Assassin's Creed Wiki - User contributions [en-gb]

Social stealth

2009-11-19T12:07:30Z

66.179.208.36:

[[File:Icons hud.jpg|thumb|px|right|The Stealth Meter (top to bottom): Unaware, Watched, Alert and Detected]]
'''Social Stealth''', or how uncounspicous one can remain in public environments, is a main ability to a successful assassin.

=Philosophy=

A true master assassin knows that people cannot approprietally prepare themselves to a invisible strike. For the true assassin, remaining unexposed is the safest way to move about without catching the city guards' attention, arousing the crowd or alerting the target. Therefore, avoiding attention at all times is key to a Hashashin's survival during an assassination mission.

As the second tenet of the "The Creed", remaining anonymous is a top priority at all times and it is required within the Assassins Order, since investigations and assassinations have a way larger chance of success when no one knows from where comes the blunt. To understand the people and know extensively how use that element to your advantage during your endeavours is the key. Let them mask your approach during assassinations and reveal yourself only when absolutely certain, using the crowd to creat distractions and moving for the kill when everyone's attention are in something else that not you.

Either performing silently executions or public assassinations, one must strike at the most appropriate moment, time and place where he can not only hit, but also run or hold his ground if necessary be. Normally approaching someone from behind and putting a [[Hidden Blade|hidden blade]] between their ribs or gently pushing past a crownd and bursting through the guards on a rampage charge at the target's head, social stealth mastery is indispensable. Mastering the kill is your priority, mastering the approach should be too.

=In-Game=

==Assassin's Creed==

A major theme in this game is '''social stealth'''. Other games have worked with the idea of stealth play while out in the open, notably the disguises in the Hitman series, but few if any have included the crowd dynamics found in [[Assassin's Creed]].

The social stealth system keeps track of how much attention is being paid to Altaïr and his actions. Citizens and guards will react anyway you treat and interact with them. While walking around the city and kingdom, you can either force people out of the way and to the ground or you can gently push past them. The first will attract a lot of attention in your direction but get you through the crowd more quickly, and the person you knocked to the ground may get up and push you back risking exposure if close to a assassination target. Gently pushing past or moving past people will attract no attention but will take more time. Any socially unacceptable behavior will also increase the attention that people pay you. If you quickly climb the front of a building then you will attract a lot of attention, as will jumping from a rooftop and landing in a crowd. Slowly climbing a ladder or dropping quietly into the street will attract much less attention when moving about. Remaining anonymous, completely avoiding all arousing suspicion and publicly expressing only socially acceptable behavior will allow for safe travel through city streets.

With the social stealth system you won't find any shadows to hide in if you are being chased by guards. Instead you have to escape their sight and then blend in with the surrounding crowd, like joining a group of scholars or ducking into a rooftop garden. The [[scholars]] have the added benefit of being a mobile source of social camouflage. Other places to hide include bales of hay and even benches (while sitting between two people). The public is your greatest ally when used properly.

Remaining anonymous will also refill your sync bar. If you attract too much attention, the omnipresent guards will recognize you as an assassin and try to kill you, ruining your anonymity, and forcing you to hide. The guards are implacable and to a large degree always scanning the crowd for your presence another reason to remain one with the crowd, if easily dispatched, foes who will follow you over rooftops and chase you through streets, often while gathering reinforcements. A very important (slow paced) but guaranteed way to assure anonymity is to Blend. Dressed as a religious scholar Altaïr's mannerisms mimic theirs, an example folding the hands and being in the prayer stance ensures very slow yet extremely safe passage.

==Assassin's Creed 2==

"Assassin's 2"'s social stealth engine seems to be unchanged, but still largely improved. Crowds are more intelligent, you can ask people to distract targets and other places like carts of fish and jumping into water can be used to lose the guards, although some smarter soldiers may search the hay carts to check if the player is hidden there.

{{AC}}
[[Category:Gameplay]]

Animus Project laboratory

2009-11-18T12:01:59Z

66.179.208.36: /* Layout */

'''Abstergo laboratory''' is a special laboratory built by [[Abstergo Industries]] specifically for their [[Animus]] project. The Animus device itself is located in a the center of the laboratory, with [[Warren Vidic]]'s desk located nearby, overlooking the Animus machine. Besides the Animus chamber, this laboratory consists of other rooms and devices such as conference room, bedroom, bathroom, and Animus terminal.

==Layout==
{|border="1" cellpadding="2" style="text-align:center"
!width="250"|Picture
!width="200"|Name
!width="300"|Description
|-
|[[File:Lab animus chamber.JPG]]
|Animus Chamber
|The centerpiece device, Animus, is located at the center of this chamber
|-
|[[File:Lab animus terminal.JPG]]
|Animus Computer Terminal
|Computer terminal that is connected to the Animus, to monitor the Animus as it progress
|-
|[[File:Lab conference room.JPG]]
|Conference Room
|This room is off-limits to [[Desmond Miles|Desmond]], and a special key is required to enter the room
|-
|[[File:Lab conference computer.JPG]]
|Conference Computer
|Computer that is placed inside the conference room
|-
|[[File:Lab vidic laptop.JPG]]
|Vidic's laptop
|Placed nearby the Animus device to enable Warren Vidic to overlook the Animus' progress
|-
|[[File:Lab bedroom.JPG]]
|Bedroom
|Desmond's bedroom inside the laboratory. Special key is required to lock and unlock the door.
|-
|[[File:Lab bathroom.JPG]]
|Bathroom
|The bathroom is located inside the bedroom, and located next to the conference room.
|}

{{AC}}
[[Category:Assassin's Creed Locations]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed II Locations]]

Maria Thorpe

2009-11-18T11:29:38Z

66.179.208.36: /* Model */

'''Maria''' is the steward (and possibly lover or daughter) of the [[Knights Templar|Templar]], [[Robert de Sable]].

[[Image:Unknowntemplar.gif|right|thumb|400px|Altaïr confronts Maria after defeating her; this is where he learns her true identity.]]Robert foresees his assassination. Eight of his comrades are dead. Sure his assassination is planned to occur at an outdoor event in Jerusalem, he leaves Maria to impersonate him and flees to [[Arsuf]]. Sure enough, [[Altaïr]] comes, and a great swordfight ensues. Maria, impersonating Robert, is a surprisingly excellent fighter, but Altaïr defeats her. When he realizes that it is not Robert, but a woman, he spares her life and hurries to Arsuf to finish Robert once and for all. What happens to her afterwards is unknown.

There is no information about her before or after the ambush, however she seemed to be of a high rank in the [[Knights Templar]] noting that she was able to match Altaïr's sword skills and that she'd be chosen for such an important mission. She also hints that she knows about the piece of Eden, which leaves speculations that she might actually be a lover or daughter of Robert De Sable. This would help explain the reason as to why a woman would be allowed such a high place in the Templars. There are further speculations that letting her go may have been a massive mistake by Altaïr, for with her leadership and possible knowledge of the Pieces of Eden, she may have re-established the Templars after Altaïr's obliteration of their ranks and slaying of their leaders.

==Final Words==

Altaïr: ''I would see your eyes before you die''.

(Altaïr rips off the helm, only to see Maria's face).

Maria: ''I sense you expected someone else.''

Altaïr: ''What sorcery is this!?''

Maria: ''No sorcery: we knew you'd come. Robert needed to be sure he'd have time to get away''.

Altaïr: ''So he flees!?''

Maria: ''We cannot deny your success. You have laid waste to our plans: first, the [[Piece of Eden|treasure]], then our men. Control of the Holy Land slipped away, but then he saw an opportunity, to reclaim what has been stolen, to turn your victories to our advantage!''

Altaïr: ''[[Al Mualim]] still holds your treasure, and we've routed your army before! Whatever Robert plans, he'll fail again!''

Maria: ''Ah, but it's not just Templars you'll contend with now!''

Altaïr: ''Speak sense!''

Maria: ''Robert rides for [[Arsuf]] to plead his case, that [[Saracens|Saracen]] and [[Crusaders|Crusader]] unite...against the [[Assassins]]!''

Altaïr: ''That will never happen! They have no reason to!''

Maria: ''Had, perhaps. But now you've given them one: nine, in fact. The bodies you've left behind, victims on both sides. You've made the Assassins an enemy in common and ensured the annihilation of your entire order! Well done!''

Altaïr: ''Not nine, eight''.

Maria (confused): ''What do you mean?''

Altaïr: ''You are not my target. I will not take your life. You're free to go, but do not follow me!''

Maria: ''I don't need to. You're already too late!''

Altaïr: ''We'll see.''

==Model==

Maria is likely based on [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marguerite_de_Sabl%C3%A9 Marguerite de Sable], the daughter of Robert de Sable and Clemence de Mayenne, born before Robert's promotion to Grand Master of the Knights Templar.

{{AC}}
[[Category:Assassin's Creed Characters]]

Piece of Eden

2009-11-18T09:29:46Z

66.179.208.36:

[[Image:POE.jpg|thumb]]

== The Piece of Eden ==

The '''Piece of Eden''' is one of several ancient objects left by [[Those Who Have Gone Before|Those Who Have Come Before]], possessing different effects, able to bend people to the will of the user. One of the greatest weapons known to man, it is capable of ending wars and (provided it is used correctly) ushering in a forced peace.

It is believed by Abstergo and the Templars that the Piece of Eden, along with other artifacts like it, was the effector behind such miracles as the Parting of the Red Sea, the success of the Trojan Horse, the miracles surrounding 'the Christ-figure' and the plagues of Egypt, among other things.

Apart from its power to force almost anyone into serving the possessor, its greatest power is that it essentially disproves God. The Templar Order and the Assassins already committed themselves to exposing religion as false, and the Piece of Eden is perfectly suited to this purpose.

Incidentally, each one also contains a holographic map of the earth that shows the location of all the other Artifacts. The Piece of Eden, the Masyaf Piece, was destroyed during its experimental use by Abstergo at Denver International Airport. Using [[Altair]]'s memory of events, however, the map showed the locations of the others.

After Altaïr took control of the Assassins their new goal became to hunt down and destroy the last of the templars and the pieces of Eden. During the events of Assassin's Creed Bloodlines, Altaïr starts to study the artifact, writting about it's powers and his own theories. When the Cypriots blame Altaïr for the disasters that struck the island, and try to attack him, he uses the Piece of Eden to control their minds, forcing them to hear the truth, that the real culprit was the Templar Grand Master, Armand Bouchart. After reaching the Archives in Limassol, and killing Bouchart, Altaïr however keeps the Masyaf Piece, not leaving it in the Archives, where he had inttended to leave. It's unkown what happened to the Piece after Altaïr and Maria travelled "East".  On an interesting note, the object it's refered as "Apple of Eden" on this game.

== Free Will & Temptation ==
In the cut-out scene at Masyaf, after Altaïr assassinates his sixth target, Al Mualim makes some statements about the Piece of Eden other than those mentioned above. Altaïr asks Al Mualim, "What is it?" The answer is, "It is Temptation! It is what drove Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden." It other words, it was what was called "the apple" from the Tree of The Knowledge of Good and Evil - the one The Serpent offered to Eve. What he was offering her was the '''''free will''''' to make her decisions based upon ''knowledge'' rather than blind obedience. Free Will, which Altaïr champions repeatedly - to the end, ''is'' this Temptation.

Its hypnotic effect has no affect on Altaïr. Why?

The "success of the Trojan Horse" - while implied - is not what is said. Al Mualim names the goddess Eris specifically as being responsible for the Trojan War. Eris is the goddess of Dis-Order and Chaos. Order is a highly valued principle throughout the game, as well as within our societies. We are shown throughout the game to what lengths men of power will go to maintain and hold onto that power through Order - an order that is imposed by them at any means or cost. The people are merely pawns in their games.

They are games of control and manipulation, through promises of a better life...one that does not come until death. One cannot achieve this unless one is obedient to the laws and lives them to the letter. To take on the temptation of Free Will and accept responsibility for ones self and whatever one does or says is to step outside these carefully laid boundaries of behavior. If too many people do this, then order ceases to exist. It is why books have repeatedly been burned throughout history; why scholars and intellectuals have been persecuted. They may know too much and "their words infect others" - as Madj Addin says. Several times through the game things are said that indicate the belief that mankind is incapable of doing this without crime and violence erupting in its wake. The "lies" told in the books that Jubair would burn speak of things like free will and other knowledge that would reveal the lies ''they'' are telling to be untrue. Altaïr is described as being "arrogant" and "a traitor" - like a certain angel who rebelled against the laws of Heaven...for Altaïr believes that people should have the free will to decide their own destinies. He exhibits free will at the beginning, claiming his way is the "right way" and he knows better than Malik or Kadar. During the final cut-out scene with Al Mualim, Free Will and Illusion are mentioned extensively.

Being a 'sandbox game' gives you the illusion of free will. Some reviewers have bemoaned the fact that it is not an open-ended game, but an open-ended game would not have been appropriate to the story.

[[Image:poemap.jpg|left|thumb|200px|A map of many "Pieces of Eden"]]

== Resistance ==
In an e-mail at Abstergo it is revealed that the organization are worried that the pieces of Eden are not all that is needed to achieve their goal. It is mentioned that some people may be resistant to the mind control effect and that other "Artifacts" must be found to ensure no one is left to cause trouble in the Templar's planned "New world". The only two people so far to show a resistance against the pieces of Eden are an unnamed person present at the DIA incident and Altaïr .  The former sends an e-mail to Dr Vidic declaring "I know what you did" and gives a firsthand account of the artifacts's failed experiment there.  Of note is that this person seems to be acting alone and is therefore unlikely to know of the Templars or the Assassins and may not be one themselves. The latter's resistance is shown when Al Mualim shows him the treasure but Altaïr simply says that to him it is just a piece of silver and does not understand how Al Mualim can believe it to be pure temptation as he describes. This response surprises Al Mualim who later reveals that he had shown the piece of Eden to Altaïr in an attempt to hypnotize him, but for some reason he could not. However, even though Altaïr is resistant against the hypnotisim the piece of Eden can still do some things to him such as: immobilizing him, causing him to hallucinate and clouding his mind, this can be observed during the final battle.
There is a high potential that Altaïr passed on this gift to Desmond Miles and his other descendants.

   

 

 

== Locations of the Artifacts ==

#Giza, Egypt<strike> </strike>
#Mt. Kilimanjaro, Tanzania
#The Gambia
#Timbuktu, Mali
#Atlas Mountains, Morocco
#Canary Islands
#Vologda Oblast, Russia
#Chernobyl, Ukraine
#Sighişoara, Transylvania
#Rennes-le-Château, France
#Salisbury, England
#Loch Ness, Scotland
#Uluru, Australia
#Nara, Japan
#Xi'an, China
#Lake Baikal, Siberia
#Bareilly, India
#Persepolis, Iran
#Jerusalem, Israel - (The Piece of Eden / The Apple)
#Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
#Machu Picchu, Peru
#Galápagos Islands, Ecuador
#Aasiaat, Greenland
#Chichen Itza, Mexico
#San Antonio, Texas
#Montréal, Quebec
#New York City, New York
#Washington D.C.
#Lake Okanagan, British Columbia
#Coloma, California

== Theories About the Piece of Eden and the Other Artifacts   ==

#We are told by Dr. Vidic that they were left by [[Those Who Have Gone Before|Those Who Have Come Before]]. "They" could possibly be Aliens, and the artifacts are made of their advanced technology 
#The Artifacts also seems to have other abilities like time travel (it is mentioned in the e-mails on lucy stillman's computer). It is possible that they were made in the future and, for some reason, sent back in time. Perhaps when the Piece of Eden was damaged in Assassin's Creed, the map was not showing where to find the other artifacts but it was picking a location for it to travel to safety.
#There was a race of beings on Earth, whilst dinosaurs lived, that created the Artifacts. And it was no meteorite that hit the earth, but some huge explosion caused by the Artifacts that ended much of the life on the Earth at the time.
#Desmond and his ancestors all have some sort of link with the Artifacts, which would explain why they can resist its power.

== Posssible Artifacts and Funtions ==
 These artifacts are based on the locations given in Assassin's Creed, and the clues and hints found in all the games.

*The Staff of Moses: Capable to unleashing the "Wrath of God."
*The Philosopher's Stone: Converts any material into pure gold.
*The "Tunguska Artifact": Destroyed. Possible Function: Generation of Destructive Explosions, which backfired due to Assassin's and Templar's tampering. Possibly the "Fire from Heaven" that destroyed Sodom and Gommorah
*The Holy Grail: Although the Templar's doubt it's existence, it could prove to be real. Possible Functions: Grants eternal life, among other things.
*The Crystal Skulls: Telepathic Communication. Currently possessed by the Templars.
*The "Philadelphia Artifact": Time Travel

{{AC}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Piece Of Eden}}
[[Category:Items]]