Robert Faulkner (born 1715) was a veteran sailor and first mate aboard the Aquila, during Ratonhnhaké:ton's captaincy. Although he was a fourth generation sailor in his family, he was the first to be recruited into the Colonial Brotherhood of Assassins.
Biography[]
Early life[]
- "You saved my salty skin, but what's more, you saved my most excellent crew. Should I make ten fortunes I could never repay you for that. And so I will be very honoured indeed to help prepare a shipping route between the colonies and your people in Europe."
- ―Faulkner in a letter to Achilles Davenport, 1750.[src]-[m]
Faulkner began his career in the Royal Navy, but as he was unable to purchase commissions, he left to work for the United Company of Merchants. Faulkner proved to be great mariner, running a disciplined crew and avoiding trouble. He also had an uncanny knack of predicting the weather.[1]
During his time as a merchant in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Faulkner served with David and Richard Clutterbuck on the Stalwart from 1750, and was in a relationship with Amanda Bailey.[2] During this time, he and his crew were saved by the Aquila and Achilles Davenport, Mentor of the Colonial Assassins. Impressed by the ship and grateful to Achilles, he offered his aid, creating a shipping route between the Colonial Assassins and the European branches of the Order, with the help of Chevalier de la Vérendrye.[3]
In 1751, Faulkner started investigating two powerful French shipping companies—the Lévesque Family and the de L'Isle family—suspecting an affiliation with the Templars. He became worried about the future, and shared his concerns with Chevalier.[4] Two years later, Faulkner was officially recruited by the Colonial Assassins to be first mate of their ship the Aquila, abruptly leaving his friends. He served aboard for fifteen years, though he deferred the position of captain.[1]
During the 1760s, the Colonial Templars launched an all-out extermination campaign against the Assassins, culminating in the Aquila's destruction in 1768. Faulkner, who was one of the few Colonial Assassins to survive the purge, had the wreck towed to the Davenport Homestead's harbor, and fell into alcoholism, living in a shack near the shoreline.[2]
Mentoring Connor[]
In March 1770, Achilles introduced Faulkner to his new recruit Connor. The young Assassin had recruited the lumberers Terry and Godfrey, who gathered the timber necessary to repair the ship. Six months later, after the Aquila had been repaired, Faulkner gathered a crew and took Connor aboard to teach him how to captain a ship.[5]
Faulkner with a young Connor
They sailed to Martha's Vineyard to buy cannons and recruit gunnery officers. Faulkner reunited with Amanda, David and Richard, and recruited the latter two. However, Connor noticed the Templars Nicholas Biddle and Benjamin Church sitting nearby, and almost provoked them into a fight before Faulkner and Bailey defused the situation.[6]
Faulkner later taught Connor how to use the Aquila's newly-equipped cannons and swivel guns. However, as they began sailing home, they were waylaid by English frigates, giving Connor a baptism of fire.[6]
In 1773, the Aquila sailed to Martha's Vineyard following reports of gunboats gathering to threaten merchant ships. Connor and Faulkner escorted a ship to safety while firing on the gunboats. They encountered a blockade of naval mines: Faulkner suggested firing on the mines to use them to their advantage. They then discovered Fort Phoenix had been reoccupied, and despite heavy mortar fire, the Aquila managed to destroy the fort. Faulkner deduced Templars were responsible for the raids, while Connor opted to sail home to piece things together.[7]
Connor and Faulkner approaching Fort Wolcott
That same year, Connor began searching for William Kidd's fabled treasure. During these voyages, the Aquila was anchored and Faulkner would row a boat to take Connor where he needed to be. The first clue to Kidd's treasure was located in Fort Wolcott; Connor infiltrated the fort and obtained part of the treasure map, while Faulkner returned to the Aquila and ordered an attack so the captain could make his escape.[8]
In 1774, Faulkner accompanied Connor to Dead Chest Island for the second part of Kidd's treasure map,[9] and to Cerros where the Assassin searched for Kidd's cutlass.[10]
American Revolutionary War[]
In 1776, the Aquila sailed to Nantucket. There, Faulkner and Connor rendezvoused with Bailey, who informed them that Nicholas Biddle—now captain of the USS Randolph—was raiding the coast. The Aquila sailed into a storm to rescue a merchant ship that was under attack being by the Randolph and her fleet.[11]
Faulkner, Connor and Amanda Bailey aboard the Aquila
After saving it, they pursued the Randolph, but were attacked by English frigates. Although they managed to sink them, the delay and the storm forced the Aquila to abandon its pursuit. Faulkner was confused as to why Biddle, a Patriot, was working with the British, but Connor realized he was manipulating them to convince the Continental Congress to strengthen the Navy.[11]
Later that year, the Aquila sailed to the Caribbean Sea to escort the French supply ship La Belladonna. The Randolph had been her escort, but had abandoned her. The British soon attacked, and their Man O' War disabled La Belladonna. The Aquila boarded the Man O' War and Connor interrogated the captain, who was a Templar that had been alerted to La Belladonna by Biddle. When Connor spotted the Randolph, Faulkner ordered an attack, but the captain belayed that order as he could not leave La Belladonna defenseless.[12]
1776 also saw the Aquila sailing to the Northwest Passage[13] and Jamaica[14] so Connor could recover two more pieces of Kidd's treasure map. Looking at the complete map, Faulkner realized the treasure was on Oak Island, a forgettable isle he had sailed past dozens of times. When they arrived there a year later, Faulkner was nervous, concerned by the lengths Kidd had gone to hide his treasure on such a remote island.[15]
Connor showing Kidd's Ring of Eden to Faulkner
After Connor found the sinkhole the treasure was buried in, they were attacked by wolves; Faulkner ran, but the captain quickly dispatched them. Following this, they used explosives to open the sinkhole and Connor leapt in. When he finally emerged from a cave, Faulkner was disappointed to see that he had found nothing more than a mere coin. But when he lifted his flask to have a drink, the coin emitted an energy field that knocked it out of his hand, and Connor realized that Kidd's treasure was a Ring of Eden.[15]
In 1778, Faulkner sailed to Martinique with Connor and his father, the Templar Haytham Kenway, to find Benjamin Church, who had stolen supplies from the Continental Army at Valley Forge. During the voyage, Faulkner defended Connor from Haytham's dismissive and critical attitude towards his son's sailing. When the Aquila disabled Church's ship, Faulkner realized Haytham had pushed Connor to take the wheel, and collided the ships to board. Regardless, Faulkner continued with his duty of ordering the men to hook the ships up and attack.[16]
Faulkner questioning Connor's decision to abandon the USS Randolph
That same year, the Aquila located the Randolph near the Bahamas, successfully boarding her so Connor could assassinate Biddle. However, Connor opted to fulfil Biddle's last request of letting him sink with his ship—much to Faulkner's disappointment, as he considered sinking the Randolph a waste of a good vessel. Regardless, he encouraged Connor to let the crew celebrate their victory.[17]
In September 1781, Faulkner sailed with Connor during the Battle of the Chesapeake. The Aquila was ordered to hold the bay with just two other ships, until Admiral De Grasse returned with the main fleet. Ultimately, her allies were sunk and the Aquila's guns were disabled by a Man O' War.[18]
To Faulkner's disbelief, Connor rammed the ship, jumped on board and detonated the vessel's gunpowder storage, before returning to the Aquila just as the enemy Man O' War exploded. Faulkner cheerfully dubbed Connor a "mad bastard" for his actions, just as the French fleet arrived to relieve them.[18]
Alternate timeline[]
Faulkner with Ratonhnhaké:ton and Franklin
In an alternate reality where George Washington used an Apple of Eden to become a tyrannical king, Faulkner lived in Boston, drowning his sorrows after Benjamin Franklin had confiscated the Aquila. However, Ratonhnhaké:ton and Franklin appeared, prompting Faulkner to try to strangle the latter. Ratonhnhaké:ton intervened, explaining Franklin was now working with the rebels, and that he would get his ship back.[19]
While Ratonhnhaké:ton killed the snipers guarding the docks and untied the ropes docking the Aquila, Faulkner gathered a crew. They charged the docks the following morning, and swam to the drifting Aquila while Ratonhnhaké:ton held off Washington's soldiers. Eventually they all escaped on board, and sailed to New York City to confront the king.[20]
The Aquila soon engaged Washington's fleet in New York's bay, and ran out of gunpowder. Ratonhnhaké:ton ordered everyone on board to swim away to shore, while he rammed the ship into a Man O' War.[21]
Personality and traits[]
Faulkner asking for Connor's help in restoring the Aquila
Faulkner was a calm, respectful and wise man but could, at rare times, be short-tempered. As a sailor, Robert had a keen interest in sailing the ocean, and often enjoyed singing shanties during his travels. Despite his extensive knowledge regarding the ocean, Faulkner believed himself unworthy to become a full pledged captain, and often referred to the position of quartermaster instead, a role which he personally felt more suited with.[2]
Upon joining the Assassin Order, Faulkner acted as a mentor to Connor, whom the latter gained a clear respect for. The elder sailor was initially frustrated by Connor's complete lack of nautical knowledge, but the young Assassin eventually proved himself at the helm and exceeded all of his expectations. Faulkner would later defend Connor's sailing to Haytham Kenway, claiming that the boy was "yet to disappoint", and proudly dubbed him a "mad bastard" after Connor's plan to ram the Aquila into an enemy Man O' War to board it proved successful.[2]
Equipment and skills[]
Faulkner commanding the crew during a boarding
As a veteran sailor, Faulkner possessed exceptional skill in sailing and nagivating across the Atlantic. His vast insight and knowledge regarding the ocean led him to becoming First Mate of the Aquila. Additionally, his commercial skills helped secure a route linking the Colonial Brotherhood with other branches across the Atlantic. In terms of equipment, Faulkner wielded a single cutlass.[2]
Trivia[]
- Faulkner's voice actor, Kevin McNally, portrayed Joshamee Gibbs, the first mate aboard the Black Pearl in the Pirates of the Caribbean film series. Faulkner also shares some similarities to Gibbs, his appearance and his superstition, as they both believe having a woman aboard, and stepping on the ship with the left leg first, are omens of bad luck.
- Following the destruction of the USS Randolph, Faulkner could be heard leading "Wild Rover," an Irish folk song that was written in the late 16th century.
- For reasons unknown, Faulkner did not attend Achilles' funeral in the memory "Legacy".
- Mysteriously, Faulkner and the Aquila do not make an appearance in Assassin's Creed: Rogue, only being mentioned in war letters that can be found by Shay Cormac.
Gallery[]
Appearances[]
- Assassin's Creed III (first appearance)
- Assassin's Creed: Forsaken
- Assassin's Creed: Rogue (mentioned only)
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Assassin's Creed III – Database: Robert Faulkner
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Assassin's Creed III
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Rogue – War Letters: "The Stalwart"
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Rogue – War Letters: "First Mate"
- ↑ Assassin's Creed III – Training Begins
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Assassin's Creed III – The Hard Way
- ↑ Assassin's Creed III – The Chase
- ↑ Assassin's Creed III – Fort Wolcott
- ↑ Assassin's Creed III – Dead Chest's Treasure
- ↑ Assassin's Creed III – The Ruins at Cerros
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Assassin's Creed III – The Rescue
- ↑ Assassin's Creed III – French Involvement
- ↑ Assassin's Creed III – The Ghost Ship
- ↑ Assassin's Creed III – The Mad Doctor's Castle
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 Assassin's Creed III – Oak Island
- ↑ Assassin's Creed III – A Bitter End
- ↑ Assassin's Creed III – Biddle's Hideout
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 Assassin's Creed III – Battle of the Chesapeake
- ↑ Assassin's Creed III – The Tyranny of King Washington: The Betrayal – Aquila Unchained
- ↑ Assassin's Creed III – The Tyranny of King Washington: The Betrayal – Escape to New York
- ↑ Assassin's Creed III – The Tyranny of King Washington: The Redemption – Dark Waters
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||