Maria Thorpe

Maria Thorpe was a British woman who impersonated one of Altaïr's assassination targets, Templar Leader, Robert de Sable. She is also an ancestor of Desmond Miles, after she bore a child with Altaïr. She is voiced by Eleanor Noble.

Assassin's Creed
Robert foresees his assassination. Eight of his comrades are dead. Sure his assassination is planned to occur at an outdoor event in Jerusalem, he leaves Maria to impersonate him and flees to Arsuf. Sure enough, Altaïr comes, and a great swordfight ensues. Maria, impersonating Robert, is a surprisingly excellent fighter, but Altaïr defeats her. When he realizes that it is not Robert, but a woman, he spares her life and hurries to Arsuf to finish Robert once and for all. What happens to her afterwards is unknown.

Assassin's Creed: Bloodlines
She is confronted after the assault on the harbour in Acre by Altaïr, where they engage in another sword fight but Altaïr decides to spare her life again. He interrogates her about the Templars plan for Cyprus. Altaïr takes Maria prisoner and they discuss the current turmoil in Cyprus with another assassin.

She travels to Limassol with Altaïr, where they meet up with the assassin contact on Cyprus and she is referred to as "Robert de Sable's girl". She is then escorted to Resistance safe house. Whilst on a ship, Altaïr notices a ring on Maria's ring finger and asks her about it and that the ring is revealed to be a gift that Robert de Sable had given to her when he took her under his wing. Altaïr then convinces Maria that the Templar view is wrong and she agreed with him.

Maria escapes from Altaïr in docks in Kyrenia, where he cuts her bonds and she kicks Altaïr down the ladder and escapes. She is found by Altaïr at the harbor, where she was being attacked by Templars along with a man named Markos, Altaïr helps the two in trouble. Maria is questioned about a man called "the bull" - Maria calls him Moloch. Maria and the assassins inside the Kyernia safe house were taken prisoner, but when Altaïr comes to rescue her, he is told that Moloch's son Shalim has taken Maria away.

Maria escapes for Shalim, and is found at the harbour again by Altaïr, disguised as a consort and about to sneak into a palanquin headed for St. Hilarion castle. She confronts Shahar in his private room and confronts him about the Templars plan for the "Apple of Eden". As Altaïr enters the room, Shahar invites Shalim into the fight and Maria flees, killing two guards trying to stop her. Altaïr and Maria are side by side faced against the two brothers, as Altaïr says "Two of them... Two of us", Maria laughs and flees.

While Altaïr shows the Mysterious Templar Warrior the Apple of Eden, the warrior lunges for Altaïr and he then pulls his sword and Maria pushes Altaïr's sword into the warrior. She then speaks to Altaïr about the Apple of Eden and she describes how she thinks that his hands are not the right ones. A Templar ambush takes place and she tries to lead him up the stairs but instead he is fighting the waves of Templars. After fighting them he runs up the stairs and exits through the hidden door, followed by Maria.

When she enters the Templar Archives she starts fighting Armand Bouchart, the Grand Master of the Order of Templars. Altaïr intercepts the fight as Maria is sent flying by Bouchart, knocking her unconscious. They both have to escape the archives as they fall fast. Altaïr helps her up to the top ledge as they both escape the archives. She then tells him that she no longer wants to be part of the Templars and does not wish to return to England and will go to somewhere in the East. During Altair's last journal entry it is revealed that Maria had decided to travel with him.

Assassin's Creed II
"Whoa... Alright, wasn't expecting that..."

In Assassin's Creed II, it is revealed that she was involved with Altaïr after the events of the first game, giving him a child. It was not made clear at that point whether it was a girl or a boy, but along with Maria, this child is one of Desmond's ancestors. However, from the Codex of Altaïr, it is mentioned that Maria and Altaïr have two sons, and at some point in their life, attempt to assassinate Genghis Khan.

Additionally, the second time the player controls Desmond, the bleeding effect causes him to have a dream in which the player controls Altaïr chasing after a woman. The two meet atop a high tower in Acre, where the woman 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 it gets more heated. It zooms back in with the two lying together in a pile of hay; Altaïr then kisses Maria's forehead and jumps from the tower, though not before Desmond realizes that Maria just became his distant grandmother with that encounter.

Also revealed was that the child conceived during that encounter was the next ancestor of Desmond Miles. This means that no more memories can be seen through Altaïr or Maria after this point because the child would not be able to store the memories that happened after it was conceived.

Characteristics and personality
Maria is an ancestor to Desmond Miles, and had two sons with Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad. She was a part of the Templar order and could probably be a daughter of Robert de Sable. She was very high in the Templar ranks because of her relationship with Robert but after the assassination of Robert her rank dropped and she was not allowed to travel to Cyprus with the Templars.

Final Words
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.

Model
Maria is likely based on Marguerite de Sablé, the daughter of Robert de Sable and Clemence de Mayenne, born before Robert's promotion to Grand Master of the Knights Templar.

Trivia

 * 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 labeled as "Maria Thorpe's Longsword." This is the first mention of her surname.