Assassin's Creed Canonverse

Altair ibn La'Ahad is the greatest Assassin who ever lived and that comes with a certain amount of destruction dogging his every bloody step. It's not until his arrogance leads him to ruin the life of his only rival and equal that he begins to consider what honor and truth and freedom really mean. Tasked with an intentionally nigh-impossible redemption mission, Altair must redeem himself not in the eyes of his Master but in the eyes of the only person who actually knows him.

But this is a burden Malik al Sayf never asked for, especially not after his promising career as a combat Assassin is ruined because of Altair's actions on a dangerous mission that leaves him with a dead younger brother and a missing arm

Impossibly, they find a path to reconcilliation through mutual suffering and realizing there's strength in trust and faith- though all this is put to the test in the most extreme fashion possible when conspiracy from the highest level of the Assassins threatens gobal consequences. Altair's dishonor and Malik's sidelining only add to the immense hurdles they have to overcome in order to convince the rest of the Brotherhood of the truth before it's too late.

Characters

Additional Characters

Karim el Khoury

A Master Assassin working out of Jerusalem under Malik's command. A meticulous planner and hard worker who's out to support Malik in any way he can. Sets off Altair's possessive jealousy like crazy.

Al Mualim

Old Assassin Grandmaster who secretly had designs to rule the Levant. Raised Altair as a killing machine and stunted his emotions/social growth on purpose to see if it would make him a better killer. Believed that Assassin's could not have bonds (familial, romantic, etc) outside of the Brotherhood without losing their conviction.

Robert de Sable

Templar Grandmaster, Lieutenant of King Richard I, and the ruler of Sarthe under Richard. He is a huge, bald bastard who is incredibly cruel and just as ruthless.

Maria Thorpe

Robert's second in command, and a gifted tactician.

Hadi

Master Assassin who, along with Amir, grew up near Altair and Malik. Killed on a mission Altair assigned him.

Amir (not Amir Naltheri)

Master Assassin that ends up defecting after Altair takes over the Brotherhood due to lack of investigation into his motives for killing Al Mualim and his carelessness in getting Hadi killed.

Background

History

The Assassins are a secretive cabal located in sects all over the world, their goal is to pay whatever price necessary to keep the common man free of tryanny and indoctrination. Opposing them, the Knights Templar (known by a slew of other names) seek to forcibly bring the world to peace via control. These two factions have been at war with each other behind the scenes for millenia and now, in the third crusade (1189-1192 AD), their war is coming to a violent head with multiple factions, kingdoms, and civillians caught in the crossfire.

A Weapon of Mass Destruction

Recently, the Templars have been chasing rumors of a relic touched by God or otherwise imbued with magical powers. While the Assassins have beent thwarting them every step of the way, the Templars are getting closer and closer to their prize. What exactly the relic is or is capable of is unclear (for now), but the Grandmaster of the Levantine Assassins is set on getting it first in the interest of keeping it from being used.

Plot

Early History

Altair ibn La'Ahad was found alone in the Syrian desert, somewhere around the age of 3. War orphans were common at the time and no one really thought too hard about what he was doing or where he'd come from. Eventually, Altair winds up in the care of someone in the village of Masyaf, a tiny town in the shadow of the Levantine Assassin's mountain fortress. Living within the fortress itself, Malik and Kadar al Sayf were the young sons of two respected Assassins and assumed, even from a terribly early age, that they would follow in their parents' footsteps and become Assassins themselves. Altair proves he is not civillian material early on, being a general uncontrollable menace and attacking people for minor crimes. The Levantine Grandmaster, taken by the notion of being able to raise an Assassin from birth, practically, without the burden of having family or ties to hold him back, decided to 'adopt' Altair as his pet protege and project.

Shortly after this, Malik's and Kadar's parents are killed in action, leaving them orphans. Malik- particularly- commits himself to the Assassin's cause, eagerly anticipating when he becomes old enough to be officially initiated. It's also during this period that he shoulders the role of parent to Kadar, and the role between older brother and parent becomes exceptionally blurry. Kadar on the other hand is a generally carefree, gregarious child if something of a crybaby. He's clingy with Malik and not tremendously interested in the war going on outside the mountain fortress.

Several years go by and dig these dynamics deeper. Altair becomes accustomed to following Grandmaster Al Mualim shadow and is privy to extra academic resources very early on. Altair's language competency is further honed by Al Mualim and before he's 10, Altair can speak not only several Arabic variants fluently, but also French and German (two languages heard predominantly in crusading forces). Altair was also literate where many of the Masyaf children were not, and even a good number of the fully initiated Assassins had limited reading and writing capabilities. In the meantime, Malik focused on his own training, trying to help Kadar keep up where he could but indulging his younger brother more often than not, permitting him to slack off.

At 14, Malik is officially inducted into the Novice rank after grueling physical and aptitude trials. He would have been the youngest Assassin in several generations except that Altair (freshly turned 13) also passes his trials at the same time. Both boys have perfect marks and showed exemplary performance so choosing a clear superior from the two is impossible. Both boys are permitted to perform their initiation rites- killing their first official targets with minimal support or assistance. Predictably, Malik and Altair officially begin their careers as Assassins as the youngest in living memory- however because of the nature of their induction, they hate each other from the get-go and a highly competetive rivalry is forged.

Brotherhood

Their rivalry is intense. Malik works tirelessly at his academic pursuits and physical training, typically landing him at the top of all his classes and plenty of praise from his instructors. He has raw talent but it's clear that he is putting massive effort into honing his skills and rise through the ranks. No matter how he cuts it, Altair is nothing more than the hand-picked favorite of Al Mualim who enjoys a bevy of priviledges for that dubious title. These privlidges include advanced training, shadowing fully fledged older Assassins on missions, personalized curriculum, one on one attention with weapons specialists... Altair is even separated from the rest of the Novices in the barracks to enjoy his own private quarters- a luxury most of the rest of Masyaf does not have.

Unbenknownst to Malik, Altair is also feeling the intensity of their combined jealousy. Altair is dragged around his every waking moment in the shadow of the Grandmaster, made to study an intense workload and having virtually zero time to rest and recuperate from physical training. Al Mualim is also prone to beating Altair with a cane or his gnarled old fists when his temper at Altair's progress gets set off enough. Altair's private quarters are merely cover for Al Mualim to beat him more and work him to death with no one noticing how little Altair sleeps or rests. Altair is, however, too proud to say anything and refuses to show weakness to anyone- least of all Malik. Though Malik has learned that suggesting Altair is Al Mualim's pet lap dog definitely gets a reaction out of him (as does bringing up Altair's obviously-half-Anglo looks)

Over the years things only get more intense. Because Altair and Malik are so close in skill level, they're paired together in sparring and demo fights often. Even as teenagers, these fights are incredibly violent and ruthless- most instructors won't even stand in the ring while they're going on and eventually, they have to be forced apart for the fight to stop. By the time Malik and Altair are about 18-19, Kadar finally passes his induction trial and joins the Novice rank. Unlike Malik, Kadar looks up to/has a minor crush on Altair and sees his arrogance and haughtiness as fairly justified given his prowess. Altair, however, openly disdains Kadar for being weak, which pisses off Malik.

At 20 and 22 (respectively), Altair and Malik are both promoted to Master Assassin and have their left ring fingers removed as is custom. The combat Assassin's signature weapon is the hidden blade, which requires the 'committment' to wield it. The whole of the order believes that Altair and Malik are both prodigies in their own right that have promising careers as highly capable combat operatives. As the war ramps up, many hope they will be instrumental in ending it.

Solomon's Temple

Al Mualim finally has the lead he needs and decides not to take any risks. The relic the Templars are after- something called the Piece of Eden- is hidden in a ruin beneath Jerusalem, in Solomon's Temple. He assigns Altair to lead the venture with Malik. Surprising them both, he also assigns Kadar- still a Novice- to this mission as support in addition to bolstering their strength.

Things start to go bad almost immediately once on location. A contingent of Templars have beaten them to it, among them Robert de Sable, the Templar Grandmaster. Altair wastes no time being his usual arrogant self and causes problems the whole way in, including killing an unarmed civillian simply sheltering from the violence outside. At a crucial moment, Altair decides to forego a stealthy approach so he can trade insults with de Sable, leaving Malik and Kadar vulnerably exposed in the process. Robert de Sable trounces Altair and shoves him down a rocky, collapsing shaft to be crushed to death or suffocate. Malik and Kadar, who had tried to back Altair up despite his stupidity, are left trapped and outnumbered.

Altair manages to escape the cave in- barely- and, instead of going back for Malik and Kadar, he simply assumes they've been killed and rides back to Masyaf alone to report on the failure.

Malik and Kadar are put through intense torture, passed around the Templars like fresh meat. Kadar succumbs to his pain and injuries, dying under extreme duress. Malik endures the torture (even if he only wishes to be with his brother) and his left arm is destroyed, ending his career as a combat assassin. Through sheer grit and wits, Malik manages to catch de Sable off guard and steal the Piece of Eden- an unassuming gold sphere- and escape. He somehow makes the three hundred fifty mile journey back to Masyaf on the brink of death with a slowly rotting arm.

Failure and Redemption

Malik's retrieval of the piece, otherwise known as the Apple of Eden, and his account of what transpired in Solomon's Temple is enough to send Al Mualim in a rage. In a fit of vindictive sadism, he brands Altair a traitor and executes him in front of the Masyaf Assassins via throat-slitting. Unbeknownst to all, however, Al Mualim already has a vague idea what the Apple can do and how he can use it. Once alone with Altair's body, he uses the relic to heal his wounds and restore him to full health. He announces Altair's miraculous survival to the rest of the Assassins as a direct act from God and therefore, Altair must be permitted to serve the Brotherhood even though he has broken their laws of comraderie.

In lieu of execution, Altair is stripped of his rank and respect and forced to toil under people he used to lord his skills and rank over. Al Mualim assigns him a list of nine extremely difficult targets to kill and promises that- IF this task is completed, Altair will have earned his rank back. The list, however, contains highly visible, incredibly powerful targets and ends with Robert de Sable, the Templar Grandmaster ultimately responsible for Altair's failure and Malik's maiming.

Malik, on the other hand, experiences his life falling apart much in the same way Altair did, though by no hubris of his own. His left arm is amputated and while he survives the terrible surgery, it takes him months to recover enough to function even remotely normally. Al Mualim decides that, while a sad waste of potential, Malik is no longer fit for combat duty and is instead relegated to administrative work and given the honorific rank of {i}Dai{/i} (typically reserved for elder council members). Malik tries to appeal to Al Mualim, over and over again, but the Grandmaster won't budge, insisting that his new assingment is a position of honor even if it's away from the front lines. Unable to stand being in Masyaf, disabled and without his brother, Malik demands to be deployed so that he can at least help field Assassins complete their missions. Sick of Malik's complaints, Al Mualim agrees, deploying him to the Jerusalem bereau to serve as it's rafiq. Once again, Malik makes the three hundred and fifty mile trek to Jerusalem with a barely healed amputation and an immense, festering resentment.

Altaïr: "Safety and peace, Malik."

Malik: "Your presence here deprives me of both."

—Malik and Altaïr in Jerusalem.

Altair ends up taking multiple missions out of Jerusalem, having to officially defer to Malik's rank and position. He is not permitted to pursue his Jerusalem targets until he earns Malik's approval on his planning and information gathering, something Altair viciously resents at first. Early into these meetings both of them are downright feral to each other, frequently expressing how much they hate the other and Altair openly pushes the narrative that Solomon's Temple was somehow Malik's fault and that while he never wished harm on Kadar, he should never have been dragged along on that mission because he was nothing but a liability.

As Altair makes his way through his hitlist over the course of many long months, taking out targets not only in Jerusalem but also Damascus and Acre, he begins to realize that all of his victims are major players in the war- players from all sides. As he nears the end of his assignment, Altair's taken with an uncharacteristic introspection on the nature of war, peace, and what it would take for the common man to be truly free. His last target is out of the Jerusalem bureau, where Malik can't help but notice this strange brooding Altair and is simultaneously reluctant and eager to submit the final name to Altair's quest- Robert de Sable, the Grandmaster of the Templars. Malik is- despite himself- impressed with Altair's newfound dedication and thoughtful strategizing and he approves the kill.

Before Altair leaves, he apologizes. Something Malik never asked for or thought he'd hear from the arrogant man who destroyed his life. Altair elaborates that he knows it was his own idiocy and pride that got Kadar killed and what Malik's missing arm translated to in their lives of bloodshed and conflict. He says that he was only concerned with outperforming his only rival and that Al Mualim harped on about Brotherhood his whole life but Altair didn't realize what that meant or what the aims of the Assassins were until now. He doesn't ask to be forgiven, only that he speak his peace and that he hoped Malik could at least accept that he was telling the truth. In response, Malik denies Altair forgiveness because he is no longer the same man he was in Solomon's Temple and Malik knows Altair is every bit the Master Assassin he trained to be his entire life. For better or worse, they've been two parts of a whole their entire life and if they failed or succeeded, they did it together. Malik can't outright forgive Altair but he is willing to work past what they've survived and he asks Altair- as a personal request- to exact vengeance on de Sable for his arm and his brother; Altair solemnly swears to it.

Conspiracy

The next day, Altair moves in to kill Robert de Sable, who is attending the funeral of Majd Addin, one of Altair's most recent targets and the Saracen Regent of Jerusalem. What Altair found instead was a decoy. Robert set his second in command, Maria Thorpe, to wear his armor and disguise herself. Altair took the bait but refused to kill her as she was not his target. Altair realizes then that this entire thing has been a set up as Robert used the diversion to make his way to Arsuf to try and convince King Richard's encroaching army to ally with the Saracens and march on Masyaf. Too late, Altair realizes he's been killing targets- both Crusader and Saracen- who were secretly all high ranking members of the Templar Order. Al Mualim had set him to the task to destabilize Roberts hold of the Order, only for Altair to hand the Saracens and the Crusaders both a common enemy in the Assassins.

Exhausted and crazed, Altair returns to Malik to try and warn him of the danger, explaining that Masyaf is in immense danger and that Robert intends to lead multiple armies there, raze the fortress, and take the Apple of Eden back by force. Malik presses him for more details, more evidence, more anything to justify the crime of abandoning his post. Malik warns Altair that going off half-cocked was what caused the disaster in Solomon's Temple in the first place, and that he should wait for orders to return after sending his report by carrier pigeon. Altair insists that he cannot wait and begs Malik that if he will not leave, to send word to any Assassin he trusts and to treat any official communication from Masyaf with extreme caution for the time being. Malik asks if Altair is really going to risk his redemption for this and Altair responds that it is the only course of action for him since he laid the foundation for this crisis himself.

Altair rides to Arsuf and interferes with Robert's talks with King Richard. The English king is unaware that Robert's Templar loyalty comes before the crown and though Altair tries his best to expose him, Richard orders them to duel "so God may choose the truthful". Altair is pitted against a legion of Templar Knights, with Robert at the head- it's a testament to Altair's pure inhuman speed, strength, and reflexes that he survives the encounter and, after an intense struggle, manages to slit de Sable's throat.

In a last act of spite, de Sable tells Altair's that Al Mualim is also a Templar and that they had sworn an oath to collect and control the Apple of Eden together. In the end, Al Mualim betrayed the Templars by sending Altair and Malik to steal the Piece and the old Grandmaster's list of nine targets were the Templars who knew about the agreement. With his last breath, de Sable reveals some of the Apple's powers- it grips harder on the minds of those ignorant to it's use and can rewrite the thoughts of those willing to be lead.

Horrified, Altair escapes Arsuf and rides for Masyaf but there are already soldiers marching across the Kingdom towards the mountain fortress. When he arrives at the village at the base of the mountain, he's further shocked to find most of the villagers in a state of vague adoration, shambling about and groaning praises to the "great master" of the mountain. Several Assassins try to stop Altair and nearly succeed as he attempts to non-lethally clear a way into the fortress. To Altair's immense relief, Malik arrives in the nick of time with a small complement of other Assassins from the bureaus who are in their right minds.

Altaïr: "Safety and peace, my friend."

Malik: "Your presence here will deliver us both."

—Altaïr and Malik parting ways during the invasion of Masyaf

Malik and Altair quickly gain control of the village and Malik presses Altair to go on ahead to the fortress. He's not sure what is going on but is ready to accept that Altair is acting with the Brotherhood's best interest in mind and that Al Mualim owes them answers if nothing else. Altair reluctantly parts ways with Malik and the others, warning them that their knowledge of the Apple's existance makes them more resistant to its powers and to not harm the Assassins trying to engage them in their brainwashed state.

Alone, Altair scales the fortress walls and finds a way inside, climbing the highest tower towards Al Mualim's study. The further he goes, the more obvious it becomes that the Piece of Eden's power is terrible in both scope and strength. The entire fortress is held in thrall and Altair is hindered significantly trying to avoid killing his sworn brothers. Finally, Altair makes it to the back gardens of Masyaf where Al Mualim is waiting for him.

Al Mualim is in fact wielding the golden sphere Malik escaped the Temple of Solomon, only now its active and alive, radiating mind melting wave in a multi-mile radius. Not only the fortress and village under Al Mualim's direct control, his presence is is magnified and the approaching army is unnaturally affected by the Apple, made susceptible to the intimidation of the Assassin's legacy and less able to stay organized under duress.

Altair demands to know what's going on and demands to know if Al Mualim knew that all nine of Altair's targets were secretly Templars. Al Mualim is furious to be spoken to like that from a man he raised and hand trained, and uses the Apple to seize control of Altair's body and psionically throw him around the courtyard, injuring him to the point of lethality but keeping him alive with the Apple's healing powers. Satisfied with the domination, Al Mualim forces Altair to prostrate himself at his feet.

Al Mualim tells Altair he's going to raze his brain with Apple, scouring his mind clean and making him the perfect killing machine he was always destined to be. Altair demands the truth and ejects his hidden blade- a symbolic defiance if nothing else- but cannot free his body from the grip of the Piece. The Grandmaster, in total control of not only Altair, but Masyaf, and the Assassins, decides to grant Altair this in what he calls his last act of mercy to a disobedient and ungrateful son.

He tells Altair he will use the Apple to take control of the Brotherhood, not just in the Levant but across the world and bring all of the Assassins under his command as one and through these words, Altair realizes that Al Mualim is indeed a Templar. The Grandmaster does not deny it, going on to explain that Altair had done all the hard work in eliminating his strongest opponents inside the Templar Order and now nothing stood between him and taking over the Templars as well- thereby ending the ancient feud between both groups, but only under his heel. Altair asserts that none of this matters once the Crusaders and the Saracens and some of Madj Addin's remaining forces combine to conquer Masyaf. Al Mualim reveals that the Piece of Eden has been the subject of his relentless study for several decades and he knows more about how to use its powers than anyone. In addition to healing powers that preserved Altair through his false execution after Solomon's Temple (and likely preserved Malik long enough to make it back to Masyaf in the first place), and widespread mind control powers, it also has destructive capabilities as well. To demonstrate, Al Mualim functionally electrocutes Altair, complaining that he was always too headstrong, too stubborn, too rebellious. He laments that Altair cannot keep his mind in tact and continue to serve.

By the end of these confessions, Altair is furious. The realization this has been Al Mualim's designs from the beginning, from the moment Altair had been initiated and groomed in the Brotherhood, he was always destined to be a lapdog for a powerhungry madman. His rage and the truth- after all this time- give Altair the surge of willpower needed to influence the Apple's hold on him and he breaks free. Altair launches at Al Mualim and kills him with the hidden blade.

Aftermath

Malik manages to rally the Assassins and once Al Mualim is assassinated and the Apple's grip on the keep is released, he's able to organize enough resistance to divert the already disorganized troops threatening Masyaf- already succumbing to infighting and rampant desertion. The victory is tremulous though, as the predominant conclusion the Masyaf Assassins reach is that Altair murdered the Grandmaster in retaliation for stripping his rank. Altair relays his part of the story to the upper council but does not defend himself and doesn't deny what he's done more than warrants a second execution for treason. It's like all the fight has left him and he spends the next several weeks in a brooding despondence Malik has never seen in Altair before.

Malik largely takes charge during this time, leading the Assassins and organizing recovery efforts. His repuation as a respected Dai and bureau leader make him deeply trusted and admired with many Assassins- especially veterans- considering him a hero after his success in Solomon's Temple and his committment to his duty and oaths even after losing his arm and brother. Under his direction, Altair is allowed to remain in the keep but not to leave until the council can have a formal tribunal and also that Al Mualim's quarters, study, and private library are thoroughly searched. On Altair's advice, he and Malik lock the Apple away in the dungeons beneath the fortress for the time being, afraid that if word of its existence or location got out of Masyaf with any certainty after the failed seige, they would never know peace again.

The night before the tribunal, Altair visits Malik in his room and admits that he wants to leave Masyaf, and that he has come to say goodbye and to thank him for his trust back in Jerusalem, after all they've been through. Malik, as typical of him, is impatient and aggravated by this, reminding Altair he swore an oath and that, after everything, he's surprised to hear Altair's tempted to dishonor his duty again. Defensive, Altair demands to know what Malik thinks he should do. Altair argues that he has no place in Masyaf, the Brotherhood believes him a traitor, Al Mualim's lies and deception his entire life have revealed that what he thought he believed in was nothing more than a cheap facade to hand a madman ultimate power. Altair is worried about leaving the Piece of Eden in Masyaf knowing that eventually, it would be sought again. His plan is to take it and travel to the furthest edge of the earth he can get to and let all rumors of its existence die with him in isolation.

Malik counters that Altair's duty is to rebuild what was broken, though he is deeply concerned about the Apple and its future. Malik asserts that without Altair's warning, he never would have been able to find help for Maysaf and the Brotherhood might have been stomped out for good. He also points out that a new Grandmaster must be chosen soon and when Altair immediately posits it should be Malik, the Dai says it must be Altair who takes on the title. This comes as a shock to Altair, who was convinced Malik would never trust him around power but Malik is adamant that Altair's perspective on the truth of the Assassin/Templar conflict, the danger the Piece of Eden poses, and his heroics regarding the Al Mualim conspiracy make him not only ideal for the position but obligated to take it and bring order back to the Brotherhood.

Reform

After going over all the evidence and accounts, and hearing first hand from all involved, Malik gives a frank but sincere recommendation to instate Altair as Grandmaster and after multiple hours of deliberation, the council agrees. Altair is the youngest Grandmaster in the recorded history of the Brotherhood and while some of the oldest advisors are a little ruffled by his ways, he has regained the respect of Masyaf and for the most part, he ascends to power to mass approval. There is a contingent of Assassins who oppose this move- Amir being the most outspoken- but the change is a peaceful one.

Altair knows that he would never have achieved this without Malik and therefore appoints him the second highest authority in the keep as his second in command, relying on Malik to be his most trusted advisor even amongst all the experts and councilmen Altair has access to. Altair also undoes a lot of rules instated by Al Mualim designed to drive wedges between Assassins and their leadership- he allows fraternization (previously, Assassins were forbidden to marry or bear children without permission and their children were typically raised away from their active duty parents), makes several democratic improvements to previously authoritarian processes, and opens up robust communication with other Assassin strongholds in an effort to build a connected network.

While Malik and Altair function seamlessly as a team, Altair's rule over Masyaf had at least one major point of disagreement: the Apple. Malik believed that it should be locked away and forgotten somewhere, forever, and never spoke of again. Altair, however, came to believe that as long as it exists, it will never be truly safe from people who misuse it... And so he begins to study it and it's powers by using it. At first, its mostly visions and phantom sensations, flashes of languages he doesn't understand, but things escalate quickly. In a crisis after a botched training mission ambushed by Templars, Altair struggles to use the Apple on and off for over a week straight to keep Malik from dying from a very fatal wound.

Post death, Altair is remembered as being one of the greatest Assassins who ever lived, accomplished as a Master Assassin but also remembered as a reformist while Grandmaster who helped reforge a network of isolated, small cells together into a truly cohesive, almost global Brotherhood.

The Hunt for Nine

The Apple of Eden

"Those subjected to [the Apple]'s glow are promised all that they desire. It asks only one thing in return: complete and total obedience. And who can truly refuse? It is temptation incarnate."

―Altaïr's research notes

A small gold sphere etched with strange carvings that glows brilliantly when activated. Its power seems nearly limitless and no one alive can claim to know much about it or the extent of its powers. Secretly fought over for millenia, the Apple of Eden is the central core of the Assassin/Templar conflict. It is, at its essence, a tool of mind control, however it can work in incredibly subtle ways. Those who have spent time studying the Apple have learned that it is responsible for many "divine" or "magical" events throughout history and shaped the minds of those who witnessed these events. The parting of the Red Sea, the Trojan War, Aten worship in ancient Egypt, the rise of Napoleon, the Kennedy assassination, and even the moon landing. It seems to be a key component in making its victims believe its weilder is infallable and pushes victims towards worship and thralldom.

The Templars' chief goal is to have a strong, powerful Templar unleash the full power of the Apple, drawing in all of civillization to submit to their rule and through this, eliminate suffering. The Assassins seek to stop this, believing that free will is worth suffering for. All throughout history the Apple has gone back and forth in secret- so secret that not even these two warring factions have a strong idea of its location or even its reality as it sometimes drops out of knowledge for centuries at a time. It sat beneath the Library of Alexandria for nearly 1200 years before being rediscovered in Solomon's Temple.

The Apple can heal physical wounds as well. Al Mualim banked on this to "execute" Altair after his failure at Solomon's Temple. By doing so the Grandmaster was seen upholding their laws but blame Altair's continued existence on an act of God. It also had an effect on Altair's deference and submission to his master. Malik may have inadvertently awakened the Apple in some state during his race back to Masyaf after defying death in Solomon's Temple, and its possible the artifact kept him alive long enough to make it back to the keep.

The artifact can also be used offensively with beams and bursts of white hot light and deafening noise, however this power seems to be intended for small scale conflicts and not large skirmishes.

Apart from this, the Apple's primary use seems to be an archive of some sort. It houses a vast collection of highly advanced knowledge, causes visions, and has been known to drive both viewers and wielders insane. While the Apple isn't truly sentient in the way we normally think of, it does have a will of its own. However, it must enact this through a human wielder as a host. It does possess a desire to be used and the will to defend itself if necessary. Those who dare to use the Apple regularly and for longer periods tend to develop a kind of bond with it, typified by intense paranoia concerning its owndership but also immense range and advanced skills in controlling its powers.

As far as mind control, the Apple is best suited for subtle adjustments and widespread influence. It would be difficult to tell that someone held in its thrall is being influenced and it becomes sort of a frog-in-a-pot type situation. It would be difficult to notice the alteration until too late. Knowledge of the Piece- what it is, what it does, and has done- makes one more immune to its effect. It is possible to forcibly control and dominate another with the Apple, though the actual effect, permanence, and duration are affected by the wielder’s willpower and desire. But should a wielder choose to sacrifice subtlty for brute force, total mindbreak takeovers are possible.

Typically, a thrall of the Apple does not act like a subservient drone. Instead they are enthralled by something appealing the wielder possesses. Typically power. Their subservience is total, but usually subtle enough for further treachery and subterfuge.

Important Locations

Masyaf

An isolated fortress in the An Nusayriyah Mountains of Western Syria originally constructed by the Byzantines as early as the eigth century. It was built directly into the walls surrounding the Orontes Valley to provide protection and access to the limited resources of the mountains, including the river gorge below. It's golden period was the high middle ages and after it fell to the Mongols in 1257, it has laid in ruins since.

Masyaf consists of two major sites- the village, occupied by commoners and peasants, and the fortress. The village is poor and small but the civillians there enjoy protection and pay from the Assassin Brotherhood in exchange for taking on some of the burden of farming, textile making, etc. Mayaf houses several hundred Assassins and all initiates and lower ranks are required to spend time aiding the villagers with their work but this symbiotic relationship helps stock the keep in the event of conflict while also keeping the peasants within the grounds.

The fortress is regularly assaulted by Templars, Crusaders, and others- even Saladin in 1176 after a failed assassination attempt- but until the Mongol attacks of the thirteenth century, the fortress remained largely unassaultable by outside forces. Not only were its walls high and strong but the terrain itself made mounted combat and seige weapons almost impossible to use effectively. The mountain is incredibly craggy and treacherous, with great jagged cliffs that stretch for hundreds of feet.

Maysaf is the center of Assassin power- at least in the twelfth century- working closely with it's sister site Alamut, in Iran. Once Altair takes over as Grandmaster, he puts a great deal of effort into unifying the other Assassin cells under one banner (and one authority), centralizing most of the Southern European, North African, and Middle Eastern sects under his command. After the Mongolian seige, however, most of his hard work was undone.

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Jerusalem

Jerusalem sits between the Mediterranean and the Dead Sea, established sometime in the 19th century BCE. It has been conquered many times, notably by King David who's successor, Solmon, built a temple to guard the Ark of the Covenant. The city has intense ties to Judaism, Islam, and Christianity as the site where Jesus was crucified in 33CE. By the mid 600s, Jerusalem had already seen multiple Muslim dynasties (the Rashidun, Umayyad, and Fatimid Caliphates) making the city an urban center with many cultures and peoples present. In 1096, Pope Urban II started the first crusade, the point of which was to wrench Jerusalem (and the rest of the Holy Land) from Muslim rule. In 1099 the Crusaders massacred the Muslim and Jewish citizens, establishing the Christian Kingdom of Jerusalem. By the third crusade in 1190, the city was back under control of Saladin and his army, the Saracens regularly skirmished with the Crusaders under King Richard I to maintain control of the city.

The Assassins have a bureau in Jerusalem, who Malik Al Sayf takes over as its rafiq after losing his left arm. Jerusalem- being the largest city in the Levant- is the center for many Assassin operations and Malik's skills in organizing and managing missions, men, and information make him well respected and highly effective there.

Hidden deep below the city is Solomon's Temple, which is said to house the Ark of the Covenant. The Templar Order has been searching for it for years, explaining their heavy presence in the city.

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Damascus

Located in the foothils of the Eastern Lebanon Mountains, near the Barada river detlta, Damascus is the largest city and capital of Syria. Founded sometime in 3000BCE, Damascus is ancient and the subject of many conquests. In the 7th and 8th centuries, it was the capital of the Umayyad Caliphrate (like Jerusalem) and the massive Umayyad Mosque was built in their honor- however, in the mid-700s, Damascus lost its status as capital to Baghdad during the Abbasid Revolution. During the Second Crusade, around 1150, the city was under almost constant seige until it finally fell to Saladin's forces in 1174. Saladin, however, permitted scholars all over the world to visit and study in one of the many Madrasahs scattered across the city. In the Third Crusade (with a population of over 45k) was seen as an especially safe and prosperous place to live.

Like Jerusalem, both the Templars and the Assassins have established presence in the city. The Assassin rafiq maintains a bureau in the city's middle district and can have word to any Assassin in the kingdom in a matter of hours.

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Acre

Set against the eastern Mediterranean Sea in Western Galilee, Acre is a port city that has seen a huge amount of destruction and woe. In the third crusade, it was viciously seiged by the Crusaders under King Richard and planned to poison the water supply in order to purge the entire population- a plan thwarted by Altair. Afterwards, however, the city eventually fell and served as the capital for the Kingdom of Jerusalem until the end of the Crusades. Acre served as a weapons depot and stocking point for Christian Crusaders, who intended to march south to Jaffa and then on to Jerusalem to finally take out the Levant's largest city.

Like Jerusalem and Damascus, both the Templars and the Assassins have established presence in the city, though the Templar hold in Acre is considerably stronger and is their main seat of power in the Levant. The Assassin rafiq maintains a bureau in the city's middle district and can have word to any Assassin in the kingdom in a matter of hours.

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Arsuf

Known by several other names including Arsur and Apollonia, was built high on a cliff overlooking the Mediterranean Sea sometime in the 5th or 6th century BCE as part of the Persian Empire. During the Hellenistic period it was ruled by Seleucids and then Romans, who greatly increased the size and wealth of the city. In 113CE, Arsuf became a critical hub along the Via Maris route and stayed stable that way until about 640CE when it was captured by Muslims who surrounded the city in an immense wall to protect it from the Byzantine fleets. It was hotly contested during the Second and Third Crusades, passing to the Crusaders in 1101 and then back to the Muslim Saracens in 1187.

The Templar hold here is strong but they cannot house open troops here, only an office much like an Assassin bureau. The Assassins, conversely, cannot safely establish a permanent bureau here.

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Bureaus

Hidden somewhere in every major city, the Assassins have established 'safe houses' or bureaus designated to assist field Assassins with their missions. In addition to support, the bureau leader- the rafiq- also decides whether or not an Assassin is appropriately prepared for their mission and as such, often are great knowledge keepers and have a wealth of information on the areas under their watch. The bureau is, first and foremost, a safe base of operation where field Assassins can rest, prepare, and have their contracts managed and overseen. The bureaus were also communications hubs, typically equipped with carrier pidgeons and a network of stationed informants. Some bureaus operate in plain sight- the Damascus Assassin Bureau fronted as a pottery shop.

If the rafiq granted the attending assassin leave to pursue their target, they would give the Assassin a feather to dip in the blood of their victim as proof. This tradition started as early as the mid-800s.

After Malik Al Sayf's 'promotion' to rafiq after losing his arm, his management of the bureau pulled Jerusalem from barely functioning to one of the most well kept Assassin footholds in the kingdom. Malik himself turned out to be incredibly adept at cartography and was able to hide the bureau in a hidden building behind his map shop that only had roof access to a souk and a hidden door to the bureau beyond.

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Notes

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