Tenets
The Tenets of the Assassin's Creed are the rules the Assassins Order strictly lives by:
- Stay your blade from the flesh of the innocent.
- Hide in plain sight.
- Never compromise the Brotherhood.
During an extremely important mission at Solomon's Temple, Altaïr breaks all three tenets, and fails the mission. The Templar Treasure seemed lost forever- until a direly wounded Malik showed up with it.
Believing that the failure was caused by his breaking of the Tenets, Al Mualim strips Altaïr of all his weapons and equipment, demoting him to Novice rank. Altaïr will have to earn his way back to the top of the order.
Desmond must follow those creeds too, to stay synchronized with his ancestor's memory in the Animus.
First tenet: Stay your blade from the flesh of the innocent.
Simply put: do not hurt innocent people. The Assassins' goal is one of peace. Their mission is to slay only despots and tyrannical leaders- those who deserve it.
If the player makes Altaïr break this Tenet (hurt or kill innocent people) a hefty chunk of Synchronization is lost.
Second tenet: Hide in plain sight.
"Let the people mask you such that you become one with the crowd."
Be discreet- do not draw attention to yourself unless necessary. Use low profile actions when possible, blend with the people, take advantage of Scholars.
Third tenet: Never compromise the Brotherhood.
This Tenet is simple. Your actions must never come to harm the Brotherhood, direct or indirect.