Editing Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad (section)

===Third Crusade===

====Confrontation in the Jerusalem Vault====
By the next year, the Holy Land was engulfed in conflict. In July 1191, Altaïr, along with his comrades Malik and Kadar Al-Sayf, was ordered to recover an artifact from the Templars in the Jerusalem Vault beneath the ruins of Solomon's Temple. As they navigated the catacombs, Altaïr violated the first tenet of the Assassins' Creed by killing an innocent man who blocked their path. Malik reprimanded Altaïr for his recklessness, but Altaïr arrogantly dismissed his concerns.

Upon encountering [[Robert de Sablé]], the Order's archenemy, Altaïr violated the second tenet by confronting him directly. Attempting to slay the Grand Master openly, he was swiftly defeated and thrown out of the temple, leaving Malik and Kadar behind with the Templars. Altaïr escaped and returned to Masyaf to report his failure to Al Mualim.

====Siege of Masyaf====
Arriving in Masyaf, Altaïr was welcomed by Rauf, who informed him that Al Mualim was awaiting his report. At the fortress gates, he exchanged insults with Abbas before proceeding to the Mentor's study, where he confessed his failure to retrieve the Templar treasure. Soon after, Malik returned with the artifact, injured and furious, blaming Altaïr for Kadar's death. Before they could confront each other further, news arrived that Masyaf was under siege.

Altaïr joined other Assassins in defending the village, successfully buying time for the villagers to flee to the fortress. However, they were soon overwhelmed, and Altaïr decided to retreat rather than fight to the death. With Al Mualim creating a diversion, Altaïr, Rauf, and another Assassin performed a Leap of Faith from the citadel tower, sneaking behind enemy lines and using a felled log trap to crush the Templar forces, forcing them to retreat from Masyaf.

Following the attack, Altaïr's actions at Solomon's Temple were scrutinized once more. Having broken all three tenets of the Creed and endangered the Brotherhood, Altaïr was declared a traitor. Al Mualim publicly sentenced him by stabbing him in the stomach with his personal jambiya.

====Hunt for the Nine====
Altaïr awoke from what he believed was death, questioning Al Mualim about his survival. The Mentor revealed that Altaïr had seen only what he was meant to see, stripped him of his rank and possessions, and offered him a chance at redemption by hunting down a traitor within Masyaf who had allowed the Templars entry.

Upon successfully completing the task, Altaïr returned to Al Mualim and had his Hidden Blade and sword restored. As a reinitiated member of the Order, he was given a new mission: to assassinate nine targets across the ranks of both Saracens and Crusaders, their lives exchanged for his own.

Altaïr's first target, Tamir, was in Damascus. After gathering information and receiving permission for the kill, Altaïr assassinated Tamir in a market plaza. Upon his return, Al Mualim rewarded him with another piece of his equipment and sent him to Acre and Jerusalem to pursue his next targets.

In Acre, Altaïr tracked Garnier de Naplouse, Grand Master of the Knights Hospitalier, to a hospital where he was experimenting on captives. Altaïr infiltrated the hospital and killed Garnier, who revealed his use of the Apple of Eden for experiments, causing Altaïr to reconsider his views.

In Jerusalem, Altaïr met Malik, now the bureau leader, and pursued Talal, a slave trader. After being ambushed by Talal's followers, Altaïr chased him through the city, finally killing him. Altaïr's unsubtle approach drew criticism from Malik, but he was nonetheless rewarded upon his return to Al Mualim.

Altaïr's next target was Abu'l Nuqoud, the "Merchant King" of Damascus. After gaining access to a party at the merchant's palace, Altaïr witnessed Abu'l poisoning the guests. Altaïr pursued and assassinated him, escaping the city afterward.

Continuing his mission, Altaïr targeted William of Montferrat in Acre and Majd Addin in Jerusalem, killing both and earning more of his equipment back from Al Mualim.

Altaïr's next target, Sibrand, was the paranoid Grand Master of the Knights Teutonic in Acre. Altaïr infiltrated the city's docks, boarded Sibrand's ship, and assassinated him, learning that Sibrand doubted faith and feared death.

Back in Damascus, Altaïr's eighth target, Jubair al Hakim, was burning books to erase history. Using information from previous investigations, Altaïr identified and assassinated Jubair, escaping the city guards to report his success.

With one target remaining, Altaïr discussed his mission to assassinate Robert de Sablé, Grand Master of the Knights Templar, with Al Mualim. Realizing that de Sablé sought to control others through the Piece of Eden, Altaïr resolved to stop him and set out for Jerusalem.

In Jerusalem, Altaïr infiltrated the funeral of Majd Addin but was ambushed by the Templars, realizing too late that Robert de Sablé was using a decoy to buy time. He spared the decoy's life and returned to the bureau to report to Malik. Despite Malik's suggestion to return to Masyaf, Altaïr insisted they were running out of time to stop de Sablé, accusing Malik of avoiding the truth. Altaïr then departed for Arsuf to confront the Grand Master.

====Battle of Arsuf====
By the time Altaïr reached Arsuf, the battle between the Crusader and Saracen forces was already underway. Fighting through the chaos, Altaïr reached King Richard's camp and was accused of intending to assassinate the king. Altaïr denied the charge and revealed Robert de Sablé's treachery. Despite Robert's denial, Richard remained unconvinced.

To resolve the matter, Richard ordered a trial by combat between Altaïr and Robert to determine the truth. Altaïr fought and defeated Robert, fatally striking him in the throat. As he lay dying, Robert revealed that Al Mualim was actually a Templar, using Altaïr as an unwitting pawn in his quest for the Apple of Eden. King Richard congratulated Altaïr on his victory, and after a brief discussion on peace, allowed him to leave Arsuf. Altaïr then returned to Masyaf to confront Al Mualim and uncover the truth.

====Retaking of Masyaf====
Upon arriving at Masyaf, Altaïr found the villagers in a trance, declaring that Al Mualim had "led [them] to the light." As he made his way up the hill toward the fortress, Altaïr encountered a group of hypnotized Assassins who attacked him. Left with no other choice, he fought and killed them. A second wave of Assassins soon followed, threatening to overwhelm him.

Fortunately, Malik and several unaffected Assassins arrived, throwing knives at the attackers and driving them away. Altaïr then asked Malik to distract the hypnotized Assassins outside the fortress, giving him a chance to confront Al Mualim. Malik agreed and departed with his men, while Altaïr proceeded to infiltrate the fortress.

Within the fortress garden known as "Paradise," Altaïr was caught in the grip of the Apple's power. Demanding answers from Al Mualim, who stood on a balcony above, Altaïr learned that Al Mualim had used the Apple to end the Crusades by controlling the minds of its leaders and ensuring absolute peace through obedience.

Al Mualim then created illusions of the nine Templars Altaïr had previously killed, forcing him to fight them once again. After defeating the illusions, Altaïr was again restrained by the Apple's power. Al Mualim then created multiple copies of himself, engaging Altaïr in a second battle. After narrowly overcoming the illusions, Altaïr confronted his Master one last time.

Al Mualim confessed that, like Robert, he sought peace, but wanted the Apple for himself. He revealed that the Piece of Eden had been responsible for the miracles in myths and legends, explaining that they were merely illusions. Al Mualim argued that his plan to create a New World Order was a better illusion, free from bloodshed. Altaïr countered that while people chose their beliefs, Al Mualim's vision stripped them of choice. Al Mualim dismissed this argument as emotional rather than logical.

Seeing no resolution, Al Mualim released Altaïr from the Apple's grip, resigned to the fact that Altaïr would not join him. They engaged in a final duel to the death.

After a fierce battle, Altaïr defeated Al Mualim, mortally wounding him with his Hidden Blade. As Al Mualim died, he challenged Altaïr to prove his strength of character by destroying the Apple. The Piece of Eden rolled from Al Mualim's hand and activated, projecting a vast holographic map showing the locations of other Pieces of Eden around the world. Malik and his men joined Altaïr, and together they stared at the map, contemplating their next steps.