Old Man of the Mountain

Real name: Hasan-I Sabbah
Ethnicity: Persian
Affiliation: Ismaili
Relatives: Unknown
Skills: Art of Sacred Fire Commandments
Appearances: None
References: HSDS Chapter 30, 32, 38

History: According to the tale told by Golden Mane Lion Lord Xie Xun, during the eleventh century in Persia, the poet Omar Khayyam, the statesman Nizam al-Mulk, and the warrior Hasan-I Sabbah, had all been fellow-students of the same teacher, the Great Imam of Persia. The three made a pact that whichever of them first achieved success and fortune in the world would help the other two. Nizam al-Mulk in due course became the vizier of the Sultan, and his schoolmates came looking for him. Nizam al-Mulk asked the Sultan to offer Hasan governorship, which the Sultan granted. Omar Khayyam shunned the responsibilities of office and preferred a pension and enjoyment of leisure.

The ambitious Hasan refused to be fobbed off with a mere post, and soon plotted to take over the throne. After a failed coup, Hasan fled into the mountains and became a bandit who raided the caravans passing the Persian desserts. With his superb fighting skills he soon gathered around him followers and became the leader of the fearsome Ismaili Sect. The Ismailis were also known as the Hashashini (the Assasins), a group of hired, secret murderers. During the times of the Crusades, the name of the "Old Man of the Mountain", as Hasan became known, struck fear in the hearts of the Christian warriors. Many a Western monarch died by the hands of the cruel and bloodthirsty Hasan. King Edward of England brought Hasan's wrath upon himself, and the latter sent assassins to murder the king. The attempt was initially successful, Andrew was struck by a poisonous blade. The queen then sacrificed herself by sucking the poison out of the wound of her husband, and King Andrew's life was saved. Hasan, breaking all vows of loyalty and brotherhood, also had Nizam al-Mulk murdered. Before he died, Nizam al-Mulk cited the poem written by Omar Khayyam: "Coming as streaming water and leaving like the wind, never knowing its' origin or where it will cease…"

The martial arts of the Old Man of the Mountain was later learned by the members of the Persian Mani Cult.