Crystal Balls

"Your father speaks with angels. He gains... insight from them."

―Jane Cooper to Elizabeth Jane Weston about Edward Kelley.

An active Crystal Ball

The Crystal Balls are Pieces of Eden that allow their wielders access to the Nexus, a place where individuals and members of the First Civilization can communicate with others across time. The Crystal Balls are round in shape and possess lines similar to the Apples of Eden.

History

Medieval period

"The elf-stone tells him to seek, and so he seeks. And when it says dig, he digs. Such a mystery!"

―Olav the Unlucky to Eivor Varinsdottir, on the reason Gorm came to Vinland, c. 875.

In the late 9th century, a Crystal Ball was acquired by the Order of the Ancients and given to one of their Maegesters, the Viking Gorm Kjotvesson of the Wolf Clan. Following directions given through the artifact by Juno, Gorm brought the Ball to the Americas, named Vinland by the Norse. While Olav the Unlucky believed the "elf-stone" told Gorm directions to "the door to Jotunheim", in truth, Gorm and his men sought to free Juno from her imprisonment in the Grand Temple, and brought slave laborers to work in their camps in search of it.

Eivor Varinsdottir holding a Crystal Ball

Circa 875, Gorm's old rival from Norway, the shieldmaiden Eivor Varinsdottir of the Raven Clan, tracked him to Vinland with the help of the Hidden One Hytham. There, she assassinated Gorm and seized his Crystal Ball, though she decided to not discover more about its purpose, feeling it was not meant for her. She subsequently left the artifact in the care of Konwahawíhshon, a member of the local Kanien'kehá:ka tribe of Karonhiakèn:iate', in whose hands it would remain for many generations.

Renaissance

During the Renaissance in the 16th century, a Crystal Ball was in the possession of the English scientist Edward Kelley, who used it during his time in the Austrian royal court to gain insight from the First Civilization. He used it in his research to develop new advances in technology, becoming the personal scientist of the Austrian ruler in the process. However, the Ball was eventually taken by Kelley's brother to keep him from abusing its power.

Colonial period

Ratonhnhaké:ton: "What is it?"

Oiá:ner: "A door."

—Oiá:ner to Ratonhnhaké:ton as she gave him the Crystal Ball, 1769.

Ratonhnhaké:ton using a Crystal Ball to communicate with Juno

By the mid-18th century, Gorm's Crystal Ball remained with the Kanien'kehá:ka in Kanatahséton. In 1769, it was given by the village's Oiá:ner to a teenage Ratonhnhaké:ton, who used it to enter the Nexus and speak with Juno. The Isu directed him to join the nearly-extinguished Colonial Brotherhood of Assassins, allegedly so that he could save his people from destruction at the Templars' hands.

In 1783, following the abandonment of Kanatahséton, the Crystal Ball was left behind and Ratonhnhaké:ton found it when he returned to the empty village. Again using it to communicate with Juno, the Isu congratulated him for vanquishing the Colonial Templars and instructed him to hide the Grand Temple Key he had taken from Charles Lee where nobody would find it. After this final use, the artifact disintegrated into dust.

Gallery

• 
  Gorm holding a Crystal Ball
• 
  Eivor giving Gorm's Crystal Ball to Konwahawíhshon
• 
  Edward Kelley's Crystal Ball
• 
  Oiá:ner holding a Crystal Ball
• 
  A Crystal Ball activating the Nexus
• 
  A Crystal Ball disintegrating

Appearances

• Assassin's Creed: Project Legacy (first appearance)
• Assassin's Creed III
• Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag
• Assassin's Creed: Valhalla
• The World of Assassin's Creed Valhalla: Journey to the North – Logs and Files of a Hidden One (mentioned only)