Masyaf

Masyaf (Arabic: مصياف) is a mountain city in modern-day Syria, which served as the base of operations of the Assassin Order during the Third Crusade. Here, Assassins underwent educational and physical training for the trials they were to endure in the outside land.

The Fortress and landscape
Masyaf was built onto a mountain nestled in the Orontes Valley, with a village at its base, and the Assassin fortress at the peak. The village was composed of several houses and a bustling market at its lower end, and appeared to offer sanctuary to the citizens loyal to the Assassins' cause. Within the well-fortified walls of the castle, one may find a training ground, the Mentor's personal library, and a garden sanctuary.

Inside the fortress library, one could witness the true scholarly habits of the Order, wherein instructors constantly maneuvered the shelves, seeking books to further their education on worldly politics, as well as the "Assassin's Creed." Al Mualim as well delved into these books on a daily basis, constantly seeking knowledge to properly guide and educate the fearsome political warriors that faithfully served under him.

Outside the library lay a small courtyard in which novices trained, overlooked by several Assassin guards stationed upon the castle walls and towers. Assassin guards also patrolled the village daily, so as to maintain order and peace among themselves and the civilians. This city was, for the most part, unscathed by the wars ravaging the Holy Land, as neither the Crusaders and Saracens were directly associated with the Order, although aware of their existence.

Third Crusade
During the Third Crusade, Masyaf acted as the main stronghold for the Assassins. Though it was generally well hidden, the Templars were aware of it being the Assassin's main stronghold, as in 1191, Robert de Sable led an assault on the fortress.

Later that year, Al Mualim used the Apple to seize control of Masyaf, only to be later stopped by his former apprentice, Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad.

The Assassin Order abandoned Masyaf sometime after 1191, upon the decision of their Grand Master at the time, Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad.

Renaissance
During the early 16th century, over 300 years after the fortress was abandoned, the Mentor of the Assassin Order, Ezio Auditore, traveled to the mountain castle, to discover more about the Order's history. However, the village was crumbled and the castle was overrun with Templars. The Templars planned to gain an ancient artifact buried under the city, which could only be obtained using a set of five seals.

Trivia

 * Masyaf is the first location that is encountered during the game after Solomon's Temple, and is also the smallest city outside the Kingdom.
 * There are no harassers of any sort in Masyaf (i.e. beggars, jar carriers, and guards blocking access).
 * Outside of Masyaf, there is a small part of the Kingdom controlled by the Assassins, where one can use Eagle Vision to locate an Assassin guard marked as an enemy.
 * During the Templar siege on Masyaf, and during the mini cut-scene before the first Leap of Faith, you can see Assassins keeping watch over the lake below.
 * Although considered your allies (and indicated to be as such by eagle vision), guards in the city will fight you if provoked.
 * Despite the Third Tenet stating that you must not, indirectly or otherwise, harm your fellow Assassins, you can kill Masyaf guards with no synchronization penalty, and no mention is made by anyone.
 * The gardens behind the fortress (accessible after Tamir's assassination) are a reference to the legend of the secret Paradise behind the real Assassins' headquarters. The garden Paradise was an illusion created by Hassan-i Sabbah (Arabic: حسن الصباح) - the real Assassins' founder - in order to make his followers believe in his divine mission, and execute any order given (usually assassination attempts) without fear of death.
 * Masyaf guards sound exactly like the Saracen guards of Jerusalem or Damascus, even going so far as to use the same lines in combat such as "Infidel, die!" or "I'll have your head!". The same goes for the two novices fighting in the training arena.
 * Even though you are not supposed to use weapons inside the fortress (except the training area), you may push guards off the tower and watch them die from the fall without suffering a loss of synchronization.
 * In Assassin's Creed: Lost Legacy, coming to the Nintendo 3DS, Ezio Auditore will be traveling to Masyaf to learn more about the Assassins at the time of the Third Crusade.

Appearances

 * Assassin's Creed
 * Assassin's Creed II (mentioned only)
 * Assassin's Creed: Lost Legacy
 * Assassin's Creed: Revelations

Masyaf