Damascus

Damascus (Arabic: دِمَشقُ‎ (Dimashq)) was the capital and largest ancient city of Syria, and was also the first city Altaïr visited in order to carry out an assassination. Damascus was home to three of The Nine, his assassination targets. The city was under the control of Salah ah-Din's Saracen army at the time of Assassin's Creed. During the Second Crusade, around about 1148, the city repelled attacks, finally being acquired by Salah al-Din in the late 1150s. Salah al-Din granted scholars from far and wide the chance to study in one of the many Madrasahs scattered throughout the city's neighborhoods.

Almost unaffected entirely by the war, the city remained an extremely clean and gorgeous site, a complete contrast to Acre. Altaïr visited the city in 1190 and 1191. During 1190, Altaïr was not exploring the city districts properly, as he had a straight-forward task. He first had a mission in the local Souk, where he interrogated a merchant Misbah and killed a man named Tamir. He later made his way to the local circus, where he gained more information on his current task of gaining entrance to the Temple of the Sand. He also assassinated the local Templar member, Alaat.

In 1191, the city was split into three major districts. North-east, within the Poor District area, was considered to be a very busy section, constantly packed with citizens. This can be explained by the presence of the very impressive and sprawling Souk Al-Silaah. Unexpected security was rather light, given the heavy traffic that was constant in the area. The Souk was a major trading spot within the city, and dominated the area as a major landmark. Its impressive ceremonial courtyard, situated in the centre, was the site where this district's Assassination Target conducted his daily business, with guards positioned in the nearby narrow corridors, attentively watching the crowd.

The south-central area contains the Pasha Mosque and Formal Gardens, and features larger east-west thoroughfares connecting the different areas. Tamir the Black Market Merchant held great power and influence within this district. The south-eastern section of Damascus featured many places of learning, until Jubair al Hakim arrived and began a city quest to destroy all written text. The central feature was Jubair's Madraasah, where books were burned, and knowledge quashed. Destroying knowledge and blinding the people to outside information of the world was aimed at preventing them from repeating the past mistakes of their ancestors.

Due to the Assassins' continued success, security in the district was at an all time high, once access to it was granted. The district's east side is tight and somewhat difficult to navigate, however it also features a large Mosque and Hospital in the far south-eastern corner. Almost half the city in terms of size, it was the Rich District that possessed many of the structural landmarks that attracted outsiders to the city. The partially rebuilt Citadel of Salah al-Din was a key fortification that demanded planning for a successful infiltration. The most impressive feature of the district, and probably the entire city, was the Omayyad Mosque of the Merchant King's Palace. Believe it or not, the interior of The Palace was lightly secured, unless one of the Merchant King's lavish parties was in full swing. Traffic around palace grounds was rather light, given the location. Slightly north is the Sarouja Souk Market Quarter, where traffic was moderate, and so was security. Sarouja Souk held the reputation of being the largest market in the Holy Land. It was split into two separate structures that ran from west to east, and north to south. Though the Omayyad Mosque and Grand Courtyard dominated the district, the Grand Courtyard north of the Mosque was equally an interesting place. Here within the impressive district, Abu'l Nuqoud held immense power over the people.

Assassination Target in Damascus
In Damascus, Altaïr is ordered to assassinate the following people.

1190

 * Tamir, a pompous, greedy merchant.
 * Alaat, a Templar knight.

1191

 * Tamir (different person from 1190 target), an arms dealer and a merchant who ran the largest black market in Damascus.
 * Abu'l Nuqoud, the Merchant King who resided in his palace in the Rich District.
 * Jubair al Hakim, the Chief Scholar in Damascus. Despite being a scholar, he was a ruthless and rude man, responsible for the burning of books and paintings throughout the city.