Jan van der Graff

2017-06-29T11:27:42Z

83.136.43.61:

{{Era|ACT|Templars}}
[[File:ACTemplars Jan van der Graff.png|thumb|250px|Graff in 1805]]
'''Jan van der Graff''', was a [[Belgium|Flemish]] agent officially sent by [[France|French]] [[French Empire|Emperor]] [[Napoleon Bonaparte|Napoleon I]] to acquire textiles in [[Libya]] and active during the early 19th century.

Jan van der Graff is an ancestor of [[Albert Bolden|Albert]] and [[André Bolden]].

==Biography==
===Early life===
During the [[Napoleonic Wars]], Jan changed sides and left the Belgian army only to discover that his wife and children were killed during the bombardment of his city by the french troops.

===Agent of Bonaparte===
In 1805, while they were both sailing toward Libya, Jan met [[Solomon Bolden|Solomon "Solo" Bolden]], the [[Black Crosses|Black Cross]] of the [[Templar Order]] who was at the time posing as a [[Slavery|slaver]]. Despite finding him annoying, Bolden nevertheless accepted to protect Jan during his mission for Napoleon after the Flemish helped him fend off [[Piracy|pirates]] sent by the Sultan to kill him. To secure Bolden's help, Jan also promised to help the Templar enter into the palace, the Sultan being behind the attempt on his life.

Once in the port city of [[Derna]], the two men took camels and traveled to Tripoli, where they eventually met with the Flemish's contacts in a local [[Taverns|tavern]]. There, [[Edmund]], a deserter marines and [[Ahkbar]], a shady local, revealed to them the existence of a secret underground tunnel used by the Sultans to discreetly smuggle precious cargo into the palace. Following the departure of their companions, Bolden and Graff bonded over several drinks with the Black Cross trying to learn what was "the diamond" mentioned by Edmund, until being interrupted by the latter being shot by [[guards]] in the street.

Later, they entered the tunnel after Graff [[Lockpicking|picked]] the gate's lock but were confronted by several men waiting for them. During the brawl Ahkbar, who was in fact an agent of the Sultan, stabbed Bolden in the back. Subsequently, de Graff was thrown into the palace's dungeon where he met another prisoner who was revealed to be Bolden's predecessor, [[Tavis Olier]].

===Becoming a Templar===
During the three years they were imprisoned together, the old Black Cross trained Graff and [[Initiation into the Templar Order|inducted]] him into the Templar Order until one day on 29 July 1808, Olier heard that the [[Assassins]] were coming to buy the artifact in possession of the Sultan. In order to escape, the two Templars assaulted the guards bringing them food but Olier had to sacrifice himself to allow de Graff to accomplish their mission.
[[File:Black Cross Graff.png|thumb|306x306px|Graff as the Black Cross in 1808.]]
After dispatching several guards, the Templar finally reached [[Selim III|Selim]]'s apartment where he discovered that Ahkbar, who was an Assassin, had already poisoned the monarch and had taken possession of his prize, the fabled [[Koh-i-Noor]]. After revealing that he intended to betray the Brotherhood and keep the artifact for himself, Ahkbar tried to use the Koh-i-Noor and its power to create illusions, but Graff saw through it and killed him.

A group of Assassins quickly surrounded Graff but having heard Ahkbar's speech and after the Flemish told them that he wanted no part in their [[Assassin-Templar War|secret war]] against the Templars, they spared him and left with the box containing the artifact. However, Graff had lied about his commitment to the Order and had in fact removed the diamond from its box before giving it to the Assassins.

===Later life and legacy===
Shortly after he left the Barbary Coast and sought out Bolden's widow, informing her of Solo's exploits. The pair hit it off and after a night of passion, Graff fathered a child with her, who carried on the Bolden name. Their unanticipated coupling threatened to derail [[Juhani Otso Berg]]'s pursuit of the Koh-i-nor in the 21st century when he was researching the Bolden bloodline with Graff's great-great-grandson [[André Bolden]] but the two managed to pickup the trail.

Exploring Graff's memories helped Dre deal with his PTSD following the Vietnam War and inspired him to reconnect with his estranged daughter.

== Equipment and skills ==
van der Graff was a trained soldier, a skilled swordsman besting pirates as well as palace guards, he was also a skilled in lockpicking. After being trained by Tavis Oliver for three years he became far more skilled, trained in stealth, unarmed combat. van der Graff also seemed to have enhanced his senses enough to best the illusions created by Ahkbar and sense the arrival of the assassins. He was also fluent in arabic

==Trivia==
*Despite their similar names, Jan's relation to the [[Netherlands|Dutch]] [[Merchants|merchant]] [[Milo van der Graaff]] - if any exists - is unknown.

==Reference==
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Templars]]''
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{{ACTemplars}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Graff, Jan van der}}
[[Category:Individuals]]
[[Category:Merchants]]
[[Category:Ancestors of André Bolden]]
[[Category:Belgians]]
[[Category:Templars]]
[[Category:Black Crosses]]

Solomon Bolden

2017-06-29T10:10:43Z

83.136.43.61:

{{Era|ACT|Templars}}
{{Stub}}
[[File:ACTemplars Solomon Bolden.png|thumb|200px|Solo Bolden]]
'''Solomon "Solo" Bolden''' (unknown – 1805), better known as the '''"Black Cross"''', was a [[Templars|Templar]] agent active during the early 19th century.

The inquisitor of the [[Inner Sanctum of the Templar Order|Inner Sanctum]] like all the [[Black Crosses]] before him, Bolden travelled all around the world to keep an eye on the Grand Masters of the various Rites, to verify that they stayed in line with the Templar Code and if necessary to eradicate any corrupted Templars he could find.

==Biography==
In 1805, Bolden posed as a slaver sailing to [[Tripoli]] in order to buy slaves, while in fact he was planning to rescue his predecessor, [[Tavis Olier]], who was believed to be dead while he was in fact kept prisoner in the city dungeon. During the crossing of the Mediterranean Sea, Bolden dispatched pirates sent after him by the Sultan [[Selim III]] and "befriended" [[Jan van der Graff]], a Belgian agent of [[Napoleon Bonaparte]] supposedly sent to Tripoli to acquire precious fabrics. The two men made a pact; Bolden would protect van der Graff during his mission and the latter would use his contacts to help the Black Cross enter the palace.

Once in the port city of [[Derna]], the two men took camels and traveled to Tripoli, where they eventually met with van der Graff's contacts in a local tavern. There, [[Edmund]], a deserter marines and [[Ahkbar]], a shady local, revealed to them the existence of a secret underground tunnel used by the Sultans to discretly smuggle precious cargo into the palace. Following the departure of their companions, Bolden and van der Graff bonded over several drinks with the former trying to learn what "the diamond" mentioned by Edmund was, when they were interrupted by Edmund being shot by guards in the street.

Later, they entered the tunnel after van der Graff picked the tunnel gate's lock, but were confronted by several men waiting for them. During the brawl, Ahkbar, who was in fact an agent of the Sultan, stabbed Bolden in the back. With his dying breath, Bolden told van der Graff to find Tavis, the Black Cross.

== Equipment and skills ==
Solomon was a highly skilled swordsman having easily beheaded the pirate captain sent to kill him as well as best at least one of the sultans royal guards. His skill was noted by van der Graff who believed these skills would help him get into the palace. He also appeared to posses highly developed reflexes once catching a knife thrown at van der Graff mere inches from his face.

==Legacy==
Following Solomon's death, van der Graff was trained by Tavis Olier. Using his new skills, he recovered the [[Koh-i-Noor]]. Eventually he met Bolden's widow, with whom he fathered a child who carried on the name of the Boldens.

==Reference==
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Templars]]''
{{ACTemplars}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bolden, Solomon}}
[[Category:1805 deaths]]
[[Category:Individuals]]
[[Category:Templars]]
[[Category:Black Crosses]]
[[Category:Bolden family]]

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Jan van der Graff

Solomon Bolden