In the first Assassin's Creed game, Altaïr's first major assassination is set in Damascus.
After Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad is stripped of his rank, Al Mualim sends him on a sequence of missions to regain his status. Damascus is the setting for his first target, Tamir, a wealthy arms dealer whose activities support the Templar cause.
The original game presents three main historical cities: Damascus, Jerusalem, and Acre. Masyaf is the Assassins' mountain stronghold, not one of the principal city districts used for Altaïr's investigations. This distinction can cause confusion because Altaïr repeatedly travels through Masyaf between missions.
Damascus is also a historically important city in the series' setting, having been a major centre of trade and culture for centuries. The game's depiction combines recognizable architectural ideas with fictionalized locations and characters.