- “You must now report to each Bureau leader before carrying out your task.”
- ―Al Mualim.[来源]
The interior of the Damascus Assassin bureau
An Assassin bureau was an Assassin-controlled safehouse located in cities during the Third Crusade. It served as a safe haven for Assassins during assassination missions, and were similar to the Resistance safehouses found in Cyprus.
A Bureau could be found in Acre, Damascus, and Jerusalem.
Function
The Bureau acted as a sanctuary for members of the Assassin Order, where they could physically and mentally prepare themselves for a mission, allowing them to restock on weapons, sleep or meditate. It also allowed them a place to wait for the appropriate moment to strike, or for the dust to settle after an assassination.
Inside each Bureau resided a Bureau leader, who held either the rank of Rafiq or higher. They would often give Assassins useful information on where to learn more about assassination targets. Once the strike had been planned and approved by the Bureau leader, an Assassin was given a feather to soak in the blood of his target as proof of his success.
Building
The Bureau's main chamber
The exterior of the building was quite discreet, resembling that of common construction, although it did not have any obvious windows or doors.
The entrance was located on the roof, which could be reached by either climbing the walls or via a ladder located in an entry alley. This was likely as a measure to prevent curious civilians (or more importantly, the city guards), from stumbling upon it.
Main chamber
The main chamber served as the entrance hall to the Bureau, and was a small living area comprised of two fountains, potted plants and several pillows and carpets. This place was intended as a location for Assassins to rest before and after assassinations.
The walls were decorated with hanging carpets and the Assassin insignia, while the ceiling was grated with an opening that acted as an entrance into the Bureau. When the city guards were on alert, the opening was closed with a grated panel.
Leader's chamber
The Bureau leader's chamber
The Bureau leader's chamber was adjacent to the main chamber. From behind a desk, the leader addressed those who would come to speak with him, while also studying and attending to the Assassin Order's operations in that respective city.
Behind the desk were bookshelves and closets, where registries of missions were kept. The books and scrolls the leader has access to were also located in this area.
Across the room, a raised walkway held weapons, books, and other items that could assist Assassins in their missions.
Trivia
- Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad may return to the Bureau any time to restock on throwing knives.
- The Bureau's entrance will be closed when social status is exposed to prevent guards from discovering the Bureau and subsequently violating a tenet of the Creed.
- The Acre Bureau is lined with books, while the Damascus Bureau is lined with pottery.
- There is a chess board inside the Assassins' Bureau of Damascus.
Reference
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