Desmond Miles
Encyclopedia
Desmond Miles is the main protagonist of the Assassin's Creed series
. He was born March 13th, 1987, which is the 72nd day of the year. He is a descendant of both Altaïr ibn La-Ahad, and Ezio Auditore da Firenze.
Desmond was born at an Assassin hideout, much like Masyaf
, a modern day Assassin enclave called "The Farm", which was based in The Black Hills, South Dakota
, United States of America. Isolated and living "off the grid", Desmond was born and raised as an Assassin. He was unable to leave this small community of thirty or so people, but desperately sought escape, as he believed that they were "just a bunch of hippies who wanted to stick it to the man." Desmond later facilitated his desired escape, claiming that he wanted to see the rest of the world. Desmond states that he has no regrets leaving his father or mother; at one point when accused of being an assassin, he responds "I'm not an Assassin…not anymore." At some time in his life, Desmond became a bartender, but lived under assumed names to protect himself. He used cash only in a further attempt to hide his true identity, but was finally found by Abstergo via his fingerprint (needed for a motorcycle license).
Desmond is later put into the Animus, a machine that allows him to relive the memories of his ancestors stored in his DNA, by scientists Dr. Warren Vidic and Dr. Lucy Stillman, employees of Abstergo Corporation. They explain that they are searching the memories of Desmond's ancestors, specifically those of Altaïr ibn La-Ahad, for a certain piece of information, which they refuse to disclose. Without much choice, Desmond agrees to help them. Some time later, after recovering the information for which Vidic was searching, Abstergo's executives order Desmond to be killed, but Lucy's quick thinking saves him, and she persuades Vidic to keep him alive until they know for certain that he is of no further use. Upon returning to his room, Desmond discovers that the Bleeding Effect has given him Altair's 'Eagle Vision', allowing him to discern friend from foe and read cryptic messages left on the walls and floor by Subject 16, another Animus subject that Lucy and Vidic talk of from time to time.
In Assassin's Creed II
, Desmond escapes from Abstergo with the help of Lucy, who was revealed to be an undercover Assassin in the Abstergo Corporation. Shortly afterwards, he goes into another Animus, supervised by Lucy and her team, consisting of British Shaun Hastings and American Rebecca Crane, in order to be quickly trained as an Assassin via the bleeding effect. This time, he goes into the memories of Ezio Auditore da Firenze, an ancestor from the Renaissance
time period.
After successfully navigating Ezio's early memories (with help from Shaun Hastings and Rebecca Crane on the outside), Desmond is extracted from the Animus to avoid the mental degradation that Subject 16 suffered as a side-effect of the Bleeding Effect and spending too long in the Animus. Shortly after extraction, Desmond flashes back to one of Altaïr's memories, despite not being linked to the Animus. Here, Desmond learns of Altaïr having a lover, Maria Thorpe, a Templar used as a decoy by Robert de Sable in the first Assassin's Creed. As Altaïr leaves, Desmond wonders why he isn't following the Assassin; instead, he moves towards Maria, where he enters her womb, showing that Altaïr's child (and another of Desmond's ancestors) has just been conceived.
After spending more time in the Animus 2.0, Desmond begins to adjust to his newly developed skills, becoming highly agile and an expert in whatever weapons Ezio learned to use. The last segment of Ezio's memories brings an astonished Ezio (and by extension, Desmond) to a futuristic chamber underneath the Vatican
, where a goddess
, Minerva
, addresses Desmond by name and, through Ezio, warns him of an impending cataclysm that has the potential to destroy all life on Earth. Desmond is pulled from the Animus quickly afterward, as Abstergo had discovered their hideout. The team escape, with Desmond using the skills acquired from the bleeding effect to help fight off Abstergo's forces. Desmond enters the Animus while in transit, knowing that Ezio — and perhaps Subject 16 — may have the answers they seek.
In Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood
(the events of which are set only 2 weeks after Desmond was initially captured by the Templar association, Abstergo Corporation), Desmond, Lucy, Shaun and Rebecca arrive at Monteriggioni, where the Villa Auditore was located. They set up a safe house in the Villa's sanctuary, and Desmond re-enters the Animus, in order to discover the location of the Apple of Eden, an artifact obtained by Ezio and one of the "Pieces of Eden". After finding the location of the Apple through the Animus, Desmond and the others learn that the Apple is hidden under the Colosseum. Due to the Bleeding Effect and Desmond's abilities, the assassins find a way inside an ancient Vault, where the Apple is located. He then takes the Apple and Juno takes control of his body and forces him to stab Lucy for reasons which are unclear. After Desmond passes out, he gets put back into the Animus by William Miles and an unknown man, who are assassins. The events and assignments for the assassins seem to end after this and Desmond falls into a coma.
In Assassin's Creed: Revelations
, Desmond finds himself in the Black Room, a "back door" in the Animus. There, Desmond must find a specific memory that links him with Altaïr and Ezio so that he can reintegrate his shattered subconscious and awaken from his coma. In the Black Room he sees Subject 16, and often speaks with him about how to reawaken from his coma. Desmond can also hear the voices of Bill Miles (his father), Shaun Hastings and Rebecca Crane while he is in this state. After awakening from his coma Desmond sees Shaun, Rebecca, and Bill (his father) around him and once he sees the apple he says he knows what to do. After that his arm glows a mysterious blue, and he says again that he knows what to do.
Whilst in the Black Room, there are sequences where Desmond talks about his life and how he came to be in the hands of Abstergo. In Desmond Sequence 1, he expresses regret for running away from The Farm, and also wishes that he could apologise to his family. In Desmond Sequence 2 and 3, Desmond explains his early life - that of the one on The Farm and the training he and the other assassins would go through. He also describes his escape, which happened at the age of 16. That night, he slept in a clearing and was lost in the The Black Hills for a day, before running into girls from Illinois who drove him to Chicago. After this, he moved to New York City. During Desmond Sequence 4, he talks of his life in New York City, and the job he got bartending at the bar, Bad Weather. There, he created a drink called the Shirley Templar, like the Shirley Temple, but with gin added to it. In the last sequence, Desmond Sequence 5, Desmond describes the moment Abstergo found him, at age 25, and how much he regretted not taking his parents warnings and training more seriously:
Assassin's Creed (series)
Assassin's Creed is a historical science fiction Action Adventure game series that as of 2011 consists of four main games and a number of supporting materials. The games have appeared on the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation Vita, Mac OS X, Nintendo DS, PlayStation Portable,...
. He was born March 13th, 1987, which is the 72nd day of the year. He is a descendant of both Altaïr ibn La-Ahad, and Ezio Auditore da Firenze.
Desmond was born at an Assassin hideout, much like Masyaf
Masyaf
Masyaf is a city in Syria, in the Hama Governorate, notable for its large medieval castle.It was used by Hashashins as their headquarters after the destruction of Alamut....
, a modern day Assassin enclave called "The Farm", which was based in The Black Hills, South Dakota
South Dakota
South Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is named after the Lakota and Dakota Sioux American Indian tribes. Once a part of Dakota Territory, South Dakota became a state on November 2, 1889. The state has an area of and an estimated population of just over...
, United States of America. Isolated and living "off the grid", Desmond was born and raised as an Assassin. He was unable to leave this small community of thirty or so people, but desperately sought escape, as he believed that they were "just a bunch of hippies who wanted to stick it to the man." Desmond later facilitated his desired escape, claiming that he wanted to see the rest of the world. Desmond states that he has no regrets leaving his father or mother; at one point when accused of being an assassin, he responds "I'm not an Assassin…not anymore." At some time in his life, Desmond became a bartender, but lived under assumed names to protect himself. He used cash only in a further attempt to hide his true identity, but was finally found by Abstergo via his fingerprint (needed for a motorcycle license).
Desmond is later put into the Animus, a machine that allows him to relive the memories of his ancestors stored in his DNA, by scientists Dr. Warren Vidic and Dr. Lucy Stillman, employees of Abstergo Corporation. They explain that they are searching the memories of Desmond's ancestors, specifically those of Altaïr ibn La-Ahad, for a certain piece of information, which they refuse to disclose. Without much choice, Desmond agrees to help them. Some time later, after recovering the information for which Vidic was searching, Abstergo's executives order Desmond to be killed, but Lucy's quick thinking saves him, and she persuades Vidic to keep him alive until they know for certain that he is of no further use. Upon returning to his room, Desmond discovers that the Bleeding Effect has given him Altair's 'Eagle Vision', allowing him to discern friend from foe and read cryptic messages left on the walls and floor by Subject 16, another Animus subject that Lucy and Vidic talk of from time to time.
In Assassin's Creed II
Assassin's Creed II
Assassin's Creed II is a historical third-person action-adventure video game developed by Ubisoft Montreal and published by Ubisoft for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Microsoft Windows and Mac OS X. It is the second video game installment of the Assassin's Creed series, and is a sequel to the 2007 video...
, Desmond escapes from Abstergo with the help of Lucy, who was revealed to be an undercover Assassin in the Abstergo Corporation. Shortly afterwards, he goes into another Animus, supervised by Lucy and her team, consisting of British Shaun Hastings and American Rebecca Crane, in order to be quickly trained as an Assassin via the bleeding effect. This time, he goes into the memories of Ezio Auditore da Firenze, an ancestor from the Renaissance
Renaissance
The Renaissance was a cultural movement that spanned roughly the 14th to the 17th century, beginning in Italy in the Late Middle Ages and later spreading to the rest of Europe. The term is also used more loosely to refer to the historical era, but since the changes of the Renaissance were not...
time period.
After successfully navigating Ezio's early memories (with help from Shaun Hastings and Rebecca Crane on the outside), Desmond is extracted from the Animus to avoid the mental degradation that Subject 16 suffered as a side-effect of the Bleeding Effect and spending too long in the Animus. Shortly after extraction, Desmond flashes back to one of Altaïr's memories, despite not being linked to the Animus. Here, Desmond learns of Altaïr having a lover, Maria Thorpe, a Templar used as a decoy by Robert de Sable in the first Assassin's Creed. As Altaïr leaves, Desmond wonders why he isn't following the Assassin; instead, he moves towards Maria, where he enters her womb, showing that Altaïr's child (and another of Desmond's ancestors) has just been conceived.
After spending more time in the Animus 2.0, Desmond begins to adjust to his newly developed skills, becoming highly agile and an expert in whatever weapons Ezio learned to use. The last segment of Ezio's memories brings an astonished Ezio (and by extension, Desmond) to a futuristic chamber underneath the Vatican
Holy See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
, where a goddess
Roman mythology
Roman mythology is the body of traditional stories pertaining to ancient Rome's legendary origins and religious system, as represented in the literature and visual arts of the Romans...
, Minerva
Minerva
Minerva was the Roman goddess whom Romans from the 2nd century BC onwards equated with the Greek goddess Athena. She was the virgin goddess of poetry, medicine, wisdom, commerce, weaving, crafts, magic...
, addresses Desmond by name and, through Ezio, warns him of an impending cataclysm that has the potential to destroy all life on Earth. Desmond is pulled from the Animus quickly afterward, as Abstergo had discovered their hideout. The team escape, with Desmond using the skills acquired from the bleeding effect to help fight off Abstergo's forces. Desmond enters the Animus while in transit, knowing that Ezio — and perhaps Subject 16 — may have the answers they seek.
In Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood
Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood
Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood is a historical third person, stealth action-adventure video game developed by Ubisoft for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Microsoft Windows and Mac OS X. It was released for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 in November 2010, Microsoft Windows in March 2011 and Mac OS X in May 2011...
(the events of which are set only 2 weeks after Desmond was initially captured by the Templar association, Abstergo Corporation), Desmond, Lucy, Shaun and Rebecca arrive at Monteriggioni, where the Villa Auditore was located. They set up a safe house in the Villa's sanctuary, and Desmond re-enters the Animus, in order to discover the location of the Apple of Eden, an artifact obtained by Ezio and one of the "Pieces of Eden". After finding the location of the Apple through the Animus, Desmond and the others learn that the Apple is hidden under the Colosseum. Due to the Bleeding Effect and Desmond's abilities, the assassins find a way inside an ancient Vault, where the Apple is located. He then takes the Apple and Juno takes control of his body and forces him to stab Lucy for reasons which are unclear. After Desmond passes out, he gets put back into the Animus by William Miles and an unknown man, who are assassins. The events and assignments for the assassins seem to end after this and Desmond falls into a coma.
In Assassin's Creed: Revelations
Assassin's Creed: Revelations
Assassin's Creed: Revelations is a video game in the Assassin's Creed franchise developed and published by Ubisoft Montreal. The game was released for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 on November 15, 2011. For Microsoft Windows, the game is delayed until December 2, 2011...
, Desmond finds himself in the Black Room, a "back door" in the Animus. There, Desmond must find a specific memory that links him with Altaïr and Ezio so that he can reintegrate his shattered subconscious and awaken from his coma. In the Black Room he sees Subject 16, and often speaks with him about how to reawaken from his coma. Desmond can also hear the voices of Bill Miles (his father), Shaun Hastings and Rebecca Crane while he is in this state. After awakening from his coma Desmond sees Shaun, Rebecca, and Bill (his father) around him and once he sees the apple he says he knows what to do. After that his arm glows a mysterious blue, and he says again that he knows what to do.
Whilst in the Black Room, there are sequences where Desmond talks about his life and how he came to be in the hands of Abstergo. In Desmond Sequence 1, he expresses regret for running away from The Farm, and also wishes that he could apologise to his family. In Desmond Sequence 2 and 3, Desmond explains his early life - that of the one on The Farm and the training he and the other assassins would go through. He also describes his escape, which happened at the age of 16. That night, he slept in a clearing and was lost in the The Black Hills for a day, before running into girls from Illinois who drove him to Chicago. After this, he moved to New York City. During Desmond Sequence 4, he talks of his life in New York City, and the job he got bartending at the bar, Bad Weather. There, he created a drink called the Shirley Templar, like the Shirley Temple, but with gin added to it. In the last sequence, Desmond Sequence 5, Desmond describes the moment Abstergo found him, at age 25, and how much he regretted not taking his parents warnings and training more seriously:
Ancestry
- Adam (ancestor) is part of a previous civilization that lived on Earth.
- Eve (ancestor) is part of a previous civilization that lived on Earth.
- Altaïr ibn-La'Ahad (ancestor) was a Syrian assassin during the Middle Ages, around the time of the Third Crusade.
- Maria Thorpe (ancestor) was a British noble who married Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad.
- Sef and Darim ibn-La'Ahad Thorpe. The two sons of Altaïr and Maria, of which only the later survive, and is known to have had a family of his own.
- Lucius (ancestor) was a member of the Assassin Order during the Roman Empire.
- Aquilus (ancestor) was the son of Lucius, and followed his father's footsteps in becoming an assassin.
- Domenico Auditore (ancestor) was the first member of the Auditore family.
- Giovanni Auditore da Firenze (ancestor) was a member of the Assassin order.
- Maria Auditore da Firenze (ancestor) was the wife of Giovanni and the mother to Ezio Auditore da Firenze.
- Ezio Auditore da Firenze (ancestor) was an Italian who took the place of his father as an assassin during the Renaissance time period, where he later became a mentor and legend to the other assassins.
- Sofia Sartor (ancestor) was the wife of Ezio.
- William "Bill" Miles (father) is Desmond's father.
- Unknown (mother) is the progenitor of Desmond who remains unknown throughout the series.
- Clay Kaczmarek (distant relative) is more commonly referred to as Subject 16, and like Desmond is a descendant of Ezio Auditore da Firenze.