Assassin's Creed: Initiates

"On September 1st, 2012, a man is kidnapped in New York. Brought to a secret Abstergo facility in Italy, he is placed in the Animus and forced to relive the memories of his Assassin ancestor. This man is Desmond Miles. This is his story."

―The Desmond Files

Assassin's Creed: Initiates was a community-oriented project founded by Ubisoft on 1 September 2012 that was envisioned as "the place for all things Assassin's Creed."

History

The domain name for "acinitiates" was filed on 21 August 2012 and the site officially launched on 1 September. On 7 September, the site's background map showed 6 events somewhere in the Atlantic Ocean. Zooming in on the areas resulted in the message "Map data not yet available". In the Initiates section titled "The Desmond Files", the name "William M." appeared as the sender in e-mails separately addressed to Lucy Stillman ("Concerns", 26 September) and Shaun Hastings ("Status", 27 September), copied directly from their appearance in Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood. When Brotherhood's lead writer Jeffrey Yohalem was asked about the peculiarity in a podcast on 29 April, he said that "the William M.'s are not necessarily the same". This was confirmed when Initiates was updated with the events of 9 October, revealing that the "William M." who was contacting Lucy was Dr. Warren Vidic.

Initiates logo, 2012

Two files focused on Desmond Miles underwent changes that differed from the events depicted in the games. Firstly, the image of his transfer to Abstergo Industries' laboratory in Rome for the Animus Project ("Unmarked Hangar", 1 September) was updated 3 times. The first version showed Desmond's uncovered face at 18:44 hours, or 6:44 pm. The second version incorporated several changes, specifically, adding a blindfold on Desmond and Abstergo logos on the uniforms of Desmond's captors, changes to lighting and shadowing, slight changes to the figures' positions, and revising the timestamp to 16:44 hours, or 4:44 pm. The third and final version was identical to the second, though the timestamp was restored to the original 18:00. Though not necessarily an error, the image showed Desmond with a courier bag and his outfit from Brotherhood, despite the event taking place around the time of Assassin's Creed. These were very visible in the original version of the image, but were obscured in the updated versions. The second file, the "Animus Explained" clip from 1 September, was cut to omit Desmond "arguing semantics" with Vidic when comparing genetic memory to animal instinct, unlike what was shown in Assassin's Creed.

That same date, the site entered the beta phase of its first iteration, however, the solar flare three months later on 21 December disrupted global communications and caused the website to crash. In January 2013, the site moved to a new alpha stage that would last until 31 December. The first phase of this alpha was restricted to users only and required an activation key to participate. Users could answer a question once a day to help restore communications, and participants who were able to get an activation key were under a strict non-disclosure agreement policy to not share what was being done during the closed alpha. The site entered an open alpha stage in October 2013, and the NDA agreement was lifted.

Initiates logo, 2014

On 26 June 2014, the site was closed for an indefinite period of time due to maintenance, until it was redesigned and reopened on 11 November. However, on 13 November, it was still reportedly broken. The site was again updated on 10 November to include patches that allowed for mobile accessibility and simultaneous, seamless console browsing while gaming. It was back up by the next day after some connectivity issues with Assassin's Creed: Unity were fixed.

By this point, Initiates also let logged-in players view their Unity gaming statistics to determine their "Assassin style" from nine different archetypes outlined below based how often they fought enemies (Combat), used the environment to facilitate kills or escape (Parkour), evaded detection by blending (Stealth), or used equipment like smoke bombs or the Phantom Blade instead of fleeing pursuit or personally striking targets (Tools):

Play style	Description
Generalist	You have found balance between the different fundamental skills of an Assassin. You can adapt to any situation by combining different approaches. Every problem can be solved with the right solution, and you have all of them on your key set.
Brawler	You are a ruthless fighter who feeds on the fear he creates in the eyes of his enemies. Your skills in close combat allow you to stab right into the heart of a conflict. You'll never run without giving a good fight.
Daredevil	You are an escape artist. You like to turn your enemies into pursuers, before vanishing completely. Your weapons are your speed, your agility, and your environment. You react and move quickly, allowing you to evade any potential threat.
Prowler	You are an invisible threat. Hidden in the shadows, you wait patiently to take down your prey one by one. You get close enough to incapacitate them or steal their last breath with your blade.
Trickster	Why would you adapt to your environment when you can bend it to serve your needs instead? You don't like to get your hands dirty. Playing with the minds of your enemies is your specialty, and you do it with surgical precision.
Rioter	You are a sharp blade flying at full speed. You run through your enemies without mercy. They are only obstacles to overcome by slicing and cutting. You sow chaos before quickly evaporating
Infiltrator	Hiding and running are your specialties. You are just a shadow creeping into your enemy's territory. Your mind is a machine dedicated to meticulously calculating your next move while running from one cover point to the next.
Tormentor	Unpredictable, you are the disturbing presence that torments enemies. You dispatch targets from either up close or long range. Disappearing into the shadows between each assassination is child's play for you, being detected only adds to the challenge.
Handler	You are resourceful, yet aggressive. You are endowed with a sharp mind and sharper blades. When solving a problem you rely on the quickest solution, whether it involves blood or not.

Another update came on 5 December, adding connectivity to Assassin's Creed: Rogue and patching other issues. On 24 December, the site was closed for "a continued state of maintenance during the holiday period", with no further details on what was being fixed, how, or why. The offline maintenance state continued into February 2015, then extended further until the platform was definitively retired on 4 December.

Features

The website included a news section, forums for discussion, and a link to Ubiworkshop's store. Most notably, it featured an explorable map that tracked places, events, people, objects, and messages from the series' modern day storyline. On 5 October 2012, a timeline section that charted historic events in the series' chronology was introduced. Users could also track their progress in all Assassin's Creed games, redeem codes from select merchandise for exclusive game items, and unlock additional content by performing actions on the program's webpage; these features would later be moved to the Ubisoft Club program.

The Desmond Files

Main article: The Desmond Files

The Desmond Files refers to a collection of images, video clips, transcripts, and documents that tracked the events following Desmond's capture by Abstergo Industries. Each file was keyed to a location on an explorable world map and tagged with a timestamp expressed in the UTC (Coordinated Universal Time) standard.

Data Recovery Progress

Main article: Data Recovery Progress

On 3 January 2013, Initiates started working with members of the worldwide community to reestablish their synchronization to the Database Network Archives, also known as D.N.A, where daily visits required passcodes to aid in the site's restoration.

Surveillance

Main article: Surveillance

Surveillance refers to a collection of images, video clips, transcripts, and documents that tracked the Assassins after 21 December 2012, beginning with a communication from Shaun Hastings in May 2013.

Initiates Database

Besides the various files on Desmond and other modern Assassins, Initiates also compiled information on historical events, which they divided into the sections Dossiers, Lineages, and the eponymous Database. Dossiers compiled information on historical figures as well as modern Assassins and certain objects, Lineages collected several memories from certain individuals like Eseosa and Ezio Auditore, and the Database contained information beginning in 33 CE and was divided into five main time periods.

Dossier

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Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad

Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad (1165 – 1257), a distant ancestor of Desmond Miles, brought crucial reforms to the Assassin Brotherhood and expanded its influence beyond its Middle Eastern origins.

Altaïr was skilled but arrogant, the youngest man ever to gain the rank of Master. On a mission to retrieve an artifact called the Apple of Eden, he broke the three tenets of the Assassin's Creed, costing him his status. His task for redemption was to stop the Templars, who were playing the Crusaders and Saracens against one another for control of the Holy Land. Altaïr eventually earned the respect of King Richard, hastening the end of the Third Crusade.

The wisdom Altaïr gained let him uncover that his mentor, Al Mualim, was a traitor using the Apple's unfathomable powers for his own selfish desires. After restoring order, he became the Mentor, started a family, and reformed Assassin practices.

Altaïr dedicated the rest of his life to creating a Codex containing his memories, together with the information extracted from the Apple, in the hopes that future generations would use it to establish Assassin Guilds throughout the world.

Ezio Auditore da Firenze

Ezio Auditore da Firenze (1459 – 1524) had a passion that drove him from being a carefree youth to an accomplished Assassin leader.

Ezio's privileged life vanished when Templar conspirators hanged his father and brothers. Taking up arms left to him by his father, he became an outlaw and traveled to Monteriggioni, where his Uncle Mario revealed his Assassin lineage. Ezio took up their cause, at first to protect his surviving family, but eventually to free Italy from Templar corruption in the form of the Borgias and their allies.

Defeating the Borgias took many years, during which he befriended such luminaries as Leonardo da Vinci and Niccolò Machiavelli. They saw his potential and encouraged him to find his own path, and when he became the Brotherhood's Mentor, he taught others the same.

Later, Ezio traveled to the Middle East in search of Altaïr's lost library and the origins of the Assassins. He learned that his purpose was to be a conduit between an ancient civilization and a man in the future named Desmond. His duty done, Ezio retired from the Brotherhood, married his love, and raised a family before dying content.

Blackbeard

Blackbeard (c.1680 – 1718) was the most famous pirate of the Golden Age and is credited for creating the fearsome image of the pirate that remains in the public consciousness to this very day.

Edward Thatch was born in or around Bristol in 1680 and took to the sea in his early teens. Thatch was known by many names throughout history, among them Teach, Theach, Tache, Titche, Teatch, and Tack, to name but a few. He was likely a privateer between the years of 1700 and 1713, but once the Treaty of Utrecht restored peace between England and several European powers, Thatch found himself as one of hundreds of unemployed sailors.

Soon thereafter, Thatch befriended Benjamin Hornigold and sailed with him for a few years before they settled in Nassau. There, they began to hatch schemes for nothing less than their own sovereign nation built around their new piratical values.

In 1717, after growing a long black beard, Thatch began to refer to himself as Blackbeard, and so a legend was born.

Black Bart

Charismatic and handsome, Black Bart (1682 – 1722) was the most successful pirate of the Golden Age of Piracy, taking more than 470 vessels in his career.

Although he is known to history as Black Bart, he never used that name while he was alive. He was born John Roberts in Wales, though little else is known about his early life.

It's assumed he began a life at sea in his teens, and in 1719 he was pressed into piracy by a man named Howell Davis, who recognized Robert's abilities as a navigator. When Davis was killed, Roberts was elected captain of the Princess. It's around this time he adopted the name Bartholomew, likely inspired by the renowned buccaneer Bartholomew Sharp.

Benjamin Hornigold

Benjamin Hornigold (c.1685 – 1719) had a relatively short career as a pirate before turning his back on his former comrades to become a pirate hunter on behalf of the Governor of the Bahamas.

Much of Hornigold's life is unrecorded, although it is believed he was born in Norfolk, England. He was an early pirate, with his first activity recorded in 1713–14, which makes it likely that he was a privateer. His second-in-command was Edward Thatch, who would later be better known as Blackbeard.

For a short time, Hornigold was based in Nassau, where he became involved in plans to create a free republic of pirates. Although he was a skilled sailor and strategist, many felt that he wasn't ruthless enough to succeed as a true pirate.

Adéwalé

Born to enslaved parents in Trinidad, Adéwalé was sold to the owner of a prosperous plantation before his teens. He escaped by joining a group of buccaneers who raided the plantation.

Adé sailed with this group of men for many years, honing his skills as a sailor. In 1715, he was captured by Spanish authorities, who decided to send Adéwalé to Spain, and loaded him into one of the galleons that made up their perennial treasure fleet. Thanks to a hurricane, and a young Welsh pirate named Edward Kenway, Adé escaped. Freeing more prisoners as they went, Adé and Edward commandeered a brigantine and set sail just in time to beat the worst of the storm. When the hurricane passed, Adé was free once more.

Adé became the quartermaster aboard Captain Edward's ship, the Jackdaw. Operating out of Nassau for a time, they grew wealthy off their spoils and lived the lives they had always dreamed of. But Adé was a man who valued the democratic ideals of this pirate community far above the spoils they acquired while living it. And as he saw Edward Kenway fall deeper into a spiral of selfish greed and pointless glory, he wondered if there wasn't a more noble cause he might adopt to suit his ideals.

Adé met with Ah Tabai at the Assassin's village in Tulum. There he spoke with the old Mentor and asked him many questions about the Brotherhood. After hearing answers that pleased him greatly, Adé joined them. For over fifteen years, Adéwalé faithfully served the Assassins. But in time, he became increasingly troubled by memories of his past.

In 1735, while on a mission to eliminate a Templar Admiral off the coast of Saint-Domingue, he was thrown overboard and washed ashore near Port-au-Prince.

Edward Kenway

Edward James Kenway (1693 – 1735) was a pirate trained by Assassins whose dream of making something of himself came true in a way he never could have imagined.

Edward was born in Swansea, Wales and at the age of ten his family relocated to a farm in Bristol. This pastoral life did not agree with the young Edward, who became a well-known troublemaker by the time he was in his teens. At 17, this reckless young man met Caroline Scott, and a year later they were married, much to her well-bred family's dismay. Edward was committed to providing for his new wife, but quickly fell back into his old habits. In a desperate attempt to get rich, he clung to a dream of privateering. Caroline left him soon after, knowing that she could not persuade him to stay.

Across the Atlantic, Edward met Edward Thatch, who would later take the name of Blackbeard, at Nassau. Although he loved the carefree life of a pirate, Caroline was never far from his thoughts, and he still sought out a way to earn big and win her back.

And then one day, Edward Kenway met an Assassin named Duncan Walpole...

Haytham Kenway

Haytham Kenway (1725 – 1781), a principled man and formidable Templar, found himself on the wrong side of both history and his son.

Haytham's father was Edward Kenway, who trained him with a secret purpose. But one day, young Haytham's home was burned, his half-sister taken, and his father killed. Reginald Birch, a family friend, revealed he was a Templar and offered to help.

Years passed and Haytham became a ruthless and efficient killer for the Templars. He was sent to the colonies to establish order and find a crucial First Civilization site. He secured the assistance of Kanien'kehá:ka natives by freeing several captives, including Ziio, with whom he had an ill-fated but passionate affair.

When Haytham found his sister, she revealed that the Templars were behind the attack on his home. Edward had been an Assassin, and Birch had him killed for his secrets. Once Birch was dead, Haytham returned to his role, disillusioned by Templar corruption.

Haytham wanted to control the growing American Revolution, but the half-native Assassin Connor sabotaged his efforts. Haytham realized Connor was his son with Ziio, and while he tried to find common ground, he knew reconciliation was impossible. Haytham fell to his son's Hidden Blade.

Aveline de Grandpré

Aveline de Grandpré, a charming and determined Assassin, operated in the complex world of colonial Louisiana.

Aveline was the illegitimate child of a French merchant and an African slave. Shortly after her father married Madeleine de L'Isle to further his business, her mother vanished mysteriously. Her unique upbringing let her grow into a social chameleon who could take on any guise, from slave to lady.

At first, Aveline was an obedient disciple of her Mentor Agaté. When she discovered a Templar plot to send Louisiana slaves to Mexico to dig for ancient artifacts, she investigated against her Mentor's will and found her mother there. She also learned about a high-ranking Templar called "The Company Man". She sought "him" for years, even enlisting the aid of the American Assassin Connor, only to learn that "he" was Madeleine.

When she tried to warn Agaté, he doubted Aveline's loyalties and his despair led him to suicide. Aveline then joined the Templars, a final ruse to destroy them from the inside. She assassinated her stepmother and kept a crucial artifact from Templar hands.

Connor Kenway

Ratonhnhaké:ton (1756 – unknown), also called Connor, was an Assassin who struggled with the ideals of liberty and justice, fighting for a cause that ultimately did not embrace him.

Connor was the son of a Kanien'kehá:ka mother, Kaniehtí:io, and an English Templar father, Haytham Kenway. Their village burned during the Seven Years' War, killing his mother when he was still a child.

Connor's deep-rooted anger was channeled when a Piece of Eden granted him a vision. He was told to seek out the sign of the Assassins, which he found on the home of Achilles, a former Mentor. Achilles reluctantly trained the young man before sending him out to face the Templars, who planned to control North America and exploit ancient technology there.

As an Assassin, Connor aided the Patriots and specifically George Washington, the figurehead of the growing American Revolution. He admired their desire for liberty and their opposition to Templar aims, but learned they were destroying his people. Despite his misgivings, he lent his support to such acts as the Boston Tea Party and the Battle of the Chesapeake. He assassinated Templar leaders, including his father. In the end, Connor knew he had made the Revolution a success, but that his people would not enjoy its benefits.

Nikolai Orelov

Nikolai Orelov was a working-class Assassin caught up in causes beyond his control that ultimately cost him his family and life.

Trained by his father, Nikolai reluctantly undertook a mission to kill Tsar Alexander III, who was in possession of a powerful artifact called the Staff of Eden. Later, the Assassins learned that Templars were experimenting on the Staff and sent Nikolai and a team to destroy it. Their ally Nikola Tesla switched on an electrical weapon early, triggering the Tunguska Event and killing everyone present but Nikolai.

During the Russian Revolution, Nikolai became obsessed with the Staff, finally finding a fragment in Rasputin's grave. Considering his duty done, he fled with his wife and daughter to America. But they were deported during the Red Scare, leaving Nikolai to raise their newborn son Innokenti.

Nikolai and his son lived alone in the woods until the Brotherhood tracked them down, demanding that he return. He refused and killed the Assassins with his son's help, eventually sacrificing himself to let Innokenti escape. Daniel Cross, Templar sleeper agent, was Nikolai's descendant.

William Miles

Cold and calculating, William Miles took over what was left of the modern day Brotherhood and sacrificed everything to save the world.

William was born in 1948, and spent much of his early life working with Assassin cells around the world. By the 1980s, he settled in a compound known as "The Farm", where he trained recruits, including Clay Kaczmarek, Lucy Stillman, and his own son, Desmond.

In 2000, the Templars eradicated a vast majority of the Brotherhood in an event known as "The Great Purge". William became the de facto leader of the few Assassin cells that remained.

In 2003, Desmond rebelled and ran away. He resurfaced in 2012, when he was abducted by Abstergo and forced into the Animus Project, attempting to locate an Apple of Eden. William led the rescue effort and brought Desmond to New York. Father and son, along with Shaun Hastings and Rebecca Crane, found a First Civilization temple, and worked together to prevent a prophesied global catastrophe. Saving the world came at a high cost: Desmond died, and the Precursor entity known as Juno was released.

Grieving, William retreated from the Assassins, handing off leadership to his friend Gavin Banks, along with a coded journal that contained many of his secrets. One year later, William has returned to the fight, but his motivations remain as elusive as ever.

Desmond Miles

An Assassin who initially rejected his origins, Desmond Miles embraced his destiny and saved the world.

Desmond was raised on a remote compound, but rebelled against his father's stifling control and ran away. The Templars found and kidnapped him, putting him into the Animus to relive the genetic memories of his ancestor Altaïr and find them a powerful artifact called the Apple of Eden.

He was eventually rescued by Assassins, but by then, he had absorbed Altaïr's wisdom through the Bleeding Effect. Despite the dangers, he continued his research so he could defeat the Templars. Through another ancestor, Ezio, Desmond learned the physical skills of the Assassins. Using these new abilities, he led his team to an Apple, but was possessed by an ancient being who drove him to stab one of his allies. Falling into a coma, Desmond was placed in the Animus to restore his mind.

After recovering, Desmond relived the memories of two more ancestors: Haytham, a Templar, and Connor, an Assassin. Through them, he accessed the Grand Temple, a site of great power where he sacrificed himself to save humanity from a global catastrophe.

Gavin Banks

Gavin Banks is a long-time member of the Assassin Brotherhood who has worked with cells all over the world. Gavin was mentored in Japan by Kenichi Mochizuki, and has engaged in Assassin missions in Australia, Brazil, and America.

Gavin is an old friend of the Assassin leader William Miles. When William went underground to mourn the loss of his son Desmond, he gave Gavin his journal, which contained everything he knew about the modern-day Brotherhood, albeit in coded puzzles. As the new leader, Gavin's mission was to rebuild the Assassins, who had struggled since the "Great Purge" of 2000.

Gavin travels the world with his team, aboard a ship called the Altaïr II, which serves as a mobile headquarters for the Brotherhood. Gavin's crew includes:

• Susan Drayton, captain of the ship
• Eric Cooper, navigator
• Emmanuel Barraza, armorer
• Emmett Leary, computer expert
• Dr. Stephanie Chiu, ship's medic
• Nodar Ninidze, Chief Steward
• Akaki Ninidze, Chief engineer
• Galina Voronina, Assassin enforcer

The Animus

The Animus was created by Abstergo Industries using the research of Dr. Warren Vidic, the world's leading authority on genetic memory. Although the Animus is an Abstergo invention, a version of the device has also been developed by the Assassin Brotherhood.

Since the creation of Animus technology in 1980, Abstergo has used it on at least 17 test subjects, and the machine itself has gone through several iterations. By 2002, they began to produce Animi in greater numbers, and large facilities were set up in their Philadelphia and Rome locations. Abstergo Industries created the Animi Training Program to train its Templar soldiers in combat.

At first, the Animus could only display an individual's personal genetic history. However, as the technology progressed, Abstergo developed the Data Dump Scanner, which allowed an individual to relive the memories of other people's genetic history. It was first used in Project Legacy, an initiative designed to obtain new information on Assassins and Pieces of Eden.

In 2012, Dr. Vidic used the Animus in an attempt to find an Apple of Eden to complete the Eye-Abstergo satellite project. When Subject 16 committed suicide, driven insane by the Bleeding Effect (a result of overexposure to the device), the Lineage Research and Acquisition Division delivered Subject 17, a man named Desmond Miles. Although Desmond was able to locate an Apple of Eden, he escaped with help from the Assassins and later returned to kill Vidic.

In 2012, Abstergo Entertainment used the technology to create interactive historical simulations, beginning with Liberation. Although Abstergo markets its virtual features as entertainment products, it monitors the resulting user data in a never-ending search for Pieces of Eden.

The Vial

Vials were artifacts designed by the First Civilization. When used in conjunction with a Crystal Skull, they created a powerful spying tool.

Each Vial was a crystal cube designed to contain a few drops of blood from an individual. When one was inserted into a Crystal Skull, it would project a hologram displaying what that person was currently seeing.

The Skull was the centerpiece of a First Civilization sanctuary near Tulum. A Mayan temple was built over the site, and Mayan Assassins lived in a nearby village to protect it. A legendary figure called the Sage was rumored to be the only person who could open the sanctuary and control its security system. One known incarnation of this Sage was the pirate Bartholomew Roberts, and another was an Abstergo employee known only as "John from IT".

The artifacts changed hands several times during the early eighteenth century. For a time, Bartholomew Roberts held the skull itself, making him the most effective pirate in history. Edward Kenway recaptured the skull and returned it to the sanctuary. However, by this time, the collection of Vials stored within had gone missing. The present location of the sanctuary, Crystal Skull, and Vials are unknown but are the focus of intensive searches from both the Assassins and Templars.

The Hidden Blade

The Hidden Blade is a compact device that has become the signature weapon of the Assassin Brotherhood. Its small blade is designed to quickly extend or retract and remain hidden on the underside of the bearer's forearm.

The first recorded use of the Hidden Blade was the assassination of Xerses I of Persia by an Assassin known as Darius. From that moment, it became an important part of the Assassin's arsenal, and by the Middle Ages, its use became very ritualistic, and using a Hidden Blade required one to sever the ring finger on their left hand. The legendary Mentor of the Levantine Brotherhood, Altaïr ibn-La'Ahad, made several improvements to the design of the weapon, removing the need for the severed finger, and adding the means to deliver poison and a projectile system.

The Ottoman Brotherhood refined the concept into the Hookblade, which allowed the Assassins to scale walls at a much faster rate. Despite considerable advancements in weapon technology, modern-day Assassins still use the Hidden Blade. Its compact, versatile design still makes it an invaluable tool for the Brotherhood.

The Apple of Eden

The First Civilization, a race of advanced beings that predated humans, left traces of their technology scattered throughout the world. Among the Assassin Brotherhood and Templar Order, these relics are referred to as "Pieces of Eden." The most coveted of these are the Apples of Eden, versatile tools that functioned as stores of First Civilization knowledge, but were primarily used as devices of control.

Those Who Came Before originally created the Apples as a means of ensuring humanity's subservience by controlling the thoughts, emotions, and behavior of their human servants. The genetic structure of the human race was specifically designed to respond to the Apple's power. Ironically, it also led to a slave revolt, as two humans known as Adam and Eve retrieved an Apple and used it to spark a human rebellion against their masters.

Centuries later, the power of the Apples to control the minds of men was recognized by the Templar Order, who began a hunt for the Apples and other Pieces of Eden that continues to this day. An Apple of Eden was to be the centerpiece of the Eye-Abstergo satellite, a Templar plan to use an array of satellites to control the Earth. At least five Apples of Eden are known to exist, and there may be more still hidden in the world.

Lineages

Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad // 1165 - 1257 // The Reformer

Ezio Auditore da Firenze // 1459 - 1524 // The Prophet

Edward Kenway // 1693 - 1735 // The Scoundrel

Haytham Kenway // 1725 - 1781 // The Lost Son

Aveline de Grandpré // 1747 - Unknown // The Liberator

Connor Kenway // 1756 - Unknown // The Revolutionary

Nikolai Orelov // Unknown - 1928 // The Disillusioned

Eseosa // 1757 - Unknown // Letters To The Dead

Database

The Middle AgesRenaissanceThe Golden Age of PiracyThe American RevolutionModern Times

Messiah	Pirates of the Mediterranean	Fall of the Great	Battle of the Hydaspes
Gunpowder	Forward Thinker	Daring Viking Explorer	The Templar Tomboy
Maud	A Life for a Life	Altaïr's Demotion	Altaïr and the Apple
Heart of a Lion	The Horns of Hattin	Genghis Can't	A Cruel End
Dante's Pupil	Dante's Murder	Scattered Pages	A New Noble House
A Villa for the Auditore

Retrieving the Codex	Sword and Smoke	Nascita del Guerriero
The Printing Press	Quick at Six	Love and Marriage
Eye, Eye	Before the Prince	Expedition Along the African Coast
Nicolaus Copernicus	Unjustly Executed	On the Attack
Persona Non Grata	Not Alone	Forlí’s Failing
Nurse	Child of Rome	Touched by the Shroud
Eclipse	Funding Friedrich	The Man Behind the Name
A Woman's Touch	A Future Brother	Helping Henry
Resisting Manuel	Fooling Ivan	Ending Isabella
Journey to the West	Misinformed	Battle of Agnadello
The First Masyaf Key	Quid Pro Quo	Saving the Magnificent
Fading Friend	Bone Collector	Unthinkable
Not Crystal, But Gold	Visit from the East	Battle of Gogunda
Giordano Bruno	Man of Controversy	John Dee
Bookworm	The King's War	Stepped Ashore as King
Executed After Death	Monarchy Restored	The Battle of Lowestoft
Suspicious Fire in London

The Dutch Buccaneer and Slaver	Grand Master Torres	The Story of Rum
Buried Treasures	The Gruff Commodore	The Mayan Mentor
The Maroon Assassin	The Captain Was Here	Devoted to Discipline
The Traitor Duncan Walpole	The Pirate Hunter	A Vicious Captain
Blackbeard's Mentor	Birth of a Legend	Captain of the Fortune
Calico Jack	A Collector of Hidden Blades	Mr. Wrong
The Orchid	The Aristocratic Pirate	The Steadfast Smuggler
The Runaway Bride	Benjamin's Lackey #1	Benjamin's Lackey #2
The Lady Black	The Bastard Son of Captain Kidd	A Fool in Love
Caroline Scott of Hawkins Lane	Kingston, Jamaica	The Taino Assassin
The Pirate Barmaid	Ungoverned Island	Chasing the Pirates
The Beaches of Nassau	Unemployed Seamen	Before the Golden Age
The Wreck of the Spanish Treasure Fleet	The Flying Gang	The Fortified City
The Republic of Pirates Under Scrutiny	Governor of Order	Buccaneer Hideout
From Slavers to Pirates	Rogers Attacks Nassau	Medicinal Hostages
Pirates, Ye Be Warned	Piracy on the Northern Atlantic	Pirates Hanged
Explorer of the North	Overshadowed by Slavery	Losing Ed
A Resilient Colony

An Enlightened Merchant	Fire in her Eyes	Lee's Early Life	Birth of a Revolutionary
The Fiend Nadir Shah	Marquis de Lafayette	Death of the Dog	Conspiring with the British
Smoke Leads To...	Aveline and the First Fragment	One Step Forward...	Unexpected Reunion
Uncle Sam	Commander-in-Chief	Washington's Savior	...Two Steps Back
Self Penance	Murder in Martinique	Traitor of the Revolution	A Well Earned Rest
Kenway Showdown	The Writing's On the Wall	Washington's Resignation	Number One

The Widow Ching, Lady Pirate	Rani Laxumibai of Jhansi	Amritsar
Harimandir	On	Confederate Spy
Discovering DNA	The Spark	A Dancer and a Spy
The Short	Dire Consequences	Orelov Versus the Staff of Eden
The Shock	Molecular Machine	Assassin Science Cities
Jumping Genes	Fading Hope	Tattletale
Nazi-Soviet Pact	Operation Silver Fox	Second Battle of El Alamein
Off	Yalta Conference	Manhattan Project
Second Atomic Bomb	Nazi Collaborator	Great Soul Lost
Photo 51	Post-War Science	Sour Grapes
A Brash American	The Trauma Is Everything	Post Soviet Science
You're One of Us, Right?	It's a Very Good Thing You're on Our Side	Missing Link We've Been Waiting For
Finding the Apple of Eden	American Gladiators Faceoff	We Employ Advanced Technology
We Observe to Gather Knowledge	We Discover Chronology	Unexpected Dissolution
We Prepare For the Future	We Are the Initiates

Abstergo Files

Certain Abstergo files and emails were also acquired by initiates, including a series of correspondences from Abstergo employee Clinton B. Rosenburg.

Animus EmailsAE Employee PassportAnimus Memo

James Morse's email	Lucy Stillman's email
Warren Vidic's email	Project Lead #9

WELCOME TO THE TEAM
Congratulations on making the bold step towards the best years of your career!

Abstergo Entertainment has a fresh outlook and a unique way of working.

With so many possibilities for growth, it can be overwhelming at first. But we're here to help you get settled in and down to work... the work of following your dreams!

A NEW KIND OF ENTERTAINMENT
Inspiration strikes at unexpected times, in unusual places.

We got our start as the entertainment division of a technology company, Abstergo Industries, where research into genetic memory (more on that, later!) led to captivating, enthralling surprises.

Today, with a wide range of transmedia offerings, from games to books, films and comics, we're more than just an entertainment company. We like to think of ourselves as a history company, built on science. Now those are some good genes!

---

TIME TO INNOVATE
1937: Abstergo Industries is founded with the ambitious objective of making the best results of scientific progress available to humanity, widely, accessibly and responsibly.

1937: Abstergo Industries is an early supporter of workers' unions. Our relationship with our employees is even closer and stronger today in all of our subsidiaries, including Abstergo Entertainment.

1940: Recognizing its responsibility to create opportunity and stability for its people—and all people, Abstergo Industries takes the role of global leader, aiding the establishment of the World Bank and NASA, among many defining initiatives of the 20th century.

1978: The first Animus device is created and the discipline of DNA Memory Research is born.

2009: After twenty-five years of meticulous testing, DNA Memory is ready for public consumption. Abstergo Industries launches a pilot Entertainment Division to produce experimental features for entertainment markets.

2010: The prototypical Abstergo Industries Entertainment Division issues its first release: Project Legacy. The social media phenomenon dazzles audiences by allowing them to relieve genetic memories of historical figures and little known heroes of the past.

2011: Via its growing Entertainment division, Abstergo Entertainment tests a new multiplayer simulation of historically-inspired entertainment gyms. The experiment is embraced by a competitive new generation of gamers eager to outdo one another.

2012: In collaboration with major videogame publisher Ubisoft, Abstergo Entertainment's Assassin's Creed III: Liberation is released, and for the first time, the public hears the story of Aveline de Grandpré, a fallen Assassin who rediscovers the light with the help of the Templar Order. A modern classic is born.

2013: Ground is broken on Abstergo Entertainment's new headquarters in Montreal, Québec, Canada. Home to gourmet cuisine, great shopping and a vibrant local culture, Montreal blends old world charm with new world energy: the perfect balance for our entertaining, historical, scientific, innovative, company.

THE PRESENT AND BEYOND: YOU join our team. A star is born. The future looks brighter than ever.

---

YOUR ROLE


CONSTELLATION OF TEAMWORK
We go out of our way to recruit the most talented people from all walks of life—innovators, producers, good listeners who always seem to know what we need a moment before we do.

You should feel at home in your Animus Workstation to explore history with the thoroughness you crave—and we expect! Who knows, maybe you'll uncover a past technology to the benefit of future generations, unearth evidence of a secret society, break a few codes, or make an outstanding connection between mysterious documents.

This could be the beginning of something beautiful. Or shocking. Or evocative. It's all there in history, and the secrets of humanity are at your disposal, thanks to genetic memories we put in your hands.

FITTING IN
At Abstergo Entertainment, we understand the power of knowing where you belong. That's why we've designed an ironclad hierarchy that leaves the organization to us, so you can do what you do best: research and create to your heart's content. No need to worry about getting ahead; we'll take care of that for you!

---

PRACTICALLY SPEAKING
You've explored all the menus in your personal communicator, and you can almost find your desk without checking the map. Just a few things to keep in mind, to ensure your first week is a success.

HOURS
Your work hours are from 8:30 am to 5:30 pm, but feel free to start as late as 10:00, and don't be surprised if you get so absorbed in history, you sometimes forget to go home!

VACATIONS
Everyone needs a breather once in a while. Your first week off will come after 3000 hours in the Animus or a year at Abstergo Entertainment—whichever comes first. It's going to fly by!

---

PRACTICALLY SPEAKING... cont'd

BENEFITS
We have the best life insurance plan in the business, and that's just the start!

FOOD AND COMMON AREAS
You'll find everything you need for a healthy, energized work life right at your fingertips. Check the atrium for everything from fresh sushi, to organic, direct trade coffee. Yum!

BUILDING SECURITY
Your communicator will give you access to the areas you need.

DIVERSITY AND GENDER EQUALITY
Abstergo Industries and Abstergo Entertainment recognizes the fundamental benefit to humanity of striving to include the best minds from around the world and across society. If you have ideas for reaching and engaging new contributors from under-represented segments, you are encouraged to contact HR.

NON-DISCLOSURE
You are free to trumpet your enthusiasm and loyalty to Abstergo Entertainment on social media. Heck, shout it from a rooftop if you need to.

But remember, unless specified, the following information must not be shared: Project details, their titles, launch dates, themes, characters, settings, and all other identifying traits, the physical layout of Abstergo Entertainment and Abstergo Industries campuses, and the makeup of teams, including immediate colleagues supervisors, reports, and their project status, mentions of any technologies, partners, affiliates, retailers, wholesalers, and allusions to the details of sales reports or bonus structures, must not be shared. For the protection of marketing and media schedules and potential loss of data, employees are encouraged not to travel with work, but in cases where it cannot be avoided, are advised to use laptops, tablets and communicators only in approved Abstergo hotels and meeting rooms, never in public or in un-vetted spaces.

---

DNA MEMORY: HOW IT WORKS

No one really knows. (Just kidding. It's a safe and well-documented process.)

Steps:
1- Acquisition
2- Extraction
3- Exploration
4- Editing

What some call animal instinct, Dr. Warren Vidic termed Genetic Memory. Locked within our DNA are records of our ancestor's lives.

The Animus is a device that renders genetic memories in three dimensions. It's a window to the past that allows you to experience history, but not change it. That happens later, in editing!

Once, we were bound to explore only the genetic memories of our own ancestors, but today it's possible to research within the memories of any ancestor for whom Abstergo Entertainment holds a viable sample for extraction. And all with negligible side-effects.

Note: genetic memory records for a given ancestor end at the moment of conception, when genetic material is passed on.

---

BUILDING PLAN

Animus Memo: Vatican City, Italy, 2008-01

January 2008

First Quarter Briefing on Abstergo Lab Facility Progress
Animus Project
Vatican City

In brief:

Request to allocate 25% of $960.000.000 annual Abstergo R&D budget to the project approved. Note that this marks a 50% increase.

New subterranean lab space staffed after preliminary trials of latest device iteration were successful.

Device functional with low power requirements.

Device mainframe is 30% smaller than previous iteration. At this rate, a portable Animus may be possible in the future.

Intended ancestral memories accessed with 86.7% success rate during trials.

Preparations to continue transfer of Assassin skills.

Search for key cartographer ancestral DNA ongoing.

I will run through the specifics in person with you next week.

Warren Vidic

The Rosenburg Letters

Clinton B. Rosenburg's correspondence details Abstergo's hand in the cracking of the Human Genome, and his quest for the triple-helix.

1234567

PASADENA // USA // 1952-08-14
Mr. Director, August 14 1952

Mr. Director,

As requested, I am keeping you abreast of Dr. Pauling's latest findings. Please find an article slated for PNAS (enclosed) which proposes a structural model for deoxyribonucleic acid.

I will spare you the details but you will find his triple-helix model, made of three intertwined strands of DNA, to be highly elegant. It rivals his earlier work on protein structure.

I believe Abstergo Chemicals should pay special attention to the evolution of DNA science as it will likely unlock the very secrets of life. Please note I would be more than willing to play a more direct role to encourage Dr. Pauling's research efforts if you wish me to.

In the meantime, I wanted to thank you for trusting me with the business of the Foundation. I am honoured to facilitate the work of such brilliant scientists.

Kind regards,

Clinton B. Rosenburg, Ph.D

• 
  Rosenburg's first letter

CAMBRIDGE // UNITED KINGDOM // 1952-12-30
Mr. Director, December 30 1952

Mr. Director,

Thank you so much for your kind praises. Rest assured, I did not miss your veiled reference to a potential research position within your company when last we met at the fundraiser. I just find my current work at the Foundation more significant than my personal scientific ambitions. Please know that I appreciate your interest in my career.

As per your instructions, I provided Dr. Watson and Cricks' team with the X-Ray crystallography data from Dr. Franklin. Of course, I made sure nothing could be traced back to the Foundation.

This new data and their own findings have yielded a bold proposal: they posit that the structure of DNA is a double-helix one. They plan to use it to invalidate Pauling's triple-helix model in an upcoming article in Nature.

I am thoroughly unconvinced their model is the correct one. I know one shouldn't depend too much on intuition when it comes to science, but I believe we should encourage our sponsored scientists to push research in the triple-helix model further.

Please find enclosed a budget proposal that would allow us to support both types of research while meeting our objectives.

I remain your most devoted servant,

Clinton B. Rosenburg, Ph.D.

• 
  Rosenburg's second letter

CHICAGO // USA // 1962-04-09
Mr. Director, April 9 1962

Mr. Director,

It is with great regret, but probably no great surprise to you, that I write this letter of resignation. Heading the Foundation these last few years was an exhilarating challenge. I feel our support and guidance played a crucial role ushering in a new age in biochemistry.

I must however come to terms with the new direction you wish to give to the Foundation. It does not fit with my own vision of keeping the broadest possible agenda, especially in light of Abstergo Pharmaceuticals' decision to focus exclusively on double-helix DNA.

As per our recent conversation, I am aware that I might not see "the whole picture" and this might indeed be the time for new leadership.

This is why I chose to follow your suggestion and accept the position of senior scientist with your company's Molecular biology R&D department. I trust your "open door" policy will remain in effect. I look forward to showing you some of my plans to demonstrate the existence of other stable forms of DNA.

Kind regards,

Clinton B. Rosenburg, Ph.D.

• 
  Rosenburg's third letter

BOISE // USA // 1969-06-23
Mr. Director, June 23 1969

Mr. Director,

I know you and I have had our disagreements in the past, especially with what you consider my "undue obsession" with triple-helix DNA, but my loyalty to you has been nothing if not exemplary. I feel you have unfairly dismissed all my research proposals these last years.

I ask you to reconsider your latest decision to have my research funds drastically cut and force me to move my lab to Boise. I can't believe Abstergo Pharmaceuticals wants to force me to focus on this completely ridiculous idea that the key to unraveling the secrets of genes lies in studying enzymes found in bacteria isolated from Yellowstone's hot springs. This is madness and a horrendous waste of resources!

I really appreciate everything you've done for me. I know I would not have remained here as long without your constant support. It hasn't escaped my notice that my influence within the R&D department has been on the decline for the last few years. I can't shake the feeling that you might have had a part in this.

I know that I have been unable to obtain solid evidence that DNA exists in a triple helix structure but I am still convinced the scientific community is ignoring something of fundamental importance. Like I have told you many times, absence of evidence does not necessarily translate to evidence of absence.

In the meantime, I will look into the papers you have sent me about this polymerase enzyme that people at the University of Cincinnati are getting so excited about.

I thank you in advance,

Clinton B. Rosenburg, Ph.D.

• 
  Rosenburg's fourth letter

ROCHESTER // USA // 1976-01-12
Mr. Director, January 12 1976

Mr. Director,

What the hell is happening here? You've stopped answering my messages and I was made to understand, very clearly, that I was not to "bother" you anymore. Furthermore, my security clearance no longer grants me the freedoms and accesses it used to. This is truly sad. I wanted to share with you the most amazing discovery we've had in our DNA sequencing laboratories to date.

It turns out Taq polymerase, that enzyme purified from hot springs bacteria, has allowed us to push forward DNA sequencing into a new era of performance. We're already far ahead of all other public and private laboratories in terms of throughput and data fidelity.

In fact, we're already years ahead of Dr. Watson's dream of mapping the human genome. Results are very promising, although we are likely many years away from completion. I know this is the kind of information that is of interest to you.

That being said, I wanted to tell you first hand that we've finally found solid evidence of triple-helix DNA. I can picture you rolling your eyes at this, but please have a look at the preliminary data.

I will reproduce the trial and will show you all that I was right!

Clinton B. Rosenburg, Ph.D.

• 
  Rosenburg's fifth letter

ROCHESTER // USA // 1978-04-24
Mr. Director, April 24 1978

Mr. Director,

I'm sick and tired of all these condescending notes I'm getting from your office. I've never shown anything but loyalty to you and I've always done what was asked on me regardless of my personal agenda. I don't deserve this. And if that wasn't enough, my career keeps nose diving.

I'm being punished for being a free thinker, maybe the last one around here.

I know I wasn't able to ever reproduce my triple-helix results, but I don't think that was worth serial demotions. But who cares if I'm right or wrong anymore? The Abstergo monster has chewed me up and spat me out.

I'm now stuck in a corner of the company's sequencing lab. I can't do research anymore. All I've got left is babysitting a bunch of uppity technicians and rooms filled with "bleeding edge" machinery.

You keep sending me new "toys" every other week or so, as if I could be pacified with technology. No one will ever accuse our great and benevolent corporation of lacking focus and resources. I once thought it would take years to sequence a whole human genome, we can routinely do one a month now… When I don't get interrupted with insulting busywork from that lab in Italy.

I must keep our "masters" happy, I suppose.

I thought you were my friend, I never imagined that you would be the one to take the first bite.

Clinton B. Rosenburg, Ph.D.

• 
  Rosenburg's sixth letter

ROCHESTER // USA // 1984-12-18
Mr. Director, December 18 1984

Mr. Director,

I don't know if you're still a part of Abstergo. Sometimes, when I get lost in "senior moments", I wonder if you ever existed at all. I'm just so tired. I think my time here is coming to an end.

We're sequencing whole genomes in a matter of weeks now. We're under phenomenal pressure to reduce delays further and ship everything to this man Vidic. We truly are nothing more than an assembly line at this point. What a waste.

I'm not stupid you know, even this old man has realized our masters are after something of utmost importance hidden in the Human genome. They spare no expense to provide my kids with the most advanced technology to increase productivity.

Like everyone here, I've heard the most preposterous rumours about Vidic's Animus project, that memories of someone's ancestors are encoded in one's genes. That Abstergo believes that claptrap explains why so many millions of dollars keep pouring in here. It just makes no sense!

And to top it off, I never found another sample with triple-helix DNA. My life's obsession was all for naught.

So long my friend.

Clinton B. Rosenburg, Ph.D.

• 
  Rosenburg's final letter

Timeline

75,010 BCE75,000 BCE500 BCE465 BCE323 BCE210 BCE44 BCE30 BCE

Adam & Eve

Adam & Eve turn their backs on Eden
The Templars claim that humans are descended from genetic experiments created by The First Civilization, a race of beings who ruled the planet long ago. Those Who Came Before had a long lifespan and possessed six senses instead of five. They used their advanced technology to create humans in their image, but to keep their creations subservient, they gave them a shorter lifespan and only five senses. They wielded complex machines known as Pieces of Eden to ensure obedience. According to the Templars, Eden was a false Paradise, and the progenitors of the human race, a mitochondrial Eve and a Y-chromosomal Adam, were the first humans to revolt against Those Who Came Before, which sparked a rebellion against the First Civilization.

Toba Catastrophe

First Civilization annihilated
After centuries of enslavement, the humans revolted against their First Civilization masters, and war broke out. While Those Who Came Before possessed superior technology, humans had the superior numbers. But while the two sides fought, a great catastrophe struck the Earth, putting and end to the war. It became known as the Toba Catastrophe. The First Civilization was wiped out and mankind, though scattered across the globe, became the dominant species. The few survivors of Those Who Came Before were reduced to influencing the emerging human societies as gods, before completely disappearing from the face of the Earth.

Foundation Of Pythagoreanism

Pythagoras establishes the religious movement of Pythagoreanism
Pythagoras was a Greek philosopher and mathematician who is most recognized for the Pythagorean theorem. Through his research, he encountered a strange man who was believed to be a member of Those Who Came Before. In the early part of the sixteen century, Leonardo da Vinci, inspired by his exposure to the Apple of Eden, researched the life of Pythagoras. He was then able to locate the legendary Temple of Pythagoras in Rome.

Death of Xerxes I

Achaemenid king Xerxes I murdered by Persian Assassin [sic] Darius
The eldest son of Darius I of Persia and Atossa (daughter of Cyrus), Xerxes became the fourth King of the Achaemenid Empire. With the support of the Templars, he crushed rebellions in Egypt (484 BC) and Babylonia (482 BC), before raising an impressive army and navy for the battles of Thermopylae and Salamis. Xerxes was murdered by Darius, a Persian Assassin, in the first recorded use of a Hidden Blade.

Death of Alexander the Great

Iltani, a Babylonian Assassin, poisons Alexander the Great
During his reign as the King of Macedonia (336-323 BC), Alexander had raised one of the largest empires in the ancient world and created a new Hellenistic civilization, by leaving Greek colonists behind in conquered lands. It appears that he was using a Piece of Eden known as the staff to conquer Asia, and so he was poisoned by a Babylonian Assassin named Iltani. His death left the empire divided.

Death Of Qin Shi Huang

Assassinated by Wei Yu
Also named Ying Zheng, Qin Shi Huang was the first emperor of a unified China until his death in 210 BC. The Templars helped the new emperor solidify his empire by enacting important political and economic. Qin Shi Huang died by the spear of the Chinese Assassin Wei Yu.

Death of Caesar

Murdered by Assassin Marcus Junius Brutus
Julius Caesar was a Roman general and statesmen who played a crucial role in the political and social reforms of the era, which transformed the Roman Republic into the powerful Roman Empire. Caesar's military achievements and his Templar support led to his appointment as "dictator for life." His unmatched power led the Assassin Marcus Junius Brutus—backed up by a group of senators—to assassinate him in 44 BC.

Death of Cleopatra

Cleopatra VII Philopator killed by a snake bite Cleopatra was the last pharaoh of Ancient Egypt who ruled Egypt after her family took over power following the reign of Alexander the Great. She entertained a liaison with the Roman Emperor Julius Caesar and later married Mark Anthony. After the Roman armies defeated Anthony and Cleopatra combined forces at the Battle of Actium, they committed suicide. It appears that Cleopatra followed a tradition by killing herself by way of a cobra bite, though it is believed that the Assassin known as Amunet also played a role in her death.

41 CE1000109911281191122713141476148815001503

Death Of Caligula

Murdered by Assassin Leonius, member of the Roman Brotherhood
Caligula was the Roman Emperor from 37 to 41 AD, and a successful military general. He attempted to increase the power of the emperor and records and myths tend to portray him as an immoral, perverse tyrant. He was finally murdered by Leonius, a member of the Roman Brotherhood.

Pope Sylvester II

Templar scientist branded a heretic
Sylvester II was elected as Pope in 999. In addition to being the first French Pope, he was a prolific intellectual, a firm believer in science, and a Templar leader. His connections to other men of science and his desire to eliminate corruption within the church, brought him many enemies. Rumours began to spread that Sylvester was a sorcerer who associated with the Devil. He was ultimately branded a heretic.

Siege of Jerusalem

The First Crusade led to the Siege of Jerusalem in the summer of 1099 On June 7, 1099, the Christian Army camped outside Jerusalem for the culmination of the First Crusade. Jerusalem had been occupied by the Faṭimids of Egypt since August 1098. The final assaults led by Godefroy de Bouillon and Raymond de Toulouse were successful and the city fell relatively quickly. Ferocious massacres of Muslim and Jewish populations followed their entrance in the city.

Bernard de Clairvaux

A French abbot reforms the Templar Order
In the 12th Century, Bernard de Clairvaux, an influential clergy member and probable Templar, realized that the Order needed the Church as an ally. He sent nine trusted knights to Jerusalem in order to find the Temple of Solomon. These men returned nine years later with crucial information that allowed de Clairvaux to reform the structure of the Templar Order. De Clairvaux made the Order a public organization and pushed for recognition of its existence during the Council of Troyes, in 1128.

Siege of Masyaf

A Templar assault stopped by skilled Assassin's tactics
A Templar force led by Robert de Sablé attacked the Assassin stronghold at Masyaf. The Assassin Altaïr and his Assassin allies managed to spring a trap in a nearby tower of the fortress to force the Templars to retreat. Although he helped repel the invaders, the Assassin leader Al Mualim could not ignore that it was Altaïr's recklessness that caused the attack in the first place. Altaïr was stripped of his weapons and his rank.

Death of Robert de Sable

Robert de Sablé was the Grand Master of the Knights Templar
Robert de Sablé became Grand Master of the Knights Templar after several successful campaigns during the Crusades. His quest for an Apple of Eden guided him to the Assassin fortress at Masyaf. After participating to several other battles, de Sablé confronted Altaïr in a duel where he was defeated.

Altaïr, Leader Of The Brotherhood

Altaïr ibn-la'ahad became the new leader of the Assassins after defeating the treacherous Al Mualim
The Syrian Assassin was part of an important Assassin bloodline. He became the Master of the Brotherhood in 1191 after a recognition by his Assassin peers of his unique skills and above-average fighting tactics. His tenure as leader of the Brotherhood was filled with confrontation and controversy.

Death Of Genghis Khan

The Mongol Warlord Genghis Khan slayed [sic] by Mongolian Assassin Qulan Gal
Genghis Khan was a Mongolian ruler who unified various tribes to create a powerful Mongolian Empire which extended from Asia to the Adriatic Sea. His merciless tactics and his extended power brought him many enemies, including members of the Assassin Brotherhood who ultimately killed him in August of 1227.

Death of Jacques de Molay

Last publicly recognized Grand Master of the Templars After King Philip le Bel declared the Templars heretics in the eyes of the Church, the public aspect of the Order was disbanded. Templar Grand Master Jacques de Molay understood that the ideals of the Order would not be preserved unless the Templars officially retreated from the public eye. He knew that the Order was more important than any one man and he made the ultimate sacrifice. He let himself be burned at the stake, not only to save the lives of his fellow brothers and their allies, but also to mislead their enemies into believing that the Order would die along with him.

Auditore Execution

Conspiracy against the Auditore family
The Assassin Ezio Auditore's father and brothers were captured by Florentine guards and incarcerated in the Palazzo della Signoria. Ezio managed to get his hands on documents containing evidence of a conspiracy against his family. However, even though he provided the documents to a family friend named Uberto Alberti—who was supposed to display the papers as a proof of their innocence—during the trial, Uberto pretended to be unaware of any evidence to argue their case. Ezio's father and brothers were finally hung.

Leonardo da Vinci

The beginning of a long friendship and collaboration between Ezio Auditore and the world-renowned genius
A key figure of the Italian Renaissance, Leonardo da Vinci contributed to the Assassin's struggles against the Templar Order. His artwork had attracted the attention of the Auditore family, and he developed a close friendship with Ezio. They used their various skills to help each other out on more than one occasion. Even when the Templars commissioned da Vinci to strengthen the Borgia forces, da Vinci continued to provide his friend Ezio with technology contributing to his struggle against the Order.

Niccolò Machiavelli

Induction into the Assassin Brotherhood
1488 marks the first recorded appearance of Niccolò Machiavelli as a full member of the Assassin Brotherhood. The politician and philosopher participated in numerous Assassin activities. His writings and his diplomatic endeavors made him a prominent figure of the Italian Renaissance and he was a major figure in establishing the foundations of modern political science.

Siege of Monteriggioni

A stronghold of the Brotherhood falls into the hands of the Borgias
Cesare Borgia used his advanced weaponry and military superiority to crush the insufficient defense of the Assassin's headquarters in Monteriggioni. Cesare's motivations for the attack were unclear but he was able to demolish the city. However, despite the severity of the defeat, and the execution of the Brotherhood's leader, Mario Auditore, the Assassin's core members survived and managed to escaped the city.

Nicolaus Copernicus

A Renaissance astronomer transforms the conception of the world
Copernicus was a Polish astronomer from the Renaissance who was the first to propose a theory that placed the sun as a fixed point—and as the center of the universe—around which the planets, including the Earth, were in constant motion. Prior research found in Assassin Altaïr's Codex included a rudimentary model of a heliocentric solar system. Copernicus' work was dangerous to the Templars because it threatened the Ptolemaic model of the universe that was inculcated by the Order. His conception became a landmark in the history of science and is now recognized as the foundation of modern astronomy.

Ezio, Leader of The Brotherhood

Ezio's accomplishments lead him to the top of the Assassin's hierarchy
After weakening Borgia's control over Rome through various battles, Ezio recruited and trained a group of Assassins devoted to find Cesare Borgia's key allies. Through his contact with Leonardo da Vinci—who was then reluctantly working for the Borgias—Ezio was able to locate Cesare's most important collaborators and ultimately eliminated them. These accomplishments brought Ezio the praise of Niccolò Machiavelli—then the de-facto leader of the Assassins—who named him Mentor of the Assassins.

Death Of Rodrigo Borgia

Grand Master of the Templars and Pope eliminated by his own son
Rodrigo Borgia was named Grand Master of the Templar Order in 1476. He was also elected as Pope under the name Alexander VI in 1492. His extended power and his political skills highlighted his papal tenure. He was not afraid to use his family members in order to broaden his sphere of influence. However, his son Cesare had inherited his father's character and was not reluctant to pursue his own objectives without his father's support. Threatened by his son's ambitions, Rodrigo attempted to poison him. However, his plan was revealed to Cesare when he was consuming the apple containing the poison. Cesare had not ingested enough of the poison to kill him. In retaliation, Cesare inserted the rest of the apple in his father's throat.

15071511151215251687168817761779178918811901

Siege of Viana

Cesare Borgia's attempt to recover his power and influence
The Borgia family was weakened by Rodrigo's death and Cesare's imprisonment. However, Cesare's reach and power was still extensive. He was able to escape from the Castel Sant'Angelo in 1506 and tried to regain and reconsolidate his power through Spain. Ultimately, Cesare confronted the authority of Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand in Viana, then a Spanish holding.

Death of Cesare Borgia

Borgia's reign coming to an end
Cesare's attempt to take control of Viana was crucial to gather enough power in order to defy King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella. However, the Assassin Ezio made sure to stop Cesare's advances and murdered him during the Siege of Viana. The Borgia family's influence disappeared with his death.

Ezio in Constantinople

Ezio encounters the Byzantine Templars
After having escaped execution in Masyaf, where he had been captured by a group of Byzantine Templars, Ezio headed towards the Ottoman Empire's capital. Upon arriving in Constantinople, Ezio realized saw the extent of the Byzantine Templars' power and promised to his friend Yusuf to limit the Templar threat. Ezio understood that the Templars also wanted to gain entrance to Altair's library, which contained crucial information.

Masyaf Revelation

Masyaf Keys discovered by Ezio
While searching for the Templars who had ordered his execution in Masyaf, Ezio learned about details concerning five keys, which were recording devices left by Those Who Came Before. These keys had been used by Altaïr as Memory Seals to lock his secret library. Ezio then headed to Constantinople and found the first key, which gave him a vision of Altaïr's first day as a Master Assassin. Every time Ezio located a key, he experienced visions of Altaïr's past as an Assassin and and found clues to open his library.

Shao Jun Encounters Ezio

Assassin searching for Ezio’s help
Born in captivity under the Ming dynasty of China, Shao Jun was freed by a group of Assassins when Emperor Zhengde [sic] died in 1521. She then dedicated her life to serving the Brotherhood. The new Emperor, Jiaging [sic], proved to be even more merciless and oppressive than his predecessor, and was almost successful in eradicating the Assassins in Eastern China. Shao Jun committed herself to stop his regime of terror which had left many of her friends dead. Attempting to recruit allies and to gain experience from Assassin's partners, Shao Jun ultimately located Ezio in Florence, Italy, where he was living in a peaceful retirement.

Isaac Newton

Publication of Philosophiæ Naturalis Principia Mathematica
Isaac Newton was an English scientist who published breakthrough researches that changed the nature of scientific studies. His Principia Mathematica is considered to be one of the major scientific publications ever written. The Templars used Newton`s work to usher in a new age of society where science and technology could flourish while simultaneously advancing the Order's purpose.

Glorious Revolution

King James II overthrown changed the portrait of the British Parliament and the Crown
The ascension of James II to the British throne in 1685 alienated a large part of the population due to his policies of religious tolerance, his overt Roman Catholicism, and his proximity to France. Fearing a Roman Catholic dynasty in the British kingdoms, English Parliamentarians persuaded William of Orange to cross the English Channel from the Netherlands. King James' rule collapsed and the Revolution banned the re-establishment of Catholicism in England. The aftermath of these events led to the Bill of Rights and to restrictions to the monarch's power.

United States' Declaration of Independence

Signed by the representatives of the thirteen colonies
Originally drafted by Thomas Jefferson, the representative of Virginia, the document expressed a separation of the thirteen colonies of British colonial America from the British crown. Representatives of the colonies gathered in Philadelphia where fifty-six delegates signed the declaration. The proclamation stands as an important statement on human rights and influenced other human rights movements.

George Washington

George Washington and Connor riding together
George Washington had been named Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army in order to lead the American colonists towards independence from Great Britain. He stands as a key member of the Founding Fathers. In the aftermath of the Revolutionary War, Washington was named as the first President of the United States of America.

French Revolution

Ancien Régime crumbling
The French Revolution put an end to the Ancien Régime, which resulted in a radical transformation of French society. This era of French political and social upheaval eradicated the absolute monarchy and established principles of inalienable rights. A French Republic was proclaimed later in the process, having the ethos of equality and citizenship. A radicalization of forces led to many political upheavals and massive executions. The troubles eventually resulted in the coming of Napoleon Bonaparte in 1799.

Death of Czar Alexander II

Killed by the Assassins of Narodnaya Volya
Czar Alexander II was Emperor of the Russian Empire from 1855 until his death in 1881. After suffering a crushing defeat during the Crimean War of 1856, he enacted a series of laws attempting to put an end to serfdom. These measures proved to be quite unpopular among the Russian nobility. On the other hand, others claimed that the reforms were not going far enough. Several attempts were made on his life. Alexander II was ultimately murdered in St. Petersburg by Assassins affiliated with the Narodnaya Volya. The assassination hampered the reform movement Alexander II had undertaken.

Queen Victoria

Victorian era witnessed the expansion of the British Empire
The Victorian era was marked by profound advancements and changes in the United Kingdom. Queen Victoria's reign—which lasted more than sixty-three years—witnessed important industrial, scientific, cultural, and military changes in the country and in the world. The British Empire's reach extended tremendously under her leadership, which was the longest rule in the British monarchy.

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Tunguska explosion

Inexplicable phenomenon occurring in Siberia
A powerful explosion occurred in the heart of Siberia on June 30, 1908. Several studies and theories tried to explain the phenomenon, ranging from a large meteoroid, a comet fragment, a natural nuclear fusion reaction, or the work of aliens. The Tunguska Explosion stands as one of the largest explosions recorded in human history. Abstergo Industry research concluded that the incident had been the direct result of an assault by Assassins, and that alternate wave generation devices have been found. Templar researches are continuing up until recent days.

Franz Ferdinand

Assassination sparks First World War
Born in Graz, Austria, the Archduke of Austria-Este was the heir presumptive to the throne of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. On June 28, 1914, a Bosnian member of a Serbian nationalist secret military society known as the Black Hand killed Ferdinand and his wife in Sarajevo, while they were parading in the city. The assassination sparked the First World War. It provided the Austro-Hungarian empire an excuse to retaliate against Serbia and ultimately, all the major European powers were brought into the conflict.

Russian Revolution

The end of the Tsarist regime
The Russian Revolution of 1917—which eradicated the Tsarist regime—represents a culmination of previous strikes and uprisings that started in the late nineteenth century, and more importantly in 1905. The events of 1917 can be separated in two different revolutions. The February Revolution formed a Russian Provisional Government, where there was a dual power between members of the Imperial Parliament, called the Duma, and the Soviets (workers councils). The October Revolution saw the Bolshevik Party overthrowing the Provisional Government and the establishment of a communist regime. A Civil War ensued.

Abstergo Industries

The new public face of the Templar Order
The foundation of Abstergo Industries in 1937 represents the climax of work that began in 1910 when the Templar leadership created what is known as the Plan. Abstergo Industries acts as a public company devoted to be a leading player in the world economy. It is also a strategy to dictate Templar conceptions of the world through scientific development and capitalism. Behind this public face lies the Order of the Knights Templar.

Animus Project

Major invention designed to explore and manipulate genetic memory
Initially conceived and developed in the late 1970s by Dr. Warren Vidic of Abstergo Industries, the Animus is a device which unlocks genetic memory encoded within a subject's DNA. It has been developed to project the memories of ancestors where the subject can explore and contextualize these memories. The invention of the Animus allowed the Templar Order to manipulate subjects to their advantage in using them to infiltrate the Assassin Brotherhood's activities.

Daniel Cross - Subject 4

Subject 4 kills the Mentor of the Assassins
Subject 4 is one of the greatest Templar successes to date. Kidnapped at a young age by Abstergo Industries, Daniel Cross underwent the experiments of Dr. Warren Vidic, who was able to explore his genetic memory. Subject 4 was drawn into exploring his Assassin ancestor's memory, and then provided crucial information to the Templar Order regarding Assassin's activities. Ultimately, was brainwashed into infiltrating the Assassins, locating their Mentor, and finally murdering him, thus delivering a devastating blow to the Assassin's Brotherhood.

Great Purge

Assassin forces decimated
After Templar sleeper agent Daniel Cross killed the Assassin Mentor and discovered the location of a number of Assassin hideouts, the Templars launched attacks in order to eliminate their members. The Great Purge decimated the ranks of Assassin Brotherhood [but] [sic] did not completely eliminate all of their members and bases.

Death Of Subject 16

His death leaves important clues for the next Assassin to occupy his secure cell
Formerly known as Clay Kaczmarek, Subject 16 was an artificial recreation of his human persona inside the Animus. Subject 16's engineering and computer skills led to the discovery of clues regarding the Assassins and Those Who Came Before. He attempted to hack the Animus in order to merge the research stolen from Abstergo with his own revelations into the memory core. However, due to the overwhelming amount of information in his brain, and his fracturing identity, Subject 16 committed suicide, leaving hints that only could be viewed through Eagle Vision.

Desmond Miles - Subject 17

Kidnapped by Abstergo Industries Desmond Miles experiences the Animus for the first time
Born in an Assassin compound, Desmond escaped at the age of sixteen, making sure to avoid any potential suspicions about his location. However, in September 2012, he was kidnapped by the Templars and brought to an Abstergo location in Italy. He was then placed in the Animus device in order to discover clues about his Assassin ancestors and the locations of Pieces of Eden.

Desmond in a coma

Animus exposure and the death of his friend plunged him in a coma
Throughout his experiences inside the Animus, Desmond received help from Lucy, an Assassin working undercover at Abstergo. The Bleeding Effects of the Animus really affected Desmond's mind. After stealing the Animus from Dr. Vidic, Desmond experienced various other memories from his ancestors to eventually hear the mysterious voice of Juno from Those Who Came Before. Juno possessed Desmond`s body and forced him to stab his friend Lucy in the stomach. Desmond`s shock, combined with the damage provoked by his exposure into the Animus, caused him to fall into a coma.

Satellite Launch

The Eye-Abstergo scheduled to be launched on December 21, 2012
The Eye-Abstergo is an All-In-One telecommunications satellite designed to be launched in the atmosphere in order to be the cornerstone of the Akashic Satellite Plexus. Once in low-Earth orbit, the EYE, enhanced by an Apple of Eden, will boost the Templars observational capabilities. More importantly, it will act as an amplifier for the Apple. Furthermore, preliminary analysis suggests that the Templars will have the means to locate individuals with potential, but far less certain is the EYE's ability to harvest raw data.

External links

• Assassin's Creed: Initiates website (content now obsolete; partially archived from the original)
• Assassin's Creed: Initiates (@acinitiates) on Twitter
• [1] on the @acinitiates YouTube channel