Nur

"We have a similar spirit, you know?"

―Nur to Basim ibn Ishaq, 862.

Nur (Arabic: نور; c. 840s – 860s) was a member of the Hidden Ones based in Alamut during the 9th century. One of the younger members of the Brotherhood, he was a close friend and peer to Basim ibn Ishaq, who was a new recruit in 862.

Biography

Early activities

One of the younger members of the Alamut Brotherhood, Nur was praised for being a gifted climber, with his skills at scaling heights able to rival his mentors. He was particularly known for his friendly personality, which was said to bring a welcoming energy to the Alamut camp.

Nur's climbing abilities gave him the role as the a watch guard and scouter, with the eagle Muhja as his companion. Together with Muhja and a fellow Hidden One, he would serve as night patrol to keep a lookout for any would-be intruders.

Watchguard duty

Nur: "Are you looking forward to your initiation?"

Basim: "Yes. It feels like I have been preparing my whole life for this."

Nur: "I could not sleep the night before my ceremony. From excitement and a small bit of fear, if I am to be honest."

—Nur and Basim discussing the latter's initiation into the Hidden Ones, 862.

In 862, Nur met a new recruit by the name of Basim ibn Ishaq, who had been rescued by the Master Assassin Roshan from Anbar. Being of a similar age and personality to Basim, Nur quickly befriended him and the two became close.

In February 862, when Basim returned from one of his daily training sessions, Nur met him by the camp's entrance and commented on his stubborn personality. As Nur recalled it, Basim had once angered one of the Brotherhood's triplet scientists—Abu Jafar, Al-Hasan, and Ahmad ibn Musa—by allegedly touching his hammer, though Basim denied having done so. When Basim asked Nur for Fuladh Al Haami's whereabouts, he told him the Eagle-Master was at his office, speaking to Ahmad.

Nur and Basim on night patrol

That night, during a bonfire gathering, Nur asked for a volunteer to join him on patrol. Basim volunteered and followed him to the watch location. Along the way, Basim spoke to Nur on his woes about Alamut coming under attack by outsiders for their alliance with the Zanj rebels in Baghdad, which he had overheard during a conversation between Mentor Rayhan and a Tahirid emissary. Nur reassured him, stating that Alamut's remote location and rocky terrain made it a difficult spot to attack.

As they reached the watch spot, Nur introduced Basim to Muhja and told him that he would soon have an eagle companion of his own, which led Basim to tell him about Fuladh's comparisons between him and Enkidu. Moments later, Muhja spotted something out of the ordinary and flew off, leading Nur and Basim to zipline down into the valley to investigate. While scouting from the tall grass patches, they eavesdropped on and eliminated a group of mercenaries who had come to scout out the Alamut camp.

Spy in Baghdad

Nur: "I will go back to Baghdad."

Rayhan: "Go to Ali. Find out if the Order sent those men."

Nur: "I will."

—Nur volunteering to travel to Baghdad, 862.

Nur volunteering to leave for Baghdad

Basim retrieved one of the mercenaries' sword and the two reported back to the Alamut Council at the camp, where they concluded the mercenaries had likely been sent by the Order of the Ancients in Baghdad. As Rayhan believed they needed to seek the help of Ali ibn Muhammad, the leader of the Zanj rebels, Nur volunteered himself to head to the city and investigate. As he took his leave, Basim bid him farewell and wished him good luck on his journey.

Upon reaching Baghdad, Nur established himself in a makeshift bureau in the Harbiyah district, seeking allies in the factory district of Shari' where many Zanj sympathizers resided. One of them was a former merchant from Anbar, Dervis, who served as an informant while funding the rebellion effort. Another one of his contacts was Beshi, Ali's second-in-command who stationed himself at the Upper Harbor as a dock worker.

After Nur managed to contact Ali, the two worked together to uncover the perpetrators behind the would-be attack on Alamut. However, the Order took notice of their activities and ordered their capture. Sure enough, Ali was arrested along with the rebels at the Upper Harbor, while Nur was forced to flee from Baghdad and return to Alamut, thought not without suffering injuries in the process.

Return to Alamut

"Ali... he is gone... they took him in the night."

―Nur informing the Hidden Ones of Ali ibn Muhammad's capture, 860s.

An injured Nur being tended to by the other Hidden Ones

Nur rushed back to the Alamut camp on his horse and collapsed immediately upon reaching the main courtyard, where Basim and Roshan saw him. After being given a moment to rest and water to drink, Nur reported Ali's fate to his fellow Hidden ONes before slowly losing consciousness. Nur was subsequently taken away to recuperate while Rayhan decided to send Roshan, Fuladh, and Basim, who had recently completed his initiation into the Brotherhood, to Baghdad, where they were to continue Nur's investigation.

Death

Basim: "You sit bleeding to death and still cling to this... foolish dogma! And for what? Our Creed could not protect Alamut. And neither could I."

Nur: "Nor I. But... our beliefs are why you still draw breath. And are why you must save any of us who may yet live."

Basim: "On that we can agree. You have my word."

Nur: "Waffaqaka Allah, Basim. There is nothing left to say, brother. Go. Save who you can."

—Nur and Basim's final words to each other, 860s.

Eventually, Basim's fears of an attack on Alamut came true when the Order made a deal with Governor Muhammad ibn Tahir to remove the Tahirids' protection of the castle grounds. Subsequently, a large enemy force attacked Alamut, catching the Hidden Ones by surprise, and many of them were captured or killed as a result. Sent to find help, Nur encountered Basim in the valley surrounding Alamut, where he had been knocked unconscious by two Tahirid soldiers. Nur dispatched Basim's assailants and took him to a small cave nearby where he had taken refuge.

Nur showing Basim his injury

Once Basim woke up, Nur disheartenedly informed his friend that Alamut had fallen and explained how he had found him. When Basim asked for Roshan's whereabouts, Nur stated that he had hoped she would be with Basim. Deciding to take back Alamut, Basim invited Nur to help him fight off the Tahirid attackers, but the latter claimed that he was in no condition to fight, revealing that he had been mortally wounded and was rapidly losing blood.

When Basim vowed to avenge his friend, Nur told him that vengeance was not the way of the Hidden Ones, angering Basim, who had become disillusioned with the Creed. However, Nur claimed that the Brotherhood's beliefs were the reason Basim was still alive, and urged him to rescue any Hidden One that still lived, so that their ideals may survive. To this, Basim agreed and set off to liberate the captive Hidden Ones, taking Nur's horse and leaving his friend to succumb to his injuries.

Personality and traits

"Vengeance is not our way, brother."

―Nur to Basim, 860s.

Basim bidding Nur farewell before his mission to Baghdad

As one of the youngest members of the Alamut Hidden Ones, Nur had a friendly demeanor and was welcoming to all new recruits. Upon meeting Basim, he quickly became good friends with him due sensing they had a "similar spirit", and the two would occasionally confide in each other. Nur was also extremely devoted to the Hidden Ones and was a firm believer in their Creed. After being mortally injured, he discouraged Basim from seeking revenge on his behalf and instead told him to rescue other members of the Brotherhood who had been captured, so that their ideals may survive.

Skills and equipment

Nur was renowned among his peers for his climbing skills, which were said to rival those of his mentors. He was also a competent and resilient fighter, ambushing a group of mercenaries with Basim's help, and later rescuing his friend from two soldiers, whom he was able to overpower despite his injuries.

Like many of his fellow Hidden Ones, Nur had an eagle companion, Muhja, who aided him in reconnaissance. However, it is unknown if he was able to see through Muhja's eyes like Basim could with Enkidu.

Behind the scenes

Nur is a character in the 2023 video game Assassin's Creed: Mirage, where he was voiced by the Arab-Canadian actor Ahmed Mesallati.

Etymology

Nur is a variation of the Arabic name Noor (نور), meaning "light".

Gallery

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  Nur talking to Basim
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  Nur and Basim inspecting the body of a mercenary they killed
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  Nur and Basim telling the Alamut Council about the mercenaries
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  Nur coming to Basim's rescue
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  Nur urging Basim to rescue the captive Hidden Ones

Appearances

• Assassin's Creed: Mirage