The Assassin’s Creed series typically follow the age-old battle between the Assassins and the Templars, but recent games in the franchise have shaken up the timeline of that conflict and even which groups are involved. Given when Assassin’s Creed Valhalla takes place in history, it’s set to continue the story of the era before the Assassins and the Templars were officially established, just like Origins and Odyssey before it.
Long-time fans of the Assassin’s Creed series know that the story of the Assassins and the Templars actually begins with two precursor factions, known as the Hidden Ones and the Order of the Ancients. Formed by Bayek in Assassin’s Creed Origins, the Hidden Ones were created to oppose the Order of the Ancients. Later on in the series’ timeline, the Hidden Ones would evolve into the Assassins and the Order of the Ancients would grow into the Templars, but they would continue their feud under their new names.
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Assassin’s Creed Valhalla takes place between the time that the Hidden Ones were established and when they formally became the Assassins, so players will technically be part of the Hidden Ones in the game. In gameplay and story terms, that could give players license to be more public with their assassinations, which was prohibited by Altair later in the game’s timeline. That would fit with Valhalla’s focus on Vikings, who aren’t known for their subtlety.
In Valhalla’s trailer, player character Eivor is shown using the Hidden Blade, the iconic weapon of the Hidden Ones and the Assassins.
Opposing the Hidden Ones will be the Order of the Ancients. In Valhalla’s reveal trailer, King Alfred of Wessex is shown signing a declaration of war against the invading Vikings, surrounded by symbols of the Templars and the Order of the Ancients. It looks clear that he will be the villain of the game, standing in direct opposition to Eivor and the Hidden Ones.
The time period of Assassin’s Creed Valhalla is complex, with battles raging between various factions in England and within the Vikings. It seems like the game won’t tell a clear-cut story of good and evil, and it’s very likely that you’ll end up squaring off against other Vikings as well as the Saxons led by King Alfred.
How exactly the Hidden Ones and the Order of the Ancients fit into the conflict isn’t entirely clear yet, but at some point, Eivor will play a part in the Hidden Ones’ history as they get closer to formally becoming the Assassins.
