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Hermeticists

2012-04-03T22:38:56Z

99.119.22.130: /* History */

{{Era|Brotherhood|PL|DYL}}
{{WP-REAL|Hermeticism}}
{{Faction infobox
|name = Hermeticists
|image = Caduceus.svg
|imgdesc =
|founder =
|leader =
|headquarters =
|locations = [[Greece]] [[Italy]] [[England]]
|related =
|religion =
|hideh =
|formed = Circa 6th century BCE
|reorganised =
|collapsed =
|notable = [[Pythagoras]] [[Ercole Massimo]] [[William Robert Woodman]] [[William Wynn Westcott]] [[Samuel Liddell Mathers]]}}
{{quote|As above, so below.|The Hermetic vow.|Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood}}
The '''Hermeticists''' were members of the '''Cult of Hermes''', a group based on a set of philosophical and religious beliefs, who dedicated themselves to "transforming mankind."

==History==
===Origins===
{{quote|We hold the key to life's mysteries.|The staff speaking to Pythagoras.|Assassin's Creed: Project Legacy}}

The Cult of Hermes had its origins in the sixth century BC, when [[Pythagoras]] and his disciple [[Kyros of Zarax]] traveled through the deserts of ancient [[Greece]] to find [[Hermes Trismegistus]]. After long days of travel, they happened upon a man bearing a winged staff, twined with two serpents.<ref name="Project Legacy - Kyros of Zarax">''[[Assassin's Creed: Project Legacy]]'' - ''[[Chapter 2 - Kyros of Zarax|Divine Science: Chapter 2 - Kyros of Zarax]]''</ref>

[[File:PL-Agnus Dei.png|thumb|200px|left|The staff and snakes of Hermes.]]
The man dressed in peasant's garb announced himself to be Hemes, and plunged his staff into the ground, causing the snakes to seemingly come alive, and the sands to shift.<ref name="Project Legacy - Kyros of Zarax" />

The snakes spoke to Pythagoras as a worthy successor, and he was handed the staff, the "key to life's mysteries" that had "been passed down since the dawn of time."<ref name="Project Legacy - Kyros of Zarax" />

At this, Pythagoras became one of the first known Hermeticists.<ref name="Project Legacy - Kyros of Zarax" />

{{-}}
===Renaissance===
{{quote|Why seek knowledge without putting it to use? We have the chance to fashion a better world, one in which we have the freedom to shape our own destiny.|Ercole Massimo, a leader of the Hermeticists.|Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood}}
Sometime before 1506 AD, several Hermeticists pursued the [[Assassins|Assassin]] [[Ezio Auditore da Firenze]], in order to obtain the [[Ezio's Apple|Apple of Eden]] he had in his possession. They were unsuccessful, however, and the [[Piece of Eden]] was sealed away.<ref name="The Da Vinci Disappearance">''[[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood]]'' - ''[[The Da Vinci Disappearance]]''</ref>

[[File:ACB_PC_SP_09_SalaiAndEzioFightingHermetecist.jpg|thumb|250px|right|Hermeticists fighting Ezio and Salaì.]]
As of 1506 AD, after the [[Liberation of Rome|fall]] of the [[House of Borgia|Borgia]] in Rome, the Hermeticists were led by [[Ercole Massimo]]. At his order, they captured [[Leonardo da Vinci]], a famed polymath, in order to discover the hidden entrance of the [[Temple of Pythagoras]].<ref name="The Da Vinci Disappearance" />

Soon afterwards, in front of [[La Volpe Addormentata]], another group of disciples attacked two of Leonardo's friends, Ezio Auditore, and his assistant [[Salaì]], though they were both able to defend themselves.<ref name="The Da Vinci Disappearance" />

In order to delay their search for the entrance of the temple, Leonardo told Ercole of the clues hidden in several of his paintings. Ercole then sent his Hermeticists throughout [[Italy]] to seek the lost paintings, though all of these were intercepted and reclaimed by Ezio.<ref name="The Da Vinci Disappearance" />

In the chambers of the Temple of Pythagoras, a large number of disciples, including Ercole, were killed while attempting to keep Ezio from rescuing Leonardo.<ref name="The Da Vinci Disappearance" />

===Modern times===
[[File:Rosy_Cross_of_the_Golden_Dawn.png|thumb|250px|left|Rosy Cross of the Golden Dawn, as seen atop Woodman's coffin.]]
In the late 19th century, the Hermetic Order was revived in [[London]], England under the name '''Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn'''. It was co-founded by [[William Robert Woodman]], [[William Wynn Westcott]], and [[Samuel Liddell Mathers]].<ref name="Project Legacy - Frater V.O.V.">''Assassin's Creed: Project Legacy'' - [[Chapter 4 - Frater V.O.V.|Divine Science: Chapter 4 - Frater V.O.V.]]''</ref>

In the Victorian era, Hermetic practices were closely tied to the occult, and involved many rituals and ceremonies. However, these "black magic" practices were still frowned upon, and at one point, Westcott was forced to leave the Order upon his beliefs being revealed.<ref name="Project Legacy - Frater V.O.V." />

With this necessity for secrecy, many members of the Order were known simply by titles; Westcott was the Praemonstrator, Mathers, the Evoker of Spirits (and later, the Imperator), and Moina, Mathers' wife, was the Seeress.<ref name="Project Legacy - Frater V.O.V." />

====Leadership====
[[File:PL-Quod Scis Nescis.png|thumb|250px|The three founders of the Golden Dawn.]]
While all three were still alive, Woodman, Westcott and Mathers led the Hermetic Order in a "perfect partnership" they once defined as "Harmony." However, greed and ambition eventually took over, and in 1891, Westcott and Mathers had Woodman assassinated in his greenhouse.<ref name="Project Legacy - Frater V.O.V." />

Additionally, following an argument over whether or not to publish the secrets and ancient formulas within the [[the Book|Book of Abraham]], Westcott planned a coup to oust Mathers from the Order. However, in 1896, Mathers was a step ahead of him, and had a young adept of the Order plant evidence of Westcott's interest in black, ritualistic magic; forcing him to leave the Order.<ref name="Project Legacy - Frater V.O.V." />

Subsequent to this, Mathers moved to [[Paris]], and left his "Queen," Miss Farr, as his representative in London. It was there in Paris that the events that triggered the "beginning of the end for the Order" started.<ref name="Project Legacy - Frater V.O.V." />

{{Wiki|Aleister Crowley}}, who aptly called himself the Beast, was an initiate of Mathers' and an ambitious member of the Outer Order. He at first attempted to force himself into the Inner Order by assaulting Miss Farr, jumping on her desk and shrieking his demands. However, when this failed, he instead approached Mathers in Paris. Needing allies, Mathers accepted him.<ref name="Project Legacy - Frater V.O.V." />

Some time later, in 1899, several members of the Order would revolt, and Mathers would be forced to resign. However, though the Seeress predicted that the Order would not endure, she also went on to say that ''"This is not the end. It is a new beginning."''<ref name="Project Legacy - Frater V.O.V." />

====Secret chiefs====
{{quote|Little is known about the Secret Chiefs. Many believe them to be transcendent cosmic authorities, while others claim they are mere humans. Some say they do not even exist.|Frater V.O.V.|Assassin's Creed: Project Legacy}}

[[File:PL-Deus Lux Solis.png|left|thumb|250px|A member of the Secret Chiefs.]]
The foundation of the Golden Dawn was closely tied to a group called the "Secret Chiefs," who were only known to the knowledgeable members of the Inner Order, and who were said to possess "terrible supernatural powers."<ref name="Project Legacy - Frater V.O.V." />

A little before 1900, Mathers was summoned by one of the Secret Chiefs, who he met with in a dark Parisian alley. Though the man wore a cloak, he clearly wore a ring marked with the red cross of the [[Templars|Templar Order]].<ref name="Project Legacy - Frater V.O.V." />

The man began to berate Mathers, saying that their partnership had ended, and that he had failed to heed their warnings. He remarked that Mathers' research was useless, but Mathers pleaded for more time, saying that he would have progressed more, had he still had the Book.<ref name="Project Legacy - Frater V.O.V." />

However, the Templar only rebuked the statement, telling him that it had never been about the Book, but about Woodman, whose death he correctly blamed upon Mathers.<ref name="Project Legacy - Frater V.O.V." />

==Trivia==
[[File:Hermeticist-render.png|right|150px|thumb|A Renaissance Hermeticist.]]
*The symbol of the Hermeticists is a "{{Wiki|caduceus}}," a short staff entwined by two serpents, and sometimes surrounded by wings. In Greek Mythology, it was believed to be the staff wielded by Hermes, the messenger of the gods.
*Similarly to the [[Cento Occhi]], in ''[[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood]]'', the Hermeticists carry several valuable items that are needed for [[Shop Quests]].
*The Hermeticists wield daggers and other [[short blades]], and fight much like [[Agile guards]].
*During the restored memories, several Hermeticists can be found throughout Rome, actively fighting against Borgia [[guards]].
**After the sequence is completed, Hermeticists no longer appear in-game.
{{-}}

==Gallery==
<center><gallery captionalign="left" position="center" widths="170">
Rolethedice4.png|Three Hermeticists preparing to fight.
Zw-ACBH-DLC-9-7.jpg|Leonardo, a Hermeticist and Ercole Massimo.
ACBSP 2011-04-12 00-11-45-75.png|A Hermeticist in La Volpe Addormentata.
</gallery></center>

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{ACBH}}
[[Category:Factions]]

Rome

2012-03-29T23:07:05Z

99.119.22.130: /* Assassination Targets */

{{Era|AC2|Brotherhood|PL|Renaissance|Bbook|Rbook|FC|Lineage|Ascendance}}
{{WP-REAL}}
{{WPlocations}}
{{Location Infobox
|name =
|image =Rome.jpg
|hidep =
|state =Papal States, [[Italy]]
|rulers =[[Papacy]]
|factions =[[Templars]] [[Assassins]] [[Thieves]] [[Courtesans]] [[Mercenaries]] [[House of Borgia]] [[Followers of Romulus]]
|hideh =
|founded =Romulus and Remus
|date =753 BC
|abandoned =
|hidea =
|landmark =[[Colosseum]] [[Capella Sistina]] [[Castel Sant'Angelo]]
|flags =101 [[House of Borgia|Borgia]] [[Flags|flags]]
|targets =[[Rodrigo Borgia]] [[Juan Borgia the Elder|Juan Borgia]] [[Octavian de Valois]] [[Micheletto Corella]] [[Il Carnefice]] [[Malfatto]] [[Silvestro Sabbatini]] [[Lia de Russo]] [[Lanz]] [[Donato Mancini]] [[Brother Ristoro]] [[Gaspar de la Croix]] [[Auguste Oberlin]]}}
{{quote|Roma is the pillar that holds our entire enterprise aloft. She cannot waver; which means neither can you.|[[Cesare Borgia]] to his allies.|Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood}}

'''Rome''' (Italian: ''Roma'') was a major city in [[Renaissance]] [[Italy]], capital of the {{Wiki|Papal States}} and headquarters to the Italian sect of the [[Templars|Templar Order]]. During the [[Modern times|modern era]], it was the capital city of the Italian Republic.

==History==
===The Beginning of an Empire===
According to legend, two brothers were given a choice, the money or the kingdom; one chose the kingdom while the other chose the money. Both of the brothers had two fine daughters. One brother used his money to hire mercenaries, and stole the kingdom from his brother, the King, imprisoning the King's daughter in the process. Whilst imprisoned, she gave birth to twin boys (''Romulus and Remus'').

The new king ordered that her and the children be killed; however, the daughter of the new king pleaded that her cousin be spared, so the new king ordered that only the twins be executed, while the daughter be spared. The servants feared the river because of high-tide and so, instead of drowning the twins, they simply placed them near the shallow section of the river, thinking they would still die when the tide came in.

The twins floated down the river until they were found and cared for by a wolf and a bird. A shepherd saw the twins and, remembering a rumor about the twins surviving; he took care of them and raised them as his own until the old king heard of the twins. Together they reclaimed the city, and when their grandfather asked them to guard over the city and become its rulers, they refused the offer, as they believed it was their grandfather's kingdom, not theirs. From there, they decided to build their own city, which would later be called Rome.

Archaeological evidence supports that Rome did in fact grow from pastoral settlements on [[Colle Palatino]], the future site of the Roman Forum, upon which there are several caves. Eventually, the Republic of Rome was founded in c. 510 B.C.E. The successful and wealthy Republic gave birth to the imperial Roman Empires c. 27 B.C.E, which were sprawling territories ruled by succeeding emperors.

In 476, the empire fell, and the Roman Catholic Church managed to take power in 756. After that, Rome became an economic and cultural powerhouse in Europe, even though [[Florence]] surpassed Rome as the centre of Italian Renaissance. Due to the rivalry between the two cities, the papacy spent vast amounts of money to create cultural masterworks.

===Roman era===
Rome was the capital of the {{Wiki|Roman Empire}}, and was ruled by the Templars under the alias "{{Wiki|SPQR|Senatus Populusque Romanus}}".<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood">''[[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood]]''</ref>

On the 15th March 45 BC, [[Gaius Julius Caesar]] was killed by the [[Assassins]], led by [[Marcus Junius Brutus]].<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Project Legacy">''[[Assassin's Creed: Project Legacy]]''</ref>

In the year 41, the [[Assassins|Assassin]] [[Leonius]] assassinated the Templar [[Caligula]] in Rome, whom he stabbed with a [[dagger]].<ref name="Assassin's Creed II">''[[Assassin's Creed II]]''</ref>

===Renaissance era===
In 1476, [[Rodrigo Borgia]], [[Grand Master]] of the [[Templars|Templar Order]] and a powerful figure in Vatican politics briefly left the city to discuss his Order's plans, before returning to affirm [[Papacy|Papal]] approval. Assent was given, and the Templars were provided with military support for their endeavors.<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Lineage">''[[Assassin's Creed: Lineage]]''</ref>

In 1492, Rodrigo became Pope Alexander VI, and head of the Papal State and Catholic Church. Ruling from Rome, he was left alone by the Assassins for the most part, until 1499, when [[Ezio Auditore da Firenze]] learned that [[the Vault]] was located in Rome, beneath the [[Capella Sistina|Sistine Chapel]].<ref name="Assassin's Creed II"/>

In 1500, following the [[Fall of Monteriggioni|siege]] by [[Cesare Borgia]] on the Assassin headquarters of [[Monteriggioni]], Ezio Auditore returned to Rome to exact his revenge. Rome, at the time, had fallen far behind its fellow cities of Florence and [[Venice]], and had grown stagnant in terms of development due to the influence of the [[House of Borgia|Borgia]].<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood"/>

The Borgia maintained oppression over the city with [[Borgia Towers]] located throughout Rome, which prevented [[Merchants|shops]] from opening. In order to free Rome of the Borgia influence, Ezio killed the [[Borgia Captains|overlords]] of the towers and burned the structures themselves to the ground, taking them over for himself afterwards.<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood"/>

Additionally, due to the loss of Monteriggioni, Ezio established the [[Assassins Guild]] in Rome, and set up its [[Tiber Island headquarters|headquarters]] on [[Tiber Island]]. By recruiting several Roman [[civilians]] as [[Apprentices|Apprentice Assassins]], the Assassin Order worked to free Rome of Templar control.<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood"/>

{{wide image|Rome_1_by_murcuseo-d338rco.jpg|1800px|Panorama of Rome during the late 15thcentury.
|alt=Panorama of Rome}}

===Modern Times===
[[Desmond Miles|Desmond]], [[Lucy Stillman|Lucy]], [[Rebecca Crane|Rebecca]] and [[Shaun Hastings|Shaun]] travelled to Rome on 10th of October, 2012 to [[Retrieval of the Apple|retrieve]] the [[Ezio's Apple|Apple of Eden]], after Desmond relived the last of Ezio's memory and found that Ezio had locked the [[Pieces of Eden|Piece of Eden]] in the [[Colosseum Vault|Vault]], and had left the [[72|password]] to unlock the Vault on the wall of the [[Sanctuary]], where they were hiding.

==Structure==
The city is divided into four districts: [[Centro District|Centro]], [[Antico District|Antico]], [[Campagna district|Campagna]], and the [[Vaticano District]]. With the exception of the Vaticano district, these were also subdivided into 12 territories, each one controlled by a Borgia Tower.<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood"/>

Landmarks in Rome included the [[Pantheon]], the [[Colosseo]], the [[Passetto di Borgo]], the [[Castel Sant'Angelo]] and [[Capella Sistina|Cappella Sistina]].<ref name="Assassin's Creed II"/><ref name="Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood"/>

==Assassination Targets==
===44 B.C.===
*Gaius Julius Caesar

===15th century===
*Rodrigo Borgia (spared) ([[Assassin's Creed II|ACII]] DNA Sequence 14: Veni, Vidi, Vici [[In Bocca Al Lupo|Memory 2]])

===16th century===
*[[Juan Borgia]] ([[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood|AC:B]] DNA Sequence 5: The Banker [[In And Out|Memory 4]])
*[[Octavian de Valois]] ([[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood|AC:B]] DNA Sequence 6: The Baron de Valois [[Au Revoir|Memory 4]])
*[[Micheletto Corella]] (spared) ([[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood|AC:B]] DNA Sequence 7: The Key to the Castello [[Exit Stage Right|Memory 3]])

==Trivia==
*The city of Rome is the largest city ever seen in the [[Assassin's Creed (series)|''Assassin's Creed'' series]]. It is three times larger than Florence, the first city featured in ''[[Assassin's Creed II]]''.<ref>[http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=260729 13 killer Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood facts]</ref>
*In-game, the city is tilted roughly 15 degrees to the right from real life.
*While Rome and Florence's architecture were historically similar during the game's time period, the developers of ''[[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood]]'' designed Rome with its later Baroque style to be more familiar to their audience.<ref>[http://www.livescience.com/culture/assassins-creed-virtual-rome-renaissance-scholar-101112.html A Renaissance Scholar Helps Build Virtual Rome, ''Live Science'' article]</ref>
*The area where Ezio climbed up to the Castello from the river in ''Assassin's Creed II'' is unreachable in ''Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood'', with fencing and blockades along the Castello and Vaticano district.
*The buildings seen north of the Passetto di Borgo in ''Assassin's Creed II'' do not appear in ''Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood''.

==Gallery==
<gallery widths="180" position="center" spacing="small" captionalign="center" captiontextcolor="#ffffff">
assassins-creed-brotherhood_1276846795.jpg|Concept art of the Castel Sant'Angelo.
996094_20100614_790screen002.jpg|Concept art of Rome.
article-1276605924782-0A0B3F76000005DC-888923_636x300.jpg|Ezio riding through the city towards the Pantheon.
z_68fe6e4d.jpg|The map of Rome used for [[Abstergo Industries]]' Animus Training Program.
Paoraaahadwf.jpg|Rome at sunset.
Rome Bird's eye view.jpg|Bird-eye view of Rome.
Castel Sant Angelo..jpg|The centre of Borgia control, the Castel Sant'Angelo.
Climbing rome.jpg|A wide view of the [[Centro district]], seen from the [[Trajan Market|Mercato di Traiano]].
Rome at night.jpg|Panoramic view of Rome at night.
Rome rooftops.jpg|Roman rooftops at night.
Romedusk.jpg|Panoramic view of Rome at dusk.
</gallery>

==References==
{{reflist}}
{{ACII}}
{{ACBrotherhood}}

[[es:Roma]]
[[Category:Rome| ]]
[[Category:Italy]]
[[Category:Cities of Europe]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed: Lineage Locations]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed II Locations]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood Locations]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood Multiplayer Locations]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed: Revelations Multiplayer Locations]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed: Project Legacy Locations]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed: Ascendance Locations]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed (French Comic) Locations]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood (Novel) Locations]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed: Revelations (Novel) Locations]]