THE CREED.
Stay one's blade from the flesh of an innocent.
- Under no instance should one's hand threaten nor even reach the life of that of an innocent. No matter the situation , no woman, child, or man is to even be at risk at an assassin's doing. If they have done no wrong, there is no need to end their lives; the Order voices this philosophy completely. Find another way around the citizen, avoid murder at all costs. The assassins fight in mankind's place and help to speak out against those who abuse their power; a corrupt individual is not an innocent.
Hide in plain sight.
- The Assassins are everywhere and nowhere with little effort. They appear from the crowd to kill a figure in front of all, in order to strike fear into those who hold a possibility of becoming corrupt. Once the deed is done, they disappear once more and become part of the same crowd. They manipulate their surroundings to their doing so that they are not caught, that they are discreet and remain that way. Whether it is through the people, the method of traveling, or the environment, any method will work so long as it is subtle, discreet. Any action that does the opposite of these implications holds risk of endangering not only one assassin, but the Order itself, and is thus advised against.
Never compromise the Brotherhood.
- Nothing one does should hold the risk of threatening their brothers. Each decision is made with a result that ends in the safety of all, when possible, if not always. Do not lead the enemy back to the Order by word or action. If one is captured, they must bite their tongue, restrain themselves no matter what happens. If they are being chased? The location or any knowledge of the Assassins should be kept beneath a tight lip, else the risk is too great. Whether through direct or indirect means, one in the Order needs know the right choices that will not affect the whole. The doings of one man must not bright down all.
Above all, nothing is true and everything is permitted.
- If you are capable of idealizing such a concept, then it will be so. Be not afraid of what is and is not there. If one believes an impression of you, it is not true, for your life is your own and men should be free to do as they believe. Anyone who works against that idea is an enemy of not only man, but the Assassins. The Order works to serve what is right, they commit the wrongs to preserve the right to speak freely, to question everything where others cower away. Do not shy away from the truth, call out in defense of anything, and think not of your morals, the law - nothing is true, everything is permitted.
IMPACT ON THE CHARACTER.
Altaïr's arrogance has caused him to break all three of the tenets, under the belief of their maxim of everything being permitted with nothing true. He spat on the Creed at one point, claiming that his way was better, when it was in reality never so, poorly misinterpreted. He cost lives, lost a brother and took much more from another than he should have. These circumstances have shaped him and despite the consequences that happened in turn for his audacity, they have been for the better. His mistakes have opened his eyes, struck up a rude awakening call that he honestly did need. From it he has learned, made himself better and applied the Creed to his actions. He considers them wholly, accepts them as a way of life, not something to look down upon. Altaïr realizes the importance of their Creed, how it affects and why it is there to begin with. A changed man, he regards the lessons the Order has to teach highly, and in turn it further shapes him day by day.