| Klaus-Leopold von Adler | |
|---|---|
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| Biographical information | |
| Born |
Unknown, 1896 |
| Died |
May 18th, 1921 |
| Political information | |
| Affiliations |
Assassins
|
| Real-world information | |
- "Caesar rebelled against his nation. Napoleon rebelled against his government. Me? I rebelled against my brothers and sisters. So? Where's my title of Emperor?"
- ―Klaus, ranting to Ingrid
Klaus-Leopold von Adler (1896 - 1921), born Klaus-Leopold Augusten Klein, was an Elite Apprentice of the German Brotherhood, founder and Assassin of the Revolutionary Brotherhood, as well as Master Assassin of the German Brotherhood. He was most famous for having been the lone survivor of the Nuremberg Purge, and a main participant in the German Brotherhood War. He was the biological older brother of German Grand Master, Stefan Klein.
Appearance[]
Personality[]
There are many accounts of Klaus' personality having an almost duality to it. In a letter from the German Brotherhood to the British Brotherhood, assessing their plans for dealing with the German Brotherhood War, Klaus was described as being mentally unstable.
- "As for Herr von Adler. He is much more dangerous than you could possibly imagine. The boy is not only erratic and dangerous but also plagued by certain uneasiness to his mind. He irradiates an aura of snapping at any given moment."
- ―Klaus-Leopold von Adler, being discussed by Master Assassin Peter Gehring in his letter to the British Brotherhood, 1914
However, accounts such as this one, were later designated as propaganda by the Second German Brotherhood, much to the dismay of the British Brotherhood.
Klaus was also described as incredibly dissatisfied with the Brotherhood itself. Where many Assassins found pride in striking from the shadows, Klaus believed it to be cowardice not to face your opponent with honour.
Biography[]
Early Life[]
Klaus-Leopold Augusten Klein, was born in Manheim, sometime in 1896, to Templars Richard and Mary-Anne Klein. In 1899, at the age of 3, he was kidnapped and taken hostage as part of a more nefarious plan by the Brotherhood to extort the parents for Templar information in exchange for their son. Mary-Anne had initially requested the Order's help, but was quickly refused by the higher-ups, and also to some degree Richard. They had determined that Klaus' sacrifice would be a necessary step in the goal to maintain their stronghold in Manheim against the growing Assassin forces.
Left parentless and unwanted, Klaus would be adopted by Heinrich Straussler, a Master Assassin and later Mentor. Intending to bring him into the Brotherhood, he renamed the boy, Klaus-Leopold von Adler, in honor of Straussler's distant ancestor Master Assassin, Ezio Auditore da Firenze. Straussler had hoped that this name would carry some spiritual purpose to protect him.
He was raised under Straussler's care, in Straussler's home city, Nuremberg. Klaus was supposedly completely unaware of his past, although sources differ on this. However, it is the general consensus that he believed his parents were deceased Assassins Walther and Erika Leonov, both of whom had been old friends of Straussler.
Apprentice of the Brotherhood[]
Klaus was formally brought into training under Straussler, at the age of 10 in 1906. For three years he began to excel in hand-to-hand combat, and free-running, but still struggled however, due to him seemingly being unable to develop eagle vision. This turned out to be more of a boon for him than a curse, as it had granted him a sixth sense.
- "There is something else in those eyes of his. Where we can merely see what happens on the outside, he is somehow able to perceive the intent behind our actions. I fear that he may know much more about us than we know about ourselves."
- ―Straussler describing Klaus' sixth sense to Peter Gehring
During these formative years, Klaus met, Albert Kohlmann, a future Grand Master of the Austrian Templars. The two would develop a very close friendship, which would explain many of their later alliances, despite their opposite ideologies. Klaus and Albert, became troublemakers, and would harass the citizens of Nuremberg, through robbery, vandalism and trespassing. According to Abstergo databases, Klaus had been the main instigator in these events. They were eventually caught, when a fight broke out between them and a few other street kids.
Incredibly disappointed of his behaviour outside the Brotherhood, the council temporarily suspended his training and endorsed Straussler's decision to send Klaus to boarding school in Vienna.
Teenage Years in Vienna[]
Klaus would spend the next four years of his life from 1909 to 1913, growing up in Vienna. Here he would develop and interest for history, and especially in the Viking sagas. Within these sagas he learnt of many great Vikings including, shieldmaiden and jarlskona, Eivor Varinsdottir. It was inspiration from her, that lead him to create the tenants of his own creed. One which described facing your opponent in honour, rather than striking from the shadows.
He would also secretly become involved with apprentices of the Austrian Brotherhood. Alongside them he would begin to hone his Assassin skills even further, and would rarely accompany them on various errands. During this short period he met Ingrid Rheinberger, his future wife.
- "I thought you were an idiot. An optimistic fool, always making a clown out of himself. Now, I understand that it was just a facade, for you to hide all your anger and frustration behind."
- ―Ingrid apologising to Klaus, 1913