Hytham

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Hytham was a Hidden One from the Abbasid Caliphate who operated in the 9th century.

Holding the rank of acolyte, Hytham was the apprentice of Master Basim Ibn Ishaq and followed him in his travels. In 872, after befriending the Viking Sigurd Styrbjornsson in Constantinople, Hytham and Basim accompanied him to Norway, where they allied themselves with the Raven Clan and attempted to combat the influence of the Order of the Ancients. Following a failed assassination attempt on Kjotve the Cruel, Hytham would become somewhat crippled and unable to perform any more field work for the Hidden Ones.

When the Raven Clan later migrated to England and established the colony of Ravensthorpe, Hytham and Basim followed suit and set up a bureau in Ravensthorpe, which was primarily run by the former. From the bureau, Hytham tracked the presence of the Order of the Ancients in England and enlisted the help of Eivor Varinsdottir, Sigurd's adoptive sister, in hunting down its members, which benefited both the Hidden Ones and the Raven Clan. Hytham also tutored Eivor in the Hidden Ones' ways, teaching her many of their customs, in the hopes of eventually recruiting her to their cause. Although Eivor had come to symphatize with the Hidden Ones' goals, she ultimately turned down his invite to formally join them.

Once the Order of the Ancients had been purged from England and following the betrayal and presumed death of his mentor Basim, Hytham began work to establish a new brotherhood in England and recruited several new initiates to the Hidden Ones. For his efforts, he was eventually invited to the Hidden One fortress of Aluh-Amut to be promoted, as well as discuss Basim's betrayal.

Biography

Mission to Constantinople

Originating from Syrland in the Abbasid Caliphate, Hytham was orphaned at a young age and joined the Hidden Ones, whom he came to see as his family. At some point before 867, he became the apprentice of fellow Hidden One and Master Basim Ibn Ishaq, with whom he developed a very close, almost father-son like bond.

In 867, Hytham accompanied Basim to Constantinople to foil an assassination plot by the newly installed emperor Basil I, against his son.

Journey to Norway

While in Constantinople in 870, Hytham and Basim met and befriended the Viking Sigurd Styrbjornsson, who sought to make a name for himself during his journey across the wider world. Two years later, when Sigurd decided to return to his homeland of Norway, Basim decided to accompany him. At the suggestion of Mentor Rayhan, Hytham also joined Basim and Sigurd on their journey, in order to fight the growing influence of the Order of the Ancients in Northern Europe.

Hytham with his mentor Basim

Arriving in Fornburg in late 872, Hytham and Basim were introduced by Sigurd to the rest of the Raven Clan, including his wife Randvi and his adoptive younger sister Eivor Varinsdottir. Hytham took issue with Eivor being gifted with the Hidden Blade that had belonged to the late fellow Hidden One Ammon, and the fact that she proudly wore it on her outer wrist rather than concealed as the Hidden Ones did, but Basim overruled him.

Hytham attempting to assassinate Kjotve

As Eivor and Sigurd joined forces with Harald Fairhair in an assault against Kjotve the Cruel's fortress, Basim chose to inform Eivor of the conflict between the Hidden Ones and the Order of the Ancients, with Kjotve being a member of the latter. Although Kjotve was Hytham's target, Eivor made it clear that she deserved the kill, as Kjotve had murdered her parents, and the Hidden Ones agreed to let her do it. During Kjotve's honor duel with Eivor, however, Hytham went back on the agreement and leapt at Kjotve when he fell into a pit with Eivor, intending to assassinate him. To Hytham's horror, Kjotve caught and hurled him against a wall, incapacitating the Hidden One but allowing Eivor to land the killing blow. Hytham would eventually heal from his injuries, but never fully recover.

Settling in England

Hytham requesting Eivor to help him take down the Order

Later on, Hytham and Basim accompanied Sigurd, Eivor and select members from the Raven Clan as they left Norway to escape the rule of King Harald, whom they refused acknowledge as king in his efforts to unify the nation after endless wars and dwindling resources. On their arrival in England, the Hidden Ones convinced Eivor to build a bureau in the new settlement of Ravensthorpe to serve as their base of operation to combat the Order of the Ancients in the region.

After the bureau's construction, Hytham encouraged Eivor to hunt Order members to ensure alliances with the Raven Clan could be achieved more easily, as the Order had entrenched themselves deep in the various kingdoms' administrations. He then coached Eivor in taking her first Leap of Faith from the cliff across Ravensthorpe. After returning to the bureau, Hytham suggested that Eivor begin her hunt of the Order from Lunden. He also informed her of abandoned Hidden Ones bureaus scattered throughout England, and asked her to explore them and retrieve any document she may find inside, as they would greatly aid his research of the original Hidden Ones.

Once Eivor had retrieved all six pages of the Magas Codex from the different Hidden One bureaus in England, she returned to Ravensthorpe and presented them to Hytham. The latter thanked her and informed her of another document in the possession of Ravensthorpe's merchant Reda, which had been supposedly written by one of the original founders of the Hidden Ones.

In 874, Hytham met with one of Ravensthorpe's guests, Geirmund Hel-hide, who grew a reputation across England and especially rumors of a possible item guarding Guthrum. As they discussed the fall of King Æthelred, Hytham offered to lead Geirmund to the settlement's seeress, Valka, at her home. Once they arrived, Hytham left him at her house as he continued to the feast at hand.

During his years operating the Ravensthorpe bureau, Hytham received a letter from Mentor Rayhan. In his letter, Rayhan commended Hytham for accepting Basim's invitation to cleanse Northern Europe of the enemy. Rayhan affirmed his belief that Hytham was the right Hidden One to accompany Basim and recommended Hytham follow the example of his elder "brother" if he wished to rise through the Hidden Ones' ranks.

Through his time in England, Hytham tasked Eivor to find and return Order medallions to him as proof of Order members' death. Following Eivor's success in purging the Order from Lunden, Hytham informed her of more targets in both Jorvik and Wincestre, as revealed in letters he had received from an anonymous "Poor-Fellow Soldier of Christ."

Basim's betrayal

In 877, Basim was supposedly killed by Eivor and Sigurd in Norway after following them there in order to exact revenge on Eivor for unclear reasons. Eivor informed Hytham of what had happened upon her return to Ravensthorpe, shocking the lattter, who could not understand what had driven his mentor to commit such an act of betrayal.

Some time after the news of Basim's betrayal reached Mentor Rayhan, he sent Hytham a second letter expressing his dismay, but not surprise. Rayhan went on to explain in the letter that Basim's adherence to the Creed had recently seemed secondary to what he described as a personal mania he had been afflicted with for many years. Hytham was then invited to council housed by Mentor Fuladh of the Justanid Brotherhood in their newly constructed fortress of Aluh-Amut in two summers time to give a full accounting, and to confer a new rank, as the rank of Acolyte was no longer suitable for the young Hidden One.

Dismantling the Order in England

By 878, Hytham met with Eivor, who delivered the last batch of Order medallions, as she disclosed King Alfred being the Grand Maegester of the Order of the Ancients and the Poor-Fellow Soldier. Realizing King Alfred helped destroy the Order from within, he and Eivor saw the Order dismantled as Hytham only had to fight against the remaining small fragments left within England.

With the Order purged from England, Hytham also saw an opportunity to invite Eivor to formally join the Hidden Ones, as she had helped eliminate their enemies and was by now fully aware of their cause. However, Eivor turned him down, explaining that the Hidden Ones' way of life was not for her, though she assured him that she would do anything, even give her own life, for the people she loved, including Hytham.

Safeguarding Excalibur

In Lunden, Hytham worked with fellow Hidden One Marcella of Rome to establish another bureau, the Hawk's Nest, along the River Thames. Circa 878, they sent out letters of invitations to notable warriors, like Nimue, but the letter to Nimue was intercepted by the Women of the Mist and given to Niamh of Argyll, who was tasked to investigate the Hidden Ones. Soon, Hytham met with Niamh, alongside Marcella, and welcomed her into their establishment, much to Marcella's disdain. The next day, he tested Niamh's abilities and later divulged their ongoing war with the Order of the Ancients as well as her first task. He and Marcella gave Niamh her first target and their location as they wanted her to kill a priest, Father Deoric, in Cote. As a reluctant Niamh was leaving, Hytham asked her about any information about the Women of the Mist, to which Niamh lied and promised him to investigate the matter later herself.

After Deoric's death, Hytham later welcomed Valka into Hawk's Nest as Niamh later arrived to inform him on her mission. Despite some mistakes, Hytham and Marcella later initiated Niamh into the Hidden Ones as a recruit. A day passed as he later asked Niamh to accompany him on a mission to a keep that housed another Order member, Cyrus. As Niamh agreed, he was warned by both Valka and Marcella to not exert himself due to his injuries. Together, Hytham and Valka later rode and found the keep along the River Thames. Infiltrating the keep, Hytham and Niamh went to find information about Cyrus and to rescue a kidnapped woman. Rescuing the woman, he soon found himself more injured but was able to escape with the pagan woman and Niamh. After returning to Hawk's Nest, Hytham was medically aided by Niamh and later rested.

The next day, Hytham was told by Niamh that she took Ebba back home and responded well to her reasoning. Looking over the evidence on how the Order partnered with the Descendants of the Round Table, Hytham knew he had to contact Eivor and Valka about Excalibur. At the same time, he was asked by Niamh to find and infiltrate the Order's "nunnery" along with Valka and after some consideration, he agreed. Moments later, Hytham awaited Niamh's return but came to see a confrontation between Niamh and Marcella. As a fight broke out with Marcella aimed to kill Niamh, he kept trying to stop her. After multiple interventions, he succeeded in stopping Marcella, who stormed off. Hytham later apologized to Niamh about Marcella's behavior and soon asked her to travel with him to Caledonia, to which a torn Niamh agreed.

Within their journey, Hytham was aided by Niamh as they traveled through the bogs and past the people of Caledonia. Despite being in pain, he ventured through the tough weather and terrain and soon found Eivor and her warrior fighting against the Picts. Joining in, he and Niamh fought with Eivor and pushed back the Picts. Quickly, Eivor and Hytham embraced each other as they talked about the recent events with the Order and the Descendants. After their talk, Hytham looked for Niamh to formally introduce her to Eivor. After finding a tense Niamh, Hytham and Eivor talked to her, only for the discussion to turn sour as Eivor noticed Niamh with Excalibur. Shocked, he asked Niamh why as his initiate fought off Eivor and then ran off with the sword. Going after Niamh and in pain, he could not see Niamh but saw her horse and made run off into the wild.

Betrayed, Hytham later received notice from Valka as she tended to Niamh, who was injured and poisoned after running away. Debating with Valka at her hut, he asked why Niamh is not dead as Valka explained that Excalibur is a holy relic to Niamh's people like Mjölnir is to her people. However, they are quickly interrupted by Niamh, who told them of the incoming Descendants soldiers. Watching a worn Niamh fight her attackers, he fought with Niamh and defeated all of them. Quickly, Hytham grew angry and confronted Niamh about her lies and betrayal. Yet, Hytham later understood as Niamh explained why. Focusing on Excalibur and stopping the Order and the Descendants, Hytham and Niamh heard Valka's plan to "burn" the sword and after some discussions, they agreed and started to prepare.

A day passed after Hytham and Valka "chased" after Niamh with Excalibur in their possession. Chasing Niamh off, both he and Valka headed to the White Horse to sacrifice Excalibur. After gaining help from his fellow Hidden Ones, Hytham guarded Valka as she commenced the ritual. As "Excalibur" melted in front of their audience, he met and parried an incoming Descendant soldier trying to stop Valka. In an instance, he found an opportunity and killed the man as he tossed the soldier down the hill. With "Excalibur" gone, Hytham and Valka made sure all of England thought it was destroyed.

Weeks passed after the ceremony, and Hytham and Valka were invited to Avalon to meet with The Lady and Niamh. Opening discussion to a possible alliance with the Women of the Mist, Hytham was told that Niamh was to decide as Excalibur has chosen her to be the next Lady of Avalon. Elated, Hytham hugged Niamh and Valka as they defeated Niamh's enemies and saw peace in the horizon.

Trade with Ireland

In 879, Hytham met and maintained contact with a Persian trader named Azar who was based in Dublin, Ireland. Sharing a similar culture, the two became friends and mutually agreed to establish a trade post in both Ravensthorpe and Dublin. Upon Azar's arrival, she was received by the jarlskona Eivor instead of Hytham, who arrived shortly thereafter. Hytham introduced Eivor to Azar, who then informed Eivor of an invitation from her cousin King Bárid mac Ímair to Ireland.

Training the Hidden Ones

By 889, Eivor visited Hytham at the Ravensthorpe bureau one last time to say her goodbyes before she left England for good. After Hytham made another attempt at convincing Eivor to join the Hidden Ones, she remarked that Hytham had compassion of a size she had never seen in anyone else, as he was not fighting just for himself or for his people, but for the entire world. Hytham then explained how he saw the Hidden Ones as his family, similarly to how the Raven Clan had become Eivor's family after she lost her biological one, and that because anyone could join the Hidden Ones, he felt everyone was equally worthy of their love.

Eivor expressed her admiration for Hytham's cause, but once again turned down his offer to join the Hidden Ones, explaining that she did not have the necessary focus to serve their Creed, as her mind was frequently divided. Before she could say more, their conversation was interrupted by Hytham's initiates, Yanli, Rowan, Tove, and Eluric, who had come for their scheduled training. Eivor then departed, wishing Hytham good luck with training his initiates, as they were a "wild crew."

Legacy

Hytham's existence was speculated by Shaun Hastings to have been known to Edward Kenway, possibly influencing the naming of his son, Haytham Kenway.

Personality and traits

Hytham was shown to be an idealistic Acolyte of Hidden Ones. Although he was initially against his master's idea of involving Eivor and even bequeathed her an ornate Hidden Blade, she quickly mastered to gain her trust and with it, forming an alliance between their faction and Ravensthorpe. Hytham eventually saw her as a valuable ally in the fight against the Order of the Ancients.

Behind the scenes

Hytham is a character introduced in Assassin's Creed: Valhalla, where he is portrayed by Amir Sám Nakhjavani, who also provides additional voice to various NPCs.

Etymology

"Hytham" is a transliteration of the Arabic name هيثم, meaning "young eagle". As such, his name continues the eagle motif set by previous characters like Aquilus, Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad, Ezio Auditore da Firenze, Haytham Kenway and Nikolai Orelov.

Gallery

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  Hytham in the Database
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  Hytham as he appears in Rebellion
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  Hytham's avatar in Rebellion's character menu

Appearances

• Assassin's Creed: Rebellion
• Assassin's Creed: Valhalla (first appearance)
  • Wrath of the Druids
  • The Last Chapter
• Assassin's Creed: Where's the Assassin? (non-canonical appearance)
• Assassin's Creed: Valhalla – Geirmund's Saga
• Assassin's Creed: Valhalla – Sword of the White Horse
• Discovery Tour: Viking Age (avatar only)
• Assassin's Creed: Valhalla – The Converts
• Assassin's Creed: The Golden City
• The World of Assassin's Creed Valhalla: Journey to the North – Logs and Files of a Hidden One