Informer

"Is this the great Altaïr before me? What an honor. You must be here for a very important mission; maybe I could help you. I had been eavesdropping and I have learned much."

―An Informer to Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad, 1191.

The Informers were members of the Levantine Rite of the Assassin Brotherhood who provided vital intelligence and field support to Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad and other members of the Order during their investigations of of Templars. Stationed throughout the cities of Acre, Jerusalem, and Damascus, as well as the village of Masyaf, these operatives were strategically positioned to monitor the vulnerabilities and movements of the Brotherhood's enemies.

Assassins typically identified these informants through guidance provided by local Bureau leaders, who directed them toward specific districts and points of interest where the Brotherhood's network was most active. This intelligence was further complemented by surveying the urban landscape from high vantage points to pinpoint the exact locations of these field operatives. Before disclosing their findings, Informers required the visiting Assassin to provide operational support or demonstrate their proficiency in the Brotherhood's arts.

Field operations

Before sharing their gathered intelligence, Informers frequently requested a demonstration of an Assassin's skills. While many acted under the specific directives of Mentor Al Mualim to ensure his agents remained capable and disciplined, others issued challenges for their own satisfaction or to honor shared history, such as previous service in Alep. In other instances, these operatives sought assistance with their own ongoing missions—such as securing safe passage out of a city or eliminating local threats—that they were unable to complete alone due to being compromised by enemy forces or lacking the specialized combat skills required for the task.

Beyond direct combat support, Informers engaged in counter-espionage, requesting the destruction of merchant stalls belonging to individuals who spied for the Templars or sought to destabilize the region through corrupt business practices. Once their requirements were satisfied, the Informers provided the Assassin with vital documents and verbal intelligence. This information went beyond simple patrol routes, including knowledge of structural vulnerabilities like scaffolds and observations of a target's personal habits or unique attire.

Flag collecting

Altaïr collecting the flags

Certain Informers conducted trials of an Assassin's physical coordination and speed by requiring the retrieval of Masyaf flags within a strict timeframe. These challenges often served as a formal assessment of an agent's agility, occasionally performed under the direct command of Mentor Al Mualim to ensure his subordinates remained proficient in their craft. In other instances, the recovery was a matter of operational necessity rather than a formal test. Informers reported instances where flags were lost during skirmishes with local thugs or stolen from the Brotherhood's secret caches within the cities. Field operatives, at times hampered by physical exhaustion, relied on the speed of their fellow Assassins to return the property. The successful return of these items allowed the Informers to fulfill their obligations and share their gathered intelligence.

Stealth assassination

Informers often compromised their anonymity while conducting surveillance or became the targets of local military forces and city guards. Fearing for their lives or the safety of their families, these operatives requested the elimination of witnesses and threats in exchange for the intelligence they had gathered. To maintain the secrecy of the Brotherhood's activities, these removals had to be performed discreetly; any public alarm or identification of the Assassin would further jeopardize the Informer's compromised status.

In other instances, Informers sought assistance in eliminating personal guards protecting a high-profile target or neutralizing specific military threats that hindered the Order's operations. Some senior Informers even viewed these tasks as a form of cooperation, dividing a list of targets with their fellow Assassins to ensure all threats were neutralized within a specific operational timeframe. Once the targets were eliminated and the area was secured, the Assassin returned to the Informer to receive the promised intelligence.

Informer escort

Altaïr escorting the informant

At times, Informers required an escort to safety after their surveillance activities were compromised by enemy forces. Discovery during surveillance operations or the infiltration of restricted districts frequently resulted in pursuit by guards and mercenaries loyal to the Templars.

Assassins provided protection, neutralizing any threats encountered while guiding the informant toward city exits or sacred sites. In certain instances, these holy places provided the only viable refuge where pursuers would not dare to spill blood. Upon reaching a secure location, the Informer disclosed the intelligence they had managed to secure—which included items like maps of hiding places or formal invitations to restricted gatherings—before departing to seek further refuge.

Merchant stand destruction

Informers occasionally requested the destruction of commercial stalls belonging to merchants whose practices were deemed detrimental to the local population or the Brotherhood's interests. These operations targeted individuals who exploited the public through the sale of hazardous goods—such as tainted meat that caused widespread illness—or those who sought to destabilize regional authority by overcharging for inferior products.

Furthermore, certain merchants acted as spies for the Templars, identifying potential dissidents in exchange for gold, which necessitated the sabotage of their operations to protect the citizenry and the Order's secrets. Upon the successful disruption of these corrupt enterprises, the Assassin returned to the Informer to receive the promised intelligence.

Archer assassination

Altaïr assassinating Archer

Informers frequently encountered enemy marksmen whose presence on the rooftops hindered intelligence-gathering operations or threatened the safety of Brotherhood operatives. Positioned on strategic vantage points, these archers monitored the urban landscape, making it difficult for Assassins to maneuver without detection.

Assassins were often tasked with clearing these rooftops to allow the Informers to continue their work, facilitate larger Brotherhood assaults. In some instances, these bowmen were part of a larger security contingent protecting Templars within their strongholds. Once the threats were neutralized, the Informer disclosed the promised intelligence.

Rooftop races

At times, an Informer who lacked the specific intelligence required by an Assassin redirected them to another contact within the city's hidden network. To ensure the security of the operation, the Assassin had to navigate the city's rooftops with haste to intercept these secondary contacts before they moved on or the opportunity to retrieve the intelligence was lost. These interceptions were often necessary to retrieve urgent physical documents, such as letters found on fallen enemies or military maps detailing guard positions, which the secondary Informers had been tasked to deliver.

Characteristics

Reflecting the reach of the Levantine Brotherhood, these operatives represented diverse backgrounds and often maintained personal lives or families within the cities they monitored. Informers held varying ranks within the Order's hierarchy; while some were junior agents who reported to their own mentors or local Bureau leaders, others were seasoned veterans who had trained alongside Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad or served during the defense of Alep.

Individual temperaments and attitudes toward Altaïr shifted as he progressed through his investigations. Certain operatives initially displayed skepticism or open hostility following his initial fall from grace, treating him with disdain during his early trials. However, as Altaïr demonstrated his renewed commitment to the Creed, many Informers transitioned to deep admiration, frequently addressing him as "Master" or regarding his presence as a great honor to the Brotherhood.

The Informers wore ankle-length, light-colored robes featuring a front slit to facilitate fluid movement. Their attire included a full hood integrated with a face scarf that often served as a mask to conceal the lower face. A wide leather work belt, featuring several visible pouches, was worn over a red sash.

Trivia

• While Informers are allies, it is possible for the player to assassinate them using the Hidden Blade. If killed, the Informer will respawn once the player leaves the immediate area and returns.
• In the original 2007 console versions (PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360) of Assassin's Creed, Informer challenges consisted of only two types: Informer Assassination and Informer Flag Challenge.
• The PC version, released in 2008 as the Director's Cut Edition, introduced four additional mission types as bonus content: Archer Assassination, Informer Escort, Merchant Stand Destruction, and Rooftop Race. These missions remain exclusive to the PC release and are not present in the original console versions.
• For "Merchant Stand Destruction" tasks, the most efficient method to destroy a stall is by grabbing and throwing a guard or civilian into it. However, harming a civilian in the process will result in a loss of Synchronization points.

Appearances

• Assassin's Creed