User:Soranin/Sandbox2: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 04:19, 10 February 2021

My secondary sandbox.

III/Black Flag Weapon Descriptions

Deleted content (III)

Name	Description
Grenadier Hanger	This officer’s claymore is a modern day descendant of the two-handed broadsword. The sword’s name comes from the Gaelic word "claidheamh". The blade is straight and very strong. Its handle is made of wire binding. The basket hilt of this English made sword is called "incomplete" because it is not fully rounded, not because it is unfinished!
Hanger Claymore	Basket-hilt claymores have been popular since the 17th Century in Scotland and England. Every city makes a distinguishing hilt and the swords are known by their fabrication cities’ names, such has Glasgow or Stirling. This sword’s finely crafted hilt is made of steel and is covered with brass. A prominent pommel proudly sits on top.
Silver Claymore	This claymore shows better maneuverability, duration and protection than most other models. Silver covers the brass hilt.

Other (III)

Name	Description
Rope darts	These ropes are equipped with a lethal grappling knife at the end, allowing you to pull a single opponent from a group and bring them to melee reach. It can also be used to pull an enemy into the air and hang them above ground.
Smoke bombs	Smoke bombs release a dense smoke screen that blinds anyone standing in it. Made from gunpowder and phosphorous, they can give you the upper edge during a fight and can help you escape pursuers.
Trip mines	Inspired by the German Fladdermine this pressure-operated mine is smaller and more subtle. Its ceramic shell contains 2 pounds of an explosive mixture. Shards of glass and metal are mixed with the gunpowder to enhance the casualties. Stepping on the wire sets off a Dutch snaphaunce detonator for an instant explosion.
Poison darts	These highly toxic darts have their tips dipped in extract of Cicuta virosa - also known as Water Hemlock. This plant’s poisonous effects directly attack the nervous system, causing paralysis, loss of consciousness, and even death.

Other (Black Flag)

Name	Description
Blowpipe	A smaller version of the hunting blowpipes used by the pre-Columbian Mayan peoples of the Yucatan peninsula.
Rope dart	The rope dart, or sheng biao, first appeared in China during the Teng dynasty between the 7th and 10th centuries AD. Its current design was first distributed among the Assassins by the 16th century Assassin, Shao Jun.

The Quotes of the Ancients

Neither The Immortals nor Pactyas have quotes.

Name	Quote
Amorges	For every soul that lives in peace, others had to die. It's the only way.
Gergis	The smallest doubt can destroy the greatest confidence. And we all have doubts.
Artazostre	The Order works to bring order. I clean the mess that follows.
Dimokrates	Just one conversation and I'll not only discover what's most important to someone, but how to destroy it.
Gaspar	The things that we think define us are the lies that enslave us.
Pithias	Everything has a place and a proper order. It is a universal principal sic none can violate.
Phila	This world belongs to the great and those who do great things.
Augos	What we cannot win openly, we'll seize secretly.
Megakreon	Sophists and schemers... all of them bow to the sword.
Nestor	The oceans are as wide as the world, but I've yet to find my equal upon them.
Sophos	What is life if you can't have the best and be the best? I wouldn't know.
Akantha	Men are useful weapons in the hands of the right woman.
Bubares	Anyone can kill. It takes intelligence and empathy to maim.
Echion	I'm but a small tool in the hands of the gods. But sometimes that's what they need.
Konon	Everyone's got a plan... until the first bone breaks.
Phratagounè	Men make swords and spears, but teeth and claws are fashioned by the gods.
Timosa	Medicine can be tonic or poison. The only difference is the intent of the physician.

The Quotes of Kosmos

Neither Elpenor nor Epiktetos have quotes.

Name	Quote
Hermippos	What is a leader if he hides behind the walls he built himself? Send me fire, storm or sickness, but bring me justice for my city.
The Master	One person's freedom is another's demise.
Sotera	Kosmos demands to know the secrets hiding in the hearts of men. So I simply cut them open.
Midas	Who needs democracy when drachmae rules the world?
Nyx	Nothing gets past the Eyes of Kosmos.
The Chimera	What's one life worth without a thousand others behind it?
The Centaur of Euboea	Slaves understand you better when you carve your rules into the backs of their heads.
The Silver Griffin	Slavery is natural. It is necessary.
Machaon	Listen, I don't ask questions. I just follow orders.
Polemon	This war will rage forever, and so will the Cult.
Brison	I swear on my life, and the lives I will take from others, I will not fail the Kosmos again.
Kodros	I will lead those who oppose us to the gates of the underworld. Kosmos be my guide.
Iobates	Kosmos fights for Athens. And so Athens fights for Kosmos.
Kleon	The steps to the Parthenon are long and built on corpses.
Podarkes	There is no victory without eternal war. The Kosmos guide me.
Rhexenor	Let no man be called happy before his death. Till then he is not happy - only lucky..
Skylax	When deciding where our loyalties lie, we must consider the end.
Kallias	Extend to me your olive branch, and I will take the grove.
Lagos	You don’t understand. This isn’t just about fire and wheat. This is personal.
The Monger	Get the fuck off my streets.
Pausanias	Ares has chosen me to lead the Spartans to glory. There can only be one.
Silanos	We will destroy your statues. We will burn down your temples if that's what it takes to rid the world of rodents like you.
Asterion	I spent twenty years at sea only to realize the Cult was my home.
Melanthos	I will be a son to Kosmos. And the Cult will be my family.
The Mytilenian Shark	The Greek world bows to us. We are the new gods.
Sokos	I have sailed past the Sirens and into the mouth of Poseidon himself. The waves bow to me in fear!
The Octopus	The stories will tell of how I killed Poseidon with his own trident and threw his fucking head to the sharks!
The Hydra	Those that do not fear Kosmos can learn to breathe beneath the waves.
Chrysis	Hush, my child. May Hera bless our sacred family.
Diona	Do you trust the face you see in your reflection? I don't.
Zoisme	We rule with chaos and destroy those who oppose us.
Harpalos	I will follow Deimos to the Underworld, and bring my hordes with us.
Melite	The Cult has existed for decades and will exist for centuries more.
Iokaste	The Cult of Kosmos will burn the old world to ashes and build anew.
Belos	Chaos is our greatest strength.
Swordfish	You can find drachmae anywhere if you look hard enough. All it takes is a little persuasion.
Okytos	The fight is only over when I'm the last man left standing.
Deianeira	One half without the other is nothing at all. I have nothing left to lose.
Pallas	Empty words are best left unsaid.
Exekias	Past, present and future. Kneel to the Cultists of Kosmos.
Deimos	The Cult is nothing without me. Even the gods cower in my wake. Kneel or die.
Aspasia	You've seen it yourself, the future belongs to us now. Old gods and new be praised.

AC Memories Cards

Working off of the screenshots Lacrosse managed to procure for us. This table is not meant to be used as is, it's just a way to archive this. Missing cells for 'location' and 'timeline' are not in the screenshots I have. The question marks exist in the cards.

Name	Quote	Timeline	Location	Story	More
Anne Bonny	England's the wrong way 'round the globe for an Irishwoman.	1702-1743	Caribbean	Anne Bonny was working as a bartender in Nassau when she caught the eye of Jack Rackham. The two eloped, and Anne became a member of Rackham's crew. Proving to be capable with both a sword and a gun, Anne took to a life of piracy quite readily.	While sailing around the Caribbean, Anne crossed paths with Edward Kenway several times. The two came to trust one another, and after Rackham was executed and Adéwalé left to join the Assassins, Anne became quartermaster on Edward's ship.
Oda Nobunaga	Yes, you have your ideals. But I will have a nation.	1534-1586	Japan	Oda Nobunaga first achieved notoriety at the bate of Okehazama, where his army overwhelmed an army ten times its size. His tactics and leadership saw his empire continue to grow and he proclaimed that he would eventually control all of Japan.	When the Assassins first made contact with Nobunaga, he was sympathetic to their cause, and promised an alliance once he had unified Japan. However, this promise was made before Nobunaga held the Sword of Eden.
John Pitcairn	I assume you've good reason for causing all this madness?	1722-1775	Colonial	Pitcairn was a British soldier stationed in Boston before the Revolutionary War broke out. It was then that he was contacted by Haytham Kenway and the rest of the Colonial Templars, and offered a position in their Order.	Despite being closely tied with Templars on the side of the Revolutionaries, Pitcairn continued to lead British troops in the war. He claimed to seek peaceful resolutions to the conflict, and was part of the conspiracy to assassinate George Washington.
Sakakibara Yasumasa	Allocation of fiefs is the opposite of war: giving land, not taking it.	1548-1606	Japan	Sakakibara Yasumasa served as one of Tokugawa Ieyasu's greatest generals, often called the "Four Guardians.” Yasumasa and Honda Tadakatsu were the same age, and both were appointed into Ieyasu's personal service when they became old enough.	Yasumasa earned the gratitude and trust of leyasu by staying to fight against Toyotomi Hideyoshi, despite having familal ties to Hideyoshi. Yasumasa was the most suspicious of the Assassins, though he was also the most impressed by their skills.
Adha the Chalice	A chalice is merely a vessel for libation, for good or ill.	?-1190	Kingdom	The Chalice was supposedly an object of great power, which was rumored to be able to unite even the most bitter of rivals. Both the Assassins and Templars sought it, but at first only the Templars were aware that the Chalice was actually a woman, Adha.	Altaïr sought Adha to keep the Chalice's ability to sway the minds of people out of the hands of the Templars. He fought for her safety, but could only watch as a Templar ship took her away. He would never see her alive again.
Sakai Tadatsugu	Every advance reveals a weakness. Wait, and strike.	1527-1596	Japan	Sakai Tadatsugu served as one of Tokugawa Ieyasu's greatest generals, often called the "Four Guardians." He was the eldest of the four, having first served Ieyasu's father, Matsudaira Hirotada.	Tadatsugu was a brilliant tactician with a penchant for fooling his enemies with ruses. In the battle of Mikatagahara, which saw Iesyasu's army devastated by Takeda Shingen, some trickery from Tadagatsugu kept the enemy from pursuing Ieyasu's men as they retreated.
Sibrand	I followed my orders, believeing in my cause. Same as you.	1157-1191	Kingdom	Grand Master of the Teutonic Knights, Sibrand was a fierce and skiled warrior capable of besting his enemies just as skillfully with words as he was with weapons.	As Sibrand witnessed more and more of his Templar brethren meeting their end at Altaïr's hands, he grew increasingly paranoid. He doubled his personal guard and took refuge on his ship. Ultimately, he faced same fate that befell the rest of the Templars on Altaïr's list.
Charles Vane	I'll murder the man who stole my ship!	1680-1721	Caribbean	Like most pirates, Charles Vane began his career as a privateer. When privateering opportunities dried up, Vane took to piracy at the helm of his ship, the Ranger. He quickly became one of the most notorious pirates in the Caribbean.	Vane and Edward Kenway sailed together on several occasions. It was during one of these collaborations that Jack Rackham convinced Vane's crew to mutiny, leaving Vane and Kenway stranded on a deserted island.
Honda Tadakatsu	I served in battle my master has fought, yet where are my wounds?	1548-1610	Japan	Honda Tadakatsu served as one of Tokugawa Ieyasu's greatest generals, often called the "Four Guardians.” His distinction in batile was known across all of Japan, and legends say that despite fighting in over 100 batiles, he never suffered a single wound.	When the Assassins came to Ieyasu with a plan for retrieving the Sword of Eden, Tadakatsu was initially opposed; being an honorable warrior, he preferred meeting his enemy face to face in combat over striking at them from secrecy.
Willikin of the Weald	Your barons better than the King if they take aid from the French.	?-1257	Kingdom	Willikin of the Weald, also known as William of Cassingham, was a squire during the First Barons' War. Willikin rallied a guerilla force to oppose Prince Louis VIII of France, who had tried to depose King John during the First Barons' War.	Willikin was an expert archer and Master Assassin of the English Brotherhood. While not an admirer of the despotic King John, Willkin still favored the monarchy over baronial rule and was a supporter of John's son, Henry.
Mochizuki Chiyome	Your old life is over. Train with me, and you will have a new one.	?	Japan	Mochizuki Chiyome was a noblewoman who served Takeda Shingen. Upon hearing that she had been trained in the ninja arts by the Kōga clan, Shingen gave Chiyome the task of recruiting women and training them as spies and assassins.	Chiyome's network of kunoichi numbered in the hundreds, and Shingen was kept well informed. While strong, this network still had holes; it was not enough to spot Honda Tadakatsu and Hattori Hanzō as they snuck into Shingen's camp.
Niccolò Polo	To us, Altaïr is entrusting the spirit of the Brotherhood. He is passing the torch to us.	1230-1294	Kingdom	Niccolò and Maffeo Polo ran a successful trading post in Constantinople, and it was through this that they met and befriended Darim Ibn-La'Ahad. Darim then invited the two of them to Masyaf, and there the brothers began their training as Assassins.	Altaïr knew Masyaf would fall under the approaching Mongols and the Sword of Eden. Therefore he imparted as much knowledge as he could to Niccolò Polo, and told him and his brother Maffeo to start a new Brotherhood in Constantinople.
Benjamin Hornigold	The Templars know order. Discipline. Structure. But you could never fathom these subleties.	?-1719	Caribbean	Benjamin Hornigold was a tremendously successful pirate with a fleet of five warships. Among Hornigold's trainees were Edward Thatch and Charles Vane. However, Hornigold would eventually betray them all after an offer to join the Templars.	Hornigold accepted a pardon offered by the Templar Woodes Rogers. In exchange, Hornigold became a pirate hunter, chasing down and apprehending his former comrades. He excelled at this task until the day he went after his former associate Edward Kenway.
James Kidd	We follow a Creed, aye. But it does not command us to act or submit.	?-1720	Caribbean	In order to get a foothold in the predominately male pirate society, Mary Read disguised herself as a man and took the name James Kidd. She eventually sailed on Jack Rackham's ship, and was one of the few sober enough to fight back when they were boarded.	Aside from her life of piracy, Mary Read was a member of the Assassins. She tried several times to convince Edward Kenway to abandon his pursuit of riches and join the Brotherhood. It was only after her death in prison that Edward took her advice.
Ah Tabai	Nothing in life is guaranteed, except surprise.	1660-?	Caribbean	Born on the Yucatán Peninsula and of Mayan descent, Ah Tabai became Mentor of the Caribbean Assassins in 1713. He trained both Mary Read and Duncan Walpole as Assassins, and took on Adéwalé as an apprentice after the latter left Edward Kenway's ship.	Ah Tabai and Edward Kenway had a fractious relationship, as Edward had no interest in the Assassins and had simply posed as one to make some money. Edward would later come to understand what the Assassins stood for, and Ah Tabai then allowed him to join.
Israel Putnam	What would you know about victory?	1718-1790	Colonial	Israel Putnam was a brash general of the Continental Army that fought with recklessness. His most notable battle was that of Bunker Hill; while technically a loss, Putnam's army inflicted so many casualtes on the British that their victory was hollow.	Putnam might have faced further humiliation at Bunker Hill if it weren't for Ratonhnhaké:ton's aid. The Assassin disabled a British frigate in the harbor, and then snuck into the British camp to assassinate their general, John Pitcairn.
Bartolomeo d'Alviano	I'll take you all on! With one arm -- no-- BOTH arms tied behind my back!	1455-1515	Italy	Bartolomeo d'Alviano was a loyal member of the Italian Brotherhood of Assassins. He was renowned for his prowess in battle, though much of that was due to brute strength and sheer determination. He wielded a huge two-handed sword that he named "Bianca."	Bartolomeo and Ezio met in Venice, and soon became friends. The two of them would aid one another several times over the years, with Bartolomeo's leadership over the Venetian mercenaries proving invaluable to the Assassins.
Benjamin Church	There's no single path through life that's right and fair and does no harm.	1734-1778	Colonial	A wealthy doctor, Benjamin Church was kidnapped and held for ransom until he was rescued by Haytham Kenway. He was then recruited into the Templar Order, and furthered their goals through his position as Surgeon General of the Revolutionary Army.	Church ended up betraying both the Templars and the Patriots, and had planned to defect to the British with military secrets and a cache of weapons in tow. Ratonhnhaké:ton and Haytham formed a temporary partnership to put an end to the traitor.
La Volpe	It is my business to know everything in this city.	?	Italy	Gilberto was a thief known as La Volpe (the Fox). He closely guarded the details of his life, and little other than his name is known. His network of thieves in Florence aided Ezio a number of times, and he was eventually invited to join the Assassins.	After moving to Rome, La Volpe began to suspect the Mentor Niccolò Machiavelli of betraying the Assassin cause, and was prepared to assassinate him. Ezio discovered the identity of the true traitor, and was able to convince La Volpe to stay his blade.
Thomas Hickey	They paid me so I said yes. Didn't bother to ask who or how or why.	?-1776	Colonial	Thomas Hickey was an Irish soldier in the French and Indian War, and he eventualky joined the Templars along with his commander, William Johnson. He was vulgar and unscrupulous, but loyal to the Templar cause (so long as they continued to pay him).	Thomas Hickey ran a counterfeiting ring in New York, and was to be the trigger-man in the plot to assassinate George Washington. Hickey was to make this attempt during Ratonhnhaké:ton's hanging, but the Assassin managed to escape the noose and stop Hickey.
Majd Addin	Do you know what it feels like, to determine another man's fate.	?-1191	Kingdom	While the Sultan Saladin had left Jerusalem to fight the armies of King Richard, Majd Addin took the opportunity to seize control of the city. He did this mainly through fear, conducting public executions of anyone who spoke against him.	Majd Addin was one of the nine Templars on Altaïr's list. Altaïr learned that Addin was about to execute several people of Jerusalem, one of whom was a fellow Assassin. Altaïr intervened, and while the Assassin was saved, the rest were not.
Calico Jack	You'd like to know my secrets, would you?	1682-1720	Caribbean	Jack Rackham, often called Calico Jack, was a capable shipman who sailed with Charles Vane. He convinced the crew to mutiny against Vane and steal Edward Kenway's ship, but his captaincy was a failure and Edward got his ship back a few months later.	Calico Jack returned to piracy after enlisting the aid of Mary Read and Anne Bonny. They [sic] successes drew the attention of bounty hunters, who attacked Rackham's ship. They were captured fairly easily, as most of the crew was too drunk to fight back.
Lorenzo d'Medici [sic]	Whoever wants to be happy, let him be so.	1449-1492	Italy	Lorenzo de' Medici was an Italian statesman and the ruler of the Florentine Republic. He was also a close friend of the Auditore family, and one of the few people to know about Giovanni's role as an Assassin.	Lorenzo de' Medici became reunited with the Assassins when there was an attempt on Medici's life; Ezio came to his aid and prevented the deed from being completed. From that point on, Medici sought Ezio's aid in dealing with the Templar threat in Florence.
Emilio Barbarigo	Progress demands sacrifice.	1421-1485	Italy	Emilio Barbarigo used his connections in the government and the police force to ensure that the merchant district remained under his control. He demanded outrageous taxes from merchants, and sent his guards to destroy the stalls of those who couldn't pay.	Emilio was secrety a Templar, and a close ally of Rodrigo Borgia. His actions attracted the attention of the Venetian Thieves Guild, who enlisted the aid of Ezio in freeing the merchants of the city from Emilio's cruel governance.
Lucrezia Borgia	Tell Cesare, we shall see how it feels when the shoe is on the other foot.	1480-1519	Italy	The daughter of Rodrigo and the sister of Cesare, Lucrezia collaborated with her family in their machinations. Rodrigo married her off several times to men with power, whom Cesare would then have assassinated.	Befitting the Borgia name, Lucrezia was every bit as cruel and manipulative as her father and brother. However, she later became aware that their manipulation extended to her as well, as they were merely using her to further their own ambitions.
Bartholomew Roberts	A merry life and a short one, as promised. How well I know myself.		Caribbean	As one of the most successful and destructive pirates of all time, Roberts drew the re of everyone in the Caribbean; Assassins, Templars, the British Navy, the Spanish Navy, the Portuguese Navy, and even other pirates.	Roberts knew the location of an ancient First Civilization building called the Observatory, and both Templars and Assassins fought over him for this knowledge. In the end, it was Edward Kenway who claimed the pirate's life and the knowledge of the Observatory's location.
Julien du Casse	As bold as a musket ball, and still half as sharp.		Caribbean	Julien du Casse was a French arms dealer operating In the West Indies. His work eventually saw him inducted into the Templar Order along with Woodes Rogers and Duncan Walpole, the latter being impersonated by Edward Kenway.	Du Casse and the other Templars quickly discovered that who they thought was Walpole was actually an impostor, and had Kenway imprisoned, Shortly after escaping, Kenway crossed paths with du Casse and ended his life.
Robert Fitzwalter	Our so-called King meets with his Templar advisers in London. Shall we pay them a visit?			An aristocrat and a soldier of King John during the wars in Normandy, Robert Fitzwalter cast away that allance after seeing King John abusing his authonty. Fitzwalter then became the leader of the baronial uprising against the king.	After meeting with his fellow Assassins to figure out how to depose King John, Htzwalter began a campaign to unite all of the English barons and force John off the throne. This attempt soon led to civil war, and the barons had to ask France for aid.
Tamir	I serve a far nobler cause than mere profit.	1147-1191	Kingdom	Tamir ran a black market in Damascus, specializing in weapons and armor. He supplied both sides of the conflict, Saracens and Crusaders, and would often gloat about the amount of death caused by his wares.	Tamir was one of the nine Templars on Altaïr's list. He was also the first clue that the nine men were connected somehow, as in his dying words he warned Altaïr that his brethren would not take kindly to his demise.
William Johnson	I offered you an olive branch, and you knocked it from my hand.		Colonial	A commander in the British Army, William Johnson was one of the few to see the indigenous tribes of the Frontier as allies. He developed a rapport with the Kanien'kehá:ka people, leaming their language and recruiting them to fight on behalf of the British.	Johnson attempted to buy land from the Iroqiuos [sic] for the Templars, but the tribal leaders refused, Johnson then made threats on their lives if they did not comply. Before this threat could turn to violence, Ratonhnhaké:ton silenced Johnson permanently.
Francesco Vecellio	Someday I will take the time to paint. For now, I am a soldier on the front lines.		Italy	Francesco was an Italian painter and member of the Assassin Brotherhood. He was born in Venice and trained under the Assassin Perotto Calderon, though the latter would eventually betray the Order after falling in love with Lucrezia Borgia.	After the death of Perotto, Francesco traveled to Rome to become the apprentice of Ezio Auditore. He became close friends with two other apprentices, Cipriano Enu and Tessa Varzi, only to see both of them fall in an attack by Cesare and Charles de la Motte.
Charles de la Motte	My skill with the blade? Don't ask me: ask the eviscerated dead.	?	Italy	Charles de la Motte, often called "The Marquis," was a Templar and a close ally of Cesare Borgia. He was a masterful swordsman as well as a skilled leader, and Cesare called upon the Marquis' mercenaries on several occasions.	Despite being Cesare's ally, the two were rivals in many things. They competed fiercely, oftern to assert whether the French or the Italians were superior.
Rocco Tiepolo	Am I for sale? Cesare will need to send more coin for that.	?-1503	Italy	Rocco Tiepolo was a Templar who led a sizable group of mercenaries. While he often provided mercenaries to Cesare, he was not directly under the Borgia's control.	Rocco was one of the names that Fiora gave to the Assassins when she defected from the Templar Order. Fiora pointed out the strategic weaknesses in Rocco s headquarters, and the Assassins launched an attack.
Jabal	End the life of Montferrat, that we may call this city free.	?	Kingdom	The Levantine Assassins maintained presence in three major cities; Jerusalem, Damascus, and Acre. These agents were called Rafiqs, and it was through them that final approval for an assassination was given.	Jabal was the Rafiq of Acre, and he urged Altaïr to gather as much information on his targets as possible before attempting to assassinate them.
El Tiburón	...		Caribbean	Spanish for "The Shark," El Tiburón was the mute bodyguard of the Templar Grand Master, Laureano de Torres y Ayala. El Tiburón was a brute of a man draped in thick armor, and was fearless in combat.	Edward Kenway first encountered El Tiburón when he tried to break the Sage out of prison in Havana. El Tiburón got the better of Kenway then, but later he would prevail over The Shark as Kenway attempted to assassinate Torres.
Chaya Shirojiro Kiyonobu	Powerful men still need what we provide.		Japan	Chaya Shirojiro Kiyonobu was part of a long line of merchants in Kyoto. The Chaya family held a monopoly on the raw silk trade thanks to a permit that allowed them to travel to Vietnam to trade goods.	In addition to managing trade, Kyonobu was also tasked by leyasu to track the foreigners entering the port city. Specifically, he was to keep an eye on the Christian missionaries, and report any suspicion of Templar affiliation.
David "Big Dave" Walston	Don't much agree with the fight and I love this country, so there you have it.		Colonial	"Big Dave" Walston was a blacksmith who was drafted into the British army. Walston had little desire to fight, so he deserted and ran off to the Frontier. He was later found by British Regulars, was about to be executed when Ratonhnhaké:ton came to his aid.	After saving him, Ratonhnhaké:ton offered Big Dave a job and a place to live on the Davenport Homestead. His smithing skills quickly made a valuable ally of the Colonial Assassins.
Peter Chamberlaine	Why scratch and claw to protect such squalor?			The newly appointed governor of the Bahamas, Woodes Rodgers, appointed Commodore Peter Chamberlane to combat piracy. Chamberlaine harbored a fierce grudge against pirates, however, and was wiling to overstep his bounds to see them eliminated.	While the governor had offered pardons to the pirates Hornigold, Vane, and Thatch, Chamberlaine plotted to sink their ships regardless of whether or not they accepted. Upon discovering this, Kenway snuck onto Chamberlaine's ship and assassinated him.
Abu'l Nuqoud	These noble robes did little more than muffle their shouts of hate.	?-1191	Kingdom	This wealthy Damascus merchant had little regard for what he sold or who he sold it to. He was fond of throwing both parties and insults, and was convinced that he was the subject of cruel words and misgivings from the people of the city.	Abu'l Nugoud [sic] was one of the nine Templars on Altaïr's list. Altaïr attended one of Abul's lavish partes (paid for with funds embezzled from the city treasury), only to discover that Abu'l had poisoned the wine the partygoers had been drinking.
Laurens Prins	You live in the world but you cannot make it move.	1630-1717	Caribbean	Laurens Prins was a Dutch pirate who once sailed with the legendary Captain Henry Morgan. After Morgan's death, Prins became a slave trader, and as a consequence he worked closely with the Caribbean Templars.	In 1717, Bartholomew Roberts was working on one of Prins' slave ships. Having identified Roberts as the Sage, Torres tried to buy Roberts from Prins for a sizable sum.
Niccolò Machiavelli	We don't need the apple to tell us what our old friend Cesare is planning.	1469-1527	Italy	As a poltican and philosopher, Machiavelli was highly critical of idealism and self-serving politicians. Eventualy, the term “Machiavellian" became adopted as an adjective for those who served themselves before their people.	Niccolò was also an Assassin, and he worked with Ezio to track the Templars through Venice, Florence, and later Rome. When the previous leader of the Assassins, Mario Auditore, was murdered by Cesare, Niccolò became the leader of the Brotherhood.
Hattori Hanzo	Those who cling to life, die; those who defy death, live.	1542-1596	Japan	Hattori Hanzō skill with the yari was legendary, and his prowess in battle made him respected and feared as one of the greatest samurai in Japan. He also excelled in the ninja arts, and had a fierce rivalry with Fūma Kotarō.	Hanzō's ability made him a valued ally of Tokugawa Ieyasu, and Hanzō saved his master's life on several occasions. He was also instrumental in the struggle against the Japanese Templars, assassinating Uesugi Kenshin and retrieving the Sword of Eden.
Ii Naomasa	If you are not wounded, you have not truly fought.	1561-1602	Japan	Ii Naomasa served as one of Tokugawa Ieyasu's greatest generals, often called the "Four Guardians." He was a veteran of numerous battles, and was famous for continuing to fight even after sustaining severe injuries.	While the rest of the Four Guardians were not easily convinced that the Assassins could aid them, Naomasa saw differentiy. He recognized that the Assassins could prove to be valuable allies, and often suggested calling on them to his colleagues.
Alesandro Valignano	These converts are our foothold in this country.	1539-1606	Japan	Alessandro Valignano was a Jesuit missionary that was sent to help introduce Catholicism to Japan. While he was sent to aid Francisco Cabral, who was already doing missionary work in Japan, the two men despised on [sic] another almost instantly.	Valignano used his Jesuit connections to scour Japan for Templar recruits. When Francisco Cabral confronted Valignano about this, he used his influence to force Cabral to resign from his post as Superior of the Jesuit Mission.
Malik Al-Sayf	As we share the glory of our victories, so too should we share the pain of our defeat.	1165-1228	Kingdom	When Altaïr let his arrogance get the better of him it was Malik who suffered, losing his brother and his left arm in the battle that followed. However, after Altaïr regained his honor the two men reconciled, and Malik would become second in command of the Brotherhood.	After his injury, Malik served as the Rafiq of Jerusalem, offering a point of contact and advice to the Assassins who had business to perform in the city.
Blackbeard	Legends ain't born from mildness.	1680-1718	Caribbean	Edward Thatch sailed in the British Navy, but eventually quit to become a privateer. Once the War of the Spanish Succession ended Thatch turned to piracy. His fearsome ability as well as his significant facial hair led to the nickname Blackbeard.	Thatch and Kenway crossed paths when they freed Nassau from the British. The two soon became allies, and debated how to run the Pirate Republic. Thatch later decided to quit piracy, but was killed by the British Navy on the night of his retirement party.
Captain William Kidd	I find myself at a crossroads; to return to my wife and child, or join my kinsmen.	1645-1701	Caribbean	A Scottish sailor and privateer for the English Parliament, William Kidd was later accused of piracy and hung. While he certainly took his share of plunder while privateering, the evidence that actually tied him to piracy was slim at best.	Kidd's legacy far outlived the man himself. The Assassin Mary Read took the name James Kidd, and pretended to be an illegitimate child. The Assassin Ratonhnhaké:ton followed several maps to discover one of Kidd's buried treasures, a Shard of Eden.
Adéwalé	I'll be your quartermaster. Nothing less.	1692-1758	Caribbean	Adéwalé was born into slavery on Trinidad. His opportunity for escape came when pirates began raiding the plantation Adéwalé was on. He decided to aid the pirates, and they took him on board. He was eventually caught by the Spanish and imprisoned.	Adéwalé met Edward Kenway while imprisoned, and the two broke free and commandeered a ship. Adéwalé became Edward's quartermaster, and the two sailed together for many years. Eventually Adéwalé left Edward's employ to join the Assassins.
Mori Motonari	You have just shown me why we should not be under one rule.			As daimyo of what was a relatively small clan, Mōri Motonari used a cunning blend of tactics and force to expand his empire. Within a few years, he had eliminated several rival clans and ruled over the entire Chugoku region of Japan.	Motonari was a vocal opponent of Nobunaga's attempt to unify all of Japan, though he never had the strength to challenge Nobunaga directly. The Mōri clan was further weakened when Nobunaga arranged the assassination of Motonari's heir, Mōri Takamoto.
Jacques de Molay	If my death means my brothers can continue on, then so be it.	1244-1314	Kingdom	As the last Grand Master of the Templar order before the organization was dissolved, at least publicly, Jacques de Molay became renowned as a martyr after being accused of heresy and subsequently burned at the stake.	By accepting the dubious charges brought before him, de Molay allowed the world to believe that the Templars were gone for good. In actuality, his widely publicized death drew attention away from the Templars, allowing them to rebuild the organization in secret.
Uesugi Kenshin	Wars are to be won with swords and spears, not with rice and salt.	1530-1578	Japan	Uesugi Kenshin was one of the most powerful daimyos of his time, ruling over the large Echigo province of Japan. In addition to his skill in battle, Kenshin was also a gifted administrator who greatly expanded industry and trade in his province.	When Takeda Shingen's army neared Echigo, Kenshin moved to halt their advance. They fought to a stalemate, which was the start of a fierce rivalry between the two daimyos. This rivalry ended when Shingen was assassinated over the Sword of Eden.
Qulan Gal	But there is another way to bring down the Khan.	?	Mongolia	Qulan Gal was an Assassin of the Mongolian Brotherhood as well as an unmatched archer. His skill with the bow led to his role in the assassination of Genghis Khan, elevating Qulan Gal to a legendary status among the Mongolian Assassins.	Little is known about Qulan Gal beyond his involvement in the assassination of Genghis Khan. Such was his legacy, though, that the Italian Brotherhood had him entombed below the Rocca di Ravaldino in Forlì, Italy.
Nergüi	I made a promise to an old friend.	1212-1279	Mongolia	While still an Apprentice, the Mongolian Assassin Nergüi was captured. He was tortured while imprisoned, leaving his face permanently scarred. He was eventually rescued by Qulan Gal and Darim Ibn-La'Ahad when the two of them assassinated Genghis Khan.	Nergüi would go on to be an effective and influential member of the Mongolian Assassins. His greatest achievement was the assassination of Hülegü Khan, in retribution for Hülegü's sacking of Masyaf and the destruction of the Levantine Assassins.
Mongolian Assassin	We cannot hope to fight them, but we can still sabotage their efforts.	N/A	Mongolia	The Mongolian chapter of the Assassin Brotherhood was one of the few groups who resisted the expansion of the Mongol Horde. Though few in number, the Mongolian Assassins managed to curtail the Horde's campaigns on several occasions.	N/A
Hattori Masanari	I will serve the Tokugawa as my father did, but in my on own.	1565-1615	Japan	Like his father, Hattori Hanzo, [sic] Masanari was a gifted warrior. After Hanzo's death in 1596, Masanari succeeded his father as a retainer of the Tokugawa. His lethal skills in battle eventually saw him appointed the Captain of the Edo Castle guard.	Masanari was not as capable a leader as he was a warrior, and this led to him losing his position as Captain. Determined to salvage the reputation of himself and the Hattori clan, Masanari fought valiantly at the Siege of Osaka in 1615, but did not survive.
Yamauchi Kazutoyo	I wonder if my station is too much for one of such humble origins.	1546-1605	Japan	At only fourteen years of age, Yamauchi Kazutoyo's father died, leaving the young man to wander as a ronin for several years. He eventually came into the service of Oda Nobunaga, and worked his way up to becoming a trusted general.	After Nobunaga's death, Kazutoyo served Toyotomi Hideyoshi, who had taken up Nobunaga's goal of unifying all of Japan. When Hideyoshi died in 1598, Kazutoyo chose to serve Tokugawa Ieyasu, and played a small but critical role in the latter's rise to power in 1600.
Jochi Khan	Am I not the eldest Khan? I will have more than a quartered empire.		Mongolia	Despite being the eldest of Genghis Khan's sons, and despite numerous successes on the battlefield, Jochi was not named as the Great Khan's successor, While controversial at the time, this issue became moot when Jochi passed away before his father did.	Jochi Khan did not know that he was being tracked by Darim Ibn-LaAhad as he moved through Central Asia. Under cover of night, Darim snuck into Jochi's tent and placed a few drops of poison into his waterskin.
Date Masamune	Benevolence indulged beyond measure sinks into weakness.			A massive strongman with a missing eye, Date Masamune was feared throughout much of northern Japan for his cunning and ruthlessness. As daimyo, Masamune began attacking nearby clans to expand his own, eventually ruling over most of the Tōhoku region.	The shogun at the time, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, saw the wisdom in having Masamune as an ally, as did Hideyoshi's successor Tokugawa Ieyasu. Eventualy Masamune became lord of the profitable Sendai Domain, making him one of the most powerful men in Japan.
Attar of Nishapur	Be the Eternal Mirror that you saw.	1145-1221	Mongolia	A poet, traveler, and Sufi mystic, Attar of Nishapur studied under many great Sufi Shaykhs and returned to his native Persia to spread this knowledge.	Attar fell victim to the seemingly unstoppable spread of the Mongol Empire. In April of 1221, the Mongols entered the Persian city of Nishapur and slaughtered everyone they came across.
Aleksander Nevsky	It's better to die for your country than to leave it.	1120-1263	Mongolia	Alexander Nevsky was a deft military tactician and an emphatic leader who successfully defended Russia's borders on several occasions. He became Grand Prince of Vladimir in 1252, and his alliance with the Golden Horde kept Russia from being a Mongolian target.	While Nevsky was never identified as a Templar, his somewhat improbable alliance with the Khans implies such an association. It was on his way back from visiting the Golden Horde that Nevsky fell mysteriously ill and passed away.
Maria Thorpe	You see? Years of being boisterous finally paid off.	1161-1228	Mongolia	Maria Thorpe, a former Templar, switched aliances to the Assassins when after several meetings with Altaïr. The two eventually started a family, and it was that family that traveled to Mongolia to see to the end of Genghis Khan.	Maria did not take an active role in the assassination of Genghis Khan. However, she was on hand to tend to Altaïr's wounds when his first attempt on the Khan's life was unsuccessful.
Mogami Yoshiaki	The bald rat will soon learn he can not simply take any life he pleases.	1546-1614	Japan	Mogami Yoshiaki was a powerful daimyo of northern Japan. In order to solidify his political position, Yoshiaki sent his daughter, Komahime, to be wed to Toyotomi Hidetsugu, nephew and heir to the Regent of Japan, Toyotomi Hideyoshi.	Soon after Hideyoshi had a son of his own, and in order to secure his succession, Hideyoshi ordered the death of Hidetsugu and his family, including Komahime. This enraged Yoshiaki, who immediately turned his allegiance to Tokugawa Ieyasu.
Redcoat Captain	These lowlifes are no match for us.	N/A	Colonial	The British Regular was the foot soldier of the Loyalist Army, and they were easily identified by their red jackets. Their training and equipment were superior to the Continental Army, forcing the Colonists to devise new tactics to counter them.	N/A
Ilkhanate Captain	Loyalty to the Khan is what guides our arrows.	N/A	Mongolia	The Ilkhanate was a khanate created as the Mongol Empire expanded across Central Asia and into the Levant. It was ruled over by Hülegü Khan, and at its height it spread all the way into Turkey.	N/A
Kheshig	The Kheshig battle is at the tents of the Khan.	N/A	Mongolia	The Kheshig were the personal guard of the Khan and his family. They did not go to war with the rest of the Mongolian army, as they were tasked with seeing to the Khan's personal safety at all times.	N/A

The Tabbening

Ainigmata Ostraka

Greece

When times are bad, it can be easy to turn away from the gods. Go to the burned temple in Kausos Village, in the Cursed Valley of Pali. I can be found in a pile of burning ashes, where a worshiping man left his post to begin his new life as a pirate.

(Obtained in Markos' Vineyard, Kephallonia)

Taking the plunge? Everyone on the island thinks this is the deepest dive, but there is a lake in the Coast of Koliadai that is rumored to be bottomless. If you are able to dive as far as the woman in marble, you will be able to claim me.

(Obtained in Melissani Cave, Kephallonia)

If you retrace the steps of Odysseus and take the path north, you will find a goat farm in Ithaka where he once met Athena. She helped him with a disguise to reclaim his wife and kill her suitors. Find your reward on a slaughtered goat.

(Obtained in Ithaka)

When all ships look the same, it's hard to remember where you docked. Go to the shores in the Occupied Forest of Tripodiskos and look for a moored ship guarded by a dog. Find me where X marks the spot.

(Obtained in Farm of Tripodiskos, Megaris)

An unusual request came to eliminate some records. I didn't want any trouble so I took a small journey west to Mount Geraneia. Take a dive in the center of the bay and find them on the shelf in a sunken ruin.

(Obtained in Leader House, Megara, Megaris)

It's dangerous outside, so I'm waiting out the war. The only time I go outside this cave is to replenish my cup. Once I leave, I travel northwest from the battlefield in the Occupied Forest of Tripodiskos. Find me at the altar of offerings at the feet of the wine god himself!

(Obtained in Battlefield Cave, Megaris)

If you slip beside the Leader's house in Pilgrim's Landing, you can find me in a large bowl of olives.

(Obtained in Prometheus and the Birth of Humankind, Phokis)

In the Valley of the Snake lies a giant half buried. From where his mossy finger points, head north to the peak where I can be found.

(Obtained in Desphina Fort, Phokis)

With so much to see in Delphi, it may be hard to find me. I'm sitting at the plinth of the only bronze statue holding a spear and a sword. This great general is among seven of his peers.

(Obtained in Sanctuary of Athena Pronaia, Phokis)

What makes the Red Lake red? Take a dive and search for a hidden cave. You'll find out if you grab the bull by its horns.

(Obtained in Leader House, Lokris)

Gone fishing! Needed some time away from camp. Find me at the tip of a fishing spear on the island in Pandora's Cove.

(Obtained in Phyllidos' House, Malis)

High on Artemision Point I used to sit. I was cast from Istiaia in a thunderous fit for a crime I was present for, but did not commit. Underneath this marbled beast I grieve and sit, but set me free, wanderer, and to you I'll submit.

(Obtained at The Bull of Oreos, Euboea)

In Boulder Bay atop the highest peak look to the south for what you seek. Under the stone arch where Theseus died, deep in the waters is where I reside.

(Obtained in the Pirate Hideout, Skyros)

Ready for a long hike? At the top of this mountain, you can see the entirety of Greece! Follow the road west to the Statue of Prometheus, then your long journey north begins. Find me at the peak in Oropos Heights.

(Obtained in Altar of Love, Attika)

Take the road going northeast toward Marathon Beach. Look for a small path lined with mysterious stone figures. Some say they were once goats turned into stone! The one with blood on its face is where you can find me.

(Obtained in Dekelia Camp, Attika)

Trying to get the best view of the Akropolis? Some think it's better from the Temple of Hephaistos, but if you head south from there, you can find me at an altar of offerings between two columns framing the view perfectly.

(Obtained in Mt. Pentelikos Marble Quarry, Attika)

Head to the theater in Athens. With the right connections, I always get to watch the play from backstage. Find me on an actor's mask.

(Obtained in Textile Workshop, Athens, Attika)

The Seaman's Judicial Court in the Port of Piraeus is the place where disputes on the open waters are settled. There is something fishy going on amongst the mess of records, and that is where you will find me.

(Obtained in Ariabignes Shipwreck, Aegean Sea)

Here on the isle of Salamis, a great warrior's legacy is remembered. Take the road south and look for a ruined sanctuary. I can be found in its vicinity on a statue of an eagle.

(Obtained in Salamis Marble Quarry, Attika)

If you sail back to the Island of Keos, search for the marble Lion's brother. He stands proud on the peninsula at Apollo's Refuge. You can find me on his back.

(Obtained in Wailing Cavern, Aegean Sea)

Smoke is rising in Pirate's Revenge. Find me at the source!

(Obtained in Keos)

In the Cradle of Myths, where the lagoon is blue, seek a hole set in stone so I may see you. When the sun blazes brightest, the fog will lift, and the Eye will open to behold your gift.

(Obtained in Aetios' House, Seriphos)

Stand atop where leaders dwell and you will see my isle. Typhon's Revenge is where I am - come visit for a while. Scale the mountain forged of fire, for at its peak I sit. But fear the smog and doom and heat, for they will test your gift.

(Obtained in Leader House, Melos)

Rumors are erupting that a precious relic was sent to be destroyed at the Foundry of Hephaistos. Dive down the throat of the volcano and be mindful of your footing. Some have been scorched trying to recover me.

(Obtained in Epidauros Akropolis, Argolis)

There is a club not far from here that rivals this iron beauty. Travel southeast to the edge of the Valley of Dreams. I will be waiting atop the bigger of these two clubs.

(Obtained in Bronze Club of Periphetes, Argolis)

How much does a temple cost? Head southeast to the Sanctuary of Asklepios. In the temple, you'll find me among the donated limbs.

(Obtained in Leader House, Argos, Argolis)

Back and forth along the Diolkos, talk about repetitive work! Though it's the fastest way to get a boat across the mainland, you may feel mocked. Along this path stands the statue of Sisyphos pushing his boulder up the hill. Find me in the cave behind this statue, I am on a table with a sacrificed body.

(Obtained in Diolkos West Ramp, Korinthia)

If the seas are not to your favor, seek out a trident. The biggest one is in Korinth, being held by the Statue of Poseidon. You will find me there on one of its prongs.

(Obtained in Sea Captain Dock, Korinthia)

Travel southwest of Korinth in the Valley of Judgment to find a beautiful monster. You can find me on the tip of her tongue. Just be careful not to get swallowed by her gaze.

(Obtained in Sacred Cave, Korinth)

It's easy to get distracted by the finer things on this island. With so much work to do to complete the Temple of Apollo, it seems it will never be finished! Find me on top of the temple's Portara. It's the only thing erected so far.

(Obtained in Naxos Quarry, Naxos Island)

If you climb to the peak of Mount Zas, you will see two smaller islands to the south. I can only be found on one of the islands in a pile of hay near a friendly donkey. Make a decision - the last traveler starved to death trying to choose between the two!

(Obtained in Cave of Mt. Zas, Naxos)

There is an occupied farm on the eastern coast of Kynthos Hills. I can be found buried beneath a large pile of hay.

(Obtained in Sunken Wreck of Datis, Aegean Sea)

Within the Birthplace of Apollo, seek the Temple of Delians. There is a secret passageway to an underground tomb behind a bronze statue. Find me in a pile of apples guarded by snakes.

(Obtained in Kynthos Ruins, Delos)

Go to the largest and most lavish house in Mykonos City. I am located on a table in a bath filled with red flower petals. Such a great view of the sea.

(Obtained in Mykonos)

Search for the Marble Quarry in Tavern Point. I was thrown down a pit along with the many bodies of exhausted slaves.

(Obtained in Porphyrion Cave, Mykonos)

Atop Knossos Palace you will see a tree that shoots for the stars. But, like the love that lies at its roots, it'll never get that far. I hide away between bark and bone and curse the promises they made. Set me free at the foot of this tree, where with all their hearts they prayed.

(Obtained in Temple of Poseidon, Messara)

If you stand on the shoulder of Leonidas, you will see he gazes toward the sanctuary dedicated to a mighty king of Sparta who ruled long ago. Start your journey southeast to Helot Hills and find me at the temple's altar.

(Obtained in Leader House, Lakonia)

There is a pond in the south of the Chasms of Taygetos where rocks are arranged to look like a map. A reward is hidden on this map marking your current location.

(Obtained in Altar of the Dioskouroi, Lakonia)

You have come so far, your training is nearly complete. With shining strength in hand, you will seek victory. Take the path north up Mount Taygetos and you will find me at its snowy summit, where stone turns weak.

(Obtained in Paidiskoi Camp, Mount Taygetos, Lakonia)

It sounds too good to be true... a spring that heals all? Travel east along the border of Psophis Foothills to find a cave that once housed the Ionides sisterhood of nymphs. I will be waiting near its entrance on a submerged basin of offerings.

(Obtained in Temple of Apollo, Arkadia)

Craving something sweet? Once you get to the Temple of Demeter and Kore in Tegea, head southwest to the fields in Pan's Cradle. I'll be stuck to a broken hive that's oozing with honey. Don't get stung!

(Obtained in Lagos' Compound, Arcadia)

What tragic times! Our farm once raised the fastest horses. Go to the race course in the Forest of Soron. There you'll find me on a table with small toy horses, the last remaining memories of a great team.

(Obtained in Lost Horse of Odysseus, Arkadia)

Oops, I messed with the wrong people. I'll head north to the peak where the Metal Bird overlooks the Golden Fields. Then, down to the sunken ruins beside Stymphalos village. There I'll be waiting with my pile of cabbage.

(Obtained in Deserted Farm, Arkadia)

As a champion, time is your greatest competitor. Go to the Hippodrome and climb up the second column closest to Olympia. Look north towards the peak. There, I will be sitting on the right wing of a Titan, who had to swallow this lesson along with his pride.

(Obtained in Spring of Piera, Elis)

Look for a stone centaur in the middle of a pond in the Plains of Flax. Walk in the direction it faces until another centaur points you in a new direction. Though it will be difficult as the fog gets thicker, fear not, for I will be safe inside a cave of treasures waiting for you to find me.

(Obtained in Temple of Hades, Elis)

How much wood does it take to get to the other side? Head east to the coast of the Cursed Land of Oedipous. Where a bridge is being built to Euboea, I will be waiting at the last plank.

(Obtained in Bandit Raid, Boeotia)

Sometimes soldiers can be pigs! Actually, if you follow the road going east out of Kreusis Port, there lie pits full of bloody pigs. You can find me on an altar where a sacrificial pig is being prepared.

(Obtained in Kreusis Military Camp, Boeotia)

Travel west toward a large burned temple in the Mount Helikon region. You'll find me inside, at the source of the fire!

(Obtained in Tower of Askre, Boeotia)

To celebrate their win, champions escort their lovers from the stadium east of Thebes to a bridge a overlooking a lake shaped like a heart. You can find me beside a helmet that was left behind.

(Obtained in Leader House, Kadmeia, Thebes, Boeotia)

South of Skandeia Bay, from the goddess' light I ran. Past the den of teeth and bones, past poor sacrificial lambs. Across the sea on a lonely isle where ships reluctantly rest in peace, I nestled deep in a dark chamber and bade goodnight to Greece.

(Obtained in Temple of Aphrodite, Kythera)

Chicken craving? I hear they keep a hidden coop at the temple north of Messene, overlooking the mine. You will find me there in a bag of feed.

(Obtained in Terror Gorge, Messenia)

Workers are told if they extract any unusual items from the Mines of the Great Trench, they must report them. But if you pay them enough, they will 'forget' their loot on the far side of the lake, under a willow tree in Messene village.

(Obtained in Palace of Aphareus, Messenia)

They keep piling up in the city, so the dead are taken east toward the bridge that splits into three directions. Then north, to where a winding road leads to a small camp. They are to be dumped in a pit along with the other waste. You can find me down there, like cold feet poking out from under a blanket.

(Obtained in Temple of Apollo Korythos, Messenia)

I lie within the shadows beneath Makedonia's lake, wading in her shallows, awaiting light's first break. When Helios beams through the arch in greeting, I am revealed and meet him, be it ever so fleeting.

(Obtained in Makedonia)

The theater in Patrai brings the seas to the people, showcasing one of the region's most prized boats. Find me taking a 'bow'!

(Obtained in Ruins of Helike, Patrai, Achaia)

Blood and dirt stains are less noticeable on darker fabric! Head east across Erymanthos Peaks to the village of Boura. They specialize in fabric production. Find me in a large vat of red dye.

(Obtained in Teichos of Herakles, Achaia)

At Scavenger's Coast, north of Pellene, young people gather to dive through a hole in the cliff. Find me at the bottom... if you dare to take the leap!

(Obtained in Sanctuary of Poseidon, Achaia)

Behind the Ancient Stronghold lives an eternal king. His gaze is glazed and his bones are stones, and the ruins in the south he calls his home. I made the mistake of raiding his bed, and now I lie with the dead instead.

(Obtained in Ancient Stronghold, Lemnos)

My lover lived in the Petrified Valley and I, in the Ancient Pearl. To Eresos I had to go in order to see my girl. But there was a sonorous crack halfway through, and blue was what I reaped. The wooden behemoth groaned and creaked, and at the bottom of the river we began to sleep.

(Obtained in Alkidas Fort, Lesbos)

From the Mastic Farm, follow the coast east. Keep going till the land's existence does cease. Tucked away in this cave, I watch sails go by. They left me here, to rest and to die.

(Obtained in Anavatos Ruin, Chios)

Elysium

Marble and limestone can't hold forever. A house needs reinforcements, and its foundations must be build to endure. One faulty crack can destroy everything. I fell with my eroding fortification into the water to the east, and will be shadowed by a wooden bridge forever if not found.

(Obtained in House of the Bloodline, Pheraia's Retreat)

To find me, move from the palm to a mouth of the Glorious Dead. The wall of water that spits out of it can be reached by only the most competent climber. It may be wet outside, but i'm kept dry inside.

(Obtained in Hand of Hades, Deukalion's Heritage)

Though the river Styx is a beast best left undisturbed, it has been traversed for eternity from head to tail. I can be found where it wags in the north, tucked into the leaves of a thriving bush.

(Obtained in Prosperity Terrace, Asphodel Fields)

In Elysium, flowers are not mere decoration. Stolen away from her mother, Persephone pays tribute to Demeter with the lush sights and smells of blooming growth. Demeter sings on the winds brewing in the Heart of Elysium, and can easily heard from the bed of white flowers where I wait.

(Obtained in Asphodel Arboretum, Asphodel Fields)

The eyes of the Marble Maiden are wise to watch the river Styx, especially in this unpredictable corner of Elysium. While she keeps her sights on the Mortal Encampment of Adonis's rebels, I act as an offering to her until you take me for yourself.

(Obtained in the Ruins of Rhadamanthos, Minos' Faith)

Underworld

Impious Salmoneus wanted to be treated like a god, but his foolish impersonations only tempted the real gods to smite him. Their might scorched an entire village to the north, leaving nothing but a hollow crater. I now lie in waiting in scorched remains.

(Obtained in the Stables of the Immortal Stallions, The Scorched Lands)

Ixion was a murderer. He broke every rule of hospitality when he killed his guests and tried to seduce none other than the wife of Zeus. The god of thunder ultimately struck him down, tying poor Ixion to an eternally spinning wheel. Go northwest to find me near the blazing fire pit.

(Obtained in Barren Pond, The Scorched Lands)

Go to the east and push the boulder up and over the mountain. When it lands, push it over the crest of the mountain again. And again, and again, and again - for eternity. Before going mad, look down before giving it another push.

(Obtained in Village of the Condemned, Mourning Fields)

To be truly deprived is to bend to drink water from a pool only to have it disappear in front of your own eyes. To open your hand for fruit on a tree, only to have the branch suddenly move out of reach. This misfortune was the curse of Tantalos. You can keep from his curse by finding a shallow pond west from where you found me. The tree at its center keeps me safe and shaded.

(Obtained in Forest of Oizys, Mourning Fields)

Kronos and the Titans ruled all before their fall was prophesized. They were overthrown by the Olympians, and were doomed to reside in the deepest abyss of Tartaros forever. Move fom the Echoes to the western Altars that represent the twelve members, and find me below the arc.

(Obtained in Echoes of the Styx, Chasm of Torment)

Atlantis

I am standing tall with my ten brothers. We surround our mighty father, Poseidon. Silent. Watchful. With a waterfall at my back, I have the most glorious view of Helios retiring his flaming chariot for the night.

(Obtained in Basilike Garrison, Royal Mountain of Poseidon)

Like so many coins, I was tossed into a fountain for good fortune. Finding me will be fun. It's not every day you get to dance with the dolphins of Atlantis.

(Obtained in Archive of Hebe, Oikos of Atlantis)

"Break that boulder... Carry those rocks... Faster now!" I've absolutely had it with people telling me what to do. I'm going to start my own quarry on the other side of the palace. At least there I can dig for adamant in peace, and at my own pace.

(Obtained in Atlantis Latomia, Porimos Ring)

Like some sort of forgotten creature, an abandoned house hides underneath a bridge. And hidden it will remain, as the trees and plants have enveloped it in the most natural of disguises.

(Obtained in Doma of Evaimon, Oikos of Atlantis)

Life couldn't get any better than this. I get to watch magnificent beasts gallop around the track from the best seats in Atlantis. There's nowehere I'd rather be than sitting here under the stars with my best friend.

(Obtained in Horus Repository, Oikos of Atlantis)

Papyrus Puzzle

Egypt and Cyrenaika

In Siwa, come find me at the bottom of the only bowl big enough for a god.

(Obtained in the House of Life in Siwa)

If you head to the other side of the Nile in Ineb-Hedjet Nome, you can find a peak with a great view of the Nile. Take a look around, then come find me, hiding under the only tree nearby.

(Obtained in the Wabet of Memphis)

In the southwest section of the Green Mountains lives a monstrous beast with sharp tusks and tough gray skin. In his deadly arena you can find me, between the edge of the arena and where the beast sates his thirst.

(Obtained in the Apollonion of Cyrene in Cyrenaica)

In Sapi-Res Nome, north of Letopolis Temple, you can find me in the farmland. I lay where man's creation brings the Nile's water to desert sand.

(Obtained in the Zephyros Stables in the Kanopos Nome)

Alexandria is large and noisy, but one part is quiet, lonely and surrounded by water. The fallen palm tree points to where I lay, where land meets water.

(Obtained in the Iseion building, on the island of Pharos)

In the center of Sap-Meh Nome you can find me hidden in a canyon near Anthylla, in the center of the Western Nile Delta. I'm under a tree that thinks it's unique, but only because the nearby rock bridge is blocking it from seeing the others of its breed.

(Obtained in the Royal Library in Alexandria)

Two men stand guard on the Memphis eastern canal. The South one looks solemnly at his sunken friend. If you follow his gaze, you can find him and me on the river floor.

(Obtained at the bottom of the Memphis eastern canal near a shipwreck)

A few hundred meters north west of the Temple of Sekhmet, which resides by Lake Mareotis, there is a great place to go for a date. Full of palm trees and surrounded by desert, one rock fence was built and closed off with no exit. Find me there.

(Obtained in the Temple of Sekhmet in Yamu)

At the bottom border of Paraitonion is a village of ghosts. I'm in the house of the blasphemous man, who built his house farthest from Ra, the sun god's, dawning grace.

(Obtained in the Asklepieion, a large temple east of Balagrae)

On an Island south east of Krokodilopolis there is a river with unnatural color. Nearby you'll see the cause, and I'll be inside the only one that's unique.

(Obtained in the Palace of Apries)

In Atef-Pehu Nome there is a law that states that you can only make pottery on the east side of the road. I'm hidden atop the one illegal clay smoker in the region.

(Obtained in the villa south of Philadelphia)

In the east section of the Kanopos Nome is a ravaged land, where many trees fell and lost their home. I'm by the orphan tree whose parents fell down nearby, pointing toward their lonely daughter.

(Obtained in the Great Synagogue)

In the Qattara Depression there is only one place that isn't dry and sad. At dawn's first light there is one tree near the valley's entrance whose roots are halfway between Ra's glory and Apophis' shadow. Find me there but make haste, for Ra moves quickly.

(Obtained in the Tomb of Alexander the Great)

In southern Herakleion Nome you can find me beneath the tree who fancies himself a king.

(Obtained in a house on the west side of Natho)

In the southeast of Iment Nome lies a broken ship. If you meditate til morning, an X will mark my hiding spot.

(Obtained in the Temple of Horus within Letopolis)

East of Krokodilopolis, south of the shattered pyramid, a large beast of a god stares angrily at a pharaoh who shows him no respect. I'm hidden behind the blasphemer's head.

(Obtained in the Temple of Sobek in Krokodilopolis)

In Giza, three pyramids stand tall. From the top of the smaller one you can see quite a lot, even two mushroom rocks, the smaller of which I lay atop of.

(Obtained in the Eastern Cemetery Mastaba in Giza)

There is a place of remembrance for the unfortunate masses in northwest Haueris Nome. While I rest here, immobile, I cannot escape Ra's grace, but at least every dawn I avoid him longer than the others.

(Obtained in the Valley Market, the marketplace of Euhemeria)

In Faiyum, north of Dionysias Caravanserai, there is a tower with a hole by its feet. It's in need of support, so I sit behind it, but the wooden beams seem more helpful

(Obtained in the Sarapeion of Karanis)

In the south section of Mareotis Lake there is an island full of ruins. A man stares at me all day, it's quite a bother, so I'm hiding behind a column that blocks his sight.

(Obtained in the Serapeum of Alexandria)

Southeast of the city Hermopolis is a leopard's den in Uab Nome. At the top of their territory lies a place where birds should live, but do not. If you take a leap of faith, you can find me.

(Obtained in the Temple of Thoth in Hermopolis)

In Herakleion Nome, East of the temple of Khonsou, is a village that is more water than land. Behind two houses with different problems, one whose feet are always wet, and the other who can't cover his head, you can find me sitting under a tree.

(Obtained in the Temple of Khonsou in Herakleion)

South of Cyrene, in the Green Mountains, there is a lake whose water comes from a magical stream. I'll be at the source of that magic, where water flows from nothing.

(Obtained in the Tomb of Battos, near the Roman Akropolis in Cyrene)

North of Apollonia, I'm next to a lifesaver. It guides in darkness and fog, and I sit beside it under something that did not heed its warning.

(Obtained in the Temple of Zeus in Cyrene)

In the Green Mountains where they're building a great aqueduct, go find its source high up in the mountains. Inside, you can find me sitting at the bottom of the lowest pool, tucked away beside two large jars.

(Obtained in the Oracle of Apollo in the Green Mountains)

Final Puzzle

To you, the ardent adventurer.

You have found all my treasures through all the dirt, mud, hardships, beauty and soul of this world. You set your intentions and the universe helped you reach them. What will you carry as you walk away from this experience? Is it the treasure, or something more?

-The Shepherd

(Obtained after solving the other puzzles)

Sinai

In Southwestern Arsinoe you can find a giant's bull-powered fishing rod. Right in front of it are four wet posts, with me at their center.

(Obtained in the Temple of Ba'al in Arsinoe)

In Arsinoe, an obelisk tells time. His midday shadow points to me, where starfish lay.

(Obtained in the Temple of Thoth in Arsinoe)

Northeast of the Shur Quarry is a testament to man's folly, where they built two short walls to capture what cannot be caught. Though their target flows in and out at will, I am stuck in the center of their useless trap.

(Obtained in the Shur Quarry)

On the East side of Walls-of-the-Ruler you can find me under a bushy tree who grows alone on a cliff. It's hard to see us from within the camp, since a tower hides us from prying eyes.

(Obtained in Paratiritirio)

Cut Database Entries

Assassin's Creed II

Built on top of the ruins of an Augustinian Convent that burned down in 1471, Santo Spirito was designed by Brunelleschi, the same bloke who did the dome of Santa Maria del Fiore and San Lorenzo. As with San Lorenzo, he died before Santo Spirito was finished.

The church was completed as per his specifications except for the facade, which was left blank, presumably when the Pope decided to reallocate funds for a country house.

Michelangelo lived in Santo Spirito when he was 17, after Lorenzo de' Medici died. While there, he studied the corpses from the convent's hospital and sculpted a naked crucifix that shows off his fascination with the male form, as does, you know, David, the Sistine Chapel ceiling, most of his sculptures and almost anything he ever touched.

Date of Birth: 1472.
Profession: Exiled Ruler of Florence, Noble.

The oldest son of Lorenzo de' Medici, Piero is primarily known in history circles as a colossal fuck up. Piero the Unfortunate (yup, that's his nickname) took over as leader of Florence in 1492, and failed to keep Charles VIII of France from marching into Italy to reclaim Naples in 1494. Then, when Charles demanded control over Tuscany, Piero surrendered Florence's fortresses without a fight.

Outraged, and under the influence of Savonarola, the Florentines chased Piero out of Florence and sacked the Palazzo Medici. Piero hid out in Venice for a couple years. Then, true to form, he was drowned in the Garigliano River while fleeing from battle in 1503.

Date of Birth: 1455.
Profession: Architect.

After graduating from the University of Pisa, Sandro received his first commission: to build a bank for the Pazzi family. Unfortunately, the bank collapsed halfway through construction and Sandro was run out of town.

Little else of note is known about him, except that he was registered on the Vatican's payroll in 1510, as a member of the demolition crew that destroyed the old St. Peter's Basilica to make way for the new one.

Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood

Another of the minor gates in the Mura Aureliane (Aurelian Wall), the Porta Clausa was mostly used as a service entrance. Due to its historical insignificance, city officials eventually blocked the gate and left it to ruin. Sound familiar, taxpayers?

Contracts?

Name	Setting	Description	Result
THE CHALLENGE OF BARLETTA	Barletta, Italy	The Frenchman Charles de la Motte questions the courage of Italy and has called a tournament to prove his men are superior. He questions our chivalry. While our knights will certainly fight with honor, we will not. We cannot afford to give France this victory. Do not enter the tournament, but use whatever means necessary to weaken the enemy before it begins.	The Italians trounced their French challengers. Our knights fought with such vigor that they were favored to win regardless of the poison's effect on their opponents. Regardless, the victory was deemed fair and the French soon retreated.
PENITENCE	Venice, Italy	A German Jew, Asher Lämmlein, has proclaimed himself a forerunner of the Jewish Messiah. Though he seems to preach charity and repentance, his power grows too quickly and his followers threaten our work. Convince Lämmlein that he must disappear.	With Asher Lämmlein's disappearance, his followers have begun to disperse and the Year of Penance has ended. History will label him a false prophet, but if his power had continued unopposed, he could have become something much more dangerous.
A WATERY GRAVE	Volterra, Italy	The poet scholar, Michael Tarchaniota Marullus, has been our most valuable informant. His natural charisma and wild poetry has gained him access to some of the most powerful people of our time. In service to our guild, he has also made many enemies. He have agreed to fake his death. Craft his drowning in the River Cecina and see to his safe disappearance.	The public has been informed of Marullus' drowning. They will mourn him even as he enjoys the remainder of his life, free from danger. His work will likely gain more popularity posthumously.
PIERO THE UNFORTUNATE	Gaeta, Italy	Piero de' Medici is nothing like his father. His cowardice has gained him Charles VIII's favor and the fool even supports his new master on the battlefield. Our ties to his family and his unpredictable behavior have left us no choice. Medici must be killed.	True to his character, Piero was caught fleeing from the Battle of Garigliano. He was killed quietly and deposited into the river. When he is found, he will be considered a battlefield casualty.
SPACEMEN	Bologna, Italy	Two scholars work hard to understand the science behind the heavens, Domenico Maria Novara and his young assistant, Niccolò Copernico. They are close to a breakthrough, one that will embarrass the church. As a result, their lives are in danger. Intercept their assassin and allow them to work undisturbed.	The assassin was intercepted and slain before he could reach the scholars. They continue their work, oblivious to this specific plot, but aware that the papacy is a constant threat to their science.
VANISHING ACT	Calicut, India	Our trouble with Portugal has not ended. Our spies learned of Manuel's disappointment with Cabral and his impending response to our defiance in Calicut. Vasco da Gama now sails for Calicut with a fleet 800 men strong. The implications should be obvious. You must board a merchant vessel and deliver a warning.	Vasco da Gama's assault on Calicut was relentless. He bombarded the city and slaughtered hundreds of men, women, and even children. The Brotherhood escaped the onslaught, but da Gama has left several of his cruel captains to control the city.
EVERYONE'S A CRITIC	Rome, Italy	As a Master of Ceremonies at the papal court, Johannes Burckard witnesses and records the most shameful secrets of the Borgia papacy. He also enjoys a little embellishment. Rodrigo has found out that Johannes has kept a diary and he wants it seized. He has also ordered the death of the impudent author. You will ensure that the attempt fails.	Rodrigo's agents have been killed. Though he is a discreet man, Burckard has enough clout to cause a serious blow to the Borgia. He continues his anti-papal criticism and will gain a larger audience one day.
DEFENDING THE DUCHESS	Rome, Italy	Urbino's Duchess, Elisabetta Gonzaga risks her life to attend Borgia's Jubilee. No doubt Cesare views her presence here as an insult and he will not let it go unanswered. You are to ensure that the Duchess exits Rome unharmed.	The Borgia attempted to apprehend Elisabetta, but we thwarted them. She has survived her trip to Roma, though her family continues to struggle against Cesare's greed. She may be a valuable ally in the years to come.
HARSH WORDS	Camerino, Italy	As Cesare sets his eyes upon Camerino, we must fight to protect her. Bartolomeo's brother, Abbot Bernardino, actively works against the Borgia in Camerino, but the Church has grown suspicious. Mercenaries have been sent to restrain Bernardino, but you will intercept them first.	Abbot Bernardino is safe for now. He will continue to send us information from Camerino and we will try to hold it for as long as we can.
DINNER DATE	Venice, Italy	Machiavelli has been tracking one of Borgia's trained killers and believes he has finally found a way to catch her. The Venetian ambassador, Antonio Giustinian, recently pushed Rodrigo too far. As an "apology" for losing his temper, Rodrigo has arranged a dinner between Antonio and a lady of the court, whom we suspect to be the murderess. You will go in Antonio's stead.	As expected, Rodrigo's assassin intended to murder Giustinian. Once she realized her trap had been sprung, she attempted to flee but did not escape. Giustinian assures us he will continue to cause trouble in Borgia's court as long as we protect him from retaliation.
TRAITOR	Ferrara, Italy	Giovanni Sforza's humiliation at the hands of Lucrezia Borgia and her family makes him a valuable ally. As her former husband, he has unique insight into their operations. We will need to gain his trust. The diplomat Pandolfo Collenuccio has betrayed Giovanni's city, Pesaro, to the Borgia. Bring him to us.	We have taken Pandolfo Collenuccio. As a gesture of good will to Giovanni Sforza, we have gifted him the traitor. In return, he has agreed to a meeting with Machiavelli.
THE LESSER EVIL	Siena, Italy	Pandolfo Petrucci, the tyrant of Siena, appears to be loyal to the Borgia, but we know that he secretly plots against them. He underestimates Cesare's spies. Cesare has invited Petrucci to a meeting in Senigallia, where he will be executed. You must prevent him from attending that meeting.	Petrucci's men put up a fight and we were forced to kill several of them before we could deliver our message. Should he choose to follow our advice, he will avoid that meeting and live to oppose Cesare's forces.
SECOND PLACE	Savona, Italy	Many in the papacy believe Rodrigo bought his way into the papal throne, perhaps none of them as vocal as Cardinal Giuliano della Rovere. Cesare will send his henchmen to Savona to deal with Rovere. You must stop them while we send warning.	We called upon our courtesan allies to board a ship with Borgia's men. While the men were distracted, we sabotaged their supplies and ensured that they will not reach Savona before the cardinal can escape. Rather than kill them, we believe sending them back to report their failure will do more damage to our enemy.
MY ENEMY'S ENEMY	Constantinople, Ottoman Empire	Rodrigo is wary of any peace between Venice and the Ottoman Empire, though it draws near. We can be sure Borgia mercenaries will attempt to disrupt this treaty, so you must be on guard. It is critical that our involvement remains secret. Work within the shadows. Success means we solidify Borgia's enemies.	As expected, Rodrigo sent a small band of mercenaries to remove key players from the negotiations. We killed them before they could leave the port. With our careful manipulation, the sultan of Constantinople and the doge of Venice were able to reach an agreement. Free trade has resumed, but more importantly, we have weakened the Borgia.
PUPPET GOVERNMENT	Florence, Italy	Machiavelli's connections with Pier Soderini present us with an interesting opportunity. Florence will soon elect him gonfaloniere for life, granting him significant power and Machiavelli plans to be a constant whisper in his ear. Soderini's election has several vocal opponents among the Piagnoni.	We silenced the Piagnoni and Soderini's election went as planned. Though Machiavelli doubts Soderini's ability to lead, he is convinced he will be able to mold him to fit our needs.
AGE OF DISCOVERY	Ottoman Empire	As powerful nations launch their expeditions into uncharted seas and claim pieces of the New World, we must ensure that our Brotherhood expands to keep our enemy in check. An exceptional Ottoman cartographer, Piri Reis, has begun to compile detailed maps of these territories. Find his workshop and steal what you can.	The Ottoman Empire has developed stunning maps of the world, and while we do not doubt their accuracy, we are a bit overwhelmed by the necessity to act quickly; some of these maps track our common enemy to the new colonies. We must infiltrate these voyages and ensure that we are equally represented in the New World.
DIGGING GRAVES	Massa Marittima, Italy	Massa Marittima has long competed against the church over its invaluable alum mine and the church responded with the excommunication of the city's citizens. As Cesare bolsters his war effort, he sends his soldiers to claim the Massa Marittima mine. You will stand in their path.	Cesare's men have been slain. The citizens of Massa Marittima generously rewarded us with materials from their mine and we believe we will be able to negotiate a long term supply deal with them.
DOWN WITH THE SHIPS	Piombino, Italy	As Cesare expands his empire, he continues to displace nobles and claim their territory. We can make these conquests much less profitable to the Borgia. Iacopo Appiano, Lord of Piombino was ejected from his port city. He tells us that Cesare's men load their spoils on several merchant vessels, set for Roma. Sabotage them.	We reclaimed what we could from Piombino's ships and sank the rest. There is still much for the Borgia to plunder, but we have left them an awful mess in the port to hamper their progress.
ART APPRECIATION	Siena, Italy	Our Brotherhood uses cryptic means to record our history, but none quite as sophisticated as our artistic ventures. Pinturicchio already works with us, but will soon meet with his understudy, Raphael. We need you to attend that meeting.	Raphael hesitated when we presented our proposal. He believes his work will be mired by outside influence, but we assured him our messages are subtle and interpreted only through figures and their gestures. He has agreed to aid us at a future time, perhaps through tapestries.
SORE LOSER	Venice, Italy	A man hated by his own people, Pandolfo Malatesta was excommunicated by the church, stripped of his city, Rimini, and abandoned by his own subjects. You will make sure his spirit is not broken. We need to spread Cesare's army thin, creating as many distractions as we can.	Malatesta has earned his reputation. He is a murderer and a rapist. Nevertheless, we have convinced him to fight back against the Borgia. He will try to reclaim Rimini when he is able to muster the forces. Hopefully he will fall in battle.
CUTTING STRINGS	Cerignola, Italy	Louis d'Armagnac and the French army move to engage the Spanish at Cerignola. You will deliver a message to d'Armagnac before the battle begins. It is a forged letter from Cesare, vastly underestimating the Spanish forces and promising Italian reinforcements. The French will be slaughtered.	The battle ended as predicted. The French engaged the Spanish and d'Armagnac never received his reinforcements. He was cut down by enemy gunfire alongside his men. His courier will report the results to Louis XII, straining the Borgia alliance with France.
POINTING FINGERS	Cesena, Italy	One of Cesare's captains, Ramiro d'Orco, continues to butcher the citizens of Cesena. Fear prevents them from action. You must infiltrate the crowd and give them a voice. Turn them against the Borgia.	We had the crowd demanding blood and they received it. Ramiro d'Orco's body was cut in twain and displayed for his citizens. Though the Borgia seem to be avoiding blame for d'Orco's actions, we did cause them to murder one of their own tyrants.
LEVERAGE	Rome, Italy	One of Cesare's trusted friends keeps a dangerous secret from him. Duarte Brandao was once Sir Edward Brampton and called England his home, but fled from deadly politics. You will use this knowledge to bend his loyalty to us. Find out what he knows.	Fortunately Brandao fears Cesare as well as England. He will not risk either discovering his identity. He has provided us with battlefield reports and maps. Our scholars are reviewing them now.
BODY SWAP	Rome, Italy	Cesare enjoys a disgusting sport each month, lining up Borgia prisoners in a courtyard and ravaging them with his crossbow from the balcony above. You will intercept his escorted prisoners and free them. Cut the tongues from the guards, strip them, and send them into the courtyard. Leave the rest of the work to Cesare.	Cesare's guards screamed and wept while he laughed. He is an excellent shot and quickly slaughtered the entire group. He will not be amused when he discovers their identities.
PROMISE UNKEPT	Venice, Italy	With the death of Marco Barbarigo, we left Venice in the care of Agostino Barbarigo, who swore to avoid his brother's path of corruption and his link to the Borgia. He has failed. He secretly courts the Borgia and has become known for his greed, extortion and for selling justice.	We have poisoned Agostino in several small doses. He will soon appear to grow ill and eventually die. We will make sure his successor receives a warning about his allegiances.

Assassin's Creed: Revelations

Kadir was a member of the Ottoman Artillery Corps with secret ties to the Quizilbash, a rebellious group of anti-Ottoman dissidents in the eastern reaches of the Empire.

A skilled and conceited man, he desired power and influence, and came to feel that mere military service was a task well beneath him. Ever in pursuit of power, he maintained close and constant contact with the Templars, selling them weapons and information in exchange for money and access to important people.

Assassin's Creed III

Have yet to check 'Locations'.

Thomas Jefferson was the principal writer of the Declaration of Independence, and went on to be the third president of the United States.

Jefferson was born in Virginia, the son of a wealthy plantation owner - which is the type of upbringing that gets you into all the right political circles. Now, normally the wealthy and powerful sided with the British during the Revolution, but Jefferson was college educated and widely-read, which may be why he became convinced that the Colonists had a point about the British screwing them over.

Jefferson wrote extensively about the British obligations to the Colonists - which he regarded as a kind of contract that the government was violating by imposing taxes. Incidentally I do mean he 'wrote' about it, because unlike some other revolutionary leaders, Jefferson wasn't a great speaker. That didn't stop him from making his mark, of course - in 1775 he was sent to the Continental Congress as a representative for Virginia, where he wrote most of the Declaration of Independence. Sweet gig for a writer.

Interestingly, Jefferson tried to include a paragraph in the Declaration that blamed King George for slavery in the colonies. The paragraph was voted out - and more than a little ironic, since Jefferson owned a plantation, complete with more than a hundred slaves. Publicly, however, he was an abolitionist. Which was lovely for him – and I'm sure the people he owned were very proud.

Jefferson went on to hold a number of political offices - he was the governor of Virginia in 1780-82, and then became the American Minister to France in 1784. When he returned to the United States he joined George Washington's cabinet as the first Secretary of State, where he fought for stronger states and a weaker federal government, in opposition to Alexander Hamilton. He was elected President in 1800.

Don't tell him any of that, though. You'll totally ruin the surprise.

Baron Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben was a General in the Continental Army, and the person credited with transforming the US army from a disorganized militia to a fighting force capable of defeating the British. Just look at the name. That’s a name you’d trust going into battle.

Von Steuben got his start in the army as a teenager in the Prussian army, rising to the rank of Captain before being discharged. He was introduced to Ben Franklin in 1777 while Franklin was travelling in Europe. Franklin knew the Continental Army needed training and Von Steuben was an excellent candidate. Franklin wasted no time writing a glowing letter of introduction to George Washington. Before the year was out, Von Steuben was in Valley Forge - bringing with him his pet greyhound, which he wouldn't leave behind. (Making him a rival for Charles Lee, though Von Steuben was probably better-groomed. I have no idea why there's a connection between military geniuses and dogs.)

When Von Steuben arrived, he started by training one "model company" of soldiers who would in their turn train others, and effective way of spreading the training through the ranks. He also wrote a manual outlining his training method – in German, later translated.

In fact, Von Steuben spoke very little English, but could curse quite thoroughly in French and German, which he did frequently (you always learn the rude words first, don’t you?). Unfortunately for him, the effect of his cursing somewhat lost on the troops, so to make the point, Von Steuben would call over his translator and order him to curse at the soldiers instead. I'm not sure if the translator had one of the best jobs in the army - or one of the worst.

I’m going with best.

Harrison was a noted clock-maker, originally from Yorkshire. He's best-known for solving the problem of tracking longitude on extended ship voyages. If that sounds somewhat dull, please remember in the 18th century this was a life-or-death problem. Though that doesn’t change the fact that it involves phrases like ‘tracking longitude’, and I’m sorry, but that’s still dull.

It was tricky finding a satellite signal for sat nav in those days, so knowing the east-west position of your ship during an ocean crossing was vitally important- and extremely tricky. You could navigate by the stars - but that only worked if the sky was clear and the water was calm. Alternately you could keep an accurate clock. Unfortunately, most clocks of the day couldn't keep time on a rocking ship - or withstand the damp conditions of a sea voyage.

In fact, the problem was so important that British parliament was offering £20,000 for a solution - a tidy sum. Harrison took up the challenge, and made 4 versions of his clock - the last was only 5 seconds off on a cross-ocean voyage to Jamaica. Even so. That made them 5 seconds late, and I hope they were fined.

Unfortunately when Harrison tried to claim the prize money, Parliament said his results were coincidence - maybe because they were hesitant to shell out the money, but possibly more because one of Harrison's competitors was serving as the Royal Astronomer, and didn't like being showed up. It took the intervention of the King himself before Harrison got his money. By then, he was 80 years old. Still. You can buy VERY fancy zimmers with twenty grand.

William Prescott was the Colonel in charge of the Continental Army troops sent to fortify Bunker Hill in 1775. He's often credited (and that’s a kind way of saying ‘blamed’) for the decision to fortify Breed's Hill instead - a military disaster.

Prescott had a reputation for being a passionate, brave fighter. He was one of the last to leave Bunker Hill when the rebels retreated – fighting British bayonets with his ceremonial sabre. He got several holes in his waistcoat from the adventure, which he loved to show his fellow soldiers, but which must really have annoyed his tailor.

Prescott is also somewhat famous for telling the troops "Don't fire until you see the whites of their eyes' – a warning to conserve ammunition until the enemy were close enough that the shots would hit. The saying is also attributed to Israel Putnam, and it's memorable enough that both men likely used it - I'll let other historians get into fistfights over who said it first.

Prescott went on to fight in New York City in 1776, and then returned home to Massachusetts. He fought again in the Battle of Saratoga in 1777, but apart from that he retired from army life. I'd wager he showed off those bayonet holes until the day he died, though.

Robert Newman was the sexton of Christ Church (known today as the Old North Church), and a personal friend of Paul Revere’s. It was Newman who hung the lanterns from church steeple to warn riders in Charlestown that the British were marching on Lexington and Concord. Two lanterns – indicating that the British were travelling by sea.

(And because it's a pet peeve of mine - you may have heard that Newman put up the lanterns to warn Revere about the British approach - it's one of those historical details everyone seems to get wrong. Revere already knew about the raid, and in fact had been the one to pass the knowledge on the Newman. The lanterns were meant as a warning to lookouts in Charlestown - a backup in case Revere was caught before he managed to leave town. Please learn this so you can impress girls on first dates, as I do, though they often seem so overwhelmed by it they rarely call again. That’s the power of knowledge, and it’s dangerous.)

Newman had some difficulty with his clandestine plan, though. His family home was serving as a boarding house, and several British officers were staying there. Newman managed to elude them by saying he was tired, going to bed, and escaping out a side window, like something out of a cartoon. His friend, John Pulling, helped him get the lanterns to the top of the tower while a third man guarded the church door.

Newman was later questioned about his actions that night – possibly because a twenty-something announcing he's going to bed early is inherently suspicious – but he talked his way out of arrest, and fled Boston.

When Newman returned to the city, he went back to his old job as church sexton. There’s evidence he took money to show tourists around the church crypt – including displaying the body of John Pitcairn. Which might have something to do with Newman being replaced by a new sexton in 1788.

The son of a Boston rope worker, Harold Ring got his start as a young man, fighting on the city's docks. How magical. By the age of 19 he was earning money boxing for a local club - though at the time boxing was still technically illegal, what with it essentially just being two men hitting each other about the face and neck. By the age of 25 he was considered one of the best boxers in the colonies - certainly the best in Boston, an unofficial title he would hold until he was in his late 30s.

In 1745, inspired the publication of Jack Broughton's first rules for Boxing as a sport – what a masterstroke to have rules; boxers really are great thinkers - Ring founded the Boston Brawlers - the first legal club of its kind in the area. He was dedicated to making the sport safer for fighters (as safe as it can be when your job is to beat the stuffing out of someone, at any rate.) The Brawlers were a great success, and the organization operated in and around the dockyards for decades before moving to a new location in Beacon Hill at the turn of the 19th century.

Do you know how many one-legged sailors in history have gone by the nickname of "Peg Leg"? Here's a hint - it's more than one. This guy wasn't easy to find. But for you - I make an extra effort.

Peg Leg started out as George Chilton, originally of the Massachusetts Bay colony. He signed onto a merchant vessel as a young teen, working mainly as a deckhand. By the time he was in his early 20s, he'd travelled the world several times over - probably logging more miles than your average jetsetter does today. (Too bad there were no 'frequent sailor miles' - he could've earned some free trips or some leatherette luggage tags.)

In 1732, Chilton was sailing on board the "Rachel" when the ship ran into trouble. It was due to arrive in Boston in June, but after it had been missing for 2 months, Chilton was found drifting on a lifeboat miles from shore, suffering from dehydration, and watched over by a single seagull. The Rachel itself was never found. To this day, he tells people they’re just “on a break”.

Chilton claimed to have no knowledge of what happened to the ship or its crew - but he considered the seagull a personal friend and kept it with him from then onward, despite the hygiene issue it obviously presented, and the fact that walking around chatting with a seagull made him look completely insane.

For a time he had trouble signing on to crews - not only because of his pet, but because he was considered "bad luck", and possibly responsible for murdering an entire crew. For several years he took work as he could find it, until the whole affair blew over. The ship disappearing affair, I mean – I’m not saying he had an affair with that seagull.

By 1740, Chilton was travelling the world regularly, but his leg was smashed by a cannonball in a run-in with a privateer vessel in 1747. After that he walked with a crutch - and later a wooden leg, hence his nickname.

While his claims of having met William Kidd are obviously false (Kidd was hanged in 1701), he's definitely sailed with some of Kidd's former crew - most notably Hendrick van der Huel, who captained the Octavius when Peg Leg served on it in the late 1750s.

Simon Girty was a hunter and trader in the Ohio Valley, who worked for the British during the American Revolution.

Girty was born near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania at a time when it was contested territory between the European Colonists and the local Indigenous nations. When Girty was in his early teens, his family was captured by a Seneca war party, so Girty spent several years as an adoptee, learning the Seneca language (and probably several other languages as well). Those skills would come in handy - Girty eventually became an interpreter, most famously between the Iroquois and the British during the later years of the American Revolution.

I don't mean 'famously' in a good way, by the way. Girty had a reputation as a heavy drinker, with a volatile temper and boorish manners. During one of his raids on the Continental Army, some of the Delaware in the party tortured a Patriot colonel to death. Depending on which account you believe, Girty either pleaded for the colonel's life - or encouraged his torturers and taunted him as he died.

Of course, since Girty was on the losing side of the war and not a particularly sympathetic figure, most history books take the dimmer view of his actions.

BEHAVIOR: Elk are skittish and good at detecting threats. Unlike male elk, female elk will not charge at a threat.

WEAKNESS: Bait, poison darts

HUNTING TIPS: Remain undetected by hiding in the trees or place bait, then hide, and perform an assassination when the Elk is close enough. You can also use a poison dart to slow the Elk and kill it.

PARTS USED: Many, including pelt, heart.

These are some of the most sought-after technological remnants from the ever-mysterious First Civilization. The apples were originally created by our friendly First Civ masters in order to control the huddled masses - that is, humanity. These artifacts can control minds and create illusions that pretty much everyone is susceptible to. They're also repositories of First Civilization knowledge - meaning if you know how to access them, you can use the Apples to develop incredibly advanced technology.

Naturally, the raw power of the apples have made them a target of ambitious and unscrupulous types for centuries, and have been used by leaders throughout history to influence the course of important events. The Assassin mentor Al Mualim had one in Masyaf in the 12th century - but he succumbed to its power and began to use it for control, rather than research. (Turns out that old saying about absolute power corrupting absolutely is true).

It eventually passed into the hands of Al Mualim’s star pupil, Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad, a Levantine Assassin who unlocked its true power and purpose, then had the good sense to lock it away in a vault, far from greedy hands. But nothing this valuable stays put for long, and in the final years of the 16th century Templars working for Queen Elizabeth of England sent out an envoy to find and recover it.

This apple – Apple number two, to be precise - ultimately made its way into Abstergo’s hands in the 20th century, and was the lynchpin of their current plan to subdue and suppress all free thought and action in the world … until they blew the damn thing up in a pretty dodgy experiment. Since that time we learned of the existence of at least five more apples, the sixth of which once belonged to the Italian assassin Ezio Auditore, and which you, Desmond, were kind enough to recover for us. So thanks for that. (and you might wish to make a note of the date – my thanks are few and far between…)

This sixth apple has an equally storied history, and first came to attention of modern Templars after the Ottoman Mehmet II used it to compel the besieged Byzantines to open the gates of Constantinople and let their enemies walk right in. A few decades on, Mehmet’s grandson, Cem – a young man with loose Templar allegiances – stole the apple and hid it in an abandoned Templar archive on Cyprus, hoping to use it as a bargaining chip in his dealings with the powerful Rodrigo Borgia. But this parlay ended badly for the wayward Ottoman prince. He was captured by the Hospitallers on Rhodes and tortured until he revealed the apple’s location. In 1486 Rodrigo sent a group of Templars to locate the apple and deliver it to him.

But on the eve of this apple’s arrival in Venice in 1488, Ezio and his Assassins intercepted it and claimed it as their own. Over the next two decades the sixth apple changed hands a few times, falling into the clutches of both Girolamo Savonarola and Cesare Borgia, before finding its penultimate resting-place in a vault below Santa Maria in Aracoeli. I say penultimate because it's in our hands, and I’ll be damned if I know where it’s going to end up after the mess we’re in now.

Whatever happens, I have to give our ancient ancestors their due. It is incredible to consider that, millennia after the First Civ has been wiped from the earth, the apples are still working perfectly – a fact that is nothing short of amazing, given that I need to replace my mobile phone every other year, and that bloody fridge is still on the blink.

Assassin's Creed: Liberation

Toussaint Roussillon

Database image for Assassin's Creed Liberation HD

A swamp-dwelling bon-vivant, Roussillon was so lazy he hired women to fight his battles for him. An alleged family man with a love of drink and fast women--which may be more legend than reality--, Roussillon was rather loud for a smuggler. Evidence suggests that he would have gone out of business, had it not been for his partner, Élise Lafleur.

Élise Lafleur

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Combative and proud, Élise Lafleur was a straight-shooter and true friend to anyone who dared to stick around. Not easily intimidated, she did not suffer fools or liars. Her work with the people of San Danje betrayed a kind heart, while her success with Roussillon’s business revealed a keen mind.

Baptiste

Database image for Assassin's Creed Liberation HD

Baptiste was born to slavery in Saint-Domingue, in the 1720s. (Official records unavailable). A childhood playmate of new arrivals Jeanne and Agaté, he fell under the spell of revolutionary leader François Mackandal and joined “his” Brotherhood in the early 1730s.

Later that decade, he fled the plantation with Agaté and Mackandal, in response to some threat, real or imagined.

After losing his mentor, in 1758, and then his friend Agaté, he left the Brotherhood in pursuit of more worthwhile ambitions.

Baptiste was born to slavery in Saint-Domingue, in the 1720s. (Official records unavailable.) A childhood playmate of new arrivals Jeanne and Agaté, he fell under the spell of revolutionary leader François Mackandal and joined “his” Brotherhood in the early 1730s.

Later that decade, he fled the plantation with Agaté and Mackandal, in response to A VERY REAL threat FROM THE TEMPLAR ORDER.

After losing his mentor, WHO WAS SENTENCED TO DEATH BY FIRE in 1758 FOR LEADING AN UPRISING AGAINST WHITE SLAVE OWNERS IN SAINT-DOMINGUE, and then his friend Agaté, WHO LEFT IN SEARCH OF JEANNE, he left the Brotherhood, DISILLUSIONED, and JOINED THE TEMPLAR ORDER, CONVINCED THAT THEIR METHODS WERE MORE ALIGNED WITH HIS ambitions.

BAPTISTE ASSUMED THE IDENTITY OF HIS MENTOR, GOING SO FAR AS TO AMPUTATE HIS OWN ARM TO COMPLETE THE ILLUSION. DISGUISED AS MACkandAL, HE RECRUITED A STRONG FOLLOWING OF DISGRUNTLED ACOLYTES, TRAINED THEM IN THE STYLE OF MAROON WARRIORS, and FOLLOWED AGATÉ TO NEW ORLEANS, WHERE HE SOUGHT TO EXPOSE and ERADICATE THE BROTHERHOOD, and TRANSFER LOCAL POWER TO THE handS OF THE TEMPLARS, FIRST BY CONTROLLING TRADE ON THE RIVER, UNDER THE MASK OF SPANISH INFLUENCE, and THEN BY POISONING THE RULING CLASS OF NEW ORLEANS.

HIS PLANS WERE INTERRUPTED BY AVELINE DE GRANDPRÉ, BY WHOSE Hand HE DIED. SOME OF HIS FOLLOWERS REMAINED IN THE SWAMP, A VIOLENT and UNPREDICTABLE ELEMENT.

Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag

Born: 1713
Died: ????

Jennifer "Jenny" Scott Kenway was the first and only child of Caroline Scott and Edward Kenway. Born in Bristol, after Edward Kenway's departure to the West Indies, she was raised by her mother and her mother's parents.

Despite being the issue of a legitimate marriage, Jenny's grandfather, Emmett, treated her with disdain and contempt, owing to his hatred of her father Edward Kenway. Thankfully her grandmother -- Caroline's mother, Elizabeth -- was ever a source of strength, and she brought much joy to a life otherwise marked by idleness and boredom.

Around 1719 or 1720, fate took a turn for the worse as Caroline fell gravely ill. Emmett, believing his daughter's malady a mere "complaint of the nerves," ignored the seriousness of his daughter's situation until it was too late. Caroline died before Jenny was seven.

Shortly after, a letter arrived at the Scott household addressed to Caroline. It was from Edward Kenway, Caroline's estranged husband and Jenny's father. Eager to rid his household of the girl he had always found to be a burden, Emmett Scott made arrangements to send his granddaughter to live with Edward in the West Indies, hardly caring if Edward's claim to have made a small but reasonable fortune there were true.

In late August of 1722, Jenny boarded a ship bound for the West to meet her father for the first time...

Assassin's Creed: Rogue

Originally a hunting lodge built for Louis XIII, the Palace of Versailles was expanded into one of the largest palaces in the world, and the seat of the French monarchy, under the reign of his successor, Louis XIV. The royal family abandoned the palace for the Tuileries in Paris at the outset of the French Revolution. After the King's arrest, Versailles, along with all royal possessions, was confiscated and sealed. The furnishings were sold at auction in 1793, and in 1794 it was turned into a museum. Despite the various restorations, empires, and revolutions that followed, Versailles would never again be a center of political power.

(I went here on a school trip once. Yawnsville. I’d much rather visit it through an Animus! –V.)

The Davenport Homestead was a collection of buildings that served as the headquarters for the Colonial Assassin Brotherhood. Achilles built a manor for his family and a barracks for Assassins to rest in in between their missions throughout the colonies. The homestead also included a natural port for supplies and visiting ships.

Achilles used the terrain as a natural obstacle course and training ground, where his Assassins could hone the skills needed to promote freedom throughout the colonies.

(It doesn’t feel like a nice “home” does it? Feels more like boot camp for hooded weirdoes. –V.)

Assassin's Creed: Unity

In 1782, French writer Louis-Sebastien Mercier described Paris as follows: "Paris is too large, seen politically; it is an outsized head for the body of the state. But today, it would be too dangerous to remove the tumor rather than to let it subsist. There are diseases that, once they take root, are indestructible".

At the time of the French Revolution, Paris, with its 600,000 inhabitants, was no longer the largest city in Europe. London, with nearly one million inhabitants, had already surpassed it. *

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* It would be unbecoming of me to boast at this point.
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At the time, Paris was comprised of three main districts, each with its own specific historical characteristics. While the terms "rive gauche" (left bank) and "rive droite" (right bank) were increasingly commonplace by the end of the 18th century, "Université", "Cité", and "Ville" were still the names most commonly used.

The Cité was the center of monarchic and religious power. It was home to the Bishop, the Parliament and the Senate. Underpinned by religious tradition, the seat of royal power was appropriately located beside Nôtre-Dame-de-Paris.

Further south on the left bank was the district known as the Université, or Latin quarter, since the language taught there was Latin. Up to 30,000 students could be found there in any one year.

To the north, on the right bank, was the Ville, the merchant city and home to the Hôtel de Ville (city hall), in other words, the municipal authority personified by the Prévôt des marchands (provost of the merchants) and the aldermen.

One thing that can be said for this bridge is that it has never changed names in 2,000 years despite the various floods and fires that would ravage and occasionally destroy it. The bridge has always been heavily used since it was the outlet to the Roman roads leading to Orléans and Lyon. It was also the obligatory passageway for students who attended the schools on the left bank hill of the Montagne Sainte-Geneviève.

This munitions store took up an entire neighborhood between the right bank of the River Seine and the present-day boulevard Morland, extending almost all the way to the Bastille. Its entry was at the corner of rue du Petit-Musc and the embankment.

The only remaining part of this vast complex is the library, established by the marquis de Paulmy, minister of war, who left some 100,000 volumes and 10,000 manuscripts. This collection was supplemented by works seized from the archives of the Bastille and from the abbeys of Paris. The library today holds approximately one million volumes, and 250,000 documents. *

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* Impressive. Until you remember you’ve got the whole Internet on your phone.
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The library was a place of study for such noteworthy names as Lamartine, Hugo, Dumas, Vigny, Musset and the Parnassien poets. **

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** Given they’re talking about a library, you’d think they’d have at least put those names in alphabetical order.
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The Petit Arsenal was a complex of buildings built around the Cour du Salpêtre and the Cour de l'Orme, overlooking the Bastille. *
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* “Wonderful, enigmatic views of the prison,” the estate agents would have said. Never trust a French estate agent. They invented the word “bijou”.
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A public promenade lined with elm trees connected the Grand Arsenal and the Petit Arsenal, a stone's throw from the Bastille along the canal Saint-Martin.

When news of Necker's dismissal reached Paris on July 12, a certain 29 year-old lawyer, Camille Desmoulins, leapt atop a table in the Palais Royal, brandished a pistol and urged the volatile crowd to take arms (two days later the Bastille was stormed). Desmoulins, an ardent member of the political Cordeliers Club, founded and authored the newspaper “Le Vieux Cordelier.” A friend and political ally of Danton, Desmoulins’ writings were highly influential but his politics, always highly republican, began to look conservative as the Revolution radicalized. Eventually, his childhood friend Robespierre helped to condemn Desmoulins and Danton to the guillotine.

Assassin's Creed: Syndicate

Date of Birth: 1841 (exact date unknown).

Edward Hodson Bayley was not a great mover and shaker like Brunel or Starrick or any of the other transportation figures we associate with the Victorian era. What little we know about him comes from various logs, records, and transcripts. He was the son of a reverend and was educated in England, France, and Germany before settling in in Southwark. He established his carriage building business, E.H. Bayley & Co., and married an American named Josephine Simon. They had three children together.

According to records, Bayley patented a cart designed to distribute water or liquid manure in 1866. Imagine the sight of liquid manure as you enjoy your next cup of coffee.

In his later years, Bayley became involved in the Liberal Party and served on the boards of directors for multiple transportation companies, including the West Metropolitan Tramways Company and the London Road Car Company. No records show him working with the London General Omnibus Company, though. Odd.

Bayley was elected to the House of Commons in 1892 and lost his seat three years later. He had a quiet, peaceful retirement and died in his sleep at the age of 96, which is what we Brits call "a good innings."

One of the great political feuds of all time, right up there with Antony/Augustus, Medici/Pazzi, and Louis XVI/angry mob, the Disraeli/Gladstone rivalry got its start in 1846, when they found themselves on opposite sides of a repeal of the Corn Laws. Riveting stuff, I know. And as much as it would thrill me to no end to delve into the intricate minutiae of the moral, ethical, and political reasons these two hated each other on sight, let's be honest, you’d never read it.

(It's amazing you're even reading this. –RC)

So here, instead, is a selection of quotations in which old, dead English politicians insult each other. You're welcome.

"Posterity will do justice to that unprincipalled maniac Gladstone—extraordinary mixture of envy, vindictiveness, hypocrisy and superstition; and with one commanding characteristic—whether Prime Minister or Leader of the Opposition, whether preaching, praying, speechifying or scribbling—never a gentleman." –Benjamin Disraeli

"The Tory party had principles by which it would and did stand for bad and for good. All this Dizzy destroyed." –William Gladstone

"If Gladstone fell into the Thames, that would be a misfortune; and if anybody pulled him out, that I suppose would be a calamity." –Benjamin Disraeli

"As he lived, so he died—all display, without reality or genuineness." –William Gladstone

"A sophistical rhetorician inebriated with the exuberance of his own verbosity." –Benjamin Disraeli

But the judges must award the final point to Mr. Disraeli, for when he learned that the Liberals referred to Gladstone as the G.O.M. (short for "Grand Old Man"), he remarked that it should rather stand for "God’s Only Mistake." From such a burn there is no recovery. And besides, the Queen liked Disraeli best.

Ah, I do love British politics.

Date of Birth: 10 March 1693.

Edward James Kenway was born in Swansea, Wales, to Bernard and Linette Kenway. The life of rural sheep farmers did not agree with young Edward, who developed a troublemaking streak very early on in life.

A brash teenage Edward met Caroline Scott, and despite her family’s objections (the Scotts were fairly well-to-do, and Edward still smelled of sheep), the two were quickly married. Their marriage strained under Edward’s inability to find steady work.

A desperate Edward sought to acquire riches and fame by enlisting as a privateer in the West Indies for the Royal Navy. However, the end to the War of the Spanish Succession stopped that plan in its tracks, and Edward was (rather easily) seduced into a life of piracy, rubbing shoulders with legends like Blackbeard, no less.

Edward killed and stole the identity of Duncan Walpole, an Assassin who was on his way to join the Templars, thinking it would be a great way to get rich quick. All it got him was a front row seat to an existential crisis, as Edward struggled between his desire for riches—manifested in a search for a Precursor site known as the Observatory—and a growing sense of duty and responsibility as he spent time among the Assassins in the West Indies.

After hitting rock bottom and the loss of several close friends, Edward committed himself to the Assassin cause, and helped them eliminate the Templars and secure the Observatory. After a decade abroad, Edward was ready to return home, and discovered that Caroline had died in his absence, leaving him with a daughter, Jennifer. That's why couples need to talk more. Edward and his daughter returned to England. He acquired property in London and married Tessa Stephenson-Oakley, with whom he fathered a son named Haytham.

Although the physically crushing life of a pirate caught up to him in his later years, Edward remained immersed in Assassin affairs. His natural charisma and experience in the West Indies helped him secure contacts in both high society and the London underworld. Inspired by his discovery of the Observatory, Edward and an Assassin known only as Miko continued researching the First Civilization.

In 1735, Edward was killed by mercenaries in the employ of Templar Grand Master Reginald Birch, who had spent several years worming his way into he Assassin’s life by acting as his property manager. Some consider this to be a rather ignoble end to a rather remarkable man, but it just goes to show you that not everyone who lives a hero’s life gets a hero’s death.

God, I sound wise sometimes.

18 August 1870. At 3:40 AM an unidentified woman whom Jacob Frye sometimes visited to procure information about local gangs, was brutally murdered in her Whitechapel lodgings.

Her young son Jack was awakened by his mother’s screams as three men burst into their shared room and proceeded to stab her to death before the eyes of her ten year old son.

After the murderers unceremoniously dumped the woman’s body in the Thames River, they dragged Jack, covered in his mother’s blood and babbling incoherently about ‘pigs’ and ‘templars’, to Lambeth Asylum, where he was interned in the wing for the violent criminals. Doctor Archer and Nurse Whitney signed the admission papers.

Jack is said to have cried inconsolably and screamed aloud for a certain ‘Jacob’ over and over for days, until he was gagged and silenced.

Nearly a year later, Jack appears to have escaped from the asylum with outside assistance and vanished from official records.

In 1870, a wing of Lambeth Asylum was converted for use as a maximum security psychiatric ward for the violent criminals.

The treatments as the Rotary Chair, solitary confinement and even the Electric Chair were common practices in the gaol wing of Lambeth (G Wing). The Electric Chair worked in some cases where the prisoner was suffering from depression. The Rotary Chair was presented as more of an experimental treatment as it had no scientific evidence behind the reasoning. Many of these practices only furthered along the violence of the inmates.

G Wing was not the sort of place anyone in their right mind would care to be locked up in the Victorian era. If they weren’t violent to begin with, there is little doubt that they would be scarred for life within a few months of living among the other outrageous inmate of Lambeth…

Born: 9 November 1847.

Evie is valued among the Assassins for her thoughtful planning, her ability to solve problems, and her ability to see the human side of any equation.

In 1868, Evie and Jacob successfully wrested London away from the Templars under the command of Crawford Starrick.

Jacob remained in the city to maintain control over the gangs, and reinforce the London Assassins with new initiates gathered from among the many orphans and child labourers.

Evie chose to follow Henry Green to continue her research into the Pieces of Eden, and joined the Indian Assassins.

She became fascinated with Indian culture and was particularly intrigued by the symbolism of the Goddess Kali. She learned the use of Karas, which were elegant metal bracelets used like brass-knuckles to powerful effect in hand-to-hand combat.

She also developed tools to use her enemies’ fear against them; manipulating without killing. Bombs containing hallucinogenic substances served to frighten targets, causing the Assassins’ enemies to believe they faced demons.

Around 1870 Jacob joined Evie in India with a few of his young initiates to train with the Indian Assassins for a brief period.

In 1888 she received a letter from Jacob which summoned her back to London. The missive spoke about his troubles with a rogue Assassin who was escaping his control and rallying London gangs to his side.

When Evie arrived, London was cowering in the shadow of Jack the Ripper’s Terror.

She embarked on the most dangerous and difficult investigation of her life…

Michel Reuge's Journal

Left Val-de-Travers on the early train for Paris this morning, and thence on to Le Havre to take ship for England (avoiding London, naturally, as we dare not let the Templars catch wind of our scheme). The train was hot and crowded, but our spirits remain high. Alice remains convinced that the Romano-British shrine to Sulis Minerva at Bath is built over a Precursor site, and that fabulous treasures await us; enough to secure a Mastership for all three of us. Lavinia is, I think, thrilled to have a bodyguarding assignment that is not ceremonial.

For it is into the lion’s den we go, and no mistake. Even outside the capital, the south of England is a Templar redoubt. Our wits must be as sharp as our blades, and we may yet all come to ruin. But the reward is worth the risk, of this I am certain. When we return, our names will be reckoned alongside the likes of the Auditores of Florence.

Michael Reuge
Paris
12 July 1844

We have had a most promising beginning. Upon arrival at Bath, we met with one John Philips, a geologist of no small repute. In his youth, he assisted his uncle, the equally-venerable William Smith, in an excavation of the Roman baths to restore the hot springs. While the official records claim that the spring had merely diverted into a new channel, Mr. Philips told us a most wondrous tale of a strange vault, all aglow as if with gas lamps, yet far older than even the shrine to Sulis Minerva above. Within he described a great vault that no drill could mar, and inside a garment or armour of ancient make. I am certain that this must be the Aegis Minerva, of which our forebears as far back as Marcus Junius Brutus have written.

I have engaged Mr. Philips to show us the way to the vault, which his uncle sealed up many years ago to prevent its discovery. He was at first reluctant to share what he deemed his uncle’s legacy, but I believe he was persuaded by Alice’s rather infectious enthusiasm for the enterprise.

Michael Reuge
Bath
15 July 1844

Success! Success beyond our wildest hopes! As we’d suspected, Alice confirmed that the Williams-Philips find is a Precursor trove. We are still cataloguing the complete contents, but thus far the key finds are as follows:

– A large vault containing garments in the style of Those Who Came Before. True to Mr. Philips’s word, the sarcophagus has resisted all attempts to force it open. Even the carefully controlled application of dynamite had no effect.

– 32 circular metal plates, etched with runes that defy translation and punched with numerous holes. These resemble nothing so much as the plates inside the oldest clockwork music boxes, which produce by means of a striker the melodies that so enchant their owners.

Based on a preliminary examination, Alice believes the plates serve as some sort of key to opening the Vault, though by what principle none of us can guess. We have researched extensively, but I fear Bath has not the library nor the industry to further our studies. Alice suggests that we take the Vault to London, where we might find more information in the annals of the British Museum. Lavinia is of course against it, and I confess I am not entirely sanguine about it either. But think of the acclaim if we should succeed!

Michael Reuge
Bath
18 July 1844

Over Lavinia’s objections (and, if I am honest, no few of my own), we have come to London. Lavinia hired a sturdy oxcart to haul the Vault, and we have set up shop in an underground chamber once meant to be a bank vault before the bank lost its funding. I hope we will be secure here, but already I feel the all-seeing eye of the enemy wherever I go. Alice assures us that even the Templars cannot hope to find three Assassins in a city of over two million.

I grow concerned for her, though I would not say so to her face. Alice has scarcely slept or eaten since we discovered the Vault, so consumed is she by her schemes. She is a genius with clockwork, of that there can be no doubt, but the complexity of the Vault’s machinery defies her still. Of late she has taken to scouring London’s pawn shops and curio dealers for antique music boxes, which she tears apart and refits with the plates we found in Bath. I will admit that the sounds they produce are like unto music, and when certain of them are played in a particular order they do seem to build to a common theme, but the full sequence remains elusive. Lavinia tells me that she has caught Alice singing some bit of doggerel about lunatics from Bedlam when she thought no one was listening.

Michael Reuge
London
24 July 1844

Lavinia tells me that the Templars are closing in—apparently they can find three Assassins in a city of over two million if those Assassins are asking the wrong sort of questions. We must make all haste back to the Continent, but that perforce means abandoning the Vault, and Alice will not have it. Lavinia has tried to reason with her, but Alice insists she is close to the answer. The music boxes play nonstop now. I do not know what to do.

Michael Reuge
London
30 July 1844

Addendum: Nearly captured today. The Templars know we are here, and they are hunting us in force. We must take ship now, or by dawn at the latest, but Alice assures me she needs only a few more pieces to make sense of the whole. I tried to reason with her, but she grew angry and stormed out. Lavinia has gone after her in hopes of bringing her around. A fine leader I’ve turned out to be. For my part I’ve nothing to contribute, save to pack these damnable music boxes and make them ready for shipment. We cannot take the Vault with us, but at least we may deprive the Templars of the plates.

Michael Reuge
London
30 July 1844

Lavinia is dead.

She returned in the hours before dawn, badly injured, with a tale it breaks my heart to relate. Alice has betrayed us, sold us to the Templars for the hollow promise of safety to continue her studies of the Vault. Before she died, Lavinia warned me that the Templars were coming in force. They will be here by dawn. The ports and the rail stations are all being watched—there is no escape from London for me. I write these words only in the feeble hope that some future Assassin will find them and understand what I have done.

I now thank Providence that I packed the music boxes away for easy transport. I will hide them as I can, throughout the city. Scattered, they will be as safe as I can make them. If by some miracle I survive the day, I will find my once-Sister and do justice upon her. It is not the legacy I desired, but it is the only one open to me.

We work in the dark to serve the light.

Michael Reuge
London
31 July 1844

The music is all I hear now. Day and night, waking and sleeping, it clings to me like Marley’s chains, an incessant reminder of my sins. We sought the wisdom of Minerva, but in Her temple we found only the rot within ourselves. Hubris was our undoing, my sister or brother, and if you do not turn back it will be yours as well.

The Vault is safe. The keys are scattered across London, and even I no longer recall where they are hidden. They tried to break me, you see. They tortured me with devices both earthly and otherworldly, cast me howling into Lambeth, beat me, starved me. They even brought in that mesmeric devil Elliotson, but I would not yield the secret. I was not a traitor, no—not like her. I remember my vows. I remember the Creed.

To you that have found this meagre scrap, I offer no congratulations, only condolence. The quest for the Aegis has shattered me, and claimed the lives of those I loved best. Turn back, I urge you. But if you will not, listen for the music. Find the music boxes, find the keys, and perhaps you will do what I could not and recover the treasure of Sulis Minerva.

I leave you, reader, with the words of another poor madman, born long before I and yet suffering under the same curse. Perhaps you will heed their warning and forget that e’er you saw this place, but I fear that, as I did, you will follow the verse’s path to ruin.

From the hag and hungry goblin
That into rags would rend ye,
All the sprites that stand by the naked man
In the book of moons, defend ye.

God be with you. We work in the dark to serve the light.

Michael Reuge
London
14 May 1845

On the Matter of Locations

Mark for Deletion

Need to mark for deletion, but for the meanwhile I'm putting them up here so I can see more unused files. These are the files for which there is no argument whether they should be deleted or not, like fanart, old ACFanon files, and files that have since been reuploaded with higher quality or removing UI elements:

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All these files have been tagged to delete: