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

Malfatto

2012-01-25T14:00:54Z

60.226.144.21:

{{Era|ACB|PL|Templars|Good}}
{{WPtargets}}
{{Quote|Cesare wants me to meet his murderous doctor, Malfatto, though I do not believe he really is a doctor. He is a predator of women. A monster.|Fiora Cavazza.|Assassin's Creed: Project Legacy}}
{{Character Infobox
|image = Char_doctor.png
|period = [[Renaissance]]
|death = 1503 [[Rome]], [[Italy]]
|faction = [[House of Borgia]] [[Templars]] [[Doctors]]
|appear = ''[[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood]]'' ''[[Assassin's Creed: Project Legacy]]''}}

'''Malfatto''' (unknown - 1503) was a member of the [[Templars|Templar Order]], and a [[Doctors|doctor]] notorious for killing [[courtesans]].

His genetic memories were later used by the Templar-owned company [[Abstergo Industries]], for the training of their [[Abstergo recruits|Animus recruits]], under the title of the [[Doctor (Animi Avatar)|Doctor]].

==Biography==
===Serial killings===
{{Quote|I spot her! She looks like a broken doll at first, discarded in the alley. Then I see the blood. So much blood!|Fiora discovering one of Malfatto's victims.|Assassin's Creed: Project Legacy}}

Malfatto was an infamous serial killer of courtesans in [[Rome]]. He was feared enough to catch the eye of [[Cesare Borgia]], who wished to recruit Malfatto into his personal army.<ref name="Project Legacy">''[[Assassin's Creed: Project Legacy]]'' - [[Chapter 1 - Fiora Cavazza]]</ref>

Sometime between 1502 and 1503, Cesare sent his envoy, [[Fiora Cavazza]], to deliver a Letter of Absolution to Malfatto, in hopes of gaining his allegiance. Having worked as a courtesan before being employed by Cesare, Fiora was particularly fearful of finding Malfatto, but nonetheless obeyed.<ref name="Project Legacy" />

On her first attempt to search for him, she wandered through the poor district. Instead of finding Malfatto, Fiora heard the sounds of a woman sobbing and pleading for her life. She ran to find the victim, but arrived too late and could only flee in fear from the terrible, bloody sight of Malfatto's latest kill.<ref name="Project Legacy" />

Subsequent to this, Fiora began refusing Cesare's orders to find the doctor, though she was forced to obey when he threatened to have her killed. Dressed in one of her old courtesan outfits to lure Malfatto out, Fiora only narrowly escaped being attacked when she finally discovered him.<ref name="Project Legacy" />

The doctor paused only when Fiora yelled Cesare's name at him and held out the letter she had been tasked to deliver. Malfatto took it wordlessly, but did not read it. He simply watched the courtesan eerily as she backed away from him and left.<ref name="Project Legacy" />

===Chasing Fiora===
{{Quote|I cannot see his face, but Malfatto's posture betrays fear! Have his victims ever fought back?|Fiora drawing her weapon against Malfatto.|Assassin's Creed: Project Legacy}}

[[File:Scorned.jpg|thumb|250px|left|Malfatto fleeing due to his injury.]]
Fiora safely returned home, unaware of the fact that Malfatto had followed her. While the former courtesan slept, Malfatto injected her with his [[Multiplayer Weapons#Syringe|syringe]], but the prick of the needle caused her to wake up.<ref name="Project Legacy" />

Panicking, Fiora grabbed her bladed fan to defend herself, much to Malfatto's shock. Despite being disoriented from the poison Malfatto had injected, she managed to wound the doctor severely, before falling unconscious. As he was bleeding badly from his injury, Malfatto swiftly left through the window, without finishing his kill.<ref name="Project Legacy" />

===Death===
{{Dialogue|Ezio|Who did this?|Courtesan|That monster, Malfatto!|Ezio coming across Malfatto's latest kill.|Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood}}

[[File:Malfettodeath.jpg|thumb|250px|An apprentice kills Malfatto.]]
Sometime after his encounter with Fiora, Malfatto, now under Cesare's employment, hunted in the area near the [[Tiber|Tiber river]]. He soon claimed his next victim, a courtesan named Mina. Mina's friend found her, and as she cried over her corpse, the [[Assassins|Assassin]] [[Ezio Auditore da Firenze|Ezio Auditore]] happened upon the bloody scene.<ref name="Brotherhood">''[[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood]]''</ref>

Ezio offered to help, after which the courtesan directed him to Malfatto. The Assassin searched through the district, following the directions of several other courtesans that he passed, who also pointed him in the right direction.<ref name="Brotherhood" />

Finally, the Assassin found Malfatto by a medical stall, but the murderer fled, with Ezio in close pursuit. After a brief chase, Ezio sent his [[apprentices]] in for the assassination. As Malfatto lay dead, Ezio held a hand over his mask and offered him his last rites.<ref name="Brotherhood" />

==Trivia==
*"Malfatto" is an Italian surname that may derive from the Italian word ''"malfattore"'' or "someone who does evil deeds." As an adjective, it can also translate to "shoddy" or "deformed."
*During Malfatto's assassination, Ezio says his traditional final blessing, but instead of closing Malfatto's eyes, he places his hand above the doctor's mask, before pulling it away. This is one of the few times Ezio has ever altered his usual procedure.
*There is a minor glitch that the player may activate while executing the "[[Serial Offender]]" mission. This is achieved by following the path the courtesans have established until Ezio reaches the third one. If he turns right and follows the street, he will come out in front of Malfatto, who will not run or react to Ezio, unless he locks onto him.
*He is most likely based on Jack The Ripper, as they both preyed and killed prostitutes.

==Gallery==

<center>

<gallery captionalign="left">
Doctor_Malffato_ingame1.jpg|In-game CGI art of Malfatto.
Doctor_Malfato_rough1.jpg|Official concept art for Malfatto.
Rat Trap.jpg|Malfatto in an alleyway in Rome.
Offender 1.png|One of Malfatto's victims.
</gallery></center>

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{ACBH}}
{{MPChars}}
[[Category:Characters]]
[[Category:Templars]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed: Project Legacy Characters]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood Assassination Targets]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood (Novel) Characters]]

Clay Kaczmarek

2012-01-19T09:38:02Z

60.226.144.21:

{{Era|AC|AC2|Brotherhood|ACR|FC|Assassins}}
{{WPAssassins}}
{{Spoilerhd}}
{{Quote|What is a man but the sum of his memories? We are the stories we live! The tales we tell ourselves!|Subject 16.|Assassin's Creed: Revelations}}
{{Character Infobox
|image = ACR Kaczmarek v.png
|birth = 1982<ref name="Encyclopedia"/>
|death = 2012;<ref name="Encyclopedia"/> consciousness preserved
|period = [[Modern Times]]
|faction = [[Assassins]]
|appear = ''[[Assassin's Creed]]'' {{mo}} ''[[Assassin's Creed II]]'' (voice) ''[[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood]]'' {{fb}} ''[[Assassin's Creed: Revelations]]''
|voice = [[Cam Clarke]] (''Assassin's Creed II and Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood'')
 [[Graham Cuthbertson]] (''Assassin's Creed: Revelations'') }}

'''Clay Kaczmarek'''<ref name="Encyclopedia">''[[Assassin's Creed Encyclopedia]]''</ref> (1982 - 2012), also known as '''Subject 16''' of the [[Animus Project]], was an individual who had been kidnapped by [[Abstergo Industries]] and forced to relive his ancestors' memories in the [[Animus]]. As a descendant of [[Adam]], as well as [[Ezio Auditore da Firenze]],<ref name="Encyclopedia" /> he was born into the [[Assassins|Assassin]] bloodline.

After his alleged suicide, Clay continued to exist as an AI recreation of his personality within the Animus. As such, he was able to manipulate much of the Animus' programming from within to aid another [[Animus Subjects|Animus subject]], [[Desmond Miles]].

While at Abstergo, Clay relived the lives of his ancestors in the Far East and ancient Africa, as well as one at the [[wikipedia:Battle of Gettysburg|Battle of Gettysburg]], one in the [[Rome|Roman]] forum, and one who was connected with [[wikipedia:Queen Isabella|Queen Isabella]].

==Biography==
{{Quote|Though the specific symptoms may vary from subject to subject, the end result is the same: they lose their minds. This is what I believe happened to Subject Sixteen.|Lucy, in an e-mail to Warren.|Assassin's Creed}}

Clay was captured by the [[Templars|Templar]]-owned organization Abstergo Industries for use in the [[genetic memory]] program. Held within the [[Abstergo laboratory]] by Dr. [[Warren Vidic]], Clay was kept connected to the Animus for dangerously long periods, sometimes even days at a time. This led to him severely suffering from a condition known as the "[[Bleeding effect]]."<ref name="Assassin's Creed">''[[Assassin's Creed]]''</ref>

Through this Bleeding effect, Clay began to explore the memories of his ancestors without the use of the Animus; but his inability to control these visions forced him into a downward spiral of insanity, eventually culminating in his evident suicide.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II">''[[Assassin's Creed II]]''</ref>

Before this event, Clay was forced to explore the memories of his ancestor Ezio Auditore, who the Templars knew had located [[Vatican Vault|the Vault]] during his lifetime. However, he was never able to relive the desired memory.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II"/> Clay made an artificially intelligent construct of himself inside the Animus, splitting it into twenty-four pieces to be united by his successor. The next day,<ref name="Revelations">''[[Assassin's Creed: Revelations]]''</ref> Clay killed himself by draining his body of blood, in order to paint several [[cryptic messages]] in the rooms where he was being kept, hoping to prevent the Templars from reaching their goals.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II" />

===The Truth===
{{Quote|He'd be able to explain the whole thing to us. If only we could ask him.|Lucy, after seeing the Truth.|Assassin's Creed II}}
Following the escape of Desmond Miles from Abstergo and the beginning of his journey through the memories of Ezio, the Assassins learned that Clay had managed to hack the Abstergo Animus before his death, and had placed twenty [[Glyphs]] throughout the Animus system, which were subsequently rendered in the visual memories. These encrypted files, which had been saved onto the Abstergo Animus' memory core that Lucy had stolen, were later unknowingly transferred to [[Rebecca Crane]]'s Animus 2.0.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II"/>

After decrypting all twenty files, the Assassins were rewarded with a genetic memory marked "[[The Truth|date classified BCE]]." The video showed two [[Free Running|free-runners]], primordial [[Adam]] and [[Eve]], climbing a large glass structure with an [[Apples of Eden|Apple of Eden]] in hand.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II"/>

===The Miracle===
{{Quote|Everything you hope to become, everything you hold dear, it’s already gone.|Clay's hologram to Desmond.|Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood}}
[[File:Subject_16_meets_Desmond.png|thumb|250px|left|Desmond meeting Clay inside the Animus.]]
It was later discovered that Clay had left ten more glyphs, which corresponded with locations in [[Renaissance]] Rome. Upon visiting these indicated landmarks, Desmond discovered several [[Rifts]] in the Animus programming.<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood">''[[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood]]''</ref>

Within each, Desmond solved a Cluster puzzle, which then unlocked a piece of a file. Upon compiling them, they revealed a distorted video with the message ''"The miracle is in the execution,"'' suggesting that, unlike the video hidden in the Glyphs, the Rifts instead concealed an [[The Truth#The Miracle|executable file]].<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood"/>

Upon accessing it, Desmond found himself in an unknown area within the Animus, and was able to run through a long virtual maze, similar to those within the [[Animus Virtual Training Program]].<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood"/>

At the end of the maze, he found a hologram of Clay, partially broken and made of computing code, who told Desmond that all hope was lost, and that he needed to go to [[Eden]] to find a woman named Eve. Before vanishing, Clay told Desmond to find him in the darkness.<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood"/>

This proved to be the first indication of Clay's AI presence in the Animus. Though physically dead, his "essence" had been absorbed into the system, allowing him to interact with the users, and act as a third person spectator; effectively letting him see everything that went on inside the Animus.<ref name="Revelations">''[[Assassin's Creed: Revelations]]''</ref>

===Black Room===
{{Dialogue|Desmond|What are you doing here exactly?|Clay|Playing. Learning. Waiting. A lot of waiting.|Desmond and Clay in the Black Room.|Assassin's Creed: Revelations}}
[[File:ACR_ClayMiles_2.png|thumb|250px|right|Clay with Desmond in the Black Room.]]
Soon after he had fallen into a coma and was returned to the Animus to support his mental state, Desmond woke to meet Clay in the [[Black Room]], a safe mode of the Animus' software. Here, Clay explained where they were, and offered advice on how to escape; telling Desmond that he needed to create a [[Sync Nexus]] and clearly separate his memories from Ezio's and [[Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad|Altaïr]]'s.<ref name="Revelations"/>

Clay also mentioned that the Animus would resist his attempts to view further genetic memories and keep pulling Desmond back into the simulated island they were in - the designated compartment for Desmond's consciousness. However, Clay said that he would help prevent the Animus from noticing him "wandering" into the outside partitions of memory, just in case it concluded Desmond to be a virus.<ref name="Revelations" />

At one point, as Desmond worked to return to his body, Clay asked him if he could come with him, perhaps until he could have a body of his own. As Desmond hesitantly declined, Clay admitted that he was not surprised, and that perhaps he had wasted his only chance.<ref name="Revelations" />

[[File:ACR_ClayMiles_3.png|left|thumb|250px|Clay explaining about the Black Room.]]
On another re-entrance to the island, Clay asked Desmond if he had ever regretted anything in his life. After Desmond admitted that he had wished he had been more patient with his parents, whom he had run away from, and that he wished things would have turned out different with Lucy, Clay simply thanked Desmond for making sense before vanishing.<ref name="Revelations" />

While Desmond had come close to completing the Synch Nexus, the Animus began to attempt to rectify the intrusions he had been causing in other memories. As it began to delete the Black Room and all of its contents, Clay grabbed onto Desmond and threw him out of the room, saving Desmond's life.<ref name="Revelations" />

==Legacy==
Following Clay's death, the Templars were left without the location of the Vault; though they had gained the knowledge that another Assassin, Altaïr, had once held [[Second Apple|a certain]] [[Pieces of Eden|Piece of Eden]] that could help them find it. Thus, Abstergo kidnapped a descendant of Altaïr, Desmond Miles, who they labelled Subject 17.<ref name="Assassin's Creed"/>

By accessing private [[e-mails]] between Animus sessions, Desmond discovered an email Lucy had written to Dr. Vidic, which detailed the Bleeding effect, and explained how it was connected to Clay. She expressed her concern in pushing the Animus subjects too hard; however, the email was never replied to, and was evidently deleted shortly after it was received.<ref name="Assassin's Creed"/>

Also, through the files unlocked in the glyphs Clay had created within the Animus, Desmond was able to learn many things about the Templar Order, both in the past and in his own time. <ref name="Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood"/>

==Personality==
{{Dialogue2|Clay|They can't help you Desmond. You're a broken man. Your mind, it's... broken.|Desmond|Broken? I feel fine.|So did I!|Clay and Desmond in the Black Room.|Assassin's Creed: Revelations}}
[[File:ACR_ClayMiles_1.png|thumb|right|250px|Clay introducing himself to Desmond.]]
Clay was shown to be a sarcastic and witty man, usually speaking of his dire situation with cynical humor.<ref name="Revelations" /> In the initial stages of the Bleeding effect, he proved to be driven, even as his sanity began to crumble. Later on, his perception of reality and identity began to falter and switch between past lives, and he began speaking in riddles and cryptic clues. However, he kept his motivations to the end, even sacrificing his own life to reveal the Truth.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II" />

Despite his own situation of being trapped in the Animus, as well as his occasional lapses of depression from his lost chances, Clay willingly helped Desmond regain his body and repair his subconscious; despite not being able to do so himself.<ref name="Revelations" />

==Trivia==
*In the [[Assassin's Creed (French comic)|''Assassin's Creed'' French comic]], Clay is referred to as "Michael." However, the graphic novel is not considered canon in this respect, as it directly contradicts the events of the games.
*The [[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood achievements|achievement]] in ''[[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood]]'' entitled ".. .- -- .- .-.. .. ...- ." ([[wikipedia:Morse Code|Morse code]] for "I AM ALIVE") is earned by solving all Cluster puzzles. The achievement badge consists of the Morse code ".---- -....", which means "16".
*Clay took the place of [[Shaun Hastings]] as the writer of [[Database Articles|Database articles]] in ''[[Assassin's Creed: Revelations]]''.
*Clay's surname Kaczmarek is of Polish origin, hinting that he may be of Polish ancestry.
*He bears a resemblance to Darim Ibn-La'Ahad.

==Gallery==
<gallery widths="160" position="center" spacing="small" captionalign="center" captiontextcolor="#ffffff">
The Animus Door.jpg|Clay and Desmond on the Animus Island.
ACR ClayMiles 4.png|Clay telling Desmond that there's no such thing as a guardian angel.
Michael s16.jpg|Subject 16 as Michael, as shown in the French graphic novel.
</gallery>

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{AC}}
{{ACII}}
{{ACBH}}
{{ACR}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kaczmarek, Clay}}
[[Category:Characters]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed Characters]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed II Characters]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood Characters]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed: Revelations Characters]]
[[Category:Assassins]]
[[Category:Animus Subjects]]

Daniel Cross

2011-12-31T02:39:09Z

60.226.144.21:

{{Era|TF|TC|acr|Abstergo|Assassins|Templars|Featured}}
{{WPAssassins}}
{{Quote|I just beat the shit out of two guys like it was nothing, my vision went red and something took over, pure instinct. […] It feels like there's something coiled like a snake deep inside of me, and it's waiting to get out...|Daniel Cross.|Assassin's Creed: The Fall}}
{{Character Infobox
|name = Daniel Cross
|image = Daniel cross.JPG
|birth = 1974 <ref name="Encyclopedia">''[[Assassin's Creed Encyclopedia]]''</ref>
|period = [[Modern times]]
|faction = [[Abstergo Industries]] [[Assassins]] (former) [[Templars]]
|appear = ''[[Assassin's Creed: The Fall]]'' ''[[Assassin's Creed: The Chain]]'' ''[[Assassin's Creed Revelations]]''
}}
'''Daniel Cross''' (born 1974) was a [[Templars|Templar]] sleeper agent, an ex-convict, and recovering drug and alcohol addict during the late 20th century. Following a heavy night of drinking, Daniel was spirited away by [[Hannah Mueller]], a member of the [[Assassins|Assassin Order]], and introduced to a new way of life. Curious about his [[Bleeding effect|constant visions]] of a past life, Daniel made it his mission to confront [[The Mentor (2000)|the Mentor]], and find some meaning to his life.

For two years Daniel searched the globe, visiting every major Assassin camp in his quest to meet the [[Mentor]], before he was finally granted an audience. It was during this meeting that a long-dormant trigger, implanted in his mind during childhood, activated. Daniel killed the Mentor, and fled the Assassins, returning to the only people he knew would accept him, [[Abstergo Industries]].

==Biography==
===Early years===
{{Quote|Я хочу домой." (Russian: "I want to go home.")|A young Daniel Cross, c. 1985.|Assassin's Creed: The Fall}}
His birth name unknown, "Daniel Cross" was, as a young child, kidnapped by Abstergo Industries and subjected to at least one bout of surgery.<ref name="Assassin's Creed: The Fall - Issue #1">''[[Assassin's Creed: The Fall]]'' - Issue #1</ref> Being dubbed ''Animus Project [[Animus Subjects|Subject 4]]'', Daniel had his genetic memories explored, but also had a hidden impulse inserted that would drive him to kill the Mentor were he ever presented with the opportunity.<ref name="Assassin's Creed: The Fall - Issue #3">''[[Assassin's Creed: The Fall]]'' - Issue #3</ref>

[[File:Cross walking-The Fall2.jpg|thumb|left|250px|A young Daniel Cross wanders down a road.]]
After this, he was thrown out onto the street, alone, until he was happened upon by a couple driving by. When asked his name, he asked, in Russian, to go home.<ref name="Assassin's Creed: The Fall - Issue #2">''[[Assassin's Creed: The Fall]]'' - Issue #2</ref>

Daniel grew up to become a petty criminal, though he suffered constantly from vivid hallucinations, which were in fact the memories of his ancestors, particularly the Assassin [[Nikolai Orelov]]. As a result of not being able to comprehend the hallucinations, Daniel turned to drugs and alcohol. Eventually, his drug addiction led to the death of his girlfriend, Kelly. Daniel was convicted, and upon being released, became court-ordered to take medication to stop the hallucinations he was having.<ref name="Assassin's Creed: The Fall - Issue #1"/>

At one point in 1998, after it became apparent Daniel was not taking his prescription drugs, his court-ordered [[psychiatrist]] reminded him that he was required to do so by law. Simply throwing away the prescription as he left, Cross instead chose to visit a local bar. There he tried, unsuccessfully, to proposition several women before vomiting into a toilet. He began to have another hallucination, about his ancestor Nikolai Orelov's assassination attempt on [[Alexander III of Russia|Tsar Alexander III]] resulting in the [[Borki train disaster]], before stumbling out the back door of the bar.<ref name="Assassin's Creed: The Fall - Issue #1"/>

Outside, Cross was stopped by a man who asked if he was feeling okay. Daniel, still suffering from his hallucinations, accused him of being a Templar, very nearly stabbing him as well. Before he was able to do so however, he was stopped by Hannah Mueller, who pulled him into a car driven by another man and revealed to him that she was an Assassin.<ref name="Assassin's Creed: The Fall - Issue #1"/>

===Introduction to the Order===
{{Quote|Are you a field operative? Communications? You don't show up on any of our personnel records.|Paul Bellamy to Daniel Cross.|Assassin's Creed: The Fall}}
[[File:HannahDanielBellamy.png|thumb|250px|Daniel meeting with Paul Bellamy.]]
The next day, Daniel awoke in a strange location, and learned that Hannah had taken Daniel to an Assassin camp. She remarked that they had been unable to find his cabin, and that nobody from the camp recognized him. Shortly afterward, they met with [[Paul Bellamy]], the director of the camp. Adding to Hannah's own remarks, Bellamy brought up the fact that there was no record of Daniel anywhere in the Order's personnel records. Cross continued to preach his ignorance of either the Assassins or the Templars, and was aghast when shown that his tattoo was in fact the symbol of the Assassin Order.<ref name="Assassin's Creed: The Fall - Issue #2"/>

At this moment, Daniel had another vision, physically speaking out the words of his ancestor, Nikolai Orelov. When questioned on this by Bellamy, and what "[[Tunguska explosion|Tunguska]]" meant, Daniel got up to leave, but was prevented from doing so by two other Assassins who had been watching the exchange. The three broke into a fight, with Daniel quickly disabling his attackers; Paul Bellamy was forced to put his [[hidden blade]] to Cross' neck so as to ensure he did not kill either.<ref name="Assassin's Creed: The Fall - Issue #2"/>

That night, in a fit of anger, Cross overturned the furniture in his room, which drew the attention of Hannah Mueller. Daniel told her that he had left his medication in his flat and that he needed to get it back. Although Hannah at first refused to help him, she quickly decided it was for the best and handed him a white hooded-jacket, so that he might blend in. Arriving at the apartment, the two realized that there was no medication left, as he had thrown the last of it away. Daniel quickly sunk into a state of despair, whilst Hannah recommended that whatever it was Daniel had locked up in his mind, he let it out.<ref name="Assassin's Creed: The Fall - Issue #2"/>

===Finding his purpose===
{{Quote|Hannah… it's okay … I saw everything… I saw the shape of time. I know my purpose, I understand what I have to do… I have to find the Mentor.|Daniel Cross, after his hallucination.|Assassin's Creed: The Fall}}
[[File:ACTF 2 Legion CPS 014.jpg|thumb|left|175px|Cross' mirror drawing of the Staff.]]
After a brief discussion about her role in the Order and the rigging of the upcoming election, Hannah asked if there was anything about his hallucinations that he remembered. Rising to his feet, Daniel walked up to the window and drew the figure of [[Staff of Eden|the Staff]] into the condensation. At this moment, Paul Bellamy burst into the room. Approaching the two, Bellamy said that he had just gotten off the phone with [[Bill Miles]], and that according to his records a small team had been sent to Tunguska in 1908, though only one survived the mission. The survivor, Daniel's great-grandfather, had eventually journeyed to America. After hearing the name "Nikolai Orelov", Cross once again started to hallucinate, this time on Nikolai's mission to retrieve the Staff from Tunguska. Bellamy urged Daniel to let them know what was going through his head, only to receive a right-hook from Daniel.<ref name="Assassin's Creed: The Fall - Issue #2"/>

Daniel fled the apartment and made his way onto the rooftops, all the while continuing to see the events of 1908 transpire in his mind. He was pursued by both Bellamy and Hannah, who implored him to come down from the rooftops with them. As his vision reached its climax, Daniel's mind was flooded with a wide array of images; [[Second Apple|the Apple]], [[Nikola Tesla]], [[Eden]] and his own birth. He then collapsed to the floor, but was hurriedly cradled by Hannah Mueller; Daniel assured her that he was alright, saying that he had finally found his purpose; he had to find the Mentor.<ref name="Assassin's Creed: The Fall - Issue #2"/>

===Meeting with the Mentor===
{{Quote|Some of the others tried to tell me I was wasting my time, but I knew I couldn't give up the search.|Daniel Cross upon meeting the Mentor|Assassin's Creed: The Fall}}
[[File:Daniel napped.png|thumb|250px|Daniel being sedated.]]
Over the next two years Daniel searched the globe for clues to The Mentor's whereabouts, visiting every single Assassin camp in the process. At each location, he appealed to his fellow Assassins for the support and guidance. On November 5, 2000, Daniel Cross finally got his wish. Whilst refreshing himself in his apartment, Daniel was accosted by at least two masked individuals, who after a brief struggle, managed to inject a sedative into Cross' neck. The following day, Cross awoke to find himself in the Mentor's [[Dubai]] facility.<ref name="Assassin's Creed: The Fall - Issue #3"/>

Although unsure at first where he was, Daniel quickly worked out who it was he was speaking with. Daniel learned that his progress had been watched carefully by the Mentor, who knew about Daniel's visions, and that he was seen to be a unique asset to the Order. The Mentor then explained how the title of "Mentor", as well as the sum total of their knowledge, was passed on from the predecessor, revealing to Daniel that he intended for him to be his eventual successor. He further went on to explain how the Order itself had changed its way of operating and no longer simply killed those who became too powerful or greedy.<ref name="Assassin's Creed: The Fall - Issue #3"/>

[[File:DanielKillMentor.png|thumb|250px|left|Daniel killing the Mentor.]]
The Mentor then passed on his own hidden blade to Daniel, commenting on how they were mostly ceremonial in the modern era, but still in working condition. As soon as the hidden blade was given to him, Daniel felt as if he was made to use it. Putting it upon his forearm, Daniel suddenly recalled the impulse that had been embedded into his subconscious by [[Warren Vidic]] during his time at Abstergo. Daniel acted upon this impulse and murdered the Mentor. He immediately regretted his actions, unsure of why exactly he had done such a thing. Upon hearing voices from outside the room, Daniel [[Leap of Faith|leaped]] through the glass windows, out of the tower into the sea below, and started making his way to the only place he felt would welcome him.<ref name="Assassin's Creed: The Fall - Issue #3"/>

===Return to Abstergo===
{{Quote|I admit, I felt a certain sense of almost fatherly pride, seeing our boy grown and carrying on our work. Indeed, any lingering attachment to his deceased parents has dissolved and he has come to regard Abstergo as his home.|An email to [[Alan Rikkin]], from Warren Vidic.|Assassin's Creed: The Fall}}
[[File:Fall 3 Daniel Abstergo.png|thumb|250px|Daniel returning to the Abstergo facility in Philadelphia.]]
On November 21, Daniel eventually made his way back to Abstergo Industries research facility in Philadelphia. Retrieving the necessary information from him, Abstergo began mobilizing its strike forces in preparation for their [[Fall of the Assassin Order|attack upon the Assassins]].<ref name="Assassin's Creed: The Fall - Issue #3"/>

As soon as he had arrived, Daniel demanded he be returned to the [[Animus]], though it was only after an attack on an "unfortunate secretary" that Warren Vidic became convinced of his urgency. Daniel was inserted into the Animus to freely explore the memories of his ancestor, Nikolai Orelov, which had a calming effect on Daniel himself.<ref name="Assassin's Creed: The Fall - Issue #3"/>

His withdrawal did not last however, as by 2012, Daniel had become a Master Templar and a part of the [[Inner Sanctum of the Templar Order]]. He was working in the Operations Division at Abstergo. According to his fellow Templars, they considered him to be "a true hero."<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Revelations]]'' - [[Abstergo files]]</ref>

==Personality and characteristics==
{{Quote|I hear voices, but I don't understand what they're saying. It's all in European or something. There's a woman... Sometimes I'll see old stuff. Horses and carts, things like that. It's not always a vision... sometimes it just feels like I'm remembering how things used to be.|Daniel to his psychiatrist about his 'visions'.|Assassin's Creed: The Fall}}
[[File:DanielMedication.png|thumb|250px|left|Daniel looking at his empty medicine tube.]]
Due to his hallucinations, none of which he could understand, Daniel was often confused. This confusion led him to be rude and unsocial to his surroundings,<ref name="Assassin's Creed: The Fall - Issue #1"/> sometimes even going as far as to be violent.<ref name="Assassin's Creed: The Fall - Issue #2"/>

Upon learning of the Mentor, Daniel Cross became incredibly determined to meet him,<ref name="Assassin's Creed: The Fall - Issue #2"/> visiting Assassin camps all over the world to gain information and eventually entrance to the Assassins' Headquarter. After the murder of the Mentor, Daniel immediately regretted his action. Knowing that he could not return to the Assassins, suspecting they wouldn't forgive him, he went to the only place he could call home: Abstergo Industries.<ref name="Assassin's Creed: The Fall - Issue #3"/>

==Trivia==
*His first name "Daniel" means "Judgment of God" or "God's Judgment" in Hebrew.
*Daniel had an [[Assassin insignia]] tattoo on his right forearm, which he claimed to have gotten because "It looked cool and it sort of felt right."

==Gallery==
<gallery captionalign="center" widths="160" position="center">
Daniel Cross-The Fall1.jpg|Daniel Cross, in 1998.
Daniel vision.png|Daniel's vision of the past and future.
Daniel Hannah.png|Daniel talking with Hannah.
The Fall.jpg|Daniel performing a Leap of Faith out of the window of the Dubai Assassin HQ.
Animus (2000).jpg|Cross using the Animus.
Daniel Cross AC Encyclopedia.png|A full body image of Daniel Cross, from the ''[[Assassin's Creed Encyclopedia]]''.
</gallery>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{ACTF}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cross, Daniel}}
[[de:Daniel Cross]]
[[Category:Characters]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed: The Fall Characters]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed: The Chain Characters]]
[[Category:Animus Subjects]]
[[Category:Assassins]]
[[Category:Abstergo Industries Employees]]
[[Category:Templars]]

Shaun Hastings

2011-12-24T13:48:42Z

60.226.144.21:

{{Era|AC2|Brotherhood|Revelations|FC|Assassins|Good}}
{{WPAssassins}}
{{Spoilerhd}}
{{quote|I also provide tactical support for the other Assassins. You know, Desmond, the ones who are out there - actually doing stuff. Risking their lives, little things like that.|Shaun to [[Desmond Miles]].|Assassin's Creed II}}
{{Character Infobox
|name = Shaun Hastings
|image = Shaunspng.png
|period = [[Modern Times]]
|faction = [[Assassins]]
|appear = ''[[Assassin's Creed II]]'' ''[[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood]]'' ''[[Assassin's Creed: Revelations]]''
|voice = [[Danny Wallace]]}}

'''Shaun Hastings''' was a member of the [[Assassins|Assassin Order]], who gave tactical assistance to Assassin teams across the globe, sometimes by relaying messages from higher command. His support was often targeted towards Assassins who were out in the field.

Within his team, Shaun acted as both historian and analyst, assisting [[Desmond Miles]] during his time in the [[Animus|Animus 2.0]]. This help mostly came in the form of creating [[Database]] entries on the various people, places, and events he encountered.

==Biography==
===Early life===
{{quote|Most Assassins, Desmond, are like you, yeah? They're "born" into the Brotherhood. Not me, though.|Shaun to Desmond.|Assassin's Creed II}}

Originating from [[England]], Shaun was interested in conspiracy theories and the unexplained from a very early age. Though initially unaware of the existence of the modern-day [[Templars]] and Assassins, when he was around 15, he did some investigations into a company known as [[Abstergo Industries]], and realized that they were ''"up to no good"''.<ref name="AC2">''[[Assassin's Creed II]]''</ref>

This eventually inspired him to prevent their wrongful activities in any way he could. While working as a junior professor, Shaun took the pseudonym "[[wikipedia:Guy Fawkes|Guy Fawkes]]"<ref name="James Morse emails">[[James Morse's e-mail]]</ref> (after one of the co-conspirators of the [[wikipedia:Gunpowder Plot|1605 Gunpowder Plot]]) and began spreading the word.<ref name="AC2" />

He published articles detailing Abstergo's inner workings to [[wikipedia:WikiLeaks|WikiLeaks]]<ref name="James Morse emails" /> and other news groups, searching for people with "stories to tell;" all the while remaining unaware that the Templars would try to silence him.<ref name="AC2" />

[[Rebecca Crane]] was first to realize the danger he posed to himself, and tried to warn him that he was "messing with the wrong people." However, Shaun did not believe her, and eventually, he was found out by Abstergo employee [[Alan Rikkin]].<ref name="AC2" />

Shortly after this, on December 10, 2010, Shaun was kidnapped by Abstergo. Fortunately, he was able to make an escape from the van that was taking him to the company, with Abstergo only discovering afterwards that the van's computer had been hacked, creating a false alert for a need to stop and refuel.<ref name="James Morse emails" />

Shaun was then contacted again by Rebecca, who "rescued" him, and recruited him into the Assassin Order.<ref name="AC2" />

===Hiding out===
{{Dialogue|Desmond|What's all this stuff for?|Shaun|This stuff, Desmond, oh this stuff is nothing special, really, this stuff is just the stuff that keeps our entire operation from falling apart really.|Desmond and Shaun in the hideout.|Assassin's Creed II}}
[[File:Des Hideout 2.png|thumb|left|250px|Shaun and Rebecca meeting Desmond.]]
After [[Lucy Stillman]] and Desmond Miles had [[Escape from Abstergo Industries|escaped Abstergo]] and reached the [[hideout]], Shaun was first to greet Desmond, and introduce both himself and Rebecca. However, he promptly then insisted that they all get straight to work.<ref name="AC2" />

Desmond then entered the Animus to relive the memories of one of his ancestors, [[Ezio Auditore da Firenze]]. While Desmond was inside the Animus, Shaun supplied him with information in the form of Database entries, as well as the occasional piece of advice on [[Glyphs|glyph puzzles]].<ref name="AC2"/>

As the historian and analyst of the Assassin Order, Shaun was constantly working on his computer, and rarely had the opportunity to speak with Desmond – often telling him bluntly to ''"go away"'' if ever he tried to talk to him.<ref name="AC2"/>

During the assault on the hideout by [[Warren Vidic]] and several Abstergo guards, Shaun helped Rebecca pack up their equipment,<ref name="AC2"/> and later, drove the van to their next hideout at [[Monteriggioni]].<ref name="Brotherhood">''[[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood]]''</ref>

===Escape to the Sanctuary===
{{quote|Did you miss me? No? Anyone? Hello, am I speaking out loud? Hello? Workaholics.|Shaun after hiding the van.|Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood}}
[[File:Arrival15.jpg|thumb|250px|Shaun and Rebecca entering the Villa Auditore.]]
Upon setting up camp in the [[Sanctuary]], Shaun helped by hiding the van, and teaching Desmond how to reroute power into the underground chamber.<ref name="Brotherhood" />

Once they had set up, Shaun continued his research, operating similarly to the way he had in the previous hideout. In contrast, he was much more respectful and tolerant towards Desmond – though he was still rude and impatient with Rebecca, which caused Lucy to give him a greater workload than the other Assassins.<ref name="Brotherhood" />

During Desmond's breaks outside the Animus, Shaun told him further history of the events he was experiencing, mentioning things such as the fate of [[Caterina Sforza]], and [[Cesare Borgia]]'s explicit letter to the Pope about his wedding night.<ref name="Brotherhood" />

===Journey to the Colosseum===
{{quote|The Tetragrammaton. The 72 names of God. You see? They're all contained within three verses. Exodus 19 through 21. And get this, you'll like this, if you arrange the four Hebrew letters in God's name within an equilateral triangle, their numeric values add up to the same number: 72.|Shaun explaining the clue to the other Assassins.|Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood}}
After Desmond located the [[Ezio's Apple|Apple of Eden]] through Ezio Auditore's memories, the modern-day Assassins were still left with the mystery of how to get to the Apple's [[Colosseum Vault|vault]]. Though Rebecca knew it was accessed with a spoken password, the group was unsure of what it could possibly be.<ref name="Brotherhood" />

Desmond pointed out the numbers they had found written on the wall, as well as the triple triad symbol, upon which Shaun correctly deduced that they are relevant to God, and His [[72]] names. This number, he also stated, was the same year that Rome's [[Colosseo|Colosseum]] was built. They all concluded that that was where the Apple would be found, and began their long road trip.<ref name="Brotherhood" />

[[File:Retrieval 13.png|thumb|left|250px|Shaun and the Assassins in the Colosseum Vault.]]
On finding the Apple, Desmond used it to ask where the [[Temples]] were located, which resulted in it projecting a series of symbols and images. Shaun, upon identifying the [[Wikipedia:Phrygian cap|Phrygian Cap]] and the [[Wikipedia:Eye of Providence|Eye of Providence]], said that both objects come together in only [[Wikipedia:Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen|one place]].<ref name="Brotherhood" />

However, before Shaun could finish his explanation, [[Juno]] possessed Desmond through the Apple, causing a temporal freeze in those around him, and forcing Desmond to stab Lucy in the abdomen.<ref name="Brotherhood" />

At the point where Lucy and Desmond collapsed, Shaun and Rebecca were still visibly conscious, and appeared unaffected by the Apple's power.<ref name="Brotherhood" />

===After Desmond's Collapse===
Following Lucy's death, Desmond fell unconscious, and eventually slipped into a coma. Rebecca and [[William Miles]] brought Desmond to [[New York City]] in an effort to reawaken him, with Shaun staying behind to attend Lucy's funeral in a cemetery just outside of Rome.<ref name="Revelations">''[[Assassin's Creed: Revelations]]''</ref>

Following a phone call with Rebecca and William, during which Shaun expressed his suspicion that Desmond may be a sleeper cell similar to [[Daniel Cross|another former Assassin]], Shaun took a plane to join them in New York.<ref name="Revelations" />

Eventually, the four of them boarded a plane back to the East, taking the Apple recovered from the Colosseum Vault with them. As they arrived, Desmond awoke from his comatose state, and stated that he knew what they needed to do.<ref name="Revelations" />

==Characteristics and personality==
{{Quote|England is not in Europe actually, Rebecca. We, we tolerate Europe, you know? Like, like a person tolerates herpes.|Shaun to Rebecca in Monteriggioni.|Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood}}

Shaun was often cynical, condescending, sarcastic, and pessimistic. However, he did have a playful side, often inserting humorous tidbits into the Database entries he crafted.<ref name="AC2" /> As a prank, he also once [[E-mails|e-mailed]] Rebecca that he had found a [[Hephaestus Email Network#Emergency|riddle]] that held a clue to the location of a [[Pieces of Eden|Piece of Eden]], but eventually revealed that the riddle was just a joke.<ref name="Brotherhood" />

[[File:ShaunLucyHideoutBrotherhood.png|thumb|250px|right|Shaun in the Sanctuary.]]
When he first met him, Shaun would often have little patience with talking to Desmond, though at other times, he would converse with him at length. He also often insulted Rebecca, commenting on her immaturity by saying ''"the grown-ups are talking"'' – neglectful of the fact she had saved his life multiple times.<ref name="AC2" />

Shaun was desperate to enter the Animus, and even resorted to begging Lucy through [[Lucy's e-mail|her e-mail]], which she silently declined by not replying. However, when confronted about it, he said that ''"the job behind the desk"'' was much better.<ref name="Brotherhood" />

When talking about his status as an Assassin, Shaun stated that ''"I've killed before, I expect to kill again. It's just that I’d prefer not to."'' He portrayed the rather sarcastic role of an individual who does all the work and never gets noticed or rewarded, as he had complained more than once that no one missed him when he was gone.<ref name="Brotherhood" />

His cynical attitude was also evident in many instances, such as when he pointed out that the Assassins were still killers, whatever their motives; making them no more the ''"good guys",'' than the Templars.<ref name="AC2" />

Shaun was also skeptical of most institutions, such as the church and government. He noted in one description of [[Venice]] that the city's past ''"followed the historical norm: The people got screwed."'' Despite some of [[Clay Kaczmarek|Subject 16]]'s puzzles implying that the Assassins had actively resisted Abstergo's use of capitalism as a mechanism of control,<ref name="AC2" /> Shaun's dialogue once contradicted this, as he used the word "communists" as a jibe directed towards Lucy and Rebecca.<ref name="Brotherhood" />

Despite his attitude towards Rebecca, Shaun still held her in higher regard than he cared to admit, most probably because of the numerous occasions on which she had saved his life. Only Lucy seemed to tolerate his snide remarks,<ref name="AC2" /><ref name="Brotherhood" /> even seeming to trust him to a great extent, as he was the only one to whom she revealed her feelings for Desmond.<ref name="Revelations" />

Shaun's interest in history was shown clearly through his extensive database entries, and in an email from William, who claimed that Shaun would enjoy the area in which the Assassin leadership was based as it had "lots of history."<ref name="Brotherhood" />

Shaun was quite confident in his own abilities, once calling himself a "master at decryption." He also thought himself to have a gift for "seeing things and making connections," an ability he compared to Desmond's [[Eagle Vision]], only more "useful" in his opinion. He was likely only referring to his high intellect though, rather than some kind of super-human power.<ref name="AC2" />

===Romantic life===
{{dialogue|Lucy|Who was that girl you were dating? Kate?|Shaun|Ah yeah, Kate. Katie, Katie, Katie, kitty-Kat-Kate. Charmed the pants right off her, I did.|Shaun in the Sanctuary.|Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood}}

At one point when Desmond asked Shaun about his love life, Shaun proudly told of his exploits with a girl named Kate, who he allegedly "charmed the pants right off" of.<ref name="Brotherhood" />

However, Rebecca scoffed at this and pointed out that she knew for a fact that Kate and Shaun had not even made it to second base. At Shaun's embarrassed demands for an explanation, Rebecca nonchalantly said that she and Kate had had lunch afterwards.<ref name="Brotherhood" />

==Trivia==
[[File:Othershaun.jpg|thumb|An earlier design for Shaun, created prior to Wallace's casting.]]
* The character Shaun Hastings is named after [[wikipedia:Sean Hastings|Sean Hastings]], a cult hero in the computer industry.
* Danny Wallace, the voice and model of Shaun, was contacted by [[Ubisoft]] when he attended the [[wikipedia:British Academy Video Games Awards|BAFTA video game awards]] with a friend. He was e-mailed and asked if he would like to be a character in an unknown video game, which he accepted. The game turned out to be ''Assassin's Creed II''.
* During the corrupted sequences in ''Assassin's Creed II'', Shaun states that he forgot that [[Rodrigo Borgia]] eventually became Pope, even though there is a portrait of him in his Papal attire on the wall next to his computer.
* In ''Assassins Creed II'', if spoken to enough times, Shaun will eventually say to Lucy that he thinks Desmond is stalking him.
* In ''Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood'', Shaun has a portrait of Cesare Borgia near his desk, as well as pictures of famous landmarks in Rome, such as the [[Pantheon]], and some of [[Leonardo da Vinci]]'s designs, such as the [[crossbow]].
* Shaun's password for [[Shaun's e-mail|his e-mail]] account is GuyFawkes23.
* It is hinted that Shaun was an altar boy at some stage in his childhood, due to his mention of his priest once saying ''"You know too much for your own good."''
* He is seen wearing a black sweater at the end of Assassin's Creed: Revelations

==Video==
===Interviews===
{| border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width: 200px;"
|[[Video:Danny Wallace interview|thumb|right|300px|Danny Wallace Interview Part 1]]
|[[Video:Assassin's Creed 2 Danny Wallace interview|thumb|right|300px|Danny Wallace Interview Part 2]]
|}

===Others===
{| border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width: 200px;"
|[[Video:Assassin's Creed 2 Shaun argue to Desmond|thumb|300px|left|Shaun arguing with Desmond.]]
|[[Video:Danny Wallace - Shaun Hastings reveal video|thumb|300px|left|Shaun Hastings reveal video.]]
|}

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{ACII}}
{{ACBH}}
{{ACFC}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hastings, Shaun}}
[[de:Shaun Hastings]]
[[Category:Characters]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed II Characters]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood Characters]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed: Revelations Characters]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed III Characters]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed (French Comic) Characters]]
[[Category:Assassins]]

Rodrigo Borgia

2011-12-23T10:55:53Z

60.226.144.21:

{{Era|AC2|PL|ACB|Renaissance|Bbook|ACL|Ascendance|Templars}}
{{WPtargets}}
{{NomF}}
{{WP-REAL|Pope Alexander VI}}
{{Quote|He is Rodrigo Borgia, one of the most powerful men in all of Europe, and leader of the [[Templars|Templar Order]].|[[Mario Auditore]]|Assassin's Creed II}}
{{Character Infobox
|name = Rodrigo Borgia
|image = char_rodrigo.png
|imgdesc =
|birth = 1 January 1431 Xàtiva, Valencia, Crown of Aragon
|death = 18 August 1503 [[Rome]], [[Italy]]
|period = [[Renaissance]]
|faction = [[House of Borgia]] [[Templars]] [[Papacy]]
|appear = ''[[Assassin's Creed: Lineage]]'' ''[[Assassin's Creed II]]'' ''[[Assassin's Creed: Renaissance]]'' ''[[Assassin's Creed: Ascendance]]'' ''[[Assassin's Creed: Project Legacy]]'' ''[[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood]]'' [[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood (novel)|''Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood'' (novel)]] ''[[Assassin's Creed: Revelations]]'' {{mo}} [[Assassin's Creed: Revelations (novel)|''Assassin's Creed: Revelations'' (novel)]] {{mo}}
|actor = [[Manuel Tadros]]
|voice = [[Manuel Tadros]]}}

'''Rodrigo Borgia''' (1431 – 1503), born '''Roderic Llançol''', later '''Roderic de Borja i Borja''', was a [[Spain|Spanish]] [[Cardinals|Cardinal]], and the [[Grand Master|leader]] of the [[Templars|Templar Order]] during the [[Renaissance]]. He was the father of [[Juan Borgia the Younger|Juan]], [[Cesare Borgia|Cesare]], [[Lucrezia Borgia|Lucrezia]], and [[Jofré Borgia]], as well as grandfather to [[Giovanni Borgia]].

Rodrigo was [[Papacy|Pope]] from 1492 to 1503, and was known as '''Alexander VI'''. He was one of the most controversial Popes of the Renaissance, and his surname became synonymous for the corrupt standards of the Papacy in that era. He is the main antagonist of Assassin's Creed II and secondary antagonist of Assassin's Creed Brotherhood

==Biography==
===Early life===
Roderic Llançol was born at Xàtiva in the Kingdom of Valencia, one of the component states of the Crown of Aragon, now Spain. His parents were Jofré Llançol i Escrivá, and his wife and relative Isabel de Borja. His family name is written Llançol in Valencian and Lanzol in Spanish. After the elevation of Roderic's maternal uncle Alonso de Borja to the Papacy as Calixtus III in 1455, Roderic was adopted into his mother's family name of Borja.<ref name="Wikipedia: Pope Alexander VI">''[[wikipedia:Pope Alexander VI|Wikipedia - Pope Alexander VI]]''</ref>

===As a Cardinal===
Roderic de Borja studied law at Bologna, and was successively made bishop, cardinal and vice-chancellor of the church, all of which were nepotistic appointments characteristic of the age. He served in the Roman Curia under five Popes (his uncle, Pius II, Paul II, Sixtus IV and Innocent VIII) and acquired much administrative experience, influence, and wealth, though not great power.<ref name="Wikipedia: Pope Alexander VI"/>

By the time Rodrigo was under Pope Sixtus IV, he had become the Grand Master of the Templar Order. In this position, he aspired to unite all of [[Italy]] under the Templar banner. In order to achieve that goal, he made plans to take down the leaders of Italy's main cities, and place his own men in power.<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Lineage">''[[Assassin's Creed: Lineage]]''</ref>

===Assassination of Galeazzo Maria Sforza===
Rodrigo devised a plan to eliminate [[Galeazzo Maria Sforza]], the Duke of Milan, in which [[Giovanni Andrea Lampugnani]], [[Carlo Visconti]] and [[Gerolamo Olgiati]] would kill Sforza on the day of Santo Stefano.<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Lineage"/>

One night in December of 1476, Rodrigo was on his way to leave [[Florence]] accompanied by several of his men. Suddenly, [[Giovanni Auditore da Firenze|Giovanni Auditore]], a member of the [[Assassins|Assassin Order]], intercepted him. Rodrigo fled immediately as the Assassin battled his men.<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Lineage"/>

Hidden behind a corner, Rodrigo witnessed Giovanni capture one of his men, who later revealed the planned assassination of Galeazzo Sforza, a powerful ally of [[Lorenzo de' Medici]]. Giovanni attempted to prevent the assassination, though he arrived too late to do so. Rodrigo's plan had succeeded, thus he began to devise his next scheme.<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Lineage"/>

===Auditore execution===
[[File:Tadros.jpg|thumb|250px|Rodrigo walking in Rome.]]
Giovanni Auditore learned that Rodrigo's plans would lead him to the city of [[Venice]], after looting a Venetian ducat from Giovanni Lampugnani. Upon traveling there, he intercepted a message from [[Marco Barbarigo|Marco]] and [[Silvio Barbarigo]] to their master, Rodrigo.<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Lineage"/>

After [[Uberto Alberti]] and [[Antonio Maffei|Father Maffei]] "failed" to decode the intercepted letter, the [[House of Medici|Medici]] and Uberto sent Giovanni to carry a copied version of the message to [[Rome]], in order to discover who was behind the plot. Arriving in the city, Giovanni handed the message to a man, and followed the letter as it passed through several hands before meeting its final destination: Rodrigo Borgia.<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Lineage"/>

Rodrigo then left to see [[Sixtus IV|Pope Sixtus IV]], hoping to obtain military support in order to conquer Florence. After gaining Sixtus' favor, Rodrigo headed out of the [[Vaticano District|Vatican]], and into the streets of Rome once more.<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Lineage"/>

Giovanni was still on Rodrigo's trail, and followed him all the way into [[Basilica di San Pietro|St. Peter's Basilica]]. However, he fell into an ambush set by Rodrigo, who had known of the Assassin following him. Rodrigo tried to offer Giovanni a position among the Templars, but the Assassin refused, stating that Rodrigo would be dead before he could see the Templars' fantasy become reality.<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Lineage"/>

Disappointed, Rodrigo had his men attack Giovanni, but the Assassin routed all of them. Rodrigo, who had been watching from the sidelines, threw a [[Throwing knives|knife]] at Giovanni, which hit him in the chest. Rodrigo then took the chance to flee the Basilica. Afterwards, he discussed the next step in his plan with his Templar brothers, and all agreed that they had to dispose of Giovanni Auditore.<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Lineage"/>

[[File:LMS_10_v.png|thumb|left|252px|Rodrigo giving orders to Uberto at the Auditore execution.]]
In order to get rid of Giovanni, Rodrigo conspired with Uberto Alberti and the [[House of Pazzi|Pazzi family]]. After careful planning, the Templars were able to frame Giovanni for the crimes of treason, and had him and two of his sons arrested.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II">''[[Assassin's Creed II]]''</ref>

The night before the trial of the [[House of Auditore|Auditore family]], Rodrigo was at Uberto's house. [[Ezio Auditore da Firenze|Ezio Auditore]], Giovanni's remaining son, came by to give Uberto his father's letters that would prove him innocent. Ezio noticed Rodrigo behind Uberto, but paid no further attention to him. The following morning, Rodrigo attended the judgment and execution of Giovanni, [[Federico Auditore da Firenze|Federico]] and [[Petruccio Auditore da Firenze|Petruccio Auditore]].<ref name="Assassin's Creed II"/>

===Pazzi Conspiracy===
{{Quote|Gentlemen. Tomorrow, a new sun rises over Firenze.|Rodrigo encouraging the Pazzi Conspirators.|Assassin's Creed II}}
[[File:Burgerking.png|thumb|250px|Rodrigo discussing the Pazzi Conspiracy.]]
In 1478, Rodrigo conspired to take down the leader of Florence, Lorenzo de' Medici, and his brother [[Giuliano de' Medici|Giuliano]]. Thus, Rodrigo left for [[San Gimignano]], where he held a meeting with [[Francesco de' Pazzi|Francesco]], [[Jacopo de' Pazzi|Jacopo]] and [[Vieri de' Pazzi]]. Rodrigo left the town just before the [[mercenaries]], led by [[Mario Auditore]] and his nephew Ezio, attacked. Their attack resulted in the death of Vieri de'
Pazzi.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II"/>

Not long after that, Rodrigo met with Francesco and Jacopo de'Pazzi, Antonio Maffei, [[Bernardo Baroncelli]], [[Stefano da Bagnone]] and [[Francesco Salviati]] in a catacomb under the Basilica of [[Santa Maria Novella]]. As the Pazzi Conspirators confirmed their plan to Rodrigo, he reminded them to beware of the Assassins, and stated that the next day would be ''"a new dawn" ''for Florence<ref name="Assassin's Creed II"/>

However, Ezio thwarted the Templars' attempted takeover in Florence and killed off the remaining conspirators Rodrigo was arranged to meet with in San Gimignano, where the Pazzi originally intended to request asylum with Rodrigo in either Venice or Rome. Jacopo was the only one to arrive at the meeting and claimed that the blame for the failure rested with his nephew, for his impatience, and with [[Emilio Barbarigo]], for supplying the Pazzi troops with sub-standard weaponry. Enraged by Jacopo's sniveling excuses, Rodrigo lectured his subordinate on his failure, then stabbed him in the abdomen, aided by an eager Emilio.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II"/>

Ignoring Jacopo's pleas for mercy, Rodrigo stabbed him a second time in the neck with his sword, then called out to Ezio who had tailed Jacopo to the meeting. Grabbed by Borgia guards, Ezio was brought into Rodrigo's sight. Sarcastically apologizing for killing Jacopo for him, Rodrigo mocked Ezio, saying that he had been doing this for far longer than the [[novice]] Assassin. He then ordered his men to kill him, and left without bothering to ensure the deed was done.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II"/>

===Venice Conspiracy===
{{Quote|I feel the need to involve myself more directly. The Pazzi disappointed us in Firenze. I pray you will not do the same.|Rodrigo, about personally attending the meeting.|Assassin's Creed II}}
[[File:BoF 9.png|thumb|left|250px|Rodrigo on the [[Ponte di Rialto]] with the other Templars.]]
Soon after the Florentine attempt failed, Rodrigo returned his attention to conducting his plans for Venice. In 1485, he met with [[Carlo Grimaldi]] and the [[House of Barbarigo|Barbarigo family]] to plan the murder of the current Doge, [[Giovanni Mocenigo]], in order for them to seize control of Venice. During the meeting, Rodrigo chastised the Venetian Templars for making their own plans, rebuking them for their ''"inane prattle"'' as they argued over who would be the new Doge after they took Venice. He then silenced their debates by appointing Marco Barbarigo as the next Doge.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II"/>

During this meeting, Marco questioned Rodrigo's presence in Venice, as Ezio was also there, but Rodrigo only replied that he felt he should see out their plans personally, particularly after the failure of the Pazzi conspiracy. Warning the Venetian tyrants of the Assassin that haunted their city, he then made his departure from Venice to Rome, allowing them to carry out his plans.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II"/>

While Ezio was [[Hunt in Venice|hunting the Barbarigo]] in Venice, Rodrigo tracked down the location of the [[Pieces of Eden|Piece of Eden]] that [[Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad]] had once taken from the Templars in 1191.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II"/>

===Shipping the Apple of Eden===
{{Quote|You claim not to be a believer. And yet, here you are... Don't you see him? The Prophet is already here... I AM the Prophet. Now give me the Apple.|Rodrigo upon confronting Ezio.|Assassin's Creed II}}
[[File:Play along 2.png|thumb|250px|Rodrigo and Ezio confront each other in Venice.]]
By 1486, Rodrigo had found out that the Piece of Eden he sought was [[Ezio's Apple|the Apple]], which was hidden on [[Cyprus]]. He thus sent a battalion of his men to retrieve it. Two years later, the men returned to [[Arsenale di Venezia|L'Arsenale]] with the artifact, and Rodrigo met with the courier who was to deliver it to him.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II"/>

However, prior to this, Ezio had intercepted the delivery and had disguised himself as the carrier of the artifact, in order to find and kill Rodrigo. Rodrigo was not surprised, and readied himself to deal with Ezio personally. The two exchanged a brief conversation, in which Rodrigo claimed himself to be the Prophet, who was said to be the only one who could open the fabled [[Vatican Vault|Vault]]. The two then began an intense battle, in which Ezio ultimately emerged as the victor.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II"/>

Realizing that he could not defeat Ezio on his own, Rodrigo called in a supply of guards to overwhelm him. Suddenly, many of Ezio's allies appeared, all of whom revealed themselves to be Assassins. They held off the guards to allow Ezio to re-challenge Rodrigo, who then escaped from them before Ezio could kill him.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II"/>

That same year, Rodrigo found out that the late [[Girolamo Riario]] had created a map marking where all the [[Codex]] pages could be found, thus he hired the [[House of Orsi|Orsi brothers]] to retrieve it from Riario's city of [[Forlì]]. The Orsi discovered that Riario's wife, [[Caterina Sforza]], also had the Apple, and thus laid [[Battle of Forlì|siege]] to the city and took the artifact by force, planning to present it to Rodrigo for an extra pay-off.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II"/>

Unfortunately for Rodrigo, Ezio managed to kill both of the Orsi brothers, though the Apple eventually came into the hands of [[Girolamo Savonarola]], a later arch-enemy of Rodrigo.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II"/>

===Deceiving Torquemada===
{{Dialogue|Ezio|Rodrigo Borgia is an unbeliever like me, and yet you lavish him with favors.|Torquemada|Borgia is one of three Papal candidates this year. And he is as devoted to God as I am.|Ezio and Torquemada talking about Rodrigo.|Assassin's Creed II: Discovery}}
In 1491, Rodrigo fooled the Spanish Inquisitor General [[Tomás de Torquemada]] into capturing and killing Assassins in Spain. Tomás, who thought Rodrigo was as much as a believer of God as he was, blindly followed his orders.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II: Discovery">''[[Assassin's Creed II: Discovery]]''</ref>

At around this time, Rodrigo also found out about [[Christoffa Corombo]]'s plans to sail west; however he, knowing of the presence of the [[wikipedia:Americas|Americas]] and the treasures that lay there, wished to stop anyone from finding it before he could. Thus, Rodrigo arranged a meeting with Christoffa in Venice, and lay a trap for him there.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II: Discovery"/>

However, Christoffa's friend, [[Luis de Santángel]], was suspicious of the arrangement, and called for the aid of his fellow Assassin, Ezio. Ezio rushed to Christoffa's aid, successfully rescuing him from an assassin and thwarted Rodrigo's plans.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II: Discovery"/>

===Papal Rule===
{{Quote|The Spaniard, Rodrigo Borgia, has been elected Pope. He rules the Vatican and Rome as the Supreme Pontiff, Alexander VI! [...] The Conclave of Rome has only just ended - this month. The rumour is that Rodrigo simply bought most of the votes. Even [[Ascanio Sforza]], who was the most likely candidate standing against him, voted for him! Four mule-loads of silver was his bribe, they say.|[[Sister Teodora]] talking about Rodrigo becoming Pope.|Assassin's Creed: Renaissance}}
Rodrigo was elected Pope in 1492, and established his power in Rome. Rodrigo's true intent, however, was simply to get into [[Vatican Vault|the Vault that lay under the Vatican]], where he believed God rested.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II"/>

In 1494, with the death of Lorenzo de' Medici, and with the power of the Apple he had obtained, Savonarola [[Bonfire of the Vanities|took control]] over Florence. Rodrigo repeatedly sent his men to Florence in the hopes of acquiring the Apple, though all of his attempts failed. In 1498, Savonarola was assassinated by Ezio, causing the Borgia family to fall into a state of chaos upon losing track of the Apple.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II" /><ref name="Assassin's Creed: Project Legacy">''[[Assassin's Creed: Project Legacy]]''</ref>

[[File:IBAL 4.png|thumb|250px|Rodrigo confronted by Ezio.]]
In 1499, Rodrigo was followed into the Vatican by Ezio for yet another assassination attempt. Ezio sneaked into the [[Cappella Sistina|Sistine Chapel]], where Rodrigo was holding Mass, and attacked him from above. However, after turning to leave, Ezio witnessed Rodrigo rise from the ground and use his Piece of Eden, [[Staff of Eden|the Papal Staff]], to strike him down, along with everyone else in the room.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II"/>

Rodrigo was surprised to see that Ezio was able to resist the power of his Staff, as Ezio had brought his own Piece of Eden: the Apple. Ezio then summoned four clones of himself to assist in his battle against Rodrigo, eventually defeating him.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II"/>

However, Rodrigo knocked Ezio aside with the Staff, and snatched the Apple from his hands. He then combined it with the Staff to open up the door to The Vault, and as Ezio tried to stop him, Rodrigo lifted him into the air with the power of the two combined Pieces of Eden.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II"/>

[[File:IBAL 9.png|thumb|left|250px|Rodrigo lifting Ezio into the air.]]
As the Assassin hung helpless, Rodrigo stabbed Ezio with a dagger, and left him to die on the floor of the Sistine Chapel. Though injured, Ezio eventually followed Rodrigo to the Vault, and found the Pope furiously pounding upon the door to the inner chambers, which refused to open.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II"/>

Ezio then dropped down into the pit where Rodrigo was, and challenged him to one last fist fight, with no more weapons, plots, or decoys. Rodrigo accepted, and the two had one last duel. During the battle, Rodrigo stated that he had never believed in the Bible or in God, and had only become Pope to gain access to the Staff and the Vault, and to unify Italy under Templar rule. Ezio defeated Rodrigo, holding the Pope at blade-point and telling him he was not the Prophet, and had never been.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II"/>

Broken by this revelation and accepting defeat, Rodrigo told Ezio to kill him and put an end to it. However, Ezio refused, saying that killing him would not bring back his family. Additionally, the knowledge that he was not the Prophet, as he had believed, was an even sorer blow than anything else that Ezio could have thought of.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II"/>

When Rodrigo's son Cesare learned of this, he led a [[Fall of Monteriggioni|siege]] on [[Monteriggioni]], though without Rodrigo's approval, in order to reacquire the Apple of Eden and kill the last of the Assassins. By this time, Rodrigo was reduced to nothing but a figurehead, with Cesare ultimately taking over Rome.<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood">''[[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood]]''</ref>

===Later life and death===
{{Quote|You risk upsetting the delicate balance of control we have worked so hard to tighten.|Rodrigo talking about the consequences of his son's actions.|Assassin's Creed II}}
[[File:In And Out2.jpg|thumb|250px|Rodrigo and Cesare talking at the pagan party.]]
Following his defeat in the Vault, Rodrigo had given up on fighting the Assassin Order and instead chose to preserve the balance of power in Rome he had managed to obtain. However, Cesare was eager to take over all of Italy, a plan that Rodrigo did not approve of. As the Captain General of the Papal armies, however, Cesare held control over Rodrigo's military, and was thus able to carry out his plans without his father's consent.<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood"/>

In 1503, at [[Juan Borgia the Elder|Juan Borgia]]'s [[Incident at the Pagan Party|pagan party]], Rodrigo spoke to Cesare and reprimanded him, only to have his son brush aside his concerns and remind him of who was ''truly'' in charge.<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood"/>

Later that year, Rodrigo had grown heavily displeased with Cesare's ambition and entitlement, believing his son to be out of control. Fearing Cesare would jeopardize his own balance of power, Rodrigo decided that his best option would be to remove Cesare.<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood"/>

[[File:Apple.png|thumb|left|250px|Cesare killing his father.]]
To achieve this, he seized the Castel's supply of [[cantarella]] - the same poison that had been used for Doge Mocenigo - and poisoned a few apples for Cesare to unwittingly eat. However, Rodrigo's daughter Lucrezia discovered the presence of the poison, and warned Cesare about it before he could ingest enough to be mortally wounded.<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood"/>

Enraged, Cesare promptly spat out what he had eaten, before shoving the remaining apple down Rodrigo's throat. Rodrigo perished before Ezio arrived to kill him, but Ezio nevertheless gave Rodrigo his final blessing.<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood"/>

==Legacy==
During the 21st Century, members of the Templar inner circle thought of Rodrigo Borgia as a debased tyrant instead of a respected Grand Master. Instead of spreading knowledge to enlighten his fellow man and break down the boundaries that keep men divided, Rodrigo used his power and position as Grand Master to corrupt the Templar purpose into gaining infinite power by any means. True Templar motives are questionable but they intended to serve the greater good; Rodrigo however wanted power for the sake of it and saw total domination over all as his prize. The Borgia's leadership over the Order would later be known as the "Dark Age of the Order".<ref name="Encyclopedia">''[[Assassin's Creed Encyclopedia]]''</ref>

==Personality==
[[File:Rodriog Borgia ACII.jpg|thumb|250px|right|Rodrigo challenging Ezio in the Vatican vault.]]
Initially an ambitious middle-aged man, Rodrigo was intent, as Cesare later would be, on taking Italy in the name of the Templar Order and exterminating the Assassins. After becoming Pope, his obsession not only with conquering Italy but also of realizing what he believed to be his true calling as the Prophet intensified. He actively sought to take the Apple from Savonarola, as demonstrated when he sent battalions of Papal soldiers to Florence to take it.

After his duel with Ezio in the Vault, and the shattering revelation that he was not the Prophet, Rodrigo was reduced to being an empty shell, and instead of continuing to pursue his dreams of infinite power and the extermination of the Assassin Order, he focused on maintaining his monopoly over Rome.

==Final words==
After Ezio's first assassination attempt.
*'''Ezio:''' ''I thought... I thought I was beyond this. But I'm not. I've waited too long, lost too much...'' Requiescat in pace ''(Rest in peace), you bastard.''
*'''Rodrigo:''' ''I don't think so.''

After Ezio's and Rodrigo's confrontation at the Vault.
*'''Rodrigo:''' ''You can't! You can't! It's MY destiny. MINE! I am the Prophet!''
*'''Ezio:''' ''You never were...''
*'''Rodrigo:''' ''Get it over with then.''
*'''Ezio''': ...''No. Killing you won't bring my family back... I'm done.'' Nulla è reale, tutto è lecito. Requiescat in pace. ''(Nothing is true, everything is permitted. Rest in peace.)''

==Trivia==
[[File:Blason_famille_it_Borgia01_svg.png|thumb|The [[Heraldry|coat of arms]] of the Borgia, which can be seen on Rodrigo's personal guards (who wear black outfits striped with red).]]
*Rodrigo was called "the Spaniard" by the Assassins due his Spanish origins.
* During some of Rodrigo's appearances, a dim red lighting effect can be seen on Rodrigo's hood and upper body, even though there is no source for this light.
* Historically, Alexander VI (Spaniard) ordered the execution of Savonarola, the mad monk of Florence.
* In all of his appearances throughout the games he is seen wearing either a hood or a cap.
*In ''[[Assassin's Creed: Revelations]]'', while Ezio is disguised as a minstrel, he sings a song about Rodrigo before and after he became Pope.

;Combat
*As Ezio enters the Sistine Chapel to assassinate Rodrigo, he is proclaiming the Nicene Creed in Latin to the congregation. Ironically, Borgia later states he does not believe the concept of the Nicene Creed, which confesses the wholeness of the Roman Catholic doctrine.
* It is possible to kill Rodrigo while in the Sistine Chapel if you [[Poison blade|poison]] him. After this, you can wield the Staff of Eden, although you cannot use any of its powers.
* Occasionally, during the fight with Rodrigo in the Sistine Chapel, he can be seen wielding a spear instead of the Staff.
* Although Ezio did not kill Rodrigo, he is listed as dead in the [[Animus]]' Conspirator Web after the player completes the main memories of ''[[Assassin's Creed II]]'' and re-enters the Animus.

;Papacy
[[File:Papal_Arms_of_Alexander_VI.svg|thumb|Papal coat of arms of Alexander VI, which can be seen on his [[Papal Guard]].]]
* Rodrigo was the first Pope to be elected from a conclave in the Sistine Chapel.
* In Rodrigo's assassination target video, there is a scene with Rodrigo in his Papal robes standing next to his fellow Templars, who are seated at a table. This is impossible, because by the time Rodrigo became Pope, Ezio had killed all the other Templars present. The Pazzi, the Barbarigo and Carlo Grimaldi, for example, are shown at the table.
* In the assassination target video for the Orsi brothers set in 1488, in the [[Battle of Forlì (DLC)|''Battle of Forlì'' DLC]], Rodrigo is again shown in his Papal robes, even though he was elected Pope in 1492.
* Rodrigo appears only a few times in ''[[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood]]'' and is never aware of Ezio's presence.

;Death
[[File:Rborgia_portrait.jpg|thumb|Rodrigo Borgia's Portrait.]]
* Rodrigo's fate in the novel, ''[[Assassin's Creed: Renaissance]]'', differs from that shown in ''Assassin's Creed II''. In the game, after Ezio defeated and spared him, Borgia was left alone to come to terms with his misery as Ezio entered the Vault. In the novel, however, when Ezio emerged from the Vault, Borgia committed suicide with poison. His last act was to ask Ezio what he saw in the Vault, to which Ezio replied ''"Nothing. No one,"'' leading Borgia to die believing everything he had done in life was for nothing.
**In the [[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood (novel)|novelization of ''Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood'']], however, Rodrigo evidently survives this suicide attempt, and Mario Auditore suggested that he had not taken enough poison, or that he had been faking.
* Rodrigo died in 1503 at the age of [[72]].

==Gallery==
<gallery captionalign="center" position="center">
Borgia lineage.jpg|Rodrigo Borgia hiding from Giovanni Auditore in Florence.
Rodrigo Borgia V.png|Rodrigo Borgia, before becoming Pope.
IBAL 9.png|Rodrigo fighting Ezio
IBAL 4.png|Ezio confronts Rodrigo in the Sistine Chapel
</gallery>

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{ACII}}
{{ACIID}}
{{ACBH}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Borgia, Rodrigo}}
[[de:Rodrigo Borgia]]
[[Category:Characters]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed: Lineage Characters]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed II Characters]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed: Renaissance Characters]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed II Assassination Targets]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood Characters]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood (Novel) Characters]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed: Ascendance Characters]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed: Project Legacy Characters]]
[[Category:Templars]]
[[Category:Historical Characters]]
[[Category:Popes]]

Al Mualim

2011-12-23T10:50:02Z

60.226.144.21:

{{Era|Chronicles|AC1|Revelations|Secret Crusade|FC|Rbook|Assassins|Templars|Good}}
{{WP-REAL}}
{{WPAssassins}}
{{WPtargets}}
{{Spoilerhd}}
{{NomF}}
{{Quote|I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also was a chasing at the wind. For in much wisdom, is much grief, and he that increaseth knowledge, increaseth sorrow.|Al Mualim.|Assassin's Creed}}
{{Character Infobox
|name = Rashid ad-Din Sinan
|image = Almualim-revelationsrender.png
|imgdesc =
|birth =
|death = 1191 [[Masyaf]], [[Syria]]
|period = High Middle Ages
|faction = [[Assassins]] [[Templars|Knights Templar]] (secretly)
|appear = ''[[Assassin's Creed: Altaïr's Chronicles]]'' ''[[Assassin's Creed]]'' ''[[Assassin's Creed: Revelations]]''
|voice = [[Peter Renaday]]}}

'''Rashid ad-Din Sinan''' (unknown - 1191), also known as '''Al Mualim''' (English: ''The Mentor'' or ''The Master'') and often nicknamed the '''Old Man of the Mountain''',<ref name="ACRV novel">[[Assassin's Creed: Revelations (novel)|''Assassin's Creed: Revelations'' novel]]</ref> was the [[Mentor]] of the [[Levantine Assassins]] during the High Middle Ages until his death in 1191, and mentor to his successor, [[Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad]].

He was also secretly a member of the [[Templars|Knights Templar]]. In his desire to obtain the [[Apple of Eden]] he started working with the organization that was once his sworn enemy.<ref name="The Secret Crusade"/> Al Mualim's teachings and work had positive influence on the Assassins, up until his betrayal of the Order in 1191. He is the main antagonist of Assassin's Creed

==Biography==
===Siege of Masyaf===
In 1176, [[Salah Al'din]] and his [[Saracens|Saracen army]] [[Siege of Masyaf|laid siege]] to the fortress of Masyaf. Al Mualim, who was in charge of the Assassins at the time, had sent the Master Assassin [[Umar Ibn-La'Ahad]] to infiltrate the Saracen camp the following night.<ref name="The Secret Crusade">''[[Assassin's Creed: The Secret Crusade]]''</ref>

While there, Umar was to leave a warning to Salah Al'din, using the information that was gathered by the spy who had infiltrated the camp. Umar was successful, and managed to leave a [[Feathers|feather]] and dagger inside the warlord's tent. However, as he escaped, he was forced to kill a nobleman to prevent being captured.<ref name="The Secret Crusade" />

The following day, Salah Al'din left the camp, leaving his son and second-in-command, [[Shihab Al'din]], in charge. Shihab came over to negotiate peace, claiming that they would leave once the killer of the nobleman had been executed. They had found out about Umar because of the imprisonment of the spy, [[Ahmad Sofian]]. Al Mualim was reluctant to allow Umar to take the place of Ahmad, but eventually relented. After the death of Umar, the Saracens left Masyaf.<ref name="The Secret Crusade" />

===Mentoring Altaïr and Abbas===
{{Quote|Altaïr, I have watched you grow from a boy to a man in so short a time, it fills me with as much sadness as pride.|Al Mualim to Altaïr.|Assassin's Creed: Revelations}}
[[File:Mentor's keeper 11.png|thumb|left|250px|Al Mualim and Altaïr after Haras' death.]]
Out of grief for Umar's death, Ahmad killed himself in front of Umar's son, the young novice Altaïr. The shocked boy told Al Mualim of this, which resulted in Al Mualim taking the body away to cover up the suicide, and he told Altaïr that he would be training as an Assassin alongside [[Abbas Sofian]]. Al Mualim told Altaïr never to tell Abbas of his father's death, believing it to be best for Abbas. Al Mualim then became mentor to both Altaïr and Abbas.<ref name="The Secret Crusade" />

In 1189, the Templars invaded Masyaf and managed to take Al Mualim prisoner. [[Haras]], a Templar who had infiltrated the Assassin Order, ordered the execution of all Assassins that remained in the fortress. However, Al Mualim was saved by Altaïr, who managed to kill Haras from above. Walking with Altaïr, Al Mualim told him of the pride he felt for his actions, and how much the Assassin resembled his father.

=== Quest for the Chalice===
{{Quote|We treaded carelessly, they were following a man who was one of us.|Al Mualim to Altaïr during the village attack.|Assassin's Creed: Altaïr's Chronicles}}

In 1190, Al Mualim tasked Altaïr with finding a [[Piece of Eden]] known as [[Adha|the Chalice]], shortly after he returned from an earlier assignment. During this year, Al Mualim temporarily resided in the Assassin stronghold of [[Alep]]. His second-in-command at the time, [[Harash]], sold out the Assassin Order to the Templars, but he was soon killed by Altaïr. Shortly after this event, Al Mualim relocated to Masyaf.<ref name="ACAC">''[[Assassin's Creed: Altaïr's Chronicles]]''</ref>

===Defending Masyaf===
{{Quote|My men do not fear death, Robert, they welcome it and the rewards it brings!|Al Mualim shouting to Robert from the walls of Masyaf.|Assassin's Creed}}
[[File:Almualimassassins.png|thumb|250px|Al Mualim during the attack on Masyaf.]]
In 1191, Al Mualim sent Altaïr to retrieve a [[Second Apple|treasure]] beneath [[Solomon's Temple]] and bring it back to Masyaf. Altaïr was accompanied by two fellow Assassins on his journey, the brothers [[Malik Al-Sayf|Malik]] and [[Kadar Al-Sayf]]. The mission, however, ended tragically, with Kadar losing his life, and Malik being brutally injured due to Altaïr's disregard for the Creed.<ref name="AC">''[[Assassin's Creed]]''</ref>

When Altaïr reported his failure to Al Mualim, the master was infuriated, though his anger was curbed somewhat when Malik returned, revealing that he had managed to bring back the artifact. However, [[Robert de Sable]] and his Templars had followed the Assassin and, intent on recovering their treasure, moved for an [[attack on Masyaf]].<ref name="AC" />

Al Mualim spoke to Robert from the safety of the fortress walls, showcasing the dedication of his Assassins by ordering three of his men – Altaïr among them – to [[Leap of Faith|leap]] from a tower, supposedly to their deaths. He continued to hold their attention while Altaïr released a trap, killing and scattering the Templar forces.<ref name="AC" />

[[File:The traitor 2.png|thumb|left|250px|Al Mualim executing Masun.]]
Though Altaïr saved Masyaf, Al Mualim demoted him from Master Assassin to [[Novice]], stripping him of most of his equipment, and his authority in the Order. Al Mualim then sent him to find the traitor who had opened the gates to let the Templars through.<ref name="AC" />

Altaïr was successful and brought the traitor, [[Masun]] before him. Al Mualim offered Masun a chance to renounce the evil in his heart, but when he did not, Al Mualim killed him where he stood.<ref name="AC" />

===Hunt for the Nine===
{{Quote|Your work has just begun, I hold here a list. Nine names adorn it, nine men who need to die.|Al Mualim's offer to Altaïr.|Assassin's Creed}}

Al Mualim offered Altaïr a chance at redemption, and showed him a list of nine men who needed to be eliminated. He claimed them to be tyrants of their cities, thus Altaïr's job was to assassinate them. After each kill, Altaïr was to report back to Al Mualim, whereupon he would be promoted a rank, and given a piece of equipment or taught a skill. Altaïr's first target was [[Tamir]] in [[Damascus]], and after Tamir had been killed, Altaïr rode back to Masyaf to speak with Al Mualim.<ref name="AC" />

[[File:Hunt list.png|thumb|250px|Al Mualim holding the list of Templar names.]]
Altaïr returned with questions, saying that Tamir had told him that he knew Al Mualim well, claiming that the deed Altaïr had just performed was leading to bigger things. Al Mualim responded that he was withholding the information to make sure Altaïr did not repeat his past mistakes.<ref name="AC" />

After it was settled, a piece of Altaïr's equipment was restored, and he rode towards the city of [[Acre]] to slay [[Garnier de Naplouse]]. Once Garnier's life had been taken, and Altaïr had spoken with the [[Assassins' Bureau|Bureau]] leader, he rode back to Masyaf to inform Al Mualim of his progress.<ref name="AC" />

Al Mualim waited for Altaïr, and when he arrived, Altaïr told Al Mualim about how some of Garnier's "patients" had treated Garnier as a friend. Al Mualim claimed that a leader could find ways to make others obey them and that Altaïr should trust his own senses, not the words of his targets. When they were finished, Altaïr was promoted once more and given another piece of equipment. He rode off to Jerusalem to take the life of [[Talal]]. After the assassination, he returned to Masyaf again.<ref name="AC" />

As Altaïr approached Al Mualim, he told him that the task had been completed, and that Talal was dead. Al Mualim responded by telling Altaïr that [[Richard I of England|King Richard]] was emboldened by his victory in Acre, and planned to move south towards [[Jerusalem]]. He stated that Salah Al'din was surely aware of that, as he had gathered his men at the broken citadel of [[Arsuf]].<ref name="AC" />

While Altaïr offered to kill both Richard and Salah Al'din, Al Mualim told him that it would create too much bloodshed, and groups would be scattered. He went on to say that he should concern himself on the main task at hand, before promoting Altaïr again and returning another piece of equipment.<ref name="AC" />

Altaïr rode towards Damascus to kill [[Abu'l Nuqoud]], the merchant king. Once he had finished his task and reported to the Bureau leader, he rode for Masyaf to speak with Al Mualim once again.<ref name="AC" />

[[File:Agw.png|thumb|250px|left|Altaïr talking to Al Mualim in the library.]]
Al Mualim was waiting in a small corner of his library for Altaïr, believing that his apprentice's actions would no doubt provoke the peace they desired. When he arrived, Al Mualim gave him gratitude, both on behalf of himself, and of the realm.<ref name="AC" />

Altaïr told Al Mualim about how his targets always seemed so sure of their victory. Al Mualim responded that, as an Assassin, it was their duty to notice and question. However, when Altaïr began to pose further questions, Al Mualim admonished him and simply told him to trust in his Master.<ref name="AC" />

Altaïr was promoted again, and another weapon was returned to him. He then rode for Acre to slay [[William of Montferrat]]. Once the deed was done, Altaïr reported to the Bureau, then returned to Masyaf to make sense of the cryptic words presented to him by William.<ref name="AC" />

Al Mualim waited for Altaïr in his study at Masyaf, where Altaïr reported as usual, though Al Mualim noticed that there was something on Altaïr's mind. Al Mualim told Altaïr to speak the troubles he had, and Altaïr demanded direct answers from him, claiming that Al Mualim only gave him riddles in exchange.<ref name="AC" />

Threatening to stop killing his targets if he did not receive answers, Altaïr went on to ask what bound the men he had been killing. Al Mualim threatened Altaïr with a blade, but Altaïr called his bluff, and remarked that if any other Assassin could complete the task he had been given, he would have been dead already.<ref name="AC" />

Al Mualim finally conceded, and told Altaïr that the men he had been striking down were all Templars. After this, Al Mualim told Altaïr that his assignment had not changed, but merely the context. With the matter settled, Altaïr was promoted and granted another weapon, with Al Mualim asking him how he had known he would not kill him. Altaïr admitted that he had not known, and had simply taken a leap of faith.<ref name="AC" />
[[File:StorySoFar 02.jpg|thumb|250px|Al Mualim and Altaïr discussing the Templars' agenda.]]
Altaïr then rode off to take the life of [[Majd Addin]], the regent of Jerusalem, and after the assassination had been completed, he traveled towards Masyaf.<ref name="AC" />

Al Mualim greeted Altaïr, and Altaïr told him that Majd Addin's blood had been spilled. Altaïr tried to piece everything together, with Al Mualim continuing for him, and claiming that the Templars desired control, and to create a supposed "[[New World Order|New World]]."<ref name="AC" />

Al Mualim then gave Altaïr a glimpse of the Piece of Eden, claiming that it was what had started the Trojan War, and what had turned water into wine. Although unknown to Altaïr at the time, Al Mualim tried to use the artifact's power on Altaïr, though it proved ineffective.<ref name="AC" />

Altaïr gained another rank and another piece of equipment, then rode towards Damascus to assassinate [[Jubair al Hakim]], the chief of the scholars. Once he had finished his mission and had exchanged words with the Bureau leader, Altaïr reported back to Al Mualim.<ref name="AC" />

Al Mualim welcomed Altaïr home, and Altaïr pondered why Jubair's and [[Sibrand]]'s lives needed to be taken. Al Mualim responded, saying that their lives should be ended, as they would have paved the way for change, in which problems were not given cause or reason to be intervened.<ref name="AC" />

Al Mualim told Altaïr that the final man, Sibrand, was the only one left standing between Altaïr and Robert. Al Mualim promoted Altaïr and gave him a piece of equipment, after which Altaïr rode for Acre to kill Sibrand. Once Altaïr completed the task and had spoken to the Bureau leader, he made haste back to Masyaf to speak with the Mentor.<ref name="AC" />
[[File:Al Mualim 1.jpg|thumb|250px|left|Al Mualim in his study in Masyaf.]]
Al Mualim waited for Altaïr's arrival, and they discussed the last name on Al Mualim's list, Robert de Sable. Al Mualim claimed that once Robert tasted the Piece of Eden's power, he saw not a weapon to be destroyed, but a tool to be used.<ref name="AC" />

Al Mualim went on, saying that Robert's life ambition of power would be completed if he got his hands on the treasure again. Al Mualim at last sent Altaïr to take Robert's life, giving Altaïr a [[Syrian sword]] to help him on his journey.<ref name="AC" />

When Robert was fatally stabbed by Altaïr's blade, the dying Grand Master revealed Al Mualim to be a Templar. Robert claimed that the only difference between him and Al Mualim was that Al Mualim refused to share the power of the Piece of Eden.<ref name="AC"/>

===Death===
{{Dialogue2|Al Mualim|I've found proof.|Altaïr|Proof of what?|That nothing is true and that everything is permitted!|Al Mualim confronting Altaïr at Masyaf.|Assassin's Creed}}
[[File:AssassinsCreed Al Mualim holding the Piece of Eden.png|thumb|250px|left|Al Mualim wielding the Apple.]]
Altaïr hurried back to Masyaf, only to find that the people in the city had been put under a hypnotic trance by Al Mualim. Only he and a few of his fellow Assassins remained unaffected by the Piece of Eden. After reaching the fortress gardens by dispatching several of Al Mualim's pawns, Altaïr confronted his Master, who used the power of the Piece of Eden to restrain his former student. Al Mualim taunted Altaïr from the balcony above, and Altaïr questioned him about his motives.<ref name="AC"/>

Al Mualim replied that he had found proof that ''"nothing is true and everyone is permitted."'' He then created illusions of the nine men Altaïr had killed, and sent them to battle him. Despite being outnumbered, Altaïr defeated these copies, though he was soon bound by the artifact again. Al Mualim repeated his trick, creating several replicas of himself. However, the young Assassin managed to defeat all of them.<ref name="AC" />

Binding Altaïr with the Piece of Eden's power once again, Al Mualim explained his motives; that he sought the same as Robert, but wanted the artifact for himself, hence using his apprentice to kill the Templars. Altaïr questioned why Al Mualim had allowed him to retain his mind, and the Mentor admitted that he had tried, but failed, due to his student's strength of mind.<ref name="AC" />

Al Mualim explained that the artifact was behind all the legends and religious mysteries in history. Concluding they were at an end, Al Mualim and Altaïr dueled for the last time. Though attacking with skill, Al Mualim was able to counter many of Altaïr's attacks, and use the Piece of Eden to teleport across the garden. However, eventually Altaïr bested his Master.<ref name="AC" />

[[File:Mentor's wake 5.png|thumb|250px|Al Mualim's body burning.]]
As he died, Al Mualim claimed that he had done it all to ensure absolute peace in the world, and claimed that Altaïr would not be able to destroy the Piece of Eden.

After his death, Altaïr took his rank as the Mentor of the Levantine Assassins and burned the body of his former master. However, many of his fellow Assassins refused to accept Al Mualim's betrayal, and rioted against Altaïr for some time.<ref name="AC" /><ref name="AC2">''[[Assassin's Creed II]]''</ref>

==Final words==
(Al Mualim collapses. The Piece of Eden falls from his hand and rolls away.)
*'''Al Mualim:''' ''Impossible! The student does not defeat the teacher!''
*'''Altaïr:''' Laa shay'a waqi'un moutlaq bale kouloun moumkine. (''Nothing is true, everything is permitted.'')
*'''Al Mualim:''' ''So it seems. You have won, then. Go and claim your prize.''
*'''Altaïr:''' ''You held fire in your hand, old man. It should have been destroyed!''
*'''Al Mualim:''' ''Destroy the only thing capable of ending the Crusades and creating true peace?! Never!''
*'''Altaïr:''' ''Then I will!''
*'''Al Mualim:''' ''We'll see about that...''
*'''Al Mualim''': I abide my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also was a chasing at wind... for in much wisdom... is much grief. And he that increaseth knowledge... increaseth sorrow.
*'''Al Mualim''': Destroy it! ''Destroy'' it as you said you would!
*'''Altaïr''': I... I can’t!
*'''Al Mualim''': Yes you ''can'', Altaïr... but you ''won’t''.

==Characteristics and personality==
Al Mualim, though known for being a wise and soft-spoken leader, at times showed himself to be mysterious and unpredictable. He never spoke of anything too personal or suspicious about himself, changing the subject or giving an unexpected answer when people started questioning him.

He revealed little about himself, thus almost nothing is known about his early life, let alone anything beyond his duty as the Master of the Assassins. By his efforts, the Order became a well-known, yet obscure faction, inspiring fear and uncertainty throughout the land, and spreading rumors that only increased the already legendary reputation of the Brotherhood.

As an educated man, Al Mualim placed importance on education, spending much of his time in the Masyaf fortress, studying the books of the library. He had a thorough understanding of a variety of subjects, ranging from philosophy to science. In addition to preaching the Brotherhood's goal of peace in all things, he emphasized that [[the Creed]] pushed for peace within as well; on one occasion advising Altaïr not to demonize his enemies.

==Trivia==
* Despite being Mentor of the Levantine Assassins, Al Mualim appears to have all ten fingers. The same is true of all other Assassins in ''Assassin's Creed'', apart from Altaïr.
* In the [[Assassin's Creed - Penny Arcade Webcomic|Penny Arcade ''Assassin's Creed'' comic]], the target that Altaïr hunts implies that some Assassins, including Altaïr himself, saw Al Mualim as a father figure. This is shown when he tells him, ''"For I think I see Al Mualim's face in yours."''
* When Altaïr uses [[Eagle Vision]] after conversing about the nine targets, Al Mualim is marked with blue, the color of an ally, despite being revealed to be a Templar in the end.
* If the player counters Al Mualim with their sword and he disappears, you can stop him from disappearing again by hitting him with a throwing knife.
* In [[Assassin's Creed: Altaïr's Chronicles]] (set in 1190), Al Mualim is shown with a short black beard, however in Revelations, he is already shown with his iconic gray beard in 1189.
* For ''[[Assassin's Creed: Revelations]]'', Al Mualim has numerous changes to his appearance, with the addition of reddish tinge and several patterns imprinted on his robes, as well and an altered face with a shorter beard. In addition Al Mualim is now missing his ring finger, a correction made to all Assassins in Masyaf.

==Gallery==
<gallery widths="150" captionalign="center" position="center">
AC_1.png|Al Mualim confronting Altair after disobeying the creed.
ppppp.jpeg|Al Mualim talking to a restrained Altaïr.
Al Mualim Knife.png|Al Mualim wielding [[Al Mualim's Knife|his knife]].
File:Al Mualim 9 copies.jpg|The nine copies of Al Mualim against Altaïr.
Almuadet.jpg|Al Mualim's final words.
Mentor's wake 4.png|Al Mualim's dead body being cremated by Altair.
Al mualim.jpg|Concept Art of Al Mualim.
</gallery>

==Reference==
{{Reflist}}

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[[es:Al Mualim]][[de:Al Mualim]]
[[Category:Characters]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed: The Secret Crusade Characters]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed: Altaïr's Chronicles Characters]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed Characters]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed: Revelations Characters]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed: Revelations (Novel) Characters]]
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[[Category:Assassins]]
[[Category:Templars]]