Calculations: Difference between revisions
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{{Era|Technology|Isu}} | {{Era|Technology|Isu}} | ||
{{Update|''[[ | {{Update|''[[Dawn of Ragnarök]]''}} | ||
{{Quote|They had these tools, these powerful machines, that could predict ''possible futures''. Not what was going to happen, but wha-what ''could'' happen... probabilities. And... well, they spent a lot of energy trying to decide what was the most likely scenario for the future. Theirs and ours.|Desmond Miles, 2012.|Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag|Noob's personal files#Subject 17}} | |||
{{Quote|They had these tools, these powerful machines, that could predict ''possible futures''. Not what was going to happen, but wha-what ''could'' happen... probabilities. And... well, they spent a lot of energy trying to decide what was the most likely scenario for the future. Theirs and ours.|Desmond Miles|Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag|Noob's personal files#Subject 17}} | |||
[[File:IBAL 15.png|thumb|250px|Minerva projecting herself into the future]] | [[File:IBAL 15.png|thumb|250px|Minerva projecting herself into the future]] | ||
'''Calculations''' allowed the [[Isu]] to study alternate, future timelines. [[Minerva]] was particularly proficient in their application from within the [[Nexus]], a vaguely explained temporal disruption. | '''Calculations''' allowed the [[Isu]] to study alternate, future timelines. [[Minerva]] was particularly proficient in their application from within the [[Nexus]], a vaguely explained temporal disruption. | ||
[[Jupiter]], [[Juno]] and Minerva worked to influence several individuals throughout [[human]]ity in the centuries ahead of them to prevent a recurrence of a [[Second Disaster|solar flare]] from devastating [[Earth|the planet]] after seeing [[ | [[Jupiter]], [[Juno]], and Minerva worked to influence several individuals throughout [[human]]ity in the centuries ahead of them to prevent a recurrence of a [[Second Disaster|solar flare]] from devastating [[Earth|the planet]] after seeing [[Great Catastrophe|one]] coming in their own species' near future. When [[Odin]] later travelled to [[Útgarðar]] to search for "the [[Mead of poetry|mead]]", a catalyst that could help save him and the Isu faction of [[Æsir]], he encountered Minerva, who referred to the Calculations as "''seiðr''". | ||
After his consciousness was uploaded into [[the Grey]] and the 2012 Second Disaster was averted, the human [[Desmond Miles]] discovered that the cataclysm, a particularly stubborn 'node' in the timeline, kept trying to reassert itself. Desmond thus edicated himself to the study of the calculations in an effort to reduce [[Ragnarök|the chances of a recurrence]]. By the time [[Layla Hassan]] joined him in his efforts eight years later, Desmond had forgotten his original identity and morphed into an entity known as "the Reader." | |||
After his consciousness | ==Notable instances== | ||
===Isu Era=== | |||
After [[Odin]] used the supercomputer [[Yggdrasil]] to perceive potential outcomes following the impending solar flare or ways to avoid it, he was haunted by the revelation of [[Fenrir]]'s fated role to kill him in [[Ragnarök]]. This drove him to find the means to avert his and the Æsir's end, ultimately culminating with the Æsir using Yggdrasil to be [[Isu incarnation|incarnated]] centuries later. Unbeknownst to him, [[Loki]] also had used the calculations to successfully time his infiltration of Yggdrasil's vault and [[Isu incarnation|plant]] a replica of his consciousness and genetics into the human genepool.<ref name="Animus Anomalies">''[[Assassin's Creed: Valhalla]]'' – [[Animus Anomalies]]</ref> | |||
[[Minerva]] constructed two builds of the [[Eye]] based on her studies; the first to communicate with [[Desmond Miles]] through his ancestor [[Ezio Auditore da Firenze|Ezio Auditore]] in 1499,<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed II]]'' – [[In Bocca al Lupo]]</ref> and the second to commune with Desmond again on the day of the impending Second Disaster in 2012.<ref name="AC3">''[[Assassin's Creed III]]'' – [[21st century conversations#Assassin's Creed III|Modern day]]</ref> | |||
===Ancient Greece=== | |||
[[File:ACOD The Serpent's Lair - Deimos Realization.png|thumb|250px|left|Kassandra and Deimos touching the Pyramid]] | |||
In the 5th century BCE, the [[Cult of Kosmos]] was in possession of a [[Piece of Eden]] known as the [[Pyramid (Isu)|Pyramid]], which allowed them to witness visions of both the past and possible futures. They used this information in their efforts to take over the [[Greece|Greek world]] by starting the [[Peloponnesian War]].<ref name=The Serpent's Lair">''[[Assassin's Creed: Odyssey]]'' – [[The Serpent's Lair]]</ref> | |||
In 431 BCE, when [[Kassandra]] infiltrated the [[Sanctuary of Kosmos]] and touched the Pyramid at the same time as her half-brother [[Alexios]], who served the Cult as their enforcer Deimos, the siblings witnessed visions of their childhood which allowed them to determine each other's identities.<ref name=The Serpent's Lair" /> | |||
Several years later, when Kassandra returned to the Sanctuary after having eliminated the Cult, she again touched the Pyramid and saw a vision of her father [[Pythagoras]] who revealed that Kassandra had been destined to wipe out the Cult and restore the balance between order and chaos. Pythagoras then explained that the fight between order and chaos would continue for millennia afterwards, as Kassandra was shown visions of the [[Assassin-Templar War|conflict]] between the [[Assassins]] and [[Templars]].<ref name="A Fresh Start">''[[Assassin's Creed: Odyssey]]'' – [[A Fresh Start]]</ref> | |||
In 422 BCE, the Isu [[Aletheia]] explained to Kassandra—and through her, [[Layla Hassan]], who was reliving the [[Sparta]]n's [[Genetic memory|memories]]—that the Isu had spent so much time looking for alternate futures where "everything remained the same", rather than ones where the Isu and humans might work together to survive, that it ultimately cost them any chance of survival.<ref name="Aletheia">''[[Assassin's Creed: Odyssey]] – [[The Fate of Atlantis]]''</ref> | |||
== | ===Renaissance=== | ||
[[File:Roads lead to 6.png|thumb|250px|Ezio using the Apple to see the future]] | |||
In 1504, Ezio Auditore used his [[Apple of Eden 6|Apple of Eden]] to look into the future and discern what threat [[Cesare Borgia]] still posed following his arrest.<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood]]'' – [[All Roads Lead To...]]</ref> Learning that Cesare had escaped imprisonment in [[Castel Sant'Angelo]], Ezio immediately set off to capture the [[Templars|Templar]]. As the docks near the Castel were busy, Ezio used the Apple to pinpoint his target's exact location, ultimately allowing him to prevent Cesare's escape.<ref name="ACB novel">[[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood (novel)|''Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood'' novel]]</ref> | |||
In 1506, Ezio, at [[Niccolò Machiavelli]]'s suggestion, reluctantly used his Apple to track down Cesare's right-hand man [[Micheletto Corella]], but was only shown a vague image of a castle in [[Spain]]. When he asked the Apple why it was not showing him what he wanted, the artifact "spoke" to Ezio and told him to relinquish it, so that future generations may make use of it. After indicating the [[Colosseum Vault|place]] where it should be hidden, the Apple revealed Micheletto's whereabouts—[[Naples]]—as a parting gift.<ref name="ACB novel"/> | |||
===Golden Age of Piracy=== | |||
A Piece of Eden shaped like a [[crescent amulet]], which was said to contain "all knowledge of mankind's past, present and future", could be used to access the calculations.<ref name="FT 96">''[[Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple]]'' – [[Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple Episode 96|Episode 96]]</ref> In 1725, after coming under the amulet's influence, [[Edward Kenway]] experienced several visions of the past and the future, including one of the [[Netherlands|Dutch]] sailor [[Hendrik]] concealing a [[Hendrik's sea log|sea log]] within [[Ferdinand Magellan]]'s cross. This confirmed to Edward that he was on the right path to find Magellan's "treasure" and that he needed to find the cross in [[Cebu]].<ref name="FT 56">''[[Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple]]'' – [[Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple Episode 56|Episode 56]]</ref> | |||
[[File:ACFT - WW2 vision.png|thumb|170px|left|Rajah's vision of World War II]] | |||
Later, the [[Visayans|Visayan]] chief [[Rajah]], who had acquired the amulet, was shown visions of the future conflicts that awaited the [[Philippines|Filipino]] people, most notably the {{Wiki|Philippines campaign (1941–1942)|Japanese invasion of the Philippines}} during [[World War II]]. These visions determined Rajah to prevent them from coming to fruition by securing his peoples' independence through a violent revolution,<ref name="FT 70">''[[Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple]]'' – [[Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple Episode 70|Episode 70]]</ref> though he was defeated by Edward Kenway before he could succeed.<ref name="FT 71">''[[Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple]]'' – [[Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple Episode 71|Episode 71]]</ref> | |||
After claiming the amulet, Edward experienced more visions of the future, both real and probable, including a timeline where his ally [[Shimazu Saito]] was slain by the [[Rattan Shield Company]],<ref name="FT 84">''[[Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple]]'' – [[Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple Episode 84|Episode 84]]</ref> and another one where he was killed by the [[Chinese Brotherhood of Assassins|Chinese Assassin]] [[Xiao Han]] in the [[Sultanate of Sulu]].<ref name="FT 89">''[[Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple]]'' – [[Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple Episode 89|Episode 89]]</ref> During his fight against Xiao Han, Edward was shown a vision of his eventual death in 1735, as well as the demise of his son [[Haytham Kenway]] in 1781, making him hesitate to take Xiao Han's life.<ref name="FT 91">''[[Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple]]'' – [[Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple Episode 91|Episode 91]]</ref> | |||
After losing the amulet to Xiao Han, Edward continued to suffer from its lingering effects and experience visions of the future,<ref name="FT 92">''[[Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple]]'' – [[Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple Episode 92|Episode 92]]</ref><ref name="FT 95">''[[Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple]]'' – [[Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple Episode 95|Episode 95]]</ref> until he was eventually healed by [[Lantern (Piece of Eden)|another Piece of Eden]] he retrieved from the [[Shwedagon Pagoda]].<ref name="FT 102">''[[Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple]]'' – [[Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple Episode 102|Episode 102]]</ref> | |||
===American Revolution=== | |||
In 1769, when [[Ratonhnhaké:ton]] communed with Juno via a [[Crystal Balls|Crystal Ball]], she instructed him to join the Assassins and showed him the consequences should he not do so: the Templars would breach the [[Grand Temple|sanctuary]] near [[Kanatahséton]] and the world would not be saved from the coming apocalypse.<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed III]]'' – [[Something to Remember]]</ref> | |||
[[File:ACIII-Awaken 15.png|thumb|250px|Washington's Apple of Eden projecting a vision of an alternate timeline]] | |||
Following the end of the [[American Revolutionary War]], [[George Washington]] began suffering from nightmares caused by an [[Apple of Eden 3|Apple of Eden]] he had retrieved during the [[Siege of Yorktown]], which showed him a possible future where he ruled the [[United States]] as a tyrant. When Washington showed the Apple to Ratonhnhaké:ton, the latter was subjected to the same visions, revealing that if he had never joined the Assassins, he would not have been present to prevent Washington's corruption by the Apple and the United States' collapse into [[Rebellion against King Washington|civil war]].<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed III]] – [[The Tyranny of King Washington]]''</ref> | |||
===Modern times=== | |||
When [[Nikolai Orelov]] touched the [[Imperial Sceptre]], a [[Staves of Eden|Staff of Eden]], during the [[Tunguska explosion|Tunguska event]], he saw events from the past and future. Through the [[Bleeding Effect]], his descendant [[Daniel Cross]] saw his eventual meeting with [[Mentor (2000)|the Mentor]].<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: The Fall]]'' – [[Assassin's Creed: The Fall 2|Issue #02]]</ref> | |||
Inside the [[Colosseum]] [[Colosseum Vault|Vault]], Juno showed Desmond Miles what would happen if he did not kill [[Lucy Stillman]]: [[Abstergo Industries]] would have arrived to claim Ezio's Apple of Eden and placed it in the [[Eye-Abstergo]] satellite, dismissing its importance in preventing the Second Disaster.<ref name="AC3" /> | |||
When [[Clay Kaczmarek]]'s consciousness merged with Desmond,<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Revelations]]'' – [[21st century conversations#Assassin's Creed: Revelations|Modern day]]</ref> he acquired Clay's knowledge of calculations, which he later documented in a series of cell phone message memos. In the messages, he noted several versions of himself: one who got married early and had a son, the reality who stayed single in New York, one who went to [[San Francisco]] to be a waiter, one who got a job at an auto body shop in [[Chicago]], and one who never left [[The Farm]] in the first place.<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag]]'' – [[Noob's personal files]] – Subject 17: "Subject 17 - memo 2"</ref> | |||
Minerva later showed Desmond that if he did not use the [[global aurora borealis device]] and release Juno from the Grand Temple, then the cataclysm would destroy humanity, but he would lead the survivors in a restart of civilization. Long after his death, history would repeat itself, with Desmond worshipped as a god while his teachings would be twisted to justify mass genocide.<ref name="AC3" /> | |||
==Behind the scenes== | ==Behind the scenes== | ||
[[Darby McDevitt]], the lead writer for the 2011 video game ''[[Assassin's Creed: Revelations]]'', has stated that "Calculations" was the in-house term for parallel universes in the series and added that Clay Kaczmarek went insane because he saw too many possible futures, in addition to suffering from the [[Bleeding Effect]].<ref>{{Twitter|DarbyMcDevitt|status/339502197190557699|Darby McDevitt|quote=@20glyphs We often referred to these as their "Calculations". Sixteen saw many of these. Too many. Hence his madness.|image=File:Darby McDevitt Twitter - Calculations.png}}</ref> | [[Darby McDevitt]], the lead writer for the 2011 video game ''[[Assassin's Creed: Revelations]]'', has stated that "Calculations" was the in-house term for parallel universes in the series and added that Clay Kaczmarek went insane because he saw too many possible futures, in addition to suffering from the [[Bleeding Effect]].<ref>{{Twitter|DarbyMcDevitt|status/338892077880451072|Darby McDevitt|quote=Up late writing, and I wonder: What current unresolved AC mystery troubles you the most? (No promises I will address it.) #assassinscreed|image=File:Darby McDevitt Twitter - Calculations.png}}<br>↑ {{Twitter|20glyphs|status/339016759577309184|20glyphs|quote=@DarbyMcDevitt What was so important about the Adam and Eve video? Subject 16 saying "The Sun... your son..."|image=File:Darby McDevitt Twitter - Calculations.png}}<br>↑ {{Twitter|DarbyMcDevitt|status/339174867242983424|Darby McDevitt|quote=@20glyphs I'll give eagle-eyed fans enough details to close the book on the second one. Stay tuned.|image=File:Darby McDevitt Twitter - Calculations.png}}<br>↑ {{Twitter|20glyphs|status/339198673877626880|20glyphs|quote=@DarbyMcDevitt Thanks. Appreciate you caring about the details. Shame this seemed to be teased as something important before being ignored.|image=File:Darby McDevitt Twitter - Calculations.png}}<br>↑ {{Twitter|DarbyMcDevitt|status/339473347521949696|Darby McDevitt|quote=@20glyphs It was never as important as the fans made it out to be though. I think the very existence of "Tyranny" should give you clue why|image=File:Darby McDevitt Twitter - Calculations.png}}<br>↑ {{Twitter|20glyphs|status/339497602393460736|20glyphs|quote=@DarbyMcDevitt Any closure you can bring to those mysteries would be appreciated. Mystery needs emotionally satisfying payoff.|image=File:Darby McDevitt Twitter - Calculations.png}}<br>↑ {{Twitter|DarbyMcDevitt|status/339501254780809216|Darby McDevitt|quote=@20glyphs You're misreading me a bit. I just mean the EXISTENCE of "Tyrrany" should give you a clue. Probabilities. Possible futures.|image=File:Darby McDevitt Twitter - Calculations.png}}<br>↑ {{Twitter|DarbyMcDevitt|status/339502197190557699|Darby McDevitt|quote=@20glyphs We often referred to these as their "Calculations". Sixteen saw many of these. Too many. Hence his madness.|image=File:Darby McDevitt Twitter - Calculations.png}}<br>↑ {{Twitter|20glyphs|status/339504440384057347|20glyphs|quote=@DarbyMcDevitt The story made it seem TWCB could see a lot, with them delivering 3 different messages to Desmond. Calculations would explain|image=File:Darby McDevitt Twitter - Calculations.png}}<br>↑ {{Twitter|DarbyMcDevitt|status/339505204003217410|Darby McDevitt|quote=@20glyphs Yes. Via these calcs they determined that Desmond was the best candidate for their messages. But even they couldn't see the end.|image=File:Darby McDevitt Twitter - Calculations.png}}<br>↑ {{Twitter|20glyphs|status/339504119851126784|20glyphs|quote=@DarbyMcDevitt We were told many times that 16 went crazy from the bleeding effect, not seeing TWCB calculations. Would be fun to explore.|image=File:Darby McDevitt Twitter - Calculations.png}}<br>↑ {{Twitter|DarbyMcDevitt|status/339504848124915712|Darby McDevitt|quote=@20glyphs They go together. Via the bleeding effect he just took on WAY too much. He goes through a lot in Lost Archive. Experiences a lot.|image=File:Darby McDevitt Twitter - Calculations.png}}</ref> | ||
In the 2020 video game ''[[Assassin's Creed: Valhalla]]'', the ''jötnar'' Gunnlöð referred to calculations as ''{{Wiki|seiðr}}''. In real life, ''seiðr'' is a form of magic practiced by [[Scandinavia]]ns during the Late {{Wiki|Iron Age}}. The practice of ''seiðr'' is believed to be a form of powerful magic which primarily revolves around precognition, prophecy and shaping the future.<ref>{{WP|Seiðr}}</ref> | |||
==Gallery== | |||
<gallery captionalign="center" position="center" widths="180"> | |||
ACOD A Fresh Start 3.png|Pythagoras appearing to Kassandra in a vision projected by the Pyramid | |||
ACOD A Fresh Start 13.png|Kassandra's vision of a fight between Assassins and Templars | |||
In Bocca al Lupo 21.png|Minerva speaking to Desmond across space and time | |||
ACFT - Edward killed by Xiao Han.png|Edward Kenway's vision of his death at Xiao Han's hands | |||
ACFT - Edward's death vision.png|Edward's vision of his actual death | |||
ACIII-Remember 12.png|One of Ratonhnhaké:ton's visions during his "spirit journey" | |||
Inevitable Confrontation 12.png|Ratonhnhaké:ton with an apparition of his alternate self | |||
ACTF Tunguska explosion.jpg|Nikolai Orelov's vision during the Tunguska explosion | |||
Daniel vision.png|Daniel Cross' vision of the past and the future | |||
Miles-Jupiter.png|A projection of Jupiter speaking to Desmond | |||
</gallery> | |||
==Appearances== | ==Appearances== | ||
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood]]'' | *''[[Assassin's Creed II]]'' {{1stm}} | ||
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Revelations]]'' {{C|first identified as 'Calculations'}} | *''[[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood]]'' {{Mo}} | ||
*''[[Assassin's Creed III]]'' | *[[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood (novel)|''Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood'' novel]] {{1st}} | ||
**''[[The Tyranny of King Washington]]'' | *''[[Assassin's Creed: The Fall]]'' | ||
*''[[Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag]]'' | *''[[Assassin's Creed: Revelations]]'' {{Mo}} {{C|first identified as 'Calculations'}} | ||
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Odyssey]]'' | *''[[Assassin's Creed III]]'' | ||
**''[[The Tyranny of King Washington]]'' | |||
*''[[Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag]]'' {{Mo}} | |||
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Odyssey]]'' | |||
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Valhalla]]'' | *''[[Assassin's Creed: Valhalla]]'' | ||
*''[[Cike Xintiao: Chang'an Wang]]'' | |||
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple]]'' | |||
==References== | ==References== | ||
{{Reflist}} | {{Scroll box|content={{Reflist|2}}}} | ||
{{Isu}} | {{Isu}} | ||
{{ACFT}} | |||
[[Category:Isu technology]] | [[Category:Isu technology]] | ||
[[Category:Isu projects]] | [[Category:Isu projects]] | ||
[[Category:Norse mythology]] | [[Category:Norse mythology]] | ||
Latest revision as of 16:00, 13 August 2025
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Patience, brothers. Soon we will reveal the secrets of Dawn of Ragnarök. This article has been identified as being out of date. Please update the article to reflect recent releases and then remove this template once done. |
- "They had these tools, these powerful machines, that could predict possible futures. Not what was going to happen, but wha-what could happen... probabilities. And... well, they spent a lot of energy trying to decide what was the most likely scenario for the future. Theirs and ours."
- ―Desmond Miles, 2012.[src]-[m]
Calculations allowed the Isu to study alternate, future timelines. Minerva was particularly proficient in their application from within the Nexus, a vaguely explained temporal disruption.
Jupiter, Juno, and Minerva worked to influence several individuals throughout humanity in the centuries ahead of them to prevent a recurrence of a solar flare from devastating the planet after seeing one coming in their own species' near future. When Odin later travelled to Útgarðar to search for "the mead", a catalyst that could help save him and the Isu faction of Æsir, he encountered Minerva, who referred to the Calculations as "seiðr".
After his consciousness was uploaded into the Grey and the 2012 Second Disaster was averted, the human Desmond Miles discovered that the cataclysm, a particularly stubborn 'node' in the timeline, kept trying to reassert itself. Desmond thus edicated himself to the study of the calculations in an effort to reduce the chances of a recurrence. By the time Layla Hassan joined him in his efforts eight years later, Desmond had forgotten his original identity and morphed into an entity known as "the Reader."
Notable instances[edit | edit source]
Isu Era[edit | edit source]
After Odin used the supercomputer Yggdrasil to perceive potential outcomes following the impending solar flare or ways to avoid it, he was haunted by the revelation of Fenrir's fated role to kill him in Ragnarök. This drove him to find the means to avert his and the Æsir's end, ultimately culminating with the Æsir using Yggdrasil to be incarnated centuries later. Unbeknownst to him, Loki also had used the calculations to successfully time his infiltration of Yggdrasil's vault and plant a replica of his consciousness and genetics into the human genepool.[1]
Minerva constructed two builds of the Eye based on her studies; the first to communicate with Desmond Miles through his ancestor Ezio Auditore in 1499,[2] and the second to commune with Desmond again on the day of the impending Second Disaster in 2012.[3]
Ancient Greece[edit | edit source]
In the 5th century BCE, the Cult of Kosmos was in possession of a Piece of Eden known as the Pyramid, which allowed them to witness visions of both the past and possible futures. They used this information in their efforts to take over the Greek world by starting the Peloponnesian War.[4]
In 431 BCE, when Kassandra infiltrated the Sanctuary of Kosmos and touched the Pyramid at the same time as her half-brother Alexios, who served the Cult as their enforcer Deimos, the siblings witnessed visions of their childhood which allowed them to determine each other's identities.[4]
Several years later, when Kassandra returned to the Sanctuary after having eliminated the Cult, she again touched the Pyramid and saw a vision of her father Pythagoras who revealed that Kassandra had been destined to wipe out the Cult and restore the balance between order and chaos. Pythagoras then explained that the fight between order and chaos would continue for millennia afterwards, as Kassandra was shown visions of the conflict between the Assassins and Templars.[5]
In 422 BCE, the Isu Aletheia explained to Kassandra—and through her, Layla Hassan, who was reliving the Spartan's memories—that the Isu had spent so much time looking for alternate futures where "everything remained the same", rather than ones where the Isu and humans might work together to survive, that it ultimately cost them any chance of survival.[6]
Renaissance[edit | edit source]
In 1504, Ezio Auditore used his Apple of Eden to look into the future and discern what threat Cesare Borgia still posed following his arrest.[7] Learning that Cesare had escaped imprisonment in Castel Sant'Angelo, Ezio immediately set off to capture the Templar. As the docks near the Castel were busy, Ezio used the Apple to pinpoint his target's exact location, ultimately allowing him to prevent Cesare's escape.[8]
In 1506, Ezio, at Niccolò Machiavelli's suggestion, reluctantly used his Apple to track down Cesare's right-hand man Micheletto Corella, but was only shown a vague image of a castle in Spain. When he asked the Apple why it was not showing him what he wanted, the artifact "spoke" to Ezio and told him to relinquish it, so that future generations may make use of it. After indicating the place where it should be hidden, the Apple revealed Micheletto's whereabouts—Naples—as a parting gift.[8]
Golden Age of Piracy[edit | edit source]
A Piece of Eden shaped like a crescent amulet, which was said to contain "all knowledge of mankind's past, present and future", could be used to access the calculations.[9] In 1725, after coming under the amulet's influence, Edward Kenway experienced several visions of the past and the future, including one of the Dutch sailor Hendrik concealing a sea log within Ferdinand Magellan's cross. This confirmed to Edward that he was on the right path to find Magellan's "treasure" and that he needed to find the cross in Cebu.[10]
Later, the Visayan chief Rajah, who had acquired the amulet, was shown visions of the future conflicts that awaited the Filipino people, most notably the Japanese invasion of the Philippines during World War II. These visions determined Rajah to prevent them from coming to fruition by securing his peoples' independence through a violent revolution,[11] though he was defeated by Edward Kenway before he could succeed.[12]
After claiming the amulet, Edward experienced more visions of the future, both real and probable, including a timeline where his ally Shimazu Saito was slain by the Rattan Shield Company,[13] and another one where he was killed by the Chinese Assassin Xiao Han in the Sultanate of Sulu.[14] During his fight against Xiao Han, Edward was shown a vision of his eventual death in 1735, as well as the demise of his son Haytham Kenway in 1781, making him hesitate to take Xiao Han's life.[15]
After losing the amulet to Xiao Han, Edward continued to suffer from its lingering effects and experience visions of the future,[16][17] until he was eventually healed by another Piece of Eden he retrieved from the Shwedagon Pagoda.[18]
American Revolution[edit | edit source]
In 1769, when Ratonhnhaké:ton communed with Juno via a Crystal Ball, she instructed him to join the Assassins and showed him the consequences should he not do so: the Templars would breach the sanctuary near Kanatahséton and the world would not be saved from the coming apocalypse.[19]
Following the end of the American Revolutionary War, George Washington began suffering from nightmares caused by an Apple of Eden he had retrieved during the Siege of Yorktown, which showed him a possible future where he ruled the United States as a tyrant. When Washington showed the Apple to Ratonhnhaké:ton, the latter was subjected to the same visions, revealing that if he had never joined the Assassins, he would not have been present to prevent Washington's corruption by the Apple and the United States' collapse into civil war.[20]
Modern times[edit | edit source]
When Nikolai Orelov touched the Imperial Sceptre, a Staff of Eden, during the Tunguska event, he saw events from the past and future. Through the Bleeding Effect, his descendant Daniel Cross saw his eventual meeting with the Mentor.[21]
Inside the Colosseum Vault, Juno showed Desmond Miles what would happen if he did not kill Lucy Stillman: Abstergo Industries would have arrived to claim Ezio's Apple of Eden and placed it in the Eye-Abstergo satellite, dismissing its importance in preventing the Second Disaster.[3]
When Clay Kaczmarek's consciousness merged with Desmond,[22] he acquired Clay's knowledge of calculations, which he later documented in a series of cell phone message memos. In the messages, he noted several versions of himself: one who got married early and had a son, the reality who stayed single in New York, one who went to San Francisco to be a waiter, one who got a job at an auto body shop in Chicago, and one who never left The Farm in the first place.[23]
Minerva later showed Desmond that if he did not use the global aurora borealis device and release Juno from the Grand Temple, then the cataclysm would destroy humanity, but he would lead the survivors in a restart of civilization. Long after his death, history would repeat itself, with Desmond worshipped as a god while his teachings would be twisted to justify mass genocide.[3]
Behind the scenes[edit | edit source]
Darby McDevitt, the lead writer for the 2011 video game Assassin's Creed: Revelations, has stated that "Calculations" was the in-house term for parallel universes in the series and added that Clay Kaczmarek went insane because he saw too many possible futures, in addition to suffering from the Bleeding Effect.[24]
In the 2020 video game Assassin's Creed: Valhalla, the jötnar Gunnlöð referred to calculations as seiðr. In real life, seiðr is a form of magic practiced by Scandinavians during the Late Iron Age. The practice of seiðr is believed to be a form of powerful magic which primarily revolves around precognition, prophecy and shaping the future.[25]
Gallery[edit | edit source]
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Pythagoras appearing to Kassandra in a vision projected by the Pyramid -
Kassandra's vision of a fight between Assassins and Templars -
Minerva speaking to Desmond across space and time -
Edward Kenway's vision of his death at Xiao Han's hands -
Edward's vision of his actual death -
One of Ratonhnhaké:ton's visions during his "spirit journey" -
Ratonhnhaké:ton with an apparition of his alternate self -
Nikolai Orelov's vision during the Tunguska explosion -
Daniel Cross' vision of the past and the future -
A projection of Jupiter speaking to Desmond
Appearances[edit | edit source]
- Assassin's Creed II (first mentioned)
- Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood (mentioned only)
- Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood novel (first appearance)
- Assassin's Creed: The Fall
- Assassin's Creed: Revelations (mentioned only) (first identified as 'Calculations')
- Assassin's Creed III
- Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag (mentioned only)
- Assassin's Creed: Odyssey
- Assassin's Creed: Valhalla
- Cike Xintiao: Chang'an Wang
- Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple
References[edit | edit source]
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