Corvo Attano

A silent protector turned vocal assassin navigating a whalepunk empire.

Corvo Attano is the fictional main protagonist of Arkane Studios' Dishonored series. Initially serving as the bodyguard to Empress Jessamine Kaldwin, his life changed when she was assassinated and he was blamed for her murder. Imprisoned and tortured for six months, Corvo escaped to become a wanted man hunted by those responsible. He encounters his daughter, Emily Kaldwin, at specific points during his journey, but she is not a constant companion. While silent during all conversations in the first game, Corvo was given voice acting in Dishonored 2, where he appears fifteen years older. His character design drew early inspiration from 17th-century London attire and the character Garrett from Thief, before evolving into the "whalepunk" aesthetic of the final universe.

Quick Facts

Series: Dishonored
First: Dishonored (2012)
Voice: Stephen Russell
Family: Paloma Attano (mother); Beatrici Attano (sister)
Partner: Jessamine Kaldwin (lover)
Children: Emily Kaldwin (daughter)

Lore & Background

Corvo's development was rooted in 17th-century London attire, resembling the thief Garrett before the game adopted its unique "whalepunk" style. In Dishonored, he remains deliberately blank and silent to allow players to define his motivations through their actions; developers noted that an angry or revenge-driven Corvo might conflict with non-lethal playstyles. Writer Austin Grossman argued that his personal relationships made him more relatable than other silent protagonists.

For Dishonored 2, Corvo was included alongside Emily due to developer nostalgia. Concept artist Cedric Peyravernay designed his new outfit to reflect his return as an assassin while fitting his societal position. Unlike the first game, he received voice acting in the sequel, voiced by Stephen Russell. Creative director Harvey Smith explained this created a narrative contrast with Emily, highlighting their different experiences. Corvo's personality was also made more assertive in this installment.

Reader's Guide

Corvo Attano appears in multiple works including a comic series and novels announced in 2016. His gameplay experience varies significantly between titles; he is silent in Dishonored but voiced by Stephen Russell in Dishonored 2. During alpha testing, developers experimented with text input options for his dialogue, but this was not developed further to preserve player agency over his personality. Critics have analyzed Corvo through various lenses: Complex ranked him number thirty among "The 50 Most Badass Video Game Characters Of All Time" in 2013, while TGN named him the sixth best video game assassin.

In The Dark Side of Game Play, authors examine his actions as a motif of vengeance, noting that a "Virtuous Corvo" might find revenge justified due to offenses committed. Robert Rath describes a low-chaos Corvo as a man holding onto morals while the world beats him down, contrasting with a high-chaos version giving into baser instincts. Additionally, an analysis in The Escapist highlights how his dishonor made him a useful tool for the Loyalists, who found that he "didn't play by their elegant rules" to their eventual ruin.

Did You Know?

In the comic mini-series The Wyrmwood Deceit, released between August 3 and October 19, 2016, Emily Kaldwin searches for her kidnapped father, Corvo Attano.
Developers experimented with text input options during alpha but abandoned them to avoid conflicting with player-driven play styles.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Corvo Attano?

He served as the Royal Protector for Empress Jessamine Kaldwin before being falsely accused of her murder. Following his escape from prison, he became a legendary assassin hunting down those responsible for the coup.

What is Corvo's relationship with Emily?

He acts as a guardian figure to Empress Emily Kaldwin, the daughter of his former charge. They reunite throughout the series to protect her claim to the throne against usurpers.

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