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"You'd have to be lucky to escape Coldridge. And a complete madman. You'd have to be Corvo, in other words."
—Two guards discussing escape from Coldridge Prison.

Corvo Attano is the protagonist of Dishonored and one of the two playable protagonists of Dishonored 2. Previously an agent and bodyguard to Empress Jessamine Kaldwin, Corvo is stripped of his title of Lord Protector and imprisoned by the usurper to the throne of the Empire, the Lord Regent Hiram Burrows. Corvo escapes and becomes either an assassin or vigilante for the Loyalist Conspiracy, using the powers granted to him by the Outsider to eliminate Burrows' confederates, clear his name, avenge the Empress' death and restore her abducted daughter Emily to the throne.

Biography

Corvo Attano was born into a lower class family in Karnaca on the 25th day of the Month of Nets in 1798.[2] After his father, a lumber worker, was tragically killed in a workplace accident Corvo grew up fighting in the streets. [3]

By the age of 16, Corvo won the Blade Verbena, an annual sword duel festival, which earned him an early officer ranking in the Grand Serkonan Guard.[4][3] Eventually, after two years of service, Theodanis Abele, the Duke of Serkonos, became highly impressed by his skill, and on the 28th day of the Month of Rain, Corvo was sent to Dunwall to serve the Emperor Euhorn Kaldwin[3] as a political gesture.[1]

A year later, Corvo was chosen to serve as Royal Protector to the Emperor's daughter, Jessamine Kaldwin, which in the process gave him a higher social status.[5] He also became the first Royal Protector to be born outside of Gristol.[6]

Corvo and Jessamine secretly became lovers in 1823.[2] However, their closeness did not go unnoticed by the general public, and rumors to that effect circulated throughout Dunwall. While several people (including Lydia, Treavor Pendleton, and Anton Sokolov) mention the affair to Corvo, it is never publicly acknowledged. Four years later, Emily was born from their relationship, but her fatherhood is kept secret. Despite this situation, Corvo has a strong bond with his daughter and often publicly interacts with her in a familiar and affectionate manner. Emily's behavior toward Corvo suggests that she sees him as a father figure, and she often asks to be taught by him.

Corvo is described as being mysterious and quiet, with Wallace Higgins and Treavor Pendleton claiming that despite his high social standing, those at court know little about him. He is also mocked for his origins, although his skills are renowned among the City Watch.

Dishonored

Two years into the Rat Plague afflicting Dunwall, Corvo is sent on a journey across the Isles by the Empress to find a cure, on the recommendation of the Royal Spymaster Hiram Burrows. On the 18th Day of the Month of Earth, Corvo returns to Dunwall Tower two days early, bringing bad news and the intention of the other nations to blockade the capital while the plague is still spreading. His reunion with the Empress and her daughter is cut short when a group of assassins swarms them. Corvo is forced to watch as Daud murders Jessamine and kidnaps Emily. In her last moments, Jessamine begs Corvo to find their daughter and protect her. Before Corvo regains his senses, the Spymaster and the High Overseer Thaddeus Campbell arrive on the scene and arrest him on the account of regicide and the abduction of the royal heir.

Corvo spends six months in Coldridge Prison tortured by his accusers, the real culprits behind the assassination. Burrows, who was elected Lord Regent by the Parliament, decides to execute Corvo, despite not getting a confession of the Empress's murder from him. On the day of the execution, Corvo escapes Coldridge with the help of the Loyalists, a group claiming to be faithful to the Empress. They bring him to their hideout at the Hound Pits Pub and reveal their plans: to destabilize the new regime by striking at the Lord Regent and his allies, find Emily, and restore her to the throne of the Empire. He is also given tools and a mask crafted by Piero Joplin to perform his missions while concealing his identity. On the night of this reunion, Corvo is visited by the Outsider who grants him his Mark and powers to aid him on his quest.

Corvo becomes a tool to the Loyalists, removing Burrows's religious, political and financial allies, and rescuing Emily from her captors. He even abducts the Royal Physician Anton Sokolov to discover the identity of the Lord Regent's mistress, who finances the City Watch. Finally, he strikes at Burrows himself in Dunwall Tower, but the victory is short lived as the Loyalists betray him to cover their participation in the conspiracy. He is left for dead in the Flooded District where he encounters Daud and his men once again.

After another visit from the Outsider, Corvo escapes the assassins and returns to the Hound Pits. He finds it swarmed by forces of the City Watch looking for survivors Anton Sokolov and Piero Joplin, and most of his former allies dead. Corvo finds there a clue on Emily's whereabouts, then sets route to Kingsparrow Island in order to confront his betrayers and rescue his daughter once and for all. Whether he succeeds in saving Dunwall and restores Emily to the throne is determined by choices.

Dishonored 2

This section contains pre-release information that may be subject to change with the release of Dishonored 2. Please do not edit this section before consulting the Manual of Style's section on pre-release information.


Fifteen years after rescuing Emily and putting down the Lord Regent's insurrection, Corvo has been cleared of the charges against him and continues to serve the new Empress as Royal Protector. However, a new threat to Emily's reign emerges, and either Corvo or Emily herself must travel to the southern city of Karnaca to confront it.

Equipment and skills

Corvo is legendary for his efficient combat skills and stealth capabilities, and many guards and citizens can be heard gossiping about him to that effect. Guards in the Dunwall Sewers can be overheard discussing his formidable skill, with a senior guard recounting an instance where he "...saw [Corvo] fight three to one in the practice yard." Havelock also considers the possibility that Corvo's talents might make him dangerous even to the Conspiracy.[7]

Since a young age, Corvo grew up fighting in the streets where he gradually grew into a capable combatant. He later served as a soldier in the Grand Serkonan Guard, where his skills increased significantly; his strength is notable as he is able to easily render enemies unconscious.

Corvo is efficient in stealth as he is able to silently infiltrate intensively guarded locations, utilizing various hiding spots including corners, tables, or rooftops. He is even able to utilize the shadows in order to avoid detection (from a far distance). He is also capable in eavesdropping and pickpocketing.

As a master swordsman, Corvo is highly proficient in the use of blades, and thus is capable of engaging multiple enemies simultaneously in open combat, whom he is able to eliminate with noteworthy brutality and skill. He is also a skilled marksman as he is able to wield several firearms, most notably pistols as well as a crossbow with great precision and accuracy.

A talented freerunner, Corvo is able to transverse through several obstacles with relative ease, his agility, speed, and athleticism aiding him greatly at reaching high-scale areas. He has also proven to be a capable swimmer, as he is able to swim great distances and can hold his breath underwater for a considerable period of time.

Corvo also uses various gadgetry like grenades and spring razors. The majority of his equipment has been hand-crafted by Piero Joplin, most notably his mask which is equipped with a telescopic optical lens which allows him to gain a clearer view of his surroundings. Additionally Corvo can use rewire tools to deactive alarms, arc pylons and walls of light.

Upon receiving the Outsider's Mark, Corvo is granted with supernatural abilities, which augment his original skills and allow him to jump higher, move faster and farther, utilize additional stealth and offensive techniques, and so on.

Items unique to Corvo are a supernatural item known as the Heart (bestowed on him by the Outsider) and his sword, crossbow, and mask.

Trivia

  • Corvo is voiced by Stephen Russell in Dishonored 2.[8]
  • Corvo means "crow" or "raven" in both Italian and Portuguese.
  • Corvo is the most recent of the eight current individuals granted powers by the Outsider.[9]
  • Corvo's true identity is largely unknown outside the Loyalist Conspiracy. The authorities do not realize that Corvo and the Masked Felon are the same man. However, Slackjaw hints that Corvo's true identity is known among the lower classes, saying, "Word is all over the street," when he is encountered in Granny Rags' lair.
  • After escaping from Coldridge Prison, wanted posters for Corvo's capture or death can be found all around Dunwall, with a reward of 30,000 coins. Others will appear after completing specific missions and killing the targets, but will only designate his masked identity. If Corvo remained unnoticed throughout the mission, they will simply depict an unknown assailant, otherwise they will be for the "Masked Felon," with a sketch of Corvo wearing his mask and hood.
  • When she was alive, Corvo and the Empress occasionally enjoyed whiskey and cigars together privately.[10]
  • Corvo was meant to receive an Official Naval Commendation for his efforts in seeking aid for the plague crisis, but it was confiscated after his arrest. It can be stolen and sold by Daud in The Brigmore Witches.[11]
  • After the mission The Royal Physician, Emily gives Corvo a drawing of him without his mask, with the word "Daddy" in large letters above it.
  • In the Dishonored trailer, Corvo is shown being marked by the Outsider before his escape from Coldridge Prison.[12]
  • In connection to the events of the upcoming Dishonored 2, it has been confirmed that Corvo is Emily's biological father.[13]
  • Corvo's skin tone was based off of that of Raphael Colantonio.[14]
  • According to Harvey Smith, Corvo has a sister named Beatrici. She is described as an "older estranged sister... lost to time."[15][16]

Gallery

Artistic Renditions

Wanted Posters

Concept Art

References


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