Initiation into the Assassin Order

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"Laa shay'a waqi'un moutlaq bale kouloun moumkine. (Nothing is true; everything is permitted.) The wisdom of our Creed is revealed through these words."

―Niccolò Machiavelli reciting the the Creed to Claudia Auditore, 1503

An apprentice being inducted into the Order

The initiation into the Assassin Order was a ceremonial tradition upheld over many years of its existence. It was a rite of passage symbolizing when an Assassin apprentice became a full-fledged member of the Order, and vowed to commit their life to safeguarding the freedom of humanity.

History

Antiquity

The first proto-Assassins such as Darius and Kassandra never participated in any induction ceremonies. Whilst they did wield the Hidden Blade against the Order of Ancients, the earliest incarnation of the Templar Order, these early Assassions operated mostly as independent agents of justice, each pursuing their own goals. Although some of them (like the aforementioned Kassandra) had loyal followings, their companions followed them due to a mutual interest or out of respect. The Hidden Blade meanwhile was simply seen as a tool to wield against the enemy, though it could be handed down as a mark of the warriors prowess and as a symbol of trust.

This would all change with foundation of the Hidden Ones in 47 BCE. Led by their founders, the former Medjay Bayek of Siwa and his wife Aya (later known as Amunet) in Memphis and Rome respectively, this first generation of Assassins sought to not only live by their founders principles but to honor their commitment and sacrifice. Although it is not clear if any type of initiation ceremony existed at least one act of commitment was known. During his assassination of the Order of Ancient member Eudoros in 48 BCE, Bayek, whilst using Darius' Hidden Blade for the first time, ended up accidentally amputating his ring finger.

In order to demonstrate their commitment to both Bayek and the Order, Aya and the other members of the new order voluntarily cut off their own ring fingers. At least one Hidden One, Tahira, did this in front of Bayek himself. Although the founder initially tried to assure her that she didn't need to undertake this act of self-mutilation, Tahira insisted upon doing so as a demonstration of her faith in him. This act would remain a part of the both the Hidden Ones and later the Assassins Orders initiation process for nigh on twelve centuries.

High Middle Ages

Although the full details of the initiation into the Order up to the 12th century are unclear, the ceremony included the amputation of the ring finger, as a sign of commitment to the Creed. Afterwards, the Hidden Blade was installed, allowing the Assassin to participate in any assassination missions bestowed upon them. As noted in Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad's Codex, some time after becoming the Mentor of the Levantine Brotherhood, Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad used an Apple of Eden to modify the Hidden Blade's design so that the amputation of the ring finger would not be necessary. This change was made so that an Assassin could not be so easily identified by their enemies.

Renaissance

Assassin: "Where other men blindly follow the truth, remember..."

Initiate: "Nothing is true."

Assassin: "Where other men are limited by morality or law, remember..."

Initiate: "Everything is permitted."

Assassin: "We work in the dark to serve the light. We are Assassins."

—The words of the Creed spoken during every initiation.

Ezio Auditore being inducted into the Order

During the Renaissance, the initiation was performed by the Mentor of the Brotherhood, alongside several other Assassins. The ceremony came in three parts: the speaking of the Creed, the branding of the initiate's left ring finger, and a Leap of Faith. First, the participants stood around a lit brazier, with one Assassin reciting the Creed, which was answered in turn by the initiate. The final words, the maxim of the Creed, were spoken by all present. Next, the initiate's left ring finger was branded, using tongs that had been heated in the aforementioned brazier. This was a modification of the removal of the finger that Mario Auditore once commented on, saying that "In this modern age, we are not so literal as our ancestors, but our seal is no less permanent." Finally, the initiate took a Leap of Faith to signify their trust in the Order and their fellow Assassins—sometimes preceded by the Assassins present also taking a Leap of Faith—after which, the initiate was considered a full-fledged member of the Order.

American Revolution

"You've your tools and training. Your targets and goals. And now you have your title. Welcome to the Brotherhood, Connor."

―Achilles Davenport, 1773.

During the American Revolution, the former Mentor of the Colonial Assassins Achilles Davenport elected to simply grant Ratonhnhaké:ton the full rank of Assassin in lieu of an initiation. Still hurt after witnessing his former pupil Shay Cormac join the Colonial Templars and aid them in purging the Brotherhood's presence from the colonies, Achilles dismissed the ceremony, saying that it once had significance but suspected that neither he nor Ratonhnhaké:ton put much faith in such rituals.

French Revolution

"Out of the dark, you come into the light. From the light, you will return to the dark. Are you prepared to travel the eagle's path?"

―Mirabeau, 1789.

Arno Dorian being inducted into the Order.

During the French Revolution, initiations were performed in an Assassin sanctuary located below the Sainte-Chapelle. In 1789, Arno Dorian approached the Assassin Council. The Council's leader Mirabeau asked Arno why he wanted to join the Assassin Order, among other things. After conferring with the other members of the Council, Mirabeau allowed Arno to take a test to prove if he was worthy. Arno accepted the offer and drank from a ceremonial goblet, the contents of which induced a hallucination. Upon awaking from the hallucination, Arno found himself in front of the Assassin Council. The Council recited the tenets of the Creed, after which, Arno began his training as a member of the Assassin Order.

Modern times

"You have proven yourself worthy. Today, commit to uphold the pillars of our Creed. We are Assassins."

―William Miles.

In modern times, the initiation had become much less formal and relevant. In 2000, the Mentor initiated Daniel Cross into the Order by rewarding him with an old Hidden Blade, and verbally welcoming him into the Order. However, certain Assassins still performed portions of the ritual, though the branding of the finger was uncommon. In the later 21st century, Clay Kaczmarek was initiated in the traditional way by William Miles, walking among his soon-to-be Brothers before taking a leap of faith.

Behind the scenes

Although Ezio Auditore's burn mark remains on his skin for the rest of Assassin's Creed II, it is not visible on his finger in Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood or Assassin's Creed: Revelations.

In the Assassin's Creed film, Aguilar de Nerha undergoes a slightly different initiation into the Spanish Brotherhood: the mentor asks him if he swears to honor their order in the fight for freedom and to defend mankind against the Templars' tyranny. Upon answering that he swears, his right ring finger is ceremonially amputated and María recites the tenets of the Creed whilst arming Aguilar with his dual Hidden Blades.

In Assassin's Creed: Mirage, Basim Ibn Ishaq also has a slightly altered initiation into the Brotherhood. Instead of his mentor Roshan reciting the Creed at the ritual's start, she asks whether he is ready to give up everything he once was and held dear in his past to "walk the path of shadows", as Basim takes a hot knife from a brazier. Upon Basim replying in the affirmative three times, he severs and cauterizes his ring finger, to which Roshan says that he will step out from the metaphorical dark of ignorance into the light of revelation, only to retreat to the literal shadows with his new knowledge. and then recites the Creed in full.

Gallery

An apprentice receiving the finger brand

An apprentice preparing to take a Leap of Faith

Perotto Calderon performing a Leap of Faith

Concept art of the Spanish Brotherhood's finger amputator

Prop of the Spanish Brotherhood's finger amputator

Basim's initiation