Tamir

"You think me some petty death dealer--suckling at the breast of war? A strange target, don't you think? Why me, when so many others do the same?"

- Tamir on his death.

Tamir (in Arabic: تامير) was a member of the Templar Order and was the first target assigned to the Assassin Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad by his master Al Mualim. He was located in the poor district of Damascus, Syria, and was a well-known merchant on the black market.

Life as a Black Market merchant
Tamir ran the largest black market in Damascus from the Souk Al-Silaah. Some remarked that it may have been the most sizeable underground trade in swords, spears, armor, and other equipment in the Holy Land. Tamir was able to acquire almost anything, as long as his buyer was willing to pay the price, but was specialized in weapons and armor. He made no apologies for being a heartless and corrupt death dealer and seemed proud of the countless lives that were taken by his weapons. He had no morals and was prepared to do whatever he deemed necessary to increase his profits.

Death
"You will pay for this!"

- Tamir's last words

After having learned much about Tamir through his investigations, Altaïr moved into an ornate, sunken courtyard, ready to assassinate Tamir. Tamir arrived at the courtyard, arguing with one of his merchants. The merchant claimed that he could not comply with the large order that Tamir had demanded of him, stating that Tamir asked too much of him. Tamir, outraged at this excuse, pressed forward, spit in the merchant's face, and drew a knife.

He began to mercilessly slice into the merchant, until a final stab sent the man sprawling against the fountain. Tamir stopped one of his guards from removing the body, saying it would serve as a lesson for others. He then set off to inspect the other merchant stands in the courtyard. The crowd calmly dispersed while Tamir kept inspecting merchant stands. Altaïr quietly moved behind Tamir and executed him with his hidden Blade. During his last moments, Tamir claimed his motives to be far nobler than that of profit, stating that he had merely a part to play in the Brotherhood's plan. Tamir soon perished and Altaïr was left to escape the area from Tamir's guards.

Personality and characteristics
Tamir was a proud but cold-hearted taskmaster who would not take "no" for an answer. He even put one of his merchants, who could not complete his weapons order (which was due to be delivered to his Templar brethren), to death out of sheer frustration. Unknown to the general population of Damascus, Tamir secretly worked with the Templars and even at death's door, he insisted his cause was not about profit but a much more noble one. He knew very well that he was merely a pawn, and warned Altaïr that the "others" would not take kindly to his assassination.

Tamir wore an auburn brown turban with a tint of yellow around it. The loose pantaloons he usually wore were a lighter shade of brown with dark golden inscriptions surrounding it. He often wore a rust colored long embroided tunic which descended down his body and almost up to his knees. He also wore an orange leather belt with a darker yellow pair of shoes. His face was starting to wrinkle and he had a dark brown mustache and a tall stature.

Final Words

 * Altaïr: Be at peace.
 * Tamir: You'll pay for this. You and all your kind.
 * Altaïr: It seems you're the one who pays now, my friend. You'll not profit from suffering any longer.
 * Tamir: You think me some petty death dealer, suckling at the breast of war!? A strange target, don't you think? Why me, when so many others do the same?
 * Altaïr: You believe yourself different, then?
 * Tamir: Oh but I am, for I serve a far nobler cause than mere profit. Just like my brothers.
 * Altaïr: Brothers?
 * Tamir: Ah, but he thinks I act alone. I am but a piece, a man with a part to play. You'll come to know the others soon enough... they won't take kindly to what you've done!
 * Altaïr: Good. I look forward to ending their lives as well!
 * Tamir: Such pride. It will destroy you, child...

Trivia

 * Tamir is one of the few video game characters actually rendered with chest hair.
 * Another character of the same name and profession appears in Assassin's Creed: Altaïr's Chronicles, though he evidently has no actual connection to this Tamir.
 * The name "Tamir" should be pronounced "Ta-mir" with a short " i ".
 * The name "Tamir" means "The Date farmer".
 * Tamir has his own personal bodyguards that are dressed in Crimson Red and Gold lined uniforms. He is one the five out of the nine to have personal bodyguards (the others being Talal, Abu'l Nuqoud, Majd Addin and Jubair al Hakim.)

Notes and References
Tamir Tamir Tamir