Unmei Force Solitary Legends: The Creed of Fate
Sequence 5: Slicing the Negotiator's Tongue
Part 1: On Johnson's Trail
"These are troubled times. The bond between the Crown and the colonies frays. And the Templars plot in the background. Who knows what strings they may be pulling in all this. My only hope is that we can stop them before it comes true. Kanemik:zo has continued to work hard to improve the homestead, knowing we need the resources. We now have Lance the carpenter, Norris the miner, and Myriam the hunter with us. They all provide useful assets to our homestead, in many different ways. And she fervently trains using Shao Jun's gear, especially the katana. She has become rather masterful in her techniques. As I have become masterful in my own-" Connor was writing in his diary, with Koyomi nearby when Achilles walked down the stairs. Koyomi had grown into her outfit like Connor had his, and was a rather attractive woman.
"Connor! Mizo! Spare a moment?" Achilles would ask.
"Of course." Connor said, rising from his seat as Koyomi had been training with the blade, soon sheathing it as they walked to Achilles.
"What is it, Master Achilles?" Koyomi asked, as she sheathed her blade as well.
"Have a look." Achilles said, brandishing two rope darts.
"What is it?" Connor would ask, taking one before beginning to whirl it.
"Sheng Biao, or Rope Dart if you prefer." Achilles said as Koyomi took hers. "These were left by Shao Jun-"
As Achilles was about to explain, Connor's dart slipped out of his hands and hit a nearby wall, causing Achilles to startle some as well as Koyomi.
"Careful! You might kill a bystander with that!" Koyomi chastised Connor.
"Sorry…" Connor apologised quickly as Achilles sighed.
"We'll have to work on that." Achilles said, as they soon heard someone at the door. Connor wedged his Rope Dart out of the wall while Koyomi went to see who it was and found…
"Kanen'to:kon?" Koyomi exclaimed with surprise, as one of the childhood friends for both her and Connor stood before her, looking fairly grown up, and in a drastically different hair-style. "You've… grown."
"Yes, my friend. Where is Ratonhnhaké:ton?" Kanen'to:kon would ask.
"Right here my friend." Connor said as he approached. "What brings you here? Is there something wrong?"
"Yes, our village is being sold." Kanen'to:kon said, causing Connor and Koyomi to look at each other in shock.
"What!?" Connor would ask upon hearing this.
"Yes, they said they had authority to purchase the land, approved by the Confederacy!" Kanen'to:kon said, which irritated Connor more.
"Do you have a name?" Connor would ask.
"Yes, he goes by William Johnson." Kanen'to:kon said, which caught the attention of Raditz and Velouria, who happened to be passing by when they heard the name, as both of them rushed up to Kanen'to:kon, Raditz grabbing him by the shoulders.
"Did you say Johnson!?" Raditz asked in a bit of fury.
"I did." Kanen'to:kon said.
"Where is he now!?" Raditz asked in more fury.
"In Boston, preparing for the sale." Kanen'to:kon said.
"Connor, Mizo… you must be careful. These are dangerous men." Achilles said.
"What would you have us do!? These are our people and we made a promise to them!" Connor said.
"You have our aid in this." Raditz said to Connor. "But know this. Johnson's death falls to one of us. Do what you have to, to save your village, but Johnson dies by either my hand, or one in my platoon!" Raditz said.
"You have my word." Connor said as Achilles watched Koyomi take a hatchet from Kanen'to:kon, and bury it into the manor's post.
"What have you done!?" Achilles asked.
"It's an ancient tradition. Master Achilles." Koyomi answered back. "When we move to war, hatchets are buried into wood, mostly gate-posts of anything tall enough to bear its weight. The symbolism is that it is a promise to return alive."
"You could have used a tree!" Achilles said, as the group left.
"Victoria, you get Selda and meet us at the port, we sail to Boston. I know she has the biggest vengeance against Johnson, so I'd be a fool not to grant her the opportunity." Raditz said.
"You know of someone who can help us find Johnson?" Connor asked Raditz.
"Aye. Sam Adams can help." Raditz said. "We'll meet you at the dock, Victoria, with Selda in your tow, I hope."
"Will do." Velouira nodded back.
They soon met up at the dock, with Selkie behind Velouria.
"I can't wait to get my hands on Johnson…" Selkie said with a growl.
"You'll have your chance, I'm sure." Raditz assured her, and soon, they were off to Boston.
Boston,1773:
The group soon found Sam Adams talking to a couple of individuals, as he soon spotted them coming up to him.
"Ah, Connor, Mizo, and Riccard as well! What brings you to Boston?" Sam would ask.
"You." Connor replied.
"Very well. Excuse me, gents." Sam said to the two men he was talking to, as they began walking together. "Thank you. That conversation was on the verge of getting unpleasant."
"I was told you can help us find William Johnson." Connor said.
"As a matter of fact I can. I'm going to be meeting with some fellows who might be able to help you out." Sam said.
As they walked, they soon saw some redcoats banging the door to a man's house, as he was not pleased with them, considering the fact he dumped something on the taxman, and then rushed out his door to tackle the taxman.
"You all go ahead. We'll meet you at the destination." Connor said, as he and Koyomi soon rushed over to deal with the Redcoat reinforcements, quickly dispatching them.
"You alright?" Connor would ask.
"I'm fine. Not the first time they've tried to enforce the taxman, especially on me. Stephane Chapeau." The man introduced to Connor and Koyomi, sounding as if he had a French accent.
"Connor." Connor said with a nod.
"I'd buy you both an ale, but I have somewhere to be." Stephane said, soon going off to be at the place. Connor and Koyomi soon made their way to the meeting place, where Sam Adams, Raditz, Velouria, and Selkie were talking with one man at the bar.
"Ah, they're here! Connor, Mizo, I'd like you two to meet like-minded friends of mine. The owner of this fine establishment, William Molineux, as well as Stephane Chapeau." Sam said as Stephane came out from the back.
"Ah, Connor, Mizo!" Stephane greeted. "They helped me deal with some bloody redcoats a few moments ago."
"The collectors grow bolder and more forceful. Something we must address, Samuel." William declared.
"Then let us raise a banner. Something that lets the people know they're not alone. The docks are an angry place as of late…" Sam said.
"Hah, no doubt. We've been seeing countless times of people picketing tea off of others." Raditz chimed in.
"Well, a Bostonian without his tea is a dangerous beast!" Stephane said.
"Ha! No kidding." Selkie added.
"One of William Johnson's men tried to sell me this. No doubt that it's British tea from the mark." Molineux said as he soon tossed the tea bag out, as Sam examined it, before passing it to Velouria for her and them to have a look.
"Where is Johnson now?" Connor would ask.
"I've never met the man." Molineux said.
"May I ask why it is you seek him, Connor, Mizo?" Sam would ask.
"It's for a personal reason." Koyomi answered back. "He intends to purchase the land upon which our village stands without the consent of our tribe. Surely you understand where this leads?"
"Indeed. No doubt he's getting the funds from selling the tea. We'll need to put a stop to that. Connor, Mizo, head back to the docks and destroy all of the smuggled tea you can. If you need any of us, return here." Sam instructed.
And so, Connor and Koyomi did just that, destroying any and all smuggled tea they could. After finishing with the last one, Connor and Koyomi soon found Stephane back in his home, realising he had been robbed.
"Stephane? What is wrong?" Connor would ask him.
"Where is Sam Adams?" Koyomi asked back.
"Who cares!? I've been robbed!" Stephane yelled, before cursing in French as he stormed out of his house.
Connor looked at Koyomi, knowing they probably should follow him, as they both did quickly.
As they walked about, Stephane was trying to goad Redcoats into fights, but with low profile Hidden Blade stabs, Connor and Koyomi were able to stealthily kill them without much of an issue.
"Stephane! Stop and listen to us!" Connor tried to reason as they walked along.
"I've listened for long enough! They come into MY home and take MY things? I will get my revenge. The man responsible for this will pay. His friends will pay!" Stephane fumed, before he then went into another string of French obscenities.
And so the goading and Connor and Koyomi silently killing Englishmen continued a bit longer, until they walked into a marketplace, finding the man who was behind the smuggling ring, which seemed to get Stephane back to reality as he realised it was their goal to eliminate him.
"Destroyed!? You stupid mongrel! And I suppose you want me to tell Johnson his tea just up and combusted! Someone is responsible for this and you will find out who, or I'll gut you and find someone else who is!" The man yelled at a merchant.
"What do we do?" Stephane asked Connor and Koyomi.
"Create a window." Connor said, looking towards Koyomi with a nod.
"Go, Stephane." Koyomi remarked, as she readied her Hidden Blade, in case there were guards around to patrol the area. "Seize your chance."
Stephane nodded, as he slowly walked towards the mercenary, brandishing a meat cleaver in his hand, as he shoved his way through the crowd, before facing the mercenary.
"Who the bloody hell are you-" The mercenary could barely manage, before he cried in agony, as Stephane drew his cleaver into his shoulder with such force, that it almost amputated the entire arm, as the world around Stephane and the mercenary faded to white, except for the nearby area, while Connor and Koyomi walked over. "W-Why?"
"You have no right to rob people blind. By decree of the British Parliament or not!" Stephane declared, pointing a finger at the fallen mercenary.
"British Parliament? I work for William Johnson!" The mercenary pleaded back.
"End his suffering cleanly." Connor told Stephane, placing a hand on his shoulder.
"And be ready to blend in with the crowd. The scene will not go unnoticed for long." Koyomi added.
Stephane looked back at the mercenary who was still pleading, before he then pulled the cleaver out of his shoulder, and dug it right into the centre of his skull, instantly killing him, as the world slowly reverted to normal around them, as the three of them blended into the crowd to escape, before they reached the rooftop, where they would not be eavesdropped on, while the guards reached the crime scene, investigating it.
"The people seem to have an ear for you. What of the things you lost?" Connor would ask.
"The people listen to me because I speak the truth. Loud enough. That is worth a thousand times more than my footlocker. The British, they can keep my things." Stephane said. "I had said I'd buy you two some ale when you first helped me. In place of drinks, I offer the both of you my services… for what it's worth." Stephane said to Connor and Koyomi.
"Your aid is welcome and I am grateful." Connor answered back, as Stephane left the area.
"If the Templars can create their own network through these lands, then we'll turn that same system against them. Recruiting people who are aligned to our cause, like Stephane, will ensure that we will have aid, no matter where we are." Koyomi remarked. "However, we have more important matters now. We need to find Sam Adams."
"Indeed. Let us go." Connor said.
Part 2: The Tea Party
Connor and Koyomi soon found Stephane and Molineux in front of a building, as they were waiting for Sam Adams.
"What now?" Connor would ask.
"Wait for the signal." Molineux said.
"What signal?" Connor would ask.
"This meeting can no further help the country." Said a voice from in the building.
"That signal." Molineux said as Sam Adams walked out.
"Well then, shall we be off?" Sam would ask the group.
"No." Connor answered back, as he seemed fairly miffed in being on an aimless request. "We have spent today drawn from one bit of madness to another with nothing to show for it-"
"Connor!" Koyomi declared, gently slapping the back of Connor's head to stop him. "It is likely that all of this was a set-up for all of this. Remember how the tea shipments were broken, and Stephane first roused the crowds with his anger? I suspect that there is a plan, and it's about to reveal itself very soon."
"The little lady has a good grasp of the situation." Samuel answered back. "First we make our way to Nathaniel Bradlee's house to fetch the rest of our little group that Riccard and the two ladies with him have gathered up. Then it's on to Griffin's Wharf, where we board the ships and dump the tea. Simple as that."
"Simple seems a bit charitab-" Connor was about to say, before Koyomi slapped him again.
"Just listen to the man, Connor." Koyomi growled.
"Cheer up, Connor, and listen to the lass! Tonight we are all Victors! We get to send our message to the British, Riccard and his platoon get to strike William Johnson's finances, and you two get to rob him of his finances. Your village will be saved!" Sam said, before getting an idea. "Why don't you lead us, Connor and Mizo? Shouldn't be too much trouble from here on, now would it?"
Boston, December 16, 1773:
Connor and Koyomi soon reached the wharf, with Stephane, William and Sam with them, as they noticed that there were many guards around the area.
"Damnit! More guards!" Sam cursed, seeing the guards patrolling the wharf.
"We need to turn the crowd's anger to our advantage." William told Connor and Koyomi.
"Say the word, Connor and Mizo, and I will make it so!" Stephane exclaimed.
"Let us take care of the guards here first. And then you can beckon the crowd to assist." Koyomi answered back, as both she and Connor moved to engage the guards. It wasn't long after they engaged the first two that Raditz, Selkie, and Velouria dropped down, air assassinating the other three.
"Long time no see, Connor. Glad to see you've done things on your end of the table, you and Mizo both." Raditz said with a smile.
"It was only for my people Riccard, you know that." Connor said.
"But it's doing so much more than just for your people, Connor, Mizo." Selkie said with a small smile. "Now come on, let's eliminate the rest and start dumping this tea!"
"Let's get this done!" Velouria remarked, as she used her sword to impale one of the guards, killing them, before killing another with a deep slash through the chest.
After a while, the guards were down, as Koyomi turned to Stephane and whistled, as the French chef noticed the signal, as he roused the crowd to come closer, as citizens flooded the wharf, as Paul Revere and William took their places on the ship, as Paul brought some militia to help support the assassins. After a while, the Redcoats rushed through the crowd, intent on stopping the proceedings.
"Regulars!" Paul Revere cried, as the militia rushed to engage the Redcoats, while he and William quickly started dumping the tea crates into the waters.
"Well, looks like we kicked up a riot with this. Good for us." Velouria remarked, as she hefted a tea crate of her own, and flung it into the waters. "As much as it would be quicker to have us all dump the tea down, someone got to do the job of keeping those guards from messing our new friends up."
"Leave that to Mizo and I! Stephane, are you prepared to assist?" Connor would ask.
"Indeed, Connor, I am yours to command." Stephane said as he got his meat cleaver ready.
Optional Objective:
Don't let any ally's health drop below 50%
Paul Revere: 100%
William Molineux: 100%
Riccard Edelsohn: 100%
Victoria Langsay: 100%
Selda Miccosin: 100%
Mia Shelbertson: 100%
As Koyomi and Connor rushed into the fray, assisted by Paul's men and Stephane, they openly engaged the Redcoats, as a bloody battle ensued, as dozens upon dozens of Redcoats were slew by the defending group. Some tried to sneak aboard from the waters around, and climb the side of the ships. However, they found themselves thwarted by the retreating members of the group, or even one of the assassins themselves.
"Oh, didn't you read? NO! REDCOATS!" Velouria bellowed, accentuating her words with two kicks on a unfortunate Redcoat's hands on the ship-rails, sending him back into the waters, before she returned to tea-dumping duty.
Selkie noticed Mai had gotten there, as she was surprised. "Mia!? When did you get here? I thought you and Aerith were gonna watch the Homestead?"
"Things are looking up recently." Mai answered back. "Aerith and I managed to recruit some bodyguards of our own to watch the Homestead for us. She decided that I should help out the rest of you, while she keeps an eye on the Homestead's daily goings."
Mai noticed a Redcoat trying to rush the ship from behind Selkie, as she moved Selkie aside, and killing him with a head-shot from her flint-lock.
Soon enough, the tea crates were all dumped, save for two, as Radtiz and Stephane saved two for Connor and Koyomi, as the crowd was roaring mad from the commotion, as the group were happy of their success.
"We've done it!" Sam declared triumphantly.
While the crew were celebrating their victory, Koyomi and Connor were looking elsewhere, right at the spot in the distance, where Charles Lee and William Johnson were standing, as Koyomi's eyes merely narrowed at them.
"These crates are for you two." Stephane said, giving two crates for Connor and Koyomi to dump, as the two looked straight at Charles and William, before dropping the crates into the water, which caused Charles to look at them in disgust, as he and Johnson left the area. "Best we get out of here, eh?"
Connor and Koyomi nodded, as the Sons of Liberty and the Assassin group quickly made their exit.
Part 3: Hostile Negotiations
Davenport Homestead…
The group immediately made their return to Davenport Homestead, as Mai told the group about the happenings while they were at Boston, as they recruited Lance the woodworker, and Myriam the huntress, rescued from highwaymen and poachers respectively, as they helped to develop the Homestead with their services.
They soon found Achilles sitting on the edge of a cliff near the homestead, as Connor and Koyomi approached him.
"It is done." Connor declared.
"Johnson is dead?" Achilles asked back.
"I'm afraid not, Master Achilles." Koyomi answered back. "However, we destroyed his tea, his main source of revenue. He is unlikely to be able to fulfil his contract. We did encounter him, but we did not pursue due to… certain circumstances."
"Then he is hatching some new scheme, I'm sure…" Achilles sighed in disappointment. "You should have killed him, Connor and Mizo."
"...I wish we had the chance, Master." Koyomi answered back, with a distant look in her eyes. "Surely he can't possible have a way to achieve his plans, now that his main method is ruined beyond repair… right?"
"Hmph. Time will tell if you speak the truth or not." Achilles responded back.
Six Months Later…
Connor and Koyomi were sharpening their Hidden Blades, after practising with them for so long, before they heard the sound of the front door being slammed open, which prompted them to come over, as it was Kanen'to:kon.
"Ratonhnhake:ton! Kanemik:zo!" he cried desperately.
"Kanen'to:kon? Why are you here?" Connor asked back. "Has something happened?"
"William Johnson has returned, with all of the money required to buy our land. He meets with the elders as we speak. I have begged them to resist, but I fear he shall have his way unless you intervene."
"How is this possible? We destroyed the tea completely!" Connor shouted, before he then turned around to see Koyomi's pale face. "Kanemik:zo?"
"...I… I think I understand what Master Achilles meant… Johnson… he must have used illegal methods to procure what remains of the money… Spirits, there's no length he won't go to have this land… How could we have been so foolish…?" Koyomi remarked, before she then slammed a fist against the wall. "How could I have been so foolish…!?"
"Exactly." Achilles stated, walking behind the two. "You should have heeded my warning, the both of you!"
"Please, you have to stop him." Kanen'to:kon pleaded to them.
"Of course. Guide us." Connor nodded, as he and Koyomi followed Kanen'to:kon.
"Master Achilles… If the chance comes… he won't leave here alive." Koyomi declared to Achilles, before closing the door.
And thus, they set off to finish off William Johnson. Once and for all. Kanen'to:kon guided them to the cliffside area where Johnson was meeting with the elders, as Connor and Koyomi expertly dashed and stealth killed any and all guards who could detect them. They soon reached the top, where Johnson was trying to negotiate with the tribe leaders, to no avail.
"Peace! Peace! Have I not always been an advocate to you? All I wish is to keep you protected!" Johnson said.
"If you wish to keep us safe then give us arms. Muskets and horses so that we may defend ourselves!" The Tribe Elder responded.
"War is not the answer!" Johnson proclaimed.
"We remember Stanwix! We remember when you moved the border! Even today your men dig up the land, showing no care for those who live on it. Your words are honeyed, but false. We are not here to negotiate, or to sell. We are here to tell you and your men to leave our land." The Elder added.
"Very well. I extended my Olive branch, and you smacked it away. Perhaps you'll respond better to the sword." Johnson said, as a musket was soon pointed at the elder.
"Are you threatening us?" the Elder asked.
"Yes." William said, with a slightly regretful tone.
Connor soon nodded towards Koyomi, pointing to the roof of the house, where she could assassinate William from, as they both leapt onto it, before walking towards the edge, as they aimed for William's body-guards, before they then leapt down and assassinated them.
"Ah! Thought you might-" William barely managed to say, before he was silenced courtesy of two crossed Hidden Blades through his neck, as the world faded around the three of them. "Ah, no. What have you two done?"
"Put an end to your schemes with our village. I had Charles burn ours down before, and I will not let another like you do as you please with it!" Koyomi spat with hate.
"No, we want to protect it! Do you think that good King George lies awake at night hoping that no harm comes to his native subjects? Or that the people of the city care one whit about them?" William responded back. "Oh sure, the colonists are happy to trade when they need food or shelter or a bit of extra padding for their armies. But when the walls of their city constrict, when there's crops that need soil, when there's… when there's no more enemies to fight, we'll see how kind the people are then."
"The colonists have no quarrel with the Iroquois." Connor said.
"Not yet they don't… but they will in due time… I… I could have stopped all of this… but none of you would listen… not even the two of you…" Johnson said, soon dying after he finished this sentence.
"May the Faceless One grant you the peace you were seeking." Connor said in his native tongue, before he and Koyomi left the area after seeing that their people were escorted out, as they returned to Davenport, as the world faded around Connor again.
SEQUENCE 5 COMPLETE
FULL SYNCHRONIZATION