Shay Patrick Cormac (1731 - 1803) was a member of the Assassin Order from 1748 to 1756 who later joined the Templar Order and hunted down his former comrades. Cormac was the captain of the sloop Morrigan during the Seven Years' War, and he roamed the Hudson River Valley and the North Atlantic Ocean with his crew, attacking French and British ships. Cormac was the main leader of the Colonial Assassin Purge of 1756-1761, and spent much of this time in search of the Voynich Manuscript, an artifact coveted by both the Assassins and Templars. His search ended in Versailles in 1776, when he killed Charles Dorian, the father of the future assassin Arno Dorian. Although the American Revolution had destroyed much of the Templar influence in the Americas, Cormac saw promise in the upcoming revolution in France, and masterminded the recovery of the order.
Biography[]
Shay Cormac was born in New York City to immigrants from Dublin, Ireland. His mother died in childbirth and his father served in the merchant marine. While visiting his father at the docks one day, Shay met an older boy, Liam O'Brien, and the two became friends. Shay was raised by his aunt in a poor and dangerous neighborhood, and Liam helped Shay learn how to fend for himself. By the tender age of eight, Shay earned a reputation as a brawler, and his father brought him aboard his ship. Shay was always on the lookout for an adventure and, although he would miss his friend Liam, he eagerly agreed and began to work for a living. Shay began to train with a sword and a pistol so he could join the crew in fending off pirates. In one such incident, Shay single-handedly faced down and shot a pirate captain, saving his ship.
Achilles Davenport
In 1747, disaster struck at sea when a storm claimed many lives of Shay's crew, including his father. Shay returned to New York and spent his days wandering from one tavern to the next, starting one brawl after another. By chance, in 1748, Shay reunited with Liam OBrien, who helped him get back on his feet. After that, the two became inseparable. Liam introduced Shay to Achilles Davenport and he learned about the Assassin Order and their creed. He joined them a year later. His training was assigned to Liam and his fellow recruits Hope Jensen, Chevalier de la Verendrye, and Kesegowaase.
In January 1752, he camped on Port Menier on the island of Anticosti with Verendrye, Hope, Kesegowaase, and Liam, and trained there by attempting to attack Liam from above after a chase. However, Liam dodged him, and told him that him "nearly" getting him was not enough. When they heard shots, they headed to the Chevalier's camp. Liam told Shay that he was meeting with smugglers, but the reason was secret. When they headed to the Chevalier, he told them that the British killed his men. When Shay disrespectfully referred to the Chevalier as "Captain" when he said that he was busy and could not rescue the smugglers with him, the Chevalier hit him in the face. The two fought until Liam broke up the fight, and all of them headed to rescue the smugglers from the British. He killed the guards defending four smugglers on the shore, and freed the smugglers being held on the schooner HMS Morrigan after killing the sailors with the aid of the Chevalier and the other assassins. Shay took a liking to the schooner, and Chevalier let him take over the ship, although he called it a piece of garbage. Shay showed that the ship was battle-worthy by sinking the British ships attacking Chevalier's flagship Le Gerfaut, and after destroying the British ships, he set a course for the Mentor Achilles Davenport at the Davenport Homestead.
The Assassins set out on the newly-acquired "Morrigan and "Le Gerfaut" and arrived in March 1752. While cutting some wood there, Shay saw Achilles meeting with his fellow assassin Adewale, an elderly assassin from the West Indies. Liam told him that he freed many of his brothers from slavery and was a veteran Assassin. Shay decided to go to training with Kesegowaase in the woods, but he decided to listen in on a conversation between Achilles and Adewale from a hiding spot in the bushes; at the entrance to the patio where they sat stood the Chevalier, who told Shay to do some work before he found some for him. Shay heard that an earthquake rocked Port-au-Prince in 1751 and that no family was left untouched. He also heard that Vendredi, a Maroon fighter and a member of the Assassins, was missing. An important item called the "Voynich Manuscript" was lost, but Shay knew nothing of it. After the conversation ended, he decided to head to training. He found Kesegowaase, Hope, and Liam waiting there. Kesegowaase was upset that he missed n hour of training, and Hope was upset that he had so much potential and little discipline. Shay decided to train with Liam first. Liam told Shay to use his pistols in learning how to shoot strait, and after shooting three targets standing still, he ran a course and shot six targets on the run. He then decided to train with Hope Jensen, and she told him that she was going to teach him a myriad of ways how to kill people. He learned how to kill people from haystacks, from bushes, and from above, and she was impressed with his skills. Shay then headed to his final training with Kesegowaase, who would tell him how to survive on the frontier by teaching him hunting. Shay silently assassinated an elk and was told by Kesegowaase that he had to take from what he had done to nature, and he skinned the animal. He used its resources of Eastern Elk hide to craft some pistol holders, and he was told that Achilles had one more thing to show him. Shay headed over to the cliff near his ship, and Achilles gave him two pistols. He then saw Adewale tell Achilles that his supplies would help the Haitian people, and Shay was introduced to Adewale. Adewale told him that the Voynich Manuscript translated codes, and Achilles told him that it could lead the Assassins to several First Civilization temple sites.
When Shay returned to the docks, Liam told him that they had to set out to choose their own battlefield against the Templars. The two set sail aboard the Morrigan and in April 1752 reached the city of Halifax in Nova Scotia, French Canada. While sailing out, Liam told Shay that Achilles tasked him to task Shay with following a lead on the Voynich manuscript. Liam told Shay that Achilles often corresponded with Assassins on other continents and was writing down what little there was to know about the pieces of Eden, explaining that this was the reason why he was always bent over his papers in his office. When they anchored at Port La Joye (present-day Port-la-Joye - Fort Amherst, Prince Edward Island, Canada), they talked with the harbormaster. The Chevalier was there, and he told Shay that a spy who worked with a pirate had a lead on the manuscript. They set out for Anticosti, where they would meet the spy, "Le Chasseur". However, they saw English schooner HMS Dunwich in trouble off Port La Joye, so they decided to board it after incapacitating it and lighten King George II of Great Britain's pockets. After killing 5 crew members, Shay collected 10 pieces of wood, 30 pieces of metal, a crew member, and 6 barrels of burning oil. The ship was salvaged and used to repair the Morrigan, and Liam advised Shay to head to a harbormaster in Perce to make the ship stronger. Cormac improved the broadside cannons using some of his metal, and he also improved his hull so that it was stronger. Afterwards, they resumed their course for Anticosti Island. However, their path was blocked by 5 Royal Navy warships of Great Britain that sunk a few fishing boats that strayed into their territorial waters, and Shay decided to sink every last one of the ships to avenge the civilians that were killed. The five ships were easily sunk, and the crew headed to Anticosti to meet with Le Chasseur. Before they headed to harbor, they boarded schooner HMS Intrepid and killed five of the crew, looting 7 pieces of wood, 10 pieces of metal, 15 pieces of cloth, 10 pieces of stone, and getting a new crew member. Shay then headed to the fort with the other assassins, where they met with Le Chasseur, a member of the Haitian Assassins. He overheard him saying that the British ships were full of barrels of beef, and said that they could loot some if they boarded them. The assassins found out that a Templar named Lawrence Washington stole the manuscript after Shay recognized his name (Le Chasseur mentioned that a Washington stole the artifact). Shay was tasked with finding Lawrence Washington and the manuscript by the assassin council. After synchronizing the viewpoint at the fort, he set out with Liam to go to the Hudson River Valley. They sunk schooner HMS Sedgwick en route, and then headed to the river valley (the lands from the St. Lawrence River gulf area of southern Canada and the northern United States down to the plantation of Mount Vernon, Virginia) in July 1752. They headed to Two Bends, a former French fort that was taken over by bandits, and they met together. Achilles told Shay that Washington was a businessman and a politician, and Hope told them that Washington recently returned from the West Indies with a package. Shay was sent to find Washington, find out as much as he could, and kill him. He followed British frigate HMS Tryton until it reached a blockade near Mount Vernon, Virginia, and Shay was forced to track the shipment on foot to avoid getting detected by the British armada.
Shay tailed the ship to dock at Mount Vernon and snuck his way towards the shipment, and when he looted the shipment, he found a rifle and a cartridge. A British soldier entered the ship and told him to stay where he was, but Cormac shot him with the air rifle, which slowly knocked him out without any sound. Shay took the rifle for himself, and he could use it to shoot sleep or berserk darts. He then headed inland to locate Washington, and when he overlooked the plantation from a viewpoint, he found out that Washington was having a garden party. He infiltrated the party and saw Lawrence, who was ill, speeking with his younger half-brother George Washington. Lawrence told George to get some wine for the guests, and Lawrence talked with a few friends. He overheard Lawrence telling his friends not to bring George into the Templars when he died, and he told his friends Samuel Smith and James Wardrop to decode the manuscript. While Lawrence greeted two guests, Shay rushed up to him and stabbed him in the back in a running assassination. Lawrence told Shay that his allies could escape now that he was attacking him, but before he died, he thanked Shay for making his death a quick one. Shay then escaped by using smoke bombs, only to find the Morrigan under fire from British warships. Shay took over the wheel and sunk a British schooner pursuing the Morrigan, and they escaped. Shay told Liam that the Templars did not sound too put-out by Washington's loss and that two other Templars escaped, going after the box and the manuscript. Liam told him that he did his job well, having assassinated Washington and followed his orders.
Between 1752 and 1754, not much changed. Achilles' wife Abigail and his son Connor died, and Liam saw Achilles crying often, but he looked more furious than sad. In May 1754, Shay and Liam set out to meet the Chevalier and Le Chasseur in Saint John's, Newfoundland, where Le Chasseur had a new lead on the manuscript and box. En route, Shay boarded schooner HMS Intrepid after it attacked two Assassin ships, and Shay took it over for use in repairing the Morrigan. Shay met Chevalier and Le Chasseur on the fort walls in St. John, and Le Chasseur informed Shay that Samuel Smith searched far and wide to look for the manuscript. After he returned from Europe, he refitted his schooner, so the Assassins would hunt him down there. Before the assassins left, Le Chasseur gifted them with Puckle guns for the Morrigan. The Chevalier came along with Shay to locate the Equitas and slay Smith, while also testing out the Puckle guns. Smith attempted to flee, and four British warships ambushed Shay as he chased Smith. Shay used his cannon and puckle guns to fire on the British, and he defeated a boarding attempt by the British, using the enemy ship to repair the Morrigan. Smith stayed behind, hoping to be a spectator to Shay's demise. However, Shay killed all of the enemies and chased Smith to his encampment at the docks of Terra Nova in Newfoundland. Shay left the ship and used smoke bombs to avoid the guards, and Smith cowered near his tent. Cormac stabbed him in the back with his swords and took the box as Smith tried to crawl towards it, and Smith told him that the greatest scientific minds of Europe could not make it work. Shay needed the manuscript to make it work, and he fled the scene.
While leaving, Shay lamented on how Samuel Smith could barely hold his sword straight, but Liam reminded him that killing him was necessary. He then informed him that they had to go to Albany, where the Templar James Wardrop was located. Wardrop took part in the rooting of Native Americans out of their lands and was responsible for countless massacres, one of the most ruthless and devious men in the American Colonies. While sailing past northern Newfoundland, Shay spotted two French ships (schooner Nymphe and brig Topaz) engaging in a battle with four British warships off Lewisporte. Shay sunk all four British warships (although Nymphe was sunk) and docked next to Topaz, where Captain Justin Lecerf awarded him with 1,000 pounds and 5 crew members.
Cormac then headed to Albany in July 1754, using some gang members as cover while he ran over a bridge from the British restricted area to the gang-controlled area. He met with Liam and Hope near a watchtower, and he was told that George Washington fired on French troops under Jumonville. The battle was called an act of war, and the Congress of Albany was called to discuss the French and Indian threat. Shay was sent to find James Wardrop, who was in session in the congress. Shay had to kill Wardrop and find the manuscript, which could win the Assassin struggle in the West Indies. While in a crowd in Albany, he saw a Templar named William Johnson standing in a crowd, speaking with statesman Benjamin Franklin, who gave his "Join or Die" speech. He overheard Captain Christian Gallin telling Johnson that Wardrop refused to hand over the manuscript because it was too dangerous, and when Franklin left, Johnson told the captain go to Fort Frederick and tell Wardrop to hand over the manuscript or else he would have him scalped. Shay chased the captain to the gates of the fort and shot him twice in the back before finishing him off with his sword and dagger, and he killed the many guards that rushed to his aid. Shay then set out to find Wardrop and the manuscript. He found Wardrop in the fort, and when the guards told Wardrop that a hooded man was attacking the fort, Wardrop fled through the front exit. Cormac stabbed Cormac through the back with a sword as he ran and leapt at him, and in his last words, Wardrop told Shay that if everything was permitted, then nothing was safe. Cormac told him that even the Devil could quote the scripture to suit his own purpose, and proceeded to leave for Sleepy Hollow, where the Assassins were to meet with Hope and Benjamin Franklin.
Franklin did not know about the Assassins and Templars, and Shay introduced himself as Hope's associate. Franklin told them that the British Army confiscated his lightning rods and he had to delay his experiment, so as Hope helped Franklin prepare the experiment, Shay headed to the marketplace to investigate their location. While Hope convinced Franklin that the army confiscated the rods to use their metal in war, Shay headed to the market to find the British soldiers. He tailed a soldier after observing him walking with a box containing the rods, and used a berserk dart to distract guards that guarded the Sleepy Hollow Bridge after the man crossed it. After the man headed to a storage house to put the lighting rods with the rest, Shay killed him as he attempted to ring an alarm bell after seeing him in some corn rows. He stole the rods and returned to Franklin, who prepared his experiment. Shay helped Franklin with the rods, and Franklin placed some spheres on the rods in a special formation. The explosion of the lightning hit the box, which showed a map. It showed a location on the map that pointed to Lisbon, Portugal, and Shay told Hope that he was going to Lisbon while she took care of Franklin. Shay headed to Two Bends to meet with the nearest Assassin Bureau, and talked with Hope and Achilles there.
Hope asked if Shay could find the place, and he told them that the place was a convent close to the Lisbon harbor. Achilles told Shay that the duty lay upon him, and Hope told Shay that she secured a ship for him to cross the ocean in. Liam was unavailable, so it would be Shay alone who would take the Piece of Eden from the precursor temple. In November 1755, Shay reached Lisbon in his ship. The Feast of All Saints was being held at the time, so he was able to enter the church while a mass was being held. He unlocked the temple after turning four keystones, and he found the artifact in the tunnel that opened up to him. However, the artifact disintegrated and rocks began to fall from above. He fled from Lisbon as an earthquake began, taking down many buildings and killing several civilians. Shay was able to reach a building and jumped through the window, crashing into the water. He was able to escape to a ship in the harbor, and as he left, he saw the city's destruction. A sailor asked how God could do this, and Shay told him that God had nothing to do with it, feeling mad that the Assassins wanted him to use that piece of Eden. Shay confronted Achilles angrily, and told him that the manuscript started the Lisbon earthquake just as it did the Port-au-Prince one in 1751. Achilles had Shay thrown out of the homestaed after Shay asked him what city he wanted to destroy next. Shay pondered to himself that there was no excuse for the madness, and set out to infiltrate the manor. He entered Achilles' room on the second floor and stole the manuscript, although Achilles (donning his armor) confronted him. Shay told Achilles that he was not stealing from his brothers, but making amends. Shay told him that the mad grab for power ended then, and Achilles attempted to fight Shay. Shay jumped out a window and fled, but Achilles ordered his men to stop Shay. Shay fled to his ship as the Assassins were bombarded by it, and many Assassins attempted to pursue him. He ran to a cliffside, where the assassins encountered him. Shay told his former friends that he could not let another earthquake happen, and the Chevalier shot him. Shay fell from the cliff, presumed to be dead by the Assassin Order, and the manuscript was presumed to be lost.
He was later rescued and in June 1756 he woke up in New York City in a hospital. An elderly couple named Barry and Cassidy Finnegan took care of him, and although Barry initially called him a village idiot and a drunken sailor, Cassidy was very kind to him. One day, two gangsters entered their home and attempted to beat up Barry Finnegan, so Shay beat them up with his right arm, his left one being bandaged with his chest. Barry thanked Shay, and Cassidy decided to give Shay her son's robes, while Barry gave Shay his swords. Shay thanked them for their kindness and left, and pursued the last gang member. He found out that the gang leader Darrin Hilger lived in a gang headquarters that could be easily identified by the black smoke coming from it, and Shay headed over to the headquarters. He killed a few guards, but Hilger detected him and attempted to flee. Shay shot him twice in the back, but he managed to escape. Shay was ambushed again shortly after, but Hilger escaped again, using smoke boms. The third time never came - Shay used his Eagle Vision to spot him in a haystack hiding, so Shay jumped into the stack. He attempted to assassinate Hilger as he exited the haystack, but failed. Instead, he shot him in the back a third time and killed him, although he was blinded by a smoke bomb. Shay proceeded to cut down the gang's flag and threw it into a fire, and he took over the Warehouse Gang's headquarters as the Templar HQ.
After he took Hilger's rags to use as a gas mask, he met Colonel George Monro, who arrived at the fort and introduced himself. Monro told Shay that he wanted to see the colonists safe and prosperous, and told him that he wanted to help clean up the city and make sure that the people had the greatest freedom of all - freedom from want. Monro gave Shay some resources to repair a church, and his income was increased by 400 pounds. Having seen Shay begin his work on renovating the city, Monro bid him farewell and left Shay to continue his work. While wandering through an alley, Shay killed gangster Edward Fallows in an alleyway of northern Greenwich by stabbing him in the chest with hidden blades, and killed two more in two different locations. One time, he attempted to shoot a scout in the chest, but the shot failed to kill him, and he had to slay the scout and his friend. Shay then returned to the Finnegans, who had just been told what happened by Monro. Monro told Shay that his friend Christopher Gist was captured by the outlaws at old Fort Arsenal, and the gang members threatened to hang him after he spied on them. Monro told Shay that he had important business in Albany and told him to tell Gist to meet him there when he escaped. Shay headed to the fort and killed the guards, shooting Shay's rope and letting him loose. Gist was friendly towards Shay and offered to help him reclaim his ship Morrigan, which was docked in the harbor in gang hands. After cutting down the Assassin flag from the ship killing all of the stalkers (female Assassins sent to kill him), he welcomed Gist as his first mate of the new Morrigan, and they set a course for Albany to meet with Colonel Monro.
Shay sailed out of New York and up the Hudson River into the Gulf of St. Lawrence, and he met Monro at the docks of Albany. Shay found out that the French were preparing an assault to burn New York by building a fort on the Hudson River, and Shay agreed to help. Gist advised him to upgrade the Morrigan and take the supplies from a nearby French outpost, and they set out to steal the goods. While heading upriver, Shay sunk French schooner Christine and captured brig Sultane, taking the 3 crew members and resources and sending it to join his fleet. Shay set out to Vallee Verte, the French outpost that Gist spoke of. Over the harbor hung a banner that welcomed travelers to New France, which the French laid claim to. Shay was able to move into the town without finding any guards in his path, but the outpost was guarded by French troops that wanted to keep their supplies safe. Shay succeeded in dragging the key holder towards him with a rope dart and stabbed him in the back, looting the key from his body after killing his guards. He unlocked the warehouse and stole all of the materials, upgrading his ship. He then headed to Fort La Croix, destroying the towers and infiltrating the burning fort afterwards. After killing two lookouts, he entered the war room and found Le Chasseur, who was on a special mission from Achilles. He two fought, ending with Shay cutting his throat with his dagger after stabbing him in the chest with a sword. Le Chasseur revealed that he was supposed to give poison gas to the Assassins, and he died, having failed in his plans.
Shay returned to the Morrigan, and Gist told him that he checked the treasury of Fort La Croix before they left. He gave Shay a map of French territorial waters and told him that he could help the Royal Navy and put money in his pockets if he could send some captured ships to do missions during the course of the Seven Years' War. He sent a ship to redeploy troops in Louisiana to help in its possible conquest by the British, and the mission succeeded. Shay later headed to the North Atlantic and helped two British warships (HMS Royal Sovereign and HMS Furious) hold off three French ships (brig "Blanche", frigate "Indiscrete", and man o' war "Victoire"), taking part in a naval battle. All of the French ships were captured, and Captain Dominick Rathburn gave Shay 1,500 pounds and 15 crew members in gratitude for his assistance.
Shay later commanded an attack on Port La Joye on Prince Edward's Island, and destroyed the four towers before attacking it himself. He destroyed the French gunpowder, killed two snipers, and assassinated the captain, allowing British troops to move in and raise their flag over Port La Joye. The French were evicted from the island, and the British gained free access to the Saint Lawrence River and the River Valley. Having achieved his goals, Shay headed to New York City, where Monro wanted to meet him in Lower Manhattan. Shay freed two hostages from some gang members in Greenwich, and they joined the crew of the Morrigan in gratitude for their rescue. Shay headed to Lower Manhattan to meet with Monro, and Colonel Monro told him that the boss of the gangs hired Benjamin Franklin to work with them. Franklin was working on weapons to spread poison gas amongst the people of New York, and Monro told Shay that their leader was a fearsome woman. Shay prayed that it was not Hope and headed to Franklin's house, and Franklin greeted him. Unfortunately, Franklin told him that Hope had told him to develop the prototype, still thinking that he was associated with her. He gave her the prototype and told him to give her the news about the prototype, and Shay set out with Colonel Monro to find Hope. He destroyed three vats of the poison in an old factory, while also testing out a stolen grenade launcher. Shay escaped before the factory blew up, and Hope's poison stash was eradicated, and met with Monro and Gist farther away (Gist saw the smoke from the Morrigan). While he talked with them, he was greeted by William Johnson and fellow Templar Jack Weeks, who introduced himself and told him that he was pleased to meet him. With new friends, he was well taken care of.
In August 1757, he received a letter from Monro while in the captain's cabin of the Morrigan. Monro told him that he left the Precursor Box in his hands, as there was nobody he trusted more - he was to go to the ill-defended Fort William Henry, which was surrounded by the French and Indians. Monro told him that his life was for the British Army, and his soul for the Father of Understanding, and Monro entrusted Cormac with the box. When Shay returned to the wheel, he told Gist that he was going to rescue Monro, who was in trouble at Fort William Henry. Cormac headed to the River Valley aboard Morrigan and arrived at Marais Rocheux, where he met Jack Weeks. Weeks told Shay that the French and Abenaki took Fort William Henry, although Johnson was supposed to bring reinforcements. The colonel and his men were allowed to leave the fort, but the Abenaki refused to honor the surrender terms and planned to ambush the British. Shay saved Monro from the last of the Abenaki warriors and offered to bring him and his surviving men back to the Morrigan as a repaying of his debt, and Monro kindly thanked him, saying that he truly was loyal to the Templars. However, Shay saw Kesegowaase order his men to attack, mad that Shay was still alive. After killing the Indians, Shay told Monro to march around a large cliff and watch out for ambushes while he went after Kesegowaase. Shay took out several snipers that were overlooking the passage, clearing the way for the British to advance. Shay and Monro's men continued to the ship, and they knowingly walked into a trap, with Shay helping the British in escaping. When the Templars reached the ship, Jack Weeks threw a gunpowder barrel at Kesegowaase and Shay shot it, wounding his former friend. Jack Weeks then told Shay that he was leaving for William Johnson's trading post at Onaquaga, and Monro told Shay to meet him there.
En route, Shay's ship was boarded by the crew of an Assassin schooner, so Shay defended his ship by killing the Assassin captain, the two officers, and 10 of the crew. He used the ship to repair the Morrigan, which had been rammed. They also defended their ship from brig Hook, whose crew unsuccessfully tried to board the Morrigan. He slew captain Ruben Durk and captured the ship, using it to repair the Morrigan. Shay then docked at the Old Growth Forest, and he emptied his treasury of 2,400 florins before heading inland. At the trading post, he met with Jack Weeks and Colonel Monro. Jack Weeks told Shay that Kesegowaase was threatening to attack Albany, and that French troops and his men were attacking nearby friendly Oneida villages. Shay told his fellow Templars that he was going to have to stop the French and also help the Oneidas, and he left the manuscript with Monro, saying that he was more of a target now that Kesegowaase knew he was alive.
Shay first headed to the Oneida village of Orenda, where he saved at least 12 of the Oneida hostages from the Assassins, some of whom committed the heinous crime of killing some old women. The clan mother Onatah told Shay that for as long has he should walk the Earth, he would have a place among them. She kindly asked him to walk with her, and she told him that there was a treasure in the cave of the village that he could take if he was worthy. He had to first take 7 Native American totems, and then he could enter the cave. Shay then set out to locate the British Army to prepare for Kesegowaase's attack, and he helped Captain Peter Bissey in his defense of Otetiani by slaying French captain Elisee Baschet.
Shay then sailed to the waters outside of Albany, where he found a destroyed ship. Shay found out that the Colonel was defending Fort Frederick from Kesegowaase and his men, and when he arrived at the docks of Albany, he saw gangs overrunning the city. The town was burning, and the Assassins were assaulting Fort Frederick, where Monro was fighting them off from. Shay met with Monro after helping him clear out the fort, and he told Monro to deliver the manuscript to the ship. Kesegowaase appeared soon after, and Shay mortally wounded him by cutting his legs with his sword and then kicking his head while he was on his knees. Kesegowaase told Shay that Monro was already dead, saying that Liam would kill him, before dying. Shay rescued Monro from a burning building, but when he took him outside, Monro died after saying that Liam took the manuscript. Shay shut the eyes of his old friend and took his Templar ring, putting it on and replacing him in the order. Shay then set out after his old friend Liam, seeking to recover the manuscript. After laying his friend to rest, Shay talked with the other Templars in a meeting room. He placed his sword on the table, and was inducted into the order formally by the Templar Grand Master Haytham Kenway, whom he met for the first time. Now a full Templar, Shay finally broke his old ties with the Assassins and started a new life. He told Haytham that the manuscript locations caused earthquakes, and Haytham told him that the Assassins were planning to head to the fortress of Louisbourg. Shay was told by Haytham that they would meet with Royal Navy officer James Cook, whose recent promotion would be of use to the Templar Order.
In June 1758, he set sail for Louisbourg, and en route, he attacked the French frigate Consolante to the north of Lewisporte, Newfoundland. Shay used the frigate to repair the Morrigan, and decided to continue his course to Louisbourg. He brought Morrigan alongside HMS Pembroke, and he was introduced to Captain James Cook by Haytham. Cook informed the Templars that a Royal Navy fleet was en route to Lousbiourg, but the French planned a preemptive strike to prevent the British from taking the turning point of the war. Cormac took the wheel of the man o' war HMS Pembroke, and at night he headed with the rest of the British fleet (frigates HMS Portsmouth and HMS Furious) towards Louisbourg in preparation for the attack. James Wolfe, Lawrence, and Whitmore led three diversions of the Royal Navy, with General Jeffrey Amherst, returned from Hanover, commanding the British army. French mortar fire sunk HMS Portsmouth early into the battle, so HMS Pembroke and HMS Furious fought against several French ships, tearing man-of-war Victoire to shreds. The British fleet resumed its advance, and Shay noticed that one of the French ships that was incoming was that of the assassin Adewale. Also incoming were several French fireships, so HMS Pembroke delivered mortar fire and broadsides to destroy the fireships. They finished off the last eight French ships sent out to fight them before a fleet of British ships arrived, and the British mortars destroyed many French vessels coming in to attack. With the tide of war turning, the British Royal Navy was able to attack the French fleet, and Shay turned the ship around to pursue Adewale aboard the Experto Crede, his old pirate vessel from the 1730s.
Shay and the Morrigan set out from Louisbourg to meet up with Haytham Kenway and the others in the Hudson River Valley, and Cormac headed to Fort La Croix first. He then set out from the fort on board his ship after gathering some more provisions, and met the other Templars at Vieille Carriere after seizing French brig Fleur de Lys off Or-du-Nord, Canada and passing by some cannon fire from Fort Blanc. Later in 1758, they arrived at HMS Pembroke, and Cook located Adewale. Adewale was last seen at Fort Blanc two leagues away, and Haytham and Shay bid Cook goodbye before continuing onward to the fort. Hoping not to attract any attention, they docked at Ile Des Pins, where they began their search for Adewale. Adewale was found at the end of the island, and Adewale ran to his ship, so Shay pursued in Morrigan. Experto Crede eventually ran aground at Vieille Carriere, and Shay headed to the island to kill Adewale. Shay found Adewale in a hut and aimed at him from a bush, hiding in cover. He shot him in the head with a pistol from afar, and when Shay apologized to Adewale, Adewale told him that hell welcomed traitors like him. Adewale told Shay that Achilles already had what he needed, and he told Adewale that he would kill every man that defended him. Adewale told Shay that he was a monster, and Shay pushed him to the ground, letting him die. Haytham and Shay left the island, having slain Adewale, the great assassin.
The Waterfront Gang
Before meeting Haytham, Shay renovated Van Dijk Fine Jewellery, and he then proceeded to meet Haytham and Jack Weeks around the corner of the entrance. Shay told them about the Assassins preparing to make the Precursor Box work, and he told them that Hope had hundreds of men. Jack Weeks advised them to pretend to be Hope's men and carry out a huge crime so that the British authorities could not ignore the gangs. Shay and Jack killed two gang members and dressed in their uniforms. Jack told them that they should steal the military pay, but a regiment was already heading to the fort to defend it. Shay was told to raise the flag while Jack raised hell; Shay cut down the flag and replaced it with the gang flag as Jack Weeks opened the gates and freed the Assassin prisoners. The prisoners fought the Army, and Shay blew up the wood walls of the shacks, stealing 10,000 pounds. They escaped the fort, and they overheard the captain telling his men that they would have to hunt down the brigands. Jack wished Shay good luck, and Shay reminded him that he made his own luck. Shay decided to head to Haytham, and while he did, he killed Assassin stalker Margaret Meeks in a Lower Manhattan alley.
When he met with Haytham, he saw him holding an Assassin by the throat against a wall. The gang member told Haytham that Hope was in a big mansion with gardens, and Haytham stabbed the man in the neck with his hidden blades. Haytham and Shay ran to the mansion of Hope in East Village, and on the way, Shay asked Haytham where he got his blades. Haytham told him that the Assassins donated them to him, and they hurried off to the mansion. They spotted British troops in firing lines assaulting the mansion in hopes of smoking Hope out, and Shay infiltrated the mansion after killing the guards at the front. He reached the skylights ofthe building where Hope was in, and Liam left with the box, saying that the Chevalier was expecting him. Hope shot the windows with two pistols, making Shay fall into the room. Hope apologized to him for how things turned out and drank a vial before dropping some poison in the room. Shay escaped to the roof after Hope escaped, and when he escaped, she shot him with a poison dart. Since it slowed his heart, he would have to keep active to make his heart beat. He found Hope and pursued her out of her mansion, and she attempted to escape while throwing poison bombs. However, when she ran on the street, Shay jumped from a roof and impaled her with his hidden blades. Shay showed dismay in what he had to do, but Hope told him that she trained him to do what he did. She told him that she bought time for Chevalier to go to the Precursor site and to let Liam escape, and she told him that he had so much potential before dying. Shay was sad to have killed his old friend, but had to continue his hunt.
Shay traveled to Perce in the North Atlantic, and he met with James Cook there. Shay asked him to have a word, and he told him that he was looking for Louis-Joseph Gauthier, Chevalier de la Verendrye. Cook told him that he was a man of high aristocracy and told Shay to send him his regards, but when Shay did not answer, Cook understood that he was going to kill him. He told him that Chevalier sailed east to Anticosti days before, and Cook told him that he would sail past Conception Bay if he needed further assistance. Shay thanked him, and sailed to Anticosti with Gist and the Morrigan. Shay told Gist that he felt bad about killing Hope, but Gist reminded him that he did what he had to. With Hope dead, New York was saved from a poison gas attack, and Shay also led the Templars to their next target, helping to stop another city from being destroyed. When Shay arrived on the island, he found that the fort was defended by brigands, and set out to find the leader of the outlaws. He tailed him into his office and stabbed him in the back, stealing Chevalier's maps. Shay returned to the Morrigan, which was under fire, and escaped aboard his ship as British Man O' War HMS Princes Galley destroyed the pursuing pirate vessels. Shay told Gist that Cook could interpret the maps, and Gist told him to set sail for Newfoundland.
In 1760, Shay fastly travelled to St. John's in Newfoundland before heading a short distance north, and he upgraded his ship before meeting with Captain Cook on HMS Pembroke. Cook said that he saw the cipher on the code before, and that he could draw him a map. Shay asked Cook to sail with him and together they could find the Chevalier. Shay stopped an Assassin boarding of his ship despite his near-total loss of his crew, and he took the 3 Assassin prisoners as his own crew members. He sunk the rest of the Assassin fleet, including frigate Centaure, defeating the expedition. However, mortar fire struck the Morrigan and the Assassins ambushed the crew, and in the fog, it was hard to find the Assassin expedition. They found Le Gerfaut and incapacitated her after a long battle, and Shay set out to assassinate Verendrye at the wheel of his flagship. From the mast of Morrigan, Shay shot Chevalier in the head, mortally wounding him. The Chevalier asked him if he was convinced that the Templars were right, and Shay told him that he was convinced to the end before hitting him in the chest. He found the chart, but found out that Liam was already headed north. Chevalier taunted Shay, saying that Hope said that he did make a good distraction. An enraged Shay threw the Chevalier over the side of his ship, and he thanked Captain Cook for his help. Shay gave Verendrye's maps to Captain Cook as a gift and told him that he would sponsor some future voyages for him if he kept in contact, and they parted.
In the River Valley, Shay captured a French schooner with one additional crew member, as much of his crew was lost in the fight against the Assassin expedition. He later captured 3 more crew members after taking brig Mignonne from the French Navy, and Shay set a course for the city of Albany. He headed to the Albany Gang headquarters, where he rescued a British officer, cut down the flag, and used a shrapnel grenade to kill the gang leader. The headquarters became a British fort and Shay was able to manage his fleet and income from the fort. He sent some spies to Barbados, having sent men to retrieve a letter from the Governor of Savannah.
Shay later headed to the North Atlantic, and boarded French schooner Blanche after fighting against its escort ships. He gained 3 crew members along with lots of other resources, and replenished his crew. He also captured Assassin schooner Garrote sent to attack him, capturing 3 crew members. He finished the battle by capturing the last French brig, winning the fight against the French and gaining 3 more crew members. After the battle, Shay decided to return to New York City to hunt down some more Assassins. He rescued two hostages from Assassins, so they and two other men decided to join his crew in gratitude. Shay briefly stopped at Greenwich to order his men to deliver 8 arms to Cap Francais so that the British could get a foothold in Haiti, exchanging the guns for medicine. He then rescued 6 men from the Assassins, who held them hostage in Stuyvesant's Farm. Shay killed stalkers Madeline Swafford, Anabelle Scudder, and Amelia Whiston before they could assassinate him, as Achilles ordered them to do.
Later, Shay headed to Fort La Croix, where he refitted the Morrigan before heading out again on his ship to plunder some French or Assassin ships in the River Valley. He did not find any ships, so he decided to set sail for Anticosti island in the North Atlantic, where he again refitted before leaving harbor. He boarded French frigate Hermione and killed the two officers with Puckle guns before killing the last 9 of the 15 crew in melee, also capturing 5 crew members. He then boarded a French schooner, capturing it after slaying 10 crew members. Shay was able to haul in 22 wood, 98 metal, 23 stone, 5 heavy shot, and 3 crew members from the action. Afterwards, he assaulted French schooner Megere and another schooner Renommee, and he captured both ships. The latter ship gave him one crew member, and he gained a full crew. He then took on French frigate Aurore off Grose Morne, Newfoundland, and killed the 15 crew and 2 scouts before hauling her in. He captured 21 wood, 100 metal, 30 stone, 4 heavy shot, 2 burning oil, and 5 crew members, and he gave the ship to Edward Janeway.
Shay set sail to meet Haytham, and Shay told him that he knew where the Assassins were going. In March 1760, they landed at the site of the First Civilization Temple in the Arctic, and Shay and Haytham headed inland as Gist remained on the Morrigan. Shay lamented on how if there was an earthquake, there would be few to suffer, as they were on a remote and frozen island. He snuck past the guards, although a falling ice chunk destroyed an ice bridge that Haytham and Shay were walking on, so they had to split up. They reached the main room of the temple, and found Achilles and Liam looking at the piece of Eden. Achilles recognized that Shay was right, and Shay confronted him. Liam told Shay that he betrayed the brotherhood, although Shay said that Liam shot him in the back - in reality, it was Chevalier. When Liam was about to shoot Shay, Achilles blocked him and he misfired, causing an earthquake after shooting the piece of Eden. Shay chased Liam down and faced him at the end of the cliff, stabbing him in the chest with his hidden blades. Liam asked him why he betrayed the Brotherhood, and Shay said to save the world. Liam sarcastically said that he hoped the world he saved was a good one, before dying. Shay took the Manuscript from Liam's body, and he left his old friend. Shay returned to the Morrigan, only to see Haytham fighting Achilles. Shay convinced Haytham not to kill Achilles, because if he died, other Assassins might still search for the First Civilization Temples, and only Achilles knew their danger. Haytham shot Achilles in the leg, disabling him, and told him not to forget the moment; Achilles agreed, but said that the world would. Haytham informed Shay that Gist, Weeks, and the other Templars would hunt down the last Assassins, and Haytham had Shay look for the Precursor Box. Haytham told Shay that it might take years, but Shay was up for the challenge. In 1776, Shay travelled to the Kingdom of France's capital of Paris, where he searched for the Box. He tried to find Benjamin Franklin (now the American ambassador to France), and he located three criminals in search of him. Shay managed to kill the three Assassins as they hurried to find him and assassinate him, making sure that Franklin was not murdered. Shay slew two thugs holding Franklin at gunpoint in the corner of a street, and Shay told Franklin that he was in danger. Franklin said that he had to return to his family, and Franklin headed into his house to make sure that his family was safe after Shay killed three Assassins trying to kill Franklin. Shay set out to stop the Assassins that planned to kill him at his house, slaying all five of them. Franklin asked if he could repay Shay for the kindness, and Shay told him that he could by trying to arrange a "business meeting" with somebody in the Versailles Palace - Charles Dorian, who was the owner of the Precursor Box.
In December 1776, Shay and Franklin entered the palace, and Shay bid Franklin goodbye. Shay found Charles and his son enter the palace through the front, so he entered it through a window. He blended with the crowd to avoid detection and killed a Captain in a private room before killing a soldier in the courtyard in an air assassination. He saw Charles' son Arno Dorian speaking with Elise de la Serre and walked past them as they talked, and Shay found Charles in a hallway talking with another Assassin. Shay walked up to him and stabbed him in the back with his hidden blades, mortally wounding him. Charles fell into a chair and told Shay that the American Revolution ruined the Templars, but Shay told him that maybe the French Revoution would be a Templar victory.