Henri Escoffier

Henri Escoffier (born c. 1800s) was a member of the French Brotherhood of Assassins who operated in Paris in the mid-19th century. He later became the founder of the Swiss Brotherhood based in Zürich.

Biography

Early activities

In 1851, Escoffier was sent by the Irish Assassin Oscar Kane on a mission to the HMS Birkenhead to assassinate a target and recruit a English soldier, Simeon Price. As the ship later crashed on its way to the Xhosa Kingdom, he knocked out an incompetent Lieutenant Grimes, who ordered men to calm the horses first rather than save their comrades. After saving injured soldiers with Price, he later offered him an opportunity out of the British Army and into a new Brotherhood. At the moment, he left the ship before it sunk into the waters as Price stayed to help his men further. By 1855, Escoffier worked in a team alongside Michel Moulin and Amira Benyamina. He and Michel were soon met by Amira and her acquaintance, Simeon Price, whom he was glad to see again.

Henri spoke about how Kane sent him on his mission aboard the ship and how Price was a target to recruit after Kane and him met in Ireland while Simeon was stationed as a soldier. He also expressed his regrets of not being able to fully complete his mission, due to the shipwreck. After Price's initiation into the Brotherhood, he gave the newest initiate the Hidden Blade.

Founding the Swiss Brotherhood

In 1867, Henri left for Zürich for an assignment and began aiding revolutionary Mikhail Bakunin and his anarchists. As a result, he founded the Swiss Brotherhood and stationed a base at fellow Assassin Irene Egli's house. He later received Simeon and his lover and former Austrian Templar Countess Konstanze von Visler at the base. He explained the Assassin's methodology and within years, he oversaw Simeon training her as well as having talks about the Pieces of Eden the Templars knew about and her interest in them.

In 1876, with Konstanze, they determine her first mission's target, which was Maynard Poole, a Templar cartographer, as King Leopold II of Belgium had invited explorers to visit him at an international meeting for global exploration. While Konstanze traveled back to Brussels for the meeting, Henri witnessed her complete her mission but saw her have an audience with the King, whom she contacted before as a Templar. Arriving back to Simeon earlier, Henri informed him of Konstanze's actions and asked Simeon what he was going to do. However, it turned out to be disastrous as Konstanze betrayed Simeon and the Assassins by nearly having Simeon killed at home.

Searching for Konstanze

When Simeon informed the Swiss Assassins of Konstanze's betrayal, Henri and his Assassins burned down Egil's home out of safety and found a new safehouse. Learning Konstanze had already left Simeon's cabin, Henri promised to have the rest of Assassins to search for her but excluded Simeon. In 1887, Henri personally followed a lead of her being in Berlin for a conference but found no trace of her. After this he departed for Mauritius to spend his remaining years in peace.

Personality and traits

Henri Escoffier was a light-brown skinned middle-aged man of Mauritanian descent. He had sharp cheekbones and a light stubble.

Skills and equipment

Escoffier wore a battered cloak. After the HMS Birkenhead shipwreck, he wore a dark blue waistcoat and white cravat while in Paris. In 1851, he wielded an axe.

Behind the scenes

Henri Escoffier is a character introduced in the first novel of the Assassin's Creed: The Engine of History series, The Magus Conspiracy, written by Kate Heartfield and released in August 2022.

Historically, there was a Henri Escoffier (1837 – 1891) in real-life who was a French journalist and novelist and lived during the same time period. Whether they are implied to be the same individual is unknown. However, given that the Henri in The Magus Conspiracy would have only been 15 when he met Simeon Price in 1852, this makes the possibility unlikely.

Etymology

The given name Henri is Common Germanic in origin and translates to "Ruler of (the) home" The surname Escoffier originates from Old French and from Late Latin and means "to kill."

Appearances

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