American Rite of the Templar Order

2014-01-23T17:01:42Z

92.26.113.215: /* Destruction of the Assassins and rise to power */

{{Era|AC3|Templars}}
{{Dialogue|Ratonhnhaké:ton|What is it the Templars truly seek?|Haytham Kenway|Order. Purpose. Direction. No more than that.|[[Ratonhnhaké:ton]] and [[Haytham Kenway]], discussing the Colonial Templars' goals, 1778.|Assassin's Creed III}}
{{Faction Infobox
|image = ACIII-BraddockExpedition 3.png
|founder = [[Haytham Kenway]]
|leader = [[Grand Master]]
|headquarters = [[United States|United States of America]]
|locations = [[Boston]]<br>[[New York]]<br>[[Philadelphia]]<br>[[Frontier]]
|related = [[Templars]]
|formed = 1754
|collapsed = 1782
|notable = Haytham Kenway<br>[[Charles Lee]]<br>[[William Johnson]]<br>[[John Pitcairn]]<br>[[Thomas Hickey]]<br>[[Benjamin Church]]<br>[[Nicholas Biddle]]}}
The '''Colonial Rite''' was one of a number of autonomous factions, in operation during the mid 18th century, that made up the [[Templars|Templar Order]]. [[Haytham Kenway]] founded, and became the first [[Grand Master]] of the Colonial Rite in 1754, in order to find a suspected [[Grand Temple|Precursor storehouse]].

The Colonial Rite played a significant role in guiding the course of the [[American Revolutionary War]], with an aim to usurp control of the newly forming nation; in this, however, they were ultimately stopped by the [[Colonial Assassins]].

==History==
===Founding===
In the year 1754, Haytham arrived in [[Boston]], and was greeted by [[Charles Lee]], a hopeful wishing to join the Templar Order. With Charles' help, Haytham sought to gather four individuals that [[Reginald Birch]] - the Grand Master of the {{Wiki|British Rite}} - had arranged for Haytham to recruit: [[William Johnson]], [[Thomas Hickey]], [[Benjamin Church]], and [[John Pitcairn]].

With the outbreak of the [[French and Indian War]], the British Government had arranged for General [[Edward Braddock]], another member of the Templar Order, to lead an [[Braddock Expedition|expedition]] to the French-controlled [[Fort Duquesne]]. In order to enlist the aid of the [[Kanien'kehá:ka]], whom it was believed knew the location of the Precursor site, Haytham willingly agreed to side with them in their ambush of Braddock's forces.

The combined assault by Haytham's Rite and the Kanien'kehá:ka, together with a timely assault by the [[French Army]], led to the destruction of the Expedition, and the death of Edward Braddock at Haytham's hands. True to her word, [[Kaniehtí:io]], the Kanien'kehá:ka whom Haytham had agreed their alliance, led the Grand Master to the Precursor site, though the latter was disappointed to find little more than a cave.

===Destruction of the Assassins and rise to power===
By 1763, the Colonial Rite was in full conflict with the [[Colonial Assassins|Assassin Brotherhood]] in the region; the very year, the Templar's launched a concentrated assault on the Assassins and all but wiped them out. They forced the only surviving member of the Order - [[Achilles Davenport]] - into exile, on the condition that he retire from his life as an Assassin.

After a few more years, the Templars had allied with the [[British Army]] to focuse on more "practical pursuits". With the eventual outbreak the [[American Revolution]] and the [[American Revolutionary War|war]] that followed, the Templars began to make involve themselves. Unknown to the Templars however, was that the [[Colonial Assassins]] had returned to the scene with the recruitment of [[Ratonhnhaké:ton]], the illegitimate child of Haytham Kenway and Kaniehtí:io.

Over the course of the Revolution, Ratonhnhaké:ton assassinated William Johnson, John Pitcairn, [[Nicholas Biddle]], and Thomas Hickey, and during a brief familial alliance, watched as Haytham killed Benjamin Church, who had recently betrayed the Colonial Rite.

===Collapse===
{{Dialogue|Charles Lee|Why do you persist...? You put us down. We rise again. You end one plot – we forge another. You try so hard... But it always ends the same. [...] Yet you fight. You resist. Why?|Ratonhnhaké:ton|Because no one else will!|Charles Lee and Ratonhnhaké:ton, 1782.}}
In 1781, Ratonhnhaké:ton, seeking out Charles Lee, confronted his father in the Templar stronghold at [[Fort George]], [[New York]]. After a brutal fight, the Templar Grand Master was killed, and Charles Lee rose to the position in his stead.

At least three months later, in 1782, a funeral was held for Kenway and presided over by Charles Lee was interrupted by the arrival of Ratonhnhaké:ton. Charles had the Assassin detained, before making preparations to travel to Boston. Eventually, the Assassin caught up with Lee once more, and after a rugged pursuit, tracked down and killed him.

==Members==

<div style="float: left; width: 48;">
*[[Haytham Kenway]]
*[[Charles Lee]]
*[[William Johnson]]
*[[Thomas Hickey]]
*[[Benjamin Church]]
*[[John Pitcairn]]
*[[Nicholas Biddle]]
</div>
<div style="float: right; width: 48%;">
*[[Matthew Davenport]]
*[[Eleanor Mallow]]
*[[Gerhard von Stantten]]
*[[Gillian McCarthy]]
*[[Federico Perez]]
*[[Victor Wolcott]]
</div>
{{-}}
<p style="margin-top:0.4em;margin-bottom:0.5em;">
</p>
'''Allies'''
*The [[Coyote Man]]

==Reference==
*''[[Assassin's Creed III]]''
[[Category:Templar Rites]]

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American Rite of the Templar Order