Leandros

"Could it be that you are every bit as deadly as the legends say? Or am I in charge of an army of drunks swinging sticks?!"

―Leandros to Ezio Auditore, infuriated by his persistence.

Leandros (unknown - 1511) was a member of the Templar Order, and the captain of a small Byzantine garrison stationed in Masyaf.

Biography

Search at Masyaf

Since at least 1510, Leandros' Byzantine forces had ruled the Syrian city of Masyaf, the former seat of the Assassin Order, after coming across Niccolò Polo's journal, "The Secret Crusade." From it, they learned of Mentor Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad's hidden library, and its keys.

A year of searching the fortress finally led them to its entrance, but even after three months of attempted excavation to open the door, Leandros and his men were ultimately unsuccessful.

In 1511, Ezio Auditore da Firenze also journeyed to the city in search of the library, but was unaware of the Templar army that occupied it. Leandros' soldiers attacked him in great force, though Leandros himself only watched the battle from above. Despite suffering many losses, they eventually managed to capture the Assassin.

Leandros' forces later led the Assassin up to the castle's watchtower to be executed by hanging, and Leandros personally tied the noose around Ezio's neck. However, as soon as he did, Ezio lunged back at him and managed to wind the rope around his would-be executioner's neck.

Leandros giving orders to his men.

Ezio then leapt off the plank, tightening the noose around Leandros' throat, and forcing the soldiers to cut him free. As he recovered from the attempted strangulation, Leandros angrily ordered his men to pursue Ezio, who had escaped along the exterior of the tower.

Shortly after, Leandros left Masyaf by carriage, though Ezio soon caught up and lunged at his carriage, holding onto a tailing rope tied to the wagon. After several attempts to shake the Assassin off, Leandros finally gave up, jumping onto the carriage of one of his soldiers, and throwing the unfortunate driver from the seat.

Leandros fleeing by carriage.

Ezio took control of Leandros' previous carriage and continued the pursuit, and eventually, as they jostled for position on a narrow mountain path, Leandros managed to outmaneuver Ezio and slip past him.

A guard then tossed a bomb under Ezio's carriage, throwing both it and him over the cliff edge. Just as Leandros commanded his men to guard the path from any intruders, the heavily wounded Ezio managed to climb up the cliff and face the soldiers again.

Seeing that the Assassin was injured, Leandros ordered his men to bring him his head, before heading into the village.

Death

Leandros: "What does it take to kill you, eh? Why will you not die?"

Ezio: "Don't you ever stop howling?"

—Leandros to Ezio before his death.

Unbeknownst to Leandros, Ezio bested his men and silently pursued him through the village, using his Eagle Sense to follow Leandros' trail. Eventually, Leandros headed into a fortress, at which point Ezio revealed himself.

Leandros' demise.

After taunting Ezio, Leandros boasted that there was nowhere for Ezio to run. Ezio simply replied "Not for me, and not for you!" before severing the chain holding the portcullis open, and blocking Leandros' reinforcements.

Leandros fled up a tower, with Ezio in close pursuit. Once they both reached the top, Leandros asked Ezio what it would take to kill him, to which Ezio asked if Leandros ever stopped howling, before stabbing him with his hidden blade.

As Leandros lay dying, he revealed that his fellow Templars were already closing in on the Masyaf Keys, with which they could find the location of the Grand Temple. As Leandros breathed his last, Ezio retrieved the journal of Niccolò Polo from his body.

Personality and characteristics

"Ezio! I'm going to dig your heart out with a shovel and feed it to you!"

―Leandros yelling to the escaping Assassin.

Leandros speaking to his men.

Leandros was an able fighter, though he preferred using his soldiers to defeat his enemies. He also had a significant violent streak, threatening his workers with death should they try to leave.

He also held little respect for the lives of his men, throwing one from a moving carriage in order to save himself, and furiously telling a group to either follow his orders, or throw themselves off a cliff.

In physical appearance, Leandros was strongly built, though he had noticeable scars across his face, leading to one of his workers referring to him as "that ugly captain."

Final words

• Leandros: Well, the old hound still has a bite.
• Ezio: The book you carry. Where is it?
• Leandros: Ah! Niccolò Polo's journal?
  This will do no good, not now. We have found one of the Masyaf keys already, and are closing in on the rest.
• Ezio: What is in that library is not for you. Not the Templars.
• Leandros: Ah, you can have Altaïr's books, Ezio. We only want guidance. We only want directions... to the location of the Grand Temple.
• Ezio: Grand Temple? Tell me more. Now!

Leandros dies.

• Ezio: Requiescat in pace, bastardo. (Rest in peace, bastard.)

Gallery

• 
  Leandros watches before he leads Ezio onto the plank.
• Leandros leading Ezio onto the plank.
  Leandros leading Ezio onto the plank.

Source

• Assassin's Creed: Revelations