Georgios Kostas

"Men feared me, even as they did my bidding… that is the mark of a true leader."

―Georgios to an Assassin apprentice before his death, 1511.

Georgios Kostas (d. 1511) was a member of the Byzantine Rite of the Templar Order with a reputation for incredible strength and brutality.

Inspired by a desire for global recognition, Georgios left Greece to participate in a tournament series of fights in Thrace. After years of successful battles, he captured the attention of the Templars, who offered him the chance to work for them and increase his fame.

In 2012, his genetic memories were used as an Animi Avatar by the Templar company Abstergo Industries, for the training of their Animus recruits, under the title of the Champion.

Biography

Early life

Georgios was born in Greece, but later left the country to fight in the mountains of Thrace. There, he became an esteemed and well-known fighter, and eventually drew the attention of the Templars, earning the right to fight for the red cross.

Battle with the Assassins

"Stand down, Assassin. There is a contract on this man's head!"

―Georgios to an Apprentice who was protecting a local printer, 1511.

In Constantinople in 1511, Georgios was ordered to kill a local printer in the city. However, an Assassin apprentice was protecting the printer, safely escorting him through the streets, while their Mentor, Ezio Auditore da Firenze, tailed them from the rooftops. Eventually, the printer spotted Georgios in the street, who commanded the Assassin to stand down. The printer fled while the apprentice remained and fought fiercely with Georgios.

Ezio followed the printer as he fled, and defended him from a Byzantine attack in a small cemetery. The Mentor then ordered the printer to remain there, and left to aid his apprentice. When Ezio returned to the streets, he found his apprentice sitting near a wall. The apprentice informed him that they had barely bested the Templar, but had never seen anyone fight with such brute strength. Ezio then told his apprentice to be on their guard, for he believed Georgios would be back.

Death

"You have taken my life, but you cannot erase my legend, my power, my influence."

―Part of Georgios' last words to an Assassin Apprentice, 1511.

Georgios' final moments as seen in the Animus Corridor

Later that same year, Ezio met with the same apprentice who informed him that Georgios had set his sights on the printer's father, a local herald. The Mentor and apprentice then met with the herald, and told him of the danger his son had put him in. Their meeting was interrupted, however, by an attack from Templar thugs.

The Assassins managed to fend off the Templar thugs, but Georgios arrived and took the herald hostage, demanding that the printer be brought to him. While Ezio's apprentice quickly climbed up to a small ledge overlooking Georgios and the herald, and Ezio moved into a position opposite the ledge to draw Georgios' attention.

Georgios, distracted by Ezio, failed to guard himself from the apprentice above, who air assassinated him, saving the herald and his son. In his dying words, Georgios asserted that even though the Assassins had killed him, his legacy as a champion would live on.

Trivia

• Georgios is a Greek name, meaning "farmer, earthworker", while Kostas is a Greek variant of the Latin name Constans, meaning "constant, steadfast".

Gallery

• 
  Concept art of Georgios Kostas
• 
  Georgios holding the Herald hostage
• 
  An Apprentice assassinating Georgios

Appearances

• Assassin's Creed: Revelations