Editing Sage

{{Era|Individuals|Isu}}
{{Update|''[[Assassin's Creed: Valhalla]]''}}
{{Youmay|the reincarnations of Isu|the [[Sage (Cult of Kosmos)|rank]] within the Cult of Kosmos}}
{{Quote|It's the eyes that mark him.|Edward Kenway, describing the Sage Bartholomew Roberts,  1716.|Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag|The Sage's Buried Secret}}
[[File:The Sage's Buried Secret 5.png|thumb|250px|A Mayan statue of a Sage's head in underground Tulum]]
'''Sages''', classified as ''Hyper-Hominids'' by [[Abstergo Industries]],<ref name="ACU Database 09">''[[Assassin's Creed: Unity]]'' – [[Database: 09. Potential "Sage" List]]</ref> are [[human]] reincarnations of the [[Isu]]. 

While initially believed that this only applied only to [[Aita]],<ref name="AC4">''[[Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag]]'' – {{Cite|3 Feb 2021. Specific memories/in-game files needed}}</ref> a member of the [[Isu]] and the husband of [[Juno]],<ref name="AC3">''[[Assassin's Creed III]]'' – [[21st century conversations|Modern day]]</ref> it has since been discovered that Sage-like reincarnations of other Isu surfaced in [[Scandinavia]] during the 9th century. Among that group were [[Eivor Varinsdottir]], an incarnation of [[Odin]]; her adoptive brother [[Sigurd Styrbjornsson]], [[Tyr]]'s reincarnation; and [[Svala]], the rebirth of [[Freyja]].<ref name="A Brother's Keeper">''[[Assassin's Creed: Valhalla]]'' – [[A Brother's Keeper]]</ref>

Notable examples of Aita's Sages included [[Templars|Templar]] [[Grand Master of the Templar Order|Grand Masters]] [[Jacques de Molay]] and [[François-Thomas Germain]],<ref name="TheTemple">''[[Assassin's Creed: Unity]]'' – [[The Temple]]</ref> carpenter and explorer [[Thomas Kavanagh, Jr.]],<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag]]'' – [[Thom Kavanagh's letters]] #1. On My Name And Origin</ref> [[Piracy|pirate]] [[Bartholomew Roberts]],<ref name="TheSagesBuriedSecret">''[[Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag]]'' – [[The Sage's Buried Secret]]</ref> and [[Abstergo Entertainment]] employee [[John Standish]],<ref name="AC4Modern">''[[Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag]]'' – Modern day</ref> as well as an unidentified Templar [[Master Spy]] working for Germany in [[World War I]] [[London]],<ref name="TheMasterSpy">''[[Assassin's Creed: Syndicate]]'' – [[The Master Spy]]</ref> and [[Elijah]], the son of [[Desmond Miles]].<ref name="Uprising">''[[Assassin's Creed: Uprising]]'' – {{Cite|Issue needed}}</ref>

==Characteristics==
=== Isu Memories===
{{Quote|Do you know what a Sage is, Richmond? It's what I am. And it means that today isn't the day that the gods returned. They were already here. They were merely ''parasitical'', not ''resplendent''. You see, Richmond, being a Sage means Aita, Isu scientist – husband of Juno herself – hid his memories in your DNA, and it has bubbled up to the surface. Aita does not care about you, and the surfacing of his memories drives most Sages mad. Violet told me this, pretty gleefully.|The Sage Elijah, explaining a Sage's nature, 2017.|Assassin's Creed: Uprising|{{Cite|3 Feb 2021. Issue needed}}}}
Sages are typically born with personalities and memories of their own, but they also possess the memories of the Isu they are the reincarnations of. These memories which usually manifest themselves as visions at some point during adulthood and later throughout a Sage's life, although it is not uncommon for these visions to manifest during childhood. The process is described as a very traumatic experience, with the individual believing they are going mad as their own memories and personality are gradually merged with the Isu's own. Some Sages like Jacques de Molay eventually found some mental stability, but the majority of them became erratic and somewhat mad.<ref name="ACU" /> Others, such as Kavanagh, tried to resist the change, albeit with limited success, holding on to their former selves by constantly keeping the new memories at bay.<ref name="AC4"/>

In some cases, such as Bartholomew Roberts or John Standish, the personality of these Sages took a much darker turn, making them highly cynical, misanthropic and even nihilistic. Bartholomew Roberts' views on his own life as well as his complete disregard for human life made even someone as stoic as [[Edward Kenway]] uncomfortable around him.<ref name="AC4" /> These Sages also had a very strong obsession with reviving Juno from the [[The Grey|Grey]].<ref name="AC4Modern" /> Another prominent example is [[Basim Ibn Ishaq]], the Sage of the Isu [[Loki]], who went mad upon reliving the Isu's memories and assimilated Loki's personality into himself, becoming a proper reincarnation of Loki.<ref name="A Brother's Keeper" /> 

However, though rare, it is possible for a Sage to maintain control over themselves and remain mentally stable, like Elijah.<ref name="Uprising" /> This is most likely due to his prexisting-unique ancestry as well as him being a Sage,<ref name="ACS Database">''[[Assassin's Creed: Syndicate]]'' - [[Database: Reconstructed Data 010]]</ref> making him able to have complete control over his Isu abilities and not succumb into any form of delusions or insanity. Sigurd appeared to have more of a symbiotic relationship with the Isu Tyr and held his own personality without succumbing to any ill side effects from recovering Tyr's memories. For her part, Eivor had to fight to suppress the will of Odin, who had been communicating with her since childhood, when the pair were often at odds with each other.<ref name="A Brother's Keeper" />

=== Predecessor's Impulses ===
Unlike Aita's Sages, who were only plagued by memories of their progenitor, the [[Asgard]]ian Sages were unique in that aspects of their lives would often partially or fully repeat themselves in the lives of their human hosts. Like Odin, Eivor had a strong aversion to [[Wolf|wolves]],{{Cite|30 Apr 2021. Might be misremembering?}} had the [[raven]] [[Sýnin]] as her familiar echoing [[Huginn and Muninn]],<ref name="ACV">''[[Assassin's Creed: Valhalla]]''</ref> and when connected to [[Yggdrasil]], regularly lost her left eye fighting alongside the ''[[einherjar]]'' in the simulation of Asgard.<ref name="A Brother's Keeper" /> In similar fashion, Sigurd mediated disputes and delivered judgements as ''[[jarl]]''<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Valhalla]]'' – [[Settling Down]]</ref> and had his right arm severed at the elbow,<ref name="A Bloody Welcome">''[[Assassin's Creed: Valhalla]]'' – [[A Bloody Welcome]]</ref> like Tyr the god of war and justice who lost his own arm to the wolf [[Fenrir]].<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Valhalla]]'' – [[Binding Fate]]</ref> 

[[Halfdan Ragnarsson]], the reincarnation of [[Thor]], had a strong affinity for using his [[Blunt weapon|hammer]] [[Orthstirr]] in battle,<ref name="WarInTheNorth">''[[Assassin's Creed: Valhalla]]'' – [[War in the North]]</ref> regularly threw it,<ref name="Lost Glory">''[[Assassin's Creed: Valhalla]]'' – [[Lost Glory]]</ref> and was extremely paranoid about being [[poison]]ed,<ref name="WarInTheNorth" /> unknowingly copying Thor's use of [[Mjölnir]]<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Valhalla]]'' – [[View Above All]]</ref> and foreshadowing the thunder god's demise in [[Ragnarök]] due to [[Jörmungandr]]'s venom.<ref>{{WP|Jörmungandr}}</ref> Even [[Rig Reidarasson]] was haunted with strong impulses to kill a "[[Basim Ibn Ishaq|man]]" with a "[[Yggdrasil|mark]]" from the "[[Hidden Ones|House of Shadows]]", unknowingly copying Heimdall's fate to kill [[Loki]] during [[Ragnarök]] to avenge his father, Odin. <ref name="Page9">''Assassin's Creed: Valhalla'' – ''Rigsogur'', IX. The Death of the One Who Heard Voices</ref>

=== Intellectual Development===
Sages are also noted for possessing exceptionally high levels of intelligence and understanding, making them capable of picking up and mastering concepts alien to their upbringing and cultural background very easily. Sages also display exceeding talent in one way or another and have been known to excel it any area of expertise. Given the fact that most reincarnated Isu were either prominent Isu scientist or polymaths, it has not been yet revealed if Sages actually possess memories of the Isu's advanced scientific knowledge. 

In other examples, Sages like Sigurd and Svala had recovered all of their Isu memories and therefore had a proper understanding of Isu culture and science. For example, Sigurd knew some, if not all, of the [[Isu script|Isu language]] and was able to issue the right vocal commands to the Temple that lead to the [[Yggdrasil]] chamber.<ref name="A Brother's Keeper" />

===Genetics and Appearances===
According to Abstergo, while the genome of an average human contains 0.0002% to 0.0005% of First Civilization DNA, the concentration reaches from 5% to 6% in the genome of Sages. In comparison, the most gifted human recorded, Desmond Miles, had a count five times lower, potentially giving the Sages an unmatched access to [[Eagle Vision]] and an exceptional affinity with [[Piece of Eden|Pieces]] of [[Eden]].<ref>''Assassin's Creed: Unity'' – [[Database: 05. Phoenix Project Report]]</ref> In the case of Sigurd, he was able to use the Yggdrasil chamber's functions, indicating that just like Aita's Sages, he too had a certain amount of Tyr's DNA in him.<ref name="A Brother's Keeper" />
[[File:ACS DB Sages.jpg|thumb|180px|Different incarnation of Sages]]
The Sages bear a strong physical resemblance to the Isu they are a reincarnation of. For example, Aita's Sages usually possess a distinctive combination of {{Wiki|anisocoria}} and {{Wiki|heterochromia iridum|heterochromia}}, biological traits which Aita naturally possessed. Despite being very close in appearance, the Sages came from diverse genetic and ethnic backgrounds and do not always express the same parts of the Sage's DNA and as a result are not actual clones. Jacques de Molay notably did not display heterochromia, unlike other known Sages.<ref name="ACU">''[[Assassin's Creed: Unity]]''</ref> 

Although only male Sages of Aita had been identified by 2015, the Assassins believed that there was a small chance that the recessive gene creating a Sage could also manifest itself in a female individual,<ref name="ACS">''[[Assassin's Creed: Syndicate]]'' – {{Cite|3 Feb 2021. In-game files needed}}</ref> although this was never truly proven until [[Layla Hassan]] explored a simulated 9th century [[Anglo-Saxons|Anglo-Saxon]] [[England]] through the [[Animus|Portable Animus 8.5]] in 2020.<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Valhalla]]'' – Modern day</ref>  

During the 9th century, there had been discoveries of female Sages as well. Three notable examples were
#Svala, the Sage of the female Isu Freyja,<ref name="A Brother's Keeper" />
# Eivor, the female Sage of the male Isu Odin,<ref name="A Brother's Keeper" /> and
#[[Gull]], a female Sage of [[Idun]].<ref name="DarbySages">{{Twitter|AC_ISDA|status/1354767258015428611|Il Salotto degli Assassini|quote=@DarbyMcDevitt this is our bet! [https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Es0Zo-qW4AYgvsE.jpg pic.twitter.com/qZ8tRqQZMj]|image=File:ACV - Darby McDevitt on the Isu Reincarnations.png}}<br>{{Twitter|DarbyMcDevitt|status/1354773470756954116|Darby McDevitt|quote=@AC_ISDA @69guacamole69 @KurdishOnes I think you got it!|image=File:ACV - Darby McDevitt on the Isu Reincarnations.png}}</ref>

As of 2020, there has only been one recorded case of a male Sage being a reincarnation of a female Isu, with that person being [[Faravid]], who was the male reincarnation of the female Isu [[Sif]]. 

==History==
===Isu Era===
[[File:AC3 Juno Aita.png|thumb|left|250px|Aita and his wife Juno]]
Around 75,000 BC, in an attempt to save [[Earth]] from a [[Sun|coronal]] [[Great Catastrophe|mass ejection]], Aita volunteered to be a test subject of one of the solutions meant to prevent their civilization's destruction. His wife, the Isu scientist Juno,<ref name="AC3" /> tried to replicate some of [[Consus]]' work<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Syndicate]]''</ref> by transferring Aita's consciousness into a more resistant synthetic body, but Aita was rendered catatonic in the attempt.<ref name="AC3" />

Desperate to save the life of her beloved, Juno embarked on a quest to acquire the "Mead", an identified Isu innovation locked up in [[Jupiter|Suttungr]]'s vault. Desperate for the "Mead", she began to inquire and plot out multiple ways to take it from Suttungr's vault in order to save her beloved. Upon Odin's visit to the [[Iron Woods]] to meet [[Aletheia|Angrboða]], she discovered that he too sought the "Mead", and so decided to wait until Angrboða dealt with him before deciding to collaborate with Odin to steal the "Mead" from Suttungr's vault. <ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Valhalla]]'' – [[Mistress of the Iron Wood]]</ref>

Odin managed to successfully steal the "Mead" from Suttungr's vault, but not without deceiving [[Minerva|Gunnlöð]] and battling with Suttungr himself.<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Valhalla]]'' – [[A Feast to Remember]]</ref> she told Odin to come to the [[Well of Mimr|Well]] of [[Mímir]] in order to make the "Mead" work. After Odin sacrificed his left eye in payment, Yggdrasil accepted this sacrifice and the "Mead" was finally synthesized, much to Juno's delight. With both the Isu taking samples of the "Mead", she cautioned him to use the "Mead" moments before his death. With the "Mead", she was able to successfully insert her late husband's essence into the human gene pool.<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Valhalla]]'' – [[The Price of Wisdom]]</ref>

The "Mead" was able to successfully manipulate the human genetic code, implanting a hidden trigger that would randomly activate and alter the genetic makeup of the individual, changing their appearance and slowly imbuing them with a replica of an Isu's consciousness. This allowed the [[Æsir]]<ref name="AnimusAnomalies">''[[Assassin's Creed: Valhalla]]'' – [[Animus Anomalies]]</ref> and Aita to reincarnate in human form again and again throughout the eons.<ref name="AC4" />

However, as punishment for these crimes against Suttungr, Juno's essence was buried deep within the [[Grand Temple]], and the Æsir were banished from Jotunheim. However, Juno was able to successfully use the "Mead" to create Sages of her late husband. During the midst of the Great Catastrophe, a group of Isu called the Æsir comprising Odin, Freyja, Tyr, Thor, Sif, [[Heimdall]], Idun and [[Frey]] managed to successfully upload their essences into Yggdrasil before heading off to face their end, gambling that Yggdrasil would successfully save them through various reincarnations in human bodies in the upcoming eons. Unknown to them, the Isu Loki used the Yggdrasil and upload his essence to take revenge on Odin for imprisoning his son [[Fenrir]]. His other plan was to be reunite with his lover Aletheia, who had her consciousness in the [[Staff of Hermes Trismegistus]], and liberating their children.<ref name="AnimusAnomalies"/>

===Throughout history===
Instances of Sages have been recorded throughout known human history in various regions around the globe. According to [[Bahlam]], an [[Assassins|Assassin]] [[Mentor]] and the father of [[Ah Tabai]], there had been at least eight recorded Sages by the late 1600s, although several Abstergo Entertainment researchers later concluded that the real count was likely much higher. The [[Maya]]n civilization and [[Taíno]] people revered the Sages,<ref name="AC4" /> and the Mayan ruins in [[Tulum]], [[Mexico]] contained a statue resembling a Sage's head.

====Viking Age====
During the Viking Age, the Sages of the Aesir finally appeared. The first was [[Rig Reidarasson]], a Viking of the 8th and 9th centuries who was the reincarnation of Heimdall. During his life, Rig was plagued by the memories of Heimdall, believing to be visions of the gods. His life and adventures were immortalized in the ''[[Rigsogur]]'', a saga wrote by the monk Brissy.<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Valhalla]]'' – [[Rigsogur]]</ref>

In the 9th century, Thor and Sif were reincarnated respectively in the Vikings Halfdan Ragnarsson and his friend Faravid, unaware of this link. In 865 CE, when his father [[Ragnar Lothbrok]] was killed by the King and [[Order of the Ancients|Ancient]] [[Aella of Northumbria]], Halfdan and Faravid conquered the [[Northumbria]] and executed his king in 867 CE.<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Valhalla]]'' – [[Database: Faravid]]</ref>

In the mid-9th century in [[Norway]], the [[Raven Clan]] in the city of [[Fornburg]] counted three Sages: the volva Svala for Freyja, the prince Sigurd Styrbojnsson for Tyr and his foster sister Eivor Varinsdottir for Odin. In 870 CE, during a raid by the Ancient [[Kjotve the Cruel]], Eivor captured his slave Gull, the Sage of Idun. Together, they went to the [[Temple of Heimdall]] to recover an [[Gull's Apple of Eden|Apple of Eden]]. When Gull touched the artifact, she recovered Idun's memories and used the artifact to fight Eivor. As the Temple was scrambling, Gull fell to her death with the Apple while Eivor survived.<ref name="Song of Glory">''[[Assassin's Creed Valhalla: Song of Glory]]''</ref>

The same year in [[Constantinople]], Sigurd met the Levantine [[Hidden Ones]] Basim Ibn Ishaq, a reincarnation of Loki fully aware of his nature. Recognizing Sigurd as Tyr, Basim followed the Viking to his hometown to further his plan to find his children imprisoned by Odin.<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Valhalla]]'' – [[Database: Basim Ibn Ishaq]]</ref> In 872 CE, Basim became acquainted with Eivor, granted her a Hidden Blade.<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Valhalla]]'' – [[The Prodigal Prince]]</ref> Together, the three Sages fought Kjotve the Cruel, taking his fortress and killing him. This act permitted [[Harald Fairhair]], the Sage of Frey, to unite Norway under his crown.<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Valhalla]]'' – [[A Cruel Destiny]]</ref> As Harald became the lord of Fornburg, Sigurd, Eivor and Basim went to England to found a new colony while Svala returned in the Yggdrasil vault to live forever in a simulation of [[Valhalla]].<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Valhalla]]'' – [[The Seas of Fate]]</ref>

Establishing the colony of [[Ravensthorpe]] in [[Mercia]], Sigurd became the jarl of the village, working with Eivor to establish alliances through England.<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Valhalla]]'' – [[Unwelcome]]</ref> During one of her adventures, Eivor allied with Halfdan and Faravid to fight the rebelled King [[Ricsige of Northumbria]] and his  [[Picts]] allies.<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Valhalla]]'' – [[Honor's Hubris]]</ref> After Halfdan became the new king of Northumbria, an argument arose between Faravid and the new King, the latter accusing his friend to poison him.<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Valhalla]]'' – [[Of Blood and Bonds]]</ref> This greatly affected Halfdan who became depressed. Eivor helped him to recover his morals.<ref name="Lost Glory"/>

Basim tried to reveal to Sigurd his true nature. With Eivor, the three Sages searched the Saga Stone, a part of the Yggdrasil vault containing the password to open its door. They allied with [[Fulke]], a secretly Ancient who study the Stone and Sages.<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Valhalla]]'' – [[Pilgrimage to St. Albanes]]</ref> Together, they fought Lady [[Eadwyn]] who stole the Stone. After they recovered the artifact, Fulke betrayed them, taking Sigurd as a hostage.<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Valhalla]]'' – [[The Saga Stone]]</ref> During his captivity, Sigurd was tortured by Fulke, who cut Sigurd's right arm to awake his Sage nature. Basim and Eivor traveled in [[Kent]] to save Sigurd but Fulke fled with him in [[Sussex]].<ref name="A Bloody Welcome"/> The two Sages and their allies besiege the castle of Portcestre, saving Sigurd and killing Fulke.<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Valhalla]]'' – [[Storming the Walls]]</ref> Even if Sigurd was saved, the torture greatly altered his mind as he saw himself as the god Tyr, becoming arrogant.<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Valhalla]]'' – [[Of All That Has Passed...]] </ref>

During her journey, Eivor began to have hallucinations of Odin, who sometimes directly spoke to her. With the volva [[Valka]] gave potions permitting Eivor to explore altered memories of Odin in [[Asgard]] and [[Jotunheimr]].<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Valhalla]]'' – [[Bound to Fate]]</ref>

In 877 CE, Sigurd and Eivor returned to Norway, entered the Yggdrasil vault and used the device. They experienced a simulation of Valhalla, encountering Svalla as Freyja, as she was there for five years. Even if they enjoyed the simulation, they understood that it was false and decided to leave while Svala stayed. Odin tried to convince Eivor to stay but she fought him and escaped from the simulation, repressing her Isu side. Basim, who followed them, understood that Eivor was Odin's Sage. He took Sigurd hostage but quickly released him as Eivor attacked him. Basim blamed the imprisonment of his son on a clueless Eivor, believing he was mad. As the Hidden One was too strong for Eivor, Sigurd used the Yggdrasil device to trap Basim, sending him to the Grey. After this, Sigurd retired from his role of the jarl of Ravensthorpe and designed Eivor as his successor.<ref name="A Brother's Keeper"/>

====Searching for the Observatory ====
During his life, Aita built the [[Observatory (Isu)|Observatory]], a complex containing a [[Crystal Skulls|Crystal Skull]] and [[blood vial]]s of the Isu which permitted an individual with a high enough Isu DNA content to spy on individuals. As a creation of Aita, the Observatory required the insertion of a blood vial containing Aita's blood to open.<ref name="AC4" />

Around 1500, an [[16th century Sage|unnamed]] Sage arrived near the Observatory and hired the local tribes to protect the site from intruders. When he died, the [[Guardians]] hid his tomb, forbidding anyone to use his blood.<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag]]'' – Thom Kavanagh's letters #19</ref> In 1652, a new Sage appeared in the [[United States|British colonies]], Thom Kavanagh, a carpenter who moved to Jamaica to work for [[Peter Beckford]] in 1673. There, he was abducted by the [[West Indies Brotherhood of Assassins]], who wanted to protect him from Beckford's friend, [[Laureano de Torres y Ayala]], Grand Master of the [[West Indies Rite of the Templar Order]]. Learning more about his Sage nature, Kavanagh followed his visions and arrived at the Observatory, where the Guardians accepted him and explained what his predecessor did. Kavanagh died in 1706 and was also buried by the Guardians.<ref name="AC4" />

In 1715, Bartholomew Roberts, a [[Wales|Welsh]] Sage, was captured by the Templars in [[Cuba]] to be interrogated on the location of the Observatory. He escaped and worked for the slaver [[Laurens Prins]] in Jamaica. In 1717, he fled for a second time after Prins was killed by the pirate captain Edward Kenway who also wanted to discover the Observatory. Roberts worked on the [[Slavery|slave]] ship ''[[Princess|The Princess]]'' before becoming a pirate under Captain [[Howell Davis]] near the [[Africa|African coasts]]. In 1719, when the crew was in [[Príncipe]], a group of Templars led by [[John Cockram]] and [[Josiah Burgess]] killed Davies and took the crew of the ship hostage. As Edward Kenway arrived on the island, he saved the pirates and killed the two Templars. After that, Roberts became the captain of the crew and promised to lead Kenway to the Observatory.<ref name="AC4" />

[[File:The Observatory 11.png|thumb|250px|Bartholomew Roberts wielding a Crystal Skull]]
Working together, the two captains captured the ''[[Royal Fortune]]'' from the Templars which contained blood vials from important individuals in the [[Caribbean Sea]]. Roberts and Kenway arrived at the Observatory, the Sage showing the power of the complex to the pirate. Roberts then betrayed Kenway and sent him as a prisoner to Jamaica. The Sage recovered the Crystal Skull and the blood vials and used them to know the location of important fleets, helping him to become one of the richest and most famous pirates in history. In February 1722 near Príncipe, Kenway, then an Assassin, attacked the ''Royal Fortune'' which was battling with both the British and [[Spanish Navy]]. The Assassin boarded the [[Man O' War]] and hanged the Sage with a [[rope dart]]. Kenway recovered the Crystal Skull and threw Roberts' body to the sea.<ref name="AC4" />

====Reformation of the Templar Order====
[[File:Tragedy of Jacques de Molay 13.png|thumb|left|250px|Jacques de Molay burning at the stake]]
During the end of the 13th century, the Sage Jacques de Molay became the Grand Master of the Templar Order. De Molay felt that the Order had lost its purpose by becoming a public organization and wanted to return to the shadows. On the 13th October 1307, King [[Philip IV of France|Philip IV]] of [[France]], under the influence of the [[Paris]]ian [[Parisian Brotherhood of Assassins|Brotherhood]], ordered the [[Persecution of the Templars|arrest&nbsp;of the Templars]]. Before he was captured, de Molay tasked [[Jacques de Molay's advisor|his advisor]] to hide a [[Sword of Eden 1|Sword of Eden]] and the ''[[Codex Pater Intellectus]]'', where he wrote all his knowledge about the Isu civilization and the reformation of the Order, in a vault under the [[Temple (Paris)|Temple of Paris]].<ref name="PrologueUnity">''[[Assassin's Creed: Unity]]'' – [[The Tragedy of Jacques de Molay]]</ref> During his time in a [[Chinon]] prison, de Molay hid in the walls of his cell the [[Heart]], an Isu artifact which increased the power of the Sword of Eden.<ref name="Heresy">''[[Assassin's Creed: Heresy]]'' – {{Cite|3 Feb 2021. Chapter(s) needed}}</ref> De Molay also shared his secrets of the First Civilization with nine members of the Templar Order who reorganized the Order after its public disbanding.<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Revelations]]'' – {{Cite|3 Feb 2021. Where is this ever stated?}}</ref> In 1314, he was burned at the stake on the [[Île de la Cité]], cursing the pope [[Clement V]] and the French royal family in his last words.<ref name="PrologueUnity" />

Four centuries later, another Sage, François-Thomas Germain, became a [[Lieutenant of the Templar Order|lieutenant]] in the [[Parisian Rite of the Templar Order]] led by the Grand Master [[François de la Serre]]. Haunted by the memories of de Molay, Germain found the ''Codex Pater Intellectus'' and desired a reformation of the Templar Order, criticizing the fact that the members searched to acquire the titles of nobility, the offices of Church and State. Germain was expelled of the Order by de la Serre and branded as a heretic.<ref name="ACU" /> With some other Parisian Templars also dissatisfied with the Grand Master's leadership, Germain organized a ''coup d'état'' in the Order, killing de la Serre during the [[Initiation into the Templar Order|initiation ceremony]] of the Grand Master's daughter [[Élise de la Serre]]<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Unity]]'' – [[High Society]]</ref> after the opening of the [[Estates-General of 1789]].<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Unity]]'' – [[The Estates General]]</ref> Becoming the new Grand Master, Germain assassinated or bribed de la Serre's followers and tried to kill Élise, the other contender to the title of Grand Master.<ref>[[Assassin's Creed: Unity (novel)|''Assassin's Creed: Unity'' (novel)]]</ref> Germain also set out a plot, using the popular movement during the [[French Revolution]] to arrest King [[Louis XVI of France]],<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Unity]]'' – [[A Dinner Engagement]]</ref> leading to Louis' [[Execution of Louis XVI|execution]] in 1793 and so avenging de Molay's death.<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Unity]]'' – [[The Execution]]</ref>

[[File:ACU The Temple 3.jpg|thumb||250px|Germain using the Sword of Eden]]
With no more kings in France, a republican regime was set up in 1792, and one of Germain's followers, [[Maximilien de Robespierre]], became one of its leaders. To achieve the [[New World Order|Great Work]], Robespierre and Germain installed the [[Reign of Terror]], arresting and executing persons who were suspected to be counter-revolutionaries. Ultimately, Germain expected the people would fear freedom without control and become obedient, but with no aristocracy to provide guidance since the local nobility were being swiftly eliminated at the [[guillotine]], Germain sought to control the public through financial means, returning to the Templars' historic origins as [[bank]]ers and economic powerhouses. However, Élise de la Serre and her lover, the former Assassin [[Arno Dorian]], thwarted Germain's plan, killing his lieutenant and leading to the fall of Robespierre in 1794.<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Unity]]'' – [[The Fall of Robespierre]]</ref>

The day after the [[Thermidorian Reaction]], Élise and Arno confronted Germain in the vault under the Temple of Paris. Using the Sword of Eden, Germain killed Élise in a powerful blast, but injured himself in the process. Arno, mourning his lover, finished Germain with his [[Hidden Blade]]. In his last words, Germain explained that even his death would not stop what he did and that someone else would take his place as the ruler of the masses. Arno left the corpse of Germain in the vault, taking the Sword of Eden and Élise with him. In 1808, Arno, reintroduced in the Brotherhood, entered in the vault with the emperor [[Napoleon Bonaparte]] and took Germain's remains and hid them in the [[Catacombs of Paris]].<ref name="TheTemple" />

====Return of Juno====
Throughout the centuries, some of Aita's Sages stayed true to his love for Juno. Bartholomew Roberts tried to find the Grand Temple and liberate her from it but he was killed by Kenway before he could do so.<ref name="AC4" />

Aita's Sages also formed cults venerating the Isu and praying for their mistress' return. The latest iteration, the [[Instruments of the First Will]], was active at least during World War I. In London, a group of Templars affiliated to the Instruments was led by a Sage known only as the Master Spy, a Templar who had a ring of spies through the city for the [[Germany|German Empire]]. In 1916, the group tried to collect the blood of soldiers, but the [[British Brotherhood of Assassins|British Assassin]] [[Lydia Frye]] stopped their plan. On the orders of [[Winston Churchill]], Frye assassinated the Master Spy, liberating London from his schemes.<ref name="TheMasterSpy" />

[[File:AC4 John Bunker.png|thumb|left|250px|John Standish taking in hostage the research analyst]]
In 2012, following Desmond Miles' [[Global aurora borealis device|sacrifice]] in the Grand Temple which prevented the [[Second Disaster|second solar flare]] from destroying the Earth, Juno was freed from her imprisonment<ref name="AC3" /> and integrated herself into the planet's digital network. In 2013, another Sage, John Standish, began to search for a suitable host for her. Working in the IT department of Abstergo Entertainment in [[Montreal]], he was also an associate of the Assassins [[Rebecca Crane]] and [[Shaun Hastings]] who were undercover at Abstergo Entertainment. Standish entered contact with a [[Noob|new analyst]] of Abstergo Entertainment and made them work for the Assassins by hacking the Abstergo servers through the use of blackmail. Eventually, Standish decided to use the analyst as a perfect host for Juno. However, after an unsuccessful offering the analyst to Juno in the [[bunker]] beneath Abstergo's Montreal facility, and an attempt to poison the analyst afterward, Standish was killed by security, and his body was obtained by Abstergo.<ref name="AC4" />

During the following year, Abstergo scientists studied John's body and focused on searching for other Sages throughout history, initiating the [[Phoenix Project]] to create a complete genomic map of Isu DNA, and unlock the secrets of the Pieces of Eden through the exploration of Sages' [[Genetic memory|genetic memories]]. However, the Assassins recruited several Helix users to thwart the efforts of the Templars by attempting to find the remains of past Sages before Abstergo.<ref name="ACU" />

In October 2015, Elijah—the illegitimate son of Desmond Miles—was brought to an Abstergo clinic, where his lineage, and the fact that he was an Aita's Sage, was discovered. [[Álvaro Gramática]] wanted to have him kidnapped and dissected for study, but [[Isabelle Ardant]] immediately refused, believing it would be better to put the boy in an [[Animus]] for fifty years and study his lineage. However, Ardant was killed before this plan could be enacted.<ref name="ACS Database" />

[[File:Sin título.png|thumb|250px|Elijah introduced to the Intruments of First Will]]
Elijah would go on to work with the Instruments of the First Will, a group that sought to return Juno to a physical body by using Abstergo's Phoenix Project. Because of his paternal lineage, Elijah possessed a markedly higher concentration of Isu DNA in his genome than other Sages,<ref name="ACS Database" /> which enabled him to resist Aita's personality from taking over, while taking advantage of Aita's memories and knowledge. Elijah used Aita's knowledge to continually sabotage Juno's efforts at the resurrection, and eventually assisted in her final death.<ref name="Uprising" />

==Gallery==
=== Known Sages of Aita===
''These are the Sages of the Isu Aita, courtesy of Juno. Individuals speculated to be Sages by Abstergo Industries or others are marked with an asterisk. (*)''
<gallery captionalign="center" position="center" spacing="small" widths="180">
Wiki noimage.jpg|[[Sumerian Sage]]<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed Unity: Abstergo Entertainment – Employee Handbook]]'' – {{Cite|3 Feb 2021. Page needed}}</ref><br>(c. 3rd millennium BC)
Wiki noimage.jpg|[[The Wanderer]]'''*'''<ref name="ACU Database 09"/><br>(1st century)
Wiki noimage.jpg|[[Hunnic Sage]]'''*'''<ref name="ACU Database 07">''[[Assassin's Creed: Unity]]'' – [[Database: 07. Archived Conversation, 30 May 2014]]</ref><br>(5th century)
Wiki noimage.jpg|[[Brendan of Clonfert]]<br>(c. 484 - c. 577)<ref name="ACV"/>
Wiki noimage.jpg|[[Byzantine Sage]]'''*'''<ref name="ACU Database 09"/><br>(6th century)
Wiki noimage.jpg|[[Maya Sage]]<ref name="TheSagesBuriedSecret"/><br>(c. 13th century)
ACU De Molay Render.png|[[Jacques de Molay]]<ref>{{Twitter|DarbyMcDevitt|status/538398833244655617|Darby McDevitt|quote=@Assassins_M But yes he [Jacques de Molay] was a Sage, one of (at least) two who infiltrated the Templars in an attempt to steer them in a new direction.|image=File:ACU - Darby McDevitt Twitter - LP Garneau.png}}</ref><br>(c. 1244 – 1314)
Wiki noimage.jpg|[[Chinese Sage]]'''*'''<ref name="ACU Database 09"/><br>(14th century)
Wiki noimage.jpg|[[16th century Sage|Caribbean Sage]]<ref name="AC4"/><br>(16th century)
Wiki noimage.jpg|[[Thomas Kavanagh, Jr.]]<ref name="AC4"/><br>(1652 – 1706)
AC4 Bartholomew Roberts.png|[[Bartholomew Roberts]]<ref name="AC4"/><br>(1682 – 1722)
ACU François-Thomas Germain Render.png|[[François-Thomas Germain]]<ref name="TheTemple"/><br>(1726 – 1794)
Wiki noimage.jpg|[[Indian Sage]]'''*'''<ref name="ACU Database 09"/><br>(c. 1885 – ?)
ACS Master Spy.jpg|[[Master Spy]]<ref name="TheMasterSpy"/><br>(? - 1916)
Wiki noimage.jpg|[[David Jones]]'''*'''<ref name="ACU Database 07"/><br>(c. 1950 – ?)
AC4 John render.png|[[John Standish]]<ref name="AC4Modern"/><br>(1975 – 2013)
ACUp Elijah.png|[[Elijah]]<ref name="Uprising"/><br>(c. 2005 - ?)
</gallery>

===Known Asgardian Sages===
''Odin, seven of his most trusted Isu followers, and Loki, had their DNA, memories, and consciousness integrated into the human gene pool in hope of escaping the doom of their civilization and be reborn in human bodies millennia later. These reincarnations could be identified by a mass of dark veins on their necks.''
<gallery captionalign="center" position="center" spacing="small" widths="180">
Wiki noimage.jpg|[[Rig Reidarasson]]<br>Reincarnation of [[Heimdall]]<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Valhalla]]'' – ''[[Rigsogur]]'': I. The King of Soft Reeds</ref><br>(c. 770s - c. 860s)
ACV Svala.png|[[Svala]]<br>Reincarnation of Freyja<ref name="A Brother's Keeper"/><br>(? - 873) 
ACV DB Halfdan.png|[[Halfdan Ragnarsson]]<ref name="DarbySages"/><br>Reincarnation of [[Thor]]<br>(c. 790 – 877)
ACV DB Faravid.png|[[Faravid]]<br>Reincarnation of [[Sif]]<ref name="DarbySages"/><br>(? - ?)
ACV Basim render.png|[[Basim Ibn Ishaq]]<ref name="A Brother's Keeper"/><br>Reincarnation of Loki<br>(? - )
ACV Sigurd Styrbjornson.png|[[Sigurd Styrbjornsson]]<ref name="A Brother's Keeper"/><br>Reincarnation of Tyr<br>(c. 842 - ?)
ACV Female Eivor render.png|[[Eivor Varinsdottir]]<ref name="A Brother's Keeper"/><br>Reincarnation of Odin<br>(847 - ?)
ACVSoG - Gull 2.png|[[Gull]]<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed Valhalla: Song of Glory]]'' – [[Assassin's Creed Valhalla: Song of Glory 3|Issue #03]]</ref><br>Reincarnation of Idun<ref name="DarbySages"/><br>(? - ?)
ACV Harald.png|[[Harald Fairhair]]<ref name="DarbySages"/><br>Reincarnation of [[Frey]]<br>(c. 850 - c. 930)
</gallery>

==Behind the scenes==
In ''[[Assassin's Creed: Infographics]]'', Al Mualim is described as being a Sage. The use of the capitalized ⟨S⟩ implies a connection to Aita, but this is not corroborated in any other media and may have been an error.

The [[Son of Ra]] in ''[[Assassin's Creed: Origins]]'' is said to have strange eyes and displays an uncommon knowledge of the solar system in his idle dialogue and death sequences. Though not confirmed to be a Sage, he nevertheless has an uncanny awareness of the Order of the Ancients and disdains their chances of saving the planet.<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Origins]]'' – [[Fires of Dionysias]]</ref>

As shown in ''[[Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag]]'' and ''[[Assassin's Creed: Uprising]]'', two Sages can be alive at the same time, as showcased by Elijah and John Standish.

When Darby McDevitt was asked on Twitter about whether Sages were a reference to the manga series ''{{Wiki|JoJo's Bizarre Adventure}}'', in which all protagonists descending from the character {{Wiki|Jonathan Joestar}} bear a star-shaped birthmark on their left shoulder blade, he denied knowledge of the series and instead said that it was a reference to the constant reincarnations of the ''{{Wiki|Doctor Who}}'' character "{{Wiki|The Master (Doctor Who)|The Master}}", who was archenemies of the titular Doctor.<ref>{{Twitter|DarbyMcDevitt|status/1335664767353180163|Darby McDevitt|quote=@TGeeKayy No idea what that is. I based the idea on The Master from Doctor Who.}}</ref>

==Appearances==

*''[[Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag]]'' {{1st}}
*''[[Assassin's Creed Unity: Abstergo Entertainment – Employee Handbook]]''
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Unity]]''
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Syndicate]]''
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Uprising]]''
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Valhalla]]''

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}
{{Isu}}
[[nl:Wijsgeren]]
[[de:Weise]]
[[it:Saggi]]
[[es:Sabio]]
[[fr:Sages]]
[[zh:圣者]]
[[Category:Sages]]
[[Category:Humans]]
[[Category:DNA]]
[[Category:Legends]]