Editing Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad (section)

===Liberating Cyprus===

====Attack on Acre's Harbor:====
One month after Al Mualim's death, the Templars had consolidated their forces in Acre harbor. Altaïr decided to launch an attack but found the harbor empty upon arrival; the Templars had already evacuated. While investigating, he spotted the woman who had impersonated Robert de Sablé at Majd Addin's funeral, arguing with two soldiers.

Eavesdropping, Altaïr discovered that the Templars had retreated to Cyprus under the leadership of Armand Bouchart, and that the woman, [[Maria Thorpe|Maria]], had fallen out of favor with them following Robert's death. After the soldiers left, Altaïr attempted to speak with Maria, who attacked him. Though she initially gained the upper hand, Altaïr defeated and captured her, forcing her to accompany him to Cyprus.

Altaïr temporarily abdicated control of the Order, stating that he had "built this Brotherhood to last." Arriving in Limassol, Cyprus, he established contact with Alexander, the leader of the local Resistance against the Templars. Alexander became Altaïr's main ally, taking Maria under his protection.

====Infiltrating Limassol Castle:====
Altaïr met Alexander at the Resistance safe house, learning that the Templars were based in Limassol Castle. Alexander suggested Altaïr assassinate the castle guard's Captain, who would likely be replaced by Osman, a Templar turncoat friendly to the Resistance. Altaïr was instructed to use a coded phrase to identify himself to Osman.

After killing the Captain, Altaïr met Osman and delivered the phrase. Osman informed him about a Templar archive in Cyprus and revealed that the ranking Templar in Limassol was Frederick the Red. Later, Osman managed to reduce the castle guard temporarily, allowing Altaïr to infiltrate the castle and kill Frederick.

Upon returning to the Resistance safe house, Altaïr found it under attack by Templar soldiers and set aflame. He fought off the attackers but found no survivors inside. He then moved to the Limassol cathedral, where he found Armand Bouchart giving a speech about Frederick's death.

Altaïr watched as Bouchart threatened the Cypriots to expose Frederick's murderer, then killed Osman when he advised caution. Maria appeared, warning Bouchart of Altaïr's presence, but he refused to trust her, blaming her for Robert de Sablé's death and ordering her imprisonment.

Altaïr managed to rescue Maria, who, furious at her situation, vowed to kill him when she got the chance. Altaïr, however, pointed out that she would gain more favor with the Templars by returning the Apple rather than seeking his revenge. Realizing the truth in his words, Maria agreed, and Altaïr escorted her to Limassol Port.

There, Alexander informed Altaïr that Bouchart, taking Maria's warning seriously, had fled to Kyrenia. He advised Altaïr to seek help from a sailor named Pasha to find passage to the city.

Speaking with Pasha, Altaïr learned that the Templars were rumored to be transporting artifacts to Kyrenia. He infiltrated the last ship docked in the port to check its shipping manifest, then returned to Alexander, who instructed him to locate a Resistance contact named Barnabas once he arrived in Kyrenia. With this information, Altaïr and Maria set off for the city.

While traveling, Altaïr found shelter in the ship’s hold and questioned Maria about her life, learning about her English upbringing and previous marriage before she joined the Crusades. He also tried to discuss his Assassin beliefs with her, but with little success.

====Kyrenia====
Upon arriving in Kyrenia, Altaïr freed Maria from her bindings so she could climb out of the hold. Pirates nearby recognized Altaïr and tried to capture them. Seizing the opportunity, Maria kicked Altaïr off the ladder and escaped. Altaïr managed to evade the pirates and found Maria being rescued by Resistance soldiers. He then met the Resistance leader, Markos, who agreed to watch over Maria while Altaïr visited the Resistance safe house.

Altaïr proceeded further into the city, where he met Barnabas at the safe house. After explaining his mission to eliminate Armand Bouchart, Barnabas suggested that Bouchart was likely at Buffavento Castle, a Templar stronghold. Barnabas offered to help Altaïr enter the castle in exchange for the head of a Resistance traitor named Jonas.

Altaïr located Jonas, who warned that "The Bull" was after them. Despite the warning, Altaïr killed Jonas and returned to the harbor. There, he found Maria and Markos under attack by guards and managed to rescue them. Altaïr warned Maria of the bounty on their heads and mentioned "The Bull," a pseudonym she recognized as belonging to a man named Moloch. Realizing the danger of traveling together, Altaïr instructed Markos to take Maria and meet him later at the safe house.

Altaïr met with Barnabas again, who revealed that Jonas' death had incited riots in the city, which Moloch might use to turn public opinion against the Resistance. With new Resistance members expected at the safe house, Altaïr left to quell the riots.

====Infiltrating Kantara Castle====
Infiltrating Kantara Castle, where Moloch was rumored to be, Altaïr scaled the walls and entered through the roof. He found Moloch at a brazier and attempted to assassinate him. Moloch, however, detected him and fought back. Utilizing Moloch's size, Altaïr used the man’s own chain to strangle him. As Moloch died, he ominously predicted that his influence would extend beyond the Templars and Assassins.

Altaïr then evaded Templar guards and Moloch's followers, reaching the top of the castle. Surrounded, he fought off the attackers and threw two fanatics over the edge before performing a backward Leap of Faith into a hay bale and returning to the safe house.

====Aiding the Resistance====
When Altaïr arrived at the safe house, Markos informed him that the Templars had attacked in his absence, capturing Maria and several Resistance members. Markos suspected that the Dark Oracle might have revealed the safe house's location to the Templars. However, Altaïr speculated that Barnabas might have been the traitor. Markos was shocked and revealed that Barnabas had been executed the day before Altaïr's arrival in Kyrenia.

With the Resistance members' executions imminent, Markos asked Altaïr to rescue them. Altaïr agreed and began scouting the city, taking out guards and freeing several Resistance members. He then returned to the safe house and reported to Markos, who informed him that the remaining prisoners were either at the harbor or Buffavento Castle.

Altaïr first went to the harbor, where he followed a prison guard to a secluded spot and neutralized him. He then posed as a drunkard to deceive another guard into revealing the location of the captured Resistance members and the key to their prison. Altaïr infiltrated the Templar outpost, retrieved the keys, and freed the prisoners, asking if a woman had been among them.

One of the freed prisoners confirmed that Maria had been captured with them but had been taken away by Moloch's son, Shalim. Altaïr fought off attacking Templars at the harbor and then returned to the safe house.

====Infiltrating the Buffavento Castle====
Suspecting that the real Barnabas had revealed too much about the Resistance under torture, Altaïr went to Buffavento Castle to confront the Dark Oracle. He infiltrated the fortress at dusk, making his way through the dungeons and quietly eliminating any guards he encountered.

Altaïr eventually found Shalim and Armand Bouchart, overhearing Armand chastising Shalim for letting Maria escape. As Shalim vowed to find her, Armand handed him a package and ordered it delivered to Alexander in Limassol. Altaïr was shocked and realized that Alexander must be a Templar spy.

Continuing deeper into the castle, Altaïr defeated the master interrogator and his guards to obtain a key to the dungeon. He saw Bouchart leave the Oracle's cells and entered them himself. The Oracle and several deranged prisoners attacked him with frantic aggression, but Altaïr managed to defeat them and corner the Oracle. He tried to provoke her into revealing how she lost her sanity, but she only responded with incoherent ramblings about being an "instrument of God." Deciding to end her suffering, Altaïr killed her with his blade and escaped the fortress.

====Liberating Kyrenia====
Altaïr returned to the safe house and questioned Markos about Shalim. Markos revealed that Shalim was not as committed to the Templar cause as his father and arranged a meeting with Altaïr in the Market district to exchange any new information. While searching for Shalim, Altaïr witnessed him mistreating and robbing civilians before heading to a brothel, where he violently attacked both a patron and a courtesan. Shalim then ordered his men to continue the abuse and left them to terrorize the city's residents further.

Altaïr eliminated all of Shalim's henchmen throughout the city before meeting with Markos. He reported Shalim's erratic and brutal behavior. Markos suggested that Altaïr consult a monk at a local church, who might provide insight into Shalim and the Templar Archive. When Altaïr met with the scholar, he inquired about Shalim’s behavior and the Archive. The scholar proposed a private conversation, but as they were about to leave, a pallet of materials fell on the monk, killing him. Altaïr saw a masked Templar fleeing the scene and pursued him across the rooftops, but the assassin managed to escape.

Returning to the safe house, Altaïr was directed to the harbor, where Shalim frequently visited when ships arrived with consorts. There, he saw a palanquin carrying female dancers, including Maria. Realizing that the Templars might try to inspect the palanquin and recognize Maria, Altaïr dispatched soldiers to monitor its movement. He then leaped onto the roof of the palanquin as it passed through the city walls and moved to a nearby building to watch Maria's destination.

====Infiltrating the Saint Hilarion Castle====
At Saint Hilarion Castle, Altaïr watched as Maria entered the building from a carriage. He scaled the walls, eliminating any guards he encountered, and eventually found Shalim in his quarters. Maria was in a heated argument with Shalim, who quickly grew aggressive. Altaïr called out to Shalim, but the Templar revealed himself to be Shahar, Shalim’s twin, the same man Altaïr had seen addressing civilians. Shalim arrived shortly after, and the twins prepared to confront Altaïr and Maria. Maria fled the scene, leaving Altaïr to fight the twins alone. After a fierce battle, Altaïr emerged victorious, killing both twins.

Upon returning to the safe house, Altaïr was informed by Markos that the Templars had left Kyrenia. Concluding that the Templar Archive was still elsewhere, Altaïr learned that the ships had headed to Limassol. He bid Markos farewell, acknowledging his service to the country, and departed for Limassol.

====Routing the Templars====
In Limassol, Altaïr arrived at the new safe house to find Alexander accusing him of treachery. Altaïr, who had suspected Alexander’s loyalty, asked if he had received a package from the Templars. Alexander confirmed he had received a package containing the head of someone he claimed was Barnabas. Altaïr identified the head as belonging to a different man, realizing that the real Barnabas had been replaced by a Templar spy. Alexander revealed that the Templars had used similar tactics in Limassol, turning Resistance members with propaganda.

Altaïr took action against the Templars, noticing one of their contacts at the harbor consorting with pirates and Crusaders. He followed the contact, posing as a messenger for Bouchart, to gather information on the Grand Master’s location. The contact directed Altaïr to the Cathedral after admitting he could not answer his question. Altaïr intercepted a Templar sergeant at the Cathedral, who directed him to a merchant named Demetris.

Altaïr stealthily entered Demetris’ home from the rooftop, but before he could gather more information, Demetris was killed by a throwing knife from above. Altaïr attempted to pursue the Templar agent but lost him. Returning to the safe house, Altaïr found it abandoned and discovered a note from Alexander asking him to meet at the Limassol castle courtyard. He went to the courtyard and found Alexander's body. The Templar agent mocked him from a balcony, and an angry mob entered, accusing Altaïr of Alexander’s murder. Unable to pacify them through reason, Altaïr used the Apple to sway the mob, directing their anger towards Bouchart and the Templars. The mob dispersed to rally against the Templars.

The Templar agent, mocking Altaïr and threatening to steal the Apple, was suddenly killed from behind and thrown off the balcony. Maria then appeared, revealing that they were directly above the Templar Archive. As they prepared to enter, Templars attacked. Maria retreated inside the Archive while Altaïr fought off the attackers. After clearing the way, Altaïr entered the Archive, dispatching any remaining guards.

====Confronting Armand Bouchart====
Deep within the Templar Archive, Altaïr witnessed a duel between Maria and Bouchart, ending with Maria being knocked unconscious. As Altaïr rushed to help her, Bouchart explained that the Archive had nearly been exposed due to Isaac Comnenus. The Templars had managed to redirect attention by purchasing Cyprus from King Richard. He also revealed that the contents of the Archive had been moved while Altaïr was in Kyrenia, before drawing his sword and engaging in combat.

The duel between Bouchart and Altaïr was intense, with both demonstrating great skill. Altaïr eventually gained the upper hand, dodged Bouchart's attack, and impaled him. As Bouchart lay dying, he praised Altaïr's skill and warned that the Assassin would eventually come to the same conclusions as the Templars if he kept the Apple close.

With Bouchart dead, Altaïr tended to Maria as she regained consciousness. The Archive began to collapse as the Templars shelled the structure to erase all evidence of its existence. Altaïr and Maria worked together to navigate the crumbling Archive and escape.

Near the harbor, Maria confirmed her decision to retire from the Templar Order and head East rather than return to England. When asked about his own plans, Altaïr mentioned his "ruinous curiosity" and desire to travel the world to learn more and expand the Assassin Order. He also expressed a wish to use the Apple, acknowledging Maria's warning but believing the artifact could be used for good. Altaïr decided to travel East as well, leaving Cyprus with Maria by his side.