Austrian Rite of the Templar Order

The Austrian Rite of the Templar Order is the rite of the Templar Order that oversees operations in Austria.

History

18th century

During the French Revolution, the Austrian Rite supported Chrétien Lafrenière's moderate faction of the Parisian Rite against François-Thomas Germain and his extremists. Their aid was short-lived, however, as Germain manipulated the French Assassin Arno Dorian into killing Lafrenière and breaking the moderate Templars' movement.

The Magus' workings

By 1851, the Austrian Rite was contacted by the Irish Assassin Oscar Kane in Vienna, who joined their ranks for access to their inventions in exchange for information. Kane adopted the alias of the "Magus" and communicated with Countess Ada Lovelace, which resulted in a revolutionary invention, the Engine of History. However, their contact ceased on Ada's end due to her realization of how the Engine could be misused. As a result, Kane tried to abduct Lovelace but the attempt was foiled by the acrobat Pierrette Arnaud.

By 1852, Kane had taken the deserted soldier Simeon Price, under the alias "Jack Straw", as his apprentice, and trained him. In December, Kane brought Price to a party hosted by the Templar and Baron Julius Jacob von Haynau. Met by his lawyer Karl Mayr and Countess Konstanze von Visler, Price was confused and disgusted by the group's conversation before the countess brought him to the dance floor. Unknown to Simeon, Kane and the other Templars discussed business as Mayr and Kane moved their conversation to a private room. However, talks turned sour as Mayr tried to kill Kane. Luckily, Price found them and saved his mentor, slitting Mayr's throat with his razor. Afterwards, Kane and Price promptly left the scene.

By the following year, unknown to Price, Kane had influenced their mutual acquaintance, János Libényi, to attack Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria in order to test one of his devices. Meanwhile, Konstanze and Kane continued to work together on the former's innovative new drill. However, Kane's influence over Libényi ran its course as the tailor took matters into his own hands by trying to assassinate Emperor Franz Joseph I. His attempt failed, and he was arrested as a result.

Following János' hanging, Kane lost his apprentice, who grew disillusioned and distrustful with Kane's teachings and ideology. Meanwhile, Konstanze learned from Kane of Ada's notes probably being held by her friend, Arnaud, and sent her henchman Art Hennighan to ransack her room in her troupe. However, he could not find the notes.

Kane, under the guise of the Magus, continued his work by finding another rebel and traveled to Italy, where he broke the revolutionary Felice Orsini out of prison. In 1857, he directed factory workers in Birmingham to create casings from his work with Ada to be sent to Paris by the beginning of the next year.

Kane arrived in Paris to aid Orsini and oversee the casings' delivery. Soon, the casings were used as bombs in Orsini's attempt to kill Emperor Napoleon III and his wife, but the plot failed. While Orsini was arrested, Kane went on the run as the local Brotherhood finally realized his deception.

Hunt for the Magus

By 1861, Kane had made his way to London, where he informed the authorities of Price's desertion from the army. He then lured his former apprentice into a trap, leading to his arrest. Meanwhile, Konstanze and Hennighan arrived in London as well, where they tracked Price and Arnaud. Hennighan was ordered to burglarize Arnaud's room at the Rossettis' home, but he again found no trace of Ada's notes.

While Price was in jail, Konstanze heard of a social gathering at the Rossettis' home and soon met with Arnaud there. She asked Arnaud to meet her at Brown's Hotel, but prepared to abduct her before the meeting as she already knew of her affiliations. With Hennighan, the countess started to torture Arnaud and finally found Ada's notes hidden within her corset.

Konstanze soon learned of a possible artifact in Bath after Arnaud deciphered some of Ada's notes. However, her plan went askew once Pierrette found an opportunity to escape and reclaim the notes. Injured, Konstanze tried to prevent the Assassin's escape but failed. She then contacted Kane to inspect the room Arnaud had detailed to her. Kane took a cab to Bath, but upon investigation he deduced the artifact to be long gone. Returning to his hideout, he was soon confronted by his former apprentice Simeon, who had tracked him down.

After Price rejected Kane's offer to join him, Oscar and his men began to shoot at him. Price was joined by Arnaud and their various allies, who began to fight against Kane's henchmen above the bunker room. Within moments, nearly all the henchmen were killed as Kane himself was surrounded. After multiple tries, Kane was finally restrained by Pierrette, who dragged and pulled him with her over a walkway. As the chamber began to collapse, Kane was severely injured and was finished off by Price, who then joined his allies in escaping.

The Magus' aftermath

Konstanze visited the Rossettis to pay her respects to the late Elizabeth Siddal, but more importantly, to interrogate Price about his knowledge of Ada's notes being presumably destroyed. Cornered by an armed Arnaud and Simeon, the countess found herself at an impasse and left without finding out the truth about the notes' preservation.

Members

Austrian Empire

• Oscar Kane (Austrian Brotherhood)
• Karl Mayr
• Konstanze von Visler
• Art Hennighan
• Julius Jacob von Haynau

Allies and puppets

French Revolution

• Chrétien Lafrenière (Parisian Rite)
• Frederick Weatherall (British Rite)

Austrian Empire

• János Libényi
• Felice Orsini

Appearances

• Assassin's Creed: Unity (first mentioned)
• Assassin's Creed: The Engine of History – The Magus Conspiracy (first appearance)
• Assassin's Creed: The Engine of History – The Resurrection Plot