Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad

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Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad is a male video game character who features in Assassin's Creed.

Contents

Biography

Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad (Arabic: الطائر ابن لا أحد‎, meaning "The Bird, Son of None") was a male human born in 1165 where he was the son of an Arab-Muslim father named Umar Ibn-La'Ahad and his wife Maud. His mother was noted to had died due to complications in the childbirth and his father was later executed by forces of Saladin after it was revealed that he participated in a disastrous mission to assassinate the ruler. This saw Umar killing a nobleman who had caught him and he allowed himself to be executed where he came to hear the voice of his son crying for him. However, he was prevented from seeing his father's death by Ahmad Sofian, the Assassin who had revealed Umar's name to the Saracens under torture. Crushed by guilt over Umar's death, he infiltrated Altaïr's quarters some time later, apologized to Altaïr for his weakness, and committed suicide with a dagger. Altaïr ran to Al Mualim's quarters with haste, informing him of what had occurred. Al Mualim told Altaïr not to disclose anything about the incident to anyone, not even to Ahmad's son Abbas, who would be shamed by the truth of his father's death. Altaïr considered Al Mualim as more of a father figure than his own biological father, though he was aware that Al Mualim's love was 'weak and dishonest'. It was then that he agreed to do as the Mentor had commanded. Altaïr and Abbas joined the Order as novices soon after, grew up together and became good friends, always at each other's side. One day, after noticing Abbas' continued grief over his father's death, Altaïr told him the truth in an effort to console him. Upon hearing it, Abbas turned over in his bed, not saying a word. The following day, the two didn't speak to each other until Abbas asked their combat instructor Labib if they could fight with real swords, instead of the wooden practice ones. It was then that Abbas revealed his hatred of Altaïr, believing he lied about Ahmad, before attacking him in a rage. As the two grappled, Abbas held his knife to Altaïr's throat and yelled that Altaïr had lied about Abbas' father to shame him. The commotion caught the attention of the other Assassins, the villagers and Al Mualim himself. Trying to quell Abbas' anger, Altaïr falsely admitted that he had lied, and the two were taken to Masyaf's dungeon. There they spent a month in confinement before resuming their training. With his crimes deemed more severe, Abbas was forced by Al Mualim to spend an extra year in training, whilst Altaïr graduated to the rank of Assassin.

In 1189, Masyaf was attacked and overrun by Templars, aided by their double agent Haras. Riding his horse into the village and rescuing the fellow Assassin Faisal, Altaïr led the injured man to a bench before meeting with Abbas. Abbas claimed that the Assassins had to fall back and could do nothing for Al Mualim, who was detained in the fortress along with several other Assassin hostages. Altaïr, however, gave Abbas orders to flank the Templars and lead them into the canyon while Altaïr himself rescued Al Mualim. Altaïr made his way to the fortress, killing Templar soldiers and rescuing villagers along the way. Upon arriving at the fortress' gates, Altaïr was greeted by Haras. Taunting the Assassin, Haras closed the gates behind him and went to execute the captured Assassins inside the courtyard with a crossbow. Locked out, Altaïr climbed some scaffolding and reached the top of the fortress walls. From there, he ran along the battlements, jumped onto the tiled roof of a balcony, and assassinated Haras from above, saving Al Mualim. This act earned Altaïr Al Mualim's respect, and he was thereafter elevated to the rank of Master Assassin. Upon hearing this, Abbas spat at Altaïr's feet, whereas Altaïr only sneered back in his first true display of arrogance. In 1190, while returning from a journey, Altaïr discovered that a village near the citadel of Alep was under attack. He came across an Assassin guard who told him that Templars were responsible for the assault and gave Altaïr a sword with which to avenge their comrades. Fending off many Templars along the way, Altaïr came across an enemy archer who revealed the Templars' plans: they were ordered to attack the village by the Templar leader, Lord Basilisk, in order to gain valuable information possessed by a member of the Brotherhood. Altaïr dispatched the Templar and continued on, assassinating an enemy captain before meeting with Al Mualim. Altaïr was then tasked with retrieving a powerful artifact called 'the Chalice' that could bolster the power of whatever faction held it. Mission clear, he left for the city of Damascus.

In Damascus, Altaïr located a Rafiq posing as a merchant and bluntly said the Assassins' password in public. Leading Altaïr to a secluded area, the Rafiq admonished him for his indiscretion, then tasked him with taking the life of an enemy to prove himself. Once the job was complete, he would give Altaïr the information he sought. Altaïr did as he was asked and assassinated the target with his Hidden Blade. Altaïr then mentioned his search for the Chalice to the Rafiq and was directed to Tamir, a merchant whose close association with the Templars made him a suitable target for interrogation. However, because Tamir's residence was heavily guarded, the Rafiq suggested Altaïr start with a man named Misbah. Once Altaïr had left and located Misbah, he interrogated the man, but a nearby city guard noticed and intervened. As Misbah fled the scene, Altaïr took down the guards and chased him onto the roof of a building, where a plank collapsed beneath Misbah's feet and he was left hanging from a rope. Altaïr requested information in return for safety, and Misbah reluctantly accepted. After telling Altaïr about a shipment of oil barrels stored atop Tamir's home, he requested help, but Altaïr left him hanging. Altaïr made his way to Tamir's house and used some nearby torches to set the oil barrels and house on fire, flushing the merchant out. Grieving over the loss of his belongings, Tamir told Altaïr that the Chalice was located in a desert temple that could only be accessed via the use of three keys. He then told the Assassin of a dancer named Fajera who held one of three. With the information he sought acquired, Altaïr ended Tamir's life.

After he left the Bureau, Altaïr ventured to the circus where Fajera performed and confronted her. She refused to cooperate and called one of her circus friends, a brute named Badr. Altaïr fought Badr off, but Fajera fled and the tent began to cave in. Managing to escape, Altaïr chased Fajera across the city, dodging civilians and guards alike. However, the Assassin lost her trail as a bridge collapsed, leaving him behind. On spotting her again by a well, Altaïr confronted Fajera, who immediately gave him the key. When Altaïr expressed confusion at her actions, Fajera explained that she had actually been testing him, and that through her cards, she had foreseen his arrival and prepared herself to aid him. In return for her assistance, she requested Altaïr dispose of a man named Alaat, who was at a bathhouse not far away. Venturing through old sewer tunnels, Altaïr made his way into the bathhouse. Although Alaat let out a cry for help, he was too late to save himself as Altaïr plunged his blade into the man and escaped. In thanks, Fajera told Altaïr of another key holder in Tyre. Arriving in Tyre and recollecting on past events, Altaïr met up with a man named Hamid, who informed him that Roland Napule had confined the holder of the second key inside his hospital. With this information, the Assassin made his way through old passageways inside a sewer, which were heavily patrolled by Templar guards. Altaïr soon found Roland interrogating the key holder, and promptly assassinated him. However, the key holder was convinced that Altaïr himself was a Templar and asked the Assassin for proof that suggested otherwise. Altaïr believed he had none until the man asked to see his left hand. With this, the key holder knew that Altaïr was one of the Assassins, due to his missing ring finger. After giving him the key, the man bid Altaïr farewell and told him that the next key was in Jerusalem, with Lord Basilisk himself. After arriving in Jerusalem, Altaïr met up with the Rafiq Kadar, asking him where Lord Basilisk could be found. Kadar remarked that the man's fierceness and feral bravado in battle had earned him the trust of the King, meaning Basilisk was frequently idling in the King's audience. As the Assassin pondered how to get closer to his target, Kadar informed him of an upcoming party hosted by the King himself, to which some citizens would receive invitations. Kadar then told Altaïr of the City Gardens in Jerusalem, where he could eavesdrop on citizens to learn of the party's location. In the gardens, Altaïr learned that a man named Ayman had received an invitation to the party. Confronting Ayman, he drew the location of the event out the man despite his resistance. Altaïr then left for the party and travelled through a secret passage, gaining entry inside, where he encountered Basilisk. Battling with the Templar leader, Altaïr stole the key and fled.

Overview

Personality and traits

Altaïr was raised at the Assassin fortress at Masyaf and quickly rose through the ranks of the Order to become one of the most respected and feared Assassins in the Brotherhood, second only to its leader, Al Mualim. A cold and objective man, Altaïr fully devoted himself to whatever course he chose to pursue. He had a proud nature, and was often impetuous, demanding, arrogant, and impatient. However, after his failure at Solomon's Temple and commencing on a mission to redeem himself, Altaïr began pondering the motivations of his targets after listening to their final words.

As his mission progressed and he began to observe the connections between his victims, Altaïr's mindset gradually changed, and he started drawing more heavily on the teachings of the Order. By the time he confronted Al Mualim, he had become a calmer, wiser, and more focused man, although he still occasionally let anger get the best of him.

Intelligent and dedicated, Altaïr was passionate about the pursuit of knowledge. He understood that future eras would have no place for the traditions of Masyaf and changed their practices accordingly. His wisdom and leadership would prove instrumental in ensuring the continuation of the Assassin Order.

Powers and abilities

Altaïr was also a skilled artist, and his Codex was heavily illustrated. In it he drew blueprints for Hidden Blade modifications, manuals for assassination techniques, maps, and even a detailed sketch of his wife, Maria, bordered with hand-drawn flowers

Altaïr also possessed Eagle Vision, a 'sixth sense' or intuition that allowed him to see a person's true intentions. Due to this gift, Altaïr had heightened intuitive abilities and senses, along with his sharpened fighting skills. Altaïr's skills made him one of the most deadly and adept Assassins in the Order's history, and they were legendary even after his death.

Altaïr was a Master Assassin, capable of extraordinary acrobatic feats and versed in the application of deadly arts. Trained extensively, he was able to overcome any obstacle, human or terrain, climb the tallest towers and leap from the highest ledges without a hint of fear. Like other Assassins, he was also trained in stealth assassination techniques, hand-to-hand and weapons combat, and blade throwing. His noncombat skills included climbing, urban acrobatics, eavesdropping, interrogation, and pickpocketing. He also had extensive knowledge of Holy Land politics and religion, which helped him better understand his opponents. According to Niccolò Polo, at the age of 92 Altaïr retained the same strength, stamina, and skill he had in his youth, possibly due to renewed training when he reclaimed the title of Mentor.

Notes

  • Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad was created by Ubisoft where he made his first appearance in Assassin's Creed (2007)

In other media

Video games

  • In Prince of Persia, Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad appeared as an unlockable outfit for the Prince in the setting of the 2008 video game.

Appearances

  • Assassin's Creed: (2007)

External Link

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