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Bonfire of the Vanities

2011-05-30T22:42:53Z

99.247.105.10: /* The Mad Monk */

{{era|AC2|Renaissance}}
{{WPtimeline}}
{{WP-REAL}}
{{youmay|the event|the [[Bonfire of the Vanities (DLC)|downloadable content]]}}
{{Event
|prev = [[Spanish Inquisition]]
|next = [[Confrontation in Rome]]
|image = [[File:AC2Bonfire.jpg|300px]]
|name=Bonfire of the Vanities
|timeframe = [[Renaissance]]
|date = 1497 - 1498
|place = [[Florence]]
|outcome = *The death of [[Girolamo Savonarola]]
*Assassins reacquire the [[Piece of Eden]]
|key = *[[Assassins]]
*Savonarola's forces
*[[Papacy|Papal army]]
|participants = *[[Assassins]]
**[[Ezio Auditore da Firenze]]
**[[Niccolò Machiavelli]]
**[[La Volpe]]
**[[Paola]]
*Savonarola's forces
**[[Girolamo Savonarola]]
}}
{{quote|Then it's true? Savonarola has taken the control of Firenze?|Ezio about the Bonfire}}

The '''Bonfire of the Vanities''' was an event centered in [[Florence]] in the year 1497 and 1498, instigated by the Italian Dominican priest [[Girolamo Savonarola]]; who believed that the ''[[Renaissance]] idea'' had corrupted [[Italy]], and preached for a return to medieval life. Savonarola used the [[Piece of Eden|Apple of Eden]] (which he obtained from a wounded [[Ezio Auditore da Firenze|Ezio Auditore]]) to gain control of the city of Florence, following the expulsion of the [[Medici]].<ref name="ACII">''[[Assassin's Creed II]]''</ref><ref name="BotV">''[[Bonfire of the Vanities (DLC)]]''</ref>

==The Mad Monk==

{{Template:Dialogue|First women|Sometimes I wish the Assassino (Assassin) would return to Firenze, that we might be of this tyranny.|Second women|It's just a myth! A story parents tell their children.|Two women talk about Ezio in Florence, 1497.}}
[[File:EzioMachiavelliBonfire.jpg|thumb|250px|Ezio and Machiavelli discuss the Bonfire.]]
In the year 1497, the [[Assassin]] Ezio Auditore once again returned to the city to find it in the grip of Savonarola and his lieutenants. Crossing the district while he heard the cries of despair from the people and encountering various battles between the Florentine guard and another unknown faction. Ezio soon met with [[Niccolò Machiavelli]] on one of the Arno bridges. Machiavelli greeted Ezio, in a formal manner, and remarked he chose a fine time for a homecoming, confirming that Savonarola had taken control of Florence, aided by the ''"treacherous artifact"''. With this Ezio declared that they should work on retrieving it. However, Machiavelli rebuked this statement, claiming that it would be more complicated than Ezio thought.

Ezio then asked Machiavelli to tell him of the recent events leading up to the bonfires. Machiavelli told Ezio it started a few weeks earlier, when the man everyone reviled was the one they later ''"worshiped", ''Ezio immediately knew this was the Apple's work. However Machiavelli revealed this was only part of Savonarola's tyranny, as Savonarola took control of the city leaders; those who held such influence and power of the city districts. These leaders in return oppressed the people and ensured Savonarola's will was done.

[[File:EzioMacDeadBodies.jpg|thumb|260px|The two Assassins find the Borgia guard's corpses.]]
The two passed into the Oltrarno district of Florence and discovered the bodies of a contingent of soldiers bearing the emblem of the[[ Borgia]], evidence that [[Rodrigo Borgia]] was also aware that Savonarola held the Piece of Eden. Learning that the Apple only held sway over the minds of Savonarola's nine lieutenants, with most of the city's populace simply controlled by fear, and a direct assault would result in failure Ezio decided to assassinate the nine, whilst [[La Volpe]] and [[Paola]] help uprise the districts and the people.

==One by one==
{{quote|If we can silence his lieutnants and stir up discontent, he will be distracted and I will have a chance to strike|Ezio to Machiavelli about the Lieutnants.}}
[[File:The Painter Lieutenant.png|thumb|right|150px|The Painter.]]
===The Painter===
{{quote|So today I call upon you to cast off these abominations; and consign them to the flames that you may be cleansed, that you may be FREE! Give them up – or my guards will do it for you!|The Painter proving that the people were under forced control.}}
The first of Savonarola's lieutenants that Ezio decided to kill was [[the Painter]], found behind the [[Palazzo Pitti]] in the Oltrano District. He spoke of how, when he first became a Painter, he thought he would become closer to God; however he found he was only deceived by the Devil. He tells the crowd to burn all their pieces of artwork in fires. After Ezio assassinates him, he says that he is sorry and that the actions that he did were not his own.

[[File:The_Preacher_Lietenant.png|thumb|left|115px|The Preacher.]]
===The Preacher===
{{quote|Know that I, too, once shared your uncertainty. Your fear. But that was before Savonarola came to me. He showed me the TRUTH! At last, my eyes were OPENED. And so I stand before you today in the hope that I might open yours as well!|The Precher trying to convince the people about Savonarola}}
The second of Savonarola's lieutenants that Ezio assassinated was [[the Preacher]], who was standing outside the [[Santo Spirito]] Church in Southern Florence. He was speaking to a crowd in front of the church, while surrounded by armed [[guards]]. On his deathbed, he claimed that he wasn't deceived by the Apple of Eden, and that his actions were his own.

===The Condotterio===
{{quote|I hear you moaning and complaining. You say you have things to do. Places to go. Obligations to fulfill. Hah! You have but ONE obligation - TO SUBMIT! Why fight us? Why resist us? The city is ours.|The Condotterio about Savonarola's control.}}
The third of Savonarola's lieutenants that Ezio chose to assassinate was [[the Condottiero]], who guarded and monitored passage across the[[Ponte Vecchio| Ponte Vecchio]]. He spoke of Savonarola's cause to the people below, and said that he wanted to lead the people into a new future. When Ezio assassinated him, he claimed that he wanted wealth and power beyond what he already had.

[[File:The_Merchant_Lieutenant.png|thumb|124px|The Merchant.]]
===The Merchant===
The next of Savonarola's lieutenants that Ezio chose to assassinate was [[the Merchant]], who was found on a boat in the River Arno. Ezio sneakily assassinated him, and the Merchant's dying words were that sometimes people must be told what to think, though he also admitted his fault.

[[File:The_Farmer_Lietenant.png|thumb|left|110px|The Farmer.]]
===The Farmer===
The fifth of Savonarola's lieutenants that Ezio chose to kill was [[the Farmer]], who was found on the outskirts of the city of Florence. The Farmer spoke of how he withheld other farmers' provisions for their livestock, thereby cutting their source of income, and Florence's food supply. When Ezio assassinated him, he said that he only wanted the citizens' respect.

[[File:Upward Mobility v.png|thumb|right|150px|The Nobleman.]]
===The Nobleman===
The sixth of Savonarola's lieutenants that Ezio assassinated was [[the Nobleman]], found on a rooftop in the Mercato Vecchio in central Florence. Upon his sighting of Ezio, he told him that he would best not interfere, for he was only curing Florence of its sickness. He then shouted for guards, and started to run to Savonarola, but Ezio swiftly assassinated him before he could reach him. In his death, he claimed that it wasn't his fault, and that he was merely the victim.

[[File:Priest_v.png|thumb|left|137px|The Priest.]]
===The Priest===
The seventh of Savonarola's lieutenants that Ezio chose to assassinate was [[The Priest (Savonarola's lieutenant)|the Priest]], who was found on top of the [[Santa Maria del Fiore]] in the San Giovanni district. He preached to the people in favor of Savonarola and his cause. Ezio silently climbed up the building and assassinated him before he could alert the guards. In his death, he said that he had thought Savonarola preached the word of God, though now he regretted that he had led his flock astray.

[[File:Cap_v.png|thumb|120px|The Captain Guard.]]
===The Captain Guard===
{{quote|Ah! Another challenger! Excellent! Savonarola warned me that some would oppose our rule, and so I devised this little trap - to ferret out those foolish enough to play at hero.|The Capitain Guard about the resitance.}}
The penultimate of Savonarola's lieutenants that Ezio had to kill was [[The Captain Guard|the Captain Guard]], who was located in the [[Basilica di San Lorenzo]]. When Ezio arrived near the church, he noticed that the surrounding areas were devoid of any [[citizens]]. When Ezio entered the courtyard, he caught sight of the Captain Guard, but found that he had fallen into a trap. He was promptly surrounded by several [[guards]] and [[archers]]; however he was able to fight them off and assassinate the Captain Guard. In the Captain's death, he exclaimed that he wasn't himself, and that he should have been stronger to resist Savonarola.
[[File:Healer_v.png|thumb|111px|The Doctor.]]

===The Doctor===
{{quote|It's quite simple, amici (my friends). If you desire care, you'll submit yourselves fully to our new ruler. The choice is yours to make. Continue to support the Medici - who, as you know, have long since fled Firenze - or accept Savonarola. Why fight it? Why refuse? He is a good man, strong of character and morals. He seeks to save us from ourselves.|The Doctor trying to convince th people about Savonarola.}}
The last of Savonarola's lieutenants that Ezio had to assassinate was [[The Doctor (Savonarola's lieutenant)|the Doctor]], who was found in a courtyard in central Florence. He was protected by many guards, and he offered free medical care to those who swore allegiance to Savonarola. After Ezio assassinated him, he told Ezio on his deathbed that he had been intoxicated by power.

==Savonarola's demise==
[[File:Power_to_people_v.png|thumb|250px|The citizens carrying Savonarola.]]
{{quote|Twenty-two years ago, I stood where I stand now and watched my loved ones die, betrayed by those I had called friends. Vengeance clouded my mind. It would have consumed me, were it not for the wisdom of a few strangers, who taught me to look past my instincts. They never preached answers, but guided me to learn from myself. We don't need anyone to tell us what to do; not Savonarola, not the Medici. We are free to follow our own path. There are those who will take that freedom from us, and too many of you gladly give it. But it is our ability to choose whatever you think is true that makes us human... There is no book or teacher to give you the answers, to show you the way. Choose your own way! Do not follow me, or anyone else.|Ezio Auditore's speech.}}The citizens rallied by Niccolò Machiavelli, [[La Volpe]] and [[Paola]] mass in front of the Palazzo Pitti, to confront Girolamo Savonarola. Savonarola confronted the enraged mob, demanded to know why there weren't cleansing themselves. However, Savonarola's rage forced him to use the Apple's power, weakened by the loss of of his lieutenants. Savonarola attempted to use the Apple to subdue the crowd, exclaiming that they would submit. Ezio, however prevented Savonalora from using the artifact by throwing a knife and injuring his hand.
[[File:Ezio'sSpeech.jpg|thumb|250px|Ezio making his speech.]]
As soon as the artifact left Savonarola's grip the crowd carries him away. A [[Agile guards|Borgia guard]] suddenly tried to steal the fallen artifact, only to be killed, after a lengthy chase, by Ezio.
[[File:Assacreed2_b15_451.jpg|thumb|250px|Girolamo Savonarola's death.]]

Ezio then discovers that the people, now freed from the grip of the Apple, were burning Savonarola at the stake outside the [[Palazzo della Signoria]]. While the crowd screamed in rage, Ezio concluded that no-one should die in so much pain, and thus, pushed through the crowd, lunged at Savonarola, and mercifully assassinated the crazed Monk with his [[hidden blade]].

With Savonarola dead at last, ending his tyranny, Ezio then makes a speech, claiming that the citizens should be free to make their own choice, not to follow the Medici, Savonarola, or him, but to choose their own path. As Ezio concluded his speech, he departed with the city once again, with [[Mario Auditore]], Machiavelli, La Volpe, and Paola, ready to [[Confrontation at the Vatican|face his nemesis]].

==Aftermath==

The Assassins secure the Apple once more, and Savonarola's tyranny ended, once again freeing the city of Florence, and allowing the people to fully embrace the Renaissance.

==References==
{{reflist}}
[[Category:Assassin's Creed II DLC]]
[[Category:Major Events]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed II events]]
[[Category:Articles revamp]]
[[Category:Timeline]]

Bonfire of the Vanities

2011-05-30T22:41:31Z

99.247.105.10: /* The Mad Monk */

{{era|AC2|Renaissance}}
{{WPtimeline}}
{{WP-REAL}}
{{youmay|the event|the [[Bonfire of the Vanities (DLC)|downloadable content]]}}
{{Event
|prev = [[Spanish Inquisition]]
|next = [[Confrontation in Rome]]
|image = [[File:AC2Bonfire.jpg|300px]]
|name=Bonfire of the Vanities
|timeframe = [[Renaissance]]
|date = 1497 - 1498
|place = [[Florence]]
|outcome = *The death of [[Girolamo Savonarola]]
*Assassins reacquire the [[Piece of Eden]]
|key = *[[Assassins]]
*Savonarola's forces
*[[Papacy|Papal army]]
|participants = *[[Assassins]]
**[[Ezio Auditore da Firenze]]
**[[Niccolò Machiavelli]]
**[[La Volpe]]
**[[Paola]]
*Savonarola's forces
**[[Girolamo Savonarola]]
}}
{{quote|Then it's true? Savonarola has taken the control of Firenze?|Ezio about the Bonfire}}

The '''Bonfire of the Vanities''' was an event centered in [[Florence]] in the year 1497 and 1498, instigated by the Italian Dominican priest [[Girolamo Savonarola]]; who believed that the ''[[Renaissance]] idea'' had corrupted [[Italy]], and preached for a return to medieval life. Savonarola used the [[Piece of Eden|Apple of Eden]] (which he obtained from a wounded [[Ezio Auditore da Firenze|Ezio Auditore]]) to gain control of the city of Florence, following the expulsion of the [[Medici]].<ref name="ACII">''[[Assassin's Creed II]]''</ref><ref name="BotV">''[[Bonfire of the Vanities (DLC)]]''</ref>

==The Mad Monk==

{{Template:Dialogue|First women|Sometimes I wish the Assassino (Assassin) would return to Firenze, that we might be of this tyranny.|Second women|It's just a myth! A story parents tell their children.|Two women talk about Ezio in Florence, 1497.}}
[[File:EzioMachiavelliBonfire.jpg|thumb|250px|Ezio and Machiavelli discuss the Bonfire.]]
In the year 1497, the [[Assassin]] Ezio Auditore once again returned to the city to find it in the grip of Savonarola and his lieutenants. Crossing the district while he heard the cries of despair from the people and encountering various battles between the Florentine guard and another unknown faction. Ezio soon met with [[Niccolò Machiavelli]] on one of the Arno bridges. Machiavelli greeted Ezio, in a formal manner, and remarked he chose a fine time for a homecoming, confirming that Savonarola had taken control of Florence, aided by the ''"treacherous artifact"''. With this Ezio declared that they should work on retrieving it. However, Machiavelli rebuked this statement, claiming that it would be more complicated than Ezio thought.

Ezio then asked Machiavelli to tell him of the recent events leading up to the bonfires. Machiavelli told Ezio it started a few weeks earlier, when the man everyone reviled was the one they later ''"worshiped," ''Ezio immediately knew this was the Apple's work. However Machiavelli revealed this was only part of Savonarola's tyranny, as Savonarola took control of the city leaders; those who held such influence and power of the city districts. These leaders in return oppressed the people and ensured Savonarola's will was done.

[[File:EzioMacDeadBodies.jpg|thumb|260px|The two Assassins find the Borgia guard's corpses.]]
The two passed into the Oltrarno district of Florence and discovered the bodies of a contingent of soldiers bearing the emblem of the[[ Borgia]], evidence that [[Rodrigo Borgia]] was also aware that Savonarola held the Piece of Eden. Learning that the Apple only held sway over the minds of Savonarola's nine lieutenants, with most of the city's populace simply controlled by fear, and a direct assault would result in failure Ezio decided to assassinate the nine, whilst [[La Volpe]] and [[Paola]] help uprise the districts and the people.

==One by one==
{{quote|If we can silence his lieutnants and stir up discontent, he will be distracted and I will have a chance to strike|Ezio to Machiavelli about the Lieutnants.}}
[[File:The Painter Lieutenant.png|thumb|right|150px|The Painter.]]
===The Painter===
{{quote|So today I call upon you to cast off these abominations; and consign them to the flames that you may be cleansed, that you may be FREE! Give them up – or my guards will do it for you!|The Painter proving that the people were under forced control.}}
The first of Savonarola's lieutenants that Ezio decided to kill was [[the Painter]], found behind the [[Palazzo Pitti]] in the Oltrano District. He spoke of how, when he first became a Painter, he thought he would become closer to God; however he found he was only deceived by the Devil. He tells the crowd to burn all their pieces of artwork in fires. After Ezio assassinates him, he says that he is sorry and that the actions that he did were not his own.

[[File:The_Preacher_Lietenant.png|thumb|left|115px|The Preacher.]]
===The Preacher===
{{quote|Know that I, too, once shared your uncertainty. Your fear. But that was before Savonarola came to me. He showed me the TRUTH! At last, my eyes were OPENED. And so I stand before you today in the hope that I might open yours as well!|The Precher trying to convince the people about Savonarola}}
The second of Savonarola's lieutenants that Ezio assassinated was [[the Preacher]], who was standing outside the [[Santo Spirito]] Church in Southern Florence. He was speaking to a crowd in front of the church, while surrounded by armed [[guards]]. On his deathbed, he claimed that he wasn't deceived by the Apple of Eden, and that his actions were his own.

===The Condotterio===
{{quote|I hear you moaning and complaining. You say you have things to do. Places to go. Obligations to fulfill. Hah! You have but ONE obligation - TO SUBMIT! Why fight us? Why resist us? The city is ours.|The Condotterio about Savonarola's control.}}
The third of Savonarola's lieutenants that Ezio chose to assassinate was [[the Condottiero]], who guarded and monitored passage across the[[Ponte Vecchio| Ponte Vecchio]]. He spoke of Savonarola's cause to the people below, and said that he wanted to lead the people into a new future. When Ezio assassinated him, he claimed that he wanted wealth and power beyond what he already had.

[[File:The_Merchant_Lieutenant.png|thumb|124px|The Merchant.]]
===The Merchant===
The next of Savonarola's lieutenants that Ezio chose to assassinate was [[the Merchant]], who was found on a boat in the River Arno. Ezio sneakily assassinated him, and the Merchant's dying words were that sometimes people must be told what to think, though he also admitted his fault.

[[File:The_Farmer_Lietenant.png|thumb|left|110px|The Farmer.]]
===The Farmer===
The fifth of Savonarola's lieutenants that Ezio chose to kill was [[the Farmer]], who was found on the outskirts of the city of Florence. The Farmer spoke of how he withheld other farmers' provisions for their livestock, thereby cutting their source of income, and Florence's food supply. When Ezio assassinated him, he said that he only wanted the citizens' respect.

[[File:Upward Mobility v.png|thumb|right|150px|The Nobleman.]]
===The Nobleman===
The sixth of Savonarola's lieutenants that Ezio assassinated was [[the Nobleman]], found on a rooftop in the Mercato Vecchio in central Florence. Upon his sighting of Ezio, he told him that he would best not interfere, for he was only curing Florence of its sickness. He then shouted for guards, and started to run to Savonarola, but Ezio swiftly assassinated him before he could reach him. In his death, he claimed that it wasn't his fault, and that he was merely the victim.

[[File:Priest_v.png|thumb|left|137px|The Priest.]]
===The Priest===
The seventh of Savonarola's lieutenants that Ezio chose to assassinate was [[The Priest (Savonarola's lieutenant)|the Priest]], who was found on top of the [[Santa Maria del Fiore]] in the San Giovanni district. He preached to the people in favor of Savonarola and his cause. Ezio silently climbed up the building and assassinated him before he could alert the guards. In his death, he said that he had thought Savonarola preached the word of God, though now he regretted that he had led his flock astray.

[[File:Cap_v.png|thumb|120px|The Captain Guard.]]
===The Captain Guard===
{{quote|Ah! Another challenger! Excellent! Savonarola warned me that some would oppose our rule, and so I devised this little trap - to ferret out those foolish enough to play at hero.|The Capitain Guard about the resitance.}}
The penultimate of Savonarola's lieutenants that Ezio had to kill was [[The Captain Guard|the Captain Guard]], who was located in the [[Basilica di San Lorenzo]]. When Ezio arrived near the church, he noticed that the surrounding areas were devoid of any [[citizens]]. When Ezio entered the courtyard, he caught sight of the Captain Guard, but found that he had fallen into a trap. He was promptly surrounded by several [[guards]] and [[archers]]; however he was able to fight them off and assassinate the Captain Guard. In the Captain's death, he exclaimed that he wasn't himself, and that he should have been stronger to resist Savonarola.
[[File:Healer_v.png|thumb|111px|The Doctor.]]

===The Doctor===
{{quote|It's quite simple, amici (my friends). If you desire care, you'll submit yourselves fully to our new ruler. The choice is yours to make. Continue to support the Medici - who, as you know, have long since fled Firenze - or accept Savonarola. Why fight it? Why refuse? He is a good man, strong of character and morals. He seeks to save us from ourselves.|The Doctor trying to convince th people about Savonarola.}}
The last of Savonarola's lieutenants that Ezio had to assassinate was [[The Doctor (Savonarola's lieutenant)|the Doctor]], who was found in a courtyard in central Florence. He was protected by many guards, and he offered free medical care to those who swore allegiance to Savonarola. After Ezio assassinated him, he told Ezio on his deathbed that he had been intoxicated by power.

==Savonarola's demise==
[[File:Power_to_people_v.png|thumb|250px|The citizens carrying Savonarola.]]
{{quote|Twenty-two years ago, I stood where I stand now and watched my loved ones die, betrayed by those I had called friends. Vengeance clouded my mind. It would have consumed me, were it not for the wisdom of a few strangers, who taught me to look past my instincts. They never preached answers, but guided me to learn from myself. We don't need anyone to tell us what to do; not Savonarola, not the Medici. We are free to follow our own path. There are those who will take that freedom from us, and too many of you gladly give it. But it is our ability to choose whatever you think is true that makes us human... There is no book or teacher to give you the answers, to show you the way. Choose your own way! Do not follow me, or anyone else.|Ezio Auditore's speech.}}The citizens rallied by Niccolò Machiavelli, [[La Volpe]] and [[Paola]] mass in front of the Palazzo Pitti, to confront Girolamo Savonarola. Savonarola confronted the enraged mob, demanded to know why there weren't cleansing themselves. However, Savonarola's rage forced him to use the Apple's power, weakened by the loss of of his lieutenants. Savonarola attempted to use the Apple to subdue the crowd, exclaiming that they would submit. Ezio, however prevented Savonalora from using the artifact by throwing a knife and injuring his hand.
[[File:Ezio'sSpeech.jpg|thumb|250px|Ezio making his speech.]]
As soon as the artifact left Savonarola's grip the crowd carries him away. A [[Agile guards|Borgia guard]] suddenly tried to steal the fallen artifact, only to be killed, after a lengthy chase, by Ezio.
[[File:Assacreed2_b15_451.jpg|thumb|250px|Girolamo Savonarola's death.]]

Ezio then discovers that the people, now freed from the grip of the Apple, were burning Savonarola at the stake outside the [[Palazzo della Signoria]]. While the crowd screamed in rage, Ezio concluded that no-one should die in so much pain, and thus, pushed through the crowd, lunged at Savonarola, and mercifully assassinated the crazed Monk with his [[hidden blade]].

With Savonarola dead at last, ending his tyranny, Ezio then makes a speech, claiming that the citizens should be free to make their own choice, not to follow the Medici, Savonarola, or him, but to choose their own path. As Ezio concluded his speech, he departed with the city once again, with [[Mario Auditore]], Machiavelli, La Volpe, and Paola, ready to [[Confrontation at the Vatican|face his nemesis]].

==Aftermath==

The Assassins secure the Apple once more, and Savonarola's tyranny ended, once again freeing the city of Florence, and allowing the people to fully embrace the Renaissance.

==References==
{{reflist}}
[[Category:Assassin's Creed II DLC]]
[[Category:Major Events]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed II events]]
[[Category:Articles revamp]]
[[Category:Timeline]]

Piece of Eden

2011-01-02T21:51:33Z

99.247.105.10: /* Known locations of Pieces of Eden */

{{Era|Featured}}
[[File:Zw-eden-slave.png|thumb|300px|The Piece of Eden used by [[Those Who Came Before]] to enslave humans]]
{{Quote|They're gifts, Mr. Miles. From Those Who Came Before.|Dr. [[Warren Vidic]] on a Piece of Eden|Assassin's Creed}}
The '''Pieces of Eden''' (also known as '''P.O.E'''<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood"> ''[[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood]]'' </ref>) were technologically advanced pieces of equipment created by the [[First Civilization]]; each possessed unique properties, and all were known to be capable of bending the thoughts of one or more individuals to the will of the user.

==History==
{{Quote|Current examination of Subject Seventeen indicates that aside from the Piece of Eden, all other artifacts related to Christ-figure are literary devices derived from the Piece of Eden, and not actual objects.|[[Alan Rikkin]] [[e-mail]] on the Pieces of Eden adoption as biblical and historical artifacts|Assassin's Creed}}
[[Those Who Came Before]], also known as the First Civilization,<ref name="Assassin's Creed II">''[[Assassin's Creed II]]''</ref> were an ancient yet advanced race of beings that lived on Earth long before humanity. The creators of the Human race, the First Civilization had used the Pieces of Eden to control their slaves through hypnotic trances.<ref name= "Assassin's Creed">''[[Assassin's Creed]]''</ref> Whether humanity was created to be susceptible to the effects of the Pieces of Eden, or if the Pieces were created after humanity remains unknown; [[Minerva]] attributed the peace between humanity and their "gods" to the effects of the Pieces of Eden.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II"/>

Eventually however, two humans, [[Adam and Eve]] became immune to the hypnotic effects of the Pieces of Eden, and stole one of the Pieces – the Apple of Eden – from their masters. Soon after a war broke out, pitting humanity against their gods. Despite their strength in technology, the Pieces of Eden failed to protect the creators from the slaves, who heavily outnumbered the masters. The war ended catastrophically for both sides, and both humanity and their gods were forced to work together to rebuild their world.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II"/> Eventually though, the gods became extinct, and their Pieces of Eden were lost to the annals of history.<ref name="Assassin's Creed"/><ref name="Assassin's Creed II"/>

Over the centuries, the Pieces of Eden resurfaced; seen as religious artifacts or holy relics, the foremost among them being the Apple of Eden. However, as time continued, groups of individuals began to see the Pieces of Eden for what they truly were, advanced technologies to be exploited. As early as the 12th Century, the [[Knights Templar]] were actively seeking and obtaining numerous Pieces of Eden<ref name="Assassin's Creed"/>, in the hopes of uniting the world in peace much like Those Who Came Before had done,<ref name="Assassin's Creed II"/> and in 1191, they sought the Apple itself.

[[File:Poemap.jpg|thumb|Altaïr, looking at the map of locations of Pieces of Eden.]]
Led by the [[Robert de Sable|Grand Master]] of the Order, the Knights Templar used the cover of the [[Third Crusade]] to infiltrate the catacombs of [[Solomon's Temple]], in the city of [[Jerusalem]], where they knew the Apple was located. Unfortunately for them, [[Al Mualim]], leader of the [[Assassins|Order of Assassins]] and secretly also, a Knights Templar, had sent his best to capture the device. [[Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad]] and the [[Malik A-Sayf|brothers]] [[Kadar A-Sayf|A-Sayf]] intercepted the Templars, and despite the death of Kadar and Altaïr being thrown from the battle early on, the Assassins prevailed and spirited the Apple to their fortress in [[Masyaf]].<ref name="Assassin's Creed"/> For a year the Assassins and Knights Templar fought one another for control of the artifact, until finally the deaths of both Robert de Sable and Al Mualim at the hands of Altaïr ended the conflict. Originally intending to destroy the Apple, Altaïr found himself unable to do so, and instead decided to seal the Apple in the [[Limassol]] [[Templar Archive|Archives]] after he had liberated it from the Templars; circumstances worked against this however, and he decided to keep the Apple himself, lest it fall into the wrong hands.<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Bloodlines">''[[Assassin's Creed: Bloodlines]]''</ref> Ultimately, the Apple did find its way to Cyprus, where it was buried away until its discovery and exhumation by the Knights Templar in 1488.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II"/> The Apple was shipped to Venice, but [[Ezio Auditore|Ezio Auditore da Firenze]] managed to procure it before it could go into Templar hands. However, during the events of [[Battle of Forlì]], the Apple was taken from Ezio by Savonarola, and Savonarola used it to cause the Bonfire of Vanities in Florence. Ezio went to Firenze to kill Savonarola and take the Apple back.

In 1499, Ezio used the Apple, combined with the power of Papal Staff (also a Piece of Eden) to open up the Vault underneath the Vatican. However, shortly afterward , during the Siege of Monteriggioni, Cesare Borgia took the Apple from Mario Auditore. In 1503, after liberating Rome, Ezio took back the Apple hidden in St. Peter's Basilica. After figuring out the power of the Apple, Ezio hid it in a Temple underneath the Colosseum.

Centuries later, whilst hacking into the [[Animus]], the mysterious [[Subject 16]], discovered that throughout history, the Pieces of Eden had an extensive history of changing hands, with historically notable figures, many Templars or Assassins, laying claim to them; [[Napoleon Bonaparte]], [[George Washington]], [[Mahatma Gandhi]], [[Nikola Tesla]], [[Thomas Edison]], [[Nicholas II of Russia|Tsar Nicholas II]], [[Winston Churchill]] and [[Adolf Hitler]] to name but a few.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II"/> By 2012 however, many had fallen into the hands of the Knights Templar; seeking to obtain the rest, the [[Animus]] project was set up with the intention of locating and securing the remaining Pieces of Eden.<ref name="Assassin's Creed"/>

This Animus project was also an important component in the Knights Templar goal of ensuring world peace, through use of the Pieces of Eden. By using the Pieces of Eden known as "the Apples", the Templars sought to manipulate the neuro-transmitters in the entire human race to achieve their goal. Eye-Abstergo, a branch of [[Abstergo Industries]], planned to launch an "all-in-one telecommunication" satellite into orbit around the Earth; unbeknownst to humanity and indeed, many employees of Abstergo Industries, the satellite would contain at least one Apple, and spread its power out on a global scale.<ref name="Assassin's Creed"/>

In 2012, the modern-day Assassins, [[Desmond Miles]], [[Lucy Stillman]], [[Shaun Hastings]], and [[Rebecca Crane]] use the Animus to locate the Piece of Eden hidden by Ezio Auditore [[Santa Maria Aracoeli Vault|beneath]] the [[Santa Maria Aracoeli]] 1507.<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood" />

==Characteristics==
===Attributes===

{{Quote|This… piece of silver cast out Adam and Eve. It turned staves into snakes. Parted and closed the Red Sea. Eris used it to start the Trojan War; and with it, a poor carpenter turned water into wine.|[[Al Mualim]], speaking to Altaïr about [[First Apple|the Apple]]|Assassin's Creed}}

[[File:Almualimxs.jpg|thumb|right|250px|[[Al Mualim]] uses the Apple to project multiple images of himself.]]
Amongst the greatest tools known to man; by interacting with a neuro-transmitter located deep in the brain of the human body, the Apples of Eden could control the human mind. Other Pieces of Eden were capable of warping reality, creating illusions and ensuring total obedience; both the Knights Templar and the Order of Assassins believed that the Pieces of Eden were the sources of many historical tales and miracles, such as the Parting of the Red Sea, the Trojan Horse, and the miracles enacted by "the Christ-figure" who foreshadowed the Christian faith, and the Biblical plagues that ravaged Egypt, among other supernatural happenings. Some were known to interact with and change the passage of time, possibly creating paradoxes,<ref name="Assassin's Creed" /> while at least one provided an impenetrable barrier that would protect the wearer from any attempt at penetration.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II" />

The Pieces of Eden, or at the very least the ''Apples'', were capable of extending a pulse of energy when activated, that would drive those targeted to insanity and death. Doing so however, had a detrimental effect on the health of the wielder.<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood" />

Following the destruction of the second Piece of Eden during experimental use at Denver International Airport, the Knights Templar found themselves in need of another artifact with similar properties. Needing access to a map that indicated the location of ''all'' Pieces of Eden, the Templar front company [[Abstergo Industries]] kidnapped the descendant of Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad – [[Desmond Miles]] – in order to view the memories of his ancestor. This would allow them to view the very same map Altaïr had viewed in 1191.<ref name="Assassin's Creed" />

Each of the Pieces of Eden contained a great deal of energy stored within, and the destruction of one would cause an explosion on the same scale of a nuclear blast. [[Tunguska event|One such blast]] occurred in 1908, in the region of Tunguska, Russia, when the Piece of Eden known as "the Staff" was seemingly destroyed by [[Nikola Tesla]] as a strike against the Knights Templar.<ref name="Assassin's Creed" /><ref name="Assassin's Creed II" /> Also as revealed in [[Assassin's Creed: Project Legacy]] some pieces such as [[The Shroud]] can communicate with humans telepathically.

===Resistance===
{{Quote|I KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING. I KNOW WHAT YOU DID. I SAW HIM. HE HAD A METAL BALL. IT OPENED. THEY WENT CRAZY. SHOOTING. STABBING. TORE EACH OTHER TO PIECES. I KNOW IT WAS YOU PEOPLE. SAW THE LOGO. HEARD THE NAME. I'M GOING TO TELL. ANYONE WHO WILL LISTEN. YOU'LL BE EXPOSED. THEY'LL KNOW THE TRUTH. AND THEN YOU WILL PAY. YOU CRAZY BASTARDS. YOU'LL PAY.|An unidentified individual's [[e-mail]] to Dr. [[Warren Vidic]]|Assassin's Creed }}
Although the First Civilization created humanity with a neuro-transmitter that forced them to accept the will of the Pieces of Eden, eventual cross-breeding between the gods and their slaves bore a hybrid species. These new humans possessed ''some'' of the [[Eagle Vision|natural abilities]] of their gods, but most notably, were free of the neuro-transmitter that bound them to the will of the Pieces of Eden<ref name="Assassin's Creed II" />. The first two known individuals to be born immune to the effects of the Pieces were [[Adam and Eve]], who later stole the Apple of Eden and precipitated the war that followed<ref name="Assassin's Creed II" />. Members of the lineage also inherited these natural abilities and immunity to the mind-control of the Pieces, although the Pieces' ability to physically control them remained<ref name="Assassin's Creed" />. Individuals such as Altaïr and his descendants [[Ezio Auditore]], Subject 16 and Desmond Miles all possessed these enhanced abilities, and presumably, an immunity to the Pieces of Eden<ref name="Assassin's Creed II" />.

By the early 21st Century, the Knights Templar were aware of both the existence of Those Who Came Before and the fact that some humans were immune to the mind control of the Apples of Eden, and as such actively sought other devices to compensate for this<ref name="Assassin's Creed" />. On at least one occasion Dr. [[Warren Vidic]], an employee of Abstergo Industries, recieved an [[Vidic's e-mail|email]] from an unknown individual who had not been affected by the powers of the Apple, and threatened to expose what he had seen<ref name="Assassin's Creed" />.

==Confirmed Pieces of Eden==
[[File:Zw-eden-4.png|thumb|The First Apple, adorned on the Staff of Eden.]]
Besides the Apples of Eden, the First Civilization created many more Pieces of Eden. Some of these affected humanity in similar ways, whilst others affected nature and even time itself. The [[First Apple|first]], [[Second Apple|second]], [[Third Apple|third]], [[Fourth Apple|fourth]] and [[Fifth Apple|fifth Apples]] were all capable of controlling the minds of men, creating illusions and, to a degree, permited physical control over said minds<ref name="Assassin's Creed" />; the Apples could all be used in conjunction with the [[The Staff|Staff of Eden]], which increased the abilities of both Pieces<ref name="Assassin's Creed II" />. Other Pieces included [[the Shroud]], which would become famous to modern day humans as the "Shroud of Turin" – that which covered the body of Jesus Christ, it's properties including the ability to heal the wounds of those it touched, and [[the Sword]], a Piece that would pass through the hands of many great rulers through the centuries, including [[Arthur|King Arthur]], [[Alexander the Great]], and [[Genghis Khan]].<ref name="Assassin's Creed II" /> The [[Crystal Skulls]] were also Pieces of Eden and these would be scattered throughout central America, one of which would later be taken to Europe by [[Giovanni Borgia]].<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Project Legacy">''[[Assassin's Creed: Project Legacy]]''</ref>

According to [[e-mails]] read by [[Desmond Miles]], at least one Piece of Eden existed that granted the ability to manipulate time. Concerns over possible paradoxes however, lead to Abstergo Industries locking it away.<ref name="Assassin's Creed" />

==Known locations of Pieces of Eden==
[[File:Codexmap.jpg|thumb|The Codex Map]]

Following the death of Al Mualim and the Apples projection of a map indicating the location of all Pieces of Eden, Altaïr copied the map and included it in his [[Codex]], hidden away so that only one of his bloodline might see it<ref name="Assassin's Creed" />. Based off of the locations given on the Codex map, the following locations can be identified as containing a Piece of Eden<ref name="Assassin's Creed II" />;

#Giza, Egypt
#Lake Victoria, Africa, more on the Kenyan side
#The Gambia River, Gambia
#Timbuktu, Mali
#Taza, Morocco
#Canary Islands, Spain
#The Southern tip of the Kamchatka Peninsula in Russia, curiously near the volcano of Opala
#Odessa, Ukraine
#Kharkiv, Ukraine
#Rennes-le-Château, France (shinter de la bollcks)
#Salisbury Plain, England (presumably at Stone Henge)
#Loch Ness, Scotland
#Maroantsetra, Madagascar
#Nara, Japan
#Somewhere close to Goodhouse, South Africa, near the border between South Africa and Namibia
#Inside or nearby Boston, Massachusetts
#Delhi, India or the Taj Mahal in India, just a short distance south of Delhi
#Persepolis, modern day Shiraz, Iran
#Jerusalem, Israel
#Colombia, South America, around the area of the Igara Parana River
#Nazca, Perú
#South-western Sri Lanka
#Hellissandur, Iceland
#The area of Sabiene Island, Nunavut, Canada
#Phoenix, Arizona, or somewhere outside the city
#Washington D.C.
#Juneau, Alaska
#An area close to Pulau Ratewo, Papua
#The middle of the South Pacific Ocean
#The Pacific Ocean, close to the coast of Mexico
#The South Pacific Ocean, close to the Assassin's temple located at 91 degrees W
#The Atlantic Ocean, in an area where Atlantis was believed to have existed
#The Atlantic Ocean, a few hundred miles off the coast of Brazil
#The Antarctic Ocean, on the side of Antarctica facing up towards the Atlantic
#The Indian Ocean, almost cross sectioned with the tips of Inda, Africa and the southwestern tip of Australia - a small island called Ile Amsterdam
#The Antarctic Ocean, the side of the Antarctic ocean that faces up towards the Indian Ocean
#Archangelsk, Russia
#Andorra le Vella, Andorra
#Imperatriz, Brazil
#Barrow, Alaska
#La Rioja, Argentina
#An area close to Hervey Bay, Queensland, Australia
#An area around South Cross, in Western Australia
#Somewhere in Padang, Sumatra, Indonesia
#Beijing, China
#Somewhere in the Altay Mountains in southwestern Mongolia
#Somewhere along the northern Coast of Chukotka province, Russia
#An area close to Tiksi, Russia

The other two that made up the last of the 50 pieces, one of the Apples and the Staff, were destroyed in the DIA Satellite Incident and the Tunguska blast respectively<ref name="Assassin's Creed" />.

==Trivia==
*According to the [[glyphs]] and [[The Truth|Truth files]], many legends and myths throughout human history are actually historically accurate. The supernatural or paranormal parts of each legend can be explained by the protagonist in each having acquired his or her own Piece of Eden (i.e.: the Greek myth of Perseus, King Arthur, etc).
*In ''[[Assassin's Creed II]]'', during the battle against [[Rodrigo Borgia|Borgia]] in the Sistine Chapel, [[Ezio]] creates copies of himself, much like [[Al Mualim]] did against Altaïr. If Ezio is [[Customization|customized]], or if [[Altaïr's Armor]] is enabled, his copies will appear with different sets of armor and colors whereas when if he is not customized, each copy will be perfectly identical to the real Ezio, besides his weapon.
*Both the Codex map, and the Map projection at the end of ''Assassin's Creed'' show that there are only fifty Pieces of Eden at a time, but Subject 16 says the Shroud is Piece of Eden 'number 66'. This discrepancy has yet to be rectified.
**In the French and German version of ''Assassin's Creed II'', the Shroud is referred to as number 36, not 66. Whether this is a mistake in the translation or not, remains to be clarified.
**It is possible that the history of Stonehenge may have connections with Those Who Came Before as a Piece of Eden is located in the Salisbury plains where Stonehenge is located and the whereabouts of the Piece of Eden is presumed to be at Stonehenge.
*[[Juno]] refers to the Pieces of Eden as "our tools". This may or may not be a reference to a similar story in the "His Dark Materials" trilogy, by Phillip Pullman.

==Notes and references==
{{Reflist}}
{{PoE}}
{{AC}}
{{ACII}}
{{ACSeries}}
[[Category:Assassin's Creed Series]]
[[Category:Pieces of Eden| ]]

Piece of Eden

2011-01-02T21:46:18Z

99.247.105.10: /* Known locations of Pieces of Eden */

{{Era|Featured}}
[[File:Zw-eden-slave.png|thumb|300px|The Piece of Eden used by [[Those Who Came Before]] to enslave humans]]
{{Quote|They're gifts, Mr. Miles. From Those Who Came Before.|Dr. [[Warren Vidic]] on a Piece of Eden|Assassin's Creed}}
The '''Pieces of Eden''' (also known as '''P.O.E'''<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood"> ''[[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood]]'' </ref>) were technologically advanced pieces of equipment created by the [[First Civilization]]; each possessed unique properties, and all were known to be capable of bending the thoughts of one or more individuals to the will of the user.

==History==
{{Quote|Current examination of Subject Seventeen indicates that aside from the Piece of Eden, all other artifacts related to Christ-figure are literary devices derived from the Piece of Eden, and not actual objects.|[[Alan Rikkin]] [[e-mail]] on the Pieces of Eden adoption as biblical and historical artifacts|Assassin's Creed}}
[[Those Who Came Before]], also known as the First Civilization,<ref name="Assassin's Creed II">''[[Assassin's Creed II]]''</ref> were an ancient yet advanced race of beings that lived on Earth long before humanity. The creators of the Human race, the First Civilization had used the Pieces of Eden to control their slaves through hypnotic trances.<ref name= "Assassin's Creed">''[[Assassin's Creed]]''</ref> Whether humanity was created to be susceptible to the effects of the Pieces of Eden, or if the Pieces were created after humanity remains unknown; [[Minerva]] attributed the peace between humanity and their "gods" to the effects of the Pieces of Eden.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II"/>

Eventually however, two humans, [[Adam and Eve]] became immune to the hypnotic effects of the Pieces of Eden, and stole one of the Pieces – the Apple of Eden – from their masters. Soon after a war broke out, pitting humanity against their gods. Despite their strength in technology, the Pieces of Eden failed to protect the creators from the slaves, who heavily outnumbered the masters. The war ended catastrophically for both sides, and both humanity and their gods were forced to work together to rebuild their world.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II"/> Eventually though, the gods became extinct, and their Pieces of Eden were lost to the annals of history.<ref name="Assassin's Creed"/><ref name="Assassin's Creed II"/>

Over the centuries, the Pieces of Eden resurfaced; seen as religious artifacts or holy relics, the foremost among them being the Apple of Eden. However, as time continued, groups of individuals began to see the Pieces of Eden for what they truly were, advanced technologies to be exploited. As early as the 12th Century, the [[Knights Templar]] were actively seeking and obtaining numerous Pieces of Eden<ref name="Assassin's Creed"/>, in the hopes of uniting the world in peace much like Those Who Came Before had done,<ref name="Assassin's Creed II"/> and in 1191, they sought the Apple itself.

[[File:Poemap.jpg|thumb|Altaïr, looking at the map of locations of Pieces of Eden.]]
Led by the [[Robert de Sable|Grand Master]] of the Order, the Knights Templar used the cover of the [[Third Crusade]] to infiltrate the catacombs of [[Solomon's Temple]], in the city of [[Jerusalem]], where they knew the Apple was located. Unfortunately for them, [[Al Mualim]], leader of the [[Assassins|Order of Assassins]] and secretly also, a Knights Templar, had sent his best to capture the device. [[Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad]] and the [[Malik A-Sayf|brothers]] [[Kadar A-Sayf|A-Sayf]] intercepted the Templars, and despite the death of Kadar and Altaïr being thrown from the battle early on, the Assassins prevailed and spirited the Apple to their fortress in [[Masyaf]].<ref name="Assassin's Creed"/> For a year the Assassins and Knights Templar fought one another for control of the artifact, until finally the deaths of both Robert de Sable and Al Mualim at the hands of Altaïr ended the conflict. Originally intending to destroy the Apple, Altaïr found himself unable to do so, and instead decided to seal the Apple in the [[Limassol]] [[Templar Archive|Archives]] after he had liberated it from the Templars; circumstances worked against this however, and he decided to keep the Apple himself, lest it fall into the wrong hands.<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Bloodlines">''[[Assassin's Creed: Bloodlines]]''</ref> Ultimately, the Apple did find its way to Cyprus, where it was buried away until its discovery and exhumation by the Knights Templar in 1488.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II"/> The Apple was shipped to Venice, but [[Ezio Auditore|Ezio Auditore da Firenze]] managed to procure it before it could go into Templar hands. However, during the events of [[Battle of Forlì]], the Apple was taken from Ezio by Savonarola, and Savonarola used it to cause the Bonfire of Vanities in Florence. Ezio went to Firenze to kill Savonarola and take the Apple back.

In 1499, Ezio used the Apple, combined with the power of Papal Staff (also a Piece of Eden) to open up the Vault underneath the Vatican. However, shortly afterward , during the Siege of Monteriggioni, Cesare Borgia took the Apple from Mario Auditore. In 1503, after liberating Rome, Ezio took back the Apple hidden in St. Peter's Basilica. After figuring out the power of the Apple, Ezio hid it in a Temple underneath the Colosseum.

Centuries later, whilst hacking into the [[Animus]], the mysterious [[Subject 16]], discovered that throughout history, the Pieces of Eden had an extensive history of changing hands, with historically notable figures, many Templars or Assassins, laying claim to them; [[Napoleon Bonaparte]], [[George Washington]], [[Mahatma Gandhi]], [[Nikola Tesla]], [[Thomas Edison]], [[Nicholas II of Russia|Tsar Nicholas II]], [[Winston Churchill]] and [[Adolf Hitler]] to name but a few.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II"/> By 2012 however, many had fallen into the hands of the Knights Templar; seeking to obtain the rest, the [[Animus]] project was set up with the intention of locating and securing the remaining Pieces of Eden.<ref name="Assassin's Creed"/>

This Animus project was also an important component in the Knights Templar goal of ensuring world peace, through use of the Pieces of Eden. By using the Pieces of Eden known as "the Apples", the Templars sought to manipulate the neuro-transmitters in the entire human race to achieve their goal. Eye-Abstergo, a branch of [[Abstergo Industries]], planned to launch an "all-in-one telecommunication" satellite into orbit around the Earth; unbeknownst to humanity and indeed, many employees of Abstergo Industries, the satellite would contain at least one Apple, and spread its power out on a global scale.<ref name="Assassin's Creed"/>

In 2012, the modern-day Assassins, [[Desmond Miles]], [[Lucy Stillman]], [[Shaun Hastings]], and [[Rebecca Crane]] use the Animus to locate the Piece of Eden hidden by Ezio Auditore [[Santa Maria Aracoeli Vault|beneath]] the [[Santa Maria Aracoeli]] 1507.<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood" />

==Characteristics==
===Attributes===

{{Quote|This… piece of silver cast out Adam and Eve. It turned staves into snakes. Parted and closed the Red Sea. Eris used it to start the Trojan War; and with it, a poor carpenter turned water into wine.|[[Al Mualim]], speaking to Altaïr about [[First Apple|the Apple]]|Assassin's Creed}}

[[File:Almualimxs.jpg|thumb|right|250px|[[Al Mualim]] uses the Apple to project multiple images of himself.]]
Amongst the greatest tools known to man; by interacting with a neuro-transmitter located deep in the brain of the human body, the Apples of Eden could control the human mind. Other Pieces of Eden were capable of warping reality, creating illusions and ensuring total obedience; both the Knights Templar and the Order of Assassins believed that the Pieces of Eden were the sources of many historical tales and miracles, such as the Parting of the Red Sea, the Trojan Horse, and the miracles enacted by "the Christ-figure" who foreshadowed the Christian faith, and the Biblical plagues that ravaged Egypt, among other supernatural happenings. Some were known to interact with and change the passage of time, possibly creating paradoxes,<ref name="Assassin's Creed" /> while at least one provided an impenetrable barrier that would protect the wearer from any attempt at penetration.<ref name="Assassin's Creed II" />

The Pieces of Eden, or at the very least the ''Apples'', were capable of extending a pulse of energy when activated, that would drive those targeted to insanity and death. Doing so however, had a detrimental effect on the health of the wielder.<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood" />

Following the destruction of the second Piece of Eden during experimental use at Denver International Airport, the Knights Templar found themselves in need of another artifact with similar properties. Needing access to a map that indicated the location of ''all'' Pieces of Eden, the Templar front company [[Abstergo Industries]] kidnapped the descendant of Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad – [[Desmond Miles]] – in order to view the memories of his ancestor. This would allow them to view the very same map Altaïr had viewed in 1191.<ref name="Assassin's Creed" />

Each of the Pieces of Eden contained a great deal of energy stored within, and the destruction of one would cause an explosion on the same scale of a nuclear blast. [[Tunguska event|One such blast]] occurred in 1908, in the region of Tunguska, Russia, when the Piece of Eden known as "the Staff" was seemingly destroyed by [[Nikola Tesla]] as a strike against the Knights Templar.<ref name="Assassin's Creed" /><ref name="Assassin's Creed II" /> Also as revealed in [[Assassin's Creed: Project Legacy]] some pieces such as [[The Shroud]] can communicate with humans telepathically.

===Resistance===
{{Quote|I KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING. I KNOW WHAT YOU DID. I SAW HIM. HE HAD A METAL BALL. IT OPENED. THEY WENT CRAZY. SHOOTING. STABBING. TORE EACH OTHER TO PIECES. I KNOW IT WAS YOU PEOPLE. SAW THE LOGO. HEARD THE NAME. I'M GOING TO TELL. ANYONE WHO WILL LISTEN. YOU'LL BE EXPOSED. THEY'LL KNOW THE TRUTH. AND THEN YOU WILL PAY. YOU CRAZY BASTARDS. YOU'LL PAY.|An unidentified individual's [[e-mail]] to Dr. [[Warren Vidic]]|Assassin's Creed }}
Although the First Civilization created humanity with a neuro-transmitter that forced them to accept the will of the Pieces of Eden, eventual cross-breeding between the gods and their slaves bore a hybrid species. These new humans possessed ''some'' of the [[Eagle Vision|natural abilities]] of their gods, but most notably, were free of the neuro-transmitter that bound them to the will of the Pieces of Eden<ref name="Assassin's Creed II" />. The first two known individuals to be born immune to the effects of the Pieces were [[Adam and Eve]], who later stole the Apple of Eden and precipitated the war that followed<ref name="Assassin's Creed II" />. Members of the lineage also inherited these natural abilities and immunity to the mind-control of the Pieces, although the Pieces' ability to physically control them remained<ref name="Assassin's Creed" />. Individuals such as Altaïr and his descendants [[Ezio Auditore]], Subject 16 and Desmond Miles all possessed these enhanced abilities, and presumably, an immunity to the Pieces of Eden<ref name="Assassin's Creed II" />.

By the early 21st Century, the Knights Templar were aware of both the existence of Those Who Came Before and the fact that some humans were immune to the mind control of the Apples of Eden, and as such actively sought other devices to compensate for this<ref name="Assassin's Creed" />. On at least one occasion Dr. [[Warren Vidic]], an employee of Abstergo Industries, recieved an [[Vidic's e-mail|email]] from an unknown individual who had not been affected by the powers of the Apple, and threatened to expose what he had seen<ref name="Assassin's Creed" />.

==Confirmed Pieces of Eden==
[[File:Zw-eden-4.png|thumb|The First Apple, adorned on the Staff of Eden.]]
Besides the Apples of Eden, the First Civilization created many more Pieces of Eden. Some of these affected humanity in similar ways, whilst others affected nature and even time itself. The [[First Apple|first]], [[Second Apple|second]], [[Third Apple|third]], [[Fourth Apple|fourth]] and [[Fifth Apple|fifth Apples]] were all capable of controlling the minds of men, creating illusions and, to a degree, permited physical control over said minds<ref name="Assassin's Creed" />; the Apples could all be used in conjunction with the [[The Staff|Staff of Eden]], which increased the abilities of both Pieces<ref name="Assassin's Creed II" />. Other Pieces included [[the Shroud]], which would become famous to modern day humans as the "Shroud of Turin" – that which covered the body of Jesus Christ, it's properties including the ability to heal the wounds of those it touched, and [[the Sword]], a Piece that would pass through the hands of many great rulers through the centuries, including [[Arthur|King Arthur]], [[Alexander the Great]], and [[Genghis Khan]].<ref name="Assassin's Creed II" /> The [[Crystal Skulls]] were also Pieces of Eden and these would be scattered throughout central America, one of which would later be taken to Europe by [[Giovanni Borgia]].<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Project Legacy">''[[Assassin's Creed: Project Legacy]]''</ref>

According to [[e-mails]] read by [[Desmond Miles]], at least one Piece of Eden existed that granted the ability to manipulate time. Concerns over possible paradoxes however, lead to Abstergo Industries locking it away.<ref name="Assassin's Creed" />

==Known locations of Pieces of Eden==
[[File:Codexmap.jpg|thumb|The Codex Map]]

Following the death of Al Mualim and the Apples projection of a map indicating the location of all Pieces of Eden, Altaïr copied the map and included it in his [[Codex]], hidden away so that only one of his bloodline might see it<ref name="Assassin's Creed" />. Based off of the locations given on the Codex map, the following locations can be identified as containing a Piece of Eden<ref name="Assassin's Creed II" />;

#Giza, Egypt
#Lake Victoria, Africa, more on the Kenyan side
#The Gambia River, Gambia
#Timbuktu, Mali
#Taza, Morocco
#Canary Islands, Spain
#The Southern tip of the Kamchatka Peninsula in Russia, curiously near the volcano of Opala
#Odessa, Ukraine
#Kharkiv, Ukraine
#Rennes-le-Château, France (shinter de la bollcks)
#Salisbury Plain, England (presumably at Stone Henge)
#Loch Ness, Scotland
#Maroantsetra, Madagascar
#Nara, Japan
#Somewhere close to Goodhouse, South Africa, near the border between South Africa and Namibia
#Inside or nearby Boston, Massachusetts
#Delhi, India or the Taj Mahal in India, just a short distance south of Delhi
#Persepolis, modern day Shiraz, Iran
#Jerusalem, Israel
#Colombia, South America, around the area of the Igara Parana River
#Nazca, Perú
#South-western Sri Lanka
#Hellissandur, Iceland
#The area of Sabiene Island, Nunavut, Canada
#Phoenix, Arizona, or somewhere outside the city
#Washington D.C.
#Juneau, Alaska
#An area close to Pulau Ratewo, Papua
#The middle of the South Pacific Ocean
#The Pacific Ocean, close to the coast of Mexico
#The South Pacific Ocean, close to the Assassin's temple located at 91 degrees W
#The Atlantic Ocean, in an area where Atlantis was believed to have existed
#The Atlantic Ocean, a few hundred miles off the coast of Brazil
#The Antartic Ocean, on the side of Antartica facing up towards the Atlantic
#The Indian Ocean, almost cross sectioned with the tips of Inda, Africa and the Southwestern tip of Australia - a small island called Ile Amsterdam
#The Antartic Ocean, the side of the Antartic ocean that faces up towards the Indian Ocean
#Archangelsk, Russia
#Andorra le Vella, Andorra
#Imperatriz, Brazil
#Barrow, Alaska
#La Rioja, Argentina
#An area close to Hervey Bay, Queensland, Australia
#An area around South Cross, in Western Australia
#Somewhere in Padang, Sumatra, Indonesia
#Beijing, China
#Somewhere in the Altay Mountains in southwestern Mongolia
#Somewhere along the northern Coast of Chukotka province, Russia
#An area close to Tiksi, Russia

The other two that made up the last of the 50 pieces, one of the Apples and the Staff, were destroyed in the DIA Satellite Incident and the Tunguska blast respectively<ref name="Assassin's Creed" />.

==Trivia==
*According to the [[glyphs]] and [[The Truth|Truth files]], many legends and myths throughout human history are actually historically accurate. The supernatural or paranormal parts of each legend can be explained by the protagonist in each having acquired his or her own Piece of Eden (i.e.: the Greek myth of Perseus, King Arthur, etc).
*In ''[[Assassin's Creed II]]'', during the battle against [[Rodrigo Borgia|Borgia]] in the Sistine Chapel, [[Ezio]] creates copies of himself, much like [[Al Mualim]] did against Altaïr. If Ezio is [[Customization|customized]], or if [[Altaïr's Armor]] is enabled, his copies will appear with different sets of armor and colors whereas when if he is not customized, each copy will be perfectly identical to the real Ezio, besides his weapon.
*Both the Codex map, and the Map projection at the end of ''Assassin's Creed'' show that there are only fifty Pieces of Eden at a time, but Subject 16 says the Shroud is Piece of Eden 'number 66'. This discrepancy has yet to be rectified.
**In the French and German version of ''Assassin's Creed II'', the Shroud is referred to as number 36, not 66. Whether this is a mistake in the translation or not, remains to be clarified.
**It is possible that the history of Stonehenge may have connections with Those Who Came Before as a Piece of Eden is located in the Salisbury plains where Stonehenge is located and the whereabouts of the Piece of Eden is presumed to be at Stonehenge.
*[[Juno]] refers to the Pieces of Eden as "our tools". This may or may not be a reference to a similar story in the "His Dark Materials" trilogy, by Phillip Pullman.

==Notes and references==
{{Reflist}}
{{PoE}}
{{AC}}
{{ACII}}
{{ACSeries}}
[[Category:Assassin's Creed Series]]
[[Category:Pieces of Eden| ]]