|
|
| Line 1: |
Line 1: |
| {{Era|Brotherhood|pl|DYL|Revelations|Assassins}} | | {{Era|PL|Templars}} |
| {{Apprentice Revamp|-S-|War Clown}} | | {{Apprentice Revamp|-S-|GuardDog}} |
| {{quote|Let me repay your kindness with action, Assassin. If you will have me, I will join your cause.|An Apprentice to Ezio, during 1511.|Assassin's Creed: Revelations}} | | {{WPtargets}} |
| {{Faction Infobox
| |
| |image = Apprentices-render.png
| |
| |imgdesc =
| |
| |founder = [[Ezio Auditore da Firenze]]
| |
| |leader = [[Mentor]]
| |
| |headquarters = [[Tiber Island headquarters]]<br> [[Rome]], [[Italy]]<br><br>
| |
| [[Galata headquarters]]<br>
| |
| [[Constantinople]], [[Ottoman Empire]]
| |
| |formed = 1501<br>Rome, Italy
| |
| |notable = *[[Francesco Vecellio]]
| |
| * [[Cipriano Enu]]
| |
| * [[Tessa Varzi]]
| |
| * [[Giovanni Borgia]]}}
| |
| The '''Apprentices''' were members of the [[Assassins|Assassin Order]], training to become fully fledged Assassins. During the [[Renaissance]], they were also known as the '''Assassin Recruits''' - [[citizens]] who have joined the Order at the behest of [[Ezio Auditore da Firenze|Ezio Auditore]] in [[Rome]] and [[Constantinople]], both to strengthen the Assassin Brotherhood's presence in the region and simultaneously combat the [[Templars|Templar]] threat.
| |
|
| |
|
| ==History==
| | [[File:Swap.png|220px|right|thumb|Albert (right), moments before his death.]] |
| {{dialogue|Ezio|To win this war, Machiavelli, we need loyal soldiers. By recruiting enemies of the state, we arm those who have been disarmed by the Borgia.|Machiavelli|Go then. Recruit our first novices.|Ezio and Machiavelli, regarding Ezio's plan to recruit allies.|Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood}}
| | '''Erich Albert''' (unknown - 1914) was a [[wikipedia:Germany|German]] general during [[wikipedia:World War I|World War I]] and a member of the [[Templars|Templar Order]]. Rumors spoke well of his intelligence. |
|
| |
|
| ===High Middle Ages===
| | During the war, the Germans and British called a truce on Christmas. When Albert became comfortable with the truce, he invited a British medic to the German camp to perform surgery on a German soldier. As soon as the surgery was done, the medic noticed Albert's ring, which had a red cross on it. Albert offered to trade it with him, but when the medic raised his hands to show that he had no ring in return, Albert noticed the [[Assassins|Assassin]] burn mark on the medic's ring finger. The medic immediately impaled Albert with his [[Hidden Blade|hidden blade]], killing him. |
| [[File:Mentor's_keeper_5.png|thumb|250px|Altaïr and several Apprentices fighting the Templars.]]
| | ==Source== |
| An Apprentice was usually born into the Order, with either one or both of their parents being an Assassin, as was the case with [[Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad]] and [[Abbas Sofian]], and would begin their training from a young age, progressing through several tiers before being promoted to the rank of ''Assassin''. The Levantine Apprentices primarily trained in the [[Masyaf]] fortress, which was also the Assassins' headquarters in the region, often attacked by both Crusaders and Saracens alike during the Crusades.
| | *''[[Assassin's Creed: Project Legacy]]'' - Holidays - [[Chapter 1 - Ghosts of Christmas Past]] |
|
| |
|
| Under the leadership of Altaïr, the Assassin Order was rebuilt, with new techniques created and rules and restrictions undone. Using knowledge gained from an [[Apples of Eden|Apple of Eden]] to do so, the Levantine Assassins were eventually spread to different locations around the globe - an effort to make the Assassin Order a more global organization - with the techniques developed by their Levantine brethren, becoming widely incorporated to many other Assassin branches in the process.
| | {{DEFAULTSORT:Albert, Erich}} |
| | |
| ===Rome===
| |
| Having witnessed the overwhelming odds that the Assassins faced in Rome, as well as the oppression of the people by those serving the [[House of Borgia|Borgia]], Ezio convinced [[Niccolò Machiavelli]], that they would require loyal soldiers, with the strength and courage to face the forces of [[Cesare Borgia]]. Machiavelli reluctantly agreed, and Ezio's recruitment efforts began.<ref name="Brotherhood" />
| |
| | |
| The first novices were recruited during 1501, shortly after the [[Infiltration of the Castel Sant'Angelo|rescue]] of Caterina Sforza from [[Castel Sant'Angelo]]. Ezio traveled throughout the city, assisting the citizens wherever and whenever he could. He found many either terrorized, or fighting against the city guards. Upon doing so, he would offer each citizen the chance to join the Brotherhood and, should they accept, he would send them to Machiavelli to officially be made an Assassin recruit. The Apprentices subsequently devoted themselves to learning the ways of the [[Assassins|Assassin Order]], driven by the desire for revenge against the Borgia for oppressing the city and its people.<ref name="Brotherhood" />
| |
| | |
| [[File:People_5.png|thumb|left|250px|Ezio recruiting a citizen in Rome.]]
| |
| The Brotherhood steadily grew over time, operating with multiple Recruits, male and female, whom were instructed in combat, [[Free Running|free running]], [[pickpocketing]], [[blending]] and other skills necessary for them to become fully fledged Assassins. Operating from the [[Tiber Island headquarters]], the apprentices were often sent on [[Contracts in Project Legacy|contract missions]] across Europe and Asia, in order to improve their skills, gain first-hand combat experience and aid the Assassin cause. When not on assignments, the Apprentices would support Ezio directly, coming to his aid when called upon.<ref name="Project Legacy">''[[Assassin's Creed: Project Legacy]]''</ref> <ref name="Brotherhood" />
| |
| | |
| One such occurence happened after Ezio's visit to the [[La Volpe Addormentata|thieves' guild headquarters]]. He and [[La Volpe]] learned that the Borgia knew about Volpe's spies, an occurence which Volpe used to affirm his previous suspicions of Machiavelli's treachery, given several questionable acts that Machiavelli seemed to be involved with. Volpe refused to lend Ezio the help of his thieves to save [[Pietro Rossi]] from being killed by [[Micheletto Corella]], Cesare's personal assassin. This forced Ezio to enlist the aid of his recruits instead. Micheletto's plan was to infiltrate the [[Colosseum Passion Play|play]] that was to be held at the [[Colosseum]]. Ezio followed him, and had his Apprentices eliminate Micheletto's men, so that they could take their places. Disguised, the recruits and Ezio successfully infiltrated the Colosseum and foiled Micheletto's plan, with the Assassins protecting their leader from the Borgia guards, as Ezio moved Pietro to safety.<ref name="Brotherhood" />
| |
| | |
| [[File:Human_Cargo_3.png|thumb|left|250px|An Apprentice assassinates Silvestro Sabbatini.]]
| |
| The Apprentices were also involved in the [[Assassination of the Templar Agents]], an event during which several key figures, that ensured the continued oppression of Rome by the Borgia, were eliminated. [[Malfatto]], who was responsible for murders of several courtesans in the [[Centro district]], and [[Silvestro Sabbatini]], a slave trader involved in kidnapping people who were interferring with the affairs of the Borgia, were killed by Ezio's recruits, rather than Ezio himself.<ref name="Brotherhood">''[[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood]]''</ref> A team of Apprentices led by [[Francesco Vecellio]], also eliminated [[Rocco Tiepolo]], [[Cahin]], [[Caha]] and [[Baltasar de Silva]] while working with [[Fiora Cavazza]], a courtesan and a traitor to the Borgia.<ref name="Project Legacy" />
| |
| {{-}} | |
| | |
| ===Constantinople===
| |
| [[File:The_beggars_3.png|thumb|250px|Ezio recruiting a citizen in Constantinople.]]
| |
| In Constantinople, Ezio was able to recruit Apprentices for the [[Turkish Assassins|Turkish Assassin Guild]], in a similar manner as he had done in Rome a few years previously. Some recruits were citizens that Ezio helped out by completing certain tasks, while others were saved from the Byzantines. Once recruited, Ezio could send the recruits out on contract missions in the Mediterranean, eroding Templar influence in key cities and eventually retaking these cities for the Assassins. Ezio could also assign up to five recruits to be stationed at a reclaimed city, helping the Assassins maintain control and protecting the city from the Templar forces.<ref name="Revelations" />
| |
| | |
| Some citizens required that Ezio demonstrate his speed and prowess in a race or pickpocketing challenge, while another sought Ezio's help in protecting his family from the Byzantines. Other tasks involved such things as winning a fist fight, or helping a woman eliminate the Templars that destroyed her shop.<ref name="Revelations">''[[Assassin's Creed: Revelations]]''</ref>
| |
| | |
| ==Mobilization==
| |
| [[File:EzioCalls.jpg|thumb|left|250px|The Apprentices performing an Arrow Storm.]]
| |
| During his own missions, Ezio was able to have up to six Apprentices support him. They would commonly operate in pairs or alone, and were often called upon to perform Arrow Storms (wherein they would fire arrows upon any target from above), to engage in direct combat with an enemy, or to perform assassinations. Each time, Ezio would signal the Apprentices to strike by raising his arm and clenching his fist.<ref name="Brotherhood" />
| |
| | |
| When operating without their [[Mentor]], the Apprentices would move in teams, led by a single Assassin appointed by Ezio. Together, they would complete missions across [[Italy]] (such as Rome, [[Florence]], and [[Venice]]) as well as the rest of Europe and beyond (including [[Constantinople]], [[Lisbon]], [[Barcelona]], [[Moscow]], [[Paris]], [[London]], [[Cologne]], [[Vienna]] and [[Calicut]]). One such team was led by [[Francesco Vecellio]], and notably featured [[Cipriano Enu]], who specialized in archery, and the stealthy [[Tessa Varzi]], who was skilled with poisons. The team participated in the Defense of [[Camerino]], the rescue of several prisoners Cesare Borgia was to execute merely for his entertainment, and the protection of astronomers Novara and [[Nicolaus Copernicus]].<ref name="Project Legacy" /> Though the Apprentices would not always survive these missions, should they succeed, they would return with greater skill and experience, as well as money and items that they had obtained during their travels.<ref name="Brotherhood" /><ref name="Project Legacy" />
| |
| | |
| [[File:Ahged.PNG|thumb|250px|Ezio commanding the Ottoman Apprentices.]]
| |
| Likewise, while in Constantinople, Ezio could send his recruits out to cities in the Mediterranean (including [[Alexandria]], [[Algiers]], [[Athens]], [[Bursa]], [[Damascus]], [[Genoa]], [[Jerusalem]], [[Lisbon]], [[Madrid]], [[Marseille]], [[Rhodes]], [[Tripoli]], and [[Tunis]]) to complete contracts. At first, the cities were controlled by Templars; only by sending Assassins into the city could the Brotherhood erode the Templar influence and eventually reclaim the city for the Assassins. Once reclaimed, Ezio could channel some of his income into these cities to improve their infrastructure, which in turn provided him with additional money and supplies. Assassins stationed at reclaimed cities would also receive extra training.<ref name="Revelations" />
| |
| | |
| [[File:DenDefense1.jpg|thumb||250px|left|Ezio coordinating a Den Defense.]]Due to the absence of Sultan [[Bayezid II]], the Byzantine Templars' influence in Constantinople grew to a point, where the Byzantines were able to take over several [[Assassin Dens]] located in the city, using them as staging grounds, locking down the surrounding area and preventing Ezio from restoring the city, but eventually he was able to reclaim several of the Dens. Such activities didn't go unnoticed however, and for every reclaimed Den, there was a possibility of the Templars attacking one that was already under the Assassin control. If such an event occured, Ezio once again relied on his Recruits, coordinating the [[Den Defense|defense of a contested Den]] from an adjacent rooftop, supporting the recruits with the [[Hidden Gun|hidden gun]] if he saw the need to, but otherwise concentrating on tactics and placement of the Apprentices.<ref name="Revelations" />
| |
| | |
| ==Equipment and skills==
| |
| [[File:Mentor's_return_7.png|thumb|250px|Altaïr, greeted by Levantine Apprentices after his return from exile.]]
| |
| The Apprentices during the [[Third Crusade]] primarily wore generic white robes. Under [[Rashid ad-Din Sinan|Al Mualim's]] rule, each rank of Assassins had their unique set of robes, with Al Mualim himself dressing fully in black. However, after Altaïr consolidated power in the Brotherhood, the rank-based clothing was discarded, with all Assassins wearing the same set of standard robes, while Altaïr himself continued to wear his Master Assassin robes for the majority of his life. The Levantine Assassins were the first Assassin branch to use most of the techniques later adopted by other Assassin branches, including air assassinations, ledge assassinations and assassinations from hiding spots; all of which were invented by Altaïr and Malik.
| |
| | |
| Nonetheless, the Levantine Assassins wielded no special equipment, only primarily being equipped with a [[Hidden Blade|hidden blade]], [[Swords and Maces|swords]], a [[Short blades|short blades]], and [[Throwing knives|throwing knives]], with the amount of weaponry depending on the rank of the Assassin. On very rare occasions, an Assassin was allowed to use two hidden blades; however, only a limited amount of Assassins were given this privilege, as the materials required to create a hidden blade were scarce at the time.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II" />
| |
| | |
| [[File:Sentinel_P1_2.png|thumb|left|250px|An Ottoman Apprentice performing a double assassination.]]
| |
| Apprentices were trained in a wide variety of skills and weaponry, including all the weapon types used by the previous Assassin generations, as well as [[Heavy weapons|heavy weapons]], [[Long weapons|long weapons]], , [[crossbow]]s, [[Poison darts|poisons]], [[Hidden Gun|guns]] and [[Bombs|explosives]]. They were also capable of fighting on [[Horses|horseback]].<ref name="Brotherhood" /><ref name="Project Legacy" /><ref name="Revelations" />
| |
| | |
| The Apprentice's armor and weaponry could be customized however they chose, allowing them to decide whether they would specialize in attack, defense, or both. Typically, an Apprentice began with basic leather armor, eventually adding several more pieces. As they advanced through the ranks, the armor became reinforced with metal parts. Eventually, a Recruit would resort to using a set of plate armor, before attaining the rank of ''Assassin''. At that point, the Apprentices were granted the Assassin armor, which combined the lightness of leather set and durability of the plate armor.<ref name="Brotherhood" /><ref name="Revelations" />
| |
| | |
| [[File:Apprentices.jpg|thumb|250px|Ezio calling upon his Apprentices.]]
| |
| Apprentices were also given trainee robes to wear to show their affiliation to the Order. Although these were all identical, standard white robes, they were permitted to [[Tailors|dye]] them a variety of colors. Once [[Initiation to the Assassin Order|inducted into the Order]] as full Assassins, they were given white Assassin robes, similar to those of Ezio's own.<ref name="Brotherhood" /> The Ottoman Assassins were rewarded by a set of robes reminiscent of those of their leader, [[Yusuf Tazim]], and a [[Yusuf's Turkish Kijil|kijil]] upon completing their training and achieving the rank of ''Master Assassin''.<ref name="Revelations" />
| |
| | |
| During a Den defense, recruits were equipped with several types of weaponry, such as crossbows, rifles, bombs, and utilized stationary weapons mounted on barricades, which were used to slow the Templar advance on the Den. Some also preffered to go directly into melee combat with the enemy, while others relied on air assassination.<ref name="Revelations" />
| |
| | |
| ==Promotion==
| |
| {{main|Initiation into the Assassin Order}}
| |
| {{Quote|Laa shay'a waqi'un moutlaq bale kouloun moumkine. The wisdom of our Creed is revealed through these words. We work in the dark to serve the light. We are Assassins. Nothing is true, everything is permitted.|Ezio, during the initiation of an Apprentice.|Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood}}
| |
| [[File:Mentor's_keeper_11.png|thumb|250px|Altaïr in his Master Assassin robes, speaking with Al Mualim.]]
| |
| Apprentices started at the [[Ranks|rank]] of Recruit, the lowest one in the Order. As they gained experience through completing various missions assigned to them by their [[Assassin leader|leader]], and advanced in their training, they would progress through several tiers, before attaining the rank of ''Assassin''. During the Third Crusade, at the rank of ''Servant'', the Apprentice would receive their Hidden Blade, and have their left ring finger amputated, as a way of ensuring their commitment to the Order, and for the weapon to function properly. The practice of amputation was eventually amended by Altaïr once he attained the position of [[Mentor]], as he saw it as a way that the Templars could exploit to identify the Assassins. The Hidden Blade mechanism was also modified to function properly without the need to remove the ring finger.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II">''[[Assassin's Creed II]]''</ref>
| |
| | |
| [[File:Initiation_Rome_1.png|thumb|left|250px|The initiation of an Apprentice.]]
| |
| During the 16th century, upon completion of their training, an Apprentice was formally inducted into the Assassin Order as a fully fledged Assassin. A ceremony would be held within the Tiber Island headquarters, where, as per tradition, the Apprentice's left ring finger would be branded, and they would perform a [[Leap of Faith]] from the top of the building, into the [[Tiber]] river.
| |
| | |
| Despite the fact that they did not gain the priveledge of wielding dual hidden blades upon reaching the title of an Assassin, a [[Sword of Altaïr|certain sword]], identical to those used by the [[Masyaf]] Assassins of old, was given to them.<ref name="Brotherhood" />
| |
| | |
| In Constantinople, the recruits progressed in similar manner, moving through several tiers of training and completing [[Mediterranean Defense|guild contracts]]. A strong enough force of Assassins sent to a city could free it from the Templar control, allowing for greater support of Ezio's efforts in Constantinople. Ezio could then provide funds and manpower to both restore the reclaimed cities, and install new Assassin Dens in them, effectively strengthening the Assassin presence throughout the region.
| |
| | |
| [[File:The_deacon_P1_1.png|thumb|250px|Ezio speaking with one of the Den Masters.]]
| |
| The Constantinople guild did not held initiation ceremonies like its Roman counterpart. Instead, once an Apprentice reached the rank of ''Assassin'', they could be assigned as a Den Master to one of the seven Assassin Dens in Constantinople, where they would continue their training to eventually gain the status of ''Master Assassin''.
| |
| | |
| Usually during this training period, an Apprentice discovered information concerning a [[Eradication of the Ottoman agents|Templar agent]] operating in the area. They would inform Ezio about this, and the assassination of the agent would mark the completion of their training, and promotion to the rank of ''Master Assassin''. Their training and experience allowed them to subsequently defend their Dens from any further attack attempts by the Templars.<ref name="Revelations" />
| |
| | |
| ==Trivia==
| |
| '''''Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood'''''
| |
| *Each Apprentice's appearance and name is randomized. However, their gender is dependent on the location of the map from which they are recruited.
| |
| *When sending Apprentices on a mission, even when the odds of success are 100%, sometimes it can fail regardless, and the Assassins used for that contract may be lost.
| |
| *''[[Assassin's Creed: Project Legacy]]'' includes several memories that correspond to the guild contracts in ''Brotherhood''.
| |
| *An Apprentice, Vitellozzo Vitelli, shares the name with [[Wikipedia:Vitellozzo Vitelli|an Italian condottiero]], who was also a friend of [[Bartolomeo d'Alviano]].
| |
| *When managing contracts in the Tiber Island hideout or via Pigeon Coops, the map of Europe features modern political boundaries.
| |
| *Though a Recruit receives white robes when they reach the rank of ''Assassino'', any changes made to their outfit color before attaining the maximum rank, will still be visible on the underside of their capes.
| |
| *Unlike Ezio, the Apprentices can use their pistol in conjunction with a heavy weapon.
| |
| *If both an Assassin and Ezio try to assassinate the same target, they will both appear to leap on him in high profile, but Ezio will then promptly teleport onto the next closest guard, killing him as well.
| |
| *It is possible to kill Apprentices with the [[Ezio's Apple|Apple of Eden]], if they are caught within the affected area.
| |
| *Apprentices can sometimes be heard saying ''"Requiescat in pace,"'' among other such phrases to dead enemies when a skirmish is won.
| |
| *Apprentices receive no damage from falling, even from the top of the Castel Sant'Angelo. Also, if a guard pushes an Apprentice into water, they will not die, but simply return to the Tiber Island hideout.
| |
| *Even if all the recruited Apprentices are normally female, the recruits in the mission "[[Exit Stage Right]]" always appear as male.
| |
| *The Apprentices will never travel alongside Ezio. Once all the targets in the area are dead, they will run out of sight and vanish.
| |
| *Even if all other Apprentices have achieved the rank of ''Assassino'', during in the Initiation Ceremony, all of them will use their Recruit attire.
| |
| | |
| '''''Assassin's Creed: Revelations'''''
| |
| *The appearance of the Apprentices in ''[[Assassin's Creed: Revelations]]'' can be customized further, by allowing them to wear hoods and masks. The mask can't be worn without the hood however. The hair color of females can change if their uniform color is changed too.
| |
| *When a Recruit reaches the rank of ''Master Assassin'', they will use robes similar to those of [[Yusuf Tazim]].
| |
| *If a recruit is raised to the rank of ''Assassin'', they will not die in battle. Instead, they will be "injured" and unavailable for combat or missions for 20 minutes.
| |
| *When an Apprentice reaches the rank of Assassin, they can be assigned to protect [[Assassin Dens]]. Eventual promotion to the rank of ''Master Assassin'' will permanently protect the Den from being attacked by the Templars.
| |
| *Seven out of thirteen available Apprentices can attain the rank of ''Master Assassin''. This involves completing a two-parter mission for each Apprentice, in which they eventually eliminate a Templar Agent.
| |
| *Unlike in ''Brotherhood'', only one assassination of a Templar Agent, [[Vali cel Tradat]], is essential to completing the story in ''Revelations''.
| |
| *The Initiation Ceremony is no longer present, even when an Apprentice attains the ''Master Assassin'' rank.
| |
| | |
| ==Gallery==
| |
| <gallery captionalign="left" spacing="small" widths="160" orientation="none" columns="4">
| |
| img011.jpg|Male Roman Apprentice artwork.
| |
| Assassin Apprentice 2.jpg|Female Roman Apprentice artwork.
| |
| assassins-creed-brotherhood-20101017102243981_640w.jpg|Ezio and a group of Apprentices.
| |
| Mounted Assassins.jpg|Ezio and his Apprentices on horseback.
| |
| Ezio_Roman_apprentice.jpg|Ezio calling on his Recruits to aid him.
| |
| Initiation Rome 4.png|An Apprentice's initiation ceremony.
| |
| Initiation Rome 2.png|An Apprentice receiving the Assassin brand on their ring finger.
| |
| Initiation Rome 3.png|An Apprentice about to perform a Leap of Faith.
| |
| ACR Hookblade.png|Ezio and Yusuf with a couple of Ottoman Assassins in the background
| |
| screenshot_268086_thumb_wide940.jpg|Ezio commands a group of Ottoman Apprentices.
| |
| Exchange_7.png|Ezio and three Ottoman Apprentices.
| |
| </gallery>
| |
| | |
| ==References==
| |
| {{reflist}}
| |
| | |
| [[es:Los aprendices]]
| |
