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

The Truth

2011-06-12T06:17:51Z

90.213.127.122: /* Trivia */

{{revamp}}

{{quote|Hello. This is...they call me Subject 16. Listen, I don't have much time - there's something I have to show you. We have been lied to this whole time; everything we know, everything we've been brought up to believe - it's wrong.|Subject 16|Assassin's Creed II}}
'''The Truth''' is a side-quest which appears in both ''[[Assassin's Creed II]]'' and ''[[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood]]''. It was created by [[Subject 16]] with the intent to enlighten and possibly warn [[Desmond Miles|his successor]] in the [[Animus ]]project. In both instances, The Truth files can be unlocked by uncovering a series of glyphs throughout the world and solving their corresponding puzzles.

==''Assassin's Creed II''==
In ''Assassin's Creed II'' there are 20 [[glyphs]] in all, and successfully solving the puzzle in each one will unlock a video, giving insight into the origins of the [[Templars]], the [[Assassins]], and the [[Pieces of Eden]]. However until all of the videos are unlocked, each of the individual twenty videos are extremely brief - barely a second long - and virtually incomprehensible. These glyphs are based upon [[Cryptic Messages|the markings]] left behind at the end of ''[[Assassin's Creed]] ''by [[Subject 16]].

===Video of The Truth===
[[File:7651.assassins3.jpg|thumb|A scene from the Truth video.]]

In the video, [[Adam and Eve]] are dressed in skin-colored or translucent bodysuits, making them appear as if they are naked, and are seen running through an open area which may be the Garden of Eden.

The scenery is a mixture between flora, a reflective blue material that resembles glass, and a white surface which sounds like stone. The garden is decorated in a futuristic style, contrary to the biblical setting. Moving through a circular automatic door, Adam and Eve use [[free-running]] to scale a large, futuristic building.

While they are climbing up the building, they stop momentarily at a large window, through which a silhouette of a [[Those Who Came Before|humanoid]] can be seen holding a Piece of Eden, appearing several human slaves. These workers appear to be in an environment similar to that of a metal refinery, with one slave in the foreground clearly using a hammer to shape a metal object.
[[File:Adam_and_Eve.png|thumb|Adam and Eve in The Truth video.]]

Adam and Eve continue climbing until they reach the roof of the building. The camera zooms outwards, revealing many other futuristic buildings surrounding them. Further in the background, a mountain is clearly visible, while there is little other elevation in land elsewhere. The terrain is lush, and large forest boundaries are visible.

Eve can then be seen to be holding a Piece of Eden; before saying "Adam, I have it!". Adam then calls out to Eve, calling out her name, as both turn to look at what was presumably chasing them. The memory file ends with Eve warning Adam "Look out!" The video then cuts to black, and a binary code flashes up. The numbers read: "[[Eden|EDEN]]".

==''Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood''==
{{quote|I am with you until the end. Find me in the darkness.|Subject 16 to Desmond.|Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood}}
In ''Brotherhood'' the glyphs return as [[rifts]], which can only be seen and interacted with in [[Eagle Vision]]. These rifts are located in key locations within [[Rome]], and must be climbed into rather than simply being found and interacted with. They retain some of the former puzzles such as the rotating pictures and image finding puzzles from the former glyphs, but also include new puzzles:
*'''Chess''': Desmond is shown a chessboard with all corresponding chess pieces as well as a riddle that tells him which piece to use and where to move it.
*'''Code Breaking''': Desmond is given a variety of images and a riddle. The player can alternate between this screen, and a screen containing a two-layered rotating wheel with symbols acting as a code sheet as well as 2 rows of 4 boxes bearing changeable symbols that act as a code entry box. By reading the riddle, the player can search through these images for the hidden object that reveals the "correct coordinates" located in a single image. When finding the correct coordinates, the player can rotate the wheel to break the code.
*'''Sound Wave Matching''': Desmond is given an audio recording and multiple sound waves. By selecting the correct sound waves to match the correct one shown on the screen, the player is allowed to listen to the audio tape and/or move on to the next puzzle.
*'''Quarantine Zone''': This is always the last puzzle of every Rift. Desmond is shown a blank screen with a relatively small circular crosshair that reveals red, blinking dots as well as a background image. These dots emit beeping sounds the closer the crosshair is, and all must be "activated" in a certain amount of time. If any of the remaining dots are not activated, they are reset and the player must find all of them again. These dots remain in the same exact spot every time, even after being reset or whenever the player decides to replay the Rift. After completing this puzzle, Desmond is given a video clip.

Each of the videos is a series of seemingly corrupted data with "broken" words on the top left corner. When all videos are unlocked, they read ''the miracle is in the execution''. The audio and visual accompanied by the completed video strongly resemble an ultra-sound of the womb of an unnamed female, with the baby's face appearing in the lower right portion of the ultra-sound. After unlocking all of the videos, a virtual reality-like area will be loaded, and Desmond must run through it. When the player finishes the "obstacle course" they will encounter an "incomplete data form" of Subject 16 with who Desmond has a brief conversation before Subject 16 disappears.

===Conversation between Desmond and Subject 16===
:'''Animus Voice:''' Compiling sub systems. Infrastructure. Tendons. Heart.
:'''Subject 16:''' Voice.
:'''Desmond:''' Subject Sixteen?
:'''Subject 16:''' Yes, yes, subject seventeen.
:'''Desmond:''' You’re dead. I saw your blood.
:'''Subject 16:''' No time. It is far later than you know. Too late to save them.
:'''Desmond:''' Who?
:'''Subject 16:''' She is not who you think she is. Everything you hope to become. Everything you hold dear. It's already gone.
:'''Desmond:''' Explain. Please.
:'''Subject 16:''' Eden, she… in [[Eden]], find Eve. The key, her DNA.
:'''Desmond:''' Tell me.
:'''Subject 16:''' I cannot… the sun (son), your son (sun)… too weak. Must replenish energy.
:'''Desmond:''' Don't go!
:'''Subject 16:''' I am with you, till the end. Find me, in the darkness.

<gallery spacing="small" captionalign="left">
desmondstruth.jpg|The VR-area after unlocking the videos
inthedarkness.jpg|''Subject 16'' as he appears in ''the Truth''
</gallery>

== Trivia ==
[[File:Mt Kilimanjaro.jpg|thumb|255px|Mount Kilimanjaro bears a strong resemblance to the Mountain in the Truth Video]]
*The mountain in the video bears a striking resemblance to [[Wikipedia:Mount Kilimanjaro|Mount Kilimanjaro]], thus placing the scene in Africa. This would make sense, as humanity is said to originate from Africa (specifically mid-Africa, the rough location of Kilimanjaro). The [[Codex]] map also shows that a Piece of Eden was located in the vicinity of Kilimanjaro. Supporting this theory even further is [[Lucy Stillman|Lucy]]'s mention of [[Warren Vidic|Vidic]] tagging memories in ancient Africa.
*The video seems to take place immediately before the human rebellion and [[Human-First Civilization War|subsequent war]]. As Adam and Eve seem to have taken the Apple without permission, and are probably trying to escape with it, one can assume that they had started the rebellion.
*At the end of the video, a block of binary code can be seen briefly. The code is "01000101 01000100 01000101 01001110" which translates to [[Eden|EDEN]]. Another point of interest is that there are 20 zeros and 12 ones, a reference to the supposed doomsday year of 2012.
*It is clear that '''Altaïr''' has seen this video too in some shape or form. Perhaps not in a modernized format, but something (probably the Apple) has shown him it, as he mentions the buildings and the mountain that are in the video within the Codex. In the pages, he is clearly horrified by what he has seen.
*The viewing angle of the camera suggests that the video is a recording of one of Subject 16's [[Animus]] sessions. This in turn would indicate a direct lineage between 16 (and perhaps even Desmond), with Adam and/or Eve, but it is strange that the perspective is from behind Adam and Eve instead of from a point of view from one of them, almost like the viewing is from another person entirely.
*The music being played during Adam and Eve's escape from Eden in the video is the same music that plays while Desmond and Lucy are escaping [[Abstergo Industries|Abstergo]] at the beginning of ''Assassin's Creed II'', and when [[Ezio Auditore da Firenze|Ezio]] is running away from the guards after the execution of [[Petruccio Auditore da Firenze|Petruccio]], [[Federico Auditore da Firenze|Federico]], and [[Giovanni Auditore da Firenze|Giovanni]] at the hands of [[Uberto Alberti]]. It is also the "Open Conflict" song of [[Forlì]] and it is entitled "Wetlands Escape" on the ''Assassin's Creed II'' Original Game Soundtrack.
*In the PS3 version, Eve does not say "Look out!" At that point, it is silent and the binary for "[[Eden]]" appears.
*There are only 10 puzzles in ''[[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood]]'', though they are not hidden behind glyphs, but appear to be rifts in the memory that allow one to enter the programming of the Animus itself.
*On the back of the case for ''Assassin's Creed II'', it says "The Truth Is Written In Blood". The side-quest is "The Truth", and Subject 16 is the cause for the glyphs which give you the side-quest, and he had written symbols of the glyphs in his blood at Abstergo.
*On the first wall of The Truth of ''[[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood]]'', the climbing cubes form the [[Assassin insignia|Assassin's Symbol]].

== Video ==
[[Video:Assassin's Creed II - The Truth Video (HD)|thumb|left|300px|The Truth - AC II]][[Video:Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood The Truth|thumb|right|300px|The Truth - AC: Brotherhood]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed II]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed II Gameplay]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood Gameplay]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood]]

The Truth

2011-06-12T06:14:44Z

90.213.127.122: /* Trivia */

{{revamp}}

{{quote|Hello. This is...they call me Subject 16. Listen, I don't have much time - there's something I have to show you. We have been lied to this whole time; everything we know, everything we've been brought up to believe - it's wrong.|Subject 16|Assassin's Creed II}}
'''The Truth''' is a side-quest which appears in both ''[[Assassin's Creed II]]'' and ''[[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood]]''. It was created by [[Subject 16]] with the intent to enlighten and possibly warn [[Desmond Miles|his successor]] in the [[Animus ]]project. In both instances, The Truth files can be unlocked by uncovering a series of glyphs throughout the world and solving their corresponding puzzles.

==''Assassin's Creed II''==
In ''Assassin's Creed II'' there are 20 [[glyphs]] in all, and successfully solving the puzzle in each one will unlock a video, giving insight into the origins of the [[Templars]], the [[Assassins]], and the [[Pieces of Eden]]. However until all of the videos are unlocked, each of the individual twenty videos are extremely brief - barely a second long - and virtually incomprehensible. These glyphs are based upon [[Cryptic Messages|the markings]] left behind at the end of ''[[Assassin's Creed]] ''by [[Subject 16]].

===Video of The Truth===
[[File:7651.assassins3.jpg|thumb|A scene from the Truth video.]]

In the video, [[Adam and Eve]] are dressed in skin-colored or translucent bodysuits, making them appear as if they are naked, and are seen running through an open area which may be the Garden of Eden.

The scenery is a mixture between flora, a reflective blue material that resembles glass, and a white surface which sounds like stone. The garden is decorated in a futuristic style, contrary to the biblical setting. Moving through a circular automatic door, Adam and Eve use [[free-running]] to scale a large, futuristic building.

While they are climbing up the building, they stop momentarily at a large window, through which a silhouette of a [[Those Who Came Before|humanoid]] can be seen holding a Piece of Eden, appearing several human slaves. These workers appear to be in an environment similar to that of a metal refinery, with one slave in the foreground clearly using a hammer to shape a metal object.
[[File:Adam_and_Eve.png|thumb|Adam and Eve in The Truth video.]]

Adam and Eve continue climbing until they reach the roof of the building. The camera zooms outwards, revealing many other futuristic buildings surrounding them. Further in the background, a mountain is clearly visible, while there is little other elevation in land elsewhere. The terrain is lush, and large forest boundaries are visible.

Eve can then be seen to be holding a Piece of Eden; before saying "Adam, I have it!". Adam then calls out to Eve, calling out her name, as both turn to look at what was presumably chasing them. The memory file ends with Eve warning Adam "Look out!" The video then cuts to black, and a binary code flashes up. The numbers read: "[[Eden|EDEN]]".

==''Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood''==
{{quote|I am with you until the end. Find me in the darkness.|Subject 16 to Desmond.|Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood}}
In ''Brotherhood'' the glyphs return as [[rifts]], which can only be seen and interacted with in [[Eagle Vision]]. These rifts are located in key locations within [[Rome]], and must be climbed into rather than simply being found and interacted with. They retain some of the former puzzles such as the rotating pictures and image finding puzzles from the former glyphs, but also include new puzzles:
*'''Chess''': Desmond is shown a chessboard with all corresponding chess pieces as well as a riddle that tells him which piece to use and where to move it.
*'''Code Breaking''': Desmond is given a variety of images and a riddle. The player can alternate between this screen, and a screen containing a two-layered rotating wheel with symbols acting as a code sheet as well as 2 rows of 4 boxes bearing changeable symbols that act as a code entry box. By reading the riddle, the player can search through these images for the hidden object that reveals the "correct coordinates" located in a single image. When finding the correct coordinates, the player can rotate the wheel to break the code.
*'''Sound Wave Matching''': Desmond is given an audio recording and multiple sound waves. By selecting the correct sound waves to match the correct one shown on the screen, the player is allowed to listen to the audio tape and/or move on to the next puzzle.
*'''Quarantine Zone''': This is always the last puzzle of every Rift. Desmond is shown a blank screen with a relatively small circular crosshair that reveals red, blinking dots as well as a background image. These dots emit beeping sounds the closer the crosshair is, and all must be "activated" in a certain amount of time. If any of the remaining dots are not activated, they are reset and the player must find all of them again. These dots remain in the same exact spot every time, even after being reset or whenever the player decides to replay the Rift. After completing this puzzle, Desmond is given a video clip.

Each of the videos is a series of seemingly corrupted data with "broken" words on the top left corner. When all videos are unlocked, they read ''the miracle is in the execution''. The audio and visual accompanied by the completed video strongly resemble an ultra-sound of the womb of an unnamed female, with the baby's face appearing in the lower right portion of the ultra-sound. After unlocking all of the videos, a virtual reality-like area will be loaded, and Desmond must run through it. When the player finishes the "obstacle course" they will encounter an "incomplete data form" of Subject 16 with who Desmond has a brief conversation before Subject 16 disappears.

===Conversation between Desmond and Subject 16===
:'''Animus Voice:''' Compiling sub systems. Infrastructure. Tendons. Heart.
:'''Subject 16:''' Voice.
:'''Desmond:''' Subject Sixteen?
:'''Subject 16:''' Yes, yes, subject seventeen.
:'''Desmond:''' You’re dead. I saw your blood.
:'''Subject 16:''' No time. It is far later than you know. Too late to save them.
:'''Desmond:''' Who?
:'''Subject 16:''' She is not who you think she is. Everything you hope to become. Everything you hold dear. It's already gone.
:'''Desmond:''' Explain. Please.
:'''Subject 16:''' Eden, she… in [[Eden]], find Eve. The key, her DNA.
:'''Desmond:''' Tell me.
:'''Subject 16:''' I cannot… the sun (son), your son (sun)… too weak. Must replenish energy.
:'''Desmond:''' Don't go!
:'''Subject 16:''' I am with you, till the end. Find me, in the darkness.

<gallery spacing="small" captionalign="left">
desmondstruth.jpg|The VR-area after unlocking the videos
inthedarkness.jpg|''Subject 16'' as he appears in ''the Truth''
</gallery>

== Trivia ==
[[File:Mt Kilimanjaro.jpg|thumb|255px|Mount Kilimanjaro bears a strong resemblance to the Mountain in the Truth Video]]
*The mountain in the video bears a striking resemblance to [[Wikipedia:Mount Kilimanjaro|Mount Kilimanjaro]], thus placing the scene in Africa. This would make sense, as humanity is said to originate from Africa (specifically mid-Africa, the rough location of Kilimanjaro). The [[Codex]] map also shows that a Piece of Eden was located in the vicinity of Kilimanjaro. Supporting this theory even further is [[Lucy Stillman|Lucy]]'s mention of [[Warren Vidic|Vidic]] tagging memories in ancient Africa.
*The video seems to take place immediately before the human rebellion and [[Human-First Civilization War|subsequent war]]. As Adam and Eve seem to have taken the Apple without permission, and are probably trying to escape with it, one can assume that they had started the rebellion.
*At the end of the video, a block of binary code can be seen briefly. The code is "01000101 01000100 01000101 01001110" which translates to [[Eden|EDEN]]. Another point of interest is that there are 20 zeros and 12 ones, a reference to the supposed doomsday year of 2012.
*It is clear that '''Altaïr''' has seen this video too in some shape or form. Perhaps not in a modernized format, but something (probably the Apple) has shown him it, as he mentions the buildings and the mountain that are in the video.
*The viewing angle of the camera suggests that the video is a recording of one of Subject 16's [[Animus]] sessions. This in turn would indicate a direct lineage between 16 (and perhaps even Desmond), with Adam and/or Eve, but it is strange that the perspective is from behind Adam and Eve instead of from a point of view from one of them, almost like the viewing is from another person entirely.
*The music being played during Adam and Eve's escape from Eden in the video is the same music that plays while Desmond and Lucy are escaping [[Abstergo Industries|Abstergo]] at the beginning of ''Assassin's Creed II'', and when [[Ezio Auditore da Firenze|Ezio]] is running away from the guards after the execution of [[Petruccio Auditore da Firenze|Petruccio]], [[Federico Auditore da Firenze|Federico]], and [[Giovanni Auditore da Firenze|Giovanni]] at the hands of [[Uberto Alberti]]. It is also the "Open Conflict" song of [[Forlì]] and it is entitled "Wetlands Escape" on the ''Assassin's Creed II'' Original Game Soundtrack.
*In the PS3 version, Eve does not say "Look out!" At that point, it is silent and the binary for "[[Eden]]" appears.
*There are only 10 puzzles in ''[[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood]]'', though they are not hidden behind glyphs, but appear to be rifts in the memory that allow one to enter the programming of the Animus itself.
*On the back of the case for ''Assassin's Creed II'', it says "The Truth Is Written In Blood". The side-quest is "The Truth", and Subject 16 is the cause for the glyphs which give you the side-quest, and he had written symbols of the glyphs in his blood at Abstergo.
*On the first wall of The Truth of ''[[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood]]'', the climbing cubes form the [[Assassin insignia|Assassin's Symbol]].

== Video ==
[[Video:Assassin's Creed II - The Truth Video (HD)|thumb|left|300px|The Truth - AC II]][[Video:Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood The Truth|thumb|right|300px|The Truth - AC: Brotherhood]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed II]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed II Gameplay]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood Gameplay]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood]]

Staves of Eden

2011-06-12T06:03:57Z

90.213.127.122: /* Powers */

{{Era|AC2|Brotherhood|Renaissance|Bbook|The Fall|twcb}}
[[File:Zw-eden-4.png|thumb|The Staff.]]
{{Quote|Better in the hands of the Earth, than in the hands of Man.|[[Mario Auditore]] regarding the Staff after being lost during the [[Renaissance]].|Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood}}
'''The Staff''' was a [[Pieces of Eden|Piece of Eden]]. Known throughout history by names such as the '''Papal Staff''' or the '''Russian Imperial Sceptre''', The Staff of Eden was used by various Egyptian Pharaohs,<ref name="Assassin's Creed II">''[[Assassin's Creed II]]''</ref> Roman Catholic [[Papacy|Popes]],<ref name="Assassin's Creed II" /><ref name="Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood">''[[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood]]''</ref> and [[Russia]]n Tsars.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II" /><ref name="Assassin's Creed: The Fall">''[[Assassin's Creed: The Fall]]''</ref>

==Powers==
Designed to control men's minds and bodies, it has a cradle in the headpiece where an [[Pieces of Eden|Apple of Eden]] can be placed, in order to enhance its mind control effects. This conjunction of two Pieces of Eden can also be used to open the door to the [[Vatican Vault]]. Its bottom end is sharpened, and can be wielded as a spear in combat. It also grants the possessor the ability to conceal his presence entirely, and the ability of levitation; though whether these are physical effects, or simply manipulations of the viewers' perceptions, remains unknown.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II" /> It also had, somehow, the ability to change its shape, as its appearance had changed to various different forms over the course of time.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II" /><ref name="Assassin's Creed: The Fall" />

When [[Nikolai Orelov]] approached the Staff in 1908, he heard several voices emanating from it, namely voices of the past, playing almost like recordings, speaking things such as ''"Always the fighter"'', ''“[[Adam and Eve|Adam]], I have it”'', ''“Just like your father”'', and ''“Eve.”''
<ref name="Assassin's Creed: The Fall">''[[Assassin's Creed: The Fall]]''</ref>

==History==
[[File:Zw-ACBH-2.jpg|thumb|left|252px|The Staff in the Vault.]]
The earliest known use of the Staff seems to be by the prophet [[Moses]], who used its powers of illusion and mind control to "part" the Red Sea, and free the Israelites from Egypt.

It is also known to have been used by the Pharaoh [[Shabataka]], who used it to rule over Ancient Egypt in the early 7th century BC. It was likely used by various pharaohs before and after him.

The next known user is [[Alexander the Great]], who led a united Greek army into Asia. Possibly he acquired the Staff in Egypt, and he probably lost it when he was poisoned by the Assassin [[Iltani]] in 323 BC.

It was later kept by [[John the Baptist]]. who was a prophet and religious leader who baptised [[Jesus Christ]] (who himself owned at least one Piece of Eden). It would then pass into the hands of the first disciple of Jesus, [[Saint Peter]], who would establish Christianity and become the first Pope. It is assumed that the Staff circulated through the hands of the Roman Catholic Popes until it was used by [[Rodrigo Borgia]], who became Pope Alexander VI in 1492 so that he could use the Staff to gain access to [[Vatican Vault|the Vault]].

In December 1499, the [[Assassin]] [[Ezio Auditore da Firenze|Ezio Auditore]] infiltrated the Sistine Chapel to confront Rodrigo, and a fight ensued, during which the Staff was wielded as a weapon against Ezio. Eventually Ezio defeated the despairing Rodrigo and used the Staff (combined with [[Sixth Apple|the Apple]]) to enter the Vault. When leaving the Vault, Ezio tried to remove the Staff from the center of the room, where it was secured in the Vault floor. Upon doing so, Ezio activated machinery making the Staff descend underground, despite Ezio's efforts to retrieve it.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II" />

It was seemingly somehow recovered at some point afterwards, as it had come into the possession of [[Alexander III of Russia|Tsar Alexander III]] as of 1888. On October 29 of that year, while returning home to [[Petrograd]], the Tsar was [[Borki train disaster|attacked]] by Assassin [[Nikolai Orelov]]. After the Royal Train derailed, he threw the Staff to Orelov, challenging his assailant to attack him with it. The Tsar subsequently repeled the assassination attempt, leaving with the Piece of Eden still in his possession. After his death, it was passed on to his son [[Nicholas II of Russia|Tsarevich Nicholas II]], but was later secretly stolen by [[Grigori Rasputin]]. He brought it to Tunguska, where it was [[Tunguska explosion|destroyed]] by the efforts of the Assassins and [[Nikola Tesla]].<ref name="Assassin's Creed: The Fall" />
The Staff wasn't completely destroyed, though, and there was at least one shard that still existed. This shard somehow came into the possession of Rasputin. In 1917, even after Rasputin's assassination, Orelov, having learned of the shard's existence from the Tsarevich and concluding that even a fragment of the Staff would be a threat, dug up Rasputin's body and retrieved it. It is unknown what happened to the shard after this.<ref name="Assassin's Creed: The Fall" />

==Owners==
*[[Those Who Came Before]] (? - ?)<ref name="Assassin's Creed II" />
*[[Moses]] (? - ?)<ref name="Assassin's Creed II" />
*[[Shabataka]] (? - ?)<ref name="Assassin's Creed II" />
*[[Alexander the Great]] (? - ?)<ref name="Assassin's Creed II" />
*[[John the Baptist]] (? - ?)<ref name="Assassin's Creed II" />
*[[Saint Peter]] (? - ?)<ref name="Assassin's Creed II" />
*[[Rodrigo Borgia|Pope Alexander VI]] (1492 - 1499)<ref name="Assassin's Creed II" /><ref name="Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood" />
*[[Ezio Auditore]] (1499)
*[[Alexander III of Russia|Tsar Alexander III]] (? - 1894)<ref name="Assassin's Creed: The Fall" />
*[[Nicholas II of Russia|Tsar Nicholas II]] (1894 - 1908)<ref name="Assassin's Creed II" />
*[[Grigori Rasputin]] (1908)<ref name="Assassin's Creed II" />
*[[Grigori Rasputin]] (shard) (? - 1916)
*[[Nikolai Orelov]] (shard) (1917 - ?)

==Forms==
Over the course of time, the Staff had changed to take on different forms.

<gallery position="center" bordersize="medium" captionalign="left">
Moses-Staff.jpg|The Staff, as wielded by [[Moses]]
Shabataka-Staff.jpg|The Staff, as wielded by Pharaohs.
AlexandertheGreat-Staff.jpg|The Staff, as wielded by [[Alexander the Great]].
JohntheBaptist-Staff.jpg|The Staff, as wielded by [[John the Baptist]].
Peter-Staff.jpg|The Staff, as wielded by [[Saint Peter]].
Zw-eden-4.png|The Staff, as wielded by the [[Papacy]]
Tsar_3_v.png|The Staff, as wielded by Tsars.
</gallery>

==Trivia==
*It is possible to kill [[Rodrigo Borgia]] without triggering the cinematic cutscene while in the [[Capella Sistina|Sistine Chapel]]. Similarly, the Staff can be knocked from his hand using a[[Heavy Weapons| Heavy Weapon]]. After this, it can be wielded though none of its powers can be used.

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{PoE}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Staff}}
[[Category:Pieces of Eden]]

Isu

2011-06-12T05:22:09Z

90.213.127.122: /* Legacy */

{{era|AC1|AC2|Brotherhood|Renaissance|bbook|twcb|Featured}}
[[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 [[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 [[Templars|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 [[Vatican Vault]] hidden beneath the [[Capella Sistina]] 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. The Assassins seen in this time period had suspicions about them as well, and confirmed them when Desmond relived Ezio's memories.<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood"/> 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 preexisting 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 [[Wikipedia:Hominidae|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 16 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.<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 one's 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 next to nothing of the First Civilization's existence. And even then, knowledge of the First Civilization was rare and discreet as Ezio had no idea what [[Minerva]] was or where she came from.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II"/>

==Characteristics==
[[File:Juno.jpg|thumb|left|200px|[[Juno]] was highly opinionated over humanity.]]
{{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 [[Vatican 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"; Merva, 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 16]]|Assassin's Creed II}}
The 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 [[Sixth Apple|the Apple]] to open the [[Vatican 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> When Desmond touched the Apple, Juno informed him that his DNA had "commune[d]" with, and activated it.<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood"/>

==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 subsequently being viewed as gods by humanity) bears striking similarity to the Ancient Astronaut Theory, the idea that extraterrestrials visited the earth in ancient times and genetically altered an existing hominid species to create humanity in their own image. As a result, extraterrestrials were responsible for influencing early human civilizations, cultures, and religions; and perceived as gods by their human creations.

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

{{ACII}}
{{ACBH}}

[[es:Aquellos Que Vinieron Antes]]
[[Category:Factions]]
[[Category:Species]]
[[Category:Those Who Came Before| ]]

Sibrand

2011-06-12T04:42:56Z

90.213.127.122: /* Trivia */

{{Era|AC|Templars|Crusade}}{{WPtargets}}
{{WP-REAL|Grand Masters of the Teutonic Knights}}
{{Character Infobox
|name = Sibrand
|image = Sibrand.png
|birth = c. 1157 [[wikipedia:Germany|Germany]]
|death = 1191 [[Acre]], [[Israel]]
|period = [[Third Crusade]]
|faction = [[Crusaders|Christian Crusaders]] [[Knights Teutonic]] [[Templars|Knights Templar]] (secretly)
|appear = ''[[Assassin's Creed]]''
|voice = [[Arthur Holden]]
}}
{{quote|How could I believe, given what I know? What I've seen? Our [[Sixth Apple|treasure]] was the proof!|Sibrand to Altaïr.|Assassin's Creed}}
'''Sibrand''' was the seventh [[Templar]] that [[Al Mualim]] ordered [[Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad|Altaïr]] to assassinate. He was the Grand Master of the [[Knights Teutonic]] and in charge of the port area of the middle district within the city of [[Acre]] until his death in 1191.

==The Liege-Lord of the Knights Teutonic==
[[File:Sibrandscholar.png|thumb|left|250px|Sibrand tormenting a scholar he accused of being an Assassin.]]In 1191, Sibrand had become the newly appointed leader of the Knights Teutonic. Having obtained a position of great power, Sibrand was desperate to keep it from slipping away. Incapable as he was to secure his position, the man was also constantly plagued by ideas of conspiracies and plots against him, so much that he often doubled the guards on patrol and even threatened to pull knights from battle to protect him. He spoke with a quick, clipped pace, his eyes constantly darting everywhere, alert for signs of trouble. He took control of the docks in the city of Acre where he also acquired the services of many ships which he was planning to use to form a blockade that would prevent the "fool" Kings and Queens from sending aid once the Templars initiated their plan to take control of the Holy Land.

==Death==
Having taken control of the Acre docks, Sibrand waited to play his part in the supposed "liberation" of the Holy Land. Altaïr set out to the docks only to find Sibrand abusing and tormenting a [[scholar]] in front of a group of [[civilians]], accusing him of being an [[Assassin]]. After taunting and later killing the scholar, Sibrand donned his horned helmet and set off for his personal ship. As Altaïr navigated his way through the docks, and towards Sibrand's ship, he could hear the Templar screaming that he would take care of the Assassins himself if no one would do it. The Assassin stealthily climbed aboard the ship and put an end to Sibrand's life. With his last breath, Sibrand told Altaïr of the role assigned to him by the Brotherhood. He told of how he had proof that nothing waited for him after this life. Having told the Assassin all he had known, Sibrand perished.
==Final words==
[[File:Sibrdeat.jpg|thumb|300px|Sibrand's death]]

'''Sibrand:''' ''Please, don't do this!''

'''Altaïr:''' ''You are afraid...''

'''Sibrand:''' ''Of course I am afraid!''

'''Altaïr:''' ''But you'll be safe now, held in the arms of your god.''

'''Sibrand:''' ''Have my brothers taught you nothing!? I know what waits for me, for all of us!''

'''Altaïr:''' ''If not your god, then what?''

'''Sibrand:''' ''Nothing. Nothing waits... and that is what I fear.''

'''Altaïr:''' ''You don't believe?''

'''Sibrand:''' ''How could I, given what I know? What I've seen? Our [[Sixth Apple|treasure]] was the proof!''

'''Altaïr:''' ''Proof of what?''

'''Sibrand:''' ''That this life is all we have!''

'''Altaïr:''' ''Linger a while longer then, and tell me of the part you were to play.''

'''Sibrand:''' ''A blockade by sea, to keep the fool kings and queens from sending reinforcements once we... once we...''

'''Altaïr:''' ''Conquered the Holy Land!?''

'''Sibrand:''' ''Freed it, you fool, from the tyranny of faith!''

'''Altaïr:''' ''Freedom!? You worked to overthrow cities, control men's minds, murdered any who spoke against you!''

'''Sibrand:''' ''I followed my orders, believing in my cause, same as you.''

==Historical Materials==
[[File:Sibrand_with_helmet.jpg|thumb|250px|Sibrand with his helmet on.]]
The infancy of the Teutonic Order was governed by Meister Sibrand between 1190 to 1192, but little else is known of the historical figure. The Knights Teutonic, or ''Order of the German House of St. Mary in [[Jerusalem]]'', was formed at the end of the 12th century in Acre itself. The Order controlled the port tolls in Acre, then (after the defeat of the Christian forces) moved to [[Wikipedia:Transylvania|Transylvania]] in 1211.
{{-}}
==Trivia==
[[File:Sibrand Invastigation.png|thumb|275px|Sibrand seen during an eavesdropping investigation.]]
*Sibrand was a real-life leader of the Knights Teutonic: Meister (Master) Sibrand. One of the first Teutonic Knights leaders, he was appointed around 1190. There is very little information on him actually available however, due to him being the first Teutonic Knight leader, with the Teutonic Knights having not done much yet.
*An in-game glitch can be found during Sibrand's assassination. To perform it, Sibrand must not be aware of your presence. When he is randomly shooting arrows on the front of his ship, approach and throw him against the side of the boat. Sibrand will fall off his ship and into the water. You will then fail the mission, supposedly because your target escaped.
**A second glitch may occur when Sibrand is at the front of the ship shooting his arrows and shouting, where he may not be wearing his helmet which he put on after killing the scholar.
*Sibrand is also the only target in ''[[Assassin's Creed]]'' that you can see during an investigation, though he disappears once the cut-scene has finished.
*Like [[Talal]] in [[Jerusalem]] and [[Jubair al Hakim|Jubair]] in [[Damascus]], [[vigilantes]] will attempt to stop Sibrand if he tries to escape from the docks.
*His belief in the absence of an afterlife is similar to Altaïr's, as he wrote in the [[Codex]] that he feels that there is no Heaven or Hell, just a state of empty existence, or the absence of consciousness.

==Video==
[[Video:Assassin's Creed silent kill - Silbrand -|thumb|300px|left]]
{{-}}
==Source==
*''[[Assassin's Creed]]''

{{AC}}
[[Category:Characters]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed Characters]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed Assassination Targets]]
[[Category:Templars]]
[[Category:Historical Characters]]

Knights Hospitalier

2011-06-12T04:32:07Z

90.213.127.122: /* Trivia */

{{WP-REAL|Knights Hospitaller}}
{{Faction infobox
|name = Knights Hospitalier
|image = Hospitalier Crest.svg
|imgdesc = The Knights Hospitalier used many variations on this cross as their crest.
|hideo = No
|founder =
|leader = [[Garnier de Naplouse]]
|headquarters =
|locations = Poor District, [[Acre]]
|related =
|religion = Roman Catholic
|hideh =
|formed =
|reorganised =
|collapsed =
|hidea = No
|notable = [[Garnier de Naplouse]]
}}
The '''Knights Hospitalier''' also known as ''Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of St. John of Jerusalem of Rhodes and of Malta, Order of St. John, Knights of Malta, ''and'' Chevaliers of Malta'', was one of the Christian orders with the [[Third Crusade]]; the [[Knights Templar]] being another. Their emblem was a white cross, often on a black background. The Knights Hospitalier were founded in the city of [[Jerusalem]] to provide care for poor, sick or injured pilgrims to the Holy Land, but became a much more militaristic organization with the onset of the Crusades.

==Members==
[[File:Hospitalknight.jpg|thumb|left|A Knight Hospitalier.]]
In 1191 the Knights Hospitalier held a significant presence in the poor district of the recently conquered city of [[Acre]]. The Grand Master of the Order, [[Garnier de Naplouse]], personally oversaw the district's hospital, and it was here that he experimented on his "patients" with varying concoctions of herbs and drugs.

As well as the military aspect of the Order, the Knights Hospitalier continued to function in a non-combatant role. Numerous Hospitalier monks could be found in the city, preaching and aiding to the local population.

{{-}}
==Flags==
The Knights have spread 33 Hospitalier [[flags]] throughout the poor district of [[Acre]]. Collecting them all (in the Xbox 360 version of the game) will grant the player an [[Assassin's Creed Achievements|Achievement]]:

{|border="1" style="text-align:center" cellpadding="2"
!width="64"|Icon
!width="300"|Name
!width="200"|Description
!width="64"|Points
!width="64"|Secret?
|-
|[[File:AssassinsCreed KeeperOfThe8Virtues.jpg]]
|'''Keeper of the 8 Virtues'''
|Find all Hospitalier [[Flags]] in Acre.
|10
|No
|}

==Trivia==
*The Knights Hospitalier are the only faction of Crusaders without high-ranking soldiers, aside from informant targets.
*In ''[[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood]]'', the exclusive Templar lairs are marked on the map with the same cross that Garnier de Naplouse wears (which, in real life, is the Hospitalier's cross).
*In ''Assassin's Creed'', the Knight's Hospitaler's armor and uniform are strikingly similar to that of the the high-ranking Templar crusaders in the Holy Land, the primary difference being the black and white coloring of the Hospitaliers as opposed to the red and white of the Templar crusaders.
*The Hospitaler's still exist to this very day in reality, which is also to assume that they exist in modern day world of Assassin's Creed too. This means that they're the only group who've done the same things as the Templars yet actually aren't Templars themselves.

{{AC}}
[[Category:Factions]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed Gameplay]]

Templars

2011-06-12T02:17:34Z

90.213.127.122: /* Formation as a Knightly Order */

{{Era|Chronicles|AC1|Bloodlines|AC2|Discovery|Brotherhood|Revelations|PL|Lineage|Renaissance|Bbook|The Fall|Templars|Good}}
{{WP-REAL|Knights Templar}}
{{Revamp}}
{{Faction Infobox
|name = Templars
|image = Knights.png
|imgdesc = Emblem of the Templars.
|hideo =
|founder = [[Cain]]<ref name="Assassin's Creed II">''[[Assassin's Creed II]]''</ref>
|leader = [[Grand Master of the Templar Order|Grand Master]]<ref name="Assassin's Creed">''[[Assassin's Creed]]''</ref>
|headquarters = ''Renaissance'': [[Rome]]<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Lineage">''[[Assassin's Creed: Lineage]]''</ref><ref name="Assassin's Creed II"/><ref name="Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood">''[[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood]]''</ref> [[Cappadocia]]<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Revelations">''[[Assassin's Creed: Revelations]]''</ref>
|locations = ''Middle ages'': [[Acre]]<ref name="Assassin's Creed"/> ''Renaissance'': [[Florence]]<ref name="Assassin's Creed II"/> [[Venice]]<ref name="Assassin's Creed II"/> [[Constantinople]]<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Revelations"/>
|related = *[[Crusaders]]<ref name="Assassin's Creed"/>
*[[Papacy]]<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Lineage"/>
*[[House of Barbarigo]]<ref name="Assassin's Creed II"/>
*[[House of Borgia]]<ref name="Assassin's Creed II"/>
*[[House of Orsi]]<ref name="Assassin's Creed II"/>
*[[House of Pazzi]]<ref name="Assassin's Creed II"/>
*[[Abstergo Industries]]<ref name="Assassin's Creed"/>
|religion = Atheist<ref name="Assassin's Creed"/><ref name="Assassin's Creed II"/>
|hideh =
|formed = Pre-history<ref name="Assassin's Creed II"/>
|reorganised =
|collapsed =
|hidea =
|notable = *[[Cain]]
*[[Gaius Julius Caesar|Julius Caesar]]
*[[Robert de Sable]]
*[[Rodrigo Borgia]]
*[[Cesare Borgia]]
*[[Alexander III of Russia|Tsar Alexander III]]
*[[Adolf Hitler]]
}}
{{quote|May the [[Father of Understanding]] guide us.|Templar motto.}}
The '''Templars''', also known as the '''Knights Templar''', were a monastic military order-turned-corporate giant formed during the prehistoric era. The Templars sought to create a perfect world, although the means by which they sought to do so - through force and control - were questionable. Because of this, they were the sworn enemies of the [[Assassins|Assassin Order]], who believed that [[Humans|Man]] should always have the ability to choose; to have free will, even if it means a flawed humanity. With these conflicting ideologies, the two groups have fought over the course of thousands of years for the control and fate of humanity.

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

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

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

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

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

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

===Roman era===
During the Roman era, the Templars went under the alias "[[SPQR|Senatus Populusque Romanus]]", ruling the [[Roman Empire]]. However, their rule was continually thwarted by the Assassin Order. A notable example of this was the plot against [[Gaius Julius Caesar]], who was appointed as a dictator for life. Forty Assassins, most notably [[Marcus Junius Brutus]] and [[Gaius Cassius Longinus]], had infiltrated Caesar's inner circle as senators. They actually planned to assassinate Caesar, a plan which they successfully executed on 15 March 44 BC.<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood"/> Additionally, on 24 January 41, the Assassin [[Leonius]] stabbed [[Caligula]] with a dagger.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II"/>

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

===Middle Ages===
====Formation as a Knightly Order====
During the Middle Ages, the Templars removed themselves from the underground and founded themselves as a Knightly Order, the Knights Templar. The Greek speaking remnants of the Roman Empire seemed to then transform into the Byzantine Empire. <ref name="Assassin's Creed"/>

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

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

In 1191, after the theft of the [[Sixth Apple|Apple of Eden]] by the Assassins [[Malik A-Sayf]] and [[Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad]] from the Templars, the Brotherhood entered into a brief period of sustained conflict with their Assassin enemies. Over the course of that year, ten Templar leaders from both [[Crusaders|Crusader]] and [[Saracens|Saracen]] backgrounds fell to the blades of the notorious Assassin, Altaïr, who was serving penance for breaking the three tenets during the theft. The deaths included not only the [[Grand Master of the Templar Order|Grand Master]] [[Robert de Sable]], but also [[Al Mualim]], [[Grand Master of the Assassin Order|leader]] of the [[Assassins]] in [[Syria]] and the only Templar not willing to share the power of the Apple with his nine brothers.<ref name="Assassin's Creed"/>

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

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

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

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

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

Cesare grew tired of his father's resistance to give him power and money, and after becoming aware about his father's deception, he took what remained of the apple he had taken a bite out of and shoved it into Rodrigo's mouth, forcing him to swallow the same toxin that was in his system, before demanding the location of the Apple of Eden out of his sister [[Lucrezia Borgia|Lucrezia]]. After being weakened by the [[cantarella]] from the poisoned fruit, Cesare was later imprisoned by [[Julius II|Pope Julius II]] under the charges of murder, betrayal and incest, but he escaped with help from his loyal friend [[Micheletto Corella|Micheletto]]. He was ultimately thrown off from the walls of [[Viana Castle|Viana's Castle]] during the Siege of Viana, by [[Ezio Auditore da Firenze|Ezio Auditore]], ending the dominance of the Templars in Italy.

After the end of the Italian Templar's reign, they allied themselves with the Byzantine and plotted to use the army to seize control of [[Constantinople]] from the [[Ottoman Empire]]. However, they also focused their attention on [[Masyaf]], where one [[Seals of Altaïr|Seals]] out of five was hidden there which could unlock a weapon to allow the Templar to destroy the Assassins. Though, this soon turned into a race againist time as the Assassins also worked on recovering all five seals as well. The Byzantine Templars also patrolled various parts of Constantinople and worked to consolidate their influence.

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

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

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

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

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

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

== Templar groups ==
{{Sourceless}}
There are groups who act as unofficial divisions of the Templars, unrelated to them publicly, but in fact commanded by Templars (some of them through the membership of their leaders and others are part of the Templar Order itself).

*'''Roman era'''
**[[File:Roman SPQR banner.svg|30px]] [[SPQR]]: '''Senatus Populusque Romanus''', the ruling body of the [[Roman Empire]].
*'''Renaissance'''
**[[File:Pazziingame.png|30px]] [[House of Pazzi|Pazzi]]: The '''Pazzi family''' were [[Tuscany|Tuscan]] nobles that were involved in the banking industry in [[Florence]] during the 15th century. They are most famous for the [[Pazzi Conspiracy]].<ref name="Assassin's Creed II" />
**[[File:150px-Agostino Barbarigo.png|30px]] [[House of Barbarigo|Barbarigo]]: The '''Barbarigo family''' were [[Venice|Venetian]] nobles who were involved in the banking and trading industries during the 15th century. The most famous member of the family was [[Agostino Barbarigo]], the 74th Doge of [[Venice]].<ref name="Assassin's Creed II" />
**[[File:Blason famille it Borgia01 svg.png|30px]] [[House of Borgia|Borgia]]: The '''Borgia family''' were [[Spain|Spanish]]-[[Italy|Italian]] nobles during the 15th and early 16th century. The most famous members of the family were [[Rodrigo Borgia]], [[Cesare Borgia]], and [[Lucrezia Borgia]].<ref name="Assassin's Creed II" />
*'''Modern times'''
**[[File:Ford logo.png|30px]] [[Ford Motor Company]]: An automobile company founded by [[Henry Ford]], in the hands of the Templars until Ford's death.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II" />
**[[File:Nazi flag 375.jpg|30px]] [[wikipedia:Nazi Party|Nazi Party]]: A political German party which controlled Germany during the early to mid 20th century. This was started by [[Adolf Hitler]].<ref name="Assassin's Creed II" />
**[[File:CIA.svg|30px]] [[Central Intelligence Agency]]: A "civilian" intelligence agency, in fact secretly working to keep the Templar Order in control.
**[[File:Animuslogowhite.svg|30px]] [[Abstergo Industries]]: A modern pharmaceutical company, that works in secret to create the New World.<ref name="Assassin's Creed" />
**[[File:BP Logo.svg|30px]] [[BP]]: A global oil and gas company headquartered in London, England, that helped to create the massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, and then cover it up.
**[[File:NASA logo svg.png|30px]] [[NASA]]: A governmental company that created the Apollo missions to retrieve an Apple of Eden from the Moon.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II" />
**[[File:180px-State flag of Iran 1964-1980.svg.png|30px]] [[SAVAK]]: A secret police force established in Iran to protect Templar interests in Iran, oil in particular.

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

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

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

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

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

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

{{ACSeries}}
{{ACAC}}
{{AC}}
{{ACBL}}
{{ACII}}
{{ACIID}}
{{ACBH}}
{{ACR}}
{{ACLL}}
{{ACTF}}

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