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

Colosseum Vault

2011-02-01T16:30:13Z

71.175.208.205: /* Trivia */

{{era|Brotherhood|Bbook}}
'''The Colosseum Vault''' was a [[Vault|chamber]] created by [[File:Welcome_to_the_Vault.JPG|thumb|250px|Desmond Miles and his team of Modern Assassins in the Vault.]][[Those Who Came Before]] located beneath the [[Santa Maria Aracoeli]], but accessed from a secret entrance beneath [[Colosseo|the Colosseum]]. The Vault was created to store the [[Sixth Apple|Apple of Eden]] on an erected pedestal at the center of a large chamber, and also contained a projection of the One Who Came Before, the "goddess," [[Juno]].

To enter the Vault's central chamber, one must speak aloud the number "72." After this, the tall pedestal can only accessed by jumping on a series of thin platforms and levers that only appear to activate when a person such as [[Desmond Miles]] or [[Ezio Auditore]], touches them. This is implied to be because of their being descendants of Those Who Came Before and the [[Humans|human race]]'s crossbreeding, which would therefor allow them access to the technology through their DNA. After activating all platforms, a set of stairs rise to form an easy path to the [[Piece of Eden]].

==Visitors==
[[File:Modern_Assassins_Inside_the_Vault.JPG|thumb|left|220px|Desmond, Shaun and Rebecca standing before the Apple.]]
The earliest known visitor of the Vault was [[Marcus Junius Brutus]], as evidenced by the [[Scrolls of Romulus]]. While in the Vault, Brutus saw visions of what would happen after [[Gaius Julius Caesar|Julius Caesar]]'s death and was inspired by them. Brutus also made a drawing of the Vault, as well as of the pedestal which would later hold one of the Apples of Eden.

The next known visitor was Ezio Auditore, who knew the password to enter, although how he knew the password is unknown. Upon his visit, he placed the Apple of Eden on the pedestal for safe keeping, although the reason for why Ezio did this is unknown.

[[File:Desmond_Stabbing_Lucy.JPG|thumb|212px|Desmond being forced by Juno to stab Lucy.]]
The latest known visitors were Desmond Miles, [[Lucy Stillman]], [[Shaun Hastings]] and [[Rebecca Crane]], who figured out the password from the writing Ezio had left in the [[Villa Auditore]] that could only be seen with [[Eagle Vision]]. While making his way towards the Vault, Desmond met with Juno, who spoke to him four times during his attempt to acquire the Apple of Eden. Out of all the [[Assassins]] present, Desmond was the only one able to see and hear her.

After Desmond activated the stairs and walked up to the Apple of Eden, symbols appeared around all of them. Upon touching the Apple, the other Assassins appeared to be frozen in time and Desmond lost control of his body. Juno took over his actions and forced him to stab Lucy in the abdomen, after which both Desmond and Lucy collapsed to the floor, unconscious.

==Trivia==
*Shaun remarks on two of the symbols that appear when the Apple is activated, the [[wikipedia:Phrygian cap|Phrygian cap]] and the [[wikipedia:Eye of Providence#Freemasonry|Masonic Eye]]. He begins to say ''"Now those two come together in only one place-"'' before being frozen.
**The above symbols only appear together on the [[wikipedia:French Revolution|Revolutionary France]] "[[wikipedia:Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen|Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen]]," which was written in August 1798.
*Of the symbols that appeared, the [[Abstergo]] Logo is one that appears quite frequently.
*The number "72" can also be seen in the arch of the bridge in the background of [[Leonardo da Vinci]]'s ''"Mona Lisa"'' painting. However, this is only visible under magnification, as the numbers are very small.
*By using Eagle Vision at the entrance of the Temple of Juno, the symbol of the [[wikipedia:Lorenz Attractor|Lorenz Attractor]] can be seen on the gate of the Vault. This is also one of the glyphs in Desmond's bedroom in Abstergo, which had been painted with [[Subject 16]]'s blood.
*By using Eagle vision on the platform in-between the entrance to the vault and the central platform where the apple sits, the blue-lined symbol on the floor turns red, showing the correct path to the free running sequence around the central platform. The correct path can also be seen with eagle vision by looking at the switches on the pillars; the ones steadily illuminated in white, not pulsing in gold, are the correct switches.
*When using Eagle Vision on one of the platforms in the circular room after completing the free running segment, some glyphs turn red. The reason for this is unknown.
*When playing the Romulus mission set in the Colloseum, the entrance to the vault can be seen at the end. Ezio and Desmond also follow mostly the same routes.

==Gallery==
[[Video:Assassin's Creed Brotherhood - Ending part 1|thumb|300px|left]]
[[Video:Assassin's Creed Brotherhood - Ending part 2|thumb|300px|right]]

==Source==
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood]]''

{{DEFAULTSORT:Vault, Colosseum}}
[[Category:Rome]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood Locations]]

Sword

2011-01-29T15:58:19Z

71.175.208.205: /* Trivia */

[[File:Oxcgn-assassins-creed-2-weapons.jpg|thumb|Several weapons Ezio can use.]]
In ''[[Assassin's Creed II]]'', the player can purchase a wide variety of weapons to use in combat. This page in particular will list the names and prices of the numerous swords and maces available at various [[Blacksmiths]].

==Weapons==
===Left Rack===
{|width="80%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="1" style="text-align:center"
!scope="col" width="25%"|Name
!scope="col" width="15%"|Damage
!scope="col" width="15%"|Speed
!scope="col" width="15%"|Deflect
!scope="col" width="15%"|Unlocked
!scope="col" width="15%"|Cost
|-
!Common Sword
|1
|2
|2
|Sequence 3, Memory 3
|Free (Received at the end of Sequence 1 after putting on the [[Assassin]]'s robes)
|-
!scope="row"|Captain's Sword
|2
|4
|3
|Sequence 5, Memory 1
|5,200 ƒ
|-
!scope="row"|Milanese Sword
|4
|4
|2
|Sequence 8, Memory 1
|11,300 ƒ
|-
!scope="row"|Schiavona
|4
|5
|4
|Sequence 8, Memory 1
|25,000 ƒ
|}

===Right Rack===
{|width="80%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="1" style="text-align:center"
!width="25%" scope="col"|Name
!width="15%" scope="col"|Damage
!width="15%" scope="col"|Speed
!width="15%" scope="col"|Deflect
!width="15%" scope="col"|Unlocked
!width="15%" scope="col"|Cost
|-
!scope="row"|[[Sword Of Altaïr]]
|5
|5
|5
|
Sequence 9, memory 3
|47,500 f
|-
!scope="row"|Old Syrian Sword
|1
|2
|3
|Sequence 3, Memory 3
|2,300 ƒ
|-
!scope="row"|Venetian Falchion
|1
|5
|5
|Sequence 3, Memory 3
|1,900 ƒ
|-
!scope="row"|Florentine Falchion
|2
|3
|4
|Sequence 5, Memory 1
|5,200 ƒ
|-
!scope="row"|Scimitar
|3
|3
|5
|Sequence 6, Memory 1
|11,300 ƒ
|}

===Hammers Rack===
{|width="80%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="1" style="text-align:center"
!scope="col" width="25%"|Name
!scope="col" width="15%"|Damage
!scope="col" width="15%"|Speed
!scope="col" width="15%"|Deflect
!scope="col" width="15%"|Unlocked
!scope="col" width="15%"|Cost
|-
!scope="row"|Mercenario War Hammer
|1
|3
|5
|Sequence 3, Memory 3
|1,900 ƒ
|-
!scope="row"|Condottiero War Hammer
|5
|3
|4
|Obtained after collecting 50 [[Feather|feathers]]
|30,600 ƒ
|-
!scope="row"|Maul
|2
|1
|2
|Sequence 4, Memory 1
|3,600 ƒ
|-
!scope="row"|Flanged Mace
|3
|3
|3
|Sequence 6, Memory 1
|10,500 ƒ
|-
!scope="row"|Cavalieri Mace
|2
|1
|1
|Sequence 7, Memory 1
|20,800 ƒ
|}

===Special Weapons Rack===
''Obtained after synchronizing with the PSP upon completion of [[Assassin's Creed: Bloodlines]].''
{|width="80%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="1" style="text-align:center"
!scope="col" width="40%"|Name
!scope="col" width="20%"|Damage
!scope="col" width="20%"|Speed
!scope="col" width="20%"|Deflect
|-
!scope="row"|
[[Maria Thorpe]]'s Longsword
|1
|3
|3
|-
!scope="row"|[[Fredrick|Frederick]]'s Hammer
|2
|4
|4
|-
!scope="row"|Mace Of [[Moloch|The Bull]]
|4
|2
|3
|-
!scope="row"|Twin's Rapier
|2
|5
|3
|-
!scope="row"|[[Armand Bouchart|Bouchart]]'s Blade
|2
|5
|5
|}

==Trivia==
*The Sword of [[Altaïr]] and the Condottiero War Hammer can only be purchased from the blacksmith shop in [[Monteriggioni]].
*Monteriggioni's Blacksmith sells every weapon available after Sequence 11, apart from the Condottiero War Hammer, which is only available after collecting 50 feathers.
* The old Syrian Sword looks exactly the same as Altaïr's final and best sword from the first ''[[Assassin's Creed]]''.
* The "grab kill" of the mace is similar to that of the swords'. It is possible to use the sharp end of the mace to achieve the same results.
* It is interesting to note that even though the Condottiero War Hammer can only be bought from the Monteriggioni blacksmith, once unlocked, random guards will use this as their weapon.
* In ''Assassin's Creed II'', the Syrian Sword does less damage than the Sword of Altaïr, despite the Syrian Sword being the best sword in the first game. This may be because the Sword has started to age, thus making it weaker.
**It is possible that the Sword of Altaïr is made of the same metal as [[Armor of Altaïr|his armor]], and thus avoided wearing out over the decades.
**It is also possible that Altaïr used [[First Apple|the Apple]] to modify the sword.
* The first sword Ezio is equipped with in ''Assassin's Creed II'' is the common sword, however when he is disarmed by a Brute during [[Auditore Execution|the execution]], it becomes the Syrian Sword.
*[[The Soldier]], a multiplayer character from ''[[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood]]'' uses a shortsword, which resembles a shorter version of the Milanese Sword.
*For some reason, in ''Brotherhood'', the scimitar, along with the maul, appear as weapons but are not purchasable. They can, however, be acquired from a guard, by retrieving it while equipped with an empty heavy sheath.

==Videos==
[[Video:Assassins Creed II - Orchesteral Disarmings and Counters 2|thumb|346px|left|Almost all counters and disarmings with the sword, mace and dagger.]]

{{ACII}}
[[Category:Assassin's Creed II Weapons]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood Weapons]]

Crystal Skulls

2011-01-20T00:18:59Z

71.175.208.205:

{{WP-REAL|Crystal skull}}[[File:Phrenology.PNG|thumb|[[Bombastus]] and [[Giovanni Borgia]] studying a Crystal Skull.]]The '''Crystal Skulls''' are [[Pieces of Eden]], created by [[Those Who Came Before]]. They were scattered throughout Central America, coming into the possession of Aztec and Mayan tribes. They are mentioned briefly in one of [[Warren Vidic|Warren Vidic's]] [[Emails|emails]] in ''[[Assassin's Creed]]''. In 1520, [[Giovanni Borgia]] managed to intercept one from an Aztec priest while being in undercover service to [[Hernán Cortés]]' crew. He then took it to [[Bombastus]] , who was an [[Assassins]] ' expert studying the Pieces of Eden. <ref name="Assassin's Creed: Project Legacy">''[[Assassin's Creed: Project Legacy]]''</ref>

==Mitchell-Hedges-Skull==
Several of the skulls did presumably come into possession of [[Abstergo]], as [[Alan Rikkin]] notes in an email to Vidic that the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crystal_skull#Mitchell-Hedges_skull Mitchell-Hedges Communicators] work. Hence it is assumed that the power of the Crystall Skulls is used as a form of communication with each other. Therefore, Abstergo intended to to use them as a safe communication system. <ref name="Assassin's Creed">''[[Assassin's Creed]]''</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}
[[Category:Pieces of Eden]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed: Project Legacy]]

Pietro Rossi

2011-01-10T22:42:13Z

71.175.208.205:

{{stub}}
{{imageneed}}
[[File:Coliseum.jpg|thumb|Pietro being carried away by Ezio.]]
'''Pietro Rossi (born 1470)''' was a stage performer, and one of [[Lucrezia Borgia]]'s lovers, who was featured in ''[[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood]]''. Because of his relationship with Lucrezia, he became a target of [[Micheletto]], who had been commanded by his master, [[Cesare Borgia]], to have him murdered.

This attack was set to take place the day Pietro was rehearsing his part for the Passion play in the [[Colosseo]], where he was playing the starring role of [[Jesus Christ]]. Unbeknownst to him, Micheletto had infiltrated the cast, and planned to stab him to death in an "accident," under the guise of his role as the Centurion who stabbed Jesus. During the Crucifixion of Christ act, the rehearsal was interrupted by [[Ezio Auditore]], who had intended to assassinate Micheletto before he could kill Pietro. Micheletto had planned ahead, however, and had poisoned Pietro beforehand.

Foregoing his planned assassination, much to Micheletto's surprise, Ezio instead rushed Pietro away from the fight to the nearest [[Doctors|doctor]]. After Pietro appeared to be recovering from the poison, Ezio revealed that Cesare knew of his and Lucrezia's affair and took the key to the [[Castel Sant'Angelo]] that Lucrezia had given to Pietro, in order to infiltrate the [[Castel Sant' Angelo]] with more ease.

{{ACBH}}
[[Category:Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood Characters]]
[[Category:Characters]]
[[Category:Article stubs]]

Papal Guard

2011-01-10T22:34:09Z

71.175.208.205: /* Skills */

{{stub}}
{{Quote|The Papal guards are basically the ultimate elite guards that we're gonna have in ''Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood''.|Ubisoft developer Christopher Weiler <ref name="Brotherhood Dev Diary 3">''[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7XoffSkVgsc&feature=channel ''Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood'' Dev Diary 3]''</ref>}}
[[File:Y_1b5d9d53.jpg|thumb|A member of the Papal Guard]]
The '''Papal Guard''' were elite soldiers commanded by the [[Papacy]] to serve and protect the pontiff during his tenure. By 1503, the Papal Guard protected [[Rodrigo Borgia|Pope Alexander VI]], and were led by the Pope's son and Papal Commander, [[Cesare Borgia]]. The sole purpose of the Papal guards is to protect the Pope and his family with their lives.

The Papal guards are the most versatile and difficult enemies, as they carry the best of abilities held by all other [[Guards|guard archetypes]] and can easily deflect and counter many of [[Ezio Auditore]]'s attacks.<ref name="Brotherhood Dev Diary 3"></ref> They can wield matchlock firearms in one hand, and a sword in the other, making them deadly opponents in both short and long range. Other than swords, they can also be equipped with a variety of long weapons, short weapons, and heavy weapons.

==Skills==

*Papal guards are extremely fast and difficult to escape from, as they possess the speed of [[Agiles]], and will always be able catch up to Ezio in a chase.

*Papal guards can dodge Ezio's attacks, also behaving similar to an Agile.

*When confronted with a group of Papal guards it is common for them to grab Ezio from behind or directly from the front. This can be considered as a team work strategy.

*Papal guards often in groups, rarely when encountered alone, throw sand in Ezio's face, a skill that is common for Seekers to use in close range combat.

*Although not considered a skill, Papal guards cause significantly more damage in close range than other guard archetypes, aside from Brutes.

*Papal guards are the only guards in the whole game that hold a matchlock firearm in one hand, while equipped with a melee weapon in the other, being able to shoot at Ezio when attempting to escape or at close range. Another strategy can be considered involving the firearms when two or one Papal guards will attack Ezio at close range while at least one will repeatedly shoot him from a distance.

*Papal guards also hijack a horse when engaged in a fight.

==Trivia==
*The Papal guards were the precursor to the [[wikipedia:Swiss guard|Swiss Guard]], who have protected the pontiff since 1548.
*The Papal guards may be less skilled than Ezio, however they are considerably stronger and have a larger build; with all of them being at least a head taller than Ezio.
*Depending on the weapon that they are armed with, Papal guards are able to fight as a [[Brutes|Brute]], [[Agiles|Agile]] or [[Seekers|Seeker]].
*Although Papal guards are one of the toughest opponents in the game they aren't commonly found in Rome, and will appear more often in storyline missions. However, a group of four Papal guards are always stationed right outside the [[Castel Sant'Angelo]] in the [[Vaticano District]], and will also attack Ezio on sight.
*By Cesare Borgia's arrest in December 1503, the Borgia had lost all their power in Rome. However, when Cesare was arrested by [[Fabio Orsini]] and the Papal troops, they still carried the emblem of the Borgia.
*[[Smoke bombs]] have no effect on a Papal guard while engaged in combat, however, the bombs function as normal if the guard is taken by surprise.
*Cesare Borgia himself fights much like a Papal guard, and is able to dual-wield a rifle and sword as they do.
*In Sequence 8, the Papal guards become much more common in the Vatican district. If you're attempting the Mercenary Guild Challenge then it is wise to wait until Sequence 8 before tackling this challenge.

==Gallery==
<gallery captionalign="left">
Papal.png|A Papal Guard threatens Ezio Auditore at gunpoint.
ACB papalguard.png|A Papal guard and Ezio Auditore.
Papal Guard.PNG|A Papal guard, wielding a spear.
Papal guard.jpg|A Papal guard is impaled by Ezio Auditore
Cesare_and_the_Papal_Guard.jpg|Cesare and his Papal infantry
</gallery>

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

{{ACBH}}
[[Category:Article stubs]]
[[Category:Guards]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood Gameplay]]

Isu

2011-01-08T22:50:35Z

71.175.208.205: /* Trivia */

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

==Knowledge==
Though various religious beliefs seem to have been based on aspects and misinterpretations of Those Who Came Before, their existence was largely unknown to [[Humans|humanity]].<ref name="Assassin's Creed II" /> As early as the 12th century, both the [[Assassins]] and the [[Knights Templar]] knew that the focus of human religions, the gods, did not truly exist, and that miracles and other supernatural occurrences were simply manifestations of the powers of the [[Pieces of Eden]], devices created by Those Who Came Before to control the Human race.<ref name="Assassin's Creed" /><ref name="Assassin's Creed II" /> However, it is unclear if the Assassins and Templars understood the origin of the Pieces at that time. By the 15th century, at least one Templar, [[Rodrigo Borgia]], was aware of the existence, if not the nature, of Those Who Came Before; he mistakenly believed that [[The 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 encounter Those Who Came Before again, when the Assassin [[Ezio Auditore da Firenze]] encountered a hologram of a being calling herself [[Minerva]] in The Vault. Even though Ezio told his fellow Assassins of Minerva, they still did not understand her true nature; Ezio himself showed great difficulty in understanding [[Minerva]]'s explanation of her existence.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II" />

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Templars also knew of the existence of the Pieces of Eden, and regarded them as gifts left behind by the First Civilization for them to utilize<ref name="Assassin's Creed" />. This situation was in significant contrast to the situation in the 15th Century, where it had been the Assassins who knew explicitly of the existence of Those Who Came Before, whilst the Templar Grand Master [[Rodrigo Borgia]] merely believed the Vault to be the location of God himself. This changed however, and five hundred years later, the Order of Assassins knew little of The First Civilisation's Existance. They had theories on Minerva's existence, but they could not confirm them until Desmond received her warning in the Animus.

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

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

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

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

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

==Notes and references==
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