 The governors were appointed from Alamut but enjoyed a large degree of local initiative, contributing to the resilience of the movement.As the Mongols began invading Iran, many Sunni and Shia Muslims (including the prominent scholar Tusi) took refuge to the Nizaris of Quhistan.The governor ("muhtasham") of Quhistan was Nasir al-Din Abu al-Fath Abd al-Rahim ibn Abi Mansur, and the Nizaris were under Imam Ala' al-Din Muhammad.