Bear

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A black bear

Bears (Ursidae family) are caniformian mammals found in Europe, Asia, North and South America. They are large, typically carnivorous and extremely strong.

History

5th century BCE

During the Peloponnesian War, bears inhabited various regions of Greece. The Spartan misthios Kassandra occasionally hunted them and even tamed some. The faction known as the Daughters of Artemis used tamed bears to protect their territories and to accompany them on hunting trips.

The sharp fangs of the bears were valued at 6 drachmae, while their furs, regarded as especially good for keeping warm, were valued at 42 drachmae. The skins from the bears on the island of Chios were of exceptional quality, and as such could be sold for 300 drachmae. A merchant in Mytilene, Lesbos, also sought the Chiot bear skin for the crafting of breastplates. The bladders of the bears were also occasionally sought by spies working for Athens, to safeguard their correspondence.

Of special note among bears was Kallisto. She was a beast of legendary size, and made her lair within the Golden Fields of Arkadia. Kassandra was tasked by the leader of the Daughters of Artemis, Daphnae, to hunt down the bear and bring back her pelt.

One of the members of the Cult of Kosmos, Zoisme of the Worshippers of the Bloodline, preferred living among wild animals, and eventually Kassandra found her within a bear den in Malis.

10th century

During her adventures throughout the British Isles, the Raven Clan Viking Eivor Varinsdottir encountered a number of bears amongst the wildlife. One of the noteworthy bears she met was Njal, the albino bear who was a companion to the berserkr Bjorn Bloodtooth.

18th century

During the events of the Seven Years' War, the Assassin-turned-Templar Shay Cormac could hunt polar bears (Ursus maritimus) and black bears (Ursus americanus), and use the spoils to upgrade his equipment.

Ratonhnhaké:ton of the Kanien'kehá:ka Nation encountered a bear outside his village while hunting for his coming-of-age rite. In time, he gained the strength and agility necessary to hunt bears for their pelts and meat. He also discovered that an especially good hunting ground for bears was located in the south-west corner of the Packanack region.

During his time in the Frontier, Ratonhnhaké:ton learned of a man-eating bear that had attacked a campsite nearby. He entered its cave and lured it with a fresh corpse, allowing him the opportunity to kill and skin it. He also encountered a bear on the Davenport Homestead when the farmer Warren reported his wife Prudence missing after she had gone to gather evening primrose and not returned. Ratonhnhaké:ton found her cornered by a bear, and killed it before carrying her to safety.

The Assassin Aveline de Grandpré was once kidnapped by thugs hired by Monsieur Bouché. During her escape, she was cornered by a penned bear, which she killed despite being only armed with her Hidden Blades.

In an alternate reality created by an Apple of Eden, King Washington and Benedict Arnold kept bears as pets. While working to overthrow the king in New York City, Ratonhnhaké:ton undertook a spirit journey and encountered the spirit of the bear, which granted him its strength, so he could kill multiple soldiers at once.

Behind the scenes

In Assassin's Creed III, though baby bears were seen in the Frontier, they could not be killed.

Gallery

• 
  Concept art of a bear attack
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  A render of a bear
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  A bear standing upright
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  A bear attacking soldiers
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  Ratonhnhaké:ton and the giant bear during a spirit journey
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  A white alpha bear in Euboea
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  A normal black bear in Malis
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  Eivor accompanied by Njal

Appearances

• Assassin's Creed III (first appearance)
• Assassin's Creed III: Liberation
• Assassin's Creed: Rogue
• Assassin's Creed: Odyssey
• Assassin's Creed: Valhalla
  • The Way of the Berserker
• Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood of Venice