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“ | Oh, my child, we've only just begun. I hold here a list. Nine names adorn it. Nine men who need to die. They are plague-bringers, war-makers. Their power and influence corrupts the land and ensures the Crusades continue. You will find them. Kill them. In doing so, you'll sow the seeds of peace. Both for the region, and for yourself. In this way you might be redeemed. | „ |
~ Al Mualim to Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad. |
“ | Impossible! The student does not defeat the teacher! | „ |
~ Al Mualim to Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad when defeated in 1191. |
Al Mualim, sometimes known as The Old Man of the Mountain or by his historical name Rashid ad-Din Sinan is main antagonist of the Middle Age Saga with the Assassin's Creed franchise.
He is one of the two main antagonists (alongside Robert de Sable) of the 2007 video game Assassin's Creed and a minor character in the 2011 sequel Assassin's Creed: Revelations, being the overarching antagonist of Altaïr's storyline.
Al Mualim initially appears as Altaïr's faithful mentor who helps him on his quest for redemption only to later reveal himself a traitor to the Assassins, having secretly aligned with the Templars and used both sides to fulfil his goals. He was the Mentor of the Assassins until he was defeated by Altaïr, who became Mentor in his place.
He was voiced by the late Peter Renaday, who also voiced Ezra in The Haunted Mansion, General Tragg, Don Turtelli and Leatherhead ("Night of the Rogues" only) in the 1987 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles cartoon, Kingpin in Spider-Man vs. The Kingpin, Sean Keanan in Dead Rising, and Sir George in Ben 10: Ultimate Alien.
Personality[]
Al Mualim is known for being a very wise and soft-spoken leader, but he can be very mysterious and unpredictable. He never talks about personal things about himself, and always changes the subject when someone asks too many questions. He teaches his students to find the inner peace, for there cannot be peace in the world when there is no peace in your mind. He always rewards loyalty and success richly, but he won't accept failure and doesn't abide traitors. He also doesn't like being lied to, especially if he has evidence to prove it. In addition, he doesn't like it if you know too much, and believes withholding information can prevent you from making the same mistakes more than once.
Throughout the game its shown that Al Mualim greatly values human freedom and peace. While knowing humanity can be manipulated by misconceptions and their fears preyed upon by the powerful, Al Mualim firmly believes people's fears can be quelled by the deaths of those who exploit them. He also commends those who are perceptive and even admires the Templars' goal but knows their methods only create further conflicts. He believes that information you learn on your own is more valuable than information given, and believes that significance doesn't come from a single act, but rather, the context of which it is performed, adding that the consequences are born from it. He also believes that leaders will do whatever it takes to have others obey them, including words, coin, and other kinds of trickery, such as bribes and threats. He believes that there can be no true peace without order, and also believes that the latter requires authority as well. In addition, he believes that those who act as a result of ignorance or fear can be saved, but contrarwise, also believes that those who suffer from corrupted wills and twisted minds must be destroyed.
During the game's climax Al Mualim displays the complete opposite views and believes humans are delusional and bloodthirsty, dismissing the Crusades' purpose and even the Assassin's mission of upholding peace by enabling freedom. For these reasons Al Mualim believes humanity needs illusions to focus their life's purpose which drove him to use the Apple of Eden effectively becoming humanity's "god", much like their Isu creators. Al Mualim also demonstrates a hypocrisy in working with the Templars only to betray and have Altaïr' kill them despite his ideology and plan being virtually the same as the Templars. He believes that the Templars don't seek the Holy Land in the name of God, but rather, only for themselves.
History[]
Assassin's Creed[]
In 1191 AD, Al Mualim sends his best Assassin, Altaïr to retrieve a treasure beneath Solomon's Temple. Altaïr fails at first, making Al Mualim very angry. However, his anger turns to fury when his fellow Assassins come back with the treasure, but heavily wounded.
Robert de Sable then attacks Masyaf, and while Al Mualim is speaking to him, Altaïr is told to set off a trap with two other Assassins, though one is injured and the second tries to heal the first's wounds, leaving Altaïr to set the trap alone. When the Templars start fleeing, Al Mualim demotes Altaïr from Master Assassin to Novice, confiscating all of his weapons.
Altaïr gets a chance to redeem himself, by interrogating a traitor and bringing him in for questioning, and by assassinating nine very important Templars: Tamir, Garnier de Naplouse, Talal, Abu'l Nuqoud, William of Montferrat, Majd Addin, Jubair al Hakim, Sibrand and Robert de Sable. As Altaïr kills each one, he will interrogate them. They however, will either mention the Apple of Eden or Al Mualim's name one way or another.
Some will have personal bodyguards, while others will not. Some will be in Damascus, while some will be in Jerusalem, and some will be in Acre. After Altaïr kills them, he will return to Masyaf, where he will report his successful assassinations. Impressed, Al Mualim will promote Altaïr with a new piece of equipment, and a rank will be restored as well. Once all targets on a list have been taken out, then a new target list will be provided. Memory Block 4 is the only time all three cities at once each have a target to eliminate.
Eventually, Al Mualim reveals to Altaïr that everyone on the list was a member of the Templar Order and orders him to kill Robert de Sable to finish it once and for all.
Altaïr assassinates everyone, but Robert de Sable reveals that Al Mualim was a Templar all along, but he didn't want to share the power of the treasure that they took from Solomon's Temple and was only using Altaïr to simply do his dirty work. This treasure was the Second Apple of Eden, which can be used to enslave mankind.
The Master vs The Apprentice[]
“ | Al Mualim: It seems then we are at an impasse. Altaïr: No! We are at an end! Al Mualim: (Sigh) I will miss you Altaïr, you were my very best student. |
„ |
~ Al Mualim and Altair before their duel to the death. Assassins Creed. |
With Robert desposed of, Altaïr rushed back to Masayaf Castle. There, he discovered that Templar Grand Master's declaration was no bluff. Every single resident of the stronghold was under a hypnotic enchantment, singing praise to "the master". As he made his way through the settlement, the brainwashed Assassins tried to stop Altaïr's advance. Fortunately, Altaïr was saved by Malik and a small group of other Assassins who were likewise free from Al Mualim's clutches. After telling his allies to keep Al Mualim's brainwashed subjects distracted, without violating the tennants of the creed, Altaïr resumed his march to the castle, intending to find and confront the traitor.
Upon reaching the fortress, Altaïr, unable to find his Mentor inside the castle made his way into the gardens. Only then did Al Mualim reveal himself. Standing on a balcony overlooking the courtyard, the traitor used the Apple to bind Altaïr in place. He attempted to taunt Altaïr, asking how he should deal with his captive but Altaïr remained defiant. Responding to Al Mualim's mockery with hatred, Altaïr demanded an explanation, asking why his Mentor had betrayed his brothers, sisters and the order they had both dedicated ther life to serving?
Looking at the Apple, Al Mualim claimed that the Templar treasure showed him that the Assassin's creed was accurate in the literal sense. Nothing was true and everything is permitted. With that, Mualim called upon the Apples power in an attempt to destroy Altaïr: -
- First, he called upon his bodyguards, ordering them to kill the "betrayer". To add insult to injury, he used the Apples power to disguise them as the nine men Altaïr had previously killed upon his order. Left with no alternative, Altaïr had no choice but to cut these men down.
- When that did not work, Al Mualim entered the garden personally, sword in hand. Although he rebuked Altaïr's claims of cowardice, this did not stop him from using another of the Apple's techniques to try and destroy his defiant student. Through the Apple's power, Al Mualim created eight copies of himself in an attempt to overwhelm and crush Altaïr. However, due to a combination of his martial skill and his eagle vision, Altaïr was able to defeat this second illusion.
Before Altaïr could land a fatal strike, Al Mualim used the Apple to once again restrain Altaïr. Here the two men engaged in a final argument, culminating in a philosophical debate. Altaïr called out Mualim's hypocrisy in labelling Robert and the others as villains, when he ultimately shared their ambition. Al Mualim was dismissive saying that he could not help it if he was greedy. Their actions coupled with Altaïr's defiance proved that free-will was a dangerous thing. Reminding him that the last man who spoke like that now lay dead on the fields of Arsuf, Altaïr then asked why Mualim did not brainwash him like he did with the other assassins?
The fallen Mentor replied that he needed Altaïr to be at his absolute best and that brainwashing him would have dampened Altaïr's skills. They might have shared similar goals but Mualim still believes that those craven Templars had to die for the good of mankind. With a heavy sigh, the Mentor confessed that he did try to brainwash Altaïr when he showed him the apple after the latter killed Majd Addin. However, Altaïr had in Al Mualim's words seen "through the illusion" and thus remained unaffected. Confused, Altaïr asked what he meant?
Al Mualim explained that the "Piece of Eden" as they called it was not just temptation made manifest, it was also the "word of God". According to Al Mualim, this "apple" was responsible for every miracle and apparition found within the three Abrahamic texts and every other religion that had existed. Upon realising this, he concluded that the "craven Gods" mentioned within these myths and legends were nothing but "phantoms" and that humanity needed a guiding hand to create a new illusion, one that did not involve pointless slaughter. Altaïr countered that this act was in itself a hypocrisy. By controling mens minds, Mualim would be denying humanity its liberty. Unlike Mualim, the Gods in the religious texts gave their followers the freedom to make their own choices (both good and ill) and believe what they wanted to believe. When Al Mualim countered that only a convert or heretic would agree with such a statement, Altaïr retorted that either way Al Mualim's were tyrannical and morally ambiguous. Disgusted, Al Mualim expressed his disappointment at Altaïr's compassion.
With that, the Mentor and his former pupil found themselves, in Mualim's words, "at an impasse". The noble warrior could not be swayed and the traitor refused to give up on his plans for world domination. Accepting the inevitable, Altaïr responded firmly that their brotherhood had ended; Mualim, just like Altaïr had compromised the three tennants of the brotherhood and must dealt with accordingly. Lamenting on how necessity would force him to kill his "best student", Mualim tucked the apple away inside his clothes and took up a fighting stance, ready to deal with Altaïr the old fashioned way.
The pair then engaged in climactic duel, with Altaïr utilising every trick Al Mualim had once taught him to try and defeat his master. Mualim himself countered this by using the Apple to teleport himself across the garden whenever Altaïr gained the upper hand. Their bout then took them across every corner of the battleground. Eventually however, in the shadow of Masayaf Castle atop the very terrace he had restrained Altaïr upon, Al Mualim was bested. Altaïr managed to land a critical hit, knocking the old man over. Before Mualim could recover, Altaïr plunged his hidden blade into the traitors neck, mortally wounding him.
Death and legacy[]
“ | Al Mualim: You have won then, go and claim your prize. Altaïr: You held fire in your hand old man, it should have been destroyed. Al Mualim: Destroy the only thing capable of ending the Crusades and creating true peace? Never! Altaïr: Then I will. Al Mualim: We'll see about that. |
„ |
~ Al Mualim accepts his defeat but stands by his convictions. Assassins Creed. |
As Altaïr lowered his dying Mentor to the ground, the Apple of Eden slipped from the latters grasp. Realising that he was dying, Mualim said that this should not be happening. Having taught Altaïr everything he knew, Mualim found it incomprehensible for a student to best their teacher. In response, Altaïr recited the Assassin Orders guiding principle "Laa shay'a waqi'un moutlaq bale kouloun moumkine" (Nothing is true. Everything is permitted). Finally recognising the true meaning of this statement, Mualim conceded, acknowledging Altaïr as the victor and telling him to take the Apple.
Seeing what the wretched artifact had done to his once noble master, Altaïr said that Mualim should have destroyed the Apple after seeing how dangerous it was. Mualim, however, remained convinced, even in his dying moments that the Apple of Eden was the solution to all of the world's conflicts. To destroy such a valuable object was impossible. When Altaïr stated that he would do what his mentor could not, Mualim just smiled and said they would see. As the former marched purposefully towards the Apple, Al Mualim recited the ecclesiastes verse on the dangers of wisdom and knowledge. As an image of the world appeared before Altaïr, Mualim told him to destroy the artifact as he had claimed he would. When Altaïr responded that he couldn't do it, Mualim responded that no, he just wouldn't do it!
With these last words Al Mualim passed away. Following his death, the Apple came into the possession Altaïr and the innocent citizens of Masayaf were freed from their late Mentor's brainwashing. After Mualim was defeated, Altaïr burned his mentor's body since he wanted to make sure it wasn't another illusion from the Apple.
Assassin's Creed: Revelations[]
Mualim appears in Altaïr's memories that were relived by Ezio Auditore da Firenze, who was able to do so by coming into contact with the Masyaf keys. In the first memory, Mualim is seen being held hostage by Haras, a former assassin who became disillusioned with the order and defected to the Templars. The mentor was saved by Altaïr, and Mualim told him that he was very proud of what his apprentice had become. Though Mualim doesn't appear onward, his actions greatly effected the brotherhood, who initially refused to believe that their mentor betrayed them. Additionally, he also caused the fall of Abbas Sofian, since he kept the circumstances of his father's death a secret. As a result, Abbas usurped Altaïr as the mentor of the brotherhood, and several assassins justified Abbas' fall by telling of Mualim's treachery.
Abilities and Equipment[]
- Master Combatant: Despite his age, Al Mualim proved himself a formidable warrior, able to battle Altair to a near match, only losing due to his former student's sharp senses and immense willpower.
- Swordsmanship: During his battle with Altaïr, he showed great swordsmanship skills, despite his much elderly age.
- Leadership: He was the Mentor of the Assassins in Syria and was a very wise and extremely capable leader.
- Resources: As the head of the Assassins, he had access to all of the organization's resources.
- Apple of Eden: Al Mualim greatly desired the treasure of Solomon's temple, which was an Apple of Eden. With the Apple, he has access to certain supernatural powers.
- Mind Control: He was able to mesmerize the entire city of Masyaf into his loyal minions. However, beings of Isu heritage, such as Altaïr are immune to its mind control effects.
- Telekinesis: He was able to physically control Altair and even restrain him.
- Illusion Conjuration: He is able to generate illusions to make himself disappear by mask his true presence.
- Apparitions Conjuring: He can create several solid apparitions of himself in order to attack his opponent, including copies of the nine men he ordered Altaïr to assassinate.
Trivia[]
- Al Mualim is based upon the historical Hashashin leader Rashid ad-Din Sinan (c1131 - 1193 AD), who led the historical order during the closing years of the 12th centuary. Although very little is known about the man himself, elements of his legend/history are presented within the game and books:-
- Sinan did lead the historical Hashashin during the Third Crusade, although there is no indication that either he or his order came into conflict with the Assassin's in-game enemies, the Templars.
- Just like in the games tie-in novel, Secret Crusade, the Hashashin did face siege at the hands of Saladin, the leader of the Muslim armies in the years prior to the Third Crusade. However, the legendary warrior eventually withdrew in peace, allegedly due to Sinan's clever use of scare tactics, similar to those presented within the Assassin's Creed games. According to the legend, when Saladin began the siege of Masayaf Castle, Sinan (like Mualim in the game) had a member of his order jump from the top of the castle to demonstrate that his men were not afraid of death. Unlike in the game, the historical assassin did not survive. Later, Sinan himself crept through the camp undetected and entered the Sultan's tent, leaving behind a note, a set of freshly baked scones and a dagger. When the Muslim leader subsequently met with an Hashashin emissary, the latter revealed that Saladin's most loyal bodyguards were in fact sleeper agents planted within his army years earlier by Sinan. This prompted Saladin to forge an alliance with the Hashashin rather than destroy them.
- Lastly, in the game Al Mualim ordered Altaïr to kill the historical crusader William de Montferrat. In real life, Sinan ordered the death of William's son, Conrad, the new King of Jerusalem in 1191. Historians still argue as to whether Sinan acted independently, or upon the suggestion/order of Conrad's enemies which include King Richard I of England and Saladin.
- As of 2024, Al Mualim is the only Assassin within the Assassin's Creed franchise whose historical counterpart was both a member and leader of the real life Hashashin order.
- Al Mualim is among the few Assassins/Hidden Ones who served as the main antagonists of their respective games. The others were Achilles Davenport and Basim Ibn Ishaq.
- Due to an animaton error in the original Assassin's Creed game, Al Mualim, like every other Assassin besides Altaïr was depicted as having ten fingers. This was fixed in Assassin's Creed Revelations were all of the Assassins from Altaïr's time, including Mualim, were shown to have sacrificed their ring fingers.
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Villains | ||
Isu Proto-Templar Organizations Cult of Kosmos (Peloponnesian War) Order of the Ancients
Knight Templars Mongolian Templars Egyptian Templars Italian Templars Spanish Templars Byzantine Templars Chinese Templars Japanese Templars Caribbean Templars
Portuguese Templars Louisiana Templars Colonial Templars/American Templars British Templars Parisian Templars Austrian Templars Russian Templars German Templars 21st Century Templars (Abstergo Industries, mainly)
Assassin Brotherhood & Their Allies Bellatores Dei Girolamo Savonarola's forces The Tyranny of King Washington Xiongnu Jack the Ripper Mythological Creatures Miscellaneous |