Michel Moulin

Michel Moulin
Biographical information
Species	Human
Political information
Affiliations	Assassins French Brotherhood

Michel Moulin was a member of the French Brotherhood of Assassins who operated in Paris in the mid-19th century.

Biography

Finding the Magus

Operating in a team alongside Henri Escoffier and Amira Benyamina at the Gare de l'Est, Michel met with a former Assassin apprentice, Simeon Price. Offering food and hospitality, Michel responded to Price's questions about Felice Orsini and the potential presence of a man named the "Magus". Michel promised to contact the British Assassins to keep an eye on Orsini but had no knowledge of anyone called the Magus. Some time after the Orsini affair, Michel and Amira walked in on an argument between Price and his new apprentice, Pierrette Arnaud.

Within a conversation between the four of them, Michel recounted his recent meeting with Kane, who came to help them find the artifact before the Templars could. However, talks became more serious as Kane's arrival put pieces together as his presence and opportunities put him atop the suspects' list of being the Magus. In disbelief, Moulin slowly realized the events connected but was unsure of the motive. Yet, their talks surmised that Kane had betrayed them as he lied about being in Paris earlier than needed. Helping Price and Arnaud look for Kane, he advised both of them to make contact with one of the few British Assassins in London, Ethan Frye.

Leading the Parisian Assassins

By 1870, Michel became a Master Assassin and leader of the French Brotherhood after Henri left for Zürich and Amira for Cairo. Mentoring three new Assassins, Mary Fitzpatrick, Jean-Baptiste Barbeau, and Sami Zidane, Michel welcomed back Simeon, who came to track Art Hennighan's location and the Ankh. Michel assigned him to assassinate Virgile Donat, a French Templar and glass factory owner who may know about Art's whereabouts. After Simeon killed Donat, Michel learned of his success but worried about the impending war between France and Prussia. Believing the German Templars were behind the instigation, he asked for Simeon to stay to protect Paris, to which Price agreed.

Franco-Prussian War

To pause any instigation, Michel sent Simeon with his own factory workers Jules Sabourin and Fabrice Sabourin to cut telegraph lines between Prussia and their allies. However, their efforts were for naught as the Franco-Prussian War started. In the fall of that year, Michel reused the abandoned Gare de l'Est hideout to rework the French government after the fall of the Second French Empire. Meanwhile, he assigned Simeon to escort the former Empress Eugénie de Montijo out of Paris.

With the Government of National Defense established, Michel met with allies Dr. Georges Clemenceau and Nathalie Lemel about helping the Parisians and devising a plan to overtake Le Bourget from the Prussians. Before speaking more, Michel received French Templar Victoire L'Estocq as an uninvited guest. When she offered a new government in place of the current one, Michel refused outright and told her that all of them will face the outcomes of the Prussians' attack. After Victoire left, Michel continued with their plan on Le Bourget.

Although their plan to take over Le Bourget worked, within three days, the Assassins retreated while the Prussians attacked and burned down the village. Using their pigeon carriers, Michel and Simeon intercepted a message to Victoire from Konstanze von Visler about moving the Ankh out of Paris and how Brussels was planning for France's new government through controling the Tours government. Michel planned to send someone to Brussels before making a heliograph communication center in Tours. With no one else, Michel agreed with Simeon, who offered himself to go.

Restoring Paris

After the war ended, Michel received correspondence from Simeon, who detailed of his temporary alliance with the countess to discuss both their ideals. Michel responded with a faint hope to convert Konstanze to the Assassins. Within two years, he learned that Konstanze left the Order for the Assassins and Simeon. Within the next three years, Michel learned that Konstanze betrayed Simeon and how the Zurich Assassins moved their base of operations as a result.

In 1879, Michel and Amira were informed by Pierrette about the new breed she found from her friend Anne Blunt called "Pegasi," to which she theorized to be from Hennighan's use of the Ankh to revive an old horse to create a better transportation through a new horse breed. In 1888, after years of working together, Michel and Mary became married in a small ceremony. In 1889, Michel welcomed back Simeon but only gave him local missions due to Simeon's judgment skills. Assigning him to kill Templar gangster Centime, Michel tasked newly inducted member Fabrice to find Konstanze, who arrived in Paris for the new tower.

However, Michel was given proof from Simeon and Fabrice of a puzzle box. With Mary's help, Michel learned that Konstanze created the Engine of History and how the Assassins were at an end from an unknown sender to Konstanze. The Assassins soon learned of the place to be at Paris' newly constructed Eiffel Tower. Learning of the Templars' plans, Michel ordered the tower to be destroyed due to the Engine of History and planned their mission in details. With everyone assigned a part, Michel, Simeon and their team laid out their plans to destroy the tower.

Stopping their bomb

The next night, the explosives were ready as Michel almost ordered the destruction. However, he received a Morse code above from Simeon and Spider Wallin to stop the bombing as it was a trap by the Templars. After stopping their plans, they all met and discussed the recent events with Konstanze and the truth about the Engine of History. While his fellow Assassins unplant their explosives, Moulin checked on Pierrette, who was injured earlier by the countess. He relayed to Simeon that she is alive but needed weeks of recovery for her shattered hip.

Behind the scenes

Michel Moulin is a character introduced in the first novel of the Assassin's Creed: The Engine of History series, The Magus Conspiracy, written by Kate Heartfield and released in August 2022. He made a reappearance in its July 2023 sequel The Resurrection Plot, also written by Heartfield.

Etymology

The given name Michel is Hebrew in origin translating to "Who is Like God?" The surname Moulin translates in French and from Late Latin to the word, "mill."

Appearances

• Assassin's Creed: The Engine of History – The Magus Conspiracy (first appearance)
• Assassin's Creed: The Engine of History – The Resurrection Plot