Assassin's Creed: Bloodlines

Memory Block 1
At the beginning of the game Altaïr has to go after the leader of the Templars inside the Templar’s Hold. Altaïr breaches through the keep of the Templars but the leader is nowhere to be found. Instead, Altaïr finds Maria, the former right hand of Robert de Sable, speaking with various Templars. Maria states she wishes to accompany the Templars to Cyprus, but the Templars state this is not a good idea as Armand Bouchart is the new Grand Master of the Order of Templars and he does not take well to Maria due to her investigations after the murder of Robert de Sable.

After her conversation with the Templars, Altaïr confronts Maria, and Maria asks Altaïr if he has now come to finish what he didn’t before. A battle ensues, in which Altaïr almost robs Maria of her life - but Altaïr decides to let Maria live a little longer. Altaïr interrogates Maria about the Templar's plans for Cyprus; Maria responds with a flippant joke: ’Everyone deserves a holiday..." Altaïr does not take her words to heart, as he is determined to find out what the Templars are planning to do on Cyprus. He takes Maria as prisoner and leaves the keep.

Codex scene 1: Altaïr writes that he does not know if the power the Apple of Eden holds is truly intend to be evil. If it comes to be so, he hopes to have within him the power to destroy this evil.

Memory Block 2
Altaïr has travelled by boat to Limassol, Maria accompanying him as a ‘prisoner’. While traveling through the port, Altaïr is stopped by a few men who ask about his origin. After Altaïr reveals himself to be an assassin, the men reveal to be followers of the same creed. They opt to take Maria to the Assassin’s safe house and Altaïr agrees, giving him time to freely look around Limassol.

Eventually Altaïr reaches the Asssasin’s safe house and learns from the Safe House keeper that the leader of the Limassol Templars is hidden inside the Limassol Castle. In order to have a chance at getting into the castle, Altaïr must assassinate the captain of the Templar Guards in order for Osman, a spy on the side of the Assassins, can get a promotion with the ranks of the guards. Altaïr leaves the safe house and assassinates the Guard Captain, after which he returns to the safe house. The man who he speaks with inside the Assassin’s safe house is revealed to be named Alexander. Alexander gives Altaïr the mission to go speak with Osman, the spy within the Templar guard ranks and deliver a message; congratulations for his grandmother by behalf of Alexander.

Altaïr reaches Osman without being detected and delivers Osman the message Alexander gave him, thanks Altaïr and tells Altaïr that the Templar guard leader Frederick The Red, needs to be taken down. Osman also tells Altaïr that the Templars are using Cryprus as an Archive to store weapons and information. After this brief meeting Altaïr heads back to the Assassin’s safe house to speak on what he as learned. Alexander tells Altaïr to assassinate in Limassol Castle.

Altaïr heads to Limassol Castle and infiltrates the castle, but is spotted by Fredrick the Red on the courtyard. A battle ensues, which ends in the killing of Fredrick the Red. Altaïr then escapes the castle and returns to the safe house. Upon entering the city Altaïr learns that the safe house of the Assassins is under attack. Altaïr fights a wave of Templars outside the safe house, and finds Maria has been captures by the Templars. Altaïr briefly speaks with Alexander and leaves the city center to recapture Maria. Altaïr reaches Maria only to find her captures by Templar guards. He quickly disposes of the guards and in return, receives the blame from Maria for being called ‘a traitor’. Altaïr then recaptures Maria and heeds her about never finding the Apple of Eden if she does not cooperate. They both then return to Alexander in order to speak about finding Armand Bouchart, Grand Master of the Templar order. Alexander tells Altaïr that Armand Bouchart was the one who set the Assassin’s safe house on fire, and afterwards immediately fled on a ship to Kyrenia. Alexander believes a friend of his, Pasha, can help Altaïr find a way to travel to Kyrenia. Altaïr leaves Maria with Alexander to go look for Pasha by the docks.

Altaïr soon finds Pasha and asks him for the favor of travel to Kyrenia. Pasha makes no problem of this and also tells Altaïr the rumor that a secret artifact is being shipped by the Pirate Templars inside the Grand Ship headed to Kyrenia. Altaïr leaves Pasha to investigate the Grand Ship, searches the entire boat and finds a Templar book. Altaïr quickly reaches shore and brings the book to Alexander.

After handing Alexander the book, Altaïr states he will head for Kyrenia. Alexander tells him to look for a man name Barnabas in Kyrenia. He is a friend of Alexander’s and can surely help Altaïr. Altaïr greets Alexander as he leaves for Pasha’s boat with Maria. Maria struggles in order to free from Altaïr, but complies with his demand in the end.

Altaïr writes that he does not know where the Pieces of Eden originally came from, but he is almost certain the Pieces are not of divine power. He feels the Artifacts were man-made in every way, modeled after the character of the humans and well handcrafted at the mercy of the beholder.

Memory Block 3
We find Altaïr and Maria inside the hull of the boat. Altaïr inspects Maria and remarks a ring around Maria’s finger, to which he asks her where she did get the ring. Maria responds she got the ring from her former commander (and presumably lover) Robert de Sable, for the high rank she has obtained within the Templar Order. Altaïr then speaks to Maria of philosophy - he begins speaking of the initial state of humans; without arms or legs and the natural order of things. How the Templar’s way for control is made through enslavement and is against the natural order of things. Maria seems to somewhat agree with Altaïr on this subject, albeit her not speaking her mind too much.

Altaïr and Maria stand up and in order to climb the ladder to the ship’s deck, Altaïr cuts Maria loose. They both climb on the ladder, but then Maria kicks Altaïr down the ladder and escapes. Altaïr sets chase and follows her onto the main land of Kyrenia. After a short while Altaïr finds Maria among fellow men who saved her from several Templar Guards. The leader of the men introduces himself as Markos. Altaïr asks Markos and his men if Maria could stay with them for the time being while Altaïr explores the land, to which Markos agrees.

Altaïr locates the Assasin’s Safe House in Kyrenia Commons and enters. He is greeted by a man who calls himself Barnabas and after a short chat with Altaïr, Barnabas tells Altaïr of Buffavento Castle, where Armand Bouchart keeps his prisoners. It’s an old property the Templars seized from an earlier heiress. In order to help Altaïr, Barnabas needs a favor. Altaïr needs to seek out Jonas, a respectable merchant who has posed himself as being a trator to the brotherhood.

Altaïr seeks out this man named Jonas, and interrogates him. Jonas speaks of a bounty put on Altaïr’s head and the head of his female compagnion. It does not bode well for Altaïr, and Jonas’ disrespect causes Altaïr to take his life. Thereafter Altaïr rushes to the harbor to find Maria, who is currently being attacked by Templars along with Markos. Altaïr helps the two out of trouble, and Altaïr asks Markos to bring Maria to the Assassin’s safe house in Kyrenia. Markos complies. Before Altaïr leaves, he speaks with Maria about ‘The Bull’ - a man Maria calls Moloch. He would be the one behind their ambush. Altaïr then leaves to meet up with Barnabas and later meet everyone inside the Assassin’s safe house.

Once inside the safe house, Altaïr again speaks with Barnabas - apparently the death of Jonas has sparked riots throughout the city. Barnabas states it is necessary for Altaïr to murder the fanatics in control of the riot, and Altaïr does so. Upon returning to the safe house after the murder, Altaïr speaks with Maria about this man named Moloch - specifically about his location. Maria realizes she has said more than she should have and warns Altaïr not to duel him, for Altaïr would not survive. Altaïr does not think twice and infiltrates the castle where Moloch is hidden, finds Moloch and tries to assassinate him. Moloch however, intercepts the assassin before he could strike and throws him to the ground. A battle ensues, in which the end Altaïr takes the life of Moloch with the tip of his blade. Altaïr then escapes the Castle of Kyrenia and safely returns to the Assassin’s safe house.

Altaïr wonders why violence lives so heavily amongst people. Altaïr believes people could not live with one another, as man likes to kill each other over power. He believes the world is not made by the divine - to Altaïr the world seems the work of a madman.

Memory Block 4
Altaïr reaches the safe house and speaks with Markos, only to find everybody missing. Markos tells Altaïr the Templars came in and took Maria, as well as everybody else. Markos also speaks of a Dark Oracle from Buffavento castle who was mentioned by the Templars, but Altaïr believes Barnabas was behind the attack. Markos does not comply - he introduces Altaïr to the fact that the real Barnabas was executed the day before Altaïr arrived in Kyernia. Clearly the Barnabas Altaïr had met was an impostor.

Markos then tells Altaïr the Templars are executing his henchmen at the marketplace. Altaïr rushes to the marketplace, prevents the execution and saves the henchmen, with whom he travels back to the safe house. There Markos tells him to interrogate the Prison Guard in the harbor of Kyrenia. Altaïr sends out to interrogate this guard, who tells him there is only one Templar who holds the keys to the jail cells. Altaïr can find this Templar at the Crusader Outpost. Altaïr then takes the life of the Prison Guard.

Altaïr rushes to the Crusader Outpost, kills the guards, steals the keys to the cells and heads back to Kyrenia Harbor. Once inside the harbor, Altaïr fights his way to the cells and frees the prisoners, only to find Maria not among the prisoners. The freed men say that Moloch’s son Salim has taken Maria away in chains. Altaïr decides to speak with Markos on this and upon returning to the Assassin’s safe house, they both decide Altaïr should pay a visit to this Dark Oracle of which the Templars speak - for it seems Grand Templar Armand Bouchart knows every step before the Assassin’s do.

Altaïr infiltrates the Buffavento Castle in order to look for the Dark Oracle. He overhears Armand Bouchart and Salim argue over Maria’s escape - apparently Maria had escaped out of the hands of Salim. In addition, Maria is asked by Armand Bouchart to take a message to Alexander in Limassol. Altaïr does not take to this well, and considers Alexander a traitor of the creed. However, Altaïr descends further into the castle, only to find the Dark Oracle at the bottom. She attacks Altaïr, leaving him no choice but to battle with her and in the end, send her to god. Before the Dark Oracle loses her life, she manages to tell Altaïr she does things as god’s will, and there is no undoing. After her death, Altaïr quickly escapes the castle and heads back to the Assassin’s safe house.

Altair wonders about They Who Became Before Us. “Who are they? What drove them? Are these so-called artifacts mere toys or were they created for a greater purpose?”.

Memory Block 5
Once back inside the safe house, Altaïr discusses Salim’s position. Because Markos could not give much information about Salim, Altaïr decides to seek after Salim, trying to learn more about him. He finds Salim in the heart of Kyrenia, feasting on women while spending another’s coin. Altaïr first decides to assassinate the men Salim is traveling with, after which he decides to assassinate all the duelists feasting on women as well. After all these assassinations, Altaïr returns to Markos for more information. Markos sends Altaïr to ask help form the local scholars, since Salim’s lifestyle demand frequent confession rituals at the church. Altaïr then seeks out and speaks with a scholar about Salim’s confessions, only to find the scholar unable to speak about Salim and the Archive in public, to which he asks Altaïr to return later.

Salim then interrupts the conversation by standing in the midst of the Crusader Outpost and speaking towards all by-passers. He speaks of loyalty and admission, but disbelieve and justice to those who defy his plans. When Altaïr then goes to speak with the scholar a second time, the scholar is killed by falling wooden crates from above. Unfortunately Altaïr is unable to save the scholar in time. When Altaïr looks around for the cause of this insult, he finds a mysterious templar creature on the rooftops and begins chase. After a long chase the mysterious figure escapes from Altaïr and Altaïr is left looking for clues about the mysterious figure. He then finds a mysterious item when looking at the last know position of the mysterious figure and decides it’s best to go speak with Markos.

Back at the Asssassin’s safe house, Altaïr speaks with Markos of the twisted ways of the Templar’s doings and demands to find Salim when he is on his own. Salim would most certainly be not alone in the harbor, therefore Markos sends him to find a way into Saint Hilarion Castle and to do so, find the Consort Palanquin in the harbor of Kyrenia.

Upon finding the Palanquin he sees Maria step inside the Consort Palanquin disguised. The roofs are filled with posted arches, and the danger exists that Maria could be shot. Altaïr quickly disposes of the guards along the road, all the way to Saint Hilarion Castle. Upon entering the castle, the palaquin stops and Maria steps out. Two Templar Guards await her arrival and escort her inside the castle. Altaïr doesn’t hesitate a moment and finds a way inside the castle. Once inside the castle, Altaïr eventually finds the Great Hall. Shahir, brother of Salim, meets Maria out front, where she confronts him about the Templar’s use of the “Apple of Eden”. She asks Shahir if Templars would do ill with this artifact. Shahir states the Templars just want order, by any means. At this moment Altaïr busts in the room, apologizing for letting himself in. Shahir calls on his brother Salim to join the fight, as Maria runs towards the door and while doing so executes two guards. Altaïr and Maria now stand side by side, as well as Salim and Shahir. Altaïr speaks “Two of them.. and two of us”. Maria laughs at Altaïr and runs away. The battle then ensues between Altaïr and the brothers Salim and Shahir, ending with both their lives taken. Altaïr then escapes from the castle and heads toward the safe house. Upon entering the safe house, Makros tells Altaïr that the Templar ships are leaving the harbor of Kyrenia. This does not bode Altaïr well, as he believes the Templar Archive is supposedly not in Kyrenia. He and Markos then state the Templar Archive should be in Limassol, for all ships are heading towards that place.

Altaïr reminisces about his former leader, Al-Mualim, and how his leader had betrayed him using the Apple of Eden, just because one single piece of doubt was in Altaïr’s mind. Luckily, he states, he was able to embrace the truth in his his mind and set him free of doubt and disbelief.

Memory Block 6
Altaïr is back on Limassol, as he and Markos thought hte Templar Archive ought to be there. Altaïr heads to the Assassin’s Safe House of Limassol to start an argument with Alexander. They both blame each other of treachery, until Alexander reveals the message the Templars had sent him; the head of the real Barnabas in a sack. Altaïr despises this, and tells Alexander this was not the man who met with him in Kyrenia. Additionally, Alexander tells tales of how Templars have been murdering and pillaging around the city of Limasol while Altaïr had left. News of Altaïr’s actions spread fast, and most knights and fighters have turned against Altaïr.

Altaïr wants the heads of those responsible for the muders and pillages, and heads out to the marketplace, where he fights and kills the Templar Duelist Captain. He then heads to the Templar pirate ship in the harbor and slays it’s captain. Finally Altaïr heads for the new Templar Captain in the Limassol Cathedral Square. Altaïr starts a fight with the man and in the end, takes his life as pay.

Altaïr learns of killings happened at the port, and interrogates the Port Watchman to find out what happened. The man states he does not know, but his men were killed last night while a Templar Captain had the watch over the port. The Templar Captain is presumably praying over at the Cathedral, and Altaïr sends out to find this man. Upon finding the Templar he flees, sending multiple waves of templars after Altaïr. Altaïr slays them all, interrogates the Templar Captain and find his answers lie with a man named Demetris, a rich tailor in the marketplace. Altaïr then assassinates the Templar Captain and heads for Demetris.

Upon entering Demetris’s house, he finds Demetris surrounded by women. Altaïr confronts Demetris with the accusations, of which Demetris says to know nothing. Just as Altaïr puts pressure on Demetris and he is willing to speak, he is killed by a throwing knife in the back. Altaïr hesitates no moment and looks up the roof window, only to again find the mysterious Templar standing up and speeding away. Altaïr climbs to the roof as fast as he could, but the Templar is already hidden. Altaïr decides it’s best to speak with Alexander at this point and returns to the Assassin’s safe house.

But upon entering the safe house, Altaïr does not find Alexander. Instead, Altaïr finds a note left by Alexander, stating that he has a plan and needs Altaïr to come to the courtyard inside the Limassol Castle. Altaïr then rushes to the Limassol Castle, but reminds himself to stay cautious. After passing through the gates of Limassol Castle, he finds Alexander laying on the courtyard, his life taken away.

The Templar who previously named himself as Barnabas shows up above Altaïr and speaks to him as if he was already a dead man. The townspeople of Limassol breach the castle, hunting for Altaïr. Altaïr is closed in by the people, to which he pulls out of his pocket the Apple of Eden, and instructs the people that they have been lied to, need to go to their houses, rally their soldiers and Cyprus will be them once more. The people stand in confusion and hypnosis, and return to their homes. The Templar above remarks the Apple of Eden, and sends his regards to claim it. However, before even moving from his place his life is taken by a sword plunging through his body, at Maria’s hand.

Maria speaks to Altaïr about the Apple of Eden as well, as Altaïr tells her it’s a powerful weapon in the wrong hands. Maria remarks that she does not know if Altaïr hands are the ‘right hands’ as well. At that moment a Templar ambush appears at the courtyard, and Maria orders Altaïr to follow her up the stairs. However, Altaïr is already closed in and has to fight waves and waves of Templars. After fighting the endless waves of Templars, Altaïr runs up the stairs and passes through the hidden door inside the wall he had previously seen Maria escape through.

Memory Block 7
Altaïr now suddenly finds himself inside the Templar Archive, hidden well under the Limassol Castle, his final mission to assassinate Armand Bouchart, the Grand Master of the Order of Templars. Altaïr fights through the entire Templar Archive, only to find Maria fighting with Armand Bouchart in the end. Armand sends Maria flying across the room at which Altaïr steps in the room. Altaïr confronts Armand Bouchart with the Templar’s despised ways to conquer the land. Armand Bouchart tells Altaïr Emperor Comnenus was a fool to give the land of Cyprus to King Richard ,who later sold it to the Templars under pressure. While Altaïr was out in Kyrenia looking for the Archive, the Templars moved most of the Archive out of Limassol towars another place. Armand Bouchart states Altaïr must instead be left behind.. and begins battle.

After a heartless and skillful battle, Altaïr stabs and plunges Armand Bouchart, to which Armand Bouchart says Altaïr indeed lives up to the tendencies of his creed. Altaïr says Armand Bouchart did not do the same for the Templars, as the Templars lost the true meaning of their creed. Armand Bouchart states it as ‘Just expanding the horizon..”.Altaïr then states the Apple of Eden will not be in anyone’s hands but his own for the sake of peace throughout the holy land, to which Armand Bouchart responds he should hold on to it dearly - Altaïr will come to know how the land works. After this, Armand Bouchart collapses and falls to the ground.

Altaïr leaves Armand Bouchart to die and meets up with Maria who has been laying unconscious during the battle. They both opt to escape the Templar Archive - but all the while, the Archive is falling to pieces fast. Altaïr boosts Maria up to the upper floors of the archive while climbing after her, and they barely make their escape before everything tumbles down.

After escaping Limassol Castle Altaïr and Maria walk up to the docks, both speaking of what life will hold for the both of them now. Maria tells Altaïr she no longer wants to be a Templar, nor wishes to look for the original spirit the Templars were once formed in. She does not wish to return to England either. She mentions she will travel somewhere far east, where she mentions India.

Maria then asks Altaïr what he is to make of his life. He reminisces to have devoted his life to living for the creed, but his purpose to do so has come to an end with the death of Al-Mualim. Altaïr speaks of curiosity for the Apple of Eden, not out of greed, but out of pure curiosity, he states. He wants to learn everything about the Apple of Eden, why it is here and to what end it was created.Maria states that such a thing is a bit much to learn in one lifetime, but Altaïr states that “One lifetime just might be enough.” Maria then asks Altaïr where he will continue his journey. Altaïr responds “East..” and walks away from the port, with Maria slowly walking after him.

Our life is formed around chaos, around warfare and around murder. Yet the world received such gifts as the Apple of Eden. What is mankind’s purpose? Altaïr wonders and writes in his logbook as Maria comes to lean over him in an almost wifely manner..