Editing Sage

{{Era|Individuals|Isu}}
{{Imageneed}}
{{Youmay|the continual Isu incarnations|the [[Sage (Cult of Kosmos)|rank]] within the Cult of Kosmos}}
[[File:The Sage's Buried Secret 5.png|thumb|250px|A Maya 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> primarily refer to [[human]]s who inherited the memories of [[Aita]], an [[Isu]] who passed away shortly before the [[Great Catastrophe]], although the [[Assassins]] later became aware of another lineage connected to another Isu, [[Vejovis]], later remember as an Etruscan deity .<ref name="Chapter 6">''[[Assassin's Creed: Escape Room Puzzle Book]]'' – Chapter 6: Stopping the Cult</ref>

Notable examples of Sages of Aita included the [[Templars|Templar]] [[Grand Master of the Templar Order|Grand Masters]] [[Jacques de Molay]] and [[François-Thomas Germain]],<ref name="The Temple">''[[Assassin's Creed: Unity]]'' – [[The Temple]]</ref> the carpenter and explorer [[Thomas Kavanagh, Jr.]],<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag]]'' – [[Thom Kavanagh's letters]] #1. On My Name And Origin</ref> the [[Piracy|pirate]] [[Bartholomew Roberts]],<ref name="Buried Secret">''[[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]]'' – [[21st century conversations#Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag|Modern day]]</ref> as well as an the [[Germany|German]] "[[Master Spy]]" during [[World War I]],<ref name="The Master Spy">''[[Assassin's Creed: Syndicate]]'' – [[The Master Spy]]</ref> and [[Desmond Miles]]' son [[Elijah]].<ref name="Uprising">''[[Assassin's Creed: Uprising]]'' – [[Assassin's Creed: Uprising 11|Issue #11]]</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.|The Sage Elijah, explaining a Sage's nature, 2018.|Assassin's Creed: Uprising|Assassin's Creed: Uprising 11}}
Sages are typically born with personalities and memories of their own, but they also possess Aita's memories. These memories 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 Aita'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 Thomas 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="Thom Kavanagh letters">''[[Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag]]'' – [[Thom Kavanagh's letters]]</ref>
[[File:ACS DB Sages.jpg|thumb|190px|left|Different incarnation of Sages]]
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. 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">''[[Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag]]''</ref> These Sages also had a very strong obsession with reviving [[Juno]], Aita's wife, from the [[The Grey|Grey]].<ref name="AC4Modern"/>

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 preexisting-unique ancestry as well as him being a Sage, making him able to have complete control over his Isu abilities and not succumb into any form of delusions or insanity.<ref name="ACS Database">''[[Assassin's Creed: Syndicate]]'' – [[Database: Reconstructed Data 010]]</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 Aita was a prominent Isu scientist, it has not been yet revealed if Sages actually possess memories of his advanced scientific knowledge. 

===Genetics and appearances===
According to Abstergo, while the genome of an average human contains 0.0002% to 0.0005% of Isu 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. This exceptionally high concentration of Isu DNA potentially grants Sages 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>

The Sages bear a strong physical resemblance to Aita, usually possessing 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 Aita's DNA and as a result are not actual clones.<ref name="ACU">''[[Assassin's Creed: Unity]]''</ref> 

Although only male Sages 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 Sages">''[[Assassin's Creed: Syndicate]]'' – [[Database: Sages]]</ref> 

==History==
===Isu Era===
{{Revamp}}
[[File:AC3 Juno Aita.png|thumb|250px|Aita and his wife Juno]]
Around 75,000 BCE, in an attempt to save the [[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">''[[Assassin's Creed III]]''</ref> tried to replicate some of [[Consus]]' work<ref name="ACS">''[[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 of poetry|Mead]]", the serum that would activate the latest solution designed by the [[Capitoline Triad]], locked up under the guard of [[Jupiter]] and [[Minerva]].<ref name="The Price of Wisdom">''[[Assassin's Creed: Valhalla]]'' – [[The Price of Wisdom]]</ref> This particular innovation, if used correctly, could reincarnate some members of the Isu as humans in the distant future. As such, Jupiter and Minerva rendered it dangerous to use, as it would damage the human genome in the process.<ref name="A Feast to Remember">''[[Assassin's Creed: Valhalla]]'' – [[A Feast to Remember]]</ref>

Desperate for the "Mead", Juno investigated their research sites and eventually used [[Mímisbrunnr]] meant to receive the Mead when ready. Soon after, she began to inquire and plot out multiple ways to take it from the Vault in order to save her beloved, actions that eventually exiled her from the city guarding the Temple.<ref name="The Price of Wisdom"/> Upon Odin's visit to [[Jötunheimr]] to meet [[Aletheia]], she discovered that he also sought the "Mead" and so decided to wait until she and her lover Loki dealt with him before deciding to collaborate with Odin to steal the serum.<ref name="Mistress of the Iron Wood">''[[Assassin's Creed: Valhalla]]'' – [[Mistress of the Iron Wood]]</ref>

Odin managed to successfully steal the "Mead" from the city, but not without deceiving Minerva and battling Jupiter himself.<ref name="A Feast to Remember"/> Juno told him to come to the experimental well in order to make the serum work. After Odin sacrificed his left eye in payment in order to use as catalyst, his sacrifice was accepted and the "Mead" was finally synthesized, much to Juno's delight. With both the Isu taking samples of the fluid, she cautioned him to use the serum moments before his death, in order for it to work. With the "Mead" know in hand<ref name="The Price of Wisdom"/>, she was able to successfully insert her late husband's essence into a human bloodline.<ref name="AC4Modern"/>

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]] reincarnate once in the 9th century<ref name="Cheating Fate">''[[Assassin's Creed: Valhalla]]'' – [[Cheating Fate]]</ref><ref name="Animus Anomalies">''[[Assassin's Creed: Valhalla]]'' – [[Animus Anomalies]]</ref> and Aita to reincarnate in human form again and again throughout the eons.<ref name="AC4Modern"/>

However, as punishment for these crimes against the triad, Juno's essence was buried deep within the [[Grand Temple]].<ref name="AC3"/> However, Juno was able to successfully use their solution to create Sages of her late husband.<ref name="AC4Modern"/>

At some point, the Isu [[Vejovis]] was also able to create Sages of himself through an unknown method as part of a plan to be reborn millennia in the future, while his consciousness was uploaded to the Grey.<ref name="Chapter 6"/>

===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 of Aita 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, and the Mayan ruins in [[Tulum]], [[Mexico]] contained a statue resembling a Sage's head.<ref name="Buried Secret"/>

====Antiquity and Middle Ages====
The first known instance of a Sage of Vejovis was [[Cadmus]], a [[Greece|Greek]] [[mercenary]] born during the 5th century BCE. He was hired by [[Ianthe]], a member of the [[Order of the Ancients]], to retrieve an [[Vejovis' dagger|Isu dagger]] once wielded by Vejovis from a [[Kephallonia vault|vault]] on [[Kephallonia]], only to be betrayed afterwards. Pursuing Ianthe and his accomplices, Cadmus managed to kill the Ancient and recover the dagger, but during the subsequent fight with the Order members, the blade was broken into two pieces. One of the Ancients fled with one half of the dagger while Cadmus kept the other half.<ref name="Chapter 1">''[[Assassin's Creed: Escape Room Puzzle Book]]'' – Chapter 1: The Animus</ref>

The next known Vejovis Sage was [[Khepri]], a member of the [[Assassins|Hidden Ones]] in [[Egypt]] in the 1st century BCE. After killing [[Habibah]], an Order member who possessed one of the blades of Vejovis' dagger, Khepri retrieved the artifact and was sent to [[Mesopotamia]] to establish a foothold for the Hidden Ones in the region, bringing the blade with her.<ref name="Chapter 2">''[[Assassin's Creed: Escape Room Puzzle Book]]'' – Chapter 2: Training</ref>

By the beginning of the 9th century, the [[Order of the Ancients]] were aware of Isu personalities resurgent within humanity, some as one time occurrences and others continually. These latter cases were designated as "sages" by this time.<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Valhalla]]'' – [[The Poor Fellow-Soldier]]</ref>

By the late 9th century, the next Vejovis Sage, the [[Vikings|Viking]] warrior [[Alva]], was born and joined the [[Raven Clan]], which was allied with the Hidden Ones. In [[London|Lunden]], Alva tracked down and eliminated the Order member known as "[[Stowe (Order of the Ancients)|The Connection]]" on the Hidden Ones' behalf, who believed he was in possession of a piece of Vejovis' dagger. However, Alva discovered that the Ancient had already sent the blade to the [[Levant]], and was contacted by a hologram of Vejovis, who urged both her and a "[[Joey|spectator]]" to locate the blade by finding his other Sages.<ref name="Chapter 3">''[[Assassin's Creed: Escape Room Puzzle Book]]'' – Chapter 3: Following the Trail</ref>

During the [[Third Crusade]], one of Vejovis' Sages, [[Faisal]], was a member of the [[Levantine Brotherhood of Assassins]]. After surviving a [[Templars|Templar]] [[Assault on Masyaf|siege]] of [[Masyaf]] in 1189, Faisal traveled to [[Damascus]] and met a Templar known as [[The Hideout]], who gave him one of the blades of Vejovis' dagger, tasking him to transport it to [[Beirut]] and, from there, to [[Constantinople]].<ref name="Chapter 4">''[[Assassin's Creed: Escape Room Puzzle Book]]'' – Chapter 4: Deceiving the Assassins</ref>

During the [[Renaissance]], the fifth known Vejovis Sage, [[Giulia]], joined the [[Italian Brotherhood of Assassins]] and, in the late 1480s, attempted to find a piece of Vejovis' dagger, which was hidden in an Isu [[Venice vault|vault]] beneath the [[Basilica di San Marco]] in [[Venice]]. After dispatching a group of Templars also attempting to access the vault, Giulia entered the complex and found the blade. She was then contacted by a hologram of Vejovis, who instructed her to hide the artifact deeper within the vault.<ref name="Chapter 5">''[[Assassin's Creed: Escape Room Puzzle Book]]'' – Chapter 5: A Hidden Tomb</ref>

====Search 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 individuals to spy on anyone in the world. As a creation of Aita, the Observatory required the insertion of a vial containing Aita's own blood to open.<ref name="The Observatory">''[[Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag]]'' – [[The Observatory]]</ref>

Around 1500, an [[16th century Sage|unnamed]] Sage of Aita found 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]], the [[Grand Master of the Templar Order|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 his predecessor's actions. Kavanagh died in 1706 and was also buried by the Guardians.<ref name="Thom Kavanagh letters"/>
[[File:The Observatory 11.png|thumb|250px|Bartholomew Roberts wielding a Crystal Skull]]
In 1715, Bartholomew Roberts, a [[Wales|Welsh]] Sage, was captured by the Templars in [[Cuba]] to be interrogated on the location of the Observatory.<ref name="Man Called the Sage">''[[Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag]]'' – [[A Man They Call the Sage]]</ref> 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.<ref name="Unmanned">''[[Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag]]'' – [[Unmanned]]</ref> Roberts worked on the [[Slavery|slave]] ship ''[[Princess|The Princess]]'' before becoming a pirate under Captain [[Howell Davis]] near the [[Africa|African coast]]. 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="Trust Is Earned">''[[Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag]]'' – [[Trust Is Earned]]</ref>

Working together, the two captains captured the ''[[Royal Fortune]]'' from the Templars which contained blood vials from important individuals in the [[Caribbean Sea]].<ref name="Black Bart's Gambit">''[[Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag]]'' – [[Black Bart's Gambit]]</ref> Roberts and Kenway then arrived at the Observatory, the Sage showing the power of the complex to the pirate. Roberts then betrayed Kenway and handed him over to the British authorities in Jamaica.<ref name="The Observatory"/> The Sage recovered the Crystal Skull and the blood vials and used them to learn the location of important fleets, allowing him to become one of the richest and most famous pirates in history. In February 1722, near Príncipe, Kenway, by now an Assassin, attacked and boarded the ''Royal Fortune'', killing Roberts. He then recovered the Crystal Skull and threw the Sage's body overboard.<ref name="Royal Misfortune">''[[Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag]]'' – [[Royal Misfortune]]</ref>

====Reformation of the Templar Order====
[[File:Tragedy of Jacques de Molay 13.png|thumb|left|250px|Jacques de Molay burning at the stake]]
In the late 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. In October 1307, King [[Philip IV of France|Philip IV]] of [[France]], under the influence of the [[Parisian Brotherhood of Assassins|French Assassins]], ordered the Templars' [[Persecution of the Templars|collective arrest]]. 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]]'', in which he had written all his knowledge about the Isu and his intended Order reformations, in a vault under the [[Temple (Paris)|Temple of Paris]].<ref name="Tragedy">''[[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}}</ref> De Molay also shared his secrets of the Isu 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}}</ref> In 1314, he was burned at the stake on the [[Île de la Cité]], cursing Pope [[Clement V]] and the French royal family in his final moments.<ref name="Tragedy"/>

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 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 name="High Society">''[[Assassin's Creed: Unity]]'' – [[High Society]]</ref> after the opening of the [[Estates-General of 1789]].<ref name="The Estates General">''[[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 name="Unity novel">[[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 name="Dinner Engagement">''[[Assassin's Creed: Unity]]'' – [[A Dinner Engagement]]</ref> leading to Louis' [[Execution of Louis XVI|execution]] in 1793 and thus avenging de Molay's death.<ref name="The Execution">''[[Assassin's Creed: Unity]]'' – [[The Execution]]</ref>
[[File:ACU The Temple 3.jpg|thumb||250px|Germain using the Sword of Eden]]
With the end of the monarchy 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 lieutenants and leading to the fall of Robespierre in 1794.<ref name="The Fall of Robespierre">''[[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. He was then finished off by Arno and, in his final moments, explained that even his death would not stop what he had started and that someone else would take his place as the ruler of the masses. Arno left Germain's body in the vault, though he would return in 1808 and move his remains to the [[Catacombs of Paris]].<ref name="The Temple"/>

====Return of Juno====
Throughout the centuries, some of Aita's Sages stayed true to his love for Juno. During the 6th century, the [[Ireland|Irish]] monk and Sage [[Brendan of Clonfert]] visited many Isu's [[Megalith]]s in the [[British Isles]], leading him to the Grand Temple but he could not access it.<ref name="Brendan Etchings">''[[Assassin's Creed: Valhalla]]'' – [[Etchings of Saint Brendan]]</ref> Three centuries later, [[Eivor Varinsdottir]] recovered [[Etchings of Saint Brendan|Brendan's writings]] and also arrived before the Grand Temple, which remaind closed.<ref name="Hunter of Beasts>''[[Assassin's Creed: Valhalla]] - [[Hunter of Beasts]]</ref> In the 18th century, Bartholomew Roberts tried to find the Grand Temple and liberate Juno but he was killed by Edward 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 from at least the early 20th century. In London during [[World War I]], a group of Templars affiliated to the Instruments was led by a Sage known only as the Master Spy, a Templar who ran a ring of spies in the city on behalf of 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]] foiled their plan. On the orders of [[Winston Churchill]], Lydia later assassinated the Master Spy, liberating London from his schemes.<ref name="The Master Spy"/>
[[File:AC4 John Bunker.png|thumb|left|250px|John Standish taking the research analyst hostage]]
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.<ref name="AC4Modern"/>

In November 2013, 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 of 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="AC4Modern"/>

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="ACUModern">''[[Assassin's Creed: Unity]]'' – [[21st century conversations#Assassin's Creed: Unity|Modern day]]</ref>

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 a Sage of Aita, 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:ACUp Jasdip introduces Elijah to Instruments.png|thumb|250px|Elijah being introduced to the Instruments 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 12">''[[Assassin's Creed: Uprising]]'' – [[Assassin's Creed: Uprising 12|Issue #12]]</ref>

====Attempted return of Vejovis====
By 2022, the latest known Sage of Vejovis, [[Joey]], worked as a security guard at a museum in London, where one blade of Vejovis' dagger happened to be located. After Joey retrieved the blade and triggered a vision of a possible future, Templar agents attacked the museum to capture Joey and recover the dagger.<ref name="ERPB Prologue">''[[Assassin's Creed: Escape Room Puzzle Book]]'' – Prologue</ref> The Sage was saved by the Assassins [[Colm]] and [[Alera]], who recruited them into the Brotherhood. Afterwards, the three worked together to explore the genetic memories of Cadmus,<ref name="Chapter 1"/> Khepri,<ref name="Chapter 2"/> Alva,<ref name="Chapter 3"/> Faisal,<ref name="Chapter 4"/> and Giulia in the hopes of discovering the whereabouts of the second dagger blade.<ref name="Chapter 5"/>

After learning about the Isu vault in Venice, the Assassins traveled there to recover the blade, but Colm was revealed to be a Templar double agent and attempted to force Joey to open the case containing the artifact. After Colm was assassinated by Alera, Joey retrieved the blade and combined it with the other dagger piece to complete the artifact. This caused a hologram of Vejovis to appear, who explained that he would soon be reborn and his being would bleed into Joey. To prevent the Isu's resurrection, Joey broke the dagger into two pieces again and destroyed one of the blades. They then left with Alera and the intact blade before the Templars arrived on the scene.<ref name="Chapter 6"/>

==Aita Sages==
{{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}}
<gallery captionalign="center" position="center" widths="180">
Wiki noimage.jpg|[[Sumerian Sage]]<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed Unity: Abstergo Entertainment – Employee Handbook]]'' – {{Cite|3 Feb 2021}}</ref><br>(c. 3rd millennium BC)
Wiki noimage.jpg|[[The Wanderer]]'''<ref group="note" name="note1">Individuals speculated but not confirmed to be Sages by Abstergo Industries or others.</ref>'''<ref name="ACU Database 09"/><br>(1st century)
Wiki noimage.jpg|[[Hunnic Sage]]'''<ref group="note" name="note1">Individuals speculated but not confirmed to be Sages by Abstergo Industries or others.</ref>'''<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">''[[Assassin's Creed: Valhalla]]''</ref>
Wiki noimage.jpg|[[Byzantine Sage]]'''<ref group="note" name="note1">Individuals speculated but not confirmed to be Sages by Abstergo Industries or others.</ref>'''<ref name="ACU Database 09"/><br>(6th century)
Wiki noimage.jpg|[[Regna]]'''<ref group="note" name="note1">Individuals speculated but not confirmed to be Sages by Abstergo Industries or others.</ref>'''<br>(c. 857 – 873)<ref>''Assassin's Creed: Valhalla'' - [[Bleeding The Leech]]</ref>
Wiki noimage.jpg|[[Maya Sage]]<ref name="Buried Secret"/><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 group="note" name="note1">Individuals speculated but not confirmed to be Sages by Abstergo Industries or others.</ref>'''<ref name="ACU Database 09"/><br>(14th century)
Wiki noimage.jpg|[[16th century Sage|Caribbean Sage]]<ref name="AC4"/><br>(died 1516)
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="The Temple"/><br>(1726 – 1794)
Wiki noimage.jpg|[[Indian Sage]]'''<ref group="note" name="note1">Individuals speculated but not confirmed to be Sages by Abstergo Industries or others.</ref>'''<ref name="ACU Database 09"/><br>(born c. 1885)
ACS Master Spy.jpg|[[Master Spy]]<ref name="The Master Spy"/><br>(died 1916)
Wiki noimage.jpg|[[David Jones]]'''<ref group="note" name="note1">Individuals speculated but not confirmed to be Sages by Abstergo Industries or others.</ref>'''<ref name="ACU Database 07"/><br>(born c. 1950)
AC4 John render.png|[[John Standish]]<ref name="AC4Modern"/><br>(1975 – 2013)
ACUp Elijah.png|[[Elijah]]<ref name="Uprising"/><br>(born c. 2005)
</gallery>

==Vejovis Sages==
<gallery captionalign="center" position="center" widths="180">
Wiki noimage.jpg|[[Cadmus]]<ref name="ACERPB">''[[Assassin's Creed: Escape Room Puzzle Book]]''</ref><br>(5th century BCE)
Wiki noimage.jpg|[[Khepri]]<ref name="ACERPB"/><br>(1st century BCE)
Wiki noimage.jpg|[[Alva]]<ref name="ACERPB"/><br>(9th century)
Wiki noimage.jpg|[[Faisal]]<ref name="ACERPB"/><br>(12th century)
Wiki noimage.jpg|[[Giulia]]<ref name="ACERPB"/><br>(15th century)
Wiki noimage.jpg|[[Joey]]<ref name="ACERPB"/><br>(21st century)
</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><ref>[[Assassin's Creed: Origins]] – [[Demons in the Desert]]</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 explained that he drew on the {{Wiki|Regeneration (Doctor Who)|constant reincarnations}} of the ''{{Wiki|Doctor Who}}'' character "{{Wiki|The Master (Doctor Who)|The Master}}", who was archenemies to the BBC series' 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.|image=File:AC4 Darby McDevitt Sages inspired by Doctor Who.png}}</ref>

==Appearances==
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Revelations]]'' {{1st}} {{c|retroactive}}
*''[[Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag]]''
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Black Flag]]''
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Memories]]''
*''[[Assassin's Creed Unity: Abstergo Entertainment – Employee Handbook]]''
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Unity]]''
*[[Assassin's Creed: Unity (novel)|''Assassin's Creed: Unity'' novel]]
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Syndicate]]''
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Uprising]]''
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Valhalla]]''
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Escape Room Puzzle Book]]''

==Notes==
<references group="note"/>

==References==
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[[Category:Sages]]
[[Category:Humans]]
[[Category:DNA]]
[[Category:Legends]]