Initiation into the Assassin Order
- "The Brothers stand before me. I am not one of them yet, but I soon will be. Tonight, I ascend."
- ―Perotto Calderon moments before his initiation.[src]
The Initiation to the Assassin Order was a ceremonial tradition held within the Assassin Order. It was a rite of passage when an Assassin trainee became a full member of the Order, and vowed to commit their life to safeguarding the freedom of humanity.
History
Third Crusades
Although the full details of the initiation into the Order during the 12th century are unclear, the ceremony included the amputation of the ring finger, as a sign of commitment to the Creed. Afterwards, the hidden blade was installed, allowing the Assassin to participate in any assassination missions bestowed upon them.[1]
Renaissance
- Assassin: "Where other men blindly follow the truth, remember..."
- Initiate: "Nothing is true."
- Assassin: "Where other men are limited by morality or law, remember..."
- Initiate: "Everything is permitted."
- Assassin: "We work in the dark to serve the light. We are Assassins. Nothing is true, everything is permitted."
- —The words of the Creed spoken during every initiation.[src]
During the Renaissance, the initiation was performed by the Grand Master of the Assassins, alongside several other Assassins. The ceremony came in three parts, the speaking of the Creed, the branding of the initiate's left ring finger, and a Leap of Faith.[2][3]
First, the participants stood around a lit brazier, with one Assassin reciting the Creed, which was answered in turn by the initiate. The final words, the maxim of the Creed, was spoken by all present.[2][3]
Next, the initiate's left ring finger was branded with tongs that had been heated in the aforementioned brazier. This was a modification to the removal of the finger that Mario Auditore once commented on, saying that "In this modern age, we are not so literal as our ancestors, but our seal is no less permanent."[2][3]
Finally, the initiate took a leap of faith - sometimes preceded by the Assassins present also taking a leap of faith - after which, the initiate was considered a full-fledged member of the Order.[2][4]
Trivia
- Although Ezio is given the burn mark during his initiation in Assassin's Creed II, it is not visible on his hand in Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood.