Maria Thorpe

Maria Thorpe was an English woman who impersonated one of Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad's assassination targets, the Grand Master of the Knights Templar, Robert de Sable, during the Third Crusade. Not being in favor with de Sable's successor, Armand Bouchart, Maria was abandoned by the Templars, 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
In her youth, Maria chose not to follow the norm for women of her age and instead she chose to act and dress as a male would. Because of this, she was often pestered as a child and punished by her parents. Before the start of the Third Crusade, her parents forced her to marry, however it ended a little more than a year after. This disgrace, combined with Maria's own dreams of honor and glory, persuaded her to leave England behind, and join the Crusaders in the Holy Land. It was uncommon for women to participate in combat during the time so Maria disguised herself as a man to partake in the holy quest. Maria showed much promise amongst the Crusaders and attracted the attention of Robert de Sable. Despite learning her true gender, Robert supported her and even appointed Maria to be his personal steward. Although she did not share her Master's beliefs, Maria respected Robert 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 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 during the funeral procession. Maria carefully examined the mass and managed to spot him. She signaled the funeral proctor of Altaïr's presence and great number of Templars were ordered to seize him. Altaïr overpowered the soldiers and in the end grasped Maria to remove her helm. Altaïr was greatly shocked that it was a woman he fought and questioned it as sorcery. Maria corrected him that it was not and she was in Robert's place as a distraction. She admitted that his brotherhood's success of taking the treasure and eradicating her comrades did not go unnoticed and told him that Robert was to propose a truce between the Saracen and Crusader armies to besiege Masyaf through the evidence of her and the other Templars' deaths. Altaïr corrected her by deciding to spare her life and warned her not follow him. Out of her confusion, Maria replied haughtily that she did not need to and it was futile of him to try stopping Robert before she fled the city.

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

- Maria, when she confronted Altaïr in Acre.



A month after Altaïr defeated Al Mualim, Maria's Templar rank dropped considerably and was disallowed travel to Cyprus with the Templars. She confronted Altaïr after the assault on the Acre harbor where the two of them engaged in another sword fight. Altaïr bested her and interrogated her about the Templars' plans for Cyprus. Afterwards, Altaïr took Maria prisoner and brought her with him on the journey to Cyprus, hoping to use her as leverage to lure other Templars out into the open.

The two of them traveled to Limassol, where they met with the assassin contact, Alexander. Maria was escorted and kept at the resistance safe house, but escaped following an ambush by Templars, during which the building was set on fire. Maria hurried to warn the Grand Master of the Templars, Armand Bouchart of Altaïr's presence in Limassol, but Bouchart, being suspicious of Maria's two "miraculous" escapes from the assassins and equal distrust of women, sentenced her to be locked away in prison. Maria was led away by two Templar guards only to be saved by Altaïr. After his recovery of her, she vowed to kill him, but Altaïr reasoned with her, noting that the best way to buy back into the Templar's favor was not by his head, but by her recovery of the Apple of Eden.

Altaïr took Maria along with him on the ship to Kyrenia. Whilst on the ship, Altaïr spoke to her about the philosophy of Empedocles – that "only a mind free of impediments is capable of grasping the chaotic beauty of the world." Although Maria resisted his ideology, she did take interest in it, asking curiously as to whether being able to see this "chaotic beauty" was truly something to be celebrated. In turn, Altaïr admitted to hardship imposed upon human beings as a result of freedom; but, he maintained that "the order and peace the Templar seek requires servility and imprisonment," a statement with which the captive Maria took some irony.

As the two prepared to disembark, Altaïr cut the rope binding Maria's wrists so that she might climb the ladder to the upper deck; at the same time, the two were recognized by the pirates who had ferried them there. Maria, hands free, used the opportunity to kick Altaïr down the ladder to face their attackers so that she might escape. However, she too was attacked by other members of the large crew, and was helped to safety by Markos. Because of his honesty and their common dislike of Templars, Altaïr entrusted him with Maria's care, and asked him to look after her. Altaïr learned during his investigations that "the bull" – his target – had posted large bounties, not only for him, but for Maria as well. Fearing for her safety, he rushed to the harbor, where he found she and Markos being attacked by Templars. After rescuing them, Altaïr brought them to the Kyrenia safehouse.

Maria, her wrists once again bound, mocked Altaïr's crude plan for killing "the bull" – whom she knew as Moloch – and inadvertently ended up giving away his position in Kantara Castle. By the time Altaïr returned from killing him, Maria had already been taken away by Templar agents, who raided the safe house in his absence. Maria was given by Moloch to his son Shalim, and separated from the resistance members, and from Altaïr's attempts to rescue her.

Maria escaped from Shalim, and headed to Saint Hilarion Castle disguised as a consort to sneak in via palanquin. On her arrival, she confronted Shahar in his private room and demanded to know about the Templars' plan for the Apple of Eden; Shahar stated that the Templars will achieve order at any means necessary, even if that "order" becomes synonymous with enslavement. Shahar grabbed her by her wrists, as if to subdue her, but was interrupted as Altaïr burst in upon them, looking for Shalim. Maria killed his two pursuers as if by impulse, but refused to fight beside or ally herself with him, and fled.

How Maria traveled from Kyrenia back to Limassol is unknown. Altaïr traveled back alone, and carried on without her for a short time. But, following his use of the Apple of Eden to quiet the rioting townspeople, it was Maria who killed the mysterious Templar agent, who was intent to steal it back, by stabbing him through the back. Although she remained adamantly distrusting of the righteousness of his motives, she led him to the Templar Archive hidden under Limassol Castle.

Maria engaged Armand Bouchart in combat. However, Bouchart was an extremely skilled fighter and hurled Maria back, knocking her unconscious. After Altaïr defeated Bouchart, the two of them managed to flee the archives. She then told him that she no longer wanted to be part of the Templars or wish to return to England, but decided to go somewhere in the East. In 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.

Maria was romantically involved with Altaïr after the events of Cyprus and justifies how Altaïr's line of descent supposedly assimilated from the Fertile Crescent to Europe. Sometime in her life Maria led Altaïr to chase after her where the two of them meet atop a high tower in the fortress that used to belong to William of Montferrat in the southwestern corner of the rich district of Acre. She removed her hood to reveal her identity, and suggestively beckoned him to come. Altaïr complied as the two kissed and eventually made love. The encounter resulted in the conception of a son, who was Desmond's next ancestor. In the Codex pages, Altaïr revealed that he and Maria had at least two sons, one of whom attempted, at some point in his life, to assassinate Genghis Khan of Mongolia.

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. During their first encounter, Maria presented a straightforward, merciless style of command when confronted with Altaïr and acted out as arrogant and overconfident regarding Robert's cause.

After the events in Cyprus, her harsh and stubborn attitude around Altaïr became open and civil, 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 him.

Equipment and skills
Maria is highly trained in swordsmanship as she was able to counter and avoid Altaïr's attacks when confronted against him.

In Assassin's Creed II, she performed limited free running skills during Desmond's bleeding effect dream.

"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 of the 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 Villa Auditore. Maria's weapon is labeled as "Maria Thorpe's Longsword." This is the first mention of her surname.
 * Maria is around her early 30s during Assassin's Creed, making her around five years older than Altaïr.
 * Not only was Maria 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).
 * In Assassin's Creed II, Desmond refers to Maria as the "woman from Acre", however, Maria is encountered only in Jerusalem during Assassin's Creed.
 * The only time Maria was encountered in Acre was during the events of Assassin's Creed: Bloodlines.

Notes and reference
Maria Thorpe