Abstergo Data

I wanted to ask you something. Which is... what's your name? This article title is conjecture. Although the article subject is canon, no official name for it has been given.

Abstergo Data was a collection of files detailing the inner workings of Abstergo Entertainment, obtained through the research analyst's hacks following their foray into the company's Animus multiplayer project.

Personal folder

Secret files

EMAIL THREADIM CONVERSATIONPHONE CALL TRANSCRIPTNEWSPAPER CUTTING - 11/20/13NEWSPAPER CUTTING - 11/29/13

From:	Melanie Lemay
To:	Jean-François Brunet
Date/Time:	Wed, 2013-11-13 09:58
Subject:	What happened here?
Attachment: ScreenShot1.jpg JF, the Joey video is a MESS. What is going on here? How did this get out? You know this is not the quality we ship. -M

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From:	Jean-François Brunet
To:	Melanie Lemay
Date/Time:	Wed, 2013-11-13 10:12
Subject:	Re: What happened here?
Attachment: ScreenShot2.jpg Mel, Mel, Mel... It's a good thing we're friends or I might be offended. Let me refresh your memory. The attached screen is what my guys produced. It's clean. It's perfection. Also, haha: you signed off on it. Remember? :) And I think the testers would have noticed a glitch like that. Lol. Someone needs a vacation... Whatever this is, it happened after we went gold, so if you're looking for a scapegoat to hang, check with your buddies in publishing. :( - Your pal, JF PS- Drinks later? Terasse weather is over but that doesn't mean we can't *try*. We're tough! Rawr! Arrrr! :o)

---

From:	Melanie Lemay
To:	Kristina Uhrich
Date/Time:	Wed, 2013-11-13 11:21
Subject:	Glitchy weirdness.
Attachment: ScreenShot1.jpg Hi Kristina, How are you? How was Costa Rica? Amazing? You have to tell me about it!!! So, there's just one I need help with. See the screenshot attached? What do you think is going on there with all the distortion? We've checked our files and they're all clean. (Actually, I blamed JF and I think he hates me now. :-( ) Please, please, please tell me we can still fix this. - Mel

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From:	Kristina Uhrich
To:	Melanie Lemay
Date/Time:	Thurs, 2013-11-14 07:30
Subject:	RE: Glitchy weirdness.
CC:	Jean-François Brunet
Attachment: CreepyFaceWTF.jpg Hi Mely (and JF!) Whaaaat am I even looking at? I don't want to alarm you, but I looked at the whole vid and egads, WHAT IS THAT SCREEN AT THE END? Is that a FACE? It is, isn't it? It's a face. But what is it doing there? Costa Rica was great. And relaxing. But I'm already too stressed out to remember that! Look at that face! I can't decide if it's beautiful or terrifying. We definitely didn't put it there. Who can we get to exorcise this piece of insanity? Know any priests? - Kris

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From:	Jean-François Brunet
To:	Kristina Uhrich, Melanie Lemay
Date/Time:	Thurs, 2013-11-14 10:04
Subject:	RE: RE: Glitchy weirdness.
I vote terrifying. No, hot. No, definitely scary. I can't decide. Is this why I'm still single? May I make a suggestion? Send it to Phil in security. She loves this kind of thing. P.S: I could never hate you Mel. (Seriously, both of you: drinks soon?) - Your pal, JF

---

From:	Philipa Tran
To:	Jean-François Brunet, Kristina Uhrich, Melanie Lemay
Date/Time:	Thurs, 2013-11-14 14:00
Subject:	RE: FWD: RE: RE: Glitchy weirdness.
I fear JF has oversold my sleuthing abilities. As far as I know, we don't have any phenomenon capable of causing this distortion pattern. (Or a face. You're sure this isn't a prank? Right JF???) It looks like electromagnetic radiation interference, like from a giant magnet... that can draw. The video is already public, yes? Mind if I show it to some friends on the outside? They might have ideas. - Phil PS: I'll go for drinks with you, JF. Just bought new snowpants. Winter terasse ftw.

• anonymish_82 [15:24]: Yeah, I've seen the face.
  
• defact0r [15:24]: And?
  
• anonymish_82 [15:24]: And what?
  
• defact0r [15:24]: Is it ours?
  
• anonymish_82 [15:25]: I highly doubt it. I mean, I hope not. Why would we do that? What do they take us for? Banksy?
  
• defact0r [15:25]: ...
  
• anonymish_82 [15:27]: Oh, right. Yes. The credits are going haywire, and our whole funding mechanism is about to go down the drain, but we're going to take time away from fixing it to edit a video with some face of- what is it anyway? Where have I seen this before?
  
• defact0r [15:28]: Where have you seen this??? Desmond... the vault... ring any bells?
  
• anonymish_82 [15:28]: Is it one of those THINGS?
  
• defact0r [15:28]: ?
  
• anonymish_82 [15:29]: Gods. Aliens. Ancient Beings. Whatever they are.
  
• defact0r [15:29]: Yeah, it looks like the vengeful one.
  
• anonymish_82 [15:29]: Greeaaaat. The conspiracy guys are going to have a field day with this one. Who put it there? What's anyone supposed to get out of this? Why bother?
  
• defact0r [15:30]: Maybe it's just Art.
  
• anonymish_82 [15:30]: Yes. That must be it. It's Art. Abstergo isn't so much sending us a message as they're sending us a "Message."
  
• defact0r [15:30]: I'll put the word out it's not us.
  
• anonymish_82 [15:31]: No wait. Don't. Let them think it's us. Nurture the mystery; it keeps things interesting.
  
• defact0r [15:31]: OK. Done. Mystery maintained.
  
• anonymish_82 [15:31]: Maybe just tell Phil. I don't want cops breaking down my door.
  
• defact0r [15:32]: Done again. Mystery downgraded. Are you sure about this? Working with THEM?
  
• anonymish_82 [15:32]: No, I'm not sure.
  
• defact0r [15:32]: OK... so... what exactly is going on with the credits? Abstergo figured it out?
  
• anonymish_82 [15:32]: No that's the problem. I don't think it's them.
  
• defact0r [15:33]: Then it's a hack?
  
• anonymish_82 [15:33]: Not that I can tell. It's like it's coming from inside the system. Like the virus is writing itself.
  
• defact0r [15:34]: the call is coming from inside the house! Riiiiight.
  
• anonymish_82 [15:34]: Look smartass, can you just get over here and help? No money, no "art projects." Need it fixed, pronto. Sarcasm? Not helping.
  
• defact0r [15:35]: omw

• Laeticia England: Sir. You read my report?
  
• Unknown: I did. And you believe the threat is serious?
  
• Laeticia England: Absolutely serious. I know it's a lot to swallow but—
  
• Unknown: How can you be sure your source is credible?
  
• Laeticia England: Naturally, I'm not at liberty to reveal.
  
• Unknown: Of course not. That's not what I'm asking.
  
• Laeticia England: They're absolutely reliable. I know it is unusual. Provocative. But they'd have no reason to lie. In fact, I believe they'd take credit if they could.
  
• Unknown: If someone from that group– Erudito. The same one that defaced your campaigns, less than a year ago.
  
• Laeticia England: Admittedly, if that was the case, and I'm not saying it is, it would be that Erudito, yes. But I blame myself for that debacle. It's why I fired–
  
• Unknown: I am aware of your restructuring efforts. You're right to establish contact. If that's what you've done. To... forge a relationship. Keep them close.
  
• Laeticia England: That might be wording it too strongly. But the threat is potentially serious. And if they did have information, we would be wise to listen, whether we decide to believe it or not.
  
• Unknown: That is the question. "Electromagnetic interference" could mean anything. What leads you to believe it poses a security risk.
  
• Laeticia England: Only that we can't find the source. The reality is, no one know who put this.. face... there, or why.
  
• Unknown: There are ways to keep this under control. Have you considered... recruiting this source? I'm sure I don't need to remind you we have facilities to help them cooperate, at least until we understand the nature of this threat.
  
• Laeticia England: I'll keep the possibility in mind. For now, I'd prefer not to grant them any exposure to our facilities. We can't risk any leaks.
  
• Unknown: I trust your judgment. You have my authorization to proceed.
  
• Laeticia England: Thank you, sir.

November 20, 2013
Bank Heist Baffles Cybercrime Experts NEW YORK — A near-traceless bank heist that drained accounts of more than $10 million has left investors panicked and police puzzled. "The trouble is, the money doesn't seem to have gone anywhere. It's just missing," said Captain George Perez of Lewis County. "It's not unusual for these hacker criminals to use proxies and untraceable accounts, but this is different. The money doesn't seem to have gone anywhere. It's simply erased." The disappearance of more than $10 million has some worrying what the impact will be on inflation. But for local investors, the consequences hit closer to home. "That was my retirement savings," said Rosie McFee, 64, speaking from her daughter's home in Turin. "I don't know what I'll do." "I just don't see how this can happen. It goes to show the problem is technology," said Dean Briant, 51, of Osceola. "Technology was our first mistake. Scary stuff." "Whatever this is, it's brilliant," SUNY Potsdam computer science professor Tamila Sharpe said. "We don't even have an entry point. It's like it came from inside the system. It's a fascinating case study – a Houdini heist." Investigators are mum on the identities of possible suspects, leading this reporter to wonder, do they even have any? "We've turned the case over to the FBI. It's out of our hands," said Captain Perez. - Leni Horrowitz, Lewis County Inspector

November 29, 2013
Dozens Arrested in Houdini Heist Bust Toronto — More than a dozen arrests were made today in connection to the "Houdini Heist," which last week robbed consumers in at least eight countries of over $10 million dollars. The arrests came after a tense nine-day investigation by international security agencies, led by the FBI with collaborations from CSIS. Participating authorities had been tight-lipped about the investigation, leaving penniless victims searching for answers. But a breakthrough came today when international conglomerate Abstergo Industries, reported recent disruptions to systems and customer records, leading to the arrest of 15 suspects, including two Canadians. "At times like these, business as usual is not enough," said senior executive Laeticia England. "We felt we had a moral imperative to share what we know." Although the personal identities of suspects brought in for questioning have not yet been released, the majority of are known members of so-called anti-corporate "hacktivist" collective, Erudito, whose members band together in a loose, Al-Quaeda[sic] like structure. A spokeswoman for the FBI declined to comment on whether the incident has ties to international terrorism, or when victims can expect their funds to return to their accounts, if ever. -Collected Press

Customization

Characters

THE REBELTHE STOWAWAYTHE WAYFARERTHE JAGUARTHE HUNTSMANBLACKBEARDLADY BLACK

The daughter of Alejandro Estrada de Ortega, Ferreira comes from a long line of Spanish Templars. But, unlike her brothers who were groomed for the Order from a young age, she and her sisters were excluded. Disinterested in the domestic life scripted for her by her parents, she left home at seventeen to pursue a life of adventure.

Running from his parents at the age of ten, Charlie Oliver, calling himself "Charlie the Great", hid aboard a ship headed for the New World, in a barrel full of apples. His endless chattering was what led him to the Comte de Marigot, who, not knowing that else to do with him, introduced him to the Templar order.

Manuel Mendoza wandered the globe, trying on many identities and professions before settling down as a humble coffee farmer, keeping his true affiliations private. Known to disappear for months on end, his neighbors always assume he is simply assisting the plantation owner and his merchant friends with their business.

Cuali (a name which means "good" in Nahuatl) is an Aztec warrior from Mexico who took to the sea, joining any mission that would allow him to combat the Spanish conquest of central America. A fighter, he survived the destruction of his community and went on to join forces with a growing society of native men who sought renewed peace and order.

A man of privilege, William de Saint-Prix was born to an aristocratic French family and received the best education. He was particularly adept at science and literature, and learned enough to design his own weapons and create a signature fighting style. Shunned by revolutionaries for his noble beginnings, his wit and courage earned him the respect of his compatriots.

Gruff and short-tempered, Blackbeard uses fear rather than violence to get his way, avoiding killing whenever possible. Although little is known of his early life, he is believed to have been born between 1680 and 1685 in Bristol, and took to the sea from as young as sixteen years of age. By 1717, he had become a pirate icon.

Fending for herself from the age of 12, Lucia Márquez took to the streets, using any means necessary to survive. Apprehended stealing a horse from an individual of notable power in her 17th year, she accepted training instead of jail, and in time developed a taste for comfort and order.

THE MERCENARYTHE BUCCANEERTHE PHYSICIANTHE NAVIGATORTHE NIGHT STALKERTHE ORCHIDTHE PUPPETEER

The son of an Ashanti Empire chief, Kumi Berko knew wealth and power early on in his life. Following a territorial dispute, he was captured, sold into slavery, and transported to Jamaica. He joined the Maroons after being freed by the warrior Cudjoe in a plantation raid.

A pirate's pirate, Parry Crowther embraces the gentlemanly connotations of the somewhat antiquated term "buccaneer", using his multifaceted personality to mask and facilitate his true business. Imposing and heavyset, he has a strong, extroverted nature, and despite his tendency to drink, has a gentle manner among friends.

Doctor Edmund Judge takes a calculating and sometimes brutal approach to medicine. An expert in poisons, he is always in search of something to test them on. He appears philanthropic, but always expects something in return. He demands order, but operates outside of such legal structures.

Born the third son to an aristocratic family, Hilary Flint spent a happy childhood immersed in the study of math and science, taking a particular extracurricular interest in things that go "boom". His parents sent him to military school as a teenager to help shape his potentially delinquent interests into a socially acceptable form. Easygoing and likeable, he soon found a home within the school's many clubs, and even a secret society or two.

Stalking the streets of New York by night, this mercenary was known only as Joe. The legends that surround him paint him as a brutal killer motivated only by coin, but closer investigation reveals that his alleged victims are linked by a history of violence against women. Might his motivations be different than what his historical records claim?

The daughter of a rebel, Jing Lang grew up fighting. As a young woman, she developed a talent for negotiation and a knack for languages. She broke ties with her family to serve as a military advisor for a Qing dynasty general her father opposed, and ultimately performed so well, she was granted a diplomatic post. Using piracy as a cover for her political activities, she travelled the world, banding with any who might serve her ultimate desire for negotiated order.

Born to a family of thieves, Felicia Moreno became a master of disguise and sleight of hand almost before she would walk, crying on cue to help her solder sisters beg, and batting her eyelashes to distract old omen while her brothers stole their groceries. As a young lady, she teamed up with Lucia Márquez and set her sights on larger prey, robbing stagecoaches, infiltrating balls and theaters, and pilfering jewels from young princesses and nobles.

THE ADVENTURERTHE CUTTHROATTHE DANDYTHE DUELISTTHE FIREBRANDTHE SHAMANTHE SIREN

Father to Lucia Márquez, Alejandro Ortega de Márquez was a privateer who led Spanish charges through the colonies and personally seized several smaller West Indie islands in the name of King Philip V of Spain. He is rumored to have spent a year or more living among the Taíno, though the exact location is not clear. Unbeknownst to his wife and children in Spain, he may have even taken a Taíno bride and fathered one or more children.

Born in Ireland and abandoned at an orphanage in Cork, Adrien Flood escaped at the age of eight and stowed away on a ship bound for the West Indies, which was subsequently seized by Kumi Berko's pirates. He quickly earned a place for himself as a deckhand, and then a spy, being fast and small and able to fit into tight spaces and get at hard-to-reach spots and tough-to-hear information. As he grew older, his obnoxious personality began to emerge. Sarcastic and impertinent, he also began to display a sadistic side, and was put to work as a torturer and disciplinarian.

Born Alphie Gardner, to common parents in England, Comte Alphonse de Marigot quickly outgrew his humble background. At 15, he found a job at the newly established Comédie-Française in Paris and took advantage of every opportunity to meet men of power and influence. In his 18th year, he accepted a job aboard a merchant brigantine and sailed for the West Indies. On his patron's death, he inherited the business and established the de Marigot plantation in Martinique.

Born in Spain to an influential family branched from the Bourbon dynasty, Renardo Aguilar became a master swordsman in the Verdadera Destreza school, and a lover of strategy games. Not satisfied with the competition available at home, he embarked on a journey to bring his technique to the Spanish colonies in Central and South America. He never forgot his roots or lost his taste for fine Madeira wine. He has been romantically linked to Felicia Moreno.

Born in Saint-Domingue, Dominique Jean is the niece of a voodoo houngan and grew up under his doting tutelage. A clear and creative thinker with an open heart, she prefers to lead through her action. A generous collaborator, she is nevertheless deadly if crossed. At 16, she met Kumi Berko. They shared a brief romantic relationship that was cut short by his departure from the island.

Sold into slavery at the age of fourteen, Dakodonou kept his beliefs and his desires to establish a better life for his people a secret. Escaping captivity years later, Dakodonou trained with the Assassins, leaving only to educate himself in Haitian Vodou and carry on his true calling to create a new world.

The daughter of a goods trader, Sylvia Seabrooke spent more time dreaming about the sea than husbands, When she lost her brothers to the New World, Sly disguised herself as her brother and went to work on the ships. Noticing her navigational skills, she was persuaded to join and recruited into the Templar order.

Animus database

Character files

THE REBELTHE STOWAWAYTHE WAYFARERTHE JAGUARBLACKBEARDTHE HUNTSMANLADY BLACK

I remember the day they told me I would be married. I laughed. I cried. That night I climbed out of my window and never looked back. There is probably still a reward posted for my capture in Spain. Can you believe? When I think of my family, I picture them looking for me still, and I look at my scars and my pistol and I laugh. I laugh so hard.

Are you sure I belong here? A simple coffee farmer among killers and sages? Mainly, coffee requires patience. Each plant takes four years to grow from seed to maturity. The flowers bloom on their own time too, and the fruit ripens unevenly. A farmer must watch, must wait, and observe, all the while shielding his crop from weather and pestilence. Then, only at the right moment, he picks but the ripest cherries. I approach all of my work this way.

I did not abandon my people! I protected them by meeting the encroachers before they could arrive on our soil. I also battled homesickness every day. I was not made for the sea. But I sensed the coming war and I fought to prevent it. I crossed many Assassins along the way, and I felled them all. I did not believe in their vision of the world. I did not see how it could ever protect us.

Arrrr! That's what you want to hear right? Arrrr! Ahoy matey! Shiver me timbers! All that pirate drivel the tourists are always asking me to repeat. Bollocks. I shan't tell you the truth. You're not worth it. What would you do with it? I know what you'll write: "Arrr, said Blackbeard." "Said Blackbeard." Blackbeard never said no such thing. Go. Get that parrot out of my face.

To be honest, I'm never entirely sure which I prefer: the study or the outdoors. Both offer opportunity to expand the mind. One offers safety to the body, the other to the soul. I suppose I have been lucky to enjoy both in equal measure.

I did not set out to avenge my father. I had my own mission, I was serving my own order. And I had long accepted his death. But when I saw the Assassin, when I heard her speak, it all came back. My childhood. How we were robbed of him. How her people took him. I had to act.

THE MERCENARYTHE BUCCANEERTHE PHYSICIANTHE NAVIGATORTHE NIGHT STALKERTHE ORCHIDTHE PUPPETEER

I do not speak of my time as a slave, because I do not accept "slave" as my identity. They tried to make me a slave, but I never adopted that reality. I was always waiting... no... not to be rescued. For my chance. That chance came and I did not hesitate. That became my identity: no hesitation, no surrender.

Look, I know what people assume. I know how I look. And it's true. I absolutely did leverage my size to the advantage of my employers. I was a protector. A body guard. Nothing more. I never sought violence. Never! I don't even like the word "pirate," mate. Buccaneer sounds more more distinguished. I don't care if it's old-fashioned. I don't care if no one does it that way anymore. It's who I am.

What do the history books say about me? That I was killed by that woman? That Assassin? Lies! It was I who slew her. I retrieved the artifact. I saw the future! I live on, and will never die. I brought the Assassins to their knees. So-called "History" is for men with no ambition, too weak to choose their own truth.

My nemesis? Yes, Rhona. I fought her for years. Always, I was one step ahead. That's how it always is with Assassins—they're persistent, like gnats or bedbugs, but no more significant. Did I win? What do you think?

Whatever they say about me, it's probably true. Why not just run with that and leave me alone. Haven't you heard? I'm a monster? Driven by greed and bloodlust. That's all anyone really wants these days anyway, isn't it?

Of course, I had many lovers, but we're not here to talk about that today, are we? Why do you always want know that? Why do you not ask me about the battles I led? About the armies I brought to beg for mercy at my feet? The leagues I sailed? The treasure? I lived a free life. A glorious life. The life of a pirate queen.

Renardo? I have forgiven him. In the end it was Lucia who meant the most anyway. Romance is one thing, but how can it compare to a great friendship? We were sisters in thievery once, Lucia and I. That was before we entered the order. Everything changed then. This, I regret.

THE ADVENTURERTHE CUTTHROATTHE DANDYTHE DUELISTTHE FIREBRANDTHE SHAMANTHE SIREN

I had a daughter. I had more than one daughter. My children never knew each other. They could not ever even know of each other. This was my one mistake—not the children per se—I did love them; I tried to be a good father when I was there. But I allowed myself to become distracted from the order, from my true purpose.

"Adrien Flood?" "Flood?" Is that supposed to be a joke? On account of the length of my pants? Who told you that was my name? It was Kumi, wasn't it? That guy, I swear—I'm going to get him back for this... No! Don't write that down! Can we start over?... Well don't put anything. Just put Adrien- A-D-R-I-E-N. I'll tell you about the time I felled five men with just a single fart. Yes, fart. F-A-R-T... Well that's just your opinion... It's not because it's disgusting that it isn't true.

Alfie Gardner? Who's that? Where'd you hear that? I don't know him. I am the Comte Alphonse de Marigot, of Martinique, and you will address me a such. I'm French, first of all. I don't know where you're getting this English rubbish. That other part is true though, about the theatre—the Comédie-Française. I was there at its birth. It was a historic moment.

La Verdadera Destreza: Spanish swordsmanship. The true art, the ultimate marriage of geometry, reason, philosophy—the highest education, our best hope against Assassins. I dedicated my life to bringing it to the world, and I regret nothing. Well, almost nothing. Felicia... no... I cannot even speak of her now.

I will not speak to you of voodoo. I already know that is how you want to imagine me: gathering herbs and muttering incantations and drawing skulls and pretending to adapt your Christian saints to the image of the spirits of the Fon and the Ewe. No. Let us not speak of this. Let us speak of war. Of triumph. Of how I cannot be vanquished.

Map files

PALENQUESANTA LUCIALA HAVANASAINT-PIERRETAMPA BAYPORTOBELOPRISONSABA ISLAND

Unlike most of Southern Mexico's Palenque, the Expeditionary Camp has a very temporary feel to it. Rumored to be linked with the 'El Dorado' myth, the city, mostly in a state of ruin, overgrown with vegetation, is packed with explorers harboring a desire to excavate its tombs and temples. Canvas tents decorate the otherwise spars campgrounds, creating a close and friendly community for the island's many wanderers. But beware the warmer months! Palenque is frequently host to major tropical storms, giving the area a tense atmosphere and keeping its poor explorers forever on the move.

Once a place for small-scale fishing and pearl gathering, this fishing village, in Santa Lucia, is now a resupply hub for most pirates. Although missing its peaceful nature, this place is lively, exotic, engulfed by the surrounding grandiose cliffs and eternal blue. The village grows on both land and sea, and long, rickety, wooden docks connect the seafarers to the townsfolk. By day, the town bustles, and the beach glows under the hot son, and by night, pirates can be seen stumbling around the docks in the torchlight.

The Cathedral Square, in La Havana, is a highly populated area in Cuba. As an established trade route between the New World and the Old World, La Havana brought in much wealth and became a heavily fortified area to protect its treasure-laden ships. Although it has seen better times, La Havana continues to be a lively colorful place complete with multi-story buildings inspired by Spanish architecture and a bustling marketplace. The city is now a ship building center, and what remains of its wealthy quarters is a phenomenal sight to see.

Martinique resides in the French region of the Caribbean coast. With low brush and tall fromager trees, this area proves ideal for sugarcane plantations. The lush, green landscape would remain undisturbed were it not for the occasional hurricane and the threatening rumble emitting from Mt. Pelée, the island's active volcano, which lies just north of the city. Aside from the mountain, the plantations' master houses act as the area's landmarks.

Simplicity, comfort, and permanence: this is the way of Tampa Bay's Jesuit missionaries. With hope of converting the natives, this sandstone settlement was built by a handful of hardworking laborers. Massive stone walls keep the peaceful place cool in the sweltering heart of the day and warm in the right comfort in the surrounding barren landscape. In case of a massive dust storm or in the event of an attack, tunnels were built beneath the camp, although no trouble has breached the solid stone walls thus far. The missionary settlement is known for its gardens of serenity and impressive winery.

Beyond the sweet taste of its tropical storms and through the thick morning mist stands the sleepy city of Portobelo, Panama. Once an administrative center for the excavation of both silver and gold, Portobelo was named for its demonstrative wealth and natural harbor. But even this beautiful port couldn't escape the early onset of plundering pirates. Using explosives to gain access to the city, the port quickly turned into a ship repair center, its old colonial fortifications used to protect their loot and cargo. This pirate headquarters is now notorious for gambling, heavy drinking and blood sports of all kinds. If you can see past the cockfighting and the loud cursing, you'll see this new way of life has given Mother Nature a chance to take back her land.

Columbia's prison of Cartagena was originally built as a fort to defend the stormy city's harbor from pirates. When they began to pose a real threat in the area, the fort was quickly converted into a prison, a way out impossible to find in the damp, dark hallways, with no end in sight. Cartagena Prison was unsegregated, holding criminals from all walks of life behind its great stone walls. Being locked together in large rooms for the most part, prisoners were encouraged to sort out their affairs among themselves, and were subject to abuse by the prison guards on a regular basis. Some say the torture chamber remains fully intact.

Claiming to have found the island uninhabited, pirates took this stone city for their hideout in the early 17th century. Saba island, a cavernous volcano on the Caribbean Sea, soon became a hub for all kinds of castaways, proving to be the perfect location for a pirate lair. A city lit by fire, the island is well protected from Saba's frequent rainstorms, and strong enough to survive its rare hurricanes. The housing consists of stone ruins built into the cavern's walls, and all have spectacular view of the open seas. An overgrowth of vegetation, serene waterfalls and pockets of sunlight bring an unexpected beauty to the grunge-covered world of pirating. But beware the reverb: a colony of bats can even make a rum-filled swashbuckler shake in his boots.

References

• Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag