Scholar

Scholars are groups of four people, all wearing white robes similar to Altaïr's outfit, that can be found around the cities in Assassin's Creed. Their main function in the game is to act as cover for you if you find yourself being chased by guards. If you are being chased, and you can manage to break the guards' line of sight with you, then as you approach a group of scholars, press A to blend in. Altaïr will enter into the center of the group and will lower his head and clasp his hands together and will begin walking with the group. This will cause the guards to lose you and you will be able to reinitialize to a state where you aren't being chased.

While inside the group of scholars, you can use the right analog stick to spin the camera in a 360 degree arc around you to see what's going on.

Another function that the scholars serve is to get you passed entrances blocked by guards. Some cities entrances and some walkways within the cities are blocked by guards who will push you away so you try to enter. If you can find a group of scholars nearby these entrances, you can blend in with them and follow them on their preset path. The guards blocking the entrance or walkway will step aside to let the scholars go by, thus granting you access to the area without having to start a fight with the guards.

Throughout the game, most groups of scholars will be unlocked by saving Citizens you find in trouble, but some are already available when you first come to an area. The scholars can be found on your map once they are unlocked by a symbol telling you where they are.