Mas'ood Al-Ya'qoob

Mas'ood Al-Ya'qoob (died 860s), also known as Al-Ghul (English: The Ghoul), was a soap mill owner and a member of the Order of the Ancients operating in Baghdad in the 9th century.

Biography

As a soap mill owner, Mas'ood made use of his occupation to capture workers and force them to dig in the dunes surrounding the city on behalf of the Order. In 861, along with fellow Order leaders Ning, Fazil Fahim al-Kemsa, and Wasif al-Turki and the Ra's Al-Af'a, Qabiha, they arrived at the Winter Palace in Anbar, to meet with the Caliph Al-Mutawakkil about an ancient disk. Proving the validity of the contents, they enforced the caliph to safeguard the artifact before transporting it later. However, the disk was stolen by the thief Basim Ibn Ishaq, who killed the caliph in self-defense.

Due to the loss of the artifact, Mas'ood continued to utilize and enslave workers, who were enemies or captives of the caliphate, at his numerous dig sites. Along with his fellow Order leader Fazil and another memory seal, Mas'ood experimented with a prototype Alruh and was so fascinated by the visions he saw, he encouraged Fazil to finish his Great Work. While in charge of the excavations, he saw continues incursion by the Zanj Rebellion, especially its leader Ali ibn Muhammad. At one point, the Caliphate guards captured Ali and his men, who were separated by Mas'ood's insistence and Ali was taken to Damascus Gate Prison for interrogation.

Death and legacy

Mas'ood about to be assassinated by Basim

Fortunately, the Hidden Ones of Alamut sent their new initiate Basim to rescue Ali while both found evidence of Mas'ood's acquiring migrant laborers for his sites. Thus, Mas'ood conducted his business at Caravanserai to acquire more laborers. However, chaos erupted at Caravanserai, which stirred Mas'ood to come out of his office and ask about the commotion. Instantly, Mas'ood was assassinated by Basim, who quickly set up the Order leader to be hanged. As a result of his death, Qabiha was on alert and even sent caution to Order leader Ning to not showcase herself too publicly. Yet, this notice was utterly ignored.

Gallery

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  Closeup of Mas'ood
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  Closeup of Mas'ood in his Order mask
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  Mas'ood overseeing his workers at a dig site
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  Mas'ood overlooking the Caravanserai
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  Basim setting up above Mas'ood
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  Mas'ood dragged by Basim
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  Mas'ood hanged
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  Mas'ood's final moments
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  Mas'ood blood taken by Basim

Appearances

• Assassin's Creed: Mirage