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====Saracen Siege of Masyaf: Masyaf, Syria, 1176-08==== | ====Saracen Siege of Masyaf: Masyaf, Syria, 1176-08==== | ||
[[File:Saracen Siege of Masyaf.jpg|right|180px]] | [[File:Saracen Siege of Masyaf.jpg|right|180px]] | ||
After two attempts on his life, Saracen leader [[Salah Al'Din]] raised a force of ten thousand soldiers and marched on the Assassin fortress at [[Masyaf]], determined to end their threat to his life once and for all. His uncle Shahib failed to convince him to join forces with the [[Assassins]], but Al'Din was not swayed from his ardent desire for revenge. | After two attempts on his life, Saracen leader [[Saladin|Salah Al'Din]] raised a force of ten thousand soldiers and marched on the Assassin fortress at [[Masyaf]], determined to end their threat to his life once and for all. His uncle Shahib failed to convince him to join forces with the [[Assassins]], but Al'Din was not swayed from his ardent desire for revenge. | ||
While the [[Saracens]] constructed siege engines, the Assassins weighed their options. While some recommended killing Salah Al'Din, Assassin [[Mentor]] [[Al Mualim]] preferred a more subtle approach. He sent Umar Ibn-La'Ahad to infiltrate the Saracen camp with the mission to lay a feather upon the sleeping body of the Saracen leader. He hoped this would send a crystal-clear message that Al'Din was vulnerable at any time. While Umar successfully delivered the feather, he was discovered and was forced to kill a nobleman. | While the [[Saracens]] constructed siege engines, the Assassins weighed their options. While some recommended killing Salah Al'Din, Assassin [[Mentor]] [[Al Mualim]] preferred a more subtle approach. He sent Umar Ibn-La'Ahad to infiltrate the Saracen camp with the mission to lay a feather upon the sleeping body of the Saracen leader. He hoped this would send a crystal-clear message that Al'Din was vulnerable at any time. While Umar successfully delivered the feather, he was discovered and was forced to kill a nobleman. | ||
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Abbas grew to hate Altaïr, and in turn, Altaïr began to pity Abbas, and the two were never friends again. | Abbas grew to hate Altaïr, and in turn, Altaïr began to pity Abbas, and the two were never friends again. | ||
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The Young Master= | The Young Master= | ||
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{{-}} | {{-}} | ||
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Masun the Traitor= | Masun the Traitor= | ||
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Altaïr returned to the Rafiq at the Damascus Bureau, who praised him for his success and lamented that the other Assassins still held him in such poor regard before suggesting that he report back to Al Mualim in Masyaf. | Altaïr returned to the Rafiq at the Damascus Bureau, who praised him for his success and lamented that the other Assassins still held him in such poor regard before suggesting that he report back to Al Mualim in Masyaf. | ||
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The Consequences of Significance= | The Consequences of Significance= | ||
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Altaïr regained the use of [[throwing knives]] and set out towards Jerusalem. | Altaïr regained the use of [[throwing knives]] and set out towards Jerusalem. | ||
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A Powerful Slaver= | A Powerful Slaver= | ||
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Instead, Al Mualim gave Altaïr three new targets: Abu'l Nuqoud, the wealthiest man in Damascus; [[Majd Addin]], the regent of Jerusalem; and [[William of Montferrat|William de Montferrat]], the Liege Lord of Acre. | Instead, Al Mualim gave Altaïr three new targets: Abu'l Nuqoud, the wealthiest man in Damascus; [[Majd Addin]], the regent of Jerusalem; and [[William of Montferrat|William de Montferrat]], the Liege Lord of Acre. | ||
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The Merchant King of Damascus= | The Merchant King of Damascus= | ||
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Al Mualim praised Altaïr's perception, but then advised him to silence all questions and obey him, leaving a frustrated Altaïr with no other choice but to proceed to his next target. | Al Mualim praised Altaïr's perception, but then advised him to silence all questions and obey him, leaving a frustrated Altaïr with no other choice but to proceed to his next target. | ||
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A Politician in his own Way= | A Politician in his own Way= | ||
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Altaïr's investigations revealed that Majd Addin was planning to perform a public execution and the Assassin was sure that he could handle any guards present. Malik again chastised Altaïr for his overconfidence, warning him that there were no certainties in their line of work. To prove his point, he informed Altaïr of a twist: One of the men scheduled to be executed was a fellow Assassin who Al Mualim wanted saved. Altaïr promised that Majd Addin would not get the chance to take the life of their brother. | Altaïr's investigations revealed that Majd Addin was planning to perform a public execution and the Assassin was sure that he could handle any guards present. Malik again chastised Altaïr for his overconfidence, warning him that there were no certainties in their line of work. To prove his point, he informed Altaïr of a twist: One of the men scheduled to be executed was a fellow Assassin who Al Mualim wanted saved. Altaïr promised that Majd Addin would not get the chance to take the life of their brother. | ||
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Those Who Lift Themselves Above Others= | Those Who Lift Themselves Above Others= | ||
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Altaïr returned to Acre to find and kill Sibrand. The Rafiq was familiar with the man, who was recently named the leader of the [[Knights Teutonic]] and ran Acre's port. Altaïr investigated the area and discovered Sibrand was terrified of the Assassins and hidden within Acre's port, mad with paranoia, waiting for his ship to arrive. | Altaïr returned to Acre to find and kill Sibrand. The Rafiq was familiar with the man, who was recently named the leader of the [[Knights Teutonic]] and ran Acre's port. Altaïr investigated the area and discovered Sibrand was terrified of the Assassins and hidden within Acre's port, mad with paranoia, waiting for his ship to arrive. | ||
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Poisoned by his own Fear= | Poisoned by his own Fear= | ||
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The Gift of Knowledge= | The Gift of Knowledge= | ||
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Altaïr refused to kill the woman and fled the scene, returning to the Assassin Bureau to inform Malik of the chaos. Malik urged Altaïr to return to Al Mualim, but the Assassin felt the need to pursue Robert de Sable immediately to stop his plan of uniting King Richard and Salah Al'Din against them. Malik urged Altaïr to obey the Creed and not act without Al Mualim's blessing, but Altaïr replied that their master was keeping important information from them. He vowed to return to Masyaf for answers after he was done with Robert de Sable. In the meantime, he urged Malik to either return to Al Mualim himself, or walk among the citizens of Jerusalem to see what he could learn. | Altaïr refused to kill the woman and fled the scene, returning to the Assassin Bureau to inform Malik of the chaos. Malik urged Altaïr to return to Al Mualim, but the Assassin felt the need to pursue Robert de Sable immediately to stop his plan of uniting King Richard and Salah Al'Din against them. Malik urged Altaïr to obey the Creed and not act without Al Mualim's blessing, but Altaïr replied that their master was keeping important information from them. He vowed to return to Masyaf for answers after he was done with Robert de Sable. In the meantime, he urged Malik to either return to Al Mualim himself, or walk among the citizens of Jerusalem to see what he could learn. | ||
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The Battle of Arsuf Plains= | The Battle of Arsuf Plains= | ||
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Enraged, Abbas accused Altaïr of continuing to mock their Creed and left his rival to the mercy of Assassins who sought to subdue him. Altaïr fought them off but was interrupted when Abbas emerged on a tower brandishing the Apple of Eden. Abbas accused Altaïr of murdering their beloved Mentor. Altaïr attempted to put the past behind them and decide what to do with the artifact. Abbas felt that Altaïr was unworthy to wield it but quickly lost control of it. Altaïr scaled the tower and wrestled the Apple away from Abbas. | Enraged, Abbas accused Altaïr of continuing to mock their Creed and left his rival to the mercy of Assassins who sought to subdue him. Altaïr fought them off but was interrupted when Abbas emerged on a tower brandishing the Apple of Eden. Abbas accused Altaïr of murdering their beloved Mentor. Altaïr attempted to put the past behind them and decide what to do with the artifact. Abbas felt that Altaïr was unworthy to wield it but quickly lost control of it. Altaïr scaled the tower and wrestled the Apple away from Abbas. | ||
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Reclaiming the Brotherhood= | Reclaiming the Brotherhood= | ||
Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad was born into the Levantine Brotherhood of Assassins to a Muslim father, Umar , and a Christian mother, Maud. His mother died from complications during childbirth, leaving Altaïr to be raised by his father alone.
After two attempts on his life, Saracen leader Salah Al'Din raised a force of ten thousand soldiers and marched on the Assassin fortress at Masyaf, determined to end their threat to his life once and for all. His uncle Shahib failed to convince him to join forces with the Assassins, but Al'Din was not swayed from his ardent desire for revenge.
While the Saracens constructed siege engines, the Assassins weighed their options. While some recommended killing Salah Al'Din, Assassin Mentor Al Mualim preferred a more subtle approach. He sent Umar Ibn-La'Ahad to infiltrate the Saracen camp with the mission to lay a feather upon the sleeping body of the Saracen leader. He hoped this would send a crystal-clear message that Al'Din was vulnerable at any time. While Umar successfully delivered the feather, he was discovered and was forced to kill a nobleman.
After a few days of fighting with casualties rising on both sides, Shahib approached the fortress to negotiate with Al Mualim.
Shahib presented his terms to the Assassins: Give up Umar to find peace. If not, face a prolonged siege leading to inevitable destruction. Al Mualim refused so Shahib revealed they had captured an Assassin spy, Ahmad Sofian. The spy would be the first to die in the renewed conflict.
Umar convinced Al Mualim to let him take Ahmad's place and accept responsibility for his failure. The Mentor reluctantly agreed and Umar walked calmly towards his executioners as his son Altaïr cried out for him. Umar's dying wish was that Al Mualim take Altaïr as his disciple so he could be trained as an Assassin.
For two days, Altaïr was tortured by the fevered cries of Ahmad Sofian, the man he held responsible for his father's death. Wracked with a fever from his treatment at the hands of the Saracens, Ahmad could only cry out the name of Altaïr's father, Umar, as he was attended to by his son Abbas.
One night, Altaïr woke in the middle of the night to find a gaunt, pale Ahmad standing over him. The man simply said, "I'm sorry," before drawing a dagger across his own throat. Terrified, Altaïr ran to Al Mualim, who swore him to secrecy. The mentor decided to tell the Brotherhood that Ahmad had fled, so that Abbas would not be tainted with the shame of his father's suicide. Altaïr wondered why Abbas could not know the truth, but promised Al Mualim to keep the secret.
The next day, Altaïr and Abbas were placed in quarters together and began their training as Assassins. Abbas was confident that he would be reunited with his father soon, but Altaïr was reunited with Ahmad for many nights to come, as he suffered from nightmares about Ahmad and the red smile at his throat.
Altaïr and Abbas trained together in the ways of the Assassins and grew very close. However, Altaïr began to notice his friend had become withdrawn, lost in despair about whether or not his long-lost father would return. Altaïr believed that if Abbas knew the truth about his father's death, then it would bring him short-term pain but a lasting sense of peace. One night, Altaïr finally revealed that Ahmad had committed suicide in his room, but Abbas said nothing.
The next day, Abbas demanded that he and Altaïr be allowed to train with real swords instead of the wooden training ones. In a fury of tears, Abbas viciously attacked Altaïr, knocked him down, held a knife to his throat, and demanded that he take back the lies he had told the night before. Left with no other choice, Altaïr conceded and told Abbas that he had lied. Both boys were thrown into Masyaf's cells for a month, but when they emerged, Abbas was punished again, as his training was extended for another year.
Abbas grew to hate Altaïr, and in turn, Altaïr began to pity Abbas, and the two were never friends again.
Returning from travels to find Masyaf overrun by Templars, Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad fought his way up to the fortress stronghold, killing Templar soldiers and rescuing villagers along the way. He was greeted at the gates by Haras, a traitor who had facilitated the Templar attack, who was holding Al Mualim, the Brotherhood's mentor, hostage.
Altaïr climbed his way into the fortress, assassinated the traitor from above, and saved Al Mualim. In return, Al Mualim elevated him to the rank of Master Assassin at the age of 25, making Altaïr the youngest Assassin to attain that rank.
Altaïr, an arrogant Master Assassin of the Levantine Brotherhood, was sent to Solomon's Temple by his mentor Al-Mualim to investigate a recent Templar discovery. He was joined by the brothers Malik and Kadar Al-Sayf.
Altaïr killed an elderly man near the entrance to the tunnels that led beneath the Temple Mount. While such a gesture impressed the young Kadar, Malik chastised the Master Assassin for not following the first tenet of the Brotherhood, "Stay your blade from the flesh of the innocent."
As the three Assassins entered deeper into the underground passageways leading to the Temple, they came upon a large chamber displaying a golden chest. The Assassins wondered if it was the fabled Ark of the Covenant.
Several Templars entered the chamber, led by Robert de Sable, the Grand Master of the Knights Templar. Altaïr, ignoring Malik's warnings and breaking cover, confronted the Templars. He failed to kill de Sable and was thrown through a damaged portion of the Temple. Its collapse blocked him from helping the brothers fighting for their lives against the Templars.
Left with no other options, Altaïr fled Solomon's Temple and returned to Masyaf in failure.
Altaïr returned to Masyaf and was met at the village gates by Rauf, a fellow Assassin, who directed him to the fortress to report to their mentor Al Mualim. At the fortress gates, Altaïr had a short meeting with a less-friendly face, his bitter rival Abbas Sofian.
Al Mualim was eager to hear of Altaïr's mission, but quickly became angry when he was presented with excuses instead of the treasure. As Altaïr informed the mentor of the deaths of Malik and Kadar, an injured Malik made a surprise entrance by staggering into the room.
Malik vehemently accused Altaïr, stating that the mission would have been successful had the Master Assassin not broken all three tenets of the Assassin's Creed. Malik also revealed that he managed to retrieve the treasure, at the cost of his brother Kadar's life.
Before Al Mualim could administer any punishment, a Templar force that had followed Malik from Solomon's Temple began to lay siege to Masyaf. Al Mualim ordered his Assassins to drive the invaders from their home.
Altaïr headed to the village to confront the Templars invading Masyaf. Rauf asked him to keep them occupied while he organized a rescue for trapped village citizens. Altaïr fought his way to the gates of the village, killing Templars until he heard Abbas relay Al Mualim's order to retreat into the fortress.
Altaïr returned to the fortress gates and saw the villagers huddled in the courtyard. Rauf beckoned him to join him in the fortress's tower and told him to stand upon a wooden platform high above a rocky landscape below.
Robert de Sable emerged from the Templar force and demanded that Al Mualim return the artifact stolen from him. Al Mualim refused, and answered de Sable's threat of a prolonged siege with proof that the Assassins had no fear of death.
On cue, Altaïr, Rauf, and a third Assassin executed a Leap of Faith off the platform and landed in bales of hay placed below. The third Assassin missed his jump and broke his leg, forcing Rauf to tend to his wounds and silence his screams of pain to avoid discovery.
Altaïr crossed a series of wooden beams placed across the gorge that led to a tower behind the Templar force. He climbed to the top of the tower and used his sword to loose a pile of heavy logs that crashed down into de Sable's army, forcing them to retreat.
Despite having successfully routed the Templar attack that followed from the ill-fated investigation of Solomon's Temple, Altaïr was chastised before the entire Brotherhood by Al Mualim. Judgment was passed on the Assassin and Al Mualim stabbed Altaïr in the stomach with a dagger.
When he awoke from the "sleep of the dead", Altaïr was stripped of his rank and possessions as further punishment. However, Al Mualim offered him a chance at redemption.
As a novice again, Altaïr had to prove his abilities to Al Mualim once more. As a Master Assassin, Altaïr had others track his targets for him, but now had to carry out his own investigations. His first mission was to find the traitor in Masyaf who opened the gate for Robert de Sable and the Templars and bring him to the mentor for questioning.
Altaïr was met at the fortress gates by a Masyaf informer, who instructed him to begin his investigation at the village market where they first spotted the traitor. The Assassin eavesdropped on a conversation during which he discovered that a man named Masun was the one who opened the gates for the Templars, but he did not act alone. Masun exchanged letters to his accomplices, using the village's basket weaver as a courier.
Altaïr found the nervous basket weaver who had just received a new letter. He followed the weaver and pickpocketed the letter. The Assassin found Masun, the herald, near the cypress tree in the village. Masun was blaming the attack on Al Mualim, claiming that their mentor had betrayed them all. Altaïr trailed the herald to a secluded spot and then beat a confession out of him. Masun admitted to serving the Templars and opening the gates at the request of a man named Jamal.
Altaïr brought Masun before Al Mualim, who gave the herald a last chance to repent. When Masun refused, Al Mualim executed him with his sword.
Altaïr rode to Damascus and met the Rafiq of the local Assassin bureau. He then worked through the Poor District of Damascus to gain information on his first target, Tamir, a black market merchant who sold weapons to Crusaders and Saracens alike.
Altaïr discovered that Tamir planned a meeting with his merchants in the Souk Al-Silaah to discuss an important sale, the largest he'd ever arranged, with enough weapons to arm nearly a thousand men. To meet this order, Tamir pushed the merchant's guild to produce the arms through both violence and bribery. This prompted some of the merchants to reach out to Abu'l Nuquod, the Merchant King of Damascus, to explain their predicament.
Altaïr decided that the meeting would be the ideal time to strike, as Tamir would be too preoccupied with his work to notice his approach.
Altaïr waited for Tamir to appear at a courtyard in the Souk Al-Silaah, and watched while his prey berated an old merchant for not being able to deliver a shipment of weapons on time. When the merchant suggested Tamir was asking for too much, Tamir responded by stabbing him repeatedly and leaving the body in a fountain as a warning to the other merchants.
As Tamir wandered the Souk to bully the other merchants, Altaïr found his moment to strike and killed his target. As he lay dying, Tamir cursed Altaïr and his kind and warned him that he was but one of many, who were working for a cause higher than mere profit.
Altaïr returned to the Rafiq at the Damascus Bureau, who praised him for his success and lamented that the other Assassins still held him in such poor regard before suggesting that he report back to Al Mualim in Masyaf.
Al Mualim was impressed with Altaïr's first success. Altaïr spoke of Tamir's last words and asked if there was more information that he needed to know. Al Mualim replied that Altaïr's mistake was knowing too much, and would withhold information until he decided that he needed to know more.
He returned Altaïr's short blade and gave him two new targets, one in Acre and one in Jerusalem.
Altaïr traveled to Acre and reported to the aging Rafiq at the local Assassin Bureau. His target was the Grand Master of the Knights Hospitalier, Garnier de Naplouse. During his investigation, he learned that Garnier hid behind the walls of the Hospitalier fortress, tending his patients one by one. Naplouse had a reputation for being a madman and a butcher, as witness claimed that his patients were not sick when they entered, but were made to suffer once under his care. Several of de Naplouse's guards had abandoned their posts and no one was allowed to enter the Grand Master's personal work space save for scholars.
The Assassin found a puzzling connection between de Naplouse and Tamir, the arms merchant he killed in Damascus, and a second man in Jerusalem who was sending him patients. Altaïr found the connection to Jerusalem particularly odd, because the two cities were occupied by opposing forces.
Altaïr made his way to the entrance of the Hospitalier Fortress and saw a patient attempting to escape, screaming for help. Garnier de Naplouse emerged from the hospital and attempted to soothe the struggling man. The patient accused de Naplouse of stealing the souls of the other patients. De Naplouse calmly ordered his guards to break the man's legs to prevent another escape.
Altaïr entered the hospital and killed the doctor. Before dying, Garnier lamented that his work to help his unfortunate patients would be undone with his death. Although his patients were grown adults, their minds were not, and he had hoped to repair that mental damage, though his progress was slowed when the Assassins stole the Piece of Eden from them. De Naplouse died believing that he was helping the people under his care.
Altaïr tried to talk about de Naplouse's attitude towards his work, but the elderly Rafiq was not interested in analyzing the situation any further and ordered the Assassin to return to Masyaf.
Altaïr reported the death of Garnier de Naplouse to his mentor Al Mualim and expressed his doubts that the doctor was a torturer as they first believed. Al Mualim replied that leaders would resort to any tactics to gain the support and loyalty that they needed and suggested that de Naplouse was drugging his victims into servitude.
Altaïr regained the use of throwing knives and set out towards Jerusalem.
Altaïr went to Jerusalem and was surprised to find a bitter Malik Al-Sayf posted to the Jerusalem Bureau. They exchanged harsh words before Altaïr set out to learn more about his next target, a slave master named Talal.
The Assassin learned that Talal was the leader of a group of slavers who operated out of a barbican in the north of Jerusalem's Rich District. He kept to the shadows and used his men to bribe guards to turn a blind eye to his activities. Talal held his slaves in a warehouse and inspected them daily before sending them off to Acre. The slaver was known to flee at the first sign of trouble, with his loyal men covering his escape, so that he could put distance between himself and any attackers and fight with his bow and arrows.
Altaïr decided to strike before Talal could send his next caravan of human livestock. He entered Talal's warehouse and was taunted by his prey as he ventured further into it. The Assassin made his way deeper into the warehouse, past cages of pleading captives, while Talal insisted that these people were not captives, but being prepared for a journey.
Altaïr finally came face-to-face with Talal, who was disappointed that he could not convince the Assassin of the nobility of his work. His guards attacked Altaïr, who killed them before following his prey up to the roof of the barbican before chasing him through the streets of Jerusalem. Altaïr managed to catch up to Talal and end his life.
Talal was confident that his so-called "Brotherhood" would survive his death and died before revealing any more about his allies. Instead, Talal lamented that the "lepers, addicts, and whores", who he said were unfit for slavery, would no longer be cared for, and insisted that he was not selling them, but saving them.
Altaïr returned to the Assassin Bureau and was confronted by Malik who was furious that the death of Talal had raised alarms all over the city. Altaïr attempted to remind Malik that they were on the same side and then returned to Masyaf.
Altaïr reported the death of the slaver to Al Mualim. The Assassin asked his Mentor why Talal would use people unfit for service as slaves and soldiers. The old man replied that although training weaker people takes more time and effort, they would be rewarded with loyalty.
Altaïr thought about this perception as he made his way towards his next target.
Al Mualim expressed gratitude that three of the nine targets were dead, but warned Altaïr that his work had just begun. He informed his pupil that King King Richard was moving south towards Jerusalem, and that Salah Al'Din was stationed at Arsuf to wait for him. Altaïr asked if he should kill them both and end the Crusades once and for all. Al Mualim dismissed the idea, stating that killing the two leaders would unleash thousands of aimless, bloodthirsty soldiers onto a helpless populace.
Instead, Al Mualim gave Altaïr three new targets: Abu'l Nuqoud, the wealthiest man in Damascus; Majd Addin, the regent of Jerusalem; and William de Montferrat, the Liege Lord of Acre.
Altaïr entered Abu'l Nuqoud's palace and mingled with the happy guests at the party. Soon their corpulent host revealed himself to the crowd on a large balcony that looked over the courtyard. The Merchant King greeted his guests and encouraged them to drink the wine he had provided. Abu'l praised the generosity of his guests to Salah Al'Din's war campaign, and wished that they be given everything that they deserve.
But Abu'l Nuqoud's kind words quickly soured and he began to call out his guests for their hypocrisy. The Merchant King claimed to have abandoned the Saracen cause for a new one which would allow everyone to live together in peace. Just then, a guest died from the poisoned wine and Abu'l gave the order to his archers to kill anyone who tried to escape.
Panic gripped the crowd and Altaïr used the chaos to scale the walls to reach his target. Altaïr accused Abu'l Nuqoud of stealing money from the people of Damascus and sending it away to unknown places. Abu'l refused to finance a war for a people and faith who would label him as an abomination. Altaïr demanded to know the identity of his new cause. Abu'l refused to divulge that information, and only offered that he and Altaïr were the same, willing to take lives for a greater good and told the Assassin that he could not stop them from attaining their new world.
Altaïr left Abu'l's body and returned the Assassin Bureau.
Al Mualim praised Altaïr's success and was sure that they were healing the nearby cities as they cleansed them of corruption. Altaïr was less sure, as all his targets died without regrets and confident of their success. Altaïr was convinced that there was a link between the men he had been sent to kill.
Al Mualim praised Altaïr's perception, but then advised him to silence all questions and obey him, leaving a frustrated Altaïr with no other choice but to proceed to his next target.
Altaïr returned to the Assassin Bureau in Acre and asked the Rafiq what he knew about his next target, William de Montferrat. The Rafiq stated that William was named Regent of Acre while King Richard fought his war. Many thought it was an odd choice, given that William's son Conrad frequently clashed with the King over many matters, to the point where many believed that each man secretly planned to do the other harm. The Rafiq believed that William was placed in Acre, not as a promotion, but as a hostage to prevent Conrad from acting out
Altaïr quickly began an investigation in the Rich District of Acre and discovered that William's army was large, but that he still had enemies, thanks to his rivalry with the King. The Assassin planned to use King Richard's visit as a cover to infiltrate the Crusader Citadel and strike while William brooded over another miserable encounter with his king.
Altaïr watched King Richard depart the Citadel, scolding William for executing Saracen prisoners of war. William defended his actions, but Richard was not interested in his excuses, and returned to his Crusades. A frustrated William retreated into the citadel, intent on taking out his mood on his soldiers.
Altaïr infiltrated the Citadel and found William angrily berating his soldiers. The Assassin took advantage of William's distraction and ended his life. As he lay dying, William denied any attempts to claim Acre for his son Conrad. Yet he did not claim to hold the city for Richard, stating that he only sought to keep Acre for his people. Altaïr accused him of stealing food from the citizens and drafting soldiers into his army. William countered that he was hoarding food for the lean seasons and not teaching the people arts of war, but rather discipline and order. Before he died, William mocked Altaïr, informing him that he was not freeing the cities as he believed, but rather damning them.
Altaïr escaped from the Citadel and returned to the Assassin Bureau and tried to discuss William's final words with the Rafiq. The old man was not interested in hearing them, and suggested Altaïr take it up with Al Mualim.
Al Mualim sensed Altaïr's frustration and gave him permission to speak his mind. Altaïr spoke of the cryptic dying words of his targets and Al Mualim's choice to withhold information from him and demanded answers. Al Mualim warned against the insubordinate tone that Altaïr confronted him with, but the latter held his ground. The Mentor, angered, grabbed a sword and threatened to find a more obedient replacement. However, Altaïr knew that there was no one else capable of the tasks, and again demanded to know the connection between his targets.
Al Mualim relented and revealed that the men who needed to die were bound by a blood oath not unlike that of the Brotherhood. All of Altaïr's targets were members of the Templar Order, serving under their Grand Master, Robert de Sable. Their goal was pure conquest and neither King Richard nor Salah Al'Din would be enough to stop them. Al Mualim revealed that this was the reason for the existence of their Brotherhood, to keep the world free of such tyranny.
Al Mualim declared he regretted withholding the truth from Altaïr, but felt that the young Assassin needed to find this knowledge on his own, and prove himself worthy of it. Altaïr asked about the treasure Malik retrieved from Solomon's Temple, which was so desperately sought after by Robert de Sable. Al Mualim refused to answer, stating that just as Altaïr discovered the truth about the Templars, he would also have to wait for the truth about the treasure.
Altaïr returned to Jerusalem and discussed the forthcoming death of Majd Addin with Malik Al-Sayf. Majd Addin had appointed himself the ruler of Jerusalem in Salah Al'Din's absence and Malik warned Altaïr against overconfidence, as he was well-protected. Altaïr asked for Malik's help, which impressed the bitter Rafiq.
Altaïr's investigations revealed that Majd Addin was planning to perform a public execution and the Assassin was sure that he could handle any guards present. Malik again chastised Altaïr for his overconfidence, warning him that there were no certainties in their line of work. To prove his point, he informed Altaïr of a twist: One of the men scheduled to be executed was a fellow Assassin who Al Mualim wanted saved. Altaïr promised that Majd Addin would not get the chance to take the life of their brother.
Altaïr arrived at the public execution in time to watch Majd Addin emerge to the roar of a bloodthirsty crowd. The regent of Jerusalem whipped the crowd into a frenzy but was interrupted by a pair of desperate men trying to save one of the accused. They were brutally cut down by the guards and served as an example of Majd Addin's power.
Altaïr struck Majd Addin before his Assassin brother could be put to death. Altaïr expected Majd Addin to defend his actions as righteous as the others had, but his victim confessed that he sought only power and enjoyed the thrill of controlling the lives of the men beneath him, and that the Templars merely presented him with an opportunity. Altaïr wasted no time in delivering a final blow to the neck with his hidden blade.
Altaïr returned to Malik and was surprised that the latter didn't have words of scorn waiting for him. However, Malik was merely curt and noted that while Altaïr shouldn't expect praise for doing his duty, he had performed adequately in his task.
Altaïr was ready for his remaining trials, but had questions for his mentor Al Mualim. He wondered why his targets betrayed their leaders. Al Mualim replied that the Templars desired control, and each target attempted to claim their cities in the name of the Templar Order. However, the old man said he was confident that they would not succeed as long as the Assassins held the treasure from Solomon's Temple.
Al Mualim revealed a small silver globe and dubbed it "a piece of Eden". He claimed that it cast out Adam and Eve, parted the Red Sea, and performed other miracles. Altaïr noted that it was rather plain for such a powerful artifact. Al Mualim claimed that anyone holding it could command the hearts and minds of those who looked upon it. Altaïr realized that the Templars were conspiring to use the piece of Eden to enslave the entire population of the Holy Land.
Al Mualim gave Altaïr two more targets, Sibrand in Acre and Jubair in Damascus. The Mentor urged Altaïr to hurry, as he suspected Robert de Sable would be more cautious because of the Assassin's continued success.
Altaïr found Sibrand at the docks, terrorizing a monk, accusing him of being an Assassin. Sibrand refused to listen to the monk's pleas and eventually cut him down. He demanded his guards stay on the lookout for Assassins before retreating to his ship.
Altaïr made his way through the docks, boarded Sibrand's ship, and found his target firing arrows wildly, demanding to know why no one was helping him against the unseen Assassin. Altaïr fatally wounded the man, urging him to seek comfort with his God. Sibrand replied that the Templars had proven to him that God does not exist. Sibrand sought to free the Holy Land from the tyranny of faith, following his orders and believing in his cause.
With Sibrand dead, Altaïr left the docks and made his way to the Assassin Bureau. There, the Rafiq attempted to soothe the Assassin's doubts, claiming that sympathy, regret, and uncertainty were the emotions that would keep him human in the midst of his grim work.
Altaïr returned to Al Mualim at Masyaf and asked his Mentor why Jubair and Sibrand were chosen as targets. The Mentor replied that if the two men were allowed to continue their work, they would undo all that they have worked for, and that the Templars were like a hydra, quick to replace any members that were lost.
Now it was Al Mualim's turn to ask Altaïr a question, and he asked his disciple the nature of the truth and the world. Altaïr replied that it was their duty as Assassins to recognize that nothing is true and everything is permitted, and that the world was an illusion. While the Assassins sought to dispel the illusion, the Templars would use the illusion to rule the world.
Al Mualim encouraged Altaïr to kill the final man on his list, so that they could strike at the Grand Master, Robert de Sable.
Altaïr's final target was Salah Al'Din's chief scholar, Jubair al Hakim. Jubair was obsessed with destroying all written works in Damascus, and was gathering more and more people to his cause. He held daily meetings in the Madrasah Al Kallasah to speak with his students. Altaïr vowed to end his madness.
Altaïr found Jubair and his scholars tossing books into a large fire. One of the scholars attempted to dissuade Jubair from burning the books, claiming that they saved people from ignorance. Jubair replied that their reliance on words made them weak, and that accepting written words without question was dangerous. The scholar insisted that the books gave the gift of knowledge, which prompted Jubair to throw the scholar into the fire before commanding the remaining scholars to seek out all the books in Damascus.
As Jubair wore the same uniform as his scholars, the Assassin was forced to track down the correct target. Altaïr stabbed Jubair and scolded him for destroying sources of knowledge that he disagreed with. Jubair countered that he himself was a source of knowledge that the Assassin disagreed with, and by killing him, he was committing the same sin.
Altaïr met with Malik at the Jerusalem Assassin Bureau to confirm Robert de Sable's presence in Jerusalem. Altaïr informed the one-armed Rafiq that all of Altaïr's targets, Crusader and Saracen alike, were Templars seeking to control the Holy Land. The two Assassins parted ways to investigate further.
Altaïr's investigations revealed that Robert de Sable planned to attend the funeral of Majd Addin in an attempt to smooth relations between Crusaders and Saracens. Altaïr planned to attack the Templar Grand Master during the procession. Before he left, Altaïr apologized to Malik for causing the loss of his arm and the death of his brother. Malik refused to accept the apology, and stated that the Assassin before him was not the same man who went with him to Solomon's Temple, and therefore owed him nothing.
Altaïr entered the cemetery at David's Citadel as an imam was eulogizing Majd Addin, with Robert de Sable standing nearby. After the prayer was over, the Templar Grand Master whispered something to the imam. Suddenly additional Templar guards entered the funeral and the imam pointed at Altaïr in the crowd. Altaïr killed the guards and struck at Robert de Sable, pinning him to the ground.
Altaïr ripped off Robert de Sable's helmet and was shocked to discover a woman beneath the armor. She revealed that Robert de Sable planned to use Altaïr's killings of the other Templars as an excuse to unite the Crusader and Saracen forces against the Assassins at Masyaf.
Altaïr refused to kill the woman and fled the scene, returning to the Assassin Bureau to inform Malik of the chaos. Malik urged Altaïr to return to Al Mualim, but the Assassin felt the need to pursue Robert de Sable immediately to stop his plan of uniting King Richard and Salah Al'Din against them. Malik urged Altaïr to obey the Creed and not act without Al Mualim's blessing, but Altaïr replied that their master was keeping important information from them. He vowed to return to Masyaf for answers after he was done with Robert de Sable. In the meantime, he urged Malik to either return to Al Mualim himself, or walk among the citizens of Jerusalem to see what he could learn.
Altaïr rode from Jerusalem to Arsuf and made his way through waves of Saracen and Crusader soldiers until he came to the Crusader camp. He confronted King Richard, who mistook the Assassin for a Saracen. Altaïr revealed that he was not there to kill King Richard, but the traitor Robert de Sable. Robert dismissed the accusations, but the king was conflicted. He decided that the truth would be revealed through combat, and that God would favor the winner.
Altaïr fought through ten Crusader guards before Robert de Sable joined the fight. After a pitched battle, Altaïr killed the Templar Grand Master. In his final moments, Robert revealed that ten men had found the Piece of Eden, not nine as Altaïr originally believed. The tenth man was the Assassin mentor Al Mualim, who used Altaïr to eliminate the other Templars to keep the treasure for himself.
Before taking his leave of the King, Altaïr urged him to make peace with Salah Al'Din for the sake of the people of the Holy Land. Altaïr rode to Masyaf for a final confrontation with his master.
Altaïr returned to Masyaf, only to find it empty. A deranged citizen muttered that everyone had gone to see the Master. Altaïr made his way past other dazed villagers, but was ambushed by a mob of frenzied Assassins. Malik and a team of his followers arrived and cut down the brainwashed attackers with throwing knives.
Malik revealed that he had returned to Solomon's Temple and discovered Robert de Sable's journal that detailed Al Mualim's involvement with the Templars and the treasure. Altaïr ordered Malik to create a distraction while he went after Al Mualim and urged his friend not to kill the Assassins, whose minds were not their own.
Altaïr entered the courtyard of the fortress and carefully navigated through the mass of stunned citizens. He went through the castle and emerged in the rear gardens where he was suddenly seized by glowing energy. Al Mualim, Piece of Eden in hand, revealed himself on a balcony above.
Al Mualim used the artifact to create phantoms of Altaïr's nine targets and the Assassin was forced to kill them all a second time. Al Mualim paralyzed his pupil again, who challenged his mentor to face him. Al Mulaim leapt down from the balcony, angry and unafraid, and used the Apple of Eden to split into nine copies of himself. Altaïr used his Eagle Vision to find the real Mentor and quickly attacked him. Finally, Al Mualim dueled Altaïr one-on-one, but was no match for his former student.
As he lay dying, Al Mualim could not believe that the student could defeat the master. Altaïr swore to destroy the Apple of Eden, but Al Mualim died doubting his ability to follow through on that promise. Altaïr approached the Apple, which opened slightly and emitted a holographic display of the Earth.
Altaïr sent Malik to Jerusalem to carry news of the Mentor's death and sent another Assassin to Acre to do the same. He also ordered the creation of a pyre and carried Al Mualim's body towards it.
Altaïr was confronted by his rival, Abbas Sofian, who demanded proof of Al Mualim's betrayal to the Templars. Altaïr explained the conspiracy surrounding the Apple of Eden and attempted to convince a suspicious Abbas about the artifact's power. Altaïr placed his Mentor's body upon the fire and burned it to make sure that it was not another phantom.
Enraged, Abbas accused Altaïr of continuing to mock their Creed and left his rival to the mercy of Assassins who sought to subdue him. Altaïr fought them off but was interrupted when Abbas emerged on a tower brandishing the Apple of Eden. Abbas accused Altaïr of murdering their beloved Mentor. Altaïr attempted to put the past behind them and decide what to do with the artifact. Abbas felt that Altaïr was unworthy to wield it but quickly lost control of it. Altaïr scaled the tower and wrestled the Apple away from Abbas.
Altaïr returned to Masyaf to reclaim his position as Mentor, which was taken in his absence by Abbas Sofian, who also murdered Altaïr's son Sef and framed Malik Al-Sayf for the crime.
With the help of the Assassins who had remained loyal to him, and Tazim (Malik's son), Altaïr made it to the castle fortress without the loss of a single life. There, he killed the usurper with his Hidden Gun and became Mentor once again.