Garnier de Naplouse

"Do you appease a crying child simply because he wails? 'But I want to play with fire, father.' What would you say? 'As you wish'? Ah... but then you'd answer for his burns."

- Garnier de Naplouse

Garnier de Naplouse (c.1147 - 1191) was the second target assigned by Al Mualim for Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad to assassinate. He was a doctor and Grand Master of the Knights Hospitalier in the city of Acre and a secret member of the Knights Templar.

The Grand Master of the Hospitaliers
Garnier was exiled from France for the cruel and inhumane treatment of his patients (who he saw less as people and more as experiments on whom to try the latest cure-all). He claimed to be a man of science, but he lacked a sense of ethics. The price of knowledge was never too high for him, even if it had to be paid with another man's blood. Because his family had contributed a significant amount of coin to the war effort, he had been harbored and protected in Acre. There he had managed to buy himself loyal assistants who allowed him to continue his cruel work. He fluctuated between being very articulate and composed, and deranged, although he did firmly believe that he was helping those he tended to, inside the Hospitalier Fortress in Acre.

Hospitalier Fortress and death
Following the Siege of Acre, Garnier was granted jurisdiction of the Poor district in Acre, there he set up his base of operation at the Hospitalier hospital, where he evidently continued his brutal experiments. News of his horrible work also spread throughout the city. When Altaïr infiltrated the Hospitalier Fortress, a terrified patient attempted to escape, only to be captured by Garnier's guards. When Garnier revealed himself he attempted to calm the patient, however, when the patient had a crazed outburst, claiming that Garnier true intentions were evil. When the doctor punished his patient, he then commanded the guards the break his legs, to prevent another escape attempt.

When Garnier dismissed the horrified crowd and returned to his work the Assassin stealthily took Garnier life with his blade. With his final words Garnier claimed that he was actually helping these people. Although Altaïr tried to rebuke all these claims, Garnier persisted. He claimed that the people he took were among the poorest and most ill of the surrounding cities, and that many have recovered and have been grateful for his generous help. He said his methods were necessary to free people from the "prisons of their own minds". Altaïr asked if he truly believed he was helping them, and Garnier simply replied that it was not what he thought, but what he knew. With these final words Garnier de Naplous died.

Final Words
Altaïr: Let go your burden.

Garnier: ''Ah, I'll rest now, yes. The endless dream calls to me, but before I close my eyes, I must know: what will become of my children?''

Altaïr: ''You mean the people made to suffer your cruel experiments!? They'll be free now to return to their homes!''

Garnier: ''Homes!? What homes!? The sewers? The brothels? The prisons that we dragged them from?''

Altaïr: You took these people against their will!

Garnier: ''Yes, what little will there was for them to have. Are you really so naive? Do you appease a crying child, simply because he wails? "But I want to play with fire, father". What would you say? "As you wish"? Ah, but then you'd answer for his burns.''

Altaïr: These are not children, but men and women, full grown.

Garnier: ''In body, perhaps, but not in mind, which is the very damage I sought to repair. I admit, without the Piece of Eden - which you stole from us - my progress was slowed. But there are herbs, mixtures and extracts. My guards are proof of this: they were madmen before I found and freed them from the prisons of their own minds... And with my death, madmen they will be again.''

Altaïr: You truly believe you were helping them?

Garnier: It's not what I believe... it's what I know.

Historical Materials
Garnier de Nablus was the tenth Grand Master of the Knights Hospitaliers, a monastic order founded after the First Crusade (1096 - 1099) and who established its first infirmary near the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. At first, the order cared for pilgrims, but soon made sure armed guards allowed the pilgrims to come to no harm. This escorting force was built up dramatically and became a dominant Christian group along with the Knights Templar. Garnier began his service with the order in 1177, as a commander of the hospital in Jerusalem, and was promoted a decade later. He is known to have died sometime during 1191, fighting for the defense of the Holy Land.

Trivia

 * Garnier de Naplouse (also known as Garnier de Nablus) was a real-life leader of the Knights Hospitalier who ruled from 1190 to 1192. In contrast to the in-game depiction of a sadistic and cruel man, the real-life Garnier was a courageous and brave individual who led the Hospitaliers and the Crusaders to many victories, including the Battle of Arsuf.
 * Historically, Garnier de Naplouse fought in the Battle of Arsuf, while in Assassin's Creed, he died before the battle took place.

Gallery
Garnier de Naplouse