Achilles Davenport

"In your haste to save the world, boy, take care you don't destroy it."

- Achilles to Connor. Achilles Davenport (1710 - early 1780s) was a Master Assassin and a Mentor for a span of time during the French and Indian War and the American Revolutionary War, who came from British and Caribbean descent. Most notably, Achilles was the mentor to the Native American Assassin Ratonhnhaké:ton.

Life as an Assassin
Recruited in the mid 1730s, Achilles became the Mentor of the Colonial Assassin Brotherhood in 1746, as he had a gift for both recruitment and organization. Under his leadership, the Assassins spanned across the colonies and most of the frontier, during which Achilles also strengthened relations between the Iroquois clans. He was also married to a woman named Abigail and fathered a son, Connor Davenport, however both died of typhoid fever in 1754.

By 1763 the Assassins were decimated to all but himself, during the aftermath of the French and Indian War. The Templar Order grew more powerful and was able to capture the defeated Achilles. Confident that Achilles was no longer a threat, the Templars decided to show mercy, and allowed Achilles to live if he resigned his role as an Assassin. Achilles went into exile and moved into the wilderness of the frontier, residing alone in a manor for the next six years.

Meeting Ratonhnhaké:ton
In 1769, Achilles was visited by Ratonhnhaké:ton, a young Kanien'kehá:ka boy, asking to be trained. Achilles coldly said no and dismissed the boy. Ratonhnhaké:ton however camped in the manor's stables for the night, and in the next morning knocked on Achilles door. Achilles again refused, angrily yelling at Ratonhnhaké:ton to leave, prompting Ratonhnhaké:ton to go as far as to climb and attempt to enter the manor from the balcony. Achilles approached Ratonhnhaké:ton, tripped him onto the floor with his walking crane and warned him to give up his heroic pursuits or he will end up dead.

Ratonhnhaké:ton left and once again camped out in the stables. During the night, he encountered some bandits intending to rob Achilles. Ratonhnhaké:ton bravely fought the bandits, but was knocked to the ground, however Achilles rescued the boy by stealthily killing the remaining robbers. After ridding the bodies, Achilles finally allowed Ratonhnhaké:ton inside his manor, where Ratonhnhaké:ton explained that he was guided to find Achilles by a "a spirit". Achilles in turn revealed the nature and war between the Assassin Brotherhood and the Templar Order.

In the basement, Achilles showed a list of Templar conspirators: William Johnson, Jonathan Pitcairn, Thomas Hickey, Benjamin Church, Nicholas Biddle, Charles Lee and the grand master Haytham Kenway, the man who was also Ratonhnhaké:ton's father. Achilles agreed to train Ratonhnhaké:ton, to help him become an assassin to ultimately kill the Templars who were aiming to take control of the colonies.

Rebuilding the Homestead
After six months of rigorous physical and mental training, Ratonhnhaké:ton accompanied Achilles on a trip to Boston to gather materials for the manor's repairs. While in the streets, Achilles sent Ratonhnhaké:ton to a store to purchase items, also giving him the less conspicuous name "Connor". Not long after, Achilles and Connor witnessed the Boston massacre, instigated by Haytham and Charles Lee. Connor attempted to stop the massacre but was framed and became a wanted man. After being left by Achilles, Connor was able to remove his notoriety with the help of Samuel Adams and returned to the Davenport Homestead.

Achilles and Connor continued in their efforts in rebuilding the homestead. After three years of further training and lessons in learning the Assassin and Templar history, the Aquila was repaired and ready for sail. After being given nautical training by Robert Faulkner, Connor returned to Achilles who finally officially welcomed him into the Assassin Brotherhood.

Hunt for William Johnson
Connor donned the Assassin robes and Achilles introduced him to the rope darts. Connor's close friend Kanen'tó:kon visited, revealing the William Johnson intended to buy the Kanien'kehá:ka land. An outraged Connor condemned this as little more than theft. Achilles advised caution to his pupil, reminding him how powerful the Templars are. Connor stated that he had no choice, as he made a promise to his people. Reluctantly, Achilles instructed him to seek out Adams in Boston. To his annoyance, Connor buried a hatchet in the post of the manor to signify the start of war, though Achilles insisted he could've used a tree.

Connor returned after destroying a shipment of British tea, that Johnson and the Templars had been smuggling to profit from taxation. Connor believed that this would stop the Templars and keep his land safe, however Achilles warned Connor not to underestimate Templars' resourcefulness. Six months later, Connor set out and successfully assassinated Johnson, ending the Templar threat to steal the Kanien'kehá:ka land.

Beginning of the Revolution
In 1775, Connor was approached by a courier sent by Paul Revere, requesting his help. Connor declined, not considering himself part of the Patriots struggle, however Achilles urged Connor to go, since he would need their aid in assassinating John Pitcairn of the British Army, another Templar.

Connor joined the Patriots against the British Army, during which he fought in the Battles at Lexington, Concord and successfully assassinated Pitcairn during the Battle at Bunker Hill. With Pitcairn's death, Connor discovered the Templar plot to murder George Washington.

Protecting Washington
Connor returned to the Homestead, where Achilles introduced Connor to Benjamin Tallmadge, an Assassin ally. Connor traveled to New York to assassinate Thomas Hickey, thus preventing the murder of Washington. However, Connor was imprisoned, framed for the attempted murder of Washington and sentenced to death.

Achilles and Connor's other Assassin recruits traveled to New York to rescue Connor. As Connor was escorted to the gallows by Hickey, Achilles approached Connor from the crowd, reminding him that he still had allies and only needed to signal them. A recruit severed the noose and Achilles handed Connor his tomahawk underneath the gallows. Connor succeed in killing Hickey, saving Washington in the process and proving his innocence.

Connor's alliance with Haytham
Achilles and Connor would drift apart over the next few months, disagreeing over courses of actions. While Connor believed he should tell Washington the truth of the Templar plots against him, Achilles argued the opposite warning that such a misguided effort would only involve and endanger Washington and the lives of his men.

The argument came to a head in the winter of 1777, as Connor decided to warn Washington. Achilles lectured Connor, telling him that the Assassins are meant to be secretive in order to protect others. In turn, Connor criticized Achilles' inaction as a mentor and even blamed him for failing the Assassin Brotherhood and allowing the Templars to dominate the Colonies. Achilles, however, deplored Connor's actions, warning him that he will only lead people and the world to ruin.

Connor would go on to hunt for Benjamin Church to recover stolen weapons and supplies for Washington. After which, he returned to the Homestead and apologized to Achilles for speaking against him unfairly, though Achilles did admit that he did fail the brotherhood. Connor also revealed that he met his father, despite their differences, he believed that an alliance and possibly peace could be established.

Final days
By 1781, Achilles had grown too old, leaving him bedridden. Connor explained that Charles Lee has been disgraced, but Washington spared him. Achilles stated that both Lee and Haytham must die, despite Connor's continued insistence that without Lee, his father may be willing to ally with him. However, Achilles warned Connor not to be misguided by his emotions.

Achilles asked Connor to retrieve his robes hidden in a cave on the Homestead, since Achilles himself was too frail to make the journey. Connor succeeded, to which Achilles explained that the robes originally belonged to the Colonial Assassin John de la Tour, who passed them down to Achilles.

With the subsiding of the Great Fire of New York, Achilles also requested Connor retrieve a painting from the burned remains of his home in New York. Connor returned, however Achilles decided to not yet reveal and hang the painting until the time was right.

Death
Achilles soon after passed away quietly in his sleep. When Connor discovered his body, he also uncovered a note addressed to him in Achilles' handwriting. In the note, Achilles apologized for never getting to say goodbye to Connor properly, and he also thanked him, expressing pride and gratitude in Connor for the community he had raised at the Homestead, giving him hope for the future of America and people.

A funeral was held on the hill, behind his manor overlooking the sea, next to the gravestones of his wife and son. The funeral was attended by all the inhabitants of the Homestead that Connor had brought together. While others laid flowers on his coffin, wrapped in the Davenport Homestead flag, Connor placed a feather on the casket, symbolizing the bond they shared as Assassins.

Connor inherited Achilles' robes, placed the painting of his family on the wall in the manor and later attended to the grave to pay his respects, hoping that Achilles had found peace and the two would one day meet again.

Personality
As a result of losing his family and for failing the Assassin Order under his leadership, Achilles lost his will to fight and became stoic and disillusioned in the Assassins' cause. When first meeting and training Ratonhnhaké:ton, Achilles was a strict, insensitive and somewhat short tempered man. He was quick to reprimand, discourage and correct his naive and brash apprentice.

Connor possessed a highly romanticized and idealized view of the Assassins and his mission, believing that destroying the Templars would grant freedom to all of mankind. This was a strong contrast to Achilles' cynical but rational view of the world. As a result, Achilles often lectured Connor in to warn him that his views and actions, while noble, were misguided and potentially dangerous. Connor would argue in disagreement in turn and the two criticized each other on occasions.

Despite this, Achilles was not without heart, he genuinely cared for Connor and took pride in his accomplishments. Achilles became an important father figure and mentor. Over the years, Achilles would watch as the Homestead would flourish into a thriving and loving community, giving Achilles a sense of hope for future of America.

Trivia

 * At the Davenport manor, Connor can play games of Fanorona with Achilles. After his death, Timothy replaces Achilles as the opponent.
 * Achilles' nickname "the Old Man on the Hill" is reminiscent of the moniker given to another Mentor in the Order, Rashid ad-Din Sinan: "the Old Man of the Mountain."
 * As Achilles died in the final Homestead memory, it could have taken place in either 1781 or 1783. Since the Homestead memories were optional side objectives, and as such, a date of death cannot be pinpointed.
 * Coincidentally both he and Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad had similar deaths. Both died after they became mentors, and both died while sitting on a chair holding something in their hands.