Kensa

"I'm telling you, Bayek, I am so close to my dream. If only I was given the chance, I know I could become champion. I mean, wealth, luxury, fame! What more could a woman want?"

―Kensa, on her life as a gladiator, 48 BCE.^[src]^-[m]

Kensa (born c. 85 BCE) was an Egyptian gladiator and a friend of the Medjay Bayek during the reign of Pharaoh Ptolemy XIII.

Biography[edit | edit source]

Early life[edit | edit source]

During her childhood, Kensa befriended Bayek and taught him how her tribe hunted and trapped animals, though her tribe eventually had to relocate, cutting their lessons short when Kensa followed her people. Several years later in 70 BCE, Kensa met up with Bayek, Aya, and the street urchin Tuta in Thebes while Bayek was searching for his missing father, Sabu. They learned that Menna, a grave robber who had attacked Bayek's home years earlier, was also in Thebes. With Seti and Neka, two of Kensa's family, the quartet hunted for Menna.^[1]

Neka was captured and tortured, but ultimately rescued by the others. During the battle, Menna fled on a chariot, with Bayek and Kensa giving chase. Kensa shot Menna's driver dead, and Menna perished in the subsequent crash. Kensa later got word that Sabu was being held in a pit on the island of Elephantine, and joined Bayek and Aya in their search for Sabu. Under the cover of a sandstorm, the group infiltrated the island, but found a deranged man in the pit instead of Sabu. After they escaped the guards, Sabu revealed himself to the group. Bion, a man hunting the last of the Medjay on the Order of the Ancients' behalf, later arrived at the same trap and was injured but escaped.^[1]

Life as a gladiator and Hidden One[edit | edit source]

During Ptolemy XIII's visit to Siwa in 49 BCE, Kensa was taken as a slave and exploited by Lucius Septimius and his clan. She eventually escaped and fled the village, making her way to the city of Krokodilopolis in the Faiyum Oasis. There, she was taken in by Felix Martialis, the Krokodilopolis Arena's owner, who trained her to become a gladiator.^[2]

A year later in 48 BCE, Kensa was reunited with Bayek, who had come to the city pursuing Shadya's killer and the Order of the Ancients member, The Crocodile. Catching up with Bayek, Kensa helped him gain access to the arena, where they formed a team alternately called "The Guardians of Siwa"^[2] or "The Siwan Warriors".^[3] Together, Kensa and Bayek fought and climbed the ranks to challenge the arena champions, the Gallic brothers Diovicos and Viridovix. After defeating them, Kensa learned of Bayek's true motives for entering the arena; Bayek believed them to be responsible for Shadya's death. Kensa offered to help him, but Bayek refused and left the arena.^[2]

The next day, Kensa was employed as a bodyguard by Berenike, The Crocodile, though in this task she ultimately failed as her employer was assassinated by Bayek.^[2] Kensa later reunited with Bayek and offered to help him in his quest for revenge against the Order; however, she was rejected by her old friend, who did not trust her mercenary-like nature. Kensa therefore remained a freelance bodyguard and gladiator. In time, however, Bayek revised his judgment and invited Kensa to join the Hidden Ones, an offer she gladly accepted.^[4]^[5]

Behind the scenes[edit | edit source]

Kensa (كَنْزَة) is an Arabic name derived from كَنْز (kanz) "treasure". In the official Assassin's Creed: Origins prequel novel Desert Oath, Kensa has her name spelled as Khensa.

While it is not required in order to complete the mission, Kensa may be killed during the assassination of Berenike; regardless, Kensa does not appear in the game again. However, even if the players killed Kensa, a papyrus informing that Kensa was still a gladiator in Faiyum can be found in the Hidden Ones bureau in Memphis, indicating that she survived. Kensa later appearing as a member of the Hidden Ones in Assassin's Creed: Rebellion and Assassin's Creed Roleplaying Game further confirms her survival as canon.