Kō Risa
Kō Risa (born 2001) is a teenager born to Chinese parents who lives in Yokohama, Japan.
She is a descendant of the Chinese Assassin Shao Jun.
Biography
Early life
Risa was repeatedly expelled from schools due to fighting with her teachers as a result of her inability to fully control her violent impulses. At some point she got into an argument with a friend that ended their relationship.[1] Risa would also protect her cousin Mari from her abusive father and on one occasion stepped between them.[2]
Receiving treatment
In 2019, she was sent to receive therapy. As part of her treatment at a Yokohama Abstergo clinic, Dr. Kaori Kagami had the teenager relive the memories of her ancestor, the Assassin Shao Jun through an Animus.[3]
Unfortunately for Risa, Dr. Kagami was not actually interested about improving her mental health but was rather occupied with finding the location of Jun's "treasure". Risa desynchronized from her first Animus session after Shao Jun performed a Leap of Faith, unsettled by how real the simulation was. Dr. Kagami explained that it was not real and nothing would harm her as they were only memories. Ending the therapy, Risa left and called her mother, informing her that the therapy helped and that she would continue with it.[3]
During Risa's second Animus session with Dr. Kagami, she relived a young Jun witnessing the public execution of a corrupt eunuch and desychronized in horror. When asked by her doctor to stop for the day, she insisted on continuing her treatment. Through further simulated memories, she learned of the Assassins and Templars and their ongoing struggle. After being brought out of the Animus, she asked Dr. Kagami about the two factions. Dr. Kagami told her patient that the Assassins sought chaos while the Templars fought for peace and order.[4]
Dr. Kagami told Risa that she is a descendant of the Assassin Shao Jun and that her genes were the reason for her violent behavior. When Risa asked if the Animus treatment would definitely help her, Dr. Kagami insisted to her that she is on her side as long as they work together. Accepting this answer, Risa reentered the Animus.[4] While reliving Shao Jun's memory of the 1526 fire of Macau, Jun's guilt from the incident affected Risa who started getting a flashback to when she felt guilty when she fell out with a friend. Later when she was out the streets after her session had ended, she was suddenly grabbed by her cousin Mari who stated that she had been looking for her.[1]
The two cousins sit down at a cafe for drinks. Mari mentioned that she had stopped by Risa's house to find her but didn't and it was therefore lucky that they had crossed paths instead. Mari asks about Risa's treatment and details on what exactly they are. Risa describes what the Animus experience is like, but Mari is convinced she doesn't need treatment, as the Risa was still the kind person she has always known. The two were then interrupted by a scary Yakuza-like man, he introduces himself as Kiyoshi Takakura. Kiyoshi voices his negative opinion on the Animus and its dangers and hands Risa a business card telling her to meet him at 5pm the next day. Before leaving, he whispers to Risa that he is an Assassin like her. A curious Risa and a wary Mari accept the invitation and meet with him the next day.[2]
Meeting with Kiyoshi, the Assassin told Risa the truth of the Assassins and Templars. Risa, thinking they were an ancient organization long dissolved was surprised to find out they were very much still active. Kiyoshi also revealed that Risa's doctor Kagami was a Templar and did not care about Risa. Kiyoshi then warns Risa further about the dangers of prolonged Animus sessions resulting in the Bleeding Effect. Kiyoshi pleaded with Risa to not let the Templars get their hands on the treasure, but Risa, angered at the accusations against her doctor whom she trusts declined to help. Storming out of the shop without Mari, Risa wandered the streets of Yokohama. Seeing an illusion of a Ming soldier, her muscle memory of Shao Jun placed her in a combat stance ready to fight. After realizing it wasn't real, Risa collapsed to her knees worried that she was already losing her mind.[2]
Personality and characteristics
Kō Risa is a protective individual, standing up for her cousin and holding her ground against her uncle. Although she was a relatively happy child,[2] during her teenage years she became more withdrawn and colder towards others. Risa also has a tendency to lash out psychically, something she wishes to change.[3]
Equipment and skills
Risa has some minor combat abilities, being kicked out of school for fighting.[3] After reliving the memories of the Assassin Shao Jun, Risa experienced the Bleeding Effect and instinctively got into a combat stance when seeing an illusion of a Ming soldier.[2]
Behind the scenes
Kō Risa is the main protagonist of the 2020 manga Assassin's Creed: Blade of Shao Jun, which was first published in Japanese. Her name given in Japanese is 黄里沙 (Kō Risa), which would be Huáng Lǐshā in both the Hanyu Pinyin and the Wade–Giles systems of romanization. However, the fan website Access the Animus reports that her name in the English publication will be Lisa Yang;[5][6] Yang is an entirely different surname from Huang. This error has not appeared in the French publication, where her name is properly Westernized as Lisa Huang.
Appearances
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Assassin's Creed: Blade of Shao Jun – Chapter 5
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Assassin's Creed: Blade of Shao Jun – Chapter 6
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Assassin's Creed: Blade of Shao Jun – Chapter 1
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Assassin's Creed: Blade of Shao Jun – Chapter 2
- ↑ Sorrosyss and Markuz (21-12-2019). Assassin's Creed: China – Manga Comic Chapter 2 - Review & Summary "The Assassins Order, and the Knights Templar". Access The Animus. Archived from the original on 8 January 2020. Retrieved on 7 July 2020.
- ↑ Sorrosyss and Markuz (26-01-2020). Assassin's Creed: China – Manga Comic Chapter 3 - Review & Summary "The Port". Access The Animus. Archived from the original on 7 July 2020. Retrieved on 7 July 2020.