Playing Assassin's Creed: Revelations has brought a thought that's been lurking in the back of my mind to the front. Years ago with the first game, I came under the impression that the Templars were a worldwide conspiracy lasting a thousand years, and the Assassins were the only ones who could stop them because the masses are ignorant. As such the history that Assassin's Creed gives us is parallel to the one we're taught in real life. For example, in Assassin's Creed II, it's implied the globus cruciger is actually an Apple, which is why kings were able to control the populace. Being let in on this information, only us the player alongside the Assassins are able to see the truth.

Starting with Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood and continuing with Revelations, this idea doesn't really apply well anymore. It seems the general populace is fully fucking aware of who the Assassins are and even appear to be playing them off against the Templars, as if they're two political groups or rival gangs. Last night during a mission we discovered a merchant was funding the Templars, and when we confronted him about it, he said with shock, "You're... you're Assassins?" How the fuck do you even know that? To the world, the Assassins should've died out in the 1200s, but now you're saying everyone and their mother realize they're hanging around in Constantinople? What happened to our stealth element?

I guess I shouldn't be surprised because there's a giant fucking flag with our symbol hanging right outside our headquarters, broadcasting our existence to the world. It makes you wonder why the Templars don't just fucking storm the place. Maybe they know it wouldn't work since the crusaders invaded the Maysaf fortress twice and that didn't seem to stop the Assassins from just walking back into town like nothing happened.