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The Truth

2011-01-25T03:13:56Z

201.167.58.51: /* Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood */

{{quote|Hello. This is...they call me Subject 16. Listen, I don't have much time - there's something I have to show you. We have been lied to this whole time; everything we know, everything we've been brought up to believe - it's wrong.|Subject 16}}

'''The Truth''' is a side-quest which appears in both Assassin's Creed II and Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood. They were created by Subject 16 with the intent to enlighten and possibly warn Desmond. In both instances, The Truth files can been unlocked by uncovering a series of glyphs throughout the world and solving their corrosponding puzzles.

==Assassin's Creed II==

In ''[[Assassin's Creed II]]'' there are 20 glyphs in all, and successfully unlocking each one will give a bit more insight into the Origins of the [[Templars]], the [[Assassins]], and the [[Piece of Eden]]. However until all of the videos are unlocked, each of the individual twenty videos are extremely brief, barely a second long.[[File:7651.assassins3.jpg|thumb|A scene from the Truth video.]]

In the video, [[Adam and Eve]], dressed in skin colored bodysuits seemingly making them appear that they are nude, are seen running from something. They move through an open area which may be The Garden of Eden. The scenery is a mixture between flora, a shiny blue material that resembles glass, and a white surface which sounds like stone. The garden is decorated in a very futuristic style which is a strong contrast against the biblical setting. Moving through a circular automatic door, Adam and Eve use free-running (similar to that used by the [[Assassins]]) to climb a large, futuristic looking building. While they are climbing the building, the silhouette of a humanoid (who appears to be floating) can be seen holding a [[Piece of Eden]] to control several human slaves. These workers appear to be in an environment similar to that of a metal refinery, with one slave in the foreground clearly using a hammer to shape a metal object. The brief appearance of the silhouette is visually similar to [[Minerva]], sharing the flowing clothes and glowing emblem on the headgear. [[Adam and Eve]] continue climbing until they reach the roof of the building. The camera zooms outwards, revealing many other futuristic buildings surrounding them. Further in the background, a mountain is clearly visible, while there is little other elevation in land elsewhere. The terrain is lush, and large forest boundaries are visible. Eve can then be seen to be holding a [[Piece of Eden]]. Eve then says "Adam, I have it!", Adam acknowledges Eve, calling out her name, both turn to look at what was presumably chasing them, and the memory ends with Eve warning Adam "Look out!" and binary code flashes up. The numbers read: "EDEN".

These glyphs are based upon the markings left behind in ''[[Assassin's Creed]]'', which were left behind by [[Subject 16]], and written in his blood. Many of these glyphs can be recognized as the [[Cryptic Messages]] from the previous game, and can only be seen with [[Eagle Vision|eagle vision]].

==Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood==
In Brotherhood each of the Glyphs must be ''climbed'' instead of just find them and press the interact button, they retain the spin pictures and picture finder puzzles but also they now have chess, audio and a different kind of picture puzzles.

Each of ''The truth'' videos is a series of seemingly corrupted data with some words on the top left corner that when all videos are unlocked read ''The miracle is on the execution''.

after unlocking all of the videos, a VR-like room will be played as desmond and when the players finish it they will encounter what seems to be subject 16 (note) and have a brief conversation with him.

*During later sequences the Animus starts to read some files and initiates ''emotion protocol'', from then on it argues been in a lone and dark place and don't wanting you to let it alone, when you talk to subject 16 the computers starts ''compile subsystems'' and ''infrastructure'' while mentioning ''tendons'' , ''hearth'' and finally ''voice'', leading to the theory that 16 actually transplanted his mind to the animus in some way.

== Trivia ==
[[File:Mt Kilimanjaro.jpg|thumb|255px|Mount Kilimanjaro bears a strong resemblance to the Mountain in the Truth Video]]
*The mountain in the video bears a striking resemblance to Mount Kilimanjaro, thus placing the scene in Africa. This would make sense, as humanity is said to originate from Africa (specifically mid-Africa, the rough location of Kilimanjaro). The [[codex]] map also shows that a Piece of Eden was located in the vicinity of Kilimanjaro. Supporting this theory even further is [[Lucy Stillman|Lucy]]'s mention of [[Warren Vidic|Vidic]] tagging memories in ancient Africa.
*The video seems to take place immediately before the human rebellion and subsequent war. As Adam and Eve seem to have taken The Apple without permission, and are probably trying to escape with it, one can assume that they had started the rebellion.
*At the end of the video, a block of binary code can be seen briefly. The code is "01000101 01000100 01000101 01001110" which translates to EDEN. Another point of interest is that there are 20 zeroes and 12 ones, a reference to the supposed doomsday year of 2012.
*The viewing angle of the camera suggests that the video is a recording of one of Subject 16's [[Animus]] sessions. This in turn would indicate a direct lineage between 16 (and perhaps even Desmond), with Adam and/or Eve.
*The music being played during Adam and Eve's escape from Eden in the video is the same music that plays while Desmond and Lucy are escaping [[Abstergo Industries|Abstergo]] at the beginning of ''Assassin's Creed II,'' and when [[Ezio Auditore Da Firenze|Ezio]] is running away from the guards after the execution of [[Petruccio Auditore da Firenze|Petruccio]], [[Federico Auditore da Firenze|Federico]], and [[Giovanni Auditore da Firenze|Giovanni]] at the hands of [[Uberto Alberti]]. It's also the "Open Conflict" song of [[Forlì]]. It is entitled "Wetlands Escape" on the ''Assassin's Creed II'' Original Game Soundtrack.
*In the PS3 version, Eve does not say, "Look out!" At that point, it is just silent and the binary for "Eden" appears.
*There are only 10 puzzles in ''[[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood]]'', though they are not hidden behind glyphs, but appear to be rifts in the memory that allow one to enter the programming of the Animus itself.
*On the back of the case for ''Assassin's Creed II'', it says "The Truth Is Written In Blood". The side-quest is "The Truth", and Subject 16 is the cause for the glyphs which give you the side-quest, and he had written in blood at Abstergo.

== Video ==
[[Video:Assassin's Creed II - The Truth Video (HD)|thumb|left|300px|The Truth - AC II]][[Video:Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood The Truth|thumb|right|300px|The Truth - AC: Brotherhood]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed II]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed II Gameplay]]

The Truth

2011-01-25T03:09:40Z

201.167.58.51: /* Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood */

{{quote|Hello. This is...they call me Subject 16. Listen, I don't have much time - there's something I have to show you. We have been lied to this whole time; everything we know, everything we've been brought up to believe - it's wrong.|Subject 16}}

'''The Truth''' is a side-quest which appears in both Assassin's Creed II and Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood. They were created by Subject 16 with the intent to enlighten and possibly warn Desmond. In both instances, The Truth files can been unlocked by uncovering a series of glyphs throughout the world and solving their corrosponding puzzles.

==Assassin's Creed II==

In ''[[Assassin's Creed II]]'' there are 20 glyphs in all, and successfully unlocking each one will give a bit more insight into the Origins of the [[Templars]], the [[Assassins]], and the [[Piece of Eden]]. However until all of the videos are unlocked, each of the individual twenty videos are extremely brief, barely a second long.[[File:7651.assassins3.jpg|thumb|A scene from the Truth video.]]

In the video, [[Adam and Eve]], dressed in skin colored bodysuits seemingly making them appear that they are nude, are seen running from something. They move through an open area which may be The Garden of Eden. The scenery is a mixture between flora, a shiny blue material that resembles glass, and a white surface which sounds like stone. The garden is decorated in a very futuristic style which is a strong contrast against the biblical setting. Moving through a circular automatic door, Adam and Eve use free-running (similar to that used by the [[Assassins]]) to climb a large, futuristic looking building. While they are climbing the building, the silhouette of a humanoid (who appears to be floating) can be seen holding a [[Piece of Eden]] to control several human slaves. These workers appear to be in an environment similar to that of a metal refinery, with one slave in the foreground clearly using a hammer to shape a metal object. The brief appearance of the silhouette is visually similar to [[Minerva]], sharing the flowing clothes and glowing emblem on the headgear. [[Adam and Eve]] continue climbing until they reach the roof of the building. The camera zooms outwards, revealing many other futuristic buildings surrounding them. Further in the background, a mountain is clearly visible, while there is little other elevation in land elsewhere. The terrain is lush, and large forest boundaries are visible. Eve can then be seen to be holding a [[Piece of Eden]]. Eve then says "Adam, I have it!", Adam acknowledges Eve, calling out her name, both turn to look at what was presumably chasing them, and the memory ends with Eve warning Adam "Look out!" and binary code flashes up. The numbers read: "EDEN".

These glyphs are based upon the markings left behind in ''[[Assassin's Creed]]'', which were left behind by [[Subject 16]], and written in his blood. Many of these glyphs can be recognized as the [[Cryptic Messages]] from the previous game, and can only be seen with [[Eagle Vision|eagle vision]].

==Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood==
In Brotherhood each of the Glyphs must be ''climbed'' instead of just find them and press the interact button, they retain the spin pictures and picture finder puzzles but also they now have chess, audio and a different kind of picture puzzles.

Each of ''The truth'' videos is a series of seemingly corrupted data with some words on the top left corner that when all videos are unlocked read ''The miracle is on the execution''.

after unlocking all of the videos, a VR-like room will be played as desmond and when the players finish it they will encounter what seems to be subject 16 (note) and have a brief conversation with him.

== Trivia ==
[[File:Mt Kilimanjaro.jpg|thumb|255px|Mount Kilimanjaro bears a strong resemblance to the Mountain in the Truth Video]]
*The mountain in the video bears a striking resemblance to Mount Kilimanjaro, thus placing the scene in Africa. This would make sense, as humanity is said to originate from Africa (specifically mid-Africa, the rough location of Kilimanjaro). The [[codex]] map also shows that a Piece of Eden was located in the vicinity of Kilimanjaro. Supporting this theory even further is [[Lucy Stillman|Lucy]]'s mention of [[Warren Vidic|Vidic]] tagging memories in ancient Africa.
*The video seems to take place immediately before the human rebellion and subsequent war. As Adam and Eve seem to have taken The Apple without permission, and are probably trying to escape with it, one can assume that they had started the rebellion.
*At the end of the video, a block of binary code can be seen briefly. The code is "01000101 01000100 01000101 01001110" which translates to EDEN. Another point of interest is that there are 20 zeroes and 12 ones, a reference to the supposed doomsday year of 2012.
*The viewing angle of the camera suggests that the video is a recording of one of Subject 16's [[Animus]] sessions. This in turn would indicate a direct lineage between 16 (and perhaps even Desmond), with Adam and/or Eve.
*The music being played during Adam and Eve's escape from Eden in the video is the same music that plays while Desmond and Lucy are escaping [[Abstergo Industries|Abstergo]] at the beginning of ''Assassin's Creed II,'' and when [[Ezio Auditore Da Firenze|Ezio]] is running away from the guards after the execution of [[Petruccio Auditore da Firenze|Petruccio]], [[Federico Auditore da Firenze|Federico]], and [[Giovanni Auditore da Firenze|Giovanni]] at the hands of [[Uberto Alberti]]. It's also the "Open Conflict" song of [[Forlì]]. It is entitled "Wetlands Escape" on the ''Assassin's Creed II'' Original Game Soundtrack.
*In the PS3 version, Eve does not say, "Look out!" At that point, it is just silent and the binary for "Eden" appears.
*There are only 10 puzzles in ''[[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood]]'', though they are not hidden behind glyphs, but appear to be rifts in the memory that allow one to enter the programming of the Animus itself.
*On the back of the case for ''Assassin's Creed II'', it says "The Truth Is Written In Blood". The side-quest is "The Truth", and Subject 16 is the cause for the glyphs which give you the side-quest, and he had written in blood at Abstergo.

== Video ==
[[Video:Assassin's Creed II - The Truth Video (HD)|thumb|left|300px|The Truth - AC II]][[Video:Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood The Truth|thumb|right|300px|The Truth - AC: Brotherhood]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed II]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed II Gameplay]]

Lair of Romulus

2011-01-25T03:03:00Z

201.167.58.51: /* Entrance Locations */

{{Stub}}

[[File:Keys_of_Romulus.png|thumb|One of the Keys of Romulus, obtained from one of the Lairs.]]
The '''Lairs of Romulus''' are secret locations featured in ''[[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood]]'' that are similar to the [[Assassin's Tombs]] from ''[[Assassin's Creed II]]''. Each lair of the [[Followers of Romulus]] houses a shrine to Romulus, which contains [[Treasure chests|a variety of treasures]]. These lairs are scattered all over Rome and include platforming levels once found.

Each of the six lairs also contains a key, and a scroll, which each hold portions of a letter written by [[Marcus Junius Brutus]]. Obtaining all six keys allows one to obtain the [[Armor of Brutus]], as well as the [[Dagger of Brutus]], the two coveted treasures of the Followers.

On the [[Maps|map]] of [[Rome]], each of the Lairs of Romulus are marked by a black wolf symbol. A seventh, gold version of the symbol marks the location of the aforementioned Romulus treasures.

These missions are side quests, as obtaining the Romulus treasures is not required to complete the main story of ''Brotherhood''. The only the exception is the first lair encountered, the one within the [[Terme di Traiano]], as it is a core memory, and is used to introduce the Followers of Romulus.

There are 3 Borgia flags on each Lair.

==Entrance Locations==
===Terme di Traiano===
[[File:Entrance1.jpg|thumb|250px|Terme di Traiano entrance]]{{main|Terme di Traiano}}
This lair is the first one encountered, and its entrance is located at a low point of the terme, down a flight of stairs.

===Palazzo Laterano===
[[File:Entrance5.jpg|thumb|250px|Palazzo Laterano entrance]]{{main|Palazzo Laterano}}
The entrance to the lair is located inside one of the gardens.

Terme di Diocleziano [[File:Entrance4.jpg|thumb|250px|Terme di Diocleziano entrance]]{{main|Cloaca Maxima}} Ezio must completely repair the Aqueduct that leads into the terme to access the entrance to this lair, as it is situated high up in the wall of the initially empty terme. However, the entrance can also be accessed without repairing the Aqueduct by dropping over the ledge and climb-leaping into the archway.
===Piramide Cestia===
[[File:Entrance2.jpg|thumb|250px|Piramide Cestia entrance]]{{main|Piramide Cestia}}
The entrance, though located next to the Pyramid, leads into the [[Catacombe di Roma]].

===Colosseo===
[[File:Entrance3.jpg|thumb|250px|Colosseo entrance]]{{main|Colosseo}}
The entrance is located at ground level between the inner and outer walls, just behind the stage of the Passion play.

===Basilica di San Pietro===
[[File:Entrance6.jpg|thumb|250px|Basilica di San Pietro entrance]]{{main|Basilica di San Pietro}}
The entrance is outside, to the right of the staircase that leads to the inner sanctum.
[[Category:Article stubs]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood Locations]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood Secret Locations]]
[[Category:Rome]]

The Truth

2011-01-25T02:53:39Z

201.167.58.51: /* Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood */

{{quote|Hello. This is...they call me Subject 16. Listen, I don't have much time - there's something I have to show you. We have been lied to this whole time; everything we know, everything we've been brought up to believe - it's wrong.|Subject 16}}

'''The Truth''' is a side-quest which appears in both Assassin's Creed II and Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood. They were created by Subject 16 with the intent to enlighten and possibly warn Desmond. In both instances, The Truth files can been unlocked by uncovering a series of glyphs throughout the world and solving their corrosponding puzzles.

==Assassin's Creed II==

In ''[[Assassin's Creed II]]'' there are 20 glyphs in all, and successfully unlocking each one will give a bit more insight into the Origins of the [[Templars]], the [[Assassins]], and the [[Piece of Eden]]. However until all of the videos are unlocked, each of the individual twenty videos are extremely brief, barely a second long.[[File:7651.assassins3.jpg|thumb|A scene from the Truth video.]]

In the video, [[Adam and Eve]], dressed in skin colored bodysuits seemingly making them appear that they are nude, are seen running from something. They move through an open area which may be The Garden of Eden. The scenery is a mixture between flora, a shiny blue material that resembles glass, and a white surface which sounds like stone. The garden is decorated in a very futuristic style which is a strong contrast against the biblical setting. Moving through a circular automatic door, Adam and Eve use free-running (similar to that used by the [[Assassins]]) to climb a large, futuristic looking building. While they are climbing the building, the silhouette of a humanoid (who appears to be floating) can be seen holding a [[Piece of Eden]] to control several human slaves. These workers appear to be in an environment similar to that of a metal refinery, with one slave in the foreground clearly using a hammer to shape a metal object. The brief appearance of the silhouette is visually similar to [[Minerva]], sharing the flowing clothes and glowing emblem on the headgear. [[Adam and Eve]] continue climbing until they reach the roof of the building. The camera zooms outwards, revealing many other futuristic buildings surrounding them. Further in the background, a mountain is clearly visible, while there is little other elevation in land elsewhere. The terrain is lush, and large forest boundaries are visible. Eve can then be seen to be holding a [[Piece of Eden]]. Eve then says "Adam, I have it!", Adam acknowledges Eve, calling out her name, both turn to look at what was presumably chasing them, and the memory ends with Eve warning Adam "Look out!" and binary code flashes up. The numbers read: "EDEN".

These glyphs are based upon the markings left behind in ''[[Assassin's Creed]]'', which were left behind by [[Subject 16]], and written in his blood. Many of these glyphs can be recognized as the [[Cryptic Messages]] from the previous game, and can only be seen with [[Eagle Vision|eagle vision]].

==Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood==
In Brotherhood each of the Glyphs must be ''climbed'' instead of just find them and press the interact button, they retain the spin pictures and picture finder puzzles but also they now have chess, audio and a different kind of picture puzzles.

Each of ''The truth'' videos is a series of seemingly corrupted data with some words on the top left corner that when all videos are unlocked read ''The miracle is on the execution''.

after unlocking all of the videos, a VR-like room will be played as desmond and when the players finish it they will encounter what seems to be subject 16 and have a brief conversation with him.

== Trivia ==
[[File:Mt Kilimanjaro.jpg|thumb|255px|Mount Kilimanjaro bears a strong resemblance to the Mountain in the Truth Video]]
*The mountain in the video bears a striking resemblance to Mount Kilimanjaro, thus placing the scene in Africa. This would make sense, as humanity is said to originate from Africa (specifically mid-Africa, the rough location of Kilimanjaro). The [[codex]] map also shows that a Piece of Eden was located in the vicinity of Kilimanjaro. Supporting this theory even further is [[Lucy Stillman|Lucy]]'s mention of [[Warren Vidic|Vidic]] tagging memories in ancient Africa.
*The video seems to take place immediately before the human rebellion and subsequent war. As Adam and Eve seem to have taken The Apple without permission, and are probably trying to escape with it, one can assume that they had started the rebellion.
*At the end of the video, a block of binary code can be seen briefly. The code is "01000101 01000100 01000101 01001110" which translates to EDEN. Another point of interest is that there are 20 zeroes and 12 ones, a reference to the supposed doomsday year of 2012.
*The viewing angle of the camera suggests that the video is a recording of one of Subject 16's [[Animus]] sessions. This in turn would indicate a direct lineage between 16 (and perhaps even Desmond), with Adam and/or Eve.
*The music being played during Adam and Eve's escape from Eden in the video is the same music that plays while Desmond and Lucy are escaping [[Abstergo Industries|Abstergo]] at the beginning of ''Assassin's Creed II,'' and when [[Ezio Auditore Da Firenze|Ezio]] is running away from the guards after the execution of [[Petruccio Auditore da Firenze|Petruccio]], [[Federico Auditore da Firenze|Federico]], and [[Giovanni Auditore da Firenze|Giovanni]] at the hands of [[Uberto Alberti]]. It's also the "Open Conflict" song of [[Forlì]]. It is entitled "Wetlands Escape" on the ''Assassin's Creed II'' Original Game Soundtrack.
*In the PS3 version, Eve does not say, "Look out!" At that point, it is just silent and the binary for "Eden" appears.
*There are only 10 puzzles in ''[[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood]]'', though they are not hidden behind glyphs, but appear to be rifts in the memory that allow one to enter the programming of the Animus itself.
*On the back of the case for ''Assassin's Creed II'', it says "The Truth Is Written In Blood". The side-quest is "The Truth", and Subject 16 is the cause for the glyphs which give you the side-quest, and he had written in blood at Abstergo.

== Video ==
[[Video:Assassin's Creed II - The Truth Video (HD)|thumb|left|300px|The Truth - AC II]][[Video:Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood The Truth|thumb|right|300px|The Truth - AC: Brotherhood]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed II]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed II Gameplay]]

Isu

2011-01-25T02:52:34Z

201.167.58.51: /* Legacy */

[[File:Zw-Minerva-3.png|thumb|[[Minerva]], a representative of "Those Who Came Before"]]
{{quote|We simply came... before.|[[Minerva]]|Assassin's Creed II}}
'''Those Who Came Before''',<ref name="Assassin's Creed">''[[Assassin's Creed]]''</ref> also known as '''the First Civilization''',<ref name="Assassin's Creed II">''[[Assassin's Creed II]]''</ref> were an ancient and advanced species on Earth who created the [[Piece of Eden|Pieces of Eden]], as well as the [[Humans|human]] race itself. Exactly who they were, where they came from and when they disappeared is largely unknown. With early humans unable to comprehend the First Civilization for what they truly were, they were looked upon as gods.

==Knowledge==
Though various religious beliefs seem to have been based on aspects and misinterpretations of Those Who Came Before, their existence was largely unknown to [[Humans|humanity]].<ref name="Assassin's Creed II" /> As early as the 12th century, both the [[Assassins]] and the [[Knights Templar]] knew that the focus of human religions, the gods, did not truly exist, and that miracles and other supernatural occurrences were simply manifestations of the powers of the [[Pieces of Eden]], devices created by Those Who Came Before to control the Human race.<ref name="Assassin's Creed" /><ref name="Assassin's Creed II" /> However, it is unclear if the Assassins and Templars understood the origin of the Pieces at that time. By the 15th century, at least one Templar, [[Rodrigo Borgia]], was aware of the existence, if not the nature, of Those Who Came Before; he mistakenly believed that the [[Vatican Vault]] hidden beneath the [[Capella Sistina]] housed a living God.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II" />

The first known instance of a human becoming aware of their existence following their disappearance was that of [[Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad]], who made mention of them in his [[the Codex|Codex]]. However, it would not be until the year 1499 that humanity would encounter Those Who Came Before again, when the Assassin [[Ezio Auditore da Firenze]] encountered a hologram of a being calling herself [[Minerva]] in The Vault. Even though Ezio told his fellow Assassins of Minerva, they still did not understand her true nature; Ezio himself showed great difficulty in understanding [[Minerva]]'s explanation of her existence.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II" />

By 2012, the Templars in [[Abstergo Industries]] had a greater understanding of the true nature of Those Who Came Before. Whether they learned this information through the use of the [[Animus]] or had found evidence of it earlier is unknown. However, none of the Assassins seen in this time period indicated that they had previous knowledge of the existence of Those Who Came Before until Desmond relived Ezio's memories.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II" /> Through the memories relived by Desmond, the Assassins were aware of three separate beings: Minerva, [[Juno]] and [[Jupiter]].<ref name="Assassin's Creed II" />

==History==
===Creation of humanity===
{{Quote|We built you in our own image, we built you to survive.|Minerva|Assassin's Creed II}}
[[File:Eden-Slaves-Workshop.png|thumb|350px|One of Those Who Came Before; using a [[Piece of Eden]] to control humans.]]
The origins of the First Civilization are unclear; Minerva simply stated that they "came before". They were responsible for the creation of humanity, creating them in their own image to be a docile workforce. While Minerva notes that they built humanity to survive, Juno asserts that they were not intended to be wise; thereby ensuring obedient and resilient cattle to suit their needs.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II" /><ref name="Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood">''[[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood]]''</ref> Research by [[Subject 16]] seemed to suggest that Those Who Came Before radically altered the genetic make-up of a pre-existing species on the planet to create humanity, fashioning them to be similar to their "gods", and therefore leaving a large gap in terms of transitional species between archaic hominids and modern humans. By 1997, the Templars had taken note of this and arranged for fake skeletons to be planted in Ethiopia, so as to limit human exposure to the possibility of the existence of Those Who Came Before.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II" />

Control of humanity was assured through use of the Pieces of Eden, which tapped into a neuro-transmitter located deep within the human brain. However, there were some humans born without the neuro-transmitter, hypothesized by Subject Sixteen to be hybrids of the First Civilization and humans, and could subsequently live without being controlled through such means.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II" />

===War and catastrophe===
{{Quote|When we were still flesh, and our homes still whole, your kind betrayed us. We who made you, we who gave you life.|Minerva|Assassin's Creed II}}
Eventually, despite humanity and the First Civilization living in peace for some time, war broke out between the two species. The war involved the theft of a Piece of Eden by [[Adam and Eve]], though how this related to the conflict is unclear. While Those Who Came Before were more technologically advanced and powerful, humanity had the advantage of numbers; most likely outnumbering their creators by the millions, far too much for the Pieces of Eden to effectively handle.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II" />

The war did eventually end, although with casualties greater than the First Civilization could have ever anticipated. The distraction of war had blinded them to all else, and their preoccupation prevented them from seeing the signs of an impending danger from the "heavens". By the time they had noticed it, it was too late. [[Shaun Hastings]] and [[Lucy Stillman]] later hypothesized that this danger could have been a massive solar flare that flipped the Earth's weakening magnetic field, reversing the polarity and making the planet geologically unstable. This hypothesis was supported by evidence found by [[Subject 16]]:

*"Near the day of purification, there will be cobwebs spun back and forth in the sky. - Hopi"
*"A container of ashes might one day be thrown from the sky, which could burn the land and boil the oceans. - Hopi"
*"They died in the fire from the heavens."
*"[[Toba catastrophe|75ka was not a volcano]]."<ref name="Assassin's Creed II" />

===Aftermath===
{{Quote|You may not comprehend us, but you will comprehend our warning. […] And as life returned to the world, we endeavored to ensure that this tragedy would not be repeated.|Minerva to [[Desmond Miles]], through the memories of [[Ezio Auditore da Firenze]]|Assassin's Creed II}} While both races survived the catastrophe, few of either species remained. Working together, they rebuilt their world, though humanity continued to view Minerva's kind as gods. Despite their survival, Those Who Came Before were unable to fully recover and began heading toward extinction. They knew however, that the catastrophe that had burned their world before would eventually reoccur and so they took steps to prevent it, recording a holographic, yet interactive, message to serve as a warning to those who entered [[the Vault]]. In it, Minerva warned of the impending doom, and spoke of the [[Temples]] that could save Earth from destruction, built by those who "knew to turn away from war."<ref name="Assassin's Creed II" />

Delivering their message to the Assassin Desmond Miles, who was viewing the memories of his ancestor [[Ezio Auditore da Firenze]], Minerva warned that time was short, and that "[[Templars|the Cross]]" would stand in their way. With the deliverance of that message, one of the last remaining vestiges of the First Civilization died away; confirming that the gods had finally become extinct<ref name="Assassin's Creed II" />.

==Legacy==
{{Quote|They're gifts, Mr. Miles. From those who came before.|Dr. [[Warren Vidic]]|Assassin's Creed}}
Despite the mark they left behind on Earth, the First Civilization faded into obscurity rapidly after their decline; the inability of humans to comprehend their creators as anything but Gods did however allow their names at least, to live on. The lack of evidence for their existence did not prevent all humans from learning about them however, and by the 21st Century, the Knights Templar had a limited understanding of the nature of those who had lived before<ref name="Assassin's Creed" />. Indeed, the technology used to view the genetic memories of ones ancestor – the [[Animus]] – was based off technology utilized by the First Civilization<ref name="Assassin's Creed II" />.

The Templars also knew of the existence of the Pieces of Eden, and regarded them as gifts left behind by the First Civilization for them to utilize<ref name="Assassin's Creed" />. This situation was in significant contrast to the situation in the 15th Century, where it had been the Assassins who knew explicitly of the existence of Those Who Came Before, whilst the Templar Grand Master [[Rodrigo Borgia]] merely believed the Vault to be the location of God himself. This changed however, and five hundred years later, the Order of Assassins knew next to nothing of the First Civilization's existance.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II" />

==Characteristics==
{{Quote|The rest is up to you, Desmond.|Minerva to Desmond Miles, through the memories of Ezio Auditore da Firenze|Assassin's Creed II}}
The First Civilization were a technologically advanced and powerful race, who seemed to possess precognitive abilities; either natural or technological. This was proven during Minerva's conversation with Ezio Auditore, within The Vault in Rome. Minerva revealed that Ezio was simply a conduit which allowed Minerva to speak to [[Desmond Miles]], who was viewing his ancestor's memories. Furthermore, [[Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad]] mentioned in [[the Codex]] that his Piece of Eden not only possessed a catalogue of past events, but also future events, implying that the Pieces contain predictions made by Those Who Came Before<ref name="Assassin's Creed II" />.

Those Who Came Before also have connections with many of Earth's religions, and likely influenced their developments directly. During her warning to Desmond, [[Minerva]] made mention of her former names, as well of those of her fellow "Gods"; Menrva, Uni and Tinia, who later became known as Minerva, Juno and Jupiter, respectively. The former names correspond to the Etruscan Triad of Deities, while the latter are the names of their Roman counterparts, who make up the Capitoline Triad. This shift in names may be indicative why various religions have numerous similarities, as they are all based on the story of Those Who Came Before<ref name="Assassin's Creed II" />.

Unlike the human creations, who were created with only five senses, members of the First Civilization possessed six; the sixth being "knowledge". Following the catastrophe that set the First Civilization on the path to extinction, a concerted effort was made to pass on this sixth sense to humanity, their "final, faultered hope." Ultimately however, they failed; though humanity could ''"''[…]''see the blue shimmer ''[and] ''hear the words,"'' they did not fully possess the "knowledge" of their creators, convincing some, like [[Juno]], that humanity should have simply been left as they were.<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood" />

===Bloodline===
{{Quote|Why do we have these gifts, these abilities? Because it's in our blood! […] The seeds were planted as two world became one. Behold the Assassins, the children of two worlds!|[[Subject Sixteen]]|Assassin's Creed II}}
The mysterious individual known only as [[Subject 16]] at one point theorized that the true reason behind the [[Eagle Vision|abilities]] of some Assassins was genetic, suggesting a lineage including both human and creator blood. 16's own [[The Truth|genetic memories]] indicated him to be a direct descendant of both Adam and Eve, suggesting that his bloodline, if not many more, would all have access to these abilities. Indeed, Subject 16, Altaïr, Ezio and Desmond Miles all possessed [[Eagle Vision]], while Ezio and Altaïr both showed themselves resistant to the effects of the Apple<ref name="Assassin's Creed" /><ref name="Assassin's Creed II" />. In addition, Ezio was able to use the Staff and the Apple to open The Vault, while Rodrigo Borgia could not<ref name="Assassin's Creed II" />, and Altaïr had previously used the Apple to enlighten the people of Cyprus to [[Armand Bouchart]]'s lies<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Bloodlines]]''</ref>.

==Trivia==
*Though they play an important part in the plot of ''[[Assassin's Creed II]]'', Those Who Came Before are first mentioned briefly, by [[Warren Vidic]] in ''[[Assassin's Creed]]''. When talking to Desmond, Vidic claims that the Knights Templar are responsible for all major human technological advances in history, though he denies that they invented them, calling them "gifts… from those who came before."
*The story of those who came before (creating humanity as a docile workforce and being viewed as gods) bears striking similarity to the ancient astronaut theory, the idea that extraterrestrials visited the earth in ancient times and genetically altered an existing species to create humanity and were seen as gods by their creations.

==Notes and references==
{{reflist}}

{{ACII}}

[[es:Aquellos Que Vinieron Antes]]
[[Category:Factions]]
[[Category:Species]]

The Truth

2011-01-25T02:48:29Z

201.167.58.51: /* Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood */

{{quote|Hello. This is...they call me Subject 16. Listen, I don't have much time - there's something I have to show you. We have been lied to this whole time; everything we know, everything we've been brought up to believe - it's wrong.|Subject 16}}

'''The Truth''' is a side-quest which appears in both Assassin's Creed II and Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood. They were created by Subject 16 with the intent to enlighten and possibly warn Desmond. In both instances, The Truth files can been unlocked by uncovering a series of glyphs throughout the world and solving their corrosponding puzzles.

==Assassin's Creed II==

In ''[[Assassin's Creed II]]'' there are 20 glyphs in all, and successfully unlocking each one will give a bit more insight into the Origins of the [[Templars]], the [[Assassins]], and the [[Piece of Eden]]. However until all of the videos are unlocked, each of the individual twenty videos are extremely brief, barely a second long.[[File:7651.assassins3.jpg|thumb|A scene from the Truth video.]]

In the video, [[Adam and Eve]], dressed in skin colored bodysuits seemingly making them appear that they are nude, are seen running from something. They move through an open area which may be The Garden of Eden. The scenery is a mixture between flora, a shiny blue material that resembles glass, and a white surface which sounds like stone. The garden is decorated in a very futuristic style which is a strong contrast against the biblical setting. Moving through a circular automatic door, Adam and Eve use free-running (similar to that used by the [[Assassins]]) to climb a large, futuristic looking building. While they are climbing the building, the silhouette of a humanoid (who appears to be floating) can be seen holding a [[Piece of Eden]] to control several human slaves. These workers appear to be in an environment similar to that of a metal refinery, with one slave in the foreground clearly using a hammer to shape a metal object. The brief appearance of the silhouette is visually similar to [[Minerva]], sharing the flowing clothes and glowing emblem on the headgear. [[Adam and Eve]] continue climbing until they reach the roof of the building. The camera zooms outwards, revealing many other futuristic buildings surrounding them. Further in the background, a mountain is clearly visible, while there is little other elevation in land elsewhere. The terrain is lush, and large forest boundaries are visible. Eve can then be seen to be holding a [[Piece of Eden]]. Eve then says "Adam, I have it!", Adam acknowledges Eve, calling out her name, both turn to look at what was presumably chasing them, and the memory ends with Eve warning Adam "Look out!" and binary code flashes up. The numbers read: "EDEN".

These glyphs are based upon the markings left behind in ''[[Assassin's Creed]]'', which were left behind by [[Subject 16]], and written in his blood. Many of these glyphs can be recognized as the [[Cryptic Messages]] from the previous game, and can only be seen with [[Eagle Vision|eagle vision]].

==Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood==
In Brotherhood each of the Glyphs must be ''climbed'' instead of just find them and press the interact button, they retain the spin pictures and picture finder puzzles but also they now have chess, and a different kind of picture puzzles.

Each of ''The truth'' videos is a series of seemingly corrupted data with some words on the top left corner that when all videos are unlocked read ''The miracle is on the execution''.

after unlocking all of the videos, a VR-like room will be played as desmond and when the players finish it they will encounter what seems to be subject 16 and have a brief conversation with him.

== Trivia ==
[[File:Mt Kilimanjaro.jpg|thumb|255px|Mount Kilimanjaro bears a strong resemblance to the Mountain in the Truth Video]]
*The mountain in the video bears a striking resemblance to Mount Kilimanjaro, thus placing the scene in Africa. This would make sense, as humanity is said to originate from Africa (specifically mid-Africa, the rough location of Kilimanjaro). The [[codex]] map also shows that a Piece of Eden was located in the vicinity of Kilimanjaro. Supporting this theory even further is [[Lucy Stillman|Lucy]]'s mention of [[Warren Vidic|Vidic]] tagging memories in ancient Africa.
*The video seems to take place immediately before the human rebellion and subsequent war. As Adam and Eve seem to have taken The Apple without permission, and are probably trying to escape with it, one can assume that they had started the rebellion.
*At the end of the video, a block of binary code can be seen briefly. The code is "01000101 01000100 01000101 01001110" which translates to EDEN. Another point of interest is that there are 20 zeroes and 12 ones, a reference to the supposed doomsday year of 2012.
*The viewing angle of the camera suggests that the video is a recording of one of Subject 16's [[Animus]] sessions. This in turn would indicate a direct lineage between 16 (and perhaps even Desmond), with Adam and/or Eve.
*The music being played during Adam and Eve's escape from Eden in the video is the same music that plays while Desmond and Lucy are escaping [[Abstergo Industries|Abstergo]] at the beginning of ''Assassin's Creed II,'' and when [[Ezio Auditore Da Firenze|Ezio]] is running away from the guards after the execution of [[Petruccio Auditore da Firenze|Petruccio]], [[Federico Auditore da Firenze|Federico]], and [[Giovanni Auditore da Firenze|Giovanni]] at the hands of [[Uberto Alberti]]. It's also the "Open Conflict" song of [[Forlì]]. It is entitled "Wetlands Escape" on the ''Assassin's Creed II'' Original Game Soundtrack.
*In the PS3 version, Eve does not say, "Look out!" At that point, it is just silent and the binary for "Eden" appears.
*There are only 10 puzzles in ''[[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood]]'', though they are not hidden behind glyphs, but appear to be rifts in the memory that allow one to enter the programming of the Animus itself.
*On the back of the case for ''Assassin's Creed II'', it says "The Truth Is Written In Blood". The side-quest is "The Truth", and Subject 16 is the cause for the glyphs which give you the side-quest, and he had written in blood at Abstergo.

== Video ==
[[Video:Assassin's Creed II - The Truth Video (HD)|thumb|left|300px|The Truth - AC II]][[Video:Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood The Truth|thumb|right|300px|The Truth - AC: Brotherhood]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed II]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed II Gameplay]]

Leonardo da Vinci

2011-01-25T00:40:17Z

201.167.58.51: /* Trivia */

{{Era|AC2|Ren}} {{WP-REAL}}

{{Character Infobox
|name = Leonardo di ser Piero da Vinci
|image = Leonardo.png
|imgdesc = Leonardo da Vinci in the Animus database.
|birth = 15 April 1452 [[wikipedia:Vinci|Vinci]], [[Italy]]
|death = 2 May 1519 [[wikipedia:Amboise|Amboise]], [[wikipedia:France|France]]
|faction = [[Assassins]]
|appear = ''[[Assassin's Creed II]]'' ''[[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood]]''
|period = [[Renaissance|Italian Renaissance (15th century)]]
|voice = [[Carlos Ferro]]
}}

{{quote|Ezio! So good to see you! How can I be of service?|Leonardo’s greeting to Ezio|Assassin's Creed II}}

'''Leonardo di ser Piero da Vinci''' (April 15, 1452 – May 2, 1519) was an [[Italy|Italian]] polymath: painter, sculptor, architect, musician, scientist, mathematician, engineer, inventor, anatomist, geologist, botanist, writer, and best friend of the [[Assassin]] [[Ezio|Ezio Auditore]] in the Italian [[Renaissance]].
==Biography==
===Early life===
[[File:Leonardoartwork1.jpg|thumb|150px|left|Leonardo's concept art]]
Leonardo da Vinci was born out of wedlock in Vinci, Italy, a town outside of [[Florence]], in 1452, to a Florentine notary named [[wikipedia:Piero da Vinci|Piero da Vinci]] and a local woman named Caterina. He spent most of his early childhood in nearby rural [[Tuscany]] so as to spare his father the embarrassment of a scandal. However, young Leonardo's innate artistic prowess was obvious to his elders even then, and when he turned fourteen he was returned to Florence, apprenticed to the workshop of renowned painter [[Andrea del Verrocchio]]; while there, he is said to have collaborated with the Verroccio on his masterpiece, ''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baptism_of_Christ Baptism of Christ]''.

===Florence===
At age 20, Leonardo was titled a master by the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guild_of_St_Luke Guild of Saint Luke], and opened his first workshop in Florence where he continued to collaborate with his old master. During his time there, he also befriended the [[House of Auditore|Auditore]] family.

In 1476, Leonardo met Ezio Auditore when the latter accompanied his [[Maria Auditore da Firenze|mother]] to pick up some paintings from Leonardo’s workshop. On the way back to the [[Palazzo Auditore]], Leonardo and Ezio conversed about his work, which sparked the lifelong friendship between the two young men.

After the execution of [[Giovanni Auditore da Firenze|Giovanni]], [[Federico Auditore da Firenze|Federico]], and [[Petruccio Auditore da Firenze|Petruccio Auditore]], Leonardo met Ezio once again, greeting him with a brotherly embrace. He was then requested by Ezio to repair the [[Hidden Blade]] and was immediately fascinated by its sophisticated and advanced design, despite its old age. After what is apparently several hours of work (as Ezio is shown to have fallen asleep for some time), Leonardo finally finished the repairs to the Hidden Blade. Just before handing the weapon over to Ezio, Leonardo claimed that Ezio's ring finger had to be removed because "the blade is designed to ensure the commitment of whoever wields it." It is shown that he was simply joking however, as the blade had been modified so that the removal of the finger was no longer necessary. Immediately after this, a Florentine guard took Leonardo into the latter's yard for interrogation, throwing him to the ground and kicking him several times in order to extract Ezio's whereabouts. Ezio promptly sneaked up behind the guard and assassinated him with his new weapon, before hiding the body inside the workshop with others that Leonardo used for anatomical research.

[[File:Leonardo_workshop.jpg|thumb|250px|An overview of Leonardo's workshop.]]

Leonardo and Ezio didn't meet again until 1478, when Ezio visited him with another codex page attained from his uncle [[Mario Auditore]]. He deciphered the page and, while Ezio practiced the new [[Assassination Techniques|assassination techniques]] explained on the page, constructed a second Hidden Blade to be put at his friend's disposal. This was when Ezio inquired about [[Francesco de' Pazzi]], which prompted Leonardo to discreetly tell him that he needed to seek out [[La Volpe]] (“the fox”). After this, Leonardo appeared at several instances in which Ezio simply visited him to decipher codex pages.

After Ezio stopped the [[Pazzi conspiracy]], he received another codex page from [[Lorenzo de' Medici]] and again visited Leonardo in order to have it deciphered. He was astonished by the new [[Poison Blade|blade design]], as it has been developed to allow the wielder to inject poison into their enemies.

Leonardo met Ezio again in the [[Apennine Mountains]] after the fall of the Pazzi Conspirators. He was faced with the problem of a broken [[wagon]] wheel and asked Ezio to lift the carriage, causing him to notice the contraption in the back. This was the first conversation in which Leonardo mentioned his [[Flying Machine]]. Amused by Leonardo’s idea, Ezio offered to drive, and they set off for [[Romagna]]. During the trip, the wagon was attacked by the soldiers of [[Rodrigo Borgia]], threatening their lives all the way through the Mountains. At the end of the trail, Ezio stayed behind to deal with the soldiers so Leonardo can get to Romagna safely. They met back up at the docks in Romagna where they were scheduled to set sail for Venice, after Ezio went through an ordeal involving [[Caterina Sforza]].

===Venice===

[[File:Leonardo's_Flying_machine_Design.jpg|left|thumb|Leonardo's Flying machine drawing]]
Upon arrival in Venice, Leonardo and Ezio were given a tour of the city by a baggage handler by the name of [[Alvise da Vilandino]] before being led to his new workshop. He and Ezio parted ways there with a brotherly embrace.

Ezio again consulted Leonardo for his expertise, but this time for something other than decryption. He inquired about Leonardo’s Flying Machine that he learned of on the way to Romagna in order to invade the [[Palazzo Ducale]] so that he can rescue [[Giovanni Mocenigo|Doge Mocenigo]] from the [[Templar]] [[Carlo Grimaldi]]. After one test flight, Leonardo deemed the machine useless and flew into a fit of rage, but was then inspired by a piece of burnt paper floating from the fire. He concluded that in order for Ezio to reach his destination, they had to light a dozen fires across the city which would cause the air to rise, therefore lifting the machine.

After being accused of the murder of the Doge, Ezio came to Leonardo asking for a [[Carnevale]] mask so that he wouldn't be noticed as the most wanted man in Venice. He also bore another codex page, much to Leonardo's interest, as he discovered it contains plans for a small [[Pistol|firearm]] that could be concealed on Ezio's wrist. After testing the pistol, Leonardo gave Ezio the mask he requested and pointed him in the direction of Sister [[Teodora]] and [[Antonio de Magianis]] so that he could plot to assassinate the new Doge: the Templar [[Marco Barbarigo]].

Leonardo and Ezio met again briefly outside the workshop, just after Ezio discovered the Templar ship was returning the next day. Leonardo pointed out several key facts that he discovered piecing together the markings on the backs of the codex pages such as the arrival of a 'prophet' on the day the [[Piece of Eden]] was brought to the floating city (Venice).

In 1488, Ezio, Mario, and [[Niccolò Machiavelli]] visited Leonardo to see if he was able to make sense of the Apple which they had successfully obtained from Rodrigo Borgia. To their dismay, he couldn't learn any more about it than the Assassins and, following its accidental activation, it was decided that it should be taken to [[Forlì]] to be kept out of Templar hands. Mario also asked Leonardo to come and visit him at the [[Auditore Family Villa]], which he did at least once, in 1499.

===Rome===
In 1500, Leonardo was forcibly pressed into designing several [[War Machines|war machines]] for [[Cesare Borgia]], son of Rodrigo Borgia, who was in turn [[Grand Master of the Templar Order]]. Additionally, he was also forced to fashion the ''pistola'' used to kill Mario Auditore, and possibly the firearms used by the [[Papal Guards]], and by Cesare in the [[Siege of Viana]]. Despite this, Leonardo remained an ally of the Assassins, privately informing Ezio of Cesare's plans, and also turning over the locations of the Templars overseeing the war machines.

To avoid Templar scrutiny, Leonardo and Ezio would meet at different locations, often by Leonardo drawing a picture of a hand on a bench as a signal for Ezio to wait for him there. Over time, Leonardo agreed to reconstruct a second, smaller Hidden Blade that could fit against a standard glove to replace the one Ezio had lost during the [[Siege of Monteriggioni]], along with a [[Climb Leap Glove|reinforced glove]] to allow Ezio to climb leap, and a forearm-mounted [[Poison darts|poison dart]] launcher. However, due to being paid "very little" by the Templars, he would need Ezio to pay him for the raw materials. After the war machines were finally destroyed, he also agreed to design a [[Parachutes|parachute]] that could also be built by sympathetic Roman [[Tailors]], though his design (or at least the materials used) would not survive the landings, and would need to be replaced after every use.

When the Assassins finally secured the Apple of Eden from the Borgia, Ezio and Leonardo met at the [[Assassins Guild]] on [[Tiber Island]]. Leonardo mourned the need to lock away the Apple, likening it to a masterpiece being hidden away from the world, though he did not oppose Ezio's decision. Additionally, as Leonardo's patron had been arrested and his income was still meager, Ezio turned over a sum of money to his friend, and they parted on good terms.<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood">''[[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood]]''</ref>

===Legacy===
[[File:Leo.JPG|thumb|An in-game model of Leonardo da Vinci.]]
He later worked in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bologna Bologna] and spent his last years in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France France], at the home awarded him by Francis I. He took his most famous painting, the ''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mona_Lisa Mona Lisa]'', with him when he retired to France in 1513. He died May 2, 1519. The exact cause of his death is unknown, but could presumably have been a blood infection, due to him suffering from [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gout Gout].

Leonardo is renowned primarily as a painter. Two of his works, the Mona Lisa and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Last_Supper The Last Supper], are the most famous, most reproduced and most parodied portrait and religious painting of all time, [[File:Mo.jpeg|thumb|left|The Mona Lisa]]{{Era|AC2|Ren}}their fame approached only by [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michaelangelo Michelangelo's] [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Creation_of_Adam Creation of Adam]. Leonardo's drawing of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vitruvian_Man Vitruvian Man] is also regarded as a cultural icon.
Perhaps fifteen of his paintings survive, the small number due to his constant, and frequently disastrous, experimentation with new techniques and his chronic procrastination. Nevertheless, these few works, together with his notebooks, which contain drawings, scientific diagrams and his thoughts on the nature of painting, are an invaluable contribution to later generations of artists; indeed, Da Vinci could arguably be considered the most iconic artist of the Italian Renaissance, with only a handful of his contemporaries (most notably Leonardo's chief artistic rival and fellow Florentine, Michelangelo Buonarroti) posing a realistic challenge. Leonardo is revered for his technological ingenuity. He conceptualised a helicopter, a tank, concentrated solar power, a calculator, the double hull and outlined a rudimentary theory of plate tectonics. Relatively few of his designs were constructed or even feasible during his lifetime, but some of his smaller inventions, such as an automated bobbin winder and a machine for testing the tensile strength of wire, entered the world of manufacturing unheralded. As a scientist, he greatly advanced the state of knowledge in the fields of anatomy, civil engineering, optics and hydrodynamics.

==Characteristics and personality==
His portrayal in ''Assassin's Creed II'' depicts Leonardo da Vinci as a cheerful and optimistic man. Ezio is his best friend, and as such, he treats him like a brother and has taken great risks to protect him, even though he says later in the game that courage is not his strong suit.

Despite being an accomplished and respected artist, as well as deeply curious about the world's wonders, Leonardo da Vinci was also a chronic procrastinator. Most of his commissioned works took years longer than anticipated, and many were never even finished. It is possible that this was because he did not feel his work to be important enough to devote his life to, as when he meets Ezio, he complains that it lacks purpose and he wishes to do something which has more impact on the world, such as architecture. Regardless, when Leonardo is intrigued by something, he becomes insatiably curious and often impossible to communicate with, as demonstrated when Ezio first brings him [[Altaïr|Altaïr Ibn'La-Ahad]]'s [[Codex Pages|Codex pages]] for decryption.

==Trivia==
[[Video:Assassin's Creed 2 - Focus On|thumb|250px|Leonardo da Vinci - Genius Inventor]]
*All of Leonardo's modifications on previously existing Assassin gear are based on designs detailed in Altaïr's Codex. It is possibly from these that Leonardo also designed some of his other inventions.
*Leonardo and Giovanni Auditore are the only known characters that can decipher and translate Altaïr's Codex.
*In ''Assassin's Creed II'', like other main characters, Leonardo's appearance does not change throughout the 23 years he is shown in the game, from his first encounter to the decoding of the Codex in the villa in 1499, this however was fixed in brotherhood, as he is shown with a beard and other features of old age.
*The cut-scene when Ezio visits Leonardo is the same each time (even after Leonardo moves to Venice), except when the Codex pages provide new modifications to Ezio's equipment.
*Interestingly, in author Dan Brown's novel [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Da_Vinci_Code The Da Vinci Code], it is suggested that Leonardo da Vinci was the [[Grand Master]] of a secret society known as ''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Priory_of_sion The Priory of Sion]'', an organization that was allegedly connected with the Knights Templar.
*Historically, Leonardo would later become a close friend and military engineer for Cesare Borgia, son of Rodrigo Borgia.
*When Ezio accidentally activates the [[Apple of Eden]], images similar to Leonardo's later designs for the tank can be briefly glimpsed. This experience may have provided him with the ideas for his later inventions.
*Also, when the Apple is activated, Ezio and Leonardo are able to stand, although blinded by the light. Mario and Machiavelli are crippled by the noise and unable to stand.
*Ezio uses a wheel-lock firearm, based on a design found in the Codex pages, which historically wasn't developed until just after the time-frame of the game. Historically, Leonardo designed some of the first wheel-lock firearms.
*Leonardo had no surname; "da Vinci" simply means "from Vinci," identifying his homeland.
*Many gamers regret not hugging Leonardo in Venice during the quicktime event.<ref>[http://www.livescience.com/culture/assassins-creed-virtual-rome-renaissance-scholar-101112.html A Renaissance Scholar Helps Build Virtual Rome, ''Live Science'' article]</ref>
*Eight of the thirty collectable [[Paintings]] that are placed in the Villa Auditore were painted by da Vinci.
[[File:Mapofimola.jpg|thumb|left|Leonardo's map of Imola]]
*A map of the city of Imola that Leonardo drew for Cesare Borgia appears frequently in ''Assassin's Creed II''; on a wall in the [[Hideout]], in Leonardo's workshop, as the Codex map that Caterina gives to Ezio, and in a [[Lairs of Romulus|Lair of Romulus]], on the ground.
*In ''Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood'', after Leonardo mentions his work on the ''Mona Lisa'', Ezio warns him not to allow pretty girls to distract him from making the designs he needs. His arm around him, Leonardo lightly assures Ezio that women would ''"provide little distraction"'' to his work, to which Ezio replies, ''"Wait, I don't get it."'' This is a reference to the widely-held belief that the real-life da Vinci was a homosexual. Another reference is that sometimes when Ezio hugs him, his head leans on Ezio's shoulder.
*In one of Ezio Auditore's [[Cristina Memories]] in Venice, Leonardo tells Ezio that [[Cristina Vespucci|Cristina]] was attending Carnevale; even hinting that they might be close, despite Leonardo having nothing to do with Cristina in the rest of the story.
*In ''Assassin's Creed II'' Leonardo is shown as right-handed, but in ''Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood'', he is left-handed, as he was known to be in real life.
*In the [[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood (novel)|novel for ''Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood'']], Leonardo is invited to join the Brotherhood. However, he declines, saying that though he will always support their goals, he is on a different path, one that is solitary.
*The only time the player can explore Leonardo's Workshop is in [[Ace Up My Sleeve]].
*Leonardo had dyslexia in reality, this is possibly why he viewed certain things from a different perspective.

==Gallery==
<gallery widths="150" captionalign="left">
EzioLeo2.jpg|Ezio and Leonardo on the ship to Venice.
Codexleo.png|Ezio hands Leonardo a codex page.
Zw-bof2.png|Leonardo studies the Apple of Eden.
LeonardoJH.jpg|Leonardo as he appears in ''Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood''.
Zw-acb-Leonardo-2.png|Leonardo first greeting Ezio in Rome.
Zw-acb-Leonardo-1.png
</gallery>

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Vinci, Leonardo da}}
[[Category:Characters]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed II Characters]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed: Ascendance Characters]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood Characters]]
[[Category:Historical Characters]]

Apple of Eden 6

2011-01-24T23:37:33Z

201.167.58.51: /* Abilities */

[[File:Altair_Apple.jpg|thumb|300px|Altaïr holding the Apple of Eden to calm a mob.]]
The presumed '''Sixth Apple''' is the focal [[Piece of Eden]] throughout the ''[[Assassin's Creed series]]''. It is never issued a number, unlike the other five Apples described in [[Subject 16]]'s [[Glyphs|Glyph]] puzzles. The Sixth Apple was originally found in the [[Ark of the Covenant]] in [[Solomon's Temple]] by [[Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad]] and [[Malik A-Sayf]] in ''[[Assassin's Creed]]''.<ref name="Assassin's Creed">''[[Assassin's Creed]]''</ref> It is a piece of ancient but technologically advanced equipment created by [[Those Who Came Before]] to manipulate their workforce, [[Humans|human-kind]].

'''Use:''' Designed to create illusions and to control human minds, and can be used in conjunction with [[the Staff]] (presumably as can other Apples). Also contains knowledge of many technologies used by Those Who Came Before.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II">''[[Assassin's Creed II]]''</ref>

'''Status:''' Hidden by [[Ezio Auditore]] in a [[the Vault|First Civilization Vault]] below the [[Santa Maria Aracoeli]] in [[Rome]] between 1503 and 1507. Uncovered by [[Desmond Miles]] in [[Modern Times|October 2012]].<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood">''[[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood]]''</ref>

==Known Owners==
[[File:AppleOfEden.jpg|thumb|250px|Ezio with the Apple.]]
*[[Those Who Came Before]] (? - ?)<ref name="Assassin's Creed II" />
*[[Al Mualim]] (1191)<ref name="Assassin's Creed" />
*[[Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad]] (1191 - ?)<ref name="Assassin's Creed" /><ref name="Assassin's Creed: Bloodlines">''[[Assassin's Creed: Bloodlines]]''</ref>
*[[Ezio Auditore da Firenze]] (1488)<ref name="Assassin's Creed II" />
*[[Checco Orsi]] (1488)<ref name="Assassin's Creed II" />
*[[Girolamo Savonarola]] (1488 - 1498)<ref name="Assassin's Creed II" />
*Ezio Auditore da Firenze (1498 - December 1499)<ref name="Assassin's Creed II" /><ref name="Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood">''[[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood]]''</ref>
*[[Mario Auditore]] (December 1499 - January 1500)<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood" />
*[[Cesare Borgia]] (January 1500 - 1503)<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood" />
*[[Rodrigo Borgia]] (1503)<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood" />
*Ezio Auditore da Firenze (1503 - 1507)<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood" />
*[[Desmond Miles]] (2012 - ?)<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood" />

==History==
{{main|The Apple's Journey}}
After escaping [[Vaticano District|the Vatican]], Ezio and Mario took to the rooftops and made their way to a high tower overlooking the [[Tiber River]]. Once there, Ezio withdrew the Apple of Eden from his cloak and prepared to drop it into the river, however, he hesitated. Acknowledging that destroying such a powerful artifact wasn’t a decision to be taken lightly, Mario offered to keep the Apple safe until Ezio had made up his mind, and the two rode back to their base of operations in the fortress town of [[Monteriggioni]].<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood" />

During the [[Siege of Monteriggioni]], Mario was killed by Cesare Borgia, who took the Apple for himself. Four years later, Ezio managed to retrieve the Apple from where it had been hidden by Rodrigo Borgia, in St. Peter's Basilica. He used it to demilitarize Cesare's army, and look into the future to locate Cesare in [[Viana]] in 1507. Realizing the power of the Apple, Ezio hid the Apple in a [[Santa Maria Aracoeli Vault|First Civilization Vault]] beneath the [[Santa Maria Aracoeli]], in central Rome.<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood" />

==Abilities==
[[File:Al_Mualim_9_copies.jpg|thumb|250px|Al Mualim creating copies of himself, while restricting Altaïr's movements.]]
In ''[[Assassin's Creed]]'', the Apple is used by Al Mualim to coerce the members of the Assassin Order into obeying his will, namely, killing Altaïr. The Apple is also used for neural paralysis, the creation of up to nine hologram doubles, and the partial blindness of any target. At the end of the game, the Apple reveals a map of the world indicating the locations of various Pieces of Eden.<ref name="Assassin's Creed" />

In ''[[Assassin's Creed II]]'', Ezio used the Apple in Rome to dispel the effects of the Staff, as well as to create four hologram doubles. While these doubles could not deal damage, they were able to distract Rodrigo during their battle. After Rodrigo stole the Apple, he combined it with the Staff of Eden to paralyze Ezio, then to create the key to [[The Vault]], which he claimed held a "god-felling weapon." In the vault, Minerva upgraded the Apple.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II" />

In ''[[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood]]'', Ezio is able to use the Apple as a '''TEMPORARY''' weapon. By charging the Apple, a golden perimeter spreads around him, followed by a smaller, white perimeter; though these circles decrease slightly upon release. Enemies within the golden circle of effect will proceed to fight each other, while enemies in the white circle will fall to the ground in agony, which is depicted as a kill-by-insanity. The Apple can also be used in a counter-attack, where briefly activating its effects just as an enemy attacks results in an instant kill.<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood" />

Using the Apple will drain the player's health, with a greater area of effect draining a greater amount of health; though health will recover faster over time. Whether this is due to overuse of the Apple, or of a desynchronization between Desmond's and Ezio's memories, is unknown.<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood" />

==Trivia==
* The Apple affects and can potentially kill almost anyone, including allies (such as [[Mercenaries|mercenaries]] and [[Apprentices|Assassin recruits]]) and [[civilians]].
* The Apple was mentioned iconically in many religious writings; most notably as the "fruit of knowledge" in the garden of Eden.

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{PoE}}
[[Category:Pieces of Eden]]