Defense of Masyaf
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- "My men do not fear death, Robert! They welcome it; and the rewards it brings!"
- ―Al Mualim to Robert de Sable.
The Siege of Masyaf was a direct result of the disastrous mission to recover the Apple at Solomon's Temple, from the hands of the Templars. Robert de Sable the Grand Master of the Knights Templar- seeking the artifact and tired of the Assassin's Order's interruptions in Templar affairs- besieged the Assassin fortress of Masyaf in an attempt to destroy the Brotherhood.
Defending the Village
After Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad returned from the temple confessing his failure, and after Malik A-Sayf handed over the Piece of Eden, Malik revealed that Robert de Sable was on his way to Masyaf. Several invaders were already inside the village, and Altaïr was ordered by Al Mualim, the Grand Master of the Assassin's Order, to drive them out. As he left the fortress, he met up with Rauf, who requested for his aid. Rauf asked Altaïr to distract the Templars while he helped his men move civilians inside the fortress. Afterwards, Altaïr ran down through the village and protected it as best as he could. Villagers were beaten and executed by Templars, only adding to the panic as Assassins fought Templar knights. After making an effort to defend the village, the Masyaf guards were overrun by the reinforcements of the Templar army, and had to flee back to the fortress.
Fearless
- "Your village lay in hoods and your stores are hardly endless, how long before your fortress crumbles from within!? How disciplined will your men remain, when the wells run dry and the food is gone?!"
- ―Robert de Sable, addressing Al Mualim.[src]
As the last of the Masyaf citizens and guards entered the fortress, Rauf met with Altaïr and ordered the Assassin to follow him to the top of the tower, where he and another Assassin waited on platforms extending from it. It was not long until Altaïr witnessed Robert de Sable and his army finally arrive at the fortress gates, trying to force Al Mualim to surrender. Robert threatened that he would let the village starve, and executed a hostage in an effort to intimidate Al Mualim. However, this had no effect on the master of the Assassins. Al Mualim shouted back that his men were not afraid of death; they welcomed it. Robert then provoked Al Mualim more, asking him to show evidence of this.
Altaïr and the other Assassins delivered it to him by all performing a simultaneous Leap of Faith from the tower, and appearing to throw themselves into the deep ravine surrounding two sides of Masyaf. Altaïr and Rauf were successful in their leaps and landed safely in haystacks, however the third Assassin badly broke his leg. Rauf requested Altaïr to proceed without him, so he could comfort the injured Assassin. Over long logs of wood, Altaïr crawled his way over the gorge; high above him were the cliffs that towered over the river.
Once he reached the second tower, he climbed upwards to get inside. There, he cut through a rope that held back a huge pile of large logs, releasing them. The heavy timber rolled down and crushed much of Robert de Sable's army, driving them away.
Aftermath
After routing de Sable, the Order started to repair the damage done to the village, as well as collect the dead bodies of their brethren. Al Mualim gave recognition to Altaïr for stopping the attacking Templar, but also berated him for his previous selfish act, proclaiming that it was the very reason the Templars had come in the first place. Al Mualim lectured Altaïr in front of his Assassin comrades and stabbed him with a blade, saying that he "cannot abide a traitor."