Assassin’s Creed Valhalla’s Siege of Paris DLC has now been out for a little while, with many fans enjoying the trip to Francia. There are new gameplay elements, weapons, and more that draw in many players, but one questline in Siege of Paris got more attention than others—both good and bad.
At the end of Assassin’s Creed Valhalla’s Hidden Quest in Siege of Paris, fans will find a letter signed by an “A.C.” This character is supposed to be a still-living Hidden One in Paris, though the collective Hidden Ones had left Paris long before. Some took this as a simple Easter egg for Assassin’s Creed’s initials, while others who want the core experience of the franchise back took it as more of an acknowledgment of how the franchise has changed—especially as a mystery that could not be solved.
However, thanks to several members of the Assassin’s Creed Community, that may no longer be the case. In fact, thanks to evidence they’ve discovered, the community now knows the name of the Hidden One: Abbo Cernuus. It isn't just fan speculation anymore either, because as noted below, the mystery and its solution have received confirmation from Ubisoft.
AC Valhalla: Siege of Paris – The Hidden Quest
As a quick introduction for those who may not remember, Eivor will pick up a quest called “Hidden.” This quest will require her to find keys and search Hidden Ones bureaus around Francia, with it ending at the Paris Bureau. Eivor can claim the Joyeuse weapon here, but as she goes to leave, the Hidden Ones logo on the ground is lit on fire. Further on, they will discover a letter (pictured above) where the Hidden One says they must continue to work in the dark as Eivor works in the light.
It is signed A.C, leaving many in the Assassin’s Creed fandom without a real indication of who they are, especially as Eivor Varinsdottir refuses to give chase when she hears him running away. As such, the question became: who is A.C.?
AC Valhalla: Siege of Paris AC’s Identity – The Evidence
Evidence was compiled by a few members of the community, with their Reddit usernames being Tranquilo, Florick345, and SixKeys (the latter of whom also hosts the Assassin’s Creed Sisterhood Podcast). First, Ubisoft confirmed that the only Hidden One operating in Francia was a historical figure. Secondly, the Ghost of Saint Germain world event will discuss the Ghost’s connection to the Abbey, and with their skills, it’s possible to deduce that the Ghost and this Hidden One could be one and the same.
This also makes geographical sense, as the Abbey in Assassin's Creed Valhalla is not a far walk from the Hidden Ones Bureau in Paris. Inside the Abbey is a letter, describing the defense of the Abbey from plunderers and a spotting of a “cloaked figure atop the blessed church’s roof.” Even more, Abbo Cernuus’ database describes not only his historical role but also with the line: “Nothing about that tricky little Benedictine monk was straightforward.” Taken together, it is a nice pile of evidence that the A.C. fans interact with is none other than Abbo Cernuus.
AC Valhalla: Siege of Paris – Mystery Solved, Who is Abbo Cernuus
Luckily, it’s no longer just fan speculation. As seen above, Siege of Paris’ Associate Game Director Antoine Henry confirmed the identity of A.C. as Abbo Cernuus online. This only leaves one question: who was Abbo Cernuus?
History reveals that Abbo Cernuus (“the Crooked”) was a Benedictine Monk and historical figure who was there during the Viking’s 885-886 Siege of Paris. He was the only eyewitness who wrote about the event in Latin Verse, but he has an odd lack of information about his life. Because he came from one of the ecclesiastical centers of Francia, many believe there should have been more to his life, but his work is all that is known. In fact, the work is even questioned in what it can reveal about his, as it contains contradictions throughout, and so many believe Abbo’s work was edited later.
This sort of vague history is perfect for Assassin’s Creed, allowing the franchise to keep the character true to his roots but also introduce that Hidden Ones spin on him. Either way, while the mystery has been solved, it’s interesting to see how all the evidence came about, how the history is involved, and how those elements of Assassin’s Creed are still there.
Assassin’s Creed Valhalla is available now on PC, PS4, PS5, Stadia, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.