Kaniehtí:io

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Kaniehtí:io (1731 - 1760), colloquially known as Ziio, was a Kanien'kehá:ka woman and the mother of Ratonhnhaké:ton. She was also an ancestor to Desmond Miles.

Biography

Early life

Kaniehtí:io was born in 1731 to Oiá:ner in Kanatahséton and was trained to succeed her from an early age. Throughout her life, Oiá:ner would often voice her concerns over the colonists expanding into their territory, despite the village's consensus to stay neutral.

Meeting Haytham

"There was a woman there, that night. It was she who helped the others to safety. If we could find her, I believe I'll have my answers."

―Haytham Kenway, after killing Silas Thatcher at Southgate Fort.

Prior to the French and Indian War in 1754, Kaniehtí:io was captured and personally escorted to the slaver Silas Thatcher along with other members of her nation. However, on their way to Southgate Fort, her convoy was attacked by Haytham Kenway and his fellow Templars, who were intent on finding Silas. On entering the fort, the Templars freed the natives held captive there and Kaniehtí:io led them to safety.

Later, Haytham decided that Kaniehtí:io would be a vital ally in helping the Templars locate the precursor site they were looking for, as members of the First Civilization were considered to be sacred gods by the Kanien'kehá:ka nation. Haytham expected the Kanien'kehá:ka to contact him out of gratitude for rescuing their people, but he heard nothing even after several weeks.

Kaniehtí:io examining Haytham's amulet

In the winter of 1755, Kaniehtí:io began scouting out Lexington, after hearing that Edward Braddock and his troops were posted there, and were attempting to drive her and her people off their lands. The trouble she caused caught the attention of Charles Lee, and led both him and Haytham to seek her out near the town.

However, Kaniehtí:io left her camp moments before they arrived, and soon after the two had caught with her, she escaped into the trees. Haytham was forced to chase her, until she finally stopped to give him a chance to speak.

After introducing themselves, Haytham showed her the Grand Temple Key he had acquired in London. Kaniehtí:io admitted that she had seen similar markings somewhere else, but refused to speak of it, since the location was sacred.

In an effort to gain her trust, Haytham offered to help her deal with Braddock and Kaniehtí:io agreed. Kaniehtí:io led him to one of Braddock's forts, where Haytham retrieved military plans that would allow them to plan an ambush on Braddock, as his troops marched to Fort Duquesne.

Braddock Expedition

Disguised Haytham with Kaniehtí:io

On the assassination of Braddock, Haytham and Kaniehtí:io traveled to find the entrance to the Temple, however, the amulet that Haytham had in his possession gathered no results.

At this point, the two revealed their feelings for one another and shared a kiss, which later led on to the conception of a son, Ratonhnhaké:ton. Years later, Kaniehtí:io would realize that the man she loved was a Templar, and began to fear that her son might inherit his malevolent father's ambitions. Due to her actions during Braddock's expedition and her relationship with a Templar, she was denied the position of becoming Clan Mother herself.

Death

Kaniehtí:io trapped in the burning hut

Kaniehtí:io's village was attacked by the British Army on the order of George Washington sometime during the Seven Years' War, and in the attack, Kaniehtí:io perished due to being pinned beneath burning rubble. As he was assaulted by Charles Lee early on, her son Ratonhnhaké:ton would go on to believe that Lee and the Templars had burned down the village and killed his mother, until his father Haytham finally told him the truth as the pair confronted George Washington years later.

Alternate timeline

Ratonhnhaké:ton hunched over Kaniehtí:io's dead body

Sometime after George Washington obtained an Apple of Eden and became a tyrant, Kaniehtí:io snuck into Washington's fortress and stole his scepter, which housed the Apple. Israel Putnam managed to retrieve the scepter after shooting it off her back as she was making her escape. After her failed attempt, Washington sought revenge by attacking her village and the surrounding area. After Kaniehtí:io survived Washington's ordered attack, he decided to end her life himself by using the power of the Apple.

Trivia

• Kaniehtí:io is the only non-Assassin or Templar to ever be seen performing a Leap of Faith.
• Kaniehtí:io is technically playable during the loading screen between the end of Haytham's run and the start of their son's, making her the first woman to be playable under Desmond's ancestry.
• A deleted dialogue from the game shows that Achilles Davenport and Kaniehtí:io were friends.
• Despite never speaking English with her fellow clan members in the base game, Kaniehtí:io spoke normally and in proper English to them during the Tyranny of King Washington DLC. This was also the case with all the other clan members. This was likely done so the player would not need to enable subtitles to understand the Kanien'kehá:ka throughout the game. In terms of story, it could be one of the effects of the changed timeline.

Gallery

• 
  Haytham meeting Kaniehtí:io
• 
  Kaniehtí:io and Haytham before the ambush
• 
  Kaniehtí:io holding down George Washington
• 
  Kaniehtí:io and Haytham sharing a kiss
• 
  Kaniehtí:io with her son
• 
  Kaniehtí:io greeting her son by the lake

Reference

• Assassin's Creed III