Desmond Miles

"I'm a bartender, for Christ's sake! What do you want me to do, teach you how to mix a Martini?"

―Desmond to Vidic and Lucy

Desmond Miles (b. 1987) is the main protagonist of the Assassin's Creed series and the descendant of a long line of ancestors who swore their allegiance to the Assassin Order. He is initially forced to use a machine, called the Animus, created by Abstergo Industries – the modern front of the Knights Templar – to relive the memories of his ancestor, Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad during the Crusader era, in their quest to locate the "Apple", a Piece of Eden.

Eventually escaping with the aid of modern day Assassins, Desmond once again uses an improved version of the Animus to explore the memories of his second ancestor, Ezio Auditore da Firenze, so as to learn the ways of the Assassins in a much quicker way than normal.

Biography

Early life

"You have any idea what it's like to be trapped in a place, knowing there was a whole world out there I'd never
get to see?"

―Desmond to Lucy about his childhood

Desmond Miles was born in an Assassin "hideout" in the desert, an "off the grid" compound with a population of about 30 people, much like the city of Masyaf, where he was destined to be trained as an Assassin. He was frustrated by his parents' explicit instructions not to leave the compound, and believed them being overly concerned and paranoid. On his 16th birthday, he finally fled, "want[ing] to see the rest of the world." He later told Lucy Stillman that he had no regrets over leaving his parents, because as far as he was concerned, they were his "wardens". After leaving the Assassin compound, he went into hiding for nine years. While keeping a low profile, he did eventually become a bartender. Aware of the Knights Templar, and wanting to avoid both them and the Assassins, Desmond never used his real name and used only cash to purchase items. However, he was eventually found, traced through a fingerprint needed for a motorcycle license and was brought to the Abstergo laboratory.

Kidnapped by Abstergo

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Dr. Vidic watches Desmond inside the Animus.

"I'm not an assassin… not any more."

―Desmond Miles to Warren Vidic.

In September 2012, Desmond Miles was kidnapped by Abstergo Industries, a pharmaceutical company and front for the Knights Templar, for use as a test subject in the Animus, a device that can read the memories of Desmond's ancestors through the "genetic memory" left behind in their descendants' DNA. At first Warren Vidic, attempted to pry the information he wanted from Desmond's mind, but met with failure. Whilst Desmond claimed to be nothing more than a bartender, Vidic revealed that they knew of his history as an Assassin, forcing Desmond to finally admit his past life. Vidic and Lucy Stillman told Desmond that they were trying to access a certain memory, but Desmond's subconscious was restraining. Vidic warned Desmond that if he refused to assist them, they would induce a coma, continue their work, and when done with Desmond, leave him to die. Without much choice, Desmond agreed to help them.

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Desmond's Eagle Vision

Desmond was made to explore the genetic memories of his ancestor – Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad, a member of a clan of Assassins during the Third Crusade, specifically Altaïr's experiences during the year 1191 – and over several days does so under the watchful eye of Warren Vidic. During the nights however, Desmond discovered that he was able to explore the lab he was being held in, accessing the Animus computer after stealing Warren Vidic's pen, gaining access to his personal computer. Through these e-mails, Desmond learned of a Subject 16 who had suffered from a "bleeding effect" due to prolonged exposure to the Animus, as well as titbits of information from the outside world. Eventually, with the aid of Lucy, the Assassins learned of Desmond's capture and attempted to liberate him, the gunfire being heard through an intercom device, although the rescue attempt failed. Vidic boasts that those Assassins were in fact the last of the group; their desert hideout having been previously destroyed. Lucy Stillman's actions, however, suggest otherwise, and when Desmond asked if Lucy knew anything about his parents, she responded by saying that she didn't know, but that they probably escaped. During this discussion, Lucy revealed herself to be an undercover member of the Assassins.

Desmond eventually achieved Vidic's goal and discovered the location of numerous Pieces of Eden. Executives of Abstergo Industries ordered his execution, but his life was saved by Stillman's intervention, who asked to keep Desmond alive in order to re-access his memories if need be. After the executives leave, Desmond suddenly accesses the "eagle vision" of his ancestor Altaïr, seeing Warren and Lucy for their true allegiances, as well as countless scrawled messages and puzzles on the floor of the main laboratory.

Escape to the Hideout

"Whoa... Alright, wasn't expecting that..."

―Desmond discovering the birth of his lineage

At the beginning of Assassin's Creed II Desmond was still being held within the laboratory at Abstergo, continuing directly from the last game from a couple of hours. Lucy suddenly arrives, covered in blood and demanding Desmond to get into the Animus before Abstergo discovers what she's done. Desmond, rather confused, agrees and, inside the Animus, experiences the birth of another of his ancestors, Ezio Auditore da Firenze, a joint ancestor of his and Subject 16's. He was quickly pulled out, though, and both make their escape.

Desmond fighting off the Abstergo guards

They were quickly spotted by Abstergo security forces and forced into an engagement which Lucy quickly ended, allowing them to continue on stealthily. The two soon entered a large open room filled with office blocks, and lined with a large number of Animus machines, although Desmond's questions about them are met with silence. Desmond once instinctively called upon his recently activated Eagle Vision when, at the door to an elevator, a password was needed that Lucy did not have. Once in the car park the two were halted by yet more Abstergo guards, but were able to overcome them and escape.

Arriving at the assassin's hideout, Desmond was introduced to two more Assassins – Shaun Hastings and Rebecca Crane – who have worked with Lucy over the years. Lucy told Desmond that they wanted him to become trained in the ways of the Assassin, and thanks to the Bleeding Effect, they could achieve this in a matter of days, although it required him learning the ways of an Assassin through a new ancestor; Ezio. Desmond agrees to help almost immediately, and was quickly plugged in the Animus 2.0.

Desmond experiencing the bleeding effect

After learning the ways of the Assassin through Ezio's memories Desmond was retracted from the Animus, partly to test his retention of the memories, but also to prevent the mental degradation that Subject 16 had suffered from being in the Animus for too long at a time. Tasking him with initiating security protocols around the Assassin hideout, Lucy left it to Desmond to work out how to reach them through the use of his Eagle Vision and new-found Free Running skills. Just as he begun, however, he started suffering vivid hallucinations of the Crusader era. At first the vision were short, and that they were nothing to worry about, but after completing the task Desmond was incapacitated as the visions became more real. Taken back to Acre, Desmond once again followed the memories of Altaïr, this time without the use of the Animus, and watched as Altaïr and Maria Thorpe conceive their first child, Desmond's next ancestor.

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Desmond sitting in the Animus 2.0 next to Lucy.

The next day, Desmond had recovered from the experiences and returned to the Animus, neglecting to tell the Assassins what had happened. He continued the watch over the genetic memories of Ezio Auditore, despite at one time being thrown out by a "corrupted memory sequence". Eventually they learn that Ezio's arch-nemesis, the Templar Grandmaster Rodrigo Borgia had, in 1492 become Pope Alexander VI, so as to gain access to yet another Piece of Eden, the Papal Staff and the Vault. As Ezio's story began to conclude, Desmond and the Assassins watched deep within the Vault beneath the Vatican. Ezio found himself confronted by a "god" hologram who called herself Minerva; Minerva warns the Assassins of the end of the world, as well as retelling the story of the war between "Those Who Came Before", and their human subjects. The Assassins are shocked when Minerva addresses Desmond by name, confusing even Ezio, and it is revealed that Minerva was in fact talking to Desmond through Ezio. Desmond was quickly pulled out of the Animus, though, seeing the three rushing to collect their belongings, the Templars having found their location.

Immediately after getting out of the Animus, Lucy tossed Desmond a Hidden Blade with the Assassin's emblem on it, and asks for his assistance in covering the escape. Making their way into the warehouse, Vidic appeared, flanked by Abstergo security officials with the intent of reclaiming Desmond. The two assassins fought off the Templars with Desmond, now fully synchronized with Ezio, masterfully using his Hidden Blade to kill many of the guards. With his entourage eliminated, Vidic was left to confront Desmond on his own, but instead retreats, promising that their victory is only temporary. The four Assassins then fled north, and Desmond was hooked up to the Animus inside the van and told to continue to search through his memories for anything useful. As Desmond's hooked up, the other Assassins begin to discuss the nature of Minerva and her talk.

Characteristics and personality

Desmond's free-running skills.

Desmond has an uncanny resemblance to both Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad and Ezio Auditore da Firenze, despite having very little in common with their personalities. And being a discreet individual, he does not wear extravagant clothing, accustomed to a white hooded jacket, jeans and, white sneakers. Interestingly, when up, the hood exhibited a beak-like feature similar to Ezio and Altaïr.

Desmond was a gruff and cynical individual, who held a serious outlook on life, due to being aware of the Templars and Assassins since his youth, although he was unaware of Abstergo Industries being a Templar company. Despite this, he was not above jesting over his situation, and would occasionally make jokes, although they rarely elicited a good reaction. After his emancipation from Abstergo, Desmond's demeanor became considerably more relaxed and spent a noticeable amount of time talking to Lucy.

Equipment and skills

Being that Desmond was trained during childhood as an Assassin, he learned basic reconnaissance skills of eavesdropping and pickpocketing as well as being a competent fist fighter. After about a week of being forced to relive the memories of his ancestor, Altaïr, Desmond began to experience the Bleeding Effect and developed the extra-sensory ability: Eagle Vision. Later on, after willingly exploring the memories of another ancestor: Ezio Auditore, Desmond learned how to free-run like an assassin. Not long afterwards he was able to easily fend off a Templar attack with Ezio's combat skills. Desmond is now able to fight with a Hidden Blade and mace-like weapons. It can be assumed that Ezio's sword skills were carried over as well.

Trivia

• He is modelled after Francisco Randez and voiced by Nolan North. Curiously, Francisco Randez also used to be a bartender before he became a model. This may have inspired the makers of the game to give Desmond the same profession. His face slightly changes in Assassin's Creed II to match the look of Ezio, who's face also slightly differs from Altaïr's in the first game. In fact most of the characters who were in the first game look slightly different, due to a change in design; such as Desmond's wider face, and Lucy's more muscular physique. The change to Desmond's face also affects Altair's since they both look nearly identical.
• Desmond possesses the same scar on his lip as his ancestors Altaïr and Ezio had.
• Desmond and Altaïr share the same age during the first game, both being 25 years of age in 2012 and 1191 respectively.
• Desmond has A+ blood type.
• Desmond's history shows he never wanted to be an assassin, nor does he have the skills yet before the second game to be one. However in the graphic novel, included with the limited edition of the first game, he does call himself an assassin and he shows skills of stealth and lethality.
• Desmond acquires a Hidden Blade at the conclusion of Assassin's Creed II. The original owner of the blade is uncertain, but it shares the same design as the one Ezio inherited from his father, Giovanni.
• The etymology of Desmond's name "The World" (or Man of the World in Celtic and Latin) is not related to either of his ancestors, whereas Altaïr's and Ezio's names pertain to avians; Altaïr's being "The Flying One" and Ezio's "The Eagle".
  • The name however suits him, as he wanted to leave his parents' watchful eyes to see the rest of the world outside the compound, and refers to his role in saving it from destruction.