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Élise de la Serre

2015-12-25T18:17:26Z

172.1.178.94: Adding categories

{{Era|ACU|ACRG|Ubook|EH|Templars}}
{{Youmay|the Templar|the [[Élise Lafleur|French smuggler]]}}
{{Character Infobox
|image = ACU Elise Render.png
|birth = 1768 [[Versailles]], [[France|Kingdom of France]]
|death = 28 July 1794 [[Paris]], French Republic
|affiliates = [[Templars]] House of Serre
|appear = ''[[Assassin's Creed: Unity]]'' ''[[Assassin's Creed: Rogue]]'' [[Assassin's Creed: Unity (novel)|''Unity'' novel]]
|voice =[[Catherine Bérubé]] [[Angela Galuppo]] (young)}}
'''Élise de la Serre''' (1768 – 1794) was a [[France|French]] noblewoman and [[Templars|Templar]], as well as the adoptive sister and lover of the [[Assassins|Assassin]] [[Arno Dorian]].

==Biography==
===Early life===
{{Quote|Sometimes I feel like one of those poor wretches we see in Paris, hunched over beneath the weight of expectations forced upon me. I am only ten years old.|A young Élise writing her thoughts in her journal, 1778.|Assassin's Creed: Unity (novel)}}
Élise was born the daughter of [[François de la Serre]], the [[Grand Master]] of the French Templars, and [[Julie de la Serre]] in 1768. Due to their Templar connections, the family possessed a lot of influence, leading Élise to have a very privileged childhood. However, her adventurous nature kept her from being idle, with the young girl preferring the company of servants to attending a ball.<ref name="ACU">''[[Assassin's Creed: Unity]]''</ref>

As a small child, Élise was oblivious to her family's Order and never wondered why she learned history, not etiquette, manners, and poise unlike the other noble children. She did not question her parents why they were different from other families. Her mother told her not to be like the other women at court who only knew of looks and status. This intrigued Élise, who started spying on other women behind her mother's skirts.<ref name="Unity novel">[[Assassin's Creed: Unity (novel)|''Assassin's Creed: Unity'' novel]]</ref>

At age five, she entered the convent, in which the mother superior who hated her happiness and laughter. The old lady caned Élise's palms, the scars from which Julie had taken notice of and threatened the mother superior. Since then, her parents hired tutors to teach her schoolwork. The incident left questions in young Élise's mind, who knew that other ladies did not behave the way her mother did.<ref name="Unity novel" />

A year later, the de la Serre family attended their neighbor's birthday party. Élise found other girls her age stupid by playing dolls and tea parties; instead, she joined the boys who were playing toy soldiers. Her behavior shocked the majority of the crowd, and her nursemaid, [[Ruth]], dragged her away and told her to play with dolls, which she pretended to enjoy. As she watched other ladies gossip and her mother alone, Élise realized that she wanted to be like Julie and not the self-centered women of court.<ref name="Unity novel" />

Élise met her combat mentor and a British Templar, [[Frederick Weatherall]], in February 1774. Her mother led her across their château's grounds with their Irish wolfhound Scratch. Unaware of their company, Julie taught her to study and observe her surroundings to find Weatherall. She failed to do so, and Weatherall eventually showed himself and gave them an exaggerated bow. The young girl admired the man and immediately took a liking to him.<ref name="Unity novel" />

At first, Élise was confused and questioned her mother about her father and Weatherall, but Julie convinced her that he was a confidant and protector and that her father would be busy. A growl from Scratch interrupted their conversation and Élise witnessed her mother and Weatherall arm themselves against a wolf. Julie convinced Weatherall to let the wolf go and the pair hid their weapons as if nothing had happened. This made Élise wonder how different her family was to other nobles. Her meeting with Weatherall and her sword lessons became Élise and Julie's ''vérité cachée'', secrets.<ref name="Unity novel" />

[[File:Elise sword training.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Élise receiving her training from Frederick Weatherall under the watch of her mother]]
By the spring of 1774, the Carrolls, an English family of Templars, visited their household. Élise and her mother entertained [[Mrs. Carroll]] and her daughter, [[May Carroll|May]], with a walk across their gardens. May mocked her occasionally on their walk and kept reminding Élise that she was only six, while May was ten. Irritated, Élise decided to listen on the ladies' conversation about the Templar Order and caught snippets of it, which added more to her confusion. May asked her if she knew about her "destiny", to which Élise replied that she did not. Pretending to be shocked, May told Élise that she would soon learn when she turned ten, like May herself had.<ref name="Unity novel" />

When Élise turned eight, she and her mother visited [[Christian]]'s shoe shop in Paris. After arranging their payment and delivery, they found no sign of their carriage and coachman. Élise saw Julie stiffen and watched the street around them. Julie assured Christian and Élise that their coachman was merely negligent but he warned her about the people and that it was getting dark. Julie led her scared daughter towards the square where carriages could be hired and warned her that someone was following them. Telling her to be calm, they passed another shop window and discovered that their [[Bernard Ruddock|stalker]] disappeared.<ref name="Unity novel" />

[[File:Julie Elise assassination.jpg|thumb|250px|Julie protecting Élise from their attackers]]
The pair took an alley lit only by lanterns at each end. They found themselves blocked by their stalker and a lamplighter who doused the lanterns' flames. Their attackers were armed with blades, but Julie took her advantage and attacked the stalker, who happened to be an Assassin, much to Élise's amazement. As the lamplighter grabbed Élise and threatened to kill her, he was killed himself by by Julie's [[Hidden Blade|footblade]]. The Assassin fled and the pair arrived home, composed but bloodied. Élise discovered that her mother told different stories, even to her father and his Templar associates, whom the young girl called Crows.<ref name="Unity novel" />

===Training for Grand Master===
{{Quote|Instead, her journal was filled with a sense of injustice and of Élise at odds with the world around her... Page after page of her failing to realize that what she was doing wasn't rebelling. It was mourning.|Arno, reflecting upon Élise's journal entries, 1794.|Assassin's Creed: Unity (novel)}}
Due to the incident, Élise's parents were forced to reveal their plans to her, which were to prepare her to become the future Grand Master of the Parisian Rite, and tell her of the secret [[Assassin–Templar War]]. Relieved that her questions were finally answered, Élise found the idea of leading the country to order and peace a principled idea. Since then, the young girl spent her time with Julie and Weatherall, training in combat and tactics, and with her father and governor, learning the Templar principles and beliefs.<ref name="Unity novel" />

[[File:Memories of Versailles 6.png|thumb|left|250px|A young Élise meeting Arno in the Palace of Versailles]]
Later that year, François de la Serre adopted young Arno Dorian, following his [[Charles Dorian|father]]'s death at the hands of [[Shay Cormac]].<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Rogue]]''</ref> As a result, she and Arno grew up together, with the energetic Élise often getting her adoptive brother into trouble. Once, she convinced him to jump a fence into an orchard, which happened to be patrolled by guard [[dogs]].<ref name="ACU" /> They became great friends, and Élise took her role as older sister with enjoyment. The two children often played skipping, hopscotch, shuttlecock and sword fighting in which they were evenly matched, with the exception of sword fighting where Élise always won. She spent her mornings tutored as a responsible adult-in-waiting, and her afternoons with Arno as a child.<ref name="Unity novel" />

Soon after, Élise was called by her parents who revealed Arno's Assassin heritage to her, even though the boy himself was oblivious to it. François asked her to guide him towards the Templar Order, an idea against Élise and her mother's beliefs. They managed to convince François to delay his plans, for which the young girl was grateful.<ref name="Unity novel" />

Following her mother's illness, Élise no longer spent her afternoons with Arno, but rather at her mother's bedside. She found François gravitating towards Arno, which left her sad and grief-stricken. Élise also discovered Weatherall's love for her mother, when she spied on him visiting and sobbing for Julie. Before her death, Julie told Élise to stay strong for the sake of her father and the Order, and that she loved them very much. Julie's death brought emptiness in the young girl's life, even as her routines continued as usual. Weatherall gave her a box from Julie that contained a short sword with an inscription of the Templar maxim on the hilt, but Élise felt nothing. Later that day, Élise was summoned by her father to his study, where she finally confided her grief in him.<ref name="Unity novel" />

Élise was sent to the [[Maison Royale de Saint-Louis]] school at Saint-Cyr to complete her education as a proper lady and Templar knight, during which she was separated from Arno. She loathed the school and referred to it as ''Le Palais de la Misére'' in her letters, saying her personality was unsuited for the school. She detested the restrictions and regime of Maison Royale, which encroached such subjects as embroidery and music. Élise often caused trouble in school with her fights against the head pupil, Valerie, for which she was punished by [[Madame Levene]], the headmistress. She would respond with insolence and would make matters worse. The emptiness in her heart caused by Julie's death became the root of her rebellion, which also gave way to her scorn of other pupils and teachers.<ref name="Unity novel" />

Due to Élise's occasional disturbances, François was called to Madame Levene's office on 8 September 1787, where the latter complained about his daughter's acts of rebellion. By then, the nobles had defied the King, and unrest began to spread through Paris, of which François notified his daughter. After scolding her, he also reminded Élise of their agreement regarding Arno's induction into the Order. Aware of the headmistress' presence, Élise reluctantly agreed, but never did perform.<ref name="Unity novel" />

Until January 1788, Élise neglected their agreement and worsened her behavior at Maison Royale. She was on the risk of expulsion and other threats to her education, and yet she never heeded the warnings. Her father was called once again, but Élise found Weatherall in Madame Levene's office instead. Weatherall told her that he had been intercepting Levene's letters to her father and the pair faked punishment just in case the headmistress was spying on their conversation.<ref name="Unity novel" />

Weatherall had been searching for the man who attempted to kill Julie years ago, Bernard Ruddock, and found him hiding in London. Élise pleaded to join him in his hunt by forging a letter, but Weatherall scolded her instead, telling her she had been reckless and irresponsible with her schooling. Nevertheless, Élise hatched a scheme to blackmail Madame Levene.<ref name="Unity novel" />

On the night of 23 January 1788, Élise spied on her headmistress after learning a rumor from her fellow classmate, Judith, that Madame Levene had a lover. She followed the headmistress through the woods and found her meeting with a younger man named [[Jacques]], the groundskeeper. Élise's actions were followed by her theft of a horseshoe from the dormitory door.<ref name="Unity novel" />

Soon enough, Élise was called to the headmistress' office and the young lady confidently returned the horseshoe to her, ready to set her plan in motion. Yet, the headmistress revealed that she had taken a hold of Élise's journal and was aware of her scheme. Madame Levene assured her student that she was merely concerned for her and made an agreement, which entailed Élise staying quiet about what she saw, while the headmistress would send the forged letter to her father. Before Élise took leave, the headmistress added that Jacques was her son, not her lover, making the young lady ashamed of herself.<ref name="Unity novel" />

===Meeting Jennifer Scott===
{{Quote|She gave me two hours with them. It was enough time to read them and form questions of my own. To know that there was another way. A third way.|Élise's ideology after reading Haytham Kenway's letters, 1788.|Assassin's Creed: Unity (novel)}}
Élise arrived at the docks of [[Calais]] on 7 February 1788. Ignoring the coachman's warning, she entered the tavern to locate the captain of the ship heading for [[London]]. Confident that she could defend herself, she questioned the Middle Man, paying no heed to the drunkards watching her. Élise finally realized that the Middle Man was just playing with her and decided to leave. However, she was stopped by his men and lost a sword fight because of her lack of practice. The men tried to kidnap her with another girl, [[Hélène]], but were stopped by a drunkard and ship captain [[Byron Jackson]]. Élise saved Hélène in time and joined Byron's journey to [[United Kingdom|England]].<ref name="Unity novel" />

After bidding goodbye to Byron at Dover beach, Élise and Hélène rode a carriage to the Carroll house in Mayfair. Their arrival shocked the Carrolls and Weatherall, who had been inquiring for their assistance. The mentor and his student pretended that her arrival was planned and managed to convince the Carrolls to help them find Ruddock, in exchange for Élise and Hélène's help in infiltrating [[Jennifer Scott]]'s [[Kenway Mansion|home]], posing as "Yvonne Albertine" and a maidservant, respectively.<ref name="Unity novel" />

Tasked with finding [[Haytham Kenway]]'s letters to his sister, Élise maintained contact with Weatherall through light signals inside Jennifer's home at [[Queen Anne's Square]]. In an attempt to converse with her mentor, she was caught and questioned by the butler, Smith, which she answered quite well. By April 1788, Élise managed to hear the story of the Kenway family through her and Jennifer's visit to Hyde Park.<ref name="Unity novel" />

[[File:Jennifer and Elise.jpg|thumb|250px|Élise receiving the Templar pendant from Jennifer Scott]]
As the pair returned to the games room, Élise was blocked by Jennifer's men and herself. Jennifer had investigated Élise's background and learned of her true identity, saying that there was no "Yvonne Albertine" and the members of that family had been killed by the Templars. Nevertheless, Jennifer saw goodness in her heart, and gave the letters to Élise, on two conditions. The first was that the Templars leave Jennifer in peace, and the second was for Élise to attempt to unite the two warring factions. Jennifer also gave Élise a Templar pendant which Haytham once sent her, as a parting gift.<ref name="Unity novel" />

Before arriving at the Carroll house, Élise found the family holding Weatherhall hostage. Using their owl signal, Élise learned from her mentor that they had found Ruddock. Telling Hélène to leave immediately, she followed the Carrolls to the Boars Head Inn. Élise successfully managed to warn Ruddock to escape and confronted the Carrolls in the process. Élise gave them letters she received from Arno, after telling them that she was aware of what they had done with the Albertines, but the English Templars burned them, thinking they were Haytham's letters.<ref name="Unity novel" />

Their actions caused conflict and Élise was forced to murder May Carroll and one of the [[guards]]. With the help of Weatherall, the pair narrowly escaped the infuriated Carrolls, but Weatherall was shot in the leg. They've returned to France with Hélène, where Madame Levene welcomed them and called a doctor for Weatherall. Élise continued her education while her mentor and handmaiden temporarily stayed with Jacques.<ref name="Unity novel" />

Élise continued her hunt for Ruddock in January 1789, after obtaining information from the Butchered Cow tavern. She found him in a village outside Rouen, where Ruddock was about to be hanged. Cutting the rope in the last second and saving him from the townspeople, she was forced to torture him for information which he could not provide. Ruddock eventually promised that he would find the man who hired him, and Élise let him go in hopes that he would find purpose and direction in life.<ref name="Unity novel" />

===Return to Versailles===
[[File:High Society 10.png|left|thumb|250px|Arno and Élise meeting at the Palace]]
In May 1789, Élise returned to the de la Serre estate in Versailles, and attended the meeting of the [[Estates-General of 1789|Estates General]] held at the [[Hôtel des Menus-Plaisirs]] with her father on 5 May.<ref name="ACU" /> Later at the [[Palace of Versailles]], Élise was officially inducted into the Templar Order as an initiate, and gifted with a pin symbolizing the membership by François.<ref name="Unity novel" /> A private party was held to honor her arrival and induction, where she was reunited with Arno.<ref name="ACU" />

After sharing an affectionate kiss, Élise helped Arno escape the guards by distracting them and asking them to lead her to the billiard room. Halfway though her destination, she heard the cries of the crowd, and later learned that François had been assassinated and her lover was the culprit. By July 1789, a French revolution was starting but Élise was too overwhelmed by grief to do anything and developed scorn for Arno, whom she discovered had failed to deliver a warning letter to her father on the night of his murder.<ref name="ACU" />

Weatherall visited her and advised the grief-stricken girl to act, not only for herself and Arno but also for the Order, now that she was Grand Master, along with a similar counsel which came from Jennifer Scott's letter. On 14 July 1789, Élise joined the people storming the [[Bastille]], where Arno was imprisoned, and witnessed the people's lust for freedom and justice, along with Arno and [[Pierre Bellec]]'s escape from the fortress by [[Leap of Faith|leaping]] off the battlements.<ref name="Unity novel" />

Desperate to reach the de la Serre estate in time, Élise ran amongst the chaos and found her house ransacked by looters. She told the remaining servants and butlers to go someplace safe while she checked her important belongings. Élise found two men named [[Hook]] and [[Harvey]], who were hired by the Carrolls to eliminate her, but managed to kill them with a distraction from Ruddock. Ruddock told her that he had found the man who hired him, known as the [[Roi des Thunes]].<ref name="Unity novel" />

[[File:Imprisoned 14.png|thumb|250px|Élise pointing her pistol at Arno]]
Élise spent her following days drunk and anxious, until 25 July 1789, when Arno arrived in the estate and explained that he was not François killer. Élise showed Arno the letter that he had failed to deliver, and told him to go. Weatherall and a new Templar initiate [[Jean Burnel]] arrived on 20 August 1789 and helped Élise recover her bearings. She managed to learn form her mentor that the Roi des Thunes was also responsible for her father's death.<ref name="Unity novel" />

Adamant in her desire to regain leadership of the Templar Order, Élise called a meeting at the [[Hôtel de Lauzun]] in October 1789. Accompanied by Jean, she discovered that some of her Templar associates had been murdered, in a purge carried out by their ally, the [[Marquis de Pimôdan]]. The Marquis revealed to Élise that there were killers waiting for her downstairs, and Élise attempted to outwit them. Her efforts failed however, resulting in Jean being killed by ligature, and Élise breaking a rib on a ship's hull as she tried to escape by jumping into the river Seine.<ref name="Unity novel" />

[[File:ACU Templar Ambush 1.jpg|left|thumb|250px|Élise aided by Arno during the Templar ambush]]
Élise was nursed back to health by Hélène and Jacques, and learned that all her allies had abandoned her. Nevertheless, she trained to improve her combat skills as she waited for a chance to find her enemies.<ref name="Unity novel" /> On 1 April 1791, she decided to meet [[Chrétien Lafrenière]] at the [[Hôtel Voysin]], who sent a letter to Élise. However, she discovered the meeting was a trap. To her surprise, she saw a hooded Arno, who informed her that Lafrenière was dead, and helped her escape the attackers.<ref name="ACU" />

===Hunt for justice===
{{Quote|You are not men with whom I would normally parley, monsieur, but my father is dead, as are my allies within the Order. If I must turn to the Assassins for my revenge, so be it.|Élise, addressing her comments to the Assassin Council, 1791.|Assassin's Creed: Unity}}
In spite of their opposing allegiances, Élise and Arno shared a goal of finding François' killer. However, while Arno sought to redeem himself, she was driven by vengeance, wanting justice for her father's murder. As a member of the "old guard", Élise also desired to safeguard her Order against corruption and sought to clash those Templars who had betrayed the de la Serres.<ref name="ACU" />

[[File:ACU A Cautious Alliance 2.jpg|thumb|250px|Arno and Élise in audience with the Assassin Council]]
On 2 April 1791, the pair went to the [[Assassin Council]] to ask permission for Élise's aid in hunting the rogue Templar members. While the Council held a private meeting, they decided to investigate on their own in the warehouse of Arno's informant, the silversmith and former Templar [[François-Thomas Germain]]. However, Élise and Arno fell into a trap set by four Templar killers, but they were able to fight and eliminate them. The pair uncovered Templar plans and documents signed by Germain and fathomed that he was the new Grand Master.<ref name="ACU" />

They were interrupted by gunshots and the two headed to the Assassin [[Mentor]] [[Honoré Gabriel Riqueti, comte de Mirabeau|Mirabeau]]'s estate, where they found him dead beside a Templar badge designed to inflict poison. Thinking that Élise might be blamed for the incident, they decided to investigate further and tracked down the killer: Pierre Bellec.<ref name="ACU" />

[[File:ACU The Escape 3.jpg|left|thumb|250px|The lovers escaping on a hot-air balloon]]
After killing him, Arno told Élise that he had also killed the Roi des Thunes and the traitor [[Charles Gabriel Sivert]], much to the lady's fury. She wanted to inflict pain and death to her father's killers and Arno stole the opportunity from her. Fortunately, he managed to calm her down, saying that he gave them justice.<ref name="ACU" />

The pair continued their hunt, where Arno eventually assassinated [[Marie Lévesque]], and shared a ride on a hot-air balloon, where the lovers shared an intimate moment.<ref name="ACU" /> However, the deaths of her father's advisers served as a mere diversion and added to the anger consuming the young lady.<ref name="Unity novel" />

[[File:ACU The Execution 5.jpg|thumb|250px|Élise and Arno chasing Germain]]
On 20 January 1793, Élise returned to Versailles where she reported her latest endeavors to Weatherall. Her mentor noticed her want for revenge and tried to warn her, but the young lady remained stubborn.<ref name="Unity novel" /> The next day, Élise and Arno attended the [[Louis XVI of France|King]]'s execution, where they planned to assassinate Germain. Unfortunately, Germain had the guards alerted and he escaped, Arno choosing to save Élise over chasing the Grand Master, for which Élise was not grateful. She then cut off contact with him.<ref name="ACU" />

Élise learnt from Weatherall that Arno had been expelled from the Brotherhood and retreated to Versailles, where he had become the town drunk.<ref name="Unity novel" /> In June 1793, she went to the Palace of Versailles where she found Arno's watch, and returned it to him. Élise requested his help, but Arno was reluctant. Eventually, she was able to convince him to resume their hunt for Germain. While Arno assassinated the Templar [[Aloys la Touche]], Élise secured transport to Paris.<ref name="ACU" />
[[File:ACU The Supreme Being 3.jpg|left|thumb|250x250px|Arno and Élise arriving at the festival]]
Through the memories of la Touche, Arno learned that revolutionary leader [[Maximilien de Robespierre]] was one of Germain's conspirators. They decided to instigate a rebellion against Robespierre. If this happened, Germain would abandon Robespierre, who would be more vulnerable to give up information on his master. At the [[Festival of the Supreme Being]], Élise poisoned Robespierre to make him appear insane to the crowd. Arno also found lists of political opponents that Robespierre planned to eliminate. He placed the lists on critics of Robespierre, who was soon deposed by the National Convention.<ref name="ACU" />

However, Robespierre was sentenced to death, leaving Élise and Arno little time to interrogate him. After splitting up to find Robespierre, they cornered him inside the [[Hôtel de Ville]]. As Robespierre refused to give up Germain's location, Élise lost control and shot Robespierre's jaw, much to her and Arno's horror. He then wrote that Germain was hiding at the [[Temple (Paris)|Temple]].<ref name="ACU" />

Realizing that she was turning into another person and she might not survive her oncoming battle with Germain, she wrote letters for Arno and Ruddock, thanking them for their loyalty.<ref name="Unity novel" />

===Death===
{{Quote|...Think of me. Just as I shall think of you, until we are together again.|Élise's final words in her letter to Arno.|Assassin's Creed: Unity (novel)}}[[File:ACU The Temple 6.jpg|thumb|250px|Élise's final moments]]
By 28 July 1794, Élise was too consumed with hatred and decided to split up from Arno in their pursuit for Germain in the Temple. It was Arno who encountered Germain wielding a [[Swords of Eden|Sword of Eden]] and was defeated, letting Germain escape once again. Élise and Arno found him in a Templar crypt where the two tried to attack him. Using the Precursor sword, Germain trapped Arno underneath a pillar.<ref name="ACU" />

Élise decided to leave Arno and pursue the Grand Master herself. She locked him in a fierce sword fight, where Germain was slowly losing due to an injury that Arno had inflicted. The Sword of Eden's power source became unstable and exploded, throwing Élise into a column, crushing her beneath it. A freed Arno immediately went to his lover, but was seconds too late, as Élise died in his arms.<ref name="ACU" />

==Personality and characteristics==
{{Quote|You should be proud to inspire such loyalty in your followers, Élise. Perhaps you can use those gifts to inspire your Templar associates in other ways. We shall see.|Jennifer Scott, admiring Hélène's loyalty to Élise, 1788.|Assassin's Creed: Unity (novel)}}
[[File:High Society 8.png|left|thumb|250x250px|Élise letting Arno chase her]]
A free spirit, Élise was rarely idle and would often seek out trouble in her youth. As a child, she was quick to laughter which caused her peers in the convent and in the Maison Royale to became annoyed by her. Defined by her mentor Weatherall as overconfident, she sometimes underestimated her opponent and showed stubbornness and irritation if her views were countered. She was very similar to Julie, never keen on joining any of the other noble women's daughters, instead taking an interest in more masculine activities, such as playing war with the boys. Élise believed that there was always a third way, an ideology that she had gained from her deceased mother. Growing up, she developed a set of values which she loyally lived by and was willing to go to any lengths to see her goals fulfilled.<ref name="Unity novel" />

Her opinions were strengthened during her meeting with Jennifer Scott. Élise supported Haytham Kenway's judgement that the war between Assassins and Templars must cease. Élise was also considerate and loving to animals, and was fond of giving them treats or grooming them if they had behaved properly.<ref name="Unity novel" />

===Equipment and skills===
Due to extensive training throughout her life, Élise was both well-educated and physically fit, with her swordsmanship outclassing even Arno. She was also able to equip pistols in combat. In battle, she would rely on strategy, planning counters for her opponent's moves ahead of time.<ref name="ACU" /> As a Templar, Élise was also trained to become aware of her surroundings and to use clues found in her environment if she needed to track hidden enemies. If needed, she would use charm to convince people to help her.<ref name="Unity novel" />

===Romantic life===
Although they were technically family, Élise and Arno saw each other not as siblings, but as friends during their youth. Growing up, their feelings developed and the pair eventually fell in love.<ref name="ACU" /> Due to their respective educations the lovers had very little time to spend with each other and were only able to meet several times a year. During one her visits abroad, Élise meet Byron Jackson with whom she broke her trust to Arno with. However, Élise immediately regretted this decision and felt extremely guilty about it afterwards. Ultimately she decided not to tell Arno about it and chose to look at her mistake as a sign of the great love she had for him; given how upset she felt over the action and that she wanted no other man in her life other than Arno.<ref name="Unity novel" />

Once Élise discovered Arno's failure to deliver a letter warning her father of the betrayal, their relationship became strained. Élise held Arno responsible for her father's death, and it was not until years later, coincidentally by which point Arno had joined the Assassins, that the two began to rebuild their friendship and quickly resumed their romance.<ref name="ACU" />

==Trivia==
*The name Élise is a diminutive form of the French name Élisabeth, meaning "God's promise". Meanwhile, Élise's family name comes from the French ''Serre'', meaning "talon" or "greenhouse", while ''de la'', "from the", indicates nobility.
*In ''Unity''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s ending cutscene, Arno is shown visiting Élise's grave in the [[Holy Innocents' Cemetery|Cimetière des Saints-Innocents]]. However, when visiting said location in-game, Élise's grave is not there. Instead, the gravestone appears next to her parents' in the garden of the [[De la Serre estate (Versailles)|de la Serre estate]] in Versailles.
**The ''Unity'' novel, however, states that Élise was buried at the Cimetière des Saints-Innocents.

==Gallery==
<gallery captionalign="center" position="center" spacing="small" widths="180">
ACS Elise - Early Concept Art.jpg|Early concept art of Élise
ACU Elise de la Serre - Concept Art.jpg|Finalized concept art of Élise
ACU Elise Party Dress - Concept Art.jpg|Concept art of Élise in a ballgown
Young Elise - Concept Art.jpg|Concept art of a young Élise
Elise profile picture HR.jpg|Promotional art of Élise
Arno and Elise - Unity Promotional Art.jpg|Promotional art of Élise and Arno
ACU Elise Portrait.jpg|Portrait of Élise
</gallery>

==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{ACU}}
{{ACRG}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Serre, Elise de la}}
[[Category:1768 births]]
[[Category:1794 deaths]]
[[Category:Individuals]]
[[Category:Frenchmen]]
[[Category:Templars]]
[[Category:Parisian Templars]]
[[Category:De la Serre family|Elise de la Serre]]
[[Category:Assassin allies]]

Ah Tabai

2015-11-07T16:26:16Z

172.1.178.94: Adding categories

{{Era|AC4|ACM|ACRG|4book|Assassins}}
{{Quote|From within and without come enemies and allies alike. Nothing in life is guaranteed, except surprise...|Ah Tabai.|Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag}}
{{Character Infobox
|image = AC4 Ah Tabai render.png
|birth = 1660s [[Tulum]], [[Yucatán Peninsula]], {{Wiki|New Spain}}
|death = c. 1745 [[Great Inagua]], [[the Bahamas]]
|affiliates = [[Assassins]]
|appear = ''[[Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag]]'' ''[[Assassin's Creed: Black Flag]]''
|voice = [[Milton Lopes]]}}
'''Ah Tabai''' (1660s – c. 1745) was a [[Mayans|Mayan]] [[Assassins|Assassin]], and the [[Mentor]] of the Assassin Brotherhood in the [[Caribbean]]. His noteworthy students included [[Mary Read]], [[Duncan Walpole]], [[Adéwalé]] and [[Achilles Davenport]].<ref name="AC4">''[[Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag]]''</ref><ref name="ACRG">''[[Assassin's Creed: Rogue]]''</ref>

==Biography==
===Early life===
Born in the 1660s to a family of Mayan Assassins and fathered by the Assassin [[Bahlam]], Ah Tabai spent the entirety of his youth with the Order. In 1673, he briefly met the [[Sages|Sage]] [[Thom Kavanagh]] when his father brought the man to the Assassin compound, and subsequently traveled with them to prepare the Sage for his journey to the [[Observatory]]. Little else is known of his early decades.<ref name="AC4"/>

By 1705, Ah Tabai had a son, but the child died before his tenth birthday.<ref name="AC4"/>

===Mentor of the Caribbean Assassins===
By 1713, Ah Tabai had risen to the rank of Mentor. He maintained semi-regular contact with the Assassins in the [[United Kingdom|British]] [[North America]]n colonies, various parts of [[Europe]] and [[Africa]], as well as [[China]]. Besides this, Ah Tabai was also crucial in opening the Caribbean Assassins to men and women from around the world. His Brotherhood consisted mainly of Europeans, Africans and the local natives.<ref name="AC4"/>

In 1713, rumors began circulating of the appearance of a new Sage and Ah Tabai, believing it was the Assassins' duty to protect the Observatory, sent word to various Assassin outposts in an attempt to track the man down. However, two years later, the effort had yielded no results.<ref name="AC4"/>

Prior to 1715, Ah Tabai met Mary Read in Spanish Town, [[Jamaica]], and elected to take her on as a student. In early 1715, Ah Tabai also met the Assassin [[Duncan Walpole]], who requested to train under the Mentor directly, despite already being a [[Master Assassin]]. Over the course of the next few months, Ah Tabai came to regard Walpole as one of his most trusted colleagues.<ref name="AC4"/>

In June of that year, the Caribbean Assassins received word that a Sage - [[Bartholomew Roberts]] - had been captured by the [[Templars]] and was being transported via prison ship to [[Havana]]. Noticing an opportunity to deliver a crippling blow to his enemies, Ah Tabai tasked Walpole with gathering Assassin forces throughout the region and launching an assault on the ship.<ref name="AC4"/>

It was only after Walpole left the Brotherhood's base in [[Tulum]] that Ah Tabai learned of his defection to the Templar Order. However, the full extent of Walpole's betrayal was not realized until later: after a failed attempt by the Assassins to recover the Sage via ground assault, it was discovered that Walpole had intended to present a [[Blood vials|blood vial]] and maps marking the location of Caribbean [[Assassin bureau]]s to the Templars. Instead, they had been delivered by the [[Piracy|pirate]] [[Edward Kenway]], who had assumed Duncan's identity.<ref name="AC4"/>

===Quest for the Sage===
{{Dialogue2|Ah Tabai|It seems another Sage has been found, the race for the Observatory begins anew.|Edward|Is that why we're whispering?|This is your doing, Captain Kenway. The maps you sold to the Templars have led them straight to us. And now the agents of two empires know exactly where we operate.|Ah Tabai and Edward during the attack on Tulum, 1716.|Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag}}
[[File:Nothing Is True 5.png|thumb|left|250px|Edward, Mary, and Ah Tabai]]
Ah Tabai was present when Mary brought Edward to Tulum in 1716, and demanded to know Walpole's location. Edward admitted to killing the man in the midst of a confrontation. Although he expressed no sorrow at Walpole's death, Ah Tabai confronted the pirate for having killed the Assassins sent after the Sage, and for unwittingly providing the location of Assassin bases to the Templars.<ref name="AC4"/>

Mary informed her Mentor that Edward had "[[Eagle Vision|the Sense]]", and that he had met the Sage, staying Ah Tabai's hand. After confirming that Edward would recognize the Sage if he saw the man again, Ah Tabai allowed Mary to escort Edward into a temple to see if a bust of the Sage within resembled Roberts.<ref name="AC4"/>

When the two returned, the village had been seized by [[British Army|British soldiers]] sent by the Templars. After Edward worked to free both Assassins and his own crew, Ah Tabai noted his noble actions, but remarked on his arrogance, stating that he had not earned the right to wear the Assassin robes he had taken from Walpole. Ah Tabai declared Edward absolved of his actions in Havana and elsewhere, but said he was not welcome in Tulum.<ref name="AC4"/>

===Welcoming pirates===
{{Dialogue4|Ah Tabai|What do you think of our creed?|Edward|It's hard to say. For if nothing is true, then why believe anything? And if everything is permitted... why not chase every desire?|Why indeed?|It might be that this idea is only the beginning of wisdom, and not its final form.|That's quite a step up from the Edward I met here many years ago.|Edward and Ah Tabai discussing the Creed, 1721.|Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag}}
In 1720, Ah Tabai met with Edward's quartermaster, Adéwalé, after the man was forced to abandon his captain in [[Long Bay]], Jamaica. Disillusioned with the defunct Pirate Republic in [[Nassau]], Adéwalé was in search of a nobler cause and spoke with Ah Tabai at length, inquiring about the nature of Assassin Order. Pleased with what he learned, Adéwalé joined the Assassins, and Ah Tabai took him on as a student.<ref name="AC4"/>

Several months later, news reached Tulum that Edward was imprisoned in [[Port Royal]], along with Mary and [[Anne Bonny]]. Adéwalé and Ah Tabai devised a scheme to rescue the three, and Ah Tabai himself traveled to the prison to execute it.<ref name="AC4"/>

[[File:To Suffer Without Dying 9.png|thumb|250px|Ah Tabai returning Edward's robes]]
Releasing Edward from a {{Wiki|Gibbeting|gibbet}} outside of the fort, he offered the man safe passage in return for assistance in rescuing Mary and Anne. Though they successfully saved Anne, Mary died as a result of sickness from childbirth in the prison's unsanitary conditions. When Edward brought her body to Ah Tabai's boat, Ah Tabai presented him with the Assassin robes taken from Walpole, saying that while he had not earned them, they suited him.<ref name="AC4"/>

After drinking heavily to drown his sorrow at Mary's passing, Edward returned to Tulum at Adéwalé's request. Having come to terms with his flaws, Edward asked Ah Tabai to help him redeem himself, as Mary's dying wish had been for him to make amends and join the Assassins.<ref name="AC4"/>

[[File:Everything is Permitted 5.png|thumb|250px|left|Edward offering to help Ah Tabai]]
Ah Tabai acknowledged Mary's high opinion of Edward, and the two briefly conversed about the principles of the Order, with Edward offering his perspective. Though admitting it was an undeveloped one, Ah Tabai nevertheless encouraged him, saying that it was a significant step up from the man he had met five years before.<ref name="AC4"/>

The two were interrupted by a [[Spain|Spanish]] attack on the island, which Edward assisted in repelling. Following the battle, Ah Tabai assigned Edward three assassination targets: [[Woodes Rogers]], Bartholomew Roberts and the Templar [[Grand Master]], [[Laureano de Torres y Ayala]].<ref name="AC4"/>

===Fight for the Observatory===
{{Dialogue2|Ah Tabai|(Quiet now. Go back to sleep.) We will seal this place, and discard the key. Until another Sage appears, this door will remain locked.|Edward|There were vials when I came here last. Filled with the blood of ancient men, Roberts said. But they're gone now.|Then it's up to us to recover them. Before the Templars catch wind of this. You could join us in that cause.|Edward and Ah Tabai after returning the Skull, 1722.|Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag}}
[[File:Ever a Splinter 10.png|thumb|250px|Ah Tabai returning the Crystal Skull to the Observatory]]
After Edward killed Torres in the Observatory in 1722, Ah Tabai arrived and congratulated him before inserting the [[Crystal Skulls|Crystal Skull]] which powered the Observatory back into the armillary sphere. He declared that the Observatory should remain sealed until such time as the next Sage was found.<ref name="AC4"/>

Edward then revealed that when he last visited the Observatory with Roberts, there were hundreds of blood vials present that were now gone. He promised to help recover them after he returned home to Bristol to see his wife, [[Caroline Scott-Kenway|Caroline]]. Remorsefully, Ah Tabai handed over a letter which had arrived for Edward a week prior, informing him of the death of his wife and the existence of his daughter, [[Jennifer Scott]].<ref name="AC4"/>

Before reuniting with his daughter, Edward offered Ah Tabai and the Assassins the use of his Manor on [[Great Inagua]]. Although Ah Tabai believed, as [[Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad]] had, that the Order should decentralize and live with the people it sought to protect, he readily accepted the offer.<ref name="AC4"/>

===Later life===
{{Quote|I hope your remaining days are comfortable and free of pain, Ah Tabai. Thank you for everything you have given me. I will never forget you.|Achilles Davenport's last letter to Ah Tabai, 1745.|Assassin's Creed: Rogue}}
In the mid-1730s, Ah Tabai recruited and trained Achilles Davenport, whom he would later send to the [[United States|Thirteen Colonies]] in order to establish a [[Colonial Assassins|Brotherhood]] there, with the help of the [[France|French]] Assassin [[John de la Tour]]. At some point, Ah Tabai entrusted several ancient maps of the [[Yucatán Peninsula]] to several members of his order, including [[Rhona Dinsmore]]. Ah Tabai and Achilles maintained a correspondence, until the former passed away around 1745.<ref name="ACRG"/>

==Personality and characteristics==
{{Quote|Our goal must be to scatter our operations. To live and work among the people we protect, just as Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad once counseled.|Ah Tabai, 1722.|Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag}}
[[File:Overrun and Outnumbered 7.png|thumb|250px|left|Ah Tabai scolding Edward]]
Born and raised as an Assassin, Ah Tabai took his role very seriously, displaying a calm and wise bearing. He also had little patience with Edward Kenway's cocky and arrogant behavior. He rarely spoke of his own life, and when he did, it would only be in the form of cryptic references. Ah Tabai was proud of his Mayan heritage, and would often speak of his people's tragic history. He used these stories to exemplify the complexity of interactions between different cultures and religions. This led him to accept people of all faiths and nationalities into the Brotherhood. His compassion and wisdom led the Assassins under his command to look up to him greatly. Despite his great intellect, Ah Tabai was still deceived into trusting the Assassin turncoat Duncan Walpole.<ref name="AC4"/>

Dedicated to the Assassin cause, Ah Tabai synthesized it with the ways of his people. Born in Tulum, he lived a somewhat ascetic life in the Assassin community. As a Mayan, he was well acquainted with stories and rumors of the ancient Oberservatory, believing the Assassins should be the ones to protect it. For most of his life, Ah Tabai strove to adhere as closely as possible to the ideals of the legendary Assassin Mentor Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad, sharing his beliefs that the Assassins should live among the people in order to protect them.<ref name="AC4"/>

Despite his near stoic demeanor, Ah Tabai could be a caring and sensitive individual. He cared deeply for the men and women under his command, and felt guilty over the Assassins that died during the many attacks on Tulum, eventually agreeing to relocate to Great Inagua. He expressed great dismay upon discovering Mary Read's death, and singlehandedly escorted a laboring Anne Bonny out of prison, calming her during childbirth. Ah Tabai could also be very forgiving, absolving Edward of his actions against the Assassins. Despite his distrust towards the pirate, Ah Tabai freed him from prison without demanding anything in return. He later bade Edward good fortune and accepted him into the Brotherhood, recognizing the pirate's sincerity.<ref name="AC4"/>

===Equipment and skills===
Having been born into the Brotherhood, Ah Tabai was a highly skilled Assassin. He was especially adept at stealth, using the environment to hide, and was a capable [[Freerunning|freerunner]] as well. Throughout his life, Ah Tabai would pass these skills on, training Assassins such as Mary Read, Duncan Walpole, Adéwalé, Edward Kenway<ref name="AC4"/> and Achilles Davenport.<ref name="ACRG"/>

Even as a middle-aged man, Ah Tabai was able to evade capture by Laurens Prins' troops, and silently dispatch several of them undetected during an attack on Tulum. He would later sneak into Fort Charles alone and free Edward Kenway and Anne Bonny, before escaping in a rowing boat.<ref name="AC4"/>

Ah Tabai wore a sienna set of robes with a metal shoulderplate and collar. He was equipped with dual [[Hidden Blade]]s, a small [[Short blades|knife]] and a [[blowpipe]]. He used these to kill or incapacitate efficiently, while usually avoiding combat.<ref name="AC4"/>

==Trivia==
*"Ah Tabai" is the name of a Mayan god of hunting and protector of animals.
*In the memory "[[Overrun and Outnumbered]]", Ah Tabai appears with a red aura when seen with Eagle Vision. However, it is unknown if this is a glitch or deliberate design decision, due to hostilities between Edward and Ah Tabai for the pirate's harmful actions against the Brotherhood.

==Gallery==
<gallery captionalign="center" position="center" spacing="small" widths="180">
Concept Art - Ah Tabai - Front.jpeg|Concept art of Ah Tabai
Concept Art - Ah Tabai - Back.jpeg|Rear concept of Ah Tabai
ACMAhTabai.jpg|''[[Assassin's Creed: Memories]]'' art of Ah Tabai
ACMAhTabaiDagger.jpg|''Memories'' art of Ah Tabai
Nothing Is True 4.png|Ah Tabai disarming Edward
Nothing Is True 6.png|Mary and Ah Tabai
To Suffer Without Dying 2.png|Ah Tabai freeing Edward
To Suffer Without Dying 5.png|Ah Tabai rescuing Anne Bonny
To Suffer Without Dying 8.png|Ah Tabai receiving Mary's body
Everything is Permitted 8.png|Ah Tabai informing Edward of Anne's condition
A Governor No Longer 7.png|Ah Tabai telling Edward to contact the bureau leaders
Ever a Splinter 11.png|Ah Tabai asking for Edward's help in recovering the blood vials
The End 1.png|Edward meeting with Adéwalé and Ah Tabai in Great Inagua
</gallery>

==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{AC4}}
[[Category:1660s births]]
[[Category:1745 deaths]]
[[Category:Individuals]]
[[Category:Mayans]]
[[Category:Assassins]]
[[Category:Caribbean Assassins]]
[[Category:Mentors]]
[[Category:Individuals who held Pieces of Eden]]
[[Category:Mexicans]]