In the original Assassin's Creed, Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad serves the Levantine Brotherhood during the Third Crusade.
Altaïr is the game's principal historical character and an Assassin operating in the Levant in 1191. After a serious failure during a mission, he is demoted and must regain his rank by carrying out a series of investigations and assassinations. The game takes him through cities including Jerusalem, Acre, and Damascus.
The original game presents Altaïr as a highly skilled but initially arrogant Assassin. His experiences force him to reconsider the Brotherhood's rules, the nature of obedience, and the relationship between freedom and control. His mentor is Al Mualim, the leader of the Masyaf-based Assassin Brotherhood.
Altaïr should not be confused with Ezio, the Renaissance Italian protagonist of Assassin's Creed II, or with later protagonists such as Arno Dorian and Bayek. His story also appears in Assassin's Creed: Revelations.