Makira

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Makira, also known as Al-Si'la (English: The Hag), was the qahramana (English: stewardess) of the harem in Baghdad during the 9th century. She was a close ally of the concubine Qabiha, the Ra's Al-Af'a of the Order of the Ancients and subsequently followed in her footsteps. She was a target of the Hidden One Roshan, who once served in Alamut.

Biography

Serving in the harem as one of Qabiha's servants, Makira soon heard the other servants about Qabiha's influence dwindling. Realizing these rumors were going to swirl past the harem, she knew she had to rid her fellow servants Farah and Nasrin. One day, she realized a new eunuch, the disguised Alamut Hidden One Basim Ibn Ishaq, had arrived at harem and pretended to know him, which allowed him entry. However, she soon caught him trying to break into Qabiha's room and almost called her fellow servants. However, Basim offered her a deal to save herself from letting him in the first place.

There, she tricked him by having him bring her Farah's alcohol to poison and then having him plant evidence against Nasrin. After she gave Basim the key to Qabiha's room, she watched as Farah died from her drink while Nasrin was accused for murder. When Basim exited the room, Makira told him to leave but he asked what had happened. Instantly, she let down her disguise and admitted to orchestrating this event for her mistress Qabiha. However, she revealed that Qabiha was staying at the Palace of the Green Dome for her safety before Basim left angrily. Realizing her mistress was in trouble, she tried to save and protect Qabiha at the palace. Nevertheless, her mistress fell to the Hidden Ones and she was left alone.

At some point, after the events in Baghdad, Makira followed Qabiha's footsteps and joined the Order, adopting the cryptonym "Al-Si'la". Makira later traveled to England, where she became affiliated with Sir Edward, Earl of Westerna, who had occupied Ravensburg. Taking advantage of Edward's anger at the Vikings of the Raven Clan, Makira manipulated the earl to further her own plans. The Saxon mercenaries in Edward's employ often stole the Raven Clan's gear and launched raids with it to frame them. While the Saxons and Edward kept any looted gold and silver, Makira took all writings they found for herself. She also paid to improve Ravensburg's defenses and claimed a cabin for her own.

After Eivor Varinsdottir publicly assassinated Edward, his guards fled to raise the alarm rather than fight, prompting Makira to leave her cabin. Quickly assessing the situation, she alleged the earl had imprisoned her and invited Eivor over on the pretense of wanting to better see her liberator, all while hiding a dagger behind her back. Eivor remained unmoved by Makira's plea, however, giving Roshan the chance to drop from a tree and kill her. Roshan then looted a scroll from her body and said she would deliver it to Jerusalem, describing its contents as "a seed to plant" for the future.

Behind the scenes

Makira is a character who was first introduced only by her Order cryptonym in Shared History, a free content mini-expansion for Assassin's Creed: Valhalla added to the game as a tie-in to the then-upcoming Assassin's Creed: Mirage. Writer Sarah Beaulieu later confirmed following Mirage's release that Qabiha's courtier Makira and Al-Si'la were the same individual.

In Arabian folklore, a sila is a supernatural creature assigned to djinn or ghouls and is described as being a talented shapeshifter that often appears as human women. They are said to live in desolate parts of the deserts, where they would lead travelers and nomads astray to their deaths.

Makira can meet with Basim again if he tails her without being spotted to Qabiha's study.

Gallery

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  Makira at the Harem
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  Al-Si'la observing Edward's speech
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  Al-Si'la discovering Edward's death
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  Al-Si'la's death

Appearances

• Assassin's Creed: Valhalla – Shared History (first appearance)
• Assassin's Creed: Mirage