firemansam

traumatizing

Connor's life has essentially been a 27 year trial by fire, one that has shaped him into someone who is noble and forthright, (if at times petulant and arrogant,) who takes to the Assassin cause partially out of a thirst for revenge, but largely out of a desire to protect his people and a deep belief in the right to freedom for all people.

In his heart, Connor is an idealist. It's something that gets him called naive a lot, and in some ways that wouldn't be wrong. Especially as a child leaving his home for the first time, there's a lot about the way the cities operate that he doesn't understand. His belief in honesty and the equality of all people leaves him confused as to why Achilles encourages him to try and pass for Spanish rather than Native (and why both of those are "better" than being black,) and why he can't just tell the truth when framed for the murder a guard. These layers of naivete are stripped away as he gains a more sophisticated understanding of the world, but his optimism never quite leaves him entirely. This and a distaste for killing often lead him to try and find other solutions to problems.

In his youth, it's relatively easy to see the qualities that made him a skilled Assassin and helped him to build the Homestead. After his mother's death, he pushed himself to be stronger and better becoming incredibly adept at tracking, hunting and climbing. Curious and respectful, (for the most part,) Connor has a great aptitude for learning and is, in fact, eager to do so.

Connor is possessed of a deep respect for all life - which can be seen in the way he thanks the animals he hunts before he skins them, and his deep distaste for killing other people. Early in his tenure as an Assassin, he attempts to sabotage the efforts of those who would threaten his people, and is reluctant to accept the idea that he may have to kill his father - hoping somewhat that in working together, he can bring Haytham around to his line of thinking. (Let's not think on this too hard when considering that at least half of the gameplay in this game is comprised of slaughtering redcoats who are just doing their jobs.) Though he comes to be a lot less reticent when it comes to killing - coming to understand that sometimes the best choice is far from the nicest or easiest - he's still known to give second chances rather than kill indiscriminately. The decision to kill is a serious one,and one that should never be made lightly.

In a way, this also hints at another flaw in Connor's outlook. Though humble of the far-reaching effect of his actions, (he frequently downplays his role in aiding the revolution, attributing things that realistically wouldn't have happened without him to The People instead,) he is also known to be incredibly arrogant and stubborn. When asked by Aveline how he knows he's doing the right thing, he comments that he trusts his own hands. It's important to him to never doubt himself and to always trust his own judgement, which is... They're valuable qualities in an Assassin, especially one working with so few others and takes on the responsibility of rebuilding the Brotherhood in the colonies. But this isn't a quality in him that's developed as he's become more skilled so much as one that has been challenged. In his village he was outstanding - having pushed himself to be better and stronger since his mother's death - but with people like Achilles and Haytham, he's still a naive kid who doesn't yet have the experience to fully understand the world or the current situation. It's potentially because of the tendency of those more experienced that Connor is eager to prove himself and his skill; argumentative when told he lacks experience and stubborn when told his plans won't work. Though more often than not, these qualities only show with people is in some way eager to prove himself to: Achilles, Haytham, Washington, etc. He's not above seeking counsel or receiving advice, but after a life spent trying to be strong enough to protect those he cares about, (and on a grander scale, those who can't protect themselves,) it's important to him to be seen as capable. Feeling disrespected by those whose opinions he values is a hurtful thing.

Potentially unsurprising for someone with such strong desires to help and protect, Connor has an incredible capacity for love and friendship. Though he never has any kind of romance in the game, he forges a lot of strong relationships in the form of the Homestead. Originally he convinces Achilles to offer these people land because it would be beneficial to everyone, but soon enough these settlers become Connor's family just as much as Achilles becomes a father to him - people he would go above and beyond for without being asked. The crew of the Aquila too, have a deep respect for their captain, a man who ran himself ragged trying to get them all patched up after a particularly nasty attack on the ship.

In the world of Assassin's Creed, all humans possess a dormant sixth sense called "Eagle vision". In canon, it solves the rather abstract purpose of separating allies and enemies from general people, (highlighted blue, red, and white respectively,) and also can be used to spot targets in a crowd (gold,) hiding places (blue,) and messages left in blood years after the blood is gone so long as the surface itself is still there (sometimes blue, sometimes red, the games are never that clear on this one.) Given the potential for abuse/infomodding, I'm gonna pare it down to say that Eagle Vision can only highlight known allies/enemies rather than just anyone Connor sees out and about.

Connor carries a lot of weapons in canon because Assassins that operate in the more traditional manner, (that is to say, murdering the shit out of everyone all the time,) have historically tended to be walking arsenals. I've cut the list down some from what he tends to have on him in the game, because frankly it's ludicrous, but I'm happy to cut it down more if need be.;

• A pair of hidden blades housed in wristguards.


• A bow, quiver and 10 arrows


• A Tomahawk with a blade fashioned in the shape of the Assassin symbol.


• A heavy war club

That aside, I would also like to purchase a Laser Gun for him too.

More seriously, Connor has trained for near-on 15 years as an Assassin. Which in this case means he's skilled in stealth, information gathering, subterfuge, and straight-up murder. Like all Assassins, he's capable with a wide range of tools and weapons, (though being from the 18th century, trying to pick locks in 2055 is going to be something of a learning curve,) and a skilled fighter. Before he left his reservation, he was also an adept hunter, meaning he's fairly capable at tracking.

Connor is here because of his firmly held belief in the right to freedom for all people. You can't just go kidnapping people and force them to dance and sing and... Fight? Or something? That's fucked up and needs to s t o p.