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

Jacopo de' Pazzi

2014-02-22T12:38:34Z

82.31.100.245: /* Death */

{{Era|AC2|2book|Templars|Good}}
{{WP-REAL|Pazzi}}
{{Character Infobox
|name = Jacopo de' Pazzi
|image = AC2_Jacopo_de_Pazzi_render.png
|birth = 1421
|death = 1480 (aged 59)<br>[[Tuscany]], [[Italy]]
|affiliates = [[House of Pazzi]]<br>[[Templars]]
|appear = ''[[Assassin's Creed II]]''<br>''[[Assassin's Creed: Renaissance]]''
|voice = [[Arthur Grosser]]}}
'''Jacopo de' Pazzi '''(1421 - 1480) was an affluent [[Florence|Florentine]] noble and a member of the [[Templars|Templar Order]].

Belonging to the noble [[House of Pazzi|Pazzi family]], Jacopo maintained a chief role in family affairs, operating the Pazzi banking enterprise. He was the great-uncle of [[Vieri de' Pazzi|Vieri]] and [[Viola de' Pazzi]], and also the uncle of [[Francesco de' Pazzi]].

An associate of [[Lorenzo de' Medici]], Jacopo had nothing against the ruler of Florence personally, so he commissioned four Templar assassins to murder Lorenzo and resolve the situation for him in 1478.

==Biography==
===Pazzi Conspiracy===
{{Quote|Libertà! Libertà! Libertà! Popolo e libertà! ''(Liberty! Liberty! Liberty! People and liberty!)''|Jacopo at the Palazzo della Signoria.|Assassin's Creed II}}
In 1478, Jacopo met with fellow Templar conspirators Francesco and Vieri de' Pazzi, alongside the [[Grand Master]] of the Templar Order, [[Rodrigo Borgia]], within [[San Gimignano]]. The group discussed the details of their plot to take over Florence, and Jacopo was given the responsibility of calming the Florentine [[Civilians|citizens]] once the deed was done.

While the [[Assassins|Assassin]] [[Ezio Auditore da Firenze|Ezio Auditore]] had infiltrated San Gimignano alongside his [[Mario Auditore|uncle]] and his [[mercenaries]], a Templar meeting was soon concluded and the group took the Templar pledge, before they departed from the city, aside for Vieri, who remained behind. From there, Vieri was subsequently killed by Ezio, who had [[Eavesdropping|eavesdropped]] on the meeting, after his forces had overwhelmed Vieri's [[guards]].

[[File:Novella's_Secret_2.png|thumb|250px|left|Jacopo at the Tempalr meeting]]
Later that same year, Jacopo convened with Templar loyalists inside the catacombs beneath [[Basilica di Santa Maria Novella|Santa Maria Novella]], with the meeting once again being conducted by Rodrigo. During it, Jacopo vocalized his concerns regarding the underestimated capabilities of their enemies, however, it was swiftly brushed aside by Francesco, who gave Rodrigo his word that the operation would succeed.

The following morning, once Francesco and the other conspirators had attacked the Medici at the [[Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore|Duomo]], Jacopo rallied Pazzi supporters in front of the [[Palazzo della Signoria]], chanting for liberty.

However, to Jacopo's astonishment, Francesco's body was flung over the front face of the Palazzo during the rally, while [[House of Medici|Medici]] supporters cheered from above, on the roof of the building. Paranoid, Jacopo immediately fled the city on [[Horses|horseback]], seeking sanctuary in San Gimignano.

===Death===
{{Dialogue|Ezio|I've been sent from Firenze by Il Magnifico to attend to some unfinished business. I'm looking for Jacopo de' Pazzi.|Mario|Ha... Who isn't? We've been at it for days.|Ezio and Mario discuss Jacopo's escape.|Assassin's Creed II}}
Upon fleeing Florence, Jacopo took refuge in San Gimignano along with his co-conspirators [[Bernardo Baroncelli]], [[Stefano da Bagnone]], [[Francesco Salviati]], and [[Antonio Maffei]]. Maintaining a vast range of resources, Jacopo concealed himself well within the city; however, his co-conspirators lacked his assets, and were ultimately hunted down and assassinated by Ezio Auditore. Through these assassinations, Ezio ascertained the location of another Templar gathering that Jacopo was preparing to attend.

In 1480, Ezio used that information to locate Jacopo in front of a church within the city. Jacopo traveled to an [[Antico Teatro Romano|ancient Roman theater]], while the Assassin tailed behind. Eventually arriving at the meeting, Ezio remained towards the back of the theater and observed as Jacopo met with Rodrigo and [[Emilio Barbarigo]], a formidable [[Venice|Venetian]] merchant and Templar.

[[File:With Friends 2 v.png|thumb|250px|Jacopo attempting to reason with Rodrigo]]
Tentative, Jacopo attempted to convey an explanation regarding their failure in Florence, claiming Francesco had acted rash and impulsively. Despite his attempts though, Rodrigo disregarded Jacopo's words and stabbed him in the stomach with a [[stiletto]]. Observing the wound with a petrified look, Jacopo pleaded for his life to Emilio.

Remorselessly though, Emilio stabbed Jacopo again and shoved him to the ground, to which Rodrigo brandished his blade and thrust it through Jacopo's neck, leaving him to perish. Turning away from Jacopo's dying figure, Rodrigo called on his men to capture and kill Ezio, as they were aware of his presence, before departing from the theater with Emilio.

Despite opposition, Ezio broke free of his hold and vanquished the [[guards]], before the Assassin made his way to the stage, where he ended Jacopo's suffering using his [[Hidden Blade]].

==Personality and characteristics==
{{Dialogue|Jacopo|It's Francesco's fault! His impatience made him reckless! I tried to be the voice of reason...|Emilio|More like the voice of cowardice.|Jacopo quarrels with Emilio at a Templar meeting.|Assassin's Creed II}}
[[File:NVS 25.png|thumb|250px|left|Jacopo reprimanding Francesco for underestimating the Assassins]]
As a member of the Templar Order and a conspirator against the Medici, Jacopo was pragmatic in his planning. He was not conceited and was practical when he spoke of his enemies, reminding Francesco to view the Assassins as a viable threat after Vieri's assassination. He also was rational when he fled to San Gimignano, and chose to remain hidden until he needed to attend the meeting in the countryside.

Although Jacopo exhibited sensible behavior, his conduct was often regarded as cowardice by his fellow Templars, as well as the Medici. However, upon being condemned as a coward by Emilio, Jacopo immediately began arguing with the Venetian merchant, blaming him for their failure in Florence.

Jacopo was also an apologetic man, who respected his superiors, despite occasionally letting his behavior get out of hand. He spoke softly and was shy towards Rodrigo, remaining loyal and obedient to the Grand Master even on his deathbed, telling Rodrigo he could fix the fiasco in Florence.

==Trivia==
*Historically, Jacopo was hurled through a window by an enraged Florentine mob after the failed Pazzi conspiracy. He was then dragged nude through the streets, and then flung into the [[Arno]].
*Jacopo was voiced by [[Arthur Grosser]], who also portrayed Pope [[Sixtus IV]] in ''[[Assassin's Creed: Lineage]]''.
*Jacopo was the only character seen riding a horse in the city of Florence, and the only non-player character to ride a horse in ''Assassin's Creed II'', except for [[Agile guards]] during the "[[Romagna Holiday]]" memory.
*Jacopo was the only assassination target in ''Assassin's Creed II'' who did not say anything in the [[Memory Corridor]].
*In ''Assassin's Creed: Renaissance'', Ezio kissed Jacopo's forehead before plunging his Hidden Blade into his heart.

==Gallery==
<gallery captionalign="center" position="center" spacing="small" widths="180">
CU Jacopo Pazzi.jpg|Original concept art for Jacopo de'Pazzi
WGA_10_v.png|Jacopo taking the Templar pledge
Novella's_Secret_1.png|Jacopo listening to Stefano during the meeting
Farewell Francesco 10.png|Jacopo among the Pazzi supporters
With_Friends_6_v.png|Rodrigo stabbing Jacopo through the neck
With Friends 15 v.png|Ezio ending Jacopo's suffering
With Friends 16 v.png|Jacopo's final moments
</gallery>

==Reference==
*''[[Assassin's Creed II]]''
{{AC2}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Pazzi, Jacopo de'}}
[[Category:1421 births]]
[[Category:1480 deaths]]
[[Category:Italians]]
[[Category:House of Pazzi]]
[[Category:Templars]]
[[Category:Pazzi conspirators]]
[[Category:Individuals]]

Journal of Haytham E. Kenway

2014-02-15T19:51:53Z

82.31.100.245:

{{Era|AC3|Forsaken}}
{{Quote|I never knew him. Not really. I thought I had, but it wasn't until I read his journal that I realized I hadn't really known him at all. And it's too late now. Too late to tell him I misjudged him. Too late to tell him I'm sorry.|Ratonhnhaké:ton after reading his father's journal.|Assassin's Creed: Forsaken}}
[[File:Journey to the New World 2.png|thumb|250px|Haytham writing in his journal]]
The '''Journal of Haytham E. Kenway''' was a detailed, autobiographical study of the life of [[Haytham Kenway]], the first [[Grand Master]] of the [[Templars|Templar Order]] in the [[United Kingdom|British]] colonies of America.

The first entry of the journal was written on 6 December 1735, two days after Haytham's tenth birthday, and goes into detail about the death of his [[Assassins|Assassin]] father [[Edward Kenway]] and his subsequent tutelage under [[Reginald Birch]], a family friend and secret Grand Master of the British Templars.

Haytham took the journal with him aboard the ''[[Providence]]'' when traveling to the colonies of [[United States|British America]], and continued writing entries about his exploits in the New World. The journal also described the feelings that Haytham held for his Assassin son [[Ratonhnhaké:ton]], and his internal conflicts about the war between the Templars and Assassins.

Haytham's last entry in the journal was dated 16 September 1781, the same day that he was killed by his son during the [[Attack on Fort George|attack]] on [[Fort George]] in [[New York City|New York]]. Ratonhnhaké:ton found his father's journal after his death, realizing that he had misjudged his father upon reading it, and wrote the final entries of the journal.

==References==
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Forsaken]]''
{{AC3}}
[[Category:Journals and diaries]]

Grand Temple

2014-02-10T08:45:55Z

82.31.100.245:

{{Era|ACB|ACR|AC3|AC4|TWCB}}
{{Quote|Each Vault's knowledge was transmitted to a single place.|Jupiter speaking of the Grand Temple.|Assassin's Creed: Revelations}}
[[File:AC3 Grand Temple Front.png|thumb|250px|Grand Temple's main chamber]]
The '''Grand Temple''', otherwise known as the '''Central Vault '''or the '''Precursor Site''', was created by the beings of the [[First Civilization]]. It is located in modern day [[Turin, New York]].

Like the other [[temples]] across the planet, its purpose was to create different methods of saving and preserving the world; it was the location where [[Jupiter]], [[Minerva]] and [[Juno]] collected and tested the discoveries of the other temples in the hope of finding the most effective methods of Earth's salvation from the solar flare.

To maintain its operation, the Grand Temple was buried underground to protect its contents from the war with humanity and the solar flare, and was hidden beneath a statue dedicated to the Capitoline Triad. However, the statue was destroyed in the [[Toba catastrophe|First Disaster]], and its location remained a mystery until [[Desmond Miles]]' [[Synch Nexus|revelation]].[http://assassinscreed.wikia.com/wiki/Grand_Temple?action=edit# Preview ]

It was also the location that Juno had been locked within to protect the [[humans]] from her plots of destruction, and held the key to unlock her that could also save Earth from the second flare.

==History==
===First Civilization===
Before and after the war with humanity, all information from the other temples regarding any way to prevent the first catastrophe was sent there for Jupiter, Juno, and Minerva to "sort and sample all that was collected." The three tested six possible solutions in succession, "each more encouraging than the last", but all six solutions ultimately failed.<ref name="ACR">''[[Assassin's Creed: Revelations]]''</ref>

[[File:AC3_Juno_Towers_Solution.png|thumb|left|250px|Juno elaborating on the four towers]]
The first solution was to build four towers to collect the solar flare that would strike the planet, and virtually dispel it. While they had the means and resources, the time to produce the solution would take too long to be successful. The first tower was never completed and the research was abandoned.

However, Juno mentioned that some members of the First Civilization attempted to continue the pursuit of this solution, and sought to automate the construction process, hoping that the machines would have been able to finish the first tower.

[[File:ACIII-ShardofEden_3.png|thumb|250px|Juno explaining the Shards of Eden]]
The second solution was to use the [[Shards of Eden]], on a much larger scale than ever before. The magnetic field emitted by the Shards could protect the planet against the solar flare, but it was too large to build and was considered impossible.

The scientists hoped to save a possible half, a sixth, an eighth, or even a tenth of the planet. However, the lack of time and resources proven too great, and it was theorized that a city might have been spared at best, given more time. Like the first solution, this one was also abandoned in the end.

[[File:AC3_Juno_Enthrallment_Solution.png|thumb|left|250px|Juno explaining the entrhallment solution]]
The third solution was discovered by using the [[Apples of Eden]] to control humanity. If enough humans were compelled to believe in one idea, their thoughts took on form and became reality.

The consequent solution involved launching an Apple of Eden into orbit, aiming it towards the planet, and commanding the entire human race to think one thought, "Make us safe."

However, even with a dozen of the Apples sent into orbit, the First Civilization lacked the means to direct and maintain the control beam, and simultaneously influence the humans on a global scale. The project was eventually abandoned.

[[File:AC3_Juno_The_Eye_Solution.png|thumb|250px|Juno explaining the time manipulation solution]]
[[Minerva]] discovered that there was a [[Calculations|pattern of numbers and equations that define existence]]. If one could comprehend these numbers, time itself could be tamed. The fourth solution was to attempt to go back in time and prevent the disaster before it could occur.

Unfortunately, it appeared that the scientists' attempts had no effect on the present. The device they created could, however, look into the future, to see if the other solutions would prevent the disaster, but the result was always a failure.

The solution was abandoned, though Minerva herself continued her studies on the underlying mathematics of the universe, and eventually used her knowledge to actively communicate with individuals in the far future, such as Desmond Miles, through the memories of his ancestor, [[Ezio Auditore da Firenze]].

[[File:AC3 Juno Aita.png|thumb|250px|left|Juno remaining by Aita's side]]
The fifth solution was to augment the bodies of the remaining First Civilization members to adapt into the hostile new climate which appeared on Earth following the catastrophe.

[[Aita]], Juno's husband, volunteered to test the method, resulting in his mind degenerating and becoming increasingly catatonic. With enough will, he wished for Juno to euthanize him, and she fulfilled it. The solution was subsequently abandoned.

The sixth solution was to create entirely new vessels that could safely transfer one's consciousness in a way that the former solution had failed to do. The new vessels would be able to withstand the new environment, and they could house the transferred consciousness.

However, while transferring one's consciousness into the new vessel was easy, subsequent releasing of oneself from the vessel was nearly impossible, and required another being's sacrifice to be successful. As a result, this solution was ultimately abandoned.

Following this, the solar flare destroyed most of the First Civilization and left less than 10,000 humans alive. However, the two groups worked together, beginning around the remains of the Grand Temple. The members of the First Civilization attempted to pass on their gifts to humans through crossbreeding, resulting in some individuals being able to access [[Eagle Vision]] and use the [[Pieces of Eden]].<ref name="ACR"/>

The scientists determined a similar disaster will occur again in 2012. Minerva found a new solution from her research and created a pedestal, [[the Eye]], that would allow one who had the right genetic material to manipulate the numbers to protect the Earth. However, before Minerva could test it, she discovered that Juno had tampered with it. While the patterns to save the world still existed, they would also allow Juno to have total control and power. As such, Minerva forced the solution to be abandoned, and Juno's consciousness was imprisoned in the Grand Temple.

===Calling to Ezio===
Before leaving to wander the world and guide the humans, Minerva used the Eye to communicate with the [[Assassins|Assassin]] Ezio Auditore da Firenze, a descendant of the First Civilization, in the [[Vatican Vault]] in 1499; unbeknownst to Ezio, his memories would be viewed by his descendant Desmond Miles in 2012 through the [[Animus]].

Considering this, Minerva spoke directly to Desmond through Ezio, telling Desmond about her people, the war with humanity, the disaster, and their efforts to rebuild the world. She also warned Desmond to act quickly and to beware of "the cross", referring to the [[Templars]].<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed II]]''</ref>

[[File:TToP_7.png|thumb|250px|left|Ezio and Leonardo discovering the coordinates of the Grand Temple]]
In 1506, Ezio Auditore and [[Leonardo da Vinci]] discovered a smaller vault in [[Rome]]. Unlike the Vatican Vault, the [[Temple of Pythagoras|Pythagorean Vault]] contained a set of coordinates: 43 39 19 N 75 27 42 W. Leonardo was baffled by the information, but Ezio inherently understood that these numbers were intended for Desmond.

[[William Miles]], Desmond's father and the ''de facto'' [[Mentor]] of the Assassin Order, noted these memories outside the Animus, and set out to these coordinates, which he believed to be the location of another temple.<ref name="ACBH - TDVD">''[[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood]]'' - ''[[The Da Vinci Disappearance]]''</ref>

In 1511, Prince [[Ahmet]], the Templar leader in [[Constantinople]], desired the location of the Grand Temple in order to end the differences between men, and create a [[New World Order|unified world]]. He believed that the legendary Assassin [[Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad]] discovered the temple's location, and that he had hidden that knowledge in [[Library of Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad|his library]] beneath [[Masyaf]].

With this belief, he organized an excavation to find the library, which Ezio Auditore ultimately discovered. From 1511 to 1512, Ezio stayed in Constantinople to recover the [[Masyaf Keys|keys]] to Altaïr's library, which subsequently led to him opening it. However, the library was empty, except for Altaïr's remains, a sixth key, and Altaïr's [[Apple of Eden 2|Apple of Eden]].

Weary of his life as an Assassin, Ezio chose not to take the Apple from the library. However, the Apple began to glow and Ezio began to speak directly to Desmond as Minerva had. Ezio asked Desmond to make sense of the questions that had plagued him, and to make the suffering he had endured worth something. Desmond's image then appeared through the Apple.

===Kanien'kehá:ka===
Around 800 CE, the [[Kanien'kehá:ka]] settled near the Grand Temple. Using a [[Crystal Balls|Crystal Ball]] to communicate with Juno in the [[Nexus]], the villagers of [[Kanatahséton]] became the guardians of the "sanctuary", and their duties forced them to isolate themselves from the other [[Iroquois]]. Over time, the stories of the tribe's communications with Juno were painted on the Temple door, referring to her as a motherly figure who constantly watched over and protected the Kanien'kehá:ka.

[[File:ACIII-BraddockExpedition_15.png|thumb|250px|Haytham attempting to open the door]]
In 1754, the Templar [[Haytham Kenway]] came to America with the key and sought entrance to the sanctuary, believing it to be a storehouse for First Civilization goods and riches. After gaining the trust of the warrior [[Kaniehtí:io]], he was guided to the Temple's door, but without an Apple of Eden, Haytham was unable to open it. Deterred, he ordered his brethren to abandon exploring the site and focus instead on spreading their Order through the Colonies.

However, led by [[Charles Lee]], his fellow Templars ignored his order and came to Kanatahséton to demand the location of the Temple, but were denied. Along the way, Lee assaulted Haytham and Kaniehtí:io's illegitimate son, [[Ratonhnhaké:ton]], who returned to find his village destroyed, convinced it had been Lee who had done it.

When he came of age, Juno communicated with Ratonhnhaké:ton, instructing him to join the Assassins to prevent the Templars from ever attempting to breach the sanctuary. In 1782, Ratonhnhaké:ton, now the Assassin Connor, killed Lee and took the key as a memento. Juno then instructed him to hide the key, and Connor buried it over the grave of his namesake, [[Connor Davenport]], on the hill overlooking the [[Davenport Homestead]], securing the Temple. He later learned his people, who had protected the Temple for generations, had chosen to migrate west, as their land had been sold by the new American government.

===Modern times===
In 2012, Desmond relived Ezio's memories, and upon the moment Ezio discovered the Apple in the library of Altaïr, it [[Synch Nexus|triggered]] Desmond to be thrown into the Nexus. There, Jupiter spoke to Desmond and further explained and elaborated on what had happened to him and the rest of the First Civilization, as well as charging Desmond with the task of going to the Grand Temple, since it would help him find a means to save the world from the next solar flare.

[[File:AC3_Desmond_Grand_Temple_Entrance.png|thumb|250px|left|Desmond opening the Grand Temple]]
From there, Desmond opened the Temple's gates with [[Ezio's Apple of Eden]], activating a large portion of its equipment in the process. As Desmond, William, [[Shaun Hastings]] and [[Rebecca Crane]] investigated the Temple, they found a large gate made of light that protected the Eye.

After this, Desmond was forced into a fugue state of the [[Bleeding Effect]] by Juno and was subsequently placed into the Animus to find the key, through reliving the memories of his ancestors Haytham and Connor.

Meanwhile, Shaun realized that the Assassin team needed three power sources to fully reactivate the Temple, otherwise opening the door would be of no use. Over time, Desmond recovered the power sources to activate the whole mechanism of the Temple, and with each source plugged in, Desmond witnessed visions from Juno explaining the solutions created by the First Civilization to prevent the solar flare and save the planet.

Through the memories of his ancestors, Desmond obtained the key and recovered the power sources, accessing the Eye. In that moment, Juno appeared to the Assassins once more, urging Desmond to activate the Eye. However, Minerva, who had secretly had a second Eye constructed, suddenly appeared as well, telling Desmond to do the opposite.

She explained that if Desmond did as Juno asked him to, the world would be saved, but at the cost of his life and Juno's release from imprisonment. Following this, Minerva showed Desmond that if he refrained from activating the Eye, the Sun would once again destroy the world, but he and many other humans would survive. Additionally, Desmond would eventually become a religious figure that would rebuild the world, but upon his death, his ideals would be mistranslated and spark religious conflicts again, effectively causing history to repeat itself.

[[File:ACIII-GTEnd 5.png|thumb|250px|Desmond activating the Eye]]
Believing that humanity had a chance at defeating Juno, Desmond made his choice and activated the Eye, telling William, Shaun and Rebecca to leave and prepare for the new struggle. The world was indeed saved, but Desmond had perished and Juno was set free, who promised to "play [her part]."<ref name="AC3">''[[Assassin's Creed III]]''</ref>

Several hours later, [[Abstergo Industries]] found the Grand Temple's location and dispatched a team. There, they found and retrieved Desmond's body, stripping him of his backpack and his [[Hidden Blade]], which was broken into pieces and taken to Abstergo along with the rest of his belongings.<ref name="Initiates">''[[Assassin's Creed: Initiates]]''</ref>

==Trivia==
*The entrance to the Grand Temple was located in the north of the [[Frontier]] within the Black Creek region, within a cave that was once the head of Minerva from the Capitoline Trio statue. Over time, the statue eroded and became little more than a massive rock edifice, with a tunnel carved out to access the Temple's entrance.
**It was also possible to visit the entrance while reliving Connor and Haytham's memories, though the door was closed.
**In ''[[The Tyranny of King Washington]]'' the entrance is absent from the cave.
*The shape of the temple from the hologram in ''Assassin's Creed: Revelations'' changed to become much larger and sectioned off in ''Assassin's Creed III''.
*According to ''[[The Art of Assassin's Creed III]]'', the three sections of the Grand Temple are respectively meant to be a computer server, sleeping quarters, and a research facility.

==Gallery==
<tabber>Concept art=
<gallery captionalign="center" position="center" spacing="small" widths="180">
ACI Temple-03.jpg|Concept art of the Grand Temple as seen in ''[[Assassin's Creed: Initiates]]
ACI Temple-02.jpg|Concept art of the interior of the Grand Temple
ACI Temple-01.jpg|Concept art of the Grand Temple
AC3 Grand Temple.jpg|Concept art of Desmond Miles entering the Grand Temple
Underground Temple by WilliamWu.jpg|Concept art of the underground Temple
Grand Temple concept art.jpg|First Civilization technology within the Grand Temple
</gallery>
|-|Screenshots=
<gallery captionalign="center" position="center" spacing="small" widths="180">
ACR Grand Temple Map Location.png|The Grand Temple's location seen within the Synch Nexus
Trio 2.png|Jupiter, Minerva and Juno seen in a hologram of the Grand Temple
AC3 Grand Temple Entrance Colonial Times.png|The entrance to the Temple in the 18th century
AC3 Assassins entering Grand Temple.png|Modern Assassins entering the Temple
AC3 Temple Inner Entrance.png|The Assassins by the door to the Temple
AC3 Temple Inner Opening.png|Desmond opening the door
AC3 Grand Temple Barrier.png|The barrier sealing off the Temple's inner chamber
AC3 Grand Temple Script.png|First Civilization script inside the Temple
AC3 Grand Temple Tunnel.png|The entrance tunnel
AC3 Grand Temple Entryway.png|The entryway to the main chamber
AC3 Grand Temple Upper Entrance Room.png|The room above the entryway
AC3 Grand Temple Lower Left Room.png|The prototype of the shield pylon
AC3 Grand Temple Tech.png|First Civilization technology
AC3 Grand Temple Upper Level stairs.png|The right-side stairs to the upper level
AC3 Grand Temple Orange Chamber 1.png|The first room of the upper chamber
AC3 Grand Temple Orange Chamber 2.png|The second room of the upper chamber
</gallery>
</tabber>

==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{TWCB}}
{{AC3}}
[[Category:First Civilization technology]]
[[Category:Vaults]]
[[Category:New York]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed III locations]]

Grand Temple

2014-02-10T08:45:10Z

82.31.100.245:

{{Era|ACB|ACR|AC3|AC4|TWCB}}
{{Quote|Each Vault's knowledge was transmitted to a single place.|Jupiter speaking of the Grand Temple.|Assassin's Creed: Revelations}}
[[File:AC3 Grand Temple Front.png|thumb|250px|Grand Temple's main chamber]]
The '''Grand Temple''', otherwise known as the '''Central Vault '''or the Precursor Site, was created by the beings of the [[First Civilization]]. It is located in modern day [[Turin, New York]].

Like the other [[temples]] across the planet, its purpose was to create different methods of saving and preserving the world; it was the location where [[Jupiter]], [[Minerva]] and [[Juno]] collected and tested the discoveries of the other temples in the hope of finding the most effective methods of Earth's salvation from the solar flare.

To maintain its operation, the Grand Temple was buried underground to protect its contents from the war with humanity and the solar flare, and was hidden beneath a statue dedicated to the Capitoline Triad. However, the statue was destroyed in the [[Toba catastrophe|First Disaster]], and its location remained a mystery until [[Desmond Miles]]' [[Synch Nexus|revelation]].[http://assassinscreed.wikia.com/wiki/Grand_Temple?action=edit# Preview ]

It was also the location that Juno had been locked within to protect the [[humans]] from her plots of destruction, and held the key to unlock her that could also save Earth from the second flare.

==History==
===First Civilization===
Before and after the war with humanity, all information from the other temples regarding any way to prevent the first catastrophe was sent there for Jupiter, Juno, and Minerva to "sort and sample all that was collected." The three tested six possible solutions in succession, "each more encouraging than the last", but all six solutions ultimately failed.<ref name="ACR">''[[Assassin's Creed: Revelations]]''</ref>

[[File:AC3_Juno_Towers_Solution.png|thumb|left|250px|Juno elaborating on the four towers]]
The first solution was to build four towers to collect the solar flare that would strike the planet, and virtually dispel it. While they had the means and resources, the time to produce the solution would take too long to be successful. The first tower was never completed and the research was abandoned.

However, Juno mentioned that some members of the First Civilization attempted to continue the pursuit of this solution, and sought to automate the construction process, hoping that the machines would have been able to finish the first tower.

[[File:ACIII-ShardofEden_3.png|thumb|250px|Juno explaining the Shards of Eden]]
The second solution was to use the [[Shards of Eden]], on a much larger scale than ever before. The magnetic field emitted by the Shards could protect the planet against the solar flare, but it was too large to build and was considered impossible.

The scientists hoped to save a possible half, a sixth, an eighth, or even a tenth of the planet. However, the lack of time and resources proven too great, and it was theorized that a city might have been spared at best, given more time. Like the first solution, this one was also abandoned in the end.

[[File:AC3_Juno_Enthrallment_Solution.png|thumb|left|250px|Juno explaining the entrhallment solution]]
The third solution was discovered by using the [[Apples of Eden]] to control humanity. If enough humans were compelled to believe in one idea, their thoughts took on form and became reality.

The consequent solution involved launching an Apple of Eden into orbit, aiming it towards the planet, and commanding the entire human race to think one thought, "Make us safe."

However, even with a dozen of the Apples sent into orbit, the First Civilization lacked the means to direct and maintain the control beam, and simultaneously influence the humans on a global scale. The project was eventually abandoned.

[[File:AC3_Juno_The_Eye_Solution.png|thumb|250px|Juno explaining the time manipulation solution]]
[[Minerva]] discovered that there was a [[Calculations|pattern of numbers and equations that define existence]]. If one could comprehend these numbers, time itself could be tamed. The fourth solution was to attempt to go back in time and prevent the disaster before it could occur.

Unfortunately, it appeared that the scientists' attempts had no effect on the present. The device they created could, however, look into the future, to see if the other solutions would prevent the disaster, but the result was always a failure.

The solution was abandoned, though Minerva herself continued her studies on the underlying mathematics of the universe, and eventually used her knowledge to actively communicate with individuals in the far future, such as Desmond Miles, through the memories of his ancestor, [[Ezio Auditore da Firenze]].

[[File:AC3 Juno Aita.png|thumb|250px|left|Juno remaining by Aita's side]]
The fifth solution was to augment the bodies of the remaining First Civilization members to adapt into the hostile new climate which appeared on Earth following the catastrophe.

[[Aita]], Juno's husband, volunteered to test the method, resulting in his mind degenerating and becoming increasingly catatonic. With enough will, he wished for Juno to euthanize him, and she fulfilled it. The solution was subsequently abandoned.

The sixth solution was to create entirely new vessels that could safely transfer one's consciousness in a way that the former solution had failed to do. The new vessels would be able to withstand the new environment, and they could house the transferred consciousness.

However, while transferring one's consciousness into the new vessel was easy, subsequent releasing of oneself from the vessel was nearly impossible, and required another being's sacrifice to be successful. As a result, this solution was ultimately abandoned.

Following this, the solar flare destroyed most of the First Civilization and left less than 10,000 humans alive. However, the two groups worked together, beginning around the remains of the Grand Temple. The members of the First Civilization attempted to pass on their gifts to humans through crossbreeding, resulting in some individuals being able to access [[Eagle Vision]] and use the [[Pieces of Eden]].<ref name="ACR"/>

The scientists determined a similar disaster will occur again in 2012. Minerva found a new solution from her research and created a pedestal, [[the Eye]], that would allow one who had the right genetic material to manipulate the numbers to protect the Earth. However, before Minerva could test it, she discovered that Juno had tampered with it. While the patterns to save the world still existed, they would also allow Juno to have total control and power. As such, Minerva forced the solution to be abandoned, and Juno's consciousness was imprisoned in the Grand Temple.

===Calling to Ezio===
Before leaving to wander the world and guide the humans, Minerva used the Eye to communicate with the [[Assassins|Assassin]] Ezio Auditore da Firenze, a descendant of the First Civilization, in the [[Vatican Vault]] in 1499; unbeknownst to Ezio, his memories would be viewed by his descendant Desmond Miles in 2012 through the [[Animus]].

Considering this, Minerva spoke directly to Desmond through Ezio, telling Desmond about her people, the war with humanity, the disaster, and their efforts to rebuild the world. She also warned Desmond to act quickly and to beware of "the cross", referring to the [[Templars]].<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed II]]''</ref>

[[File:TToP_7.png|thumb|250px|left|Ezio and Leonardo discovering the coordinates of the Grand Temple]]
In 1506, Ezio Auditore and [[Leonardo da Vinci]] discovered a smaller vault in [[Rome]]. Unlike the Vatican Vault, the [[Temple of Pythagoras|Pythagorean Vault]] contained a set of coordinates: 43 39 19 N 75 27 42 W. Leonardo was baffled by the information, but Ezio inherently understood that these numbers were intended for Desmond.

[[William Miles]], Desmond's father and the ''de facto'' [[Mentor]] of the Assassin Order, noted these memories outside the Animus, and set out to these coordinates, which he believed to be the location of another temple.<ref name="ACBH - TDVD">''[[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood]]'' - ''[[The Da Vinci Disappearance]]''</ref>

In 1511, Prince [[Ahmet]], the Templar leader in [[Constantinople]], desired the location of the Grand Temple in order to end the differences between men, and create a [[New World Order|unified world]]. He believed that the legendary Assassin [[Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad]] discovered the temple's location, and that he had hidden that knowledge in [[Library of Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad|his library]] beneath [[Masyaf]].

With this belief, he organized an excavation to find the library, which Ezio Auditore ultimately discovered. From 1511 to 1512, Ezio stayed in Constantinople to recover the [[Masyaf Keys|keys]] to Altaïr's library, which subsequently led to him opening it. However, the library was empty, except for Altaïr's remains, a sixth key, and Altaïr's [[Apple of Eden 2|Apple of Eden]].

Weary of his life as an Assassin, Ezio chose not to take the Apple from the library. However, the Apple began to glow and Ezio began to speak directly to Desmond as Minerva had. Ezio asked Desmond to make sense of the questions that had plagued him, and to make the suffering he had endured worth something. Desmond's image then appeared through the Apple.

===Kanien'kehá:ka===
Around 800 CE, the [[Kanien'kehá:ka]] settled near the Grand Temple. Using a [[Crystal Balls|Crystal Ball]] to communicate with Juno in the [[Nexus]], the villagers of [[Kanatahséton]] became the guardians of the "sanctuary", and their duties forced them to isolate themselves from the other [[Iroquois]]. Over time, the stories of the tribe's communications with Juno were painted on the Temple door, referring to her as a motherly figure who constantly watched over and protected the Kanien'kehá:ka.

[[File:ACIII-BraddockExpedition_15.png|thumb|250px|Haytham attempting to open the door]]
In 1754, the Templar [[Haytham Kenway]] came to America with the key and sought entrance to the sanctuary, believing it to be a storehouse for First Civilization goods and riches. After gaining the trust of the warrior [[Kaniehtí:io]], he was guided to the Temple's door, but without an Apple of Eden, Haytham was unable to open it. Deterred, he ordered his brethren to abandon exploring the site and focus instead on spreading their Order through the Colonies.

However, led by [[Charles Lee]], his fellow Templars ignored his order and came to Kanatahséton to demand the location of the Temple, but were denied. Along the way, Lee assaulted Haytham and Kaniehtí:io's illegitimate son, [[Ratonhnhaké:ton]], who returned to find his village destroyed, convinced it had been Lee who had done it.

When he came of age, Juno communicated with Ratonhnhaké:ton, instructing him to join the Assassins to prevent the Templars from ever attempting to breach the sanctuary. In 1782, Ratonhnhaké:ton, now the Assassin Connor, killed Lee and took the key as a memento. Juno then instructed him to hide the key, and Connor buried it over the grave of his namesake, [[Connor Davenport]], on the hill overlooking the [[Davenport Homestead]], securing the Temple. He later learned his people, who had protected the Temple for generations, had chosen to migrate west, as their land had been sold by the new American government.

===Modern times===
In 2012, Desmond relived Ezio's memories, and upon the moment Ezio discovered the Apple in the library of Altaïr, it [[Synch Nexus|triggered]] Desmond to be thrown into the Nexus. There, Jupiter spoke to Desmond and further explained and elaborated on what had happened to him and the rest of the First Civilization, as well as charging Desmond with the task of going to the Grand Temple, since it would help him find a means to save the world from the next solar flare.

[[File:AC3_Desmond_Grand_Temple_Entrance.png|thumb|250px|left|Desmond opening the Grand Temple]]
From there, Desmond opened the Temple's gates with [[Ezio's Apple of Eden]], activating a large portion of its equipment in the process. As Desmond, William, [[Shaun Hastings]] and [[Rebecca Crane]] investigated the Temple, they found a large gate made of light that protected the Eye.

After this, Desmond was forced into a fugue state of the [[Bleeding Effect]] by Juno and was subsequently placed into the Animus to find the key, through reliving the memories of his ancestors Haytham and Connor.

Meanwhile, Shaun realized that the Assassin team needed three power sources to fully reactivate the Temple, otherwise opening the door would be of no use. Over time, Desmond recovered the power sources to activate the whole mechanism of the Temple, and with each source plugged in, Desmond witnessed visions from Juno explaining the solutions created by the First Civilization to prevent the solar flare and save the planet.

Through the memories of his ancestors, Desmond obtained the key and recovered the power sources, accessing the Eye. In that moment, Juno appeared to the Assassins once more, urging Desmond to activate the Eye. However, Minerva, who had secretly had a second Eye constructed, suddenly appeared as well, telling Desmond to do the opposite.

She explained that if Desmond did as Juno asked him to, the world would be saved, but at the cost of his life and Juno's release from imprisonment. Following this, Minerva showed Desmond that if he refrained from activating the Eye, the Sun would once again destroy the world, but he and many other humans would survive. Additionally, Desmond would eventually become a religious figure that would rebuild the world, but upon his death, his ideals would be mistranslated and spark religious conflicts again, effectively causing history to repeat itself.

[[File:ACIII-GTEnd 5.png|thumb|250px|Desmond activating the Eye]]
Believing that humanity had a chance at defeating Juno, Desmond made his choice and activated the Eye, telling William, Shaun and Rebecca to leave and prepare for the new struggle. The world was indeed saved, but Desmond had perished and Juno was set free, who promised to "play [her part]."<ref name="AC3">''[[Assassin's Creed III]]''</ref>

Several hours later, [[Abstergo Industries]] found the Grand Temple's location and dispatched a team. There, they found and retrieved Desmond's body, stripping him of his backpack and his [[Hidden Blade]], which was broken into pieces and taken to Abstergo along with the rest of his belongings.<ref name="Initiates">''[[Assassin's Creed: Initiates]]''</ref>

==Trivia==
*The entrance to the Grand Temple was located in the north of the [[Frontier]] within the Black Creek region, within a cave that was once the head of Minerva from the Capitoline Trio statue. Over time, the statue eroded and became little more than a massive rock edifice, with a tunnel carved out to access the Temple's entrance.
**It was also possible to visit the entrance while reliving Connor and Haytham's memories, though the door was closed.
**In ''[[The Tyranny of King Washington]]'' the entrance is absent from the cave.
*The shape of the temple from the hologram in ''Assassin's Creed: Revelations'' changed to become much larger and sectioned off in ''Assassin's Creed III''.
*According to ''[[The Art of Assassin's Creed III]]'', the three sections of the Grand Temple are respectively meant to be a computer server, sleeping quarters, and a research facility.

==Gallery==
<tabber>Concept art=
<gallery captionalign="center" position="center" spacing="small" widths="180">
ACI Temple-03.jpg|Concept art of the Grand Temple as seen in ''[[Assassin's Creed: Initiates]]
ACI Temple-02.jpg|Concept art of the interior of the Grand Temple
ACI Temple-01.jpg|Concept art of the Grand Temple
AC3 Grand Temple.jpg|Concept art of Desmond Miles entering the Grand Temple
Underground Temple by WilliamWu.jpg|Concept art of the underground Temple
Grand Temple concept art.jpg|First Civilization technology within the Grand Temple
</gallery>
|-|Screenshots=
<gallery captionalign="center" position="center" spacing="small" widths="180">
ACR Grand Temple Map Location.png|The Grand Temple's location seen within the Synch Nexus
Trio 2.png|Jupiter, Minerva and Juno seen in a hologram of the Grand Temple
AC3 Grand Temple Entrance Colonial Times.png|The entrance to the Temple in the 18th century
AC3 Assassins entering Grand Temple.png|Modern Assassins entering the Temple
AC3 Temple Inner Entrance.png|The Assassins by the door to the Temple
AC3 Temple Inner Opening.png|Desmond opening the door
AC3 Grand Temple Barrier.png|The barrier sealing off the Temple's inner chamber
AC3 Grand Temple Script.png|First Civilization script inside the Temple
AC3 Grand Temple Tunnel.png|The entrance tunnel
AC3 Grand Temple Entryway.png|The entryway to the main chamber
AC3 Grand Temple Upper Entrance Room.png|The room above the entryway
AC3 Grand Temple Lower Left Room.png|The prototype of the shield pylon
AC3 Grand Temple Tech.png|First Civilization technology
AC3 Grand Temple Upper Level stairs.png|The right-side stairs to the upper level
AC3 Grand Temple Orange Chamber 1.png|The first room of the upper chamber
AC3 Grand Temple Orange Chamber 2.png|The second room of the upper chamber
</gallery>
</tabber>

==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{TWCB}}
{{AC3}}
[[Category:First Civilization technology]]
[[Category:Vaults]]
[[Category:New York]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed III locations]]