Altair Ibn-La'Ahad (11 January 1165 – 12 August 1257) was the leader of the Levantine Brotherhood of the Hashshashin from 1192 to 1227 and from 1247 to 1257. He was originally a pupil of Rashid ad-Din Sinan, better known as "Al Mualim", and hunted down the Knights Templar during the Crusades, but in 1191 he killed his master when he found out that he was secretly a member of the Templars. He became the leader of the Assassins Order but in 1227 he was betrayed and deposed by Abbas Sofian while he was fighting against Genghis Khan and the Mongol Empire, and twenty years later he fought back and seized back his title in revenge for the deaths of his wife and son Sef Ibn-La'Ahad. From 1247 to 1257 he was Mentor in his extremely old age, and died during the Fall of Masyaf to Hulegu Khan's forces.
Assassin Master[]
Early life[]
Altair Ibn-La'Ahad was born in the Assassins stronghold of Masyaf in present-day Syria in 1165. He was the son of Umar Ibn-La'Ahad and a woman named Maud, and while his mother died in childbirth, his father was betrayed and killed by Ahmad Sofian, who gave him up to the Saracens. Ahmad later confronted Altair in his quarters and killed himself in front of him, regretting his cowardice.
Altair headed to Rashid ad-Din Sinan (better known as "Al Mualim", "the Teacher"), the leader of the Assassins, and informed him of the incident. Al Mualim told him not to disclose what had happened, least of all to Ahmad's son Abbas, who would train with him. One day, he told him, causing a rivalry between the two of them, resulting in a duel between them which led to both of their detainment in Masyaf's dungeon. While Abbas was given another year of training, Altair was made a Master Assassin.
First Siege of Masyaf[]
In 1189, Altair's skills were put to the test when a member of the Assassins called Haras betrayed the order for the Knights Templar, due to his inability to advance in rank. Altair fought against the Templars in the village along with Abbas, and made his way to the gates of the Masyaf castle, which was in Templar hands. He found Haras there, and confronted him, calling him a traitor and double agent. Haras closed the gates and told him that he had Al Mualim in his hands, and would kill him if Altair attacked him. As Haras interrogated Al Mualim and killed hostage Assassins, Altair climbed the walls using wooden planks nailed to the walls and killed the Templars on the ramparts. When he had a position above Al Mualim and Haras, he jumped down and stabbed him in the back of the head in an air assassination. He freed Al Mualim, who said that he fit in his father's shoes as if they were tailored for him.
Solomon's Temple and Defense of Masyaf[]
In 1191, Al Mualim made him the leader of an attempt to find the Ark of the Covenant at Solomon's Temple in Jerusalem along with Kadar al-Sayf and Malik al-Sayf, but he broke the Creed by foolishly assaulting Robert de Sable and the Knights Templar in the caves without stealth. Kadar was killed and Malik's arm was cut off, and Altair escaped to Masyaf, where he met with Al Mualim in the tower. When he returned, he was confronted by Abbas, who told him that Al Mualim was waiting for him in the Library.
Altair met with Mualim in the Library, but when he told him that De Sable was not alone and that he had failed him, Mualim was angered. He told him not to speak, and that it was not what he expected. He told him that he had done enough, and that Malik and Kadar were dead, but Malik returned, with his left arm cut off. Malik gave the Ark of the Covenant to Al Mualim, but he found out that Robert de Sable had besieged Masyaf's village.
He helped out in distracting the Templars while Abbas Sofian helped to bring the inhabitants into the tower, and Altair headed back to the Tower when the evacuation of the village began. Besieged in the castle, Altair headed to a tower behind the Templars and cut the ropes, letting the logs fall on the Templar soldiers.
However, Altair was not to be forgiven for his failure in the Temple of Solomon, and Al Mualim had him restrained by two guards and stabbed him in the chest with a knife. He was rendered unconscious and felt death's embrace, but he endured with his strength and survived the wound. Al Mualim wanted him to feel this, and awake from death's sleep as a man reborn. He was stripped of rank and possessions, and was made a novice, a child once more. He was offered a chance at redemption.
Redemption[]
He was sent to the village market, where he was told that the traitor who gave up the Assassins was located. Altair found out that a man named Masun had been a traitor but had an accomplice, having eavesdropped on two men, and he also heard that the basket weaver had received a letter and had helped the traitors. He pickpocketed a letter from the weaver and found Masun under the cypress tree preaching against Al Mualim. He beat him up and Masun told him that he served the Templars, and found out that Jamal was the one who opened the gates. He told him that Al Mualim would be the one to decide his fate. Altair brought him to the tower, and Masun refused to repent for the "evil in his heart", but he told him that it was the truth. Al Mualim buried a sword in his neck in the library, executing him. Al Mualim told him that Jamal need not be killed by him, but kill "The Nine", who were deadly foes of the Assassins:
- Abu'l Nuqoud
- William V of Montferrat
- Majd Addin
- Meister Sibrand
- Jubair al Hakim
- Maria Thorpe
- Robert de Sable
Tamir[]
His first target was Tamir, who ran a black market operation in the poor district of Damascus. He left the tower and was confronted by Abbas Sofian, who asked him to teach a student how to fight. He beat him with his sword many times before he decided that he was busy, and left the training circle. Altair left the village confines and mounted a horse, and rode for Damascus.
He snuck past the guards while fitting into a group of scholars by looking down and praying as he walked with the four of them, and entered the city, and climbed to the top of a spire, looking down upon the large Damascus cityscape. He eavesdropped on a man who was supposed to deliver a letter to the merchant, and pickpocketed the letter. He learned that Tamir was awaiting a large shipment.
Later, Altair visited the Bureau and made contact with the Rafiq of Damascus, who told him of the possible hideouts of Tamir. He decided to investigate again, eavesdropping on two men, learning that the beams in the central courtyard could be accessed. After this, he informed the Rafiq that he would assassinate Tamir at the Souk Al-Silaah as he made one of the biggest deals of his life.
Altair rested at Rafiq's base until he was ready. The next day, he found out that Tamir was at the souk preparing the shipment. He climbed on top of a platform and observed the bazaar where Tamir was bound for, and watched him enter the square. He angrily killed one of his men after he produced excuses that he had done all he could and that his men worked day and night. Tamir resumed to walk away, but Altair threw him to the ground and lunged his sword into him, killing him. Altair learned from Tamir that there were others and that he had only a part to play in the whole scheme. He returned to the Rafiq, who congratulated him and told him to go to Al Mualim to get some more work.
Garnier[]
Altair was told to go either to Jerusalem or Acre for his next hunt, as both had targets that required killing. He decided to head for Acre, where he would take down Garnier de Naplouse, the Marshal of the Knights Hospitallers. Although he had a little run-in with a patrol of Templar knights, he killed them and reached Acre.
On his arrival at the gates he fought through the Hospitallers, who refused to let him into the castle. He killed droves of them, and moved into the city, where he synchronized the sights from atop the church tower. He eavesdropped on two guards, and found out that some fortress roof guards were off duty. Shortly after, he saved a priest from a group of thugs that attacked him, saving 1/12 people in the Poor District of Acre. Shortly after he saved a woman from three thugs and also killed four Hospitallers who tried to break up the fight.
He was told by the Rafiq of Acre to look for the public gardens for a place to start investigations on Garnier, and set out to gather more information. After re-synchronizing the view of Acre, he decided to steal a map showing candelabras and patients in the Fortress. He returned to the Rafiq and told him that he could strike in the Order's hospital, killing him as he made his rounds past his patients.
He found Garnier approach a fleeing patient in the fortress, and he saw Garnier take him and have him returned to his quarters for execution after breaking his legs. He follower Garnier into the hospital and engaged in a fight with many Hospitallers. He was in a sword fight with many Crusaders, and tripped Garnier and stabbed him in the neck with two hidden blades. He reported his murder to the Rafiq, and returned to Masyaf.
Talal[]
Altair was sent to assassinate Talal Eberle, a slaver and excellent bowman who supplied Garnier with his patients. He headed to Jerusalem, where he met the rude Dai of Jerusalem. He left the Bureau to find a man in the market at the Muslim and Jewish Quarter borders, and he pickpocketed a map from one of them.
Next, he headed to Saint Anne's Church, where he heard an Imam preaching of what Talal had to offer. He said that if you would be a patient you would be rewarded, and was speaking to a large crowd. Altair beat the Imam, who told him that he could not stop his job, preparing slaves for their journey to Acre from the warehouse. After finding this out, he stabbed him in the waist with a hidden blade, killing him.
After returning to Malik, who reluctantly gave him permission to strike Talal, he rested and prepared. He entered the warehouse and killed the 7 guards sent to kill him, before chasing Talal to a guard tower. He tripped him and slashed at his neck with his sword, and eliminated his slaving operation.
Hunt for Abu'l Nuqoud[]
Altair was given a hit list of merchant Abu'l Nuqoud in Damascus, regent Majd Addin of Jerusalem, and William V of Montferrat, a crusader. He headed for the Rafiq of Damascus first, to gather clues. He was told to go to the Souk al-Silaah, Saladin's Citadel, or the mosque for clues. He entered the rich district in search for clues, but found none, so he traveled to Acre instead.
Assassination of William of Montferrat[]
He spoke to the Rafiq of Acre, telling him that he had to slay William of Montferrat, who was named regent while the king Conrad conducted war from Tyre. William's presence in Acre prevented Conrad from acting up, and he was a vital member of the Knights Templar. He looked at Richard's Citadel, the market in front of it, the Cathedral of the Holy Cross, and the border to the west where the Hospitaller district was. He met with an informant in Acre, killing two of Richard the Lionheart's men who had toyed with the informant (including French knight Ermenegilde de Reynes), and gained information on William. He told Altair that if the citadel gates close, climbing the walls would be the escape. He met another informer, who asked him to find some Masyaf flags that he hid. He found all of the flags, and the informer told him that William and Richard had a disagreement, and since then William stayed in the citadel surrounded by his army. Later, he eavesdropped on two thieves, hearing that there were archers surrounding the fortress, and one thief had a map detailing their positions. After gathering this information, he was given permission to kill William.
Altair headed to the citadel, finding Richard leaving the castle on horseback with his horsemen. He argued with William because he massacred prisoners, which would increase the resolve of the Saracens. Richard insulted William, and he left his citadel. William was left there to argue with his own men, and told his officers to gather his soldiers so that he could review them.
He followed him to his citadel and found a group of soldiers. After a duel, he tripped Montferrat and stabbed him in the neck with both of his hidden blades. He found out from a dying William that he would not give Acre to his son Conrad of Montferrat nor kill Richard the Lionheart, but leave Acre's government to the people. Altair called him cruel and said that his acts could not continue, and William told them that the Assassins did not free cities, but damned them. He died in the arms of Altair, who escaped the citadel by climbing the walls and jumping off the ramparts and into a wagon of hay. He escaped from the citadel and fled to the bureau, where he reported his deed.
Continuing hunt for Nuqoud[]
He listened in on a conversation between two men, hearing that a wine shipment was coming in for Abu'l Nuqoud for a feast. He heard another conversation between a man who hung the lanterns for the party, hearing him say that he forgot to remove the scaffolding, which could cause injuries. His final investigation about Nuqoud took place in the market, where he heard that a man was giving a letter to Saladin's camp to a man named Isham. After pickpocketing the letter, he returned to the bureau and received permission for the kill.
Altair headed to the mansion of Abu'l Nuqoud in the Rich District of Damascus, and entered the party scene. Abu'l Nuqoud toasted to the pleasure of the crowd from above the balcony as they enjoyed themselves, but at one point changed his tone and began to insult them. He said that he had found a crowd who would make a new world, one of peace and harmony, and one that they would not see. Soon after, the crowd began to choke on poisoned wine, and guards attacked those who attempted to flee. Altair jumped up to the balcony and chased Nuqoud out of the building and into the streets, and killed him by jumping and stabbing him in the back of the neck with his hidden blade.
He found out that Nuqoud had sent money to the Templar Order in order to fund their takeover of the Holy Lands, and that the Templars and Assassins were similar in their goal of a final evil that was for the greater good. Altair returned to the Bureau and reported his execution.
Majd Addin[]
Al Mualim argued with Altair when Altair demanded that he not speak in riddles. Al Mualim told him that he would seek another, and Altair demanded that Al Mualim tell him how they were all connected. Altair found out that the leaders of cities, commanders of armies, and all of the others that he had killed were Templars that desired to conquer the Holy Land for themselves. Richard the Lionheart and Salah ad-Din were the only two men who opposed the Templars. Al Mualim confessed that he hid the truth so that Altair could break the veil himself, and Altair was sent to assassinate the last of the three targets that he had been given so far: Regent Majd Addin of Jerusalem.
Altair slaughtered the Jerusalemite guards and headed to Malik's bureau. He learned that Saladin's absence led to Jerusalem to not have a leader, and Majd Addin became the self-appointed regent. He held Jerusalem well-protected, and expelled the Christians, Jews, and Heretics. Altair headed out to find clues on how to assassinate him.
Altair entered the Poor District of Jerusalem, where he heard a man that said that Majd Addin would show mercy if the people confessed; if they tried to run and hide, they would be made to pay. The speaker told the people to look around them and report the people's acts (big and small) against the law, and that Majd would help. Altair beat the Imam into submission and found out that Majd Addin's laws were veils and that the Imam was meant to fill the people with fear, as they were dangerous to "their" plans: him and those that he worked with/for. Altair stabbed him in the waist with a hidden blade, killing him. He walked into the market and heard from two men that there was an execution near the Solomon's Temple that was planned. He pickpocketed a map showing the execution plaza from one of the men. Finally, he headed to an informer. The informer told Altair that he had to kill two of Majd ad-Din's men without a fight to prove himself as a new recruit, so Altair decided to help the informer by doing his job for him. Altair killed the two Saracen officers (Jawhar Shariff and Azhaar Radwan) and heard from the informer that he was cleaning the temple steps but he heard two scholars who said how easy it was to pass the soldiers in the plaza.
Altair entered the bureau and met with Malik, and he told him that Jerusalem's regent was holding a public execution not far from there. Although it was well-guarded, Altair pretended to be a scholar and snuck into the execution crowd.
He watched them cheer as two of the prisoners were executed. But before the Assassin captive could be slain, Altair attempted to go to the platform, but triggered open conflict with the guards. After killing a few using throwing knives as melee weapons, he charged at Majd and threw him to the ground, before plunging his knife in his heart. A dying Majd Addin revealed that he killed because it was fun; he loved to hear people cheering when he killed them, and loved the fear and power he possessed. Altair finished him by cutting his right neck with his blades. He fled from the soldiers and made it back to the bureau, reporting his deed.
Meister Sibrand[]
Altair was given two more targets by Al Mualim: he was assigned to kill Meister Sibrand in Acre and Jubair al Hakim in Damascus. He decided to first go after Sibrand, the leader of the Teutonic Order, who controlled the docks of Acre with an iron fist.
He fled past the Knights Hospitallers guarding the gates by sitting on a bench between two people, and continued his journey to the Rafiq. The Rafiq told him that he was the newly-appointed leader of the Knights Teutonic and that he resided in the Venetian Quarter, and he should look at the docks to the east, the chapel to the northeast, and to the north in front of St. John's Gate.
He found an informer in the Middle Quarter, and was told that the informer had insulted a Teutonic Knight's wife and that a whole bunch of knights were looking for him. Altair was asked to kill the group in a series of three secret assassinations. When he did so, he returned to the informer, The informer told him that many drunk soldiers populated the docks.
Later, he heard a crier telling the crowds that all dock vessels had to be cleared of crew and cargo, that captains had to speak with representatives of the Teutonic Order for reassignment, and all attempts to maintain the possessions would be punished severely. He beat the crier into submission, and the man told him that Sibrand claimed 100 ships for a blockade to sail to open water and establish a perimeter to stop Richard from getting more troops. Altair stabbed him in the waist with his hidden blades, despite the man's begging, as he could not risk being compromised.
His last investigation was eavesdropping on two villagers, who said that Sibrand was packing food on a ship, maybe to leave. The other man said that he had to deliver a letter to Saint John's Gate, so Altair pick-pocketed him. He returned to the bureau, and shared his knowledge. He said that Sibrand was driven by fear and hid, waiting for his ship to arrive at the docks.
Altair headed for the docks, where Sibrand was waiting. He joined the crowd that surrounded Sibrand, who was arguing with a priest. He called him an Assassin because he was wearing similar robes (he was a priest), and he drew a sword and killed the priest. He told the people to get back to work, and left. He was followed down the pier by Altair, who jumped onto the ramparts and found Sibrand on his ship. Sibrand tried to run, but Altair stabbed him in the neck. Sibrand told him that he wanted to keep the Kings of Europe out of Acre by his 100-ship fleet, so that the Templars could take over the Holy Lands without opposition. Altair ran away from the guards and made it to the Rafiq, and he returned to Al Mualim for his next quest.
Jubair al Hakim[]
Altair's final target before De Sable would be Jubair al Hakim, the Chief Scholar of Damascus and one of "The Illuminated" scholars. Jubair burnt all literature, as he felt that they were threatening to the Knights Templar and the land; the Bible had started the Crusades. Altair rode from Masyaf to Damascus, where he would gather information on him.
He entered the city with four Arab scholars, sneaking past the guards. He reached the bureau, where he met with the Rafiq of Damascus. Altair told him that he needed to take the life of Jubair, and Rafiq told him that he was Saladin's chief scholar. He also told him that there was talk of a new catastrophe. He told him to look at an academy, guard tower, and hospital for clues.
He observed the Middle District from atop a tower, and found a few ways how he could gather clues. He heard an Imam telling a crowd that Jubair saw things the way they truly were, and that he worked to cast out the evil of people. The Imam told the people to turn in their books to be destroyed, as they were the source of evil. Altair beat the Imam into telling him that Jubair believed that the words on the parchments had poison and Jubair had the cure that could free the people from their lies. Altair stabbed his hidden blades into the man's waist, making sure there were no witnesses.
Next, he met with an informant, who said that he was preparing his family for evacuation to Masyaf, and he told him that he needed several men in Jubair's Quarter dead. He killed all 5 of them, and returned to the informer, who gave him a map showing where scholars planned to burn books and novels. Next, he eavesdropped on two men talking, listening to their conversation on those who would resist illumination. He heard that they gathered in the madrasa and then exited into the city, and heard that their work demanded sacrifice.
With this information gathered, he headed to the Bureau. He told the Rafiq that Jubair was obsessed with purging the city of its knowledge, and that he used the city scholars to assist him, grassing the people and collecting their written works. The Rafiq told him that he must be stopped, so Altair headed to the Madrasa Al-Kallasah to kill him.
Altair looked down from a balcony onto a group of scholars throwing books into a fire, waiting to strike. Altair observed as Jubair had several scholars burn heaps of books on the floor, and Jubair threw scholar Kabir Nouri into the fire when he attempted to protest. He left the building with the scholars, and found Jubair gathering a crowd to speak at an arch. Altair stabbed him through the neck with a hidden blade, and Jubair fell to the Assassin's arms. He remembered how the Crusaders were motivated by the Bible, a book, but this clouded his judgment of all other pieces of literature. Altair took his blood-stained feather to the Bureau, and returned to Masyaf.
Robert de Sable[]
The final target assigned by Rashid ad-Din Sinan to Altair was the Templar Order's Grand Master Robert de Sable himself. De Sable was in Jerusalem to attend Majd Addin's funeral, as he was a fellow Templar. He arrived at the bureau in Jerusalem, where he met with Malik. He was told that Robert was in Jerusalem, so he started to hunt for clues. Malik told him that he could be near the guard tower or the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.
He listened in on an Imam giving a lecture to support the Crusaders, saying that the Christian soldiers brought wisdom to Jerusalem. Altair beat him into saying that he wanted an end to all of the holy war, and that it was a noble thing that De Sable wanted. Altair stabbed him in the chest with a hidden blade when he was done.
Altair also headed to another informer, so the informer asked him to kill the Knights Templar that were found around town that he was assigned to kill before Majd Addin's funeral, in return for information. He killed all five of the Knights Templar stealthily with hidden blades and was told that to fight all of De Sable's men at once was unwise, but rather to have them chase Altair and then strike.
He also heard from another man that he needed help to assassinate some of the Knights Templar as they left town in exchange for a reward. He killed the two Templars and learned from the informer that he could use scholars to approach De Sable during the funeral. He reported to Malik with the information about the funeral, and was given permission to attack De Sable and eliminate him.
Altair headed to the cemetery with a group of scholars, and heard the lecture about how Majd Addin would be surely missed, and so forth. Next to the Imam were two Templar soldiers and De Sable, wearing a Great Helm to cover his face. Then, he heard that the Imam said that Majd's killer stood among them, lurking in the shadows. He pointed out Altair, and the Templars and Saracens attacked him.
Altair fought them off with his sword, and he counterattacked De Sable, slashed his chest, and stabbed his neck with the hidden bladses. He tore his helmet off, but found out that it was really a woman named Maria Thorpe; Robert had ridden for Arsuf to plead his case to the Christians and Saracens to unite against the Hashshashin. Altair returned to the bureau and told Malik that it was a trap, and instead of returning to Masyaf to Al Mualim, he headed for Arsuf to stop him. He had found out that the eight targets that he had killed were on both sides of the conflict and important to Richard the Lionheart's crusaders and Saladin's Saracens.
Battle of Arsuf[]
When Altair arrived, the English and Saracen armies were already in fierce combat. As he circled around the battlefield he was attacked by many layers of Saracen defenses, and then by Crusaders. Later, he met with Richard the Lionheart, and Richard yelled at him because he was an Assassin. Altair told Richard that his lieutenant Robert de Sable was the traitor in his ranks, and Altair told Richard that his best men were dead because of a conspiracy. Robert de Sable took his helmet off and told Richard that the Assassins were masters of deception, and Richard told the two that God would decide who was right in a fight to the death.
Altair first killed Templar knights sent to attack him, and De Sable came to attack him. In a one-on-one duel, he slashed him from waist to neck and stabbed him in the neck with hidden blades. De Sable revealed that he was intelligent on their numbers and strength because he was one of them, and he said that the only difference between Al Mualim and him were only different because Al Mualim did not want to share. He bid farewell to Richard and traveled back to liberate Masyaf.
Retaking of Masyaf[]
Altair rode for Masyaf, fearing that Al Mualim had taken over the minds of many Assassin recruits. When he returned, he found out that everyone had "walked the path", finding "the truth". A man greeted him, saying "Praise be to the master, for he has led us to the light", having gone insane.
When he arrived at Masyaf's tower gates, he was attacked by 20 guards. He killed sixteen of them, and suddenly Malik al-Sayf and a group of non-brainwashed Assassins threw knives at the survivors. The loyal Assassins moved to attack the enthralled Assassins of Al Mualim, and they attempted to storm the tower.
Altair told Malik and his men to attack the thralls from behind, while Altair headed to Al Mualim. He told his men not to kill the brainwashed people, as their minds were not their own, but Al Mualim's. Altair headed into the tower and into the terrace behind it, but found himself lifted up by Al Mualim using the powers of the Apple of Eden. Al Mualim created illusions of The Nine, and Altair killed all of them, and their bodies were sucked back into the Apple. Al Mualim then copied himself nine times, and Altair killed all of these as well. The real one then confronted Altair, asking him for his last words. Altair told him that he lied, and Al Mualim said that as long as men maintained free will, there would not be peace. Al Mualim told him that the Red Sea was never parted, water never turned to wine, and Ares never started the Trojan War, but the Apple created only illusions. Altair and Al Mualim finally decided to duel, and although Al Mualim teleported to many places, Altair slashed Al Mualim across the chest and stabbed him in the throat with his hidden blades.
Altair found the Apple shining into a globe of the Earth, showing the borders of present-day countries as of 2012. Malik and the others arrived and observed the wonder of the Apple, and Altair was left as leader of the Assassins.
Assassins Leader[]
Dispute[]
Although many of the Assassins would object to do so, Altair agreed that they should put Al Mualim's corpse on a funeral pyre. Altair himself carried the body of Al Mualim from the tower down to the pyre, and Abbas saw Altair carrying him near the gate. Abbas asked him for proof that Al Mualim was the cause of the problem, but Altair told him that the Apple was in Al Mualim's study and that after he was done with the funeral he would tell him the truth. Although to burn a man's body was forbidden, Altair said that the body could be another of Al Mualim's phantoms and he had to be certain that he was dead. Abbas pushed Altair off the hill and ran away, and the watching Assassins started fighting each other. Altair disarmed them to stop a civil war, but he saw Altair at the top of the tower holding the Apple of Eden. However, when the apple started to drain Abbas' energy, Altair rushed to the tower to take it from him. Altair asked the Apple "will you teach us? Or will you lead us all to ruin?", and its energy suction stopped. Barely twenty-six, he was the Grand Master of a divided order.
Raising a Family[]
However, Altair eventually made a family. After he killed Robert de Sable in 1192, Maria was pushed out of the Order of Templars by their new leader, Armand Bouchart. At his point her hatred for Altair was limitless ... until he managed to show her the true corruption of the Templars through patient and careful counsel. In time - after traveling, studying, and working counsel - Altair and Maria became close friends, then lovers. By 1193 Maria was as committed to Altair as he was to her. Having no good reasons to return to her husband, she chose instead to remain at Masyaf and immerse herself in the life and Creed of the Assassins.
By the time Maria and Altair had their first child in 1195, they were inseparable, with their only prolonged separation occurring in 1204 during Altair's failed attempt to establish a Guild in Constantinople. In 1217 - now approaching sixty years old - Maria joined her husband and her oldest son, Darim, on a long journey east, after Altair had determined the threat of encroaching Mongols was too large to ignore. Absent from Masyaf for over ten years, the couple grew closer still, their lives entwined, and their hearts aching for home.
While Altair and Maria were fighting the Mongols, things went sour back home in Masyaf. In 1226, the Templars launched an attack to retake their archive on Cyprus. Abbas Sofian, the leader of the Levantine Assassins at the time, refused to send reinforcements, allowing the Templars to retake the Archive in what Altaïr referred to as a "massacre". Abbas also had their youngest son Sef executed. When the two arrived in Masyaf, Abbas told Maria that he should have expelled Abbas thirty years ago, and that Masyaf was a shadow of its former self. They walked to a meeting with Abbas behind the tower, and Altair said that they would be walking to their deaths, Maria told him that they would walk together.
Betrayal[]
When he met with Abbas, he asked him why his son Sef was dead. Abbas asked him if he wanted the truth, or an excuse for revenge. Abbas told Altair that if he handed over the Apple, he would tell him the truth. Altair agreed, and Abbas sent Swami to collect the Apple. Swami told Altair that Abbas had told Sef that Altair ordered his execution and that he died believing that his own father betrayed him, so Altair attempted to use the Apple against Swami. Maria told him to stop, and when he did, Swami stabbed Maria in the back. Altair stabbed Swami in the neck, and Abbas told his men that Altair was possessed, and told them to kill Altair and collect the Apple. Altair fought his way past the guards and he found Darim outside of the castle, and they held off attackers. As Darim and Altair said, Abbas told him that one day he would have the Apple and his head for the dishonor he caused his family, and told him that he could not run forever.
Reclaiming Masyaf[]
Altair headed to Alexandria with Sef's widow's family and their children, and lived there in self-imposed exile for twenty years. Eventually, he longed to return to his true home, and headed back to Syria. People around Masyaf heard rumors of his arrival, as they heard that an old Assassin had saved a merchant in the valley using hidden blades. He secretly returned to Masyaf, where he met with a group of Assassins at a campfire. The people did not know who he was, and he told them to pity Abbas, who cried out for his father and was growing insane. An Assassin asked Altair if he was Altair, and he confirmed this, and he said that he wanted to speak to Abbas. He was told that fewer than half of the fighters at Masyaf were true assassins, and that rogue Fedayeen were guarding Abbas. The men around the campfire told him that he could use them to liberate Masyaf.
Altair killed many of Abbas' captains as his allies slew the Fedayeen, and as he walked, his men slew the Fedayeen. Altair walked to the courtyard, and Abbas ordered his men to attack. However, many Assassins defected and killed those who attacked Altair. Altair entered the Library, with Abbas and two guards confronting him on the top of the stairs. Altair took aim and a shot rang out in the castle, hitting him in the chest. As Abbas died, Altair told him that his fother reclaimed his honor, and it was an image that he would never forget. Abbas said that if there was a next life, he would want to talk to his father, and later meet Altair there. Abbas then died, and Altair reclaimed his title as Mentor.
Final Years[]
In 1257, Darim invited his Venetian merchant friends Niccolo and Maffeo Polo to Masyaf, and the two became assassins after meeting with Altair. One day, Altair entrusted Niccolo with his Codex that he had written of his history, and Niccolo told him that he was going to establish a guild in Constantinople before returning to Venice. Just then, Altair heard from Darim that a Mongol vanguard was attacking the village. Altair escorted the two out of the village, using the powers of the Apple to kill several Mongol troops. As the Polos left, Altair gave Niccolo the five Masyaf keys to hide, telling him that they contained messages.
He returned to the Vault, where he bade farewell to his son. He hid his Apple of Eden in the vault, where he hoped that one of his descendants would find it. He sat down at an armchair in front of the hidden vault, and he finally succumbed to old age in an endless sleep. In his hands, he held a sixth Masyaf key, one which would hold this memory and the location of the Apple.
Mentor of the Levantine Brotherhood of Assassins | ||
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Preceded by: Rashid ad-Din Sinan |
1191 - 1227 | Succeeded by: Malik al-Sayf |
Mentor of the Levantine Brotherhood of Assassins | ||
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Preceded by: Abbas Sofian |
1247 - 1257 | Succeeded by: N/A |