Who is the central playable protagonist of Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag?

Edward Kenway is the central playable protagonist of Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag.

Edward is a Welsh privateer who becomes involved with the Assassins and Templars during the Golden Age of Piracy. The game is set mainly in the Caribbean during the early eighteenth century, with major locations including Havana, Nassau, and Kingston.

At the start of the story, Edward is motivated by wealth and personal advancement rather than Assassin ideals. After taking the identity and clothing of Duncan Walpole, he becomes entangled in a conspiracy involving the Templars, the Observatory, and the Sage known as Bartholomew Roberts.

Edward is the father of Haytham Kenway and the grandfather of Ratonhnhaké:ton, linking Black Flag to Assassin’s Creed III. He is not the same character as either descendant. His ship, the Jackdaw, is also a defining part of the game’s sailing and naval combat.