Revealed: The Spanish Assassin’s Secret Past in Assassin’s Creed Shadows

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This article contains SPOILERS for Assassin’s Creed Shadows.

As a dedicated fan, I can’t help but be captivated by the fact that the heart of the Assassin’s Creed series lies in the eternal struggle between the enigmatic Assassin Brotherhood and the formidable Templar Order. This age-old conflict, with its roots reaching as far back as 49 BC, was once known as the Hidden Ones versus the Order of the Ancients, respectively. Each installment in this extraordinary franchise has given us new protagonists from the Assassin ranks and villains hailing from the Templar camp, and Shadows is no exception to this pattern.

In the thrilling world of “Assassin’s Creed Shadows,” I, as Naoe, am bestowed with a Hidden Blade by my father, yet the intricate tapestry of secrets woven between the Japanese Assassins and Templars unfolds gradually – both for me and the player. As time passes, we uncover a figure named Alvaro Catarribera, a Spanish Brotherhood member with ties deeply rooted in my family’s history.

Assassin’s Creed Shadows’ Spanish Assassin Explained

Alvaro Catarribera – An Excommunicated Spanish Assassin

Originally, Alvaro Catarribera belonged to the Spanish branch of the Assassins, but he was expelled from this secret society due to a breach of their fundamental principles. On a mission, Catarribera unwittingly ended up taking an innocent girl’s life. Afterward, his excommunication led him on a disoriented journey east, fueled by intoxication.

After some time, Alvaro Catarribera found himself in Macau, overhearing two Templars making bold plans to penetrate Japan. This unexpected encounter snapped him out of his melancholy, giving him a renewed sense of direction. Determined to follow the Templars, Catarribera set sail for Nagasaki in 1549, where he arrived just as Francis Xavier, a Jesuit, was making his presence known in Japan. This coincidence offered an ideal disguise for the former Assassin.

In earlier versions of the “Assassin’s Creed” series, Francis Xavier is mentioned as a Templar, though this isn’t verified in “Assassin’s Creed Shadows”. His arrival in Japan sets the stage for future Jesuit figures Alessandro Valignano and Luis Frois to visit the islands.

Shortly following his arrival in Japan, Catarribera chanced upon a malnourished girl wandering the streets. Known as Tsuyu, this child became a ward of Catarribera, who instructed her in the methods of the Assassin guild.

Alvaro Catarribera Founded an Assassin Brotherhood in Japan

Accompanied by his apprentice Tsuyu, Alvaro Catarribera journeyed through Japan. Over time, he encountered Momochi Sandayu, a famous shinobi from the Iga ikki, who was accompanied by his own apprentice Hattori Hanzo. Later, Catarribera discovered a new disciple in Iga named Fujibayashi Masayasu, who would later become known as Fujibayashi Nagato.

Led by Alvaro Catarribera, a five-member team established the secretive group called the Kakushiba ikki, which served as a breakaway faction of the Assassin Brotherhood across Japan. At one point, they received three mysterious boxes from Emperor Go-Nara that needed constant protection – these boxes were referred to as the Imperial Regalia.

The Kakushiba Ikki’s Legacy Lives On

It seems Alvaro Catarribera’s fate remains unknown, however, it is thought that Tsuyu took over as leader from her mentor within the Kakushiba ikki. This continued until a sudden and dramatic collapse of the group. Hattori Hanzo began to harbor jealousy towards Tsuyu and Nagato’s bond, eventually choosing to betray his companions. In time, Tsuyu vanished, Hanzo escaped, while both Nagato and Momochi perished years later during Oda Nobunaga’s second attack on the Iga Province.

However, Tsuyu and Nagato departed, leaving behind their child, Naoe. And it is through Naoe that the secretive Kakushiba ikki continues, though with fresh members and now known as “The League of the Concealed Blades.

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2025-03-29 01:06