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Majd Addin

2010-07-10T16:30:23Z

108.7.51.61:

{{Era|AC|Templars|Crusade|Featured}}
{{WPtargets}}
{{Target Infobox
|image= Majd_Addin.jpg
|imgdesc=
|name= Majd Addin
|arabic= مجد الدين
|alias=
|meaning= "Glory of the Faith"
|faction= [[Saracen]]
|location= [[Jerusalem]] - Poor District
|appear= ''[[Assassin's Creed]]''
|period= Third Crusade (1191)
|voice=[[Richard Cansino]]
}}

{{quote|Do you know what it feels like to determine another man's fate?|Addin cheering as he died}}
One of the nine people [[Al Mualim]] orders [[Altaïr]] to publicly assassinate. He dwells in the poor district of the city of Jerusalem.

==Description==

'''Majd Addin''' is Ṣalāḥ ad-Dīn's Regent of Jerusalem, and demands that his citizens follow the law - '''his''' law. He issues many edicts regarding how people should conduct themselves, and anyone perceived to be breaking these laws - or as a direct threat to either the city or Majd Addin himself - is dealt with in a public "trial", where they are either framed or have their so-called "crimes" exaggerated to the point that the crowd demands their deaths - which Majd Addin is only too happy to deliver personally.

Majd Addin is more than happy to admit that he enjoys controlling and taking the lives of others. He arbitrates and controls the citizens of Jerusalem through acts of strong fear and intimidation.... All the more reason why a feather was issued on his head.

==Death==

Majd Addin was publicly assassinated by the silent assassin Altaïr. The assassin claimed his life during one of his public executions (as Majd Addin proceeded with lecturing the crowd feeding his killer ego).  In his dying moments, he gave Altaïr explanations and reasons for his evil deeds, commenting that while he joined the Templars to help them take control of Jerusalem, in reality, he simply wanted the power and fear such a position granted.

==Final Words==

'''Altaïr:''' ''Your work here is finished''.

'''Majd:''' ''No! No! It had only just begun!''

'''Altaïr:''' ''Tell me, what's your part in all this? Do you intend to defend yourself as the others have, and explain away your evil deeds?''

'''Majd:''' ''The Brotherhood wanted the city: I wanted power. There was... an opportunity''.

'''Altaïr:''' ''An opportunity to murder innocents!''

'''Majd:''' ''Not so innocent! Dissident voices cut deep as steel. They disrupt order. In this, I do agree with the Brotherhood.''

'''Altaïr:''' ''You'd kill people simply for believing differently from you?''

'''Majd:''' ''Of course not! I killed them because I could! Because it was fun! Do you know what it feels like to determine another man's fate? And did you see the way the people cheered? The way they feared me? I was like a god! You'd have done the same if you could! Such power!''

'''Altaïr:''' ''Once perhaps, but then I learned what becomes of those who lift themselves above others.''

'''Majd:''' ''And what is that?''

'''Altaïr:''' ''Here, let me show you! ''(stabs Majd in the neck with the [[Hidden Blade]])

==Trivia==
[[File:Maj deat.jpg|thumb|250px|Majd Addin is executed]]

*Majd Addin (Glory of the Faith) may be very loosely based on a man named [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baha_ad-Din_ibn_Shaddad Bahā' ad-Dīn ibn Shaddād] (splendor of the faith), who was close to '''Ṣalāḥ ad-Dīn Yūsuf ibn Ayyūb''' ('''Saladin''') and wrote a biography of the great Saracen military leader and sultan. Bahā' ad-Dīn was a jurist and a scholar. Ṣalāḥ ad-Dīn liked his writings so much that he befriended the man and made him the judge of his armies. Bahā' ad-Dīn did not proclaim himself the Regent of Jerusalem, however.
*In one of Altaïr's investigations, it is revealed that Majd Addin was once the scribe of the ''emir''. Ṣalāḥ ad-Dīn is the Emir or Sultan at this time. Malik tells Altaïr that Majd Addin has "declared himself Regent in Ṣalāḥ ad-Dīn's absence". However, when listening to the men during one of his eavesdropping investigations (the one man is the father of one of those to be executed), it becomes clear that ''the people are under the impression'' that Ṣalāḥ ad-Dīn has appointed Majd Addin as Regent.
*Majd Addin is the only target who needs two stabs of the hidden blade to die, one when you kill him in the gameplay and another in the animus scene.
*If you let the other Assassin get executed, you slowly lose your sync bars until you die.
*Majd Addin is one of the only two targets that you stab with the Hidden Blade in the animus scene in the Assassin's Creed Universe. The other target being [[Checco Orsi]], in Assassin's Creed II.
*Majd Addin is the only one of Altaïr's main [[Assassination Targets]] that doesn't show any remorse or any belief that their actions were in service of the greater good.

== Video ==

<center>[[Video:Assassination of Majd Addin|480px|Assassination of Majd Addin.]]
</center>

{{AC}}
[[Category:Assassin's Creed Assassination Targets]]
[[Category:Templars|Addin, Majd]]

Desmond Miles

2010-07-10T16:07:14Z

108.7.51.61:

{{FAimp}}
{{Character Infobox
|image =Desmond2.png
|imgdesc =
|name = Desmond Miles
|home = [[The Farm|"the Farm"]]
|birth = 1987
|meaning =
|faction = [[Assassins]]
|appear =''[[Assassin's Creed]]'',<br/>''[[Assassin's Creed II]]''
|period = [[Modern Times]] (21st Century)
|voice = [[Nolan North]]
}}
{{Quote|I'm a bartender, for Christ's sake! What do you want me to do, teach you how to mix a Martini?|Desmond to Vidic and Lucy|Assassin's Creed}}
'''Desmond Miles''' (b. 1987) is the main protagonist of the [[Assassin's Creed series|Assassin's Creed series]] and the descendant of a long line of ancestors who swore their allegiance to the [[Assassins|Assassin Order]]. He is initially forced to use a machine, called the [[Animus]], created by [[Abstergo Industries]] – the modern front of the [[Knights Templar]] – to relive the memories of his ancestor, [[Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad]] during the Crusader era, in their quest to locate the [[Piece of Eden|"Apple"]], a [[Piece of Eden]].

Eventually escaping with the aid of modern day [[Assassins]], Desmond once again uses an improved version of the Animus to explore the memories of his second ancestor, [[Ezio Auditore da Firenze]], so as to learn the ways of the Assassins in a [[Bleeding Effect|much quicker way than normal]].

==Biography==
===Early life===
{{quote|You have any idea what it's like to be trapped in a place, knowing there was a whole world out there I'd never get to see?|Desmond to Lucy about his childhood|Assassin's Creed}}
Desmond Miles was born in an Assassin "hideout" in the desert, an "off the grid" compound with a population of about 30 people, much like the city of [[Masyaf]], where he was destined to be trained as an Assassin. He was frustrated by his parents' explicit instructions not to leave the compound, and believed them being overly concerned and paranoid. On his 16th birthday, he finally fled, "want[ing] to see the rest of the world." He later told [[Lucy Stillman]] that he had no regrets over leaving his parents, because as far as he was concerned, they were his "wardens". After leaving the Assassin compound, he went into hiding for nine years. While keeping a low profile, he did eventually become a bartender. Aware of the Knights Templar, and wanting to avoid both them and the Assassins, Desmond never used his real name and used only cash to purchase items. However, he was eventually found, traced through a fingerprint needed for a motorcycle license and was brought to the Abstergo laboratory.<ref name="Assassin's Creed">''[[Assassin's Creed]]''</ref>

===Kidnapped by Abstergo===
[[File:Warren-vidic-assassins-creed-2-character.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Dr. Vidic watches Desmond inside the Animus.]]
{{Quote|I'm not an assassin… not any more.|Desmond Miles to Warren Vidic.|Assassin's Creed}}

In September 2012, Desmond Miles was kidnapped by [[Abstergo Industries]], a pharmaceutical company and front for the [[Knights Templar]], for use as a test subject in the [[Animus]], a device that can read the memories of Desmond's ancestors through the "genetic memory" left behind in their descendants' DNA. At first [[Warren Vidic]], attempted to pry the information he wanted from Desmond's mind, but met with failure. Whilst Desmond claimed to be nothing more than a bartender, Vidic revealed that they knew of his history as an Assassin, forcing Desmond to finally admit his past life. Vidic and [[Lucy Stillman]] told Desmond that they were trying to access a certain memory, but Desmond's subconscious was resisting their efforts. Vidic warned Desmond that if he refused to assist them, they would induce a coma, continue their work, and when done with Desmond, leave him to die. Without much choice, Desmond agreed to help them.

[[File:Eagle_vision.jpg|thumb|200px|Desmond's Eagle Vision]]

Desmond was made to explore the genetic memories of his ancestor – [[Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad]], a member of a clan of Assassins during the [[Third Crusade]], specifically Altaïr's experiences during the year 1191 – and over several days does so under the watchful eye of Warren Vidic. During the nights however, Desmond discovered that he was able to explore the lab he was being held in, accessing the Animus computer after stealing Warren Vidic's pen, gaining access to his personal computer. Through these e-mails, Desmond learned of a [[Subject 16]] who had suffered from a "[[bleeding effect]]" due to prolonged exposure to the Animus, as well as titbits of information from the outside world. Eventually, with the aid of Lucy, the Assassins learned of Desmond's capture and attempted to liberate him, the gunfire being heard through an intercom device, although the rescue attempt failed. Vidic boasts that those Assassins were in fact the last of the group; their desert hideout having been previously destroyed. Lucy Stillman's actions, however, suggest otherwise, and when Desmond asked if Lucy knew anything about his parents, she responded by saying that she didn't know, but that they probably escaped. During this discussion, Lucy revealed herself to be an undercover member of the Assassins.

Desmond eventually achieved Vidic's goal and discovered the location of numerous Pieces of Eden. Executives of Abstergo Industries ordered his execution, but his life was saved by Stillman's intervention, who asked to keep Desmond alive in order to re-access his memories if need be. After the executives leave, Desmond suddenly accesses the "[[Eagle Vision|eagle vision]]" of his ancestor Altaïr, seeing Warren and Lucy for their true allegiances, as well as countless scrawled messages and puzzles on the floor of the main laboratory.<ref name="Assassin's Creed" />

===Escape to the [[Hideout]]===
{{Quote|Whoa... Alright, wasn't expecting that...|Desmond discovering the birth of his lineage|Assassin's Creed II}}
At the beginning of [[Assassin's Creed II]] Desmond was still being held within the laboratory at [[Abstergo]], continuing directly from the last game from a couple of hours. [[Lucy]] suddenly arrives, covered in blood and demanding Desmond to get into the [[Animus]] before Abstergo discovers what she's done. Desmond, rather confused, agrees and, inside the Animus, experiences the birth of another of his ancestors, [[Ezio Auditore da Firenze]], a joint ancestor of his and Subject 16's. He was quickly pulled out, though, and both make their escape.

[[File:Zw-desmond-fighting.png|thumb|200px|Desmond fighting off the [[Abstergo]] guards]]

They were quickly spotted by Abstergo security forces and forced into an engagement which [[Lucy]] quickly ended, allowing them to continue on stealthily. The two soon entered a large open room filled with office blocks, and lined with a large number of Animus machines, although Desmond's questions about them are met with silence. Desmond once instinctively called upon his recently activated [[Eagle Vision]] when, at the door to an elevator, a password was needed that Lucy did not have. Once in the car park the two were halted by yet more Abstergo guards, but were able to overcome them and escape.

Arriving at the [[assassin's hideout]], Desmond was introduced to two more Assassins – [[Shaun Hastings]] and [[Rebecca Crane]] – who have worked with Lucy over the years. Lucy told Desmond that they wanted him to become trained in the ways of the Assassin, and thanks to the [[Bleeding Effect]], they could achieve this in a matter of days, although it required him learning the ways of an Assassin through a new ancestor; [[Ezio]]. Desmond agrees to help almost immediately, and was quickly plugged in the [[Animus 2.0]].

[[File:Zw-desmond-dream.png|thumb|250px|left|Desmond experiencing the [[bleeding effect]]]]

After learning the ways of the Assassin through Ezio's memories Desmond was retracted from the Animus, partly to test his retention of the memories, but also to prevent the mental degradation that [[Subject 16]] had suffered from being in the Animus for too long at a time. Tasking him with initiating security protocols around the Assassin hideout, Lucy left it to Desmond to work out how to reach them through the use of his [[Eagle Vision]] and new-found [[Free Running]] skills. Just as he begun, however, he started suffering vivid hallucinations of the [[Third Crusade|Crusader era]]. At first the vision were short, and that they were nothing to worry about, but after completing the task Desmond was incapacitated as the visions became more real. Taken back to [[Acre]], Desmond once again followed the memories of [[Altaïr]], this time without the use of the Animus, and discovered Altaïr and [[Maria Thorpe]] conceived a child, Desmond's next ancestor.

[[File:Demsondanimus2.jpg|thumb|250px|Desmond sitting in the [[Animus|Animus 2.0]] next to [[Lucy]].]]

The next day, Desmond had recovered from the experiences and returned to the Animus, neglecting to tell the Assassins what had happened. He continued the watch over the genetic memories of Ezio Auditore, despite at one time being thrown out by a "corrupted memory sequence". Eventually they learn that Ezio's arch-nemesis, the Templar Grandmaster [[Rodrigo Borgia]] had, in 1492 become Pope Alexander VI, so as to gain access to yet another Piece of Eden, the Papal Staff and [[the Vault]]. As Ezio's story began to conclude, Desmond and the Assassins watched deep within [[the Vault]] beneath the Vatican. Ezio found himself confronted by a "[[Those Who Have Gone Before|god]]" hologram who called herself [[Minerva]]; Minerva warns the Assassins of the end of the world, as well as retelling the story of the war between "Those Who Came Before", and their human subjects. The Assassins are shocked when Minerva addresses Desmond by name, confusing even Ezio, and it is revealed that Minerva was in fact talking to Desmond ''through'' Ezio. Desmond was quickly pulled out of the Animus, though, seeing the three rushing to collect their belongings, the Templars having found their location.

Immediately after getting out of the Animus, Lucy tossed Desmond a [[Hidden Blade]] with the Assassin's emblem on it, and asks for his assistance in covering the escape. Making their way into the warehouse, Vidic appeared, flanked by Abstergo security officials with the intent of reclaiming Desmond. The two assassins fought off the Templars with Desmond, now fully synchronized with Ezio, masterfully using his Hidden Blade to kill many of the guards. With his entourage eliminated, Vidic was left to confront Desmond on his own, but instead retreats, promising that their victory is only temporary. The four Assassins then fled north, and Desmond was hooked up to the Animus inside the van and told to continue to search through his memories for anything useful. As Desmond's hooked up, the other Assassins begin to discuss the nature of [[Minerva]] and her talk.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II">''[[Assassin's Creed II]]''</ref>

==Characteristics and personality==
[[File:Zw-desmond-bleeding.png|thumb|330px|Desmond's free-running skills.]]
Desmond has an uncanny resemblance to both Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad and Ezio Auditore da Firenze, despite having very little in common with their personalities. And being a discreet individual, he does not wear extravagant clothing, accustomed to a white hooded jacket, jeans and, white sneakers. Interestingly, when up, the hood exhibited a beak-like feature similar to Ezio and Altaïr.

Desmond was a gruff and cynical individual, who held a serious outlook on life, due to being aware of the Templars and Assassins since his youth, although he was unaware of Abstergo Industries being a Templar company. Despite this, he was not above jesting over his situation, and would occasionally make jokes, although they rarely elicited a good reaction. After his emancipation from Abstergo, Desmond's demeanor became considerably more relaxed and spent a noticeable amount of time talking to Lucy.

===Equipment and skills===
Being that Desmond was trained during childhood as an Assassin, he learned basic reconnaissance skills of eavesdropping and pickpocketing as well as being a competent fist fighter. After about a week of being forced to relive the memories of his ancestor, Altaïr, Desmond began to experience the [[Bleeding Effect]] and developed an extra-sensory ability called Eagle Vision. Later on, after willingly exploring the memories of another ancestor, Ezio Auditore, Desmond learned how to free-run like an assassin. Not long afterwards, he was able to easily fend off a Templar attack with Ezio's combat skills. Desmond is now able to fight with a [[Hidden Blade]] and mace-like weapons. It can be assumed that Ezio's sword skills were carried over as well.

==Trivia==
*He is modelled after [[Francisco Randez]] and voiced by [[Nolan North]]. Curiously, Francisco Randez also used to be a bartender before he became a model. This may have inspired the makers of the game to give Desmond the same profession. His face slightly changes in Assassin's Creed II to match the look of Ezio, who's face also slightly differs from Altaïr's in the first game. <ref name="Assassin's Creed">''[[Assassin's Creed]]''</ref><ref name="Assassin's Creed II">''[[Assassin's Creed II]]''</ref>
*Desmond possesses the same scar on his lip as his ancestors Altaïr and Ezio had. <ref name="Assassin's Creed">''[[Assassin's Creed]]''</ref><ref name="Assassin's Creed II">''[[Assassin's Creed II]]''</ref>
*Desmond and Altaïr share the same age during the first game, both being 25 years of age in 2012 and 1191 respectively. <ref name="Assassin's Creed">''[[Assassin's Creed]]''</ref>
*Desmond is a descendant of [[Those Who Came Before]] and [[Humans]], as many of his ancestor's abilities such as the [[Eagle Vision]] are product of the unification of those two races, what led to the birth of the first "assassins", [[Adam and Eve]]. <ref name="Assassin's Creed II: Collector's Edition Official Game Guide">''[[Assassin's Creed II: Collector's Edition Official Game Guide]]''</ref>
*Desmond has A+ blood type. <ref>[[“Assassin’s Creed” game manual]]</ref>
*Desmond's history shows he never wanted to be an assassin, nor does he have the skills yet before the second game to be one. However in the graphic novel, included with the limited edition of the first game, he does call himself an assassin and he shows skills of stealth and lethality. <ref name="Assassin's Creed: Graphic Novel">''[[Assassin's Creed: Graphic Novel]]''</ref>
*Desmond acquires a [[Hidden Blade]] at the conclusion of [[Assassin's Creed II]]. The original owner of the blade is uncertain, but it shares the same design as the one Ezio inherited from his father, [[Giovanni]].
*The etymology of Desmond's name "The World" (or Man of the World in Celtic and Latin) is not related to either of his ancestors, whereas [[Altaïr]]'s and [[Ezio]]'s names pertain to avians; Altaïr's being "The Flying One" and Ezio's "The Eagle". His surname "Miles" is also the Latin word for "Soldier".
**The name however suits him, as he wanted to leave his parents' watchful eyes to see the rest of the world outside the compound, and refers to his role in saving it from destruction.
**Desmond is also known as subject 17, for he is the 17th person that was used to test the Animus.
**Due to the fact that Desmond and subject 16 are both desendents of Ezio it is certain that they are somewhat related.

== Video ==
[[Video:Real Life Storyline|thumb|480px|left|Real Life Storyline: Desmont Miles, Lucy Stillman and Warren Vidic]]
<br style="clear:left;" />

==Notes and references==
{{reflist}}

{{AC}}
{{ACII}}
{{ACSeries}}
[[Category:Assassin's Creed Characters|Miles, Desmond]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed II Characters|Miles, Desmond]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood Characters|Miles, Desmond]]
[[Category:Assassins|Miles, Desmond]]
[[Category:Descendant of Altaïr|Miles, Desmond]]