Assassin headquarters (2012)

2011-11-20T01:01:25Z

121.217.217.156: corrected a typo

{{era|Brotherhood|Assassins}}
{{stub}}
{{nospec}}
{{Quote|I don't know what you've heard about this place, but there will be a lot here to show you that I know you're going to love. Lots of history.|[[William M.]] to [[Shaun Hastings]] via [[Hephaestus Email Network|e-mail]].|Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood}}
The '''Assassin headquarters''' was the main location of the [[Assassin Order]] in the year 2012. Beyond being located in Europe, not much is known about the facility's location or its appearance. It was from here that [[William M.]] coordinated and kept in touch with the various teams of Assassins across the globe. In an [[Shaun's e-mail|e-mail]] to [[Shaun Hastings]], William explained that the headquarters had "lots of history."

The location was evidently secure, as in the same e-mail from William, he stated that Shaun's Assassin team (which included [[Desmond Miles]], [[Lucy Stillman]] and [[Rebecca Crane]]) would be traveling there once they had secured the [[Sixth Apple|Apple of Eden]].

==Source==
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood]]''

{{ACBH}}
[[Category:Assassin Order Headquarters]]
[[Category:Assassin Order]]

Maria Thorpe

2011-11-18T03:31:44Z

121.217.217.156: /* Trivia */ Insignificant; Desmond refers to her as "from Acre" because that's where he sees the hallucination of Altair chasing her

{{Era|AC|ACBl|AC2|ACR|Secret Crusade|Templars|Assassins|Good}}
{{WPAssassins}}
{{WPtargets}}
{{Spoilerhd}}
{{Quote|Everything I worked for in the Holy Land, I no longer want. And everything I gave up to join the Templars... I wonder where all that went, and if I should try to find it again.|Maria reflecting on her life after cutting her ties with Templars.|Assassin's Creed: Bloodlines}}
{{Character Infobox
|name = Maria Thorpe
|image = Maria Thorpe ACII.png
|imgdesc =
|birth = c. 1160 [[England]]
|death = 1227 (aged approx. 67) [[Masyaf]], [[Syria]]<ref name="Secret Crusade">''[[Assassin's Creed: The Secret Crusade]]''</ref>
|period = High Middle Ages
|faction = [[Templars]] [[Assassins]]
|appear = ''[[Assassin's Creed]]'' ''[[Assassin's Creed: Bloodlines]]'' ''[[Assassin's Creed II]]'' {{fb}} ''[[Assassin's Creed: The Secret Crusade]]'' ''[[Assassin's Creed: Revelations]]''
|actor =
|voice = [[Eleanor Noble]]
}}
'''Maria Thorpe''' (died 1227) was an [[England|English]] noblewoman living during the High Middle Ages, who joined the [[Templars|Templar Order]] prior to the [[Third Crusade]].

Developing a strong relationship with the Order's [[Grand Master of the Templar Order|Grand Master]], [[Robert de Sable]], she was eventually given a high rank in the Order. In 1191, after the [[Assassins|Assassin]] [[Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad]] killed eight Templar agents spread throughout the Holy Land, she was assigned by Robert to disguise herself as the Grand Master and thus fool Altaïr, realizing that Robert was his next target. The plan was a success, and Altaïr spared Maria's life. However, Robert was ultimately killed shortly thereafter, and [[Armand Bouchart]] took over as Grand Master.

Bouchart did not favor Maria, however, and did not find transport for her when the Templars moved to [[Cyprus]]. Planning to find her own way there, she was defeated and captured by Altaïr before she could do so, as the Assassins had attacked the Templars' fortress in [[Acre]]. Blaming Altaïr for ruining her reputation in the Order, she was taken with him to Cyprus and forced to help him take down the Templars.

Unwillingly giving information to Altaïr and escaping her captors several times, Maria began to realize that the Templars' ambitions were not beneficial for humanity, and slowly got closer to Altaïr. Eventually, she and Altaïr infiltrated the [[Templar Archive]] in [[Limassol]], where she went ahead of the Assassin and faced off against Bouchart alone. Though she was defeated, Altaïr was able to defeat the Grand Master and he helped Maria get out of the crumbling Archive.

Maria then followed Altaïr to the Assassins' fortress of the [[Masyaf]], where she settled down with Altaïr and had two children with him. Several years later, Maria, Altaïr and their son [[Darim Ibn-La'Ahad|Darim]] went on a journey to assassinate the [[Mongols|Mongol]] leader [[Genghis Khan]].

==Biography==
===Early life===
{{Quote|I'm what they call the unusual one in my family. Growing up, I always preferred the boys' games. Dolls weren't for me, much to my parents' continued exasperation. I used to pull their heads off.|Maria about her youth.|Assassin's Creed: The Secret Crusade}}
In her youth, Maria chose not to follow the norm for women of her age, and instead acted and dressed as a male would. Because of this, she was often pestered as a child, and punished by her parents.<ref name="AC Official Game Guide">''Assassin's Creed'': Official Game Guide</ref>

Before the start of the Third Crusade, her parents forced her to marry, though it ended four years after. This disgrace, combined with Maria's own dreams of honor and glory, persuaded her to leave England behind, and join the [[Crusaders]] in the Holy Land.<ref name="AC Official Game Guide"/>

===Joining the Templars===
{{Quote|Fortunately the Bishop of Leicester was a close friend of the elderly Lord Hallaton and he was able to grant an annulment [of the marriage] rather than risking this silly impetuous girl cause the family ruther embarrassment. [...] Hallaton had demanded his bride price back but Father had already spent it. In the end I decided it was best for everyone if I left so I ran away to the Crusade.|Maria, about her motives to join the Crusaders.|Assassin's Creed: The Secret Crusade}}
It was uncommon for women to participate in combat during the time, thus Maria disguised herself as a man. She showed much promise amongst the Crusaders, and attracted the attention of [[Robert de Sable]]; a Crusader Lieutenant, and the [[Grand Master of the Templar Order]].<ref name="AC Official Game Guide"/>

Despite later learning her true gender, Robert supported her and even appointed Maria to be his personal steward. Although she did not share her Master's beliefs, Maria respected Robert enough to do anything for him, even forfeit her life if necessary.<ref name="AC Official Game Guide"/>

At one point, Robert gave her a ring as a gift, which Maria cherished and kept close. She would later treasure it as her only remaining link to the Templars.<ref name="Bloodlines">''[[Assassin's Creed: Bloodlines]]''</ref>

===Robert's decoy===
{{Quote|We knew you'd come. Robert needed to be sure he'd have time to get away.|Maria talking about her act as a decoy.|Assassin's Creed}}
[[File:Maria-Templar-Robert-de-Sable-PROXY-00.JPG|thumb|250px|Maria, disguised as Robert, looking to the crowd.]]
Following the [[Hunt for the Nine|deaths of eight powerful Templars]] in 1191 at the hands of the Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad - a member of the Templars' sworn enemies, the Assassins - Robert correctly reasoned that he was next on the Assassin's list.<ref name="AC">''[[Assassin's Creed]]''</ref>

Not one to be defeated, Robert publicly announced his intention to attend the funeral of the late Regent of [[Jerusalem]], [[Majd Addin]], as a show of mutual cooperation and respect between Muslim and Crusader. Privately, the Templar Grand Master knew that this would be a chance too great for the Assassin to pass up.<ref name="AC"/>

Maria was left to take Robert's place at the funeral, as a decoy for Altaïr. As expected, the Assassin appeared during the funeral procession. Maria carefully examined the mass and managed to spot him. She signaled the funeral proctor of Altaïr's presence, and a great number of Templars were ordered to seize him.<ref name="AC"/>

[[File:Majd funeral fight.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Maria (center) leading the Templars in battle against Altaïr.]]
Altaïr overpowered the soldiers, and in the end, grasped Maria to remove her helm. Altaïr was greatly shocked that it was a woman he had fought, and questioned it as sorcery. Maria corrected him that it was not, and revealed that she was in Robert's place as a distraction; saying that both his Brotherhood's success of taking the [[Sixth Apple|Templar treasure]], and eradicating her comrades had not gone unnoticed.<ref name="AC"/>

Maria then continued, admitting that Robert had gone to [[Arsuf]] to propose a truce between the [[Saracens|Saracen]] and Crusader armies, in order to besiege the Assassin fortress of [[Masyaf]]. As the eight Templars who had been killed by Altaïr had come from both sides, the Assassins had become their common enemy.<ref name="AC"/>

Though Maria thought she would also be one of the Templars to die at the Assassin's hand, Altaïr corrected her, sparing her life but warning her not to follow him. Out of her confusion, Maria replied haughtily that she did not need to, and that it was futile for him to try to stop Robert.<ref name="AC"/>

===Journey to Cyprus===
{{Dialogue3|Knight|Begging your pardon, but it might be better if you stayed in Acre.|Maria|What is that? A threat?|It's a fair warning. Armand Bouchart is Grand Master now and he doesn't hold you in high regard.|Why, you insolent... Very well, I'll find my own way to Limassol.|A knight advising Maria to stay in Acre.|Assassin's Creed: Bloodlines}}
[[File:Altair Maria Acre.jpg|thumb|250px|Maria defeated by Altaïr.]]
A month after Altaïr had killed both Robert and [[Al Mualim]], Maria's Templar rank had dropped considerably, and she was not allowed to travel to Cyprus with her fellow Templars. She confronted Altaïr after the assault on the [[Acre]] harbor, where the two of them engaged in another [[Swords and Maces|sword]] fight.<ref name="Bloodlines"/>

Altaïr bested her, and interrogated her about the Templars' plans for Cyprus. Afterwards, Altaïr took Maria prisoner and brought her with him on the journey to Cyprus, hoping to use her as leverage to lure other Templars out into the open.<ref name="Bloodlines"/>

The two of them traveled to [[Limassol]], where they met with the Assassin contact, [[Alexander]]. Maria was escorted and kept at the resistance safehouse, but escaped following an ambush by Templars, during which the building was set on fire.<ref name="Bloodlines"/>

Maria hurried to warn the new Grand Master of the Templars, [[Armand Bouchart]], of Altaïr's presence in Limassol, but Armand only grew suspicious of Maria's two "miraculous" escapes from the Assassins. That, coupled with his general distrust of women, led him to sentencing her to be locked away in prison.<ref name="Bloodlines"/>

Maria was led away by two Templar [[guards]], only to be saved by Altaïr. After his recovery of her, she vowed to kill him, but Altaïr reasoned with her, noting that the best way to buy back into the Templar's favor was not with his head, but through her recovery of the Apple of Eden.<ref name="Bloodlines"/>

{{Dialogue3|Altaïr|The philosopher Empedocles preached that all life on earth began simply, in rudimentary forms: hands without arms, heads without bodies, eyes without faces. He believed that all these early forms combined, very gradually over time, to create the variety of life we see before us. Interesting?|Maria|Do you know how ludicrous that sounds?|I do, but I take comfort in the advice of the philospher Al Kindi: one must not be afraid of ideas, no matter their source. And we must never fear the truth, even when it pains us.|I don't see the point of your ramblings.|Altaïr trying to teach Maria while on the boat to Kyrenia.|Assassin's Creed: The Secret Crusade}}

[[File:AltaïrMariaBoat.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Maria and Altaïr conversing aboard the ship.]]
Altaïr took Maria along with him on the ship to [[Kyrenia]]. Whilst on the ship, Altaïr spoke to her about the philosophy of [[Wikipedia:Empedocles|Empedocles]] – saying that ''"only a mind free of impediments is capable of grasping the chaotic beauty of the world."''<ref name="Bloodlines"/>

Although Maria resisted his ideology, she did take interest in it, asking curiously as to whether being able to see this "chaotic beauty" was truly something to be celebrated. In turn, Altaïr admitted to hardship imposed upon human beings as a result of freedom; though he maintained that ''"the [[New World Order|order and peace the Templar seek]] requires servility and imprisonment,"'' a statement with which the captive Maria found some irony.<ref name="Bloodlines"/>

As the two prepared to disembark, Altaïr cut the rope binding Maria's wrists so that she would be able climb the ladder to the upper deck. However, as she did, the two were recognized by the pirates who had ferried them there. Maria used the opportunity to kick Altaïr down the ladder, forcing him to face their attackers and allow her to escape.<ref name="Bloodlines"/>

However, Maria was also attacked by other members of the large crew, and was helped to safety by [[Markos]]. Because of his honesty and their common dislike of Templars, Altaïr entrusted him with Maria's care, and asked him to look after her.<ref name="Bloodlines"/>

During his investigations, Altaïr learned that "[[Moloch|the Bull]]" – his target – had posted large bounties, not only for him, but for Maria as well. Fearing for her safety, he rushed back to the harbor, where he found her and Markos being attacked by Templars. After rescuing them, Altaïr brought them to the Kyrenia safehouse.<ref name="Bloodlines"/>

Maria, her wrists once again bound, mocked Altaïr's crude plan for killing "the Bull" – whom she knew as Moloch – and inadvertently ended up giving away his position in [[Kantara Castle]]. By the time Altaïr returned from killing him, Maria had already been taken away by Templar agents, who had raided the safe house in his absence.<ref name="Bloodlines"/>

Maria was given to Moloch's son [[Shalim]]; separated from the resistance members, and from Altaïr's attempts to rescue her.<ref name="Bloodlines"/>

[[File:Bellydancin.jpg|thumb|250px|Maria infiltrates Saint Hilarion dressed as a [[Courtesans|courtesan]].]]
Maria escaped from Shalim, and headed to [[Saint Hilarion Castle]] disguised as a consort, sneaking in via palanquin. On her arrival, she confronted [[Shahar]] in his private room, and demanded to know about the Templars' plan for the Apple of Eden. Shahar stated that the Templars would achieve order by any means necessary, even if that "order" became synonymous with enslavement.<ref name="Bloodlines"/>

Shahar grabbed her by her wrists, as if to subdue her, but was interrupted when Altaïr burst in upon them, on his search for Shalim. Maria killed his two pursuers as if by impulse, but refused to fight beside him further, and fled.<ref name="Bloodlines"/>

How Maria traveled from Kyrenia back to Limassol is unknown. Altaïr traveled back alone, and carried on without her for a short time. However, following his use of the Apple of Eden to quiet the rioting townspeople, it was Maria who killed the [[Templar agent|mysterious Templar agent]] intent on taking the Apple by stabbing him in the back.<ref name="Bloodlines"/>

[[File:faito.jpg|thumb|250px|left|Maria fighting Armand in the Archive.]]
Although she remained adamantly distrusting of the righteousness of his motives, Maria led Altaïr to the [[Templar Archive]] hidden under Limassol Castle. There, she engaged Armand Bouchart in combat. However, Armand was an extremely skilled fighter, and hurled Maria back, knocking her unconscious.<ref name="Bloodlines"/>

After Altaïr defeated Armand, he and Maria managed to flee the Archive. She then told him that she no longer wished to be part of the Templars, or return to England, and instead intended to go somewhere in the East.<ref name="Bloodlines"/> However, she ultimately decided to travel with him to Masyaf.<ref name="Secret Crusade" />

===Settling down===
{{Quote|Some two years after the events I've described, they were wed at Limassol. The ceremony was held there as a measure of respect to the Cypriots who had offered their island as a base for the Assassins, making it a key stronghold for the Order.|[[Niccolò Polo]] explaining Maria's marriage to Altaïr to his brother [[Maffeo Polo|Maffeo]].|Assassin's Creed: The Secret Crusade}}
[[File:Zw-altairandmaria.png|thumb|250px|Maria and Altaïr, after having conceived Darim.]]
Maria became romantically involved with Altaïr after returning to Masyaf, and in 1193, they were married in Limassol, with Markos as a guest of honor.<ref name="Secret Crusade"/>

A few months after their marriage, their first son [[Darim Ibn-La'Ahad|Darim]] was born. Two years later, Maria gave birth to their second son, [[Sef Ibn-La'Ahad|Sef]].<ref name="Secret Crusade"/>

===Journey to Mongolia===
{{Quote|Darim was in his early twenties and an accomplished bowman, and so it was that Altaïr took him and Maria and left Masyaf.|Niccolò Polo explaining the journey to Mongolia to his brother Maffeo.|Assassin's Creed: The Secret Crusade}}
Around 1217, Maria, Altaïr and Darim started a journey to Mongolia to assassinate [[Genghis Khan]], whose marching army was preventing the Assassin Order from expanding their influence; leaving [[Malik Al-Sayf]] to take care of the Order. Once there, the family joined with the Assassin [[Qulan Gal]]. While the men made plans to take Khan down, Maria stayed on the sidelines and tended to Altaïr after he had returned wounded from the [[Mongols|Mongol]] camp.<ref name="Secret Crusade"/>

After Darim, aided by Qulan Gal, successfully killed Genghis Khan in 1227, the family headed back home to Masyaf, only to find it completely different from when they had left.<ref name="Secret Crusade"/>

===Later life===
{{Dialogue|Altaïr|I have to destroy Abbas.|Maria|But not for the purposes of vengeance, my love. For the Order. For the good of the Brotherhood. To take it back and make it great once more. If you can do that, and if you can let it take precedence over your own thoughts of revenge, the Order will love you as a father who shows it the true path. If you let yourself be blinded by anger and emotion, how can you expect them to listen when what you teach is the other way?|Altaïr and Maria about taking back the Order from Abbas.|Assassin's Creed: The Secret Crusade}}
[[File:ACR Altair Screenshot.jpg|thumb|250px|left|Maria walking with Altaïr in Masyaf.]]
Maria, Altaïr and Darim were greeted by [[Swami]] upon their return. He informed them that their son Sef had left for [[Alamut]], that Malik was imprisoned, and that a council had been formed to take control over the Order; with [[Abbas Sofian]] at its head. At this, Darim left for Alamut to retrieve his brother. Opposed to what they had expected, Maria and Altaïr were pointed to a residence in the west side of the castle, instead of to the Master's tower.<ref name="Secret Crusade"/>

The next day, the two went to meet the council, seeing that it was made up of the most weak-minded Assassins in the Order. Altaïr gave the council a summary of their journey, and Abbas revealed that Malik had been imprisoned for the murder of their son Sef. Doubting the story's credibility, Altaïr left to free Malik from the fortress' prison and bring him back to their residence.<ref name="Secret Crusade"/>

Maria tended to Malik, and the latter informed them that it had been Abbas who had had Sef killed, and had planted the murder weapon in Malik's bed. Once Malik was asleep, Maria and Altaïr left to confront Abbas.<ref name="Secret Crusade"/>

They ran into Abbas, who was soon joined by Swami carrying a burlap sack. Abbas handed the burlap sack to Altaïr, and they realized that it contained Malik's head. Altaïr became enraged, and Abbas used this to convince the other Assassins present that he was unable to lead the Order. Abbas ordered Altaïr to give him the Apple, to which Altaïr consented.<ref name="Secret Crusade"/>

However, Altaïr's rage was transferred into the Apple, and when Swami touched it, his eyes started to pop out, and his mouth was forced open, with a golden glow emanating from it, causing Maria to scream at Altaïr that he had let his rage take control.<ref name="Secret Crusade"/>

Swami proceeded to mutilate himself, taking out his dagger and cutting into his own flesh. In the process, Swami accidentally slit Maria's throat, and as she died, Altaïr took her in his arms. She muttered the words ''"Be strong"'' to her husband, before passing away.<ref name="Secret Crusade"/>

==Characteristics and personality==
{{Dialogue3|Altaïr|But you're...|Maria|Adept at disguising myself as a man, yes. Did I have you fooled that day in the cemetery?|I knew you weren't de Sable, but...|You didn't anticipate me being a woman. You see? Years of being boisterous finally paid off.|Maria talking about her boisterous attitude.|Assassin's Creed: The Secret Crusade}}
[[File:Maria altair.jpg|thumb|250px|Altaïr confronting Maria about Robert's whereabouts.]]
At an early age, Maria was a bit of a dreamer, thinking about leaving England to find honor and glory in the Holy Land. During this time, she showed a certain amount of stubbornness, refusing to act as a lady, and insisting on answering her wanderlust to leave her homeland.<ref name="AC Official Game Guide"/>

She was a very determined person with a great passion to accomplish more within the Templar ranks. During her first encounter with him, Maria presented a straightforward, merciless style of command with Altaïr, and acted arrogant and confident of Robert's cause.<ref name="AC"/>

After the events in Cyprus, Maria's harsh and stubborn attitude around Altaïr instead became more open and civil. Over time, she soon chose to side with him and the Assassins.<ref name="Bloodlines"/>

She also presented a provocative side, as shown when she led Altaïr up a [[View Points|tower]] in Acre, where she beckoned him to kiss and eventually make love with her.<ref name="AC2">''[[Assassin's Creed II]]''</ref>

===Equipment and skills===
Maria was highly trained in swordsmanship, as she was able to counter and avoid many of Altaïr's attacks when she first confronted him.<ref name="AC"/>

==Trivia==
*"Maria" is a Latin derivative of "Mary." The origin of the name "Mary" is a reference to the Latin phrase ''"stella maris"'' meaning "star of the sea," or from the prefix ''"mar"'' meaning "bitter." Other possible meanings are derived from "Miryam," meaning "wished for child, rebellious, or sea of bitterness" in Hebrew, or "Merry" meaning "cherished or beloved" in Egyptian.<ref>[http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/15464a.htm The Name of Mary]</ref>
**Maria's maiden name "Thorpe" means "village" in Old Norse, and is the name of various English villages.<ref>[http://surnames.behindthename.com/php/search.php?type=n&terms=Thorpe Behind the Name: Thorpe]</ref>
*If the player connects the PS3 version of ''[[Assassin's Creed II]]'' with the PSP game ''[[Assassin's Creed: Bloodlines]]'', the weapons of the defeated bosses in ''Bloodlines'' will appear at the [[Villa Auditore]]. Maria's weapon is labeled as "Maria Thorpe's Longsword." This is the first mention of her surname.
*Maria is approximately 24 years old during ''[[Assassin's Creed]]''.<ref name="AC Official Game Guide"/>
*Not only was Maria the first known female Templar to appear in the series, she was also the first Templar to be spared and assimilated into a rival faction (from Templars to Assassins).
*In Maria's database entry in ''[[Assassin's Creed: Revelations]]'', it states that Altaïr killed Robert de Sable in the year 1192, and Maria was cast out by Armand Bouchart not too long after his death.

==Gallery==
<gallery widths="160" position="center" captionalign="center" captiontextcolor="#ffffff" bordersize="medium">
File:María in Robert's suit.jpg|Maria alerting her allies of the presence of Altaïr.
aw.jpg|Altaïr helping Maria up.
awmoar.jpg|Altaïr helping Maria out of the Archive as it collapses.
codex.jpg|Maria standing beside Altaïr as he writes his Codex.
File:Mariawatchingtower.jpg|Maria looking over Acre.
File:Altair and Maria embrace in Assassin's Creed 2.jpg|Altair and Maria embrace.
File:Mariaparting.jpg|Maria watching Altaïr depart.
File:Zw-codex-25.png|Altaïr's hand-drawn picture of Maria featured in the Codex.
ACR playing cards Maria.jpeg|A playing card.
maria dies.JPG|Maria dying in Altair's arms
</gallery>

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{AC}}
{{ACB}}
{{ACII}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Thorpe, Maria}}

[[es:Maria Thorpe]]
[[Category:Characters]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed Characters]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed: Bloodlines Characters]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed: Bloodlines Assassination Targets]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed II Characters]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed: The Secret Crusade Characters]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed: Revelations Characters]]
[[Category:Templars]]
[[Category:Assassins]]
[[Category:Articles to be Featured]]

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Assassin headquarters (2012)

Maria Thorpe