Earlier this year, Ubisoft showed the world the future of theAssassin’s Creedfranchise during a 15th-anniversary live stream announcing a multitude of games. The universe and lore of the AC franchise will expand in the near and distant future withAssassin’s Creed Mirage,Assassin’s Creed Red, andAssassin’s Creed Hexe, withMirageseemingly returning the franchise to its roots andRedbringing the series to the highly-requested Feudal Japan setting. However, the biggest questions about the series' future lie withAssassin’s CreedHexe.
Not much is known aboutAssassin’s Creed Hexeright now except for the few bits and pieces that fans have stitched together, most of which hint at a German setting in the late 16th century. Upon diving into thelore of theAssassin’s Creedgamesand its off-shoot media, it’s evident that Germany could be one of the most compelling settings for the series so far, shouldHexedecide to go that route. The German Brotherhood of Assassins is an order shrouded in mystery, founded in regrets, and a group that could hold a significant key to the franchise’s future.
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Vitus and the Foundation of the German Brotherhood of Assassins
The German Brotherhood of Assassins begins its story in 423 CE, right between the foundation of the Hidden Ones in 49 BC duringAssassin’s Creed Originsand Eivor’s story in 855 CE duringValhalla. During this time, the Roman cell of Hidden Ones throughout Leicester, England, was the subject of scrutiny following the death of Roman Emperor Honorius and the Roman Legion’s retraction throughout much of Brittania. As the Hidden Ones filled the power vacuum in the area, instability grew between the various tribes in the region, all of which were displeased with how the local Roman Hidden Ones chapter was handling its growing power.
Instead of starting a war with the local tribes and further destabilizing the region, magister Vitus elected to move the bureau to Cologne and join up with the local HIdden Ones chapter, establishing the first unified Assassin Order in the area. Keen-eyed fans ofAssassin’s Creed Valhallawill notice that this is the same Vitus from which the Magister’s Set of armor comes from, and with that set came notes where Vitus wrote about regrets during his time with the Brotherhood. Vitus states that all the meddling and fighting the Assassins did with the Templars would be the reason for the incoming Dark Ages, as both parties weakened the foundations of society.
The Brotherhood of the Cross and the Ankh
Almost one thousand years later, the German Brotherhood of Assassins was a firmly grounded order with great importance to Central Europe in the 1300s. However, this would be a time of tremendous turmoil for some regions of Germany, specifically Essen. In 1348 the plague spread to the town of Essen and devastated the local population, leaving many seeking refuge where they could find it. This is when the Brothers of the Cross come into the fold and start a conflict with the German Brotherhood. The Brothers of the Cross are asecret Templar Order in theAssassin’s Creedlorethat promised aid to the people of Essen but were suspected of having ulterior motives by the German Brotherhood of Assassins.
Indeed, the Brothers of the Cross were mainly on the lookout for a rumoredPiece of Edenknown as the Ankh. The Ankh was whispered to be a powerful artifact from the Egyptian goddess Isis, capable of healing the sick and curing the dead. Before the arrival of the Brothers of the Cross in 1348, the last known location of the Ankh was with a branch of the Assassins in Lugdunum–now known as modern-day France–before it was lost and rumored to be elsewhere in Central Europe. Given its rumored powers, the Ankh would be a powerful tool in the hands of the Templars for curing the plague, becoming saviors, and eventually controlling the population.
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The Strange Disappearance of Lukas Zurburg
Shortly before the arrival of the Brothers of the Cross, the German Brotherhood of Assassins had recruited a young traveler named Lukas Zurburg in 1338; a figure who would become central to the German Assassins during this time. Lukas discovered that the Ankh was somewhere in Central Europe, likely in or near Essen during this time, and suspected the Brothers of the Cross to be after this Piece of Eden with hopes of controlling the local population. What transpired between the Assassins, Lukas, and the Brothers of the Cross is unknown; however, in 1350, all three parties disappeared without a trace. The fate of all three parties remains a considerablemystery in theAssassin’s Creeduniverse.
In the modern day, the story surrounding the German Brotherhood of Assassins would be dug up by Master Templar Juhani Otso Berg. As gathered by his appearances inAssassin’s Creed RogueandSyndicate, Berg would go hunting for the Ankh in Essen but found nothing of value in his search. His hunt would go so poorly that Berg would go on to claim the whole story about the Brothers of the Cross, Lukas Zurburg, and the Ankh was nothing more than an elaborate hoax created by the Assassins to lead Abstergo astray. However, there is enough smoke surrounding the Ankh that it could lead to something in future games.
Assassin’s Creed Hexe Could Be the Key to the Mystery
Assassin’s Creedhas never been known to be a particularly scary franchise, but it has frequently delved into the supernatural with its Pieces of Eden and mythological creatures.Hexewould be an excellent opportunity to explore the franchise’s mystical side using the mysteries of the German Brotherhood. So far, mostevidence points toAssassin’s Creed Hexebeing set in Germanyin the late 16th century with a much darker tone. More specifically, the game is speculated to take place during the Witch Hunts of Germany, hinted at by the codename being German for “witch” and slight hints from its marketing imagery. For context, thousands of people were accused of witchcraft and executed during this time, with hysteria surrounding the occult at an all-time high.
Given the eerie trailer and subject matter,Assassin’s Creed Hexemight be a perfect candidate for bringing closure to Lukas’ story and locating the whereabouts of the Ankh. As a storytelling device, the Ankh is ideal for anAssassin’s Creedgame that wants to dive into the occultdue to the Piece of Eden’s supernatural healing and resurrection capabilities. Zombies, magic, and the like might be odd in anAssassin’s Creedgame, but stranger things have happened to the franchise. Of course, one of the biggest mysteries is what happened between Lukas Zurburg and the Brothers of the Cross. Perhaps both parties dug up something they shouldn’t have or discovered something so intense that they abandoned their orders. Maybe onlyAssassin’s Creed Hexecan answer what happened to Lukas Zurburg, the Brotherhood of the Cross, and where the elusive Ankh is today.
Assassin’s Creed Hexeis currently in development.
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