Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad is the Assassin protagonist of the historical storyline in the original Assassin's Creed.
Altaïr is a Syrian-born member of the Assassin Brotherhood during the Third Crusade. The game follows his missions across cities including Jerusalem, Acre, and Damascus after a failed operation causes him to lose his rank and equipment. His mentor, Al Mualim, orders him to eliminate several influential targets.
The story also includes Desmond Miles, a modern descendant whose genetic memories are explored through the Animus. Desmond is the modern viewpoint character, but Altaïr is the historical character players control for the main medieval missions.
Altaïr's name is sometimes confused with later protagonists because the franchise frequently connects its heroes through ancestry and memory. Ezio belongs to Renaissance Italy, Connor to the American Revolution, and Bayek to Ptolemaic Egypt. Altaïr remains especially important because later games revisit his life, writings, and influence on the Brotherhood.