Editing Swords of Eden

{{Era|Technology|Weapons|Isu}}
{{Update|''[[Dawn of Ragnarök]]''}}
{{Quote|The sword is not of this earth. It binds men to it who might otherwise be disloyal.|Chaya Shirōjirō Kiyonobu about Oda Nobunaga's Sword of Eden.|Assassin's Creed: Memories|Oda Nobunaga (memory)}}
{{Item Infobox
|image = SoE.png
|type = [[Pieces of Eden|Piece of Eden]]
|powers = Latent:
*Granting charisma and leadership
*Negating the effectiveness of illusions 
Active:
*Instant translocation
*Echolocation of foes
*Project energy blasts
|current = *[[Sword of Eden 1|#1]]: [[Abstergo Industries]] HQ, [[London]]<ref name="Heresy">''[[Assassin's Creed: Heresy]]''</ref>
*[[Sword of Eden 2|#2]]: ''Unknown''<ref name="ACM">''[[Assassin's Creed: Memories]]''</ref>
*[[Perseus' Sword of Eden|Perseus' Sword]]: ''Unknown''<ref name="AC2">''[[Assassin's Creed II]]'' – [[Glyphs]]</ref>
*[[Harpe of Perseus (Odyssey)|Harpe of Perseus]]: ''Unknown''<ref name="ACOd">''[[Assassin's Creed: Odyssey]]''</ref>
*[[Sword of Damokles]]: ''Unknown''<ref name="ACOd" />
*[[Excalibur]]: With the [[Women of the Mist]]<ref name="SotWH">''[[Assassin's Creed: Valhalla – Sword of the White Horse]]''</ref>
|period = Prehistory until [[modern times]]
|created = [[Isu]]
*[[Hephaestus]] and [[Consus]]<ref name="ACS">''[[Assassin's Creed: Syndicate]]'' – [[Database: Reconstructed Data 003]]</ref>
|made = c. 1923 [[Isu Era]]
}}
The '''Swords of Eden''' are [[Piece of Eden|Pieces of Eden]] created by the [[Isu]] in the manner of [[sword]]s. Invented by [[Hephaestus]] and [[Consus]] for the [[War of Unification]], since the fall of the Isu, the Swords have been most commonly used by influential [[human]]s in war and conquest.

==Powers==
The Swords of Eden are some of the most powerful pieces of technology created by the Isu and possess a myriad of advanced abilities. The Swords empower their wielders with incredible charisma, making all those around them extremely loyal and obedient. They also render their wielders immune to the illusion casting effects of the [[Staff of Eden|Staves]] and the [[Apple of Eden|Apples of Eden]].

[[Sword of Eden 1|One Sword in particular]] could cast a sonar-like echolocation, akin to [[Eagle Vision]], which can detect the presence of enemies within the wielder's vicinity.<ref name="Temple">''[[Assassin's Creed: Unity]]'' – [[The Temple]]</ref> It could additionally project energy blasts that could knock foes unconscious, as seen when an [[Jacques de Molay's advisor|unnamed]] [[Parisian Rite of the Templar Order|French Templar]] used the artifact against the [[Parisian Brotherhood of Assassins|French Assassin]] [[Thomas de Carneillon]].<ref name="Tragedy">''[[Assassin's Creed: Unity]]'' – [[The Tragedy of Jacques de Molay]]</ref>

==Known Swords==
===Sword of Eden #1===
{{Main|Sword of Eden 1}}
[[File:Tragedy of Jacques de Molay 11.png|left|thumb|250px|Jacques de Molay's advisor placing the Sword on a statue]]
Created by the Isu scientist [[Hephaistos|Hephaestus]] for use in the [[War of Unification]],<ref name="ACS" /> this Sword consisted of two components: the blade itself and the [[Heart]], which unlocked the Sword's full abilities.<ref name="Heresy" /> By the early 14th century, the Sword was in possession of the [[Templars|Knights Templar]]. After the Templars were branded as heretics in 1307 by Pope [[Clement V]], and the [[Paris]]ian [[Temple (Paris)|Temple]] was attacked by King [[Philip IV of France|Philip the Fair]]'s forces, [[Grand Master of the Templar Order|Grand Master]] [[Jacques de Molay]] entrusted his [[Jacques de Molay's advisor|advisor]] with hiding the Sword and the ''[[Codex Pater Intellectus]]'', a book written by de Molay.<ref name="Tragedy" />

The advisor succeeded in his task before being slain by the [[Master Assassin]] [[Thomas de Carneillon]], who then attempted to retrieve the Sword but failed.<ref name="Tragedy" /> Meanwhile, de Molay, who had secretly removed the Heart from the blade, was captured by King Philip's forces and imprisoned in the [[Château de Chinon]]. While awaiting execution, the Grand Master buried the Heart within some graffiti on the wall of his cell.<ref name="Heresy" />

In 1429, during the [[Hundred Years' War]], [[Jeanne d'Arc]], guided by her '[[Consus|voices]]', obtained the Heart during her stay at the Château de Chinon's Coudray Tower while awaiting an audience with the then-uncrowned [[Charles VII of France|Charles VII]]. She later obtained the Sword itself, which at some point had been recovered and buried underneath [[Church of Saint-Catherine]] at [[Sainte-Catherine-de-Fierbois]].<ref name="Heresy" />

Jeanne went on to use the Sword to secure many victories for France during the war, inspiring her comrades and cowing their enemies. However, she eventually lost the weapon during the [[Siege of Paris (1429)|Siege of Paris]], where it was recovered by Templar agents and placed back in its secret chamber. The Heart, meanwhile, was thrown into the [[Seine]] by [[Geoffroy Thérage]] following Jeanne's alleged [[Trial of Jeanne d'Arc|execution]].<ref name="Heresy" />

[[File:ACU The Temple 3.jpg|thumb|250px|François-Thomas Germain wielding the Sword]]
In 1794, during the [[French Revolution]], the Sword was acquired by [[François-Thomas Germain]], the Grand Master of the extremist faction of the Templar Order. Germain used the blade during his fight with [[Arno Dorian]] and [[Élise de la Serre]], but it was damaged in the confrontation, shattering and emitting a shockwave which killed Élise and mortally wounded Germain himself. After killing Germain, Arno ended up claiming the Sword for himself, but due to its damages he could not make use of its powers.<ref name="Temple" />

By 2016, the depowered Sword was once again in the Templars' possession, being displayed in [[Alan Rikkin]]'s office at the [[Abstergo Industries]] headquarters in [[London]]. That year, the Templar [[Simon Hathaway]] was given the Sword for research while attempting to find a way to restore its powers. After reliving the [[Genetic memory|memories]] of his ancestor [[Gabriel Laxart]] in the [[Animus]], Hathaway learned about its missing component, the Heart, and was able to find it. He then presented the restored Sword to the [[Inner Sanctum of the Templar Order]] before the artifact was returned to Rikkin's office.<ref name="Heresy" />

===Sword of Eden #2===
{{Main|Sword of Eden 2}}
[[File:ACM Genghis Khan 1.png|left|thumb|200px|Genghis Khan wielding the Sword of Eden 2]]
This Sword was possessed by the [[Mongol Empire|Mongol]] warlord [[Genghis Khan]] during the early 13th century. Using its powers, the Khan was able to lead his Empire through mass expansions into the west, which led the [[Levantine Brotherhood of Assassins|Levantine Assassins]]' [[Mentor]] [[Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad]] to deduce that the ruler must have a Piece of Eden in his possession. He subsequently decided to journey east with his family to assassinate Genghis Khan and recover his artifact.<ref name="Altair's Codex">''[[Assassin's Creed II]]'' – [[Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad's Codex]]</ref>

In 1227, Altaïr's son [[Darim Ibn-La'Ahad|Darim]] and the [[Mongolian Assassins|Mongolian Assassin]] [[Qulan Gal]] killed Genghis Khan, but failed to recover his Sword.<ref name="TSC">''[[Assassin's Creed: The Secret Crusade]]''</ref> The artifact thus remained in Mongol hands, and [[Hülegü Khan]] used it in his conquests of the [[Levant]] during the 1250s, notably during his attacks on the Assassin strongholds in [[Alamut]] and [[Masyaf]].<ref name="ACM" />

===Harpe of Perseus===
{{Main|Harpe of Perseus (Odyssey)|Harpe of Perseus}}
[[File:MedusaBossBattle3.jpg|thumb|250px|Thr Writhing Dread using the Harpe of Perseus to create a protective shield]]
This Sword was said to have been wielded [[Perseus]], the [[Greek mythology|mythical]] [[Greece|Greek]] hero who killed [[Medusa]],<ref name="ACOd" /> one of the people to be transformed into the hybrid beast known as the "[[Writhing Dread]]" by [[Prize of the Medusa|one]] of the [[Atlantis artifact|Atlantis artifacts]]. By the time of the [[Peloponnesian War]], the blade had been acquired by [[Ligeia]], the latest incarnation of the Writhing Dread, granting her a number of abilities, including teleportation and shield projection. Around 422 BCE, the ''[[Mercenary|misthios]]'' [[Kassandra]] fought and killed Ligeia at the [[Petrified Temple]] in [[Lesbos]] in order to claim her Atlantis artifact.<ref name="Writhing Dead">''[[Assassin's Creed: Odyssey]]'' – [[Writhing Dead]]</ref> In the process, she also obtained the Harpe of Perseus, though she was unable to make use of any of its powers.<ref name="ACOd" />

===Sword of Damokles===
{{Main|Sword of Damokles}}
During the Peloponnesian War, the [[Cult of Kosmos]] had a Sword of Eden under their possession, namely the [[Sword of Damokles]]. It was used as a personal weapon by [[Alexios|Deimos]], the younger half-brother of Kassandra, who wielded it in battle against the [[Sparta|Spartans]].<ref name="ACOd" /> After his death in 422 BCE,<ref name="ACOd novel">[[Assassin's Creed: Odyssey (novel)|''Assassin's Creed: Odyssey'' novel]]</ref> Kassandra obtained the sword for her own use, though she could not access any of its enhanced abilities.<ref name="ACOd" />

===Excalibur===
{{Main|Excalibur}}
[[File:ACII-WalterCrane-ArthurPullstheSwordfromStone.jpg|left|thumb|200px|Arthur pulling out Excalibur]]
At some point prior to the 5th century, the [[Women of the Mist]], a secretive group of [[Celts|Celtic]] witch-warriors based in [[Avalon]], came into possession of a Sword of Eden, which they used to determine their clan's next leader, known as "[[The Lady]]".<ref name="SotWH" /> By the early 6th century, this Sword had become lodged in a stone before being pulled out by a young [[Britons|Briton]] leader, [[Arthur Pendragon]]. Naming it "[[Excalibur]]", Arthur used the blade to repel [[Anglo-Saxons|Anglo-Saxon]] invaders and eventually became King of Britain, while also gaining an alliance with the [[Order of the Ancients]].<ref name="AC2" />

After Arthur died upon being inadvertently betrayed by those he loved,<ref name="Heresy" /> Excalibur was taken by one of his trusted allies, who sealed the blade deep within a cave known as [[Myrddin's Cave]], which housed an [[Isu Barracks|Isu ruin]]. There, the Sword remained untouched for nearly three centuries, being surrounded by twelve pillars that kept it in place.<ref name="ACV" />

During the 870s, Excalibur was recovered by the [[Vikings|Viking]] [[Eivor Varinsdottir]] of the [[Raven Clan]], who unlocked the pillars surrounding the Sword using the thirteen [[Treasures of Britain]] she had found during her travels.<ref name="ACV" /> However, Eivor would not get to keep the weapon for long, as in 878 Excalibur became the target of several groups seeking the artifact for their own ends, including the Women of the Mist, the Order and the [[Descendants of the Round Table]].<ref name="SotWH" />

[[File:ACVSotWH Niamh.png|thumb|230px|Niamh of Argyll holding Excalibur]]
[[Niamh of Argyll]], a member of the Women of the Mist who had joined Eivor's allies, the [[Assassins|Hidden Ones]], in order to get close to Excalibur, eventually managed to steal the Sword, but was attacked by soldiers sent by the Order and the Descendants to recover the artifact. After being poisoned, she escaped her assailants and met with [[Ravensthorpe]]'s seeress [[Valka]] to receive a cure for the poison.<ref name="SotWH" />

The soldiers hunting Niamh later attacked Valka's [[Seer's Hut|hut]], but using Excalibur and with the help of the Hidden One [[Hytham]], Niamh was able to fight them off. She, Hytham and Valka then devised a plan to burn a fake replica of the Sword to fool the world into thinking it had been destroyed, while the real Excalibur would be returned to Avalon.<ref name="SotWH" />

The plan was successful and, while Hytham and Valka destroyed the replica of Excalibur, Niamh took the real Sword to the Lady of Avalon. As she presented the artifact, Excalibur began to glow in Niamh's hands, which led to her being named the new Lady of Avalon. The Women of the Mist would later form an alliance with the Hidden Ones, who continued to help them protect Excalibur.<ref name="SotWH" />

===Other Swords of Eden===
*The Greek hero [[Perseus]] wielded a [[Perseus' Sword of Eden|Sword of Eden]] which, according to [[Greek mythology]], he used to slay the [[Gorgon]] [[Medusa]].<ref name="AC2" /> This Sword may or may not be the same blade as the Harpe of Perseus.
*During the 5th century CE, a Sword of Eden came into the possession of [[Attila the Hun]], after a shepherd unearthed it and gave it to him. With the blade, Attila ravaged Eurasia during his reign, and over time the weapon became known as the '''Sword of Mars''' or the '''Sword of Attila'''.<ref name="AC2" />
*During the late 6th century, a being claiming to be the Norse god [[Odin]], disguised as a beggar, plunged a Sword of Eden into a tree called {{Wiki|Barnstokkr}}, stating that whomever was able to pull it free would receive it as a gift. Only the warrior [[Sigmund]] proved able to do so, and subsequently claimed the Sword as his own.<ref name="AC2" />
*In the later half of the 16th century, a Sword of Eden wound up in the hands of the [[Japan]]ese warlord [[Takeda Shingen]], who intended to conquer the entire country with it. Seeking the artifact, the [[Japanese Brotherhood of Assassins|Japanese Asassins]] formed an alliance with [[Tokugawa Ieyasu]] and, during a raid on Shingen's camp, the warlord was killed by [[Hattori Hanzō]] and [[Honda Tadakatsu]]. However, the Assassins failed to retrieve the Sword, which was later acquired by Ieyasu's ally, [[Oda Nobunaga]]. When Nobunga similarly began using the blade for conquest, he was betrayed by his vassal [[Akechi Mitsuhide]] and then killed by the Assassin [[Yamauchi Taka]], who took the Sword and gave it to [[Liu Yan (Chinese Brotherhood)|Liu Yan]] in order to be delivered to [[China]].<ref name="ACM" />

==Gallery==
<gallery captionalign="center" position="center" widths="180">
PerseusPainting.jpeg|Perseus holding his Sword of Eden while rescuing [[Andromeda]] from [[Ketos]]
ACOd-HarpeofPerseusKassandra.jpg|Kassandra wielding the Harpe of Perseus
OdysseySwordofDamokles.png|Kassandra wielding the Sword of Damokles
ACV - Eivor and Excalibur.jpg|Eivor Varinsdottir retrieving Excalibur
ACH Jeanne render.png|Jeanne d'Arc holding the Sword of Eden 1
ACFT - Sword of Eden.png|A Sword of Eden being wielded in battle
</gallery>

==Appearances==
*''[[Assassin's Creed II]]'' {{c|Glyphs only}}
*''[[Assassin's Creed: The Secret Crusade]]'' {{Imo}}
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Unity]]'' {{1st}}
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Memories]]''
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Heresy]]''
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Reflections]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Odyssey]]''
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Valhalla]]''
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Valhalla – Sword of the White Horse]]''
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Nexus VR]]''
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple]]'' {{c|cameo}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Isu}}
[[fr:Épées d'Éden]]
[[zh:伊甸宝剑]]
[[Category:Swords of Eden| ]]
[[Category:Pieces of Eden]]
[[Category:Weapons]]
[[Category:Swords]]
[[Category:Greek mythology]]
[[Category:Arthurian legend]]