OOC | PROFILE
Player Information
Name: Phae
Age: 22
AIM SN: sjfhlsdkjfldf
email: LJ message please
Have you played in an LJ based game before? Y
Currently Played Characters: Bayonetta | hittheclimax
Conditional: Activity Check Link: SHE IS SO NEW MAN, SO NEW
Character Information
General
Canon Source: Assassin's Creed
Canon Format: Game
Character's Name: Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad (الطائر ابن لا أحد)
Character's Age: 26
What form will your character's NV take? An iPhone, just to make things difficult for him.
Abilities
Character's Canon Abilities: Prior to the main game events, Altaïr had attained the rank of Master Assassin -- an individual equipped with all the equipment necessary for carrying out their duties in a quick and efficient fashion. And even though he was stripped of his rank, equipment, and demoted to the level of a mere novice, Altaïr is still not the type of person one would want to be targetted by. The Brotherhood that he hails from consists largely of Informers and Assassins -- being one of the latter, Altaïr mostly fights with a long-sword, carries throwing knives that he can use with incredible accuracy, and can also use a dagger in place of his sword to quicken his attacks.
One might think that alone is impressive, but that wasn't even the best bit. Altaïr is quick and agile -- even with his imposing frame -- and can effortlessly leap from rooftop to rooftop in a flurry of quick-yet-balanced movements. Each movement is composed and focused, running on determination and motivation derived from his personality. For him, it's more than effortless to creep up on someone and ram his hidden blade into the most vulnerable part of their anatomy, quickly and painlessly eliminating them.
It's probably a bit unnatural that he has the ability to climb extremely tall stories of buildings within a matter of seconds -- and he is also able to drop from tall heights without being fatally injured or even wounding himself. In the game itself, even a three-foot haystack can break the fall of a one-hundred foot drop, completely cushioning the impact and preventing any harm, as well as providing convenient hiding places. Even though his general appearance sticks out very much so, Altaïr has no problem with hiding from pursuers and blending in the crowd.
Along with being mentally head-strong. Altaïr is near impossible to hypnotize or to brainwash. This immunity stems from his devotion to seeking out truth and knowledge, as well as his somewhat skeptical belief of those happenings that lack a logical explanation.
Altaïr is also gifted with an ability called "Eagle Vision," which allows him to see others in a different light -- literally. Though Altair himself seems only subconsciously aware of this ability (unknownst to him, he inherited it because he's a decendent of "Those Who Came Before"), when he uses it, allies and enemies will appear lit-up in his blurry vision, immediately marked by recognizable colors. This will probably not even work in-roleplay, for the sake of it being too 'metagaming' and thus won't be used without permission -- or until some CR is developed.
Conditional: If your character has no superhuman canon abilities, what dormant ability will you give them?If possible, I would like to improve Altaïr's Eagle Vision, as well as upgrading his physical abilities so that they match those of Ezio and Desmond. But otherwise, in due time Altaïr's Eagle Vision will improve. He, like Ezio and Desmond, will be able to pinpoint those with evil intentions as well as good. (Of course this won't be abused -- after all, Altaïr himself will be only vaguely aware of how his ability works.)
Weapons: Along with his hidden blade, Altaïr will be carrying his long sword, fifteen throwing knives and another longer, more durable, dagger strapped along his back. He will also be bringing a Piece of Eden, however he will not take advantage of it's abilities and it will only be brought for potential in-game plots.
History/Personality/Plans/etc.
Character History:What we know about Altaïr's past is rather unclear. His mother was Christian, and his father was a Muslim. The biggest influence on his life, however, was Al Mualim, the leader of the Assassin Order -- a man who taught him that emotions like "love" and "affection" would only weaken him. It was probably because of these teachings that Altair was able to simply watch his parents be killed before his eyes. He felt no grief, no love or no need to mourn for his parents, only stating that Al Mualim felt more like a father than his own real one.
During his years as a young assassin, he rose quickly through the ranks -- becoming a Master Assassin in his early twenties. But that was also when his arrogance became a massive problem. During the start of the Third Crusade in 1190, Altaïr was sent on a mission to retrieve an artifact by the name of The Chalice. He started out on the mission, determined to take the Templar keys and release the so-called Chalice -- and instead found himself in the company of a woman named Adha. He was, at first, in completely disbelief when it was revealed that she herself was the chalice, but he also claimed that he would protect her.
It was a shame, however, that she was soon kidnapped by a man named Lord Basilisk. Even though Altaïr killed him, Adha was no where to be found afterward, and thus his mission came an end. Even so, his desire to find her remained. (It is revealed much later in the series that he did find her corpse -- and killed everyone who was involved in her death.)
Within the next year, Altaïr was sent on another mission -- as the Holy Lands were engulfed by the war between the Templars and themselves -- in hopes of finding ancient artifacts. He was sent, along with fellow Assassins Malik and his brother Kadar, to Solomon's Temple to recover what was in the Ark of the Covenant. But due to his brash, foolish actions, Altaïr ended up risking the lives of the other two. He revealed himself to Robert de Sable in hopes of assassinating him but failed, only causing the injury of Malik and the death of Kadar.
Altaïr had no other choice but to return to Masyaf, informing his own master that he had -- unfortunately -- failed, and that the Templars managed to secure the treasure. However, much to his disbelief (and maybe disappointment), Malik returned with the artifact. As petty as it was, Altair couldn't help being somewhat disdainful that it was Malik who had returned with the treasure, not him.
Before they could continue their next course of action, the city of Masyaf was invaded by the Templars, who knew that it was Altaïr who tried to assassinate their leader. And so Altaïr lead the attack by crushing the soldiers with a massive number of logs -- receiving praise from those that lurked within the city. However, as punishment for his rash behavior at Solomon's Temple, Al Mualim stripped Altaïr of his rank, demoting him from Master Assassin to Novice, and stripped him of his gear. Altair was forced to start anew, told that he would only being able to recover his former rank by killing nine special targets.
[ Read about the nine targets here. ]
After the death of the ninth target -- Robert de Sable -- it was revealed to Altaïr that his own teacher and father figure, Al Mualim, had actually been a Templar all along. The reasons for sending Altaïr off to kill said targets had been to prevent them from coming after the artifact that rested in Masyaf (it was called the Piece of Eden, Altair learned, and had the ability to hypnotize and create illusions). Al Mualim wanted it all for himself.
Hearing this news, Altaïr made his way back to Masyaf where he found his former brothers, the other Assassin's, under the influence of the Piece of Eden, reduced to mindless puppets that would do what Al Mualim wanted. It was then that he met up with his former-hostile-comrade-now-friend Malik to stop Al Mualim. Upon his arrival to the Assassin temple where his master was, it was explained to him by Al Mualim that the reason for using the artifact was to ensure complete peace via mind-control and obedience, saying that the Crusades were now over.
Despite his objections to his master's ways, Altair was forced to fight the spirits of the previous nine targets, then Al Mualim himself. After a long battle, and Al Mualim was defeated -- but not before he asked if Altair would be able to destroy the one artifact that could ensure peace -- and he was laid to rest with the Piece of Eden falling from his hand.
Altaïr made his way to the object, activating its supernatural abilities and having it light up a hologram map of the rest of the world, pinpointing the location of the other Pieces of Eden.
Point in Canon: Post-game
Character Personality: When we first see Altaïr in Solomon's Temple on his mission to retrieve the treasure within its catacombs, he immediately murders an innocent. This not only shows that Altaïr is dismissive of the Brotherhood's Creed (stay your blade from the flesh of an innocent, be discreet, and never compromise the Brotherhood) -- he carelessly shows his dismissive attitude towards these so-called guidelines -- but that he is also a Master Assassin to be respected and feared, even by his Brothers from Masyaf.
Flaunting a cold and rebellious attitude with hints of underlying arrogance, Altaïr shows no respect for those around him. From his own master that he openly insults with no hesitation, to his Brothers who are utterly devoted to the Creed, Altair treats everyone with the same contempt -- when they try to tell him to obey the Creed, Altaïr only states that his own way is better.
It is this confidence and overwhelming arrogance that leads him to his own destruction. He fails his own mission to eliminate Robert de Sable, losing the treasure at Solomon's temple and causing the death of one of his own and injuring the other beyond repair.
(Yet still dodging the blame for the consequences, blaming Malik's brother's for his own death and Malik for trying to stop him from eliminating their enemy.)
It's here that he meets with his leader and (sort of) father-figure, Al Mualim (Who used to hold him with a high regard for his skills and success at missions -- save for this one) and is reduced to nothing more than a novice. It's a hard blow to Altaïr, mostly to his pride -- he asks if it is really necessary, as though he is in complete disgust at being shoved to the bottom of the food-chain.
But he does not endure this punishment without questioning his own master of the Assassin's society, almost outright insulting him and calling him a cowardly old man for going to such extremes. It is only after a bitchslap and and a stab to the stomach (actually an illusion, created thanks to the treasure at Malik had actually been skilled enough to retrieve) that Altaïr learns his lesson. Despite his previous brash and rebellious nature, Altaïr has no choice but to fully devote himself to the Assassin's society. Allowing himself to being used as a so-called tool to do their bidding.
During his missions around the cities of Jerusalem, Acre, and Damascus, Altaïr indulges in the final words of his victims; therein he becomes morally ambiguous, listening to their own reasons and justifications, starting his quest for truth and knowledge. ( -- One of the sayings in the Creed states: Nothing is true, all is permitted. It is this that Altaïr takes advantage of.) He goes so far as to become more questioning to his own master, answered only with harsh treatment in response to his "idiotic statements." Still, he insistently questions and doubts everything -- becoming a must wiser, humbler, more patient man in the process. What motivates him is his desire for "peace of all things."
He also believes that the sacrifice of an innocent in the process of reaching his target may save thousands of lives. In most assassination missions, Altaïr has no qualms about standing in a large crowd as he watches one of the citizens getting slaughtered right in front of him. He is logical enough to understand that if he risks himself and takes the blame, then his mission may end in nothing more than mass slaughter.
This may make him seem cruel and cold, and though that may be true, Altaïr is not a purely terrible man. There are instances where he is willing to slaughter a handful of soldiers to rescue a civilian with no power to defend against such abuse, and at times, even fighting off whole armies of soldiers as a result, no matter how much he is outnumbered.
Mentally head-strong and seeking the truth and knowledge of all things, Altaïr has no fear. He comes to understand the consequences of his actions as he his personality develops throughout the game, and throws himself head-first into battle, confident that he will come out on top -- able to throw himself off a tall building with no hesitation or fear of the outcome.
With his own growth through learning about those that he murders, Altaïr has developed the potential to be rather empathetic. However this does not override his belief of the Creed (Which soon enough becomes his main focus in life.) because first and foremost: Altaïr is an assassin. It is just that he is not completely incapable of emotions.
However, communicating with people is something different. Even faced by a cold-blooded murderer, Altaïr will not harm them unless they become a threat to his own personal objective. He is cold to the point of being condescending, not interested in wasting his time conversing over small and pointless little things that have no concern for him. Constantly wary of other people, living under the assumption that everyone has another motive, he is rather reluctant in making allies unless they can prove themselves in extreme situations -- Altair is more talented in making enemies.
Character Plans: I think it would be mostly enjoyable to slam an Assassin from the year 1191 into a modern setting, as he would understand nothing, mostly trying to adapt to what he is not familiar with. Also, he would try to engage with people of other beliefs, with the possibility of having a 'break' from his Assassin duties. (Ha, ha. Fat chance there buddy.)
At first Altaïr will be extremely paranoid as well as wary of everyone and everything. He won't join either 'cults' as he is in one himself. However Altaïr does fight for the peace in all things, so his involvement in either one isn't completely impossible.
Appearance/PB: [ #1 ] [ #2 ] [ #3 ] [ ICONS ]
