Sibrand

"I followed my orders, believing in my cause. Same as you."

―Sibrand's final words to Altaïr.

Sibrand
Biographical information
Born	c. 1157 Germany
Died	1191 Acre, Kingdom of Jerusalem

Sibrand (1157 - 1191) was the leader of the Knights Teutonic, and secretly a member of the Templar Order. He was the seventh of the nine Templars killed by the Assassin Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad.

Like his Templar brothers, Sibrand's death was commanded by Al Mualim. As the Grand Master of the Knights Teutonic, Sibrand held authority over the port area of Acre's middle district, until his death in 1191.

Biography

Teutonic leader

By 1191, Sibrand had become the Grand Master of the Knights Teutonic. Having obtained this position of great power, Sibrand was desperate to remain in charge, and would do anything to prevent his power from slipping away.

As he was incapable of securing his position, Sibrand became plagued by paranoia of conspiracies and plots against him, so much so that he unnecessarily doubled the patrols, and even threatened to pull knights from battle to protect him.

He remained consistently vigilant, searching for signs of trouble. He took control of the docks in the city of Acre, where he also acquired the services of many ships. He planned to use these vessels to form a blockade that would prevent the "fool" Kings and Queens from sending aid once the Templars initiated their plan to usurp control of the Holy Land.

Sibrand joined the Templars around this time, and was one of the men that guarded the Apple of Eden's secrets and capabilities.

Death

Altaïr: "You'll be safe now. Held in the arms of your god."

Sibrand: "Have my brothers taught you nothing? I know what waits for me, for all of us. [...] Nothing. Nothing waits. And that is what I fear."

—Sibrand's dying words to Altaïr.

Sibrand harassing a scholar

Having locked himself away in Acre's docks, Sibrand waited to perform his role in the "liberation" of the Holy Land. He patrolled the district, scolding two guards he came across, and threatening to double their shifts if they would not get back to their posts. Unknown to him, the Assassin Altaïr eavesdropped on him, to prepare for his assassination.

Sibrand then moved to the docks itself and, remembering the white-robed Assassin that had been hunting his brothers, began to publicly abuse and torment a scholar, who was clothed similarly to the Assassins. After taunting and eventually killing the scholar, Sibrand warned the citizens not to aid the Assassins.

Sibrand then donned his horned helmet, and set off for his personal ship, unaware that Altaïr was navigating his way through the docks, and towards his ship.

Altaïr assassinating Sibrand

In his manic refusal to be killed, the Templar began wildly firing arrows in every direction, all the while shouting loudly that he would take care of the Assassins himself if no one else would. Altaïr stealthily climbed aboard the ship as he did, and put an end to Sibrand's life.

With his last breath, Sibrand explained the role assigned to him by the Brotherhood, and claimed that he had proof that nothing waited for him after his life. Having told the Assassin all he knew, Sibrand perished.

Personality and characteristics

Sibrand speaking with his men

At the time he was appointed as the Grand Master of the Teutonics, Sibrand was a fierce man, who never failed to strike fear into the crowds. He was both a skilled swordsman and archer, making him a dangerous opponent. However, as he witnessed more of his Templar brothers dying, he became paranoid and cowardly.

His paranoia became such a burden to him that he doubled the patrols in his district and even killed men, simply for wearing clothes that were similar to the Assassins' garments. Sibrand always kept a keen eye on the crowds surrounding him, always expecting his murderer to emerge from them.

Like his fellow Templars, Sibrand did not believe in a god or an afterlife, claiming that the Piece of Eden had been proof otherwise. He feared death, believing that there was nothing to await him once he passed away.

Final words

Sibrand's final moments

• Sibrand: Please, don't do this.
• Altaïr: You are afraid.
• Sibrand: Of course I am afraid!
• Altaïr: But you'll be safe now. Held in the arms of your God.
• Sibrand: Have my brothers taught you nothing? I know what waits for me, for all of us.
• Altaïr: If not your God, then what?
• Sibrand: Nothing. Nothing waits. And that is what I fear.
• Altaïr: You don't believe.
• Sibrand: How could I given what I know? What I've seen? Our treasure was the proof.
• Altaïr: Proof of what?
• Sibrand: That this life is all we have!
• Altaïr: Linger a while longer then, and tell me of the part you were to play.
• Sibrand: A blockade by sea, to keep the fool kings and queens from sending reinforcements. Once we... once we...
• Altaïr: Conquered the Holy Land?
• Sibrand: Freed it, you fool! From the tyranny of faith.
• Altaïr: Freedom?! You worked to overthrow cities, control men's minds, murdered any who spoke against you!
• Sibrand: I followed my orders, believing in my cause. Same as you.

Trivia

• Like Garnier de Naplouse and Robert de Sable, Sibrand was a historical leader of the Knights Teutonic. The Teutonic Order was governed by a "Meister Sibrand" between 1190 and 1192.
• Sibrand is the only target in Assassin's Creed that can be seen during an investigation memory, though he disappears once the cutscene has finished.
• It was possible to throw Sibrand into the water, though doing so caused desynchronization.
• A glitch may occur, during which Sibrand may not be wearing the helmet he put on after killing the scholar.
• Like Talal in Jerusalem and Jubair al Hakim in Damascus, vigilantes attempted to stop Sibrand if he tried to escape from the docks.

Reference

• Assassin's Creed