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

Templars

2010-12-31T05:56:08Z

67.177.105.158:

{{Era|AC|ACAC|AC2|Templars|Crusade|Ren|Good}}
{{Revamp}}
{{WP-REAL|Knights Templar}}
{{Faction Infobox
|name = Templars
|image = Knights.png
|imgdesc = Emblem of the Knights Templar
|hideo =
|founder = [[Cain]]<ref name="Assassin's Creed II">''[[Assassin's Creed II]]''</ref>
|leader = [[Grand Master of the Templar Order|Grand Master]] <ref name="Assassin's Creed">''[[Assassin's Creed]]''</ref>
|headquarters = ''Renaissance'': [[Rome]]<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Lineage">''[[Assassin's Creed: Lineage]]''</ref><ref name="Assassin's Creed II" /><ref name="Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood">''[[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood]]''</ref>
|locations = ''Middle ages'': [[Acre]]<ref name="Assassin's Creed" /> ''Renaissance'': [[Florence]]<ref name="Assassin's Creed II" /> [[Venice]]<ref name="Assassin's Creed II" />
|related = *[[Crusaders]]<ref name="Assassin's Creed" />
*[[Papacy]]<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Lineage" />
*[[House of Barbarigo]]<ref name="Assassin's Creed II" />
*[[House of Borgia]]<ref name="Assassin's Creed II" />
*[[House of Orsi]]<ref name="Assassin's Creed II" />
*[[House of Pazzi]]<ref name="Assassin's Creed II" />
*[[Abstergo Industries]]<ref name="Assassin's Creed" />
|religion = Atheist<ref name="Assassin's Creed" /><ref name="Assassin's Creed II" />
|hideh =
|formed = Pre-history<ref name="Assassin's Creed II" />
|reorganised = 1191
|collapsed =
|hidea =
|notable = *[[Cesare Borgia]]
*[[Rodrigo Borgia]]
*[[Armand Bouchart]]
*[[Al Mualim]]
*[[Robert de Sable]]
*[[Warren Vidic]]
|}}
{{quote|May the [[Father of Understanding]] guide us.|Templar motto}}
The '''Templars''', also known as the '''Knights Templar''' during the Middle Ages, are a corporate giant formed during the prehistory. The Templars sought to create a perfect world, although the means by which they sought to do so were questionable. Because of this, they were the sworn enemies of the [[Assassins|Assassin Order]], who believe that [[Humans|Man]] should always have the ability to choose; to have free will, even if it means a flawed humanity. With these contrasting ideologies, the two groups have fought over the course of thousands of years for the control and fate of humanity.

==Ideals and goals==
[[File:Ac-templar-knight.jpg|thumb|A Templar during the Third Crusade.]]
The military order of the Templars was founded publicly in 1129 to counter the greatly increasing threat against the Holy Land by the [[Saracens]], and to protect the city of [[Jerusalem]].<ref name=HC>The History Channel, ''Decoding the Past: The Templar Code'', 7 November 2005, video documentary written by Marcy Marzuni</ref> Over time, the Templars began to believe it within their power to unite the world in peace.<ref name="Assassin's Creed" />

Their system of belief changed greatly upon the discovery of the [[Pieces of Eden]]; they began to speculate that God was a myth and this led the Order to become atheistic, although they publicly maintained the pretense of following the Christian ways so as to not lose the support of the Church.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II" />

Realizing the power that the Pieces of Eden held over man, the Templars began to seek out the artifacts. In 1191, [[Robert de Sable]], then the Grand Master of the Order, personally sought the fabled ''Apple of Eden'', buried in the catacombs beneath [[Solomon's Temple]].<ref name="Assassin's Creed"/> The theft of the piece of Eden by the Order of Assassins brought the two great powers into a sustained conflict with one another, ending with the death of [[Armand Bouchart]] in [[Limassol]].<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Bloodlines">''[[Assassin's Creed: Bloodlines]]''</ref> Despite this setback, the Order maintained its belief in creating a world of peace through manipulation of the Pieces of Eden.

By their reasoning, with no afterlife or ultimate punishment or reward after death, there was no reason to oblige notions of morality or ethics: the end always justified the means, no matter how heinous those means were. They thought that only this life was important, rather than preparing for a thought-to-be non-existent next life. With so many lower class people kept in line by the promise of an afterlife, and so many upper class men blissfully ignoring such ideals, the Templars vowed to make a better world; one of lasting peace, no matter what the cost.<ref name="Assassin's Creed"/>

As time progressed, the Templars interest in the Pieces of Eden became more about seeking the power and domination that the artifacts offered. Their goals changed as they sought to control and unify the entire world using the Pieces of Eden to create a "[[New World Order]]".<ref name="Assassin's Creed"/><ref name="Assassin's Creed II"/>

==History==
===Prehistory===
The Templar Order was likely founded by [[Cain]], whose 'mark' was used as the Templars' crest. The Templars quickly became the archenemies of the [[Assassins]], who, as opposed to the Templars, fought to allow the people to retain free will.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II"/>

===Roman era===
During the Roman era, the Templars went under the alias "[[SPQR|Senatus Populusque Romanus]]", ruling the Roman Empire. However, their rule was interrupted by the Assassins, who would assassinate high Roman officials, going as far as to assassinate the Emperors, such as [[Caligula]].<ref name="Assassin's Creed II"/>

During the 1st century, the Templars found out that one of the Pieces of Eden, [[the Shroud]], was in the hands of [[Jesus Christ]]. Wanting the Piece for their own purposes, the Templars crucified Christ to gain it.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II"/>

===Middle Ages===
====Formation as a Knightly Order====
During the Middle Ages, the Templars removed themselves from the underground and founded themselves as a Knightly Order, the Knights Templar.<ref name="Assassin's Creed"/>

In the 1129 Council of Troyes, the Order was officially recognized by the church, and in 1139, Pope Innocent II granted them diplomatic immunity in all provinces and territories and exemption from taxes. This allowed the faction to grow in numbers, strength and wealth quickly, and as they became a larger force, their responsibilities increased accordingly: the Order's many members were prominent figures in the second crusade.

====Third Crusade====
[[File:Assassins-creed-altair-1.jpg|thumb|A Knight Templar battles with Altaïr.]]
''This section of the article deals specifically with the Knights Templar faction's activities during the Third Crusade. If you were looking for information on the specific enemy type in Assassin's Creed, see their article under [[Crusaders#Templar Knight|Crusaders]].''

Founded in [[Jerusalem]] in 1129, the Knights Templar sought a world at peace with itself. By 1191, they had come to the realization that such peace could only be maintained through use of the [[Pieces of Eden]], and made it their quest to gather as many as they could.<ref name="Assassin's Creed"/> That same year, after the theft of the Apple of Eden by the assassins [[Malik A-Sayf]] and [[Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad]] from the Templars, the Brotherhood entered into a brief period of sustained conflict with their Assassin enemies. Over the course of the year, ten Templar leaders from both [[Crusader]] and [[Saracen]] backgrounds fell to the blades of the assassin Altaïr, who was serving penance for breaking the three tenets during the theft. The deaths included not only the Grand Master of the Order, but also [[Al Mualim]], leader of the Order of Assassins in Syria and the only Templar not willing to share the power of the Apple with his nine brothers.<ref name="Assassin's Creed"/>

With their leadership effectively wiped out by a single assassin, the Brotherhood retreated to the island of [[Cyprus]] under the command of a new Grand Master, [[Armand Bouchart]]. Pursued by Altaïr, the Templars were wiped out once again, although the treasures of the [[Templar Archive]] in Limassol were spirited away before they could be found.<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Bloodlines"/> The death of Armand forced the Order to consider its position carefully, and by 1312 the Order had officially disbanded. In reality, the Order continued to thrive, adopting a much more secretive position in world affairs. That meant retreating into the shadows, as said in Altaïr's fabled [[Codex]].

====Renaissance====
By the late 15th Century, the Brotherhood had regained a position of strength on the world stage, spreading deep into the Church and nobility of [[Italy]]. Under the command of [[Rodrigo Borgia]], the Templars sought to unify northern Italy under their command, and regain the Apple of Eden which they knew to be buried in Cyprus.<ref name="Assassin's Creed"/> Targeting [[Lorenzo de' Medici]], the de facto ruler of [[Florence]], the Templars found themselves confronted by the Assassin [[Giovanni Auditore da Firenze]], who whilst not knowing of their Templar allegiances, was rapidly piecing together the clues. Following two near fatal encounters with Giovanni himself, Borgia arranged for the trial and execution of Giovanni and his three sons – [[Federico Auditore da Firenze|Federico]], [[Petruccio Auditore|Petruccio]] and [[Ezio Auditore da Firenze|Ezio]] – for the crimes of High Treason against the city of Florence. Corrupting the city official [[Uberto Alberti]], the city guards arrested Giovanni and two of his sons, narrowly missing their chance to capture the third, Ezio, who had been delivering and collecting letters for his father.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II"/>

Realizing too late the treachery of Uberto Alberti, whom his father had considered a friend,<ref name="Assassin's Creed:Lineage">''[[Assassin's Creed: Lineage]]''</ref> Ezio appeared at the execution of his family, watching in horror as his father and brothers were hanged; he narrowly escaped the same fate himself. Unconcerned with the remaining Auditore, the Templars continued in their mission to assume control of the cities of northern Italy. In 1478, the Templar affiliated [[House of Pazzi]] made their push for control. In what would become known as the [[Pazzi conspiracy]], the family struck against the Medici during Mass, killing [[Giuliano de' Medici]] and critically wounding Lorenzo, who was saved only by the timely intervention of Ezio Auditore, the son who had been allowed to escape. Lorenzo's survival and the arrival of Ezio spelt doom for the Pazzi family, who were left to their fate by Rodrigo Borgia. [[Vieri de' Pazzi|Vieri]], [[Francesco de' Pazzi|Francesco]] and [[Jacopo de' Pazzi]] were all slain by the lone assassin whilst the Templars acknowledged their defeat in Florence, instead turning their attention to the city of [[Venice]].<ref name="Assassin's Creed II"/>

[[File:Renaissance_Templar_Carlo_Grimaldi.jpg|thumb|240px|Ezio strikes at Carlo Grimaldi, a Renaissance Templar Leader.]]
Utilizing the [[House of Barbarigo]], the Templars assumed control of Venice briefly in 1486, before they were once again overthrown by the lone Assassin. The distraction of controlling the city had been beneficial to the Templars however, as it had distracted the Assassins from noticing the preparations being made for the retrieval of the Piece of Eden from [[Cyprus]]. Two years later, in 1488, the Templar expedition returned to Venice with the Apple in hand. Bringing it to Borgia, an undercover Ezio engaged the Templar Grand Master and, with the assistance of his fellow Assassins, forced the Templars out of the city once more.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II"/> With the Apple in the hands of the Assassins, the Brotherhood approached the [[House of Orsi|Orsi]] [[House of Orsi|brothers]] – [[Ludovico Orsi|Ludovico]] and [[Checco Orsi|Checco]] – to obtain a map detailing the location of the Codex pages from the wife of the Templar [[Girolamo Riario]] – [[Caterina Sforza]]. Invading [[Forlì]], the Orsi brothers demanded the map, and the Apple in exchange for the lives of Sforza's children. The brothers were rebuked, and assaulted the [[Rocca di Ravaldino]]. Together with the city guards, the Assassins Ezio Auditore and [[Niccolò Machiavelli]] held off the assault, although a second succeeded in claiming the Apple briefly.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II: Battle of Forlì">''[[Battle of Forlì (DLC)|Assassin's Creed II: Battle of Forlì]]''</ref>

Despite the loss of the Apple, [[Rodrigo Borgia]] was ultimately unfazed, and in 1492 became [[Wikipedia:Pope Alexander VI|Pope Alexander VI]] in order to gain access to the Papal staff, another of the Pieces of Eden. In 1499 Borgia was once again confronted by the assassin Ezio, this time within the [[Sistine Chapel]] itself.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II"/> The Templar's defeat, however, was not permanent, as Rodrigo's son, [[Cesare Borgia]], besieged Monteriggioni to regain the Apple of Eden and attempted to kill Ezio. Four years later Ezio went to the heart of the Templars itself, namely Rome, to strike back at the Templars and retrieve the Apple<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood" />.

===Modern Times===
By the 19th century, the Templars gained a significant amount of power and influence within the [[Russia]]n Empire; with a number of the Tsar, including [[Alexander II of Russia|Alexander II]] and his son [[Alexander III of Russia|Alexander III]], being Templars themselves.<ref name="Assassin's Creed: The Fall">''[[Assassin's Creed: The Fall]]''</ref> In the Tsars' possession; [[the Staff|the Staff of Eden]], granting the autocratic rulers great power over their citizens. In 1908 however, their control over the Russian Empire was greatly diminished with the destruction of the Staff in [[Tunguska explosion|Tunguska]], thanks in part to the combined efforts of [[Nikola Tesla]]<ref name="Assassin's Creed II"/> and the Assassin [[Nikolai Orlov]].<ref name="Assassin's Creed: The Fall"/>

Infiltrating and establishing countless corporate entities, by the 20th Century the Templars had positioned themselves within several world-defining positions, controlling whole nations and improving the planet's technological level significantly. The Templars also worked to stifle world progress however; [[Adolf Hitler]] used a Piece of Eden to rise to power in Germany, and subsequently started [[wikipedia:World War II|a world-wide conflict]]. He was "fought" by his Templar contemporaries [[Winston Churchill]], [[Joseph Stalin]], and [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]], who under the guise of the Allied nations ultimately won the conflict, despite having planned the war all along, and orchestrating the peace that would follow.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II"/>

[[File:Abstergo_Desmond_Captivity.png|thumb|220px|Desmond held captive by Abstergo Industries.]]
By the early [[Timeline|21st Century]], the Templar fronted [[Abstergo Industries]] had expanded into a global entity, far larger and more powerful than most companies that had come before it.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II"/> For the most part this was not treated as suspicious, although there were those within the general population who viewed the company with suspicion,<ref name="Assassin's Creed"/> believing it to be "too large" a company.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II"/> Among the nations whose economic and political affairs which Templars interfered included Chile, Argentina, and Iran. <ref name="Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood"/>.

During this time, the Templars had access to a number of Pieces of Eden, however, the actions of the Assassins, coupled with the [[DIA Satellite Accident]] forced the Templars into stepping up the [[Animus]]-project, in the hope of finding another Piece capable of controlling the minds of humanity. By September of 2012, sixteen test subjects had been "retired" before the company succeeded with the seventeenth – [[Desmond Miles]], the descendant of both [[Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad]], and [[Ezio Auditore da Firenze]].<ref name="Assassin's Creed"/><ref name="Assassin's Creed II"/>

Captured, for seven days Miles was forced to relieve the memories of his ancestor Altaïr in order to reach one specific memory the Templars were seeking. The memory registered the moment his ancestor found a holographic map containing the locations of all Pieces of Eden scattered across the world. With the information they had long sought in hand, the Templars set about gathering the remaining Pieces to ensure "absolute peace", although they soon found themselves in a race against the Assassin Order to obtain the Pieces first.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II"/> They planned to send a satellite with a Piece mounted on it into orbit, with the launch scheduled on [[Cryptic Messages|December 21, 2012]].<ref name="Assassin's Creed"/>but desmond got his ass stuck in it the gay fag

==Members==
{{main|List of known Templars}}

== Templar groups ==
There are groups who act as unofficial divisions of the Templars, unrelated to them publicly, but in fact commanded by Templars (some of them through the membership of their leaders and others are part of the Templar Order itself).
*'''Renaissance'''
**[[File:Pazziingame.png|30px]] [[House of Pazzi|Pazzi]]: The '''Pazzi family''' were [[Tuscany|Tuscan]] nobles who were bankers in [[Florence]] during the 15th century. They are most famous for the "[[Pazzi Conspiracy]]". They are part of the Templars in ''Assassin's Creed II''.
**[[File:150px-Agostino Barbarigo.png|30px]] [[House of Barbarigo|Barbarigo]]: The '''Barbarigo family''' were [[Venice|Venetian]] nobles who were bankers and traders during the 15th century. The most famous member of the family was [[Agostino Barbarigo]], the 74th Doge of [[Venice]]. In ''Assassins Creed II'' the Barbarigo are a part of the Templars, except Agostino.
**[[File:Blason famille it Borgia01 svg.png|30px]] [[House of Borgia|Borgia]]: The '''Borgia family''' were [[Rome|Roman]] nobles during the 15th and early 16th century. The most famous member of the family was [[Rodrigo Borgia]], [[wikipedia:Pope Alexander VI|Pope Alexander VI]]. They are leaders of the Templars in ''Assassin's Creed II''.
*'''Modern times'''
**[[File:Nazi flag 375.jpg|30px]] [[wikipedia:Nazi Party|Nazi Party]]: a political German party which controlled Germany during the early to mid 20th century.
**[[File:Animuslogowhite.svg|30px]] [[Abstergo Industries]]: modern company that works in secret to create the New World.
**[[File:NASA logo svg.png|30px]] [[NASA]]: a governmental company that created the Apollo missions to retrieve an Apple of Eden from the Moon.
**[[File:Ford logo.png|30px]] [[Ford Motor Company]]: an automobile company founded by [[Henry Ford]], in the hands of the Templars until Ford's death.

== The Historical Templars ==
[[File:Templar4.jpg|thumb|Depiction of Templars]]
{{quote|Non nobis Domine, non nobis, sed Nomini Tuo da Gloriam (''Latin for "Not to us God, not to us, but to Your Name Give Glory"'')|Historical motto of the Templars}}
''Ordre du Temple'' in French, the Knights Templar are amongst the most famous of the Western Christian military orders involved in the war. They are well known by the distinctive white mantles with a red cross. Officially endorsed by the Roman Catholic Church around 1129, the Order became a favored charity throughout Christianity, and grew rapidly in membership. Despite losing their interests in Outremer, they still had financial holdings in Europe, but King Philip IV of France deceived Pope Clement V into disbanding the Knights Templar, to serve his own agenda. The Order's Knights either fled, were executed, or absorbed into other orders like the [[Knights Hospitalier]]. The Portuguese branch changed their names to Knights of Christ.

They were among the most skilled fighters at the time, which is reflected in the game. Their ruthlessness against non-Catholics was also infamous; this also is reflected in the game.

The real, full name of the Knights Templars: "Poor Knights of Christ and the Temple of Solomon in Jerusalem" or ''"Pauperes commilitones Christi templique Salomonici Hierosalemitanis" ''in Latin.

== See Also ==
*[[List of Templar Locations|List of Templar Locations in ''Assassin's Creed'']]

==Appearances==
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Altaïr's Chronicles]]''
*''[[Assassin's Creed]]''
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Project Legacy]]'' {{imo}}
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Bloodlines]]''
*''[[Assassin's Creed II]]''
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Renaissance]]''
*''[[Assassin's Creed II: Discovery]]''
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood]]''
*''[[Assassin's Creed: The Fall]]''

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

{{ACSeries}}
{{ACAC}}
{{AC}}
{{ACBL}}
{{ACII}}
{{ACIID}}
{{ACBrotherhood}}
{{ACLL}}
{{ACTF}}

[[es:Templarios]]
[[Category:Templar Order]]
[[Category:Factions]]

Desmond Miles

2010-12-31T05:47:12Z

67.177.105.158: /* Biography */

{{spoilerhd}}
{{FAimp}}
{{Character Infobox
|name = Desmond Miles
|image = Desmond_Miles.jpg
|imgdesc =
|birth = 1987 "[[The Farm]]"
|death =
|period = [[Modern Times]]
|faction = [[Assassins]]
|appear = ''[[Assassin's Creed]]'' ''[[Assassin's Creed II]]'' ''[[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood]]''
|voice = [[Nolan North]]
}}
{{Quote|I'm a bartender, for Christ's sake! What do you want me to do, teach you how to mix a Martini?|Desmond to Vidic and Lucy.|Assassin's Creed}}
'''Desmond Miles''' (born 1987) is the main protagonist of the main installments in the [[Assassin's Creed series]] and the descendant of a long line of ancestors who swore their allegiance to the [[Assassins|Assassin Order]]. He is initially forced to use a machine, called the [[Animus]], created by [[Abstergo Industries]] – the modern front of the [[Templars]] – to relive the memories of his ancestor, [[Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad]] during the [[Third Crusade|Crusader]] era, in their quest to locate the "[[First Apple|Apple]]", a [[Pieces of Eden|Piece of Eden]].

Eventually escaping with the aid of [[Modern Times|modern day]] Assassins, Desmond once again uses an Animus (the improved [[Animus 2.0]]) to explore the memories of another ancestor of his, [[Ezio Auditore da Firenze]], so as to learn the ways of the Assassins [[Bleeding effect|much faster than normal]].

==Biography==
===Early life===
{{quote|You have any idea what it's like to be trapped in a place, knowing there was a whole world out there I'd never get to see.|Desmond to Lucy about his childhood|Assassin's Creed}}
Desmond Miles was born in an Assassin "hideout" in the desert known as "[[The Farm]]", an "off the grid" compound with a population of about thirty people, much like the city of [[Masyaf]], where he was destined to be trained as an Assassin. He was frustrated by his parents' explicit instructions not to leave the compound, and believed them to be overly concerned and paranoid. On his 16th birthday, he finally fled, ''"wanting to see the rest of the world."'' He later told [[Lucy Stillman]] that he had no regrets over leaving his parents, because as far as he was concerned, they were little more than his "wardens", and to him the Farm was his "prison". After leaving the Assassin compound, he went into hiding for nine years. While keeping a low profile, he eventually became a bartender. Aware of the Templars, and wanting to avoid both them and the Assassins, Desmond never used his real name and used only cash to purchase items. However, he was eventually found, traced through a fingerprint needed for a motorcycle license, and was brought to the [[Abstergo laboratory]].<ref name="Assassin's Creed">''[[Assassin's Creed]]''</ref>

===Kidnapped by Abstergo===
[[File:Warren-vidic-assassins-creed-2-character.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Dr. Vidic watches Desmond inside the Animus.]]
{{Quote|I'm not an Assassin... not any more.|Desmond Miles to Warren Vidic.|Assassin's Creed}}

In September 2012, Desmond Miles was kidnapped by Abstergo Industries, a pharmaceutical company and front for the Templars, for use as a test subject in the Animus, a device that can read the memories of Desmond's ancestors through the "genetic memory" left behind in their descendants' DNA. At first, [[Warren Vidic]] attempted to pry the information he wanted from Desmond's mind, but was met with failure. Whilst Desmond claimed to be nothing more than a bartender, Vidic revealed that they knew of his history as an Assassin, forcing Desmond to finally admit his past life. Vidic and Lucy Stillman told Desmond that they were trying to access a certain memory, but Desmond's subconscious was resisting their efforts. Vidic warned Desmond that if he refused to assist them, they would induce a coma, continue their work, and when done with Desmond, leave him to die. Without much choice, Desmond agreed to help them.
[[File:Desmond_&_Lucy_1.png|thumb|200px|Desmond and Lucy having their first private conversation.]]

[[File:Eagle_vision.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Desmond's Eagle Vision.]]
Desmond was made to explore the genetic memories of his ancestor Altaïr – a member of a clan of Assassins active during and after the Crusades, specifically Altaïr's experiences during the year 1191 – and does so over several days under the watchful eye of Vidic. During the nights however, Desmond discovered that he was able to explore the lab he was being held in, accessing the Animus computer and, after stealing Warren Vidic's pen, gaining access to his personal computer. Through [[e-mails]], Desmond learned of the previous Animus subject, [[Subject 16]], who had suffered from a "bleeding effect" due to prolonged exposure to the Animus, as well as tidbits of information from the outside world. Eventually, with the aid of Lucy, the Assassins learned of Desmond's capture and attempted to liberate him, with the gunfire of their assault being heard through an intercom device, although the rescue attempt failed. Vidic boasts that those Assassins were in fact the last of the group he escaped from at 16; their desert hideout having been previously destroyed. Lucy's actions, however, suggested otherwise, and when Desmond asked if Lucy knew anything about his parents, she responded by saying that she didn't know, but that they ''"probably escaped."'' During this discussion, Lucy revealed herself to be an undercover member of the Assassins. Desmond eventually achieved Vidic's goal and discovered the location of numerous Pieces of Eden. Executives of Abstergo Industries then ordered his execution, but his life was saved by Lucy's intervention, who asked to keep Desmond alive in order to re-access his memories if need be. After the executives leave, Desmond suddenly accesses the "[[Eagle Vision|eagle vision]]" of his ancestors Altaïr and Ezio, seeing Vidic and Lucy for their true allegiances, as well as [[Cryptic Messages|countless scrawled messages and puzzles]] on the floor of the main laboratory.

===Escape to the Hideout===
{{Quote|Wait! Why aren't I following Altaïr? Oh, shit...|Desmond discovering his lineage.|Assassin's Creed II}}
After having spent some time alone in the laboratory, Lucy suddenly arrived, covered in blood and demanding Desmond to get into the Animus before Abstergo would discover what she'd done. Desmond, rather confused, agreed and managed to sync with the closest genetic match between himself and Subject 16 recorded in the Animus’ memory core. Inside the Animus, he experienced the birth of another of his ancestors, Ezio Auditore. He instantly got pulled out, though, and both make their escape.

[[File:Zw-desmond-fighting.png|thumb|200px|Desmond fighting off the Abstergo guards.]]
They were quickly spotted by Abstergo security and after Lucy locked a door to keep the security guards from getting to them, they turned the corner and were forced into an engagement with two more which Lucy quickly ended, allowing them to continue on stealthily. The two soon entered a glass elevator that led down to a large open room filled with office blocks that housed a large number of Animi. Following Lucy through the maze-like walkways between the Animi to avoid the guards patrolling the room they stealthily made their way through to the back, although Desmond's questions about the Animi are met with silence and Lucy telling him to ''"shut the fuck up...please."'' Upon reaching the keycode locked door of another elevator, Lucy tried to enter a code but failed, to which Desmond instinctively called upon his recently activated [[Eagle Vision]] to see the code and after successfully entering it. Lucy questions Desmond about how he knew what code to enter, which he could not give a proper answer, showing his obliviousness to the [[Bleeding Effect]] as they safely entered the elevator and rode it down. Once in the car park underneath the building, the two were halted by yet more of Abstergo's guards, but were able to overcome them and escape.

Arriving at one of the Assassins' [[hideout]]s, Desmond was introduced to two more Assassins – [[Shaun Hastings]] and [[Rebecca Crane]] – who have worked with Lucy over the years. Lucy told Desmond that they wanted him to become trained in the ways of the Assassin – thanks to the bleeding effect, they could achieve this in a matter of days – although it required him learning the ways of an Assassin through the ancestor that Desmond had synched with Subject 16 to find in Abstergo's Animus, Ezio Auditore. Desmond agrees to help almost immediately, which surprised Lucy, and was quickly plugged in the Animus 2.0.

After learning the ways of the Assassin through Ezio's memories, Desmond was retracted from the Animus, partly to test his retention of the memories, but also to prevent the mental degradation that Subject 16 had suffered from being in the Animus for an extended period of time.

[[File:Zw-desmond-dream.png|thumb|220px|left|Desmond experiencing the bleeding effect.]]
Tasking him with initiating security protocols around the Assassin hideout, Lucy left it to Desmond to work out how to reach them through the use of his Eagle Vision and new-found [[Free Running|free running]] skills. Just as he began, however, he started suffering vivid hallucinations of the Crusader era and the [[Renaissance|Italian Renaissance]]. At first the visions were short, and were nothing to worry about, but after completing the task, Desmond was incapacitated as the visions became more real.

Taken back to medieval [[Acre]] by the bleeding effect, Desmond once again followed the memories of Altaïr, this time without the use of the Animus, and discovered Altaïr and [[Maria Thorpe]] conceived a child, Desmond's next ancestor after Altaïr.

[[File:Demsondanimus2.jpg|thumb|250px|Desmond sitting in the Animus 2.0 next to Lucy.]]
The next day, Desmond had recovered from the experiences and returned to the Animus, neglecting to tell the Assassins what had happened. He continued to watch the genetic memories of Ezio Auditore, despite at one time being thrown out by [[Assassin's Creed II DLC|"corrupted memory sequences"]]. Eventually, they learned that Ezio's nemesis, [[Rodrigo Borgia]] ([[Grand Master of the Templar Order]]), had become Pope Alexander VI in 1492 so as to gain access to yet another Piece of Eden, [[The Staff|the Papal Staff]], as well as [[The Vatican Vault|the Vault]]. As Ezio's story began to conclude, Desmond and the Assassins watched deep within the Vault beneath the Vatican. Ezio found himself confronted by a "[[Those Who Came Before|god]]" hologram who called herself [[Minerva]]; Minerva warns the Assassins of the end of the world, as well as retelling the story of the war between "Those Who Came Before," and their human subjects. The Assassins are shocked when Minerva addresses Desmond by name, confusing even Ezio, and it is revealed that Minerva was in fact talking to Desmond ''through'' Ezio. Mere moments after, Desmond was quickly pulled out of the Animus, and upon seeing the three rushing to collect their belongings, realized that the Templars had found their location.

Immediately after getting out of the Animus, Lucy tossed Desmond a [[Hidden Blade]] with the Assassin's emblem on it, and asks for his assistance in covering the escape. Making their way into the warehouse, Vidic appeared, flanked by Abstergo security officials with the intent of reclaiming Desmond. The two Assassins killed the Templars that assaulted them, with Desmond – now fully synchronized with Ezio – masterfully using his Hidden Blade to kill many of the guards himself. With his entourage eliminated, Vidic was left to confront Desmond on his own, but instead retreats, promising that their victory is only temporary. The four Assassins then fled north, and Desmond is hooked up to the Animus inside the van and told to continue to search through his memories for anything useful. Meanwhile, the other Assassins begin to discuss the nature of Minerva and her talk.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II">''[[Assassin's Creed II]]''</ref>

===Monteriggioni===
[[File:Desmond_&_Lucy2.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Desmond and Lucy under Monteriggioni.]]
After the Abstergo attack at the end of ''Assassin's Creed II'', the modern day Assassins traveled to [[Monteriggioni]] in ''[[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood]] ''to set up their new base. The Templars were actively searching for them and were analyzing the environment using cell phone towers, so they had to set up underground, in the [[Sanctuary]] under the [[Villa Auditore]]. Whilst searching the grounds of the Villa Auditore for a way into the Sanctuary, Desmond – through the bleeding effect – saw a vision of Ezio in the past, who led him to a high, narrow ledge and leaped off. Desmond immediately followed suit, performing his first-ever [[Leap of Faith]] into a pile of hay. Desmond and Lucy made their way to the Sanctuary underground via a tunnel used by Ezio and the villagers of Monteriggioni to escape after [[Siege of Monteriggioni|the attack]]. As they passed through the tunnels, Desmond saw more visions of Ezio and the villagers escaping, which worried him, making him wonder what would happen ''"if (he) can't stop the visions ''– ''how long until (he) started painting symbols on the walls."'' Lucy scolded him, telling him not to make light of his condition, and reminded him that Subject 16 was dead, and that he needed to focus. Desmond and Lucy used glow sticks to see in the tunnel, due to the lack of power. By this time, Desmond wore a Hidden Blade with three straps attaching it to his arm, although he wore no bracer with it.<ref>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fbwgvv0Ermo&feature=player_embedded</ref>
[[File:Monteriggioni3.png|thumb|250px|Desmond and Shaun having a discussion in their new base.]]
When the two reached the Sanctuary, Desmond saw another vision of Ezio, who seemed to have visited it in his old age. Before he opened the door to Mario's office, Desmond noticed the numbers 1419, 1420, and 1421 written on the walls, which he pointed out to the other Assassins. Shaun theorized the numbers to refer to dates, however he admitted that he needed to do further research. After the team set up underground, Desmond became in charge of bringing electricity into the Sanctuary by inserting a device of Rebecca's construction into four electrical power boxes, that would allow them to accumulate small amounts of power from each source. After that, he continued with his regular Animus sessions.

After finishing in the Animus, Desmond and the others learned that the Apple of Eden was hidden under the [[Colosseum]]. Upon traveling to Rome, the group separated as Desmond then tried to find a way for the others to get inside the Colosseum without needing to climb. Once they met up again, Desmond activated an elevator that took all of them down to the Apple's chamber. However, as he takes the Apple of Eden from its pedestal, [[Juno]]'s voice is heard, saying that Desmond's DNA had activated the Apple. Juno then took control of Desmond's body, and forced him to stab Lucy in the abdomen with his hidden blade.

As Desmond starts to go into shock, he is returned into the Animus by two men of unknown affiliation whose voices can merely be heard. and fucks a donkey and sherk who just had sex with will ferrel and commander shepard

==Characteristics and personality==
[[File:Zw-desmond-bleeding.png|thumb|300px|Desmond's new free-running skills.]]
Desmond has an uncanny resemblance to both Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad and Ezio Auditore da Firenze, being the descendant of the two. Although they have very little in common about their personalities. Being a discreet individual, he does not wear extravagant clothing, and is accustomed to a white hooded jacket, jeans, and black sneakers. Interestingly, if raised, the hood exhibits a beak-like feature similar to Ezio's and Altaïr's.

In ''Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood'', his attire differs drastically. He now wears a white hooded jacket with a red collar (though it no longer has an eagle beak-like hood), with a black shirt sporting an image of an eagle underneath. His sleeves are rolled up to reveal a black, tribal tattoo where the Hidden Blade should be. He is also equipped with a sling backpack, and a hidden blade without a bracer.

Desmond was a gruff and cynical individual, who held a serious outlook on life. This was mainly due to him being aware of the Templars and Assassins since his youth, although he was initially unaware of Abstergo Industries being a Templar company. Despite this, he was not above jesting about his situation, and would occasionally make jokes, although they rarely elicited a good reaction. After his emancipation from Abstergo, Desmond's demeanor became considerably more relaxed, and he spent a noticeable amount of time conversing with Lucy. After experiencing the [[Bleeding Effect|bleeding effect]], he is more doubtful of his sanity, as with what happened to Subject 16.

===Equipment and skills===
Being that Desmond was trained during childhood as an Assassin, he was proficient in basic reconnaissance skills, such as eavesdropping and pickpocketing. After about a week of being forced to relive the memories of his ancestor, Altaïr, Desmond began to experience the bleeding effect, and developed an extra-sensory ability called Eagle Vision. Later on, after willingly exploring the memories of his other ancestor, Ezio, Desmond learned how to free-run and use weapons. Not long afterwards, he was able to easily fend off a Templar attack with Ezio's combat skills.

Since synchronizing with Ezio, Desmond has been able to use all of the skills and abilities his ancestors could in real life. These skills may be used during the tests in the warehouse and the escape in ''Assassin's Creed II'' (where Desmond displays his agility and fighting prowess respectively), and during missions and whenever the player decides to leave the Animus and go into Monteriggioni as Desmond in ''Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood''.

==Trivia==
[[File:Zw-desmond.png|thumb|Desmond (notice the scar).]]
*He is modeled after [[Francisco Randez]] and voiced by [[Nolan North]]. Curiously, Randez also used to be a bartender before he became a model. This may have inspired the makers of the game to give Desmond the same profession.
*Desmond possesses the same scar on his lip as his ancestors Altaïr and Ezio had, though how he acquired it is unknown.<ref name="Assassin's Creed">''[[Assassin's Creed]]''</ref><ref name="Assassin's Creed II">''[[Assassin's Creed II]]''</ref>
*Desmond and Altaïr share the same age during the first game, both being 25 years of age in 2012 and 1191 respectively.<ref name="Assassin's Creed">''[[Assassin's Creed]]''</ref>
*Desmond is a descendant of Those Who Came Before and [[Humans|humans]]. Proof of this is his Eagle Vision, product of the unification of those two races, which also led to the birth of the first "Assassins", [[Adam and Eve]].<ref name="Assassin's Creed II: Collector's Edition Official Game Guide">''Assassin's Creed II: Collector's Edition Official Game Guide''</ref>
*Desmond has an A+ blood type.<ref>''Assassin’s Creed'' game manual</ref>
*Desmond's history shows that he never wanted to be an Assassin, nor does he have the skills yet before the second game to be one. However in the graphic novel, included with the limited edition of ''Assassin's Creed'', he does call himself an Assassin, and shows skills of stealth and lethality.<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Graphic Novel">''[[Assassin's Creed: Graphic Novel]]''</ref>
*Desmond acquires a Hidden Blade at the conclusion of ''Assassin's Creed II''. The original owner of the blade is uncertain, but its bracer is identical to the one Ezio Auditore inherited from his father, [[Giovanni Auditore da Firenze|Giovanni Auditore]].
*The etymology of Desmond's name "the world" (or "man of the world" in Celtic) is not related to either of his ancestors, whereas Altaïr's and Ezio's names pertain to avians; Altaïr's being "the flying one" and Ezio's "eagle." His surname "Miles" is also the Latin word for "soldier." The name suits him, however, as he wanted to leave his parents' watchful eyes to see the rest of the world outside the compound, and refers to his role in saving the world from destruction.
*Should the player achieve full synchronization in sequence 8 of ''Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood'', Desmond will appear as a playable skin in the Animus. The Animus states that the Desmond body was uploaded from the Animus memory banks. Despite only wearing one hidden blade, double kills are still possible.
*Interacting with the statue of Altaïr in the Sanctuary at any point during the ''Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood ''storyline will trigger Desmond to say ''"Hey, wassa-matta-you, Altaïr?"'', followed by Rebecca reprimanding him for being racist. This can be done as many times as the player wants after the cutscene.
*In early images of ''Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood'', Desmond is seen with a beard identical to Ezio's. It is unknown why the beard was present then, and later removed.
*Despite being equipped with a hidden blade throughout ''Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood'', Desmond only uses it twice; the first in the [[Auditore Family Crypt]], to lower a platform for Lucy, and in the [[Santa Maria Aracoeli Vault]], to stab Lucy.
*During the beginning of ''Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood'', when Desmond and Lucy are traversing the secret entrance to the Vault, the two will engage in a brief argument as to how to cross a ledge. Demond suggests that one of them gives the other a boost into the air to reach the ledge, however Lucy refuses. This is a reference to the game ''Uncharted 2'' in which the protagonist Drake, who is also voiced by Nolan North, must often launch his female companions with a boost to get around certain obstacles. Later, Lucy and Desmond also begin using a catapult jumping technique exactly like that seen in ''Uncharted 2'' to cross gaps in the path.
*In ''Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood'', if you look closely at Desmond's jacket, you can see what appears to be the wings of an eagle stitched on his back.
*At the end of ''Assassin's Creed II'', Desmond is able to perform the climb-leap ability, but in ''Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood'' this ability is removed, and his climbing speed mirrors that of Altaïr's.
*A exact replica of Desmond's shirt seen in ''Brotherhood'' can be purchased from UbiWorkshop, however aside from the replica there is a alternative version.

== Video ==
[[Video:Real Life Storyline|thumb|480px|left|Real Life Storyline: Desmond Miles, Lucy Stillman and Warren Vidic]]
[[Video:Assassin's Creed Brotherhood Gameplay Desmond|thumb|left|482px|Gameplay Video of Desmond]] 

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

{{AC}}
{{ACII}}
{{ACBrotherhood}}
{{ACSeries}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Miles, Desmond}}

[[es:Desmond Miles]]
[[Category:Characters]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed Characters]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed II Characters]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood Characters]]
[[Category:Assassins]]