First, there was Altaïr, providing lessons of peace and reason to the Brotherhood based off of his experience with the apple and all its unnerving power. Next, the individualist; Ezio Auditore, who challenged the Brotherhood and sought to tell others of how they could be independent and choose their own paths. Connor then taught how to not let emotions rewrite facts. His father was a Templar, he was an Assassin, and as such he both loved and hated him. Arno would steer the Brotherhood away from political corruption, whilst the French Revolution continued to bring in waves of inequality for the citizens of came the Frye twins; the brash and impetuous Jacob, and Evie, full of knowledge and caution.
When Jacob Frye overran London with his vicarious gang called the Rooks the news spread throughout the greater part of Europe, North America, and Africa along with Asia. Assassins all around the world discussed of Frye and whether or not he was breaking the Creed and her tenants. It was a popular discussion amongst all ranks, skilled or unskilled. Some were passionate about it but others didn't bother themselves. But that's all it was: Discussion.
Then, the world broke out in a sudden war. Russia, Serbia, England, and France were against Germany and the Austro-Hungarian empire. Of course, Germany dominated with advanced weapons and technology. The Assassins had their hands full with missions from all countries on both sides. And yet there was still debate on the morality of the Creed and its tenants. Most of it referred to Jacob Frye and his course of action. However, it only amounted to a simple debate between allies, never deteriorating to anything more vicious than a group of friends looking too far beyond the surface.
Because we are human, some people took it too far and violently lived by their own interpretation of the Creed. Encouraging others to serve with them by their fanatic and radical thoughts, thus causing a split in the creed. Before long, people were dividing themselves into one sided factions and The Creed became one giant debate. No longer civil, Its foundations crumbled at the roots; What was once a friendly question had set fire and ravaged the creed, burning and scalding all her members. From the ashes, two factions would form; Two factions that would hold the key to the Creed becoming whole again.
One side called themselves "Trues." They believed that the original teaching of peace from Altaïr should be blindly followed. Focusing on mainly staying their blade from the flesh of the innocent. "Trues" lead peaceful lives and only killed when absolutely necessary. They were the second half to form after the world wars
.The other side called themselves "Realists." Those who lived and died by Ezio and his life teachings. How he told the Creed maxim, "Nothing is true, Everything is Permitted." They focused on never compromising the Brotherhood, Living lives that killed any authority figure coming their way. They saw this as the only way to a free society not limited by morality or law. They would never admit it but they were the ultimate cause for the split in the Creed.
A war against their own was about to start. Assassins of the same Creed would kill in broad daylight just because of an opinion. The eternal fight with the Templars and a free world now pushed off to the side. The first blood was quickly spilt in London. The tension became too much and a gang war was started at Whitechapel station when the two groups met and butted heads. It was a long battle with both skilled masters and clumsy apprentices. The two had many young and old souls that met an untimely and uncivil end only for a simple and controversial philosophy. The worst part of all that had come out of the bloodshed? Every single death was seen as honourable.
Many tenuous and long international council meetings would be held in the city of Vienna, Austria; the middle of Europe. Nothing was ever set to be accomplished as they too, fell into the jaws of debate and morality. The board itself was divided and lost to dogma. Because they failed to find a resolution, the bloody maxim fighting would continue until separate boroughs would be set up across the world and all its countries. The unethical fight for dominance never coming to a complete stop. If the great ancestors of the Creed could see what was happening they would weep, for this was not their vision of a grand society within the Brotherhood.
In more recent years, countries with large, diverse populations such as America or Canada would be split evenly between the two factions. Whilst more traditionally conservative countries like Israel and most Arab nations would have mostly "True" assassins and more liberal countries like Norway and France would have more "Realists." The hardest thing about being at war with Assassins is that they know how to kill.
Each side modified the Creed emblem to their tastes after suspected espionage on both standpoints. The "Trues" used the "A" frame of the original symbol with an "X" in the middle to symbolise unity. "Realists" used the same "A" frame with a circle in the middle but changed it to an anarchy symbol after the seventies to let the world know what they thought of a free world.
Come 2017, the Toronto police force knew better than to put themselves in Assassin last officer that framed the Assassins was killed the next day. Everybody knows of them but never talks about the Assassins. The police only vaguely mention them to keep the public happy but they would never be able to put an end to it. The Templars saw their chance and took it; taking over the police force and recruiting those angered by the constant gang wars. "Trues" and "Realists" are evenly matched in Toronto and are constantly in feudal a power struggle like many boroughs over the world.
The dusty corners and pristine building within the city weren't without some sort of gang affiliation. The Assassins that ran Toronto were simultaneously divided and assassins run the place together and separately. No matter where you go there will always be a remnant of a battle. A bloodstain, brown and crusty, or a shard of metal from a worn blade, shiny and dull. Both only serve as a reminder of the age-old battle that started with the Victorian assassin, Jacob Frye.
Blood is blood and will always be shed. The cause, however, can be changed.