Assassin's Creed Wiki - User contributions [en-gb]

Borgia tower

2011-01-01T16:26:53Z

125.60.241.166: /* Trivia */

{{revamp}}
[[File:Borgia_Tower.jpg|thumb|304px|Borgia Tower destroyed.]]

'''Borgia towers''' are large towers set up by the [[House of Borgia|Borgia]] in [[Rome]], used to spread their influence throughout the city. To stop this oppression, [[Ezio Auditore da Firenze]] has to kill each tower's Captain, and then burn the towers down. To escape the collapsing structure, he performs a [[Leap of Faith]].<ref>http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=260729</ref> The tower also functions as the[[ view point]] for the surrounding area. There are twelve towers (and Captains) in total, and each Captain can act differently when they spot him; wherein some might flee, while others choose to fight. If Ezio lets the Borgia Captain escape, he will have to wait a full 12 hours (in-game) for the Captain to regroup with his guards before he can try to kill him again. With each tower blown up, the Borgias' influence decreases in that particular district, which also provides its [[merchants]] the opportunity to reopen their shops and allows Ezio to recruit one more potential assassin into the guild. Crime will decrease, as bandits will start to leave and the number of [[guards]] in that area will decrease.<ref>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pm7cPxAdoto&feature=player_embedded</ref>The map on the pause menu identifies the towers with a small castle icon, unlike regular view points which are marked with an eagle. To enter a Borgia tower, Ezio will sometimes need to find and access it using a secret entrance.<ref>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_kMAhM6Hao</ref>

Once Ezio has destroyed a Borgia tower, it will function as an Assassin tower, which works in the same way as a pigeon coop (assassin recruit contracts and skill point distribution).

==Captains==
==='''[[Centro District]]'''===
*[[Iacopo de Grassi]]
*[[Pietro da Siena]]
*[[Domenico da Padova]]
*[[Belardino da Verona]]
*[[Valentino da Siena]]

===[[Antico District|An'''tico District''']]===
*[[Prospero da Siena]]
*[[Tommaso di Viterbo]]
*[[Ippolito di Foligno]]

==='''[[Campagna District]]'''===
*[[Francesco da Velletri]]
*[[Antonio da Fiorentino]]
*[[Battista Borgia]]
*[[Ferdinando di Napoli]]

==Trivia==
*Borgia towers are surrounded by many crows, whereas view points are circled by a single eagle.
*If a Borgia Captain escapes, the player may quit the game and reload their save position to make the Captain 'reappear' instead of waiting 12 in game hours.
*If you kill a Borgia Captain and die before burning the Borgia Tower (falling from a high building for example) you'll have to go through the process of killing him again.
*When the final Borgia Tower becomes accessible, the Borgia captain will be on top of the tower. If you send your assassins to assassinate him, they'll appear as if they've teleported and kill him, but stand still until they're out of sight, even when the tower is burning.[[Video: Burning A Borgia Tower|thumb|300px|right| Burning A Borgia Tower]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Template:ACBH}}
[[Category:Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood Gameplay]]

Hidden Blade

2010-05-25T08:16:10Z

125.60.241.166: /* In combat */

{{Era|AC|AC2|Assassins}}
{{Revamp}}
[[File:Hiddenblade.jpg|thumb|300px|Altaïr proceeding to stab a crusader with the Hidden Blade.]]
{{quote|The hidden blade has been a constant companion of ours over the years. Some would say it defines us - and they would not be entirely wrong. Many of our successes would not have been possible without it.|[[The Codex|Altaïr's Codex]], Page 13|Assassin's Creed II}}

The iconic weapon of the ''Assassin's Creed'' series, '''Hidden Blades''' are used both for regular combat and for stealth Assassinations.

==''Assassin's Creed''==
Although [[Altaïr]] already has this weapon at the start of the game, he loses it when he is demoted to [[Novice]]. At his first promotion to [[rank]] 2, however, he earns it back (along with his Longsword) so that he may perform his first assassination on [[Tamir|Tamir the Merchant]] in [[Damascus]].

===Basic usage===
This weapon is mostly used for stealthy, low profile assassinations upon soldiers. An unaware soldier may be assassinated without drawing too much attention. When stealth is not a priority, Altaïr may perform a high profile assassination. This involves jabbing the blade through the target's nose and into the brain when face to face with you, or pushing the target onto his knees and stabbing him in the neck when approached from behind.

[[Video:12 Ways to Wield the Hidden Blade|thumb|300px|right|Video tutorial on usage of the Hidden Blade]]The Hidden Blade is the only weapon that Altaïr may wield while running or sprinting, jumping upon an opponent and causing him to fall on the ground. Then the blade is triggered, stabbing the victim in the throat. This feature makes it an ideal choice for running down targets who flee such as [[Talal|Talal the Slave Trader]] in [[Jerusalem]].

Both low and high profile assassinations may fail. A guard wary of your actions may catch your arm when you attempt the kill and throw you back. Attacks from behind though will NEVER fail, nor will attacks made on guards who have been thrown to the ground. Be aware, of course, that you will lose one third of your [[synchronization]] if you assassinate innocent civilians with the Hidden Blade, just as with any other weapon.

===Air to Assassinate===
In a [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=blXy3W2O2PE 2007 demo] of the [[William of Montferrat]] mission, [[Jade Raymond]] introduced a move called ''air to assassinate'' that combines some of Altaïr's acrobatic skills with his Hidden Blade. From higher ground above a target such as a nearby roof or beam, Altaïr leaps directly onto his victim and stabs him in the throat. Although the move was not covered in the manual or in-game tutorials, air to assassinate does exist within Assassin's Creed and the controls were documented by stabguy on [http://www.thehiddenblade.com/air-assassinate-guide The Hidden Blade] website. All forms of air to assassinate draw attention of nearby guards, even when performed in low profile. Note that in Assassin's Creed II air to assassinate was renamed ''Air Assassination'' and included as a required tutorial with simplified controls.

===In combat===
The Hidden Blade can also be used while in combat. An enemy who has been grabbed and thrown (or counter thrown with a grab break) can easily be killed while he lies on the ground.

Using the Hidden Blade in combat against large groups is challenging, as Altaïr cannot block ''any'' attack. The time frame in which Altaïr can counter-attack is extremely small compared to the longsword and the short blade, but successfully countering enables one of several different - and always lethal - counter-attacks in which Altaïr stabs his opponent in the chest, head, abdomen, base of the skull, or spine. It is also possible to assassinate the enemy in combat, while he is caught in a moment of inattention or grappling with a vigilante, but any other time it will fail because the enemy will always block the attack. It is also possible to assassinate your targets even if they are aware of you by getting behind them and assassinating them.

===Mechanism===
When not in use, the blade is hidden in a gauntlet on Altaïr's lower left arm. A ring on his little finger serves as the trigger for the gear system to eject the blade. As the system is not powerful enough to penetrate enemies, Altaïr extends the blade fully and then stabs it into his foe.

[[File:Assassinscreedbladema5.png|thumb|This diagram shows the mechanism behind the Hidden Blade.]]When the blade is open, it rests between Altaïr's middle and little fingers, in the space left by his amputated ring finger. This amputation is part of the initiation into the Hashshashin sect, which the [[Assassins]] are based on. When he is ready to put up the blade, he flicks his wrist down and the blade returns to the gauntlet.

===Role in investigations and missions===
====Assassination missions====
The Hidden Blade is also used for some of the [[investigation]]s given to you by [[informants]]. You are asked to stealthily assassinate a number of targets. If any guard even once confronts you, the mission is failed. If you attack the targets or the guards with [[fists]], the [[Short Blade|short blade]], the [[Longsword|longsword]], or any other high profile weapon, you will fail the mission. Because of this, you may ONLY use [[Throwing Knives|throwing knives]] or the Hidden Blade to assassinate your targets.

====Interrogation missions====
During [[Interrogation]] missions, after successfully interrogating the target, Altaïr is forced to kill them, so they cannot reveal his plans to the enemy. He will bury the blade in their stomach to kill them, then gently lower their body onto the ground so as not to draw further attention to himself. Occasionally, other assassinations performed with the Hidden Blade play out in the same manner.

====[[Save Citizen]] missions====
In the optional [[Citizens|Save Citizen missions]] to save citizens from soldiers threatening to kill them, this weapon will come in handy. Successfully and stealthily used, you might take out three of the soldiers before they notice you, draw their weapons, and engage you in a swordfight. If they notice your tactic, however, you'd best be prepared and draw either your short blade or sword for a swordfight.

====Assassinations====
The hidden blade is used in every storyline assassination you perform. Even if you begin by attacking the enemy with a sword, you will always finish them off with the hidden blade before it cuts to the death cutscene.

==''Assassin's Creed II''==
{{quote|The blade is designed to ensure the commitment of whomever wields it.|Leonardo da Vinci}}

[[Image:Ac2hiddenblade.png|50px|right]]
[[File:Ezio's Hidden Blade.jpg|thumb|300px|left|Ezio's Modern Hidden Blade.]]
In ''[[Assassin's Creed II]]'', [[Ezio]] possesses two of these blades, whereas Altaïr has only one. In addition, unlike Altaïr, who had to sacrifice his ring finger, both Ezio's ring fingers are intact, due to a modification that raises the base of the weapon itself. It is worth noting that the modification was not made by [[Leonardo da Vinci]] as when Giovanni is using the blade in [[Assassin's Creed: Lineage]] he has all his fingers intact but was instead a modification made by Altaïr to help the Assassins go underground as the absent ring finger distinguished Assassins from civilians.

Ezio's first blade is the one inherited from his father. The blade is initially broken since the last fight of [[Giovanni Auditore|Giovanni]] against [[Rodrigo Borgia|Borgia]]'s men (see ''[[Assassin's Creed: Lineage]]''), but Ezio brings it to his friend [[Leonardo da Vinci]] to repair it.

At the end of the game, [[Desmond]] receives one from [[Lucy]], a similar (if not the same) model of the Hidden Blade used by Ezio to face the attacking Abstergo's men. However, unlike Ezio's, the Hidden Blade has no upgrades or is just not usable.

===In combat===
[[File:Lineage Hidden Blade.png|thumb|300px|right|Giovanni's (later Ezio's) Hidden Blade in Lineage.]]

In ''Assassin's Creed II'', the use of the hidden blade in combat is more "classical": it can be used like a regular weapon, and is capable of breaking an enemy's defences instead of just trying to assassinate him. It attacks fairly fast, becoming faster after the acquirement of the second blade, allowing Ezio to unleash a constant barrage of strikes, suppressing a foe's ability to attack or killing them before they can attack. It is also possible to block attacks while using the Hidden Blade unlike the first game (not with the Blade itself though, but with the upgraded vambraces).

Veterans of ''Assassin's Creed'' combat may want to challenge themselves by using the Hidden Blade(s) in combat. While the counter-kill timing window is very short (fraction of a second), skillful timing will be rewarded nicely; except for against the [[Brutes]]' smashes which knock Ezio's weapon away (which does not work against Hidden Blades) and [[Seekers]]' (sweep Ezio's feet) special attacks, a successfully timed counter will always kill the guard against which it is performed, even if the guard has high health and/or is a high-ranking soldier.

===Upgrades===
The second Hidden Blade is acquired later and the main blade gets upgraded with the [[Poison Blade]] and the [[Pistol]] installed.

===Techniques===
Later on, Ezio can assassinate enemies below with an Air Assassination, a Double Air Assassination if the target is adjacent to another, by leaping from a platform onto the victim. This, however, is easily noticeable by [[Guards]] and they will attack once they see you doing it. It is possible to assasinate two guards at the same time (at ground level) by standing between them and piercing both their throats.

At the same time Ezio learns the aforementioned techniques, he can also assassinate enemies above certain ledges while he's climbing them and is now also able to assassinate them when he is in a hiding spot (e.g. Hay, Wells and Benches).

Ezio can also perform special kill animations with the dual hidden blades.

==Trivia==
[[File:Zw-darius.png|thumb|Darius, the first to wield a Hidden Blade]]
*On one of the [[Codex Pages]] it states that the blade has to be connected or linked with the user, thus explaining part of why Altaïr had his ring finger removed. Altaïr opens his hand and spreads his fingers whenever the blade is extended. Similarly, he never uses the blade with his hand clenched in a fist; all stabbing moves and assassinations are performed with an open hand. The only time the blade sits in the space left by the amputated finger is when the player extends the blade and holds it out (by holding the weapon hand button while out of combat). Holding the button will keep the blade extended, and will act as any unsheathed weapon, scaring away [[civilians]].
*Ironically in both games the trigger mechanism is not visible on Altair's or Ezio's hands, even when they aren't wearing gloves.
*Masyaf Guards in ''Assassin's Creed'' do sport a hidden blade, though they never use it, nor is their ring finger missing.
*[[Malik]], from the first game, had the hidden blade before he lost his arm but did not have an amputated finger.
*The first recorded usage of the Hidden Blade by an Assassin was [[Darius]], when he assassinated [[Xerxes]]. Moreover, his [[Assassin's Seal|seal]]'s symbol is the Hidden Blade. However, his ring finger is still intact.
*[[Patrice Desilets]], the creative director of the game, stated that the addition of a second blade in ''Assassin's Creed II'' also had a lucid reason: it's Assassin's Creed II, so there are 2 blades.
*In the film ''Smokin' Aces'', one of the assassins sport a weapon similar to the hidden blade.
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[[Category:Assassin's Creed Weapons]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed II Weapons]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood Weapons]]
[[Category:Assassin's Order]]

Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad

2009-12-13T09:39:20Z

125.60.241.166: /* Assassin's Creed: Altaïr's Chronicles */

{{Character Infobox
|name =Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad
|status =Deceased
|image =Alta-assassins-creed.jpg
|imgdesc =A full body portrait of Altaïr.
|faction =[[Assassins]]
|appear =''[[Assassin's Creed]]'', ''[[AC: Altaïr's Chronicles]]'', ''[[Assassin's Creed: Bloodlines]]'', ''[[Assassin's Creed II]]'' (Gameplay Chase Scene)
|period =Third Crusade
|voice =[[Philip Shahbaz]]
}}
{{dialogue|Al Mualim|Remember... nothing is true.|Altaïr|Everything is permitted.|Al Mualim and Altaïr at the Masyaf fortress}}
'''Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad''' (الطائر ابن لا أحد in [[wikipedia:Arabic|Arabic]]) (1166 - unknown) is the main protagonist in ''[[Assassin's Creed]]'', as well as the ancestor of [[Ezio Auditore da Firenze]] and [[Desmond Miles]].

==Biography==
=== Early Life ===
Altaïr was born to an unknown couple, consisting of a Christian woman and a Muslim man.  During his childhood his parents left [[Masyaf]] for unknown reasons, though Altaïr felt little at their departure due to the nature of the [[Assassins|Assassin]] order.  Prior to the events of the series, Altaïr trained under [[Al Mualim]] and quickly rose among his brethren in skill.  This caught Al Mualim's eye and favor, and Altaïr was eventually promoted to the rank of "[[Master Assassin]]".

In the codex pages Altaïr states that he never felt a connection between his parents and him and that when he left them it was nothing more than departing "two strangers". He also stated that it was Al Mualim that cared for him and that was enough for him during that stage of his life.

===''[[Assassin's Creed: Altaïr's Chronicles]]''===
Altaïr's backstory before the events revealed through [[Desmond Miles]]' memories, Altaïr is still a high-ranking assassin who is tasked with recovering an artifact known as Chalice. On his way to find it, he has to acquire three keys and fight off Templars. It is later revealed that the Chalice is in fact a woman named [[Adha]], but she is kidnapped by Templars under the leadership of Basilisk. Altaïr succeeds in killing Basilisk, but is unable to save Adha, who is taken away by ship. Altaïr yells that he will find her, but whether he eventually succeeded or even heard of her again is unknown. In Assassin's Creed II, one of the Codex pages reveals that he later caught up to Adha and had found her corpse. In the text, Altaïr states that he held her corpse and exacted vengeance on those that killed her. It is hinted that he loved her, and her death deeply hurt him. The circumstances of Adha's death are not made clear.

===''[[Assassin's Creed]]''===
{{quote|A small sacrifice to save many. It is necessary.|Altaïr}}

Altaïr, [[Malik]] and [[Kadar]] were sent by [[Al Mualim]] to go underneath the Temple Mount in [[Jerusalem]] to recieve an artifact from the [[Templars]]. Whilst in the temple underground Altaïr sees the Asssassin's arch-enemy, [[Robert de Sable]], Altaïr attempts to kill Robert but fails and is thrown from the temple. Malik and Kadar were trapped with Robert and his Templars. Upon return to [[Masyaf]], Al Mualim names Altaïr as a traitor to the Creed, but Malik returns with artifact. The Templars attack Masyaf, Altaïr defends the village and then he and two other Assassins climb the tower of the Castle and enact Al Mualim's plan, he performs a [[Leap of Faith]] of the tower to an area which leads to another tower full of logs which land on top of the Templars. After the attack Al Mualim deems Altaïr a failure and a traitor to the Creed and Al Mualim stabs him with a dagger, apparently killing him.

Altaïr wakes up from his ''"Sleep of the Dead" ''and Al Mualim strips him of his possessions and title. Altaïr now had to start from a novice once again and hunt down a traitor within Masyaf who had helped the Templars in the attack of Masyaf. On return to Al Mualim, Altaïr is ranked up and given his [[Hidden Blade]] and longsword back, he also is given a deal of nine lives for his own. He would later in the game find out that The nine people on the list were simply decoys for [[Altaïr]].

===The Nine===
{{dialogue3|Al Mualim|I hold here a list. Nine men adorn it, nine men who need to die. They are plague-bringers, war-makers... Their power and influence corrupt the lands, ensuring that the Crusades continue. Find them, kill them... In doing so, you will sow the seeds of peace, both for the region, and for yourself.|Altaïr|Nine lives in exchange for mine...|A generous offer indeed. Have you any questions?|Only where I need begin.}}

Altaïr starts his quest, leaving [[Masyaf]] and riding through the [[kingdom]] on horseback to [[Damascus]], location of the first target, [[Tamir]].
Arriving there, he goes to the local [[Bureau]] and asks permission for the assassination. The [[dai]] denies it, ordering Altaïr to first gather information about his target. Going through the city's poor district, Altaïr interrogates informants, pickpocket letters and maps and eavesdrop on conversations around him, acquiring the lcoation of the target. Returing to the Bureau with this info, he receives a permission for the kill and a [[white feather]], to be wet in the victim's blood as proof of the murder.
In a plaza of the market district, Altaïr witness Tamir slaying a bussiness partner, and kills him while he does a round around the tends.
Returning to the Bureau, Altaïr is directed to Al Mualim again, who congratulates him by the accomplishment and rewards part of his equipment back. Altaïr the leaves to the other cities, [[Jerusalem]] and [[Acre]] to his next targets.

[[File:SS11.jpg|thumb|right|Altaïr chases [[Talal]] though the streets]]
Arriving at Jerusalem's Bureau, Altaïr is harshily received by Malik, that Bureau's new leader. Malik then sends him to the investigations, returning when he has the necessary information. After receiving the permission and the feather, Altaïr enters Talal's slave complex, but is ambushed by his followers. Dispatching of them, he chases Talal throughout the rooftops and streets, finally catching up to him and putting a [[hidden blade]] on his neck.

Altaïr returns to the Bureau, reports to Masyaf and then goes to Acre, where [[Garnier de Naplouse]] is to be killed.

[[File:SS4.jpg|thumb|left|Garnier's death from above]]
At Acre, he meets the Bureau leader and gather info about his target, then receives the feather and permission for the kill.
Infiltrating Garnier's hospital, Altaïr watches him make the rounds on his patients and strikes him from above. A city wide alert is issued, and after escaping from the hospital and hiding in the Bureau, Altaïr returns to Masyaf to a talk with Al Mualim.

After killing eight of the nine, Altaïr is left with the assassination of [[Robert de Sable]], who is in Jerusalem for a funeral. At the funeral Altaïr enters in a sword fight with "Robert" and his Templars, at the end of the fight Altaïr discovers that is wasn't Robert but a woman, [[Maria]], he lets her go, fleeing for [[Arsuf]] where Robert is convincing  [[Richard the Lionheart]] to join with [[Saladin]] to destroy the Assassins. Altaïr tries to convince Richard of Robert's plot to overthrow him, but Richard doesn't know who to trust and lets God decide. Altaïr and Robert then fight to the death, but Altaïr comes out victorious.

[[file: |thumb|Left|]]After the death of Robert, Altaïr discovers that Al Mualim was in fact a Templar and he returns to Masyaf to find out that the people of the Town had been put in a hypnotic trance, apart from him and few other Assassins. They make their way to the fortress. when Altair arrives he discovers that Al Mualim was responsible for this using the [[Piece of Eden]] which was recovered at Solomon's temple and after hearing many revalations Altair confronts his former master. After fighting many illusions, Altaïr manages to put his [[Hidden Blade]] into Al Mualim, ending the hypnotic trance. As Al Mualim dies he says that he did all this to ensure world peace and claims that Altaïr will not be able to destroy the Piece of Eden.

===''[[Assassin's Creed: Bloodlines]]''===
One month after the events of "Assassin's Creed", Altair fights and captures Maria in Acre. Interrogating her, Altair learns that, with the halt in the war, the Templars are retreating to the island of Cyprus. Altair decides to head there himself, and attempt to eliminate the remaining Templars. On the way there, Altair begins writing the first pages of the [[Codex]]. This trip to Cyprus is mentioned in the Codex Pages in Assassin's Creed 2 as well.

=== Legacy ===
It is known that after Bloodlines, Maria bore at least two children with Altaïr, as the codex mentions he will have her talk with their sons. Also before his death, he wore a new armor, the same armor that would one day be worn by his descendant Ezio Auditore da Firenze as his Master Assassin Armor. This armor is the symbolic color of black, signifying the upper most rank in the Assassin Order. His death is unknown, but likely he died in old age with his children and Maria watching over him as he passed away. It should be noted however that in his last entry into the codex he remarks about his temptations and his ability to call for the Apple and use it to extend his life, as he states "I know the knowledge is there." The fate of Altaïr remains unclear.

===''[[Assassin's Creed II]] ''===
At the point in which Assassin's Creed II begins, Altaïr has been dead for hundreds of years. However, it is known that he left a [[Codex]] that his descendant, [[Ezio Auditore di Firenze|Ezio]], will find. In it, he left a secret map which reveals the locations of Pieces of Eden scattered all over the world.

It is also shown that Altaïr bore at least two children with Maria, the templar woman who took Robert de Sable's place in Jerusalem during the first Assassin's Creed.

Altaïr's armor is accessible in the game, but acquiring it is not necessary for completing the story. It is available to the player after exploring six Assassin`s Tombs and collecting the seals therein. When brought to the vault in the Villa Auditore, all six seals will open a gate, behind which lies Altaïr's armor.

You can also get a Altaïr costume in the game from the Uplay store for 30 points. Curiously, Ezio also loses Altaïr's missing finger while wearing the clothes. Not only that, but several glitches happen with the lower half of the robes, and the second hidden blade, and the poison blade, and the gun never show up, even though the animations do. Also, when Ezio has a goatee, equipping the Altair outfit will get rid of it. All of this is because it is not Ezio putting on the outfit, it is that the Animus put Altair's appearance into the visuals with data from the memory core that Lucy steals.

==Characteristics and personality==

[[File:SS5.jpg|thumb|left|400px|Altaïr free-running from rooftop to rooftop.]]
Altaïr is an ancestor of [[Desmond Miles]] and his memories are encoded into Miles' DNA. [[Abstergo Industries]] abducted Miles in order to use the [[Animus]] on him, which would decode his genetic structure and extract vital information from the memories of Altaïr, in a project bent on New World Order. Altaïr is a master assassin instructor, capable of extraordinary acrobatic feats, a master of social stealth, fully adept in the application of the deadly arts, and a member of the [[Assassins|Assassins' Order]]. Near the beginning of the game, he is demoted to the Assassins' [[Rank]] of [[Novice]] and removed of all his equipment save for his robes. In order to regain his status, he must publicly assassinate nine men who are involved in exploiting the war hostilities in the Holy Land.

Altaïr travels between the four cities ([[Jerusalem]], [[Masyaf]], [[Damascus]], and [[Acre]]) to kill his victims. His extensive knowledge in the deadly arts are without question at the level of an instructor, able to infiltrate any fortification completely unnoticed, brush shoulders with a primary assassination target without alerting them to his hostile presence and strike from any direction, a testament of his undeniable mastery over "Hiding in Plain Sight", showing his understanding of the "Assassins Creed" and the importance of the second [[tenet]]

. Altaïr, bound by the second tenet of the "Assassins Creed" has mastered the ability to become one with the crowd, so that his deadly presence and approach is masked entirely from his intended target. His ability to blend in and appear as just another face in the crowd, makes it much more possible to get in extremely close to a target and silently assassinate them using the Hidden Blade without alerting the immediate surrounding environment. Whether investigating or silently assassinating, Altaïr constantly remains anonymous out of his instinctive assassins nature, remaining anonymous for Altaïr is second nature, very briefly[[File:SS7.jpg|thumb|260px|The eagle watches the streets of Acre from a rooftop.]]exposing himself to the publics eye preparing (even though very rare and extremely short in length and for good reason) to strike during a public assassination of one of "The Nine", and even public assassinations do not guarantee Altaïr's exposed appearance, he is a master assassin instructor and is highly skilled in adapting to changing situations and the changing environment, knowing all too well in how to still maintain control in the constantly dangerous and changing environment, possession of such sharp perceptional skills carries over into how he reads the crowd for any slight sign of danger. Sharp sense of awareness, will aid Altaïr greatly in survival moving about the dangerous cities, and kingdom throughout the Holy Land. As stated Altaïr's acrobatic skills help in both assassination and escape, he uses these skills to strike from many different locations and directions, mainly from affront, above, and behind when performing public assassinations which have all been recorded in virtual history according to entry wound. Altaïr's assassination expertise is unquestionable, seeing how he can appear from the crowd undetected, and quickly kill anyone he focuses on silently, then blends immediately back into the crowd. During primary assassinations Altaïr clearly knows the meaning of subtlety. Altaïr stalks the district most affected by the targets corruption, obtaining information on where and when he will be so that he may plan to properly strike. Using that knowledge better prepares for the opportune moment to strike. Observing, and moving silently about the large crowds that usually gather within the kill zone as only a "blade in the crowd". Altaïr strikes without flaw or mercy making him very efficient in the exact moment of the strike. Highly educated upon the politics involving the Crusaders and Saracens and their religious philosophies, this educational training will help Altaïr in better understanding their territories, and the numerous factions within. It will give better perspective on perhaps why men choose certain paths in life and as the Assassins better know themselves and understand not to judge their targets but embrace their perspective on what they call justifiable action, but to put it after our own philosophy of "peace in all things". For any who threaten our cause will die under the shining sun in public. Altaïr knows that when the opportune time presents itself to strike, he must not show mercy to the target for their politically sanctioned death will ensure peace returns or so our philosophy depicts it when taught. Altaïr's social mastery ensures that low-profile kills performed while hiding amongst the crowd will succeed, allowing him to eliminate any guards patrolling the streets. Altaïr is a master at anonymous travel and the silent approach, when moving about the city streets seeking out his target Altaïr moves with the crowd as the crowd, then at the moment to strike his target, he moves as a cloaked white ghost. To get caught in the crowd with Altaïr silently stalking you is imminent death. It is as if the target is lost in a heavy and thick fog shrouding a forest of death, only its a sea of people moving about in different directions until one of those sudden bumps turns out to be the sharp Hidden Blade being extended into one of your vital organs. During escape such skills come in handy for quickly seeking high ground or space between the encroaching city guard. When ranked a novice, Altaïr was ordered to start tracking his targets personally by [[Al Mualim]] . He showed that, in combination with social stealth mastery and tracking knowledge, blending into the crowd and becoming simply another face in the crowd allowed Altaïr to carry out his assassination target investigations more easily.[[File:SS2.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Altaïr escapes with the city on wide alert]]

His social stealth expertise helps when dealing with Crusaders and Saracen guards. When moving about a city looking for a highly public figure marked for assassination one must never call for attention, it runs the risk of possibly breaking the second and third tenet within the "Assassins Creed". Altaïr is trained extensively on how to traverse the city disguised as a holy scholar. Dressing as a scholar allows the silent eagle assassin to get close enough to a target without raising suspicion before striking. Scholar robe disguises aid in assassinations due to the simple facts they happen in broad daylight within the open public for the people to witness and spread news of its happening and the disguise masks your true appearance and intentions. This disguise also makes travel easier as scholars have less restraint within the cities, and applying the proper mannerisms to aide the disguise helps that much more. Through experience and instinct Altaïr keenly observes the environment remaining alert at all times to the extremely active guard presence that surrounds him.

[[file:SS3.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Talal's follower is impaled]]
=== Equipment and skills ===
Like other assassins Altaïr is trained in stealth assassination techniques, hand to hand and weapons combat, blade throwing, climbing, urban acrobatics, eavesdropping, interrogation, and pick pocketing.

Altaïr's most interesting weapon is the Hidden Blade--a weapon similar to a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Katara_(sword) katara], which is used for close-range assassinations. It is mounted on the inside of his left hand gauntlet, and when deployed, extends between the space left by his amputated ring finger. He flicks a trigger on a ring to make the blade appear where his finger had once been. This amputation was part of the initiation for becoming an assassin of the Hashshashin sect. Altaïr also uses a combination of throwing knives, a sword, the Hidden Blade, and his fists. The throwing knives are very useful for taking down archers. Use of the sword is slower than use of the dagger, of which is fast and light and can be used in tandem with the throwing knives. However, attacking with the sword is much more damaging to the enemies than when using the dagger. Altaïr also uses an ability called "Eagle Vision," a sort of "sixth sense" that lets him see people's intentions. Guards appear in red, allies in blue, citizens with information in white and assassination targets in gold-yellow.

After the events of ''Assassin's Creed'' and ''Assassin's Creed: Bloodlines'', Altaïr dedicated more his life on studies (especially on the [[Piece of Eden]]) rather than field missions, and revealed to be a brilliant engineer and inventor. He actually invented (perharps with the help of the Piece of Eden) the new assassination techniques, the Hidden Blade upgrades and the way to create the special metal for his armor.

==Behind the Scenes==
The name Altaïr is an Arabic word, which means "The Flying Eagle". In interviews, the game's producer, [[wikipedia:Jade_Raymond|Jade Raymond]] has stated that while in mid-air, Altaïr's shadow resembles that of an eagle. This is because of his attire, which includes a point at the front of the hood (to resemble a beak) and slits through the back of the outfit (to resemble tail feathers). The second part of his name, Ibn-La'Ahad means 'son of no-one', reflecting his mysterious origins. It has been revealed by Raymond that his father was a Muslim and his mother a Christian. His appearance is remarkably similar to Desmond's, only a few scars seeming to separate their appearances at first glance. His rebellious nature and mission failure would lead to his severe demotion, placing him on the same level as a raw initiate to the Assassin Order. That same attitude cost [[Malik]] his left arm, as well as the life of his brother Kadar at the beginning of the story. As the situation progresses and Altaïr listens to the final words of his assassination victims, listening to their revelations involving them and their justified corrupt deeds within the Holy Land and their cities, his attitude changes and he becomes less impetuous, overconfident, demanding, arrogant, self-centred and impatient, learning to perceive more between the lines and actions of the world while drawing upon the teachings of the "Assassins Creed". Near the end of the conflict, all of his brash and rebellious nature, has vanished behind a demeanour of calm, focused, driven, humble, more patient and higher wisdom of understanding. But with this he learns what it is the "Assassins Creed" truly means, and recommends of him as an Assassin.

==Trivia==
*Jade Raymond, producer of ''Assassin's Creed'', revealed during an interview at the Ubidays 2007 that Altaïr was born to a Muslim father, and a Christian mother<ref>[http://www.gametrailers.com/video/ubidays-07-assassins-creed/19929 Ubidays 07 Jade Raymond Interview Pt. 2]</ref>.
* Altair also has three different voices throughout three of the Assassins Creed games. His voice in Assassins Creed: Altair's Chronicles sounded a bit higher and not as deep as the original Assassins Creed game. His voice in Assassins Creed Bloodlines had more of a Middle Eastern accent than the one in the original game.
* The Altaïr costume can be unlocked in the game Metal Gear Solid 4 by simply putting in the correct password at the extra's screen, or by having alert 50 times or below. It can also be unlocked for Prince of Persia(2009). Users have to register at the Ubisoft Website and then link that account to an Xbox 360 Gamertag or PSN screen name.
* Altair's Outfit can also be used in Assassin's Creed 2. You can download it on UPlay. Ezio's ring finger will also vanish when this armour is worn.
* His first name, "Altaïr", means "The Flying One". His last name, "Ibn-La'Ahad", means "Son of None".
* His hood tip resembles an eagles beak.
* It is curious to note that the name Altair is in fact supposedly a feminine name in Arabic.

==Notes and references==
{{Reflist}}

{{AC}}

{{ACII}}
[[Category:Assassin's Creed: Altaïr's Chronicles Characters|Ibn-La'Ahad, Altaïr]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed Characters|Ibn-La'Ahad, Altaïr]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed: Bloodlines Characters|Ibn-La'Ahad, Altaïr]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed II Characters|Ibn-La'Ahad, Altaïr]]
[[Category:Assassins|Ibn-La'Ahad, Altaïr]]

Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad

2009-12-13T09:37:55Z

125.60.241.166: /* Early Life  */

{{Character Infobox
|name =Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad
|status =Deceased
|image =Alta-assassins-creed.jpg
|imgdesc =A full body portrait of Altaïr.
|faction =[[Assassins]]
|appear =''[[Assassin's Creed]]'', ''[[AC: Altaïr's Chronicles]]'', ''[[Assassin's Creed: Bloodlines]]'', ''[[Assassin's Creed II]]'' (Gameplay Chase Scene)
|period =Third Crusade
|voice =[[Philip Shahbaz]]
}}
{{dialogue|Al Mualim|Remember... nothing is true.|Altaïr|Everything is permitted.|Al Mualim and Altaïr at the Masyaf fortress}}
'''Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad''' (الطائر ابن لا أحد in [[wikipedia:Arabic|Arabic]]) (1166 - unknown) is the main protagonist in ''[[Assassin's Creed]]'', as well as the ancestor of [[Ezio Auditore da Firenze]] and [[Desmond Miles]].

==Biography==
=== Early Life ===
Altaïr was born to an unknown couple, consisting of a Christian woman and a Muslim man.  During his childhood his parents left [[Masyaf]] for unknown reasons, though Altaïr felt little at their departure due to the nature of the [[Assassins|Assassin]] order.  Prior to the events of the series, Altaïr trained under [[Al Mualim]] and quickly rose among his brethren in skill.  This caught Al Mualim's eye and favor, and Altaïr was eventually promoted to the rank of "[[Master Assassin]]".

In the codex pages Altaïr states that he never felt a connection between his parents and him and that when he left them it was nothing more than departing "two strangers". He also stated that it was Al Mualim that cared for him and that was enough for him during that stage of his life.

===''[[Assassin's Creed: Altaïr's Chronicles]]''===
Altaïr's backstory before the events revealed through [[Desmond Miles]]' memories, Altaïr is still a high-ranking assassin who is tasked with recovering an artifact known as Chalice. On his way to find it, he has to acquire three keys and fight off Templars. It is later revealed that the Chalice is in fact a woman named [[Adha]], but she is kidnapped by Templars under the leadership of Basilisk. Altaïr succeeds in killing Basilisk, but is unable to save Adha, who is taken away by ship. Altaïr yells that he will find her, but whether he eventually succeeded or even heard of her again is unknown. In Assassin's Creed II, one of the Codex pages reveals that he later caught up to Adha and had found her corpse. In the text, Altaïr states that he held her corpse and exacted vengence on those that killed her. It is hinted that he loved her, and her death deeply hurt him. The circumstances of Adha's death are not made clear.

===''[[Assassin's Creed]]''===
{{quote|A small sacrifice to save many. It is necessary.|Altaïr}}

Altaïr, [[Malik]] and [[Kadar]] were sent by [[Al Mualim]] to go underneath the Temple Mount in [[Jerusalem]] to recieve an artifact from the [[Templars]]. Whilst in the temple underground Altaïr sees the Asssassin's arch-enemy, [[Robert de Sable]], Altaïr attempts to kill Robert but fails and is thrown from the temple. Malik and Kadar were trapped with Robert and his Templars. Upon return to [[Masyaf]], Al Mualim names Altaïr as a traitor to the Creed, but Malik returns with artifact. The Templars attack Masyaf, Altaïr defends the village and then he and two other Assassins climb the tower of the Castle and enact Al Mualim's plan, he performs a [[Leap of Faith]] of the tower to an area which leads to another tower full of logs which land on top of the Templars. After the attack Al Mualim deems Altaïr a failure and a traitor to the Creed and Al Mualim stabs him with a dagger, apparently killing him.

Altaïr wakes up from his ''"Sleep of the Dead" ''and Al Mualim strips him of his possessions and title. Altaïr now had to start from a novice once again and hunt down a traitor within Masyaf who had helped the Templars in the attack of Masyaf. On return to Al Mualim, Altaïr is ranked up and given his [[Hidden Blade]] and longsword back, he also is given a deal of nine lives for his own. He would later in the game find out that The nine people on the list were simply decoys for [[Altaïr]].

===The Nine===
{{dialogue3|Al Mualim|I hold here a list. Nine men adorn it, nine men who need to die. They are plague-bringers, war-makers... Their power and influence corrupt the lands, ensuring that the Crusades continue. Find them, kill them... In doing so, you will sow the seeds of peace, both for the region, and for yourself.|Altaïr|Nine lives in exchange for mine...|A generous offer indeed. Have you any questions?|Only where I need begin.}}

Altaïr starts his quest, leaving [[Masyaf]] and riding through the [[kingdom]] on horseback to [[Damascus]], location of the first target, [[Tamir]].
Arriving there, he goes to the local [[Bureau]] and asks permission for the assassination. The [[dai]] denies it, ordering Altaïr to first gather information about his target. Going through the city's poor district, Altaïr interrogates informants, pickpocket letters and maps and eavesdrop on conversations around him, acquiring the lcoation of the target. Returing to the Bureau with this info, he receives a permission for the kill and a [[white feather]], to be wet in the victim's blood as proof of the murder.
In a plaza of the market district, Altaïr witness Tamir slaying a bussiness partner, and kills him while he does a round around the tends.
Returning to the Bureau, Altaïr is directed to Al Mualim again, who congratulates him by the accomplishment and rewards part of his equipment back. Altaïr the leaves to the other cities, [[Jerusalem]] and [[Acre]] to his next targets.

[[File:SS11.jpg|thumb|right|Altaïr chases [[Talal]] though the streets]]
Arriving at Jerusalem's Bureau, Altaïr is harshily received by Malik, that Bureau's new leader. Malik then sends him to the investigations, returning when he has the necessary information. After receiving the permission and the feather, Altaïr enters Talal's slave complex, but is ambushed by his followers. Dispatching of them, he chases Talal throughout the rooftops and streets, finally catching up to him and putting a [[hidden blade]] on his neck.

Altaïr returns to the Bureau, reports to Masyaf and then goes to Acre, where [[Garnier de Naplouse]] is to be killed.

[[File:SS4.jpg|thumb|left|Garnier's death from above]]
At Acre, he meets the Bureau leader and gather info about his target, then receives the feather and permission for the kill.
Infiltrating Garnier's hospital, Altaïr watches him make the rounds on his patients and strikes him from above. A city wide alert is issued, and after escaping from the hospital and hiding in the Bureau, Altaïr returns to Masyaf to a talk with Al Mualim.

After killing eight of the nine, Altaïr is left with the assassination of [[Robert de Sable]], who is in Jerusalem for a funeral. At the funeral Altaïr enters in a sword fight with "Robert" and his Templars, at the end of the fight Altaïr discovers that is wasn't Robert but a woman, [[Maria]], he lets her go, fleeing for [[Arsuf]] where Robert is convincing  [[Richard the Lionheart]] to join with [[Saladin]] to destroy the Assassins. Altaïr tries to convince Richard of Robert's plot to overthrow him, but Richard doesn't know who to trust and lets God decide. Altaïr and Robert then fight to the death, but Altaïr comes out victorious.

[[file: |thumb|Left|]]After the death of Robert, Altaïr discovers that Al Mualim was in fact a Templar and he returns to Masyaf to find out that the people of the Town had been put in a hypnotic trance, apart from him and few other Assassins. They make their way to the fortress. when Altair arrives he discovers that Al Mualim was responsible for this using the [[Piece of Eden]] which was recovered at Solomon's temple and after hearing many revalations Altair confronts his former master. After fighting many illusions, Altaïr manages to put his [[Hidden Blade]] into Al Mualim, ending the hypnotic trance. As Al Mualim dies he says that he did all this to ensure world peace and claims that Altaïr will not be able to destroy the Piece of Eden.

===''[[Assassin's Creed: Bloodlines]]''===
One month after the events of "Assassin's Creed", Altair fights and captures Maria in Acre. Interrogating her, Altair learns that, with the halt in the war, the Templars are retreating to the island of Cyprus. Altair decides to head there himself, and attempt to eliminate the remaining Templars. On the way there, Altair begins writing the first pages of the [[Codex]]. This trip to Cyprus is mentioned in the Codex Pages in Assassin's Creed 2 as well.

=== Legacy ===
It is known that after Bloodlines, Maria bore at least two children with Altaïr, as the codex mentions he will have her talk with their sons. Also before his death, he wore a new armor, the same armor that would one day be worn by his descendant Ezio Auditore da Firenze as his Master Assassin Armor. This armor is the symbolic color of black, signifying the upper most rank in the Assassin Order. His death is unknown, but likely he died in old age with his children and Maria watching over him as he passed away. It should be noted however that in his last entry into the codex he remarks about his temptations and his ability to call for the Apple and use it to extend his life, as he states "I know the knowledge is there." The fate of Altaïr remains unclear.

===''[[Assassin's Creed II]] ''===
At the point in which Assassin's Creed II begins, Altaïr has been dead for hundreds of years. However, it is known that he left a [[Codex]] that his descendant, [[Ezio Auditore di Firenze|Ezio]], will find. In it, he left a secret map which reveals the locations of Pieces of Eden scattered all over the world.

It is also shown that Altaïr bore at least two children with Maria, the templar woman who took Robert de Sable's place in Jerusalem during the first Assassin's Creed.

Altaïr's armor is accessible in the game, but acquiring it is not necessary for completing the story. It is available to the player after exploring six Assassin`s Tombs and collecting the seals therein. When brought to the vault in the Villa Auditore, all six seals will open a gate, behind which lies Altaïr's armor.

You can also get a Altaïr costume in the game from the Uplay store for 30 points. Curiously, Ezio also loses Altaïr's missing finger while wearing the clothes. Not only that, but several glitches happen with the lower half of the robes, and the second hidden blade, and the poison blade, and the gun never show up, even though the animations do. Also, when Ezio has a goatee, equipping the Altair outfit will get rid of it. All of this is because it is not Ezio putting on the outfit, it is that the Animus put Altair's appearance into the visuals with data from the memory core that Lucy steals.

==Characteristics and personality==

[[File:SS5.jpg|thumb|left|400px|Altaïr free-running from rooftop to rooftop.]]
Altaïr is an ancestor of [[Desmond Miles]] and his memories are encoded into Miles' DNA. [[Abstergo Industries]] abducted Miles in order to use the [[Animus]] on him, which would decode his genetic structure and extract vital information from the memories of Altaïr, in a project bent on New World Order. Altaïr is a master assassin instructor, capable of extraordinary acrobatic feats, a master of social stealth, fully adept in the application of the deadly arts, and a member of the [[Assassins|Assassins' Order]]. Near the beginning of the game, he is demoted to the Assassins' [[Rank]] of [[Novice]] and removed of all his equipment save for his robes. In order to regain his status, he must publicly assassinate nine men who are involved in exploiting the war hostilities in the Holy Land.

Altaïr travels between the four cities ([[Jerusalem]], [[Masyaf]], [[Damascus]], and [[Acre]]) to kill his victims. His extensive knowledge in the deadly arts are without question at the level of an instructor, able to infiltrate any fortification completely unnoticed, brush shoulders with a primary assassination target without alerting them to his hostile presence and strike from any direction, a testament of his undeniable mastery over "Hiding in Plain Sight", showing his understanding of the "Assassins Creed" and the importance of the second [[tenet]]

. Altaïr, bound by the second tenet of the "Assassins Creed" has mastered the ability to become one with the crowd, so that his deadly presence and approach is masked entirely from his intended target. His ability to blend in and appear as just another face in the crowd, makes it much more possible to get in extremely close to a target and silently assassinate them using the Hidden Blade without alerting the immediate surrounding environment. Whether investigating or silently assassinating, Altaïr constantly remains anonymous out of his instinctive assassins nature, remaining anonymous for Altaïr is second nature, very briefly[[File:SS7.jpg|thumb|260px|The eagle watches the streets of Acre from a rooftop.]]exposing himself to the publics eye preparing (even though very rare and extremely short in length and for good reason) to strike during a public assassination of one of "The Nine", and even public assassinations do not guarantee Altaïr's exposed appearance, he is a master assassin instructor and is highly skilled in adapting to changing situations and the changing environment, knowing all too well in how to still maintain control in the constantly dangerous and changing environment, possession of such sharp perceptional skills carries over into how he reads the crowd for any slight sign of danger. Sharp sense of awareness, will aid Altaïr greatly in survival moving about the dangerous cities, and kingdom throughout the Holy Land. As stated Altaïr's acrobatic skills help in both assassination and escape, he uses these skills to strike from many different locations and directions, mainly from affront, above, and behind when performing public assassinations which have all been recorded in virtual history according to entry wound. Altaïr's assassination expertise is unquestionable, seeing how he can appear from the crowd undetected, and quickly kill anyone he focuses on silently, then blends immediately back into the crowd. During primary assassinations Altaïr clearly knows the meaning of subtlety. Altaïr stalks the district most affected by the targets corruption, obtaining information on where and when he will be so that he may plan to properly strike. Using that knowledge better prepares for the opportune moment to strike. Observing, and moving silently about the large crowds that usually gather within the kill zone as only a "blade in the crowd". Altaïr strikes without flaw or mercy making him very efficient in the exact moment of the strike. Highly educated upon the politics involving the Crusaders and Saracens and their religious philosophies, this educational training will help Altaïr in better understanding their territories, and the numerous factions within. It will give better perspective on perhaps why men choose certain paths in life and as the Assassins better know themselves and understand not to judge their targets but embrace their perspective on what they call justifiable action, but to put it after our own philosophy of "peace in all things". For any who threaten our cause will die under the shining sun in public. Altaïr knows that when the opportune time presents itself to strike, he must not show mercy to the target for their politically sanctioned death will ensure peace returns or so our philosophy depicts it when taught. Altaïr's social mastery ensures that low-profile kills performed while hiding amongst the crowd will succeed, allowing him to eliminate any guards patrolling the streets. Altaïr is a master at anonymous travel and the silent approach, when moving about the city streets seeking out his target Altaïr moves with the crowd as the crowd, then at the moment to strike his target, he moves as a cloaked white ghost. To get caught in the crowd with Altaïr silently stalking you is imminent death. It is as if the target is lost in a heavy and thick fog shrouding a forest of death, only its a sea of people moving about in different directions until one of those sudden bumps turns out to be the sharp Hidden Blade being extended into one of your vital organs. During escape such skills come in handy for quickly seeking high ground or space between the encroaching city guard. When ranked a novice, Altaïr was ordered to start tracking his targets personally by [[Al Mualim]] . He showed that, in combination with social stealth mastery and tracking knowledge, blending into the crowd and becoming simply another face in the crowd allowed Altaïr to carry out his assassination target investigations more easily.[[File:SS2.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Altaïr escapes with the city on wide alert]]

His social stealth expertise helps when dealing with Crusaders and Saracen guards. When moving about a city looking for a highly public figure marked for assassination one must never call for attention, it runs the risk of possibly breaking the second and third tenet within the "Assassins Creed". Altaïr is trained extensively on how to traverse the city disguised as a holy scholar. Dressing as a scholar allows the silent eagle assassin to get close enough to a target without raising suspicion before striking. Scholar robe disguises aid in assassinations due to the simple facts they happen in broad daylight within the open public for the people to witness and spread news of its happening and the disguise masks your true appearance and intentions. This disguise also makes travel easier as scholars have less restraint within the cities, and applying the proper mannerisms to aide the disguise helps that much more. Through experience and instinct Altaïr keenly observes the environment remaining alert at all times to the extremely active guard presence that surrounds him.

[[file:SS3.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Talal's follower is impaled]]
=== Equipment and skills ===
Like other assassins Altaïr is trained in stealth assassination techniques, hand to hand and weapons combat, blade throwing, climbing, urban acrobatics, eavesdropping, interrogation, and pick pocketing.

Altaïr's most interesting weapon is the Hidden Blade--a weapon similar to a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Katara_(sword) katara], which is used for close-range assassinations. It is mounted on the inside of his left hand gauntlet, and when deployed, extends between the space left by his amputated ring finger. He flicks a trigger on a ring to make the blade appear where his finger had once been. This amputation was part of the initiation for becoming an assassin of the Hashshashin sect. Altaïr also uses a combination of throwing knives, a sword, the Hidden Blade, and his fists. The throwing knives are very useful for taking down archers. Use of the sword is slower than use of the dagger, of which is fast and light and can be used in tandem with the throwing knives. However, attacking with the sword is much more damaging to the enemies than when using the dagger. Altaïr also uses an ability called "Eagle Vision," a sort of "sixth sense" that lets him see people's intentions. Guards appear in red, allies in blue, citizens with information in white and assassination targets in gold-yellow.

After the events of ''Assassin's Creed'' and ''Assassin's Creed: Bloodlines'', Altaïr dedicated more his life on studies (especially on the [[Piece of Eden]]) rather than field missions, and revealed to be a brilliant engineer and inventor. He actually invented (perharps with the help of the Piece of Eden) the new assassination techniques, the Hidden Blade upgrades and the way to create the special metal for his armor.

==Behind the Scenes==
The name Altaïr is an Arabic word, which means "The Flying Eagle". In interviews, the game's producer, [[wikipedia:Jade_Raymond|Jade Raymond]] has stated that while in mid-air, Altaïr's shadow resembles that of an eagle. This is because of his attire, which includes a point at the front of the hood (to resemble a beak) and slits through the back of the outfit (to resemble tail feathers). The second part of his name, Ibn-La'Ahad means 'son of no-one', reflecting his mysterious origins. It has been revealed by Raymond that his father was a Muslim and his mother a Christian. His appearance is remarkably similar to Desmond's, only a few scars seeming to separate their appearances at first glance. His rebellious nature and mission failure would lead to his severe demotion, placing him on the same level as a raw initiate to the Assassin Order. That same attitude cost [[Malik]] his left arm, as well as the life of his brother Kadar at the beginning of the story. As the situation progresses and Altaïr listens to the final words of his assassination victims, listening to their revelations involving them and their justified corrupt deeds within the Holy Land and their cities, his attitude changes and he becomes less impetuous, overconfident, demanding, arrogant, self-centred and impatient, learning to perceive more between the lines and actions of the world while drawing upon the teachings of the "Assassins Creed". Near the end of the conflict, all of his brash and rebellious nature, has vanished behind a demeanour of calm, focused, driven, humble, more patient and higher wisdom of understanding. But with this he learns what it is the "Assassins Creed" truly means, and recommends of him as an Assassin.

==Trivia==
*Jade Raymond, producer of ''Assassin's Creed'', revealed during an interview at the Ubidays 2007 that Altaïr was born to a Muslim father, and a Christian mother<ref>[http://www.gametrailers.com/video/ubidays-07-assassins-creed/19929 Ubidays 07 Jade Raymond Interview Pt. 2]</ref>.
* Altair also has three different voices throughout three of the Assassins Creed games. His voice in Assassins Creed: Altair's Chronicles sounded a bit higher and not as deep as the original Assassins Creed game. His voice in Assassins Creed Bloodlines had more of a Middle Eastern accent than the one in the original game.
* The Altaïr costume can be unlocked in the game Metal Gear Solid 4 by simply putting in the correct password at the extra's screen, or by having alert 50 times or below. It can also be unlocked for Prince of Persia(2009). Users have to register at the Ubisoft Website and then link that account to an Xbox 360 Gamertag or PSN screen name.
* Altair's Outfit can also be used in Assassin's Creed 2. You can download it on UPlay. Ezio's ring finger will also vanish when this armour is worn.
* His first name, "Altaïr", means "The Flying One". His last name, "Ibn-La'Ahad", means "Son of None".
* His hood tip resembles an eagles beak.
* It is curious to note that the name Altair is in fact supposedly a feminine name in Arabic.

==Notes and references==
{{Reflist}}

{{AC}}

{{ACII}}
[[Category:Assassin's Creed: Altaïr's Chronicles Characters|Ibn-La'Ahad, Altaïr]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed Characters|Ibn-La'Ahad, Altaïr]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed: Bloodlines Characters|Ibn-La'Ahad, Altaïr]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed II Characters|Ibn-La'Ahad, Altaïr]]
[[Category:Assassins|Ibn-La'Ahad, Altaïr]]

Templars

2009-12-12T14:03:59Z

125.60.241.166: /* Distribution and goals */

{{Good}}
{{Imageneed}}
{{WP-REAL|Knights Templar}}
{{Faction Infobox
|image = Knights Templar Cross.svg
|imgdesc = The Templars used many variations on this red cross pattée as their symbol.
"Behold the mark of Cain." -Subject 16
|game = ''[[Assassin's Creed: Altaïr's Chronicles]]'' ''[[Assassin's Creed]]'' ''[[Assassin's Creed: Bloodlines]]'' ''[[Assassin's Creed II]]''
|religion = Roman Catholic (officially)
|location = [[Acre]] Rich district
|targets = All targets are secretly (or openly) Templars
}}

{{quote
|1 = -Non nobis Domine, non nobis, sed Nomini Tuo da Gloriam (''Latin for "Not to us God, not to us, but to Your Name Give Glory"'') -May the [[wikipedia:Baphomet|Father of Understanding]] guide us
|2 = Mottos of the Templar
}}

The '''Knights Templar''' are the sworn enemies of the [[Assassins]]. They attack [[Masyaf]] after a failed mission under Solomon's Temple in Jerusalem; and after that, Templars found in the Holy Land will attack [[Altaïr]] on sight. They tend to attack more skilfully and take more hits than normal guards. You can find them in small villages throughout the kingdom, as well as throughout the cities, keenly observing their surroundings of encroaching danger. Templars are battlefield hardened soldiers lending aide to King Richard in the Third Crusade. Their battlefield experience shows in the way they fight. They are warriors in every meaning of the word, extremely skilled in the application of sword combat, and extremely disciplined. Templars should be dealt with while expressing extreme caution and solid battle skills. These soldiers are usually stationary, and on the lookout for the Assassins, their sworn enemies, who they are engaged with in a low-scale war.

==History==
''Orde du Temple'' in French, the Knights Templar are amongst the most famous of the Western Christian military orders involved in the war. They are well known by the distinctive white mantles with a red cross. Officially endorsed by the Roman Catholic Church around 1129, the Order became a favoured charity throughout Christianity, and grew rapidly in membership. Because the Templars' existence was tied closely to the Crusades; when the Holy Land was lost, support for the Order faded.

According to Subject 16, the Templar Seal is the Mark of Cain.

==Distribution and goals==
The Templar originally sought peace the Christian way, but the discovery of the Apples of Eden and their power to manipulate the minds of the masses, that all changed. As all powerful religious and political figures used the pieces to spread their lies, the Templar realized a personal truth: there is no God or Great Power out there, only men with power and those without. They became atheists, with maintaining the pretence and tradition of Roman Catholics to avoid suspicion, retain friends in the Vatican and for personal habit. This new freedom brought a new perception to the Templars. With no afterlife or ultimate punishment or reward after death, there was no real obligation to oblige by such morality (this was an easy transition, as most in those violent times ignored the concept of morality anyway). It also ensured that only this life was important, rather than preparing for the next. Without this new view, the corruption of the world shone to them like an ugly light. With so many lower class kept in line with the promise of Heaven and so many upper class blissfully ignoring such ideals, the Templars vowed to make a better world, one of peace, no matter the cost. Their main goal during the Crusades became to bring peace to the Holy Land by usurping the rule of Saladin and undermining the efforts of Richard the Lionheart while both where more concerned with fighting each other, but the ways they do it are both ruthless and barbaric. However, they believe that they're doing good. They're trying to control peoples' free wills and they will ruthlessly kill anyone who is against them, especially the Assassins, whose leader, Al Mualim, was a member of the Templars but he later chose to betray them by stealing the Piece of Eden for his own purposes. They're also good at manipulation, as they've members in both the Crusader and Saracen armies, allowing themselves to manipulate both Richard the Lionheart and Saladin for their own gain and manipulated the other knight orders like the Hospitalliers, Teutonic Knights and even the Assassins (Hashshashin) via Al Mualim.

==Members==
===Third Crusade===
* [[Basilisk]] (Grand Master of the Knights Templar)
* [[Robert de Sable]] (Grand Master of the Knights Templar, after Basilisk)
* [[Armand Bouchart]] (Grand Master of the Knights Templar, after Robert)
* [[Tamir the Merchant]] (Black marketeer in [[Damascus]])
* [[Garnier de Naplouse]] (Grand Master of the [[Knights Hospitalier]])
* [[Talal the Slave Trader]] (Slave master in [[Jerusalem]])
* [[Abul Nuqoud]] (A noble man of Damascus)
* [[William of Montferrat]] (Regent lord of [[Acre]])
* [[Majd Addin]] (Regent lord of Jerusalem)
* [[Jubair al Hakim]] (Head of the Illuminated and the chief scholar of Damascus)
* [[Sibrand]] (Grand Master of the [[Knights Teutonic]])
* [[Al Mualim]] (Master and leader of the [[Assassin]]s, betrayed the Templar's)
* [[Maria]] (Robert de Sable's steward and his own personal assassin)
* [[Roland Napule]] (Head of a Templar hospital in [[Tyre]])
* [[Masun]] (Traitorous assassin who is a double agent to the Templar)
* [[Alaat]] (Templar knight)
* [[Anonymous Templar Knights]] (regular soldiers)

=== Renaissance===

*[[Uberto Alberti]] (The Gonfaloniere of Florence)
*[[Vieri de' Pazzi]] (Ezio's Rival)
*[[Francesco de' Pazzi]] (Patriarch of the Pazzi Family)
*[[Antonio Maffei]] (Priest - Pazzi Conspirator)
*Archbishop [[Francesco Salviati]] (Archibishop of Pisa - Pazzi Conspirator)
*[[Bernado Baroncelli]] (Banker - Pazzi Conspirator)
*[[Stefano da Bagnone]] (Advisor to Jacopo de' Pazzi - Pazzi Conspirator)
*[[Jacopo de' Pazzi]] (Head of the Pazzi Conspiracy)
*[[Emilio Barbarigo]] (Corrupt Merchant of Venice)
*[[Carlo Grimaldi]] (Member of the Council of Ten of Venice)
*[[Marco Barbarigo]] (Corrupt Doge of Venice)
*[[Silvio Barbarigo]] (Member of the Supreme Tribunal of Venice)
*[[Dante Moro]] (Personal Guard of Marco Barbarigo)
*[[Rodrigo Borgia]] (Templar Leader and His Holiness, Pope Alexander VI)

===Modern times===
* [[Abstergo Industries]] (current form of the Templars)
** [[Warren Vidic]] (Scientist of Abstergo Industries)
** Three men who are the bosses of [[Abstergo Industries]]

=== Others ===

*Cain
*Xerxes I of Persia
*Alexander the Great
*Qin Shi Huang
*Atilla the Hun
*Genghis Khan
*Cleopatra
*Caligula
*Francisco Pizzaro
*Francois Duvalier
*John Wilkes Booth
*Lee Harvey Oswald
*Rasputin
*Josef Stalin
*Mary I of England "Bloody Mary"
*Tomas de Torquemada
*Thomas Edison
*Henry Ford
*Adolf Hitler
*Lyndon B. Johnson
*Winston Churchill (?)
*Franklin D. Roosevelt (?)

== Achievement ==
There are 60 Templars within the game world. Thirty are located in the kingdom, and ten in each city. Two subsections (either poor, middle, rich) of each city will have three Templars, and the remaining subsection will have four. Watch out when hunting them, however, as Templars are completely immune to throwing knives. In any Memory Block, regardless of the Rank Memory that Altaïr has, the Templars will attack with all techniques (Guard Break, Counter-grab, etc.) and are extremely hard to kill without more advanced techniques and a high sync bar, or climbing on the wall behind the Templar unnoticed then assassinating them. Should one be able to throw a Templar to the ground however, they can easily be dispatched by a hidden blade or a few sword strikes. Templars will wave their swords and shout upon seeing you, leaving them open for a few precious seconds, during which the player can tackle them and assassinate them while they are on the floor. Templars will also automatically realize that you are an assassin, regardless of whether you are blended or not, unless you are sitting on a bench. Templar locations are broken down as follows:

Kingdom: 30x

Jerusalem Poor: 3x

Jerusalem Mid: 3x

Jerusalem Rich: 4x

Damascus Poor: 3x

Damascus Mid: 3x

Damascus Rich: 4x

Acre Poor: 4x

Acre Middle: 3x

Acre Rich: 3x

Eliminating all 60 Templars in the game will grant the Personal Vendetta achievement.

Personal Vendetta
Kill every Templar. (40 Points)

==Locations==
Simply put, if anyone finds a Templar in-game, check they aren't already listed and then give detailed description of their location. (Please don't use viewpoints as references, they disappear off of the map.)

There is one close by the docks on the Christian part of the kingdom. As you are leaving from Masyaf go right and you'll see a lake. At the edge of the docks is a Templar. There is one hiding in a house nearby.

There is one in the Poor District of Acre at the western edge of the large courtyard north of the plaza where you do the Masyaf flags fetch. Climb up in the middle of that western wall and you'll see him below you in front of a water spout.

There is another hiding inside the row of burnt out dwellings along the 'street' between the northern wall (Poor District Acre) and in the first block of houses as you approach the first sea-viewpoint from that direction. Stay on the roofs to spot him below.

In the Middle District of Acre (Sibrand campaign), there is one at the far western end of the docks. Keep going past where you save the citizen there toward the sea and boats.

:''Note: It seems that if you are fighting with a Templar on a roof and he dies from the fall, it doesn't count toward your tally.''

There is one in the Rich District of Acre on the roof of the giant church, between the two steeples.

There is one in the Rich District of Jerusalem hiding behind the building south of the large building with a golden roof.

There is one in the Kingdom on the way out of Damascus. As you are going out of Damascus go to the tents and look along the river for a Templar. There is one behind the view point tower nearby.

The website [http://www.assassinscreed-maps.com/ Assassin's Creed Interactive Maps] has great maps of the Kingdom and each separate district of Damascus, Acre, and Jerusalem with Templar locations marked by green dots. When you mouse over the dots, a screen shot showing the Templar will pop up.

== Extra Templars ==
During the Robert de Sable assassination you will fight more Templars. However, these do not count towards the total.

== The Historical Templars ==
The Knights Templar was a real Roman Catholic military order who were prominent during the Crusades. They were among the most skilled fighters at the time, which is reflected in the game. Their ruthlessness against non-Catholics was also infamous; this also is reflected in the game.

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{{ACII}}