Interrogation

Altaïr interrogating an orator

Interrogation is a practice used by individuals or organizations to extract information from a target. Interrogation techinques may vary from developing a rapport with the subject to intimidation and even torture.

Throughout their history, both the Assassin Brotherhood and the Templar Order have made use of interrogation to acquire valuable information, in regards to certain objectives. The members of the Brotherhood in particular have employed interrogation as one of their main methods of investigation before an assassination or mission, despite its questionable ethics.

History

Ptolemaic Egypt

Bayek interrogating Livius

In 48 BCE, Bayek of Siwa interrogated the Order of the Ancients member Livius, who had been captured and beaten by Queen Cleopatra's soldiers. Bayek further beat Livius up, believing him to be responsible for the death of his son Khemu, until the Order member revealed Lucius Septimius' plot to assassinate Cleopatra, which was being organized at a nearby brothel. Bayek subsequently went to investigate the brothel while Livius was taken away by the soldiers.

High Middle Ages

For Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad to use interrogation, he had to decide who would be subjected to it. This usually was a public speaker praising Altaïr's latest assassination target. Once the speaker finished talking and walked away from the crowd they were communicating to, Altaïr would follow them to a secluded area. There, out of sight from the guards, Altaïr would beat his target until they relented and dropped to their knees, ready to give the Assassin the knowledge he required. Afterwards, to prevent them from informing anyone of the event, Altaïr would fatally stab them with his Hidden Blade and leave their body on the ground.

Renaissance

Ezio interrogating an abbot

During the Renaissance, Ezio Auditore da Firenze also used interrogation to gain information about his targets, though unlike Altaïr, he always used his fists and never killed the individual that he interrogated. During the liberation of Rome, Ezio interrogated engineers who were working on the war machines designed by Leonardo da Vinci, in order to find and destroy them.

18th century

During his hunt for the Templar keys in 1716, Edward Kenway interrogated subordinates of the key-holders to ascertain their location. Years later, while in Macau, Edward also attempted to interrogate a Shimazu clan ninja who had attacked him, but despite being pinned down, the man managed to take his own life using Edward's Hidden Blade to avoid revealing anything.

Haytham interrogating British soldiers

In 1756, the former Assassin Shay Cormac interrogated a gang member to find his leader and get revenge on them for bothering Barry and Cassidy Finnegan. In 1778, the Templar Haytham Kenway interrogated three British soldiers to uncover their plans to overtake New York City, killing them after learning their secrets. Haytham's son, the Colonial Assassin Ratonhnhaké:ton, appalled by his father's ruthlessness, also interrogated Benjamin Church's cart driver to learn his location.

In 1791, the French Assassin Arno Dorian interrogated Aloys la Touche to learn the whereabouts of his master, the Roi des Thunes.

19th century

In 1805, Jan van der Graff was tortured and interrogated by Sultan Selim III's men, who believed him to be a Templar infiltrator after he was caught trying to sneak into the Sultan's palace in Tripoli to steal the Koh-i-Noor. After concluding that he was not affiliated with the Templars but had likely been used by them, Selim ordered that van der Graff be thrown into the palace's dungeon.

Arbaaz interrogating the officer

In 1841, the Indian Assassin Arbaaz Mir interrogated an East India Company officer and Templar to learn the whereabouts of his Mentor Hamid, who had been captured by the Templars along with the Koh-i-Noor. Arbaaz captured the officer and knocked him out, so that when he awakened, the officer found himself dangling upside down off the side of a building. Even after revealing the information Arbaaz was after, the Assassin left the officer dangling.

In 1862, the British Assassin Ethan Frye tried to interrogate the thief Boot, who was working as a courier for the Templars, in order to learn the identity of his boss. However, Boot was shot by his employer, Robert Waugh, before he could disclose his name.

Modern times

Nikolai interrogating Dolinsky

In 1908, Nikolai Orelov interrogated an individual linked to the Templars, a man named Dolinsky. Though it bordered more on torture, Nikolai had Dolinsky tied to a chair whilst he beat him across the face and threatened his family. Once the Templar finally disclosed information about the Staff of Eden held at a facility in Tunguska, Nikolai ordered the two other Assassins who were present for the interrogation to slit Dolinsky's throat.

Behind the scenes

In Assassin's Creed, if an interrogation target is attacked while one or more thugs are nearby, they will join in the fist fight against Altaïr. If the target is assassinated in front of a guard, they will not react, and behave as if they have just discovered the body.

When a public speaker was not surrounded by guards, Altaïr could run up and use his Hidden Blade to kill them. Strangely enough, the listeners would calmly walk away afterwards, as if nothing had happened.