Maria Thorpe

Maria Thorpe was an English woman who impersonated one of Altaïr's assassination targets – Grand Master of the Knights Templar, Robert de Sable – during the Third Crusade. Not being in favour with de Sable's successor, Maria was abandoned by the Knights Templar, and forced to find asylum with her enemies, the Assassins.

Following her and Altaïr's travels in Cyprus, the two settled down together, and Maria bore him at least two sons; one of which would be a direct ancestor of the assassins Ezio Auditore da Firenze, Desmond Miles, and the mysterious Subject 16.

Early Life
As a child, Maria chose not to follow the norm for women of her age, instead choosing to act and dress as a male would; because of this, she was often pestered as a child and punished by her parents. A few years before the start of the Third Crusade, Maria was forced by her parents to marry, although it lasted less than a year. This disgrace, combined with Maria's own dreams of honor and glory, convinced her to leave England behind, and join the Crusaders in the Holy Land. Disguising herself as a man to prevent being prevented from partaking in the holy quest, Maria showed much promise amongst the Crusaders; attracting the attention of Robert De Sable's who, despite eventually learning her true gender, supported her. Robert granted Maria the position of his personal steward, and although she did not share her Master's beliefs, Maria was still willing enough to do anything for him, including dying if she had to.

Impersonation
"I sense you expected someone else"

- Maria, after Altaïr defeats her.

Following the deaths of eight of the Nine in 1191, at the hands of the assassin Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad, Robert correctly reasoned that he was next on the assassin's list. Not one to be defeated, Robert publicly announced his intention to attend the funeral of the late Regent of Jerusalem, Majd Addin, as a show of mutual cooperation and respect between Muslim and Crusader; privately, the Templar Grand Master knew this would be a chance too great for the assassin to pass up.

Maria was left to take Robert's place at the funeral, a decoy for Altaïr. As expected, the assassin appeared, and a great number of Templars attacked him. Overwhelming her Templar soldiers, Altaïr overpowered and knocked down Maria, who he thought to be Robert, and was greatly shocked to see such was not the case. Boastfully, Maria revealed to the assassin her reason for being there, and Robert's plot to unite both Crusader and Saracen against the Assassins. Prepared to die now for the duplicity, Maria was confused when she was left alive, but fled the city nonetheless.

In Cyprus
"Well what a surprise, the man who spared my neck, but stole my life"

- Maria, when she confronted Altaïr in Acre

She confronted Altaïr after the assault on the harbor in Acre, they engage in another sword fight, but was defeated. Altaïr decided to spare her life again and interrogated her about the Templars' plan for Cyprus. Afterwards, Altaïr takes Maria prisoner and they discuss the current turmoil around the island with another assassin.

She travelled to Limassol with Altaïr, where they meet up with the assassin contact, Alexander and to whom Altaïr referred Maria to as "Robert de Sable's girl". She was then escorted to the Resistance safe house until it was attacked and Maria fled. The Grand Master of the Templars, Armand Bouchart called out to an audience and demanded who killed Fredrick the Red. Maria ran up to him, and warned about Altaïr's presence in Cyprus. Bouchart stated his suspicion of Maria's miraculous escapes from the Assassins and suspected an allegiance with them. Maria was then taken by the guards only it be intercepted and recaptured by Altaïr. Maria swore to kill him once she had the chance, but Altaïr countered it as futile into finding the Apple of Eden. Later on, her and Altaïr boarded the vessel to Kyrenia. Whilst on the ship, Altaïr notices a ring on Maria's ring finger and complimented it, she replied that the ring was a gift Robert de Sable gave to her after he took her under his wing. Altaïr then explained the faults of the Templars' views, of which Maria related with.

Once the two of them were to depart from the ship, Altaïr cuts her bonds of which Maria used the opportunity to kick him down the ladder to escape. She was tracked and found in the harbor, where she was supposedly ambushed by pirates. Once spotted, Altaïr met with a man named Markos, whom helped Maria from the attackers and told him to keep Maria safe. Later on, her and Markos were attacked by pirates out for the capture of both Altaïr and her, but was saved again. Maria then elaborated about about a man called "the bull", of whom she refer to as Moloch, and rendezvous to the safe house only to locked. By then, Maria accidentally spilled information about Moloch's location though dismissed it for Altaïr to see himself. Maria and the assassins inside the Kyernia safe house were taken prisoner, but when Altaïr came to rescue her, he was told that Moloch's son Shalim had taken her away.

Maria escaped for Shalim, and was found at the harbour again by Altaïr, disguised as a consort to sneak into a palanquin headed for Saint Hilarion Castle. On her arrival, she confronted Shahar in his private room and asked him about the Templars plan for the Apple of Eden, to her disdain what Altaïr warned her was true. As Altaïr entered the room, Shahar invites Shalim into the fight where Maria managed to kill two guards trying to stop her. Altaïr and Maria were side by side faced against the two brothers, when Altaïr says "Two of them... Two of us," Maria laughed and fled the scene.

Altaïr revealed the Apple of Eden to the rioting civilians and calmed them, the Mysterious Templar Warrior complimented the Apple's power before Maria pierced her sword through his chest, killing him. She then speaks to Altaïr about the Apple of Eden and told him how his hands are not the right ones to possess it. A Templar ambush took place and she tried to lead him up the stairs, instead Altaïr fought the waves of Templars. Afterwards, he ran up the stairs and exited through the hidden door to follow Maria.

When she entered the Templar Archives, Maria started fighting Armand Bouchart. Altaïr intercepted the fight as Maria was sent back by Bouchart, knocking her unconscious. After the encounter, Altaïr helped her up before the both of them noticed the structure collapsing. While they fled the archives, Altaïr helped her up to the top ledge as they both managed to escape. She then told him that she no longer wants to be part of the Templars or wish to return to England, but decided to go somewhere in the East. During Altaïr's last journal entry, it is revealed that he decided to travel with her.

Later life
"Whoa... Alright, wasn't expecting that..."

- Desmond after watching Altaïr kiss Maria.

According to Assassin's Creed II, Maria was involved with Altaïr after the events of the first game and justifies how Altaïr's line of descent supposedly assimilate from the Fertile Crescent to Europe. In the codex pages, Altaïr reveals that he and Maria had at least two sons, one of whom at some point in his life, attempted to (or succeeded in) assassinating Genghis Khan.

The revelation was further supported the second time the player controls Desmond. After the test in the warehouse, the Bleeding Effect causes him to have a dream in which the player controls Altaïr to chase after a target. The two meet atop a high tower in Acre, where the target removes her hood and reveals herself to be Maria. She smirks and suggestively beckons Altaïr with her finger to come closer. He complies and they kiss, with the camera panning out as they begin to make love. It zooms back in with the two lying together in a pile of hay. Altaïr then kisses Maria's forehead and leaps off the tower, with Desmond no longer able to follow him; it was after this occurrence that Desmond realizes Maria just became his distant grandmother with the encounter.

Characteristics and personality
At an early age, Maria was a bit of a dreamer, thinking about leaving England to find honor and glory in the Holy Land. During the time, she showed characteristics of stubbornness, refusing to become a lady as her wanderlust only became stronger to leave her homeland.

She is a very determined person with a great passion to accomplish more within the Templar ranks. Maria has a straightforward nature when she first spotted and confronted Altaïr, and during the fight, demonstrated expert swordsmanship as she was able to hold her own when opposed. In her "final words", she acted out as arrogant and overconfident regarding Robert's cause.

She held a high position in the Templar ranks because of her relationship with Robert, but after his assassination, her rank and chance of knighthood dropped considerably and was disallowed travel to Cyprus with the Templars. After the events of Assassin's Creed: Bloodlines, she became more open and civil toward Altaïr, presumably sided with him and the Assassins afterwards.

In Assassin's Creed II, she presents a provocative side when she led Altaïr up the viewpoint tower where she beckoned him to kiss and eventually make love with her.

"Final Words" in Assassin's Creed
Altaïr: I would see your eyes before you die.

(Altaïr rips off the helm, only to see Maria's face).

Maria: I sense you expected someone else.

Altaïr: What sorcery is this?!

Maria: ''No sorcery, we knew you'd come. Robert needed to be sure he'd have time to get away''.

Altaïr: So he flees!?

Maria: ''We cannot deny your success. You have laid waste to our plans: first, the treasure, then our men. Control of the Holy Land slipped away, but then he saw an opportunity, to reclaim what has been stolen, to turn your victories to our advantage!''

Altaïr: ''Al Mualim still holds your treasure, and we've routed your army before! Whatever Robert plans, he'll fail again!''

Maria: Ah, but it's not just Templars you'll contend with now!

Altaïr: Speak sense!

Maria: ''Robert rides for Arsuf to plead his case, that Saracen and Crusader unite... against the Assassins!''

Altaïr: ''That will never happen! They have no reason to!''

Maria: ''Had, perhaps. But now you've given them one: nine, in fact. The bodies you've left behind, victims on both sides. You've made the Assassins an enemy in common and ensured the annihilation of your entire order! Well done!''

Altaïr: Not nine, eight.

Maria: (confused) What do you mean?

Altaïr: ''You are not my target. I will not take your life. You're free to go, but do not follow me!''

Maria: ''I don't need to. You're already too late!''

Altaïr: We'll see.

Trivia

 * Her name is a Latin derivative of Mary. The origin name Mary is a reference in the Latin phrase "stella maris" meaning "star of the sea" or from the prefix Mar meaning "bitter". Other possible meanings are derived from Miryam meaning "wished for child, rebellious, or sea of bitterness." in Hebrew or Merry meaning "cherished or beloved" in Egyptian.
 * Her surname means "village" in Old Norse and is the name of various English villages.
 * If players connect the PS3 version of Assassin's Creed II with the PSP game Assassin's Creed: Bloodlines, the weapons of the defeated bosses in Bloodlines will appear at the Auditore Family Villa. Maria's weapon is labelled as "Maria Thorpe's Longsword." This is the first mention of her surname.
 * She is around her early 30s during Assassin's Creed, making her around five years older than Altaïr.
 * Not only was she the first known female Templar to have appeared in the series, but the first Templar to be spared and assimilate main factions (from Templars to Assassins).