Natalya Aliyev
Natalya Aliyev (born 2001) is an American teenager of Russian, Kazakh, and Mongolian descent, tracing her lineage back to the Italian opera singer Adelina Patti and the Mongolian Templar Bayan. In 2016, she was was part of a group of teenagers recruited by Sebastian Monroe to search for the pieces of the Trident of Eden, attracting the attention of both the Assassins and Templars.
Biography
Early life
At some point, Natalya's parents and grandparents wanted her to be a musician and paid the Russian violin professor Krupin to teach her. However, she was not a good musician and eventually abandoned music.[1]
Recruited by Monroe
In 2016, Sebastian Monroe contacted Natalya and offered her the chance to relive her grandparents' memories when they fled Soviet Kazakhstan. Later, she was brought to a warehouse with five other teenagers Owen Meyers, Javier Mondragón, Sean Molloy, and the siblings Grace and David Collins.[2]
Monroe explained to them the conflict between the Assassins and the Templars, and the Pieces of Eden they fought over. He revealed that they were researching the Trident of Eden, and that each of the teenagers' ancestors had been in contact with one piece of the Trident. Finally, he explained that he wanted to retrieve it before the Assassins or Templars to hide it.[2]
To do so, Monroe put the teenagers in the Animus, where they experienced a simulation of the New York City draft riots in 1863. Natalya relived the memories of Adelina Patti and felt anxious when the latter sang before a large crowd.[1] During the riots, Adelina was protected by Tommy Greyling, Sean's ancestor, and fell in love with him while, at the same time, Sean grew to have a crush on Natalya.[3][4][5]
Once the group learned the location of the prong,[6] an Abstergo strike team attacked the warehouse and kidnapped almost all the teenagers except for Owen and Javier, who fled on a bike. Natalya and the others were led to the Aerie and introduced to Dr. Victoria Bibeau. Then, they encountered Isaiah, who talked to them about Abstergo and the Templars' real goals of enforced peace.[7] Natalya was the most distrustful of the Templars and isolated herself, ignoring Sean when he tried to speak to her. Victoria then came to the group and asked if they had ever wanted to go to China.[8]
Working for the Templars
Thanks to Abstergo convincing her parents to let Natalya perform memory research through the Animus,[9] Natalya grew concerned about Isaiah's extreme supervision over Sean, who was experience Greyling's memories about chasing a female Templar in London over an important document.[10]
Her worries grew when Sean experienced an abrupt termination of his session. Checking on him, he accused of Isaiah of abusing Sean with the Animus but when Isaiah offered the group to stop their sessions, they all agreed to continue. Frustrated, she was later consoled by David and Grace, who agreed with her but divulged on staying obedient for the time being to determine the Templars' true motives.[11]
When Sean came to them saddened after his recent simulation led to no discovery, Natalya and the Collins gave their opinions of how Greyling may have followed Alice off from London. With this, Sean followed Greyling's memories and determined Alice destroyed the manuscript and then committed suicide. While Isaiah thanked Sean, Natalya demanded an apology for Sean's overuse of the Animus, to which the director concurred before letting them all go.[12]
Search for the Fear prong
Later, Natalya began experiencing the memories of her Mongolian ancestor, Bayan, in search of the second prong of the Trident of Eden. However, the toll of experiencing past warfare began to take a toll as she became exhausted.[9] As time went by, Natalya became more and more disaffected with the Templars' goals.[13]
After they learned David had left his room unescorted and how he heard that the Templars may kill Owen and Javier, she became more distrustful of Isaiah and even Monroe.[14] Upon reliving her ancestor coming close to the prong,[15] she and her friends were given curfews by Victoria and Isaiah, who learned about David's incursion. Yet, she stated to David that she does not believe Isaiah should have the prong.[16]
One night, Monroe caused a blackout in an attempt to rescue them[17] while the Assassin Griffin, Javier, and Owen came on their own rescue mission.[18] While Isaiah and his men engaged in a fight against Owen, Monroe, and Javier, Natalya and David were left in vehicle commandered by Monroe. However, Monroe and Owen stayed behind while Javier drove Isaiah's high-tech car, with Natalya and David, out of the Aerie.[19]
While fleeing, Javier picked up Griffin and make their way back to the Assassin hideout. When the teens recapped what each of them had been up to, Natalya learned that Owen's Chinese Assassin ancestor, Zhang Zhi, was the one Bayan had caught after the assassination of Möngke Khan. When they arrived there, Griffin learned of Natalya's ancestry and asked for her help to determine the prong's location. Natalya agreed but on the condition that they all go to Mongolia. Reluctant, Griffin agreed as Natalya spoke with Assassin leader Gavin Banks about her conditions.[19]
When Griffin soon informed them that Isaiah was mounting an expedition to Mongolia, Natalya agreed on the condition that Griffin bring all of them to Mongolia. However, when Natalya began experiencing Bayan's induction into the Templar Order, she purposely desynchronized, which angered Griffin. Though Natalya protested that she didn't want any involvement in the Assassin-Templar war, Griffin stated that a side had to be chosen eventually and that her hesitancy would likely get her killed. The group then packed up for Mongolia, with Natalya promising to find the Khan's tomb once they got there.[20]
Natalya and her friends traveled to China via cargo plane, where they met the Assassin Yanmei, who provided a private jet for the journey to Mongolia, only to be shot down by the Templars.[21] Surviving the crash, the Assassins confirmed the location of the Abstergo camp. As they made their way to the tomb on foot, David went towards the Abstergo camp, believing a series of lights were signalling him that Grace was there, after which the Templars began heading in the opposite direction of the tomb.[22]
Upon reaching the spot where Natalya had desynchronized, she still refused to give up the location of the tomb, refusing to trust the Assassins due to their absolute obedience to the Creed. However, Yanmei explained to her the three ironies of the Creed and that it did not command the Assassins to be obedient but to think for themselves. Natalya eventually led the Assassins to the tomb, but as they began digging, she tricked Javier into showing her how to operate his crossbow pistol and used it to incapacitate Griffin and Yanmei with sleep darts.[23]
Though stunned by Natalya's betrayal, Javier accepted that she was not yet ready to trust the Assassins and assisted her in the excavation. They were soon joined by Owen, Grace, David, and Monroe, who had just escaped the Templar camp, and they all began digging together. Unfortunately, just as they uncovered the tomb, Isaiah showed up and took them captive.[23]
As Isaiah entered the tomb, the Assassins regained consciousness and attacked, at which point Javier used a smoke bomb to cover his friends' escape. Unfortunately, Isaiah soon emerged from the tomb with the Fear prong and used its powers on everyone. He then fatally stabbed Yanmei when she tried to attack him, and declared that he was no longer a Templar before ordering his men to follow him, leaving Natalya, her friends, and the Assassins alone.[24]
Upon reaching the Abstergo camp, Natalya felt regret for not telling the Assassins the tomb's location earlier, but Griffin reminded her that people die in war and that Yanmei would've respected her principles. Soon after, Victoria arrived at the camp, having just learned of Isaiah's betrayal and that he was also in possession of the first prong of the Trident. When the Templars drew their weapons upon hearing that the Assassins were present, Natalya reasoned that the two sides needed to work together before Isaiah destroyed both Orders. In response, Victoria and Griffin agreed to a ceasefire until they defeated Isaiah and recovered the third prong, which Victoria believed to be in Scandinavia.[24]
Search for the Devotion prong
Venturing into the Collective Unconscious
Dismayed and angered over Yanmei's death, Natalya began to seclude herself until Owen began talking with her. Despite her resistance, Natalya let her guard down with him.[25] After Victoria informed them that only Javier and the Collins had ancestors that coincided with Sean's,[26] Owen and Natalya connect over their distrust of both organizations. Soon, Monroe came and offered another way to help. Explaining how they can go into a memory of their "collective unconscious," Monroe prepared for their sessions for them.[27]
Warned of the dangers, Natalya and Owen start their adventure within this new memory and were told by a mysterious voice that the only way forward is to break through faith, devotion, and fear. Finding an archetype of "The Forest," they venture inward only to be chased by an enormous snake.[28] While the snake grew, the two managed to hide and escape it. While Natalya tried to jump over it, she caught its attention. While being eaten whole, she realized she is inside the creature and walked forward, only to start falling. Fortunately, the snake disappeared as Owen helped her up. Soon, they came across a new path of red stones and followed it.[29]
When Grace joined them in the memory, they followed the path towards the top of a mountain, where they met a dying man and his dog companion.[30] When the man asked them to find his dog a new companion, Owen agreed immediately. While the man passed, Owen stayed with the dog, who refused to leave, while the girls went back on the path.[31] Fortunately, the girls saw Owen and the dog rejoin them and they later stayed at a crossroads. There, they met travelers who were interested in the dog but were deemed unworthy. Soon, a female wanderer passed and was intrigued by the dog but initially rejected. However, upon Owen's insistence, the wanderer agreed and the dog found its new companion.[32]
They soon realized that their challenges were based on devotion and fear and continued on to face the challenge based on faith. Venturing up a new mountain, they come across two hard choices on the way up. When Grace ultimately decided on a steep trail, rather than the other trail with a light and a rope, they all followed. However, the trail became an abyss, which almost led to Natalya giving up and falling. However, Grace and Owen saved her and continued on their venture. Making it to the top, they witnessed a dome emerged from the mountain.[33]
Entering inside a corridor, Natalya and the others heard the voice that welcomed them and saw a glowing woman who introduced herself as Minerva. Minerva soon told them of her kind's own hubris leading to their downfall and the extinction of her people. She noted that humans survived and thrived among themselves but noted that the artifacts left behind prove too destructive, especially the Trident. Telling them that their challenges have provided a "shield" against the Trident, their simulation soon ended.[34]
Mission to Sweden
After Javier and David's sessions determined the devotion prong to be in Västerås, Sweden,[35] Griffin and Victoria decided for Grace, Owen, and Natalya to join Griffin to Sweden while Javier and David would go to the same session Monroe had done with them. After a long night, they joined him on the flight to Sweden.[36] When arriving in Västerås, they followed Grace, who remembered Östen Jorundsson's memories of burying the prong. Coming across Dolkkälla, Natalya and Owen stayed behind while Grace and Griffin went into the building, where they found the prong on display.[37]
However, when Grace and Griffin returned, they informed Natalya and Owen of the news of Isaiah being here as well. Waiting till night, they watched while Griffin left to acquire the prong. Unfortunately, Isaiah and his forces came while they saw Griffin trying to escape. While Owen and Grace came to rescue Griffin, Natalya lifted Griffin, who was shot earlier, away from the Isaiah and his men. Although while hiding, Griffin started to lose more blood and gave Owen his hidden blade as a gift to Javier, before he succumbed to his wounds. Realizing they need to escape, they waited until it was silent and made their way to Griffin's car.[38]
At the car, they realized that they forgot the keys before Isaiah and his men surrounded them. Cornered, Isaiah had Cole take the prong from Grace, who hid it on herself, before reprimanding them on their feeble efforts. While Isaiah proclaimed himself as Fenrir, Owen began to chastize him while the former director lined them up to be shot.[38] When Isaiah aimed his gun at Owen, the van Poindexter drove out between them as Owen grabbed both girls back. Driving, Sean told them to jump in while they all dodged bullets. Driving away, they were on a call with Victoria and informed her on what had transpired, including Griffin's death. When Victoria chartered them a jet, the teens were able to come back to the Aerie to regroup.[39]
Defeating Isaiah
Placing defenses and traps around the Aerie, Natalya and the others waited for Isaiah's incoming assault. Paired with Monroe, she readied herself once Isaiah and his forces attacked. Although their traps and defenses worked, Isaiah and his men proved greater. Being cornered further within the garage, Isaiah came and ordered his men to execute them all. Suddenly, Sean challenged Isaiah to a duel and informed him that he knew his fears. With this challenge, Isaiah used the Trident and inflicted them all with their nightmares again. However, when Owen managed to break the illusion, he told the rest to accept them and they followed his advice.[40]
Despite Isaiah's next uses with the illusions of faith and devotion, the teens broke through them and then attacked Isaiah head-on. When Isaiah was beaten down and disarmed, Javier came towards him and killed him with Griffin's blade. With the Trident left on the floor, Victoria tried to grab for it but Natalya grabbed it first. With the help of the others, they held onto the Trident and experienced a surge of power, which led to the Trident being seemingly depowered. While Victoria asked what they had done, Natalya responded that they saved the world.[40]
Natalya and her friends were taken back home as Victoria promised that the Templars were not interfere with their personal lives. When entering her home, her grandparents asked what has happened where she stated that the program ended. While her grandpa said that she is too good for them, Natalya reassured them that they do not have worry too much anymore.[41]
Appearances
- Assassin's Creed: Last Descendants (first appearance)
- Assassin's Creed: Last Descendants – Locus
- Assassin's Creed: Last Descendants – Tomb of the Khan
- Assassin's Creed: Last Descendants – Fate of the Gods
References