Leap of Faith

2012-07-06T01:45:43Z

99.238.141.149: /* Trivia */ Added the reference that occured in the Hitman: Absolution Sniper challenge reveal trailer.

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[[File:Assassin's Creed (3).png|thumb|300px|[[Altaïr]], [[Rauf]], and another Assassin performing Leaps of Faith before the Templars.]]
The '''Leap of Faith''' was an acrobatic move in which the person performing it dived from atop a high structure to land, unharmed, in a conveniently placed pile of hay or other soft landing material.

The Leap of Faith was integral for the members of the [[Assassins|Assassin Order]], and served as a requirement for their [[Initiation into the Assassin Order|initiation]].<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood]]''</ref>

==Description==
[[File:Concept art for Leap of Faith.jpg|thumb|250px|right|Three Assassins performing a Leap of Faith.]]
The acrobatic move itself consisted of a vertical leap, with a completely straight back, followed by a body-roll in mid-air to allow the one performing it to land on his or her back.<ref name="AC">''[[Assassin's Creed]]''</ref>

The move could also be performed by simply walking off a ledge, moving the entire body forward. This method was used by the [[Rome|Roman]] Assassin recruits after their initiation ceremony.<ref name="Brotherhood">''[[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood]]''</ref>

Leaps of Faith could be performed by [[Free Running]] off any high ledge or beam. Areas from which a Leap could be performed were often marked by bird droppings with small hay patches, and pigeons perched upon the ledge. Leaps of faith could also be performed while hanging on a ledge or climbing near a bale of hay, or even moving wagons containing hay. <ref name="AC" />

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==Usage==
===High Middle Ages===
The Leap of Faith was used to descend from [[View Points]], each of which always provided a suitable safe target for it. However, it could be used to jump down from anywhere, if, of course, there was a safe target below.<ref name="AC" />

It was also handy in losing pursuing [[guards]] on rooftops, as leaping down to street level automatically caused the Assassin to leave the pursuers' line of sight.<ref name="AC" />

===Renaissance===
[[File:AC2 S 074 Leap Of Faith Tuscany SanGimignano-thumb-640xauto-9613.jpg|250px|thumb|left|Ezio performing a Leap of Faith off a tower in [[San Gimignano]].]]
Though [[Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad|Altaïr]] only performed Leaps of Faith into piles of hay, [[Ezio Auditore]] could make use of water and other piles of soft material, such as piles of leaves or flower petals.<ref name="AC2">''[[Assassin's Creed II]]''</ref>

Upon traveling to Rome, Ezio made use of the Leap of Faith to quickly escape the [[Borgia Tower]]s he climbed and set aflame.<ref name="Brotherhood" />

As per tradition, whenever [[Assassin recruits]] were initiated, Ezio also required them to perform a Leap of Faith from the top of the [[Tiber Island]] [[Tiber Island headquarters|hideout]], into the [[Tiber River]] below.<ref name="Brotherhood" />

===Modern times===
[[File:Arrival2.jpg|thumb|250px|right|Desmond's first leap of faith.]]
In 2000, [[Daniel Cross]] performed a Leap of Faith into the Arabian Sea, in order to escape the Assassins' Dubai headquarters upon murdering [[The Mentor (2000)|The Mentor]] with his newly acquired [[Hidden Blade]].<ref name="The Fall">''[[Assassin's Creed: The Fall]]''</ref>

[[Desmond Miles]] performed his first Leap of Faith in the run-down, modern [[Monteriggioni]] in 2012, after witnessing (due to the [[bleeding effect]]) Ezio climbing up to a View Point.<ref name="Brotherhood" />

Additionally, at [[Abstergo Industries]], several [[Abstergo recruits]] also performed Leaps of Faith through the simulations they participated in, within the [[Animus]] training program.<ref name="Brotherhood" />

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==Trivia==
'''''Assassin's Creed'''''

* Near the beginning of the game, when [[Masyaf]] is attacked by Templars, three Assassins display their devotion by performing Leaps of Faith from a cliff. This is based on a historical incident involving the [[wikipedia:Assassins#Origins|Hashshashin]], in which their leader proclaimed that his followers were more devout than any, and would follow all commands he gave. As shown in the game, he ordered several men to jump from a cliff "to their deaths," which they did. The incident is also depicted in the novel ''Alamut'', by Vladimir Bartol; though only one man leaps from a tower, while another kills himself with a dagger.
* There is actually nothing coincidental about the placement of the piles of hay. It is explained that the bales of hay and the birds that denote the location of a View Point have been programmed into the memory by [[Lucy Stillman]], as a way to help out in the navigation of the memory.
'''''Assassin's Creed II'''''
* When being pursued by Ezio, [[Francesco de' Pazzi]] leaps off the [[Palazzo della Signoria]] into a haystack for a quick escape. This was the only known example for a non-Assassin performing a Leap of Faith until ''Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood''.
* To achieve the "High Dive" [[Assassin's Creed II Achievements|achievement]], you must perform a Leap of Faith from [[Giotto's Campanile]] in [[Florence]], as it is the highest viewpoint in the game.
* Ezio can perform an alternative Leap of Faith by hanging from a ledge or View Point and falling backwards onto a safe spot, as long as he is high enough, and the safe spot is directly below him. Ezio is forced to do this at least once, after speaking with [[Giovanni Auditore da Firenze|his father]] during the "[[Jailbird]]" memory.
'''Other'''
* In reality, it is unlikely that a haystack in a cart would be able to safely cushion someone falling from a great height. The momentum may either cause the cart to collapse or the person jumping to fall through the bottom. Hay is also sharp, therefore falling into it at such a speed would surely cause injury.
* It is suggested that very few of the modern-age Assassins perform the Leap of Faith, due to Lucy Stillman saying it was ''"pretty awesome"'' when she witnesses Desmond Miles performing his first-ever Leap from the walls of Monteriggioni. It should be noted that Lucy does not perform the Leap herself, and instead takes a ladder down the cliff to follow Desmond.
* In ''[[Assassins Creed II: Discovery]]'', Ezio can also perform the alternative Leap of Faith by hanging above a haystack and letting go of the ledge. Doing so correctly will let Ezio flip three times.
* Also in ''Discovery'', Ezio can perform a Leap of Faith into a bush.
* In ''[[Assassin's Creed: The Secret Crusade]]'', it is mentioned that the haystacks used in the Leaps of Faith at the Templar siege of Masyaf were placed there on the orders of [[Rauf]].
* As an [[Easter Eggs#Metal Gear Solid Peace Walker|easter egg in ''Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker'']], Big Boss (and the soldiers he has recruited) can perform Leaps of Faith into a straw box called the "Assassin Straw Box."
* An [[Easter Eggs#The Witcher 2|easter egg in ''The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings'']] shows an individual dressed in Assassin clothing dead on top of a collapsed hay cart; the main character comments ''"Guess they'll never learn."''
* In the reveal trailer for [http://hitman.wikia.com/wiki/Hitman:_Sniper_Challenge Hitman: Absolution Sniper Challenge] , near to the end of the trailer, a man standing on a high beam is shot by Agent 47. After a few seconds, he falls. As he tumbles, the sound of an eagle screeching, the same as the one that plays when a Leap of Faith is performed, plays.

==Gallery==
<gallery widths="180" position="center" spacing="small" captionalign="center" captiontextcolor="#ffffff">
AquilusLoF.jpg|[[Aquilus]] performing a Leap of Faith.
assassins_creed1.jpg|Altaïr performing a Leap of Faith into a haystack.
4682449642 8eab870a8d.jpg|Ezio performing a Leap of Faith off the [[Santa Maria del Fiore]].
Ascension_5.jpg|Ezio performing a Leap off the Tiber Island headquarters.
TiberIslandHQ_LeapOfFaith_Concept.JPG|Assassin recruits performing Leaps off the Tiber Island headquarters.
Assassins-creed-revelations-20110607054555571.jpg|The [[Vanguard]] performing a Leap of Faith.
The Fall.jpg|Daniel's Leap of Faith.
Narrow_Escape_8.png|Ezio performs a Leap of Faith from the top of Masyaf fortress.
Assassins-Creed-Ascendance-feature-image.jpg
screenshot_1.jpg|Ezio performing a leap of faith after burning a Borgia Tower.
Vali-leapoffaith.png|Vali cel Tradat performing a Leap of Faith.
</gallery>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{AC}}
{{ACII}}
{{ACBH}}
{{ACRevelations}}
{{ACIII}}
{{ACFC}}
[[Category:Gameplay]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed Gameplay]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed: Bloodlines Gameplay]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed II Gameplay]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed II: Discovery Gameplay]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood Gameplay]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed: Revelations Gameplay]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed III Gameplay]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed: The Secret Crusade]]

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Leap of Faith