Jerusalem

Jerusalem is a city located between the Mediterranean and the Dead Sea. The city was often visited by Assassins during the time of the Third Crusade, and housed an Assassins' Bureau in the city's Rich District.

Jerusalem was the largest city in the Holy Land during the 12th century, housing exquisite mosques and cathedrals, denoting the contrast of cultures here. Two major Templar structures were found here: the Templar Tower, and Solomon's Temple, a structure under the city where the Apple was kept, inside the Ark of the Covenant.

History

Quest for the Chalice

In 1190, the Master Assassin Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad visited the city twice. During his first visit, he infiltrated a noble's villa, where he attacked the Templar Grand Master, Basilisk, and captured the third key to the Temple of the Sand. The next part of his quest took him to the Templar Tower, where he infiltrated the tower and killed its Master, and took a map to the Temple of the Sand. During his second visit, he freed the Chalice from Templar control.

Hunt for the Nine

Al Mualim presenting Altaïr with his new quest.

"I hold here a list. Nine men adorn it, nine men who need to die."

―Al Mualim to Altaïr on his new quest.

Altaïr returned to the city in 1191, and during his first visit, he failed to retrieve the Templar treasure from under the Dome of the Rock. He was punished for his failure, and ordered to kill nine men. The third target in Altaïr's quest for redemption was in Jerusalem, where he was sent to assassinate Talal. Talal was an infamous slave trader in Jerusalem, who resided in the Rich District of the city within his slave complex.

After collecting information through an investigation, Altaïr infiltrated the slave complex, encountering captive slaves calling for his help. Upon catching sight of one of Talal's guards, Altaïr called out to Talal, calling him a slaver and telling Talal that he imprisoning innocents. Talal replied to Altaïr's comments by claiming that he was not a slaver, and that he was actually helping these citizens by keeping them safe and "preparing them for the journey that lies ahead."

File:ACAltairTalal.JPG

Talal's guards closing in on Altaïr at his slave complex.

Talal then exclaimed that he made a mistake in allowing Altaïr into his complex, and that he still would not understand the true meaning of his actions. After their brief discussion, Talal let Altaïr into his complex, with the ordered his guards to kill the Assassin.However, Altaïr overpowered his opponents, and began to pursue a fleeing Talal. After a lengthy chase, Altaïr assassinated Talal in the city streets, ending the slaver's oppression. In his final words, the slave trader informed Altaïr of the strong Brotherhood he belonged to, and gave a warning to the Assassin, claiming that he would soon see the irony of his deed.

Several weeks later in 1191, Altaïr once again visited the city, this time to slay the tyrannical Regent of Jerusalem, Majd Addin, the sixth of his nine targets. Majd was a corrupt ruler, all the while being a sadistic and unlawful executioner. After completing another investigation about the ruler, Altaïr reported back to Malik Al-Sayf, the Rafiq present in the city's Assassins' Bureau. After receiving permission to carry out his assassination, Altaïr departed for an execution Majd had organized, where one of his fellow Assassins was set to be executed.

File:ACMajdSpeech.jpg

Majd Addin speaking to the crowd at the execution.

The Assassin was instructed to assassinate Majd, but also to let Malik's men liberate their fellow Assassin who had been captured. After making his way to the Poor District where the execution was being held, Altaïr listened as Majd talked extensively about each person set to be executed. However, Altaïr rushed up onto the stage which Majd was standing on, and assassinated the corrupt regent, preventing the death of his fellow Assassin as well. In his last conversation, Majd told the Assassin of how he felt like a feared god while at executions, standing in front of the cheering public.

For his ninth and final target, Altaïr was tasked with the assassination of the Templar Grand Master and nemesis of the Assassins, Robert de Sable. For this assassination, Altaïr headed to Jerusalem, where Altaïr first confronted Robert.

Like any other assassination, Altaïr investigated his target, and learned Robert was to attend the funeral of Majd Addin to pay his respects. Altaïr made his way to the funeral, and became one within the crowd and listened to the priest speak about the late regent. However, just after the priest finished his speech, Robert stepped forward and whispered into the priest's ear. Immediately after this, the priest spoke again, but this time, he spoke of Majd's killer being right in the crowd. The Crusaders who had accompanied Robert moved close to the crowd, and the priest pointed at Altaïr and shouted for the soldiers to grab him so that "God's justice might be done!"

File:Maria altair.jpg

Altaïr with Robert's decoy, Maria Thorpe.

Robert, the soliders, and several guards attacked the Assassin, but Altaïr proved to be stronger, defeating them all until he was just up against Robert. Altaïr fought with Robert, and eventually bested the Templar. However, upon taking off his helmet, Robert revealed himself to actually be Maria Thorpe, Robert's assistant. Altaïr talked with Maria, who explained that Robert had left her as a decoy, and he now rode for Arsuf in an attempt to unite the Crusaders and Saracens against the Assassins. Altaïr spared Maria, stating that she was not his target, and that he therefore did not have to take her life. With the end of this conversation, Altaïr left the funeral and headed for the Assassins' bureau to discuss things with Malik.

Gallery

• The Rich District of Jerusalem.
  The Rich District of Jerusalem.
• The Middle District of Jerusalem.
  The Middle District of Jerusalem.
• The Poor District of Jerusalem.
  The Poor District of Jerusalem.
• A painting of the city.
  A painting of the city.
• Concept art of the Assassins' Bureau in Jerusalem.
  Concept art of the Assassins' Bureau in Jerusalem.
• Concept art.
  Concept art.
• Altaïr looking out over the city from Solomon's Temple.
  Altaïr looking out over the city from Solomon's Temple.
• Concept art of a merchant's stall in Jerusalem.
  Concept art of a merchant's stall in Jerusalem.