- "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.[src]
Talal (c. 1157 - 1191) was a slaver and a member of the Templar Order. 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]
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.
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
- "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.[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.
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.
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.
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.
Personality and characteristics
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.
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.
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.
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 could 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 is an Arabic name meaning "admirable" and "nice."
Gallery
References