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Great Catastrophe

2012-11-03T20:39:08Z

95.175.147.158: /* Pre-catastrophe */

{{Era|AC2|ACR|TWCB}}
{{WP-REAL|Toba catastrophe theory}}
{{WPtimeline}}
{{Quote|The earth shook for days, the fires burned for weeks, and when the ash had settled, less than ten thousand of your kind still lived, and far fewer of ours. But we carried on, together...|Jupiter to [[Desmond Miles]].|Assassin's Creed: Revelations}}
{{Event
|width=
|prev=
|conc=
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|imageBG=
|image=[[File:Earth post catastrophe.jpg|300px|]]
|name=Toba Catastrophe
|timeframe=Prehistory
|conflict=
|date=75000 BC
|place=Earth
|outcome=*[[First Civilization]] came to be extinct.
|key=*First Civilization
*Humans
|participants=}}

The '''Toba catastrophe''' was an event during human prehistory, dated to 75000 BC,<ref name="ACI Timeline">''[[Assassin's Creed: Initiates]]'' - ''Timeline''</ref> which saw the near total extinction of both [[Humans|humanity]] and the [[First Civilization]], who were involved in a [[Human-First Civilization War|military conflict]] at the time.

In modern times, the disaster was often misconceived to have been the eruption of a super-volcano, but was in actuality caused by a {{Wiki|coronal mass ejection}}, closely related to a solar flare.

==Pre-catastrophe==
Embroiled in their war with humanity, the First Civilization did not foresee the coming apocalypse until it was too late.<ref name="AC2">''[[Assassin's Creed II]]''</ref> Despite this, certain members of the First Civilization worked to find a means of suppressing it—or at least protect future generations from the predicted repeat—by researching ways of preventing the cataclysm within underground [[Temples|Vaults]].

As stated by [[Jupiter]], they tried six different methods that showed the most potential, but none of them worked.<ref name="Revelations">''[[Assassin's Creed: Revelations]]''</ref> When [[Desmond Miles]] and the other Modern Assassin's entered the Grand Temple, Juno appeared to tell Desmond of the six trials they took to prevent the disaster.

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 taken would be too long. The first tower was never completed and the research went on. The second solution was to enhance metallic rings known as the [[Shard of Eden]]that emitted a forcefield around them that repelled metal such as bullets. The idea was to create the Shard the size of the world, but obviously it was too large to build and would be impossible. They tried saving portions by doing so. The hoped to save half, a sixth, an eighth, or even a tenth of the world. Even building the Shard for one city would be too costly, and the solution was abandoned.
The third solution was discovered by using the Apple of Eden on humans. If enough humans were told to believe in one idea, it would take form in reality. The third solution would be to launch an Apple of Eden into orbit, aim it towards the planet, and commanded all humans to one thought, "Make us safe." This thought alone would take form and make the planet safe. The issue was trying to aim the Apple in a right direction. After sending a dozen more, the answer was still the same and solution was abandoned.

The fourth solution and further solutions focused on matters on the body level. The fourth solution was to enhance the bodies of the First Civilization externally. The means would be transforming the bodies internally into steel and able to withstand a hostile environment. Aita, Juno's husband, volunteered to test the method. Within an instant, his mind degenerated and became increasingly catatonic. With enough will, he wished for Juno to euthanize him, and she fulfilled it. The solution was abandoned and the researchers continued on similar matters. The fifth solution was to create entirely new vessels that could safely transfer the consciousness the former solution failed to do. The new vessels would be able to withstand the new environment, and they could house the transferred consciousness, but the ability to actually transfer it was impossible, and this solution was abandoned.

In time, Minerva discovered through divinations, there is a pattern of numbers and equations to existence. If one could comprehend them would tame time itself. The sixth solution was to attempt going back in time and trying to prevent the disaster beforehand, but the means would be too dangerous and it was abandoned.

Minerva founded one more solution, but it was never tested. Minerva created a pedestal, the Eye, that would allow one who has the genetic material to manipulate the numbers and to protect the Earth by doing so. However, before Minerva could test it, she discovered that Juno had tampered with it. While the patterns to save the world were still there, the patterns would also allow Juno to have total control and power. Minerva forced the solution to be abandoned.

Before the world ended, Minerva looked forward in time using the numbers. She, Juno, and Jupiter used them to speak to Desmond Miles and his ancestors so that he may comprehend the situation, seek the Grand Temple, and prevent the disaster again that will occur in 2012. And soon the sun released the solar flare, and the planet burned.

==Disaster and aftermath==
The coronal mass ejection hit the Earth just as predicted, flipping the polarity of the Earth's magnetic field and exposing the planet to the Sun's deadly radiation. The entire planet burned for weeks afterward, and earthquakes and catastrophic blazes ravaged what remained of the Earth.<ref name="Revelations" />

The surface of the earth was rendered barren, and less than ten thousand humans and "far fewer" members of the First Civilization survived the catastrophe. In order to recover from the event, the remaining members of the First Civilization and their human creations brought their war to an end and began to work together to restore life to the planet.<ref name="Revelations"/>

Because their numbers were too few, the First Civilization failed to survive long as an independent species. Humans on the other hand, who had been built by the First Civilization "to survive", successfully managed to reconstruct their society and flourished.<ref name="AC2" /> Over time, the reshaping of the Earth's landscape and geography would eliminate nearly all physical evidence of the First Civilization.<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Revelations Official Game Guide]]''</ref>

==Gallery==
<gallery widths="180" position="center" spacing="small" captionalign="center">
ACR-Toba 5.png|The solar flare heading to Earth.
Earthtoba.jpg|Earth during the catastrophe.
ACR-Toba 8.png|Ancient city before the catastrophe.
Tobacity.jpg|Ancient city in the midst of the catastrophe.
ACR-Toba 10.png|Lightning striking a skyscraper.
ACR-Toba 9.png|A woman seen during the catastrophe.
ACR-Toba 3.png
ACR-Toba 2.png|Humans falling into a fissure.
ACR-Toba 1.png
ACR-Toba 4.png|Earth in the wake of the catastrophe.
ACR_Toba_Bodies.png|Earth's surface after the catastrophe.
Fall of The First Civilization Concept Art.JPG|Concept art of the Toba catastrophe by [[Martin Deschambault]].
First Disaster aftermath.jpg|Concept art of Earth after the disaster.
</gallery>

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Timeline}}
[[Category:Timeline]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed: Revelations events]]

Grand Master of the Templar Order

2012-11-03T19:05:27Z

95.175.147.158:

{{Era|AC|ACBL|AC2|ACB|ACR|AC3|TSC|Renaissance|Bbook|Rbook|Templars}}
{{WP-REAL|Grand Masters of the Knights Templar}}
{{Youmay|the highest rank of the Templar Order|the Assassin Order equivalent, the [[Mentor]]}}
[[File:Knights.png|thumb|right|200px|The emblem of the Templar Order.]]
The title of '''Grand Master''' was the highest rank attainable within the [[Templars|Templar Order]] and granted the bearer full control over its members and their operations.

Having previously borne a more public face, more Grand Masters of the Templar Order were better known than their [[Assassins|Assassin]] [[Mentor|counterparts]]. However, as the Templars slipped back into the shadows, the identities of their leaders eventually fell from the public consciousness.

While it was commonly assumed that all Templar leaders were drawn from the stock of Western nobility, due to the prominence of the front-organization that was the Knights Templar during the Middle Ages, the truth was that as the Order developed, diversified and relocated, many different people of various racial backgrounds and cultural heritages had assumed the mantle of Grand Master throughout the Templars' longevity.

==History==
===Middle Ages===
After two years without a Grand Master, [[Robert de Sable]] entered the order of the Knights Templar and reigned as their Grand Master during 1191. During his reign, he sought the [[Pieces of Eden]], particularly the [[Apple of Eden 2|Apple of Eden]]. After having lost the Apple, he launched an attack to [[Masyaf]], the stronghold of the Assassins. Later on, during the [[Battle of Arsuf]], he was killed by his rival, [[Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad]].<ref name="AC">''[[Assassin's Creed]]''</ref>

After the death of Robert, [[Armand Bouchart]] took on the mantle of Grand Master as he and the Templars retreated to [[Cyprus]]. However, Altaïr pursued him and the two fought in the [[Templar Archive]], after the Assassin foiled the Grand Master's plans, resulting in Altaïr's victory and the Templars losing another leader.<ref name="ACBL">''[[Assassin's Creed: Bloodlines]]''</ref>

During the early 14th century, the [[France|French]] King [[Philip le Bel]] was unknowingly influenced by the [[Assassins]], and conspired against the Templars. As a result, they were branded heretics and hundreds of them were arrested, with the last official Grand Master, [[Jacques de Molay]], understanding that the Order would not survive as a public organization. With this, he allowed himself to be burned at the stake, saving the lives of his brethren and making his enemies believe that the Templars were finished, though in reality, the Order continued to exist – underground. This aside, before his death, Molay sent nine of his most trusted men out into the world to continue his work.<ref name="Encyclopedia">''[[Assassin's Creed Encyclopedia]]''</ref>

===Renaissance===
By 1476, the Templars in Europe were eventually led by [[Rodrigo Borgia]], a cardinal under [[Pope Sixtus IV]]. Operating from [[Rome]], Rodrigo's primary objective was to unite Italy under the Templar banner,<ref name="AC2">''[[Assassin's Creed II]]''</ref> however, the Italian Templars strayed far from the main Templar ideology and used the Order as a way to achieve and sustain power for themselves.<ref name="Encyclopedia"/> Despite facing complications from the Assassins, mainly [[Ezio Auditore da Firenze]], Rodrigo managed to bribe the other cardinals, and was named Pope in 1492, taking on the name Alexander VI.<ref name="AC2"/>

Rodrigo then secured the power of the Church for the Templars, and from [[Vaticano District|the Vatican]], he oversaw the progress of the other Templars in Europe, including [[England]] and [[Spain]]. However, by 1500, Rodrigo's resolve had weakened, and control over the order fell to his son [[Cesare Borgia]], who acted as the ''de facto'' Grand Master.<ref name="ACB">''[[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood]]''</ref>

After he killed his own father in August 1503, Cesare became the official Grand Master of the Order,<ref name="ACB novel">[[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood (novel)|''Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood'' novel]]</ref> though without his father's power in the Church, he could not maintain the same influence in Europe that his father had. Cesare was soon imprisoned with the ascension of the next Pope, [[Julius II]], and upon escaping, he fled to his brother-in-law [[John III of Navarre]] in Navarre, Spain. The Grand Master was ultimately killed during the [[Siege of Viana]] in 1507 by Ezio Auditore,<ref name="ACB"/> destabilizing the Templars in Europe and causing them to temporarily withdraw.<ref name="ACR">''[[Assassin's Creed: Revelations]]''</ref>

===Modern times===
By the 20th century, the "Founders" created [[Abstergo Industries]] in 1937, which from that point on served as the front for the Templar Order. Though its [[Inner Sanctum of the Templar Order|highest-ranking employees]] all held some form of leadership in the Templar Order,<ref name="Abstergo Files">''Assassin's Creed: Revelations'' - [[Abstergo Files]]</ref> there was still a Grand Master serving as the head of the company.<ref name="Rifts">''Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood'' - [[Rifts]]</ref>

==Known Grand Masters==
<gallery widths="180" position="center" spacing="small" captionalign="center">
Hugh de Payns.jpg|[[Hugues de Payens]]<ref name="Encyclopedia"/> 1118 - 1136
Rober_de_Sable_v.png|[[Robert de Sable]]<ref name="AC"/> 1191
Armand Bouchart.jpg|[[Armand Bouchart]]<ref name="ACBL"/> 1191 - 1193
Molay.jpg|[[Jacques de Molay]]<ref name="Encyclopedia"/> 1292 - 1312
Char rodrigo.png|[[Rodrigo Borgia]]<ref name="AC2"/><ref name="ACB"/> 1476 - 1503
Char cesare.png|[[Cesare Borgia]]<ref name="ACB novel"/> 1500 - 1503 {{C|de facto}} 1503 - 1507 {{C|de jure}}
Wiki_noimage.jpg|[[Reginald Birch]] {{C|Great Britain}}
Wiki_noimage.jpg|[[Haytham Kenway]] {{C|Colonial America}} 1754 - 1781
</gallery>

==References==
{{Reflist}}
[[Category:Templar Order]]