Sibrand

"I followed my orders, believing in my cause. Same as you."

―Sibrand's final words to Altaïr, 1191.

Master Sibrand (c. 1157 – 1191) was the first Grand Master of the Knights Teutonic and, secretly, a member of the Levantine Templars. Controlling the port area of Acre's middle district, he was the seventh of nine Templars killed by the Assassin Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad during the latter's quest for redemption. Like his Templar brothers, Sibrand's death was ordered by Al Mualim.

Biography

Teutonic leader

By 1191, Sibrand had become the first Grand Master of the newly-founded Knights Teutonic. Having obtained this position of great power, Sibrand was desperate to remain in charge, and would do anything to prevent his power from slipping away.

As he was incapable of securing his position, Sibrand became plagued by paranoia of conspiracies and plots against him, so much so that he unnecessarily doubled the patrols and even threatened to pull knights from battle to protect him.

The Grand Master remained consistently vigilant, searching for signs of nonexistent trouble. He took control of the docks in the city of Acre, where he also acquired the services of many ships. He planned to use these vessels to form a blockade that would prevent the "fool" kings and queens from sending aid once the Templars initiated their plan to usurp control of the Holy Land.

Sibrand joined the Templars around this time, and was one of the men that guarded the Apple of Eden's secrets and capabilities.

Death

Altaïr: "But you'll be safe now. Held in the arms of your god."

Sibrand: "Have my brothers taught you nothing? I know what waits for me, for all of us."

Altaïr: "If not your god, then what?"

Sibrand: "Nothing. Nothing waits. And that is what I fear."

—Sibrand's dying words to Altaïr, 1191.

Sibrand harassing a scholar

Having locked himself away in Acre's docks, Sibrand waited to perform his role in the "liberation" of the Holy Land. He patrolled the district, scolding two guards he came across and threatening to double their shifts if they did not return to their posts. Unknown to the Templar, the Assassin Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad eavesdropped on him, to prepare for his assassination.

Sibrand later moved to the docks themselves and, remembering the white-robed Assassin that had been hunting his brothers, began to publicly abuse and torment a scholar who was clothed similarly to the Assassins. After taunting and eventually killing the scholar, Sibrand warned the civilians not to aid the Assassins.

The Templar then donned his horned helmet and set off for his personal ship, prompting Altaïr to follow. Unfortunately, one of Sibrand's sentries spotted him, and though Altaïr managed to kill him with a throwing knife before he could raise the alarm, the sentry's body fell into the water with a loud splash, alerting Sibrand.

Altaïr assassinating Sibrand

In his manic refusal to be killed, the Templar began wildly firing his bow in every direction, shooting down birds in the process, all the while shouting loudly that he would take care of the Assassins himself if no one else would. Altaïr stealthily climbed aboard the ship as he did, and put an end to Sibrand's life.

With his last breath, Sibrand explained the role assigned to him by the Templars, and claimed that he had proof that nothing waited for him after his life. Having told the Assassin all he knew, Sibrand perished.

Personality and traits

Sibrand: "A blockade by sea, to keep the fool kings and queens from sending reinforcements. Once we... once we..."

Altaïr: "Conquered the Holy Land?"

Sibrand: "Freed it, you fool! From the tyranny of faith."

—Sibrand to Altaïr in his final moments, 1191.

At the time of his appointment as the Grand Master of the Knights Teutonic, Sibrand was a fierce man, who never failed to strike fear into the crowds. He was both a skilled swordsman and archer, making him a dangerous opponent. However, as he witnessed more of his Templar brothers dying, he became paranoid and cowardly.

Sibrand speaking with his men

His paranoia became such a burden that he doubled the patrols in his district, killed men simply for wearing clothes that were similar to the Assassins' garments, and wildly shot arrows at birds, believing they were spies and a form of communication for the Assassins. Sibrand kept an overly-keen eye on the crowds surrounding him when walking the streets, always expecting his murderer to emerge from them. Overcompensating for his fear, he took to wearing multiple swords and knives in the false belief that having more weapons on his person would better his odds of survival.

Like his fellow Templars, Sibrand did not believe in God or the afterlife, claiming that the Apple of Eden had been proof otherwise. He feared death, believing that nothing awaited him once he died.

Behind the scenes

Sibrand is a historical character in Assassin's Creed, where he was voiced by Canadian actor Arthur Holden. Prior to the game's release, four of Sibrand's lines were cut for unknown reasons, only to be later incorporated into Assassin's Creed: The Secret Crusade. These lines can still be found in the game's audio files and have been extracted for players to listen to.

Trivia

• Sibrand is the only target in Assassin's Creed that can be seen during an investigation memory, though he disappears once the cutscene has finished.
• If Sibrand attempts to flee, vigilantes will try to stop him; the same happens with Talal, Abu'l Nuqoud, and Jubair al Hakim.
• It is possible to throw Sibrand into the water, though doing so causes desynchronization.
• A glitch may occur, during which Sibrand may not be wearing the helmet he put on after killing the scholar.
• Historically, Sibrand is considered to be the founder of the hospital in Acre which would one day give rise to the Teutonic Knights, but not a member of the Order itself. For this reason, he is sometimes called the "first grand master" of the Order, even if it was only given recognition in 1192, and transformed into a military order in 1198.
• In the non-canonical mobile version of Assassin's Creed, Sibrand is the very first assassination target; he is air assassinated by Altaïr while presiding over an execution at the gallows, similar to the official trailer for the console version. Unlike in the console version, his assassination takes place in 1189 instead of 1191.
• In Assassin's Creed: The Secret Crusade, Sibrand is described as having black hair instead of blonde.

Gallery

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  Assassin's Creed: Memories art of Sibrand
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  Memories art of a helmeted Sibrand
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  Close-up of Sibrand with his helmet
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  A scholar cowering before Sibrand
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  Sibrand's final moments

Appearances

• Assassin's Creed (first appearance)
• Assassin's Creed: The Secret Crusade
• Assassin's Creed: Memories