Gang

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A gang fight between the Assassin-affiliated Rooks and the Templar-affiliated Blighters

A gang is a group of bandits, thieves, and other criminals with an internal organization which often claims control over a territory within a community. Throughout history, these illegal groups have been employed by the Templars and Assassins as occasional allies or henchmen in their war, especially when their conflict spills over into controlling the criminal underworld.

History

16th century

During the Renaissance and Reconquista, gangs were already around. In the early 16th century, the streets of Rome, Italy were preyed upon by the Cento Occhi, while the countryside was plagued by the Followers of Romulus. Meanwhile, Madrid in Spain was introduced to the brief presence of the Cien Ojos before they ran afoul of the Templars.

Seven Years' War

Main article: Hope Jensen's gang

During the Seven Years' War, several gangs were active in the American colonies, working with the Colonial Brotherhood of Assassins. The leading Assassin figure among the gangs was Hope Jensen. Gangs provided intelligence reports, support and manpower to the Assassins, holding strategic positions from the British, spying on Templar movements, and supporting the French in naval and infantry combat. The gangs were often led personally by Assassins, acting either as ship captains or as leaders within gang hideouts. They also made heavy use of various gases, often storing them in large barrels, or using them in the form of grenades similar to the 16th-century Ottoman Assassins.

Gangs had multiple hideouts throughout New York, the northern Atlantic Ocean, and the River Valley, harassing the populace and preventing businesses and homes from being renovated. When in control of an area, the gang members would hang large orange banners from buildings and clothes lines, some bearing the Assassin insignia, as well as marking graffiti on walls. Upon liberation from their control, these markers would be removed by the occupying force, save for a few buildings owned by people without the proper money and resources to renovate the buildings themselves. Gangs also patrolled the seas of the northern Atlantic Ocean, performing actions similar to those of pirate hunters when too many French Navy or gang ships were sunk. When the Assassins were wiped out by Shay Cormac, the gangs were ultimately crushed by the Templars, though they would still persist in small enclaves throughout the colonies.

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  Gang leader
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  Gang bandit
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  Gang agile
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  Gang brute
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  Gang male stalker
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  Gang female stalker
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  A gang headquarters in New York

Victorian era

During the Victorian era, various gangs such as the Blighters were active around London, primarily paid off by the British Templars, one of whom controlled each of the major gangs in the city. Seeking to liberate London from the Templars' iron grip, Jacob and Evie Frye of the British Assassins formed the Rooks in 1868 from the remnants of Whitechapel's Clinkers, the last opposed gang, in order to take back the city through the utilization of organized crime. Defeating Blighters in gang wars district after district, the ranks of the Rooks swelled from defecting Blighters.

Although the Frye twins were successful in toppling Grand Master Crawford Starrick's criminal empire within a year, two decades later, the rogue Assassin Jack the Ripper would corrupt the Rooks, turning them into his own gang of murderers.

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  The Rooks
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  The Blighters
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  The Rooks during the Autumn of Terror

Behind the scenes

The gangs in Assassin's Creed: Rogue are more akin to mercenaries than those found in later generations, as they have ships and behave like an organized force like the British and French armies, respectively. At the sea, they resembled pirate hunters from Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag and Freedom Cry.

There are just two gangs in Assassin's Creed: Syndicate's London, the red Blighters and the green Rooks. Both have an unnaturally big number of women in their ranks. Women doubtlessly participated in organized crime but they would not be much brawlers like in the game. One gang called Forty Elephants and first mentioned in 1873 was all-female. It specialized in shoplifting, looting houses as maids and blackmailing seduced men.

Appearances

• Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood (first appearance)
• Assassin's Creed: Project Legacy
• Assassin's Creed: Rogue
• Assassin's Creed: Unity (mentioned only)
• Assassin's Creed: Syndicate
• Assassin's Creed: Templars
• Assassin's Creed: Last Descendants – Locus
• Assassin's Creed: Conspiracies
• Assassin's Creed: Rebellion
• Assassin's Creed: The Engine of History – The Magus Conspiracy