Alruh
The Alruh (English: The Spirit),[1] also known as the "Great Work," was a machine built by the Order of the Ancients member Doctor Hassan to decipher the Memory Seals by exposing their contents to a subdued subject. It was located beneath the House of Wisdom in Baghdad's Abbasiyah district. According to its supervisor and Order leader Fazil Fahim al-Kemsa, it served as a "portal" to a past world where an enlightened and exquisite paradise used to be.
History[edit | edit source]
By the 860s, Doctor Hassan started to design a machine that was capable of deciphering the Isu's secrets and asked for help in building it from Ahmad ibn Musa, who was secretly an Alamut Hidden One.[2] According progress went, its pieces were delivered to the House of Wisdom.[3] At some point, the device was partially functional, as both Fazil and fellow Order leader Mas'ood Al-Ya'qoob were able to witness an "experience" of another realm.[4][5] However, to prepare its full function, he required more time to fully activate its potential, to which the Head of the Snake, Qabiha, gifted him several test subjects. However, as time went on, his progress diminished, much to his fellow Order leader Wasif al-Turki's annoyance.[4]
To aid him, Fazil enlisted his Order subordinates Zahra and Hassan to decipher an ancient manuscript[6] and find a solution to enhance the Alruh, respectively.[7] Staging a book fire,[8] Fazil allowed Zahara to secretly abduct Hunayn ibn Ishaq to translate the text.[6] Concurrently, Hassan continued building additional parts for the machine while conducting his medical endeavors.[7] However, their efforts were thwarted after being assassinated by the Hidden One Basim Ibn Ishaq.[6][7]
During the Great Symposium, while giving a speech to his fellow scholars, Fazil retreated to the Alruh after being informed of Zahra and Hassan's deaths. Despite his work being in danger, he continued to experiment on his subjects. However, one of his subjects happened to be Basim in disguise. With the Alruh nearly being used on Basim, Fazil neared closer to the Hidden One when the latter disagreed with the notion of knowledge being power. This allowed Fazil to be assassinated on top of the Alruh by Basim, who later escaped the basement.[4]
Behind the scenes[edit | edit source]
The Alruh machine shares the same namesake as the Animus, both meaning "the soul" or "the spirit" in Arabic and Latin, respectively. Like the Animus, it facilitates the subject’s journey into the past by unveiling the contents of the Memory Seals. This represents one of humanity's many early attempts in-universe of understanding the concepts of regression and genetic memory. Coincidentally, this attempt would eventually be repeated by the Order of the Ancients' successors, the Templars, and their front company, Abstergo Industries.[9]
Gallery[edit | edit source]
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Concept art of Alruh -
Alruh under the House of Wisdom -
Alruh under the House of Wisdom -
Alruh under the House of Wisdom -
Detail of Alruh's platform -
Top view of Alruh's platform -
Detail of Alruh's central orb -
Fazil talks with his men and starts up the Alruh -
Fazil setting the Alruh ready -
Fazil explains the Alruh to his subject Basim -
Fazil proclaims his and Alruh's power to Basim
Appearances[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑
Rūḥ on Wikipedia
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Mirage - Notes from Basim's travels - "Doctor's Note". Excavation Site, Wilderness.
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Mirage - Notes from Basim's travels - "The Efficacy of Our Discovery". The Great Bimaristan, Abbasiyah.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Assassin's Creed: Mirage – The Great Symposium
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Mirage – First Order
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Assassin's Creed: Mirage – Follow the Fiery Trail
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Assassin's Creed: Mirage – Find the Missing Brother
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Mirage – House of Wisdom
- ↑ Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag – Noob's personal files
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