William of Montferrat

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William of Montferrat is the fifth target ordered by Al Mualim for Altaïr to assassinate. He is found in the rich district of Acre.

Description

William serves King Richard as Regent Lord of Acre, and spends most of his time training and preparing his men for the "coming war". However, few of his soldiers have actually been sent to join Richard at Arsuf, leading people to wonder what "war" he's referring to. It is implied that he was appointed by Richard to put pressure on his son Conrad who has clashed with the King.

William always demands the best from his men, and is quick to point out flaws, while being reluctant to give praise. He is often shouting, and rarely sounds happy. He is also set in the belief that might makes right, and spends countless hours training his men.

The common opinion had been that William planned to kill Richard and turn Acre over to Conrad, but to Altair's shock he seems to hate his son in reality claiming; "My son is an arse, barely fit to lead his host let alone a kingdom." His true purpose was apparently to turn the city over to the Templar's, and for this reason he had been taking food from the people, with the aim of insuring it would be rationed properly during "the lean times" (presumably he expected resistance to the Templar's plans), and by training and disciplining his men and people unmercifully, he hoped to instil in them the value of discipline and order, to prepare for the new world.

Death

William of Montferrat was assassinated within his personal quarters located in the Kings Citadel, shortly after a visit from King Richard of England, giving Altaïr the opportunity he needed to get close enough to kill him. The assassin managed to stealthily penetrate into the lord's citadel fortress, and quickly put an end to his life. After observing William's and Richard's heated discussion safely under the cloak of the noble crowd, Altaïr pierced the fortress in search of his assassination target. He finally came to a cornered keep, a small fortress within a fortress. Altaïr listened as William belittled his men with razor barbed insults intended on encouraging them for better performance and stronger sense of duty. Silently approaching and skillfully eliminating archers, Altaïr finally moved into position. Remaining highly in tune with the surrounding environment, Altaïr patiently watched and waited for William to perfectly position himself for his own death. As William continued his speech and slowly paced toward the scaffold, Altaïr quickly dropped onto it, focused on his target, and before anyone even began to take notice of the impending danger leaped towards William, his Hidden Blade fully extended. Even as William took notice of the descending assassin it was too late, for by the time he realized it he was already being forced onto his back, and his throat was punctured severely by the assassin's steel Hidden Blade. Williams public assassination is recorded as the fifth major public figure to be publicly assassinated by Altaïr, and his death is the second within Acre.

Inspiration

He is based off the real life William V, Marquess of Montferrat, who died in 1191.

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