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 an Order of the Ancients member who operated 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, Wasif al-Turki, and the Ra's Al-Af'a Qabiha, they arrived at the Winter Palace in Anbar to meet with 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 enslaved workers who were enemies or captives of the caliphate, forcing them to dig at an excavation site outside the city or at the Northern Oasis. When Fazil later offered to show Mas'ood his progress with the Alruh machine and its function of decoding Memory Seals, Mas'ood was so fascinated by its visions of an ancient past that he encouraged Fazil to finish the device for the Order's "Great Work". In his own tasks, though, Mas'ood saw continued incursions at the excavations by Ali ibn Muhammad and the Zanj Rebellion's followers. Infuriated by the interruptions, Mas'ood ordered the caliphal guards to capture Ali and his men during their latest raid and separate them, with Ali being taken to the 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 and they both found evidence of Mas'ood's acquiring migrant laborers for his sites by also conducting his business at a nearby caravanserai. When Basim infiltrated the caravanserai and worked up the civilians' sentiments against Mas'ood, he left his office to investigate the commotion. Basim leapt down and instantly assassinated Mas'ood, fatally stabbing him before hanging the body in a public display. His death alerted Qabiha to the Hidden Ones' presence and she cautioned Ning to not showcase herself too publicly, though the advice was 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