Assassination of Empress Jessamine Kaldwin

Lore & Background

The assassination was not merely an act of violence but a calculated political maneuver orchestrated by Lord Regent Hiram Burrows. Seeking to manipulate the throne for his own faction, Burrows contracted the Whalers, a notorious group of assassins led by Daud, to eliminate Jessamine while she was meeting with Corvo and Emily on the Imperial Palace garden/terrace. The Whalers were chosen specifically because their reputation as outcasts made them disposable and unlikely to be traced back to high-ranking officials. Following the murder, a frame-up was executed against Corvo Attano, the Empress's personal protector. Evidence was planted to suggest he acted alone in a fit of rage or jealousy. This allowed the conspirators to remove Corvo from power while simultaneously isolating the young Princess Emily Kaldwin. The death of Jessamine plunged Dunwall into chaos, allowing Hiram Burrows to seize control as Lord Regent and leaving the city vulnerable to the plague outbreak that had already begun spreading, worsening rapidly in the ensuing chaos.

In Their Own Story

Rain lashed against the cobblestones of the Royal Docks, masking the sound of boots on stone. Corvo sprinted through the mist, his heart hammering against his ribs like a trapped bird. He had sensed something wrong in the ether, a cold silence where the Empress's presence usually glowed warm. As he breached the palace gates, guards were already sealing off the inner sanctum. He reached her chambers only to find the door barred by men who knew him well enough to know they shouldn't let him pass. Through the crack in the wood, he saw the stillness of the room and the dark pool spreading across the rug. The air smelled of ozone and iron. He had arrived too late to save her, but not too late to realize that his life was already over.

Reader's Guide

The narrative timeline begins with the assassination itself, which occurs prior to the player taking control in Dishonored. This event causes Corvo Attano to be arrested and imprisoned in Coldridge Prison. Upon escaping prison, the player investigates the conspiracy surrounding the murder. Choices made during this investigation determine whether justice is served or revenge exacted. High chaos results from lethal actions, leading to a darker timeline where the city suffers more under Burrows' rule. Low chaos preserves lives and restores order. The assassination's legacy culminates in the final confrontation with the conspirators. Depending on player choices regarding key figures like Hiram Burrows or Delilah Copperspoon, the fate of Emily Kaldwin and Dunwall varies significantly. Ultimately, the event drives the entire plot, forcing Corvo to decide if he will become a hero or a monster.

Did You Know?

• The Whalers continued to operate under Daud until the events of The Knife of Dunwall and The Brigmore Witches.
• Corvo Attano's signet ring was used as key evidence against him in the false murder trial.
• Daud, who carried out the hit, later expressed regret over the mission in subsequent lore entries.
• The Rat Plague was already spreading before the assassination, though it worsened dramatically due to the chaos and Burrows' policies.