Characters
This section introduces the main characters from Tomb Raider Legend, along with their biographies and image galleries. This game was the first Crystal Dynamics games reboot.
Lara Croft
Lara Croft was born in Parkside Hospital (Surrey) on February 14, 1968, her parents were Amelia Croft and the renowned archaeologist Lord Richard Croft, Earl of Abbingdon.
Between the ages of three and six, she attended the Abbingdon Girls School, where it quickly became clear that she was an exceptionally gifted child.
At the age of nine she survived a plane crash in the Himalayas that took the life of her mother. In perhaps the first story of her prodigious indomitability, she somehow survived a solo ten-day trek across the Himalayan mountains, one of the most hostile environments on the planet. The story goes that when she arrived in Katmandu she went to the nearest bar and made a polite telephone call to her father asking if it would be convenient for him to come and pick her up.
For six years following the plane crash, Lara rarely left her father’s side, traveling around the world from one archeological dig site to another. During this period she was ostensibly given a standard education from private tutors, but it would probably be more accurate to say she was her father’s full time apprentice.
When Lara was fifteen, her father went missing in Cambodia. Extensive searches by the authorities and Lara herself turned up human remains that could not definitively be identified. Since Lord Croft’s body was not officially recovered, Lara could not directly inherit the Croft title and Lara was thrust into a bitter family feud over control of the Abbingdon estates with her uncle Lord Errol Croft. Lara eventually won the legal battle, and took possession of her inheritance but at the cost of a deep rift in the Croft family that left her estranged from her living relatives.
Complete Lara Croft Biographies
The complete biography of Lara Croft is very extensive and complex, the character was developed as the protagonist of Tomb Raider (1996), developed by CORE Design. In 2006 was released the first reboot of the saga, Tomb Raider Legend, developed by Crystal Dynamics, and in 2013 gets a second reboot by the same company.
Crystal Dynamics announced that the future of the saga will involve a reunification of the timelines of the CORE Design games and the two Crystal Dynamics reboots, with all installments being canon.
herefore, you can click on the following picture to access the complete official biography of CORE Design and Crystal Dynamics. Get to know details and curiosities of her life, time line, etc.
Amelia de Mornay (Amelia Croft)
Amelia’s family pushed her to marry the Earl of Farringdon to preserve their social standing. While she studied art history at Oxford, she met Richard Croft in the library, and they connected instantly. Even though her family disapproved, Amelia ended her engagement and started a relationship with Richard. They faced a few ups and downs, but eventually reconciled, and she moved into Croft Manor despite her brother Atlas’s warnings.
Later, Richard proposed to her in Luxor, and Amelia accepted right away. They married that same day in a small chapel at sunset. After the wedding, Richard built a studio so she could continue painting. When Amelia became pregnant, they chose the name Lara together, and their daughter arrived a year later. The delivery brought complications, yet the family enjoyed many happy years afterward. Amelia worked from home, cared for Lara, and taught her piano, while Richard continued traveling for his research. During that period, Amelia received an invitation for an exhibition tour, but she hesitated because the trip would keep her away from her family for more than a year.
From this point on, the canon splits into two different versions of her fate.
Legend, Anniversary and Underworld timeline
Amelia traveled with Lara over the Himalayas when their plane crashed. They survived and found shelter in a temple, where they discovered Excalibur. When Amelia touched the sword, a portal opened, and she vanished right in front of Lara.
Survivor canon
Amelia traveled to meet Richard when her plane went down in the mountains. Once she realized she wouldn’t survive, she wrote two letters: one for Richard, urging him to be the father Lara needed, and another for Lara, wishing her a future filled with love and happiness. Soon after finishing the letters, Amelia died from exposure.
Richard Croft
Richard Croft was born into a wealthy family and inherited the title of Lord.
He studied archaeology at Oxford and traveled around the world to further his research, which enabled him to earn a doctorate and publish several books, although some quarters criticized his theories.
During a visit to the library, he met Amelia de Mornay and connected with her immediately.
Amelia broke off her engagement to the Earl of Farringdon to be with Richard, despite her family’s opposition.
Eventually, they married, and their daughter Lara was born, a difficult delivery that he celebrated with great joy.
Throughout his career, Richard continued to lead expeditions and publish new works.
During that time, he met Conrad Roth, a treasure hunter who eventually became his guide and bodyguard.
Although Roth tried to teach him how to shoot, Richard never quite mastered the gun.
In addition, Richard James Croft, the 10th Earl of Abbingdon, dedicated his life to proving the existence of a culture predating known history.
That is why he pursued the Scion of Atlantis, attempted to locate Helheim, and shared his findings with Professor Peter Eddington.
Legend, Anniversary and Underworld timeline
He also collaborated with Jacqueline Natla, until he discovered her true intentions and decided to betray her, but she kills him in Cambodia after discovering it.
Before he died, Richard hid one of Thor’s gauntlets and the Eitr Stone beneath the mansion. Since his body could not be positively identified, a legal dispute arose between Lara and her uncle Errol Croft over the inheritance.
Survivor canon
Richard travels with Roth to the site where Amelia had been in a plane crash. There, he found her body and several letters addressed to him and Lara. Her loss led him to become obsessed with bringing her back, and he even began researching resurrection rituals, despite Roth’s warnings. The attempt failed, and Richard buried Amelia in the family crypt.
Over time, Trinity begins to view him as a threat. Domínguez orders his death, and Ana infiltrates the organization as an agent, receiving orders to assassinate him, though she is unable to carry them out. Another agent carries out the order and stages it to look like a suicide. Lara, still a child, finds her father’s body and is deeply traumatized.
Winston Smith
Winston Smith was born on February 7, 1924, in Connussie, Ireland.
He fought in World War II and earned decorations in the El‑Alarnetn desert campaign under Montgomery. He retired with honor after suffering wounds in battle.
When he returned home, he worked with his father as a forester. During that time, he met Lord Henshingly Croft while organizing shooting excursions and soon offered his service as a butler.
As Lara’s parents continued their travels, Winston grew close to Lara and became a father figure to her. Their bond remains strong.
He also served as butler to Lara’s aunt, who lived in a mansion in Surrey. Winston worked for her as both a servant and a trusted friend.
His family has served the Crofts for generations. Winston followed that tradition and became the family butler after leaving the army shortly before turning thirty.
He later moved to Croft Manor and took on the role of its only full‑time servant after his wife died, shortly before Lara’s birth.
At the manor, Winston handles all of Lara’s domestic needs. His duties often go far beyond those of a traditional butler because of her unusual lifestyle.
Through the years, he has supported Lara without ever failing her. His loyalty to Lara, her parents, and Croft Manor never wavers.
Zip
Zip was born in New York in 1974. From an early age he showed great talent with computers. He moved to London on a computer science scholarship to the University of London after graduating from high school in the United States in a very short time.
Thanks to his knowledge in technology, with skills in programming and electronics, he was hired as a computer scientist at Von Croy Industries, although after being discovered in a hack of the FBI agency, he was fired.
Lara Croft hired Zip for his great talent with technology and to get help infiltrating Von Croy Industries to steal the Iris artifact.
Zip, a tech prodigy with skills in programming, electronics and hacking, never completed his studies at UCL, but set up as a freelance consultant. When Lara regained her fortune, she hired Zip as her exclusive technical advisor, a role he still performs, giving instructions to Lara via communicator, either from Croft Manor or from some van near the action, while still moonlighting.
In his spare time, he entertains himself with electronics, developing new technology that could be useful to Mrs. Croft in the field.
In addition to being an expert purveyor of all things “Geek,” Zip is also a distinguished chef, and has worked in some of Northern Europe’s finest kitchens.
Over time, Zip befriended Sam and Jonah as well.
Alister Fletcher
Alister Fletcher works as Lara’s research assistant and brings a wealth of historical knowledge to the table. He’s always shuttling between libraries and museums, because he prefers to study and explain what others have already discovered, in contrast to Lara’s active search for artifacts. In addition, he has been pursuing a Ph.D. at Oxford for fifteen years, though he has yet to complete it. His obsession with connecting everything prevents him from setting the necessary boundaries to finish his dissertation.
While Lara explores the world, Alister keeps her informed from Croft Manor via headset, providing historical facts when she needs them. He also discusses and comments on events with Zip, forming a team that complements Lara’s skills. On several occasions, he assists her remotely and even accompanies her in person to search the manor’s crypt for an entrance to Richard’s old office.
Amanda Evert
Amanda Evert was a graduate student in social anthropology, passionate about mysticism and ancient religions. She believed that everyday reality merely concealed a deeper spiritual truth, and she devoted her studies to tracing fragments of that knowledge in shamanic rituals, witchcraft, and forgotten religious systems. Although she had a hippie vibe and was somewhat insecure, she was a brilliant researcher and would engage Lara in philosophical debates that always ended in laughter.
Flashback
During the expedition in Paraíso, Peru, Amanda and Lara descended with their team into a new section of the tomb. A rockslide separated them. Lara eventually found Amanda trapped and clearly frightened, and together they tried to escape through the central chamber of the complex, where Amanda insisted on prying a violet stone from the gate, convinced it was the key to their escape. As soon as she freed it, the entity that had been pursuing them vanished.
However, the structure began to collapse, and the tomb quickly flooded. Amanda was trapped beneath the rubble, and Lara—unable to free her—had to leave to survive. After the incident, the team closed the excavation site and turned it into a memorial, convinced that Amanda had not managed to escape.
Present day
Years later, Lara discovered that Amanda had survived thanks to the very same entity that had slaughtered the team. By freeing the stone, she formed a bond with the creature and learned to control it. From then on, she developed a deep resentment toward Lara and became even more immersed in her obsession with myths and the occult power behind them. She adopted a gothic style, sought ways to harness that bond, and, over time, began a relationship with James Rutland, which provided her with the resources to fund her research.
Later, she found Jacqueline Natla and imprisoned her to use her as a source of ancient knowledge. Natla revealed secrets to her about King Arthur, Norse mythology, and Avalon, which reinforced her obsession with reaching that supposed paradise. Eventually, her ambitions clashed with Lara’s, and the two faced off in a race for powerful artifacts marked by rivalry, mistrust, and a past neither had managed to put behind them.
Anaya Imanu
Anaya Imanu works as a civil engineer in impoverished areas of South America and has been friends with Lara since their college days.
The two lived through the tragedy of Paraíso together, a memory that Anaya would rather leave behind as she continues to build an admirable career that, from time to time, intersects with Lara’s.
While working in La Paz, Anaya heard rumors about a Stone Dais in Bolivia and immediately told Lara, knowing she had been looking for it.
Later, they met up in Peru and ended up near the old Paraíso site, a place neither of them had forgotten.
Toru Nishimura
Toru Nishimura is a media mogul and one of Lara Croft’s closest friends. Before becoming a renowned businessman, he worked as an investigative reporter and teamed up with Lara on several dangerous missions. Their friendship began when she rescued him after uncovering a plot involving a corrupt minister and an ancient artifact.
Although he now enjoys a comfortable life and is always affable, Nishimura retains his taste for adventure. Whenever Lara comes to Japan, he is delighted to welcome her, though with more caution than in the past. His responsibilities force him to tread carefully and maintain connections that aren’t always entirely above board, including a cordial relationship with the Yakuza.
Even so, Nishimura never fails to support Lara when their paths cross again.
James Rutland
James Rutland Jr. comes from a wealthy family and is the youngest son of a senator. Although he managed to graduate from West Point on his own merits, he never stood out for his intelligence. Rutland acts impulsively, prefers speed over strategy, and often throws himself into any plan without considering the consequences. Even so, he knows how to get by without relying on his money and maintains a level of physical discipline that makes him a competent athlete, always focused on his own goals.
During his search for Excalibur, Rutland worked alongside Amanda Evert, and over time, the two began a relationship. They shared an obsession with finding the sword as well as a desire to settle the score with Lara for what happened in Peru. Thanks to his fortune, Rutland could deploy a seemingly unlimited number of mercenaries to support his expeditions.
In addition, he carried a fragment of Excalibur with him as a symbol of power. He used it without hesitation in combat, taking advantage of the fact that it increased his stamina, agility, and strength, as well as allowing him to levitate and recover quickly. For him, the fragment was both a weapon and a status symbol.
Shogo Takamoto
Shogo Takamoto is a Japanese businessman with strong ties to the Yakuza and an obsession with antique weapons. In addition to his power within organized crime, he moves with ease in the black market for antiques, where he baffles collectors and adventurers by mixing authentic pieces with forgeries. Despite his dubious reputation, he remains a key player because he knows how to identify what others desire and use it to manipulate them.
His last encounter with Lara Croft ended on a tense note and left him with a deep resentment. Even so, he avoids seeking revenge, aware that failure would damage his honor and his standing within the Yakuza. He prefers to remain in the shadows, keeping an eye on Lara and protecting his influence in the world of ancient artifacts.
