Desmond Miles is the protagonist of the modern-day storyline in the first five major Assassin’s Creed games.
Desmond is a descendant of several important historical Assassins, including Altaïr Ibn-La’Ahad, Ezio Auditore da Firenze, and Ratonhnhaké:ton. The modern-day Assassin order captures him after he has left their community and uses the Animus to access his genetic memories.
Before the events of the first game, Desmond works as a bartender in New York City. Abstergo Industries abducts him and places him in the Animus, initially claiming that the machine is being used for medical research. The company is actually searching for information connected to ancient Pieces of Eden.
The character is sometimes confused with the historical heroes whose memories he experiences. Desmond is the modern framing character, while Altaïr, Ezio, and Connor are separate ancestors. His storyline continues through Assassin’s Creed II, Brotherhood, Revelations, and Assassin’s Creed III.