Zipline

"When he tires of running, an Assassin must take to the air."

―Yusuf Tazim, to Ezio Auditore, 1511.^[src]

ACR Ezio zipline — Ezio Auditore da Firenze using a zipline in Constantinople

A zipline is a system of transportation that consists of a pulley suspended on a cable mounted on an incline. Through the force of gravity, the user travels along the cable by latching onto the pulley. Although not technically ziplines, ropes stretched between two structures are popularly referred to as such by the Assassins when they are exploited in such a capacity through the aid of special equipment.

Such equipment can range from the Hookblade of the Ottoman Assassins to even a tomahawk as employed by the Kanien'kehá:ka Assassin Ratonhnhaké:ton. The rope launcher utilized by the British Assassins in the Victorian era essentially functioned as a portable zipline.

By ziplining, Assassins are able to ease their navigation across cities, as well as provide themselves with more opportunities to strike from above.

Usage

Assassins are trained to use ziplines as an improvised form of transportation, supplementing the usual freerunning they perform across cities. When equipped with a tool that allows the Assassin to anchor him or herself onto the line, such as a hookblade, the Assassin can slide across it, expediting his or her travel between rooftops.^[1]

The speed of travel across a zipline can be controlled based on the position of the user. Tucking one's limbs, thus lessening drag, canpermit one to slide along the line more quickly.^[1]^[2] For the obvious reason of gravity, it is not possible to slide up a zipline,^[1] and Assassins are forced to climb along it should they mean to move upwards.^[2]

An Assassin can also use a zipline for an offensive advantage, dropping from them to perform air assassinations on enemies. Additionally, should an enemy be standing at the end of a zipline, an Assassin can use the momentum of traveling along the line to kill them or knock them down.^[1]^[2]

History

Constantinople

As they were common around Constantinople, ziplines were often used by the Ottoman Assassins. Upon establishing Assassin Dens in certain districts, they would set up more ziplines in the area to allow faster navigation. Knowing this, Byzantines would attempt to destroy the ziplines whenever they captured any dens.^[1]

American Colonies

Shortly before the American Revolution, the Assassin Ratonhnhaké:ton used a variant of the zipline to infiltrate Fort Wolcott, employing his tomahawk as a pulley.^[3]

London

During the 19th century, Rexford Kaylock, a Templar and the Blighters' gang leader in Whitechapel, possessed a rope launcher pistol that fired grappling hooks. As the launcher was also equipped with a pulley, the device essentially created makeshift ziplines, which Rexford used to access rooftops quickly.^[2]

In 1868, the British Assassins Jacob and Evie Frye defeated the Whitechapel Blighters, killing Kaylock and retrieving the grappling hook pistol in the process. Their friend, the inventor Alexander Graham Bell, modified the mechanism for it to be attached to their bracers. Due to the wide streets of London, the rope launchers proved incredibly convenient for the Frye twins, with the ability to deploy ziplines whenever they wished facilitating faster travel across the metropolis.^[2]

Jacob's granddaughter, Lydia Frye, also possessed a rope launcher, employing it during her time in London fifty years later.^[2]

Trivia

Assassin's Creed: Revelations

Ziplines can be boarded along any point in the line.
Parachuting onto a zipline is required to unlock the "Show Off" achievement.
On rare occasions, Byzantines can still be seen trying to destroy ziplines, even if Constantinople is completely under Assassin control.
The higher post of most ziplines has the Assassin insignia and a white flag at the top.

Assassin's Creed III

During the scene where Connor uses a tomahawk as a pulley on a zipline to infiltrate Fort Wolcott, if he has a knife is equipped instead, the animation does not change, and the knife seems to stick to the side of the rope.