Christopher Gist

"We live in a time of war, Shay, but it's always wartime for us."

―Christopher Gist to Shay Cormac, 1758.^[src]^-[m]

Christopher Gist (born 1706) was an accomplished American explorer, surveyor, and frontiersman, and a member of the British and Colonial Rites of the Templar Order. During the Seven Years' War, he served as the first mate aboard Shay Cormac's sloop-of-war, the Morrigan, and later oversaw the purge of the Colonial Brotherhood of Assassins following Shay's departure to Europe.

Biography[]

Early life[]

Born in Baltimore in 1706, little of Gist's background is known. Despite a lack of formal education, he was trained in surveying and became a successful frontiersman. Prior to the Seven Years' War, Gist settled in North Carolina and was the neighbor of Daniel Boone, another celebrated frontiersman.^[1]

At some point while in Albany, Gist met the young thief Jack Weeks when the latter attempted to pickpocket him. Impressed by the boy's audacious attitude, Gist hired him as an errand boy and brought him along on his travels, teaching him about trading as well as how to imitate people of various social status and origins.^[2]

Around 1746, Gist became an associate of the Templar Order in the British colonies, led by Lawrence Washington. That year, Washington wrote Gist a letter discussing the Colonial Templars' need for a front company to double as a communications network. Washington also noted that William Johnson could prove a valuable ally as he had recently been appointed Colonel of the Warriors of the Six Nations and held good relations with the Kanien'kehá:ka, and suggested to Gist that they start making friendly appeals to Johnson.^[3]

By 1750, Gist was working with the Templar James Wardrop to acquire North American land for the Order, evicting many native tribes from their ancestral lands in the process.^[4] At some point, Gist also became acquainted with Wardrop's fellow Templar Samuel Smith, whom he enjoyed drinking with.^[5] In 1751, Gist and Weeks were formally inducted into the Order by Colonel George Monro, whereupon the former was tasked with exploring the colonies and forming relations with the indigenous people settled there to secure alliances and commercial lanes.^[1]

In 1753, Gist accompanied George Washington to deliver a message to the French forces, demanding that they leave the Ohio County, sparking the French and Indian War. During the war, Gist continued to fight at Washington's side, as both men became involved in the Braddock Expedition in July 1755.^[1]

Meeting Shay Cormac[]

Gist: "She's a fine ship. And true to my word, I've found a crew for her. I did leave one position unfilled, though. Tell me, Shay, do you have a first mate?"

Shay: "He's... long gone."

Gist: "Then I apply for the post, Captain!"

Shay: "Welcome aboard."

—Gist offering his services to Shay, 1756.^[src]^-[m]

In early 1756, George Monro's men found Shay Cormac adrift and unconscious in the Atlantic Ocean, and the Colonel decided to rescue him. Gist and the other Templars quickly deduced Shay to be an Assassin, but as Monro suspected Shay had turned his back on his Brotherhood, they decided to keep him in the dark regarding their affiliations and give him a chance to prove himself to the Order.^[6]

A Long Walk And A Short Drop 10 — Shay accepting Gist as his first mate

Months later, Gist discovered that the Assassin-affiliated gangs in New York were working on creating new weaponry. After informing Monro, he attempted to take down the criminals set up at Fort Arsenal, but was captured and set to be hanged. Gist was subsequently saved by the timely arrival of Shay, who had been sent by Monro to help.^[7]

With Fort Arsenal liberated, Shay entertained the idea of using it as his own residence, though Gist warned him that the nearby harbor and ship were still occupied by gang members. Upon discovering that said ship was the Morrigan, his former vessel, Shay agreed to work together with Gist; Shay took out the criminals in the harbor, while Gist went to find crew members. The two then reunited at the ship, where Gist applied for the position of first mate, which Shay accepted.^[7]

Quartermaster of the Morrigan[]

Shay: "Gist, I've a question for you. How long have you known of my, well, former allegiance?"

Gist: "Oh, you mean the Assassins? I knew that ages ago, Shay! I may be drunk, but I'm not blind. Or did you think I would assume you had escaped from some homicidal circus?"

Shay: "Why didn't you say anything?"

Gist: "Well, the Colonel wanted us to avoid the subject so it wouldn't, you know, influence your decision-making."

—Gist and Shay discussing the latter's former affiliations, 1757.^[src]^-[m]

With their new crew and ship, Shay and Gist sailed to Albany to meet Monro, who informed them of a nearby French fort that posed a potential threat to the region's safety. After raiding a warehouse to acquire items to reinforce the Morrigan, Shay attacked the fort and destroyed its defenses, then headed inside to eliminate Le Chasseur, who commanded the defenses. Meanwhile, Gist left the Morrigan and "stumbled" upon the fort's treasury, finding a map and charts detailing various French trade routes.^[8]

Keep Your Friends Close 7 — Gist and Monro congratulating Shay

When Shay returned to the ship, Gist told him about his discovery and suggested building their own fleet to help the Royal Navy and fill their pockets in the process.^[8] The two then sailed back to New York, where Shay was informed by Monro of the gangs' plan to use poisonous gases against the city's authorities. After Shay destroyed the criminals' poison factory, Gist, Monro, Jack Weeks, and William Johnson arrived to congratulate him before Gist suggested that they go drinking to celebrate.^[9]

In August 1757, after over a year of working together, Gist told Shay that he and the other Templars had been aware of his former allegiance for a long time and that Monro had asked them not to say anything on the matter to avoid influencing Shay's decision to help the Order. After adding that he would have had Shay inducted into the Order months ago, the pair sailed to Fort William Henry to assist Monro, whose forces had come under attack by the Abenaki.^[6]

After saving Monro and his men, Gist and Shay went to help Johnson's regiment and the Oneida village of Orenda, both of which had come under attack by the French Army.^[10] Later, the pair sailed to Albany, where Monro's forces had been ambushed by the French and their native allies led by the Assassin Kesegowaase. Although Shay managed to eliminate Kesegowaase, he failed to prevent Monro's death at the hands of the Assassin Liam O'Brien. Subsequently, the Templars decided to induct Shay into the Order in Monro's place, and Gist attended the ceremony at Fort Arsenal.^[11]

Hunting the Assassins[]

Shay: "So what happens now?"

Haytham: "Master Gist will be in charge of eradicating any remaining traces of the Assassins. Master Weeks and the others will assist him, of course."

—Shay and Haytham following the confrontation in the Arctic Temple, 1760.^[src]^-[m]

Men o' War 14 — Haytham, Gist, Shay, and Cook aboard the HMS *Pembroke*

In June 1758, Gist, Shay, and the Colonial Templars' Grand Master Haytham Kenway participated in the Siege of Louisbourg, using James Cook's Man O' War, the HMS Pembroke, to repel an attack by the French Navy and the Experto Crede, captained by the Assassin Adéwalé.^[12] As Adéwalé managed to escape the battle, the Templars later tracked him down and killed him at Vieille Carrière. When Shay expressed remorse about taking Adéwalé's life, claiming that he was a good man, Gist reminded him that Lawrence Washington, Samuel Smith, and James Wardrop, all of whom Shay had killed during his time as an Assassin, had also been good men.^[5]

In early 1760, Gist and Shay met with James Cook to enlist his aid in tracking down the Assassin Louis-Joseph Gaultier, Chevalier de la Vérendrye. At Cook's suggestion, the two sailed to Anticosti Island to steal de la Vérendrye's maps, and during the voyage, Shay expressed remorse over having killed his former friend Hope Jensen. Gist tried to cheer him up, telling him that he had done the right thing, as Hope's death had rid New York of Assassin influence. The two then discussed what Shay had managed to learn from Hope, namely the fact that the Assassins were preparing an expedition to find an Isu temple, which the Templars sought to prevent.^[13]

Cold Fire 8 — Shay and Gist parting ways with James Cook

After Shay stole the maps, Cook was able to pinpoint de la Vérendrye's location and the Templars sailed there, only to be ambushed by the Assassin's fleet. Nevertheless, the Morrigan prevailed and sunk the enemy ships, including de la Vérendrye's Man O' War, the Gerfaut. However, before the Assassin's demise, Shay learned that he had merely acted as a distraction and that the Brotherhood was already on its way to the Arctic Temple.^[14]

Sailing there after parting ways with Cook, Gist remained aboard the Morrigan while Shay and Haytham Kenway went ashore to investigate the temple and prevent the Assassins from meddling with the technology inside. Ultimately, Shay and Haytham were able to eliminate the Assassin expedition, sparing only the Mentor Achilles Davenport, so that he could warn other Assassins about the dangers of Isu sites.^[15]

Shortly after this victory, Shay left for Europe to search for a Precursor box while Gist and the other Templars stayed behind to eradicate the remaining Assassins in the colonies. Haytham placed Gist in charge of the Colonial Brotherhood's purge,^[15] a task which he was ultimately successful at, resulting in a complete absence of Assassin influence in the colonies for nearly a decade.^[16]

Personality and traits[]

"You saved my life out of pure selfless instinct, and helped countless others besides. If it were up to me, I would have made you an official Templar months ago."

―Christopher Gist to Shay Cormac, 1757.^[src]^-[m]

Gist was a friendly, eloquent, and laid-back individual who often brought in light-hearted humor in conversations with his fellow Templars. Nonetheless, he deeply believed in the Templar cause and sought to restore order to the colonies. Although he initially questioned the path he had taken after joining the Order in his youth, meeting Geroge Monro put those doubts to rest.^[8]

Gist possessed a great sense of loyalty towards Shay, after the latter saved his life, offering to become his first mate aboard the Morrigan.^[7] Even though Gist was well aware of Shay's former allegiance to the Assassins, he showed no animosity or lack of trust towards him. In fact, he even mentioned that he would have recommended Shay as a member of the Order months before Shay's actual induction.^[6] The two often discussed topics outside their work in the Order, such as politics. Gist became Shay's confidant over time, as the latter was even willing to speak out his remorse in killing his former comrades, most notably Hope Jensen.^[13]

Behind the scenes[]

Christopher Gist is a historical figure and character appearing in Assassin's Creed: Rogue, where he is voiced by Richard M. Dumont. He is portrayed with an Oxford Mid-Atlantic accent.

Historically, Gist was part of the Braddock Expedition and was believed to have even saved George Washington twice, first from an attack by Native Americans and later helping him up in a raft. In-game, neither Gist nor any of the other characters mention this heroic action, nor do they mention his or Haytham Kenway's role in the Braddock Expedition.^[17]

Additionally, Gist is believed to have died in 1759, which the game contradicts, showing him surviving until at least 1760. Although conflicting reports have Gist surviving until as late as 1794, this is less commonly accepted by historians.^[17]

A glitch can occur with Gist where his hair turns grey for a moment before switching back to its normal color. Another glitch sometimes occurs in the memory "Bravado", where there are two of Gist in the cutscene: one at the Morrigan's helm and one who converses with Shay, James Cook, and Haytham Kenway.