Henri Escoffier
Henri Escoffier was a member of the French Brotherhood of Assassins who operated in Paris in the mid-19th century.
Biography
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.[1] 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.[2] 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.[1]
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.[1] After Price's initiation into the Brotherhood, he gave the newest initiate the Hidden Blade.[3]
Personality and traits
Henri Escoffier was a light-brown skinned middle-aged man of Mauritanian descent. He had sharp cheekbones, and had light stubble.[2]
Equipment and skills
Escoffier wore a battered cloak. After the HMS Birkenhead shipwreck, he wore a dark blue waistcoat and white cravat while in Paris.[2][1] In 1851 he wielded an axe.[2]
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 who 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 only had been fifteen when he met Simeon Price in 1852, this makes the possibly unlikely.
Etymology
The given name Henri is Common Germanic in origin translating to "Ruler of (the) home"[4] The surname Escoffier translates in Old French and from Late Latin to the word, "to kill."
Appearances
References
