Leap of Faith
An acrobatic move used in Assassin's Creed that causes Altair to swan dive from atop a high structure and land in a conveniently placed bale of hay. It proves useful for quick descents and is most commonly used after climbing to a Vantage Point. It is executed by Free Running at a ledge which is the perching point of either a hawk (which also marks a Vantage Point) or a group of pigeons. You do not always have to be on top of a Vantage Point to perform a Leap of Faith--you can jump off any building within the area of a hay bale.
During the game, it is explained that the bales of hay and the birds that denote the location of a vantage point have been programmed into the memory by Lucy as a way to help out the navigation of one's ancestor's memory. There is in actuality nothing convenient about their placement. Their locations are entirely intentional.
The leap of faith is also handy in losing pursuers, as climbing to the top of a vantage point usually results in those chasing you to lose sight of you. Then all you have to do is leap down and you are hidden at street level in the hay.
The Leap of Faith is based off a real life incident involving the Hashashin, when their leader proclaimed that his followers were more devout then any, and would follow all commands he gave, he of course (as shown in the game) ordered several men to leap to their deaths off a cliff (unlike the game, they however, perished).