Editing Black Cross

{{Era|Abstergo|Templars}}
{{Quote|To the uninitiated, it would appear that the Templar Order and Assassin Brotherhood are both in ethos and manifesto, diametrically opposed. And it is true, up to a point.|Otso Berg musing on Black Cross' and Assassins' similarities, 2017.|Assassin's Creed: Reflections|{{Cite|12 Jan 2022}}}}
{{Faction Infobox
|image = Black_Cross.png
|leader = [[Inner Sanctum of the Templar Order|Inner Sanctum]] {{c|?-1927}}<br>Black Cross {{c|Independent: 2016-Present}}
|locations = Worldwide
|related = [[Templars]] {{c|?-1927/2016-Present}}<br>[[Assassins]] {{c|1937-?/2017-2018}}<br>[[Abstergo Industries]] {{c|2016-Present}}
|formed = 
|collapsed = 1927
|reorganized = 2016
|notable = [[Jan van der Graff]]<br>[[Albert Bolden]]<br>[[Juhani Otso Berg]]
}}
'''Black Cross''' is an enigmatic [[Templar rank|rank]] created by the [[Templars|Templar Order]]'s leading [[Inner Sanctum of the Templar Order|Inner Sanctum]] body for the purposes of combating internal corruption and to search for [[Piece of Eden|Pieces of Eden]]. The [[Council of Elders]], a separate governing body, had significant influence during the Black Cross' earliest years.

Secret inquisitors only answering to the Inner Sanctum's orders, the agents were authorized to use any means necessary, even deadly force, to take down corrupted Order members within [[Templar Rite|Rites]]. The Black Crosses were tasked with keeping the [[Grand Master of the Templar Order|Grand Masters]] and their subordinates in line with the Templar Code and ideals. Deadly enforcers acting as an independent morality police force of one man, very few individuals wore the title of Black Cross across the centuries, though the [[Bolden family]] line counted many among their number.

==Structure==
===Purposes===
{{Quote|Your predecessors were ''visionaries''. They saw traits in the Assassins we lacked... Autonomy. Initiative. Flexibility. We are a small cutting from the enemy, grafted into the Order to make us even stronger|The Black Cross explaining his purpose to the Inner Sanctum, 2017.|Assassin's Creed: Uprising|{{Cite|12 Jan 2022}}}}
The purpose of the Black Cross Templars is identifying and rooting out individuals corrupted by power or by Pieces of Eden held by the Order, such as Templars seeking personal power instead of using power as a tool to bring about [[New World Order|worldwide order]].<ref name="ACTEG2">''[[Assassin's Creed: The Essential Guide]] - Chapter 5'' {{c|2nd edition}}</ref> Other grounds for investigating corruption include theft of Templar resources for profit, nepotistic uses for their own family,<ref name="ACT">''[[Assassin's Creed: Templars]]''– {{Cite|12 Jan 2022}}</ref> and betrayal.<ref name="FCBD">''[[Assassin's Creed FCBD 2016 Edition]] – Great Wall''</ref> In addition to these duties, Black Cross Templars are given the task of protecting the [[Koh-i-Noor]] [[diamond]].<ref name="ACUp">''[[Assassin's Creed: Uprising]]'' – {{Cite|12 Jan 2022}}</ref>

In their service combating corruption and searching for Pieces of Eden, while also securing the plans for Templar Rites in the interests of the Inner Sanctum, the Black Cross are similar to the Council of Elders in that they share the purpose of maintaining the Order's integrity.<ref name="ACT"/> However, they differ in the means of this, as a Black Cross enforces the Templar principles within their governing structures instead of serving an advisory role that influences and guides said structures.<ref name="ACTEG2"/>

===Requirements===
{{Quote|It has been remarked that the unique skill set required of a ''Black Cross'' is akin to taking a ''cutting'' from the Assassin tree... And grafting it to that of the Templars.|Otso Berg reflecting on a Black Cross' skills, 2016.|Assassin's Creed: Reflections|Assassin's Creed: Reflections 1}}
[[File:ACTemp Black Cross civilian.jpg|left|thumb|200px|Black Cross playing a trumpet as a civilian]]
The unique skills required in order to become a Black Cross was based on parts of the [[Assassins]]' skill set that were recreated to fit the Templars' doctrine and strengthen the Order itself. By operating alone, and self-contained similar to individual Assassins who are reliant upon only themselves, Black Crosses are therefore harder to fight,<ref name="Reflections2">''[[Assassin's Creed: Reflections]]'' – [[Assassin's Creed: Reflections 2|Issue #2]]</ref><ref name="ACUp"/> yet remain just as efficient working as a team,<ref name="ACT"/><ref name="ACUp"/> another strength of the Assassins. Such observations were made by the [[Master Templar]] [[Juhani Otso Berg]] during his study between the standard operational practices of a Black Cross and the Assassins.<ref name="ACT"/>

The variety of methods used by a Black Cross during investigations included other Assassins skills like [[Eavesdropping|espionage]], [[pickpocketing]], [[freerunning]], [[interrogation]], [[Fist|close]]-combat, [[Firearm|ranged]]-combat, and [[blending]] using various socioeconomic statuses. The most skilled Black Crosses, like Otso Berg and [[Albert Bolden]], are exceptional in that they can travers cities with ease and are capable of fighting multiple opponents such as [[Gang|crime syndicates]] and Assassin survivors of the [[Great Purge]].<ref name="ACT"/><ref name="ACUp"/> A Black Cross also committed [[assassination]]s of key individuals that became corrupted,<ref name="ACT"/> a defining attribute of the Assassins, though these skills were instead used to maintain the Order's stability and integrity.<ref name="ACTEG2"/> After the [[silver]]smith [[François-Thomas Germain]] joined the Templars' [[Parisian Rite of the Templar Order|Parisian Rite]] and became Grand Master [[François de la Serre]]'s [[Lieutenant of the Templar Order|lieutenant]],<ref name="Cautious Alliance">''[[Assassin's Creed: Unity]]'' – [[A Cautious Alliance]]</ref> he crafted [[Templar pin|cross-shaped pins]] for the Order's members<ref name="Silversmith">''[[Assassin's Creed: Unity]]'' – [[The Silversmith]]</ref> that would later become the Black Cross' signature weapon.<ref name="ACT"/>

A key distinction with a Black Cross was their authority during investigations and interrogations to act with impunity within a Rite's governing structures, while using social and economical roles to blend in society by posing as various roles to maintain discretion and an advantage to use deception. This tactic made their capabilities as skilled tacticians that could quickly coordinate plans despite complications on their missions. They also used a [[gas mask]], [[poison]]s, [[Smoke screen bomb|smoke bombs]], [[sword]]s, and firearms, while commonly dressed in black with a visible red [[Templar insignia]] of a {{Wiki|cross pattée}}.<ref name="ACT"/><ref name="ACUp"/>

===Appointments===
{{Quote|Given the challenges facing the Order now... Those we are ''about'' to face... It may soon be time for the ''Black Cross'' to be ''reborn''.|Otso Berg explaining his concerns for the Order to Violet da Costa, 2013.|Assassin's Creed: Templars|{{Cite|14 Jan 2022}}}}
Aside from having the skills required, the Inner Sanctum were in charge of appointing the rank of Black Cross to Templars. An appointed Templar would carry out missions for the Inner Sanctum, and should they be presumed dead, then another Black Cross would be appointed.<ref name="ACT"/> They would also send Templars to investigate disappearances of a Black Cross, such as when the Templar [[Rufus Grosvenor]] was tasked to find and ensure the Black Cross returned.<ref name="ACUp"/>

On rare occasions, a Black Cross can themselves train someone to become a Black Cross. Alternately, a member of the Inner Sanctum can appoint themselves;<ref name="ACT"/> though the wider Inner Sanctum being unaware of it would cause a dispute, it was also rare of individual members to tolerate being challenged.<ref name="ACUp"/> A Templar family could also pass the rank through birthright, with the Bolden family having served as Black Crosses for centuries.<ref name="ACT"/> Importantly, a Black Cross' identity was always unknown to the Inner Sanctum.<ref name="ACUp"/><ref name="ACIn">''[[Assassin's Creed: Infographics]]''</ref>

===Authority===
{{Quote|I don't answer to you, ma'am. As I said, I'm here as a courtesy.|The Black Cross affirming his independence from Laetitia England and  the Inner Sanctum, 2017.|Assassin's Creed: Uprising|{{Cite|14 Jan 2022}}}}
[[File:ACUp Ignacio and Albert in Spanish Civil War.jpg|right|thumb|250px|The Black Cross and the Assassin Cardona during the Spanish Civil War]]
A Black Cross' arrival was signaled by the appearance of a black cross pattée calling card, which marked their investigation of Templar Rites. They kept a Grand Master and their subordinates in check, as a Black Cross had the authority to do whatever was necessary to find anyone breaking Templar principles within Rite's governing structures, including killing any corrupt Templars. Their operations were not to be interfered with, all information in regards to encounters with the Black Cross must be kept silent, and the Rites were instructed to assist with anything requested by the Black Cross.<ref name="ACT"/>

While a Black Cross only answered to the Inner Sanctum's authority,<ref name="ACT"/> their earliest operations were impacted by the Council of Elders. Additionally, they also had the authority to challenge the Inner Sanctum,<ref name="ACTEG2"/> though that power did not extend to Albert Bolden during his time as Black Cross, as the Inner Sanctum at the time had complete authority over a Black Cross.<ref name="ACT"/>

Under extreme conditions, the Inner Sanctum could try to denounce a Black Cross by having the Templar presented for all the Grand Masters of the Templar Order for an official denunciation. The power to challenge the Inner Sanctum was taken back by the modern day Black Cross, Juhani Otso Berg. Because Berg was also an Inner Sanctum member, the position of Black Cross gained independence and was no longer required to serve the Inner Sanctum,<ref name="ACUp"/> while also consolidating the powers of serving as the Operations Specialist, such as their command of the [[Abstergo Industries]]' task force [[Sigma Team]].<ref name="ACTEG2"/><ref name="ACUp"/> Should the situation require it, a Black Cross could also work with the Assassins.<ref name="ACUp"/><ref name="ACT"/>

==History==
===Early Years===
{{Quote|You all know as well as I do why the Black Cross was created—What it ''means''.|The Black Cross lecturing the Inner Sanctum on its origins, 2017.|Assassin's Creed: Uprising|{{Cite|14 Jan 2022}}}}
To prevent corruption and stop Grand Masters from flouting the Order's precepts, the Inner Sanctum created the position of the Black Cross.<ref name="ACIn"/> During the Black Cross' earliest years, the Council of Elders may have had an significant impact on their assignments.<ref name="ACTEG2"/> Sometime after Germain's creation of the Templar pins,<ref name="Silversmith"/> the Black Cross began using it as their signature weapon.<ref name="ACT"/> By the late 18th century, the Inner Sanctum had appointed the Templar [[Tavis Olier]] as a Black Cross with the mission of acquiring the Koh-i-Noor from Sultan [[Selim III]]. Sometime before 1805, Olier was captured and imprisoned.<ref name="ACT"/>

===The Koh-i-Noor===
{{Dialogue|Van der Graff|This... This is what the Templars teach?|Olier|Not teach. Reveal. Impose. Are.|Olier to Jan van der Graff, explaining a Black Cross' role in embodying death, 1808.|Assassin's Creed: Templars|{{Cite|14 Jan 2022}}}}
[[File:Black Cross Graff.png|thumb|250px|Graff as the Black Cross in 1808]]
During the early 19th century in 1805, the [[American Rite of the Templar Order|American Templar]] [[Solomon Bolden]] was appointed as the new Black Cross, since Olier was believed dead. Bolden posed as a [[Slavery|slaver]], and during the crossing of the [[Mediterranean Sea]], he befriended [[Jan van der Graff]] after he helped fight [[Piracy|pirates]] sent by the Sultan to sink the [[ship]]. Bolden would protect Van der Graff during his mission and the latter would use his contacts to help the Black Cross enter the palace.<ref name="ACT"/>

They arrived in [[Tripoli]], where Bolden and Van der Graff meet his contacts [[Edmund (19th century)|Edmund]], a deserter marine, and [[Ahkbar]], a shady local, who revealed to them the existence of a secret underground tunnel. Following the departure of their companions, Bolden and Van der Graff bonded over several [[Alcohol|drinks]]. They entered the tunnel later that day and were ambushed by several men waiting for them. In the ensuing fight, Ahkbar betrayed his contacts, revealing himself to be a [[Libyan Brotherhood of Assassins|Libyan Assassin]] serving the Sultan, and fatally stabbed the Black Cross in the back with a [[Short blade|knife]].<ref name="ACT"/> 

By 1808, Van der Graff had been trained by Olier in the ways of the Black Cross and the Templar Order while they shared a cell. During their escape, Olier sacrificed himself and Van der Graff witnessed Ahkbar assassinate the Sultan and steal the Koh-i-Noor for his own gain. Despite Ahkbar's attempt to use the artifact against Van der Graff, the Assassin was killed just as members of the Brotherhood arrived as back up. Van der Graff pretended to hand over the artifact and its box, in reality having pocketed the diamond himself, then escaped the city, intending to keep his prize safe as the new Black Cross.<ref name="ACT"/> 

===The Last Black Cross===
====Fighting Corruption====
{{Quote|Thaddeus Gift. Embezzler. Rake. Shylock. You have betrayed your vows. You have stolen from your Order and traded its good name to enrich yourself.|The Black Cross charging Grand Master Thaddeus Gift with corruption, 1927.|Assassin's Creed: Templars|{{Cite|14 Jan 2022}}}}
[[File:ACTemplars Black Cross confronts Gift.jpg|left|thumb|200px|Bolden confronting Gift]]
In February 1927, the Black Cross [[Albert Bolden]] played as the leading trumpeter in ''Albie Bolden and the Harlem Hotsteppers'' in [[London]], [[England]]. When Bolden investigated the [[British Rite of the Templar Order|British Templars]]' Grand Master [[Thaddeus Gift]] for embezzling money from the Order, Gift attempted to escape his assassination. Bolden tracked him across the streets of the city and eventually caught up with Gift, slitting his throat and cutting off his [[Templar ring]] finger in public.<ref name="ACT"/>

By March, while traveling towards [[Shanghai]], [[China]], Bolden prepared for the ambush of the Templar-built train, the [[Great Wall (train)|Great Wall]], that traveled through [[Zhejiang|Chekiang]] province after having been stolen by the [[Russian Rite of the Templar Order|Russian Templar]] turncoat [[Yuri Dolinsky]]. Bolden managed to fight his way to Dolinsky while getting them into his trap, efficiently killing him and succeeding in his mission to prevent any support to the warlord [[Zhang Zongchang]] while protecting the Templar ally [[Chiang Kai-shek]].<ref name="FCBD"/>

====The Shanghai Rite====
{{Quote|Family. Honor. These things are nothing next to the Templar Order. The one source of light in a midnight world.|The Black Cross explaining the Templars' purpose to Darius Gift, 1927.|Assassin's Creed: Templars|{{Cite|14 Jan 2022}}}}
In April, Bolden was playing with his band in Shanghai and observed the arrival of the Templar [[Darius Gift]]. Bolden followed him outside to witness his delivery to the [[Shanghai Rite of the Templar Order|Shanghai Rite]] from a nearby roof, after Gift was tricked by [[Ruan Lingyu]], who had stolen the box with the Koh-i-Noor. When Gift was approached by [[France|Frenchmen]] that beloved him to be the Black Cross, Bolden intervened and discovered that the men were actually French [[police]]. After exchanging pleasantries, Bolden promised to retrieve the absent package for Darius as he was ordered to offer aid directly by the nine Inner Sanctum  members.<ref name="ACT"/>

During the Chinese Templars' meeting, Bolden eavesdropped on it and overheard Grand Master [[Stirling Fessenden]] inform the Rite of Bolden's arrival while they discussed the struggles of holding Shanghai amidst gangsters and warlords, instructing the Rite to assist him in any way. Bolden disguised himself as a taxi driver and picked up the Master Templar [[Joffre]] from the meeting, and they discussed the [[Hop Wo Society]], a name found upon one of the French police. After Joffre pointed out they were [[Communism|communists]] and the location of the address discovered, Bolden infiltrated the building and walked into an ambush where the remaining Frenchman was under duress and in hiding.<ref name="ACT"/>

Forced to escape, Bolden was chased through the amusement park and used environmental opportunities to take down his pursuers until he was confronted by the gang enforcer [[Fiery Crow]] and forced into close-combat. Bolden managed to stab him with his Templar pin before being rendered unconscious. Having been captured by the [[Green Gang]] Triad, he was faced by their leader, [[Du Yuesheng]], who mocked the Templars' activities thus far in China whilst Bolden attempted to discover the box's whereabouts. When the conversation turned to the Templar pin, Fiery Crow keeled over and Bolden freed himself once more. He promptly grabbed his possessions and gunned his way out of the nearest window as he escaped, having successfully been captured to find out what Du really knew.<ref name="ACT"/>
[[File:ACUp Albert falling to his death.JPG|thumb|250px|Albert falling to his 'death']]
Bolden later earned himself a meeting with the late Grand Master [[Sun Yat-sen]]'s second wife [[Soong Ching-ling]] by confronting her servant, [[Tsai]]. They discussed the events surrounding the box, and Soong revealed to Bolden that it was the machinations of Chiang Kai-shek. Afterwards, Bolden ambushed and interrogated a convoy driver, who revealed they were ordered to kill an actress and a "British kid", and arrived in time to prevented [[Flowery Flag]] from finishing the job. Bolden was forced into hand-to-hand combat until he was shot by Flowery Flag, who in turn was stabbed in the back by Ruan, though Bolden used the chance to hang Ruan with a Templar Cross chain. Darius attempted to murder him in revenge for his father, and despite Bolden citing it being done for the Order, Darius shot Bolden multiple times until the Black Cross stumbled and fell of a ledge.<ref name="ACT"/>

===Disappearance===
====Conflict with Grosvenor====
{{Quote|The Black Cross is the keeper of the Koh-I-Noor. You will not rob me of this final dignity.|The Black Cross to Rufus Grosvenor, 1928.|Assassin's Creed: Uprising|{{Cite|14 Jan 2022}}}}
However, Bolden survived and was treated at a local hospital after the incident, though his failure to report to his superiors lead the Order to sending [[Rufus Grosvenor]]. In 1928, Bolden was confronted by the high ranking Templar who attempted to blackmail him, threatening to reveal to the Order that Bolden was alive if he did not gave him the Koh-i-Noor, something Bolden refused. The encounter with Grosvenor forced Bolden to travel to [[Switzerland]], where he retrieved the Koh-i-Noor, knowing that Grosvenor would eventually find it.<ref name="ACUp"/>
[[File:ACUp Bolden encounters Grosvenor.JPG|left|thumb|250px|Bolden encounters Grosvenor]]
Over the next nine years, Bolden traveled with the artifact to keep it safe, while Grosvenor's own [[Instruments of the First Will|agents]] within the Order watched and occasionally fought him. Because of Bolden's visits to see family during these years, Grosvenor killed them himself sometime in 1937, and Bolden was ambushed when he returned home to find his family murdered and the Piece of Eden stolen by Grosvenor. Out of his duty as a Black Cross, Bolden spent months tracking Grosvenor to [[Spain]], where he saw the body of the [[British Brotherhood of Assassins|British Assassin]] [[Norbert Clarke]].<ref name="ACUp"/>

By May 1937, Bolden eventually found Grosvenor posing as Norbert Clarke within an [[Assassin cell]], witnessing [[Ignacio Cardona]] hold the Koh-i-Noor before a group of [[Spanish Brotherhood of Assassins|Spanish Assassins]], and attacked while Cardona was passed out due to the usage of the Piece of Eden. Unable to reach Grosvenor to get the artifact, Bolden threw smoke bombs and escaped with the unconscious Assassin instead to an unknown location.<ref name="ACUp"/>

At the hideout, Bolden patched up his wounds and told Cardona of his history with Grosvenor and explained how he had tracked him, something that resulted in Cardona attacking him until they were able to come to an agreement. Seeing as Cardona himself was a possible target now, and having been told of Grosvernor's plan to use him as a conduit for the Koh-i-Noor to unleash its powers, Bolden asked Cardona to help him track down Grosvernor in exchange for helping him to warn his cell, which he accepted. Cardona rode with Bolden along with Spanish revolutionaries to meet him.<ref name="ACUp"/>

====Assassin Alliance====
{{Quote|I`m a Black Cross. A station that carries its own duties, unrelated to our war... Or this one, for that matter.|The Black Cross to Ignacio Cardona regarding a Cross' duties, 1937.|Assassin's Creed: Uprising|{{Cite|14 Jan 2022}}}}
Cardona and Bolden were ambushed in a nearby village when [[Miguel Carasso]] and [[Dwight Adams]] launched an attack on both of them. After being easily defeated, they discussed the risks of using the artifacts to end the war, something that resulted in a disagreement due to [[Adolf Hitler]]'s {{Wiki|Adolf Hitler's rise to power|rise to power}} in [[Germany]]<ref name="ACUp"/> through his [[Apple of Eden 4|Apple of Eden]]<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed II]]'' – [[Glyphs|Glyph]] #12: "Titans of Industry"</ref> and because Cardona could still lose his life in the process. During the conversation, Bolden was attacked from behind, leading to a fight. While Bolden was held by Dwight, Miguel attempted to kill him, but Bolden deflected the finishing blow, causing caused him to stab Dwight who was holding him from behind. While Dwight collapsed, Bolden punched Miguel and rescued Ignacio from [[Glaucia Acosta]], who had slipped behind her lover and held a knife under his throat.<ref name="ACUp"/>
[[File:ACUp Bolden and Cardona.JPG|thumb|250px|Templar and Assassin riding together.]]
Afterwards, both Cardona and Bolden followed the tracks of Miguel to the town [[church]]. They were greeted by Grosvenor, standing over a pit of anarchist bodies killed by {{Wiki|Francisco Franco}}'s men and ranting about humanity needing the firm guiding hand of the gods. During his speech, Glaucia and Miguel had Ignacio and Albert at gunpoint and demanding they drop their weapons. Continuing his speech, Grosvenor told of the conditions expected by Ignacio's bloodline, and its importance in using of the Koh-i-Noor.<ref name="ACUp"/>

The artifact was offered to Cardona, something Bolden opposed. However, Cardona used the artifact to create the illusion of its own self destruction, and created creatures of energy who stampeded into the walls of the church bringing it crashing down upon all of them. It fooled both Grosvenor and Glaucia, who managed to escape the collapse of the church. In the aftermath, they discussed plans for the protection of the artifacts and the [[Spanish Civil War|civil war]]. When Cardona asked if he had defected from the Templar Order, Bolden responded that he would never join the Assassins, but he would also not stand alongside the Templars if they were to make common cause with Hitler and [[Joseph Stalin]]. Bolden and Cardona left the artifact in the ruins of the church, and trained several young locals as guardians of the artifact, while also fighting alongside the [[Republicans (Spanish Civil War)|Republicans]]<ref name="ACUp"/> before going their separate ways.<ref name="ACTEG2"/> The Order never heard from the Black Cross after he disappeared.<ref name="ACT"/>

===Revival===
====The Indian Connection====
{{Dialogue|Violet|The gem... It's one of the most powerful Pieces of Eden for which we have records. We must find it before the Assassins do, yes?|Berg|Indeed. But the trail has gone cold, as it so often does. Fortunately, an order as ancient as ours can afford patience.|Violet and Berg, concerning their search for the Koh-i-Noor, 2013.|Assassin's Creed: Templars|{{Cite|14 Jan 2022}}}}
In November 2013, Berg and [[Violet da Costa]] worked at [[Abstergo Entertainment]]'s headquarters in [[Montreal]], [[Canada]], where Berg used the [[Helix]] to relive the [[Genetic memory|memories]] of the last known Black Cross after having gathered intel from [[raid]]s in [[India]] suggesting that Albert Bolden was the last known individual to keep the Koh-i-Noor. According to Abstergo's [[Lineage Discovery and Acquisition]] department, they speculated the box carried by Darius Gift contained the Koh-i-Noor.<ref name="ACT"/>

Their trail grew cold when they discovered the box did not contain the artifact, along with the presumed death of Albert Bolden in 1927. This forced Berg to put the investigation on hold, something the Order could afford while saving their resources until new evidence presented itself. Expecting that locating any modern descendants of Bolden would take time, Berg expressed that they should look into other matters in the mean time. Though the role of Black Cross had been retired for almost a hundred years, Berg expressed concerns that the challenges faced by the modern Order and challenges to come were reasons enough to perhaps even resurrect the title.<ref name="ACT"/>

====The Descendant====
{{Dialogue|Berg|I can only ask you to trust me when I say telling you more would put you and everyone you love in danger. I know it doesn't seem like it now, but we're the good guys.|Bolden|I suppose if you weren't, you'd just knock me out and stick me back in your machine. What do you want me to do?|Berg convincing André Bolden to return to Abstergo, 2016.|Assassin's Creed: Templars|{{Cite|14 Jan 2022}}}}
[[File:ACTemplars Berg meets Bolden.JPG|left|thumb|250px|Berg introducing Caitlin to Bolden]]
In 2016, Berg and Violet were put in charge of an Abstergo's [[Historical Research Division]] facility in [[Philadelphia, United States|Philadelphia]], having resumed their search for the Koh-i-Noor. They were aided by by senior technician [[Caitlin Gift]], a descendant of Darius Gift, and a doctor called [[Freddy]]. After locating a descendant of Albert Bolden, Abstergo contacted and brought him to their [[Abstergo Philadelphia Facility|Philadelphia Facility]] for treatment against his PTSD from fighting in the [[Vietnam War]]. The 72-year-old [[Vietnam]] veteran [[André Bolden]] was greeted by Berg and his team, then André was put inside the [[Animus]], were he relived the memories of Jan van der Graff in the [[Maghreb|Barbary Coast]], much to the surprise of the Templars who expected him to be the descendant of [[Solomon Bolden]]. The incident caused André to neutralize two men and then flee the complex once he woke up, but Berg let him escape by overriding Caitlin's order to apprehend him, as Berg intended to speak with him.<ref name="ACT"/>

André was tracked back to his hotel, were they discussed the [[Bleeding Effect]] and an important item that was tied to André's family, coming to an agreement under the condition that Berg not lie to him again. Once back in the facility, the team discussed the possibility of a fractured timeline and the loss entire bloodline of the Black Cross because of Andre's ancestor, with Caitlin noting their only possible lead a brief appearance in the accounts of Tavis Olier after Violet asked what they knew about Graff. Then they had André put back into the Animus. While was in André's session, Violet and Berg discussed trust along with secrets of the [[Assassin-Templar War]], with Berg explaining why André was helping. Violet noted she had never known him to be so trusting, to which Berg remarked that he trusted her. As they witnessing Graff's imprisonment, Violet asked Berg whether he planned to reveal everything to André, as he had now also heard about the Koh-i-Noor, though Berg answered that he did not know whether he would.<ref name="ACT"/>

====Suspicious Activities====
{{Dialogue|Violet|All right. I'm sorry about Caitlin. I should have caught any abnormalities I her background.|Berg|No... I suspect there are other agents at work here.|Violet and Berg discussing Caitlin's innocence, 2017.|Assassin's Creed: Templars|{{Cite|14 Jan 2022}}}}
[[File:ACTemplars Berg Bolden attacked.JPG|left|thumb|250px|Unknown assailants attacking Berg and Bolden]]
Later that day, Berg joined André at a bar and payed for his drink. There, they discussed the purpose of Graff's memories and Berg revealed the truth about the Assassin-Templar War, something André dismissed as nonsense while Berg thought it did not sound too far fetched given everything André had experienced. As they left the bar, they were attacked in a drive-by shooting. Berg saved André and managed to jump inside the vehicle to eliminate its occupants. Afterwards, Berg called Violet and instructed her back to the lab because of the recent attack, and that he was bringing André in. Once back in the lab, Berg was surprised by Freddy's presence beside Violet, who assumed Bolden might have been hurt. Freddy instructed the doctor to check on André. Berg informed Violet of the attacked before Caitlin arrived, then Berg instructed everyone to continue André's Animus session. When questioned further by Violet, Berg said he suspected that they had a leak and that this unknown party knew something they did not.<ref name="ACT"/>

When André's session reliving van der Graff's torture caused him to scream out in pain, Berg asked Caitlin if they could get skip the memory. Caitlin eventually managed to fast-forward the memories to a few days afterward. When the session was finished, Berg informed Violet they could not force André to continue, before handing her Albert's Templar pin to give to André while Berg cleaned the mess caused by the drive-by shooting. Finally alone, Berg spoke with the proxy used to arrange the attack that won him André's loyalty, then received a phone call that there had been an incident in the lab.<ref name="ACT"/>
[[File:ACTemplars Bolden Black Cross.png|thumb|250px|André giving Berg the Templar pin]]
Berg and Violet returned at the lab, where they found Caitlin Gift's body. Privately, Violet and Berg discussed her innocence, with Berg being convinced it was done by a third party. With the assumption of a mole, Berg was concerned that a {{Wiki|fifth column}} had infiltrated the Order and instructed Violet to find the mole, then convinced André to once more enter the Animus to further explore the memories of van der Graff. Berg and André met again after the last Animus session showed van der Graff give the Koh-i-Noor to the Assassins. Bolden revealed to the dumbfounded Templar that his ancestor deceived the Assassins and kept the artifact, while also stating he wanted nothing with Berg's war and returned the Black Cross pin to Otso as Bolden believed he would need it. Otso agreed, and reflecting on his conversation with Violet that he could not trust anyone, then decided that he would assume the mantle of Black Cross.<ref name="ACT"/>

===The Fifth Column===
{{Quote|To walk in their shoes to see through their eyes. To make their talents your own. For some, this smacks of ''heresy''. For a ''Cross'' however, it's standard operating practice.|Berg, on the Black Cross' methods, 2017|Assassin's Creed: Reflections|Assassin's Creed: Reflections 1}}
In preparation to became the new Black Cross, a role viewed as a being grafted from the skill set from the Assassins to instead serve the Templars, Berg returned to Abstergo Entertainment in Montreal, he would muse on the similarities of Assassins and a Black Cross when he studied their strengths and weaknesses by reliving the memories of the lives of prominent Assassins. Berg relieved the memories of [[Ezio Auditore da Firenze|Ezio Auditore]],<ref name="Reflections1">''Assassin's Creed: Reflections'' – [[Assassin's Creed: Reflections 1|Issue #1]]</ref> [[Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad]],<ref name="Reflections2"/> [[Edward Kenway]],<ref name="Reflections3">''Assassin's Creed: Reflections'' – [[Assassin's Creed: Reflections 3|Issue #3]]</ref> and [[Ratonhnhaké:ton|Connor]].<ref name="Reflections4">''Assassin's Creed: Reflections'' – [[Assassin's Creed: Reflections 4|Issue #4]]</ref>

====Independence====
{{Quote|I came here as a courtesy to let you know that Abstergo may have been infiltrated by a hostile fifth column. One or many of you may even be members.|The Black Cross to the Inner Sanctum about the Order's challenges, 2017.|Assassin's Creed: Uprising|{{Cite|14 Jan 2022}}}}
By February 2017, Berg and Violet were in [[Hong Kong]] investigating a former [[Phoenix Project]] site cleared out months ago and transformed into an archive office. Berg was surprised as to how a small, unidentified army appeared to be defending an Abstergo archive against the Assassins, with Violet suggesting there might have been a fight within an Assassin cell. Violet was ordered by Berg to bribe the Chinese police to leave the site as it was, and retired to his hotel room for the night. Later, Berg used his advanced Black Cross attire and investigated the office on his own while Bolden acted as his tech support, finding evidence of both high tech Templar equipment and Assassin weaponry by the people who butchered the Assassins.<ref name="ACUp"/>
[[File:Inner Sanctum and black cross.jpeg|thumb|330px|The Inner Sanctum interviewing the "Black Cross"]]
In March, Berg and Violet were back in Montreal, where they discussed the greater equipped force in an administrative location fighting Assassins, before the phones of every Inner Sanctum member present suddenly displayed the Black Cross symbol. [[Agneta Reider]], [[Laetitia England]], [[David Kilkerman]], [[Mitsuko Nakamura]], [[Simon Hathaway]], [[Alfred Stearns]], and Berg retreated to the Abstergo Executive Retreat, were they had a meeting in [[Charlevoix]], [[Quebec]] and were confronted by the Black Cross. The Black Cross affirmed his independence and informed that the Order had been infiltrated by a fifth column. In truth, this was a ruse for the Inner Sanctum, as the insubordination against the group was used by Berg to feign outrage when he leapt on the Black Cross. The Black Cross said they were all suspects and dropped a smoke bomb to leave. Once Berg had returned to his apartment, he and Bolden discussed how their trick ensured he would stay outside suspicion that the Black Cross was one of the Inner Sanctum, then they decided to head to [[Berlin]], Germany, to investigate further.<ref name="ACUp"/>

====Dark Money====
{{Quote|Now, the account. Assassins bleeding Templars like leeches. How did that come about?|The Black Cross to My'shell Lemair, questioning the Templars' financial irregularities, 2017.|Assassin's Creed: Uprising|{{cite|14 Jan 2022}}}}
In Germany, Berg eavesdropped on [[Galina Voronina]] and [[Arend Schut Cunningham]]'s interrogation of the Abstergo engineer [[Heinrich Hart]], then jumped on Hart after their departure. Seeking answers from the man who created the goggles found in Hong Kong, the Assassin mole revealed that he had expected the Black Cross to come. Unleashed an electric whip, Hart attacked Berg but was quickly subdued. While cryptically revealing his identity as a member of the [[Instruments of the First Will]], Hart pulled out a high explosive and the Black Cross barely escaped through a derby window into the river below. While Berg survived, the blast claimed the lives of 170 people and Berg returned to his flat. Berg discussed the fifth column with Bolden, who advised he to look into anomalies in Abstergo accounts and that their money must be redirected somewhere it should not be.<ref name="ACUp"/>
[[File:ACUprising Berg threatens Lemair.JPG|left|thumb|250px|Otso Berg threatening My'shell Lemair]]
Once in [[Geneva]], Switzerland, Berg discovered that money was being directed elsewhere from Abstergo's accounts, and saw the Assassin [[My'shell Lemair]] arrive to likewise investigate Assassin financial irregularities. Berg intercepted Lemair and interrogated her at knifepoint, finding out she knew nothing and therefore a third party was indeed responsible. When Berg realized they were being watched, he knocked out My'Shell and attempted to escape but was ambushed by Instruments. He quickly killed five of them before collapsing from his wounds as the former [[Indian Brotherhood of Assassins|Indian Assassin]] [[Jasdip Dhami]] appeared. Revealing himself as the high tech 'Assassin' of the fifth column,  Dhami warned Berg to stop his investigations before throwing him over a guard rail.<ref name="ACUp"/>

====United Front====
{{Quote|Isn't it obvious? I'm coming to you because I can't trust you. When faced with only bad choices, opt for the one with predictable outcomes.|The Black Cross to the Assassins, strategizing a united front against the Instruments, 2017.|Assassin's Creed: Uprising}}
[[File:ACUprising - Berg reliving Bolden's memories.jpg|thumb|250px|Otso Berg reliving Albert Bolden's memories]]
My'shell brought the injured Black Cross to the Assassins' hideout, where Galina attacked Berg<ref name="ACUp"/> in retaliation for their last encounter in 2015 within the [[Shroud of Eden 2|Shroud of Eden]]'s [[Buckingham Palace vault|vault]] beneath [[Buckingham Palace]].<ref name="ACS">''[[Assassin's Creed: Syndicate]]'' – [[21st century conversations|Modern day]]</ref> After recovering, they later went to a restaurant and discussed events in Geneva. Given the current situation, Abstergo was compromised because of the trail of the Templar money, but since the Assassins had also been attacked by the same group lead by Dhami, Berg proposed that they worked together, especially as his distrust of Assassins made them the safest option. [[Charlotte de la Cruz]] agreed to the truce because she had witnessed how powerful the Instruments were and what they were capable of. Once back in the hideout, Berg offered to help and was rejected. While they argued about their ideologies and alignments, Arend found found an old image of the Spanish Assassin Ignacio Cardona standing alongside Albert Bolden, the Black Cross.<ref name="ACUp"/>

During Charlotte's Animus session, Berg was told to leave, as she had not recovered from her encounter with [[Juno]], so Berg decided to have a chat with [[Guernica Moneo]], a member of [[Erudito]] and a secret Instrument. They played a game of {{Wiki|Jenga}} while discussing their goals and alignments of various powerful political groups competing for power, including their own. Eventually, Moneo unwittingly revealed his devotion to Juno, and Berg left the room while thanking him for the information.<ref name="ACUp"/>

Having received a blood sample of from André, Berg used it to relive the memories of Albert Bolden during his search of the Koh-i-Noor in the Spanish Civil War, since Charlotte was unable to continue. Once the location of the artifact was discovered, Berg asked the Assassins to dig into their records for information in regards to Glaucia Acosta. Afterwards, Berg informed André of the discovery while requesting him to keep watch on Álvaro Gramática's laboratory and then made preparations to travel to Spain to recover the artifact using his own resources.<ref name="ACUp"/>

====Purge of The Isu Cult====
{{Quote|And now I know who I can trust, I am cauterizing this wound. The infection is cut out, the fever broken. And your blasphemy against humanity is over.|The Black Cross to the Instruments and da Costa, declaring the end of the Isu cult, 2018.|Assassin's Creed: Uprising}}
Once in Spain, Berg paired up with Charlotte and Galina, while the rest looked elsewhere. They managed to recover the artifact after some digging, but were discovered by Jasdip and the Instruments. As they fought each other, Charlotte gained possession of the Koh-i-Noor and unleashed an energy blast that broke them up, Jasdip then captured Charlotte and claimed the artifact, while ordered mortar bombardments by the Instruments to prevent Berg and Assassins from saving her. With the combined efforts of [[Miguel]], one of the assigned protectors of the Koh-i-Noor, Berg attacked Jasdip and freed Charlotte. The artifact remained with the Instruments, therefore Berg and the Assassins looked to locate Gramática's lab to destroy the body meant for Juno's [[Resurrection Day|resurrection]].<ref name="ACUp"/>
[[File:ACUprising 12 - Violet executed by Berg.png|thumb|250px|Otso Berg shooting Violet da Costa]]
By August 2018, Berg and the Assassins were able to locate Gramática's [[Abstergo Industries Australia facility|lab]] in [[Australia]]<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Odyssey]]'' – [[Layla Hassan's emails]]: Subject header: "re re re Greetings and salutations!"</ref> and traveled using an Abstergo plane. Berg and the Assassins also planned their attack and infiltration of the lab. While Charlotte infiltrated the lab through a vent shaft using a sandstorm as cover, Berg and the Assassins distracted the Instruments by the entrance, with Berg confronting the army of Instruments led by Violet, who had since been revealed as the Templars' traitor. Using Berg as bait, Galina shot Jasdip with a sniper rifle as Arend and [[Kiyoshi Takakura]] launched an RPG to kill more Instruments.<ref name="ACUp"/>

Once inside, Berg and the Assassins watched as Juno was trapped in an illusion conjured with the Koh-i-Noor by [[Elijah]], who betrayed the Instruments for murdering his [[Elijah's mother|mother]] earlier. Charlotte took advantage of this and killed Juno, then Berg and the Assassins fled the collapsing lab and were confronted outside by Violet and the surviving Instruments. While Violet pointed her gun at Berg,<ref name="ACUp"/> [[Sigma Team]] arrived, surrounding her and the Instruments.<ref name="ACTEG2"/> Seizing the opportunity of her distraction, Berg disarmed Violet, shot her in the chest, and detonated the lab with Charlotte still inside using a [[Skunkworks]] endgame grenade while Violet bled to death.<ref name="ACUp"/> 

After the destruction of the [[Phoenix Project]], the Black Cross' partnership with the Assassins ended and Berg started hunting any Instruments that still remained. By November 2018,<ref>''Assassin's Creed: Odyssey – [[The Fate of Atlantis: Fields of Elysium]]'' – Modern day</ref> Berg had succeeded in the purging rest of the Instruments and retired from his role as the Black Cross.<ref name="ACTEG2"/>

==Legacy==
The Black Cross as a concept had reached almost legendary status among Templars through history, who admired and feared the Order's mysterious inquisitor.<ref name="ACTEG2"/> Some Templars even doubted their existence and therefore became afraid once the presence of a Black Cross was notified, earning the title even more fear from those in doubt.<ref name="ACT"/>

The Black Cross also had a reputation for their skills, being constantly compared to Assassins for their means of operations, with them being similar to that of the Assassins but remade in the image of the Templars using their most efficient methods.<ref name="ACT"/><ref name="ACUp"/>

==Known Black Crosses==
<gallery captionalign="center" position="center" widths="180">
ACT Tavis Olier.jpg|[[Tavis Olier]]<br>until 1808
ACTemplars Solomon Bolden.png|[[Solomon Bolden]]<br>until 1805
Van der Graff Black Cross_render.png|[[Jan van der Graff]]<br>began 1808
AC Templars Black Cross Render.png|[[Albert Bolden]]<br> c. 1927
ACBoV Juhani Otso Berg render.png|[[Juhani Otso Berg]]<br>2016 – present
</gallery>

==Behind the scenes==
While the origins of the Black Cross remains unclear, the earliest known activities of both the Council of Elders and the Black Cross can provide an approximate time frame. Since the Council tasked [[Laureano de Torres y Ayala]] of the [[West Indies Rite of the Templar Order|West Indies Rite]] to find the [[Observatory (Isu)|Observatory]] in the [[Caribbean]] during the late 17th century,<ref name="MrWalpoleIPresume">''[[Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag]]'' – [[Mister Walpole, I Presume?]]</ref> and with Tavis Olier being appointed as a Black Cross in the late 18th century,<ref name="ACT"/> the title had to have been created sometime within that century-long span.

The Black Cross insignia is also the same insignia of the [[Knights Teutonic]], an organization supported by the Templars during the [[Crusades]]. The use of the Black Cross insignia as markers against their targets can be seen as a counterpart to the [[feather]]s used by the Assassins to mark their assassinations.<ref name="AC1">''[[Assassin's Creed]]''</ref>

While the role of the Black Cross is never stated to be an Assassin Hunter, their skills allows them to perform such Templar specializations as well. Like Assassin Hunters, the methods used by a Black Cross is identical to the means of the Assassins.

Juhani Otso Berg is the first Black Cross that is also a member of the Inner Sanctum.

==Appearances==
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Templars]]'' {{1st}}
*''[[Assassin's Creed FCBD 2016 Edition]]''
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Reflections]]''
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Uprising]]''
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Odyssey]] – [[The Fate of Atlantis: Fields of Elysium]]'' {{Mo}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Templars nav}}
{{ACTemplars}}
{{ACReflections}}
{{ACUprising}}
[[zh:黑色十字]]
[[Category:Templar ranks]]
[[Category:Templar Order]]