The Synchronisation

Record of the Gathering

Following the previous Synchronisation, the Levantine Assassins Brotherhood began a period of change affecting its leadership, divisions and wider organisation.

These changes were intended to strengthen the Brotherhood and secure its continued survival and development. Although some might have resisted this new direction, the Brotherhood would continue evolving and adapting whenever necessary.

This event was hosted by Arch Assassin ADVENTlST, who spoke about the Brotherhood’s place within the world of Citramaria. She also reflected upon the recently fallen Centurions, presenting their lives as an example of how the Brotherhood had developed and how those once guided by narrow beliefs could be offered another path.

Her address declared that the Brotherhood would not cease evolving in response to those who opposed it. Change would come where it was necessary, but its purpose would remain constant.

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Arch Assassin ADVENTlST’s Address

Where do I begin?

I suppose the best place to start is with our place in the world. As Assassins, as leaders, as learners, teachers and scholars—who are we, and what do we do?

The answer to such a question is quite simple. We are Assassins. Our duty is to preserve the innate beauty and innocence of the world. We are shepherds to the sheep of life, defending them from the wolves.

This is where it begins: the philosophy of self-sacrifice for the greater good, a philosophy that Bayek of Siwa would have greatly appreciated. Bayek was one of our greatest ancestral Assassins, and his hand brought about the deaths of many oppressive Egyptian pharaohs.

But what of our place in this world—in Citramaria?

It is a cruel world indeed. Yet it is because of the cruelty within the lands in which we live that we serve this home with our lives. No gain comes from choosing the easiest path.

We came here with purpose, for it was within Citramaria that the centre of our life came to be, in Masyaf. Dearly did we love her: a prosperous land, the capital of our Brotherhood and a beacon of life.

And yet, ironically, this beacon of life would face death. During our struggle against the oppressive evils of the Teutonic Order, Masyaf fell to its Byzantine sect. The flames of tyranny struck the great walls we had called home, and a brokenness began to form within us.

A tyrannical Arch arose from that bereavement, and our Brotherhood suffered. The earthly Creed created to guide us became little more than a distant memory. Law and order replaced our true way of life. This was our Brotherhood under Arch Lupus, who has since been ousted.

As a brief aside, our beloved Centurions, who have recently been laid to rest, were formerly members of the Byzantine sect of the Teutonic Order. They pleaded for mercy and converted to the truths we know once they became aware of their occhiolism—the limited and distorted perspective of the world imposed upon them by the hierarchy of their Templar leadership.

Let this stand as a testament to the value of offering second chances to those who have been misguided. Our duty is to spread light before seeking the elimination of darkness.

During our internal strife, the Samarian Rogue Brotherhood also took the home we once possessed. From the brokenness of the Levantine Brotherhood and from our own lands, they formed.

They founded themselves upon the belief that we Levantines were innately evil and subservient to cruel masters such as the previous Arch. This is an idea we have come to recognise as a fallacy.

Why?

Simply look around you. You are not evil, and I am not evil. The Assassins of the past fell under the influence of a cruel leader and forgot their purpose within this world. We have not.

We seek to serve the light and actively work to remove the oppressive evils that transgress against mankind’s natural right to individuality, happiness and freedom.

Despite this, the Rogues of the modern age violate our natural rights to life and freedom through murder, such as the violence inflicted upon our youth only yesterday.

They are experiencing the familiar condition of nodus tollens: the realisation that the plot of one’s life no longer makes sense or possesses a clear purpose. There is no evil within our Brotherhood for them to fight, so they seek to incite anger and fear, creating the evil they require in order to function.

That is an evil we will not cultivate.

We do not believe in creating evil merely so that we may cast ourselves as heroes within a story whose villain we created. That is selfish, and it is wrong.

So, now that we understand our history in Citramaria, what is our place within it?

It is to fulfil the purpose that I, and the many Assassins before me, have taught. I trust you with the continuation of our work, brothers.

Exercise your right to freedom. Be free and confident in all that you do. Rid yourselves of the temporary gratification offered by revenge, and strive always to do good for all people rather than only for yourselves.

Take no lives of the innocent, but never stand idly by while others suffer beneath an oppressor.

Spread light, for this is our purpose in the world. Let families rejoice in liberty, freedom, happiness and care. Offer that light before seeking to eliminate the darkness.

Yet when a person conceals themselves from the light so that they may continue committing evil where we cannot see them, we must work in the dark to serve the light.

This is the world we seek to create: a world illuminated by the rights of mankind, allowed to flourish and grow without end. We do not seek a world that is dead, unable to breathe and condemned to suffering because we failed to act.

Brothers, this is our paramount purpose: service to the world in pursuit of something greater than ourselves.

Through this foundation, this Brotherhood and our Creed, we will reach that place.

I ask only this, friends: let us go there together, for together, we are stronger.

That concludes my thoughts for today. I thank you for attending my Synchronisation.

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New Aspirations

The Levantine Assassins Brotherhood has undergone, and will continue to undergo, significant changes. Through these changes, it may exceed many of the expectations previously placed upon it.

However, the Brotherhood must advance steadily rather than rushing forward. Change is necessary, but it should neither be feared nor pursued carelessly.

This Synchronisation demonstrates the great aspirations held by the Arch Assassin for the Brotherhood. It is now time for those aspirations to be pursued collectively.

Without remaining faithful to what we believe, we will be unable to stand against oppression or stand together as a Brotherhood. We must remain united while preserving the individual qualities and responsibilities of every member.

The Brotherhood cannot be transformed by one person alone. For change to succeed, we must undertake it together.

As the Arch Assassin stated during the preceding Synchronisation:

“In all sacrifice, there is gain, and in all pain, there is growth.”

This is demonstrated through the sacrifices made by the fallen Centurions. Through the loss endured by individuals, the Brotherhood as a whole may learn, strengthen itself and continue to grow.

These are the new aspirations of the Brotherhood.

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This scroll serves as the preserved record of the Synchronisation delivered by Arch Assassin ADVENTlST on 16 May 2021.