Café Théâtre

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ACU Cafe Theatre Exterior — The Café Théâtre

The Café Théâtre was the intelligence gathering front of the Assassin Brotherhood, in Paris, France during the French Revolutionary period. The building became Arno Dorian's base of operations in the city during this time, where he attended plays, kept his armor and weapons, and trained to hone his Assassin skills.

History[]

Opened on Île Saint-Louis in 1759, the Café Théâtre was one of Paris' premiere coffee houses for decades. Intellectuals, poets, philosophers, and actors flocked to its tables, and the salon was a center for political debate and discussion. As the building was built over Thomas de Carneillon's vault and the Parisian Assassins' headquarters, the Café was bought by the Brotherhood to act as an intelligence-gathering network, keeping the Assassins informed about the current situation in Paris. Over the years, other establishments, such as the Café Procope, gradually supplanted the Café Théâtre in prominence.^[1]

On 11 July 1782, the Café Théâtre gave a representation of Voltaire's Hérode et Mariamne, with M. Dupree and Mlle. Arcadie playing the eponymous roles. The critic Mlle. Lecouvreur saw the play and wrote a review in a newspaper describing it as the "worst production of Voltaire's" work.^[2]

By 1790, it fell into near-ruin, becoming a rundown bar, more likely to host a second-rate bawdy comedy show than an impassioned debate.^[1] At this time, the establishment was ran by the Assassin Charlotte Gouze with her fellow brethren Augustin Grisier who served as its fencing master.^[3]

Explore the Cafe Theatre 1 — Arno Dorian and Charlotte Gouze meeting at the Café Théâtre

In January 1791, the fate of the rundown Café Théâtre was changed, when stewardship of the building was handed by the Assassin Council to the Assassin Arno Dorian. Upon his arrival at the Café Théâtre, Dorian met with Gouze who encouraged him to renovate the building, both to gain information and revenue from the patrons. Taking residence at the Café, Dorian explored the establishment meeting Grisier who perfected his training in combat and stealth. With the Master Assassin Hervé Quemar, Dorian explored the basement, discovering that the Assassins met there to accomplish missions together. Quemar also told about Carneillon's vault and its seal that was scattered across the city.^[3] Following the prophecies of Nostradamus, Dorian complete the seal and claimed Carneillon's armor.^[4]

Once Dorian had enough coin, he spoke with the building's intendant about renovating the Café. Under Dorian's care, the Café was restored to its former glory as he renovated and invested money back into the building, bringing back the clientele and prestige that it had lost. Dorian also bought one café in each seven districts of Paris, increasing the income of the Café Théâtre.^[4]

ACU A Cautious Alliance 1 — Arno and Élise discussing

On 2 April, Dorian met at the Café the debated Grand Master of the French Templars Élise de la Serre, who was also his childhood friend and former lover. The Assassin proposed an alliance between her and the Brotherhood as she was targeted by a radical faction of the Templars. Firstly reluctant, she accepted.^[5]

During the Revolution, the Café Théâtre fought Les Actes des Apôtres, an extremist royalist faction that committed crimes across the city. When they burned rare manuscripts, Dorian recovered them and brought them to the Café.^[6] Later, Gouze sent her informant Colette to an inn of Les Actes des Apôtres to spy them. When she discovered their leader Renard, the innkeeper tried to kill her but she was saved by Dorian.^[7] When the former Queen's dressmaker Rose Bertin accepted to work for the Café Théâtre, Les Actes des Apôtres targeted her but Dorian protected her and recovered her costumes for the Café.^[8]

By September 1792, as Les Actes des Apôtres planned to sell the Sancy Diamond to finance an attack, Gouze used one of his contacts to buy the diamond with counterfeit livres. The royalists discovered the trap but Dorian recovered the Diamond and gave it to a smuggler who sent it to Russia.^[9] To end their harassment, Gouze tasked Dorian to kill Renard. One of her contacts tried to lure one of Renard's henchmen but he was killed. Dorian interrogated him and discovered Renard's hideout. Killing the leader, the Assassin protected the establishment.^[10]

The Assassins continued to operate out of the Café Théâtre long after the French Revolution, all the way up until World War I.^[1]

Renovations[]

Ground floor[]

Renovating the ground floor allowed for an upgrade to the Café's kitchen, and opened up a blocked area which was turned into a club hall, a location for local Assassins to meet.

Hallway[]

Renovating the hallway allowed for additions of new artwork and decoration of the walls.

Exterior[]

Renovating the exterior reopened the courtyard well and the surrounding area. The well acted as a route into the tunnels below the Café, which connected to the Assassin Sanctuary.

Upper floors[]

Renovating the upper floor restored specific rooms within the Café, the training room, trophy room, and Arno's quarters.

Tunnels[]

Renovating the tunnel under the Café allowed it to connect to the existing tunnels to the district's east bank.

Rooms[]

Intendant's Study[]

In this room, Arno could collect income from the Café Théâtre and initiate renovations.

Armor Room[]

This room contained the armor of Thomas de Carneillon, and Arno could interact with the mechanisms to unlock it.

Club Hall[]

In this room, Assassins could gather and form teams to take on more difficult missions.

Training Room[]

Here Arno could train to improve his Assassin and combat skills.

Memento Gallery[]

Arno kept mementos of his completed missions here.

Arno's Room[]

Arno's room, containing his bed, gear, and letters from Élise.

Legacy Room[]

This room contained additional outfits.

Staff[]

Charlotte Gouze — Manager
Arno Dorian — Steward
An intendant
Augustin Grisier — Fencing master
Celestine — Scullery maid
Nicolas — Gardener
A cook
A waiter
A doorman
Rose Bertin — Dressmaker
Actors, singers and musicians

Trivia[]

The Café Théâtre featured in Assassin's Creed Unity is anachronistic, as historically the first café-théâtre was created in 1966 by Bernard Da Costa.