Robert Faulkner

2015-04-28T18:20:46Z

152.44.173.119: Changed the Shard of Eden from "coin" to "ring", as the Shard is listed as a "ring-like device", as well as clearly looking like a ring and certainly not a coin.

{{Era|AC3|ACRG|3book|Assassins}}
{{Quote|Ah, it's good to be at sea again! But I don't much like that sky.|Faulkner to Connor upon investigation of Martha's Vineyard, 1773.|Assassin's Creed III}}
{{Character Infobox
|image = AC3-Robert Faulkner Render.png
|birth = 1715
|affiliates = [[Assassins]]<br>Crew of the ''[[Aquila]]''
|appear = ''[[Assassin's Creed III]]''<br>''[[Assassin's Creed: Forsaken]]''
|voice = Kevin McNally}}
'''Robert Faulkner''' (1715 – unknown) was a veteran sailor and first mate aboard the ''[[Aquila]]'', during [[Ratonhnhaké:ton]]'s captaincy. Although he was a fourth generation sailor in his family, he was the first to be recruited into the [[Assassins|Assassin Order]].

==Biography==
===Early life===
Faulkner began his career in the [[Royal Navy]], but as he was unable to purchase commissions, he left to work for the United Company of Merchants. Faulkner proved to be great mariner, running a disciplined crew and avoiding trouble. He also had an uncanny knack of predicting the weather.<ref name="AC3">''[[Assassin's Creed III]]''</ref>

During his time as a [[Merchants|merchant]] in [[Halifax]], {{Wiki|Nova Scotia}}, Faulkner served with [[David Clutterbuck|David]] and [[Richard Clutterbuck]] on the ''Stalwart'' from 1750, and was in a relationship with [[Amanda Bailey]].<ref name="AC3"/> During this time, he and his crew were saved by the ''Aquila'' and [[Achilles Davenport]], the leader of the [[Colonial Assassins]]. Impressed by the ship and grateful to the Mentor, he offered his aid, creating a shipping route between the Colonial Assassins and the European branches of the Order, with the help of [[Louis-Joseph Gaultier, Chevalier de la Vérendrye|Chevalier de la Vérendrye]].<ref name="ACRG">''[[Assassin's Creed: Rogue]]'' - War Letters</ref>

In 1751, he started investigating two powerful French shipping companies - the [[Magdelaine Lévesque|Lévesque Family]] and the [[Madeleine de L'Isle|de L'Isle family]] - suspecting an affiliation with the [[Templars]]. He became worried about the future, and shared his concerns with Chevalier.<ref name="ACRG"/>

In 1753, Faulkner was officially recruited by the Colonial Assassins to be first mate of their ship the ''Aquila'', abruptly leaving his friends. He served aboard for fifteen years, though he deferred the position of captain.<ref name="AC3"/>

During the 1760s, the Templars - led by [[Haytham Kenway]] - launched an all out extermination of the Assassins, culminating in the ''<nowiki>Aquila'</nowiki>''s destruction in 1768. Faulkner had the wreck towed to the [[Davenport Homestead]]'s harbor, and fell into alcoholism, living in a shack near the shoreline.<ref name="AC3"/>

===Mentoring Connor===
{{Quote|I thought you brought him here to restore order? I reckon he's the greenest thing on the frontier!|Faulkner to Achilles after realizing how ignorant Connor was nautically, 1770.|Assassin's Creed III}}
Two years later, Achilles introduced Faulkner to his recruit Connor. Connor had recruited the lumberers [[Terry]] and [[Godfrey]], who gathered the timber necessary to repair the ship. Six months later, after the ''Aquila'' had been repaired, Faulkner gathered a crew and took Connor aboard to teach him how to captain a ship.<ref name="AC3"/>

[[File:ACIII-HardWay 3.png|thumb|250px|left|Robert with young Connor]]
They sailed to [[Martha's Vineyard]] to buy [[cannons]] and recruit gunnery officers. Faulkner reunited with Amanda, David and Richard, and recruited the latter two. However, Connor noticed the Templars [[Nicholas Biddle]] and [[Benjamin Church]] sitting nearby, and almost provoked them into a fight.<ref name="AC3"/>

Faulkner and Bailey defused the situation by leaving. Faulkner then taught Connor how to use the cannons and swivel guns. However, as they began sailing home, they were waylaid by English frigates, giving Connor a baptism of fire.<ref name="AC3"/>

Three years later, the ''Aquila'' sailed to Martha's Vineyard following reports of gunboats gathering to threaten merchant ships. Connor and Faulkner escorted a ship to safety while firing on the gunboats. They encountered a blockade of [[naval mines]]: Faulkner suggested firing on the mines to use them to their advantage. They then discovered [[Fort Phoenix]] had been reoccupied, and despite heavy mortar fire, the ''Aquila'' managed to destroy the fort. Faulkner deduced Templars were responsible for the raids, while Connor opted to sail home to piece things together.<ref name="AC3"/>

1773 was also the year Connor began searching for [[William Kidd]]'s treasure. During these voyages, the ''Aquila'' was anchored and Faulkner would row a boat to take Connor where he needed to be. The first clue to Kidd's treasure was located in [[Fort Wolcott]]: Connor infiltrated the fort and obtained part of the treasure map, while Faulkner returned to the ''Aquila'' and ordered an attack so the captain could make his escape.<ref name="AC3"/>

Faulkner also accompanied Connor a year later to [[Dead Chest Island]] for the second part of the map, and to [[Cerros]] when he searched for [[Captain Kidd's Sawtooth Cutlass|Kidd's cutlass]].<ref name="AC3"/>

===American Revolutionary War===
{{Quote|From British coxswain to captain of a Colonial Flagship. Something doesn't add up.|Faulkner on Biddle's promotion, 1776.|Assassin's Creed III}}
[[File:ACIII-Rescue 6.png|thumb|250px|Faulkner, Connor and Amanda Bailey aboard the ''Aquila'']]
In 1776, the ''Aquila'' sailed to [[Nantucket]]. They rendezvoused with Bailey, who informed them Biddle - now captain of the [[USS Randolph|USS ''Randolph'']] - was raiding the coast. The ''Aquila'' sailed into a storm to rescue a merchant ship being attacked by the ''Randolph'' and her fleet.<ref name="AC3"/>

After saving it, they pursued the ''Randolph'', but were attacked by English frigates. After sinking them, the delay and the storm forced the ''Aquila'' to leave. Faulkner was confused as to why Biddle, a Patriot, was working with the British, but Connor realized he was manipulating them to convince the [[Continental Congress]] to strengthen the Navy.<ref name="AC3"/>

Later that year, the ''Aquila'' sailed to the [[Caribbean Sea]] to escort the [[French Navy|French]] supply ship ''[[La Belladonna]]''. The ''Randolph'' had been her escort, but had abandoned her. The British soon attacked, and their man-of-war disabled ''La Belladonna''. The ''Aquila'' boarded the man-of-war and Connor interrogated the captain, who was a Templar that had been alerted to ''La Belladonna'' by Biddle. When Connor spotted the ''Randolph'', Faulkner ordered an attack, but the captain belayed that order as he could not leave ''La Belladonna'' defenseless.<ref name="AC3"/>

1776 also took the ''Aquila'' to the [[Northwest Passage]] and [[Jamaica]] so Connor could recover two more pieces of Kidd's treasure map. Looking at the complete map, Faulkner realized the treasure was on [[Oak Island]], a forgettable isle he had sailed past dozens of times. When they arrived there a year later, Faulkner was nervous, concerned by the lengths Kidd went to hide his treasure on such a remote island. After Connor found the sinkhole the treasure was buried in, they were attacked by wolves: Faulkner ran, but the captain quickly dispatched them.<ref name="AC3"/>

Afterwards, they used explosives to open the sinkhole and Connor leapt in. When he finally emerged from a cave, Faulkner was disappointed to see he'd emerged with a mere ring. But when he lifted his flask to have a drink, the ring emitted an energy field that knocked it out of his hand, and Connor realized Kidd had possessed a [[Shards of Eden|Shard of Eden]].<ref name="AC3"/>

In 1778, Faulkner sailed to [[Martinique]] with Connor and his father - Haytham Kenway - to find Benjamin Church, who had stolen supplies from the [[Continental Army]] at [[Valley Forge]]. During the voyage, Faulkner defended Connor from Haytham's dismissive and critical attitude towards his son's sailing. When the ''Aquila'' disabled Church's ship, Faulkner realized Haytham had pushed Connor to take the wheel, and collided the ships to board. Regardless, Faulkner continued with his duty of ordering the men to hook the ships up and attack.<ref name="AC3"/>

[[File:ACIII-Biddlehideout 8.png|thumb|left|250px|Faulkner questioning abandonment of the USS ''Randolph'']]
That year, the ''Aquila'' also located the ''Randolph'', successfully boarding her so Connor could assassinate Biddle. However, Connor opted to fulfil Biddle's last request of letting him sink with his ship - much to Faulkner's disappointment, as he considered sinking the ''Randolph'' a waste of a good vessel. Regardless, he encouraged Connor to let the crew celebrate their victory.<ref name="AC3"/>

Faulkner sailed with Connor during the [[Battle of the Chesapeake]]. The ''Aquila'' was ordered to hold the bay with just two other ships, until [[François Joseph Paul de Grasse|Admiral De Grasse]] returned with the main fleet. Ultimately, her allies were sunk and the ''<nowiki>Aquila'</nowiki>''s guns were disabled by a Man-of-War.<ref name="AC3"/>

To Faulkner's disbelief, Connor rammed the ship, as he jumped on board, killed the captain and blew up their gunpowder, and returned just as the enemy ship exploded. Faulkner cheerfully dubbed Connor a "mad bastard", just as the French fleet arrived to relieve them.<ref name="AC3"/>

==Alternate timeline==
[[File:Aquila Unchained 8.png|thumb|250px|Faulkner with Ratonhnhaké:ton and Franklin]]
In an [[Calculations|alternate reality]] where [[George Washington]] used the [[Apple of Eden 3|Apple of Eden]] to become a tyrannical king, Faulkner lived in [[Boston]], drowning his sorrows after [[Benjamin Franklin]] confiscated the ''Aquila''. However, Ratonhnhaké:ton and Franklin appeared, prompting him to try to strangle him. Ratonhnhaké:ton intervened, explaining Franklin was now working with the rebels, and that he would get his ship back.

While Ratonhnhaké:ton killed the snipers guarding the docks and untied the ropes docking the ''Aquila'', Faulkner gathered a crew. They charged the docks the following morning, and swam to the drifting ''Aquila'' while Ratonhnhaké:ton held off Washington's soldiers. Eventually they all escaped on board, and sailed to [[New York City]] to confront the king.<ref>''[[The Tyranny of King Washington: The Betrayal]]''</ref>

The ''Aquila'' soon engaged Washington's fleet in New York's bay, and ran out of gunpowder. Ratonhnhaké:ton ordered everyone on board to swim away to shore, while he rammed the ship into a Man-of-War.<ref>''[[The Tyranny of King Washington: The Redemption]]''</ref>

==Personality and characteristics==
Faulkner was a calm, respectful and wise man but could, at rare times, be short-tempered. As a sailor, Robert had a keen interest in sailing the ocean, and often enjoyed singing [[Sea shanties|shanties]] during his travels. Despite his extensive knowledge regarding the ocean, Faulkner believed himself unworthy to become a full pledged captain, and often referred to the position of quartermaster instead, a role which he personally felt more suited with.

Upon joining the Assassin Order, Faulkner acted as a mentor to a young Connor, whom the latter gained a clear respect for.

==Equipment and skills==
Faulkner's vast insight and knowledge regarding the ocean led him to becoming First Mate of the ''Aquila''. Additionally, his commercial skills helped secure a route linking the Colonial Brotherhood with other branches across the [[Atlantic Ocean|Atlantic]].

==Trivia==
*Faulkner's voice actor, Kevin McNally, portrayed {{Wiki|Joshamee Gibbs}}, the first mate aboard the ''Black Pearl'' in the ''{{Wiki|Pirates of the Caribbean}}'' series. Faulkner also shares some similarities to Gibbs, his appearance and his superstition, as they both believe having a woman aboard, and stepping on the ship with the left leg first, are omens of bad luck.
*Following the destruction of the ''Randolph'', Faulkner could be heard leading "Wild Rover," an Irish folk song that was written in the late 16th century.
*For reasons unknown, Faulkner did not attend Achilles' funeral.

==Gallery==
<gallery captionalign="center" spacing="small" position="center" widths="180">
ACIII-TrainingBegins 4.png|Faulkner asking for Connor's help in restoring the ''Aquila''
AC3 Faulkner boarding sequence.png|Faulkner commanding the crew during a boarding
</gallery>

==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{AC3}}
{{TOKW}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Faulkner, Robert}}
[[Category:1715 births]]
[[Category:Individuals]]
[[Category:Americans]]
[[Category:Merchants]]
[[Category:Captains]]
[[Category:Quartermasters]]
[[Category:Privateers]]
[[Category:Davenport Homestead residents]]
[[Category:Royal Navy personnel]]
[[Category:Assassins]]
[[Category:Colonial Assassins]]
[[Category:Aquila crew]]

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Robert Faulkner