Lucia Márquez

"I did not set out to avenge my father. I had my own mission, I was serving my own order. And I had long accepted his death. But when I saw the Assassin, when I heard her speak, it all came back. My childhood. How we were robbed of him. How her people took him. I had to act."

- Lucia Márquez.

Lucia Márquez (1689 – 1715) was a Spanish thief that had lived her life in poverty until she was recruited into the Templar Order. Operating in the West Indies, she eventually became a high-ranking member that was assigned a Templar key to protect.

In 2013, her genetic memories were used as an Animi Avatar by the entertainment branch of the Templar company Abstergo Industries, to influence the general public via the Animus game console, under the title of the Lady Black.

Early life
Born in Spain, Lucia Márquez was the daughter of Alejandro Ortega de Márquez, a privateer leading Spanish charges through the colonies. Due to his continuous absence and eventual death, she was forced to take to the streets by the age of twelve, supporting herself and her sisters through begging, borrowing and stealing anything she could. While growing up, Lucia befriended Felicia Moreno, a fellow thief with whom she pulled off the more lucrative heists.

At the age of seventeen, Lucia attempted to steal a horse from a high-ranking Templar, but was apprehended. Wisely opting for training over jail time, Lucia was eventually accepted into the Order, along with Felicia, though the two grew apart soon after.

Never finding herself at a lack of challenge or adventure, Lucia became an esteemed member of the Order and was given one of five unique Templar keys to guard.

Confrontation with Opía Apito
"She's already left for Juventud. Find her there if you must. Her army will teach you a lession."

- Vargas, warning Edward and Opía about Lucia's men.

In 1715, Grand Master Laureano Torres y Ayala received a map, delivered to him by Edward Kenway, detailling various Assassin encampments in the West Indies. Lucia, along with a few other elite Templars, were assigned the task of locating the encampments' leaders and eliminating them. Journeying to Grand Cayman, Lucia settled into the home of her right-hand man, Vargas, and started her search for her target, Opía Apito, by sending out ships to scout the area.

However, she herself was, at the same time, being tracked down by Opía and Edward, with the latter aiming to procure her Templar key. Having heard of the pair's arrival in Grand Cayman, Lucia fled to Pinos Isle in the hopes of instigating a conflict between its inhabitants and Opía, with whom they had established an unstable truce years ago.

Opía and Edward, having found out about Pinos Isle from Vargas, chased after her. As the night fell, the Templar hid amongst the island's ruins, but was forced to reveal herself when her men had been taken out by the two Assassins. Firing at Opía, who was providing a distraction, Lucia left herself wide open to a killing blow by Edward and perished in the rain.

Final words
Lucia succumbed to her wounds. Edward closed Lucia's eyes and took the Templar key she had in her possession.
 * Lucia: No! I cannot die at the hands of the Taíno. My father saw such potential in these islands. Gold... industry... freedom... all of it squandered. You have not a clue how to use it. He could have brought you wealth.
 * Opía: You believe we wasted freedom by living freely? You die a prisoner of your Templar mores.
 * Edward: Let's not argue with a dead woman.
 * Edward: Here's my prize.

Trivia

 * Lucia is a name derived from the Latin word lux, meaning "light". Márquez is a Spanish surname meaning "son of Marcos".

Reference

 * Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag