Rayhan (Arabic: ريحان) was the Mentor of the Hidden Ones based at Alamut during the mid-to-late 9th century. Alongside Fuladh Al Haami and Roshan, he was part of the council that governed over the brotherhood.
During his tenure, the Hidden Ones greatly expanded their influence, establishing bureaus as far as England, and eliminated the last remnants of their longtime rivals, the Order of the Ancients.
Biography[]
Early life[]
At some point during his younger years, Rayhan learned about the Isu temple that Alamut Castle had been built atop of and, despite it being considered forbidden ground, sought to explore it. However, as he was unable to find any way in, he resolved to protect the site from the Order of the Ancients like the Hidden Ones that had come before him, assuming that the knowledge inside the temple was meant to remain a secret.[1]
Mentor of the Alamut Brotherhood[]
By the early 860s, Rayhan had risen to become the Mentor of the Alamut Brotherhood and served the Hidden Ones as an important strategist.[2] In this capacity, he was also a member of Alamut's council alongside the Eagle-Master Fuladh Al Haami and the Master Assassin Roshan, making important decisions for the Brotherhood and ensuring their tenets were up-kept.[3]
Rayhan meeting with Aban, the Tahirid emmisary
In February 862, Rayhan received Aban, an emissary of the Tahirid governor who came to discuss the events in Baghdad causing problems for the Hidden Ones' alliance with the Tahirids. Aban claimed that the powers behind the Caliphate were putting pressure on the Tahirids, for the Hidden Ones were supporting the Zanj rebels led by Ali ibn Muhammad. Rayhan was warned that if the Hidden Ones persisted in aiding the rebellion, the Tahirids would no longer be able to provide protection from their enemies and the Brotherhood would have to act fast.[3]
Aban's warnings came true that night when a group of mercenaries sent by the Order of the Ancients came to scout out the valley that the Hidden Ones' camp was situated in. Thanks to the watchman Nur and a new initiate to the Brotherhood, Basim Ibn Ishaq, the mercenaries were eliminated and the Alamut Council were made aware of this intrusion. Together with the council, Rayhan decided to send someone to Baghdad to investigate the Order's presence in the city and seek the aid of Ali and his rebels, and Nur volunteered.[3]
Rayhan sending Fuladh, Basim and Roshan to Baghdad
After Basim completed his training, Rayhan and the rest of the Alamut Council formally inducted him into the Brotherhood. However, shortly after Basim's initiation, Nur returned to Alamut gravely wounded, as the Order had attacked him during his investigation and captured Ali. Realizing that the Order held more power in Baghdad than they initially suspected, Rayhan decided to send Basim, Fuladh and Roshan to the city to continue Nur's investigation and find and rescue Ali.[4]
Attack on Alamut[]
- Basim: "What are you protecting that is worth all this bloodshed?"
- Rayhan: "Ancient ground. For generations, it has been our duty to watch over it. Defend it from the Order, who seek to exploit its secrets. The temple houses its entrance but, Basim, even though it is forbidden... I have searched. There is no means to access it."
- Basim: "Then I will find a way myself."
- —Rayhan and Basim discussing the Alamut Temple, 860s.[src]-[m]
After the Order made a deal with governor Muhammad ibn Tahir to remove the Tahirids' protection of Alamut,[5] the Hidden Ones were caught by surprise when their base came under attack by a large Tahirid force, resulting in many members of the Brotherhood being either killed or captured. Rayhan was among those that were taken captive and was subsequently interrogated by Kabeer Al-Jund for the location of the Alamut Temple. However, as the Mentor refused to talk, the soldiers began executing his fellow captive Hidden Ones.[1]
Rayhan and Basim discussing the Alamut Temple
Rayhan was eventually rescued when Basim returned to Alamut and killed his captors, freeing the Mentor. After Basim revealed that the true reason for his return was to investigate the Alamut Temple, Rayhan deduced that the Order had chosen to strike at that very moment because they believed Basim was the key needed to access the site. He then tried to dissuade Basim from seeking the knowledge inside the temple, claiming that it was exactly what the Order wanted.[1]
However, Basim argued that said knowledge could give the Hidden Ones an advantage over the Order and finally bring an end to their war. Despite his reluctance, Rayhan conceded and gave Basim his blessing to explore the temple before leaving to rendezvous with the other Hidden Ones.[1]
Rayhan and Roshan arguing over his decision to let Basim investigate the Alamut Temple
Rayhan ultimately led the Brotherhood to victory against the Tahirid attackers, saving Alamut. However, his decision to let Basim explore the Alamut Temple led Roshan to abandon the Hidden Ones, as she was aware of Basim's true nature and feared what the temple might awaken inside him. After an argument with Roshan, where she discarded her Hidden Blade, Rayhan bid her farewell and was approached by Basim to discuss what the latter had seen inside the temple.[1]
Basim's betrayal[]
- "We are dismayed by the news of Basim's betrayal, yet only faintly surprised. His adherence to our creed had lately seemed secondary to a personal mania that has dogged him for many years. In sending him north, we had hoped the distance would focus his attention on his duty and distract him from obsessions. It seems instead he was chasing them."
- ―Rayhan, in a letter to Hytham, c. 877.[src]-[m]
By 867, Rayhan had noticed a change in Basim's character and became suspicious of his motives. As such, he secretly tasked Basim's apprentice, the young acolyte Hytham, to spy on his master and sent him to accompany Basim on a mission to Constantinople, where the two Hidden Ones investigated an assassination plot by the newly-installed Byzantine Emperor Basil I against his son Leo.[6]
In 872, Basim and Hytham journeyed to Norway to fight the Order's growing influence in Northern Europe, after allying themselves with the Raven Clan. The two subsequently settled in England, within the Raven Clan's settlement of Ravensthorpe, where they set up a bureau and began laying the foundations of a new chapter for the Hidden Ones. Around this time, Rayhan sent a letter to Hytham, commending the young acolyte's decision to accompany Basim and suggesting that he follow the example of his master if he wished to achieve greatness and rise through the Brotherhood's ranks.[7]
In 877, following Basim's betrayal and apparent death,[8] Rayhan sent another letter to Hytham expressing his dismay, but not surprise, as he had noticed for some time that Basim's adherence to the Creed seemed secondary to what he described as a "personal mania". Rayhan also invited Hytham to attend a council hosted by Fuladh at Alamut Castle in two years' time, in order to give a full account of Basim's betrayal and to be elevated to a new rank.[9]
Legacy[]
Following Roshan's encounter with the Raven Clan shieldmaiden Eivor Varinsdottir in England in the late 9th century, the Viking acquired one of Rayhan's personal sets of armor.[10]
Personality and traits[]
Most contemporary Hidden Ones regarded Rayhan as a wise Mentor and trusted his judgement on all matters despite their own doubts, such as his decision to make Alamut their permanent stronghold.[3] Rayhan was also considered one of the most important strategists within the Brotherhood's entire network,[2] in part due to his ability to make difficult decisions, like choosing to ally with Ali ibn Muhammad despite the risk of losing the Tahirids' support because of it.[3] Even then, his strategizing was not always infallible, as he failed to foresee the Tahirids' attack on Alamut, resulting in heavy losses for the Hidden Ones.[1]
Rayhan reluctantly allowing Basim to explore the Alamut Temple
Rayhan was a firm believer in the Creed and considered that all of the Hidden Ones' practices and victories should be recorded and preserved, as future generations might look to them for guidance.[11] However, he could also be lenient when it came to breaking the Brotherhood's rules, as in his youth he sought the knowledge inside the Alamut Temple despite it being considered "forbidden ground". He also allowed Basim to seek said knowledge, believing it could give the Hidden Ones an advantage over their enemies.[1]
This decision would prove to have vast ramifications for the Brotherhood, as it caused Roshan to leave the Hidden Ones in protest and allowed Basim to regain the memories of his past life.[1] After noticing Basim's change in character, Rayhan seemingly began to regret his decision and approved Basim's request to travel to Northern Europe, hoping that the distance would allow Basim to focus on his Hidden One duties and distract him from his newfound obsessions.[9]
Behind the scenes[]
Rayhan is a character first mentioned in the 2020 video game Assassin's Creed: Valhalla. With the addition of the Shared History update in late 2022, players could obtain his personal set of robes for Eivor to wear by completing the memory "The Raven and the Cuckoo". Rayhan subsequently made his first in-person appearance in the 2023 game Assassin's Creed: Mirage.
In Mirage, a white variation of Rayhan's robes, called "Rayhan White Costume", can be obtained as an outfit for Basim to wear in-game by completing the main story again in Full Synchronization mode with the game difficulty set on "Assassin" or higher.
Etymology[]
The name "Rayhan" is a transliteration of the Arabic word ريحان, meaning "fragranced herb". Other meanings in other Arabic languages include "basil" and "myrtle".
Gallery[]
Appearances[]
- Assassin's Creed: Valhalla (first mentioned)
- Shared History (mentioned only)
- Assassin's Creed: The Golden City (mentioned only)
- The World of Assassin's Creed Valhalla: Journey to the North – Logs and Files of a Hidden One (mentioned only)
- Assassin's Creed: Mirage (first appearance)
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 Assassin's Creed: Mirage – In Pursuit of Truth
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Assassin's Creed: Mirage – Database: Rayhan
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Assassin's Creed: Mirage – A New Beginning
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Mirage – Taking Flight
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Mirage – Judge and Executioner
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: The Golden City
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Valhalla – To Serve the Light...
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Valhalla – A Brother's Keeper
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Assassin's Creed: Valhalla – Breaking the Order
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Valhalla – Shared History – The Raven and the Cuckoo
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Mirage – Notes from Basim's travels: "Don't forget the feathers"
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