| Mahikan | |
|---|---|
| |
| Biographical information | |
| Born |
1646 |
| Died |
Spring 1695 (aged 48-49) |
| Political information | |
| Affiliations | |
| Real-world information | |
| Appears in | |
Mahikan (1646 - 1695) was a former member of the Iroquois before his induction into the Mōsonī, where he would meet his wife and father the warrior Küpeyakwüskonam. Mahikan briefly fought in the Iroquois Wars before becoming disillusioned with his people's reasoning for war, and wanting nothing to do with it. Mahikan is an ancestor of Horatio Pierce through the maternal line.
Biography[]
Mahikan was born under a different name within the Onondanga people. From a young age, he was trained as a warrior and hunter before fighting against the French and other indigenous American tribes - participating in the defence of the Iroquois homeland in New York in January 1666. During his time in the Iroquois Wars, Mahikan taught himself the French language and was taught how to use a musket once his people received arnaments from the Dutch.
In 1672, Mahikan encountered and unknowingly killed a Templar. Finding a Crystal Ball on his person, Mahikan held it and transported to the Nexus, which he believed to be the Spirit World, and communed with the Isu Magni whom he believed was the Creator God Hahgwehidiyu. Magni foretold Mahikan of his future son's 'great destiny' and that his actions will affect the future of their people and their land.
A year later, Mahikan lost faith in his tribe and the senseless wars they fought against the other tribes. Believing the colonisers to be the true threat, he grew frustrated with his people's wars against each others and their blindness to the colonisation of their lands.
Eventually, he would abandon his tribe and travel to Northeastern Ontario where he would encounter members of a Mōsonī band. Proving his worth to the band with his skills and hunting abilities, he was allowed to join their band and was inducted into the Mōsonī, taking on the name 'Mahikan'.
Mahikan would take on a wife and father a son in 1674, Küpeyakwüskonam, whom he would go on to pass what he learned during his time in the Iroquois Wars.
In 1683, their band was attacked by French soldiers when the conflict between the Iroquois resumed, mistaking their band for Iroquois. Mahikan's wife died in the attack but he managed to save his son and aid in repelling the attack.
Following the attack on their band, Mahikan began training Küpeyakwüskonam in the vital skills needed to become a hunter for their band. However, it was also to be utilised for Küpeyakwüskonam to defend himself if they were ever attacked again. Mahikan also taught him the French language and forms of European tactics and weaponry in order to better understand his enemy. During this time, a neighbouring band merged with theirs in order to strengthen themselves in case of another attack by the French or Iroquois.
10 years later, in 1693, Küpeyakwüskonam, now 19, had grown restless at the continued European expansion through their land, as well as the current war that raged on between the other tribes. Worried that both events would effect the sanctity of his band, he desired to go off and push back against these threats. Noticing this, Mahikan reveals his past to his son and then gifts him with two blades he had forged from the steel of French cutlasses. Mahikan also informs his son that he and the council have agreed to grant Küpeyakwüskonam permission to leave before explaining the nature of his encounter with Magni two decades prior.
Two years after Küpeyakwüskonam left their home, he returned with a European member of the Assassins, Ramona Lucia, informing the tribe of yet another planned attack by the French. Küpeyakwüskonam and Ramona come up with a plan for Mahikan to attempt to stall the French with negotiations, while they tried to reach higher ground and assassinate him.
A day later, General Stéphane D’aureville arrives with his small band of soldiers in tow. Mahikan meets with D'aureville, placing him into position to be assassinated but Küpeyakwüskonam and Ramona are spotted in the trees by one of the soldiers and Ramona's attempt to assassinate D'aureville fails. D'aureville orders his men to begin the attack before brandishing an Eden Engine. Reacting quickly Küpeyakwüskonam shoots an arrow at D'aureville's hand, knocking the Eden Engine from his arm. Releasing a small discharge, the Eden Engine wipes out a quarter of Küpeyakwüskonam's village, killing many warriors and French soldiers alike. Mahikan was one of the many killed in the explosion.
Trivia[]
- The name Mahikan means "wolf" in Cree, from the word mahihkan "wolf; grey wolf; timber wolf".