UPDATE NOTE: This article is about the original Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag, released in 2013. 

You know what they say about an image being worth a thousand words: the same or something similar could be said about expressions. Human expressions can be astonishingly revealing of sentiments or thoughts that may be never expressed through words; they can convey emotions and speak louder than any speech. Their subtlety is impressive; several times, micro-expressions pass unnoticed while being of the utmost importance, while other times, when appearing with calculation, they can even be misleading of a person's true feelings or intentions. The effective depiction of such detail through a three-dimensional world is extremely challenging; even in high-definition productions with absolute attention to everything, sometimes the facial expressions and the body postures may still look unnatural or stiff. Something that is not the case in the original, now classic already, Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag, which can boast, among its many other great traits, about how cared after the design of its characters is, to a degree where they are able to convey even the subtlest of emotions, many times revealing things that are never talked about or not even hinted on the first level.

Background action is also flourishing. An early example is the start of Sequence 6, with Jack Rackham and Charles Vane making their grand entrance in the Old Avery tavern. The scene begins with the lead protagonist Edward Kenway once again studying his map of the Observatory, while at a table behind him Anne Bonny is shown having a drink alongside a man who, although we never learn officially who he is, in fact we know is her husband. (clip)

The real Anne Bonny arrived at Nassau with her spouse at a very young age, and soon became an object of gossip among the locals, because she was considered quite promiscuous. This is a historical detail about the real person, which is discreetly hinted at in the game, with the fictional Anne abruptly changing her posture as soon as the two seasoned pirates show up with a playfully aggressive attitude.

In a blink-and-you-will-miss-it moment, because the camera immediately moves to the left leaving Anne outside the frame, her husband is seen turning towards her, looking clearly annoyed and troubled. (clip)

Partly ready to fight, partly not really bothering about it, Rackham and Vane instantly switch to a much more friendly manner, thanks to Edward's diplomatic and calm response. You can see how their expressions change while he is talking to them, as they realize that the place is not hostile and that they can settle there with no problems, as long as they do not cause any problems themselves.

As the scene comes to and end and Jack makes himself obvious to all the people in the tavern, you can see how Anne leans towards him, while her husband's gaze is something between furious and baffled. (clip)

In the same scene however, there is yet one more interesting series of reactions that may pass unnoticed. After Vane and Rackham make their acquaintance with Edward, our hero abruptly moves to the background action as soon as Thatch makes his grand appearance. Having significantly changed since we last saw him in Sequence 4, Blackbeard is no more just one more pirate, but he has developed an imposing personality, highlighted mostly by rather extravagant stylistic additions the most prominent of which is the long, black beard that he had grown, which already gives him a wild, marginally demonic look. When he enters the scene, being obviously an old acquaintance of the two seasoned pirates, Edward swiftly moves to the back of the tavern's terrace, taking down what is clearly a quite big quantity of rum. For most of the time in the rest of the scene he remains at the back, silently watching, with Rackham turning to give him a curious side-look when he first does so. (clip)

This part of the scene intrigued me when I took notice, and it almost instantly became my headcanon that meanwhile, during the time that passed between the end of Sequence 4 and the beginning of Sequence 5, Edward had started to develop a growing infatuation with Thatch. It is sometimes hinted and other times clearly shown that Edward is very sentimental and has a tendency to bond strongly with people, especially his close friends. Thatch's compelling presence in this scene feels and seems quite overwhelming for him, intimidating in a way that betrays his more vulnerable side. (clip) 

This intriguing non-interaction between them comes to the foreground in Sequence 6, when they go together to explore the wreck of a ship that was rumored to have been transporting large quantities of medicine. When they arrive at the site, Edward undresses and dives down to the wreck to look for the loot in question. Back at the ship, Thatch speaks about how he plans to use more extreme means in order to be able to secure medicines for the people of Nassau, since simply searching shipwrecks is fruitless. He comments how people can get easily intimidated by a fierce, devilish persona, even if it is exaggerated or unreal. Not yet persuaded enough, Edward asks him, with a mysteriously flirty gaze and smile, if he is planning to be the devil himself. (clip)

 

 

 

Immediately after, Thatch puts a hat on his head, under the rim of which he has attached lit fuses, and starts a devilish performance, aiming at showing Edward how exactly he is going to do it, using the unsuspecting Stede Bonnet as a sample of his target group.  

Stede's reaction to Blackbeard's performance is the expected: he gets instantly intimidated, nearly paralyzed by the fierce pirate's gripping presence. 

 

Edward, on the contrary, is watching from a distance, calm and collected, with a discreet grin of fascination on his face. 

 

Then when the performace is over, and Thatch is abruptly back to his usual laid-back style, Edward seems to be in a state of rather enthusiastic tension - if you know what I mean. (clip)

 

 

A detail that is worth noting concerning the relationship between Edward and Thatch comes from the complementary book "Blackbeard's Lost Journal", a beautifully illustrated, gorgeous chronicle of Thatch's experiences in the West Indies, where a quite large portion of the memoir is naturally centered around Edward. It is supposed to contain Thatch's thoughts and reflections, and it includes scenes from the game narrated from his own point of view, as well as some extra dialogues that could have been part of the original scenario of the game but were later left out. One very specific scene is the one where Edward talks to his crew in order to have them decide about raiding the Great Inagua island. The scene in Thatch's journal is described exactly as we see it in the game - with Edward being absolutely captivating in his speech and presence, and the sailors instantly agreeing to follow him. In the journal, however, there is an additional dialogue between Thatch and Jim / Mary as soon as Edward leaves. Thatch confesses to Mary that "If I were a lass, I would be pining for this man", a comment that further highlights the undertones of the already strong bond between him and Edward, which are so masterfully insinuated by their body language - especially Edward's.

 

Another worth-noting instance of such accurate depiction of emotion is in the scene where Thatch announces to Edward that he has decided to retire. You can see how, within seconds, Edward's expression changes and all the sadness and broodiness of the world fill his gaze. (clip)

 

 

Not randomly, the lead character of the game is the one with the most interesting array of expressions and moods. Edward has a stunning physical appearance, and he is able to convey a grand variety of different emotions with his beautiful features, which are at the same time harmonious and intense. His bright blue eyes can show fury, sadness and longing with equal passion, and his hearty smile is always a sign of a golden heart in spite of how superficial or stubborn he may seem due to his decisions and actions sometimes. At the very start of the story, after he saves and then befriends Stede Bonnet, they sail together on the latter's schooner with Edward on the helm. When Stede admires him for his many talents, including him being able to pilot a ship, Edward tells him that he had learned to do it a couple of years ago, when he was a privateer. His expression when he says that clearly shows how he misses those privateering days, probably reminiscing them for a moment. (clip)

 

Then after escaping from his imprisonment on the ship with Adéwalé, as the two of them manage to steal the brigantine that will soon become his own, Edward abruptly names himself the captain of the ship and informs Adéwalé about deciding to name the brig "The Jackdaw", adding that it is to honor the sly bird that he loved back in Swansea, his birthplace. Both his own expression as he says this, and Adéwalé's as he is listening, are very telling of a complex alternation of emotions and inner thoughts. Clearly there is much more about the jackdaw than Edward says; you can tell from the deepness of his gaze and how he stares straight ahead, again as if he is recalling something that should be precious to him. At the same time, Adéwalé's side-look is slightly bitter and cautious, because it was him who first spotted the brig, yet Edward stepped ahead and claimed it as his own; but at the same time it is as if he is trying to decipher the inner psyche of the passionate young man he just met, who is obviously far from being ordinary and common. (clip)

 

 

As much as Edward is able to convey complex and dark emotions, the same way he can show hints of his lighter, humorous and feel-good self. Towards the end of the story, his is tasked by Anto, the Assassin who is in charge of the bureau in Kingston, to track down and kill Woodes Rogers. To be able to even approach him, Edward must find a disguise that will allow him to enter a private party that the ex-governor of the West Indies will also be attending. The plan is to find and kill an Italian diplomat who also happens to be a Templar, and take his clothes so that he can pass for him and be able to bypass security and subsequently enter the area where the party is being held. After Edward kills the diplomat, he takes his coat and wears it over his own clothes. At this moment, a hilarious moment of plot complexity takes place: the standard outfit that Edward is wearing is a modified version of his original one, which was in fact the uniform stolen from Duncan Walpole. So Edward had been walking around wearing not only a dead man's clothes, but additionally the clothes of a dead man that he had killed with his own hands. So now that he puts on the diplomat's coat over his outfit, it is a double score: for a few minutes, he is wearing a dead man's coat over another dead man's clothes, and both men had been killed by him. You can tell by his half-acknowledging, half-cunning smile that this is more or less the thought that crosses his own mind at that moment. (clip)

 

 

The subtlety of expressions and body movements that is so characteristic of the game's design adds a lot of spice not only to the lead characters, but also the supporting cast - like in the case of Anne Bonny that I mentioned earlier. There is also one more such instance involving Anne, even more brief and passing that the previous ones. Before leaving to find the diplomat, Edward hands over to Anto a letter, which is addressed to Caroline, his estranged wife back in England, asking him to make sure it reaches its destination. Obviously unaware of Edward's family status or his relations with his home, Anto simply takes the letter, but Anne, who is present in the scene, watches curiously as Edward gives over the letter. 

 

Then as Edward is leaving, you can see how she leans slightly over the desk, most probably to gossip a bit with Anto about her captain's family issues. Literally a blink-and-you-will-miss-it instant. (clip)

 

Edward's good looks don't pass unnoticed from anyone; his striking physique and bright personality are guaranteed to catch everybody's attention, even if they do not always show it clearly. Laureano Torres's reaction in the scene where Edward invades the War Room of the Punta Guarico fort is quite indicative of this. After capturing the fort by destroying its defences, Edward bursts in the War Room with his men, in order to threaten Torres and make him hand the Sage over to him. The last time that Torres had seen Edward was back in Havana, where his scam was revealed and Torres had him imprisoned in the ship from where he eventually escaped. Although he was anything but intimidated back then, he is now far more self-confident, with his imposing figure showing even more now that he has established himself as a intrepid and occasionally relentless pirate captain. Torres is clearly taken by surprise, but the most decisive moment is when Edward threatens him directly and gives him a fearless look with an audacious, mischievous smile.

 

 

Just then, the old man stays speechless for a moment and gazes Edward in amazement. I always suspected that Torres secretly loved a bit of rough, but after noticing this detail, I was sure. (clip)

 

 

For last, I saved my favorite scenes on this theme of expressive facial reactions and body language. I had included a mention in a past article about Edward Kenway, but they do deserve to be more analyzed here, since they are so fascinating. 

 

There is a very subtle subplot of sorts going on, nearly impossible to notice if you do not pay close attention to certain interactions and reactions. It can be traced back to Edward's first time at sea as a privateer, but since there is very little information in the game's scenario about those early years, most facts can be retrieved from nuanced dialogues and expressions of the characters and the complementary book that I referenced earlier, "Blackbeard's Lost Journal". In his notes, Blackbeard narrates how he first met this young and fearless boy who joined him on board and became his mentee, vividly reminiscing several adventures where Edward eventually triumphed with his skills, charm and genious. There are several sketches of Edward in the pages where he is mentioned, the most impressive of which is one that depicts him catching a giant sea turtle underwater. On the occasion of this incident, Blackbeard praises Edward's bravery and solidarity, clearly impressed by his ability to adapt to tough situations and think on his feet. Soon after, he narrates how he brought Edward to Nassau to meet his own mentor, Benjamin Hornigold. Although Blackbeard does not talk much about Benjamin throughout his journal, it is notable that there is a stunning portrait sketch depicting him, accurately highlighting his character and mysterious personality with its rough lines. As a side note here - I cite the Journal as a source of reference rather than the novelization of the game, because I found the Journal to be more faithful to the development of the game's scenario, and much more accurate in its historical details. Specifically, it is stated in the novel that Hornigold was older than Blackbeard, when in reality they were the exact same age (according to some sources, Hornigold was younger even); and although this may seem like a minor detail, in fact it is very important: Hornigold was a mentor to Blackbeard and several other pirates who later became notorious for their deeds, while himself was very young, and this is quite indicative of his skills, his strategic mind and his overall perception of privateering and piracy. And it is also important because he was not even 40 years old when he died. The way the Journal portrays him both in image and in words, does him justice, as does his depiction in the game. 

 

With this background in mind, nearly all the interactions between Edward and Benjamin become much more interesting than what they may seem on first look. And even without it, because when I first took notice of what was going on in the background, I did not know about the existence of the Journal. It just confirmed some of my thoughts when I studied it; also it helps highlight some facts even more. And here is where the game's attention to detail when it comes to facial expressions and body language comes into play. 

 

Edward reminscing his privateering days while talking to Stede, which I mentioned earlier, is a first hint; as is, much later, his very apt mention of the jackdaw to Adéwalé. Then when they arrive at Nassau, Benjamin welcomes his friend, obviously overjoyed to see him after a long time, with the rather spicy greeting "You are a sight for salty eyes", which may seem like a phrase that would be expected among seasoned seamen, but coming from Benjamin at this specific point feels anything by random.

 

Equally not random is Edward's response, which may be a neutral greeting addressed at everyone there, but his subtle smile and pleased gaze convey something not general at all, as at just the last moment he turns his eyes towards Benjamin. (clip)

 

 

Minutes later, when Edward mentions the name of his newly acquired ship, Benjamin does not make any comment, unlike Blackbeard who teases Edward about naming the brig after a poxy bird. In his turn, Edward does not reply to this comment, but instead turns slightly to look at Benjamin, and for a fraction of a second, in a blink-and-you-will-miss-it moment, they exchange a furtive look at each other, both with a very slight, knowing smile. 

 

Then Benjamin leans back with a calmly satisfied look on his face, as if being very content about the name of Edward's ship. (clip)

 

I had mentioned in the aforementioned article how much Benjamin resembles a jackdaw; in the novel, his description says that he had a nose like a hawk, but it is pretty obvious that he has much more of the overall look and feel of a raven. The hawk references a predatory creature, but a raven hints at something - or someone, in this case - who is mysterious, watchful and maybe hides secrets; a perfect description for Benjamin as we see him in the game's story. Ever since I noticed that his features resemble those of the jackdaw, I felt it was a deliberate design choice, and that Edward mentioning that he loved the "sly bird" in Swansea was part red herring, part half truth. Jackdaws are very common in Wales, where Edward was born and raised as a child. Naturally he could see them every day, and somehow he got attached to them. Leaving home, they were among the memories that he brought with him. Then he met Benjamin who somehow must have gotten related to this memory, at the same time taking it to an elevated level. Thatch might have been Edward's original mentor and closest friend, but Benjamin was the one who further taught him the secrets of piracy and, moreover, how to take what he likes but at the same time be a gentleman. Benjamin was not like the other pirates; he would put more thought into his decisions and actions, and calculate things and chances before actually doing anything. Just like the jackdaw - any bird of this kind, for that matter, which is extremely smart. So in that sense, Benjamin was to Edward much more valuable as a guide and mentor. 

 

What may or may not have been going on between them remains generally vague, but at instances such as those described above, their facial expressions and body language speaks volumes. Near the end of the same scene, as Edward is about to leave, Benjamin's gaze abruptly - and not so discreetly - gets fixed on him as he speaks and moves, and even follows him as he departs. (clip)

 

The looks they are not exchanging but somehow share during the subsequent scene, where Edward tells his friends about the Observatory, are also quite interesting. (clip)

 

 

The next instance is the start of memory "Prizes and Plunder" where Edward sets off with Benjamin so that the latter will teach him how to attack ships and subsequently plunder them. Before they do so, Edward finds Benjamin and Thatch at the beach, where he exchanges teasing comments with Benjamin concerning the size of their ships. Edward's ship is a Spanish brigantine, a considerably large ship which cannot go very fast but looks quite elegant, while Benjamin's ship is a schooner, a rather small vessel which however can sail with high speed. In yet another blink-and-you-will-miss-it moment, Benjamin seems to momentarily fix his gaze on a very specific spot while mentioning that he prefers the Spanish stuff; a comment that comes to contrast with the choice of his own ship, which is Jamaican, while it is actually Edward's ship that is Spanish. (clip)

 

Then as Edward walks towards the shore, Benjamin follows him with his gaze without making the slightest attempt to hide it, although they are not alone on the beach. 

 

And he keeps staring as they push the boat on the water to reach the ship. (clip)

 

Incidentally, Edward's posture during most of those instances does not look like he has not taken notice, but more like he chooses to pretend that he hasn't noticed.

 

Then in memory "Raise the Black Flag", after having successfully plundered a couple of merchant ships, Edward and Benjamin stop by at the Salt Key Bank for the necessary ship repairs and resupplies. Benjamin looks quite satisfied with how things have turned out and also content with Edward's skills. He mentions how if things keep going on like this, everyone will be able to live a free life in Nassau. Including them, of course, with whatever connotation this may have. Again the look in his eyes says a lot more than words while staring at Edward.

 

Minutes later, as Thatch also get involved in the scene, he affectionately touches Edward on the shoulder while making a brief but very touching speech about the black flag symbolizing the essence of a pirate's life. This innocent and clearly friendly move seems to alert Benjamin, who immediately turns towards him, with his countenance completely changed.

 

Subsequently he asks Thatch to give him a docket, essentially forcing him to take his hand off Edward's shoulder so as to hand Benjamin over the list in question.

 

Then Benjamin rushes to take Edward away again, by leading him over to the Jackdaw so that they embark on the next activity, which is a lesson of attacking and plundering military ships, with his stare again fixed on Edward. (clip)

 

When they are back at shore, Edward informs his friends that he plans to stay at sea for as long as needed in order to gather enough wealth and influence to give him a status and a legacy back in England. Benjamin then essentially urges him to stop thinking about Caroline and focus on the West Indies, where he can have any girl that he wants, anytime. His expression when he says that is more than revealing about what he truly might mean. (clip)

If Benjamin's face and body language is unveiling and indicative of a much more complex connection between himself and Edward, Edward's body language towards him is equally telling, in fewer situations but which are quite intense. The first of course is the scene where he is reminiscing his days as a privateer, during the course of his chat with Stede Bonnet, after their eventful first meeting. It is very obvious there that he misses those days, bringing them back to his mind with nostalgia. Then it is his reaction towards Benjamin's compliment upon seeing him in Nassau.

 

Then comes a period of time when Benjamin's presence is very limited, and we do not know why. When he shows up again, he starts making it clear that he does not wish to fight for Nassau anymore, although the Republic of Pirates was mainly his own vision which he, moreover, managed to make real; this, together with his insisting upon not attacking British ships, gradually estrange him from his once bosom friends. As Edward and Thatch seem to be taking a separate, far more risky path, culminating in Thatch's violent death during the attack in North Carolina, Benjamin accepts the pardon, allies with Woodes Rogers and becomes a Templar and a pirate hunter, going as far as hunting down his former partners. Edward watches from a distance as this shocking transformation takes place, unable to explain it and finding it very hard to accept. As Benjamin takes on a mission assigned by Woodes Rogers and Laureano Torres to find and deliver them Bartholomew Roberts, Edward manages to locate the latter first, and agrees to help him get away from the Templars as an exchange for Roberts leading him to the Observatory. Eventually Roberts takes notice that Benjamin is after him, and sends Edward off to kill him in what is essentially a mercenary assignment. Frustrated by his old friend's betrayal, and feeling closer than ever to what has been his goal from the start - the supposed treasure of the Observatory - Edward rushes off to track down and kill Benjamin. While at the start of the hunt he sounds determined to kill his friend with no remorse, then as he watches Benjamin's ship crash on the shores of an island he is suddenly overwhelmed with his own emotions. When Adéwalé asks him if he can really do it, he replies that he wishes that the sea would swallow Benjamin and his ship, so that he wouldn't have to kill him with his own hands. He does not stand back however; instead leaves the Jackdaw so as to go find Benjamin on the islandl but the darkness and gloominess of his stare at that moment says all that he does not speak with words. (clip)

 

Then the time comes for him to do the painful deed, and as soon as he does so, his frustration and inner struggle are more than obvious.

 

Then as he tries to make Benjamin see the weightiness of his betrayal, both his moves and his expression show how he feels furious and devastated at the same time. Furious for Benjamin's betrayal, and devastated for being forced to kill him. (clip)

 

 

And then near the end of the story, during his brief but painfully emotional speech, as he acknowledges that, after having lost all his friends, there is not a man or woman that he loves left standing beside him, both his posture and his expression highlight his words with exceptional accuracy. (clip)

 

Of course there are a lot more instances in the game where the accuracy of expressions and body language is stunning; and this includes even all that is going on in the environment which involves characters that are simply part of the surroundings. But I think all instances described above are the most indicative of how the game manages to convey the emotions of its lead and supporting characters, highlighting elements of their temperament and psyche in a most sensational way. Although the game was released 13 years ago, its attention to detail is impressive; and it is one of the many reasons why Edward Kenway's story is and will forever be one of the most fascinating ever told. 

 

The Good Evil And The Evil Good

The fight between good and evil is one of the most prominent themes in fiction, video-games included; and in the Assassin's Creed series it is a subject that several times is explored within a multi-faceted prism. Quite a few of its characters, both heroes and villains, sometimes reach a point where they may cross the line between the two sides, even if it is not completely and consciously intentional from their part. While it is more usual for a villain to momentarily express a more mild attitude, it is the good guys who eventually either turn evil or act in ways that could be characterized as such, that are more fascinating to examine. But how much evil a good character has to do so as to be considered a villain - and, similarly - when does a villain reach that point which will make him look less evil? In this article, I will elaborate on this theme, going through the evolution of Shay Cormac, Achilles Davenport, Charles Lee and Haytham Kenway, who all play a most important part in Assassin's Creed III and Assassin's Creed: Rogue, either as protagonists and antagonists or as supporting characters.

Although initially we did not know yet about Shay Cormac in Assassin's Creed III, as Rogue was released at a later date, we could still see all the consequences of his actions in the course of the game, which means that Shay's story was already part of the Assassin's Creed lore, even before the appearance of him as a character and his game as a complete story; similarly to how, when III was released, we were introduced to Haytham Kenway without knowing about Edward, yet there were several features that our hero had, hinting to all the facts that were revealed in Black Flag: in spite of being a Templar, Haytham had two hidden blades, one of which also proudly featured the Assassin symbol on its cuff; he also had the eagle vision and the ability to swan dive from extreme heights into haystacks or heaps of snow. So clearly Edward's story had already been set as a background to that of Haytham, long before we had the chance to know about it with Black Flag. 

Similarly, Shay's story had apparently been planned out already as a later release, and quite possibly as a much longer and richer game, but it got sped up to co-incide with Unity for all the technical and practical reasons that we know. This could also explain why the open world in Rogue is so vast with so many areas to explore and with so much extra stuff to discover, when the plot itself is limited to only six sequences and does not take long to complete; while covering the full map (to be more precise, the three full maps) of the game takes considerably longer, and it involves way too many areas that we do not have the opportunity to visit during the progression of the story. Assassin's Creed: Rogue is very unique in the series, not only because its protagonist is a Templar, but also because it gives us the chance to witness the other side of things through the eyes of someone who joined the Templar Order consciously, following his own free will, without having been brainwashed beforehand.  

Shay starts off as an extremely gifted Assassin who, however, seems to be looked down upon by his fellow Assassins, even by his good childhood friend Liam. Being Irish, he is considered an outsider by default, although noone blatantly tells him in the face; but Le Chevalier, for example, never loses the chance to belittle him. Incidentally, Liam is Irish too, but it looks like he is respected in the Brotherhood a lot more than Shay is, probably because he does not express his objections as often as his younger friend. It becomes clear from very early in the game that Shay has his own perception of things, and it is hinted that many times he would disagree with the tactics of the Assassins. However he truly and sincerely believed in their cause, which is why he kept on serving the Brotherhood the best way he could. Shay was an excellent Assassin, showing great skill, insight and intelligence; he could successfully carry out any mission he was tasked with in spite of his young age, and he would always be willing to do even more. However, he was not only an efficient killer; Shay was also interested in the procedural works of the Brotherhood, a subtle detail which hints that, if things had not turned out for him the way they did, he would undoubtedly had made a fine potential leader in the future. When the other Assassins leave to train or pass the time, he stays back to listen to the crucial information that Adewale has brought for Achilles; not out of curiosity, but because he is deeply interested in the mechanics of the Assassin cause and its deeper motives and complex strategies.

Being a thinker, he had a trait that would always distinguish him from the other Assassins in his circle. Not that the others were not thinkers as well; but Shay had a tendency to keep things to himself and contemplate quite often, being rather solitary as a person, although it is clear than he had a strong bond with Liam and was in good friendly terms with Hope as well. But as it becomes clear later, neither Le Chevalier nor Kesegowaase liked him; something that had already been hinted early on in the story. Shay respected Achilles, but felt that the leader of the Colonial Brotherhood did not trust him enough, making him feel even more an outsider. This condition, however, had an unexpected positive side-effect: thanks to it, Shay was able to make his observations objectively and discern both the good and the bad side of things. Because for the Assassins under Achilles's leadership, all the decisions and actions of their leader were correct and could never be questioned; but Shay, as an outsider, could instantly see something that was wrong.

 

 

The tragic incident in Lisbon, which marked Shay's decision to go against the Assassins and subsequently betray them by joining the Templar Order, was a most crucial example of this. Causing the ravaging earthquake that destroyed the city and killed so many people was a tragedy that would scar him for the rest of his life, even when, years later, he felt that he had somehow made amends. Shay was convinced that Achilles was somehow aware of the destruction that would follow by removing the artifact from the foundation of the temple and that regardless he did not care, because his superior aim was to keep the artifacts away from the Templars, no matter the cost. Although he was not exactly right, because Achilles, at that point in his life at least, would never deliberately cause the loss of innocent lives, he did have a point, in that the Colonial Assassins and their leaders would most of the times choose to act with regard to how they would weaken the Templars, ignoring other factors and consequences that could prove devastating. When he confronted Achilles about the Lisbon incident, the leader's reaction did not help ease the young man's mind, neither did the aggression with which both he and the other Assassins chased Shay when they found out he had stolen the manuscript and was going to destroy it. 

 

Shay was a good man, and he remained good even after joining the Templar Order, when he typically switched to the side of evil, given the circumstances, proving that, at the end of the day, good and evil are very fluid notions. As a Templar, he was a ruthless killer; but he was so as an Assassin too. As an Assassin, he would kill people who were harming humanity, but this did not make the act of murder less of an act of extreme violence. We can see how he starts having moral doubts when, during his time as an Assassin, he is sent to murder a man who is dying due to an illness, and then another one who is too powerless and weak to be able to defend himself. Then it was a Templar who saved his life, when the Assassins left him for dead in the freezing cold ocean; Colonel Monro took him under his wing and helped him get back on his feet, offering him a second chance in life. 

 

The limits of good and evil almost cease to exist in Shay's case, because, as contradicting as this may sound, he never loses his humanity, even when his actions look evil. For what it's worth, his decision to abandon the Assassins was the result of him feeling responsible for the loss of innocent people. One could argue that he cannot be good when he kills good people like Adewale and Charles Dorian; but he does what he does consciously, following the guidelines of the Templar Order which he serves. As an Assassin, he would have done the same, acting against his Templar enemies. And he did maintain a certain amount of respect and love towards Achilles, considering how he convinced Haytham to spare his former mentor's life, a development that, in the long run, affected the lives of many people.

 

When the main plot of Assassin's Creed III starts, after the introductory memories with Haytham are completed, we find Achilles crippled but alive, as a result of Shay intervening at just the last moment, and saving him from Haytham's fatal blow, while the Brotherhood of the Colonies is almost non-existent. All this, we had the chance to know later, watching the finale of Rogue, but now, having at our disposal the linear timeline of the events, we can put the pieces of the puzzle together easily and without confusion. After his dramatic confrontation with Shay and Haytham in North America, which resulted in him becoming crippled after Haytham shot him, Achilles returned to his homestead while the Assassin Brotherhood had been dismantled, since Shay had killed all of its leaders. He locked himself in the manor, refusing to communicate with the locals, while from time to time he was being targeted by poachers, some of whom may have been even sent by the Templars to rid of him. 

 

 

Achilles is, by default, on the side of good; but he abruptly switches to the side of evil when he allows his personal bitterness to overcome him. After Connor finds him, and Achilles agrees to take on his training, we are presented to the secret Assassination wall in the homestead's basement, which features the portraits of all the important Templars that have to be eliminated for the Colonial Rite to be defeated for good. Normally, Shay's portrait would have also been among them, but we do not see it anywhere, probably because, deep down, Achilles felt that he owed Shay his life. Haytham, from his part, being so smart and perceptive, takes care to never mention Shay to Connor, not only because Shay is an extremely valuable member of the Order who needs to stay alive, but also because Haytham knows that, no matter how determined or strong Connor may be, chances are he would never get alive out of a fight with a killer so skilled and experienced as Shay. He was essentially protecting both from each other. In a similar manner, he took care to keep Charles Lee away from Connor, not only because Charles was the one whom the Templars wanted to plant as the US President - which was the main, typical reason - but also because he wanted to avoid a confrontation between the two, which could possibly end in Connor's demise. Knowing Connor's obsession with killing Charles and the latter's spite against the boy, Haytham wanted to keep both of them away from each other, again to ensure, for as long as he could control it, that they would be safe. Although he went to Fort George presumably determined to kill Connor and save Charles for good, he was all the while divided between his duty as the Grand Master of the Colonial Rite and his instinct which would constantly withhold him from killing Connor.

 

Achilles holds a grudge against Haytham for crippling him by shooting his knee as well as for taking Shay in the Templar Order, and his feelings are justifiable up to a point; but they cease being justifiable when he starts poisoning Connor's heart, brainwashing the boy into killing Haytham while cruelly dismissing the blood bond between the two and acting as if it does not matter at all, going as far as to literally arm Connor's hand, essentially turning him into a mercenary and sending him to kill Haytham because he is unable to do it himself due to his condition. Mind you, when Connor confessed that he wants to kill the Templars so as to avenge the destruction of his village, Achilles scolded him for being motivated by his personal vendetta instead of merely wanting to fight for justice; and then we see how Achilles himself is guided almost entirely by his own personal vendetta against Haytham. It is interesting, however, that Connor, in spite of looking rather determined to take his own revenge, is quite reserved and reluctant when it comes to actually doing it, considering how he did not want to kill William Johnson after destroying his merchandise, pretty much to Achilles's disappointment; and when later he did it because he felt he had no choice, he still had regrets about it. His only weak point was his hatred for Charles Lee, whom he was hunting relentlessly due to the false belief that Charles was responsible for the burning of his village, a belief that gradually turned into an obsession for Connor.

So it looks like history is repeating itself for the Kenway boys, as Connor is being brainwashed by Achilles almost like Haytham had been brainwashed by Reginald Birch. After losing his wife and son, Achilles never let anyone in his life again; and he finally accepted to help Connor because he realized that the boy was in fact the only one capable of eliminating the Colonial Templar Rite. Not because he was stronger than the local Templars, but due to the blood bond that connected him with Haytham: Achilles was experienced and insightful enough to realize that the only person who had any luck in killing Haytham would be his own son, because there was a 50/50 chance that Haytham would literally allow Connor to kill him, refusing to end his son's life. And in the end this is exactly what happened: Haytham removed his hidden blade so as to not kill Connor, sacrificing himself instead. He had long before realized that the path he had taken in life was essentially a constant point of no return, and even if he wanted to change route, it would have been impossible after all that has happened.

 

Connor is at a very innocent state when he sees Haytham for the first time in Boston, and you can clearly see in his eyes that he would love to go talk to him; for a few fractions of seconds their opposite alliances do not matter for Connor, neither does the fact that Haytham is a ruthless killer, responsible for the chaos in Boston. Yet Achilles keeps on the same cold, blunt attitude, not empathizing at all with the boy's confusion. Connor is too young at that point to think with logic; he has just left his village, finding himself in a big city that he had never seen before nor imagined that could exist, and on top of that, he sees his father for the first time in his life, just a few steps away from him. As the story progresses, there are a few scenes where we literally see how Connor instinctively longs to get closer to Haytham - at some point, he grabs Haytham in an attempt to push him away from an imminent attack, in a manner that simulates an awkward hugging; and Haytham is the only person whom Connor allows to touch him without the slightest sign of displeasure. 

If it was not for Achilles's spite, and maybe if Zhiio was alive, Connor might have been able to outsmart his destiny and eventually reach a point of compromise with Haytham. But every time that he mentioned this possibility to Achilles, the latter would dismiss it with absolution, leaving no space for an alternative solution other than killing Haytham. Of course all this does not mean that Achilles was not a good man; on the contrary, while he was the leader of the Colonial Brotherhood and his mind was still clear and just, he acted with mildness, caution and care. This is evident in how he treats Shay at the start of Rogue, even gifting him his favorite pistols. Still, he made a mistake in not trusting Shay with vital information concerning the Brotherhood and its missions, making the young man believe, and quite possibly rightly so, that he was not being considered an equal among his brothers. This was a constant thorn that bugged Shay, since he felt that while he was offering his services unconditionally to the Brotherhood, he was being treated with mistrust and skepticism in return. 

Although Shay is not present in Assassin's Creed III and he is not mentioned at any point throughout the game, the story is in fact incomplete without factoring him in. If he had not intervened and instead had let Haytham kill Achilles in North America, Connor's story would have taken a different route. Similarly to how if he hadn't killed Charles Dorian, things would have unfolded much differently for Arno in Unity. This means that Shay's role had been crucial and determinant in both stories, functioning like a train track switch, and setting the paths of Connor and Arno off route, subsequently forcing both boys to remain subjugated to a forced destiny during their childhood and their early youth; but while Arno used his wits to carve his own path even though he was following the commands of a rather headstrong branch of the Brotherhood, Connor was unable to find his way until it was too late to change his fate, because he lacked the proper guidance in his early years. Arno might have lost his dear father at a very tender age, but he was lucky to grow up under the care of François de la Serre, who was an honest and just Templar and never attempted to brainwash Arno into joining the Order, even protecting him by keeping him away from Templar gatherings so as to avoid exposing the boy's gifts and thus putting him in danger. And then Bellec, until he chose to violently purge the French Brotherhood, had been a fine and just mentor for Arno and provided him with all that was necessary so as to always depend on himself and on his own instinct. But Connor switched abruptly from the calm, untainted state of his native village to the environment of an embittered man who partly used the Assassin cause as a means to fulfill his revenge.

Arno learned to think on his feet from a very early stage, and while he maintained the innocence in his heart, he was able to discern evil in its root. Which is why he was quick to confront Pierre Bellec as soon as he realized that the latter was not operating on the side of good; and although it was painful for him, since Bellec was his mentor, he eventually killed him, because what Bellec was doing was harmful not only for the Brotherhood but for Arno himself as well. Contrary to Connor, who let himself get wholly affected by Achilles's obsessions and from a point and on, he would marginally sway to and fro, almost not acting out of his own will. Even after killing Haytham, he refused to let himself express how he truly felt; although we see him shaving his head as a sign of mourning for his deceased father, and back at the homestead, he has written "Sakataterihwáhten" under Haytham's portrait which means "I made a mistake", having also added three question marks beside it, clearly unable to find a reason why Haytham had to die except for the never-ending feud between the Assassins and the Templars, still then while facing a devastated Charles Lee at Haytham's funeral, he again put on a cold facade, as he was still under the influence of his mentor's poison. Even his own obsession with hunting down and killing Charles Lee, which proved to be unjust and pointless after a certain point, had also been reinforced by Achilles's brainwashing. 

Charles, on the other hand, worshiping Haytham for years, feels that he has nothing left to hope and live for after his death; and although he seems to want to save himself from Connor's rage, in the end he literally begs the boy to end his life, not with words but with his bitter smile in one of the most powerful and heart-breaking scenes of the series. Charles was never an evil man by default; he had a trait that made him tend to bow to, flatter and serve authority, but we can't be sure if this was an inherent feature of his character, or it was born when he saw Haytham for the first time at Boston's harbour. It is more than clear that he was instantly mesmerized by Haytham's charm as soon as he met him, and from that moment and on, he spent the rest of his days following him around and blindly serving him, eventually turning himself into the ideal future puppet politician that the Templars wanted for the US Presidency.

Notably, until he is officially accepted in the Templar Order and when he is not running after Haytham, Charles can be seen discreetly standing at the side whenever he is present during a meeting, most of the times with his back to the Templars, as they discuss crucial details about their missions. On a few occasions, Haytham himself nods to him to move to the side, and Charles obeys without protesting, essentially accepting his limited role in all this and waiting patiently for his loyalty to be properly recognized. Something that happens much sooner than even he would expect, and it is also worth mentioning that, although he was a smart and efficient man in his own merit, he was happy to just exist by Haytham's side, acting the part of his henchman if necessary, keeping an enigmatic silence and a rather reserved nobleness up to a certain point before transforming into a ruthless man, led by his frustration and despair. 

Charles Lee goes through a very complex transformation as a character, which, interestingly enough, is reflected in his physical appearance as well. While for the rest of his partners the years pass in a most normal way, leaving natural marks on some of them (Benjamin Church, John Pitcairn and William Johnson just age without losing their physiognomy), not affecting others much (Thomas Hickey maintains the same drunk face of a rascal, only older) or even favoring them (Haytham gets even more charming and attractive as years pass), time seems to gradually take its toll on Charles - a change that is much more symbolic than it is physically meaningful. The clarity and light of his eyes are replaced by a foggy, blurred gaze; his rich, shiny black hair gets thinner; transformations that go hand-in-hand with the change in his once mild and mellow demeanor that gradually tears off, letting out a cruel, sadistic and marginally paranoid side. His harsh and relentless manner is first shown during his very first meeting with little Connor at the Mohawk village, then we see an even more cruel version of it when he visits the boy in prison, and it is fully exposed, together with his overwhelming desperation, while confronting Connor at Haytham's funeral. 

 

What is the real cause of this change, never becomes too clear; the most obvious explanation could be that deep down he always wanted to do something grand, but lacked the self-confidence and maybe the means to achieve it; therefore when Haytham and the Templars of the Colonies picked him as the best choice for the position of the future US President, he felt that luck finally smiled at him and from that point and on, he did not care anymore about showing a good face to the world; he just waited patiently until the time came for him to rise to glory. But maybe things were not that simple for Charles, as apparently he had more personal issues to deal with. The real Charles Lee was quite temperamental, and this feature is aptly depicted in the game with the obviously unstable and insecure character of his fictionalized version. His constantly growing and unhealthy emotional attachment to Haytham could explain a good deal (if not all) of this gradual change and his physical transformation, considering that he probably saw no reciprocation whatsoever - or at least not to the degree or of the kind that he desired. His resentment for Zhiio and, later, for Connor as well, together with his glaringly obsessive devotion to Haytham, are more signs that this could very well be the case. 

Haytham's good looks and his charismatic personality are vital elements in the way that he affects the people around him, just like Edward did with his brilliance and physical gifts. But while Edward was too innocent and too focused on other things to use his attractiveness to achieve his goals, and he charmed others without even realizing it, Haytham did so very consciously, to the extent that after a certain point, this "strategy" became for him as natural as breathing. Charles Lee was his most obvious "victim", but at least Haytham was planning to reward him with a grand office, so all the emotional turmoil that Charles had been going through for so many years would have found some kind of compensation. But this never happened, due to Haytham's death and the elimination of the Colonial Rite. And this development again goes back to Shay Cormac who, by stopping Haytham from killing Achilles, inadvertently caused Haytham's death years later, affecting Charles Lee's fate as well in a crazy domino effect.

Although Haytham is not a villain / antagonist by nature, he obtains that role in Connor's story, since he belongs to the Templar Order; because in Rogue's story, where we see everything through Shay's point of view, Haytham is on the side of good. In spite of his extreme cruelty, however, he is character whom you can easily love, because of his captivating and compelling personality; also because his more positive elements are also shown, and especially after you get to know the tragic story of his family and his own dramatic path in life. Having inherited both the noble grace of his mother and the stunning looks of his father, he trained to become a ruthless killer under Birch's never-resting eye; the fact that he is as handsome as he is cruel, is a murderous combination, which makes him even more intimidating and fearsome.

Haytham was born in a loving environment, growing up under the guidance of a father who adored him and offered him everything, but whom he lost too soon, while his own character was still unshaped. He confesses in his journal that he loved Edward fiercely, something that indicates that if his father hadn't met his tragic premature end, Haytham would have moved on in his youth following Edward's guidance with devotion, before setting out to the world to carve his own path as a just and honorable Assassin. But even for this, we cannot be completely sure. He was too young when he was left alone, and Birch's influence had been so defining then, that even Haytham himself could not tell with certainty what his true nature was. Haytham's case is very interesting, because although it is clear that he was not born evil, for most part of his childhood, adolescence and early youth he grew in conditions that he could not control and which were irreversibly leading him to a path that he probably wouldn't have chosen himself, but this is something that neither he nor we will ever know. His character was shaped in an environment that was forced on him, so whether he would have chosen the side of good or the side of evil following his own free will, is something that noone can tell for sure. 

What is certain, however, is that for a big part of his life the two opposed elements, the good and the evil, were always in conflict in his heart and mind, and we can see these contradicting sides as soon as his story begins: he rushes to save the sailor who is about to fall in the stormy sea, while moments before he intimidated the ship's captain by coldly exposing his hidden blade towards him, and earlier he looked more than convincing when he assured Mr Smythe that he would cut his head off the next time that the captain would dare to threaten him. During his part of the plot, there is a constant switch from one side to the other, as we watch him treating Zhiio with gentleness or being very kind to Charles, while at the same time he kills his enemies or suspected adversaries in cold blood and without the slightest remorse. 

When we come across him again in Connor's part of the story, his good side seems to have shrunk so much that it is practically non-existent, showing only extremely feeble sparks of kindness the few times that he calls Connor "son" and during his final moments when he admits that, in a way, he is proud of what Connor has become. And again, we can never be sure if he is being sincere in these moments or he is once more attempting to manipulate Connor. Haytham is extremely intelligent, and throughout his life he made use of his brilliant mind to achieve malicious ends. But this was not a development that happened overnight and with a light heart: earlier, he had learned that Birch was responsible for Edward's death and the gloomy fate of his sister, and he had taken his revenge on him after having freed Jenny as well; he had also gone through the painful incident involving his friend Jim Holden, which triggered another extremely vindictive but justified action from his part. It is crucial to consider such events when examining Haytham's character, as they further intensified his conditioned cruelty and gradually diminished his good elements, eventually turning him into the cold-blooded murderer that Birch always wanted to make him, his most characteristic habit being to ruthlessly kill his victims just as soon as they stopped being useful to him.

 

The incident with the three officers at Fort George depicts Haytham's cruelty and relentlessness more accurately than any other, even before we see him in plain action in that sequence. Haytham and Connor have just attacked a group of soldiers who had been keeping guard, securing the meeting of three British officers in the grounds of a burned church. After eliminating the guards, Haytham captures the three officers, but as he is tying the hands of the last one, the first manages to escape. Haytham orders Connor to run after him, which the boy does, not with much willingness, somehow sensing, albeit very vaguely, what will follow. He then chases the officer and catches him, leading him to Fort George, as Haytham commanded earlier. As they are approaching the entrance of the Fort, the officer starts panicking; although moments before he cursed at Connor, he now begs him to set him free, adding with a trembling voice that if he steps inside the Fort, he will be a dead man. Unaware of the extent of his father's murderous nature, Connor tells the officer that they will just ask him a few questions, so there is nothing to worry about. Right then, Haytham shows up, and the panic in the officer's eyes and the way he steps back terrified although he knows there is no way out of this situation, all this shockingly contrasting with Haytham's stunning figure and his noble beauty as he grabs the officer's arm with an enigmatic grin while the officer instinctively leans towards Connor, literally make time freeze at that point. It is obvious that the guard knows very well who Haytham is, and he also knows how merciless and remorseless he is, which is why he attempted to escape in the first place.

Once inside the Fort, the terrified officer is put to sit between his two colleagues who look suspiciously quiet and not moving at all, and soon we realize why, it's because while Connor was out in the streets chasing the last officer, Haytham did not waste any time; he inquired the other two, got the information that he wanted from them and immediately after, he summarily cut their throats. Still fostering the vain hope that he might survive the same nightmarish ordeal, the officer gives Haytham all the details that he wants to know, which are the same things that his dead colleagues have already told him. Promising that he will then set him free, Haytham instantly cuts the man's throat as well with his hidden blade, much to Connor's shock.

Occurring at a crucial point in the story, this chilling incident confirmed - because we had been given hints up to that point anyway - that Haytham had already been notorious for his ruthlessness and cruelty. There was nothing that could stop him, and he was afraid of nothing; noone could mess with him and make it out alive, and once he blacklisted a person, that person was sure to meet their death. The only times when he actually showed mercy were the moments when he killed his victims, as he made sure their deaths were instant and quick. And the only person who could actually defeat him was Connor, but not because he was stronger than Haytham. Connor was very strong, but Haytham had incredible physical strength in spite of his delicate build and light movement; and there was no way Connor could have matched him; but by removing his hidden blade during their final, fatal confrontation, Haytham ensured that he would give Connor a fighting chance. And proud as he was until the end, he would have never allowed himself to succumb to any other blade, than that of his own son; in any other case, he would surely have succeeded in cheating death.

 

In the long course of the Assassin's Creed Saga, these four characters are probably the most fascinating in terms of how they balance between good and evil, either due to the circumstances or because of their own perception of the world. Their evolution is extremely interesting, as is the way in which the actions of each one of them affect, directly or indirectly, the development of the others - especially how Shay Cormac's choices practically defined the fate of the other three, as well as the future of Connor and Arno, either directly or indirectly; and they all prove that nothing is ever absolute or clear-cut and, most of all, that good and evil are relative notions and much closer to one another than one would imagine.