Civilian

Civilians were the members of a nation’s population, who could be found abundantly in cities throughout the existence of humanity.

Civilians were generally of no significance to either the Templars or the Assassins. However, a number of types stood out from the general populace, and could either help or hinder the members of either order.

High Middle Ages
Civilians were the general denizens of the cities and countrysides of the Holy Land. They posed no threat to the Assassin Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad, however, certain individuals reacted aggressively towards his presence and actions.

Civilians watched Altaïr closely when he engaged in fights, made comments as he free ran throughout the city, gasped when he killed city guards and collectively fled from a scene of bloodshed.

Civilians also acted as both a shield and a hindrance for Altaïr, on the occasions that he needed to flee his enemies. When he ran into a large group of them whilst sprinting, he would lose his balance and fall onto the ground, offending those around him. However, if Altaïr shoved his way through a crowd, he could maintain his running momentum.

In accordance with the first tenet of their Creed, Assassins would neither kill nor harm civilians, for the most part seeing them as innocents.

Renaissance
Civilians during the Renaissance period behaved in a similar manner to those during the High Middle Ages.

Ezio Auditore da Firenze was also able to blend within all groups of civilians, as opposed to the Assassins of the Third Crusade, who could only hide amongst scholars.

Ezio also possessed the ability to throw florins onto the ground, causing a mob of civilians to crowd around him and excitedly pick up the coins. For Assassins, this served as a common means of distracting enemy guards, and entering restricted areas. In Constantinople, Ezio learned to use the Pyrite coin bombs, and would throw them to the ground while being chased by guards, attracting civilians who would form a blockade and behave aggressively to his pursuers.

Beggars
In the cities of Acre, Damascus, and Jerusalem, desperate female beggars could be found along the streets, appealing for money and claiming that their families were seriously ill and destitute.

They would often approach Altaïr and persistently run into his path until he either ignored them for long enough, ran from them, or attacked them. Should Altaïr attempt to climb a building to escape them, they would often throw rocks at him and yell their disappointment. If Altaïr instead drew any of his weapons or attacked them, beggars would run away screaming and no longer bother him. They also could alert targets of Altaïr's approach, if threatened or hit.

Beggars appeared in the Italian regions of Romagna and Tuscany, but did not chase or harass any passing people for money. They usually only leaned or sat against alleyway walls, with one hand extended. Should Ezio throw money to them, they would pick it all up, thank him, and proceed to walk away.

The city of Rome featured the calmer beggars of the previously visited Italian cities, as well as the persistent beggars of the High Middle Ages. The latter of these were always female, came in groups of three and usually could only be found with the city still under Borgia influence. In Constantinople, beggars were always present, regardless of whether Byzantines or Ottomans controlled the area Ezio was in.

Carriers
In the three cities visited by Altaïr after his failure at Solomon's Temple, certain civilians could be found walking around carrying something heavy.

When Altaïr bumped into them, they would drop the item and begin to scold him openly; causing a commotion that could potentially disrupt the Assassin's current mission or assassination. To avoid a scene, he could instead gently push them aside as he passed.

Carriers came in two variations, jar carriers and box carriers. Jar carriers were women holding a large jar on their heads, while box carriers were men holding a box close to their chest. If Altaïr knocked either of these civilians over, nearby guards would exclaim a warning, and if he repeated his actions, they would attack.

Only box carriers could be found during the Renaissance. They were seen walking the streets, carrying boxes from shop to shop. If Ezio bumped into one, or rode a horse too close to one, the carrier would cause a great deal of commotion, and any guards that witnessed the action would often approach and push Ezio around in warning.

Even should a box carrier be the one to walk into Ezio, he would drop what he was carrying, and still scold the Assassin for the fault.

In Constantinople, two more variations appeared, the bread carriers and the drink carriers. Bread carriers and drink carriers held trays for bread or bottles of drinks, and they would react the same way as box carriers if Ezio bumped into one.

Scholars
Scholars were holy men who walked slowly and silently through the three cities of the Holy Land. As they possessed robes similar to a scholar, Assassins could blend in with a group of them to escape guards.

During Altaïr's visit to Alep, individual scholars could be found walking around, however, Altaïr could not blend with them.

Though scholars were not present during the Renaissance, monks could be comparatively similar in appearance to them. Their importance was severely diminished, however, as Ezio was able blend with any group of civilians.

Thugs
Thugs were the only civilians that would fight Altaïr, usually if they found him engaged in a fistfight with an interrogation target, or if they caught him stealing throwing knives from them. They would engage him in a brawl, but if he drew a weapon, they would immediately flee. However, if there were guards watching the fistfight and Altaïr drew his weapon to scare the thugs away, the guards would attack.

Whilst thugs did not appear in any other period, Renaissance civilians would fight Ezio similarly to thugs should they see him pickpocketing them. Unlike thugs, however, they were easily beaten in a fight.

These courageous citizens usually only attacked Ezio alone, however, during two events in Forlì, gangs of civilians engaged Ezio in much the same way as thugs, and proved to be more difficult to defeat.

Troublemakers
During the High Middle Ages, the three major cities Altaïr visited contained madmen and drunkards. They usually were found babbling and walking along back alleys or docks.

When approached, the troublemaker would shove Altaïr violently, causing him to stumble, as well as potentially break his cover during an assassination. Troublemakers in Acre could also push Altaïr into the water, instantly causing desynchronization for Desmond in the Animus.

Similar to beggars, when Altaïr punched or shoved a troublemaker, they would flee. This would not arouse suspicion with any guards, but nearby thugs would commence a fistfight with Altaïr.

During the Renaissance, numerous drunkards located in the cities resembled those in the High Middle Ages; however, they did not act aggressively.

Vigilantes
Vigilantes were groups of brave, tough men that assisted Altaïr after he saved female citizens in distress. When Altaïr ran past a group of vigilantes whilst being chased by guards, they would grab the guards, delaying them and aiding Altaïr's escape.

They were particularly helpful in memories for assassination targets who fled from Altaïr, the Templars Talal, Jubair al Hakim, and Sibrand.

In Rome during the 16th century, vigilantes appeared in areas where Ezio destroyed Borgia towers, acting in the same manner as vigilantes in the High Middle Ages, and often heckling any nearby guards.

Minstrels
Minstrels were performers who, during the Renaissance, could be found singing and playing their instruments in the streets. Lute players were most common, however, minstrels with a variety of instruments could be seen in Venice during Carnevale.

Should they catch sight of Ezio, they would often run after him and block his way, playing on their lutes and singing songs about him.

Similarly to beggars, they could break his cover, as well as call the attention of nearby guards should Ezio attack them. Though they could prove irritating, or disruptive during a potential assassination, throwing florins could easily appease them.

Alternatively, Ezio could intercept a minstrel by attacking him, stealing money from him (around 3 or 4 florins), or running into him. All of these would make minstrels drop their instruments and run off, lamenting that Ezio was not satisfied with their singing. Should Ezio do this near guards, he suffered a slight increase in notoriety.

Minstrels were also found in Rome, and resembled those in other cities, even singing the same songs. However, they wore different colored clothes. When Ezio stole from a minstrel, it caused him to drop his instrument, but yielded no coins for the Assassin. In Constantinople, Ezio and the Turkish Assassins encountered Italian minstrels preparing to perform at Topkapı Palace, beat them, and stole their clothes for infiltration purposes.

Pickpockets

 * Main article: Pickpockets

Pickpockets in the Renaissance era were thieves that attempted to steal Ezio's florins. If the pickpocket was successful in stealing money, or if Ezio was in the pickpocket's sight, he would escape by use of free-running.

However, pickpockets were also subject to the same rules on rooftops as Ezio, and would be shot at on sight by an alerted archer, crossbowman, or arquebusier.

When Ezio was pickpocketed, he could regain the money by chasing, and tackling the pickpocket, or looting his corpse. In addition to the stolen money, an extra 500 florins could be gained, presumably from the pickpocket's previous victims.

In Rome, pickpockets each carried one trade item that Ezio could use for the completion of shop quests.

Borgia Messengers


Borgia Messengers were couriers of the House of Borgia during the Renaissance. They behaved in a similar manner to pickpockets and fled upon catching sight of Ezio.

They were adept free-runners, but similarly to pickpockets, they would be attacked by guards on the rooftop should they be seen.

Ezio could steal a sum of 1503 to 1505 florins from them, though killing a messenger could greatly increase notoriety.

In Constantinople, Tax Collectors served the same function as Borgia messengers, and like their Italian counterparts, would flee upon spotting Ezio. Killing a Templar Tax Collector would make the Templars instantly aware of the Assassins.

Citizens in distress


Altaïr would often discover citizens that required his attention within the three cities. They were often being harassed by guards for crimes they did not commit, and upon being rescued by the Assassin, they would tell their family or friends (who were usually vigilantes or scholars) about the act of kindness.

Subsequent to this, the group of scholars or vigilantes could be found in the area where the citizen had been rescued.

In Altaïr's visit to Alep, these citizens also thanked Altaïr for being rescued, but rewarded him with coins rather than with assistance.

In Rome and Constantinople during the 16th century, Ezio could save citizens that were being harassed by Templar guards.

Unlike those in the Third Crusade, many of them could be found openly committing acts of rebellion; such as engaging a group of guards in a sword fight, or holding a guard hostage as others attempted to rescue their comrade.

Should Ezio come to their assistance, they would join him in the duel, proving to be able fighters. Once saved, the civilians gave their lives to Ezio's cause, and became Assassin apprentices.

Stalkers
During Ezio Auditore's stay in Constantinople, some Byzantine Templars disguised themselves among the populace, to hunt down and kill the Assassin. These civilians were known as Stalkers.

Stalkers wore typical lower class civilian outfits, attempting to stealthily sneak up on Ezio and stab him with a short blade.

Stalkers were never successful, however, and were usually killed by Ezio who would turn their own daggers against them.

Trivia

 * When using Eagle Vision, civilians are the only ones that do not glow any color. They are simply grey, as they are neither an ally or an enemy.
 * In Assassin's Creed II and Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood, the player can distinguish the social class of civilians, based on their attire. A richer civilian can be pickpocketed for more florins.
 * There are extremely few instances of children appearing in-game, and none can be interacted with in free roaming sequences.
 * The only children present are Ezio's younger brother, Petruccio, Caterina Sforza's children Bianca and Ottaviano, a child in Monteriggioni upon Ezio's and Mario's return from the Vatican, and the lost boy whose mother is captured by Silvestro Sabbatini.

Assassin's Creed
 * When you have completed the game, Desmond will no longer desyncronize with Altaïr for killing civilians.
 * As seen in early gameplay videos, Altaïr was originally able to push civilians out of his way whilst standing still, rather than only while running.
 * An achievement called "Enemy of the Poor" can be obtained by throwing female beggars twenty-five times.

Assassin's Creed II
 * Previously, only male civilians would attack Ezio should they find him pickpocketing them. This was reverted in Brotherhood, where civilians of any sex would attack the player after being pickpocketed.
 * In Assassin's Creed II and Brotherhood, women will often find anything Ezio does to be attractive; commenting on how strong, fast, or brave he is throughout the game.
 * There is a rare glitch in Assassin's Creed II where a group of civilians listening to a herald will not react to any violent act the player commits. These civilians can be killed without penalizing the player. Occasionally, about a minute after the glitch, the player may become spontaneously desynchronized.

Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood
 * In Brotherhood, as Ezio rebuilds Rome, civilians will start carrying parasols, scepters and fans, signifying their increased wealth.
 * Potential Assassin recruits in Rome always have the same clothes as Duccio de Luca, Claudia Auditore's former fiance.

Assassin's Creed: Revelations
 * Civilians are seen doing a greater variety of activities, such as smoking the hookah, playing board games or browsing the shops. Some will challenge Ezio to a brawl, and merchants will ask Ezio to help him carry boxes if their shipment is running late.
 * Some civilians in Constantinople will speak using Italian accents and terms.