Bayek

He who increaseth knowledge, increaseth sorrow.

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Bayek of Siwa (86 or 85 BCE – unknown) was the last Medjay active in ancient Egypt and one of the founders of the Hidden Ones, an organization that would later transform into the Assassin Brotherhood, alongside his wife Aya.

Bayek and his wife took a leading role in the civil war between Queen Cleopatra and her brother Ptolemy XIII, a conflict that saw them at odds with the Order of the Ancients.

Laying the groundworks for the Hidden Ones during this struggle, Bayek and Aya formed bureaus in Memphis and Rome from which they would spread their influence throughout the Roman Republic, helping to fight for the freedom of the people against the Order's desire for control.

Biography

Early life

The son of the Medjay, Sabu, and his wife Ahmose,^[1] Bayek hailed from the town of Siwa.

When Bayek was as young child, a group led by a grave robber known as Menna had attacked his family home. Most of them were killed by Sabu, but his mother bravely defended him as well.

Bayek became a close friend of Hepzefa, a fellow Siwan, Khensa a Nubian girl who trained Bayek in hunting and trapping animals. She and her tribe had moved from Siwa. He was also well acquainted with Menehet, a priest of Sekhmet in Yamu whose children treated Bayek as a loving uncle. Bayek also occasionally raced against Claridas, who later left Siwa and live in Kanopos under the name Sennefer.^[2]

At the age of 15, Bayek is living in Siwa with his mother and father Ahmose and Sabu. He is already in a relationship with Aya, whom he adores. He has started training to be a Mekety, a protector of the community. A messenger arrives and relays a message to Sabu. He briefly speaks with Rabiah. Sabu elects to leave Siwa without giving a reason other than it being safer for Siwa that he leave. After discussing his decision with Rabiah and Ahmose, Bayek chooses to follow his father and goes off in search of him. He initially travels to the city of Zawty to find the messenger who had informed Sabu. In doing so he meets Tuta a boy street urchin, who ultimately misleads Bayek - resulting in his purses being stolen. After chasing down the thieves across rooftops, Bayek is nearly strangled to death by Tuta's father, Paneb. He is saved by Aya, who had followed him. She knocks out Paneb, and the three of them including Tuta escape to Thebes. There they meet Khensa, but Bayek's father is not there. Word reaches Bayek that Menna may be nearby to Thebes. With Khensa, Aya, Tuta, Seri and Neka they go hunting for Menna. Neka is captured, before being tortured. He is saved by a brave night rescue by the others. During the battle Menna escapes on a chariot. He is pursued by Bayek and Khensa, the latter felling their driver by arrow shot Menna ultimately dies in the chariot crash. Khensa gets word that Sabu is being held in a pit at the island of Elephantine. As such, Bayek and Aya leave with her in search. Under cover of a sandstorm the group infiltrates the island of Elephantine. Sabu was not in the pit, but a deranged man was set there as a decoy. After they escape the area guards, Sabu reveals himself to the group. Bion arrives and is caught by the trap, Bion injured manages to escapes.

Several years pass, Sabu continues to train Bayek as a Medjay, with Aya in turn trained by Bayek. They spend years training on the run across many villages. Eventually, Bayek asks Aya's hand in marriage. She refuses, citing being a Medjay wife would be harsh, and that she still dreamed to live and work in the library of Alexandria. She elects to leave the training as her aunt is taken ill. As she travels back to Siwa she is set upon by horse thieves at a watering hole. She holds her own but is saved by Bion. Unknowingly, Aya has lead Bion right to their training camp. Bion lets loose multiple arrows that hit Sabu, Bayek’s stomach is then sliced by Bion's blade. All three are ulimately injured in the ensuing battle, with Sabu choosing to push Bayek into the nearby river to save him, in doing so he is struck down and killed by Bion. Bayek falls unconscious and is swept away safely by the river.

Bayek is pulled from the river people who nurse him back to health over four days upon a boat. He steadily travels north, before disembarking to purchase a horse to get to Siwa. He arrives to find Aya safe with her aunt, but is warned that Bion is somewhere nearby. Fearing for Ahmose's life he immediately heads to his mother’s home along with Aya. Bion lies in wait and they all battle Bion, with Ahmose criticaly wounding Bion. With his dying breath Bion reveals that Raia ordered all of the Medjay's deaths. Bayek marries Aya and becomes the protector of Siwa. They raise a son called Khemu. Years pass, Bayek travels to Alexandria and kills Raia in his own home. Bayek became the last Medjay in Siwa where he was viewed the respected protector of his community. In the rest of Egypt, however, he was viewed as an inconvenient relic by those in power.^[3]^[4]

Khemu's death

In 49 BCE, five members of the Order of the Ancients travelled to Siwa and kidnapped Bayek and Khemu, bringing them to the entrance of an Isu vault beneath the Temple of Amun. The Order showed Bayek a relic and demanded him to open the vault due to his experience as the Medjay. Bayek, however, had no knowledge about the vault. Before the Order could interrogate Bayek for more information, the pharaoh Ptolemy XIII arrived at the temple. Khemu stole a knife and succeeded in freeing his father, who attempted to take down the members. He was subdued by one of the members, who deflected his attack and causing him to stab Khemu in the abdomen, killing him. Before Bayek could respond, he was knocked unconscious by the masked men.^[2]

Quest for vengeance

File:The Heron Assassination 02.jpg

Bayek confronting Rudjek, known as the Heron

Khemu's death drove Bayek to hunt down the members of the Order of the Ancients, one by one. Aya was unable to cope with the loss of her son and returned to Alexandria where her cousin Phanos the Younger lived. Bayek however began searching for information about the Order throughout Egypt. During his absence, Hepzefa took over his Medjay duties and looked after the town. After a whole year of searching, he discovered the identity of one of its members, Rudjek, who was the Nomarch of Saqqara and used the cryptonym "The Heron". Bayek hunted Rudjek to the Bent Pyramid of Sneferu, were he crossed path with Hypatos, Rudjek's bodyguard. Bayek knocked out Hypatos despite being seriously wounded and confronted Rudjek, who threw a knife towards the Medjay. Bayek however dodged the attack with Rudjek's mask and slammed it with the knife through the Nomarch's head, killing him instantly.^[2]

Having killed the first member of the Order, Bayek left the pyramid and resume on his journey to pursue the other members. Along the way, he passed out from his injuries and was found by Nefertari, the chief healer of Nitria, a natron mine in Saqqara. Nefertari brought him back to the town and patched his wounds. In the midst of confusion, Bayek left the mine when he woke up and embarked on a long journey back to Siwa.^[2]

File:Homecoming 02.png

Bayek clashing with Hypatos, Rudjek's bodyguard

A few months later, Bayek was confronted by Hypatos in the outskirts of the town above an Old Kingdom tomb, determined to seek vengeance against the Medjay for leaving for dead in the pyramid. In the midst of their fight, Hypatos repeatedly slammed the floor, collapsing the floor and causing both him and Bayek to fall to ruins below. As neither were incapacitated by the fall, they resumed the fight, with Bayek offering a truce. Hypatos refused the truce in the name of honor, eventually falling to the blade of Bayek.^[2]

Bayek later navigated his way through the tomb and when he reached the exit, he discovered his friend Hepzefa fighting a group of soldiers who served under Rudjek.^[2]

Return to Siwa

After dispatching the soldiers, the Medjay duo rode back to Siwa. Bayek was told of the disruptions to his home vilalge brought upon by Medunamun, a member of the Order known as The Ibis, who had established the Temple of Amunas his base of operations. The two returned to Hepzefa's home, where Bayek began his preparations to hunt his next target. The village healer, Rabiah later arrived and persuade Bayek to rest and allow her to treat his injuries.^[2]

Before confronting Medunamun, Hepzefa urged Bayek to strengthen himself with upgraded armor & gear. To do so, Bayek helped Benipe, the blacksmith in Siwa. to regain his tools from Camp Shetjeh.^[2]

After helping the local Siwans, Bayek confronted Medunamun who, unapologetic of killing Khemu, was bludgeoned to death by Bayek with a sphered relic the former was studying. Having freed Siwa from Medunamun's tyranny, Bayek returned to Hepzefa for information of Aya's location. Hepzefa directed Bayek to the Great Library in Alexandria and seek a statue of Serapis.^[2]

Finding Aya

After crossing the desert, Bayek arrived in Alexandria, seeking Aya in the Great Library by a statue of Serapis. There, Bayek was greeted by Phanos the Younger, a playwright and Aya's cousin. Phanos explained the reason for Aya's absence and escorted Bayek to a garden shrine where he located a hidden entrance to Aya's hideout. Aya greeted Bayek passionately after a year of separation. Aya informed Bayek of the two members of the Order she had killed Actaeon, known as The Vulture whom she hunted and Ktesos, known as The Ram who tracked Aya to her home after killing Actaeon.^[2]

Aya showed Bayek a royal papyrus with the Snake's emblem, linking the Ptolemic Court to the Order. Aya attained this intelligence from Apollodorus who, on behalf of Cleopatra, had spies tracking the Order. Bayek was not trusting towards Cleopatra due to her ousting, but decided to trust Aya's judgement. Aya entrusted one of the two relic hidden blades, who belonged to the Persian proto-Assassin Darius, to Bayek to assassinate the last member of the order, whom they believe to be The Snake who killed Khemu. Due to her assassination of Actaeon and Ktesos, Aya was pursued by the Phylakitai of Alexandria, Gennadios, entrusting Bayek with the task eliminate him as well.^[2]

Hunting Gennadios and the Snake

Leaving the hideout, Bayek discovered the whereabouts of Gennadios, who was based at the Akra Garrison. Upon finding and assassinating Gennadios, Bayek was warned by the dying phylakitai that his men the Phylakes would hunt for him throughout Egypt for his actions.^[2]

After assassinating Gennadios, Bayek infiltrated the Royal Palace in search of the The Snake. Heading to the room of the Royal Scribe, Bayek discovered and unlocked a locked chest, finding letters addressed to Medunamun, which stated he was keeping Pharaoh Ptolomy XIII under his control, and Gennadios was questioning the Alexandrians of Aya's whereabouts. Certain that Eudoros, the royal scribe, was the Snake who was present at the Siwa Vault, Bayek headed to the bathhouse where Eudoros was known to frequent.^[2]

Entering the Bathhouse, Bayek navigated the ceiling and discovered where Eudoros was located. Bayek attempted to assassinate Eudoros from the ceiling, which he failed as Eudoros resisted his attack and attempt to drown Bayek, until the latter triggered his hidden blade; amputating his ring finger and killing Eudoros. Before dying, Eudoros remarked that the Snake would never die. Bayek would exit the bathhouse. cauterizing his wound from losing his finger with a fire stick. Having gotten rid of Gennadios and Eudoros that he believed to be the last member of the Order, Bayek returned to Aya atop the Paneum. Having felt some sense of closure, the two would later share a night of passion.^[2]

Meeting Cleopatra

After sharing a night of passion, Bayek was uncertain that Eudoros was the last member of the order though Aya assured him the Order ended with Eudoros. Bayek remained unsettled, leading Aya to suggest meeting Apollodorus for more information. On Aya's guidance, Bayek headed to the Hippodrome in the Kanopos Nome, meeting a informant of Apollodorus. The informant directed Bayek tp head to the Kanopos lighthouse after sundown to meet Apollodorus. There, Apollodorus enlisted the Medjay's help to rescue Damastes, another informant and recover a scroll meant for Phoxidas, a Nauarchos in Cleopatra's navy. Having retrieved the intel and rescuing Damastes, Apollodorus invited Bayek to his personal estate to meet the queen, where Aya was guarding Cleopatra. Cleopatra, along with the High Priest of Ptah from Memphis, Pasherenptah, were introduced to Bayek. She explained that the Order of Ancients were responsible for her brother's power and her exile.^[2]

The Snake was revealed to refer to the Order as a whole while Eudoros's position was The Hippo. Apollodorus' spies had discovered four new names : The Scarab who terrorized the Nile Delta with violence and sand, The Hyena who terrorized sacred Giza with death and disappearances, The Lizard who terrorized Memphis with misery and sickness and The Crocodile who terrorized the Faiyum Oasis with fear and oppression. Confronted with this new information, Bayek agrees to become Cleopatra's Medjay and assassinate the remaining members of the Order. Cleopatra orders the Siwans to find and assassinate the four names now learned. Bayek and Aya agree to take the night as lovers, and come the morning as hunters. Bayek relieves his old Medjay badge for Cleopatra's new golden badge.^[2]

Working for Cleopatra

Searching for The Scarab Bayek saved Ghupa Bayek was then directed to Taharqa in Letopolis by the latter's wife and son in Sais. Bayek later visited him in Letopolis and asked for his aid in finding The Scarab. Before he could answer, Taharqa was alerted to a raid by bandits who often used the sandstorms that ravaged Letopolis as a cover to plunder the city, and promised Bayek answers in exchange for his aid. After managing to defend the city and slaying the bandits at their hideout, Taharqa invited Bayek to join him and his family for a meal, where they would discuss The Scarab. However, Taharqa drugged Bayek's drink, and he only realized Taharqa's true identity after noticing his smile and scarab-shaped ring just before passing out.

Bayek awoke buried up to his neck in the desert, left for dead, surrounded by Taharqa's other victims. After escaping with the help of his steed and Senu and recovering his possessions which Taharqa had offered as payment to an ally of his, the commander at Fort Nikiou from a military camp nearby, Bayek returned to Letopolis to exact vengeance, assassinating Taharqa from above as he prayed in the temple.

Bayek tracked Khaliset (The Hyena) to the Great Pyramid of Giza, where he found the Isu Temple, Eshe's sarcophagus, and evidence of Khaliset's attempts to resurrect her, before Khaliset herself appeared, furious that Bayek had disturbed her daughter's "tomb". He chased her through the pyramid's tunnels, eventually succeeding in killing her after a dramatic confrontation in the middle of a sandstorm outside the pyramid.

Bayek was sent by Apollodorus to find a ledger which was in the possesion of Hotephres who it from a magistrate, which contained the true identity of Berenike and exposed her corrupt deeds. Unbeknownst to everyone, the latter's daughter Shadya discovered the ledger and took it with her. As a result, she and her mother, Khenut, were kidnapped by Berenike and her men, who brought them to the Euhemeria lighthouse. Shadya was executed by Berenike, who retrieved the ledger and weighed down the young girl's feet with large rocks, before submerging her in the waters near the pier, leaving Shadya to drown.

Eventually, Berenike left to Krokodilopolis, where she attended gladiator fights in the arena. Bayek tracked her down to the city, and was reunited with Kensa. Together, they fought and rose up the ranks to challenge the arena champions, Diovicos and Viridovix, as Berenike watched their fight. Realizing that Bayek was after her, Berenike left Krokodilopolis and returned to her villa in the Kerkesoucha Granary. She also became a patron to Kensa, promising her a luxury life in exchange of her loyalty. Bayek followed Berenike to her villa, where he killed her and Kensa.

As she laid dying, Bayek accused her of killing Shadya. Berenike had no idea who the young girl was, and retorted that Bayek was unable to see what greatness lies in store for Egypt, like "all of [his] kind". Bayek told her that Shadya was Hotephres Khenut's daughter, and the dying woman explained that the ledger would have destroyed all the Order's hopes, so she did what had to be done. In response, Bayek vowed to destroy all she stood for and all those like her and declared she would die knowing the name of the innocent girl she murdered.

Bayek receives a letter from Aya explaining that there are two more members of the Order, The Scorpion and The Jackal, who are members of Ptolemy's royal guard and the likely culprits responsible for Khemu's death. He finds out that Lucius Septimius is the Jackal and tracks him, but is too late to stop him from assassinating Pompey. With no other options, Cleopatra has Bayek and Aya help sneak her into the palace to meet Julius Caesar. Cleopatra impresses Caesar and secures his support. Bayek kills Pothinus (The Scorpion), but is stopped from killing Septimius by Caesar. Aya watches Ptolemy get eaten by crocodiles when he tries to flee across the Nile.

Starting the Hidden Ones

After the end of the civil war, Cleopatra takes the throne as Pharaoh. Septimius becomes an advisor for Caesar and Cleopatra cuts ties with Bayek and Aya. This causes Bayek and his supporters to realize that Cleopatra and Caesar have now allied themselves with the Order. Realizing his mistake in supporting Cleopatra, Bayek gathers his allies to form a brotherhood to counter the Order and defend the free will of the common people. Bayek and Aya realize the Order showed a strong interest in the tomb of Alexander the Great, which they investigate. There, they find a mortally wounded Apollodorus who warns them that Caesar's lieutenant, Flavius, is "The Lion" and the true leader of the Order. He and Septimius had taken the Orb and a Staff from the tomb and are heading back to Siwa for the Vault.

Upon returning to Siwa, they find the Vault already opened. Bayek tracks down and confronts Flavius, who bears the activated Apple of Eden, but kills him, avenging Khemu's death. Bayek returns to Aya, who has recruited Marcus Junius Brutus the Younger and Gaius Cassius Longinus to their cause. She plans to head to Rome with Brutus and Cassius to assassinate Caesar and Septimius. Bayek and Aya part ways but form the foundation of the Assassin Brotherhood when they both swear to protect the world from the shadows. Upon their separation, Bayek drops his eagle's skull charm, a necklace of Khemu's, into the sand which leaves an impression, becoming the icon of their new Brotherhood.The Egyptian and Roman Brotherhood begin recruiting and training other Assassins. Bayek receives a letter from Aya (now calling herself Amunet) stating that Septimius and Caesar are dead.

The Sinai Peninsula

38 BCE, Bayek recives a message from Tahira informing Bayek that the situation is becoming despreate and he is needed Bayek travel to the Sinai Peninsula. He meets Tahira and she introduces him to Gamilat the rebel leader. Bayek agrees to assassinating the three lieutenants of general Rufio. Bayek plans to kill Tacito in front of his army and workers as he thinks it will send a message Bayek then assassinated Tacito and together with Tahira, they freed the Quarry from Roman control to the Nabatean rebels, beginning a rebellion in the Sinai. Bayek meets with Maqwat who informs him that Ampelius oversees all commerce on the Sinai Peninsula. He does so with efficiency and brutality. He also informs Bayek that Ampelius dresses exactly like his captains. From afar, he is impossible to identify. Bayek infiltrated the fort. After a long search, he discovered Ampelius and killed him thus freeing the fort from Roman control.

Bayek and Gamilat set off inside Amenmesse's pyramid in search of Ptahmose, Rufio's mason but they only find a scroll. Bayek returns to the bureau to debrief with Tahira but they are ambushed and captured the bureau burned to the ground. Amunet saves Bayek from crucifixion they then save Thaira but she dies in Bayek's arms, Bayek leaves and kills Rufio on his ship. Amunet then informs Bayek that Gamilat has allowed innocent villagers to die to inspire more people to join his rebellion Bayek confronts him on this Gamilat states that they fight on the same side Bayek replies "No. Here, we simply fight." the two start to fight Bayek then ends up killing him. Bayek then makes the tenets that no hidden one shall harm an innocent, and expands the brotherhood to petra and Judea he then says his farewell to Amunet.

Personality and traits

Before the tragic death of his son Bayek was shown to a caring and loving father and husband, as well as a dutiful protector of his home of Siwa. He was shown to have a lighthearted and jovial nature, as well as a strong sense of responsibility and duty for those who needed protecting. He also seemed to be very knowledgeable about the Ancient Egyptian religion and would often teach his son about them, while also explaining the world around him. His relationship with his wife was very stable, despite her Greek heritage and his strong belief in the ways of the Old Egypt.

After Khemu's death, Bayek's sole focus became to hunt down those who were responsible, not to rest until everyone involved had paid with their lives. While he took priority on hunting down the Order of the Ancients, he would stop to help those in need, showing that he still took his role as a Medjay and protector seriously.

While he maintained his friendly nature around close friends and people that he trusted, he was equally cold and ruthless toward those he considered to be his enemies. Bayek showed no sympathy toward those who prey on the weak and defenseless, especially innocent children. Although he was driven to kill the members of the Order, Bayek was not incapable in sympathizing with his targets or feeling guilty for his actions. Learning that Khaliset had lost a child caused Bayek to empathize and take pity on her, leading him to pray that Khaliset be reunited with her daughter in the afterlife after he killed her. Another example is that after assassinating Taharqa, Bayek sadly apologized to his son Kawab, showing remorse for robbing an innocent child of his father.

Although Bayek was very proud of his homeland and pursued the ancient paths of his country, he had no prejudices against strangers and their culture and simply wished that Egyptians and non-Egyptians would coexists as equals. He would get disgusted at both non-Egyptians and Egyptians alike, who further insisted on strife and hatred towards each other, like the Caretaker's Cult, a group that terrorized the Greeks living in Egypt.

After forming the Hidden Ones Bayek regards them as his new family, when Kawab tried to kill him he gave him the option to abandoned his name and to join the Hidden Ones as a liberator.

Equipment and skills

As a Medjay, Bayek was highly trained in the art of combat, and he utilized a variety of weapons that included the khopesh, spear, and bow. He also possessed a shield to defend himself against enemies' attacks and wielded the signature Hidden Blade for low-profile assassinations. Aside from this, Bayek was an expert in stealth and freerunning.^[4] Having been trained by Khensa Bayek is an expert in hunting and trapping animals.

Bayek had a symbiotic relationship with his eagle, Senu, which aided him in reconnaissance thanks to his Eagle Vision. Unlike later Assassins such as Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad, Ezio Auditore da Firenze, and Desmond Miles, Bayek's Eagle Vision was far more literal in the sense that activating the ability allowed him to see through the eyes of Senu.^[4]

Trivia

Bayek is a play on the hieroglyphic word for "falcon" or "vulture". This is keeping in tradition of the protagonists' names being associated with avians.
Bayek possesses a small scar on his upper lip, a feature he shares with later Assassins such as Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad, Ezio Auditore da Firenze, Aveline de Grandpré and Desmond Miles.
Bayek is probably the only character in the series to admit that he is afraid of something; in his case, it’s snakes.
Alongside Io:nhiòte, Bayek is one of the two known individuals gifted with Eagle Vision who displays the ability to telepathically see through the eyes of animals, in their case eagles.
Bayek is one of the few protagonists to not wear a traditional beaked hood, at least not initially.
Bayek is the first protagonist in the series to have his ring finger cut off from the usage of the Hidden Blade. A tradition that would later be passed on to prove your loyalty to the Creed in the Assassin Brotherhood up until the Levantine brotherhood.

Gallery

Concept art of Bayek
Another concept art of Bayek
Concept art of Bayek on a horse
Concept Art of Bayek with Senu on a camel

Concept Art of Bayek with Senu on a camel
3D Models of Bayek
Closeup of Bayek's face
Bayek during the Alexandrine Civil War
Bayek
Bayek's burial potrait