The Life of Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad (Part 2 of 4)

"Have you anything to teach us, or you will you lead us all to ruin?" - Altaïr regarding the Apple of Eden

Becoming Mentor of the Assassin Order

Altaïr and the Apple of Eden

Almost immediately after the death of Al Mualim, Altaïr carried his former mentor through shocked crowds. Suspicious he might return from the dead, Altaïr had Al Mualim's body burnt,  much to the outrage of Abbas and other Assassins. The Assassins were then split into those loyal to Altaïr  and those who believed he had killed Al Mualim in order to become leader of the Syrian Assassins. Altaïr attempted to explain himself but he was then attacked by enraged Assassins. He easily disarmed the Assassins, without killing them, but while he was distracted Abbas managed to retrieve the Apple of Eden, which proved too much for his mind. Altaïr managed to save Abbas but he was left wondering whether the Apple would teach them anything or prove to be their downfall. After seeing his herioc act of rescuing Abbas and the Apple's abilities, the Assassins decided to except Altaïr as their new mentor. 

Cyprus Archives 
A month after Al Mualim's death, Altaïr staged an attack on Acre's harbor, which the Templars were planning to use to escape to Cyprus. He tries to stop the escape but ultimately fails. He does manage to capture Maria Thorpe (The woman who posed as Robert De Sable) who attacks him to avenge the death of her former master. 

Altaïr and Maria on the boat to Cyprus

Altaïr then charters a ship to Cyprus and takes Maria with him. Once there he learns that Armand Bouchart, who is now the grand master of the Templar order, has purchased Cyprus off King Richard of England and is controlling the land and it's people. Altaïr of course fights the Templar presence in Cyprus. While doing so he learns of the Templar Archive which houses Templar knowledge and artifacts. Through the course of his mission, Maria becomes increasingly fond him, even helping him defeat a Templar mole.

Altaïr confronts Armand Bouchart in the archive and kills him. Following which the archive begins to collapse but Altaïr manages to escape. Maria and Altaïr then head to the harbor, where she reveals she has officially retired from the Templar order as she in love with him. The two then begin to head East towards India.

Revolutionizing the Assassin Order
Altaïr, who had previously wanted to seal the Apple away decided to keep it with him and through the years he used it quite often. He married Maria in 1195 in Cyprus and the two then returned home to Masyaf, where his first son, Darim, was born. Altaïr began to promote the ways of the Assassins all over the world and eventually traveled to Constantinople where he planned to spread the order to Europe. The city was all but burned to the ground by the Roman Catholics however, so he returned to Masyaf disappointed. 

Altaïr writing his Codex

 Through the Apple of Eden, Altaïr gained the knowledge to build wondrous things, the armor of Altaïr, which was lighter and stronger than any other armor, and a hidden blade that didn't require the loss of a finger, allowing the Assassin's to wield two hidden blades at once. He also created attachments for the hidden blade, the hidden gun and the poison blade. His constant study of the Apple did leave his friends and family to be worried however. Altaïr recorded his discoveries and his life in his legendary codex. He also later fathered another son, Sef, who went on to have children of his own. Altaïr began to change the ways of the Assassins, making them less public and more and more secretive. 

The Asassination of Genghis Khan
Genghis Khan and the Mongol Empire rapidly approached Masyaf, leaving the Syrian Assassins in danger. This and the fact he believed Genghis Khan possessed a piece of Eden, caused Altaïr and his son Darim to leave Masyaf to assassinate the emperor. Sef was left behind in Masyaf so he could look after his family and Malik was placed in control of the Syrian Assassins during Altaïr's absence. 

Altaïr and the Assassin, Qulan Gal, infiltrated a Mongol camp, where Genghis Khan was located. Altaïr was wounded by a guard due to his old age however but was luckily rescued by Qulan. Realizing he was in danger Genghis fled on horseback but was killed when his horse was hit by an arrow shot by Qulan. Successful in their mission, Qulan, Darim and Altaïr returned to Masyaf, ten years after they left. What they found however was nothing like what they left...

To be continued...