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

Isu

2011-12-29T04:50:16Z

98.214.180.167: /* Bloodline */

{{era|AC1|AC2|Brotherhood|Renaissance|bbook|twcb|Featured}}
{{quote|We simply came… before.|[[Minerva]]|Assassin's Creed II}}
[[File:Zw-Minerva-3.png|thumb|250px|[[Minerva]], a representative of the First Civilization.]]
The '''First Civilization'''<ref name="Assassin's Creed II">''[[Assassin's Creed II]]''</ref><ref name="Encyclopedia">''[[Assassin's Creed Encyclopedia]]''</ref>, sometimes known as '''Those Who Came Before''',<ref name="Assassin's Creed">''[[Assassin's Creed]]''</ref> were an ancient and advanced species of humanoid beings, among the first to call Earth their home. They were responsible for the creation of the [[Pieces of Eden]], as well as the [[Humans|human race]] itself, whom they used as a domestic workforce. With early humans unable to comprehend the First Civilization for what they truly were, they were looked upon as gods.

Eventually, [[Human-First Civilization War|war]] broke out between the First Civilization and their now no-longer oppressed human slaves; this, coupled with the onset of the "[[First Catastrophe|catastrophe]]" would see the First Civilization slip into extinction, though their legacy would live on for thousands of years.

==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|A member of the First Civilization 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|Assassin's Creed II}}
[[File:Earth post catastrophe.jpg|thumb|250px|left|Earth, following the catastrophe.]]
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 "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"/>

==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 mentioned in the Codex that his Piece of Eden not only possessed a catalog of past events, but also future events, implying that the Pieces contain predictions made by Those Who Came Before.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II"/>

Those Who Came Before also have connections with many of Earth's religions, and likely influenced their developments directly. During her warning to Desmond, Minerva made mention of her former names, as well of those of her 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"/>

The First Civilization were anatomically similar to their human creations, though unlike the human creations, who were created with only five senses, members of the First Civilization possessed six; the sixth being "knowledge".<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood"/> First Civilization individuals were somewhat taller than humans, with a brain size almost thirty-percent larger, which may well have accounted for their extra sense.<ref name="Encyclopedia" /> 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"/>

==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; however, the inability of humans to comprehend their creators as anything but Gods did allow for their names and charateristics at least, to live on. The lack of evidence for their existence did not prevent select groups of humans from later eras from uncovering their true nature however, by the 12th century, the Knights Templar had a limited understanding of the nature of those who had lived before.<ref name="Assassin's Creed"/> Indeed, the 20th century 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 [[Grand Master of the Templar Order|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.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II"/>

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"/>

===Knowledge===
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 Miles|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"/>; whilst it is unsure if, by that point, they still retained their previous knowledge of [[Consus]].<ref name="Project Legacy">''[[Assassin's Creed: Project Legacy]]''</ref>

===Bloodline===
{{Quote|Why do we have these gifts, these abilities? Because it's in our blood! […] The seeds were planted as two worlds became one. Behold the Assassins, the children of two worlds!|[[Clay Kaczmarek]]|Assassin's Creed II}}
[[William Miles]] stated one person in ten million will have a high concentration of First Civilization DNA.<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Revelations]]''</ref> The individual known as [[Clay Kaczmarek|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 as well as [[Leonardo da Vinci]] suggesting he too had First Civilization DNA. Giovanni Borgia was another Assassin who possessed Eagle vision.<ref name="Assassin's Creed"/><ref name="Assassin's Creed II"/> In addition, Ezio was able to use [[the Staff]] and [[Ezio's 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}}
{{First Civilization}}
[[Category:Species]]
[[Category:Those Who Came Before| ]]

Apple of Eden 6

2011-11-18T00:21:55Z

98.214.180.167: /* Trivia */

{{Era|AC2|ACB|ACR|PL|Renaissance|Bbook|TWCB}}
{{Conjecture}}
{{Spoilerhd}}
{{Item Infobox
|name = Ezio's Apple
|image = Sixth_Apple.JPG
|type = [[Piece of Eden]]
||powers = *Creating illusions
*Human mindcontrol
*Killing humans
|current = In [[Assassin]] possession
|period = *Prehistory
*[[Renaissance]]
*[[Modern Times]]
|created = [[Those Who Came Before]]
|made = Prehistory
|notable = *[[Ezio Auditore da Firenze]]
*[[Desmond Miles]]}}
The '''Apple of Eden''' wielded by [[Ezio Auditore da Firenze]] during the [[Renaissance]] was a piece of ancient but technologically advanced equipment created by [[Those Who Came Before]]. Unlike the other five [[Apples of Eden|Apples]] described in [[Subject 16]]'s [[Glyphs|Glyph]] puzzles, it was never issued a number.

==Use==
Designed to create illusions and to control human minds, and can be used in conjunction with [[the Staff]] (presumably as can other Apples). Also contained knowledge of many technologies used by Those Who Came Before.<ref name="AC2">''[[Assassin's Creed II]]''</ref>

==Status==
Hidden by [[Ezio Auditore da Firenze]] in a [[Colosseum Vault|First Civilization Vault]] beneath the [[Santa Maria Aracoeli]] in [[Rome]] between 1503 and 1506. Uncovered by Desmond Miles on [[Modern Times|October 10th, 2012]].<ref name="ACBH">''[[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood]]''</ref>

==Known owners==
*[[Those Who Came Before]] (? - ?)<ref name="AC2"/>
*[[Ezio Auditore da Firenze]] (1488)<ref name="AC2"/>
*[[Caterina Sforza]] (1488 (temporary ownership))<ref name="AC2"/>
*[[Checco Orsi]] (June/July 1488)<ref name="AC2"/>
*[[Girolamo Savonarola]] (June/July 1488 - 23 May 1498)<ref name="AC2"/>
*Ezio Auditore da Firenze (23 May 1498 - 31 December 1499)<ref name="AC2"/><ref name="ACBH"/>
*[[Mario Auditore]] (31 December 1499 - 2 January 1500)<ref name="ACBH"/>
*[[Cesare Borgia]] (2 January 1500 - 1501)<ref name="ACBH"/>
*[[Leonardo da Vinci]] (1501 - 1502)<ref name="ACBH"/>
*[[Rodrigo Borgia]] (1502 - 1503)<ref name="ACBH"/><ref name="ACPL">''[[Assassin's Creed: Project Legacy]]''</ref>
*Ezio Auditore da Firenze (31 August 1503 - 1506)<ref name="ACBH"/><ref name="ACBH - Da Vinci Disappearance">''[[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood]]'' - ''[[The Da Vinci Disappearance]]''</ref>
*[[Desmond Miles]] (2012)<ref name="ACBH"/>
*[[William Miles]] (2012)<ref name="ACR">''[[Assassin's Creed: Revelations]]''</ref>

==History==
===Move to Italy===
{{Quote|What if that's why they sent the ship to Cyprus? To find this... Piece of Eden... and bring it back to Venezia.|Ezio discovering the Spaniard's plan.|Assassin's Creed II}}
[[File:He_who_waits_3.png|thumb|left|250px|The Apple arriving in Venice.]]
In 1486, while hunting down the Venetian Templars, [[Ezio Auditore da Firenze]] learned from [[Silvio Barbarigo]] and [[Dante Moro]] that the Templars were setting their sails for the island of [[Cyprus]]. It was not until 1488, that the artifact was brought from Cyprus to [[Venice]] in L'Arsenale, with the artifact still encased in its original ornamental housing.<ref name="AC2"/>

After the sailors handed it down to one of their associates, Ezio noticed his uncle, [[Mario Auditore]], also watching the Templars from afar. Tailing the soldier, in hopes of leading him to the Spaniard, he followed him all the way to a secluded area, where the courier was given a short time to arrange things for the Spaniard's liking. After Ezio heard of the Spaniard's presence, Ezio knew that he should not let the opportunity of exacting revenge pass. Ezio stealthily infiltrated the courtyard and dispatched the courier and donned the man's armor, posing as a guard.<ref name="AC2"/>

[[File:Play_along_2.png|thumb|250px|Rodrigo preparing to fight Ezio for the Apple.]]
After donning the armor, and preparing the package, Ezio was greeted by a guard captain, who asked him not to ruin the delivery, unknown to him that he was talking to an Assassin. Obeying the captain's orders, Ezio brought the package to a secluded area by the Venetian canals, along with the captain and two more guards with him. Seeing the Spaniard, [[Rodrigo Borgia]], after such a long time, Ezio prepared himself to confront the man responsible for his misery.<ref name="AC2"/>

Stabbing the guard captain from behind, while holding the package, and dispatching the guards with him, Ezio confronted his family's destroyer.<ref name="AC2"/>

After two bouts with Borgia, the latter of which involved Ezio fighting off Templar guards, all of the Assassins that had trained Ezio showed up to hold off the guards while Ezio himself dueled Borgia. In the end, Borgia escaped, and Ezio was greeted by all his allies, then told by [[Niccolò Machiavelli]], who had just arrived on the scene, that he was the prophet of the Codex. A disbelieving Ezio demanded Machiavelli's name, which the Assassin promptly gave, then revealed all the others to be Assassins as well. Ezio was subsequently [[Initiation to the Assassin Order|initiated]] into the Order.<ref name="AC2"/>

===Battle of Forlì===
{{Quote|The Apple needs to remain in the citadel. Keep this safe|Ezio, entrusting the Apple to Caterina.|Assassin's Creed II}}
[[File:Godfather 4.png|thumb|250px|left|Ezio giving Caterina the Apple.]]
After arriving in Forlì in 1488, on a mission from Order to keep the Apple safe in the well protected city with their ally [[Caterina Sforza]], Ezio, Caterina and Machiavelli were confronted by [[Checco Orsi]] and [[Ludovico Orsi]], who attacked the city to gain the Codex map, unaware of the Apple's presence. After becoming aware of during the battle, the Orsi brothers kidnapped Caterina's children, [[Bianca Riario|Bianca]] and [[Ottaviano Riario|Ottaviano]], and threatened to kill them if the Apple and the Codex map was not given to them.<ref name="AC2"/>

Ezio left the Apple in Caterina's care and then set out to rescue Caterina's children, however, while he was away, Checco had taken the Apple from Caterina. Ezio pursued Checco on through the countryside and assassinated him, retrieving the Apple. However, Checco had stabbed Ezio in the lower abdomen and the Assassin collapsed. Before he passed out, Ezio witnessed a [[Girolamo Savonarola|monk]] with a missing finger take the Apple from him. After recovering several days later, Ezio set out to find the identity of the monk, later being told that the monk was Girolamo Savonarola. Ezio then left for Florence to search for the monk.<ref name="AC2"/>

===Bonfire of the Vanities===
{{Quote|You will do as I command! You will submit!|Savonarola trying to control a crowd with the Apple.|Bonfire of the Vanities}}
[[File:Power to people 3.png|thumb|250px|Savonarola using the Apple of Eden to control Florence.]]After arriving in Florence in 1497, Ezio learned that Savonarola was using the Apple to influence the city leaders to do his will, controlling the civilians in the process. After killing Savonarola's nine lieutenants, greatly reducing Savonarola's power in the city, the monk emerged from his dwellings where Ezio, Machiavelli, La Volpe, and Paola waited with the enraged crowd of civilians that had gathered. Savonarola begun to remind the civilians they should be submitting to his cause.<ref name="AC2"/>

After this failed attempt, an enraged Savonarola drew the Apple and attempted to use it on the crowd in order control them. However, Ezio quickly threw a [[Throwing Knife|knife]] at Savonarola's hand, breaking the spell and causing the Apple to slip from his grasp. As the crowd carried Savonarola off, a Borgia guard took the Apple after it had slipped from Savonarola's grasp, however Ezio pursued the guard and retrieved the Apple once again for the Assassins.<ref name="AC2"/>

===The Vatican===
{{Quote|Kind of you to bring me the Apple. Now give it here!|Rodrigo Borgia demanding the Apple from Ezio.|Assassin's Creed II}}
[[File:IBAL 7.png|thumb|250px|left|Ezio using the Apple to create his duplicates.]]
Upon arriving back at the Villa in 1499, Ezio and the other Assassins once again met to discuss their plan after the assemblement of all thirty Codex pages. Realizing that Rodrigo possessed the [[Staff of Eden]] through his ascension as Pope, Ezio prepared for his final confrontation with Rodrigo and traveled to the Vatican itself. Eventually confronting Rodrigo, Ezio lunged towards him, however, the Staff's power knocked him away. With the Apple, Ezio was able to resist Rodrigo's attempt to kill him with the Staff.<ref name="AC2"/>

{{-}}
[[File:Mass Exodus 6 v.png|thumb|250px|Ezio deciding the Apple's fate.]]
Rodrigo eventually overpowered the Assassin and took the Apple with him into the Vault. Ezio pursued him and finally defeated Rodrigo, he then used the Apple in conjunction with the Staff to open the Vault. Emerging from the Vault after hearing [[Minerva]]'s message, Ezio escaped the Vatican with his uncle [[Mario Auditore|Mario]]. Subsequently Ezio and Mario took to the rooftops and made their way to a high tower overlooking a canal. Once there, Ezio withdrew the Apple of Eden from his cloak and prepared to drop it into the river, however, he hesitated. Acknowledging that destroying such a powerful artifact was not a decision to be made quickly, Mario offered to keep the Apple safe until Ezio had made up his mind, and the two rode back to their base of operations in the fortress town of [[Monteriggioni]].<ref name="ACBH"/>

===Fall of Monteriggioni===
{{Dialogue|Ezio|Do you have it?|Mario|I am keeping it safe.|Ezio and Mario on the Apple's safety.|Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood}}
[[File:Apple.jpg|thumb|250px|left|The Apple in Cesare Borgia's hands.]]
Subsequently the Apple was returned the Monteriggioni to be kept safe. However during the [[Siege of Monteriggioni]], Mario tried to ensure the Apple's safety; however, the invading Borgia were able to breach the city with Mario barely alive and the Apple in the hands of [[Cesare Borgia]]. Subsequently after the conclusion of the siege, the Apple was now in the Borgia's possession. Cesare left it in the hands of Leonardo da Vinci for study, forcing him to craft several weapons [[War Machines]] from the Apple. Rodrigo soon took it from him and hid it inside St. Peter's Basilica, disapproving of the Apple being used in such ways.<ref name="ACBH"/>

===War in Rome===
Rodrigo eventually took the Apple from Leonardo without Cesare's knowledge and hid it at St. Peter's Baslilica, the courtyard pavilion. Additionally during the four years in which the Apple was in Borgia hands, the War Machines crafted were all eventually destroyed by Ezio. By August of 1503, Ezio infiltrated the [[Castel Sant'Angelo]] to assassinate Rodrigo and Cesare. Soon spying on Rodrigo, Cesare entered and demanded the Apple's whereabouts. Rodrigo however refused to tell his son.<ref name="ACBH"/>

[[File:Showapple.jpg|thumb|250px|Ezio regains the Apple as Cesare arrives.]]
However, after murdering his father for his attempted murder through poison, Cesare began interrogating [[Lucrezia Borgia]], who knew the Apple's location. After giving in and telling Cesare, both him and Ezio raced for St. Peter's Basilica. However, Ezio subsequently arrived first. Approaching the pavilion, Ezio finally retrieved the Apple of Eden. However, Cesare immediately arrived with guards. Using the Apple to dispose of the guards, Ezio fled for Tiber Island. There he reported to his fellow Assassins of Rodrigo's demise and the recovery of the Apple.<ref name="ACBH"/>

[[File:LeonardoEzioApple.jpg|thumb|250px|left|Ezio uses the Apple to see the future.]]
Realizing that Cesare would attempt to rebuild his forces in the coming months, Ezio concluded the Apple would aid them in defeating Cesare. Throughout August to December, Ezio continued to weaken Cesare's military forces through the Apple, killing important assets with the Apple. Eventually however, Cesare gathered his remaining supporters at the gates to Rome. Confronting Cesare, Ezio and the Assassins destroyed his remaining supporters with the Apple. After Cesare's arrest, Ezio was unsure what do to, hence he discussed this with Leonardo and used the Apple to see the future. Seeing Cesare's escape, Ezio immediately left Rome.<ref name="ACBH"/>

===Preservation===
In 1506, Ezio hid the Apple in the [[Colosseum Vault]], leaving it on the [[Vault pedestal|pedestal]] and sealing the Vault. The Apple remained there, only to be recovered in 2012.<ref name="ACBH"/>

==Modern times==
{{Quote|I can't believe I'm actually going to hold the Apple.|Desmond Miles just before he reaches the Apple.|Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood}}
[[File:Retrieval_18.png|thumb|250px|Desmond, stabbing Lucy under the Apple's control.]]
In 2012, the modern day Assassins [[Desmond Miles]], [[Lucy Stillman]], [[Shaun Hastings]] and [[Rebecca Crane]] located the Apple of Eden using the [[Animus]]. After arriving at the Colosseum, Desmond made his way through the Colosseum to [[Santa Maria in Aracoeli]], where he found an entrance to let the other Assassins in. While in the church, Desmond activated a [[Vault pedestal|pedestal]] that led them to the chamber where the Apple was located. Making their way up to the central platform, Desmond touched the Apple, causing his DNA to activate it. Through the Apple, [[Juno]] took control of his body and made him stab Lucy in the abdomen before causing him to go into shock.<ref name="ACBH"/>

Desmond, Shaun and Rebecca were retrieved from the Vault by his father [[William Miles]] and an acquaintance again put into the Animus, in hopes of getting him out of his trauma.<ref name="ACBH"/> The Apple ended up in William's hands, though he realized he was not able to properly wield it. The Apple was taken with William, Desmond, Shaun and Rebecca when they relocated to [[New York City]].<ref name="ACR"/>

==Abilities==
In 1499, Ezio used the Apple in Rome to dispel the effects of the Staff of Eden, as well as to create four hologram doubles. While these doubles could not deal damage, they were able to distract Rodrigo during their battle. After Rodrigo stole the Apple, he combined it with the Staff to paralyze Ezio, then to create the key to the Vault, which he claimed held a "god-felling weapon." In the Vault, [[Minerva]] upgraded the Apple.<ref name="AC2"/>

In 1503, Ezio was briefly able to use the Apple as a weapon. By charging it, a golden perimeter spread around him, followed by a smaller, white perimeter (though these circles decreased slightly upon release). Enemies within the golden circle of effect would proceed to fight each other, while enemies in the white circle would fall to the ground in agony, which was depicted as a kill-by-insanity.<ref name="ACBH"/>

If the golden perimeter affected an enemy with no other enemies around to attack (or if all other enemies had already been killed) the affected enemy would just fall to his knees and beg for mercy. The Apple could also be used in a counter-attack, where briefly activating its effects just as an enemy attacked resulted in an instant kill.<ref name="ACBH"/>

Using the Apple appeared to weaken its user; though it is unknown whether this was due to overuse of its powers, or of a [[Synchronization|desynchronization]] between Desmond's and Ezio's memories.<ref name="ACBH"/>

==Trivia==
*The Apple is mentioned as an important icon in many religious writings; most notably as the "Fruit of Knowledge" in the Garden of Eden.
*In ''[[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood]]'', the Apple affects and can potentially kill almost anyone, including allies (such as [[mercenaries]] and [[Apprentices|Assassin recruits]]) and [[civilians]].
*Using the Apple will drain the player's health, with a greater area of effect draining a greater amount of health; though health will recover faster over time.
*It is unknown why this Apple was on Cyprus when Altair had kept his with him.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{PoE}}
[[Category:Pieces of Eden]]
[[Category:First Civilization technology]]

Book of Abraham

2011-06-13T05:21:30Z

98.214.180.167:

{{era|pl}}
[[File:Bombastusbook.jpg|frame|Bombastus reading the Book.]]
{{quote|Despite my warning, I glance at the page. It is blank. Both pages are blank. Suddenly, symbols fill my mind!|[[Giovanni Borgia]], upon looking at the Book.|Assassin's Creed: Project Legacy}}

'''The Book''' was used in [[Bombastus]]' study to learn how to create gold from other elements. It was an unadorned tome that seemed to be made up of blank pages, but it filled people's minds with ideas when read.

Once, after having looked at the Book, Bombastus' apprentice [[Johan]] apparently went mad, once raving that ''"My mind is a small, small cup. Overfilled! Bursting! Cracked!"'' This suggests that madness can come from learning too much from the Book at once. To guard against this, Bombastus often read the Book with his hands at the sides of his eyes as blinders.

When [[Giovanni Borgia]] read the Book's pages, he was enlightened by knowledge of a certain formula, which he quickly wrote down. Upon following the instructions, he and Bombastus discovered it to be the method of crafting the [[Philosopher's Stone]].

The Book may have been a Piece of Eden, as it had inhuman powers.

==Source==
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Project Legacy]]'' - [[Chapter 4 - Giovanni Borgia]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed: Project Legacy]]