Changes: Talal

Revision as of 13:43, 20 June 2019

"Beggars, whores, addicts, lepers. Do they strike you as proper slaves? Unfit for even the most menial tasks? No. I took them not to sell, but to save! And yet you'd kill us all, for no other reason than it was asked of you."

―Talal's final words to Altaïr, 1191.^[src]

Talal (c. 1157 – 1191) was a slaver and a member of the Levantine Templars. He was one of nine men killed by the Assassin Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad on his quest for redemption, upon the order of Al Mualim, the Mentor of the Levantine Assassins during the Third Crusade. He was located in the rich district of Jerusalem where he had based his slave trading business.

Biography

The slaver of Jerusalem

"He traffics human lives, kidnapping Jerusalem citizens and selling them to slavery."

―Altaïr about Talal.^[src]

A former member of the Saracen army,^{[citation needed]} Talal returned to the holy city of Jerusalem, where he established a bandit gang made up of men whose loyalty to him was unquestioned. Operating out of an old warehouse, they soon became known for kidnapping men, women and children of all social stations and shipping them off to distant lands to be sold as slaves, many of them sent to Garnier de Naplouse in Acre for his experiments. Although the city guard was well aware of Talal's actions, they turned a blind eye in return for regular bribes from the bandits.^[1]

A master athlete, Talal's skill with the bow and the sword were legendary. He had no problem fighting his enemies personally and took every opportunity to boast of his talents to anyone who would listen. Furthermore, he justified his involvement with the slave trade by noting that many of his captives were poor beggars, prostitutes and criminals, who he claimed would lead much better lives if they were given work and discipline.^[1]

Death

"It seems I cannot help you, for you do not wish to help yourself. And I cannot allow my work to be threatened. You leave me no choice. You must die."

―Talal speaking to Altaïr, 1191.^[src]

Altaïr investigated Talal's movements within the rich district and discovered him to be within his slave warehouse. As soon as the Assassin entered the warehouse, Talal began taunting him.^[1]

He then situated his men to surround Altaïr, boasting that he had led the Assassin there. The Templar then ordered his men to kill the distressed man, and his orders were followed without question. Talal watched the fight, looking on in anticipation for the guards to defeat Altaïr. However, the Assassin overpowered the guards and defeated them.^[1]

AC1 Talal Death — Altaïr assassinating Talal

Recognizing the danger he was in, Talal fled from his slave complex through a trapdoor in the ceiling. Altaïr immediately gave chase to his fleeing target, and pursued him in a long, agile chase across the rooftops and through the streets of Jerusalem.^[1]

Talal often looked over his shoulder during the chase and tried to convince his pursuer into sparing him. As Talal was occupied with this, he failed to notice a civilian woman carrying a number of clay jugs and collided with her, sending both tumbling to the ground. Before Talal could resume fleeing, Altaïr quickly closed the gap between them, and stabbed him with his Hidden Blade.^[2]

With his dying words, Talal remarked that the people he had been selling were the most unfortunate people in Jerusalem, not good as slaves, and that rather than profiting from them, he had been trying to help them. He also remarked that he no longer believed in anything after death and that the people he had "rescued" had abandoned their beliefs as long as he had. Unable to speak anymore, Talal died in Altaïr's arms.^[1]

Personality and characteristics

AC1 Warehouse ambush — Altaïr confronting Talal

Talal was not a man of high morals, locking up men and women against their will. He claimed and thought he did the right thing, stating the people he imprisoned to be mere beggars, whores, addicts and lepers who he was trying to save. He knew that his death would not get in the way of his Templar brothers' goals.^[1]

Like his fellow Templars, he had lost faith in God, claiming that not only he had been abandoned, but the people he took into his care as well, and he believed to be saving them. He was somewhat arrogant as well, believing that Altaïr would fail to defeat his men and even taunting Altaïr beforehand.^[1]

Talal usually carried a bow on his back, along with a quiver full of arrows. He also wore a sword sheathed in its scabbard, though he was more experienced with a bow and arrow. He wore a dark gray tunic with yellow stripes and plain white leggings. Talal also wore two vambraces on each wrist and had a large belt around him. He also had a goatee and had his hair braided flat against the back of his head. He was of average height and stature.^[1]

Trivia

Talal was featured in the E3 2007 gameplay trailer, where Altaïr infiltrated the slave trader's den, before chasing and killing Talal.
Talal was one of the assassination targets that can be stopped by vigilantes while escaping, the others being Sibrand, Abu'l Nuqoud and Jubair al Hakim.
Talal's guards are still found in Jerusalem after his death.
Ṭalāl (طلال) is an Arabic name meaning "admirable" and "nice".
In the mobile adaptation of Assassin's Creed, Talal's name is spelled "Tallal". Although still described as a slave master, he is portrayed without any affiliation with the Saracens, donning the heavy battle armor of the Knights Templar. Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad assassinates him by firing his crossbow at a lantern above his head, which then falls onto the puddle of oil he and two other Templars are standing on, sending them to a fiery demise.

Gallery

References

↑ ^1.0 ^1.1 ^1.2 ^1.3 ^1.4 ^1.5 ^1.6 ^1.7 ^1.8 Assassin's Creed
↑ Assassin's Creed: The Secret Crusade

[AC-1] 1.0 ^1.1 ^1.2 ^1.3 ^1.4 ^1.5 ^1.6 ^1.7 ^1.8 Assassin's Creed

[2] Assassin's Creed: The Secret Crusade

[1]

[2]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-{{Era|AC|TSC|Templars|Good}}
+{{Era|Individuals|Templars|Good}}
-{{Quote|Beggars, whores, addicts, lepers. Do they strike you as proper slaves? Unfit for even the most menial tasks? No. I took them not to sell, but to save! And yet you'd kill us all, for no other reason than it was asked of you.|Talal's final words to Altaïr.|Assassin's Creed}}
+{{Quote|Beggars, whores, addicts, lepers. Do they strike you as proper slaves? Unfit for even the most menial tasks? No. I took them not to sell, but to save! And yet you'd kill us all, for no other reason than it was asked of you.|Talal's final words to Altaïr, 1191.|Assassin's Creed}}
 {{Character Infobox
+| image = Talalpng.png
-|name = Talal
-|image = Talalpng.png
+| birth = c. 1157
+| death = 1191<br>[[Jerusalem]], {{Wiki|Ayyubid dynasty|Ayyubid Sultanate}}
-|birth = c. 1157
+| species = [[Human]]
-|death = 1191<br>[[Jerusalem]], Kingdom of Jerusalem
+| affiliates = [[Saracens]]<br>[[Templars]]
-|period = High Middle Ages
+*[[Levantine Rite of the Templar Order|Levantine Rite]]
-|affiliates = [[Saracens|Muslim Saracens]]<br>[[Templars]]
+| voice = [[Jake Eberle]]}}
-|appear = ''[[Assassin's Creed]]''<br>''[[Assassin's Creed: The Secret Crusade]]''
+'''Talal''' (c. 1157 – 1191) was a [[Slavery|slaver]] and a member of the [[Levantine Rite of the Templar Order|Levantine Templars]]. He was one of [[Hunt for the Nine|nine men]] killed by the [[Assassins|Assassin]] [[Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad]] on his quest for redemption, upon the order of [[Al Mualim]], the [[Mentor]] of the [[Levantine Brotherhood of Assassins|Levantine Assassins]] during the [[Third Crusade]]. He was located in the rich district of [[Jerusalem]] where he had based his slave trading business.
-|voice = [[Jake Eberle]]}}
-'''Talal''' (c. 1157 - 1191) was a [[Slavery|slaver]] and a member of the [[Templars|Templar Order]]. He was one of [[Hunt for the Nine|nine men]] killed by the [[Assassins|Assassin]] [[Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad]] on his quest for redemption, upon the order of [[Rashid ad-Din Sinan|Al Mualim]], the [[Mentor]] of the [[Levantine Assassins]] during the [[Third Crusade]]. He was located in the rich district of [[Jerusalem]] where he had based his slave trading business.
 ==Biography==
 ===The slaver of Jerusalem===
+{{Quote|He traffics human lives, kidnapping Jerusalem citizens and selling them to slavery.|Altaïr about Talal.|Assassin's Creed}}A former member of the [[Saracens|Saracen]] army,{{Fact|June 2019}} Talal returned to the holy city of Jerusalem, where he established a bandit gang made up of men whose loyalty to him was unquestioned. Operating out of an old warehouse, they soon became known for kidnapping men, women and children of all social stations and shipping them off to distant lands to be sold as slaves, many of them sent to Garnier de Naplouse in Acre for his experiments. Although the city guard was well aware of Talal's actions, they turned a blind eye in return for regular bribes from the bandits.<ref name="AC">''[[Assassin's Creed]]''</ref>
-{{Quote|He traffics human lives, kidnapping Jerusalem citizens and selling them to slavery.|Altaïr about Talal.|Assassin's Creed}}
-Talal operated a large slave ring, which was ignored by the [[guards]] of Jerusalem, who were usually very vigilant. He was quick-witted, agile, and an expert marksman. There were tales of him fleeing a battle, only to be seen at higher ground, where his bow rained down arrows with exceptional accuracy. He kidnapped beggars, whores, and thieves from the sewers, brothels, and prisons they lived in, according to [[Garnier de Naplouse]], and shipped them to Acre for "healing" to be done by him.
+A master athlete, Talal's skill with the [[bow]] and the [[Swords|sword]] were legendary. He had no problem fighting his enemies personally and took every opportunity to boast of his talents to anyone who would listen. Furthermore, he justified his involvement with the slave trade by noting that many of his captives were poor beggars, prostitutes and criminals, who he claimed would lead much better lives if they were given work and discipline.<ref name="AC"/>
-Able to outrun most men with ease, Talal was proud of his acrobatic prowess and had no qualms about singing his own praises to anyone who would listen. He found humor in everything – and was especially fond of toying with his enemies before killing them.
-He was also known to have a very loyal band of henchmen that followed his every word, even if that meant laying down their own lives. Ending up joining the Templars, Talal learned their secrets and acquired knowledge of the [[Pieces of Eden]].
 ===Death===
-{{Quote|It seems I cannot help you, for you do not wish to help yourself. And I cannot allow my work to be threatened. You leave me no choice. You must die.|Talal speaking to Altaïr.|Assassin's Creed}}
+{{Quote|It seems I cannot help you, for you do not wish to help yourself. And I cannot allow my work to be threatened. You leave me no choice. You must die.|Talal speaking to Altaïr, 1191.|Assassin's Creed}}Altaïr investigated Talal's movements within the rich district and discovered him to be within his slave warehouse. As soon as the Assassin entered the warehouse, Talal began taunting him.<ref name="AC"/>
-Altaïr investigated Talal's movements within the rich district and discovered him to be within his slave warehouse. As soon as the Assassin entered the warehouse, Talal began taunting him.
-He then situated his men to surround Altaïr, boasting that he had led the Assassin there. The Templar then ordered his men to kill the distressed man, and his orders were followed without question. Talal watched the fight, looking on in anticipation for the guards to defeat Altaïr. However, the Assassin overpowered the guards and defeated them.
+He then situated his men to surround Altaïr, boasting that he had led the Assassin there. The Templar then ordered his men to kill the distressed man, and his orders were followed without question. Talal watched the fight, looking on in anticipation for the guards to defeat Altaïr. However, the Assassin overpowered the guards and defeated them.<ref name="AC"/>
 [[File:AC1 Talal Death.png|thumb|250px|left|Altaïr assassinating Talal]]
-Recognizing the danger he was in, Talal fled from his slave complex through a trapdoor in the ceiling. Altaïr immediately gave chase to his fleeing target, and pursued him in a long, agile chase across the rooftops and through the streets of Jerusalem. Talal often looked over his shoulder during the chase and tried to convince his pursuer into sparing him. As Talal turned around and prepared an arrow for his bow, Altaïr quickly closed the gap between them, and stabbed him with his [[hidden Blade|hidden blade]].
+Recognizing the danger he was in, Talal fled from his slave complex through a trapdoor in the ceiling. Altaïr immediately gave chase to his fleeing target, and pursued him in a long, agile chase across the rooftops and through the streets of Jerusalem.<ref name="AC"/>
+Talal often looked over his shoulder during the chase and tried to convince his pursuer into sparing him. As Talal was occupied with this, he failed to notice a civilian woman carrying a number of clay jugs and collided with her, sending both tumbling to the ground. Before Talal could resume fleeing, Altaïr quickly closed the gap between them, and stabbed him with his [[Hidden Blade]].<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: The Secret Crusade]]''</ref>
-With his dying words, Talal remarked that the people he had been selling were the most unfortunate people in Jerusalem, not good as slaves, and that rather than profiting from them, he had been trying to help them. He also remarked that he no longer believed in anything after death and that the people he had "rescued" had abandoned their beliefs as long as he had. Unable to speak anymore, Talal died in Altaïr's arms.
+With his dying words, Talal remarked that the people he had been selling were the most unfortunate people in Jerusalem, not good as slaves, and that rather than profiting from them, he had been trying to help them. He also remarked that he no longer believed in anything after death and that the people he had "rescued" had abandoned their beliefs as long as he had. Unable to speak anymore, Talal died in Altaïr's arms.<ref name="AC"/>
 ==Personality and characteristics==
-[[File:AC1 Warehouse ambush.png|thumb|250px|left|Altaïr confronting Talal]]
+[[File:AC1 Warehouse ambush.png|thumb|250px|Altaïr confronting Talal]]
-Talal was not a man of high morals, locking up men and women against their will. He claimed and thought he did the right thing, stating the people he imprisoned to be mere beggars, whores, addicts and lepers who he was trying to save. He knew that his death would not get in the way of his Templar brothers' goals.
+Talal was not a man of high morals, locking up men and women against their will. He claimed and thought he did the right thing, stating the people he imprisoned to be mere beggars, whores, addicts and lepers who he was trying to save. He knew that his death would not get in the way of his Templar brothers' goals.<ref name="AC"/>
-Like his fellow Templars, he had lost faith in God, claiming that not only he had been abandoned, but the people he took into his care as well, and he believed to be saving them. He was somewhat arrogant as well, believing that Altaïr would fail to defeat his men and even taunting Altaïr beforehand.
+Like his fellow Templars, he had lost faith in God, claiming that not only he had been abandoned, but the people he took into his care as well, and he believed to be saving them. He was somewhat arrogant as well, believing that Altaïr would fail to defeat his men and even taunting Altaïr beforehand.<ref name="AC"/>
-Talal usually carried a bow on his back, along with a quiver full of arrows. He also wore a sword sheathed in its scabbard, though he was more experienced with a bow and arrow. He wore a dark gray tunic with yellow stripes and plain white leggings. Talal also wore two vambraces on each wrist and had a large belt around him. He also had a goatee and had his hair braided flat against the back of his head. He was of average height and stature.
+Talal usually carried a bow on his back, along with a quiver full of arrows. He also wore a sword sheathed in its scabbard, though he was more experienced with a bow and arrow. He wore a dark gray tunic with yellow stripes and plain white leggings. Talal also wore two vambraces on each wrist and had a large belt around him. He also had a goatee and had his hair braided flat against the back of his head. He was of average height and stature.<ref name="AC"/>
-==Final words==
-[[File:AC1 Talal memory corridor.png|thumb|250px|Talal's final moments]]
-*'''Altaïr:''' ''You've nowhere to run now. Share your secrets with me.''
-*'''Talal:''' ''My part is played. The Brotherhood is not so weak that my death will stop its work.''
-*'''Altaïr:''' ''What brotherhood?''
-*'''Talal:''' ''Al Mualim is not the only one with designs upon the Holy Land. And that's all you'll have from me.''
-*'''Altaïr:''' ''Then we are finished. Beg forgiveness from your God.''
-*'''Talal:''' ''He's long abandoned us. Long abandoned the men and women I took into my arms.''
-*'''Altaïr:''' ''What do you mean?''
-*'''Talal:''' ''Beggars, whores, addicts, lepers. Do they strike you as proper slaves? Unfit for even the most menial tasks? No. I took them not to sell, but to save! And yet you'd kill us all, for no other reason than it was asked of you.''
-*'''Altaïr:''' ''No, you profit from the war, from lives lost and broken.''
-*'''Talal:''' ''Yes, you would think that, ignorant as you are. Wall off your mind, eh? They say it's what your kind do best. Do you see the irony in all this? No, not yet it seems. But you will.''
 ==Trivia==
 *Talal was featured in the {{Wiki|Electronic Entertainment Expo|E3}} 2007 gameplay trailer, where Altaïr infiltrated the slave trader's den, before chasing and killing Talal.
-*Talal was one of the few [[assassination targets]] that could be stopped by [[vigilantes]] while escaping, the others being [[Sibrand]], [[Abu'l Nuqoud]], and [[Jubair al Hakim]].
+*Talal was one of the [[assassination targets]] that can be stopped by [[vigilantes]] while escaping, the others being [[Sibrand]], [[Abu'l Nuqoud]] and [[Jubair al Hakim]].
-*Talal's guards were still found in Jerusalem after his death.
+*Talal's guards are still found in Jerusalem after his death.
-*Talal is an Arabic name meaning "admirable" and "nice."
+*Ṭalāl (طلال) is an Arabic name meaning "admirable" and "nice".
+*In the [[Assassin's Creed (mobile game)|mobile adaptation]] of ''Assassin's Creed'', Talal's name is spelled "Tallal". Although still described as a slave master, he is portrayed without any affiliation with the Saracens, donning the heavy battle armor of the Knights Templar. Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad assassinates him by firing his crossbow at a lantern above his head, which then falls onto the puddle of oil he and two other Templars are standing on, sending them to a fiery demise.
 ==Gallery==
-<gallery widths="180" spacing="small" position="center" captionalign="center">
+<gallery captionalign="center" position="center" spacing="small" widths="180">
+Talal clothing by Michel Thibault.png|Talal's model by [[Michel Thibault]]
 AC 21.png|Talal in his warehouse
+AC1 Talal memory corridor.png|Talal's final moments
-Talal clothing by Michel Thibault.png|Talal clothing texture model by [[Michel Thibault]]
 </gallery>
 ==References==
+{{Reflist}}
-*''[[Assassin's Creed]]''
 {{AC}}
+[[de:Talal]]
+[[es:Talal]]
+[[fa:طلال]]
+[[fr:Talal]]
+[[hu:Talal]]
+[[it:Talal]]
+[[nl:Talal]]
+[[pl:Talal]]
+[[pt-br:Talal]]
+[[ru:Талал]]
+[[uk:Талал]]
+[[zh:塔拉勒]]
+[[Category:1157 births]]
+[[Category:1191 deaths]]
 [[Category:Individuals]]
-[[Category:Templars]]
+[[Category:Marksmen]]
 [[Category:Slavers]]
-[[Category:1157 births]]
+[[Category:Saracens]]
-[[Category:1191 deaths]]
+[[Category:Templar Order members]]
+[[Category:Levantine Templars]]