Georgios Kostas

Georgios Kostas was a fighter with a reputation for incredible strength and brutality and a member of the Templar Order. Inspired by a desire for global recognition, Georgios left Greece to participate in a tournament series of struggles through 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 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.

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 his Mentor, Ezio Auditore, 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 Kostas.

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 he had barely bested the Templar, but had never seen anyone fight with such brute strength. Ezio then told his Apprentice to be on his guard, for he believed Georgios would be back.

Death

"Are you proud of your kill, Assassin? Do you expect praise for murdering a better and braver man? You have taken my life, but you cannot erase my legend, my power, my influence. Men feared me, even as they did my bidding... that is the mark of a true leader."

―Georgios' last words to an Assassin Apprentice.

Later that same year, Ezio met with another Apprentice who informed him that Kostas 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. Ezio's Apprentice quickly climbed up to a small ledge overlooking Kostas and the herald, and Ezio moved into a position opposite the ledge. The Apprentice then air-assassinated Kostas, saving the herald and his son. In his dying words, Kostas claimed that even though the Assassins had killed him, his legacy, that of a true leader, would live on.

Final words

• Georgios: Are you proud of your kill, Assassin? Do you expect praise for murdering a better and braver man? You have taken my life, but you cannot erase my legend, my power, my influence. Men feared me, even as they did my bidding... that is the mark of a true leader.
• Apprentice: Leave this life in peace.

Source

• Assassin's Creed: Revelations