Azar

Azar was a Persian merchant who operated in Dublin, Ireland during the city's occupation by the Vikings in the 9th century.
Originally from the Persian city of Shiraz, Azar was vital in assisting King Bárid mac Ímair in his vision to develop and turn Dublin into a prosperous and important trading post in the 9th century.
==Biography==
===Early life===
Azar was born into a wealthy family in Shiraz, a city in the Abbasid Caliphate. Showing a natural and shrewd talent for commerce and trade, her father placed his growing commerce business in her hands. With the commerce industry being heavily dominated by men, Azar decided to adopt a masculine name and mannerism which eventually led to the discovery that she was gender fluid. As per her wish, Azar's friends continued to feminine pronouns while her family's wealth and influence protected her from much scrutiny.Assassin's Creed: Valhalla – Wrath of the Druids – Database: Azar
Around this time, Azar came to work alongside Konstantinos, a former friend of her father's which became her partner. In time, Konstantinos became consumed by greed and power and sought to claim the family business for himself. He had Azar's family killed and while she managed to escape to safety, she lost an eye in the process.Assassin's Creed: Valhalla – Wrath of the Druids
===Service under Bárid===
Azar fled from Persia and travelled north and westward towards Europe. After wounding up in the Ireland, Azar entered the services of Bárid mac Ímair, the King of Dublin who also had a passion for trade and commerce, and sought to turn Dublin into a prosperous trading settlement. Becoming his most trusted advisor, Azar was tasked to establish trade with the various kingdoms and empires throughout the known world.
Around 879, Azar made contact with the Hidden One Hytham, who was based in the Norse settlement of Ravensthorpe in Ledecestrescire, England. This also led to the discovery that the settlement's jarlskona Eivor Varinsdottir was a long-lost cousin of Bárid's. Azar was thus sent by Bárid to establish a trading post in the settlement, as well as to send an invitation to Eivor to invite her to Ireland.Assassin's Creed: Valhalla – Wrath of the Druids – Irish Trade
Making her way to England, Azar's ship was stalled by a blockade placed at the mouth of the Nene River. She was thus forced to leave her boat eventually found her way to Ravensthorpe's docks. Upon arriving at the docks, Azar was greeted by Eivor and, not knowing of Eivor's identity, asked for Hytham's whereabouts. Hytham arrived shortly thereafter and Azar was thus introduced to Eivor, learning of her position as the settlement's jarlskona. She informed Eivor of Bárid's invitation to Ireland though the jarlskona was not aware of Bárid's position in Ireland. Regardless, Eivor assisted the merchant in eliminating the blockade, while Azar remained in the settlement to settle down and search for Bárid's invitation letter.
After the blockade was cleared and the trading post was built, Azar presented Eivor with a letter from Bárid, whom the latter recognized as her long-lost cousin she had lost contact with. Eivor agreed to join Azar to travel to Ireland to meet Bárid and thus the two departed on Eivor's longship, the Sea-Chariot.Assassin's Creed: Valhalla – Wrath of the Druids – Irish Adventure
Once they arrived in Dublin, they met with Bárid at the docks as he welcomed his cousin. While walking towards his party at the King's Hall, Azar first went to her shop and check on her workload. Afterwards, she attended the party and witnessed a young Sichfrith's spectacle and upfront disrespect towards his father. Once the party ended, she was the last one drinking until she met both Eivor and Bárid, who were recently attacked by Thorstein's men. Advising Bárid, she insisted to enlist Eivor's help in the matter, which made him reluctantly agree.Assassin's Creed: Valhalla – Wrath of the Druids – Blood Bond
===Building Dublin's trade===
Azar soon met with Eivor as they discussed about finding a gift for Flann Sinna's coronation as High King. She acquired the trade post Rathdown but asked Eivor to clear it of its intruding smugglers. After Eivor re-established Rathdown, Azar traded the spices for the furs Eivor received from the liberated trade post. She also informed the jarlskona of the other abandoned trade posts around Ireland.Assassin's Creed: Valhalla – Wrath of the Druids – Rathdown Build Up
Through Eivor's travels, the abandoned trading posts in Ireland were revitalized as they connected to Azar's shop, where she took care of their respective traded goods. At the shop, Azar let Eivor know of trade relationships between Dublin and other oversea countries, which gave tasks to Eivor to fulfill with Dublin's newfound wares. In doing so, both she and Eivor gradually built up Dublin's recognizance as a trade center.Assassin's Creed: Valhalla – Wrath of the Druids – Dublin's Reach
===Working under Sichfrith===
In 881, Azar found herself working under the new King of Dublin, Sichfrith, who was mourning his father's death and seeking vengeance against Abbot Eogan mac Cartaigh. She informed both Sichfrith and Eivor that his incoming weapons were held by one of the Children of Danu's Lords, "The Seed," as she later went back to her work.Assassin's Creed: Valhalla – Wrath of the Druids – The Wages of War
===Revenge===
After making Dublin a major trade port, Azar soon met with Eivor again as she was informed that Konstantinos had arrived in Dublin, by its shores. Wanting revenge, she soon found an offer by Eivor, who wished to help and kill the traitor. However, she wished for him to be brought to her alive, to which Eivor obliged. Once Konstantinos was brought to her bounded, Azar requested to be alone with her former business partner as he began to torture him. Afterwards, Azar finally killed him and disposed of his remains among pigs.Assassin's Creed: Valhalla – Wrath of the Druids – An Eye for an Eye
==Gallery==
ACV DB Azar.png|Azar in the Database
ACV Azar - Concept Art.jpg|Concept art of Azar
ACV Azar Potrait.png|Portrait
ACV Azar Potrait closeup.png|Closeup portrait
ACV Wrath of the Druids - Azar Trading.jpg|Azar trading with Eivor
ACV Azar Arrival Ravensthorpe.jpg|Azar at Ravensthorpe's docks
==Appearances==
*Assassin's Creed: Valhalla – Wrath of the Druids 
*The World of Assassin's Creed Valhalla: Journey to the North – Logs and Files of a Hidden One 
==References==
Category:Individuals
Category:Persians
Category:Merchants
Category:Raven Clan allies
Category:LGBT individuals
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