10 Video Game Characters You Didn't Realise MAJORLY Affected Sequels

Reginald Birch is a character Haytham Kenway meets at the beginning of Assassin's Creed III. Judging by their brief and only conversation in the game, you wouldn't assume much of Reginald, but as it turns out, his character serves as a major link between the events of Assassin's Creed III and IV.

Haytham's database reveals that Reginald Birch is actually the main reason why Haytham joined the Templar Order, despite being the child of one of the most prolific assassins in the New World. In 1735, Birch ordered a group of mercenaries to attack the Kenway family household after learning about Edward Kenway's journals from his time in the Caribbean. The attack was a success, and not only did Birch manage to kill Edward in his own house, he also used the attack to manipulate the mind of the then-young Haytham and convince him to join his order.

Birch became a mentor figure for Haytham and turned him into a templar loyalist with tales of chivalry and knights protecting the innocent. If it wasn't for him, perhaps we would have seen Haytham join forces with Connor in the third game or even become a pirate in his father's crew.