Piracy

2013-07-15T21:35:20Z

108.237.228.11: /* History */

{{Era|ACBL|ACR|AC3|AC4|TSC|Rbook}}
{{WP-REAL|Piracy}}
'''Piracy''' is an act of robbery or criminal violence, typically at sea, and can also range to naval warfare and coastal raids. Acts of piracy can be committed on land, in the air, or in other bodies of water including shores.

An individual who participates in piracy is known as a '''pirate''', though they should not be confused with privateers; state-sponsored sailors allowed to steal from the ships of enemy countries.

==History==
Pirates sailed the [[Mediterranean Sea]] during the Middle Ages, including a group of Cypriot pirates who allied with the [[Templars]] controlling [[Cyprus]]. During [[Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad]]'s trip to Cyprus in 1191, a pirate named [[Pasha]] sailed him to [[Kyrenia]]. However, the majority of the pirates there attempted to capture him for the Templars. When Altaïr returned to [[Limassol]], he assassinated their [[Pirate Captain|captain]].<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Bloodlines]]''</ref>

Around 1321, the Templars in [[Italy]] hired pirates to steal the [[Codex]] from [[Domenico Auditore]], murdering his wife in the process.<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed II]]'' - ''[[Auditore Family Crypt]]''</ref>

In 1511, [[Al-Scarab]] was an honorable pirate who sought revenge on [[Ezio Auditore da Firenze]] for humiliating him, but after they worked together to fight off some watchmen, he returned the favor by sailing him to [[Acre]].<ref>[[Assassin's Creed: Revelations (novel)|''Assassin's Creed: Revelations'' novel]]</ref> Soon after, the [[Ottoman Assassins]] allied with the {{Wiki|Barbary pirates|corsair}} [[Hayreddin Barbarossa]] to undermine [[Spain|Spanish]] control of [[Algiers]]. Also active at the time were the Templar pirate, [[Eveline Guerra]], and [[Blaise Legros]], whose only loyalty was to money, transporting Templars and Assassins wherever they desired so long as they could pay him.<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Revelations]]''</ref>

The [[Golden Age of Piracy]] was considered to have taken place from the late 17th century to the early 18th century in the [[Caribbean Sea]]. During this time, [[William Kidd]] was a Scottish privateer active in the area. He was captured and executed on charges of piracy in 1701, but in truth, the accusations were made by Templars hoping he would reveal the location of the [[Shards of Eden|Shard of Eden]] he had found.<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed III]]''</ref>

[[Edward Kenway]] was a British privateer-turned-pirate active in the Caribbean, who joined the [[Assassins]]. In the pirate republic of [[Nassau]], Edward interacted with many pirates such as [[Edward Thatch|Blackbeard]], [[Benjamin Hornigold]], [[Charles Vane]], [[Jack Rackham]] and [[Anne Bonny]].<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag]]''</ref> A pirate found guilty of demise during the [[Golden Age of Piracy]] was offered 300 lashes. Also, if a pirate met with accidents and lost vital organs, he was compensated nicely. <ref>[http://images4.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20130707070908/assassinscreed/images/f/fd/Golden_Age_of_Piracy_poster.jpg ''Assassin's Creed'' Tumblr - Golden Age of Piracy poster]</ref>

==Reference==
{{Reflist}}
{{AC4}}
[[Category:Criminal practices]]

Benedict Arnold

2013-06-16T00:36:48Z

108.237.228.11: /* Alternate timeline */

{{Era|AC3}}
{{WP-REAL}}
{{Quote|This must be some sort of plot to expose the fort. I'm a patriot through and through, Connor.|Benedict Arnold explaining his allegiance to Connor.|Assassin's Creed III}}
{{Character Infobox
|name = Benedict Arnold
|image = ACIII-Arnold.png
|birth = 14 January 1741<br>{{Wiki|Norwich, Connecticut}}
|death = 14 June 1801 (aged 60)<br>[[London]], [[United Kingdom|England]]
|faction = [[Continental Army]]<br>[[British Army]]
|appear = ''[[Assassin's Creed III]]''
|voice = [[Paul Hopkins]]}}
'''Benedict Arnold''' (1741 – 1801) was a Major General in the [[Continental Army]] who ultimately defected to the [[British Army]]. Initially considered a war hero, Arnold was given command of the fort at [[West Point]], where he was exposed as a traitor when the [[Assassins|Assassin]] [[Ratonhnhaké:ton|Connor]] discovered his plans to surrender the stronghold to the British.

==Biography==
===Early career===
Arnold was considered a brave and caring commander. He led the capture of {{Wiki|Fort Ticonderoga}} in May 1775, and was considered a war hero after his leg was crippled at the {{Wiki|Battle of Saratoga}} in 1777. However, he had a propensity for arguing with his superiors, meaning he was often passed over for promotions (although Washington's attitude towards him was favorable). By 1780, when he was given command of West Point, he planned to give up the fort for a payment of £20,000 and a commission as a Brigadier General in the British Army.<ref name="AC3">''[[Assassin's Creed III]]''</ref>

===Investigation by Connor===
In 1780, the Assassin Connor was asked by [[George Washington]] to expose a rumored plot to overthrow West Point. Reluctantly agreeing, Connor worked undercover for Washington while flushing out [[United Kingdom|British]] spies.<ref name="AC3"/>

Investigating the Major General, Connor eavesdropped on Arnold as he discussed plans with John Anderson – secretly Major [[John André]] of the British Army – to deliver a letter to the British General Henry Clinton. Once the conversation ended, Benedict went back to the fort while his associate met up with British Regulars to acquire a uniform.<ref name="AC3"/>

===Confrontation with Connor===
Anderson then came back to the fort, but was caught when Connor stopped two Continental soldiers from killing him. Connor then pulled out a note from André's person, which revealed the plans for a sum of twenty thousand pounds to go to Arnold for the fort at West Point.<ref name="AC3"/>

[[File:ACIII-BA-Westpoint_1.png|thumb|250px|left|Connor confronting Arnold over his betrayal]]
Unaware he was compromised, Benedict awaited for André's return and also for the Regulars to arrive with his money. However, Connor arrived first and exposed Arnold for the traitor he was, right as the Regulars arrived, to which Benedict fled the fort while the British began their assault.<ref name="AC3"/>

===Defection to the British Army===
Although Connor foiled the attack, he failed to reach Arnold, as the latter had sailed away from West Point on the ''[[Vulture]]''. Ultimately, Benedict Arnold defected to the British not long after, where he assumed the agreed role of Brigadier General in the British Army.<ref name="AC3"/>

However, as he had not delivered the British the fort, he was only paid £6,000. Arnold also found it hard to shake off his treacherous image, which had superseded that of him as a war hero.<ref name="AC3"/>

Afterwards, Arnold was spotted leading troops in [[Connecticut]]: Connor's [[apprentices]] were [[Contracts (Assassin's Creed III)|contracted]] to kill him during the {{Wiki|battle of Groton Heights}}, but they did not get close enough to kill him.<ref name="AC3"/>

Following Arnold's plot, the Continental Army was placed in an uneasy position, in which they began to question the loyalty of their troops and officers.<ref name="AC3"/>

==Alternate timeline==
[[File:ACIII-Warn_16.png|thumb|250px|Arnold and Washington during the attack on Kanatahséton]]
In an altered reality, where Washington ruled America as a king with an [[Apple of Eden 3|Apple of Eden]], Arnold served as his right-hand man with [[Israel Putnam]]. Arnold's particular duties involved him supervising the Frontier, and supressing any resistance, often carting the native people off as labourers. He was present during the burning of [[Kanatahséton]], riding at Washington's side. Washington expressed doubts about his resolve and powers, but he was assured by both his generals when they reaffirmed their loyalty. Arnold also witnessed the duel between his monarch and the Assassin Ratonhnhaké:ton, and after Washington beat him into submission and fired two pistols at his opponent at point-blank range, Arnold handed the king a musket to kill Ratonhnhaké:ton; however, the Assassin survived the encounter.

For the next five months, Arnold ruled over the Frontier in Washington's name from a seculded fort not far from Valley Forge. Arnold eventually discovered the location of the rebellious natives that had aided Ratonhnhaké:ton and sent his men after them. When Arnold's men found and killed the other survivors of the attack on the village, including its clan mother, Ratonhnhaké:ton resolved to track him down and assassinate him. Following General Putnam from Valley Forge, who had urgent need to speak to Arnold, the Assasin unleased a bear to distract the guardsmen posted outside Arnold's fortress, and snuck inside.

[[File:Justice_Served_8.png|thumb|left|250px|Ratonhnhaké:ton with a dying Arnold]]
Arnold was pacing outside the main building when the Assassin took his life. Before he died, Arnold seemed to change and regretted the acts he had done for King Washington. When Ratonhnhaké:ton declared his treachery at West Point deserved this reprisal, Arnold denied ever steping foot in West Point ever. Grabbing the Assassin's arm, he confirmed Washington's power to control came from his sceptre, and he urged his killer to go to Boston and find Benjamin Franklin to defeat the Mad King. However, he said that Franklin needed to be freed from something first. Yet, despite the Assassin's questions as to what he needed to be freed from, Arnold was unable to answer, and died from his wounds. Afterwards, Putnam captured the rebel, and claimed that it was a shame Arnold died (with little remorse, it needs to be said), and then said that he was taking Ratonhnhaké:ton to Boston to show the King. Arnold's final words set in motion the search for Ben Franklin and, by extention, the downfall of King Washington. <ref>''[[The Tyranny of King Washington: The Infamy]]''</ref>

==Final words (alternate timeline)==
[[File:Justice_Served_9.png|thumb|250px|The alternate Arnold's final moments]]
*'''Ratonhnhaké:ton:''' ''I have waited a long time to end your treachery. You escaped me once, but today you die.''
*'''Arnold:''' ''Who are you? What is happening?''
*'''Ratonhnhaké:ton:''' ''You know who I am.''
*'''Arnold:''' ''I've never seen you before in my life! Washington's apple. He uses it to control men. You... You have to believe me. I... I was not in my right mind.''
*'''Ratonhnhaké:ton:''' ''What you did at West Point was of no one's mind but yours.''
*'''Arnold:''' ''West Point? I... I've never set foot in that fort in my life. Please. Washington, he's gone mad. You, you have to bring him down. He's no more a man but a monster. Find Benjamin Franklin in Boston. He can help you - but you have to, you have to free him.''
*'''Ratonhnhaké:ton:''' ''Free him from where? Where?''

==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{AC3}}
{{TOKW}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Arnold, Benedict}}
[[Category:Characters]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed III characters]]
[[Category:Patriots]]
[[Category:Sons of Liberty]]
[[Category:Continental Army]]
[[Category:British Army]]
[[Category:Loyalists]]
[[Category:Historical characters]]
[[Category:Freemasons]]

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Piracy

Benedict Arnold