Horatio Pierce

Horatio Pierce
Biographical information
Born	21 April 1997 ; Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Died	9 May 2022 (aged 25) ; Dupleix, Paris, France
Political information
Affiliations	Abstergo Entertainment (2017) ; American Assassins (2017 - 2022)
Real-world information
Appears in	Assassin's Creed: Heritage (modern day) ; Assassin's Creed: Source (modern day) ; Assassin's Creed: Salvation (modern day) ; Assassin's Creed: Saga (modern day) ; Assassin's Creed: Incursion (modern day) ; Assassin's Creed: Annihilation (modern day) ; Assassin's Creed: Renegade (mentioned) ; Assassin's Creed: Convergence (mentioned)

"I've lived the lives of multiple Assassins, experienced their own thoughts and feelings on what it means to be one. Our Creed and its phrase of "Nothing is true, everything is permitted" is just a guideline on how to practice freedom responsibly, and an observation of human existence. True peace has to be achieved through the freedom of being able to learn from one another and acquire the wisdom and knowledge needed for peace."

―Horatio Pierce discussing his perception of the Creed in 2022

Horatio Pierce (1997 - 2022) was a former Abstergo Entertainment intern turned Assassin. In 2017, he discovered his connection to the Assassin Brotherhood as well as the existence of a Piece of Eden important to the Templars. Horatio explored the genetic memories of his ancestors that had links to these Pieces of Eden in order to keep them away from the Templars, and find his father.

Five years later, Horatio learned of the Conservatory after his mother had been kidnapped by the rogue Templar and Sage Kyle North. Leading to the discovery of members of the Isu hibernated in stasis, which North managed to awaken and escape with following the death of Horatio's father at North's hands. Now, he and his team must find a way to stop them.

Horatio had a rich Assassin bloodline through his paternal line, being the descendant of the Japanese Assassin Kurosawa no Rōnin, British Assassin Kenneth Ravensdale, Choctaw Assassin Osyka and the Nigerian Assassin Ugochukwu. Through his mother, Horatio was also descended from the Viking Hidden One Ari Einarrson and the Néhinaw warrior Küpeyakwüskonam.

Biography[]

Early Life[]

Horatio was born in Vancouver, Canada to an Assassin father and a middle class woman, Jennifer Westwood. At three years old, Horatio's father left him and his mother due to him being targeted by Abstergo, he made Jennifer promise not to expose Horatio to the Assassins and Templars unless completely necessary. Because of this, Horatio grew up to resent his father as he believed his father abandoned him and his mother for no good reason.

Horatio was an intellectual individual, in high school he took an interest in IT and began building and upgrading computers from discarded tech. He's also a prodigy in coding and hacking which earned him a scholarship for college.

Upon graduating, Horatio moved to Montreal to attend and live on campus at Concordia University.

Abstergo Entertainment[]

"Congratulations, Mr. Pierce. The rest of your life starts today."

―Horatio Pierce's boss, 2017

In Horatio's second year of college, he applied for an internship at Abstergo Entertainment for his college credit. He was accepted because of his intellect and computer skills.

Horatio interned at Abstergo Entertainment for a few months. On one night while working, Horatio's curiosity got the better of him and he used a Helix system and played some of the memory-based games on the system. In the meantime the Helix was gathering up genetic data from Horatio which led them to discover his Assassin heritage.

The next day Horatio was subdued, blindfolded and abducted from his dorm room at Concordia University by Juhani Otso Berg and Sigma Team. Hours later, Horatio's blindfold was removed and he noticed he was in a room somewhere, in an unknown location. He was surrounded by guards in Abstergo attire, Horatio was then greeted by a man in a labcoat by the name of Alexandre Bacque, a lead scientist who works at Abstergo Industries.

Horatio unblindfolded — Horatio after being unblindfolded.

Horatio, in a panicked state, demanded to know what was going on. Alexandre proceeded to inform the young man of the Assassins and Templars and how they aren't just two groups made for their video game franchises but that they are most certainly real and that Horatio's ancestry and father was a member of the Assassins. Horatio was shocked at the fact that the two groups were actually real and that he is descended from them. Alexandre went on to explain that Horatio's father has discovered an Isu artifact that has the potential to turn the tide of the Assassin-Templar War, Horatio cut Alexandre off immediately, stating that Horatio hasn't seen his father since he was born.

Nonetheless, Alexandre believed that Horatio's father discovered said-artifact through the genetic memories of his ancestors, he stated that due to Horatio's ancestors' high concentrations of Isu DNA, no ordinary person could view those memories and that the only reason Horatio was still alive is that only he could view his ancestor's memories.

Rōnin Kurosawa's memories[]

Horatio asked how they even know which ancestors to look for but Alexandre already had an idea of which ancestor to view first. Abstergo believes that Horatio's father had left clues for his Assassin brethren, although Abstergo intercepted these clues and decoded them which revealed random years in history.

The first clue was the year, 1090 and that was one of the years his Japanese Assassin ancestor, Rōnin Kurosawa was active in. Horatio could do nothing but comply with Alexandre and Abstergo, Alexandre supplied Horatio with an Animus Omega and left the room, although the guards stayed behind. Horatio placed the Animus Omega headset on his head and dived into his ancestor's memory.

Horatio, in the body of his ancestor, saw he was in the year of 1092 but the world around him was glitching and lagging out, panicking, Horatio turned to see he was in battle with a heavily armored samurai, he was then stabbed in the chest which caused him to desynchronize. Horatio took off his Animus Omega and threw up on the floor, Alexandre entered the room and demanded to know what happened, Horatio explained what happened to which Alexandre realized that Horatio lacked the confidence to step into Rōnin's body. Alexandre suggested the Horatio go back to an earlier year and work his way up from there.

Project Omega[]

Upon completing his ancestor's first sequence of memories. Horatio exited the Animus Omega feeling slightly disoriented, he was greeted by Alexandre and another woman by the name of Angelica Concord. She revealed herself as the head of Abstergo Industries, she asked Horatio to take a walk with her and Alexandre to which he complied.

The three walked through an Abstergo facility in Ontario while Alexandre explained the reasoning for his hostile kidnapping and why he has to relive the memories of his ancestor. Horatio responds with that he already knows why but she rebuffs and states Alexandre did not tell him the full story. She reveals to Horatio that she is the head of the project code-named Project Omega and explains that their goals are to create a Piece of Eden and that she believes his ancestors encountered various pieces throughout their lifetime. Confused, Horatio asks what a Piece of Eden is, Alexandre then explains the history of the Pieces of Eden and the Isu.

After their walk, Angelica and Alexandre allow Horatio to take a break from the Animus and eat lunch with the other captured individuals. While eating lunch, he met an individual named Hayley Yasutake who claimed she was an Assassin and told him not to worry. She explained she was a spy for the Assassins and allowed herself to be captured, Hayley then told Horatio to finish Rōnin's memories and that "help will be here soon".

Kenneth Ravensdale's memories[]

Escape[]

Pondering on these words, he felt a sense of relief that he may not die after all. He did as Hayley said and continued digging through Rōnin's memories to find the Piece of Eden, he eventually got to the point of his memories where he found a Piece of Eden known as the Source of Eden. After discovering this information he was immediately pulled out of the Animus by Angelica and Alexandre, they congratulated him on finding the Source but were irritated that it was destroyed.

They then explained that the next year in Horatio's father's clue was the year 1769 and that his ancestors the Ravensdale family were active around this time period. But before they could force him to explore their memories, gunshots were heard throughout the facility. Suddenly, Hayley enters Horatio's quarters and attacks Angelica and Alexandre, grabs Horatio and flees. While escaping through the facility, Horatio asks Hayley what's going on and she explains that they have little time and that the other Assassins can't hold Abstergo off for long.

All Horatio could do is comply with Hayley as he follows her but first the two make a detour into Alexandre's office, Hayley steals back the clues Horatio's father left behind explaining that the Assassins will need them to find the other Source of Eden. After this, via the Bleeding Effect, Horatio learned a few of Rōnin's combat skills, using these skills he and Hayley escape the Ontario facility with the other Assassins.

Joining the Assassins[]

Hours later, Horatio and Hayley arrive to Minnesota in a van and rendezvoused with her Assassin Cell. There, Horatio meets the Assassins Jason Hart and Erica Boyd, the hacker and historian respectively. Hayley informs Jason and Erica of the Source of Eden and shows them the clues that Horatio's father left behind.

After collecting his bearings, Horatio asks what happens now. Hayley explains that the life as he knows it is over, he's a target of Abstergo now and that if he leaves he's as good as dead, she then goes on to tell him that he comes from a bloodline of Assassins and it's his duty to protect humanity's freewill from the Templars and that he and his father are the only thing that can stop Abstergo from obtaining the Source. Realizing she was right and he's now apart of something bigger than himself, Horatio decides to join the Assassin Brotherhood.

Hayley gifts Horatio with a Hidden Blade and welcomes him to the Assassins.

Before exploring the genetic memories of his ancestor, Horatio desired to know the name of his father. Hayley told Horatio that his father's name was Arnold, Arnold Pierce and that he was one of the greatest men she has ever known. Still holding some resentment toward Arnold, Horatio didn't fully believe her. Jason advised that Horatio begin reliving the memories of his ancestor soon before Abstergo figures out a way to decode his DNA and explore his memories themselves. Horatio reassured the team that according to Abstergo, it will be difficult to view his ancestor's memories due to his and their high count of Isu DNA, Erica rebuffed this fact and stated that Abstergo can find someone with the same count and relive his ancestor's memories just as easy.

After that, Horatio began reliving the memories of his ancestor Kenneth Ravensdale in the year 1768 through Jason's Animus 5.0. Horatio explored Kenneth's memories and learned that he also had Templar ancestors until suddenly, in the year 1769 the Animus began focusing on Coahoma, his other ancestor in that time period. Horatio pulled himself out of the Animus, confused, he asked what had just happened and if the Animus was glitching. Jason went on to tell that in 1769, Kenneth and Coahoma has conceived a child and due to genetic memory, the Animus focuses on the next ancestor in the bloodline. Hayley asks what happens now, if they can't view Kenneth's memories how would they find the next Source of Eden.

Erica then pulls up a historical record on the Assassin, Osyka and states in the 1790s he and his father came across the exact same Source that Kenneth and Richard were searching for in 1770 and that there was clearly more to the story. Hayley also states that they could use this to kill two birds with one stone and use the memories of Osyka to train Horatio through the Bleeding Effect.

Osyka's memories[]

Training[]

Before beginning his training, Horatio used a burner phone to contact his mother and tell her of all the events that had transpired in the past month. She understood why he couldn't see her and told her son to be safe in looking for his father. Feeling relieved that he was able to contact his mother gave him a new sense of determination which led Horatio to jump into Osyka's memories with no complications.

Encounter with Kyle North[]

A few weeks later, Horatio completed the first sequence of Osyka's memories from 1770 to 1787. Horatio was pulled from the Animus by Hayley, Horatio was confused as to why she took him out of the Animus session. Hayley informed Horatio that staying in the Animus for too long is dangerous and that he needed a break, Hayley also stated that he should test out the new skills he's learned from Osyka. Horatio and Hayley left the hideout they were currently staying in and began freerunning through the city, Horatio was confused to how he was doing this so naturally which Hayley commented: "that's the beauty of the Bleeding Effect".

The two finally stopped on a rooftop of a building. Hayley then placed her fists up in a defensive stance and told Horatio to try and hit her, being raised as a person to not hit women he declined until Hayley started attacking Horatio herself, through muscle memory and the Bleeding Effect, Horatio was able to block and counter most of her attacks and the two entered a sparring session. Hayley gets the upper hand and knocks Horatio to the ground, Hayley helps Horatio up and states he won't be a complete pro straight away and the two laugh about it. Horatio and Hayley begin to share a moment but it is cut short when a spotlight beams on them, the two see a helicopter with an Abstergo insignia on it and a smokescreen is thrown at them.

Hayley asks if Horatio has his Hidden Blade to which he does. Abstergo agents begin descending from the helicopter and the two begin the Abstergo agents, suddenly a Templar agent named Kyle North drops down and attacks Hayley. Hayley orders Horatio to take out the Abstergo agents while she combats Kyle, although Hayley is downed and almost killed by him. Horatio quickly jumps in and attacks Kyle but is quickly disabled by him, Hayley stabs Kyle and takes Horatio to flee Abstergo.

Escape to New York[]

Horatio and Hayley flee to their hideout, the two notify Jason and Erica that Abstergo's discovered them. It was an amount of time this would happen, the team pack up their things and put them in the van and leave Minnesota. Hayley tells the team that there is a hideout in New York and that's where they'll be headed, Erica suggests that Horatio continue digging around Osyka's memories in the meantime.

Finishing Osyka's second sequence of memories, Horatio pulls himself from the Animus to see that the team has arrived at a motel in New York. With the whole team confused, Hayley states that while it's not what they expected the motel is still a hideout either way. Before going to bed, Jason asked Horatio accompany him to get supplies while Hayley and Erica stay in the motel and keep watch.

In the city shopping for supplies, Horatio asked Jason if it gets easier. Confused by this, Jason asks what he means which prompts Horatio to bring up the fact that they were both dumped head first into the Assassin-Templar War and asks if it ever gets easier, having to give up their former lives and their whole view on the world changing so drastically. Jason told Horatio that at first it always seems hard and that the longing for the life they had once before will never go away but every day it gets a little easier and that it always helps they've given up their lives for the greater good. Hearing these words comforts Horatio and he thanks Jason for helping him out, building a bond between them.

The next day, after breakfast. Horatio continued exploring Osyka's genetic memory.

Weeks later, during an Animus Session. Horatio, through the avatar of Osyka, would find a message sent to him through time by an Isu explaining that he must find and keep the Sources of Eden from Assassin and Templar hands. Horatio pulled himself out of the Animus to tell his team but before he could say anything, the team informed him that they already knew as they were viewing the footage.

Hayley was frustrated at the fact that "1768" was their last clue to finding Arnold and they still had no idea where he was. Putting the information together, Horatio realized that Osyka hid the second Source of Eden in a Temple in Mexico and that must be where Arnold had gone to. Erica applauded Horatio for his puzzle-solving skills and the team immediately left for Mexico.

Finding Arnold[]

Arnold: "Son, it's about damn time."

Horatio: "Seriously, Arnold. Fuck you."

Arnold: "I probably deserve that."

—Arnold and Horatio, 2017

Horatio led the team to the Temple by remembering the steps he took as Osyka. There, the team arrived at the Temple to find a man standing outside the entrance. The man turned around to look at Horatio and the team and uttered the words "Son, it's about damn time".

Angered by this, Horatio cursed his father with the latter responding he probably deserved the indecent comment. Despite this, Hayley embraced her mentor stating she was glad to see him while Jason and Erica introduced themselves stating they knew of his work and were glad to meet him. Arnold goes on to ask Horatio and the team if they had seen the message that the Isu told Osyka in 1797 to which they confirmed. Arnold then stated that they must know the Source is inside the Temple.

Realizing this, Erica asked why Arnold hadn't entered the Temple himself yet to which Arnold replied with the Temple is coded to Isu DNA and that his wasn't high enough. Arnold, Hayley, Erica and Jason all look to Horatio hinting that he has a count high enough to unlock it, Horatio sighed and approaches the Temple entrance but before opening it, Arnold pushes Horatio away from getting shot.

Kyle North had returned with more Abstergo agents. Arnold asked how Abstergo found them, North answered their question by stating he discovered the location of the Temple through the memories of Osyka. An irritated Arnold asks Horatio how he could be so careless, Horatio simply responds with another "fuck you", Hayley chimes in by stating now is not the time for a father-son squabble. Arnold agrees and tells Jason and Erica to take cover as they were not field agents, Hayley asks if Arnold should do the same but Arnold rebuffs stating that Ezio Auditore was fighting armies at 52 years old.

The three Assassins entered battle with the Abstergo agents once more, Horatio's skills improved greatly since the first bout as he took down agent after agent in a matter of moments. Having a dislike for taking an individuals life, Horatio decided to disarm the Abstergo agents and knock them out with their nightsticks. Horatio saw that Arnold and Hayley were losing in their two on one against North.

Horatio kneed North in the face and began swinging at him with the nightstick although North dodged these attacks and disarmed the nightstick and elbowed him into the ground, Horatio stabs North's foot with his Hidden Blade and headbutts him to the ground. As he is about to assassinate North, a lingering Abstergo agent manages to graze Horatio in the shoulder. With more reinforcements arriving, the Assassins flee inside the Temple and lock it on their way in so that Abstergo can't get in.

Ugochukwu's memories[]

Upon entering the Temple. Arnold suggests they set up a hideout in the Temple to which everyone agrees, Horatio suggests that he should go and find the Source but Arnold rebuffs this and states he needs to get that graze wrapped up, Hayley volunteers herself to bandage Horatio's shoulder. In the meantime, Arnold, Jason and Erica will search for the Source.

While bandaging him up, Hayley asks that Horatio not be so hard on his father to which Horatio retaliates and calls Arnold a "dick". Hayley tells him she understands his resentment as she knows what it feels like to be abandoned, ignorantly he asks what she knows about abandonment which leads to her revealing that during the Great Purge of 2000 her parents were killed. Unaware of the Great Purge, he asks her what that was, Hayley explains to him that the Great Purge was the near eradication of all the Assassins in 2000 due to the turncoat Daniel Cross. Horatio realizes that the Great Purge must have been the reason his father left him and his mother which Hayley confirms, Horatio goes to further state that while he understands it won't magically repair what little relationship they already had. Hayley understands this.

Suddenly, Arnold, Jason and Erica return with bad news. An irritated Horatio asks what happened which leads Jason to state that the Source is gone, Horatio states that it's impossible as Osyka locked the Temple in 1797. Erica suggests she may be able to pull up some historical records regarding Assassins and Pieces of Eden post-1797. After a few hours, Erica discovers Arnold and Horatio had an Assassin ancestor who wielded a Piece of Eden during the Civil War era. Arnold suggested that he enter the Animus as soon as possible which Horatio states that the two agree for once.

Over the course of a few days, Horatio experiences the life of his ancestor Ugochukwu. The pain, the fear and the oppression, Horatio learns some new skills from Ugochukwu in the Animus. Over the years of viewing his life however, Horatio had heard no mention or indication that Ugochukwu would find a Source of Eden. Angered by this, Horatio exits the Animus and rants to the team that they're wasting their time, that Ugochukwu was a no one and probably had nothing to do with the Source of Eden which leads Arnold to correct Horatio stating that Ugochukwu was a heavy influence on the abolition of slavery.

Frustrated, Horatio leaves stating he needs a break. Exploring deep into the Temple, he discovers some recordings from the Isu detailing the events of before and after the first catastrophe, Hayley confronts Horatio and asks what's going on with him. Still frustrated, Horatio states the a few months ago he was just an ordinary college student with his whole life planned it and now he's descended from a whole bloodline of Assassins and contains DNA of a race that predates humanity while also being some sort of pre-destined Source of Eden hunter since even before his ancestor's were born and now his father, who he hasn't seen in seventeen years has returned to his life and he's supposed to act like everything's okay.

Hayley holds his hand and tells him everything will be okay, he's not alone and that he has them for support. She goes on to say that over the past few months she's grown to care deeply for Horatio as well as the rest of the team and that she will protect him and the rest of them with her life and that they'd do the same. For some reason these words comfort Horatio greatly. The two return to the team, Jason speaks to Horatio privately and jokingly states that Horatio and Hayley clearly have something going on, its been all of 10 seconds since he joined the team and even Arnold has already figured it out. Horatio states he doesn't know what's going on between them but he really cares for her, realizing he said this, to avoid awkwardness Horatio returns to the Animus.

Return to Abstergo[]

Alexandre: "Do you honestly think we're some Saturday morning cartoon villains, Mister Pierce? We want the same thing you Assassins do! Peace! "

Horatio:: "By robbing us of our humanity?! That's a world I refuse to live in."

Alexandre: "That can be arranged, boy."

—Horatio Pierce and Alexandre Bacque, 2017

A few days passed and upon exiting the Animus and completing a few more sequences of Ugochukwu's memories. Horatio was informed that some Assassins were being held at Abstergo, Horatio asked if they were the ones that helped him and Hayley escape to which Jason confirms. Horatio states that he needs to help them to which Hayley and Arnold agree but Arnold states that he can't go alone to which Hayley volunteers into accompanying Horatio.

The team then book plane tickets and head back to Ontario. Horatio, feeling confident in his abilities inherited from Osyka and Ugochukwu accompanies Hayley into the Abstergo Ontario facility. Upon entering, the two were greeted by Bacque through an intercom, he welcomed them and stated he knew they'd be returning for their Assassin brethren and proceeded to demand the Abstergo agents to attack Horatio and Hayley.

Horatio scaling Abstergo facility — Horatio scaling the Abstergo facility so fast he appears as a blur to the naked eye.

The two fought valiantly, together they made their combat look like a well choreographed dance, killing Abstergo agents with such efficiency. Through the intercom, Jason and Erica informed Horatio and Hayley that the Assassins were being held at a upper level in the facility and that reinforcements were on the way. Realizing that they can't take the elevator, Horatio and Hayley freerun their way to the upper levels. There, they were met with more force, the two fought them off but suddenly Hayley saved Horatio from being shot by North although she was grazed in the arm. Horatio came to her aid but Hayley told him to go on without her and that she'd be fine, caught up in the moment, Horatio realized that there was no better time than now to show Hayley how he felt and so he kissed her passionately and she reciprocated.

Horatio then charged his way to North and began attacking him, he slashed at him with his knife and Hidden Blade but North managed to counter all of the attacks. North stopped Horatio by grabbing his arms, Horatio being a quick thinker, kicked North in the groin and headbutted him, while North was staggering. Horatio managed to slice North's throat, believing that he had killed him, Horatio pushed on to find the Assassins.

While in the elevator, through the intercom Jason told Horatio that this would be the perfect time for setting back Abstergo's efforts in searching for the Sources. Realizing what he meant, Horatio knew he could erase his own DNA file and erase all the information regarding his ancestor's and their encounters with the Sources but first he had to free the other Assassins. Horatio approached the facility that held the Assassins captive, Horatio killed the guards guarding them, Horatio then released his brethren and he said they can thank him by giving Abstergo hell and helping Hayley. Horatio then made his way to Bacque's office, there it would have all the information regarding Horatio and his ancestors.

Horatio discovery — Horatio discovering Project Omega's secrets and the torture the captive Assassins went through.

Upon arriving, an angered Bacque stated that the Templars want the same thing as the Assassins but Horatio stated that robbing humanity of their freewill is no life to live. With these words, Bacque pulled out a silencer and attempted to shoot Horatio but he managed to avoid the shot and charged his way to Bacque, jumping on his desk and air assassinating him. With Bacque dead, Horatio used his IT skills to hack into Bacque's computer and delete all the files regarding Horatio and his ancestors as well as deleting his DNA file which allowed Abstergo to view his genetic memories, while searching through Bacque's computers, he was shocked to learn of Project Omega's methods as well as the things they did to the Assassin prisoners.

Horatio returned to the Abstergo entrance where the other Assassins were waiting for him. They thanked him and told him he was a true Assassin and upheld the very tenets of their Creed. With that, Horatio and the team returned to Mexico.

Completing Ugochukwu's memories[]

Arnold: "Hey. I just wanted to say...I'm proud of you. You did great out there."

Horatio: "Thanks, dad. I guess I know what it felt like for Ugo when he liberated slaves."

Arnold: "You...you just called me dad...?"

Horatio: "Yeah...I guess I did."

—Horatio and Arnold improving on their relationship, 2017

Returning to the Temple in Mexico, Horatio felt on top of the world; he completed his first field mission, saved some Assassins, finally kissed Hayley and was now improving his relationship with his father. Horatio returned to the Animus happier than ever to complete Ugo's memories.

After the Temple had finished showing Horatio Ugochukwu's memories. He exited the Animus and informed the team of the Source's whereabouts, Arnold would go on to say that if the Source was still in the Factory in Africa, it would be safe. Despite this, Horatio stated that his work was far from over and that the Isu have tasked Horatio with finding these Sources and keeping them away from the Assassins and Templars.

The team informed Horatio that they would accompany him on his journey, Horatio thanked them and allowed them to help him which also led Arnold to say that during this mission that the two could make up for lost time to which Horatio agreed.

Horatio, Hayley, Arnold, Jason and Erica then left the Mexican Temple to embark on their new mission.

Investigating Kyle North[]

Discovering North's survival[]

Gavin: "Multiple cells have confirmed sightings of Kyle North."

Horatio: "What? That's impossible. I killed him five years ago in Ontario."

―Gavin revealing Kyle's fate, 2022

Horatio Pierce 2022 redesign — Horatio, fully embracing his identity as an Assassin in 2022.

Horatio and his team spent the next five years searching for the Sources of Eden and either hid them or left them where they initially were, knowing they would not be discovered by the Assassins or Templars. During these five years, Horatio and Hayley entered a romantic relationship, his relationship with Arnold had improved, and he had formed a strong friendship with both Jason and Erica. Horatio also managed to reach a Synch Nexus with the ancestors he had explored in 2017, avoiding the worst consequences of the Bleeding Effect.

In March 2022 while in Japan, Hayley was contacted by Gavin Banks in which he revealed that recently acquired intel detailed that Kyle North had resurfaced. Believing to have killed him, Horatio interrupted the call and asked how that was even possible, leading Hayley to reprimand him on its unimportance. Continuing, Gavin went on to explain that Kyle and a team of his own had been te object of multiple Assassin sighting over the last few months and it was only recently confirmed. Finally, Gavin concluded by revealing that Kyle had been located in the vicinity of various Isu temples such as the Observatory, the Vault, the Grand Temple and more, meaning that North and the Templars were up to something. Without hesitation, Hayley volunteered to look into it.

Following the conclusion of the call, Hayley gathered the others and relayed what Gavin had told her and Horatio, informing them that they had now been assigned to finding out what he's up to and putting a stop to it.

The Hunt Begins[]

Horatio suggested that they simply head back to Ontario and see if they can't find out what he was doing. Erica quickly shot the idea down, claiming it as stupid and reckless but Jason quickly chimed in, stating that, if they were smart about it it could work. Jason then explained he could, for a time, hack into Abstergo's Ontario facility and shut off their security but it would only last a short while and that they'd also be broadcasting their presence to Abstergo. Confident in his son's abilities, Arnold vouches for Horatio and encouraged his idea. With some deliberation, Hayley agrees to the plan much to Erica's dismay.

The team then left Japan and headed to Ontario, during the journey they devised their plan. With Jason creating a virus for Horatio to manually shut down Abstergo's security as well as connect him to Abstergo's servers, Erica recovering the building's schematics and guiding him to where he would need to go, and Hayley and Arnold on standby in case their location is compromised. Meanwhile, Horatio was set to infiltrate the facility by parachuting from another building close by.

Arriving in Ontario, the team immediately got to work in which they temporarily booked an overnight hotel room and waited while Horatio was set to infiltrate Abstergo. Horatio freeran his way to the top of the building closest to the Ontario facility before performing a Leap of Faith and parachuting inside Abstergo's security room, guided by Erica. Crashing through the window, Horatio quickly dispached the personnel non-lethally and used the data stick given to him by Jason to temporarily shut down the security programs.

Stealthily, Horatio made his way through the facility undetected while Erica led him to where he needed to go to acquire information about North. Finally, Horatio arrived inside the database and used another datastick to plug into Abstergo's main server. There, he waited for Jason to infiltrate the database and manually download them into the data stick. Once Jason had given him the all clear, Horatio moved toward the window to see a series of vans zoom through the street below, informing them that Abstergo was on their way and to get out. Erica would quickly give him a meeting point before disconnecting their call.

Using his newly upgraded Hidden Blade which now had a rope launcher, Horatio smashed the window of the office he was in before using his rope launcher to get across to the building he had arrived in from, heading to meet his team at the coordinates given to him by Erica.

Abstergo Secrets[]

Rendezvousing with the others later on, Horatio and the others began the drive toward an Assassin safehouse in Ohio. Going over the data recovered, Jason discovered and revealed to the group that North had been in a coma for the past four years and then vanished in mid 2021, he has gone rogue. The team begin to theorise with Hayley pondering as to what North could be up to if he was no longer working for Abstergo, Erica made a comment on his rogue status being a result of the bleeding effect. Arnold piggybacks on this, wondering if that was the link as to why North was visiting so many Isu sites.

The team's theorising was cut short when, in a nervous tone of voice, Jason reveals that he also discovered Horatio's mother, Jennifer, had become a person of interest to Abstergo. Panicked, Horatio asks if she is in danger to which Jason is unsure of, all that he knows is that Abstergo has been surveying her for some months and is interested in her ancestry. Further information by Jason also revealed that Abstergo theorises that Kyle's sudden disappearance is linked to a person of interest in Jennifer's ancestry. Immediately, Arnold swivels the car around and begins heading toward the nearest airport, knowing that Jennifer would be at her safest with them.

The Assassin cell boarded the plane and flew over to Vancouver, having kept irregular contact with his mother over the years, Horatio was aware that Jennifer had moved out of his childhood home but still lived in the city. Upon arriving in Vancouver, Jason and Erica got to work in locating Jennifer's current residence while Horatio and Hayley took the necessary precautions in case things went south. A few hours later, Jason and Erica successfully managed to track Jennifer down before being informed to stay put by Hayley while she and Horatio went out to get her.

Reunion[]

Hijacking a car, Horatio and Hayley drove to Jennifer's new home. During the drive, Hayley could sense the tension that Horatio was currently feeling, placing her hand on his she reassured him that Jennifer would more than likely be fine if Abstergo just had her under surveillance. It didn't do much to calm his nerves but he appreciated Hayley's attempts. After some time, the two arrived at their destination and immediately felt something was off - it was the early evening but no one was home, a woman her age would most likely be returning home from work.

Cautiously, the pair of Assassins entered the house and began investigating inside. Unbeknownst to him, Jennifer had a security system which Horatio accessed by guessing his mother's password, which was his birthday. Sifting through the footage, he came upon the most recent recording which had an image of North. Playing it, he witnessed North kidnapping his mother while rambling to her, accusing her of "knowing where it is." and that he "couldn't wait to kill Ari's heir".

Horatio then heard Hayley call out and watched as a series of small cannisters broke through the window, spraying smoke and filling up the house. Activating his Eagle Vision, the Assassin navigated his way through the smoke and began assassinating their attackers before coming into contact with Juhani Otso Berg, the two fought as the smoke began to fade. Realising that it was Sigma Team attacking, Horatio realised that Abstergo were also here to capture his mother, or North.

Horatio and Hayley repelled Sigma Team, with the Assassin asking Berg why Abstergo was so interested in his mother's ancestry. Berg neglected to share details, only mentioning that it could lead them to North, before threatening to scour through Horatio's own genetic memory now that he had the chance to bring him in. Horatio and Hayley were able to escape Sigma Team's attack when Hayley utilised a member's smoke cannister and used it to help their escape.

Return to the Animus[]

"It's so weird, you're experienced with using the Animus. Hell, you've been four people. But this guy, something's different? The trauma he went through in this particular memory is preventing you from jumping right in."

―Jason Hart, 2022

The two Assassins returned to their team, informing them of what had happened and that Jennifer had been taken by North. The only clue they had to finding her was through an ancestor of both her and Horatio, someone called 'Ari'. Immediately, Erica began searching through the Assassin database and searched for anything that could help them. Meanwhile, Jason began updating the Animus 5.0, knowing that Horatio would need to use it again. Knowing that they were also compromised, Hayley and Arnold suggested they also begin looking for a new hideout. After locating a new hideout, the team began the drive to Ohio.

After some hours, Erica cross-referenced the data they had retrieved from Abstergo's Ontario facility and the Assassin database, discovering that a Viking named Ari Einarrson was a member of the Hidden Ones who had travelled with Leif Erikson in the eleventh century. Unaware of the Hidden Ones, Horatio questioned what they were before Arnold revealed that they were the first incarnation of the Assassins and that it was interesting that Jennifer even had any genetic ties to the Assassins, assuming she was unrelated to either groups. Jason also revealed that he had updated the Animus' software and it was available to use when Horatio was ready. Eager to rescue his mother, Horatio immediately entered the Animus. Jason discovered something interesting in Horatio's DNA sequence when relating to the genetic memory of Ari, theorising that this was what North and Abstergo were so interested in.

As Horatio was placed into this particular memory however, the Assassin struggled to relive it as the memory appeared disjointed and disorienting from his perspective. Horatio attempted to force his way through the memory but the simulation grew more and more erratic before he was finally pulled out of the memory by Jason. Angered, he demanded to know why he did that, claiming he could have done it. Jason denied this stating that as experienced as Horatio was, continuing through this memory was impossible and was also damaging Horatio's brain. He explained that what he experienced was a traumatic memory and that he would need to synchronise more with Ari's memories before reaching the traumatic one.

Sighing in defeat, he acknowledged Jason's answer before asking to be placed in an earlier memory that's closest as possible to the traumatic one.

Exploring Ari Einarrson's memories[]

Horatio was loaded into a memory of a teenaged boy in the Kingdom of England in the year 995, moments before a Viking raid. The Assassin continued reliving Ari's genetic memories, witnessing the death of his father and clan, witnessing Ari's near-death and finally, witnessing Ari's vow for revenge. Upon reaching Ari's later teen years and departure for Greenland, Horatio was pulled from the animus. They had arrived at their destination in Ohio, a cabin in the woods, Horatio would aid the others in getting set up before requesting to return to the Animus.

Hayley refuses, telling him he knows the risks of overexposure. Frustrated at her lack of cooperation, Horatio rebuttled that his Isu DNA would protect him and that they his mother's life was at risk, they needed to make haste. Hayley counters, stating that his high count of Isu genes doesn't make him immune to the consequences. With the two then devolving into an argument, Arnold eventually steps in and reminds Horatio that North would need Jennifer alive in order to access Ari's memories, and due to her inexperience with an Animus she would progress at a much slower rate than Horatio.

Still angered, Horatio stormed out of the cabin. Not trailing off too far from it, he stops in front of a large tree and sits under it. Trying to centre himself and calm his nerves, Horatio took several deep breaths before seeing a miraga of Rōnin, Osyka, and Ugochukwu - standing in front of him. The three echoes merely nodded at him, seeing them reminded him of all the turmoil they went through in their lives and how they ultimately overcame it, he would need to do the same.

Arnold's voice then called out to him, somewhere off in the distance to which he shouted back, broadcasting his location. Arnold finds Horatio and sits next to him, Arnold can tell how distraught his son was. Arnold reassures him that she would be okay and that they would find her, although she wasn't an Assassin, she was one of the strongest people he knew. She dealt with Arnold's 'shit' even before Horatio was born, and stayed strong when he had to leave in order to raise their son. Wrapping an arm around his shoulder, Arnold tells Horatio that she 'raised an amazing human being' by herself. Arnold also tells Horatio to not hold anything against Hayley, that she loved and him and was only trying to protect him.

The two hug before returning to the cabin. The cell spend the rest of the night going over the footage of what Horatio had uncovered in Ari's memories, trying to figure out what made him so important. Erica correctly surmises that the Piece of Eden that Ari and his father recovered during the raid was certain to have something to do with it, and that his revenge quest was leading him to something bigger.

That night, while in bed, Horatio apologised for lashing out earlier and that it was out of line. Accepting his apology, she kissed him and empathised with his current feelings. Telling her he loved her and wouldn't know what he'd do without her, the two then spent of the rest of the night together.

The next morning, Horatio hastily returned to Ari's memories. Exploring Ari's time in Greenland, Horatio witnessed Ari's meeting of the Hidden One, Livius. It was this moment when he realised that they were getting somewhere. Over the next few weeks, Horatio would continue to experience Ari's life, witnessing his journey to Vinland, his hunt for the Templars, growing closer to Livius and Hilda Ulfsdottir, exploring Vinland and meeting the natives.

Finding the Conservatory[]

"North remembered what Ari told Livius about Magni, before he died. North kidnapped my mom so he could find out how Magni interfered with the Conservatory through Ari's memories."

―Horatio Pierce deducing North's plan, 2022

Some more time passed, during the time exploring Ari's memories he discovered that he was directly descended from the Isu Magni, much to his surprise. Horatio finally reached the traumatic memory he was unable to access prior. He witnessed Ari's discovery of the Conservatory in Newfoundland, Livius' revelation as a Sage and betrayal, fighting Livius, and Livius' and Hilda's death. Horatio emerged from the Animus, in tears, feeling the emotions Ari felt at the time. He was devastated, it was as if he too went through the same loss as Ari, to which he did.

After being consoled by Hayley, Horatio swiftly recovered and gathered his bearings. Having watched the feed alongside Horatio exploring his ancestors memories, they all put the pieces together. The ramblings North was spouting in the security recordings pointed to him being a Sage, recollecting his life as Livius, and that remembering what Ari told Livius a millennia prior - he wants to know what Magni did so he could find his 'beloved'.

Upon travelling to Newfoundland, the group managed to locate the 'Frænda' tribe village. The group began digging around the area, searching for Hilda's grave and in-turn the key. Horatio, through the Bleeding Effect, recollected Ari burying Hilda and the Key. Finding her burial, he began to dig and located the key alongside Hilda's remains. Feeling the residual guilt of Ari, Horatio looked on at her remains remorsefully. Erica, coming up behind him placed a hand on his shoulder and expressed sympathy but reminded him she had been gone for a millennia. Horatio added that made it worse, just a few hours ago, he, as Ari, was with her where she was warm and alive. Now she was nothing but bones. Recovering the key, the Assassins then made their way to the Conservatory.

When they arrived, Horatio unlocked the first entrance with the Key and the group entered inside the Isu structure. Navigating their way through the Conservatory, the Assassins finally arrived at the large platform where Ari, Hilda and Livius had their showdown a millennia prior. As a historian, Erica commented how amazed she was at physically being inside an Isu structure with Jason adding that the footage paled in comparison. Horatio approached the central console and recalled what Magni told Ari, that the Viking was the Isu's 'heir' and that his blood was the 'key'. Being Magni's 'heir' himself, Horatio gathered that there was something unique about his DNA... all things considered.

Finding Shakuru and the Isu[]

Jason: "Holy--holy shit. They're all Isu... suspended in hibernation. That's what he wanted, he was going to wake them up... but for what?"

Kyle: "Isn't that the question of the day."

―Jason Hart and Kyle North, 2022

Placing his hand on the central console, he watched as the Isu device began to glow, as did his skin. After a few moments, they all watched as the entrance that could not be accessed by Livius began to open and what was inside would floor the group. They stepped through the entrance, discovering a chamber of vats containing members of the Isu. They were perfectly preserved and in stasis, it all began to make sense, Livius and North were trying to revive the Isu.

Kyle North, with Jennifer captive, would then make his presence known, garnering the attention of the Assassin cell. Holding Jennifer hostage, he then went on to explain his plan, stating he'd waited a millennia to reunite with Shakuru - what was a few more moments? North first praised Magni posthumously, stating that locking the key within his bloodline was nothing short of genius. He continued stating that he and Shakuru had been planning this since before the first Catastrophe, that she and a few hand-selected Isu would undergo stasis while he reincarnated into humanity to release them from their sleep, then they could assume their rightful place as humanity's rulers.

Magni, however, had interfered as they all knew and North had to 'waste' several lifetimes looking for Magni's descendants. Thankfully, due to Abstergo's Animus technology, finding Magni's descendants was a lot easier. He then gleefully found amusement in Magni's 'failure'. Bringing attention to Jennifer, he confessed the only reason that she was alive was due in part to needing her DNA to access the stasis chamber but now, she had no use to him. North aimed his gun toward Jennifer's temple, preparing to push the trigger but Hayley reacted quickly and hurled a throwing knife in the Sage's direction, knocking the gun from his hand.

Annoyed, North threw Jennifer toward the platform's ledge forcing Horatio and Hayley to reach her before she fell. Utilising this distraction, North made his way toward the Stasis Chamber quickly despached Jason and Erica, knocking them out. Arnold then engaged North to prevent him from reaching the stasis pods. Managing to bring Jennifer back up to the platform, and the mother and son quickly embraced before he told Hayley to get her out of there and make sure she was safe. Hayley argued, stating she was leader of the cell but Horatio rebuffed, stating there was no time to argue. Reluctantly, she agreed to escort Jennifer out.

Horatio quickly rushed over to Jason and Erica but they were unconscious. Then focusing his attention on Arnold, he sprinted toward the Master Assassin and Sage but witnessed North fatally wound his father. Overcome by grief, he cried out in terror and quickly held his father before he could hit the ground, begging him to not "do this to me", repeating to him that he's alright.

Distracted by his dying father, North activated Shakuru's stasis pod before moving on to the others. A tearful Horatio cradled his dying father as North and the other Isu passed him, exiting the temple, not even believing he was worthy to die at their hands. As they left, Horatio continued to tearfully beg his father not to die but Arnold jokingly confessed that if he was younger, he would have kicked North's ass. Coughing up blood, Arnold reminded him to stay focused and now that the Isu have been revived, all of humanity was at risk and that he needed to stop him. Arnold told Horatio that he knew he could do it and that he treasured the brief time they had together.

Hunt for the Eden Engines[]

Burying a father[]

"I'm going to find North and his 'beloved'. Then I'm going to kill them all."

―Horatio Pierce, April 2022

Horatio cradled the body of his father for some time after his death, even well after Jason and Erica had awakened from being knocked out. Unsure of what to do or say, they simply stood and watched. At the sigh of Arnold's body, Jennifer immediately begins crying whereas tears silently begin to stream down Hayley's cheeks.

They bury Arnold a few miles outside the Conservatory, Jennifer tearfully remarks at how she hates the fact that Arnold is being buried in an unmarked grave, like a piece of trash. Erica counters Jennifer's statement, explaining that the nature of their work is secret and a public burial puts them at risk, as well as this, Arnold's body would be an asset to Abstergo as they could freely extract the genetic memories of his ancestors. Horatio remains silent through the entire exchange, leading Jason to call for his attention.

Finally speaking up, Horatio vows to kill North and the Isu. Later on, Hayley makes an encrypted call to William Miles and debriefs him on the situation at hand. Acknowledging this, he assures her that he will make it a top priority to find North and the Isu's whereabouts, and that he will inform her if he learns of anything.

A new lead[]

Another day passes, and the team of Assassins arrive in Nigeria to locate the Factory, the Isu temple where all humans originated. Powered by a Source of Eden, it was able to be used as a sort of 'factory reset' to send humans into a docile state, therefore making them easier to be controlled by Pieces of Eden. Horatio remembers that they left the Source there after completing the memories of Ugochukwu and that North and the other Isu may make the Factory their first target.

Horatio and the others entered the Isu temple where he would guide the others to the location of the Source of Eden through the Bleeding Effect. Locating the Source, Horatio breaks the lock of the box it was hidden in and picks up the meteorite fragment, it activates at the touch of his DNA. Despite not being placed on the activation pedestal, the Factory begins to awaken as Horatio's Isu genes interface with the Source. Triggering a Bleeding Effect, Horatio passes out.

Briefly reliving the childhood of his ancestor Küpeyakwüskonam, Horatio then returns to the present finding himself in the Animus. Confused at what he had just witnessed, he asks what had happened with Hayley explaining that contact with the Source and the Factory's activation seemed to have triggered a Bleeding Effect. Jason informs him that he was pulled out of the simulation when the Factory suddenly powered down. Meanwhile, Erica theorises that the Factory specifically showed him this ancestor for a reason and that it must be linked to North and the Isu. Horatio comments that the Isu were a crafy people, specifically Magni. Believing to have found a lead, the team exit the Factory but take the Source with them in case the other Isu come to use the Factory.

Horatio, Hayley, Jason, Erica and Jennifer are in a van travelling through Nigeria, on their way to a hotel in Onitsha. While on the drive, Horatio swipes through pictures on his phone of him and Arnold. Jennifer notices the pictures and tells him that she was happy that the two managed to reconcile, and that she misses him too, wishing she'd have gotten to hold him one last time. The two embrace for a brief moment before Erica calls for everyone's attention. After conducting some research, cross referencing historical documents and documents from the Assassin database, Erica has gathered more information on Horatio's ancestor.

She explains that his ancestor, Küpeyakwüskonam, was a Cree warrior who aided members of the Parisian Brotherhood in New France. Confused, Jason asks what made him so relevant with Horatio adding that he wasn't even an Assassin. Hayley states that whatever the reason, there was something that happened in Horatio's ancestor's life that the Factory wanted him to see. Erica cautiously pondered if Küpeyakwüskonam's life were even relevant to their mission to stop the Isu, Jennifer adds that they will have to take a "leap of faith".

The group arrive at a hotel and temporarily settle there while Hayley contacts the Altaïr II and arranges for pick up at the nearest port. Horatio proposes getting a start on reliving Küpeyakwüskonam's memories, or Küpeyak as he calls him, commenting on how difficult his name is to pronounce.

Horatio spends the next three hours reliving the genetic memories of Küpeyakwüskonam from 1693 to 1694. During this time, he learned of the existence of the Eden Engine to which he asks if his team had "got that" after returning to the present. Jason sarcastically comments on how the name didn't seem ominous at all. Hayley declares that's why the Factory triggered the Bleeding Effect, showing Horatio Küpeyakwüskonam's memories, theorising that Magni manipulated events from the past, knowing this is what everything was leading up to. Erica then adds that the Eden Engine must be what North and Shakuru are searching for, what it does, they can only guess.

Hayley orders Horatio to take a break for the day, which he agrees with. Meanwhile, Jason and Erica tasked themselves with finding more information about the Eden Engines.

A day later, the Altaïr II arrives in Nigeria and the Assassin cell board the ship and sail to sea. The team update the crew of the Altaïr II on their findings and their current task of finding the Eden Engine through Horatio's ancestor's memories. Gavin Banks tells the Assassin team that they can remain on the Altaïr II for now, as they were all in this together and needed to stop North and the others. Gavin also expressed his sympathy for Arnold's death, telling Horatio that he was one of the best. Erica informs the crew that they hadn't come up with anything on the Eden Engine yet, their best bet was to keep going through Küpeyakwüskonam's memories.

All agreeing, Horatio re-enters the animus and continues to progress through Küpeyakwüskonam's memories.

Working with Meaghan Allard[]

After completing a few more sequences of his ancestor's genetic memories and seeing the physical appearance of the Eden Engine, he is removed from the animus by the others. Erica reveals that the Eden Engine that was shown in the feed of Küpeyakwüskonam's memories, she recognised it. She goes on to explain that she came across it when she was in Cuba during her gap year in college, Hayley adds that she's surprised that Abstergo didn't snag it but Jason added that Abstergo overlook Pieces of Eden from time to time. Horatio asks Erica whereabouts the Eden Engine was in Cuba with her answering that it was located within a museum last time she was there.

Gavin Banks acknowledges this and informs the group of an Assassin cell located in Santa Clara, Cuba led by Meaghan Allard, assuring them that he would contact her asking her to lend aid in their search. Erica uncharacteristically expresses her excitement to meet Meaghan and her cell, confused Horatio asks why with Hayley explaining that she is the descendant of legendary French Assassin Arno Dorian, and great-granddaughter of Isabelle Allard. With that, the Altaïr II makes its way to Cuba.

A day later, the Altaïr II docks in Havana and the team bids Gavin Banks and the other Assassins farewell before renting an RV and making their way over to Santa Clara to meet Meaghan Allard and her cell. A few hours later, they arrive at the cooridinates just outside of Santa Clara, where Allard's camp should be located, and upon arrival the group are met with hostility by Allard's team. Threatening to open fire, Hayley implores for them to listen and informs them that they are Assassins and Gavin Banks should have notified them. Horatio brandishes his hidden blade, ready to engage but tensions are eased when Meaghan orders her team to stand down.

With the arrival of Meaghan and the threat of combat at rest, Hayley introduces herself as the leader of her cell as well as its members with Meaghan doing the same. Horatio asks what Banks had told her before their arrival, Meaghan explains that she was already aware of the Assassins top priority to locate Kyle North and the other Isu, and that Gavin explained that they'd found something that could throw a wrench in the Isu's plans. Horatio then reveals the nature of an Eden Engine, at least what they've learned so far, and that it was allegedly located in Municipal Museum Emilio Bacardi Moreau, Santiago de Cuba. Hayley is quick to assume that Abstergo are hot on its tail as well and need to work fast.

The Assassins begin to formulate a plan with Meaghan proposing that they utilise guerrilla tactics to combat any potential enemies there and retrieve the Engine. Jason and Erica motion to remain at the camp and provide tactical support for the Assassins going into the field consisting of Horatio, Meaghan, Hayley, Jacob Richards, and more.

Operation Puma[]

"I admire you a lot. You're out there, helping the little guy and being what a true Assassin should be. Most days I just feel like some glorified treasure hunter more than I do an Assassin."

―Horatio to Meaghan, May 2022

The field Assassins set off for Santiago de Cuba. During the drive Horatio and Meaghan learn more about each other with him learning of her status as an Assassin activist. Expressing his desire to do the same, he laments that it feels that all he does nowadays is "go treasure hunting for Pieces of Eden".

Meaghan notices that Horatio has been extremely focused on finding the Eden Engine and whenever the name "Kyle" or "North" is mentioned, his body language completely shifts to hostility. Reluctantly, Horatio confesses to her that North murdered his father in front of his eyes a month prior, revealing to her his vow to kill him when the opportunity came.

Arriving at the museum 3 hours later. Scouting a top a nearby rooftop opposite of the museum, the Assassins spot evidence of Abstergo's presence within the vicinity. As an expert in guerrilla tactics, Meaghan lays out a plan of action which first involved them utilising stealth to infiltrate the museum. Following Meaghan's plan, the Assassins manage to surprise Sigma Team and garner the upper hand for once. Clearing through some of the Sigma Team agents, Berg then arrives with more leading Meaghan and Hayley to urge Horatio into locating the Eden Engine on his own.

Doing so, he manages to find North, Shakuru and the other Isu standing over another Templar agent, Leah Chavez, but stops them from killing her as the emotional wound following his father's death reopens at the sight of North. Hurling a throwing knife at North, he then engages the Sage and briefly duels him. The Assassin is knocked into a weapon display. Utilising the historical weaponry within the museum, he picks out a sword and a kukri blade before attacking North once more, utilising all the skills he had inherited from his ancestors in this fight.

Meaghan and Hayley's duel with Berg manages to find its way to the others, creating a chaotic three way fight between the Assassins, Templars and Isu. The Assassins prove a more formidable force through the tactics taught to them by Meaghan, as well as their unifed front as opposed to the disjointed cooperation between Berg and Leah, and the undisciplined Isu.

Horatio is able to manipulate North's emotional weakness by injuring Shakuru by throwing a kukri blade at her thigh. Distracted, North disengages and attacks Leah before she could deal a finishing blow to an injured Shakuru. Remembering her mission, Leah manages to retrieve the Eden Engine. Horatio attempts to seize the opportunity to kill North and Shakuru, avenging his father, but Meaghan notices this and reminds him of what's more important - keeping the Engine out of both the Isu and Templar hands. Snapping out of it, Horatio gives chase to Leah while suggesting that the other Assassins retreat for now.

Catching up to Leah, the two engage in a short fight with Horatio coming out on top as the more skilled of the two. Retrieving the Eden Engine, he bolts toward the nearest window breaking through it and performing a Leap of Faith into a pile of leaves. Rendezvousing with the others, they begin the drive back to Meaghan's camp. Meaghan asks what Horatio and the others will do now, Horatio examines the Eden Engine that is now glowing at his touch, signifying his Isu DNA activating it. Without answering, he hands it to her and watches as it remains activated in her grasp and she shows no ill effects. The two share a knowing look, acknowledging their unique ancestry.

Horatio then offers the Eden Engine to her, telling her that there are more that need to be found and that while they were both targets for Abstergo, he believed it would be safer with her. Giving her the option to do whatever she wished with it, knowing she would be responsibile with its fate. After arriving back at Meaghan's camp, Horatio and his cell remain their for a day before saying their goodbyes to Meaghan and her cells, continuing their hunt for the remaining two Eden Engines. However, before leaving, Horatio promises his aid if she ever needed his help with anything.

After departing Meaghan's camp, Horatio and the others take shelter at a motel in the city. There, they plot their next move deducing that another Eden Engine and its whereabouts must be hidden in Küpeyakwüskonam's memories. With that, Horatio elects to return to the animus and continue exploring through his ancestor's memories.

Allying with the Templars[]

"Heed my words, my Heir and Servant of the Cross. Your Orders must put their differences aside and look to the greater threat. If Shakuru and Pah are allowed to achieve their goals, all of humanity is doomed."

―Magni speaking to Horatio Pierce and Leah Chavez through the memories of Küpeyakwüskonam and Ramona Lucia, 1697

Horatio and the others attempt to access a later memory of Küpeyakwüskonam, however, the particular memory they tried to access appeared corrupted. After being pulled from the animus, asks if this is another Ari situation, in reference to his previous inability to access a certain memory of the Viking Hidden One due to the subject's stress at the time. However, Jason refutes this and states that it is something different, explaining that Küpeyakwüskonam is exhibiting a memory within the current event he was in at the time. Jason further explains that the animus is having difficulty interpreting the Küpeyakwüskonam's simulated memories with the memories he actually experienced at the time.

Having been in a similar situation before, Horatio gathers that they're going to have to synchronise with the memory that Küpeyakwüskonam was experiencing to fully interprete the actual memory they need to access. Jason confirms this and with a sigh, Horatio readies himself to access the memory in question. Horatio progresses through Küpeyakwüskonam's memories, he was contacted by Magni directly through Küpeyakwüskonam and urged to ally with the Templars in their goal to stop North and Shakuru.

Horatio exits the animus and is met with a joke from Jason, stating that Küpeyakwüskonam and Ramona were terrible at retrieving Eden Engines. However everyone ignores his joke and moves on to the elephant in the room, that being Magni's message to both him and Chavez, also realising that she must be currently reliving the genetic memories of Ramona. Erica agrees with Magni's message, that currently, a temporary alliance would achieve results quicker as opposed to being in contention with each other as well as with the Isu. Hayley agrees, however, she expresses concern that the Templars may not see the bigger picture. Horatio then adds that they at least have to try. Jason volunteers to make contact. Hayley tells him to do it.

Jason manages to send a message to the Templars, telling Chavez and Berg to meet them at a specific location in Cuba at a specific time. A day later, the Assassins are at the meeting spot located in Cuba. Erica expresses her apprehension to this with Jason adding that they could have just handed themselves to Abstergo on a silver platter. However, Horatio confidently rebukes this stating that the Templars are, in a sense, in service to humanity like they are and that the Templars know that the Isu are the greatest threat to humanity right now.

Berg responds to this, agreeing with Horatio as he emerges from the shadows alongside Leah. Berg informs the Assassins that this is not his first time working alongside their Order for the greater good. Leah then adds that they will be able to locate the Eden Engines faster together than alone, Hayley shows her awareness that once the Isu threat is dealt with and asks what Abstergo plans to do with the Eden Engines after. Berg confirms that the capabilities of the Eden Engines are too dangerous for humanity to hold, revealing that Abstergo plans to keep them separated but locked away. Leah asks if the Assassins have the Eden Engine they recovered from the museum and Horatio confirms that they do but it has been hidden.

Horatio and the others head over to France where they are to begin working with the Templars. After sharing their discoveries within the animus, the two groups come to realise they have recovered similar information. Following this, Horatio and Leah return to the animus where their sessions are to be monitored side by side in the hopes of finding out information one or the other may not have access to due to the constraints of Küpeyakwüskonam and Ramona's memories.

Following a few hours in the animus, Horatio and Leah are brought out of the animus to take a break much to Berg's dismay as he argues time being of the essence. However, Hayley argues that Horatio and Leah's health and mental state are a priority as well, overexposure within the animus would make them liabilities if they were to re-encounter North and Shakuru again. Following this, Erica mentions that she noticed the day Küpeyakwüskonam and Ramona are in Pachena Bay was the same day of the Cascadia earthquake of 1700. She reveals that the earthquake caused a tsunami which struck the west coast of North America and the coast of Japan, including Pachena Bay, wiping out the Huu-ay-aht village with no survivors.

Expressing their shock, Leah is surprised to find out that Ramona and Küpeyakwüskonam were capable of surviving that earthquake. Berg then states that if the Eden Engines are powerful enough to cause a 9.2 magnitude earthquake, North and Shakuru acquiring all three Eden Engines was more dangerous than they realised. When combined, they had the potential to wipe out all of humanity through creating large scale earthquakes across the world. Horatio then recalls Canaqueese telling Küpeyakwüskonam that the Eden Engines were sought for in order to "create a new world", Leah adds onto this and realises that the Eden Engines must have restorative properties as well as destructive.

Mesmerised, Jason comments on how the Eden Engines are one of the most powerful Pieces of Eden in existence. Hayley begrudgingly adds that Berg was correct in wanting to keep them out of both Assassin and Templar hands. To Berg's dismay, Hayley proposes that Horatio and Leah take a break while she and Berg attempt to formulate a plan on what to do with the Eden Engines upon recovery. Leah asks Berg if they are going to spar later on today to which Horatio offers as he "needs to stretch his legs a bit". Reluctantly, Leah agrees.

A little while later, Horatio and Leah head outside and begin sparring. Horatio is clearly going easy on her which she notices and tells him not to, complying he puts in his full effort and quickly floors her, much to Leah's annoyance. Helping her up, Horatio asks Leah why she joined the Templars stating that she seemed young and "not the Templar-type". Leah responds stating that the Templars aren't emotionless evil white dudes like the men he's killed in his ancestor's memories, she further expresses her opinions on humanity and how inherently flawed they are and were too barbaric to be left to their own devices.

Horatio comments on how that's a bleak way to look at it, she asks him how he views it and how its any better than anarchy. Horatio responds that he views humanity like a child. That, like a human child, humanity collectively must grow and mature their behaviour as they age similar to a baby growing into an adult. And because of this, he believes that humans are capable of ultimately evolving from their barbaric nature through nurture and education. Leah asks how that's possible through freewill, seeing as humans without any structure or order turn to things such as piracy, revolution, murder, rape and more.

Correcting her, Horatio explains that the Assassins do not fight for anarchy or total freedom, agreeing that it does invite chaos. After having experienced the lives of multiple Assassins and experiencing their own thoughts and feelings on what it means to be an Assassin, he explains that the Assassin's Creed and its phrase of "Nothing is true, everything is permitted" is merely a guideline on how to practice freedom responsibly, as well as merely being an observation of human existence. He expresses true peace should be achieved through the freedom of learning from one another and acquiring wisdom and knowledge that allows it, as opposed to the Templar goals of enforcing peace.

Horatio then shares his views on the Templar ideology, stating that he empathises with their wish for peace but heavily disagrees with their methods, sharing his belief that an enforced peace is not true peace and that not only does it rob us of our freedom, but also our individuality, essentially our humanity. Leah meets his response with silence, taking in everything that Horatio said, having her view of the Assassins challenged by Horatio and spending so much time in the memories of an Assassin had begun to waver her belief in the Templar ideals. However, she kept this information to herself, meeting Horatio's ideologies with a dry joke that he was "practically a hundred years old" with "all the old dead men" in his head.

Leah then confesses that Horatio isn't as bad as she thought she'd be...for an Assassin, however she calls him an "asshole" for "beating her up" in Cuba. To which Horatio accepts, taking the slight on the chin. With that, he offers to spar again.

Sacrifice[]

The following day, Horatio and Leah return to the animus and pick up where they left off in their respective research target's memories in 1700. The Assassin and Templar are able to successfully locate the remaining two Eden Engines following synchronising with both the memories of Küpeyakwüskonam and Ramona, respectively. Returning to the present, and without having to discuss what they found with the others, all prepare to split up and recover the Eden Engines.

The Assassins are accompanied by Leah, Berg and Sigma Team to Champ de Mars with the plan of flying over to the Algohoma District in Northeastern Ontario, once they recover the Eden Engine in France. The Assassins and Templars arrive in Paris 7 hours later at 1:00am, making their way over to Champ de Mars Horatio finds a dug up hole where the Eden Engine is supposed to be. The group are horrified to realise that they have been beaten in recovering the Eden Engine, Jason rationalises this and comments that the Eden Engine they recovered in Cuba was safely hidden but Berg refutes this, stating that the revived Isu are just as dangerous with two.

Suddenly, Horatio's precognitive Eagle Vision is triggered when he begins loud ominous whispering, alerting the others that the Isu are still here. Following this, Sigma Team members who suddenly kill themselves. They are then met by North, Shakuru and the remaining Isu clad in armor and wielding Swords and Apples of Eden. Shakuru mocks the two groups, calling their war pathetic and miniscule in the grand scheme of the Isu's resurgence, and it was this very reason as to why they needed to be wiped out.

Horatio asks how it is they located the other Eden Engines to which North reveals that D'aureville was a reborn Isu and he was able to access his past memories much faster than an animus. Leah comments on how that doesn't explain how they managed to find the Eden Engines specifically. North reveals to the Assassins and Templars that during D'aureville's fight with Küpeyakwüskonam and Ramona, the explosion that occurred when Küpeyakwüskonam separated the Eden Engines, D'aureville was granted a vision of the Eden Engines across time, including where they would be in 2022. Shakuru then adds that they also recovered the second Engine in Canada, confirming they have two now.

Shakuru then activates the Apple of Eden which she uses on the Assassins in an effort to make them kill themselves, however, due to Horatio's high concentration of Isu genes, he is able to resist its effects. Picking up a pistol from one of the dead Sigma Team members, he shoots at Shakuru but a Ring of Eden she is carrying prevents her from being shot, however, it was enough to break her concentration on the Apple. The others are broken from their compelling and Horatio urges them to rid themselves of all their weapons so the Isu cannot compell them to commit suicide.

Berg refuses revealing that Abstergo had created a prototype device that protected humans from the effects of Apples, using it on himself and Leah they aid Horatio in his fight against North and the others. Weaponless, Hayley aids them as well. Meanwhile, Jason and Erica are forced to remain on the sidelines as they aren't field operatives. During the skirmish, Horatio and Leah were able to remove an Eden Engine from North and Jason and Erica are able to recover it, fleeing toward Dupleix. North and Shakuru give chase with Horatio and Hayley following suit. Berg elects to remain behind and handle the other Isu, ordering Leah to follow the Assassins.

Horatio, Hayley and Leah come to find Jason and Erica have been forced to hand over the Eden Engine by North through the Apple of Eden, and that Shakuru has proceeded to unify the two Eden Engines together to destroy France. Resuming their fight against the reborn Isu and his lover. Hayley and Leah manage to disarm both North and Shakuru of their Apples, and Jason and Erica are able to kick them away, keeping them out of the Isu's grasp.

During this fight, the Eden Engine inches closer and closer to merging - Erica theorises that the energy generated from the complete union of the two Eden Engines was enough to completely wipe out France. North elects to stay behind to ensure that the Eden Engines unification is successful, hesitant at first Shakuru agrees and promises him that his sacrifice will not be in vain before quickly knocking down Hayley before preparing to flee. However, she is stopped by Leah with the Templar slicing at her throat with a knife, Shakuru drops to the floor, gargling on her own blood before dying. Enraged at the death of his lover, North attacks Leah but Horatio steps in, engaging him briefly once more before assassinating him, killing him for good. Watching as the reborn Isu dies, Horatio reminds him that that was for his father.

The Eden Engines are close to completing their unification when the surrounding area begins to rumble, showing signs of an impending earthquake. Horatio tells the members of his team to flee, reminding them that his Isu genetics will be able to separate the Eden Engines and if he was unable to, they would all have a head start at making their escape. Hayley, Jason and Erica initially refuse but Horatio manages to convince them that its the right thing to do, and that they need to go on to fight another day. Hayley tells Horatio that she loves him with him reciprocating.

Horatio begins to forcibly separate the Eden Engines. Preparing for the inevitable, Horatio recounts his life and the relationships he made and comes to accept his fate knowing that he helped save the world and France. Closing his eyes, Horatio successfully pulls apart the two Eden Engines as the resulting action creates a large feedback that causes the Dupleix subway to collapse in on itself.

Postmortem and legacy[]

Less than a day following his death, Horatio's body was found by Abstergo deep beneath the rubble of the Dupleix metro. Various DNA samples were extracted by an Abstergo recovery unit before he body was taken to an Abstergo facility alongside the two Eden Engines he had separated. Horatio's genetic memories that were recovered from the DNA samples were later uploaded to the Abstergo Cloud. Abstergo then planned on exploiting Horatio's genetic memories through an initiative dubbed the Pierce Sample Project in order to locate Pieces of Eden that his ancestors may have recovered or interacted with in the past, or at the very least find suitable material for Helix programs, feature films, and other related content.

A week after Horatio's death, on 16 May, a funeral was held for both him and his father aboard the Altaïr II. On that same day, Hayley Yasutake discovered she was pregnant with Horatio's child.

Horatio's death had a lasting effect on those he had encountered and befriended over his lifetime, even the Templar Leah Chavez who came to feel immense guilt over the Assassin's death.

Prior to his death, Horatio left one of the Eden Engines in the possession of fellow Assassin Meaghan Allard - thus preventing Abstergo from collecting all three.

Ancestry[]

"My God, look at that stream of ancestors! Dating all the way back to the Isu Era. the Middle Ages, the Heian period, colonial Canada and America, the American Civil War! And that's the tip of the iceberg, this intern's a genetic buffet!"

―Alexandre Bacque, 2017

Horatio was a direct descendant of prominent members of the Æsir Odin, Thor, and Magni through the maternal line, as well as descended from many different lines of Assassins including the Kurosawa clan and Ravensdale family through the paternal side of his family. In consequence, Horatio's rich bloodline of Isu and Assassins gave him a disproportionally high amount of Isuan genetics than most other humans, this also allowed him to wield Pieces of Eden without any ill effects.

Through his maternal line, Magni would become an ancestor of the tenth century Viking Einarr. Einarr would travel to the Kingdom of England and en counter an Englishwoman on one of his raids, Cwenhild, the two would fall in love and give birth to a son, Ari Einarrson, who would go on to become a member of the Hidden Ones. Ari travelled to Vinland alongside Leif Erikson at the beginning of the eleventh century, where he would meet and marry an indigenous woman, producing a child from this union.

Centuries later in the seventeenth century during the Iroquois Wars, Ari's child would go on to become an ancestor of an unnamed Moose Cree woman, who would meet and marry the Iroquois warrior Mahikan, through this union she would give birth to a son, Küpeyakwüskonam.

In eleventh century Japan, Horatio had an ancestor, Kurosawa no Takeshi, an Assassin in the Heian period. Through a union with an unknown Chinese woman, Takeshi sired a son, Kurosawa no Rōnin the next ancestor in Horatio's bloodline.

Horatio's ancestors during the eighteenth century included David Ravensdale and his wife Mary in Manchester. David and Mary sired a son, Richard Ravensdale, who would go on to become an Assassin and later a Templar in Britain. Richard would go on to meet the Assassin Angela Crawford and they would give birth to a son, Kenneth Ravensdale, who also went on to become an Assassin. During his travels in the Thirteen Colonies, Kenneth met a Choctaw woman by the name of Coahoma and they also had a son, Osyka, who would go on to become an Assassin and play an important role in locating the Sources of Eden.

In the nineteenth century during the decline of the Atlantic slave trade, Horatio's ancestors included the Ngwa warrior Emeka and his wife, Anwulichukwu. They went on to have a son, Ugochukwu, who was enslaved and shipped to the United States. He was freed by the Assassin Bartholomew Abrams and also joined the Assassins, participating in the Civil War and played a crucial part of weakning Templar presence in the United States. Ugochukwu would go on to marry the half-African half-American Assassin Iona Moartz and they had two children Bartholomew and Adaugo Moartz with the latter mothering Mae Brown, who would be the grandmother of the Assassin Arnold Pierce, Horatio's father.

At an unknown point the Kurosawa Clan, the Ravensdale family and Ugochukwu's offspring would intertwine, becoming Horatio's paternal line and leading to the birth of Horatio's father, the Assassin Arnold Pierce who would meet Jennifer Westwood, a half-Cree half-Italian woman, and the descendant of Magni.

Personality and characteristics[]

Horatio is an intelligent and witty young man who despises the inequality and the corruption that goes on in the world. He wishes to use the skills he has developed over the years to make the world a better place, due to his age, some would consider his goals naive but his worldview coincides with that of the Assassins making him somewhat as a living embodiment of their ideals.

In the five years that passed since Horatio joined the Assassins, he has become more confident within himself and the place he has in the world. Although he misses his previous life at times, including his mother, Horatio has made peace with it and continues to do his part in keeping the world free from Templar control.

As a result of experiencing the lives of his ancestors, Horatio sometimes feels the echoes of their lives and their spirit through him, with moments passing where he temporarily forgets he is Horatio and not Rōnin, Kenneth, Osyka, or Ugochukwu. Aware that this is just a symptom of the bleeding effect, he does not put much thought into it as he still feels very much himself. Also, the young Assassin tends to feel much older than his years through the many different experiences he has gone through alongside his ancestors, with it at times manifesting into a wisdom no one can comprehend.

Equipment and skills[]

Horatio possessed a dormant Eagle Vision, synchronizing through Rōnin's genetic memory activated his ability, his Eagle Vision later evolved when he relived the memories of Ari Einarrson, granting him the ability to sense danger around him which manifested as sharp whispers.

Via the Bleeding Effect, Horatio acquired some minor abilities from Rōnin's skillset allowing him mildly free-run and giving him minor hand-to-hand skills. Horatio began training through the Animus via the Bleeding Effect reliving the memories of his ancestor, Osyka. Horatio's skillset expanded making him proficient in using various weapons and tools, dual-wielding, stealth, archery and freerunning.

After reliving the genetic memories of his Ngwa ancestor, Ugochukwu. Horatio obtained some of his skills which included the mastery of other weapons such as kukri blades and throwing knives.

Horatio carried a hidden blade, gifted to him by Hayley Yasutake. In combat, Horatio dual wields his hidden blade and knife against opponents.

Horatio is also gifted in IT.

Trivia[]

The name Horatio is an Italian name. In Italian the meaning of the name Horatio is: Timekeeper, an allegory for Horatio being able to revisit various points of history through the memories of his ancestors. Derived from the Roman clan name Horatius. The surname Pierce was adapted from the given name Piers, a derivation of Peter, which means "rock," from the Old French pierre (Latin petra), meaning "stone" or "rock."
Horatio stands at 5'10" and weighs 143lbs
Through his mother, Horatio is one quarter-Italian and one quarter-Cree.
Before becoming an Assassin. Horatio had planned to use his IT skills to start a company similar to Apple and help the poor around the world.
While reliving the genetic memories of Osyka, Horatio realized he shared a lot of similarities with his ancestor as they both grew up without a father and longed to be closer to them.
During their months together, Horatio has developed feelings for Hayley due to the life altering events they've both experienced together. Horatio is unsure but hopes she feels the same.
From his paternal line, Horatio is of Japanese, Chinese, British, Choctaw, and Nigerian heritage and Italian, Cree, and Scandinavian from his maternal line.
Horatio is left-handed.

Horatio Pierce

Biographical information
Born	21 April 1997 Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Died	9 May 2022 (aged 25) Dupleix, Paris, France
Political information
Affiliations	Abstergo Entertainment (2017) American Assassins (2017 - 2022)
Real-world information
Appears in	Assassin's Creed: Heritage (modern day) Assassin's Creed: Source (modern day) Assassin's Creed: Salvation (modern day) Assassin's Creed: Saga (modern day) Assassin's Creed: Incursion (modern day) Assassin's Creed: Annihilation (modern day) Assassin's Creed: Renegade (mentioned) Assassin's Creed: Convergence (mentioned)