Rafiq
Rafiq, or alternatively, Rafik, were graduated scholars of the Assassin Order, who could be found in the second tier of the Order's caste system (with the Assassins in the highest caste).
Rafiq provided the locations where information could be obtained about assassination targets, and determined whether or not the assassination could be conducted. They were usually located in an Assassins' Bureau, though other Dai and Rafiq could be found in Masyaf.
They commonly wore white robes with a black djellaba, which was adorned with white decorative markings.
Role
The primary duties of the Rafiq were as teachers and field contacts to the Assassin visitors of their city, in turn providing them with suggestions on where and how to gather information. Rafiq also likely coordinated and gathered the information learned by the Assassin informants of the city, who also acted as contacts in specific city districts.
Upon receiving a contract from Al Mualim, lower-ranked Assassins (such as Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad after his demotion) were required to report their findings about their target to the Rafiq, before being allowed to proceed with the assassination.
After deeming that the Assassin knew where, when, and how to strike his target, the Rafiq would present them with a feather marker to be stained with the target's blood. This would later be shown to the Rafiq as evidence of a success.
Aside from Bureau responsibilities, each Rafiq held a particular skill or talent that they could teach, in addition to philosophy, religious doctrine, or adherence to the Assassins' Creed. For instance, the Bureau leader of Jerusalem, Malik Al-Sayf, was a cartographer; the Rafiq of Damascus was a potter; and the Rafiq of Acre, Jabal, was a scribe.
Dai
The Dai were a close rank above Rafiq, and were the direct representatives of the Imam, the exalted spiritual leader of the people. Though superior to Rafiq, they possessed similar responsibilities and roles.
Upon preparing for the assassination of Majd Addin, Altaïr spoke to Malik, the Bureau leader of Jerusalem, with the address of "Dai." This suggested that Malik had been elevated to the rank of Dai after he had successfully completed the mission to retrieve the Templar treasure from Solomon's Temple, surpassing Altaïr's previously higher rank as Master Assassin and field instructor.
Some time before the retaking of Masyaf, while devising a plan on how to approach Al Mualim, Malik in turn referred to Altaïr as Dai, indicating that he too had eventually obtained the rank, despite not having been formally awarded it by Al Mualim.
Trivia
- Both Jabal and the leader of Damascus were often addressed merely as "Rafiq," rather than by their name.
- Scholars, who were teachers of a higher rank than Rafiq, were based at the library in Masyaf, and wore attire similar to the Rafiq; though their djellaba were white with red decorative markings.
- In Assassin's Creed: Altaïr's Chronicles, Altaïr encountered a Rafiq during his visit to Damascus. This Rafiq was a bitter old man, who challenged Altaïr to determine if he was trained well enough. Following on from this, Altaïr also met with other Rafiq, as Hamid.
- Rafiq did not appear in Assassin's Creed: Bloodlines, but key members of the Cypriot Resistance, such as Alexander of Limassol and Markos, acted in a similar manner to them, and were situated in Resistance safe houses similar to Assassins' Bureaus.
- During modern times, "Rafiq" was used as a codeword, which coupled with a photograph of a feather as a receipt, to gain access into Assassin safehouses.
- Rafiq, رفيق, is an Arabic word meaning "friend."
Gallery
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A Rafiq of Damascus
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A Rafiq of Jerusalem
Reference
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