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

Rebecca Crane

2010-07-10T01:24:13Z

69.254.161.68:

{{Era|AC2|Assassins|Modern}}
{{Character Infobox

|name = Rebecca Crane
|image = Rebecca Crane.png
|imgdesc = Rebecca working on the Animus 2.0
|birth = 1984 (28 as of 2012)
|period = [[Modern Times]]
|faction = [[Assassins]]
|appear = [[Assassin's Creed II]]
|voice = [[Eliza Schneider]]
}}

'''Rebecca Crane''' is one of the modern day [[Assassins]] introduced in ''[[Assassin's Creed II]]''. She is the creator of the [[Animus 2.0]] - which she affectionately refers to as "Baby" - and provides technical support for the Assassins alongside her partner, [[Shaun Hastings]]. She appears to be an old friend of [[Lucy Stillman]], although, prior to the game, the two purportedly did not see one another for seven years, perhaps due to Lucy's internment at Abstergo.

In ''Assassin's Creed II'', Rebecca serves as tech support for the Animus 2.0. She often leaves notes within the database entries that Shaun makes available for [[Desmond Miles]] while he is in the Animus, especially if the entries (i.e. about a particular structure) indicate the presence of a glyph or Assassin's tomb therein. The data module that Rebecca receives from Lucy with the records of the Abstergo version of the Animus allow Desmond to interact with the encrypted file [[Subject 16]] left behind in [[Ezio Auditore da Firenze]]'s memories.

==Biography==

It is unknown whether Rebecca is a 'proper' Assassin like [[Desmond]] and Lucy are; she makes allusions, but nothing is ever said conclusively about the nature of her place in relation to the Assassins. She did, however, play an important role in inducting [[Shaun Hastings]] into the Order. When Shaun, with his gifts for connection and conspiracy, endangered his own life by trying to tell the world what Abstergo was up to, Rebecca saved him from Templar silencers, and recruited him as an Assassin.
===Assassin's Creed II===

In ''Assassin's Creed II'', Rebecca monitors the Animus to make sure nothing goes wrong (such as what happened at the start of the [[Assassin's Creed|original game]]). She often provides small comments with Shaun's Landmark Database entries, particularly when the building either has a [[Glyph]] or a secret entrance to an [[Secret Locations|Assassin's Tomb]]. More often, though, she will provide a comment relating to being at the top of the (usually quite tall) building, such as remarking that "the view must be great" from the top of a church or that she thinks Desmond is itching to get to the top of a bell tower.

Aside from providing technical support for the Animus and her small segments of banter with Shaun and Desmond, Rebecca doesn't play a significant story role until the end of the game, when she helps Shaun pack up the Animus gear while Desmond and Lucy defend their location from [[Abstergo]]. As they escape into a truck, she is able to get the Animus working inside it, which allows Desmond to re-enter the [[Renaissance]] and finish any remaining memories while on the way to their second base up North. This consequently allows the player to finish up any [[Side Missions]] and plot elements they may have missed, such as [[Races]], Assassin's Tombs and [[Feather]] collecting, to name a few.

==Characteristics and Personality==
Rebecca is an energetic, somewhat immature young woman - despite the fact that she saved his life, [[Shaun Hastings]] is quick to belittle and gibe at her. She is tolerant and and optimistic, representing Shaun's foil - she is the polar opposite of her colleague, friendly and talkative, and seems quite sure of herself seems to talk and act in a rather "street" type of way - she may be conceived as being a little tomboyish. It has been speculated that she may have some relation to [[Rosa]], since the two bear a striking physical resemblance. She shows great pride in her work, praising her redesign of the Animus as having a far more enlightened and creative construct; a "competitive edge" as she calls it. She also remains convinced that, despite Shaun's dubiousness of their means, the Assassins are, as Desmond puts it, "the good guys".

==Trivia==
*When in the [[Animus 2.0|Animus]], Rebecca adds information to the Database using the name "REBECCAC84". This may mean that she was born in 1984, making her 28 as of [[Modern Times|2012]].
*Rebecca's looks are reminiscent of the Renaissance character [[Rosa]], specifically the scruffy, dark hair. Another comparison between the two characters is that, when [[Ezio]] is mastering a new climbing ability, Rosa challenges him to race to the top of a building and back under time pressure. In a comment for a different building in the same area, the [[Santa Stefano|Santo Stefano]], Rebecca comments that she would like to race Desmond to the top of the building if she were there.
*When Lucy and Desmond first enter the hideout, Rebecca greets Lucy and exclaims : ''It's been so long. Seven years!''. This could mean that the last time the two friends saw each other was in 2005.

{{ACII}}
[[Category:Assassin's Creed II Characters|Crane, Rebecca]]
[[Category:Assassins|Crane, Rebecca]]

Desmond Miles

2010-07-10T01:20:05Z

69.254.161.68: /* Trivia */

{{FAimp}}
{{Character Infobox
|image =Desmond2.png
|imgdesc =
|name = Desmond Miles
|home = [[The Farm|"the Farm"]]
|birth = 1987
|meaning =
|faction = [[Assassins]]
|appear =''[[Assassin's Creed]]'', ''[[Assassin's Creed II]]''
|period = [[Modern Times]] (21st Century)
|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''' (b. 1987) is the main protagonist of the [[Assassin's Creed series|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 [[Knights Templar]] – to relive the memories of his ancestor, [[Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad]] during the Crusader era, in their quest to locate the [[Piece of Eden|"Apple"]], a [[Piece of Eden]].

Eventually escaping with the aid of modern day [[Assassins]], Desmond once again uses an improved version of the Animus to explore the memories of his second ancestor, [[Ezio Auditore da Firenze]], so as to learn the ways of the Assassins in a [[Bleeding Effect|much quicker way 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, an "off the grid" compound with a population of about 30 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 being overly concerned and paranoid. On his 16th birthday, he finally fled, "want[ing] 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 his "wardens". After leaving the Assassin compound, he went into hiding for nine years. While keeping a low profile, he did eventually become a bartender. Aware of the Knights Templar, 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 [[Knights Templar]], 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 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:Eagle_vision.jpg|thumb|200px|Desmond's Eagle Vision]]

Desmond was made to explore the genetic memories of his ancestor – [[Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad]], a member of a clan of Assassins during the [[Third Crusade]], specifically Altaïr's experiences during the year 1191 – and over several days does so under the watchful eye of Warren Vidic. During the nights however, Desmond discovered that he was able to explore the lab he was being held in, accessing the Animus computer after stealing Warren Vidic's pen, gaining access to his personal computer. Through these e-mails, Desmond learned of a [[Subject 16]] who had suffered from a "[[bleeding effect]]" due to prolonged exposure to the Animus, as well as titbits of information from the outside world. Eventually, with the aid of Lucy, the Assassins learned of Desmond's capture and attempted to liberate him, the gunfire being heard through an intercom device, although the rescue attempt failed. Vidic boasts that those Assassins were in fact the last of the group; their desert hideout having been previously destroyed. Lucy Stillman's actions, however, suggest 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 ordered his execution, but his life was saved by Stillman'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 ancestor Altaïr, seeing Warren and Lucy for their true allegiances, as well as countless scrawled messages and puzzles on the floor of the main laboratory.<ref name="Assassin's Creed" />

===Escape to the [[Hideout]]===
{{Quote|Whoa... Alright, wasn't expecting that...|Desmond discovering the birth of his lineage|Assassin's Creed II}}
At the beginning of [[Assassin's Creed II]] Desmond was still being held within the laboratory at [[Abstergo]], continuing directly from the last game from a couple of hours. [[Lucy]] suddenly arrives, covered in blood and demanding Desmond to get into the [[Animus]] before Abstergo discovers what she's done. Desmond, rather confused, agrees and, inside the Animus, experiences the birth of another of his ancestors, [[Ezio Auditore da Firenze]], a joint ancestor of his and Subject 16's. He was quickly 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 forces and forced into an engagement which [[Lucy]] quickly ended, allowing them to continue on stealthily. The two soon entered a large open room filled with office blocks, and lined with a large number of Animus machines, although Desmond's questions about them are met with silence. Desmond once instinctively called upon his recently activated [[Eagle Vision]] when, at the door to an elevator, a password was needed that Lucy did not have. Once in the car park the two were halted by yet more Abstergo guards, but were able to overcome them and escape.

Arriving at the [[assassin's hideout]], 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, and 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 a new ancestor; [[Ezio]]. Desmond agrees to help almost immediately, and was quickly plugged in the [[Animus 2.0]].

[[File:Zw-desmond-dream.png|thumb|250px|left|Desmond experiencing the [[bleeding effect]]]]

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 too long at a time. 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]] skills. Just as he begun, however, he started suffering vivid hallucinations of the [[Third Crusade|Crusader era]]. At first the vision were short, and that they were nothing to worry about, but after completing the task Desmond was incapacitated as the visions became more real. Taken back to [[Acre]], 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.

[[File:Demsondanimus2.jpg|thumb|250px|Desmond sitting in the [[Animus|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 the watch over the genetic memories of Ezio Auditore, despite at one time being thrown out by a "corrupted memory sequence". Eventually they learn that Ezio's arch-nemesis, the Templar Grandmaster [[Rodrigo Borgia]] had, in 1492 become Pope Alexander VI, so as to gain access to yet another Piece of Eden, the Papal Staff and [[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 Have Gone 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. Desmond was quickly pulled out of the Animus, though, seeing the three rushing to collect their belongings, the Templars having 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 fought off the Templars with Desmond, now fully synchronized with Ezio, masterfully using his Hidden Blade to kill many of the guards. 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 was hooked up to the Animus inside the van and told to continue to search through his memories for anything useful. As Desmond's hooked up, the other Assassins begin to discuss the nature of [[Minerva]] and her talk.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II">''[[Assassin's Creed II]]''</ref>

==Characteristics and personality==
[[File:Zw-desmond-bleeding.png|thumb|330px|Desmond's free-running skills.]]
Desmond has an uncanny resemblance to both Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad and Ezio Auditore da Firenze, despite having very little in common with their personalities. And being a discreet individual, he does not wear extravagant clothing, accustomed to a white hooded jacket, jeans and, white sneakers. Interestingly, when up, the hood exhibited a beak-like feature similar to Ezio and Altaïr.

Desmond was a gruff and cynical individual, who held a serious outlook on life, due to being aware of the Templars and Assassins since his youth, although he was unaware of Abstergo Industries being a Templar company. Despite this, he was not above jesting over 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 spent a noticeable amount of time talking to Lucy.

===Equipment and skills===
Being that Desmond was trained during childhood as an Assassin, he learned basic reconnaissance skills of eavesdropping and pickpocketing as well as being a competent fist fighter. 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 another ancestor, Ezio Auditore, Desmond learned how to free-run like an assassin. Not long afterwards, he was able to easily fend off a Templar attack with Ezio's combat skills. Desmond is now able to fight with a [[Hidden Blade]] and mace-like weapons. It can be assumed that Ezio's sword skills were carried over as well.

==Trivia==
*He is modelled after [[Francisco Randez]] and voiced by [[Nolan North]]. Curiously, Francisco 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. His face slightly changes in Assassin's Creed II to match the look of Ezio, who's face also slightly differs from Altaïr's in the first game. <ref name="Assassin's Creed">''[[Assassin's Creed]]''</ref><ref name="Assassin's Creed II">''[[Assassin's Creed II]]''</ref>
*Desmond possesses the same scar on his lip as his ancestors Altaïr and Ezio had. <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]], as many of his ancestor's abilities such as the [[Eagle Vision]] are product of the unification of those two races, what 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 A+ blood type. <ref>[[“Assassin’s Creed” game manual]]</ref>
*Desmond's history shows 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 the first game, he does call himself an assassin and he 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 it shares the same design as the one Ezio inherited from his father, [[Giovanni]].
*The etymology of Desmond's name "The World" (or Man of the World in Celtic and Latin) 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 "The Eagle". His surname "Miles" is also the Latin word for "Soldier".
**The name however suits him, 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 it from destruction.
**Desmond is also known as subject 17, for he is the 17th person that was used to test the Animus.
**Due to the fact that Desmond and subject 16 are both desendents of Ezio it is certain that they are somewhat related.

== Video ==
[[Video:Real Life Storyline|thumb|480px|left|Real Life Storyline: Desmont Miles, Lucy Stillman and Warren Vidic]]
 

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

{{AC}}
{{ACII}}
{{ACSeries}}
[[Category:Assassin's Creed Characters|Miles, Desmond]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed II Characters|Miles, Desmond]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood Characters|Miles, Desmond]]
[[Category:Assassins|Miles, Desmond]]
[[Category:Descendant of Altaïr|Miles, Desmond]]

Isu

2010-07-09T23:17:39Z

69.254.161.68: /* Aftermath */

{{spoilerhd}}
[[File:Zw-Minerva-3.png|thumb|250px|[[Minerva]] is the only known 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 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 viewed 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 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 were simply manifestations of the powers of the [[Pieces of Eden]]<ref name="Assassin's Creed" />; devices created by Those Who Came Before to control the Human race<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 Vault]] underneath the Sistine Chapel 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 "meet" Those Who Came Before again; [[Ezio Auditore da Firenze]], an Assassin, encountered a hologram of a being calling herself [[Minerva]] in The Vault. While Ezio likely told his fellow Assassins of Minerva, it is possible they still did not understand her true nature; Ezio 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 sizeable 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<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 origin of the First Civilization are unclear; Minerva simply stated that they "came before". They were however, responsible for the creation of humanity, creating them in their own image to be a docile workforce. 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, leaving a sizeable 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 humans born without the neuro-transmitter, and could subsequently live without being influenced by the First Civilization through such means<ref name="Assassin's Creed II" />.

===War===
{{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. Possibly the result of at least two immune individuals stealing a Piece of Eden from their masters. The fate of these two – [[Adam and Eve]] – following their attempt is unknown, however humanity and Those Who Came Before soon found themselves at war with each other. While Those Who Came Before were more technologically advanced and powerful, humanity had the advantage of numbers<ref name="Assassin's Creed II" />.

Somehow, the Piece's of Eden had lost their ability to influence humanity, whether it be through deactivation or by natural immunity building up within the Human race, remains unknown<ref name="Assassin's Creed II" />.

====Catastrophe====
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 had 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 endeavoured 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<ref name="Assassin's Creed II" />. 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 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" />.

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, the last vestiges of the First Civilization died away, the gods had become extinct<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 when Minerva told Ezio within the The Vault that he was simply a conduit and spoke directly to the invisible [[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 catalog 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; Menrva, Uni and Tinia, who were 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" />.

==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 utilised by the First Civilization<ref name="Assassin's Creed II" />.

The Templars also knew of the existence of the Pieces of Eden, and believed them to be gifts left behind by the First Civilization for them to utilise<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 nothing of the First Civilization's existence.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II" />

===Bloodline===
{{Quote|Why is it that 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 theorised 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 by [[Warren Vidic]] in ''[[Assassin's Creed]]''. When talking to Desmond, Vidic claims that Abstergo is responsible for all major human technological advances in history, though he denies that the Templars invented them, calling them "gifts...from Those Who Came Before."
*It seems that not all of the history of them was lost to the Greeks and Romans, who still worshipped them, but as Deities. When monotheism (the belief in one god or deity) came about it became farther from the truth.
*The description of Those Who Came Before bears striking similarities to the real-world [[Wikipedia:Ancient astronauts|ancient astronaut theory]].
*It is interesting to note that, despite supposedly residing in Africa, Minerva, Adam and Eve resemble caucasians. This may be explained if black skin color was the result of many generations of people in the area, each darker than the last, so because Adam and Eve were of the first humans, they would still be white.

==Notes and references==
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