Assassins: Difference between revisions

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This article contains spoilers, meaning it has information and facts concerning recent or upcoming releases from the Assassin's Creed series. If you do not want to know about these events, it is recommended to read on with caution, or not at all.<br<spanNode-count limit exceeded>Node-count limit exceeded/><br<spanNode-count limit exceeded>Node-count limit exceeded/>This template should be removed from the article three months after release.

<span<spanNode-count limit exceeded>Node-count limit exceeded>"We work in the dark, to serve the light. We are Assassins."

―Niccolò Machiavelli.<sup<spanNode-count limit exceeded>Node-count limit exceeded>[src]

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<spanNode-count limit exceeded>count limit exceeded> Though these principles may encourage the view that the Assassins are, like their sworn enemies the Templars, founded on a distinct set of ideals, at its roots, the Assassins' philosophy is grounded not in idealism, but in rationalism and epistemology, with the unique viewpoint that before one devises a specific code of ethics or belief system, one must first approach the world from a chiefly scientific standpoint, un-tempered by biases or such subjective products as morality or faith.<span<spanNode-count limit exceeded>Node-count limit exceeded><supNode-count limit exceeded><spanNode-count limit exceeded>[3<spanNode-count limit exceeded>]<span<spanNode-count limit exceeded>Node-count limit exceeded><supNode-count limit exceeded><spanNode-count limit exceeded>[10<spanNode-count limit exceeded>]<span<spanNode-count limit exceeded>Node-count limit exceeded><supNode-count limit exceeded><spanNode-count limit exceeded>[11<spanNode-count limit exceeded>] To an Assassin, knowledge should be obtained first and foremost through strict objective reasoning, but this method is disrupted by each individual's fundamental dependency on his or her own senses to acquire information. These senses can be deceived in some measure, or otherwise will never convey the precise intrinsic quality of an object. Consequently, they are rendered unreliable, with the end result being that "true" or "full" objectivity is, as Altaïr argued, unreachable.<span<spanNode-count limit exceeded>Node-count limit exceeded><supNode-count limit exceeded><spanNode-count limit exceeded>[1<spanNode-count limit exceeded>] The driving theory behind the Assassin's creed is thus that "one can only know that one knows nothing,"<span<spanNode-count limit exceeded>Node-count limit exceeded><supNode-count limit exceeded><spanNode-count limit exceeded>[5<spanNode-count limit exceeded>]<span<spanNode-count limit exceeded>Node-count limit exceeded><supNode-count limit exceeded><spanNode-count limit exceeded>[10<spanNode-count limit exceeded>] a handicap corroborated by the Isu Juno, who cited this as a defect of humans.<span<spanNode-count limit exceeded>Node-count limit exceeded><supNode-count limit exceeded><spanNode-count limit exceeded>[6<spanNode-count limit exceeded>]

From this skepticism arises the Assassins' maxim that "nothing is true, everything is permitted," a relativistic assertion designed to provide an answer to the vastly disparate convictions over the perfect solution for humanity's ills: that there is no Truth and any attempted application of a singular ideal on a universal scale is first and foremost unrealistic. Moderation is therefore an inherent principle of the Assassins, who shun extremism as destructive to society. To treat one belief as absolute is to not only submit oneself to the irrationality of blind faith, but also to cloud oneself from the perspectives of inevitable dissenters.<span<spanNode-count limit exceeded>Node-count limit exceeded><supNode-count limit exceeded><spanNode-count limit exceeded>[11<spanNode-count limit exceeded>] These perspectives must always be taken into account, not only in one's outlook of society and life, but also in aspects of one's work, which manifests in the Assassins' emphasis on precision and stealth, and has been referred to by Assassins such as Altaïr and Pierre Bellec as "variables."<span<spanNode-count limit exceeded>Node-count limit exceeded><supNode-count limit exceeded><spanNode-count limit exceeded>[5<spanNode-count limit exceeded>]<span<spanNode-count limit exceeded>Node-count limit exceeded><supNode-count limit exceeded><spanNode-count limit exceeded>[9<spanNode-count limit exceeded>]

The second component of the creed, "everything is permitted" is an extension of this principle of uncertainty. Because the quantity of variables is infinite, it follows that theoretically, anything within nature is possible, for as long as there is no absolute answer to any query, no impossibility can be ascertained. Therefore, one must remain vigilantly open-minded to the unexpected and unknown, drawing to a conclusion while being ever mindful of that conclusion's plausibility of error. Beyond being a further vessel for pluralism, Assassins are taught to be watchful of pretensions and their own capability to achieve either great dreams or great destruction. In essence, this corollary commands one to take responsibility for one's actions towards oneself and society at large.<span<spanNode-count limit exceeded>Node-count limit exceeded><supNode-count limit exceeded><spanNode-count limit exceeded>[3<spanNode-count limit exceeded>]<span<spanNode-count limit exceeded>Node-count limit exceeded><supNode-count limit exceeded><spanNode-count limit exceeded>[9<spanNode-count limit exceeded>]

Though the maxim as a whole is actually descriptive, not normative, it nevertheless serves as the threshold into Assassin ethos, wherein reason, not divinity or society, is the source for guidance;<span<spanNode-count limit exceeded>Node-count limit exceeded><supNode-count limit exceeded><spanNode-count limit exceeded>[5<spanNode-count limit exceeded>] dogmatism is discouraged for its potential to brew prejudice and violence,<span<spanNode-count limit exceeded>Node-count limit exceeded><supNode-count limit exceeded><spanNode-count limit exceeded>[9<spanNode-count limit exceeded>] and diversity of thought is respected as the closest conduit to reaching truth.<span<spanNode-count limit exceeded>Node-count limit exceeded><supNode-count limit exceeded><spanNode-count limit exceeded>[11<spanNode-count limit exceeded>]

According to Haytham Kenway, the Templar Order was "born of a realization" that humanity is fundamentally corrupt, necessitating strenuous control for it to be guided to peace.<span<spanNode-count limit exceeded>Node-count limit exceeded><supNode-count limit exceeded><spanNode-count limit exceeded>[12<spanNode-count limit exceeded>] From the Assassin perspective, their brotherhood was born of the "realization" that to be wise, one must first liberate one's mind from the assumption of having acquired true knowledge.<span<spanNode-count limit exceeded>Node-count limit exceeded><supNode-count limit exceeded><spanNode-count limit exceeded>[6<spanNode-count limit exceeded>]

Liberalism

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Though the Assassins' philosophy begins with a purely empirical assessment of life that seemingly verges on nihilism, their order is profoundly idealistic, with a deep sentiment for principles of social justice, humanitarianism, egalitarianism, and liberty.<span<spanNode-count limit exceeded>Node-count limit exceeded><supNode-count limit exceeded><spanNode-count limit exceeded>[1<spanNode-count limit exceeded>]<span<spanNode-count limit exceeded>Node-count limit exceeded><supNode-count limit exceeded><spanNode-count limit exceeded>[6<spanNode-count limit exceeded>]<span<spanNode-count limit exceeded>Node-count limit exceeded><supNode-count limit exceeded><spanNode-count limit exceeded>[3<spanNode-count limit exceeded>]<span<spanNode-count limit exceeded>Node-count limit exceeded><supNode-count limit exceeded><spanNode-count limit exceeded>[12<spanNode-count limit exceeded>]

It is aforementioned that the Assassins' justify perspectivism with the view that it is logical and realistic, but it is further reinforced ethically by their ardent belief in the "sanctity of life" and each individual's humanity.<span<spanNode-count limit exceeded>Node-count limit exceeded><supNode-count limit exceeded><spanNode-count limit exceeded>[1<spanNode-count limit exceeded>] This, in conjunction with moral relativism, are the guiding motives behind their support for cultural diversity and free will. Assassins perceive societal norms and conventions as artificial structures that can hinder one's partiality and lead to prejudices. These false boundaries include but are not limited to national borders, gender, ethnicity, social class, and race. As a result, Assassins oppose discrimination of virtually every kind, with physical abuse and slavery being especially abhorrent. <span<spanNode-count limit exceeded>Node-count limit exceeded><supNode-count limit exceeded><spanNode-count limit exceeded>[5<spanNode-count limit exceeded>]<span<spanNode-count limit exceeded>Node-count limit exceeded><supNode-count limit exceeded><spanNode-count limit exceeded>[1<spanNode-count limit exceeded>]<span<spanNode-count limit exceeded>Node-count limit exceeded><supNode-count limit exceeded><spanNode-count limit exceeded>[3<spanNode-count limit exceeded>]<span<spanNode-count limit exceeded>Node-count limit exceeded><supNode-count limit exceeded><spanNode-count limit exceeded>[12<spanNode-count limit exceeded>]<span<spanNode-count limit exceeded>Node-count limit exceeded><supNode-count limit exceeded><spanNode-count limit exceeded>[10<spanNode-count limit exceeded>]<span<spanNode-count limit exceeded>Node-count limit exceeded><supNode-count limit exceeded><spanNode-count limit exceeded>[13<spanNode-count limit exceeded>]<span<spanNode-count limit exceeded>Node-count limit exceeded><supNode-count limit exceeded><spanNode-count limit exceeded>[14<spanNode-count limit exceeded>]<span<spanNode-count limit exceeded>Node-count limit exceeded><supNode-count limit exceeded><spanNode-count limit exceeded>[9<spanNode-count limit exceeded>]

Goals and motivations

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In light of their antipathy for authoritarianism, the Assassins throughout history have fought under the banner of liberation for oppressed peoples. In spite of this, freedom was not at the heart of their ambitions, but peace. The Assassins aspire for the establishment of global prosperity and harmony, the genesis of what essentially amounts to a utopia. In this, they share with the Templars a sincere desire to resolve the chaos that plagues humanity. Their incompatible visions of the means by which such a utopia could be achieved dismantled this common spirit.<span<spanNode-count limit exceeded>Node-count limit exceeded><supNode-count limit exceeded><spanNode-count limit exceeded>[5<spanNode-count limit exceeded>] Unlike the Templars, who condemn humanity as irredeemably weak-minded and corrupt, the Assassins uphold faith, even love, in humanity as one of their core ideals.<span<spanNode-count limit exceeded>Node-count limit exceeded><supNode-count limit exceeded><spanNode-count limit exceeded>[15<spanNode-count limit exceeded>] Their fundamentally skeptic creed neither justifies the defeatist attitude that is the hallmark of Templar ideology, nor endorses the notion that a single group can be wise enough to impress a correct way of life or belief on the people at large.<span<spanNode-count limit exceeded>Node-count limit exceeded><supNode-count limit exceeded><spanNode-count limit exceeded>[1<spanNode-count limit exceeded>] Consequently, they scorn the notion that a short-cut to universal peace, especially in the form of global enslavement or elitist control, could be a suitable solution to society's ills. Instead, they argue that humanity must be permitted to undergo the slow and arduous journey of developing tolerance for their myriad differences, a process derided as unrealistic and impossible by the Templars.

In the Assassin view, peace is a product of education, not force,<span<spanNode-count limit exceeded>Node-count limit exceeded><supNode-count limit exceeded><spanNode-count limit exceeded>[5<spanNode-count limit exceeded>] and this is only possible without the stringent control over information and society that authoritarians advocate. For this reason, and due to Altaïr's reformation of the Order and focus on free will, the Assassins have identified with the ideals of liberty over the centuries, to the extent that by the American Revolution, many Templars, notably Grand Master Haytham Kenway, believed that the Assassins had abandoned their goal of peace in favor of freedom as an end, even accusing them of anarchism,<span<spanNode-count limit exceeded>Node-count limit exceeded><supNode-count limit exceeded><spanNode-count limit exceeded>[12<spanNode-count limit exceeded>]<span<spanNode-count limit exceeded>Node-count limit exceeded><supNode-count limit exceeded><spanNode-count limit exceeded>[14<spanNode-count limit exceeded>] although the Assassins support democracy, not the abolition of order and government.<span<spanNode-count limit exceeded>Node-count limit exceeded><supNode-count limit exceeded><spanNode-count limit exceeded>[12<spanNode-count limit exceeded>]<span<spanNode-count limit exceeded>Node-count limit exceeded><supNode-count limit exceeded><spanNode-count limit exceeded>[9<spanNode-count limit exceeded>]<span<spanNode-count limit exceeded>Node-count limit exceeded><supNode-count limit exceeded><spanNode-count limit exceeded>[8<spanNode-count limit exceeded>]

Ironically, in spite of the Assassins' optimistic view of humanity as a whole, they do not always retain the same faith for adversaries of human rights; this is the guiding force behind their operations, of which assassinations take primacy. Altaïr could not help but doubt the efficacy of persuasion, lamenting that many abusers were far too cemented in their ways to be redeemed through dialogue. Echoing Altaïr's sentiment, Rebecca Crane once explained to Desmond Miles that sometimes, "there's no other way." To protect the lives of innocents, the Assassins believe that realistically an ideal, noble resolution is not always possible, thus one may have to kill a perpetrator to save an innocent. For many members, compassion has acted as a key motivation, which has paradoxically translated into objectives very often revolving around murder.<span<spanNode-count limit exceeded>Node-count limit exceeded><supNode-count limit exceeded><spanNode-count limit exceeded>[5<spanNode-count limit exceeded>]<span<spanNode-count limit exceeded>Node-count limit exceeded><supNode-count limit exceeded><spanNode-count limit exceeded>[1<spanNode-count limit exceeded>] Perhaps most critically, social justice is a unifying theme among Assassins, and in this capacity they serve as a reactionary force against perceived oppression, tyranny, and abuses against humanity, becoming the mortal enemies of the Templars.<span<spanNode-count limit exceeded>Node-count limit exceeded><supNode-count limit exceeded><spanNode-count limit exceeded>[5<spanNode-count limit exceeded>]<span<spanNode-count limit exceeded>Node-count limit exceeded><supNode-count limit exceeded><spanNode-count limit exceeded>[1<spanNode-count limit exceeded>]<span<spanNode-count limit exceeded>Node-count limit exceeded><supNode-count limit exceeded><spanNode-count limit exceeded>[6<spanNode-count limit exceeded>]<span<spanNode-count limit exceeded>Node-count limit exceeded><supNode-count limit exceeded><spanNode-count limit exceeded>[12<spanNode-count limit exceeded>]

Paradoxes and misconceptions

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To laymen and especially Templars, the creed is very often taken literally as a propagation of nihilism, anarchism, and self-gratification. The pirate Edward Kenway, before being inducted into the Assassin Order, is a prime example of this, misconstruing the creed as a suggestion to "chase every desire."<span<spanNode-count limit exceeded>Node-count limit exceeded><supNode-count limit exceeded><spanNode-count limit exceeded>[10<spanNode-count limit exceeded>] The Templar James Wardrop, in his dying words to Shay Cormac, bemoaned that "if everything is permitted, nothing is safe," implying that the maxim is a call for wanton hedonism.<span<spanNode-count limit exceeded>Node-count limit exceeded><supNode-count limit exceeded><spanNode-count limit exceeded>[14<spanNode-count limit exceeded>] Even the scholarly woman Sofia Sartor was apt to remark on the creed's "cynicism" upon first hearing it cited by her future husband, the Mentor Ezio Auditore.<span<spanNode-count limit exceeded>Node-count limit exceeded><supNode-count limit exceeded><spanNode-count limit exceeded>[3<spanNode-count limit exceeded>]

As Altaïr reported in his codex, it was not an uncommon occurrence that people newly exposed to the creed be waylaid by immorality or driven mad by the disintegration of a sense of security.<span<spanNode-count limit exceeded>Node-count limit exceeded><supNode-count limit exceeded><spanNode-count limit exceeded>[1<spanNode-count limit exceeded>] Experienced Assassins were often obliged to chide their pupils or outsiders for misinterpreting "everything is permitted" as a message to abolish all sense of moral restraint and discipline.<span<spanNode-count limit exceeded>Node-count limit exceeded><supNode-count limit exceeded><spanNode-count limit exceeded>[5<spanNode-count limit exceeded>]<span<spanNode-count limit exceeded>Node-count limit exceeded><supNode-count limit exceeded><spanNode-count limit exceeded>[1<spanNode-count limit exceeded>]<span<spanNode-count limit exceeded>Node-count limit exceeded><supNode-count limit exceeded><spanNode-count limit exceeded>[3<spanNode-count limit exceeded>]<span<spanNode-count limit exceeded>Node-count limit exceeded><supNode-count limit exceeded><spanNode-count limit exceeded>[10<spanNode-count limit exceeded>]

The Assassins' devotion to free will and their assertion of moral relativism can indeed invite questions of whether or not they and their creed are nihilistic or anarchic. Their liberal belief system, along with their support of cultural expression and life,<span<spanNode-count limit exceeded>Node-count limit exceeded><supNode-count limit exceeded><spanNode-count limit exceeded>[1<spanNode-count limit exceeded>]<span<spanNode-count limit exceeded>Node-count limit exceeded><supNode-count limit exceeded><spanNode-count limit exceeded>[3<spanNode-count limit exceeded>]<span<spanNode-count limit exceeded>Node-count limit exceeded><supNode-count limit exceeded><spanNode-count limit exceeded>[15<spanNode-count limit exceeded>] would indicate otherwise. The creed itself, however, implies that all values are meaningless. A contradiction thus arises, which can be summarized as "why do Assassins adhere strictly to beliefs while asserting that none are true?" This can be taken even further into a charge of hypocrisy when one considers that Assassins preach freedom of beliefs and yet use violence to suppress those who reject their own beliefs (of free will), an accusation that the Templars Abu'l Nuqoud and Jubair al Hakim directed upon Altaïr with their dying words.<span<spanNode-count limit exceeded>Node-count limit exceeded><supNode-count limit exceeded><spanNode-count limit exceeded>[5<spanNode-count limit exceeded>]

While Altaïr at the time noted that he had no "satisfactory answer" to these charges, even expressing fear that "none exist," Ezio Auditore and Edward Kenway both provided insight into how these paradoxes are resolved.

In addressing this paradox, Ezio explained that the creed itself is more akin to that of a scientific theory, rather than a doctrine in itself, and therefore it is neither meant to be followed nor obeyed, but merely understood.<span<spanNode-count limit exceeded>Node-count limit exceeded><supNode-count limit exceeded><spanNode-count limit exceeded>[3<spanNode-count limit exceeded>] Edward Kenway, upon his induction into the Assassin Order, posed the same questions to the Mentor Ah Tabai. When Ah Tabai redirected them back to him, the former pirate answered that "it might be that this idea is only the beginning of wisdom, and not its final form."<span<spanNode-count limit exceeded>Node-count limit exceeded><supNode-count limit exceeded><spanNode-count limit exceeded>[10<spanNode-count limit exceeded>] In other words, the creed would be a call to nihilism—and implicitly the Assassins hypocritical for not adhering wholly to it—if it were a dogma itself. It is not, however, the dogma of the Assassins, for it can be said to be the scientific introduction to a belief system, one that only formulates the framework of an ideology, but not the completed complex of ideals itself. As such, while "nothing is true," and all beliefs and moral values can not be validated from an objective standpoint, it does not follow that morals and beliefs should be perceived as false from an ethical standpoint. While "everything is permitted" from a naturalistic perspective, it does not follow that everything must necessarily be ethically permissible. Thus, the creed is descriptive, not normative; it does not reject the notion that there is an absolute truth, nor assert that it does exist. The Assassins regard the creed as an exposition to their concept of wisdom, in that they believe that one must first understand the subjective origins of all beliefs and values before devising his or her own ideology, so as to remain open-minded and unprejudiced, but the relativity of beliefs does not make beliefs insignificant.<span<spanNode-count limit exceeded>Node-count limit exceeded><supNode-count limit exceeded><spanNode-count limit exceeded>[5<spanNode-count limit exceeded>]<span<spanNode-count limit exceeded>Node-count limit exceeded><supNode-count limit exceeded><spanNode-count limit exceeded>[1<spanNode-count limit exceeded>]<span<spanNode-count limit exceeded>Node-count limit exceeded><supNode-count limit exceeded><spanNode-count limit exceeded>[10<spanNode-count limit exceeded>]

While explaining why the creed is not meant to support nihilism or anarchism, it does not resolve the paradox that Assassins murder in the name of peace or kill those that disagree with their own ideals in the name of free will. Altaïr, in attempting to provide an answer, suggested that the creed incorporates an even deeper meaning: that paradoxes exist and are not impossible, or rather that it is because paradoxes exist and cannot be avoided, that "nothing is true.<span<spanNode-count limit exceeded>Node-count limit exceeded><supNode-count limit exceeded><spanNode-count limit exceeded>[1<spanNode-count limit exceeded>]

Methods

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Precision and stealth

Throughout the long centuries of war between the Assassins and Templars, members of both factions often mused on the similarity of their goals and the contrast between their means.<span<spanNode-count limit exceeded>Node-count limit exceeded><supNode-count limit exceeded><spanNode-count limit exceeded>[5<spanNode-count limit exceeded>]<span<spanNode-count limit exceeded>Node-count limit exceeded><supNode-count limit exceeded><spanNode-count limit exceeded>[3<spanNode-count limit exceeded>] Even so, it was a frequent contention of Templars that the Assassins' methods were identical to their own in principle: "a minor evil, for a greater good."<span<spanNode-count limit exceeded>Node-count limit exceeded><supNode-count limit exceeded><spanNode-count limit exceeded>[5<spanNode-count limit exceeded>] Indeed, the Assassins extensively hunted and murdered key individuals they perceived to be corrupt or a danger to humanity, and this became one of their defining attributes.<span<spanNode-count limit exceeded>Node-count limit exceeded><supNode-count limit exceeded><spanNode-count limit exceeded>[5<spanNode-count limit exceeded>]<span<spanNode-count limit exceeded>Node-count limit exceeded><supNode-count limit exceeded><spanNode-count limit exceeded>[1<spanNode-count limit exceeded>] A critical distinction, however, lied in the strict tenet that an Assassin must refrain from harming an innocent. As Altaïr reflected, the Templars were brutal and lacked precision in their methods: burning books wholesale, committing grand massacres, and in later histories, instigating nation-wide purges.<span<spanNode-count limit exceeded>Node-count limit exceeded><supNode-count limit exceeded><spanNode-count limit exceeded>[5<spanNode-count limit exceeded>]

Accordingly, precision was a guiding principle behind the Assassins' technique and a factor behind their focus on stealth and discretion. By reducing collateral damage and the chance of open conflict, casualties would be minimized. Such a tactic aligned with their traditional respect for humanity and life, and in theory (though not always in practice), assassinations were to be carried out only in cases of utmost necessity. Once a target had been killed, agents were dissuaded from rejoicing in the death, and some even adopted the practice of paying last respects, no matter how vile they held them to be.<span<spanNode-count limit exceeded>Node-count limit exceeded><supNode-count limit exceeded><spanNode-count limit exceeded>[16<spanNode-count limit exceeded>]<span<spanNode-count limit exceeded>Node-count limit exceeded><supNode-count limit exceeded><spanNode-count limit exceeded>[1<spanNode-count limit exceeded>]<span<spanNode-count limit exceeded>Node-count limit exceeded><supNode-count limit exceeded><spanNode-count limit exceeded>[12<spanNode-count limit exceeded>]

Although not every Assassin operated on the level of perfectionism exhibited by Francesco Vecellio, <span<spanNode-count limit exceeded>Node-count limit exceeded><supNode-count limit exceeded><spanNode-count limit exceeded>[17<spanNode-count limit exceeded>] prodigious information was expected to be gathered before an assassination is attempted. Failure to do so could yield catastrophic errors, such as Arno Dorian's mistaken murder of the Templar ally Chrétien Lafrenière.<span<spanNode-count limit exceeded>Node-count limit exceeded><supNode-count limit exceeded><spanNode-count limit exceeded>[9<spanNode-count limit exceeded>] For their investigations, Assassins referred to a variety of means including but not limited to: espionage, theft of documents, and mingling with locals.<span<spanNode-count limit exceeded>Node-count limit exceeded><supNode-count limit exceeded><spanNode-count limit exceeded>[5<spanNode-count limit exceeded>]<span<spanNode-count limit exceeded>Node-count limit exceeded><supNode-count limit exceeded><spanNode-count limit exceeded>[1<spanNode-count limit exceeded>]<span<spanNode-count limit exceeded>Node-count limit exceeded><supNode-count limit exceeded><spanNode-count limit exceeded>[6<spanNode-count limit exceeded>]<span<spanNode-count limit exceeded>Node-count limit exceeded><supNode-count limit exceeded><spanNode-count limit exceeded>[17<spanNode-count limit exceeded>]<span<spanNode-count limit exceeded>Node-count limit exceeded><supNode-count limit exceeded><spanNode-count limit exceeded>[9<spanNode-count limit exceeded>]

In some ways, the reforms of Altaïr promoted a greater level of stealth than under the tenure of his predecessor, Rashid ad-din Sinan. Previously, it was common practice for the Levantine Assassins to perform high-risk, near suicidal, yet awe-inspiring assassinations in crowded, public areas.<span<spanNode-count limit exceeded>Node-count limit exceeded><supNode-count limit exceeded><spanNode-count limit exceeded>[9<spanNode-count limit exceeded>] This tactic relied on shock to impress power—through fear—in the public imagination.<span<spanNode-count limit exceeded>Node-count limit exceeded><supNode-count limit exceeded><spanNode-count limit exceeded>[5<spanNode-count limit exceeded>] Under Altaïr's direction, the Assassins retreated further into the shadows, and this approach was generally discouraged, if not outright abolished, and restrictions on formerly banned methods such as poison were lifted. While some members were impatient with the secrecy demanded by the brotherhood, feeling that it hampered progress and influence, Altaïr feared the great risks of exposure to public society. Ever mindful that Assassins could be branded as madmen and destroyed if they remained an open target, as evident in the Fall of Masyaf to the Mongol Empire, Altaïr withdrew the brotherhood further into secrecy. Thus, security was another reason for the Assassins' policy of stealth.<span<spanNode-count limit exceeded>Node-count limit exceeded><supNode-count limit exceeded><spanNode-count limit exceeded>[5<spanNode-count limit exceeded>]

Despite this, it was not unknown for Assassins even after the High Middle Ages to resort to open conflict, and these uncommon tactics could range from the instigation of riots, employment of mercenaries, or even a direct militaristic assault on enemy bases.<span<spanNode-count limit exceeded>Node-count limit exceeded><supNode-count limit exceeded><spanNode-count limit exceeded>[3<spanNode-count limit exceeded>]<span<spanNode-count limit exceeded>Node-count limit exceeded><supNode-count limit exceeded><spanNode-count limit exceeded>[12<spanNode-count limit exceeded>]<span<spanNode-count limit exceeded>Node-count limit exceeded><supNode-count limit exceeded><spanNode-count limit exceeded>[14<spanNode-count limit exceeded>]

Social reforms

In Altaïr's time, the Assassins were markedly apprehensive that public promotion of their ideals could yield societal reforms. As a result, at first much of their activities revolved only around the elimination or sabotage of those they believed threatened the rights of humanity. With their dream that humanity arrive at utopia through free will, their way of guidance was often indirect, with an emphasis on individuals learning through self-experience. For instance, their way of teaching Ezio against the path of vengeance involved allowing him to experience that journey personally.

Over time, the brotherhood's policies evolved and during the Italian Renaissance, the Assassins under the leadership of Ezio Auditore became more active at winning the hearts of the public. It was Ezio's conviction that the strength of the Assassins derived from the strength of the common people, a sentiment initially rebuffed by the cynical Mentor Niccolò Machiavelli. Accordingly, the Assassins' campaign in Rome was prolific in rehabilitating a city crumbling under the weight of Borgia corruption, such as funding renovations, sponsoring merchants, and rescuing civilians.<span<spanNode-count limit exceeded>Node-count limit exceeded><supNode-count limit exceeded><spanNode-count limit exceeded>[6<spanNode-count limit exceeded>]<span<spanNode-count limit exceeded>Node-count limit exceeded><supNode-count limit exceeded><spanNode-count limit exceeded>[8<spanNode-count limit exceeded>]

The order continued to adapt and reform gradually through the centuries, and by the 20th century, their activities began to shift over to non-violent social reforms rather than aggressive enforcement. The transition was tenuous: certain branches, such as the fledgling branch established in North America by Achilles Davenport and the Assassin-sponsored movement Narodnaya Volya engaged in operations smacking of terrorism. It was only after World War II that the Assassins definitively refocused their activities towards inspiring change through example. Assassinations became far rarer, and until the Great Purge of 2000, the shadow war with the Templars defused to one waged through covert tampering of political elections instead.<span<spanNode-count limit exceeded>Node-count limit exceeded><supNode-count limit exceeded><spanNode-count limit exceeded>[8<spanNode-count limit exceeded>]

Practices

Initiation into the Order

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After declaring oneself an Assassin under the Creed, a trainee would be tested to prove their worth over an unspecified period of time. For example, Ezio was tasked with hunting down Templar conspirators over years before he was officially inducted,<span<spanNode-count limit exceeded>Node-count limit exceeded><supNode-count limit exceeded><spanNode-count limit exceeded>?'"`UNIQ76e7d3cfc12a754-<spanNode-count limit exceeded>Node-count limit exceeded-000000CC-QINU`"'?1<spanNode-count limit exceeded>?'"`UNIQ76e7d3cfc12a754-<spanNode-count limit exceeded>Node-count limit exceeded-000000CD-QINU`"'? whereas Assassin apprentices had to gain enough experience in their contract missions across the world before joining the Assassins Guild as fully-fledged members.<span<spanNode-count limit exceeded>Node-count limit exceeded><supNode-count limit exceeded><spanNode-count limit exceeded>?'"`UNIQ76e7d3cfc12a754-<spanNode-count limit exceeded>Node-count limit exceeded-000000CE-QINU`"'?6<spanNode-count limit exceeded>?'"`UNIQ76e7d3cfc12a754-<spanNode-count limit exceeded>Node-count limit exceeded-000000CF-QINU`"'?

Another significant focus of an Assassin's training was maneuverability. By the time an Assassin reached the rank of Master Assassin, they were also a master of freerunning, an early form of

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<div<spanNode-count limit exceeded>Node-count limit exceeded>{{<spanNode-count limit exceeded>Node-count limit exceeded|Organizations|HiddenOnes|Assassins|Good}} {{<spanNode-count limit exceeded>Node-count limit exceeded|Organizations|HiddenOnes|Assassins|Good}} {{<spanNode-count limit exceeded>Node-count limit exceeded|Organizations|HiddenOnes|Assassins|Good}} {{<spanNode-count limit exceeded>Node-count limit exceeded|Organizations|HiddenOnes|Assassins|Good}}<br<spanNode-count limit exceeded>Node-count limit exceeded/>extensively utilized by the Assassins. Widely seen as alien by the general populace, this method of movement allowed the Assassins to reach areas not otherwise accessible. Freerunning gave the Assassins a significant advantage over nearly all of their enemies and city guards, and could be used to traverse crowded urban environments quickly and efficiently.

However, not all Assassins were trained from birth, particularly those recruited later in life. Trainees had to learn the ways of their craft through personal experience and the teachings from other Assassins in the field. For example, Ezio learned many techniques from other Assassins and allies like Paola, his uncle Mario Auditore and the thief Rosa, as well as several fundamental assassination techniques through reading Altaïr's Codex.<span<spanNode-count limit exceeded>Node-count limit exceeded><supNode-count limit exceeded><spanNode-count limit exceeded>?'"`UNIQ76e7d3cfc12a754-<spanNode-count limit exceeded>Node-count limit exceeded-000000D8-QINU`"'?1<spanNode-count limit exceeded>?'"`UNIQ76e7d3cfc12a754-<spanNode-count limit exceeded>Node-count limit exceeded-000000D9-QINU`"'? Centuries later, Edward Kenway used skills learned through piracy to better himself as an Assassin.<span<spanNode-count limit exceeded>Node-count limit exceeded><supNode-count limit exceeded><spanNode-count limit exceeded>?'"`UNIQ76e7d3cfc12a754-<spanNode-count limit exceeded>Node-count limit exceeded-000000DA-QINU`"'?10<spanNode-count limit exceeded>?'"`UNIQ76e7d3cfc12a754-<spanNode-count limit exceeded>Node-count limit exceeded-000000DB-QINU`"'?

Unlike certain other factions, the Assassins did not have a specific style of fighting. Aside from their signature Hidden Blade, each branch used weapons and fighting styles native to the area. For example, the Ottoman Assassins favored curved daggers,<span<spanNode-count limit exceeded>Node-count limit exceeded><supNode-count limit exceeded><spanNode-count limit exceeded>?'"`UNIQ76e7d3cfc12a754-<spanNode-count limit exceeded>Node-count limit exceeded-000000DC-QINU`"'?3<spanNode-count limit exceeded>?'"`UNIQ76e7d3cfc12a754-<spanNode-count limit exceeded>Node-count limit exceeded-000000DD-QINU`"'? while the Chinese Assassins were trained in

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Node-count limit exceeded Throughout the ages, the Brotherhood has had many weapons at its disposal. During ancient times, the Assassins did not have any standard attire or equipment, but ancient Assassins were known for using spears, poisons, bows, and other armaments.<span<spanNode-count limit exceeded>Node-count limit exceeded><supNode-count limit exceeded><spanNode-count limit exceeded>?'"`UNIQ76e7d3cfc12a754-<spanNode-count limit exceeded>Node-count limit exceeded-000000E0-QINU`"'?1<spanNode-count limit exceeded>?'"`UNIQ76e7d3cfc12a754-<spanNode-count limit exceeded>Node-count limit exceeded-000000E1-QINU`"'? By the time of the High Middle Ages, they had assumed white as their general color and robes with beaked hoods as their common clothing.

This age also marked the appearance of the Assassins' signature weapon, the Hidden Blade, a retractable blade first conceptualized by Darius. Other weapons used by the Assassins included swords, short blades and throwing knives, though the Order forbade the use of poison as "a coward's tool". Many such rules changed under the leadership of Altaïr, who pioneered several inventions and techniques with the assistance of an Apple of Eden. These included the Poison Blade, the Hidden Gun, and new types of assassinations which dramatically altered the practices of the Order.<span<spanNode-count limit exceeded>Node-count limit exceeded><supNode-count limit exceeded><spanNode-count limit exceeded>?'"`UNIQ76e7d3cfc12a754-<spanNode-count limit exceeded>Node-count limit exceeded-000000E2-QINU`"'?5<spanNode-count limit exceeded>?'"`UNIQ76e7d3cfc12a754-<spanNode-count limit exceeded>Node-count limit exceeded-000000E3-QINU`"'?

From the Renaissance onward, the Assassins' equipment did not change significantly, but some weapons were added to their arsenal. The use of armor over robes had become popular, although the white robes with beaked hoods persisted. Ezio Auditore and other Italian Assassins used a Hidden Gun, crossbow, poison darts, smoke bombs, and a secondary Hidden Blade, among more conventional weapons like swords and knives. Some regions also had unique weapons not seen elsewhere, like the tomahawk of Ratonhnhaké:ton or Hookblades used in the early 16th century Ottoman Empire. Still others, such as the Caribbean Assassins, did not have beaked hoods as part of their standard attire.

Under the Mentorship of the Sikh Jayadeep Mir, the British Brotherhood adopted the fear tactics developed by the Indian Brotherhood, began utilizing fear tactics through the employment of hallucinogens and fear bombs. By scaring enemies from battle, the Indian and British Assassins could avoid being forced to kill them, thereby mitigating casualties.

Even among Assassins primarily trained for combat roles, there has been much variation in specialization. The Italian Brotherhood of the early 16th century deployed teams such as that of Francesco Vecellio which had among its members Tessa Varzi, a herbalist with an unrivaled knowledge of concocting poisons, and Cipriano Enu, a masterful archer.<span<spanNode-count limit exceeded>Node-count limit exceeded><supNode-count limit exceeded><spanNode-count limit exceeded>?'"`UNIQ76e7d3cfc12a754-<spanNode-count limit exceeded>Node-count limit exceeded-000000F8-QINU`"'?17<spanNode-count limit exceeded>?'"`UNIQ76e7d3cfc12a754-<spanNode-count limit exceeded>Node-count limit exceeded-000000F9-QINU`"'?

Node-count limit exceeded Depending on the branch, specializations differed and could be more formalized. During the era of the Spanish Inquisition, the Spanish Brotherhood classified its agents as either Shadow, Enforcer, or Specialist with each further broken down into three subdivisions. Shadows could focus their training more exclusively towards pure stealth, the art of assassination, or freerunning. Enforcers were warriors whose approach could be geared more towards an offensive style, defensive style, or employing crowd control tactics. Specialists provided field support as medics, saboteurs who disarmed traps, or in other miscellaneous roles.<span<spanNode-count limit exceeded>Node-count limit exceeded><supNode-count limit exceeded><spanNode-count limit exceeded>?'"`UNIQ76e7d3cfc12a754-<spanNode-count limit exceeded>Node-count limit exceeded-000000FA-QINU`"'?21<spanNode-count limit exceeded>?'"`UNIQ76e7d3cfc12a754-<spanNode-count limit exceeded>Node-count limit exceeded-000000FB-QINU`"'?

Node-count limit exceeded The French Brotherhood utilized a similar system of nine classes which recognized a wide range of operational styles. Derived from four parameters, combat, stealth, parkour, and tactics (i.e. relying on tools), eight of the classes corresponded to either one of these specializations or was a hybrid of two; the ninth was a generalist field that encompassed all in equal measure as a jack of all trades. These classes are as follows:<span<spanNode-count limit exceeded>Node-count limit exceeded><supNode-count limit exceeded><spanNode-count limit exceeded>?'"`UNIQ76e7d3cfc12a754-<spanNode-count limit exceeded>Node-count limit exceeded-000000FC-QINU`"'?9<spanNode-count limit exceeded>?'"`UNIQ76e7d3cfc12a754-<spanNode-count limit exceeded>Node-count limit exceeded-000000FD-QINU`"'?<span<spanNode-count limit exceeded>Node-count limit exceeded><supNode-count limit exceeded><spanNode-count limit exceeded>?'"`UNIQ76e7d3cfc12a754-<spanNode-count limit exceeded>Node-count limit exceeded-000000FE-QINU`"'?19<spanNode-count limit exceeded>?'"`UNIQ76e7d3cfc12a754-<spanNode-count limit exceeded>Node-count limit exceeded-000000FF-QINU`"'?

Prowlers who focused all their training on mastering the art of social stealth relied almost exclusively on slow and steady, low-profile assassinations rather than the swift, high-profile assassinations of popular imagination.
Brawlers, being combat purists, were akin to the Enforcers of the Spanish Brotherhood. An exception to the stealth ethos of the Assassins, Brawlers engaged in direct combat equipped with heavy plate and mail armor and often a heavy weapon such as a two-handed sword. Their role was to defend their comrades as a tank or create a diversion with their own presence.
Daredevils who mastered freerunning exclusively took a pacifistic approach where their speed and navigational expertise facilitated swift entries and getaways without ever engaging with hostiles.
Tricksters were essentially snipers armed with a musket or rifle to shoot enemies from afar. Much like archers of an older age, they provided long range cover for their squad mates, cleared rooftops of enemies, or performed assassinations from a safe distance.
Infilitrators were those who employed the traditional methods iconic with the Assassins: a fast-paced yet meticulous fusion of parkour and stealth for swift and precise assassinations. These Assassins had to be able to rapidly shift between the demands of remaining undetected and acting quickly and efficiently as the situation develops.
Rioters were what the French Brotherhood called those who relied upon<div<spanNode-count limit exceeded>Node-count limit exceeded>

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<br<spanNode-count limit exceeded>Node-count limit exceeded/>. They sprung from hiding to ambush enemies in berserker-like fashion before merging back into the environment.

Tormentors were so-called because they sowed chaos in their enemies by manipulating the environment from the shadows. They relied upon gadgets such as bombs and the Phantom Blade to rain confusion and strike terror of an impending yet undetectable danger looming around them.
Handlers were soldiers with light equipment, such as a single cuirass, a sword, and a pistol who fought conventionally against enemies.

These classes were not necessarily rigid, serving more as templates which permitted flexibility to accommodate the unique skills and sensibilities of French Assassins. They illustrate that although mainstream Assassin methodology mandated discretion, there has historically been a recognition of the need for specialized roles which did not conform strictly with the classical approach. Exceptions were allowed for Assassins to be battle specialists, such as the Spanish Enforcers or French Brawlers, who confronted enemies aggressively and directly, particularly as part of a larger strategem to divert attention away from fellow Assassins in charge of stealth infiltration.<span<spanNode-count limit exceeded>Node-count limit exceeded><supNode-count limit exceeded><spanNode-count limit exceeded>?'"`UNIQ76e7d3cfc12a754-<spanNode-count limit exceeded>Node-count limit exceeded-00000100-QINU`"'?9<spanNode-count limit exceeded>?'"`UNIQ76e7d3cfc12a754-<spanNode-count limit exceeded>Node-count limit exceeded-00000101-QINU`"'? Such tactics were not unprecedented and were akin to the way mercenaries were hired and employed by the Italian Brotherhood.<span<spanNode-count limit exceeded>Node-count limit exceeded><supNode-count limit exceeded><spanNode-count limit exceeded>?'"`UNIQ76e7d3cfc12a754-<spanNode-count limit exceeded>Node-count limit exceeded-00000102-QINU`"'?6<spanNode-count limit exceeded>?'"`UNIQ76e7d3cfc12a754-<spanNode-count limit exceeded>Node-count limit exceeded-00000103-QINU`"'?<span<spanNode-count limit exceeded>Node-count limit exceeded><supNode-count limit exceeded><spanNode-count limit exceeded>?'"`UNIQ76e7d3cfc12a754-<spanNode-count limit exceeded>Node-count limit exceeded-00000104-QINU`"'?1<spanNode-count limit exceeded>?'"`UNIQ76e7d3cfc12a754-<spanNode-count limit exceeded>Node-count limit exceeded-00000105-QINU`"'?

Node-count limit exceeded Historically, Assassins always showed great respect for the dead. Their own were buried in crypts or large tombs, wrapped in a cloth shroud with their red sash spread across the body. The greatest Assassins were venerated in large tombs and entombed within sarcophagi, their likeness emblazoned on the lid and their symbol venerated in the flags of the tomb.<span<spanNode-count limit exceeded>Node-count limit exceeded><supNode-count limit exceeded><spanNode-count limit exceeded>?'"`UNIQ76e7d3cfc12a754-<spanNode-count limit exceeded>Node-count limit exceeded-00000106-QINU`"'?1<spanNode-count limit exceeded>?'"`UNIQ76e7d3cfc12a754-<spanNode-count limit exceeded>Node-count limit exceeded-00000107-QINU`"'?

For all assassination targets, unless circumstances prevented, Assassins would give them their last rites after they had passed away. Early in his career as an Assassin, Ezio Auditore was reprimanded by his uncle Mario for disrespecting the corpse of his target and longtime rival Vieri de' Pazzi, instilling in him a respect for the dead.<span<spanNode-count limit exceeded>Node-count limit exceeded><supNode-count limit exceeded><spanNode-count limit exceeded>?'"`UNIQ76e7d3cfc12a754-<spanNode-count limit exceeded>Node-count limit exceeded-00000108-QINU`"'?1<spanNode-count limit exceeded>?'"`UNIQ76e7d3cfc12a754-<spanNode-count limit exceeded>Node-count limit exceeded-00000109-QINU`"'?

Node-count limit exceeded When an Assassin had behaved irrationally on several occasions, the Assassin Council could call for a vote of expulsion. The expulsion would include that the Assassin was stripped of their rank and exiled from the Brotherhood.

The Assassin Arno Dorian was expelled from the Order, after he had defied the Council's orders, performed several assassinations without the Council's consent and in their words "flouted the Creed at every step".<span<spanNode-count limit exceeded>Node-count limit exceeded><supNode-count limit exceeded><spanNode-count limit exceeded>?'"`UNIQ76e7d3cfc12a754-<spanNode-count limit exceeded>Node-count limit exceeded-0000010A-QINU`"'?9<spanNode-count limit exceeded>?'"`UNIQ76e7d3cfc12a754-<spanNode-count limit exceeded>Node-count limit exceeded-0000010B-QINU`"'?

In cases of extreme disregard for the Creed's tenets, an expelled member may further become the target of assassination by their former comrades, such examples being Perotto Calderon for the theft of the Shroud of Eden, and Shay Cormac for the theft of the Voynich manuscript.

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<sNode-count limit exceeded>In the High Middle Ages, an Assassin would prove one's target had been slain by dipping a white feather in their target's blood. This practice had fallen out of use by the Renaissance, but appeared to have been revived by the Victorian Era. Both Jacob and Evie Frye engaged in the practice, though they used white handkerchiefs rather than feathers.
<sNode-count limit exceeded>Rebecca Crane noted that both the Assassin and Templar Orders had existed since before the formation of the Hashshashin and Order of the Knights Templar respectively, and queried what the two organizations called themselves beforehand.<span<spanNode-count limit exceeded>Node-count limit exceeded><supNode-count limit exceeded><spanNode-count limit exceeded>?'"`UNIQ76e7d3cfc12a754-<spanNode-count limit exceeded>Node-count limit exceeded-0000010C-QINU`"'?22<spanNode-count limit exceeded>?'"`UNIQ76e7d3cfc12a754-<spanNode-count limit exceeded>Node-count limit exceeded-0000010D-QINU`"'?

- <sNode-count limit exceeded>However, such an instance of the Assassins' earlier name is known: the Roman Assassins called themselves Liberalis Circulum, Latin for Circle of Liberals.
- <sNode-count limit exceeded>Historically, the Hashshashin were a sect of radical Persian Shia Muslims who, under Hassan-i Sabbāh, were said to be given a drug called hashish, under the influence of which they experienced "the Garden of Paradise". In exchange, they were expected to murder Sabbah's religious and political rivals, and due to the euphoria they experienced as an effect of the drug, they became unwaveringly loyal to Sabbah.
- <sNode-count limit exceeded>The word Hashashashin also gave rise to the word 'assassin'.
- <sNode-count limit exceeded>The first and the third tenets of the Creed are mostly based upon the sayings of Islam. The first tenet of not to kill innocents matches with many hadeeths and verses of the Quran. The third and last tenet of the Creed, compromising the Brotherhood, refers to waging war against God in Islam and breaking the trust of other people. In both the Brotherhood and Islam, the punishment for violating these rulings is death.

<sNode-count limit exceeded>Node-count limit exceeded The Assassins Order has appeared in every medium released to date.

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