Crescent amulet
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He who increaseth knowledge, increaseth sorrow. This article contains spoilers, meaning it has information and facts concerning Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple. If you do not want to know about these events, it is recommended to read on with caution, or not at all. |
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I wanted to ask you something. Which is... what's your name? This article title is conjecture. Although the article subject is canon, no official name for it has been given. |
The crescent amulet was a Piece of Eden created by the Isu that was part of a set alongside two other artifacts. While its exact purpose is unknown, it featured powers similar to those of other Pieces of Eden, most notably the Apples.
Owners
- Isu (until c. 75, 000 BCE)[1]
- Ferdinand Magellan (April 1521)
- Mad monk (until 1725)
- Rajah (1725)
- Edward Kenway (1725)
- Shimazu Saito (1725)
- Fenghuang crew (1725)
- Sultanate of Sulu (1725)
- Xialun Qing (1725)
- Xue Yan (1725)
- Edward Kenway (1725)
- Xiao Han (1725)
- SS Ourang Medan crew (1940s)
- Noa Kim (2023)
- Yuki (2023)
- Zhawang Corporation (2023 – present)
Usage
The crescent amulet was a highly versatile Piece of Eden, possessing many different abilities. Like the Apples of Eden, it could create realistic, tangible illusions,[2] and mind-control humans[3] (although unlike the Apples, its powers also affected animals).[4] The artifact also granted access to the Nexus, the space used by the Isu to calculate probabilities. Here, individuals could witness events from both the past and the future; however, because only their minds were transported to the Nexus, their physical bodies were left momentarily inert and thus vulnerable to an attack.[5]
One ability that was seemingly unique to the amulet was its power to reanimate the bodies of deceased individuals, which became invulnerable to pain.[6] However, this had limitations, as corpses could not be reanimated if they were too badly damaged or deteriorated. In 1725, Edward Kenway and Shimazu Saito were able to exploit this weakness by dismembering a group of monks to prevent them from being resurrected.[7]
The amulet was further capable of granting enhanced physical strength and endurance,[8][9] negating the effects of Eagle Vision to a degree,[10] deciphering encrypted texts,[11] and storing the wielder's memories.[12] Some of these powers had lingering effects, as Edward Kenway experienced troubles using his Eagle Vision long after he had come into contact with the amulet.[13] He also continued to be shown visions of probable futures even when not in possession of the artifact.[14][15]
According to Shimazu Sei, the amulet contained a vast amount of information accumulated since ancient times. This data was too much for the human brain to handle and could potentially result in the death of anyone who came into contact with the artifact, even indirectly. While reliving Edward's genetic memories involving the amulet, his descendant Noa Kim was rendered unconscious for several minutes due to the artifact's powers.[16]
For the few individuals who managed to withstand the amulet's powers, the Piece of Eden still proved to have negative effects on them. Physically touching the artifact, even for a few seconds, was said to cause considerable pain.[17] Additionally, long-time possession of the amulet could corrupt the wielder, driving them insane and amplifying their negative traits, such as aggression.[18] Although the user could attempt to resist the Piece of Eden's effects, this typically took a great toll on their mind, leaving them largely unresponsive.[19][20]
History
Early history
The amulet was created at some point during the Isu Era alongside two other Pieces of Eden, forming a set.[21] After the Great Catastrophe in 75,000 BCE, which wiped out the Isu civilization,[1] knowledge of the set, its location, and its powers was lost.[21]
Acquisition by Ferdinand Magellan
By the early 16th century, both the amulet and one of its sister Pieces of Eden were located in the Philippines, with the amulet hidden on the island of Cebu and the other artifact in the possession of Lapu-Lapu, the chief of Mactan Island. In 1521, the Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan arrived on Cebu to search for its "treasure" after learning about it during his travels, and converted the island's population to Christianity in the process.[21]
After finding the amulet, Magellan was informed by Cebu's chieftain Rajah Humabon of the other two artifacts that made up the set and attempted to seize the Piece of Eden in Lapu-Lapu's possession. However, Lapu-Lapu used the artifact's power to defeat the Spanish troops under Magellan's command and personally killed the explorer. With Magellan's death, the amulet became lost once again for the next two centuries.[21]
18th century
Usage in Manila
By 1725, a monk in Manila found the amulet and mistook it for a religious artifact. Inspired by a riot that had occurred six years earlier after Governor-General Fernando Manuel de Bustillo Bustamante y Rueda ordered the arrest of Archbishop Francisco de la Cuesta, the monk decided to instigate another riot to remove de la Cuesta's successor, Toribio José Cosio y Campo. To this end, he used the amulet to influence the city's populace and have them create as much chaos as possible in the city.[3]
During the riot, the British Assassin Edward Kenway and the samurai Shimazu Saito cornered the monk and his followers in an alley, seeking to keep the amulet out of the wrong hands. When the monk refused to renounce the artifact, he ordered his acolytes to eliminate Edward and Saito and, after the acolytes were killed, he used the amulet to resurrect them.[6]
Realizing that the acolytes were invulnerable to pain, the Assassin and samurai dismembered them to prevent them from being resurrected, then confronted the monk. However, he used the amulet on Saito, causing her to experience visions of her deceased friends.[7]
Edward also fell prey to the amulet's powers shortly after, as the monk conjured illusions of himself and a large oni to battle the Assassin and samurai. While Saito eventually succumbed to the illusions and was defeated, Edward was able to overcome the amulet's powers.[2] However, the monk conjured one last apparition of himself to trick Edward and make his escape.[10]
As he fled, the monk used the amulet to command several civilians in his path to slow down the Assassin, as well as tamper with his Eagle Vision, momentarily preventing Edward from locating him. Despite this, Edward was eventually able to corner his target in another empty alley, though when he attempted to take away the amulet, the monk activated the artifact.[10] This temporarily trapped Edward's consciousness in a void, where he experienced visions of both the past and the future.[5]
While Edward's body was paralyzed, the monk tried to kill the Assassin with a dagger, but was suddenly struck by a spear thrown by Rajah, the leader of a Visayan resistance against the Spanish colonists. After finishing off the monk, Rajah claimed the amulet, believing it rightfully belonged to his people and intending to use it to end the foreign occupation of their lands. Although Edward, who had recovered from his trance, tried to fight Rajah to recover the Piece of Eden, he was ultimately defeated and forced to escape alongside Saito.[5]
Wielded by Rajah
With the amulet in-hand, Rajah planned to lead his men towards Cebu to begin their campaign to liberate the Philippines from Spanish occupation.[16] En route to Cebu, the Visayan resistance made a stop on Monkey Island, where they occupied the local fort. Rajah used the amulet to forcefully recruit many natives to his cause, placing them under mind control and leaving them in a berserk-like state. These warriors, some of whom were disguised as Manananggals, were then sent out into the island's jungles to eliminate any trespassers.[8]
When Edward and the members of his Zhang Wei Union passed by Monkey Island during their voyage to Cebu, Rajah's men used their fort's mortars to trap them on the island, before the Visayan chief dispatched several of his warriors empowered by the amulet to kill the trespassers.[22] However, despite the enhanced strength granted by the artifact, the native warriors were ultimately defeated.[8]
Around this time, a group of Japanese settlers in the Philippines learned about Rajah's possession of the amulet and sought to acquire the artifact for their own ends. However, the Visayan resistance killed them and subsequently claimed their ships for themselves, which they used to sail to Cebu.[23]
In Cebu, Rajah and his men found an encrypted sea log written by the Dutch explorer Hendrik, which contained information about the locations of the other two Pieces of Eden. Rajah used the amulet to decipher the log's contents, and later employed its powers again to force a group of Spanish soldiers to kill each other.[11]
By the time Rajah's men occupied Fort San Pedro, the amulet had corrupted the Visayan chief, making him increasingly ruthless and violent. He coldly ordered the execution of all civilians inside the fort and killed all of his men who protested.[18]
Later, when Edward and Saito confronted Rajah, the former remarked that the amulet had robbed the Visayan chief of all traces of humanity.[18] The Assassin then decided to face Rajah alone, during which the chief told him about the visions shown by the amulet. Determined to prevent his home from being ravaged by future conflicts, Rajah declared his intention to eliminate all foreigners who would attempt to invade the Philippines.[9]
However, Edward disagreed with Rajah's methods and fought him to a stalemate, prompting the chief to use the amulet to summon illusions of countless Filipino warriors.[9] Although the illusions quickly overwhelmed Edward, the Assassin was able to use his Phantom Blade to cut the amulet's string, causing the artifact to fall to the ground and cancelling all of its effects.[12]
Recovery by Edward Kenway
With Rajah defeated, Edward proceeded to seize the amulet and, in the process, was shown memories of Rajah's early life. However, he was soon confronted by the Chinese Assassins' Mentor Xiao Han, who killed Rajah and demanded that Edward hand over the amulet, intending to use it to overthrow the Qing dynasty and rebuild his fallen Brotherhood.[12]
As Edward believed the amulet should not belong to anyone, the two Assassins fought each other until they were joined by their allies: Saito and the Chinese Assassins Liu Qing and Xue Yan, respectively.[24] When Saito was defeated by Xue Yan, Edward reluctantly decided to use the amulet against Xiao Han and Liu Qing, making them experience visions of their past and incapacitating them.[25]
Following this, Edward and Saito escaped Cebu in the Celestial Chariot, a prototype hot air balloon, the former still holding the amulet in his hand. However, the artifact quickly proved to have negative effects on the Assassin.[25] As Edward struggled to resist the Piece of Eden's corrupting influence, he became largely unresponsive,[19] causing Saito to temporarily assume leadership of the Fenghuang crew while Edward recovered.[20]
Edward continued to hold onto the amulet for some time, and it occasionally showed him visions of the future. These visions proved useful during a confrontation with Fuma Sukuna's ninja and the Rattan Shield Company, as it allowed the Zhang Wei Union members to predict their enemies' tactics and defeat them.[26][27]
The amulet also enhanced Edward's strength and reflexes, allowing him to single-handedly eliminate the Qing Empire's Special Cavalry Unit. However, the artifact began to corrupt the Assassin, requiring Saito to forcefully take it away from him. She subsequently placed it in a chest, which was kept aboard the Fenghuang until the crew could decide what to do with the Piece of Eden.[17]
Struggle in Sulu
- "You have no qualms about using the artifact's power, I see! Your hypocrisy is despicable. All that empty talk of a power too great for any man to wield! Was that not the very reason you chose to stand in our way?! What gives you the right to deny us the artifact while taking it for yourself?!"
- ―Xiao Han to Edward during their fight, 1725.[src]-[m]
In the Sultanate of Sulu, the Fenghuang's crew was betrayed by their ally Jan van Aert, who had made a deal with Sultan Badarud-Din I to deliver the amulet into his hands and allow him to gain an advantage over the Spanish Empire. While the crew was imprisoned, the chest containing the amulet was stored in a warehouse until the sultan's arrival.[28] The Fenghuang's crew soon managed to escape and attempted to recover the chest, but they were forced to fight Xiao Han, Liu Qing, and Xue Yan, who had also arrived in Sulu.[29]
During the battle, the Fenghuang's doctor Xialun Qing managed to infiltrate the warehouse, which had been destroyed in a bombardment by the Chinese Assassins' ally, Admiral Jeong.[14] Qing found the amulet's chest and tried to bring it back to her fellow crew members, but she was taken hostage by Xue Yan. The Chinese Assassins then attempted to bargain Qing's life for the artifact, but the exchange was interrupted by Jeong, who ordered her crew to fire on both the Assassins and their enemies.[30]
In the resulting confusion, Edward managed to seize the amulet and used it to conjure illusions of himself to deceive Xiao Han. He then pinned the Chinese Mentor to the ground, but hesitated to take his life when the amulet showed him visions of his eventual death in 1735, as well as the death of his future son Haytham Kenway. This allowed Xiao Han to break free and he attempted to kill Edward's friend John Young, but Qing took the blow instead.[31]
As Edward and John both mourned Qing's death, Xiao Han grabbed the amulet and escaped alongside Liu Qing and Xue Yan.[31] Upon returning to Jeong's ship, the Mentor placed the Piece of Eden in a chest to prevent it from affecting him. The Chinese Assassins then sailed back to China so they could use the amulet to further their cause, though they were all left feeling uneasy about the means by which they had acquired the artifact.[15]
Modern times
- "Based on the data extracted from the test subject, as summarized in your report... we've managed to locate the artifact discovered by Edward Kenway in the Philippines. I assume you're familiar with the SS Ourang Medan. The data shows a perfect match to a failed attempt to retrieve the artifact during Abstergo's early days."
- ―A Templar higher-up to Shimazu Sei, on the amulet, 2023.[src]-[m]
At some point following these events, the amulet was disposed of in the sea near the Strait of Malacca, where it would remain for almost three centuries. In the 1940s, Abstergo Industries, the front company of the Templar Order, managed to locate the Piece of Eden and dispatched the SS Ourang Medan to recover it. However, the mission ended in failure and the ship and its entire crew mysteriously vanished.[19]
In 2023, the Templar Shimazu Sei re-discovered the amulet's location through the genetic memories of Edward relived by his descendant Noa Kim, who had been abducted by Abstergo. After Sei contacted her superiors to inform them of her discovery, they ordered Noa's termination, believing he had outlived his usefulness.[19] However, Sei disagreed and secretly made a deal with the Assassin Nathan Zhang to ensure Noa's safety and that the amulet was kept out of Abstergo's hands.[32]
Noa and Sei's bodyguard Yuki were subsequently sent to recover the amulet and used a diving bell to descend to the Ourang Medan's shipwreck. During their search, Noa and Yuki were separated,[33] and the former found the amulet inside a room filled with the skeletal remains of the ship's crew. However, as he touched the artifact, its powers, combined with the Bleeding Effect that Noa was suffering from, caused him to experience hallucinations of Edward's memories. [34]
In his visions, Noa spoke with an apparition of Bartholomew Roberts, who taunted him about succumbing to the amulet's effects and Edward's memories. However, Noa was able to retain control of his mind, surprising Roberts, who cheerfully claimed that Noa had been "chosen" and that the amulet, "their" legacy, had led him there. The hallucination then came to an end, leaving Noa with more questions than answers.[34]
Following this, Noa returned with the amulet to Yuki and the two swam back towards their diving bell. When a shark attacked them, Noa used the amulet to repel it, though this took a serious toll on his mind and body, leaving him in a weakened state. After returning to the Abstergo ship, Yuki brought Noa to Sei and had him place the amulet in a briefcase to prevent it from further affecting him.[4]
This briefcase was taken by Yuki when she, Noa and Sei escaped from the ship after it was attacked by Nathan Zhang and his men. Per the terms of his deal with Sei, Nathan brought the trio to a Zhawang Corporation safehouse in Singapore, where Noa received immediate medical attention due to his worsening condition. Believing another Piece of Eden could be used to cure Noa, Sei relived her ancestor Shimazu Saito's memories in the Animus to find it while the briefcase with the amulet was kept close at all times.[20]
Behind the scenes
The crescent amulet is a Piece of Eden introduced in the 2023 webtoon Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple. While it is never given an official name in the webtoon, being commonly referred to as just "the artifact", Edward Kenway briefly calls it a "crescent amulet" in Episode 52, hence this article's title.
The amulet appears to combine the powers of several pre-existing Isu artifacts, including the Apples of Eden's mind control and illusion projection abilities; the Crystal Balls' access to the Nexus; the Memory Seals' memory storage ability; and the Ankh's resurrection powers (although in the amulet's case, this ability functions more like necromancy, allowing the wielder to control the bodies of the deceased). Its powers are also unique in the fact that they can affect animals, such as sharks, as opposed to most Pieces of Eden, which were created exclusively to control humans.
Gallery
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The mad monk using the amulet to control a group of protesters -
Rajah donning the amulet -
Rajah corrupted by the amulet -
Shimazu Saito taking the amulet from Edward -
Noa Kim holding the amulet -
The amulet in its briefcase, next to Shimazu Sei, Nathan Zhang and Yuki
Appearances
References
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