Maria Thorpe

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

Early Life
As a child, Maria was a bit of a tomboy. She was often pestered as a child and punished by her parents as she refused to become a lady. She dreamed of honor and glory, leaving England behind to join the Crusaders in the Holy Land. However her parents forced her to marry, but this did not last longer than a year, as she finally fled from England, disgracing herself. She disguised herself as a man to hide her true gender and showed much promise amongst the Crusaders. This attracted Robert De Sable's attention, who eventually discovered her true gender, but didn't care. Robert granted Maria the chance to become who she wanted to be; as a result, she rose up the ranks to become Robert De Sable's steward (and, it is implied, his mistress). Although she did not share his beliefs, Maria was still willing enough to do anything for him, including dying if she had to.

Assassin's Creed
Robert foresaw his assassination after eight of his comrades were killed by Altaïr. Sure that his assassination is planned to occur at an outdoor memorial in Jerusalem, he leaves Maria to impersonate him for his planned attendance at Majd Addin's funeral and flees to Arsuf to plead his case that the Saracens and Crusaders unite against the Assassins. As expected, Altaïr appears, and a great swordfight ensues. Maria, impersonating Robert, is a surprisingly excellent fighter, but Altaïr slays her men and defeats her. Altaïr takes off her helm and discovers he has been duped. Maria explain Robert's plan to Altaïr, even complimenting him about his success, but sure of her case, she tells Altaïr the Assassins are finished. She accepts to die by his hands, however Altaïr refuses to kill her: since she is not his target, he has no reason to kill her. He spares Maria's life, but warns her not to follow him. He then escapes the scene and hurries to Arsuf to finish Robert once and for all.

Assassin's Creed: Bloodlines
She is confronted after the assault on the harbor in Acre by Altaïr, where they engage in another swordfight, but Altaïr decides to spare her life again and 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 whom Altaïr referred Maria to as "Robert de Sable's girl". She is then escorted to the Resistance safe house until her and Altaïr boarded the vessel to Cyprus. Whilst on a ship, Altaïr notices a ring on Maria's ring finger and complimented it, she replies that the ring is a gift Robert de Sable gave to her after he took her under his wing. Altaïr then convinces Maria that the Templars' views are wrong and she agrees with him.

Maria escapes from Altaïr at 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" of whom she refer to as 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 Saint 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 where Maria managed to 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 the scene.

While Altaïr shows the Mysterious Templar Warrior the Apple of Eden, the warrior lunges for Altaïr, but Maria stops the warrior by impaling him from behind. 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, instead he fights the waves of Templars. Afterward, he runs up the stairs and exits through the hidden door, followed by Maria.

When she enters the Templar Archives, Maria starts fighting Armand Bouchart, the Grand Master of the Order of Templars. Altaïr intercepts the fight as Maria is sent back by Bouchart, knocking her unconscious. After the encounter, Altaïr helps her up before the both of them notices the structure collapsing. While escaping the archives, Altaïr helps her up to the top ledge as they both managed to escape. She then tells him that she no longer wants to be part of the Templars or wish to return to England, but decides to go somewhere in the East. During Altaïr's last journal entry, it is revealed that he had decided to travel with her.

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

- Desmond after watching Altaïr kiss Maria

According to Assassin's Creed II, Maria was involved with Altaïr after the events of the first game and justifies how Altaïr's line of descent supposedly assimilate from the Fertile Crescent to Europe. In the codex pages, Altaïr reveals that he and Maria had at least two sons, one of whom at some point in his life, attempted to (or succeeded in) assassinating Genghis Khan and carried on Ezio and Desmond's lineage.

The revelation is further supported the second time the player controls Desmond. After the test in the warehouse, the Bleeding Effect causes him to have a dream in which the player controls Altaïr to chase after a target. The two meet atop a high tower in Acre, where the target 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 they begin to make love. It zooms back in with the two lying together in a pile of hay. Altaïr then kisses Maria's forehead and leaps off the tower, with Desmond no longer able to follow him; it is after this occurrence that Desmond realizes Maria just became his distant grandmother with the encounter. This means no more memories can be seen through Altaïr or Maria after this point since the child would not be able to retain its own series of memories after it was conceived.

Characteristics and personality
At an early age, Maria was a bit of a dreamer, thinking about leaving England to find honor and glory in the Holy Land. During the time, she showed characteristics of stubbornness, refusing to become a lady as her wanderlust only became stronger to leave her homeland. She is a very determined person with a great passion to accomplish more within the Templar ranks. Maria has a straightforward nature when she first spotted and confronted Altaïr, and during the fight, demonstrated expert swordsmanship as she was able to hold her own when opposed. In her "final words", she acted out as arrogant and overconfident regarding Robert's cause. She held a high position in the Templar ranks because of her relationship with Robert, but after his assassination, her rank and chance of knighthood dropped considerably and was disallowed travel to Cyprus with the Templars. After the events of Assassin's Creed: Bloodlines, she became more open and civil toward Altaïr, presumably sided with him and the Assassins afterwards. In Assassin's Creed II, she presents a provocative side when she leads Altaïr to follow her up the viewpoint tower; during said event, it revealed her as an ancestor of Desmond Miles through the consummate memory caused by the Bleeding Effect.

"Final Words" in Assassin's Creed
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.

Trivia

 * Her name is a Latin derivative of Mary, meaning "bitter".
 * 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 labelled as "Maria Thorpe's Longsword." This is the first mention of her surname.
 * Her surname means "village" in Old Norse.