Cearbhail: So, here we are. Another new story. You'll have to bare with me, I'm not good with history or making fun of it. Well, I am getting pretty good at making fun of stuff so I won't have a problem on that front, but history and stuff in Assassin's Creed... we'll see. I'm sure everyone will correct me if I'm wrong on something. A lot of history buffs, I'm sure.

Anyway, try to enjoy the New Assassin's Den and let me know if you enjoy the ride. It might be a long one.


...

[Malik Ishtar]

Ok, so, I'm an Assassin. I'm eighteen, the age that is required to become a full Assassin. Well, not an Assassin like Altair, but you know, a standard Assassin. My name is Malik Ishtar, not to be mistaken with Marik, the man who brought back the treasure to our Master. No, I'm a new Assassin, just given my pure white robes with overly-long tails that I accidentally step on from time-to-time. And I have a bright red sash that I hang my many throwing knives on. Everyone knows I'm around when I walk now. Before I was wearing the standard initiate robes that were shorter and blander, but now I have the new robes. I'm an Assassin.

So, I'm a bit of a klutz. I've been told that if I was handed a sword that I'd fall on it. Well…there was a battle recently and I hate to say it but…

"So, how's the wound?" The herbalist asked as she started pushing green mulch into the hole in my side.

I felt a sharp tang of pain and I tasted iron in my mouth. Some things never change: like just how bad a stab to the side feels. Yes, I was stabbed, as were many Assassins during the battle caused by our greatest Assassin, Altair. I guess even he can make mistakes because if he hadn't messed up his mission, I would not be in the herbalist's home receiving a cure-all potion. The wounded from the battle filled the whole room, barely leaving any lying space. We found a way to squeeze in here, at least. I feel sorry for the other Assassins. I made it out with a hole in the side of my abdominals; mostly everyone else had a limb lobbed off, or worse. I won't mention the dead littering the streets still. We've only just gotten the battle over with.

Not that I have any disrespect for Altair. I mean, he only disgraced our order, broke our rules, and then led the Templars right to our doorstep. When they did show up on our doorstep, I was one of the first ones out. You see, I'm a new Assassin, just promoted. I was at the top of my class, if not for a few mistakes where I slipped and lit the courtyard on fire. Or the time the chickens ran into the Master's study. I…I don't want to remember those days. I'm a new man, a strong man. No more mistakes. Well, that was the goal anyway.

I only lasted maybe ten Templars before my foot caught on one of my long robe-tails. When I fell down, I didn't even have to be stabbed by the enemy. I landed on one of their stupid swords. I think the Templars actually paused just to gawk at me before the great and powerful Altair just happened to leap off a building, landing on six Templars, killing all of them with the slightest of ease. I mean, we all can't be the great and powerful Altair. Some of us have to actually try.

Not to sound spiteful, I had great respect for Altair. He was my role model for a while until he started going through his rebellious 'I'm going to do it my way' phase. I mean, I remember when I was a child that he used to teach me what it meant to be an Assassin. Now, who do I have to look up to? Well, right now I'm looking up at the herbalist, who's still rubbing a healing salve in my stomach hole.

"It looks like it might be infected, but other than that, you look just fine." She told me as she started wrapping up my side with a thin cloth. She patted me on my wound, smiling wickedly. "I heard you were the first one out there. So, what happened?"

One of the older Assassins turned to look over at us. "He fell on his sword!" He replied through his wrapped-up face. I mean, seriously, his entire head was wrapped up in cloth.

The herbalist looked down at me and I could see that she was trying to hide a growing smile. She wanted to laugh at me. "Hey!" I said as I tried to stand up. "I was doing just fine until that moment."

The Assassin nodded his head, "Sure thing, kid. We've all been there. I remember Altair accidentally let all the carrier pigeons out of their cages during his mission-reporting class. It took us days to get all those pigeons back."

Another Assassin with a leg that was broken looked up at me. "Yeah, kid. We've all been there. Heck, I landed perfectly in a pale of hay but…" He gestured down at his leg. "shit happens."

"Excuse me, herbalist. Are there any Assassins in here in capable condition?" Someone asked at the door.

She looked around the room. Most of us looked more incapable than corpses. When she finally found me, she smiled and pointed at me. "The new guy's fine. He only fell on his sword."

"Another one? What did he do, step on his robe-tails?" The man asked.

She nodded. "Yes."

The man walked into the room, and I noticed it was the Master, Al Mualim.

I pushed myself to my feet, but the Master just waved me back down. "Assassin, do not stand; just listen. I have sent an Assassin out to the field to drive back the Templars. I feel that another Assassin will prove most valuable, but I do not wish to send out my most highly skilled, so I feel it is time to give you a proper test of your ability."

"Master, I am honored, but I was only promoted a week ago." I started to protest. Was I refusing an order from the Master? I would be lucky to be alive in the next few seconds.

The Master did not seem to mind, but I could see the slight humor in his eyes. "I understand your hesitation, and this assignment will not be easy. I would like to discuss the details with you in my study. Once we are there, I'll present you with your new gear and your mission." He turned to leave and then looked back at me. "Report to me once you feel you are able, Assassin. You are…Marik Ishtar, right?"

I nodded. "Yes, Master. I am Malik Ishtar."

He only nodded to me before turning to leave. "I will be in my study. Please do not dolly." He confidently strode out of the herbalist's home, leaving me to the herbalist and the other Assassins.

The Assassin with his entire head wrapped, turned to look in my direction. "You get an assignment from the Master after your first battle? Congratulations, kid. The Master must really believe in you."

I looked over at him and shook my head. "I'm a klutz, I don't think he'd select me because he believes in me."

He only shrugged back. "Why else would he give you an assignment?"

[Al Mualim]

I quickly made my way back to my study, making slight detours to make plans for the dead. I tasked some of the Assassin Guards to handle the cleanup. I had a lot to do and little time to do it in. Altair was already on his way to deal with the other Templars that know about the Apple. Once he's done with his work, I'll be the only one that knows about its fully potential. Unfortunately, there are still many Templars too close. I need to thin the herd a bit. If I send an Assassin to King Richard's kingdom and he makes chaos for his backup…I'll be sure to split some of Richard's forces up. Maybe make them look behind themselves long enough for me to get Altair someplace useful.

Unfortunately, that Assassin is very likely to die and I do not waste my Assassins so uselessly. So, I needed someone I don't like, and that new Assassin ruined my study several times with chickens. I lost some of my favorite texts because chicken crap. He's a pathetic example of an Assassin and he creates chaos wherever he goes. I'm sure that by sending him to England to mess with Richard's throne, he will take some of that chaos with him. Better than leaving him here, making our lives worse. No, I feel that this is the right move. Perhaps he will mature into a responsible Assassin and come back a hero. Or maybe he'll die. Either way, this is only a diversion so Altair can play his role quicker.

So, in my study I waited for him to come in. I waited all day. I finally saw him through my stained glass window as he limped up the hillside to enter the training yard. The sun was now setting. I wanted him to arrive maybe a few hours earlier, but I'll take what I can get.

I seated myself down as I watched my new Assassin walk up the staircase carefully hugging his side. I began to wonder if I was perhaps doing the right thing. This Assassin does need a proper test of his skill and I do want him out of this town so that he won't cause more problems for us, but at the same time, he might not be ready for such a task, even if it's basically a diversionary tactic.

The Assassin stopped in front of my desk, bowing his head to me. "You wished to speak to me, Master?"

I took in a deep breath before I said anything. I had to think about this, but there wasn't much more to consider. Too much was at stake. If Altair failed, if Richard's army continued marching in, my rule would fall and our way of life would die with us. This was the only option.

"I have mentioned that I have an assignment for you. A test…of your abilities." I started. I stood up from my desk, searching his eyes. He looked ready, if not a little sore. "King Richard is pressing into our kingdom, and he threatens to overrun us. I already have one of my most trusted Assassins out taking care of personal matters that will prove effective in removing him, but I still need another Assassin to force Richard to sweat. So, here's what I want. I want you to travel to England, to the town of Nottingham and create as much mischievous as you can. King Richard's replacement is in that town. I do not want you to assassinate him, but to keep him busy. I want you to distract the entire country of England as well as you can."

He looked as shocked as I could have imagined. "You want me…only me…to go to England and fight the infidels?"

I nodded. "You know how to sabotage, correct? You go to the body and you start lobbing off limbs until all that's left is the head. I do not want you to cut off the head; only wound the head's body. Besides, you won't be alone. I want you to start up a new Assassin Den in Nottingham while you're there. If you recruit some new members and teach them the ways of the Assassin, I'm sure you will be just fine."

And I meant that. It was a solid tactic we had used for centuries. We send one Assassin to a town, and he secretly increases our numbers while slowly bringing the town to our rule. If I sent a whole group of Assassins inside Nottingham to set up a base, they'd be found out. If I sent in one and recruited citizens of that town to our cause, it would be much more inconspicuous.

He finally started nodding. He bowed his head to me, saying, "Yes, of course, Master. I will obey."

I nodded in return. "Send me updates on your progress. I expect you to send your reports weakly or immediately if something important happens."

He bowed his head to me again, saying, "Yes, Master. I shall begin at once."

I shook my head and gestured to my table. "You have not taken up your new tools. England was some special weapons that you could take advantage of. The crossbow being one of them."

He looked down at the crossbow lying on my table. I had taken it off of one of the dead Templar soldiers that died under Altair's log ambush. I did not believe in using the enemy's weapons, but I'm sure my new Assassin could use every edge he could use. "Remember to take your robe off while you travel. I doubt many people in England will be dressed in a long white robe with a pronounced hood. You will stick out like a crow in a pigeon coup."


Cearbhail: So, the first chapter is finished. Not exactly the best opening I've ever done, but I feel it gets the job done. Expect some of the craziest stuff I can imagine in this story, while still competing with a halfway decent storyline filled with parody humor that exploits some Assassins Creed stuff. I'm going to have fun with this.