Desmond Miles is the central modern-day protagonist of the first Assassin's Creed storyline.
Desmond is a former Assassin who is abducted by Abstergo Industries and forced to use the Animus. Through the machine, he relives the memories of his ancestor Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad, allowing the story to shift between a contemporary conspiracy and the Third Crusade.
His modern-day journey continues through several early games, where his ancestral memories include those of Ezio Auditore and Ratonhnhaké:ton. This framing device gives the series a continuing present-day plot alongside its historical adventures.
William Miles is Desmond's father, while Warren Vidic is an Abstergo scientist involved in the Animus project. Clay Kaczmarek is another important modern-day character, but he is not the central protagonist of the first storyline.