanese Templar Kimura Shigenari had information on the whereabouts of the Shield and he and the Assassins began formulating plans to acquire this information.
Siege of Osaka[]
Unfortunately, the Assassins failed to prevent the war between the Tokugawa shogunate and Toyotomi clan resulting in the beginning of a siege in November 1614. However, Arthur and Lonan would use this opportunity to retrieve the information they need from Kimura, who fought for the Toyotomi. Arthur fought in at least three battles, one taking place during the winter campaign and two during the summer campaign.
Death[]
During the Battle of Wakae, Lonan managed to assassinate Kimura and learn that the Templars had stolen the Shield from the Preservers, hiding it in Osaka Castle. The next day, during the Battle of Tennōji Arthur, Lonan and Mashashi infiltrated the castle during the attack and successfulyl located the Shield. However, the Assassin Ito Ichiro revealed himself to secretly be a member of the Preservers of Humanity and killed Mashashi, fatally stabbing him in the back. Enraged, Lonan attacks Ichiro but is nearly killed forcing Arthur to engage Ichiro and protect his son.
While he fought valiantly, Ichiro was a young and skilled swordsman and Arthur's age had caught up to him. Arthur was fatally impaled in the abdomen by Ichiro, killing him instantly.
Legacy[]
Arthur's presence at the death of James O'Connor caused a ripple effect, leading to the creation of the Preservers of Humanity. As well as this, Arthur was also the one who discovered the very organisation he inadvertently created, bringing it to the attention of the Assassin Brotherhood.
His death in 1615 would have a significant impact on the Assassin-Templar War following his death. Arthur's murder at the hands of Ito Ichiro led to the subsequent framing of his son, who would flee the Assassins and take the Shield with him - leading him to the Templars. From then on, Lonan went on a quest to avenge Arthur as well as stop Ichiro from acquiring the remaining pieces of the Armor of Ares for the Preservers. This would result in the eventual collapse of the Japanese Brotherhood at the hands of Lonan and the Templars, leading to a Templar dominated Japan for almost 3 decades. However, by 1637, the emergence of Arthur's grandson - Takao Hayato, would tip the scales in Japain in the favour of the Assassins.
In 2022, Arthur's genetic memories were relived by his descendant, Jin Chen, in order to find answers relating to the Preservers.
Personality and characteristics[]
During his youth Arthur was a playful child and saw beyond society's constrictions, allowing him to befriend the noble boy James O'Connor. Arthur's friendship with James however opened his eyes to the inequalities of the world, as well as its injustices, instilling him with a wish to see an equal world. This made the boy optimistic in a sense, and it was an optimism that would never leave him.
Arthur was a sensitive individual as shown when James' death heavily impacted him for the rest of his life, and for a time he even blamed himself for his friend's death. The guilt of James' death drove Arthur into a despair that manifested in alcoholism, violent tendencies and meaningless sex. It also made him reckless, foul-mouthed, hot-headed and impulsive which would bleed into his life as an Assassin.
Joining the Assassins and serving their caused eased the guilt he felt for both James' and his family's death, but the sadness and trauma never went away, through time and growth Arthur learned to carry the pain but to not let it hold him down.
Due to his working class upbringing, Arthur was a firm believer in hard work and morality. It was this mentality that influenced Arthur's stark disagreement with the Templars' goals. Arthur believed that enforcing peace and equality through coercion and control was the "easy way out" and held firm that through hard work and dedication, the Assassins' goal of educating the human race into achieving peace of its own freewill was the more satisfying and morally correct goal.
Arthur would always try to instill this belief into his children as they were raised within a more privileged upbringing compared to his own. However, Arthur did not like to consider himself a noble following his sudden acquisiton of wealth through his union with Aleria Sinclair. He only used the money from their now shared wealth to fund his expeditions during his search for the Armor of Ares. His wealth and status made him feel like a fraud because, in his mind, he hadn't earned it.
Equipment and skills[]
Arthur discovered of his innate ability to use the extra-sensorty sixth sense Eagle Vision during his childhood, over the years he learned to hone it and utilise it as an adult. Arthur only mastered this skill once he joined the Assassins.
Prior to joining the Assassins, Arthur's only skill in combat was through hand-to-hand as he would regularly get into fights from his drunken stupors in his mid to late teens. Once joining the Assassins, he became a deadly and efficient killer and was a highly skilled swordsman, and archer. Arthur was known as a deadly marksman, rarely missing whenever using a bow, crossbow, throwing knives or his Hidden Gun. Arthur carried two Hidden Blades, a Hidden Gun, a sword and dagger, throwing knives, smoke bombs, a crossbow and bow.
A remarkable fighter, Arthur rarely lost a bout following his training as an Assassin and was able to take on multiple opponents at a time, demonstrating a high stamina. As well as this, due to his upbringing, Arthur was not averse to fighting dirty if needed or taunting his enemies in order to distract them. Unlike his son and grandson, Arthur was not ambidextrous but he fought with a unique combat style which involved using both his sword and off-hand Hidden Blade when in combat.
As well as this, Arthur was also adept at stealth freerunning, eavesdropping, and pickpocketing. In his later years, having travelled so much of the world Arthur learned a variety of languages which included Japanese, Italian, French, Spanish, Dutch and more.
Trivia[]
- Arthur is a masculine name of Celtic origin, believed to be derived from the word "artos," meaning "bear". Or also mean "Thor, the eagle" and "strong man." Kavanagh is a surname derived from the Irish Gaelic name Caomhánach, which means "a student of saint Caomhán".
- Arthur stood at 5'11" and weighed 157lbs.
- Arthur's early life shares similarities to his descendant's, both having lost someone close to them at a young age and falling down a dark path as a result.