Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag follows the pirate-turned-Assassin Edward Kenway.
Edward is a Welsh privateer who enters the Caribbean during the early 18th century, the period commonly associated with the Golden Age of Piracy. He becomes involved with both the Assassin–Templar conflict and the pursuit of wealth, gradually changing from a self-interested pirate into a committed member of the Assassin Brotherhood.
Edward is part of a family line that spans several Assassin's Creed games. His son, Haytham Kenway, is a major character in Assassin's Creed III and begins that game as a Templar. Haytham's son is Ratonhnhaké:ton, also known as Connor, the principal Assassin's Creed III protagonist. This makes Edward Connor's grandfather.
Black Flag emphasizes naval exploration, ship combat, and island travel more heavily than earlier entries. Edward's ship is the Jackdaw, and the game features historical pirates including Blackbeard, Anne Bonny, and Mary Read.